"Your excellency, it is time."
Looking into the mirror, Hye gong stared back at his image, dressed in white robes. There was a noticeable lack of any of the usual jewellery he wore, instead opting to have a simple silver hair clip securing his braid.
"Yes yes, I'm coming..."
(Flashback, two days ago)
"YOUR EXCELLENCY! YOUR EXCELLENCY!"
"What is it Tadao?" asked Hye gong as he set his bowl down on the dining. A-er and the children sat close by, wondering curiously what had happened.
"The King...*pant*he...*pant*..has fallen!"
Shock spread over everyone's face at this news,
"What?!"
Tadao leaned onto a pillar before nodding his head, confirming the news, " He had succumbed to his ailment and a funeral has been scheduled in two days with the main and branch houses."
(end flashback)
'She must be the one who did this." thought Hye gong silently as his family, Tadao and himself walked down the passageway leading to the king's chamber.
The children were all wearing the same white furisode, A-er in a white hanfu and Tadao in his usual attire with a colour swap.
Not long, they finally reached the main door. Guards the size of giants, opened the door where a few of their relatives were already there.
"Brother hye gong! " standing up from her seat, a girl with long black hair and blue eyes rushed towards them. She wore a white kimono and matching haori with a simple bow tied to the front. A petite girl with long blue hair and solemn blue eyes followed right behind.
Bowing their heads, they exchanged greetings. The family then took their seats.
Ming yao was already seated beside Azuma, they exchanged greetings. Ming Yao then leaned forward, fan between them, whispering, " is it true? That...."
Hye gong didn't say a word, but closed his eyes in confirmation.
" What are you two whispering about?"asked the princess as she eyed then curiously.
Ming Yao simply fanned himself, smiling. Sweatdropping, azuma took this opportunity to explain before the princess exploded, " Princess Soo won, my master was simply wondering if the king was....I mean, had passed on."
The princess face went red as she looked down to her knees, blushing, " Oh really...I see...."
'Azuma, you're such a dense man..' thought Ming Yao as he stared at the scene amusingly.
"Oh my how romantic!" A voice rang through the halls. Immediately, Soo wong's face soured.
" you....."
The doors opened to reveal a pair were walking forward.
The first group being a man with horns and another with a pair of cat ears. They were both dressed in white robes although the man with the cat ears had a bell tied to his tail.
"Prince Hye gong, humbly gives his greetings to princes Yong and Dak ho." bowed Hye gong as he greeted them, the rest following suit. It was after all mandatory to greet someone of higher status with respect although this could be averted if said person with the higher status was familiar with you.
The man with cat ears, Dak Ho was handsome and rather cute with his cat like features. His gold eyes were like that of an animal, fierce and feral. His ears were black, somehow blending in well with his greyish hair colouring. His twin tails swayed like the wind as a strange blue fire followed.
"Nya...what's this...I can't believe the boorish princess is acting cute. Though I guess this should be expected since she is in lo-"
Dak Ho's words were cut short as Soo won finally lost her temper. Rushing forward to strangle him.
In what would have looked like a horrible murder scene awaiting, Yong moved in between the two. His fierce green eyes looking down on Soo Won like how one would look at a servant. Beautiful yet dangerous, with his flowing Green hair and domineering aura, he was just like what he was part of, a true dragon.
"That's enough." was all he said when suddenly his eyes widened, in a swift motion he disappeared. Reappearing beside a Soo won's subtly surprised bodyguard. He now exuded a dangerous aura as he catched his breath, eyeing the person at the exact place he stood with contempt.
That person was a young woman with long dark brown hair tied up in a bun with a red ribbon. Her violet eyes were filled with anger and dismay as she flicked the knife in her hand, grumbling, " Such a shame and I was just about to kill you."
Yong smirked, digging into his robe to pull out his own knife, "Then shall we...." There was nothing left to say as the two leaped forward, trying desperately to inflict damage on each other. The people surrounding them stepped back, recognising this as the familiar clan fight, the younger branch members stared back in awe, ravishing the sight of what was to be their own one day.
