~*CHANG'AN, CAPITAL CITY OF HAN EMPIRE*~
It was early autumn, the capital of the Han was as busy as always. The streets bustled with busy citizens. The vendors loudly advertising their wares, the costumers bargaining the prices. The inns filled with drinkers, laughing loudly and foolishly dancing with the young entertainers and children laughing, running and pestering their parents. A typical busy capital.
In a quiet and peaceful place somewhere in the suburb not too far from the capital, unlike the chaotic atmosphere of the capital, this place was filled with flowers in their blooming stage. Their petals scattered along with the crisp autumn breeze. The atmosphere was perfect for meditation. A beautiful maiden named Xi Shi was sitting under her favorite cherry blossom tree inside that garden.
Although the pink petals had already fallen, the bark was still comfortable enough to relax with a book. This way the sun could warm her skin and the crisp breeze could brush her long, dark, tresses. A few petals landed on her dark locks making her look almost ethereal with her pale pearly skin.
This maiden of eighteen summers, likes to read books in her free time, her thirst for knowledge and her unbridled curiosity was just like her late mother Lady Liu.
Lady Liu was known as the most beautiful woman to ever be known of in the empire and she was as beautiful as she was intelligent. Her pride and confidence was as much as any known general. Sadly due to having a weak heart, the Lady passed away when Xi Shi was just a child of three summers.
Xi Shi doesn't recall much about her late mother. Xi Shi's father, Xi Qia's love for her was enough for her not to miss her mother, regardless a child will always miss the warmth of the mother and Xi Shi was no different. Xi Qia loves his daughter dearly, so much so that he worries for his safety and well being. As Xi Shi is his only reminder of his beloved wife, he wants to spoil her at every possible opportunity, but Xi Shi having inherited her mother's stubbornness and pride always refuses her father and often scolds her father for his childish ways just as Lady Liu would.
Xi Qia had right to worry about Xi Shi , for her resemblance to her mother was uncanny. She inherited the great beauty, even her nature resembled her mother, and this brought grave worry for Xi Qia. Thus the overprotective nature.
It's not easy to hide his only daughter from the lustful eyes in the world, but he tries with all his power and influence to keep his child safe yet that is not enough. Xi Qia knows he cannot always be there to protect his daughter, so from a young age, Xi Shi had been put through vigorous training, her body has been raised to ward off most strong poisons and her martial arts and sword wielding skills almost rivals her father. Thus although Xi Shi has a fragile, slender and beautiful body, her strength was top or even unmatched among any of her peers in the empire.
Xi Zhongxun, Xi Shi's elder brother was also overprotective of Xi Shi. Despite Xi Shi was more than capable of taking care of herself, but to Xi Zhongxun, Xi Shi was to most fragile being ever.
Xi Zhongxun is a kind young man of no more than twenty two summers, tall, handsome with long dark hair armed with muscular physique and chiseled features hardened by several wars. He was the Deputy General of his father. Xi Zhongxun adored and cherished his little sister and wanted to protect her with his all.
The hurried steps of Xi Shi's personal maid Bai Ling, disturbed Xi Shi's peaceful reading. "Young miss!" the young girl panted whiles bowing her head low.
"What's the matter Bai Bai? Why are in such a hurry?" Xi Shi asked as she leisurely turned a page in her book.
"Master has returned home form the hunt, however..." she stopped.
Xi Shi finally looked up from her book and said, "Speak Bai Bai, what has happened with my father?"
"The master has returned with an injury on his arm," she replied hurriedly seeing that Xi Shi had no need for the dramatic speech she had planned.
"That stubborn old man," Xi Shi commented as he rushed to her feet.
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Xi Shi rushed inside her father's bedchamber, still holding the book in her hand. A rumor of a beast attacking villages and killing innocent villagers had been spared, creating fear in the hearts of common people. Many soldiers were killed and injured trying to hunt down the beast, but none succeeded.
The emperor had called for a royal hunt, to hunt down the beast. If anyone succeeded, they will be rewarded with endless treasures.
"Father!" Xi Shi shouted as she entered her father's bedchamber in a panic mode.
General Xi Qia was lying down on the bed as the doctor treating his injured arm with care. Her father looked up at her and smiled nervously. He didn't wanted to worry his daughter. " Xi Shi ..."
Xi Shi walked close to her father with frowned eyebrows. Tension was written all over her beautiful face. "Father, I heard you got injured from the hunt. How is your injury? Is it too bad?" Xi Shi asked restlessly.
"It's nothing, my dear daughter. It's only a mere scratch."
Xi Shi knew better, her father's left hand had a deep claw mark. It looked nasty as blood was flowing out of it. The claw mark was no near from something real. How big was the owner of those big claw marks? Her father was very lucky. If it was her chest instead of her hand than he would have been a goner.
"You call this a mere scratch!" Xi Shi exclaimed with anger. It looked no near to be a mere scratch.
"But It's nothing your father can't take. You know your father has more than this injury."
True. Xi Qia had many injuries from numerous wars. The scars were his pride.
"Still a injury is a injury." Xi Shi 's brows were pressed together in worry.
"Don't be worried, Xi Shi . I'll be all fit after a good nap." Xi Qia said proudly.
After the doctor had finished treating her father, the two of them were left alone. Xi Shi sat down on the chair next to the bed and placed the book on the bed stand. "Tell me how did the beast caused you this injury."
"He was something I have would have never imagined to see in my lifetime. He was a wolf King. He was big that I was a nothing compared to him. He was beautiful with his white shinning fur and deep green eyes but at the same time dangerously scary. Our attacks didn't work on him, he was too strong. I barely got back alive with this scratch..... It was His Majesty who slayed the beast with his sword. He smashed his sword right in the beast's heart, like a God himself."
"He must be really strong then." Xi Shi said wondered how the emperor looked when he killed the beast with his sword, but she didn't even knew how the emperor looked like.
"Oh yes, he is. I still remember the day when he came to me to learn swordsmanship, when the itself sword was bigger than her. I laughed and told her to grow up first. He frowned at me and ordered me to teach him to wield a sword like me." Xi Qia chuckled and said, "I'm a proud teacher. He grew stronger than me."
"I'm glad that everyone can live in peace now that the beast is gone," Xi Shi said with a smile. "You should take rest now. I'll take my leave." Xi Shi stood up and not forgetting to grab her book before leaving.
~*Next Morning*~
Xi Shi was smashing some herbal leafs to prepare medicine for her father. Xi Shi was very much interested in plants, it all started with reading books about plants and soon after she found herself reading about herbs.
Xi Shi smacked her own head for forgetting the most important ingredient. A flower which only blooms in the top of the hills in mountains.
With a white cloak covering her body, a side bag on her left arm, Xi Shi set out her journey in mountain Xiuhan. It was cold and still foggy for a common person to see. Xi Shi, familiar with the paths, walked without any hesitation in the foggy stream.
The mountain did not forget to greet her with it's dazzling morning beauty. The thick fog has started to melt as the sun has began to rise and shine.
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To Be Continue...