A change of pace with a more introspective and moody passage. Also quite plotty. Poor Chengling.
Thank Emma P for proofreading!
Notes
1. Xiang Yu put an end to the Qin dynasty founded by the celebrated "first emperor of China" Qin Shihuang (the one with the terracotta army) and founded the Western Chu.
2. Liu Xiu is the famous restorer of the Han dynasty. Born without title, he got both his wishes and beyond.
3. 南宁王 Brothers of the Emperor were often awarded the title 王 or "king". Nanning is an important city in the south of China, suggesting that there was some power struggle during the succession to the throne.
4.封晓峰 lit. "grant dawn peak". Name suggestive of grandeur whilst simultaneously homophonous with "grant little peak". The moniker 地公 suggest something close to the ground.
5. 高山奴 lit. "high mountain slave", a name suggestive of a barbarian from some faraway highlands. Shortened to The Mountain to carry flavour.