Liu Xie had never particularly liked the Chancellor's residence in Ye City.
Or rather, whether it was Xuchang or Chang'an, he had never liked them either.
One had been the cage of a hostage.
The other had been filled with foolish men manipulated by the flames of ambition.
Instead, during these recent conversations with Imperial Uncle, Liu Xie had found himself quite interested whenever Chang'an was mentioned, now renewed and transformed, or Luoyang which was already being rebuilt.
Of course the place that interested him most was Chengdu, which Imperial Uncle praised greatly.
Because whether it was Chang'an, Luoyang, Xuchang, or Ye City, they were all more or less the same.
That made Liu Xie want very much to visit Chengdu together with Fu Shou. He wanted to see the scenery of that city for himself.
To see what it meant when people said that waterways and roads gathered there from all directions.
To see what it meant when abundance filled the eight regions.
To see what it meant when people said that among the nine heavens there opened forth a single Chengdu.
If possible, perhaps the place where he and Fu Shou would spend their final years could also be settled there.
He buried that last thought deep in his heart.
Liu Xie and Fu Shou changed into simple but proper clothing. Once they stepped outside, attendants immediately came to guide them. After passing through two courtyards, the place where Imperial Uncle said the assembly would be held that morning came into view.
Liu Xie waved for the attendants to leave them.
He and Fu Shou looked at one another. Before entering they briefly adjusted their clothing and appearance.
Even before seeing anyone, they heard voices inside.
Through the door Liu Xie could hear loud and carefree voices.
"Elder Brother, do you think that Hongwu Emperor is nervous right now?"
"If General Yide wishes to know, would it not be easier to ask the Hongwu Emperor directly later?"
"Hah, Strategist Xu does not know. That Hongwu Emperor seems to have some complaints about me. Why not let Second Brother ask him later?"
"Most likely Yide has once again angered that future Hongwu Emperor, is that not so?"
"You cannot take sides like that. Strategist Xu has not even seen what the Hongwu Emperor looks like yet…"
Future generation?
Hongwu Emperor?
Who was that?
Liu Xie paused.
If this were during Cao Cao's time, he might have chosen to stand outside a little longer to see if he could overhear some military information.
But the people inside the room now were all supporters of restoring the Han. His mood was light.
So he simply pushed the door open.
The cold wind entered together with him and slipped inside through the gap. It immediately caused a burst of chaotic greetings.
"Who opened the door. Close it quickly… ah, greetings Your Majesty."
Liu Xie smiled at Zhang Fei, then pulled the Empress inside and quickly closed the door.
Several heating stoves burned in the room. Each stove had a pipe leading outside.
Tables and chairs filled the chamber. At the head seat there was an especially obvious empty place. Imperial Uncle Liu Bei stood beside it, smiling and waving to him.
Clearly the seat had been reserved for him.
Liu Xie hesitated.
Behind him Fu Shou gently pushed him.
At last Liu Xie carefully set aside the worries of the past and walked forward through the middle with a smile.
On the left side sat the civil and military officers under Imperial Uncle.
Most of them he had already seen at the Lesser New Year banquet and the New Year's Eve banquet.
The imposing Guan Yu.
Zhang Fei, who was best not allowed to speak too much.
The elegant and refined Zhuge Liang.
Xu Shu with his sharp brows.
The graceful Zhao Zilong.
Ma Chao, still proud and unruly, the bruises around his eyes not yet fully faded.
And Huang Zhong, old in years yet with a blade still keen.
Most of these officers lowered their heads to salute him. After saluting they would openly raise their heads and look at him.
Their gazes did not feel offensive.
They were filled with curiosity.
And with a kind of expectation that was difficult to describe.
The people seated on the right side were more familiar to him.
Xin Pi, who had been persuaded to stand on his side during the seizure of the city, was speaking quietly with his daughter Xin Xianying.
Further down were Geng Ji and Wei Huang. On the day of the uprising, the two of them had also helped persuade Xin Pi and changed the situation.
