Miserable, is the new name I have given myself…
“What an ambitious wish.”
Dian Cui laughed: “When others summon their ancestors, at most they ask to ‘clear the court of corrupt officials,’ but you—you want me to clear out the ruler himself?”
The ghost remained silent. She simply stared at Dian Cui, pitifully, her eyes clearly pleading: Ancestor, please help me.
Dian Cui did not look at her. Instead, she fixed her gaze on the bronze cauldron, where she had just painstakingly pieced together a usable body.
It was also the body of the ghost before her.
Suddenly, she smiled.
“Rest assured, if what you say is true, I will certainly avenge you.”
Dian Cui looked at A Cui, her words measured and precise.
Though she spoke this way, in her heart, Dian Cui had already devised ten thousand ways to kill the current emperor.
After all, what kind of normal emperor would conduct human sacrifices and insist on tearing the victims apart? That was nothing short of psychopathic! Definitely not a sane person!
Seeing Dian Cui’s smile, A Cui also smiled. Conversing with this Ancestor Qingluan of the sorcery path turned out to be much simpler than she had initially imagined.
Dian Cui spoke again: “So…”
She reached out and gently placed her hand on A Cui’s head: “You should go now. You are already dead, A Cui… It is time to depart.”
Dian Cui’s voice was soft, unmistakably her own, yet A Cui sensed a weight in it she had never heard before.
“Go where you must, do not linger.”
The weight of one who once held supreme authority, a great sorcerer who could turn clouds with a wave of her hand and summon rain with another.
Watching the soul beneath her hand slowly dissipate, Dian Cui sighed: “Don’t worry, I can do it. Have you noticed my face?”
A Cui’s ghost abruptly looked up. Though she was already dead, her soul slowly fading away, the moment she saw Dian Cui’s face, a chill ran through her.
The stitched wounds on Dian Cui’s body had vanished without a trace, as if she had never been dismembered. And the face that had just resembled her own had now transformed.
It had become a cold, detached, unfamiliar face, like a vast bamboo forest untouched by worldly concerns.
That face was identical to the portrait of the State Preceptor, treasured deep within the State Preceptor’s residence.
Dian Cui had transformed A Cui’s body into her own likeness.
“I know… A Cui is dead, I am dead, but you—”
The ghost murmured. In her final moment in this world, the last emotion she felt was fear.
Fear of the Ancestor Qingluan she had summoned.
Dian Cui lowered her eyes and sighed. Outside the hall, chaotic footsteps approached. According to the sacrificial schedule, it was time for the other Alchemy Attendants to retrieve the bodies.
She reached out, roused the two Alchemy Attendants who had fainted from fright, opened the small ventilation window in the hall, and pushed the two girls, who looked no older than twelve or thirteen, outside.
“Go, leave quickly. If possible, never tread the path of sorcery and ghost arts again.”
Ignoring the stunned Alchemy Attendants, Dian Cui casually closed the window and waited for the attendants outside to rush in. The emperor’s sacrifice would surely be overseen personally by the high-ranking officials in the State Preceptor’s residence. As long as the State Preceptor came, he would undoubtedly recognize her face. No matter his attitude, she could then carry out her plan to replace the sacrificial offering—
And then, fresh and vibrant, Dian Cui was thrown into prison.
In the four-sided cell of the Imperial Prison, the last empty cell was finally occupied. Jun Youcheng even secretly rejoiced—with Dian Cui’s arrival, everything was now perfect, and his obsessive-compulsive tendencies were completely cured.
Thus, the four founding heroes of Da Qian found themselves staring at each other. Finally, Jun Youcheng coughed twice and delivered a cutting remark.
“So, if your plan was so perfect, why are you here with us?”
Dian Cui dramatically clutched his chest, as if struck by an invisible sword, and slowly fell backward, landing on the straw pillow Jun Youcheng had bundled.
“Lao Jun, your words… they truly cut deep, as always…”
Dian Cui pretended to wipe away tears, feigning sorrow.
