Chapter 8: Farewell Part 1

Xiang Xian said, “Your Majesty, inside the Heaven’s Mandate Box was a human head that claimed to be an incarnation of the ancient God of Time, capable of foretelling all matters of past and future.”

This perfectly piqued Zhao Ji’s interest. He sat down and leaned forward slightly. “A human head?”

It was an utterly inconceivable matter. Xiang Xian replied, “Indeed. This head was named Shuhu, and it revealed three things to me. One of them was closely tied to the future of Great Song.”

“Speak.” Zhao Ji commanded.

“The Jin Kingdom’s fate is nearing its end,” Xiang Xian began with the most pleasing words to lower the emperor’s guard. “Before long, the Jin Kingdom will fall to the Tatars even further north, and the Wanyan clan will meet a complete massacre.”

Zhao Ji was first stunned, then laughed with malicious glee. “Interesting.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gou finally breathed a sigh of relief, though he wondered how Xiang Xian would warn the emperor of the impending crisis facing Great Song.

“And what of Great Song?” Zhao Ji picked up a cup of clear tea, his tone more relaxed as he asked again.

“But before the Jin Kingdom’s downfall, the Wanyan clan will sweep south and seize control of the Central Plains.” Xiang Xian straightened his posture and continued, “Their army will arrive beneath the walls of Kaifeng City in mere days. When that happens, Kaifeng will fall, and rivers of blood will flow from the common folk. The Zhao imperial clan will be captured and dragged north to Huining, paraded like sheep as captives…”

Zhao Ji’s expression shifted from relaxed to astonished, then to outright shock—identical to Xiang Xian’s own reaction when he first heard Shuhu’s words.

“Outrageous!” Tong Guan barked first. “Xiang Xian! Do you know what you’re saying?”

Yet Zhao Ji did not erupt in anger on the spot. With his refined composure, he burst into laughter instead.

Zhao Gou knew it was over the moment he heard this. Though odd stone screens divided the garden, sounds carried unimpeded. The princes and princesses waiting outside for their audience heard everything clearly and were utterly shocked.

“Continue.” Zhao Ji teased. “Lord Tong, go summon Guo Jing at once. Let him hear what his subordinate has to say.”

Tong Guan hurried out to summon the Chief Emissary of the Exorcism Division.

Xiang Xian sighed and replied, “Great Song will retreat to the south, clinging to survival until the Tatars destroy the Jin. Then, two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians will throw themselves into the sea in despair.”

Zhao Gou frantically signaled with his eyes, trying to tell Xiang Xian that this part could have been omitted—it was too distant. But Xiang Xian earnestly continued, “Official Family, do not be deceived by the song and dance in Bianjing today. Catastrophe looms just around the corner. We must urgently fortify defenses along the Yellow River to counter the Jin Army’s sudden southward thrust after they seize the Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures!”

Zhao Ji said, “Now you’ve got my interest. Come, explain in detail.”

Xiang Xian pondered for a moment, then recounted the entire journey—from arriving in Datong Prefecture in Shanxi, to meeting Xiao Kun, all the way to opening the Heaven’s Mandate Box and Xiao Kun posing his first question.

By then, Guo Jing arrived, wearing his coronet and yellow robes, exuding an immortal aura. He stood beside Xiang Xian, listening to the account, his face ashen and sweat pouring like rain.

When Xiang Xian relayed Shuhu’s words verbatim and shifted to the topic of the Heavenly Demon, Zhao Ji finally lost patience. He turned to Tong Guan. “What message came from the north four days ago?”

Tong Guan replied, “Great General Wanyan Zonghan claimed that Lord Xiang Xian from our side attempted to assassinate him.”

“I did indeed give him a beating.” Xiang Xian knew Wanyan Zonghan, humiliated, would seek revenge.

“You assaulted the Jin Kingdom’s Great General beneath Buddha Palace Temple?” Zhao Ji asked incredulously.

“Yes.” Xiang Xian showed no fear, acting as if it were only natural. “He allowed his men to burn, kill, and plunder throughout Ying County, shattering countless innocent families. Yanyun is our Great Song territory; this was an insult to our nation. Had I not been an exorcist, I would have taken his life on the spot!”

“Do you know what consequences this will bring?!” Tong Guan demanded.

“That is not my concern.” Xiang Xian said, “I presume Lord Tong has already dismissed the envoy.”

Zhao Ji leaned back on his throne and turned to Guo Jing. “What do you have to say?”

“This humble subject was unaware… utterly unaware!” Guo Jing knew the emperor was finally furious. He prostrated himself and pleaded, “I did not even know Xiang Xian had gone to Buddha Palace Temple. It was Kang Wang who instigated…”

Zhao Gou paled. “No, that’s not true!”

Realizing he could not escape implication, Zhao Gou dropped to one knee. “Imperial Father, Your Son has known Xiang Xian for a long time and stakes my life on the truth of his words. But I did not participate.”

“Xiang Xian,” Zhao Ji said gravely, “Who put you up to speaking such words before Us?”

Xiang Xian replied, “The Exorcism Division does not associate with the court officials, so I am ignorant of all factions’ positions. I merely did my duty. Upon receiving Great Song’s Heavenly Mandate, I raced back to Bianjing posthaste to report to the Official Family.”

“You are cursing Great Song to perish.” Zhao Ji’s voice turned icy.

“Imperial Father!” Zhao Gou immediately pleaded, “Imperial Father, please hear Your Son out…”

Xiang Xian’s eyes were clear as he stared straight at Zhao Ji and declared loudly, “The Official Family indulges in luxuries and loses his ambition, and those below follow suit! All of Great Song today is like scattered sand. Do not mistake Bianjing’s revelry for peace—forty li north of Kaifeng City, the Central Plains are filled with suffering folk! Years of endless war and crushing taxes have left the poor without even a place to stand! This is what I have seen with my own eyes! Official Family! In these ten years, have you ever left the city? Have you seen your people?!”