Chapter 2, A Glimpse into the History of Dreams

Han Qian cleared his throat, intending to call the ugly maid Qingyun to ask for clarification. Suddenly, a fragment of memory flashed through his mind; more accurately, it was a passage from the history of Southern Chu that Zhai Xinping had once read in a dream.

Han Qian's mind was still in a muddle, his body weak, and he lacked the strength to curse at anyone. He could only watch helplessly as Qingyun busily took care of him and helped him to sleep. In the meantime, he drank a bowl of bitter medicinal soup, not knowing what was in it or whether it would harm him. In a daze, he thought that everything before him might still be a dream, and there was no need to take it all too seriously.

In the deep and secluded Han family mansion, a gaunt figure sits in the cold shadows, their soft yet piercing gaze evokes a sensation akin to being pricked by needles

Han Qian walked to the study outside

At this time, it is the twelfth year of Tianyou, and there are still five years until the seventeenth year of Tianyou, the year of the Emperor Tianyou's passing

However, how can he prove that the historical fragments remembered by people in dreams are true

However, the window in front of the writing desk is still half-closed, and it has not been cleaned for two or three days. A layer of dust has accumulated on the windowsill, leaving several chaotic handprints and footprints that are clearly visible

As an observer, Han Qian found such a scene to be quite shocking

In the later years of the Southern Chu's Martial Emperor, his governance became increasingly foolish and he grew suspicious of his ministers. Minister Han Daoxun admonished him for his diligence in state affairs, which enraged the Martial Emperor, leading to Han's execution by beating in front of the Wenying Hall. His son, Han Qian, fled to his ancestral home in Xuanzhou with the intention of raising an army, but was captured by family soldiers and delivered to the authorities, ultimately being torn apart by chariots in the market

Han Qian picked up the beast-buttoned bronze mirror from the bedside, gazing at himself in the reflection, still that pale-faced youth of eighteen or nineteen, with a somewhat elongated face due to his gaunt cheeks

In the grand library, far from the center of imperial power, the collection of books seems as vast and deep as an ocean

The young master has truly changed his disposition, sitting at the writing desk for an entire night. If he could behave this way in the city, it would not only provoke the master’s anger.

His father, Han Daoxun, was transferred to a position in the court, and Han Qian was also brought to Jinling to reunite with his father. Although it had only been three to four months, he had the opportunity to witness the scene of a dismemberment execution with his own eyes

However, this only makes Han Qian more confused

In the past, the punishment of dismemberment by chariots in various dynasties was known as being torn apart by five horses. However, the method of dismemberment by chariots in the State of Chu was somewhat simpler. It involved using ropes to bind the condemned prisoner under the armpits and around the waist, with two horses pulling in opposite directions with all their might, until the prisoner was literally torn in half, with intestines, excrement, and spurting blood flowing everywhere

Yao Xishui should have put effort into capturing such a lavish spender as a financial backer, so how could she come to kill him

However, the more this was the case, the stranger Han Qian felt about the dream he had the previous night

Yao Xishui and another man jumped out from the windowsill, not a figment of one's imagination

How could such a thing possibly happen to oneself

Han Qian contemplated discarding these chaotic thoughts, yet the dream from the previous night increasingly presented itself clearly in his mind, as if the life memories of the person, Zhai Xinping, from the dream had already merged into his very blood, making them difficult to erase

Upon waking with his eyes open, Han Qian noticed that the sun had already begun to set in the west. He felt somewhat better. On the bedside was a bowl of vegetable porridge, with steam rising from it, which must have just been brought in by the maid, Qingyun.

Primarily featuring thread-bound books, there are also some paper or silk scrolls, as well as bamboo slips that appear to be quite ancient, all part of his father Han Daoxun's collection; on the bookshelf, there are two incense burners shaped like animal heads, ... and some uniquely shaped strange stones in colors such as white, black, brown, or chestnut serve as book supports ...

Emperor Tianyou reigned for seventeen years. After his passing, he was posthumously honored with the title of Emperor Taisheng Taiwu, and is referred to by later generations as Emperor Wu of Chu

Isn't this passage of history narrating the process of Emperor Tianyou establishing the State of Chu

Oh dear, why is it so hot? It is said that one should not open the window while studying at night, as the mountain breeze can be quite chilling. It seems the young master has caught a chill from the wind. The master has strictly forbidden the servants from coming in to attend to the young master at night. Lord Fan is also careless and did not think to close the window. With the forehead feeling this hot, what should we do?

After consuming a bowl of slightly hot vegetable porridge, Han Qian finally began to regain his strength, breaking into a sweat. The weakness and disorientation that followed the poisoning subsided, and everything before him felt more vivid and real.

Only his grandfather Han Wenhui, who once served as the Deputy Minister of War, has already retired to his hometown and moved to Xuanzhou. His father, Han Daoxun, holds the position of Deputy Secretary with a rank of fourth grade, which is not particularly outstanding among the officials and generals of the court. He is also a wayward son, and his father, frustrated by his lack of ambition, sent him to a separate residence to cultivate himself. He holds no power or influence, and even Fan Xicheng, that old dog who only follows his father's orders, cannot be commanded by him. Who would go to such lengths to poison him? He is also a wayward son, and his father, frustrated by his lack of ambition, sent him to a separate residence to cultivate himself. He holds no power or influence, and even Fan Xicheng, that old dog who only follows his father's orders, cannot be commanded by him. Who would go to such lengths to poison him?

Han Qian has lived for so many years without a care in the world; he certainly would not concern himself with the flood raging behind him. However, when he thinks about the possibility of being "torn apart in public" within the next five years, how can he remain calm?

