Dajing Dynasty, Yong'an thirty-seventh year, winter. The imperial city was destroyed and the palace walls collapsed. Shu Jingzhan, the once powerful regent, was tied up in Suzaku Street with iron chains. His eyes that used to be as gentle as jade were now only blood stained and dead. He watched helplessly as the young emperor Zhao Heng, whom he supported with one hand, poured poisonous wine into his throat; watched as his lieutenant Qin Lie, whom he regarded as a brother, held up the heads of his bodyguards to ask for rewards; watched as the beauty Su Wanrou, whom he loved deeply, nestled in the arms of the new emperor, laughing at his stupidity. When the fire burned his body, Shu Jingzhan wept and swore: If there is an afterlife, he must make these wolves, tigers and leopards repay their debts with their blood. These thousands of miles of land should belong to his Shu family!
