Epilogue
Under the flying hooves of the horse, the ground rapidly fades towards the back.
With three of his brothers Wu Zhuo, Teng Yi and Jing Jun, Xiang Shaolong is riding at full speed on the fresh and crisp grassland that stretches as far as the eye can see.
Under the blue sky and white clouds, about half a mile in front of them, a herd of nearly one thousand wild horses are startled and instantly fled towards the north.
The four n started shouting. Squeezing the abdon of their horses to change directions, they continued the pursuit.
Xiang Shaolong and his fellow riders divided themselves into two teams.
One team started flanking the wild horses from the side, forcing the leading alpha horse to change their flight path while the other team persisted in hounding the horses from the back.
After a short chase, the herd is intimidated by their horsewhips and had no choice but to jump into the river and swim towards the opposite shore.
Reining his horse to a stop, Xiang Shaolong thundered: “Kids! It is ti to display your talents.”
On the opposite shore, more than a hundred n suddenly appeared with ropes in their hands, enthusiastically waiting for the horses to walk right into their arms. Among them are Wu Guo, Wu Yan Zhe, Zhao Da and Liu Chao.
Observing his brothers and n capturing wild horses with plenty of excitent, Xiang Shaolong praised: “First Brother is truly talented in picking a good territory. This location comprises of countless rivers and streams which is useful for farming and drinking. With bountiful water supply, fertile soil and limitless grazing grass, this is a piece of paradise.”
His eyes scanning the endless fields around him, Wu Guo inhaled a breath of fragrant grass sll and chuckled: “When I first ca here, I did not feel good because I have this impression that we are forced to co here, like a self-imposed exile. But after living here for so many years, only death can force to leave this place.”
Jing Jun suddenly barked to the n on the opposite shore: “That pure white horse! I want that pure white horse!”
Teng Yi was tickled: “This fellow, Dan’er has given him three sons and two daughters and yet, he himself is like a kid who has never grown up.”
At evening ti, the n are satisfied with a rewarding day and started riding back to the hunting camp.
Ji Yanran, Qin Qing, Wu Tingfang, Zhao Zhi, Tian Zhen, Tian Feng, Zhou Wei, Shan Lan, Lu Dan’er and the other ladies are sitting on a slope, overlooking a group of more than thirty boys and girls aged between ten and fifteen years old. The children are riding their horses and playing polo on a grass adow.
The air is filled with laughter.
One of the children is Xiang Bao’er.
He is much more brawny compared to the other kids. Wearing a beautiful cap made from eagle feathers, coupled with his thick brows and large eyes, he is already an outstanding character.
At this mont, he happened to bend down from his horse and use his mallet to dribble the ball. Under his skillful maneuvers, no one could snatch the polo ball from him.
Beneath their feet, like a shimring green carpet, the boundless grass prairie seems to extend all the way to heaven.
A distance away, more than a hundred tents are clustered together. As the smoke rises from the cooking stoves, more than ten ladies are starting a fire and preparing a al for their husbands and sons to enjoy later.
Nearby, the two n Tu Xian and Xiao Yuetan are sitting on the ground and chatting idly with each other. Occasionally, they would throw a glance at the polo-playing children.
The ga is now reaching a point of excitent and the spectating ladies clapped and cheered nonstop. Among them, Wu Tingfang and Lu Dan’er cheered the loudest.
Out of the blue, Qin Qing nudged Ji Yanran who is sitting down beside her. She joyfully exclaid: “Hubby is back.”
Shifting their gaze to the edge of the horizon, the group of ladies spotted more than a hundred black dots that are gradually becoming bigger and bigger. The sound of hoof beats is also faintly discernable.
Feeling in the mood, Ji Yanran stood up and hollered in her shrill voice: “I am going out to welco our victorious warriors; who is with ?”
The children have already abandoned their ga. With so of them riding ahead and so riding at the back, they are heading towards the approaching horsen.
The sound of hoof beats reverberated thorough the air.
Ji Yanran’s invitation is instantly taken up by everyone. Running to and mounting their horses, it wasn’t too long until the ladies t up with their partners on the grasslands. Together, they rode back to camp.
Riding in front, the children are proudly leading the way back.
Slowing cantering beside Ji Yanran and Qin Qing, an emotional Xiang Shaolong gushed: “Heaven is indeed kind to us. In the past, I cannot imagine myself leading such a blissful and worry-free life.”
Qin Qing sighed: “Because of our past experiences, we are able to appreciate the value of living freely on the grasslands. Unlike that little fellow Bao’er; he kept whining and expressed his desire to return to the Central Plains and see the world.”
Wu Tingfang nagged: “In the future, you better not tell him any more stories about the Central Plains, especially about Chu. Bao’er has developed a liking for that place, how mysterious!”
