After a hectic day at the seminar, you pull up your new model vintage car in the garage of your penthouse suite and toss the keys to your butler who was busy waiting for you.
"Welcome home sir" the elderly butler greeted in a cripsy British accent
"Thank you Francis" you reply "how have you been?"
"Oh quite well sir, especially now that we have Francisca and the others doing all the work around the house" he replied
"We have a maid called Francisca?" You asked in genuine confusion
"Of course" he gives you a disbelieving look "are you telling me that you don't know the maids you have in your own house?"
"Why should I?" You reply casually "isn't that what I have you for?"
The man still keeps up his stern look but you could swear you saw the gost of a smile on his face.
"I suppose" He replied slowly "Anyway if you are worried about dinner the new cook (he moves close to your face and says) FRANCISCA has graciously made a roasted turkey and some fine comfy bulgio."
"Thank you Fransis" you reply without minding the little action that could ordinaryly be considered as disrespect "any calls for today?"
"Unfortunately no sir" he replied "I had the home phone disconnected first thing in the morning"
You stop dead in your tracks and turned to face the Brit who looked at you as though he knew what would happen next.
"How could you do that Fransis?" You flared "do you know how many people must have been trying to contact me all morning? What if there was a problem at the office?"
Contrary to your expectations, the Brit simply gave you a broad smile and asked "Did you forget what today is sir?"
"And what dose it matter what today is?" You counter while trying to hide your discomfort at the smirking smile that made it looks as though he was aware of some secret joke that was made at your expense.
"Can you please confirm the date on your phone for me sir" he asked (more like said )
You bring out your new model phone from your pocket and switched it on. However as soon as you looked into the screen your cheerful expression dropped, your head became heavy, and your heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand needles. This was because in the screen of the phone there was a picture of a blonde hair woman with a rosy cheek and full lip who was staring at the camera with a beautiful smile. Her merry face was sumgded with cake and she was proudly sucking her two fingers stained with iceing. Seeing this brought back so many memories that you began to feel your eyes sting.
"Rosita would not want you to be sad on your birth day sir." Fransis words broke the wave of despire threatening to overwhelm you
"and she would definitely not want you to be standing in a garage and yelling at an old man in your office wear."
You lightly chukle and then said "thank you fransis"
"Of course sir and while I would not presume to know your action, it has been 5 years since the accident. Don't you think it is time to move on?"
"I will move on eventually fransis" you said somberly "Eventually"
"Of course sir" he agreed and then he reached into the pockets of his well tailored suit (he hardly wore anything else) and brought out a small wrapped package.
"Happy birthday sir"
"Thank you fransis" you said as you slowly examined his gift "tell all the staffs to take the day off and then you can go"
"Already have sir" he countered with that smug smile "that is why you have me isn't it?"
He then walked into your car in supreme confidence.
"Showoff" you muttered as you walked into the house.
Inside the house the only two colors that seemed to be splashed everywhere was pink and red. This was because your favorite color was red and Rosita's was pink. Your eyes sting when you remember the numerous 'fights' that happened in every conner of the house over these decorations. One of these "fights" actually resulted in the birth of your first born son.
You shake your head to clear the memory and sat down at the large dining table to eat without even bothering to change your clothes. Just as you were about to begin eating you heard the doorbell ring.
"For peace sake fransis what on earth did you forget" you muttered as you went to open the door.
However upon opening the door, instead of seeing the elderly Brit, you saw a young Caucasian woman with blonde hair and blue eyes and facial features that could only be described as Asian.
"Can I help you madam?" You asked politely
"I am afraid so professor" she replied in a soft voice with a soft smile that reminded you of a stalking crocodile "I have some questions about your seminar and I was hoping that I could get some answers. May I come in?"
"Of course" you said as you gently steeped aside.
She entered and began to look around
"What can I get you madam?" You asked your guest
"Just water would be nice" she replied while looking at the vast collection of scrolls in a corner of your gallery "actually if you have some Chinese wine that would be nicer"
You take down her order in a notepad and disappear into the kitchen.
By the time you returned with the Chinese wine, brandy and two cups, she was sitting on the dining table and typing furiously on her laptop.
"I must say professor your background is quite impressive." She began "genius inventor and businessman, professor of historical studies and you even served for five years in the Chinese army. How did manage to balance all that?"
"Well I can't really tell young lady, multitasking has been one of my many talents" you replied
"And it has nothing to do with the fact that your brain has 5000 more folds than the average person?"
Your face immediately darkened
"Are you going to tell me why you are here miss...."
"Su" she answered "Liu su and yes I will"
She then put down her laptop and brought out a note pad.
"You seem to think that the fall of the Han dynasty could have been avoided, may I ask your reasons?"
"It is quite simple actually." You took a sip of the brandy you had brought for yourself from the fridge
"The period in question is one where the authority of the central government was strictly obeyed and the emperor was viewed as a god in human form. It should also be noted that untill the founding of Cai wei, the warlords of the late Han dynasty never wanted to split apart and they still paid half-hearted alligence to the Han emperor. The problem started when emperor ling of Han issued an edict that allowed provincial governors to have their own armies so imagine what could have happened if either one of the sons of the last emperor was strong enough to revoke that edict, defeat all the governors who disagreed and executed them and their families, would that not have solved the problem?"
"Maybe but then that would have only left more dead bodies on the field and widespread unemployment, famine and poverty" she countered
"Unemployment?" Sarcastically "by the time half of the country is dead won't the surving half get all the job they need?"
She frowned and you laughed lightly
"The tunitan system by Coa Coa was able to cut down unemployment by half in the Yan province, don't you think it would have done much more than that if it was introduced across the entire nation?"
She thought about this for a while and said
"So you are telling me that if for some reason we can ignore you end up being one of the sons of emperor ling, you could have revived the dying Han dynasty?"
"Certainly" you confirm "and I dare say it would have been much stronger than it was in it's prime"
She thought deeply for some time and then gave you a beautiful smile
"What if I told you that there was a way to do just that, would you believe?"
"Do what exactly?"
"Send you back to the Han dynasty as one of emperor ling sons would you agree?"
You study her expression intently for a while and then burst into laughter
"It is fine to speculate on historical actions young lady (you take a sip of your brandy) so long as those speculation dose not delve into the realm of science fiction."
"And who said it was science fiction" she countered with that crocodile smile
All of a sudden your throat became itchy, your boby became weak and you began coughing violently. You then took a look at your glass only to see something dark and sinister at the bottom of it.
"You poisoned me?" You cried in fear
"Only a mild dose professor" she replied casually "enough to kill your body but not your soul"
You quickly leaped away from that insanity and tried to make it into the kitchen where your first aid box was but the potency of the poison was too much. Your body grew weaker and weaker and eventually you were forced to your knees and resorted to crawling with your hands.
Just as you could feel your life slipping away, that devil of a woman slowly approached you and began to draw all sorts of symbols on your chest with her blood.
The last thing you heard before your life finally fade away was her clear cold voice saying
"Rest well my emperor you have a long journey ahead"