The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 856 Death of Liu Kan
Liu Zhaosun, who longed for immortality, died of madness at the age of fifty. His successor, Liu Kan, who did not believe in ghosts and gods, lived a very long life.

Even at the age of sixty, Emperor Guangde was still energetic and lucid, reviewing countless memorials every day.

He worked hard to maintain the empire's territory, formed an alliance with European royal families, quelled the rebellion of the eldest princess, and promoted the reform cause on his own. Although, like his father, Liu Kan would eventually be deserted by his friends and relatives.

But his life was like that of Sisyphus pushing a boulder up the mountain, or Kuafu chasing the sun, fighting to the death for that elusive ideal.

But tragedy always comes to an end.

In the early autumn of the 23rd year of Guangde, Liu Kan, who had suffered many misfortunes in his life, was like a candle in the wind, and his life was about to come to an end.

"After I die, I will be buried next to Taizu's mausoleum. I must give it a simple burial."

The Taiyue Immortal Fruit presented by Princess Xining could not save her father's life. Even psychological comfort could not be provided to the dying emperor. After all, Emperor Guangde did not believe in ghosts and gods.

People in the world avoid talking about life and death, but Master Yu does not need to avoid these things, especially since the person lying on the sickbed is his own father.

"Since Father doesn't believe in ghosts and gods, why bother with whether a funeral is lavish or simple?"

Liu Kan glanced at Liu Ruolan who was standing in front of the bed, and suddenly found that this Taoist man in Taoist robes and waving a whisk looked so familiar and strange.

"Yes, I don't believe in ghosts and gods. I almost lost my position as crown prince because of that. Your grandfather, Emperor Taizu, believed in the existence of an elixir of immortality... You should return to Taiyue Mountain and practice diligently. Don't return to the capital. I will reward those Taoist priests who offer auspicious signs and immortal fruits generously!"

Emperor Guangde leaned against the headboard of the bed and weakly gave instructions to Princess Xining. His voice was weak. Standing before the bed were Empress Christina and several palace maids and eunuchs.

Christina looked at Princess Cining with vigilance. As a woman, she was sensitive to what Princess Cining's appearance in Tianxin City meant.

In Christina's opinion, Liu Ruolan was not concentrating on her cultivation and suddenly ran down from Wudang Mountain. It was definitely not as simple as coming to visit her father and give him medicine. There might be some shocking secret behind it.

"Your Majesty, your son heard that you were ill and is preparing to return from the north. He has been waiting for news from you for several days and did not eat a single bite at the Tianjin Wei Post Station. He said that he wants to see you as soon as possible." Queen Christina leaned over and whispered in Liu Kan's ear.

Emperor Guangde ignored the Swedish woman. He raised his head with great effort, looked at Princess Xining standing beside him, and continued what he had not finished saying:
"The country is in turmoil, and unfortunately, my body can no longer sustain it. If you do not wish to continue practicing in Taiyue Mountain, you can return early to Tianxin City and assist the Crown Prince in implementing the new policies. There is still a place for you here."

What my father said was no longer a hint.

However, Princess Xining looked indifferent; she had lost interest in fighting for power.

"Ahem, you should assist the prince." Liu Kan coughed violently twice, and his hoarse voice echoed in the empty bedroom for a long time.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am devoted to seeking truth and no longer care about worldly affairs."

Liu Kan closed his eyes in pain and muttered to himself.

"You should be like your aunt, like the eldest princess Liu Yufei. Of course, I am not asking you to rebel like her..."

The queen coughed and her face darkened. It seemed that the old emperor was really dying, otherwise he would not have encouraged Princess Xining to fight for power despite her presence.

The surroundings fell into dead silence, and several people's eyes fell on the princess with an ethereal appearance.

Princess Xining said calmly, "Your Majesty, there is no need to say more. The Crown Prince is sufficient for state affairs. Since he was able to implement new policies in the northern border, he will surely be able to handle state affairs as well."

