Ying Yue was in the middle of her morning training when she heard a familiar voice calling from behind her.
"Ying Yue."
She looks up and realizes it was her father, she quickly wipes away her sweat and calms herself before speaking.
"Yes, father?"
"The emperor wants to see you, make sure not to embarrass me and clean up."
"Yes, father I will try my best not to."
Ying Yue, didn't grow up learning proper etiquette like her younger half-sister Jia Li Yang and other noble young women. Ying Yue was forced to learn martial arts and the ways of the sword. At the tender age of seventeen, Ying Yue was already the Imperial general. After winning the last war she received the highest honor from the emperor himself. Just as Ying Yue was about to leave, she heard a voice call out to her.
"Pssssh lady Ying Yue."
"Huh? Chunhua? What is it?"
"Here my lady, I went to your usual spot at the lake. There was another letter for you. Here, take it."
"Ah! Thanks, Chunhua, sorry for making you do this."
"It's alright my lady. You are up earlier than usual to train today, why is that?"
"Nothing much, I just had a scary dream."
"Oh? The red haired man?"
Ying Yue was flustered, she quickly coveres Chunhua's mouth to silence her. Nobody moved in that moment. Ying Yue glanced around quickly to make sure no one was listening nearby.
"No, Chunhua. This one was different. I don't have time to explain it. Don't worry about it, you can go."
"Yes, my lady. Call me if you need anything."
Ying Yue heads to her room to wash up, she had just received another letter from the secret man she had been writing to for the past two years. He was none other the crown prince. Although she knew him, he had no idea who she was yet. As Ying Yue was reading, she realized she needed to hurry and leave or she won't have time to visit the orphanage. It was on her way to the palace so Ying Yue figured why not. Ying Yue places the letters under her pillows and runs to the stable to get her horse.
Dressed in blue male clothes, with her hair in a bun. Ying Yue sets out to the palace on her horse. On the way to the palace, Ying Yue makes a stop at the local orphanage to pass out some food she had stolen from her home kitchen. She makes sure each child got something before setting off. As she was about to turn to leave, she felt a small tug at her shirt.
"Ying Yue, why don't you stay and play with us for a bit?"
"I'm sorry Mei I can't, I have to hurry to the royal palace."
"You always say you'll play with us, why can't you play now?"
With tears in her eyes, Mei pleaded with Ying Yue to stay longer. Ying Yue knew she couldn't afford to not listen to her father, since the last time she did she received thirty whiplashes. In the end Ying Yue promised Mei she would play with them once she returns from the Palace.
"Mei, I promise I will find another time to come play with you all okay? We can play all day and I'll bring you all snacks okay?"
"Hehe okay! Don't forget Ying Yue!"
Ying Yue hops back onto her horse and rides back towards the palace. When Ying Yue arrives at the palace, she is greeted by her lieutenant Bolin Zhao. Bolin was an old friend of Ying Yue, they both trained together when they were young. He's one of the few people Ying Yue trusts. With a smile on her face, Ying Yue greets Bolin.
"Bolin! How long has it been? How's the southern border lately?"
"It's been way too long Ying Yue, can't believe they deployed me there. I wanted to stay with you while you were in the North."
"Sorry Bolin, you know I don't make the calls on that. By the way, I heard your mother was trying to set you up with Marquis Li Wei oldest daughter?"
"Ugh! Don't tell me you also think I should also meet her?"
"I don't see why not? She's elegant and known to be quite the beauty, besides you are a handsome man. You're tall, well built, dark hair with almond colored eyes, there's no women out there that would reject you."
Hearing Ying Yue complement him so much, Bolin couldn't contain himself nor hide his embarrassment and was bright red and smiling from ear to ear.
"Bolin, that's creepy."
Flustered Bolin was able to calm himself down and tried to change the subject. Ying Yue chuckling to herself as she's never seen Bolin so flustered before.
"I'm sorry Bolin, I'm just teasing you a bit."
"That's not funny Ying Yue. I know its late, but congrats on the promotion Ying Yue! You deserve it."
Bolin places his hand on Ying Yues right shoulder and continues to grin at Ying Yue. Ying Yue was taken aback by the kind words Bolin said. No one had congratulated her yet on any of her achievements other than the emperor and her mother. With a smile on her face, Ying Yue thanked Bolin.
"Thank you, Bolin you're the first person to say that other than his majesty and my mother."
"Badump."
Bolin froze in that moment; in the years they've been together as friends he had never once seen Ying Yue smile like that. Taking Bolin off guard, he couldn't take his eyes off Ying Yue until he heard her speak again.
"Bolin? Are you okay?"
Frantically trying to gather himself, he cleared his throat.
"Ehem! Yes, I'm fine, now let's hurry to the emperor. Don't want to keep him waiting too long."
"Oh shoot, I almost forgot."