Jun Youcheng remained expressionless. “Get up and explain.”
Dian Cui instantly sprang to his feet. “Because this State Preceptor doesn’t follow the usual script! Who knew he wouldn’t take the emperor’s arrangements seriously? I personally oversaw every task His Majesty assigned, watching closely to ensure nothing went wrong. Your Majesty, see how devoted I am to you—”
Jun Youcheng inwardly groaned. Oh no, here we go. Once Dian Cui starts performing, there’s no stopping him. Everyone knows Dian Cui and Xiao Jingchuan are a pair—one eccentric and the other shameless. If they get going, their theatrics could fill two hundred episodes of a palace drama.
As expected, Xiao Jingchuan was immediately moved to tears by Dian Cui’s words. “I always knew Minister Qingluan cared deeply for me—”
The easily moved general also teared up at the sight.
The honest Gu Yue: I don’t know what you’re crying about, but I’ll join in.
Now, only the fuming prime minister couldn’t hold back and slammed the iron bars. “What are you all doing?”
Damn! That hurt!
His eyes reddened too.
Xiao Jingchuan looked at him disapprovingly. “See, you’re getting emotional again. Clearly, you’re moved as well.”
Jun Youcheng: “…I am not, and please don’t say ‘yes, you are.’”
Perfectly anticipated, Xiao Jingchuan fell silent. He then turned to his equally unhinged State Preceptor, making small talk. “Old Cui, what were you doing before they brought you here? According to your story, it shouldn’t have taken this long. It’s been a full two hours since you arrived in Nan Qian.”
He asked casually, but the State Preceptor’s expression turned peculiar.
Dian Cui: “Actually, before coming here, I was reading a storybook about you. Even though I was a suspicious person being hauled in, I still had some rights. While waiting for the prison processing, I read a few popular storybooks to pass the time. I got so engrossed I lost track of time and even forgot it was my turn to be imprisoned.”
Xiao Jingchuan: “What storybook?”
Jun Youcheng seemed to realize something. “You really shouldn’t ask.”
But it was too late. Dian Cui straightened his robes, cleared his throat, and began reciting: “‘Qiran—this is the new name I have given myself, symbolizing the love between me and my three deceased companions. It turns out the limit of one person’s love can encompass three others. Yes, I am Xiao Jingchuan, and with my Three Excellencies, we four loved each other deeply…’”
Dian Cui smiled with satisfaction at Xiao Jingchuan’s stunned expression and added another question: “The storybook says you died young in your thirties in history to join us in a lovers’ suicide. Is that true?”
Xiao Jingchuan immediately retorted, “Nonsense! As the Son of Heaven, how could I possibly be with three people…”
Dian Cui: “Ah… so heartbreaking—”
Xiao Jingchuan: “That would be too unfair to the three of you, wouldn’t it?! How could I do something so rotten? I’m the Chivalrous King of Chang’an—it goes completely against my code of honor! I’m Da Qian’s loyalist, Da Qian’s pure love warrior! If I were to die for love, it could only be with one person!”
Jun Youcheng: …So that’s the point?
After enough banter among the group, once the four founding members were all present, Xiao Jingchuan clapped his hands and finally got down to business: “Everyone, we’re all in prison now, and you’ve all seen more or less what’s going on. The emperor is in this state, so…”
He stood up solemnly, with great dignity… and spread his hands:
“What should we do about it?!”
Jun Youcheng held his forehead in exasperation: What had he been expecting?
Since Emperor Yunqi was beyond saving and Xiao Jingchuan had the inherent advantage of his status, wasn’t it obvious what needed to be done now?
First of all, no one could stand the division between Northern Qian and Southern Qian.
There could only be one Qian, and on this land, there could only be one Qian.
Unification was the consensus among everyone.
Dian Cui raised her hand high: “Me, me, me! This time I’m serious, I have a plan! Guaranteed to succeed!”
Dian Cui’s eyes darted around, landing on Jun Youcheng beside her. To bolster her credibility, she even raised her voice: “Look, even the Prime Minister has no objections.”