Xiang Shaolong chortled: “Every person has his or her own dreams. Because our dreams are fulfilled, we are contended with our lives. Bao’er is rely pursing his dream! We should never try to stop him from pursing his interests and must never force him to live according to our expectations of him.”
Ji Yanran is exhilarated: “Hubby’s words are really moving. Bao’er’s dream is to beco an eagle in the sky, able to spread his wings and fly to any place he desires.”
Zhao Zhi guffawed: “Everyone is pampering him without any reservations! In my opinion, Little Zhen and Little Feng are the worst culprits!”
Teased by Zhao Zhi, Tian Zhen and Tian Feng are covering their mouths and giggling. Happiness is written all over their faces.
As if she suddenly rembered sothing, Ji Yanran smiled: “I nearly forgot to tell you sothing, Father of Bao’er. Bao’er finds his na too childish and wishes to change it.”
Unconcerned, Xiang Shaolong was thrilled: “As long as his surna is Xiang, he can choose whichever na he wants.”
Pretending to be angry, Wu Tingfang protested: “The na Bao’er is my suggestion; it is his birth na!”
Ji Yanran continued: “Noting his love for eagles, I recomnded him to use the na Eagle (Ying).”
Xiang Shaolong burst out laughing: “Xiang Ying! That’s quite a nice na!”
Qin Qing gently rebuked: “As a father, you do not understand your son well enough. He finds the word ‘Eagle’ too aggressive and beast-like. Moreover, others will make jokes about his na. He has decided on the word: Yu.”
Violently shaken, Xiang Shaolong reined his horse to a stop and unconsciously shouted: “What!”
The ladies, Teng Yi and the rest were stunned into stopping with him. All the attention is now focused on Xiang Shaolong.
In his mind, Xiang Shaolong is experiencing wave after wave of tsunamis.
Xiang Yu?
Isn’t he the man who fought against Liu Bang for control over the entire China? And who eventually committed suicide by jumping into River Wu with the beauty Yu Ji? The one and only Chu Great Conqueror Xiang Yu?
What is going on?
Could it be rely a coincidence in their nas?
Taking ti into account, the probability is quite strong.
From the records of history, the Qin dynasty ended after two emperors.
Thirty seven years after Yingzheng beca the King of Qin, he died of illness at Saqiu when he was touring the southern provinces. After him, the second Emperor perished three years later. At that point in ti, Xiang Shaolong’s son Xiang Yu is in his early thirties, the pri of his youth.
The cries of everybody brought Xiang Shaolong back to his senses.
Ji Yanran suspiciously probed: “Does Hubby dislike this na? But Bao’er loves it. If you want him to change his mind, leave us out of it. You can speak to him directly.”
Recomposing himself, Xiang Shaolong started contemplating. Should he issue a warning to his son Xiang Bao’er? For example, when Bao’er ets a man nad Liu Bang, he should unsheathe his sword and kill him at once.
But on the other hand, even though Xiang Shaolong is fully aware of historical developnts, at the end of the day, he is unable to change its path.
Destiny is sothing that cannot be altered by re willpower and effort.
Humans believe they are charting their lives; that is precisely because they are unaware of their actual fate. In fact, they are simply living their lives according to fate.
Only Xiang Shaolong is able to fully comprehend this insight.
One of his ‘son’ Xiao Pan built the Great Qin empire while his other ‘son’ Xiang Yu personally destroyed the sa empire.
Qin Qing frowned: “What is Hubby thinking about!”
Abruptly breaking out into laughter, Xiang Shaolong replied: “I have thought through it and ca to an understanding.”
Teng Yi’s voice sounded: “What did Third Brother understand?”
Xiang Shaolong joyfully exclaid: “From this day onwards, Xiang Bao’er shall be Xiang Yu.”
The crowd rolled their eyes in unison.
With a baffled expression, Ji Yanran enquired: “What is there to understand about changing one’s na?”
From her back, Xiang Shaolong leaned forward to her face and inhaled her fragrance. He laughed: “I understood one point. If you succeeded, so what? And if you failed, so what? Success and failure are irrelevant. The most important thing is to lead a fulfilling and extraordinary life, inscribing your everlasting na in the records of history. That indeed, is a life worth living!”
Even more puzzled than before, the crowd could never guess that he is referring to his own son eventually becoming the legendary and illustrious Chu Great Conqueror Xiang Yu.
Letting out a burst of heroic laughter, Xiang Shaolong prodded his horse and started chasing up to Xiang Yu and the other children.
Everyone swiftly resounded and nudged their horses in pursuit.
Under the magnificent and colourful sunset, the humans and horses seed to have rged into one body with Mother Nature, depicting a heavenly and ecstatic painting.
~~~ END ~~~
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