Tadao was swept away by his angry sister forced to accompany his family. Leaving Hye gong unprotected.
Unbeknownst to most of the clan members however a certain pinkette entered the chambers. His vibrant pink hair somehow blending in with the other array of invitees.
"Was this what you meant by answer?" whispered Shun long as he looked over the ongoing fight.
"Something though I think the witch may have tweaked it."
Shun Long couldn't help but sigh, if that woman was going to be in on this then everything would most likely not go as plan.
"By the way where's your brother?" asked Hye gong as an after thought, he had expected the older Long sibling to be here but to think it would be the younger one.
"Brother still has to deal with the clan conflict so I've been sent as a representative." Shun long walked away and into the crowd knowing that any longer beside a prince from the main branch would cause the back clan no end of inconveniences.
"THAT'S ENOUGH FIGHTING THE BOTH OF YOU!"
Everyone stopped in their tracks, turning their heads they looked at the person who shouted.
Standing there, with an entourage and two guards of giants was Isamu. His hair was now in an elaborate updo with golden and jewel hairpins holding them together, letting some to fall on his shoulders. Despite his frail look, the aura he proceeded to give off was one that was overwhelming.
Humbly everyone bowed their heads in respect.
Isamu walked towards the fight where Yong and the girl were staring daggers at each other. "Kisei, Yong stop fighting this minute! Do you know how disrespectful it is to fight on the day of the death of our king?" scolded Isamu as he stared harshly at the pair, all warmth he usually had was gone.
'Big brother Isamu is so scary when angry huh.' thought a girl with purple hair in wavy locks as she tried to look away.
The pair apologised before separating themselves from each other, taking their places on opposite sides of the chamber. Not long after, the gates at the other end of the chambers were opened. Leading the group, Isamu, the main house and branch houses entered.
" Princess Xin Yun are you alright?" asked a man with pink hair and bandaged over his left eye
The girl with purple hair smiled gently, " Do not worry Mamoru. I'm fine just a little dizzy." This was a slight lie of course, Xin Yun had been hearing a strange buzzing sound in her head but ignored it seeing as she must have been tired.
A-er looked at her sister in law with worry, " If you like, you may come over to the spring palace anytime. I may have some prescriptions to help."
Xin Yun thanked A-er for her kindness before looking forward once more, it was rare in their household for some to care for one another.
Incense filled the air as rows and rows of people in white veils stood at the side. Concubines and mistresses wept at the ground in fake grief. Each member of the royal family regarding the man in veils cautiously. At the far end of the hall was a veiled bed. laying there was a large man full of welts, his body poorly wrapped in bandages as a woman held his hand.
Turning around, the woman smiled. She was very beautiful woman with long dark brown hair tied up in a tight bun, Lilies and Chrysanthemums were tucked neatly into her hair. She was fair skin, a very beautiful woman. However her gentle brown eyes had for some reason held a look of otherworldly within them.
"Welcome back ....my beloved children....." she said smiling
The family members simply looked with indifferent eyes as they kowtowed, shouting in greeting, " Greetings to the queen, Lady Kim! "
As they kowtowed, Hye gong couldn't help but remember something in the past.
(Flashback)
Playing around with his mother, a lady with straight white hair tied back in a ponytail and a pair of white ears. Violet eyes were tinged with glee as the child and his mother played.
The child a small beastia boy no little than four, looked almost exactly like his mother with the exception of their eyes.
In the distance, a lady with long wavy black hair walked towards them, a gentle smile gracing her lips. The boy terribly shy in front of strangers, hid behind his mother.
Smiling, his mother softly whispers to her son, " Don't be scared. This is Lady Kim, a member of the main house and your aunt."
(Flashback end)
"Whats the matter...come here. We haven't seen all of you in years especially the princesses since you've married...I'm sure that his majesty would be pleased."
Everyone stood back up, people who knew of the king froze in fear and disgust as they stared at the bandaged man. Mothers shielded the eyes of their children as they trembled in horror.
