Chapter 31
In the fall of 180, when the last leaf fell, marking two years since Dongbaek arrived in this world, He Jin was appointed Grand General. Shortly after, as a new year began, two bright stars fell onto this vast continent. One star fell into the Imperial Palace, while the other descended into the Celestial Realm, home to the immortals. Both became new lives, letting out their first cries in this world.
The star born in the Imperial Palace was Prince Xie. Not long after his birth, he lost his mother. Though people hushed the truth, it was undoubtedly Empress He who had poisoned her. Left alone in the world, Xie was taken in by Empress Dowager Dong. Under her protection, he narrowly escaped death, much to the chagrin of Empress He, who ground her teeth at his survival.
While this life-and-death tightrope walk continued in the imperial palace, Dongbaek was spending her time rather leisurely, honing her abilities. Being hasty would do no good—she was still just a child. No matter how much she counted the days until she would become an adult, age wasn’t something that could be rushed. She had only just turned 12.
While Dongbaek was focusing on building her foundation somewhat forcibly, heroes who had already become adults and developed heroic qualities were establishing their forces one by one.
Cao Cao, who had retired to his homeland, strengthened his relationships with talented individuals. In Wu (吳郡) Commandery, Sun Jian charmed his followers and took the first steps to becoming a warlord, independent of the Han’s traditional authority. Meanwhile, in Zhuo County, Liu Bei met Zhang Fei and became the leader of a band of vigilantes, showcasing his youthful talents.
Liu Bei and Sun Jian were still far away. The first hero Dongbaek would meet was Cao Cao. Selected as a Yilang (Imperial Counselor), Cao Cao finally ended his three-year seclusion and headed to Luoyang.
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The position of Yilang that Cao Cao took was an honored position as an imperial advisor who could point out the emperor’s mistakes. However, by the Later Han dynasty, it had become a nominal position as there were no longer people who actually pointed out the emperor’s mistakes.
But this was irrelevant to Cao Cao. Despite living a leisurely life away from Luoyang for several years, Cao Cao’s bold personality hadn’t changed. As soon as he entered the imperial court, he submitted a petition to the emperor.
“Your Majesty, I, Yilang Cao Cao, humbly present myself.”
“Ah, Yilang Cao, what brings you here?”
Emperor Ling was lounging on a cushion embroidered with gold thread. Beside him, Zhang Rang was meticulously tending to the emperor’s fingernails. Displeased by Cao Cao’s sudden intrusion, deep wrinkles formed between his brows.
Apart from his personal dislike of Cao Cao, Zhang Rang was most displeased that he always brought troublesome and annoying issues to mislead the emperor.
Zhang Rang wasn’t the only one uncomfortable with the current situation. Cao Cao also disliked how Zhang Rang was unnecessarily close to the emperor. This was an official audience between a minister and the emperor. Yet there was a eunuch so boldly standing by the emperor’s side even during official business. It was a prime example of how much the emperor favored eunuchs, especially that Zhang Rang.
It left a bitter taste in his mouth. Though he had come prepared with a petition, it was clear it wouldn’t be accepted as long as Zhang Rang was by the emperor’s side.
Even so, he couldn’t back down. Cao Cao knelt down heavily and raised the prepared petition above his head.
“Though I am humbled, I wish to submit a petition.”
As expected. Zhang Rang, who had anticipated Cao Cao’s purpose, held his head. His deeply furrowed brow showed how much he considered Cao Cao a nuisance.
If Emperor Ling had been more perceptive, he would have noticed the tension between the two, but Emperor Ling didn’t have even a spoonful of perception. Despite Zhang Rang’s reservations, he permitted Cao Cao’s petition.
“Very well, let us hear it.”
Emperor Ling nodded listlessly while sprawled out. Usually, he would have set aside such petitions that interrupted his rest time, but Cao Cao had quite the face to the emperor’s liking. So he planned to simply appreciate Cao Cao’s face while he read the petition.
Whether aware of the emperor’s thoughts or not, Cao Cao straightened his back and recited his prepared words.
“Your Majesty, do you recall the tragedy of The Disasters of the Partisan Prohibitions during the 5th year of Xiping (176 CE)?”
That’s right. The issue that had brought Cao Cao before the Emperor was none other than the Disasters of the Partisan Prohibitions. Zhang Rang’s teeth ground together.
‘So he finally brought up that issue.’
The Disasters of the Partisan Prohibitions.
It was a conflict between officials and eunuchs, during which the eunuch faction persecuted and imprisoned officials. Emperor Huan, the current emperor’s father, had relied on the eunuchs to suppress the power of outside relatives. This reliance allowed the eunuchs to rise to prominence, eventually meddling in governance and engaging in all manner of tyranny.
