One-shot 4: The New World… It Shall Be Now

"Little brother?" Nu Wa peeked through the drapes that shrouded her little brother's bedchamber from the palace hallway. She gave a slight – just a slight – scowl. Here she was, taking all the trouble to descend from Heaven to visit him, and here he wasn't! Where had the little rascal gone?

Had he departed the capital to conquer yet more cities, or to mass-murder more of the human creations she loved? Alas, brutality, deceit, hatred and greed accompanied them through every age, in every realm. But Cao Cao did not fare better: chaos accompanied him like a shadow clings to its moving object. How ironic, then, that he sought to slay the chaos that plagued the land, when she knew that he – and his empire – thrived amidst such a channel for power.

She blinked as she glimpsed a small scroll of parchment by his large royal bed. She made her way over and picked it up, unrolling it. Her golden eyes fell upon his rather carelessly scrawled message:

Elder Sister,

My apologies for making you wait. I will not try to justify to you what I've done today. But I know you will not begrudge me… at most, I can expect to receive a severe reprimand and yet another lecture.

Today, I took the Emperor into custody and reinstated the office of the Imperial Chancellor. I shall be able to exercise imperial authority whilst maintaining the power of a Prime Minister. The dukes, the princes… they shall all be forced to obey my edicts now.

I know what you are thinking. But I cannot allow Xian to interfere in my political ambitions. Before you proceed to denounce me, remember my words – His Imperial Majesty is a weakling, a puppet that court eunuchs and ambitious scoundrels would have ultimately exploited for their own dissipated ends. I will keep the boy with me… as a dependant, if you will. He was quite relieved at having somebody of my calibre protect his life. It is a curious thing, to feel so powerful; to grasp so much might within the palm of one's gloved hand. But I also know my responsibility – by asserting authority over the land in the Emperor's name, I must do away with the role of the Son of Heaven altogether… and initiate a world where this imperial hierarchy will never be needed.

This is the vision I nurture, and I trust that you believe this to be a worthy path.

I will return by nightfall. I expect you will accompany me for dinner?

– Little brother

She shook her head in near-disbelief as she finished reading. She smirked and neatly folded the parchment.

So this was how he intended to bring about a new aeon? A new epoch in history?

Turning on her high heel, she indifferently placed his letter on his bedside table and proceeded out of the chamber.

"You. Are. One. Arrogant. Young man."

*

The evening's meal awaited him, but he did not eat. The round table stood behind him with a banquet of scrumptious fish, vegetables, meat and soup, but still he felt no hunger. Instead, he swished a goblet of rice wine in his hand, staring out into the night panorama of Luoyang as the misty moon beamed down upon the spires and tiled roofs of the quiet megalopolis. He took a small sip as crickets chirped quietly into the hours of darkness.

He did not turn around until he felt Nu Wa's warm, nourishing presence bringing heat to his very body. "I suppose you do not intend to try the feast my cooks prepared."

"Even the most delectable of human fare tastes like dragon's filth to me." He glanced at her as she nodded in a cool and haughty manner. "How did you know I would not protest?" she asked, staring at him suspiciously. "How did you know that I would not try to stop such an audacious bid for power?"

"I knew because your Mandate was never conferred upon either Dong Zhuo or Emperor Xian. You knew they are not truly legitimate candidates to rule the land. One is a fiendish, greedy tyrant, the other, an essentially useless boy." He breathed in the cool night air. "It is now merely a matter of knowing who possesses enough talent to be worthy of my benefaction. Would you care for some of my best liquor? Distilled by my finest winemakers."

"Don't even think about intoxicating me with your disgusting human vino." She joined him by the balcony, resting her hands on the balustrade as he sipped at his alcohol. "I was always curious to see whether or not you could utterly seduce a weakling into taking refuge under you. Apparently, your conscience didn't do a thing to stop you."

"His Imperial Majesty is weak. But I am strong, my influence and power, far greater than his. It is a straightforward equation," he replied nonchalantly, loosening the mantle that held his dark, phoenix-patterned cape. He finished his drink and moved to place it on the table. He grimaced as their backs faced one another. "You find my methods questionable?"

"I always find them questionable. I simply wonder if they will truly succeed in conceiving the world you wish to create. Although I suppose your refusal to directly usurp the imperial throne is evidence of your confidence in your approach."

They turned to look at each other. His eyes were stern and unforgiving. "Do not continue to test me, Nu Wa. I tire quite easily of these games."

"Forgive me if I have experienced betrayal by my mortal creations over and over again for millennia." She glared at him sharply. "You humans never learn. You enjoy your cycles of violence, of hatred and lies. I only fear that you may become a human even more terrifying than a demon."

"Do not insult me, Elder Sister," growled Cao Cao softly, his eyes flashing with a hellish obsession.

For one moment – just one – even she was taken aback. "Little brother, I wasn't implying – "

"I am doing this… for the world. For you." He moved closer and took her waist, pulling her into his bitter, wry embrace. She stared up at him, partly in worry, partly in admiration. "In many ways, I am your darker side, Nu Wa. I am the human that can act upon your will without reservation, without qualms or restrictions. I am Heaven's agent. Its wrath." He sneered. "Your wrath, visited upon a blinkered world averse to opening its eyes."

She draped her arms around him, brushing at his back lightly. Her voice was quiet, sincere, and encouraging. "Then be assured of this: tonight, I was not testing you. It is apparent that my fears were groundless. For now, I need not dwell on whether I have entrusted the world to the right saviour."

Without warning, he fell upon her like a thunderbolt, pulling her close and planting an ardent kiss on her open mouth. The couple shut tight their eyes, relishing each other's taste as the earthly and the empyrean dotingly embraced. Her hands found his chest, and she pressed harder against them, urging him to enfold her with finality, to forbid her from dancing away like some celestial, impish nymph.

"Congratulations on your ascendancy, Your Excellency," she whispered in a rare display of surrender. "What might the new Imperial Chancellor's orders be?"

He closed his eyes. "What would you be willing to sacrifice for me?"

"You may have me eating out of the palm of your hand, but I do know when my favour is well-deserved. In other words, dark one, there is no sacrifice I will not make for you."

"Then I have only one order, Elder Sister. And that is to stay."

She nodded in assent. She did not release him, and his caresses grew more agitated, more desirous, and even angry. Such magnificence! After so many months of preparation, he was now commander of the dukes and counts of the realm. The Emperor himself was under his control. He was one step closer to realizing his ambition.

"I shall fulfill my promise to you. I shall become the most powerful man in the world."

And tonight, he had achieved something especially daring, especially audacious… especially impressive. Celebration was in order.

He had won her trust long ago. But tonight, she decided that his reward would transcend that of mere trust.

She would allow her little brother to… enjoy… his newfound authority with her.