It seems that this woman is as obsessed with Taoism as her grandfather, and is indifferent to worldly affairs. She will not pose any threat to Crown Prince Liu Wuji.

Christina breathed a sigh of relief, and her eyes softened when she looked at the princess. She helped the skinny Emperor Guangde up, letting him half lie on the bed. She took the steaming ginseng soup handed to her by the eunuch, and Liu Kan shook his hand in pain.

"I'm tired."

"Your Majesty, please take a rest." The queen whispered a few words of comfort and ordered the imperial physician to come forward to take the emperor's pulse. The imperial physician turned around and gave a few instructions to everyone. A moment later, the old emperor fell into a deep sleep.

Princess Xining, who was standing by, suddenly wanted to speak, but Christina had already made a gesture to send her away.

"Your Majesty is tired, let him rest for a while."

The Swedish woman waved her hand as if to shoo away a fly, asking Liu Ruolan to leave as soon as possible, as if staying any longer would be a blasphemy against the imperial power.

The palace maids and eunuchs left the bedroom one after another. Princess Xining stood up and took two steps, then suddenly turned around and asked:
"Queen, may I ask if the Crown Prince has returned to Tianxin City?"

Christina was like an eagle hatching eggs. Before the princess could finish her words, she immediately got angry:

"Nonsense! Who told you that?"

Liu Ruolan said calmly, "The Crown Prince is my half-brother. Liu Wuji returned to the capital without Emperor Guangde's summons. I'm worried about his safety."

"Princess, are you threatening me?"

"I dare not. Liu Wuji and I are brother and sister."

The afternoon sun passed through the corridor and shone on the huge pillars at the door of the bedroom, leaving a deep shadow behind the pillars. Queen Christina of Da Qi was hidden in the shadows, revealing a pale and bloodless face.

"Half-siblings? Hahahaha! I really underestimated you, Princess Xining! So you want to be the second Liu Yufei."

When everyone stopped calling Princess Xining by her real name and instead called her Yu Yin Zhenren, Christina was once deceived by this woman who was good at disguise.

The Swedish woman said to Liu Ruolan in slightly stiff Chinese:
"Your Highness, you have given your soul to religion, the palace, and worldly affairs. You shouldn't be interfering in them..."

Princess Xining looked indifferent, but when she heard the word "but", her expression changed slightly. The Swedish woman's noisy voice rang in her ears:
"Whether you are in Taiyue Mountain or Tianxin City, you must remember that you are the granddaughter of Emperor Wuding, the daughter of Emperor Guangde, and the Princess of Daqi. The empire cannot be thrown into chaos again! Holding power can only bring temporary satisfaction, but it cannot bring lasting peace of mind."

"What is it that you and the prince are so reluctant to part with?"

The Swedish woman was furious.

"Shut up! Don't cause any trouble for the prince, unless you want to become the second eldest princess!"

Princess Xining sneered and said, "I've already dismissed my retainers, so how could I possibly add fuel to the fire?"

During the emperor's serious illness, the Swedish woman stayed by his side and promptly issued the emperor's edicts to the outside world. She had already taken control of the power.

Over the past forty years, the empire seemed to have grown stronger. However, its successors were not enthusiastic about reforms, and the so-called Celestial Empire was just a dream woven for the people.

The heirs would rather return to the past, to the era when they could squander the people's money without restraint, and Christina is one of them.

Although the queen was born in Northern Europe and was the daughter of Gustav II, she hated the New Deal because its continued implementation would undoubtedly cause her son to lose his imperial power and turn Liu Wuji into a mascot of constitutionalism.

"The old emperor and his great-grandfather emperor are doomed to fail, and so are you."

In essence, Liu Kan and Liu Zhaosun were both idealists. The only difference was that Liu Zhaosun wanted to establish a Celestial Empire where everyone was a saint, while Liu Kan wanted to divide the imperial power and establish a secular state.

Idealists cannot survive, they are sacrifices to the empire.

(End of this chapter)