After standing around for a good few minutes, the emperor and empress finally entered the room. A moment of silence followed shortly. After everyone greeted the emperor and empress. The emperor turned to his aids and ushered them to invite in the royal high priest. A man looking to be in his fifties walks in, dressed in white, with pale, but wrinkled up skin, a long beard, and with a head full of hair. The priest looked like a god to Ying Yue. When the priest walked in, Ying Yues mother began to become very uneasy. Ying Yue noticed and held onto her mother's hand and whispered to her mother.
"I wonder what's going on? I've never seen the emperor summon so many of his aids at the same time before."
"Ying Yue, I have a bad feeling about this."
"It'll be alright mother, let's see what the emperor has to say."
After a few moments of silence. Everyone who was summoned has now finally gathered. The emperor glances over to Ying Yue. Unsure of what the emperor wanted Ying Yue clasps her hands into a fist, lightly bowing, and greets the emperor.
"Greetings your majesty."
"You may rise. I'm sure you are all wondering why I have summoned you all here. A tragedy will soon fall upon this land once again. I've summoned you all here to help me prevent it."
Ying Yues father was the first to speak out, following what the emperor had said.
"Your majesty, can you please elaborate on what you mean by tragedy?"
"Know that I say this with a heavy heart. I am saddened to tell you all that the five hundred legend is back. Two of the conditions have been met already. We must prepare for the third one."
In that instant, the whole room was in an uproar. No one could remain calm, panic erupted in a matter of seconds. The emperor looked like he was lost for words as well, Ying Yue stepped in, she had other questions she needed answered. Ying Yue yelled at the top of her lungs, silencing all the side chatters.
"Your Majesty! You mentioned that two of the three conditions have been met already. Can you tell us what they are?"
"In the legend when the dragon emperor cursed the humans he said."
"Your lands will no longer grow, your animals will die, and your sky will no longer rain. You humans do not deserve the blessings of the heavens."
"Do you understand now Ying Yue? In the past few months I've been given reports that the land is now barren. Starting with the smaller towns surrounding Xin. Farmers can no longer grow anything, and their animals are all dying to unusual causes."
"Your majesty are you saying we won't get any more rain as well? I realize it's the raining season, but isn't it too early to judge if there will be rain or not?"
"That's correct Ying Yue. It is indeed early, but I have spoken to the royal high priest, he has confirmed that the curse is back."
Thinking to herself, Ying Yue knew that the only way to rid of the curse were human sacrifices. It all made sense now, why all these girls were called here. Why she was called there. To be made the scapegoat for the kingdom. Feeling betrayed and lied to, Ying Yue holds herself from lashing out. Bitting down on her lips, Ying Yue looks to the emperor and whispers.
"Your majesty, are you planning to sacrifice all the girls here for that plan of yours?"
Chatter erupted once again, parents with confused looks on their faces. Duke Dong was also present with his daughter who had just turned sixteen. Ying Yue knew the duke was fond of his daughter, as she was the last thing his first wife left him before passing. The duke couldn't agree to such a thing either and lashed out.
"Your majesty! Surely you lie! There's no such thing as a curse. It was resolved five hundred years ago already. There should be no way for it to come back now."
"Duke Dong! Are you saying I'm a liar? I am a son of the heavens! I would not lie about such a thing! The high priest has determined that the next sacrifices would be daughters of noble blood. I summoned you all here to have your daughters tested! Ten in which will bear a mark on the inside of their right wrist in the shape of a flower!"
Thinking about everything just made Ying Yues head hurt, but Ying Yue knew that the high priest is a righteous man. He still carries the will of the heavens. He cannot lie as well, since he's taken up the oath and swore in front of the gods. Therefore, Ying Yue knew that if its from the high priest it was no lie. Once again, Ying Yue knew her and her mother would suffer again.
Ying Yues mother pulling on her sleeve as Ying Yue was getting ready to join the line. Seeing her mother in panic made Ying Yue reluctant, but she knew they could not run away.
"Ying Yue! Don't! Let's run away!"
"It's alright mother.... Maybe this is my fate. If I refuse and run away. Our whole Yang family would be executed."
The high priest finally spoke out. Letting families know what to expect. No one really knows how many girls were in that room, but each one would be tested for the flower mark.
"Greetings everyone, I am high priest Wu Wuhan. I apologize that I had to be the one to bear the bad news today. You are all probably wondering why you were all brought in today. It has been determined that only full blood nobles, pure virgin girls could participate in the ceremony. Now, if all the young ladies could line up, I need to pour the temple water on all your right wrist."
All that could be heard was crying noises now. Daughters crying, and parents worried that their child would be chosen as a sacrifice. No one wanted to form a line to be tested, so the emperor had to speak up.
"This is an order! You must all line up to be tested. This is for the world's sake, not just the Xin kingdom! If you refuse to participate, I will strip your family of your lands and title! There is not a moment to lose!"
