The caravan entered Sichuan, far from the rebel forces.
The Emperor no longer felt fit to rule the nation. He wrote a decree handing over the crown to his son, Li Heng. An envoy was sent to the western frontier with the imperial jade seal to inform Li Heng of his father’s decision. Now he, Emperor Ming Huang was the Overlord.
He and his followers took refuge one day in the Sword Pavilion as it began to rain. The Emperor sat in silence, looking at the beautiful scenery of Sichuan. He shut his eyes, catching the sound of something jingling.
“Gao Lishi, what’s that sound?”
“It is nothing but the wind chimes hanging on the eaves of the pavilion, Your Majesty.”
“It’s beautiful. Maybe it’s Yuhuan playing music for me. My love, I apologize for the injustice I caused you! Now I’m all alone in this world.”
When the Emperor finally arrived at Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, he ordered a temple to be built in memory of Yang Yuhuan. He also ordered to have a statue of her ladyship made and delivered to his palace in Chengdu immediately upon finish.
At the sight of the finished statue the Emperor broke down, and began yelling.
“My love, why don’t you answer me? Why are you not smiling? Alas! This is only a wooden statue!” He snatched a cup from Gao Lishi’s hands and raised it above his head.
“Let’s drink this cup of wine together, my love.”
The Emperor could not be persuaded to leave the statue’s side.
“Look, Gao!” He grasped the hands of his trusted eunuch. “Isn’t the lady crying?”
Thinking that the Emperor had gone mad, Gao Lishi and several maids rushed over to the statue to check. It was true. The statue’s face seemed to be covered in tears.
“My poor love,” howled the Emperor.