Jun Youcheng was horrified: “When did I agree?!”
Xiao Jingchuan raised his hand with a smile: “Approved. Come, dear Minister Dian Cui, please proceed.”
So Dian Cui grinned: “I’m serious. If we’re starting a venture, aren’t divine signs the most important? Why don’t we go out now, grab a stone, stuff it with a note saying ‘Da Qian prospers, the Sixth Prince is king,’ and start building momentum?”
Jun Youcheng: “…How did we win during the Early Qian Period again?”
They did win the Three Kings’ War, right? He was starting to feel a bit sorry for King Chu Wu and the Beast Shu King, who had lost.
Under Jun Youcheng’s murderous gaze, Qian Taizu said guiltily: “Well, this descendant may not be much, but he’s really rich. He even built the prison cells as singles. Back in our day, a room this big could hold seven or eight people—”
Jun Youcheng’s veins bulged: “You’ve already praised this place twice. Your excuse for changing the subject is terrible.”
Xiao Jingchuan chuckled shamelessly and clapped his hands: “Actually, I don’t think we need to rush the discussion. With the four of us here, is there anything we haven’t experienced?”
Jun Youcheng: “It seems the struggle for succession is something you haven’t experienced.”
Xiao Jingchuan was thoroughly defeated. He surrendered: “Ouch, well, honestly, I really haven’t experienced that. Back then, I appointed my sister’s child, my nephew, as the crown prince. The crown prince had his own military achievements and could keep the other meritorious officials in line… I really didn’t have to worry too much about it.”
Jun Youcheng sneered.
“The other meritorious officials”… So you really did intend to deal with the three of us back then, didn’t you? Did you breathe a sigh of relief when we died so early?
He thought darkly and bitterly.
Gu Yue, who had been silent until now, forced herself into the discussion: “Besides, we have nothing right now.”
Xiao Jingchuan remained optimistic: “It’s fine. Look at the former Empress Yan’an. Although her dynasty lasted only three generations, she started with just a fishing rod.”
Jun Youcheng was in a bad mood and jabbed again, “At least they’re free. We started off in prison, just waiting for the autumn execution.”
Dian Cui silently added, “…We might not even make it to autumn.”
Xiao Jingchuan wasn’t angered by Jun Youcheng’s jab; in fact, he seemed quite pleased. After all, it had been years since Jun Youcheng had scolded him. Being scolded felt like returning to the Early Qian Period—utterly comforting.
Qian Taizu remained optimistic, “It’s fine, you’re my most trusted ministers! Surely you can manage this, right?”
The State Preceptor and Jun Youcheng were the first to show indescribable expressions—what a toxic boss who only assigns tasks without considering the difficulty of execution.
Only Gu Yue, foolishly moved to tears, said, “Your servant is willing to sacrifice everything for Your Majesty! At worst, I’ll agree to the marriage proposal—”
Even Dian Cui couldn’t bear to watch: Seriously, Gu Yue, don’t be so infatuated. Can you really be swayed by such perfunctory words?
Fortunately, a shout from outside brought the farce to an end.
“The Celestial Screen! The Celestial Screen has lit up again!”
With the Celestial Screen’s arrival, everyone—whether scheming in the palace, plotting politically, or planning usurpation—stopped to watch the gossip about the Qianwu Emperor from that host. Everyone wanted to know who the Qianwu Emperor really was.
The four in the prison cells were no exception. With Dian Cui here, certain previously impossible tasks could now be put on the agenda, such as combining Dian Cui’s witchcraft with the technology of the Qin Emperor’s Bone-Reflecting Mirror to project the outside images before them.
Xiao Jingchuan clutched his chest, moved, “Finally, we can watch the Celestial Screen! I’ve been itching for this all day! A whole day!”
The other three merely looked at him with pity, especially Gu Yue, who had witnessed the scene firsthand: I hope Qian Taizu, the only one who hasn’t experienced the true situation outside, doesn’t go mad later.