Ya She

Chapter 33 Ivory Dice

Life is a gamble, so no one can always win without ever losing...

Every choice a person faces after birth is a gamble.

The capital was Jiankang in 422 AD.

Liu Yu struggled to open his eyes. His blurred vision made it take him a long time to see clearly that he was in his palace, not in the chaos of war in his nightmare.

As the founding emperor of the Liu Song Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties, Liu Yu, who was nearly sixty years old, was known for his strict frugality. He disliked banquets and entertainment, and never decorated his palaces and carriages. All his wealth was stored in the imperial treasury. His palace was decorated with only coarse cloth curtains, hemp lanterns, and hemp rope dusters, making it resemble an ordinary house, only much larger than a typical residence.

At this moment, Liu Yu felt that the palace was too empty, making it difficult for him to even call out to anyone. His lips moved for a while, but his throat was so dry that he couldn't utter a sound. Liu Yu wanted to be angry but had no strength to do so. He had chased away all the eunuchs and maids who served him before going to sleep, so who could he blame now?

Perhaps his time has come?

Liu Yu, panting heavily, closed his eyes.

Perhaps, as everyone prepares to leave this world, they can't help but replay their life's experiences in their minds. He was no exception. When he was born, his mother died in childbirth. He was considered unlucky for his mother from birth, and fortune tellers said he had a tough fate. His father, Liu Qiao, even wanted to bury him alive. Fortunately, his uncle, Liu Wan, took pity on him and took him home. His aunt raised him, and he was given a nickname, Ji Nu.

Ji Nu was just a servant who was fostered. Who would have thought that such a servant would become the emperor, who was above all others?
Liu Yu slowly opened his cloudy eyes and clenched his right hand tightly. In his palm was a die that had been with him for many years.

After he came of age, life became even more difficult. He also had to support two younger brothers. The hardship of life led him to become addicted to gambling. And this die he found in an antique shop could actually bless him to win every time he gambled! The only time he lost was to a local tyrant, which was also due to falling into someone else's trap. But he also remembered what the antique shop owner had said when he bought the die.

"Life is a gamble, are you willing to take the gamble?"

Liu Yu raised his hand with trembling hands and placed the die in front of his eyes.

This is an ivory die, its surface a glossy, ginger-yellow color. On its surface are fine, hair-like lines, the fine lines characteristic of ivory carving. These lines are quite long, suggesting the die is quite old. It is a six-sided cube, with one to six holes on each face, and the sum of opposite numbers is seven.

Liu Yu stared intently at the dice in his hand, his very soul seemingly revering them. Throughout his life, Liu Yu had been a military man. Since joining the army in the rebellion of 1884, he had quelled internal rebellions, eliminated separatist forces, and unified the south after a century of turmoil. Externally, he had focused on the Northern Expeditions, annexing the states of Heng Chu, Western Shu, Southern Yan, and Later Qin. But no one knew that most of these illustrious achievements were actually based on the crucial decisions made using this very die.

Whenever faced with a difficult decision, Liu Yu would roll a die and let the result determine his course of action. This was the practice he followed without exception for over thirty years.

Yes, after his crushing defeat, he reformed his ways. If you always win at gambling, then isn't every crossroads in life, every decision you make, a form of gambling?
That's right, that's the truth the boss was talking about! Life is a gamble!
He used this die to become the biggest and most successful gambler.

He won the world!

Liu Yu smiled silently, and his consciousness gradually faded.

No! Not yet! Crown Prince Liu Yifu is still too young! He cannot yet intimidate those court officials!
Liu Yu struggled to get up, the dice slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground, rolling around.

The eunuch outside the door heard the commotion and quickly pushed the door open, only to be horrified the next moment.

His Majesty!

Shortly after, the sound of bells tolling throughout the palace signaled the passing of Emperor Wu of the Southern Song Dynasty, Liu Yu.

Liu Yu stood blankly in the corner of the palace, watching his corpse being dressed in the heavy imperial robes that had been prepared beforehand.

People coming and going were filled with sorrow; ministers prostrated themselves on the ground, kowtowing and weeping; and his sons rushed to his bedside, weeping incessantly.

Is he... dead?

Liu Yu was originally an atheist, but at this moment, he had no choice but to believe the theories of ghosts and reincarnation spoken of by those Buddhist and Taoist practitioners.

Is he a ghost now? Maybe the Black and White Impermanence will come to take his soul to the underworld soon?

It's easy to imagine that countless people died directly or indirectly at his hands. Even if he were the emperor, he would never go to the Western Paradise.

Liu Yu was in a good mood because he felt a sense of liberation. He no longer felt bound by his aging body; his body felt light and comfortable, and his vision was clear and sharp. Look, he could even see his ivory die lying quietly in that corner in the distance. It must have been accidentally kicked over by someone coming and going, and no one paid any attention to it.

After looking at it again and again, Liu Yu finally couldn't bear to see his beloved dice lying there all alone. He sidled up to it, and although he knew that as a ghost he might not be able to touch anything, he still bent down.

The moment Liu Yu's fingers touched the ivory dice, he paused for a moment, then picked it up and held it in his hand.

That's strange. Aren't ghosts supposed to be phantoms and not be allowed to touch real objects?

