The [Battle of Acknowledgment] had been going on for half a month. Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan stared intently at the mirror-like smooth surface of the lake. Half a month ago, a divine beast had emerged from the lake waters, a pitch-black dragon turtle.
"Will His Majesty prevail?" Sun Quan asked in a low voice.
"May...the heavens bless our Emperor," Liu Bei evasively replied.
Sun Quan glared at Liu Bei. He had always felt that Liu Bei was slick and slippery. Now that he answered the question indirectly, it seemed like the behavior of a hypocrite.
"Brother Mengde, what do you think?" Sun Quan turned to ask Cao Cao instead.
Unexpectedly, Cao Cao also gave an evasive reply. "More than His Majesty's victory or defeat, I'm actually more curious about something else. The three of us all have the destiny to become emperors, so why is the divine beast only battling our Emperor? Could this imply that Heaven's Way is hinting that we three are unqualified to become emperors in the end?"
Hearing this, Sun Quan's expression became solemn. Anxiety also flashed over Liu Bei's face. The three of them were guarding the lake, ostensibly due to their duty as the emperor's close subjects to protect him. But the three men also harbored selfish motives. If the divine beast were to choose one of them instead...
"Heheh, don't worry my friends," Cao Cao softly chuckled. "A heaven-sent beast protector has descended, yet we haven't even founded our kingdoms yet. Naturally it is unrelated to us."
After saying so, the three men fell silent again. Once, they had all loyally served Emperor Liu Xie. But ever since they were suspected and angrily rebuked during the [Three Emperors Meeting], seeds of disloyalty had been planted in their hearts.
Finally, the hot-blooded Sun Quan spoke first, unable to hold it in any longer. "As long as His Majesty lives, I shall loyally serve him for that one day! If His Majesty passes away, I plan to return to my Jiangdong fief and live out my retirement."
This was clearly taking a stand. He would only be loyal to Liu Xie, the one and only Han Emperor in his eyes. Once Liu Xie met his end, regardless if a treacherous minister usurped the throne or a new emperor succeeded, Sun Quan would cease to be a Han subject.
After Sun Quan was done talking, he looked towards Liu Bei. "Brother-in-law, what about you?"
Liu Bei was gifted with naturally charming looks and extraordinary bearing, with the reputed appearance of a dragon and phoenix. Upon hearing himself addressed as "brother-in-law", his face couldn't help twitching.
"I am His Majesty's Imperial Uncle. If His Majesty passes away, the heavy burden of this Han dynasty shall be borne upon my shoulders!" Liu Bei's voice rang loud and clear, resolute as steel.
"Cao has long eaten provisions from the Han House..." After a brief pause, Cao Cao slowly said, "If it is mandated by Heaven, I shall become King Wen of Zhou."
What did becoming King Wen of Zhou mean? Not revolt, but lifelong loyalty serving the Yin Shang dynasty. But whether his sons would revolt or not would have nothing to do with King Wen of Zhou.
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As the three men were talking, the lake waters suddenly surged violently like boiling tea.
The three men simultaneously cried out in alarm. Sure enough, a ragged figure leapt out of the lake, heavily crashing onto the muddy lake shore.
Han Emperor Liu Xie had suffered heavy damage, but barely managed to get back on his feet.
The twelve dangling pearls crown on his head was nowhere to be seen. His hair hung loose and disheveled without a trace of imperial majesty. His dragon robe was largely intact but covered in mud and filth.
"Ha...hahaha! I have won! I have finally won!"
Emperor Liu Xie excitedly waved his arms about. In his right hand, he gripped a golden longsword. The Sword of the First Emperor!
Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan exchanged glances before uniformly kneeling down to salute. "Congratulations Your Majesty for subduing the divine beast!"
"My dear ministers, quickly get up." Liu Xie excitedly urged. "It is thanks to you three for seeking out the Sword of the First Emperor. Without it, I might not have prevailed."
As he spoke, he fished out a lumpy black sphere from his sleeve - actually a turtle shell.
"Ha... seems the divine beast has fallen asleep and withdrawn into its shell," Liu Xie awkwardly explained.
He had originally wanted to show off the divine beast's magnificence to his trusted ministers. Unfortunately, the divine beast didn't seem intent on humoring him. Having just been subdued, it promptly withdrew to hibernate.
"My lords, is there any news from Ming or Chu?" Liu Xie felt awkward and changed the subject. "That Jiajing Emperor and the Chu ruler... Xiang Chong was it? Have they also successfully subdued their divine beasts like I have?"
Cao Cao had received advance notice from Fan Li regarding the situation. He was only to say that Xiang Ning had been forced to abdicate and was under house arrest in the Brahma Sound Pure Land, but not to mention the truth of her identity.
"Chu's divine beast still has yet to appear," Cao Cao frowned. "At least based on the latest reports from our spies, the Chu Emperor Xiang Chong is still holding normal court sessions and has yet to initiate a [Battle of Acknowledgment]."
Hearing this, Liu Xie revealed a disdainful expression. "As expected, none of those usurpers amount to anything good! My wonderful son-in-law is the Chu's rightful Son of Heaven. That pretender is unworthy of receiving a guardian divine beast."
The three ministers listened and inexplicably felt their cheeks flush upon hearing this.
It was still Cao Cao who gave a light cough and said, "Your Majesty, why not also follow the Jiajing Emperor's example and bestow your beast with a name?"
"Confer it with a name?" Liu Xie blanked out for a few seconds before asking back, "Can I just call it Little Turtle?"
The three men simultaneously rolled their eyes. The Vermillion Bird versus Little Turtle? How utterly inappropriate!
Liu Xie also seemed to feel it was improper. "Haha, Prime Minister Cao, I was never well read growing up. Why don't you suggest something more fitting?"
"...This servant obeys." Cao Cao silently gazed at the Emperor for a long time, feeling as if the Han imperial clan was beyond all salvation. There was once a time he had yearned to expend all efforts to revive the Han dynasty.
With a sigh, Cao Cao finally said, "The beast is pitch black, signifying the arcane mysteries. It emerged from the waters, waters represent yin, and yin signifies the netherworld. According to legends, when Cangjie created Chinese characters, the netherworld was linked to martial might. Therefore, this servant suggests naming the beast Xuanwu."
Liu Xie muttered the name several times, very satisfied with it.
"Little Turtle, from now on your name is Xuanwu!" As he spoke, he gently patted the turtle shell.
Suddenly, as if woken up by the patting, Xuanwu poked its little head out from its shell. Its pair of round gleaming eyes ignored Liu Xie entirely and instead settled onto Cao Cao before turning to look at Liu Bei and Sun Quan.
Everyone present also focused their attention onto Xuanwu, strangely feeling as if they saw a certain emotion revealed on its face.
How could a divine beast reveal such expressions?
Very quickly, Xuanwu withdrew back into its shell as if nothing had transpired just now.
Liu Xie burst into loud laughter and continued, "Prime Minister Cao, I have subjugated Xuanwu and this joyous occasion should be celebrated. Please compose a fine ode for me to appreciate reading tomorrow."
"This servant obeys."
That night after returning to his residence, Cao Cao spread out paper at his desk and lifted his writing brush.
"Even divine turtles have finite lifespans..."