Chaos of the Three Kingdoms Summons

Chapter 2807 Extra: Li Ju Returns to the Capital, Things Have Changed
Once known as Yizhou, now known as Taiwan.

The endless sea wind, with its ceaseless howling, beats against the simple house.

Outside the window was a gray sky and a dark sea with surging white waves. The scenery was magnificent, but also so desolate that it made one's heart tighten.

Now middle-aged, Li Ju had long since shed the arrogance he had shown in Luoyang.

Years of exile, sea winds, and toil have etched deep marks on his face; his skin is rough and dark, but his eyes still retain the sharpness unique to a son of the imperial family.

He had just finished mending the fishing nets and was sitting on a smooth stone by the door, gazing at the sea in a daze.

Although this place is the most remote and desolate in the entire Taiwan Kingdom, it is truly a place of exile.

However, Taiwan was the fiefdom of his seventeenth brother.

Out of brotherly affection, the seventeenth brother and his nephew who later inherited the throne, although they dared not disobey their father's decree to bring Li Ju into their palace, could still secretly take care of him and ensure that Li Ju would have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of his life.

After all, this place is far from the reach of the emperor.

As long as they don't go too far, it's impossible for Luoyang to know what's going on here.

Moreover, given their father's personality, he wouldn't keep fixated on a son he considered worthless.

That is to say, the seventeenth prince was timid and never dared to disobey his father, the emperor, in his entire life!
If this were the Prince of Jin back then, if he really wanted to help his younger brother, he would have simply taken him to his own palace!

Even if the emperor comes to question us, what's the big deal?
The Prince of Jin would definitely declare on the spot, "Go ahead and depose him too!"
Ever since the emperor tricked him, making such a big promise but failing to deliver, Prince Jin has secretly complained about the emperor countless times!

Even if Li Ju did nothing, with the Taizhou Prince's Mansion around, he could actually live a very comfortable life.

However, he didn't know who he was competing with, so like many other criminals exiled here, he worked and struggled every day to make a living.

Li Ju's wife, formerly a woman from the Qin family, was dressed in coarse cloth, yet her beautiful face was still evident. She was sitting in front of the stove inside the house, preparing dinner.

The tragedy of the entire male family being slaughtered and the female members being forced into prostitution is an unhealed scar in her heart, and a taboo that she and her husband have rarely touched over the years.

Over the years, the couple has never dared to mention this issue.

Not far away, a boy of about ten years old and a girl of seven or eight years old were chasing and playing, their clear laughter adding a lot of vitality to this secluded courtyard.

These are their children, born and raised here.

Suddenly, an unusual sound of horses' hooves and commotion came from the village entrance.

This remote place of exile has been there for several years, with very few outsiders visiting, let alone such a grand spectacle.

Li Ju suddenly raised his head, seemingly lost in thought.

Hearing the noise, Qin's daughter also came out of the house, nervously wiping her hands on her apron, and stood next to her husband.

Several men dressed as low-ranking officials, escorted by a group of soldiers armed with knives, came straight to their dilapidated hut.

The leading official, expressionless, unfurled a roll of bright yellow silk.

"Li Ju, receive the imperial decree!"

Li Ju's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He did not kneel down immediately, but stared straight at the imperial edict, his gaze complex and unreadable.

Is it a new disaster, or...?

So many years have passed, and there has been no news from Luoyang!
When he first came here, only his elderly seventeenth brother would occasionally come to visit him and tell him about the things he had heard about Luoyang!

After the seventeenth brother passed away, although the emperor's nephew who inherited the throne did not mistreat them and still gave them some subsidies every month.

However, he has almost completely lost access to news from Luoyang.

The woman from the Qin family was already pale with fright and instinctively tried to kneel. The official seemed to know this man's temperament and past, so he did not question his etiquette and began to read the aloud.

After all, this man is the new emperor's twin brother, born of the same mother.

After the imperial edict was issued, his title of Prince was restored, making him one of the most honored people in the entire empire.

Such a minor issue was not something a lowly official like him would dare to pursue.

Even if there were any problems, those were questions only the emperor was qualified to ask.

The message was simple, yet every word carried immense weight.

When the emperor passed away and the new emperor ascended the throne, the late emperor had pardoned all his crimes before his death, restored his title and honor as a prince, and allowed him to return to the capital with his family to live in peace and enjoy wealth. The female relatives of the Qin family were also pardoned.

After the imperial edict was read, the courtyard fell silent.

Li Ju simply stood there quietly, his face expressionless, showing no surprise, no excitement, and not even sadness.

It was as if the immense wealth and honor promised in the imperial decree had nothing to do with him.

After a long while, he slowly opened his mouth. His voice was hoarse from years of being taciturn, but it was eerily calm.

"Father...is he gone?"

"Yes, the late emperor passed away last autumn."

"Your Highness, please accept our condolences! This decree of amnesty was personally entrusted to the new emperor by the late emperor on his deathbed. It is the late emperor's final act of benevolence!" the official replied in a low voice.

"boom!"

It struck like a thunderbolt!

Father Emperor, is he dead?
The father who weighed on his heart like a mountain his whole life, who inspired awe, resentment, rebellion, and ultimately helplessness, was no longer there.

The father who personally taught him military strategy, who would fly into a rage when he talked back, who would eventually give in when he threatened to kill himself, and who then exiled him and his wife to the ends of the earth, is gone.

In the end... in the end, he actually remembered to pardon him?

An extremely complex and indescribable emotion suddenly struck his chest!
Is it sadness? Yes.

Is it liberation? Perhaps.

Is it a regret? Definitely.

Is it regret? It's hard to say!

The grudges and affections of more than a decade suddenly became incredibly empty and distant at this moment, with the departure of the person involved.

He didn't wail like a typical filial son; instead, his body swayed suddenly, and his face turned deathly pale.

He slowly and solemnly kowtowed towards the imperial edict in the messenger's hand, or rather, towards the direction of Luoyang.

His forehead touched the cold ground and remained there for a long time.

His shoulders began to tremble slightly, almost uncontrollably.

Suppressed sobs finally escaped from his throat, intermittently.

After a long while, Li Ju slowly straightened up, his eyes red and his face covered in tears.

He took the heavy imperial edict, his voice hoarse, and said, "Your subject Li Ju thanks Your Majesty for your grace and respectfully bids farewell to... Your Majesty..."

He was sobbing uncontrollably as he spoke the last few words.