Liu Yu looked down at himself and the first thing he noticed was a pair of slender, white hands.

Is this him?
Liu Yu stared blankly at his young hands, which radiated unparalleled vitality in the sunlight streaming in from outside.

Aren't ghosts afraid of sunlight?

Liu Yu simply stepped out of the palace, basking in the sunlight and feeling its warmth. He felt so comfortable that he almost wanted to sigh.

"Who are you? Why are you here?"

A voice, clearly still going through puberty and sometimes hoarse and sometimes high-pitched, came from behind. Liu Yu turned his head and saw that the person was his third son, Liu Yilong.

Although he was nearing sixty, his sons were all quite young. Liu Yu spent his entire prime years waging war, only focusing on the issue of succession after things had settled down. Therefore, his eldest son, Liu Yifu, was only seventeen, which was Liu Yu's greatest worry before his death.

The boy standing before him, Liu Yilong, was only a year younger than his elder brother, just sixteen. His eyes were red and swollen from crying. Liu Yu vaguely remembered that this third son wasn't in good health; he must have come out for some fresh air. Thinking this, a kind smile inevitably appeared on his face—a rare sight given Liu Yu's volatile temper.

Liu Yilong found that smile incredibly irritating and shouted again, "Who exactly are you, little eunuch? How dare you stand here in a daze?"

A little eunuch? Liu Yu was taken aback, then immediately realized that the focus shouldn't be on that.

He's dead! He's a ghost! How could anyone possibly see him?

Liu Yu subconsciously looked down. He was standing by the lotus pond behind the palace, and on the rippling water, he saw a young boy.

That face was vaguely familiar.

That was me at fourteen years old.

Liu Yilong frowned, staring intently at the strange boy.

His strangeness wasn't actually due to the coarse linen clothes he wore. His father, the emperor, was frugal and thrifty; he had turned the imperial palace into something resembling a village hut. Liu Yilong remembered that before he left the capital to be enfeoffed in Jingzhou, he and his brothers would come to pay their respects to their father every day, always dressed in casual clothes; none of them dared to wear heavy formal attire.

Even now, Liu Yilong was mindful of his attire, his simple clothes being utterly ordinary and flawless. Therefore, even if the young man's clothing was excessively plain, Liu Yilong didn't find anything wrong with it.

What's strange is the boy's appearance.

Liu Yilong rarely looked in the mirror, but he had two older brothers and four younger brothers. The boy was about the same age as his fourth brother, Liu Yikang, and they even looked quite similar. If he hadn't just confirmed that his fourth brother was by his father's bedside, he would have almost thought that the boy in front of him was his fourth brother in a different outfit.

So after seeing the boy's appearance clearly, Liu Yilong no longer thought he was a eunuch from some palace. In fact, a ridiculous yet plausible guess arose in his mind.

Could this boy be his father's illegitimate son?
Because his mother's identity could not be made public, he was raised in the inner palace. Liu Yilong had a good memory; when he first arrived at the palace, he saw the boy standing in a corner, but he was far away and didn't pay any attention to him.

Anyone who arrived even before the princes who were attending to the ailing emperor outside the palace must be either a eunuch or someone who had been there all along. The Emperor, even on his deathbed, had specifically summoned this young man to his side…

The more Liu Yilong thought about it, the more convinced he became that his guess was correct, and his gaze became complicated.

He felt more resentment than respect for his father, the Emperor. Two years ago, at only fourteen, he was enfeoffed as the Prince of Yidu, appointed General Who Guards the West and Governor of Jingzhou, and forced to leave the capital, Jiankang, in a state of panic. Not only him, but besides his elder brother, the Crown Prince, his second brother, Liu Yizhen, was enfeoffed as the Duke of Guiyang at the age of twelve, stationed in Chang'an, Guanzhong. His other younger brothers were also enfeoffed in various regions. Wasn't this all to prevent these princes of similar age from threatening the Crown Prince's position? If his father cared for the Crown Prince, then who cared for them? Being sent to unfamiliar places at such a young age, the officials below outwardly showed utmost respect, but in reality, the powerful clans all looked down on these princes from humble backgrounds, their obsequiousness masking their insubordination. The feeling was truly indescribable.

Liu Yilong thought that only the Crown Prince could receive special treatment from his father. Although his elder brother was the most respected, he could swallow his pride. However, he never expected that there would be another exception!
"What the hell is going on?!" The boy, who had been standing frozen by the pool, finally let out a roar that was completely out of proportion to his size.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yilong almost collapsed to his knees. The mantra and tone were strikingly similar to those of his father, the emperor!

Although he was born with a fear of his father, the Emperor, Liu Yilong quickly regained his footing after his legs went weak. The reason was simple: it was clearly a young man's voice. Besides, his father was already dead. Liu Yilong took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and politely asked, "Who are you?"

Based on age, Liu Yilong had already decided that this was his younger brother, so his tone carried a hint of an older brother's. But the boy turned around and looked at him with a strange expression, for so long that Liu Yilong wondered if a flower had grown on his face.

Liu Yu really wanted to find a rock and throw it at this fool. Who was he? He was his father!

But Liu Yu quickly realized that he himself couldn't believe his current appearance, let alone others. He figured that if he said that, he would be imprisoned by his own son on charges of blasphemy and impersonating royalty.

