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November 14, 2023 at 8:16 AM
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The emperor was sitting still on his throne. His chaoguan, encrusted with pearls and gold: ancestral and ancient but already faded, even dirty in some places, was covering the view. His eyes were shallow, his face turned pale, gray and exhausted. He was one of those who were suffering from the consequences of this cursed war. And he, in contrast to other people, whoever they may be: respectable ministers or ordinary peasants, deserved his karma. The emperor made himself, his folk and his Empire become nothing. In fact, he hated any kind of sentiments, especially pitifulness, but only this feeling conjured up in his mind when he thought of that disgusting imitation of a state in which he turned his motherland of Qing. He should be burning in Diyu eternally, without any right for rebirth. — Your Majesty, have You seen the trade rates… — hesitantly started one of his ministers. — Stop it, Minister Long. I don’t want to take a single glance at those figures. He knew it without getting acquainted with the documents: the numbers doubled, tripled, multiplied each day and mercilessly dragged the country into despair. — But… — Not now, Minister Long, — the emperor interrupted the man, — I’m tired, actually. I want to have a walk in the garden. — Oh, sure… — the minister bowed down, not letting himself look at the emperor anymore. Finally, the ruler left the palace. The day was heading to its end, and the sunset was covering the ground with bleak yellow light. The air was dense and dusty, and the emperor was short of breath. Coughing without a stop, he slowly went to the garden, stepping on the alley carefully and gracefully. He liked this place very much as he could find a mosaic of various flowers there: beautiful, bright and necessarily imperial. Four noble flowers, like four noble men, were looking at him with their disapproving gazes, but their criticism was nice and warm. It resembled that kind of scolding that he, as a disciple of his Master and a son of his Honorable Parents, received from them when they were still alive. Before that moment when they first tried the opium poison and became heavily addicted, like everyone else around. And he legalized this horrible import. How monstrous he is. The emperor takes out a smoking straw from his chaofu and inhales. Trying to overcome the noise inside his mind, he raises his head and looks forward in astonishment. — What the… For some reason, he sees no four honorable flowers but a sea that foams with crimson flaming peonies. He walks further with a feeling of excitement inside his heart. The pulse is becoming uneven. — Such beauty… — he wants to continue his statement, but suddenly someone touches his shoulder. This touch feels light and even unreal, like a feather. The emperor sees the person’s white neat fingers, deep brown eyes and curly long hair decorated with a hairpin. Is he looking… At a deity? — Who are you? — he can’t resist asking. The deity smiles: — Is it really important? — the divinity tilts their head, — I am here to support you. — Well, but why… Why has the garden changed? There were no peonies. But now the garden is flooded with them! — These flowers represent your secret longings and unfulfilled desires. Any ruler is destined to be alone, isn’t it so? It is true, indeed. It is better to trust no one in order not to get stabbed in the back. The emperor sighs quietly. — Are you tired? — the deity asks gently. — Tired… Of what? — Of everything. The emperor does not know why, but after hearing those words he wants to burst out crying. — Yes… Yes, I am… I really am. You know what I did, I ratified… — I know. I know all the things that happened to you. But you should not blame yourself. You did your best to help your country. You had no choice but to agree with those conditions. We got defeated in the war. — We… You mean… Are you a Manchu also? Or, no, stop, you are a deity, aren’t you? Do the divinity creatures have ethnicities? — puzzled, the emperor resembled a child asking stupid but funny questions. The deity couldn’t but chuckled. — Are you with Qing? — the emperor finally inquired. — I am with you, — was the sincere answer. Frankly, the emperor didn’t expect that. His heart jumped, and he swallowed. He… Believed. — What should I do? — the emperor decided to seek advice, — should I… Start another war and try to regain the fairness? — No way, — the deity declined this suggestion, — your people are tired of death. You had better start from yourself. You are the Son of Heaven, aren’t you? They will follow your example. — You mean… — Yes, I mean that. Stop taking opium. Such a commanding tone was inappropriate for speaking with the emperor. With other people, he would already punish them. But with this deity… He obeyed. — For sure, I… Will try. — Then, find professional war ministers who are capable of bettering the defense of the country. Control business as well: do your best to lower the opium traffic. Your country… You have destroyed it, but you also can revive it. — It is too challenging, I don’t think it is possible for me to correct my mistakes, — the emperor smiled sorrowfully, — may I better… Stay with you? It was so calm and pleasant here, in this place surrounded by peony flowers, together with someone who understands him so well, so the emperor wanted to prolong his visit. — You’d better wash your chaoguan, — the deity touched the crown softly, indirectly sending the refusal, — oh, I’m sorry… — You may, — the emperor put the chaoguan off his head, demonstrating it to his interlocutor, — just an accessory. — Do not underestimate its importance, — the deity threatened with a finger, — it’s the symbol of your power. Your people need you. — But I… — We don’t have much time, — the divine creature looked around in a hurry, — have you understood me? — Oh, yes, I… — Then… Farewell, my friend, — suddenly, the beautiful white figure started to disappear, becoming faded and blurred. — Wait! Will we see each other… One more time? — Of course, we will, Your Majesty! — the voice differed so much from the deity’s velvety tone, — that’s opium again… Your Majesty, it is very dangerous to fall asleep in the garden. Any traitor can come and kill You. — Oh… Minister Long… What happened? — The memory is also diminished, I see, — the man sighed, — Your Majesty went for a walk in the garden. Then, gardeners found Your Majesty experiencing hallucinations. Your Majesty was talking, laughing and trembling in convulsion. After that Your Majesty fell asleep. The gardeners informed the ministers, and we sent for physicians. We were afraid that… — No need to worry, — the emperor didn’t let the man finish his guess, — I won’t smoke anymore. By the way, I want you to organize a meeting with all the ministers. There are some issues to discuss concerning our future strategy. — But Your Majesty didn’t want to… — Just go ahead, Minister Long. — Of course, Your Majesty, — he bowed down and looked upon the emperor’s face, — Your Majesty, forgive me asking, but did You order your gardeners to plant peonies? They are very capricious flowers. — What? — it seemed to the emperor that he misheard. — On Your Majesty’s chaoguan… A red flower, — the man pointed to the crown, holding his finger in a considerable distance from the relic. And the emperor, smiling happily, took the bud into his hands, burning his skin with a dreamlike blessing.
