Chapter 8: Undercurrents

Looking at the firecracker in his hand, Liu Xie’s face lit up with excitement.

"With this ultimate weapon, the Han Imperial Army will surely be invincible!" his attendant, A-Er, said with fervor.

Liu Xie nodded in satisfaction, then turned and said, "Draft all the reliable craftsmen in Chang'an. Improve the materials slightly—use fired ceramic for the casing and pack the gunpowder inside! Mix in some gravel to increase the lethality!"

A-Er asked in confusion, "Gunpowder?"

Liu Xie tapped his head; he had forgotten to tell the craftsmen what was inside the firecracker, and gunpowder had not yet been invented in the late Han Dynasty.

Liu Xie smiled and explained, "Gunpowder is that black-brown powder inside these 'palm-thunder' devices."

Hearing the explanation, A-Er scratched his head in sudden realization: "So that’s what it’s called!"

"Also, work urgently during this time. I need a significant quantity—some for use with catapults, and some that can be carried by individuals. Do you understand?" Liu Xie looked A-Er in the eyes.

Hearing this, A-Er’s expression turned solemn: "Your servant will spare no effort to fulfill this command!"

Seeing the determination in A-Er's eyes, Liu Xie nodded with satisfaction and picked up the two remaining firecrackers. "If you need any help during the production, ask the Magistrate of Chang'an County and tell him it is my direct order! Furthermore, keep the production of these 'palm-thunders' strictly confidential. No one involved is permitted to leave the palace without my written authorization! Anyone who violates this order shall be beheaded!"

"Understood!"

Liu Xie glanced at the sky; it was growing dark. After giving a few more instructions, he left the testing grounds under A-Er’s guidance.

"Huzi, I intend to go out of the palace in disguise," Liu Xie said to Fu Hu, who was standing nearby.

"It is getting late, and the world is in chaos, Your Majesty, this..." Fu Hu wanted to dissuade him, but Liu Xie refused.

"I have a very important visit to make to the Qi household," Liu Xie said to Fu Hu. "And with you by my side, I am at ease."

Fu Hu, who had intended to continue his persuasion, fell silent upon hearing the latter part of the sentence. He was deeply moved; as the Emperor of the Great Han, Liu Xie trusted him so completely!

*Then I, Fu Hu, shall protect His Majesty’s safety even if it costs me my life!* Fu Hu secretly resolved.

Seeing that Fu Hu had stopped speaking, Liu Xie smiled and nodded. "Let’s go. Come with me to change into civilian clothes."

"Understood!"

...

By the time Liu Xie and Fu Hu slipped out of the back gate of the Chang'an Palace, the sky had turned completely dark. However, the streets were brightly lit, and vendors were still hawking their wares in the marketplace.

In the third year of the Zhongping era, Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, had abolished the curfew in Chang'an and Luoyang, making the streets unusually lively even at night.

"By the way, do you know where the Qi mansion is?" Liu Xie asked.

"Follow me, Your Majesty." Once they entered the bustling market, Fu Hu’s body tensed up, fearing that an assassin or some blind street thug might bump into them.

Liu Xie, on the contrary, looked around with a relaxed expression, observing his surroundings with curiosity. Chang'an had become much calmer following the bloody purges Liu Xie had conducted over the past two days, and many of the local hoodlums had been thrown into jail.

Yet, as luck would have it, there are spoiled brats in every era.

And Liu Xie happened to run into one.

"Don't block the way! Can't you see Young Master Zhou is coming? Get out of the way, now!"

They hadn't walked far when Liu Xie heard an arrogant, overbearing voice ahead, causing a stir among the passersby who stopped to watch.

"You wench, it is your good fortune that our young master has taken a liking to you! Hurry up and thank him!" came another grating, duck-like voice. The speaker then added with a sycophantic laugh, "Heh heh, Young Master, look at how delicate this girl is. Why don't I send her to your room tonight?"

Accompanied by the lewd laughter of a group of men, Liu Xie could faintly hear sobbing.