Did he revert to his body from when he was fourteen after his death? But whose body is the one lying in the palace now?
Seeing the young man's complex expression, Liu Yilong assumed he was having difficulty revealing his identity and nodded understandingly, saying, "Although your identity is not suitable to be made public, since we are brothers, we can support each other. It would be good if I had a way of addressing you."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yu was immediately stunned. What had these three lads misunderstood?
But then he understood, and his face immediately darkened. In the past, he would have been furious, but now, after thinking about it, he had no choice but to accept it.

Come to think of it, when the courtiers rushed into the palace earlier, several people had secretly glanced in his direction. At the time, he had just experienced a brush with death and was in a daze, completely oblivious. Now, thinking back, Liu Yu understood why no one had come to drive him away—they all thought he was their illegitimate son!
Liu Yilong waited there patiently, his eyes fixed on the subtle expressions on the boy's face.

After a long while, the young man gave a bitter smile and said indifferently, "Ji Nu, just call me Liu Ji Nu."

Ji Nu? So his surname really is Liu?
Liu Yilong immediately confirmed his guess, then frowned because of the boy's name.

His name is Ji Nu? A foster servant? He's not in the same generation as his brothers, meaning this boy isn't eligible to be included in the family genealogy. And such a casual name might be because of his mother's lowly status.

Liu Yilong took a deep breath. Only then did he realize that he had been away from his palace for too long. If he lingered any longer, he might attract the attention of those with ulterior motives. He smiled kindly at the young man and said, "Perhaps you already know that I am your third brother. Just call me Third Brother in private." The subtext was that he still needed to address him as the Third Prince in public.

Liu Yu's lips twitched. He still couldn't bring himself to call his son "Third Brother." It was simply too much of a test of his patience. So he just snorted and said, "Why call me Third Brother? I'll just call you Che'er."

Liu Yilong was taken aback. This nickname, Che'er, was only used by his father, the Emperor. He was born during his father's campaigns, and his mother, Consort Hu, gave birth to him in a carriage. Therefore, Che'er had always been his childhood name. His father only used this nickname when he was happy; otherwise, he addressed him by his birth number, just like his other brothers.

Liu Yilong opened his mouth, wanting to refuse the boy's disrespectful address, but then smiled knowingly. This boy's straightforward nature must be because his father hadn't exposed him to the darker side of life. He knew his childhood name, so he must have learned it from his father. Did this boy know that in his father's heart, he, the third prince whose mother had been given death, was already someone whom he had long been despised?
Liu Yilong clenched his fists, but ultimately didn't ask the question that had troubled him for years. He smiled gently and said, "Ji Nu, let's go in first to see Father off on his final journey."

Hearing that long-unheard name called out by his son, Liu Yu felt incredibly awkward. He didn't really want to go in; seeing his own body wasn't a pleasant experience. But he couldn't just stand there like an idiot. Who knew if the next person to find him would immediately mistake him for an assassin and arrest him? After all, he currently had no identity.

Indifferently, Liu Yu followed Liu Yilong back to his palace. This time, Liu Yu finally had the leisure to observe everyone's expressions. Although he had stood there for a long time before, having just experienced life and death, he had no interest in observing others. But now it was different. He believed that not many people would have witnessed what happened after his death. Liu Yu did not kneel down, but instead chose a corner and looked around with interest.

Huh? I didn't expect General Xie Hui, who's always finding fault with him, to be crying so bitterly? As a descendant of the Xie family, one of the two great noble families of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the handsome young Xie Hui was a founding minister of the Southern Song Dynasty, becoming Liu Yu's chief strategist at a young age. At the end of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, he followed Liu Yu on his northern expedition to recover the Central Plains. Nine out of ten strategies came from him. His importance to Liu Yu was no less than that of Zhuge Liang to Liu Bei. He helped Liu Yu recover most of the Central Plains, and when Liu Yu ascended the throne, he was only in his early twenties, an absolute young hero. Now, he is the military governor of seven provinces and commands the imperial guards, wielding immense power. Because of his suitable age, Xie Hui was the regent chosen by Liu Yu for his son, Crown Prince Liu Yifu.

However, Liu Yu narrowed his eyes, not missing Xie Hui taking out a handkerchief from his long sleeve to wipe the corner of his eye, and there were clearly slices of ginger wrapped inside the handkerchief...

Liu Yu's mood immediately plummeted. Upon closer observation, he discovered that quite a few people had done this, including several of his princes. His youngest son, Liu Yiji, who was only seven years old, was being held in his mother's arms, and the woman's hand, hidden in her sleeve, was subtly pinching Liu Yiji's body, forcing him to cry out.

Liu Yu watched all this numbly. Even his most beloved crown prince, Liu Yifu, who had passed the throne to him, was wailing, his face devoid of any sorrow. As for his other sons, some of them, even if they were weeping, were probably crying for their own uncertain fate, not for their not-so-close father, the emperor.

Liu Yu chuckled self-deprecatingly, his gaze falling on Liu Yilong, who was kneeling third. Although the latter didn't cry out loud as dramatically, the sorrow on his face was genuine, and his eyes were bloodshot, without a trace of affectation. Liu Yu couldn't help but try to recall the carriage from his memory, but he truly had no recollection of it.