"Ahhh...Just a moment your majesty. Please don't scare the girls. Noble ladies, I may be the high priest, but I cannot tell the future and just point fingers. Please, form a line to be tested. I just need to pour the water on your wrist, Let the water dry and see if a flower mark appears. Do not try to wipe the water off. You may wipe off some skin instead for trying to cheat the heavens."
Girls one by one lined up. Ying Yue had to also join the line. It only made sense and would be unfair to everyone there if she didn't participate. The emperor glanced at Ying Yue with a worried look. Ying Yue slightly bowed and clasps her hand into a fist to bid the emperor farewell as she joins the line. Ying Yue was last in line; she walks to the priest and the priest widens his eyes. He whispered to Ying Yue.
"Ying Yue Yang, it looks like you've gone through a lot in life. I pray whatever happens from here only brings you happiness."
Thinking nothing much of it, the priest pours the temple water onto Ying Yues wrist. She felt a burning sensation, yet there was no burn mark. Ying Yue walks back to her mother. The high priest made one last announcement.
"Your marks should all be appearing shortly. Those with the marking please walk to the front."
After five minutes of silence, the room was now filled with noises. All coming from parents rejoicing that their child was not chosen, and parents crying that their child bore a mark. Ying Yue heard duke dongs crying voice, and knew his daughter was also chosen. Ying Yue slightly pulls up her sleeves and glances at her wrist, and there it was; a flower mark.
"There's a mark mother."
Ying Yues mother took once glance at Ying Yue. Grabbed her wrist to check and screamed, cursing the world before passing out from shock. Ying Yue was the tenth girl to be selected as a sacrifice. Even Ying Yues father and step mother were shocked. The emperors face frowned when he saw that Ying Yue was also chosen.
"Sigh...Ying Yue, you're my imperial general. I was hoping you wouldn't be chosen. Whatever happens from here on out is beyond my power."
"It seems it's my fate to die for this country your majesty."
Ying Yue knew if the emperor cared enough he would've kept looking for a solution. Everyone in the room were all replaceable to him, even Ying Yue. With a heavy heart Ying Yue walks and joins the other daughters that were chosen. All the girls were between the age of sixteen to twenty. The emperor had one last thing to say to the girls and their family before ending the meeting.
"The kingdom of Xin will remember your noble sacrifices, let everyone here remember their names! Lei Ju, Xun Mei, Su Xin, Yu Wei, Lin Mei, Zhi Ruo, Yu Yan, Wang Shu, Feng Mian and Ying Yue! Ten of you will enter the entrance on top of mount tai a week from today. You may all return, or in worse case....no one will return. Everyone may leave to their homes, except the choosen ladies."
Ying Yue could no longer cry. Unlike many of the other girls who were there. Ying Yue was just tired at this point. Everyone left one by one, As Ying Yue turned to leave with the other girls to where they would all stay temporarily the emperor ordered her to stay as he had something else to tell her.
"Ying Yue, a moment please."
"Yes, your majesty?"
"You are the only one I can count on. Please watch over the other girls when you enter the entrance next week. This curse was something my ancestor caused, I would send my own child, but I was not blessed with any princesses."
"Of course, your majesty. Now if you'd excuse me, I need to go tend to my mother."
Ying Yue still felt anger towards the emperor for throwing her out. She was the imperial general and has been loyal for so many years, yet Ying Yue felt betrayed. To protect himself and his family he's going to seperate other families. Without glancing back, Ying Yue exits the room and heads to her carriage when she hears her half sister Jia Li call out to her.
"I must say, you truly have the worse luck Ying Yue. You must've offended the gods in your past life."
"If you have that much time to worry about me, you should be working on your literary skills. Don't want to have the prince finding out now, do you?"
"You! Don't forget you are below me!"
"Ha you're merely a consort, who knows how long you'll be one for. Not to mention, when the crown prince becomes emperor would he still want you as his empress?"
"Just you wait Ying Yue Yang!"
Jia Li stormed off with her maid. With that Ying Yue enters her carriage where her mother laid in, still unconscious. Ying Yue broke down and cried, slowly wiping away her tears. She pats her mother on the head and bids her farewell. Ying Yue leaves the carriage and asks the footman to take care of her mother.
Ying Yue returns to the palace and was taken to a residence she was going to be staying in for the week. She decided to write back to Bolin. Letting him know of things that has happened and yet to happen. Ying Yue knew Bolin won't receive the letter in time, but as a friend she felt it was necessary to send a good bye letter.
Dear Bolin,
It's been a while, how's the northern boarders lately? I'm sure it's boring, too bad I can't be there to enjoy it with you all. Bolin you're so far away now, I know you won't get this letter in time. This is goodbye Bolin, the five-hundred-year-old curse is back. Next week.... I will be sacrificed along with nine other noble girls. It is our fate to die for this kingdom. Bolin I'm scared, I never thought knowing when I might die would be so scary. It's different from going to battle. I won't even have a choice to fight for my life next week. If I do not return, please look after my mother. I have no one else to count on, but you. So please, look after my mother.
Your friend,
Ying Yue Yang