Volume One Chapter 1 Prologue
"Green goblets and white ants, drinking floating clouds; long sleeves and clear songs, joyful play in the state." — Emperor Yang of Sui, "Song of Music in Jiangdu Palace"
At the end of the Great Undertaking, chaos engulfed the realm.
The rebels of Wagong in Henan, Dou Jiande’s forces in Hebei, and the armies of Du Fuwei and Fu Gongshi in Jianghuai rose one after another, shaking the Sui Empire to its foundations.
Through the ages, the sun, moon, and stars have remained lofty and unchanged. But the people upon the earth have been replaced generation after generation...
As the great edifice is about to collapse, none can halt the march of time.
...
"Your Majesty! Urgent news from Daxing..." The messenger, flustered and hurried, knelt before Yang Guang, offering the sealed letter.
No one could guess what urgent news might come at such a time, but all knew it would not bode well.
Yang Guang continued to play the zither, not even raising his head.
"Your Majesty..." The attendant eunuch beside him called out tentatively.
Only then did Yang Guang respond, the melody beneath his fingers growing more vigorous as he signaled for the report to be read aloud.
"To report to Your Majesty... yes..." High Eunuch bent low, glanced at the letter, and immediately knelt, unable to speak further.
"I ordered you to read!" Yang Guang’s patience was all but gone.
The zither strings trembled violently beneath his hands, the sound now harsh and grating, betraying the player’s agitation.
High Eunuch kept his head bowed, his hand trembling uncontrollably as he held the letter: "The traitor Li Yuan has enthroned Prince Yang You as emperor in Daxing Palace, and from afar... from afar reveres Your Majesty as... the Retired Emperor..."
A cracking sound—a string snapped, its sharp edge slicing Yang Guang’s hand.
He slowly stopped, tugged at his lips, stared blankly for a moment, then tilted his head back and burst into a self-mocking laugh, his eyes full of exhaustion and disappointment, his voice hoarse: "Ah... brother-in-law... brother-in-law... Who would have thought, in the end you would plunge a blade into me..."
All attendants were silent, not daring to breathe.
Yang Guang then lowered his head, gazed at the palace doors, calmed himself with two deep breaths, his expression returning to normal. At last, he said quietly, "Summon Princess Chang and General Tianbao."
"Yes!" The guards moved to obey, but as they reached the doorway, Yang Guang called them back: "Never mind. All of you, leave..."
He took up a handkerchief to wipe away the blood, dismissing everyone.
The situation now was likely irreversible.
He had foreseen it long ago.
Everyone had betrayed him—close companions, even his own kin...
Yang Guang smiled, his face serene as he sipped his wine, then sat alone in the hall for a long time, summoning no one, not stepping outside.
A once mighty emperor reduced to such a state—how could one not sigh?
Yet, throughout the land, most believed Yang Guang had brought this upon himself.
But was it truly so...
Perhaps, not entirely...
At least, there were still those who struggled for him.
Chenzhao Hall—
The urgent news from Daxing soon reached Yang Xiangning and Yuwen Chengdu.
"Outrageous! Never before in history has such a thing happened!" Yang Xiangning, furious, slapped the table.
Yuwen Chengdu glanced at the letter, and his expression instantly grew grave.
"What is my royal brother’s attitude toward this?" Yang Xiangning, restraining her emotions, looked up to ask High Eunuch.
"His Majesty... only sighed once, and said nothing else..."
Indeed, what use were words now...
No one could do anything.
Yang Xiangning felt only pain—her royal brother was a man of talent, skilled in both civil and military affairs, founding a new capital, opening the Grand Canal, instituting the imperial examination, building the Great Wall, accomplishing so much.
Who could have foreseen his ultimate fate...
Yang Xiangning knew Yang Guang had made mistakes, but nothing could be spoken in absolutes...
Her heart heavy, she dismissed all attendants, sighing deeply: "These past years, rebel kings have risen everywhere; I watched as my brother grew ever more despondent, neglecting the court, spending his days playing the zither and composing poetry..."
No one could help; Yuwen Chengdu did not respond, only studied the letter a moment longer: "With this, we cannot return to Daxing..."
All understood Li Yuan’s intentions—he had no genuine loyalty to Yang You; he merely needed a legitimate reason to usurp the throne... Yang You, in the end, was but a puppet.
Clearly, the Li family now controlled Daxing, and if Yang Guang hoped for a reversal, he needed overwhelming military strength, to retake Daxing, restore control over the north, reclaim command of the armies, and quell the rebellions...
But plainly, under current circumstances, this was impossible.
Not to mention the situation in the north, Yang Guang’s predicament here was bound to become even more dire...
...
A few days later, Yang Guang sat alone, composing verse and immersing himself in his own world. His defeat and the fall of the Sui dynasty seemed inevitable; the wheels of history turned ceaselessly, and no one could stop them...
Whether merit or fault, good or ill...
Let it be left for later generations to judge...
...
"Seeking to return but unable to leave, truly suffering in spring. The birds urge one to drink, plum blossoms laugh one to death." — Emperor Yang of Sui, "Poem Upon Visiting Jiangdu"