He spent his life on the battlefield, constantly on the edge of a knife, leaving him with very little free time; otherwise, he wouldn't have had a son after the age of forty. After ascending the throne, he became even busier, sitting on the throne for only three years. The time he spent with his sons was truly pitifully short.

It seemed like only yesterday that they grew up, developed their own thoughts, and stopped looking at him, the declining emperor, with such adoring eyes.

Liu Yu gripped the ivory dice tightly, muttering to himself, "Is this the scene you wanted me to see? Is this what you wanted me to reflect on? How much have I missed for the sake of the empire?"

The funeral of an emperor is a series of intricate rituals. From the lavish burials of the Qin and Han dynasties to the simpler burials of the Wei and Jin periods, Liu Yu's funeral was not particularly grand. However, it was still the funeral of a ruler of a nation, and some ancient rites were inherited from the Han dynasty, including the five-degree mourning system, three years of mourning, and a joint burial. These numerous and complex rituals and strict funeral procedures—summoning the soul, the funeral procession, setting up the spirit tablet, lighting incense and lamps, the encoffining, the mourning period, and the period of mourning—each step was meticulously arranged. Although there were dedicated officials in charge, it still exhausted the entire court. However, because Liu Yu was already nearly sixty when he ascended the throne, the burial methods, coffin system, the mound of trees, and burial goods had been prepared for the past two or three years, so there wasn't a chaotic situation. 'Respectfully honoring ancestors' is a traditional Confucian view of life and death. Although Liu Yu was not highly educated, many of his ministers came from prominent families, so the funeral was conducted meticulously, lacking in excessive grief but certainly solemn and dignified.

Attending one's own funeral is a peculiar feeling, and probably not many people have had such an experience. Liu Yu, dressed in mourning clothes, hid in the crowd, thoughtfully observing everyone's expressions. Of course, most of his attention was focused on his sons.

Of course, Liu Yilong had already introduced his 'identity'. None of these kids, who were at most teenagers, had learned how to hide their true feelings. Apart from the youngest, Liu Yiji, who stared at him with his big, clear eyes for a long time, the others all had expressions of indifference, apathy, or disdain.

Well, his sons weren't very close to him to begin with, and since they were young, he had sent them to various places to be enfeoffed as kings. The brothers hadn't seen each other for a long time, so there was no real affection between them; they were at most nodding acquaintances. Liu Yu suddenly felt a chill in his heart. How many years ago was that scene of a family sitting around a round table having a reunion dinner? Ten years? Twenty years? Or thirty years? Numbly attending his own funeral, and equally expressionless watching his eldest son Liu Yifu ascend the throne, Liu Yu temporarily resided in Liu Yilong's palace in the capital Jiankang, spending his days drinking tea and enjoying the scenery.

Because Liu Yu practiced frugality, Liu Yilong's palace was not luxuriously decorated. However, it was originally the residence of a prominent family during the Wei and Jin dynasties, so it was quiet and elegant, with a unique charm.

Liu Yu sat leisurely in the pavilion, hanging unceremoniously on the railing, staring at the water rippling in the wind, looking somewhat lazy and idle.

He was like a wheel that had been turning for decades, finally able to stop and rest. So, despite having a young body, his mind suddenly aged.

Summer was fast approaching, and the flowers in the flowerbeds were in full bloom, their branches lush and green. Liu Yu, who had been bedridden for many days, was captivated by this beautiful sight, having not seen it for a long time.

Liu Yilong saw his adopted younger brother staring blankly at the pond from afar and couldn't help but smile. It was fortunate he'd had company these past few days, otherwise he'd been too heartbroken. This capital city had left him with no fond memories; his mother, his childhood, his father—all had perished here one after another. Now he decided that after this departure, he would never return. Perhaps spending his remaining years in Jingzhou would be a good decision.

But before that, Liu Yilong still wanted to ask the young man about his future plans. In the past few days, he had also learned that the young man had no one else to rely on but him, which made him very uneasy about leaving him in the capital.

"Che'er, are you going back to Jingzhou?" Liu Yu glanced at his third son and guessed what he was going to say. Although he hadn't known them much, these little rascals were only teenagers, and hadn't even eaten as much rice as he had salt! But it hadn't even been forty-nine days yet, why were they in such a hurry to leave? Liu Yu was a little angry, his tone tinged with emotion, and he retorted angrily, "Now?"

Liu Yilong forced a bitter smile. He knew he had left in too much of a hurry, but what could he say? Recalling the scene he'd witnessed in the palace that day, and the whispers of the court officials, Liu Yilong felt his face burn with embarrassment. He desperately wanted to leave the capital and run far away. Liu Yu frowned. His third son was somewhat frail, in the prime of his growth, his physique thin and elongated, resulting in a gaunt appearance. Now, dressed in mourning clothes, his pale face and haggard appearance were even more striking. Liu Yu felt a surge of paternal tenderness and pointed to a wooden stool beside him, saying, "Sit down, make some tea." A maidservant waiting to serve immediately entered the pavilion and quietly began preparing the tea.

