Chapter 123: Fu Wan: Unless That False Emperor of Yecheng Looks Exactly Like Your Majesty

Outside the official inn in Xu County.

Although they had reached their destination, Kong Rong did not immediately accompany the envoy to enter the city and pay respects to the Emperor. Instead, he chose to stay temporarily at the inn.

The envoy was puzzled and asked, “Why doesn’t the Prime Minister join me in entering the city? His Majesty eagerly awaits your presence.”

Xu County lay just ahead, yet Kong Rong refused to proceed further, leaving the envoy feeling quite troubled.

Kong Rong explained, “Paying respects to the Emperor is a solemn matter that should not be taken lightly. I must first cleanse myself with incense, bathe, and change into proper attire. The envoy should go ahead and inform His Majesty of our arrival. I will await his summons before proceeding for the audience.”

This response gave the envoy a considerable headache. Indeed, there was a formal protocol for such audiences. Visitors were expected to wait at the official inn, where they would purify themselves with incense, bathe, and groom their appearance meticulously. Only after receiving the Emperor’s summons could they enter the palace, making it a notably intricate process.

However, these traditions belonged to bygone eras. As the Han Dynasty weakened and the Emperor’s authority diminished, who still cared about such cumbersome etiquette?

Nevertheless, since Kong Rong insisted, the envoy had no choice but to sigh and say, “Then please, Prime Minister, wait here at the inn while I enter the city to report to His Majesty.”

With those words, the envoy hastily climbed back into his carriage and departed.

Meanwhile, Kong Rong and Tai Shici entered the official inn together.

Upon reaching their assigned room with the messenger’s guidance, Kong Rong instructed Tai Shici to close the doors and windows securely. Then, with a serious expression, he said, “Ziyi, today when I enter the palace to pay respects to the Emperor, if I do not return to the inn before sunset, disregard my safety and flee to Jizhou with this message.”

Visiting the official inn for rest was merely an excuse; Kong Rong’s true intention was to leave Tai Shici behind as insurance against any unforeseen events.

If the Emperor within the city turned out to be an imposter or, worse, no Emperor existed at all, Kong Rong knew he would likely be unable to escape. In such a scenario, his only hope lay in Tai Shici delivering the news that the Emperor in Xu County was false, spreading it throughout the land.

“Take these two items carefully,” Kong Rong continued, handing over a personal seal and a letter. “Should the Emperor in Xu County prove to be a fraud, upon fleeing to Yecheng, personally deliver these to Yuan Shao. He will understand what needs to be done.”

The private seal represented Kong Rong’s identity, while the letter contained his plea to Yuan Shao.

With these items, Yuan Shao could seek assistance from the Kong clan to expose Cao Cao’s true intentions.

“Rest assured, Prime Minister, I shall not fail you!” Tai Shici accepted the seal and letter solemnly, fully aware of the immense responsibility entrusted to him by Kong Rong, possibly his last.

Having completed these arrangements, Kong Rong felt relieved. He proceeded to bathe and change attire, preparing himself for the audience with the Emperor.

Two hours later, an opulent carriage approached and slowly halted outside the official inn, accompanied by two individuals.

To Tai Shici’s surprise, it was none other than Cao Cao and Xun You themselves.

Cao Cao dismounted from his horse, stood before the inn entrance, and cupped his hands respectfully. “By His Majesty’s command, I am here to escort the Prime Minister to the palace!”

However, no response came from within the inn.

Undeterred, Cao Cao maintained his courteous posture, patiently waiting at the door.

After some time, Kong Rong finally emerged.

Upon seeing Cao Cao awaiting him, Kong Rong nodded slightly. “I apologize for keeping Mengde waiting.”

Cao Cao replied with utmost respect, “As a distinguished elder and renowned scholar revered across the land, your journey from Northern Hai Commandery to pay homage to the Emperor has been truly arduous. Compared to you, my brief wait is insignificant. The carriage is ready; please allow me to escort you inside.”

Kong Rong acknowledged this with another nod and proceeded towards the carriage.

Only after Kong Rong had boarded did Cao Cao straighten up. He then mounted his horse and led the way ahead.

Inside the official inn, Tai Shici watched as Kong Rong departed with Cao Cao and others. Unconsciously, he touched the seal resting against his chest, concern evident in his eyes.

He fervently hoped that the Emperor in Xu County was genuine, ensuring Kong Rong’s safe return.

In Xu County, at the imperial palace’s Great Hall.

The Emperor had arrived early with his trusted ministers, Fu Wan and Yang Biao, to await Kong Rong’s arrival. With anticipation, he watched as the figure slowly entered the hall alongside Cao Cao, feeling incredibly excited.

“He’s here! Finally!”

During the time leading up to Kong Rong’s arrival, the Emperor endured immense anxiety. He constantly feared that something might happen to Kong Rong on the journey, such as an assassination attempt by Yuan Shao’s agents.