Ying Yue had almost forgotten her purpose for coming to the palace. They both walked towards the throne room in silence where the emperor was. Ying Yue and Bolin both came before the emperor and kneeled on their right knee. In perfect harmony, they both greeted the emperor.
"Greetings your majesty, may you live to be a thousand years old."
The emperor taking glances at Ying Yue and Bolin, before telling them to rise,
"You may rise."
In perfect harmony once more, Ying Yue and Bolin both rose up to meet their emperor eye to eye. Standing before them was a dignified man, even with his old age and growing beard he was still well respected by the everyone. Ying Yue considered the emperor to be one of the few people that she cared for. Before anyone could speak, Ying Yue spoke out first.
"Your majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask why you have summoned us here?"
"Ying Yue I'm afraid war has broken out once more. Brace your heart for what is to come. The northern border has been invaded once again. I will be deploying you back to the borders."
Ying Yue's heart dropped in that moment. After returning from the last war she was hoping to settle down and finally get to meet the crown prince. The man she has been secretly exchanging letters and poems to. Lost in thought Ying Yue couldn't utter a reply back to the emperor. Worried, the emperor calls out to Ying Yue again.
"General Ying Yue?"
Ying Yue still lost in a daze, while his majesty was calling her name. It wasn't until Bolin nudged Ying Yue on her arm did she snap out of it.
"Ah! My apologies your majesty."
"Ying Yue, I know its sudden news, but I need you to set out tonight. There's not a moment to lose, our citizens cannot continue to sleep without protection."
Ying Yue thought to herself, why did she need to leave tonight? She then remembered she had promised the crown prince, that she would meet him in two days under the cherry tree in the national park by the lake. Leaving tonight means she won't even have time to tell him she won't make it. Ying Yue knew her duties as a general came first. With a heavy heart she kneels and accepts his majesty's task.
"I accept the task and will head out tonight. Bolin, I need you to help gather my troops."
"I'm on it Ying Yue."
Bolin turns to leave to gather the soldiers, as Ying Yue was turning to leave the emperor had one last thing to tell her.
"Ying Yue."
"Yes, your majesty?"
"This Journey will be a long one. I cannot guarantee how long this war will take this time. Do you have any wish you'd like me to fulfill for you now?"
"Your majesty, I have but one wish. Should I perish in this war, please look after my mother."
Ying Yue had only one person she cared for at home, and that was her sickly mother. She has always been weak. After having Ying Yue, her condition worsened. Ying Yues mother also has no living relative. She continued to stay with Ying Yues father only so that Ying Yue could marry a good family someday.
"Very well, Ying Yue I promise you that."
"Thank you, your majesty."
That very same night Ying Yue returned home to tell her mother of the news. Throughout the night, servants could here cries coming from where her mother resided. Ying Yue always had a hard time leaving her mother alone as she had no one. After being banished to the side house, her poor mothers condition worsened.
"Ying Yue, why must it be you?"
"Mother I'm sorry, you know how father is. It is also my duty since I am the imperial general."
"What am I going to do without you here? Ying Yue it hasn't even been long since you came back from the last war!"
Ying Yue was heartbroken to see her mother in such a state, but continued to persuade her mother that this is for the best. Ying Yue also had a close maid named Chunhua who she would entrust her mother's care to while she was away.
"Mother, you will have Chunhua here to take care of you while I am away."
"Your father won't allow that; you know how he is."
"Yes, he will, I will talk to him. If need be, I will ask the emperor. Father will not be able to do anything against that."
"I'm sorry Ying Yue, for being such a weak mother and being unable to help you. I wanted you to be like other girls your age. To talk of love, marriage, for you to dress in nice clothing, yet your father took that away from us."
"It's alright mother, I had you to teach me and that was more than enough. You taught me how to sew, how to read and write. I'm also very good at writing poems, because of you. I'm truly thankful mother."
"Ying Yue, if it wasn't for your father. You would've been able to achieve so much more with your knowledge. Whatever I taught you, you remembered it. You haven't forgotten a single thing I taught you."
"Mother, why did you marry father in the first place? You knew he didn't love you, didn't you?"
"Sigh...My poor sweet daughter. I just hope you someday find a man that will love you."
Ying Yue was well aware of it, from an early age that her father did not care for them. At the young age of eight, her father moved in his mistress and her half-sister Jia Li who was seven at the time. To gain favor with the emperor, Ying Yue's father Zi Wei Yang took Ying Yue to train with the boys, so she could fight and gain honor for their family one day. While Jia Li was apparently too weak to wield a sword.
"Worry not mother, I promise to return. If I do not the emperor has promised me, he will make sure you are well taken care of."
With tears in their eyes, they embrace each other one last time. The night was drawing near, and Ying Yue knew it was time to go. She packed what she could, went to her only closet and took out her general uniform. Ying Yue then heads out to the horse stable. Before she could leave, Ying Yue is stopped by someone.