"Her Highness must have been well prepared for the Assembly." Lin Xue said.
"She must have known that after that rebellious attempt there was something bound to happen next." Han Touzhou replied.
"Yet I don't understand, General Yang's name having been severed from the clan records and the Clan lists was her own intention?" Lin Xue asked.
"The Hans were against the wall and they were one foot in the grave, if she could save one entire clan with a brush of her ink then out of their debt to her they would be nothing but devouted followers all the more she would be powerful enough to contend with my might." Han Touzhou replied.
"Everyone knows that His Majesty dislikes factions and at the same time like a real mother he favours and trusts her diligently given that he'd feel the Yang Clan are well consoled and himself protected from the wrath while the Retired Emperor is more yielding of state affairs to him now than he was before." Lin Xue said.
"Sure he has proven able to govern but the blessing of an Empress having not come from us then our fight isn't bound to be very successful and fruitful on our side." Han Touzhou said as he reclined in his seat and then he looked at the map that was in front of him.
"General Han Guang was as good as forgotten and Zhao Ruyu praised and Xiangyang secure in our hands there is something more that we must protect on its return to us." He muttered.
"The Letter...?" Lin Xue was about to concluded when a cold glare from his master halted him.
"Any mistakes then I'll be done for." Han Touzhou said, "Tonight if shall be delivered." He informed and Lin Xue nodding his head he withdrew from the hall at once while Han Touzhou standing up from where he was seated he walked up to the window.
"Well done Your Highness." He said, "well done in deed." He added so confidently as he smiled at himself.
The small narrow road in the suburb around Lin'an was dark and there three carriages that were being escorted by a few armed men made their way into the thin woods.
The sound of the wind howling in the dead of night was most frightening and the crickets themselves seemed so lively their melodies filled the sky.
As the Convoy continued a thin fog that had settled ahead slowly started to rise and in front of them a silhouette appeared so dark it was in a crude image of a cloaked human.
"Halt." One of the guards of the convoy ordered and slowly he approached the silhouette which standing still frightened him to some degree that he unsheathed his sword.
Unbeknownst to them in the trees there were a couple of archers and setting their arrows on fire they freed them from their bows they rained from the sky.
The guards of the convoy still surprised stared at the arrows intently and landing on the ground the soil exploded throwing a large number of them away and over turning the carriages.
One of the fallen guards touched the soil and pulling it closer to his nose he sniffed it.
"Milord." One of his subordinates called to him.
"It's gun powder." He said as he launched himself onto his feet only colliding with a second wave of arrows in an instant there were assassins that had surrounded them entirely they had no place to flee.
"Who are you?" The commander of the guard asked and one of their attackers pulling off his mask revealed his facial features to them turning out to be Zhang Shen.
"Give us the goods." He ordered.
"Over my dead body." The commander replied and Zhang Shen pulling an arrow from his quiver and putting it in his bow, he aimed at the man.
"One last chance and I could let you live, don't make me retrieve the goods from your dead body." Zhang Shen said.
"You're all a bunch of Scoundrels thinking that you will get away with this." The man said.
"And who will stop us?" Zhang Shen asked, "the Imperial guards, the Han forces, his men?" He asked that the Commander was surprised.
"By now he should be content that he has his eyes on the right people after all according to anonymous sources through the loopholes of his system he is aware that his men will receive you in Lu tonight and not the suburb around Lin'an." Zhang Shen said with a ghastly smile on his face.
"Even if you kill me, before you can get to me I shall have destroyed the goods anyway and if possible us as well." The commander said.
"You Jurchens don't know how conniving we the Song are." Zhang Shen replied, "how many people did you travel with that you trust?" He asked when suddenly one of his men stubbed him in the back and Zhang Shen smiling he lowered his bow while the commander turning around and looking at the man that stood on his left, he kept on cursing why it was so.
"You." he muttered before falling lifeless to the ground and Zhang Shen looking at the young man who'd killed the Jurchen he smiled.
The doors of the room were flung open and Zhang Shen walked in to the young woman who was leaning against the table with her eyes closed while she inhaled the fragrant incense that was rising from the lamp.
"Milady." He said.
"You didn't fail me?" She asked.