Over the past few days, Liu Yilong had long since grown accustomed to the young man's domineering and imperious manner. Although he couldn't help but grumble that the other man seemed to have no concept of seniority, he couldn't suppress a strange sense of familiarity welling up from the bottom of his heart. At this moment, although the other man was casually leaning against the railing, pointing and gesturing, his imposing presence was undeniable, leaving no choice but to obey his orders. Only when Liu Yilong touched the surface of the wooden stool did he realize that he had once again involuntarily obeyed, a helpless wry smile appearing on his face. "Here, have a cup of hot tea. Although the weather is already hot, we still can't be careless," Liu Yu said with perfect naturalness, using the tone of an elder.

"Yes," Liu Yilong said naturally, picking up the teacup in front of him. Although he didn't agree in his heart, he was actually used to interacting with this boy in this way.

This is so strange. Who is the elder brother? And why does he have that trembling feeling he has when facing the Emperor?

Liu Yilong took a sip of tea. The warm tea slid down his throat, and the warmth seemed to spread throughout his body instantly, making him relax completely. "So, now, tell me," Liu Yu tapped the thin rim of his teacup and gave a soft hum, "What exactly happened?"

Liu Yilong held the teacup in his hand, smelling the lingering aroma of tea in the bowl, knowing that even if he didn't say anything, the boy would already know.

Because it's estimated that this matter will soon spread throughout the capital...

Liu Yu squinted, and could hear the sounds of music and laughter coming from the Imperial Garden from a great distance. When he saw who was being surrounded in the center, he clenched his fists in uncontrollable rage, wishing he could rush in immediately and give that unfilial son a good beating.

He'd only been dead a short time! Less than a month! And that unfilial son was openly indulging in debauchery in the Imperial Garden! He vaguely remembered that when he was seriously ill, someone had advised him that the Crown Prince frequently went out to play, riding a dragon boat to Tianyuan Pond, reveling on the water with music, singing, dancing, and stringed instruments until the moon set and the stars were low in the sky, without returning to the palace to rest, simply spending the night on the dragon boat. At the time, he thought someone was slandering the Crown Prince. In his memory, his eldest son was intelligent, strong, skilled in riding and archery, and knowledgeable in music. Although not an ideal successor, he was certainly capable of becoming a ruler who could restore the dynasty.

It turns out he had been mistaken all along!
To be so disrespectful during a period of mourning is simply laughable!
Look! That brat spotted them but didn't even show any shame or try to hide it. He was just standing there happily waving at them, trying to get them to join him!
Liu Yu couldn't help but start cursing. Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Liu Yilong, who was beside him, immediately hugged him and stopped him from rushing in and causing trouble.

Although his elder brother had indeed acted immorally, he was now the ruler of a country, wielding the power of life and death. It's unlikely his brother would mind using this opportunity to suppress his younger brothers. Moreover, a young man with no background could easily become the pitiful scapegoat, used as a warning to others.

Liu Yu struggled for a long time before realizing that although his third son looked thin, he was actually quite strong. No, it was also very possible that his current body was too young.

Panting heavily, Liu Yu angrily shook off Liu Yilong's hand and strode out of the palace, completely ignoring how Liu Yilong would explain to that unfilial son behind him.

Since he couldn't decide, let the ivory dice decide. The number rolled plus one would be his final decision.

After silently considering the question he needed to answer, Liu Yu threw the ivory dice onto the ground.

The dice spun around for a while before finally stopping.

Liu Yu squatted down, looked at the numbers on the screen, and remained silent for a long time.

"Ji Nu? So you're here? Hmm? This ivory die looks familiar. Is it the one Father Emperor liked the most?" Liu Yilong walked through the flowers and trees and asked curiously, looking down.

Liu Yu raised his head and gave him a meaningful smile.

"Do you want to be emperor?"

Liu Yilong stared blankly at the boy playing with ivory dice, utterly unable to believe what he had just heard. He subconsciously glanced around. Although he was back in his palace and had shielded himself from the hustle and bustle, if the boy's words were to get out, he feared he would be thrown into prison and die without a burial place.

"Don't worry, no one will hear." Liu Yu rested his chin on his hand and pursed his lips, looking at his third son with a hint of disapproval. Although the ivory dice had chosen this child as his successor, Liu Yu was still somewhat dissatisfied. But then he thought of the crown prince he was more pleased with, and sighed in defeat. Actually, besides Crown Prince Liu Yifu, he preferred his second son Liu Yizhen, but the latter seemed to prefer music, chess, calligraphy, and painting... Well, the ivory dice had never made a mistake... Liu Yu lazily said, fiddling with the ivory dice with his other hand, "That brat Liu Yifu's actions will definitely cause dissatisfaction among his subjects; he won't last long on the throne. Are you just going to stand by and watch others seize the opportunity to usurp the throne?"

Liu Yu felt that his son had indeed reached the age of sixty and his temper had become much more restrained. If he were still young, he would have already chopped that unfilial son to pieces. But he also had to consider the foundation he had built. Xie Hui was someone he had carefully selected, originally intended to be his son's prime minister. However, Liu Yifu was too incompetent and unable to control him, so Xie Hui would become an extremely dangerous person.

To tame a tiger, one must possess an aura that surpasses that of the tiger; otherwise, the tiger will turn on one's master, especially in this chaotic world that has only been pacified for a few years.

