War Prisoner

Chapter 24 - 25

The meaning of "extreme sorrow turns to joy [1]", the meaning of "sincerity splits open gold and stone", the meaning of "hard work pays off for the resolute man", Wanyan Xu thoroughly understood the meaning of all such expressions in a split second. He was almost bursting with joy, and instinctively felt that he should cover his face with smiles and squeeze out two tears to express how moved he was. But all he did was to stare blankly at Su Yi; he didn't do anything, because he was incapable of doing anything.

After an inordinately long time has passed, just when Su Yi was wondering if the man before him had been suddenly struck by dementia, Wanyan Xu finally extended his arm, which was trembling slightly, and made a few movements before grabbing Su Yi in a hug. The force of the embrace nearly strangled Su Yi, such was Wanyan Xu's strength. Su Yi was alarmed but just as he was going to push away the man who was clinging to his body with a death grip, he heard Wanyan Xu whisper beside his ear, saying each word carefully: "Su Su, If I [2] can have you, I shall never want for anything else in my lifetime."

Su Yi was stunned, and abruptly halted all his movements. For some reason, this remark uttered at this time, did not arouse even a little of the usual humiliation in Su Yi. Instead he could only feel the truth of the statement resounding in each word. Sighing in his heart, he thought: although this man is the greatest enemy I shall have in this life, he is also a life-long close friend. Evidently, everything in this world cannot escape the words "fate makes playthings of men".

A little while later, when they came to the palace, they saw a crowd of palace administrators trot out from the gates. Stopping a short distance from Wanyan Xu, they knelt and a person near the front of the group said in a terrified manner: "Reporting to your Majesty, we had heard that your Majesty would arrive tomorrow, therefore we failed to travel out to receive your Majesty. Our crime is worthy of ten-thousand deaths, we request that your Majesty mete out punishment."

Wanyan Xu smiled amiably and said: "Please rise, I was impatient, and arrived ahead of schedule. Guarding this place with a skeleton crew must have been exhausting, there is no further need of reports. You have taken good care of this city, I have entered it in casual dress and I see that that the streets are bustling with activity even in normal circumstances. It has not been affected by the flames of war; this must be to your credit. You shall all be well rewarded."

After hearing these words, the gathered administrators could finally relax, and crowded around Wanyan Xu as an escort as he entered the palace. At this point, it was getting late. After they had their meal, they randomly selected an outlying building in the palace complex to serve as their resting place for the night, waiting for the arrival of all the concubines and important officials on the morrow before making further arrangements.

Jin Liao has just moved her capital to Dou Yan, this matter alone caused much confusion and commotion. As the sovereign, Wanyan Xu did not have even a short moment of idleness, to the extent that he could not even visit Su Yi's quarters to pester him. His absence was a relief to Su Yi, and he could begin to relax. Although Su Yi still had the wish to escape, he was prevented from doing so because, for one, Wanyan Xu had assigned guards to keep a close watch on him. For another, he knew full well that even if he should succeed in effecting his own escape, he could not possibly rescue all the people of Great Qi. His greatest weakness having been mastered by Wanyan Xu, for him to escape from the devil's palm was as difficult as scaling the heavens.

On this day, after the morning meal the little Crown Prince Wanyan Shuo again leisurely barged into Su Yi's quarters. He only smiled at Su Yi mysteriously, and continued to smile until Su Yi was totally baffled by his behaviour. Only then did Wanyan Shuo deign to speak, saying casually: "You still have the mood to read here? Can't you see that the Garden of Merriment just opposite has already been repaired and is ready for use?"

Su Yi cast a glance outside the window; the pain in his heart was mixed with better resentment. It was to build this extravagantly luxurious palace that the Qi Emperor had diverted funds meant for the military, causing his troops to weaken and be easily defeated, and in effect, had directly led to outcome of having their country destroyed. Su Yi turned away, not bothering to engage with Wanyan Shuo, he only said with a heavy grunt: "It is the scourge that has caused the fall of a country, what is there to admire about it?"

Wanyan Shuo nodded and said: "Oh, of course, no wonder you are so angry, I've heard that your Emperor incited the wrath of Heaven and the complaints of the people to build it. He also reduced funding and provisions for the troops and thus doomed the country. He he, he expended so much thought and energy but it has been to our advantage. I wonder what he thinks of it now in the underworld?"

Su Yi said coldly: "Did you come here just to say this? If so, then I have heard what you have to say, so please leave."

Wanyan Shuo was not offended in the least, he laughed and said: "Of course not. Once the Garden of Merriment has been properly restored, my Royal Father will name a new Queen. Does that not worry you even a little?"

Su Yi raised his head and looked him in the eye. Smiling coldly, he said: "His naming a new queen has nothing to do with me. Why should I worry? Both you and your father don't make much sense when you speak."

Wanyan Shuo was so surprised that his eyes were bulging. "What? Did my Imperial father not even breathe a little hint of this to you? He is too close-lipped. Can it be that you truly do not know that the new Empress he intends to name is none other than you."

With a loud bang, the book that Su Yi was holding landed heavily on the table beside Wanyan Shuo. Su Yi's face and ears were flushed red, full of fury, he yelled: "You are a small child, and the crown prince of a country to boot, why do you not have any propriety in your speech? No doubt, I am a defeated enemy general; you can beat or kill me as you please. Your father uses the life of my people to threaten me and cause me to suffer humiliation. Is that not enough for the two of you, is there really a need to send a child like you to make fun of me? Although Su Yi has a compassionate heart, and is not willing to let his people suffer, I will not be cowed. If I am forced to the point where I have no way out except for death, no matter the reason, they will not be able to make me suffer on to live in this world."

Wanyan Shuo was neither afraid nor worried, he smiled and said: "I naturally have great respect for General Su Yi's moral integrity, but not even a single word I said was a lie, you will know this soon enough. If you can do as you said, and be willing to sacrifice the lives of your people, then no one can stop you if you choose to die. But I understand my Royal Father's temper best; he will really unleash a storm of bloody revenge, the likes of which you don't even dare to dream about. Well, we can wait and see what happens." He gave another cold laugh, and left.

End of Chapter 24

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[1]: The three phrases are Chinese idioms.

[2]: Wanyan Xu uses the royal "I/Me" throughout this chapter when he is speaking.

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