"The Fraternity never fails you." Zhang Shen replied as he bent his head while he offered a crimson and gold scroll to her and along with it a small sachet that was sewn from fine gold thread.
Zhang Shansheng opening her eyes she looked at him convinced.
"And this is?" She asked?
"A blood treaty." Zhang Shen replied, "The blood of the Jurchen General stamped with his seal and the consent from the signet ring stamp of the heir of the House of Han." Zhang Shen replied.
"What does it say?" Zhang Shansheng asked.
You have fulfilled your end of the deal and I'll fulfill mine, I'll march to Xiangyang if you can promise to deliver the head of the Great General Yang." Zhang Shen read and at once his sworn sister stood up.
"The Silver Fraternity has stood for long enough, with this we could end the life of an entire clan but it could end our lives as well." Zhang Shansheng said.
"Don't worry Milady." Zhang Shen assured.
"It's hard." She replied while a ghastly smile appeared on her face as she turned to the side.
"However I am content if one by one I can watch their heads fall, if one by one I can see them turn against each other and if one by one I can drench myself in their blood." Zhang Shansheng said.
"The sight is clear and I fear that by now Han Touzhou could have discovered that he has fallen for our ruse." Zhang Shen said.
"I need to meet with Her Highness." Zhang Shansheng said.
"Tonight is far from impossible." Zhang Shen replied.
"Did you leave no trace towards us?" Zhang Shansheng asked.
"Yes Milady." Zhang Shen replied.
"Then send out a message to Her Highness at dawn." Zhang Shansheng ordered.
"Yes." Zhang Shen replied before he bowed his head and walked out.
"What?" Han Touzhou asked so surprised.
"Your Excellency, the man in our possession is a phony." Lin Xue said.
"How is that possible?" Han Touzhou asked.
"I don't know." Lin Xue replied and Han Touzhou closing his eyes he sighed.
"We had one job." He said, "you had one job." He added as he looked the other way and seemed to immerse himself in a series of thoughts.
"Or could it be?" He asked.
"What Your Excellency?" Lin Xue said.
"The Empress?" Han Touzhou asked.
"I don't think so." Lin Xue replied.
"Zhao Ruyu?" Han Touzhou asked.
"He is too young but a cunning and sly fox." Lin Xue said.
"We got it all wrong." Han Touzhou said.
"Why Your Excellency?" Lin Xue asked.
"The Empress would suddenly topple me if she had the chance and it can't be coincidental that we got the wrong person having communicated the place where we would be meeting." Han Touzhou replied.
"Then Your Excellency is saying that it's likely someone intercepted the letters?" Lin Xue asked.
"Even worse it's possible that someone knows the truth and if we have made but one mistake right now then it's a little too late to be rectified because with that blood treaty out of both my possession and the Jurchen General's it can only spell trouble for us both and to a greater extent me." Han Touzhou replied.
"But it's only been four hours." Lin Xue said.
"It's possible that the evidence hasn't yet reached the Empress right now." Han Touzhou asked.
"But we don't even know who is in possession of the blood treaty." Lin Xue said.
"For the time being we should obsess over it landing in the hands of any member of the Imperial family." Han Touzhou replied, "we can't limit ourselves to the Palace alone and all Courtiers and officials should be put under suspicion." He added.
"It's going to be a little bit difficult." Lin Xue said.
"Have our informants put in place and let them act rigorously." Han Touzhou said.
"Your Excellency?" Lin Xue asked.
"The senior members of the Imperial family should be put under very close surveillance otherwise if we lose out on any of them or misstep then it could end us all." Han Touzhou replied.
"Yes Your Excellency." Lin Xue said as he withdrew from the room leaving his master puzzled and wondering where it was that he could have gone wrong.
"How is this possible?" He asked himself amidst the silence as he looked out through the window.
It was the wee hours of the morning and the sun rising over the Eastern hills was starting to grace the skies above Lin'an with a saffron sheet when a young woman stood in the garden admiring the sunrise.
She was dressed in beautiful scarlet robes that were adorned with small diamonds and sewn with fine silver thread while she had a pair of beautiful small dark eyes and her face round ended in a double chin.