Liu Xie’s eyes narrowed. In the great Western Capital of the Han, right under the feet of the Son of Heaven, someone was kidnapping a commoner in broad daylight?

Others might tolerate it, but Liu Xie could not!

Seeing Liu Xie walk forward with an angry expression, Fu Hu hurriedly followed. He knew that if anything happened to Liu Xie, his own head would be forfeit.

Liu Xie approached to find a group of lackeys in grey robes surrounding a young man in extravagant clothing. They were all leering at two women trapped in the center—it appeared to be a wealthy lady and her maid.

The lady wore a blue-patterned, white-based long dress and a snow-white veil. Although it hid her beauty, her exposed eyes and figure were striking—it was no wonder the spoiled young master had set his sights on her.

She was filled with tears, looking helpless. The maid beside her was desperately shielding her mistress, blocking the lackeys and shouting, "You animals, stay away from my mistress! If you come any closer, I will report you to the officials!"

"Report us? Ha! My young master is the son of the Chang'an County Magistrate! Go ahead and report us!" The leader of the lackeys, a man with a lecherous face, was utterly brazen.

Just then, Liu Xie lunged forward, kicking the dog-like lackey into a wall. Before anyone could react, he delivered another kick directly into the young Master Zhou’s crotch.

"I'll teach you to be lecherous! I’ll make sure you never rise again!" Liu Xie cursed while relentlessly kicking the young man.

The onlookers were stunned. The lackeys finally reacted and rushed forward to intervene, but Fu Hu blocked their path, staging a one-man show of taking on ten.

Seeing the chaos, one of the lackeys quietly slipped away to report to the authorities.

Liu Xie, tired from kicking, stopped to catch his breath. Looking at the groaning Young Master Zhou on the ground, he turned to the lady, who was still crouched in shock, and extended his hand. "Get up."

The lady looked up at him, tears still in her eyes. A single glance left Liu Xie breathless; he thought to himself how beautiful she was—no wonder the degenerate had taken an interest.

The lady reached out. Their hands met; her skin was soft and cool, a sensation that made Liu Xie reluctant to let go. But he possessed enough self-control to pull her up and quickly withdraw his hand.

"Thank you, young master," the lady said, her voice sounding like celestial music from behind the veil.

"No need for thanks. It was a trivial matter. I’ll beat these degenerates every time I see them!" Liu Xie laughed. He was fair-skinned and, despite his youth, sturdy from the imperial upbringing. His bright, boyish smile caused the lady to blush and lower her head.

Liu Xie couldn't see her expression behind the veil, so he urged, "You should go quickly. Leave this to me, lest they trouble you again."

The lady frowned, worried, "But young master, you..."

"Haha, don't worry, just leave it to me," Liu Xie laughed. A mere magistrate's son dared to commit such vile acts before the Emperor of Han? He would not be spared!

Seeing Liu Xie’s confidence, the lady handed him a jade pendant. "My name is Sun Ru. You can find me at the Tianxiang Pavilion in the west of Chang'an city. I will surely repay you."

"Yes, I will definitely visit when I have time. You should go now; I see someone went to report this. Don't get stuck here," Liu Xie said, then turned and spat on the groaning Young Master Zhou.

Sun Ru gave Liu Xie one last lingering look before calling out, "Xiaoyu, let’s go."

"You bastard! If you're capable, don't run! If I don't kill you, I won't be surnamed Zhou!" Zhou Yun clutched his injured parts, glaring at Liu Xie with gritted teeth, threatening him.

"I’m right here. Let’s see how you kill me today!" Liu Xie crossed his arms and looked down at Zhou Yun with disdain.

By this time, Fu Hu had finished the fight, leaving a pile of wailing lackeys behind. With Fu Hu's skills, it was an act of mercy that he hadn't killed them.

Soon, the rhythmic sound of footsteps approached. A squad of city guards and a group of yamen runners arrived, clearing the crowd before the city gate commander and the Chang'an County Magistrate—Zhou Shi—stepped forward.

