The Han Dynasty Empress is a Ghost | Chapter 116 | A Desperate Return | Novela.app

Liu Che stared with wide eyes, his face a mask of utter disbelief. Qiu Zhuang’s form hesitated, his expression shifting through several rapid changes before he suddenly lunged, swinging his blade toward the Emperor. A’jiao felt as though she were about to cough up blood, yet she summoned every remaining ounce of her strength to throw herself in front of the Emperor. *Clang!* Fine cracks spiderwebbed across the ghostly longsword. "Lord Shen..." A’jiao’s strength finally failed. She collapsed into Liu Che’s arms, tears tracing paths down her cheeks before her head lolled to the side, and she slipped into unconsciousness. It had been far too terrifying. Liu Che looked around frantically, but he could see nothing—neither the "ghost" A’jiao had spoken of, nor this "Lord Shen." Shen Zhi moved to A’jiao’s side, catching her hand to delicately feel her pulse. Seeing an opening, Qiu Zhuang attempted to flee, only to find himself frozen in place, unable to move a muscle. He stared blankly at the man who had appeared out of thin air. The man had arrived without a sound, so silently that even the surge of power within Qiu Zhuang’s own body—which usually acted as a warning system—had failed to give any indication of his presence. Liu Che watched in a daze as A’jiao’s hand remained suspended in mid-air, as if held by an invisible force. He realized then that the "Lord Shen" who had saved him must be standing right before his eyes. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his arms suddenly felt light. A’jiao had vanished. "A’jiao! Jiaojiao!" There was no response, save for the whistling of the bitter winter wind. Despite the freezing depths of midwinter, Liu Che was drenched in sweat. Had anyone been there to witness it, they would have seen steam rising from the Emperor’s body in thin white wisps, his skin flushed an unnatural, vivid red. After searching the surrounding area fruitlessly, Liu Che forced himself to suppress the agitation churning in his heart. He had to find a way back to the palace first. Fortunately, he was somewhat familiar with the outskirts of the capital. Before long, he found his bearings and walked for a time until he reached the broad Imperial Road that led directly into Chang'an. By the time he reached the city gates, the Emperor was so exhausted he could barely stand. His heavy outer cloak had been discarded somewhere along the way; having stripped off his ornate, cumbersome overgarments, he had tied his long inner robe around his waist. Ignoring the sidelong glances of the garrison soldiers, he leaned against the city wall, gasping for breath. Recognizing that this gate was near the northeastern wards, Liu Che called out to a passing soldier. "Go to Guanshangli," he wheezed. "Find the Chen family. Tell them Lady Chen has sent someone to wait for them here." His initial instinct had been to summon people to escort him back to the palace... but the city’s markets were a chaotic mix of locals, travelers from the north and south, and foreign envoys. After careful consideration, he decided not to reveal his identity publicly. It was better to reach someone he could trust first. The soldier glanced at him dismissively. "It’s right there. Go yourself!" Liu Che froze. "What?" The Emperor felt a metallic tang rise in his throat. He doubled over in a fit of coughing, and to his shock, flecks of crimson splattered the ground. He stared at the blood, stunned. The soldier was equally stunned. "Hey, hey! What’s wrong with you?" the man asked, his tone turning anxious. A junior officer walking nearby came over. "What’s the commotion?" The soldier looked helpless. "This man is dressed strangely, I don't know what he's up to. He told me to go to the Chen house in Guanshangli to call for someone, saying something about 'Lady Chen'!" The junior officer was better informed than the common soldier. He knew of the Chen family in Guanshangli; he had heard that the woman currently most favored by His Majesty in the palace was this very Lady Chen, for whom a new palace was being constructed. And that Lady Chen was the daughter of the Chen family from Guanshangli. The officer scrutinized Liu Che’s appearance. Though the man’s clothes were a disheveled mess, the quality of the fabric and the intricacy of the embroidery were clearly exorbitant. "Zhang Jie," the officer said, "escort this gentleman to the Chen residence. I’ll cover your post for a while." "Understood," Zhang Jie replied, taking the order. By the time they arrived at the Chen estate, Liu Che could no longer support himself and slumped down onto the doorstep. He felt his heart hammering violently—*thump, thump, thump*—as if it were trying to burst from his chest. His throat was parched and agonizingly sore. Zhang Jie glanced at him before deciding to knock on the door himself. After a few moments, the heavy gates slowly creaked open. A man in a green robe, dressed as a steward, stepped out. Seeing Zhang Jie in his city guard uniform, the steward looked surprised. "Does the officer have business here?" Zhang Jie pointed to Liu Che, who sat gasping on the stone steps. "That man says he was sent by Lady Chen to see the master of the house." The steward looked skeptical, but as he stepped closer to take a look, he suddenly dropped to his knees in terror. "Your Majesty!" | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 沈致 | Shen Zhi | The full name of "Lord Shen" (Shen-daren). | | 冠尚里 | Guanshangli | A specific neighborhood or ward in Chang'an where the Chen family resides. | | 驰道 | Imperial Road | Literally "Galloping Road," the high-speed state roads of the Han Dynasty. | | 张节 | Zhang Jie | The name of the city guard soldier. | | 闾里 | Wards / Neighborhoods | The residential blocks of ancient Chinese cities. | | 陈娘娘 | Lady Chen | Referring to A'jiao (Empress Chen) by her title/consort rank. |