Her skin so flawless and her nose tiny one would tell how courageous she appeared and regal she seemed to tell that she was no ordinary woman yet even still far enchantingly beautiful, one would have remarked that looking rude too was a pleasant sight of her.
She picked up an arrow and putting it in her bow, she aimed at the kite in the sky before letting go.
Her arrow was intercepted by another thing and slowly falling from the height with a mild cry her attention was captured immediately.
"You shot something Your Highness." The attendant next to her said.
"Go and see what it is Liu Zhan." The young woman ordered and at once the lady in waiting complied.
Liu Zhan returned holding a carrier pigeon in her hand which she handed over to the Princess Consort Li who taking it into her possesion she studied it finally noticing the small bamboo shoot that was tied to it's leg.
She opened the shoot and pulled out a small piece of paper.
"What could it be Your Highness?" Liu Zhan asked.
"I don't know." She replied whole she unfolded it and her eyes perusing through it's contents she smiled ghastly as she finally folded the paper again.
"What is it Your Highness?" Liu Zhan asked.
"Her Highness made me this way." Princess Consort Li replied.
"I don't understand." Liu Zhan muttered.
"Go into my chest and get a silver hairpin from there, with it you'll make sure to arrange for Han Touzhou to meet with me and tell him that it is very urgent." Princess Consort Li said.
"Yes Your Highness." Liu Zhan replied and bowing her head she withdrew from her presence at once while she looked at the small paper in her possesion.
"Anyone?" She called and one of her ladies in waiting hurried up to her side.
"Yes Your Highness." She replied.
"Prepare me a carrier pigeon and see to it that this one is well nursed." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." The lady in waiting replied and walked away.
"It's taking a little bit longer than I expected." Empress Wu said.
"Be patient Your Highness." Wan Mei replied as she massaged her shoulders.
"I also agree with Wan Mei Your Highness." Wan'er said.
"I heard that Han Touzhou came into contact with very many people the past couple of days however most surprisingly he helped a man on the streets who according to the rumours I have heard is allegedly a fortune teller." Wan Mei said.
"How interesting!" Empress Wu remarked.
"But Han Touzhou as I have heard isn't the type of person that believes in superstitions, one can as well say that he is a staunch Confucian scholar." Wan'er said.
"But that doesn't alter the possibility that perhaps he might have found a reason to believe whatever it is that the old man said." Wan Mei said.
"Since Han Touzhou chose to act up all of a sudden then someone is to be held most responsible for his actions and if I am to assess the two situations it's likely that this fortune teller told him something we can't underestimate." Empress Wu remarked.
"If your Highness wishes to know then why not ask this old man?" Wan Mei asked.
"Do you know where he is?" Empress Wu asked.
"Having heard very well Your Highness, I had to put in every necessary effort to at least see to it that the old man is in safe hands." Wan Mei replied as she smiled ghastly.
"Great." Empress Wu remarked.
Lin Xue was walking through the Courtyard when he suddenly beheld a set of guards at the entrance of the Han Manor and along with them there was someone they appeared to be talking to.
He walked up to the gates and saw a young woman wearing a veil over her face and staring at the two guards who had crossed their spears prohibiting her from walking in.
"What's this?" He asked.
"Sir Lin." The guards said to him as they bowed their heads to him.
"What is the problem here?" He asked.
"This woman is insisting that we let her in." One of the guards replied and Lin Xue turning to her he studied her appearance and grace while her neck was somehow bent and judging from the posture in which she stood he could tell that she was an attendant but didn't mention it first.
"How may I help you Miss?" He asked.
"My request is very simple as I only wish to speak to the Master of this house." The young woman replied.
"Why?" Lin Xue asked.
"It's only between Your master and me and I dare not say a word to anyone else other than him or perhaps better you would wish to know who it is that sent me." The young woman replied.
"Could you identify your Master?" Lin Xue asked and the young woman pulling out the silver hairpin in her possession she handed it over to Lin Xue who studying the characters at the back he saw the name Li engraved on it.
"Wait here." He said as he walked into the inner Courtyard and mounting the stairs that led to Han Touzhou's study he walked in only to find him seated and lost in thought.
"Your Excellency." He said as he bowed his head.
"Tell me whatever it is that you wish to say." