Gasps escaped from different parts of the kingdom. Some can't believe what they are reading. At first, they were amazed by the thouaand papers raining down the sky. The air ship is too fast for the current cultivation of the people in the kingdom to see, thus all they can see were papers raining down. They knew that the nobles are shady, but they never thought that they would be this shady!
Some are very scared to go out of their houses due to fear of being abducted. Some tried to seek for justice as they are sure that some of their missing family members were actually abducted to be experimented or sold to other kingdoms without consent.
One of the rules of the Upper Court is that the people would only become slaves if they consent it themselves. They should be a willing party, else the slavery is invalid.
But those people who were abducted had no choice but to agree as those who kidnapped them threatened them with the lives of their families.
The whole kingdom is filled with ominous silence. No one talks. If they want to buy something, they have to buy quickly, afraid that they will be kidnapped. They haven't even realised that those kidnappers wouldn't do anything stupid as they are currently being watched tightly.
All the noble households that were involved are in chaos. Some young masters and misses didn't even have the guts to show their faces in the masses.
In a household, General Bai's laughter echoed in the hall ways. He laughed until his eyes produced tears. On the contrary though, those tears are not because of his laughter but because of sadness and fulfilment.
' Old friend, finally, you are avenged', he thought as he painfully remembers the pointing hands of those fucking ministers who instigated the fall of his dear friend.
General Jin and General Bai are the only general in their country. Contrary to what people believed, the two are best of friends since childhood. They went through joys and pains. They went through battles together. They were brothers who withstand the trials of life and death. But he can't even rescue their family from their last breaths.
The emperor knew that he will surely help the general if they are in danger and will surely oppose the royal family for his friend, so the sly emperor made a scheme. He ordered General Bai to patrol the borders as bandits are reportedly causing havoc in the place. As a righteous and unsuspecting general, he heeds the Emperor's command. He fought with the bandits and uprooted their forces entirely.
Even if he doesn't show it to the people, he would always boast even his smallest achievements to his dear friend and then they will then end up having childish banterings on who is the best.
At that time, he didn't bother to report to the emperor and immediately went to the Jin Manor. What he didn't expected was a heartbreaking news of the passing of the late General in a very degrading and unforgiving manner. For a soldier, it is an honor to die in battlefield, not to die with a name of a traitor. The worst is, it is without proper evidence. They just made up some false evidence to calm the people's ire.
General Bai drank his wine battle like water. No matter how many years had come, the pain still doesn't subside. He can't even help the only friend he has! He is the most useless friend in the world !
The emperor also doesn't escape his hatred. How could the emperor stomach the death of his own beloved sister? He personally saw the pampering the emperor once did to his sister when she was still unmarried. He even said that his precious sister deserves the best, thus he permitted the love between her and General Jin.
But for the sake of power, just because of that damned power, he managed to kill his sister without second thought. He did not even considered the fact that the general can't betray him because he loves his wife very much and he knew how important the emperor is for her.
He honestly only remained to be a general to a heartless emperor just because of the people relying on him.
" Master, the eunuch from the emperor is requesting your audience", a servant respectfully announce.
He wants to say that the emperor should just fuck off. That this is heaven's retribution. But he can't bring his family down with him, thus he followed the servant until they reach their guest pavilion.
" General Bai, an emperial decree is addressed to you. Please kneel down to accept it", the eunuch calmly stated.
General Bai didn't want to kneel down as he found kneeling to that man disgusting, but he doesn't has a choice either.
He kneeled and thank the eunuch for the decree.
" The emperor is expecting your presence this afternoon at 3:00. It is advised to bring your family with you", the eunuch read the decree and left.
General Bai's body went cold. Others may not know, but he knows how selfish and forceful that jerk is. Why would he need to bring his family if there is no known gathering in the palace? How could they have a celebration right now if they are riddled with problems?
General Bai can't help but shiver at where his thoughts are going. Surely the emperor wants something from him, and if he will not oblige, his family's life will be on the emperor's hand. He close his eyes as he curse the emperor up to his 18 generations.
' That cunning bastard', his thought is inappropriate as he could be beheaded for insulting a monarch, but he just doesn't give a damn as he is currently in the influence of both anger and alcohol. At least he just cursed that son of a bitch in his head. What he have not seen is the twitching of his servants' lips. How would he know that he said his thought out loud?