Epigraph:
Sometimes, the appearance of a strong person is enough to gain victory.
The day before they start to embark in their battle journey against the barbarians, the young emperor gathered everyone on the table. The long table is now fully occupied. Sitting next to the emperor are the two generals opposite to each other followed by the six commanders in the army. These commanders are both sons and relatives of the two generals. Next to them are the two swordswomen.
"I have tried my best to offer a peace talk with the barbarians but they have kept on taunting me instead. Tomorrow, we shall depart and when we come back as a victor, I will grant anyone who has a wish." The emperor looks at them one by one.
Indeed, the generals know that the emperor had sent letters to the leader of the barbarians in an attempt of peace talk but they have not received any reply from them. Instead, the barbarians become more fearless and killed many innocents before claiming their lands. The people in the table bowed their heads to the emperor and thanked him for the favor of granting a wish before they went away. Ye Yin and Ye Shin are walking together towards their room solemnly.
"Sister, since the emperor said that he will grant us a wish... do you think it is appropriate if I wish to be married to him?" Ye Yin asked the other lady with a slight blush in her face.
"Yin, the emperor is always above us. If you can manage to capture his heart then the marriage will be appropriate." Ye Shin advised the girl who wears a dreamy expression beside her.
"Sister, I will do my best to capture his heart then." Ye Yin said with her determined tone. Ye Shin smiled at her but did not speak anymore.
"How about you sister, what is your wish?" Ye Yin asked her curiously.
"Maybe I will ask some money?" Ye Shin answered her with a tone full of uncertainty.
"No way! We sword cultivators never asked anyone for some money sister. That is very inappropriate." Ye Yin told her with a complicated expression.
"Then I have no wish." Ye Shin said ending their conversation. They manage to reach their rooms without speaking anymore.
At night, the emperor had just finished his preparation and is about to have his rest when a shadow called him.
"Report, your majesty."
"Hmmm."
"The two ladies are now resting your majesty. They had a conversation on their way to their rooms. Lady Yin expressed that she wished to ask your hand for marriage after the battle your majesty." the shadow paused.
"She is not suitable to be my empress. How about the other lady?" the emperor directly stated and the shadow continued his report.
"Your majesty, Lady Shin... she--she..." the shadow stuttered trying to check the right words to say. The emperor remained silent. He heard the shadow took a deep breath before finishing his report.
"Lady Shin will ask money your majesty." Even the shadow's tone has a tinge of embarrassment as he delivered that statement. The emperor laughed inwardly before he dismissed the shadow.
The war in this era values braveness and dignity. The emperor had finally received a response from the barbarians that they will fight against them under the conditions that if the emperor's side wins they will leave in his territory but if the barbarians' side wins, the emperor shall pay tons of gold and allows them to live in the lands that they had occupied. This agreement has been sealed and sign by both leaders.
The day during the battle, both forces have gathered and started approaching their enemies. The emperor is riding his horse. Standing in his right side is Ye Shin and the left side is Ye Yin. The two generals are in front. Behind them are the soldiers eager to fight. On the opposite direction are the barbarians. There are three men in front and behind are their armies.
These barbarians are approaching ghastly towards the emperor's side with their weapons but when they have reached several distance away, all three men in front halted. All barbarians completely stopped their movements. The people in the emperor's side were bewildered by their sudden action. Even the emperor was at lost. He looked at the barbarians who are several meters away from them and saw their facial expressions that he had never seen in a battlefield. At least not the kind of expression that any person should wear before the battle begins. Acquiesce. The emperor was deeply puzzled and before he could speak his order to his men one of the barbarians in front has loudly shouted.
"Retreat!"
The barbarians then fled away faster than they have arrived.
"What is happening?" General Xia asked to himself loudly.
"It seems that those barbarians are nothing but a coward." Ye Yin commented.
The emperor looked at the tiny figures running away from them. Since the enemies are nowhere to be seen, he instructed his soldiers to just build a camp on the area.
At night, the emperor received a letter from the barbarians. He intently read the content of the letter.
++
The Emperor of He, alas!
How foolish are we.
Perhaps I have overestimated my strength or underestimated your capabilities but today we have offended someone unintentionally. Your majesty, could you send to White Death our sincerest apology? We would never think to meet her in the battlefield nor do we have the guts to be her opponent. By the time you read this letter, we have departed your territory and you have my assurance that my group will not create anymore trouble in your kingdom.
++
'So she is called White Death?' He Mo said to himself quietly.
The emperor needs not to think twice. After reading the letter he has deduce its message. There is only one person in his side who dares to go in a battlefield wearing a white dress. Who would have expected that the barbarians also know her? Sometimes, the appearance of a strong person is enough to gain victory. When the emperor went out of his tent, he saw his people anxiously waiting for his commands. He glanced at them and sighs.
"The barbarians have conceded. We will have a rest tonight and will go back tomorrow." he stated. A burst of laughter echoed in the camp and the soldiers started to drink their wine and celebrate.
"It's not probably good if you allow them to drink alcohol your majesty. The barbarians may have not yet surrendered." Ye Shin told him calmly. The emperor looked at her serene face and handed her the letter he received from the barbarians. She reads it quietly.
"It seems like they recognized me but I have not seen their faces clearly." she commented and returns the letter to him. Her expression did not change. The face is still painted with calmness. The emperor suddenly thought of whether there is something that fazes this lady.
--
Qing Empire
Meanwhile, the barbarians who hurriedly fled away were rushing towards the Qing Empire. The emperor of this kingdom had paid them to create trouble in the He Empire. It is said that this emperor is secretly planning to grab the He Empire if given a chance.
"Your majesty, the barbarians have told me that they will not continue their alliance with us. They had fled away without giving us a proper reason!" one of the emperor's advisor hurriedly reported to the Qing emperor. The old man looked at his brother whom he considers as his right hand in ruling his Qing kingdom.
"It seems that this young He emperor is quite competent brother. He had managed to kill our direct contact to his kingdom which was his brother and now he had managed to drive away the barbarians in his territory." the emperor looks outside the window as he pondered something.
"Since we cannot achieve our goals by using force, we can also try in marriage. We can send the second princess as a gift for his victory against the barbarians your majesty. Anyway the second princess has no talent and is no use to us." his brother suggested.
"Yes, that will do. I will write my edict. Prepare the second princess for her journey." the Qing Emperor commanded.