Liu Yilong could naturally understand the unspoken meaning of the young man's words. He had encountered Xie Hui once in the past few days and noticed that the latter's handsome face no longer held its former respectful and peaceful expression, but instead displayed an indescribable air of arrogance. Liu Yilong pondered for a while, then hesitated and said, "The situation isn't that bad, is it?"

The Wang and Xie families wielded immense power in the court, producing renowned figures such as Xie An and Wang Dao, who were among the most famous princes and generals of their time. Yet, they adhered strictly to the principles of the aristocratic class and never attempted to usurp power, even though, in some respects, they possessed greater power and prestige than the emperor.

This was one of the reasons why Liu Yu felt comfortable entrusting military power to Xie Hui. The strict rules of prestigious families were even more alluring than the throne. However, Liu Yu felt that Xie Hui, a proud and ambitious man, was not one to settle for a corner of the country and would absolutely not allow an emperor who only knew how to eat, drink, and be merry to suppress him. Instead of seizing the throne himself, he could easily support another emperor.

Seeing Liu Yilong hesitate, Liu Yu smiled slightly and said patiently, "This is a gamble. You're betting the rest of your life on the possibility of reaching the top. Will you gamble or not?" Liu Yu smiled confidently, because for a gambler like him, this was an irresistible temptation.

But he saw Liu Yilong slowly shake his head and say, "No, I won't gamble."

"What?" Liu Yu jumped to his feet, slamming his fist on the table in a fit of rage, making the teacups clatter. Suppressing the urge to berate the three boys, he rattled off a string of words: "I...no, I can hand over the entire secret service left by my father to you! You should know how terrifying that force is! It will definitely increase your bargaining power!"

“No, I don’t need it.” Liu Yilong continued to refuse, this time with an even firmer tone.

"Why? If you become emperor, your elder brothers can continue to live!" Liu Yu wanted to smash the table. If everything went according to his plan, after much arrangement, Liu Yilong could have ascended the throne without any danger, and the deposed emperors Liu Yifu and Liu Yizhen could have lived out their lives in peace.

"What does that have to do with me?" Liu Yilong glanced indifferently at the agitated young man before him, not understanding his strong reaction. His brothers? What a joke! He didn't consider those two men his brothers at all, and he believed the other party felt the same way. Liu Yilong felt he had stayed in the capital for far too long, so long that some things were starting to go in an abnormal direction. He stood up and calmly announced, "We're setting off back to Jingzhou tomorrow. If you'd like to come with me, then come along." Liu Yu stared blankly as Liu Yilong's thin figure left the room, then slumped back down in disbelief.

He hadn't considered that such a situation might occur. He was a gambler, so he never thought that there might be someone different from him who didn't want to gamble at all.

The ivory dice lay quietly on the table, emitting a soft glow under the oil lamp.

It is so fascinating that it can even control the fate of many people.

But... what if someone refuses to shake it...?

Liu Yu did not stay in the capital, but returned to Jingzhou with Liu Yilong. He kept reflecting on whether he had really made a mistake.

The secret service only recognizes warrants and tokens, so Liu Yu can still maintain control. Through the secret service, even when he is far away in Jingzhou, he can still learn what he wants to know in a timely manner.

Because of his death, the four garrisons of Henan were restless. After a period of suppression, Xie Hui and others finally finished their military and state affairs and were able to deal with this incompetent emperor who only knew how to eat, drink and have fun. Liu Yu analyzed intelligence from various sources and could see that Xie Hui and others had the same vision as him, and they also favored Liu Yilong. His second son, Liu Yizhen, was the first cannon fodder to be pushed out.

Legend has it that one day, when Liu Yizhen was drinking with his advisors, he promised that when he ascended the throne, he would appoint Xie Lingyun and Yan Yanzhi as prime ministers and Shi Huilin as governor of Xiyu Prefecture.

Soon after receiving the news, Xie Hui and others submitted a memorial accusing Liu Yizhen of inciting division and slandering the authorities.

Liu Yifu was furious and naturally had no good feelings towards his second brother, who coveted his throne. He demoted him to Liyang, and his three other advisors were sent to various places. Perhaps this still did not give Liu Yifu a sense of security, so not long after, he demoted Liu Yizhen to a commoner and moved him to Xin'an for imprisonment.

Upon receiving the news, Liu Yu knew that Xie Hui and his men would soon make their move against Liu Yifu. Such an emperor would inevitably be overthrown sooner or later; it was better to let him do it himself!

Liu Yu suddenly understood why he was still alive: it was because he needed to correct a mistake he had made and take another gamble.

He stopped abruptly and reached into his robes to pull out the ivory die he never parted with. This ivory die had six sides, representing his six sons besides the abandoned crown prince. What good is an emperor? Standing at the highest, steepest peak, if one loses their footing and falls, because of the immense height, the fall is often far more gruesome than anyone else's, perhaps even resulting in a death without a proper burial.

Liu Yu didn't say much, but instead laid out the intelligence he had obtained, one by one, on Liu Yilong's desk.

Looking at his third son's calm expression, Liu Yu suddenly realized that the other party was not completely ignorant.