There was also Ji Ping, the imperial physician who had successfully prepared the anesthetic mafeisan according to the formula.
Wei Feng, whose elegant bearing had helped coordinate matters throughout Ye City.
Jin Yi of Jingzhao, who had worked tirelessly among the markets and streets of Ye City from beginning to end.
And the talented woman of the Cai family, whose reputation had once again impressed the scholars of Ye City.
Beside her sat…
Liu Xie unconsciously quickened his steps.
He stepped forward, bent down, and grasped the man's shoulders.
"Physician Jia…"
He had intended to address him as Grand Counselor, but the moment the words left his mouth he instinctively used the official title from twenty years ago, when the man before him had given him hope.
Although the capture of the city had relied greatly on this man's strength, the two of them had never met during that entire affair.
Now, after such a long separation, this was their first meeting again.
Holding Jia Xu's shoulders, Liu Xie suddenly felt countless thoughts rising in his heart. He did not know where to begin.
Tears came first.
In the end he only sighed.
"Physician Jia… twenty years have passed. You have labored in heart and mind for the sake of the Han."
Jia Xu smiled.
"This old minister has grown old. Your Majesty has grown taller and stronger. This old minister is deeply pleased."
He then beckoned.
Cai Wenji picked up a small leather pouch nearby and handed it to Jia Xu.
Jia Xu placed it solemnly into Liu Xie's hands.
"This old minister… has once again not failed the trust Your Majesty placed in him."
Liu Xie squeezed the pouch.
He could clearly feel the shape of half a jade pendant inside.
Long ago, when Li Jue and Guo Si caused chaos, Jia Xu had stepped forward to protect the safety of the Emperor and Empress.
Later, after the battle at Caoyang in Hongnong, when the couple had survived the disaster, they wished to reward Physician Jia but possessed nothing of value.
In the end Fu Shou had broken her phoenix jade pendant in half and gave one half to Jia Xu.
She had said that when the dynasty was restored, he could present that half pendant and request a reward.
Unexpectedly, twenty years had passed.
Not only had Liu Xie and Fu Shou failed to fulfill their promise to Jia Xu.
They had even once again used that half pendant to ask for his help.
Fu Shou gently squeezed Liu Xie's arm.
Liu Xie understood.
He pushed the pouch back.
"Physician Jia should keep it. My words from that day still stand today."
"And…"
He did not finish the sentence.
Before leaving he only said solemnly,
"Physician Jia must take good care of yourself."
Fu Shou followed behind Liu Xie and gracefully bowed to Jia Xu.
Jia Xu returned the salute.
For a moment everyone present could not help staring at the small pouch in Jia Xu's hand.
Jia Xu chuckled.
With a turn of his hand the pouch disappeared.
Zhang Fei could not help shouting,
"That thing inside would not happen to be our Han dynasty's iron certificate of immunity, would it?"
Zhuge Liang smiled and tapped Zhang Fei's head with his fan, signaling him not to speak nonsense.
Xin Pi and the others could not help imagining things.
An iron certificate?
Did Imperial Uncle's followers know something?
In truth some of Xin Pi's questions were also Liu Xie's own.
After sitting down, this man who once carried countless worries immediately asked,
"What is the matter to be discussed today, Imperial Uncle, that such a gathering has been arranged?"
Liu Bei was dressed simply as well.
He even had time to push two already opened jars of warmed canned fruit toward Liu Xie with a smile.
"Your Majesty has arrived at exactly the right moment."
Liu Xie did not stand on ceremony.
He picked up a spoon and prepared to scoop some fruit flesh.
Hearing this he asked curiously,
"What do you mean by exactly the right moment?"
Liu Bei raised his hand and pointed forward slowly.
"Exactly the right moment means…"
Liu Xie, Xin Pi, and the others, including Jia Xu, all followed the direction of Liu Bei's finger with curiosity.
There was nothing there.
No.
Right before everyone's eyes, a mass of black began to churn in midair.
At an unprecedented speed it tore through the air and unfolded into a radiant screen of shifting colors.
At the same time, voices came from within it.