Fortunately, Kong Rong reached Xu County safely. Now, the Emperor was just one step away from clearing his tarnished name and reclaiming his rightful position!

“Subject, Prime Minister of North Sea, Kong Rong, greets Your Majesty!” Upon entering the Great Hall, Kong Rong faced the Emperor and meticulously performed the solemn three bows and nine prostrations ritual.

Witnessing this, the Emperor felt a lump form in his throat. The Han Dynasty was in decline, and his own authority as Emperor had long diminished. He couldn’t remember the last time any minister had shown such deep reverence towards him. However, Kong Rong steadfastly upheld the etiquette befitting a loyal subject, demonstrating his unwavering devotion!

“My dear minister, please rise quickly!” The Emperor’s voice trembled slightly with emotion. “It must have been arduous for you to journey all this way from Northern Hai Commandery.”

Kong Rong replied, “As a servant of the Han, whenever Your Majesty summons me, how could I not come?”

“My dear minister, truly a loyal subject indeed!” The Emperor greatly admired Kong Rong’s conduct. He intended to continue exchanging pleasantries with him, but Cao Cao interjected.

“Your Majesty, let us discuss matters of importance first.” Cao Cao bowed slightly and said respectfully, “After such a long journey, Grand Protector Kong must be weary. Perhaps Your Majesty should conclude the discussion promptly, allowing Grand Protector Kong to return and rest.”

Upon hearing this, Kong Rong couldn’t help but glance at Cao Cao, his brows furrowing slightly.

Feeling somewhat awkward, the Emperor decided against further idle conversation with Kong Rong and nodded. “The Grand Minister of Works is right. In my excitement, I nearly forgot we had important matters to discuss.”

“My dear minister, have you heard about the circulating rumors concerning the true and false Emperors?”

Kong Rong nodded. “Indeed, Your Majesty. People claim there is an Emperor in both Yecheng and Xu County, but they cannot discern who is genuine, leading to endless debates.”

In truth, there was already a consensus on which Emperor was genuine.

Before Kong Rong arrived at Xu County, most people believed that the Emperor in Yecheng was the true ruler, while the one here was an imposter. This belief stemmed from the fact that the Yecheng Emperor had been acknowledged by influential figures like Yuan Shao, Lu Bu, and Liu Bei, and he possessed the jade seal of the realm—a clear testament to his legitimacy as the rightful Emperor.

However, it would have been inappropriate for Kong Rong to openly express this view. Moreover, before determining the authenticity of either Emperor, he needed to remain cautious about aligning himself with any particular stance.

Upon hearing Kong Rong’s response, the Emperor became visibly agitated, his face filled with indignation. “The one in Yecheng is the impostor!”

“Ever since Chang’an fell, we’ve been fleeing relentlessly,” he exclaimed. “Fortunately, Grand Minister of Works saved us, allowing us to establish our new capital in Xu County.”

“The so-called Emperor in Yecheng is merely a false pretender, orchestrated by the traitorous Yuan to usurp our name! We never left Xu County—how could we possibly appear in Yecheng?” The Emperor felt both furious and wronged, and with Kong Rong’s arrival, he finally found someone to confide in and vent his frustrations.

“Currently, the Han Dynasty stands weakened, chaos erupting from all sides.”

“The chaos began with the yellow turban rebellion and Dong Zhuo’s tyranny, followed by Guo Si and Li Jue’s insubordination. More recently, even Yuan Shu, descendant of four generations of nobles, declared himself Emperor, leaving our Great Han nation battered amidst stormy seas.”

“Of those Yuan brothers, one usurped the throne while the other falsely claimed to represent us, deceiving the world through their reputation alone. Somehow, they even managed to convince Wenhou Lu Bu, making it impossible for us to refute these claims.”

“As the Son of Heaven, unable to restore order in the land, we now face the loss of even this imperial title at the hands of treacherous men.”

“How can we bear to face the ancestral emperors of the Great Han after such disgrace?!” The Emperor broke down sobbing.

This was what Cao Cao had instructed him—to burst into tears when reaching the most emotional point during his conversation with Kong Rong. Initially, he resisted crying, fearing it would diminish the dignity of the Emperor. Yet, he dared not defy Cao Cao either.

Moved by the Emperor’s display of emotion, several ministers present also covered their faces and wept, Fu Wan and Yang Biao among them, their expressions filled with sorrow. How could anyone not grieve witnessing the decline of the Han Dynasty to this state?

Meanwhile, Kong Rong quietly observed the Emperor and the others’ expressions, attentively listening to the Emperor’s lament without interrupting.

“Fortunately…” After a moment of weeping, the Emperor wiped away his tears and continued, “Despite traitors rising across the realm, loyal subjects like the Grand Minister of Works and our dear minister remain steadfast!”

“With your esteemed reputation, revered by all under heaven, Your Majesty summoned you here to validate my identity. We wish for you to expose Yuan Shao’s true nature to the world and make it known that the Emperor in Yecheng is a false ruler!”