"F-Father....?" said Soo Won as she stared at the body in horrified disbelief.
Taking up the role as representative, Isamu asked if the king had died of illness.
The smile did not seem to falter as Lady Kim lifted her late husband's arm, "Yes...he was ill for a very long time but it suddenly became worst...come now everyone tell your farewells to his majesty."
....
' was this crazy woman seriously telling us to say our farewells to this piece of rotten meat.' thought Sakura as she buried her fingers into her brother's sleeve, letting herself be vulnerable the first in a long time.
Isamu bravely stepped up, looking down at the disfigured face of the late king when suddenly a hand was placed on his chest. It was lady Kim, holding onto him like a lover, she buried her face into his chest, her voice filled with sickening love, " Isamu..I only have you now...will you support me, my beloved son?"
Disgust, embarrassment, humiliation, expectation, awe or amusement all these were evident in the faces of the family members.
"Bleah!" gagged Dak Ho as he stared at the horrid sight of mother and son. He wasn't the only one, Kisei looked ready to throw in her dagger.
Soo Won and Ming Yao simply buried their heads into their sleeves/Fans, to embarrassed to even look at them.
The rest was merely met with indifference or discomfort.
Isamu with a straight face grabbed his mother's hand removing them from him before pushing her away, returning to his spot. Her smile was still evident
'what is this woman up to?' thought Shun Long.
"WE WILL NOW BEGIN TO READ HIS MAJESTY'S TESTAMENT!" shouted the lawyer (?) it was hard to tell since he was wearing the same white veil as the others.
Leaning closely to Yong, Dak Ho whispered, "That old witch...looks like she finally decided to jump ship from the king to brother Isamu huh? In that case we don't need to hear the testament right since brother Isamu is sure to win."
"Zip it and face forward !" was all Yong whispered back as he gave a small kick to his younger cousin in hopes of him minding his manners.
"I LEAVE THIS POSTHUMOUS BEFORE FACING MY HAND BY MEANS OF THIS DOCUMENT THE TITTLE OF HOUSEHOLD KING WILL BE PASSED TO.."
'The next king would most likely be prince Isamu since his the only son of the late king but if there are exceptions the only ones would be..' Tadao's eyes looked at the faces of Prince Yong, Prince Dak Ho, Prince Ming Yao and his master all of them still having their respective rights of succesion.
Continuing the lawyer declared, "...THE 250TH HOUSEHOLD KING OF KOUN MAIN BRANCH AND OTHER BRANCH HOUSES IS...LADY KIM! AND SHE SHALL BE ASSISTED BY THE IMPERIAL PRIESTS IN ALL PALACE AFFAIRS!"
Mouths dropped in shocked as they stared in disbelief.
"Haahh!? What the heck is going on?! " exclaimed Dak Ho.
"Don't fuck with us." said the minister of defence
"This is an avoidable measure ..." wept Lady Kim silently as she brought her arms to her face, " Originally, the one who should have inherited the tittle of household king is Isamu but.."
"This is the emperor 's will.." said Lady Kim as smiled softly, tears flowing down her cheek.
"Cut the crap, vixen." said Shun long as he stared into the eyes of her aunt. At the moment, nobody seemed to care if the fact that a member of the baek clan was here as the crowd split into two sides.
' This doesn't look good! The imperial court will split into two!' thought Xin Yun worriedly, anxiously she cried out, " Lady Kim, please reconsider! Even if this is his majesty's testament, with this..."
Her words were cut off when Isamu immediately kneed down on the ground, Kow towing, lowering his head as he shouted for all to hear, " EMPRESS! PLEASE TAKE THE THRONE NO ONE BUT YOU CAN TAKE IT!"
Silence. Everyone looked at Isamu in shock. No one had expected such statement to occur.
Immediately as if like a chain reaction, the guards and ministers followed Isamu's example Kow towing and begging Lady Kim to take the throne.
'We'll doom. No not just us..but the whole world..'