The furious Zhou Shi had come to see which scoundrel dared to beat his precious son. When he saw Liu Xie standing before his son, his face stiffened, and his anger transformed into sheer terror as he rushed forward.

Seeing his father charging over in a rage, Zhou Tian-yun was overjoyed. "Father! It's this bastard who beat me!" He turned his face toward Liu Xie with a twisted grin, full of triumph; he could already imagine Liu Xie kneeling and begging for mercy.

But in the next second, his triumph vanished. His father, Zhou Shi, kicked him hard—so hard that Zhou Yun felt as if he were dying. As he lay there in confusion, he suddenly realized why: he saw his uncle, the usually arrogant Qin, kneeling and shouting in terror.

"This humble general, Qin Xiao, pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor!"

Then, his father, Zhou Shi, knelt and kowtowed to the young man, his face pale with fear. "This humble servant, Zhou Shi, failed in my duties of discipline and have offended Your Majesty. I beg for Your Majesty’s punishment!"

"Oh? Is that so? And yet your precious son wanted to kill me!" Liu Xie’s tone was calm, devoid of joy or sorrow, but to Zhou Shi and Zhou Yun, it sounded as cold and sharp as a reaper's scythe.

Zhou Yun felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him.

"Your Majesty! This servant failed to discipline him! My crime is worthy of death!" Zhou Shi stammered. He wanted to kill his useless son himself, and with that, he kicked him again. The boy was sent flying, a sight that made even Liu Xie wince.

"Enough, enough. I won't pursue this further today. Considering your service to the Han, suggest a punishment yourself," Liu Xie said, waving his hand.

"This..." Zhou Shi was at a loss. If the punishment was too light, he feared the Emperor's displeasure; if it were too heavy, he feared for his son's life.

Seeing his hesitation, Liu Xie waved his hand. "Since you cannot decide, let it be two hundred lashes. Go administer them yourself."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing our lives!" A heavy stone fell from Zhou Shi's heart; two hundred lashes were far better than losing one's head.

"I am tired. Withdraw; I must return to the palace." Liu Xie felt it was quite late, and the trip to the Qi household would have to be postponed. He felt a bit disappointed.

"Understood! This humble general will escort you back to the palace!" Qin Xiao scrambled up and said fawningly.

As Zhou Shi watched Liu Xie’s retreating figure, a flash of subtle, gloomy malice crossed his eyes. He turned to his useless son on the ground, his eyes devoid of emotion, and said coldly, "Drag him away!"

In the west of Chang'an city, at the Tianxiang Pavilion—a famous textile shop—the first floor was still bustling with customers despite the late hour. On the third floor, in a quiet private room, Sun Ru and her maid were sitting.

"Mistress, do you think that dog of an emperor will come?" Xiaoyu asked with some doubt.

"He will. No emperor can resist the temptation of beauty. Continue as planned. That dog emperor won't live much longer." Sun Ru no longer looked helpless; the murderous intent in her eyes seemed to solidify.

With her veil removed, Sun Ru looked stunningly beautiful. Had Liu Xie seen her now, he would surely have been struck by her grace.

"Have you found a way out of the city?"

"Not yet. The city is heavily guarded by officials, and no one is allowed to leave. There is no way to contact General Guo," Xiaoyu said with frustration.

"It doesn't matter. As long as we complete the plan, our great cause will succeed!" Sun Ru said firmly, though the anxiety deep in her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil.

"Keep trying to make contact! We must find a way out of the city!"

"Yes, Mistress!"

...

"General!"

In a secret chamber, a shadow guard knelt on one knee and handed a secret letter to Gao Xun.

Gao Xun opened the letter, read it, and burned it to ashes over a nearby oil lamp.

Watching the ashes slip through his fingers, Gao Xun said in a deep voice, "This Zhou Shi... he is quite interesting."

"Continue investigating. Report any unusual activity immediately."

"Understood!"