The Emperor gazed at Kong Rong with hopeful anticipation.

Kong Rong was now his only hope!

Faced with the Emperor’s expectations, Kong Rong shook his head, “Your Majesty, please forgive me, but I cannot conclusively determine anything at this time.”

His words stunned everyone present.

In front of the Emperor and surrounded by high-ranking officials, how could he not reach a definitive conclusion?

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes, sensing an ominous foreboding.

“Why?!” The Emperor looked incredulously at Kong Rong. “Could it be that even you doubt our authenticity? Both the Grand Minister of Works and Messrs. Yang and Fu can attest to Our identity! Many other ministers can as well!”

“Even Our imperial concubines reside within the palace; We can summon them to individually vouch for Our legitimacy!”

The Emperor was genuinely distressed now. He had assumed that upon seeing him, Kong Rong would immediately agree to vouch for his identity. Instead, he refused!

Treasonous, traitorous scoundrel!

Kong Rong responded, “Your Majesty has misunderstood my intentions. Our last meeting was eight years ago. Following an offense against the treacherous Dong Zhuo, I was dispatched to Northern Hai Commandery to suppress rebellions and have not seen Your Majesty since.”

“Although Your Majesty’s appearance bears resemblance to our encounter from eight years ago, too much time has passed, making it imprudent for me to confirm your identity without careful consideration.

“I will indeed consult Mr. Yang, the Imperial Consort, and other ministers about matters concerning Your Majesty later. However, determining whether Your Majesty is the true Emperor requires a visit to Yecheng first.

“This decision impacts the legitimacy of Great Han’s sovereignty, bearing immense responsibility. Therefore, I dare not hastily draw conclusions and humbly seek Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

Upon hearing Kong Rong’s explanation, both the crowd and the Emperor breathed a sigh of relief.

Everyone understood the prudence of Kong Rong, given the implications for the rightful succession of Great Han; caution was necessary.

Despite feeling deeply disheartened, the Emperor managed a forced smile. “We comprehend your predicament and cautious approach, dear minister.

“Let us then await your judgment after you’ve visited Yecheng. If We truly am the legitimate Emperor, there should be no fear in comparing ourselves with the false one.”

“However, we request that you consult further with Mr. Yang and others. If there are any questions you wish to ask our imperial concubines, feel free to do so.”

Despite being the true Emperor, he cautiously advised Kong Rong due to uncertainty about Yuan Shao’s potential schemes.

After all, if Lu Bu, Liu Bei, and even Yuan Shao were deceived, who could guarantee that Kong Rong wouldn’t be misled as well?

Kong Rong assured him, “Fear not, Your Majesty. I shall exercise utmost caution.”

Seeing no further discussion, the Emperor expressed his concern warmly, “My dear minister, your journey has been arduous indeed. Please return today and rest well; take care of your health above all else!”

“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. With your permission, I shall now take my leave.”

Kong Rong bid farewell to the Emperor and began walking towards the exit of the palace.

Hardly had he stepped out when Cao Cao swiftly caught up to him.

“Prime Minister, I’ve prepared a banquet at my manor to welcome you and arranged a secluded courtyard for your respite. If it meets with your approval, please allow me to host you properly,” Cao Cao invited respectfully.

Kong Rong shook his head, “Mengde, while grateful for your kind gesture, I must decline. To avoid any undue speculation, I will reside at the official inn.”

Cao Cao looked disappointed, “Understood, Prime Minister. Allow me then to escort you to the inn immediately.”

“Thank you for your trouble.” This time, Kong Rong accepted without refusal.

In the Great Hall, the Emperor looked anxiously at Yang Biao and Fu Wan. “Mr. Yang, Imperial Consort, do you believe Kong Rong genuinely hesitates to make a decision or doubts our imperial identity?”

“Whether we are truly the Emperor can be attested by both of you and the palace concubines. Why does Kong Rong still need to go to Yecheng?” The Emperor understood Kong Rong’s caution but couldn’t help feeling somewhat resentful.

“Your Majesty, concerning the legitimacy of the Great Han succession, Kong Beihai’s prudence is justified,” said Yang Biao.

He appreciated Kong Rong’s cautious approach, as it indicated that Kong Rong would not succumb to threats or bribes from Yuan Shao.

Fu Wan added, “Your Majesty, there is no need for concern. Unless the false Emperor bears an exact resemblance to Your Majesty, Kong Beihai will instantly discern the truth. Once he meets the imposter, he will naturally recognize Your Majesty as the true Son of Heaven.”

Hearing their reassurances, the Emperor felt considerably more at ease.

Indeed, there was nothing to worry about; Yuan Shao couldn’t possibly find someone who looks exactly like him, could he? Such coincidences were highly unlikely.

Once Kong Rong compares the two Emperors, the truth will become evident. All the Emperor needed to do now was patiently await the outcome.