The waters of the Qiupu River, illuminated by candlelight, appear under the night sky like shimmering black satin. The delicate ripples of the water gently lap against the boat's sides, while the soft, jade-like bodies within the pleasure boat, unclothed, murmur softly in their dreams, ... exuding a deadly allure ...

Is there perhaps some other conspiracy hidden?

Even though he usually found pleasure in visiting the late Red Chamber and indulging in the company of courtesans, treating the talented Yao Xishui with disdain and attempting various provocations, in just two or three short months, he squandered over a hundred taels of gold at the late Red Chamber, yet he did not even touch Yao Xishui's bosom.

This made Han Qian feel somewhat better, as it was still a familiar sight; he almost thought he had become that middle-aged man named Zhai Xinping, who came from an orphan background in his dreams

If these events are destined to occur, does it not imply that the Emperor will pass away in five years, and that he will be "torn apart in the market" before that time?

After that, I fell into a deep slumber once more, and again, fragmented dreams assailed me

Yao Xishui never came to the villa at all; everything was merely a figment of her imagination. She simply had a few strange dreams after catching a cold.

At dawn, the color of the clouds above the distant mountain ridges gradually brightens, and the hills and forests become increasingly clear, revealing that the cliffs are not far from here

The ugly maid was startled, supporting Han Qian, and seeing his face was extremely pale, she reached out to touch his forehead

Although he was scolded harshly by his father, he still felt that such a scene was worth seeing again. However, the thought that such a thing could happen to him made Han Qian shiver with fear and dread, his heart involuntarily twitching.

The root of the tongue was numb, unable to open his mouth to shout. Han Qian felt restless and resentful, yet he could only lie there on the desk, listening to the window covered with a layer of oiled paper, swaying all night under the gentle breeze blowing from the ridge of the mountain, making Han Qian want to tear down the entire courtyard.

Shut your mouth

The previous dynasty has fallen, and the newly established Chu state has only been in existence for twelve years since its capital was set in Jinling. At this time, the situation within the Chu state is not peaceful. Emperor Tianyou governs with strictness, enforcing severe laws and harsh punishments, resulting in numerous prisoners being executed by the punishment of being torn apart by chariots each year

Han Qian, feeling ravenous, disregarded everything and lifted the vegetable porridge, gulping it down without hesitation

The study faces east, and the mountains cannot be described as particularly steep; however, the ridges rise and fall in a continuous manner, appearing in the deep purple of the night like thin layers of differently colored, pale paper cutouts stacked together

At this moment, what Han Qian dreamed of was no longer that bizarre and fantastical world, but rather the bloodthirsty and robust soldiers, the sharp and cold blades, the broken city walls strewn with corpses and flowing rivers of blood, with the setting sun casting its light on the reeds by the riverbank

In the dream, the person Zhai Xinping does not have a deep familiarity with this segment of history regarding Nan Chu, and no matter how hard Han Qian tries to recall, it remains merely a collection of fragmented memories

Despite Han Qian's confusion, he is able to confirm at this moment that Yao Xishui came over at night to poison him; this is not a dream, but a reality that has truly occurred

Han Qian is not unfamiliar with being torn apart by a chariot

He struggled to stand up, thinking of picking up the copper basin filled with water for washing his face and smashing it onto the face of the annoying ugly maid. He thought to himself, this wretched maid, having made him sit by the window for an entire night, didn't even think to come in and serve him.

Has too much time passed since I was sent to the Qiu Lake Mountain villa by my father, causing me to become confused

At this moment, the ugly maid Qingyun heard the commotion in the room, walked in, and saw the young master Han Qian sitting there in a daze, his expression somewhat grim. She did not dare to say much and simply tidied up the dishes before leaving.

The ugly maid did not notice Han Qian's unusual behavior, placed the copper basin filled with water for washing his face on the wooden rack, and seeing that the bedding in the inner room was not spread out, truly believed that Han Qian had not rested at all while reading late into the night

The bizarre dream from the previous night, was it a result of being bewitched by ghosts, or a warning from the heavens to him

This is the world that Han Qian is familiar with, the world that he, as the son of the Secretary and Deputy Supervisor, and the notorious "Seventh Young Master of the Han Family" who relies on his family's power to act lawlessly in Xuanzhou and Jinling, knows all too well

In the dream, the life memories of the person Zhai Xinping are so vivid in his mind, possessing a sense of reality so profound that Han Qian begins to doubt whether he has been possessed by the ghost of a millennium later

Han Qian, despite his reckless behavior, still possesses some self-awareness

Han Qian propped himself up on the desk, his body about to stand up, but he nearly toppled headfirst from the chair to the ground

The ugly maid helped the weak Han Qian to lie down on the couch in the inner room

Against the west wall, there is a couch. Han Qian remembers the place where Yao Xishui, that little vixen, drank with him the night before. However, at this moment, the small table on the couch is completely empty, devoid of wine pots or cups, and there is not a trace of Yao Xishui's presence.

Wait a moment

executed by being torn apart in the market

How could I have such a strange dream the night before, it's really damn unlucky

... ... creak ... ...

In the later period of the previous dynasty, the regional warlords ruled independently for a century. In the year 900 AD, the last emperor was killed by a powerful minister, leading to the complete downfall of the dynasty. At that time, the governor of Huainan, Du Yangmi, declared himself emperor in Jinling, establishing the state name "Chu" and adopting the era name "Tianyou".

At that moment, the door was pushed open, revealing a young girl whose face was covered by a large dark red birthmark, entering with a copper basin in her hands

Han Qian felt disgusted upon seeing the ugly maid and wanted to scold her, but his throat was hoarse and he could not make a sound

Against the wall stands a row of bookshelves that reach the ceiling, filled with a variety of books, both new and old