Kays Translations

Chapter 97: Repairing the Imperial Mausoleum (Tomb)

The next day, Li Xian returned to Wuyang with his second brother, Li Wei. Xia Qingqing officially took charge of Anyang!
Since ancient times, imperial tombs have been very important, and building an imperial tomb is an enormous project. Sometimes, the construction of an imperial tomb can even bring a country to its knees.

Why is building an imperial tomb so important? No one knows! This secret seems to be known only within the imperial family.

Throughout all historical records, nearly all emperors ordered the construction of their imperial tombs on the very day they ascended to the throne; only a very few would do so just before their death. Only emperors who died unexpectedly would have their imperial tombs built after their death.

“There must be secrets in this that we do not know!” Li Wei ultimately concluded.

“Yeah, second brother is really smart. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Stop giving me that sarcastic talk. Hurry up and get moving.”

The two continued to bicker as they made their way back to Wuyang. First, they visited their father at home, and then Li Xian dragged over a large box. After Li Yulong opened the box, he gasped in shock; it contained exactly 100 pieces of spirit stones!
If utilized properly, these 100 spirit stones could even cause turmoil in an empire.

After staring for a long time, Li Yulong suddenly asked Li Xian, “Is there a guarantee for the transaction with the sea tribe?”

“As long as I hold the secret of stainless steel in my hands, there is a guarantee!”

“Stainless steel?” Li Yulong pondered for a long time, “Make sure all the craftsmen who know the secret of stainless steel swear an oath, a deadly oath.”

Li Xian wore a confident smile on his face: “Father, this has already been done. Otherwise, the secret of stainless steel would have leaked long ago.”

“Ha, you’ve really grown up. It seems that your second brother hasn’t grown up yet…”

Li Wei was quite dissatisfied: “Father, I’ve long since grown up! I was killing enemies on the battlefield while little brother was still being mischievous!”

Li Yulong smiled slightly, “Second, although you are officially supervising the construction of the imperial tomb this time, you don’t need to interfere in the actual process. Just let Li Xian take charge. You are excellent in military matters, but when it comes to these administrative tasks, you really can’t compare to your older brother and your younger brother.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry, Father. My biggest advantage is that I don’t like trouble. That’s why I became a general. If I see someone I don’t like, I’ll just take them out with one blow, and then they’ll always look good to me.”

Li Xian: …

The corner of Li Yulong’s mouth twitched, and he finally snorted, “Xian, you should go to the palace and meet with His Majesty. Ah…”

By the end of his statement, Li Yulong also seemed dispirited; clearly, the changes in the court of the Great Xia Kingdom had left him at a loss for words.

Li Xian drove the carriage to the palace; every time he visited, he would bring gifts. Of course, every time Li Xian visited, he would earn a windfall.

It was still Fu Minghui who received Li Xian, but the Fu Minghui he saw now was almost unrecognizable. The once spirited head of the imperial guards, the Emperor’s most favored person, now looked haggard, with a few strands of white hair at his temples! This was a master at the Golden Core stage; how could he have white hair?
“Doctor Langzhong, are you okay?”

Fu Minghui smiled bitterly, “I’m fine; I just fell into a bit of a rut. I just need to calm down and adjust my mind later. But His Majesty, ah… let’s go.”

Before entering the palace, Li Xian sensed an indescribable smell—neither very unpleasant nor particularly pleasant, but it was filled with a decayed scent reminiscent of withered wood.

When he finally saw the emperor, Li Xian was truly stunned. The once spirited Emperor now appeared so emaciated, like a little old man, resembling a wooden sculpture carved from rotten wood; if it weren’t for the yellow robe he wore and the presence of the favored Concubine Hua and the Empress by his side, who would dare believe that this was the Emperor of the Great Xia Kingdom?

“Emperor…”

“Just call me father-in-law,” the Emperor said in a hoarse, weak voice, though his tone remained calm.
Li Xian quickly corrected himself: “Greetings, father-in-law and mother-in-law.”

As for Concubine Hua, she was dismissed to the side. Since it was a meeting with the father and mother-in-law, there was little relevance to Concubine Hua.

The Emperor waved his hand to dismiss everyone, leaving only Li Xian and Fu Minghui. Then the first thing the Emperor said left Li Xian utterly speechless. The words were:

“Xian, I’ve been poisoned. Unfortunately, I don’t know what poison it is, but I can clearly sense that I have three years left to live.”

Li Xian was instantly frozen in shock, completely unsure of what to say or how to react. If it were the Five Declines of Heaven and Man, one could say it was due to stimulation or falling into a rut; but poisoning was a serious political incident!
Yet the Emperor seemed to take it lightly, even managing a slight smile, though it looked quite unappealing. “Come here by my side, let me take a good look at you.”

Li Xian walked over to the Emperor’s side, and seeing the state of the Emperor made his heart ache. “Father-in-law, if there are spirit stones, can they extend your life?”

Li Xian didn’t ask who had poisoned him or any related matters.

“This poison targets my soul. That’s why it presents as the Five Declines of Heaven and Man. You have this intention, and I am very gratified.

Xian, do you know? Being an emperor is truly lonely. It’s like being betrayed by everyone and everything. Since I took this position, I have been a solitary person.

In fact, I understand the thoughts of all the officials in the court. I also understand your little thoughts.

Sigh, ignorance is bliss. What good is understanding when I remain powerless?”

Li Xian listened, drenched in cold sweat; indeed, there wasn’t a single good emperor in the world!
The Emperor patted Li Xian’s shoulder, saying, “The Great Xia Kingdom has been unable to hold on for ten years. It was your father who extended the kingdom’s life for ten more years.

I wanted to use this decade to reverse my fate, but the will of heaven is hard to defy.

However, your sudden awakening has given me hope again. Your idea of revitalizing the nation through commerce has greatly encouraged me. I know you have your selfish motives; but you do not possess the wolf’s heart to replace the Great Xia. That is enough—everyone has their own selfish desires, after all.”

Hearing this, Li Xian finally felt a weight lift from his chest.

After a brief pause, the Emperor finally broached the core topic. “Xian, there are not many people I can trust as I face death. What I’m about to say is very important.”

Li Xian did not hesitate and quickly swore—today’s matters would not be leaked even a word, or else he would suffer dire consequences.

At this moment, not only could he not refuse, but even a slight hesitation could cost him his head; didn’t he see that Fu Minghui had his hand resting on the hilt of his sword?!
However, after making the oath, Li Xian was surprised to find that this “soul flying away” oath seemed to have no effect on him at all?! Other oaths had worked before; why was this one ineffective? When an oath succeeded, he would feel a kind of binding force, but this time, he felt nothing!

Wait a minute—oh no, the Li Xian of this world had long since met his demise! So that oath, of course, wouldn’t work!
Li Xian’s heart leaped with joy at this unexpected discovery! In the future, whenever he swore an oath, he would just say “soul flying away” out loud!

After hearing Li Xian’s oath, the Emperor smiled in satisfaction. Then, he finally revealed a shocking secret—one about the imperial mausoleum!

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