Officials and powerful families, displeased with the eunuchs, sought to remove them. But it was no easy task, as Emperor Huan was firmly on the eunuchs’ side.
Instead, the eunuchs accused the opposing officials of forming factions and criticizing the court, framing them as the root cause of political disorder. Emperor Huan, swayed by the eunuchs’ words, arrested respected officials and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
Later, when Emperor Huan died and Emperor Ling was enthroned, the imperial relative Dou Wu tried once again to drive out the eunuchs but failed due to their counterattack, and everything fell into the hands of the eunuchs. Around a hundred people died in connection with this incident, and seven hundred were punished.
Since Zhang Rang had also been involved in this Disasters of the Partisan Prohibitions, he found it distasteful to hear his corrupt rise to power being criticized. However, since the emperor had permitted Cao Cao to speak, he couldn’t intervene. He concealed his boiling anger while finishing grooming the emperor’s nails.
With Zhang Rang right in front of him, as if a blade were held to his throat, Cao Cao continued speaking with composure.
“Five years have passed since then, Your Majesty. Due to the Disasters of the Partisan Prohibitions, many members of the Qingliu faction were falsely branded as rebels, dismissed from office, and sentenced to confinement. Not only that, countless lives were lost as well. These were all upright scholars and talented individuals who could have greatly contributed to this nation. And now, who occupies their vacated positions? They are all eunuchs or their relatives. If this continues, corruption in governance will only deepen, and the people will writhe in suffering. I earnestly request that Your Majesty carefully review this petition, punish these parasites that devour the nation, and restore proper order to the state.”
Cao Cao bowed deeply from his kneeling position. Emperor Ling, who had been listening to Cao Cao’s words with indifference, asked Zhang Rang.
“I’m not sure. Are the people really writhing in agony?”
“Under Your Majesty’s grace, we are in a golden age. To say that people are suffering is utterly absurd. It seems Yilang Cao is overly passionate and eager, having just entered court service after observing the world.”
“Yilang Cao seems to worry too much.”
Cao Cao’s heart sank heavily as he listened to Zhang Rang and the emperor’s words while staring at the floor. The future looked dark. He hadn’t expected the emperor to be so thoroughly bewitched by the eunuchs. Though he had anticipated the emperor’s lack of interest in the petition, actually facing it in person left him feeling powerlessly dejected.
The emperor waved his hand dismissively to dismiss Cao Cao, clearly showing his lack of interest. Cao Cao left the emperor’s audience chamber with dignity, hiding his disappointment. However, he apparently couldn’t contain his radiating anger, as passing eunuchs startled and stepped aside when they saw him.
Standing straight in the quiet corridor, Cao Cao emanated a presence like the gradually rising sun. Just then, someone could be seen approaching Cao Cao from far away. It was a boy. The youth, whose age seemed out of place in the imperial palace, was heading straight for the emperor’s audience chamber.
His dignified yet elegant attitude made him seem like the owner of this palace. It felt so natural that even Cao Cao momentarily mistook him for a prince. However, none of the emperor’s bloodline was of that age.
‘Then who could it be?’
Just as Cao Cao wondered, the boy seemed to notice him too. Their eyes met.
Pale. That was the word that best described the boy. The boy, with delicate facial features, was even pale in complexion, making him stand out in the palace, which was decorated with deep colors. The boy standing quietly among those who showed off their presence by flaunting their own colors seemed out of place.
The child passed by Cao Cao indifferently and stood before the emperor’s audience chamber that Cao Cao had just left. His attitude suggested he was familiar with having audiences with the emperor. He was undoubtedly an interesting boy in every aspect. The eunuch attending the chamber, who seemed to recognize him, calmly announced,
“Your Majesty, So Dongbaek has arrived.”
“Oh, oh! So Dongbaek! Let him in at once!”
Unlike when receiving Cao Cao, the voice was excited. Clear joy was conveyed.
So Dongbaek…. So Dongbaek?
The name rang a bell. Though it was long ago, Cao Cao never forgot a person’s name once he heard it, especially if they seemed likely to affect him in some way. Yes, he remembered. This must be the boy Xiahou Dun mentioned two years ago. Zhang Rang’s adopted son.
A wry smile tugged at one corner of Cao Cao’s lips. As if it weren’t enough for the eunuchs to wield unchecked power, they had now brought such a young boy into the palace under the guise of a foster child. Of course, Zhang Rang was the type of cold-blooded person who wouldn’t hesitate to use his foster son as the emperor’s male lover if it meant securing favor.
Cao Cao found it amusing that he had felt dignity from the boy just moments ago. No matter how elegant and noble he appeared, what did it matter? In the end, he was just his adoptive father’s puppet.
After quietly clicking his tongue, Cao Cao glanced at the door where the boy had disappeared and went on his way. It had been a bitter day in many ways.
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Thank you for reading! ♡
