The Life and Times of Master Han Fei

Chapter Twenty

"There are no men in the court of a doomed state."

-Master Han Fei

"Come to gloat at last I see, Li Si," Han said, sounding exceptionally assured considering the circumstances he was in.

"Shut up," the conniving politician said, his small and beady eyes darting around the room. "I am here to offer you a deal."

Han choked, staring at his former ally in wide-eyed disbelief. "What?" he spluttered.

"A deal," replied Li Si simply. "I am sure you have heard of deals. I am a politician, as are you. Surely we can reach an agreement, especially if we both act reasonably."

"You had me locked up!" yelled the prisoner, pointing an accusing finger at his former comrade. "You think that I am going to just put everything behind, after all that you've done to me, you-"

"Do you remember our friend Soldier Lu?" asked Li Si pleasantly, completely unbothered by the former prince's rage.

"Yes?" answered Han, too confused to stay angry.

"He died," the stout advisor said with the ease that one would have discussing the weather, or perhaps a well-acted play.

"When?" asked Han, choking back a sob.

"The battle," said Li Si in reply, a faraway look in his eyes. "You told me to escape, and so I did. I started running, sprinting towards Little Thunderbolt, but then I saw Lu fending off the attacks of four different people. He was like an animal out there. So quick, so brave. I rushed to join him in battle, but before I could, one of those filthy Qiang barbarians ran a sword through him."

"I lived with the Qiang people; they are not filthy nor are they barbarians," interrupted Han, almost automatically.

"I think that was why I was so hostile to you when you came here, my old friend," the Qin advisor said. "I knew that you had been a prisoner in the Qiang wilderness, and I had heard that you had left unscathed, after years. I heard that you had rejected your own kingdom, the one Lu had also come from; the one he had died for, after the time you spent with the Qiang. I couldn't help but think of you as one of them. And every time the Qiang have crossed my mind since that battle, I have thought of Lu crumpling to the ground, trying to block yet another strike while a blade pierced his heart."

"I am sorry to have misjudged you!" wailed Han, tears brimming in his eyes.

"And I, you," whispered Li Si. He got out of his crouching position and said, "I shall try and get you released from prison. Do not worry, it shall be taken care of."

"Thank you," breathed Han in immense gratitude, but the stout figure of Li Si had already left the building.

Li Si came to see him every night, providing much needed company after days of stifling silence. They would reminisce about times gone by, think back to a time where they had been able to trust each other to the point of willing sacrifice.

The Qin advisor would sneak Han some luxury foods, which gradually served as the foundation of the prisoner's daily diet rather than as a cherished treat. He would dine on freshly cooked meats and impeccably white rice, indulging in a level of culinary luxury most Qin commoners were unable to afford.

Li Si would bring Han constant updates of his efforts in convincing King Zheng to free him, sounding pleased with himself when he had days of success and dejected on days where he said the king replied to his overtures in a snappish way.

Outside of being confined to a jail, Han felt as free as one could be. He was not beholden to anyone, for the first time in his life. He had practically been a slave in his past: he had been expected to follow his father's every whim as a governor, and later an ambassador, he had been expected to embrace Zhenghua-had he not done so, there had been a high possibility that he would have been killed, and King Zheng had taken one look at him an afforded him a job as one of his direct underlings. Perhaps his life did depend on Li Si, the prince conceded to himself, but Han felt in his heart that the man was, at the very least, decent and honorable. He was someone he could trust, and what a feeling trust was!

"Any news today?" Han asked Li Si a little eagerly, a week into the arrangement that had become second nature to both of them.

The Qin advisor sighed, shaking his head. "The news I come bearing is not very good, I fear," he said. "The King, may he live a hundred thousand years, means to streamline his war operations. He wants to remove all dead weight." Li Si placed extra emphasis on the phrase "dead weight."

"What does that mean?" asked Han fearfully.

"The facilities of the Qin kingdom are being taken up by prisoners and criminals that serve no purpose to the war effort. They are, in fact, detrimental to the war effort. He hopes to empty these jails, these hospitals, and these other facilities so that our wounded soldiers are able to return safely after we launch our offensives, and our enemies are able to undergo the full torture experience."

"I am not expendable!" argued Han, his face flushing scarlet.

"I know that," reassured Li Si. "Believe me, I am working on this issue. If I have my way, you shall be out of this cell in two days. I will not be able to come tomorrow night, but if all goes well, tomorrow night will be the last night you will spend sleeping here."

Han Fei waited three sleepless nights for Li Si, pacing around his tiny cell in the faint hopes that the Qin king's most trusted advisor would come strolling in to liberate him from his prison.

He never came. The guards who had been assigned to watch over him changed by the hour, and each one seemed to have a slight smirk plastered on his face.

"What?" Han would snap occasionally, knowing all too well that it would be a futile attempt.

"Nothing," they would reply with smirks on their faces.

Then, one day, Li Si finally came, bedraggled and disheveled. "Han Fei," he panted, leaning against the wall for support. "I need your help. Will you do me a favor?"

"Yes, of course," responded Han, without a moment's hesitation. "What do you want me to do?"

"It is very simple, actually. You must trust me. The king has ordered your death. He is under the delusion that you will go quietly, despite my many objections."

"I thought you said you would persuade him to free me," gasped Han, beginning to hyperventilate. "NO! NO! I cannot die! I must not! I am far too young"

Li Si gazed into his eyes, his face stoic and emotionless. "Drink this," he said, handing the prisoner a metal flask much like the ones Han had seen the king use.

"What is this?" asked Han, eyeing the container warily.

"It will allow you to escape this prison," answered Li Si. "You must place your faith in me. Drink! Quaff this elixir, and you shall be delivered from your prison!"

Han hesitated, but he brought the drink close to his mouth. It foamed, many tiny bubbles rising to the surface as he brought it to his teeth, tilting the container to the side. A small stream flowed into his mouth, through his throat. It tasted rancid; he needed all of his willpower to force himself to keep on drinking.

"Good," Li Si said. The advisor looked like he was smiling, almost laughing, as Han staggered forwards, unable to keep his balance. "At last!" cried Han's comrade euphorically, as the former prince crashed to the floor. It was only a matter of seconds before Han's vision went and his other senses followed soon after. "Sweet dreams," whispered Li Si.

Han groaned in response. His lifeless body lay limp on the floor.

"Do not fret, Han Fei. The Qin Empire shall prosper under my rule."