Perhaps all of this is under his control. He appears to be neither competitive nor greedy, but what is destined to be his will ultimately belong to him.

Liu Yu narrowed his eyes, looking somewhat bewildered.

"Have I disappointed you?" Liu Yilong put down his pen and looked up at the dejected young man. More than two years had passed since he returned to Jingzhou. Perhaps his firm rejection of the other party back then was sincere, but as time went by, he inevitably began to have various uncontrollable thoughts.

Yes, why can't he sit in that position? Why was he once disliked by his father, the emperor? Why must he remain a prince with no power?

Once he has set his goal, he will no longer back down.

The secret service left behind by his father? Why would he use it? With just a few tricks, he could simply wait for the fruits of his labor to fall into his lap.

"Damn it! Why did you do this? Don't you know your older brothers will suffer a terrible fate?" Liu Yu suddenly understood the expression on Liu Yilong's face and instantly flew into a rage. If things had gone according to his plan, things wouldn't have gotten so out of control!
Sitting behind the desk, Liu Yilong was now eighteen years old, completely shedding the naiveté of two years ago. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he had developed a commanding presence after two years of biding his time. He looked thoughtfully at the young man before him, who claimed to be named Liu Jinu. The young man's appearance was exactly the same as it had been two years ago, without the slightest change. And through his investigation, he discovered that there was absolutely no trace of this young man in his father's harem.

What alarmed him most was that he discovered from his hometown that his father's childhood nickname was Liu Ji Nu...

The more he looked at the boy, the more he saw his father, Liu Jinu. From his demeanor and tone of voice to his mannerisms, they resembled his father perfectly. Even his catchphrases when angry and his habit of slamming the table were identical. Considering that this boy appeared at the time of his father's death, could he still believe that this boy, Liu Jinu, was indeed his father?

No, that guess is ridiculous.

Liu Yilong forced himself to suppress the doubt and unease in his heart. When he met the boy's gaze, which was filled with sorrow and disappointment, his heart still clenched painfully. He took a deep breath and said calmly, "Didn't you expect me to sit on that dragon throne? Aren't I doing a good job now?"

"How could you disregard your brother's safety!" Liu Yu was furious, almost going mad at the thought of what his favored third son had done. He knew all too well what Xie Hui and those powerful ministers would do next; if all potential threats were eliminated, they would be perfectly capable of doing so.

Liu Yilong's gaze was calm, and his face showed an unwavering expression. He slowly said, word by word, "After I ascend the throne, I will make them pay the price they deserve."

Looking at his son, who had grown into a man, Liu Yu suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him.

Yes, how could he not know that all of this was Liu Yilong's arrangement? Due to public opinion, he couldn't directly confront his own brother, so he used a scheme of using someone else to do his dirty work. Once Xie Hui and others had deposed and murdered the emperor, he could then rightfully inherit the throne. Liu Yu could easily imagine that a few years after Liu Yilong ascended the throne and completely seized power, he would use the pretext of avenging his brother to replace Xie Hui and the other powerful officials with his own faction.

Truly worthy of being chosen by the ivory dice...

Liu Yu closed his eyes. The sunlight from outside the window shone on him through the window frame, but he couldn't feel any warmth. He only felt cold all over.

Every choice a person faces from birth is a gamble.

The difference is that some people lose more, while others win more.

This is where the difference lies: some become losers, while others become winners in life.

On the surface, Liu Yu seemed like a typical winner in life, but in reality, sometimes even Liu Yu himself couldn't tell whether he had won or lost.

Perhaps if he weren't emperor, he would have a happy family, surrounded by children and grandchildren, instead of his sons turning against each other with swords drawn... The study was deathly silent. Liu Yilong was suddenly startled because he realized that the young man in front of him was slowly becoming transparent, melting away little by little into the sunlight.

Liu Yilong immediately got up and reached out to grab the other man, but his fingers passed right through his body and he didn't grab anything.

“Father…Father Emperor!” Liu Yilong had no more doubts at this moment. This strange boy was his father! The thought that he had actually played tricks right under his father’s nose shocked him so much that he trembled all over.

Inside the study, Liu Yu's cool voice flowed slowly, and the boy's figure turned into specks of light, gradually dissipating into the air.

"Life is a gamble, so no one can always win without ever losing..."

"Whenever it's gambling, you have to be prepared to lose something that originally belonged to you."

“I won some things, but I lost even more…”

"I hope... you won't regret it..."

"Clap!"

Liu Yilong snapped out of his reverie and found himself alone in the study. A yellowed ivory die lay on the floor, bouncing a few times before rolling around on the ground...

In 424 AD, Xie Hui, Xu Xianzhi, and others instigated Xing Antai, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat, to assassinate the emperor and Jin Changting. The young emperor died at the age of nineteen. Xie, Xu, and others then sent men to kill Liu Yizhen in Xin'an, and led the officials to Jiangling to welcome Liu Yilong, the Prince of Yidu, back to the capital to ascend the throne, who became Emperor Wen of Song.

In 426 AD, Emperor Wen executed Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and others, and personally led a large army westward along the Yangtze River to attack Xie Hui. Xie Hui's army was completely defeated, and he was executed for regicide and treason.

Thus, Emperor Wenzong of Song, Liu Yilong, who was only twenty years old, held immense power in the court and ushered in the most prosperous era since the Eastern Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, historically known as the "Yuanjia Era".

AD 2012

The doctor lay in the sun, drying his rabbit doll. As a doll, he needed to bathe to stay clean, but after each bath, he felt uncomfortable, his body felt several times heavier, and it was difficult for him to stand up. So, every time his boss bathed him, he would lie directly in the sun until he was completely dry.

Look, this side seems to be sunburnt enough. The doctor struggled to turn over and lay face down on the ground, letting the sun shine on his back.

The doctor had grown quite accustomed to this decadent, reclusive lifestyle. However, he smacked his lips, realizing that as a foodie, not having eaten anything for months was proving to be quite difficult.

I miss the crab roe soup dumplings from the shop across the street! And the Wushan crispy fried dough at the street corner! And the West Lake osmanthus chestnut soup near the hospital!

By the way, I think I just heard a delivery arrive. That's really strange. Does the boss actually buy things? Or rather, did someone mail something to the boss?

The doctor, piqued by curiosity, disregarded the fact that his body was not yet completely dry, and climbed from the windowsill onto the counter, just in time to see the owner staring blankly at a brocade box.

"Who sent this? Hmm? It's a die?" The brocade box wasn't large, and the doctor spotted the die inside at a glance. It was a rather ordinary-looking die, with a ginger-yellow color, probably made of ivory. The doctor then turned to look at the receipt on the courier package, staring at the sender's address, which looked strangely familiar.

"This address... isn't this the address of the hospital where I work?" the doctor exclaimed in shock. Who in that hospital could possibly have any connection with the boss? Wasn't the answer obvious? The doctor immediately became extremely vigilant, circling the brocade box on the counter, fearing that it might contain a bomb or some other dangerous item. "Did Fusu send these dice? What's he up to?!"

The shopkeeper had gotten the counter all wet from seeing the doctor, so he reluctantly picked it up, clipped its two rabbit ears with clips, and hung it on the balcony to sunbathe and get some fresh air. While wiping the counter, the shopkeeper told the story of the ivory die, and finally sighed, "I originally kept this ivory die in the top-tier cabinet. I was looking for it a while ago, but I never expected it to be returned to me."

"That Fusu was actually a thief!" the doctor exclaimed indignantly, but now that he was hanging on the rope, he could only swing his chubby paws in the air.

"It probably wasn't Fusu who took it. It was most likely that Minghong snatched it while fighting Sanqing." The shopkeeper scoffed. Minghong and Sanqing had fought more than once. After suffering a major loss once, Minghong would occasionally find an opportunity to challenge Sanqing. Although they were careful not to damage the Silent House, they often ended up making a mess. The shopkeeper was already considering whether to find a spacious room specifically for Sanqing to use as a dedicated dueling room.

The doctor snorted, puzzled. "From what you just said about the origin of this ivory die, you told him about it before, right? That little red bird didn't really take the die out of anger; it's definitely because it knows this ivory die is an imperial-level antique and wants to interfere with your plans!" The doctor became more and more convinced of his analysis, crossing his arms and looking indignant. He naturally knew that the boss hadn't gone to break the formation and bury the ancient artifact this month because he hadn't found a suitable imperial-level antique yet. However, the doctor's gaze fell on the brocade box on the counter, and he said, puzzled, "That's strange. If Fusu wanted to stop you from breaking the formation, why would he send this ivory die back to you? Is it a fake?"

“It’s not a fake.” The shopkeeper lowered his eyes and sighed deeply. “He’s asking me if I dare to take a bet with him…”

"Gambling?" The doctor was increasingly confused. He struggled to jump down from the rope.

The shopkeeper picked up the ivory dice from the brocade box, its texture still as smooth and delicate as it had been over a thousand years ago: "In fact, when standing at a crossroads in life, everyone will eventually make a choice. No matter which path you choose, looking back years later, you will feel regret. Because no one knows what the outcome would have been if you had chosen the other path, nor could they possibly know."

"And then they'll endlessly fantasize that maybe things would have been better this way? It's like a snake trying to swallow an elephant!" The doctor scoffed, not finding it surprising at all.

"So there's no question of whether to gamble or not." The shopkeeper stroked the long-unused ivory dice, then put them back in the brocade box. "How can one have it all..."

The doctor watched his actions silently for a long while, then suddenly asked, "I don't think that's what he meant!"

The shopkeeper paused, his hand reaching for the brocade box, but he didn't turn around.

"He's probably reminding you not to regret choosing this path..." The doctor's long ears drooped, a little deflated. The boss knew Fusu so well; how could he not see through his meaning? He just didn't want to spell it out and make him worry.

The shopkeeper put away the brocade box, then turned around, grabbed the doctor's long ears, and continued to hang him on the rope to dry.

"Since you'll regret it no matter which path you choose, why bother agonizing over it? Just be true to yourself."

The antiques in the Silent Shop each have their own story, bearing witness to many years, unheard by anyone. Because they cannot speak…

　small theater
　　Doctor: Boss, could you say that again? It sounds so familiar…

　　Boss: Which sentence?
　　Doctor: How can one have it all...? What was the next line again?

　　Boss: ...You misheard me...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)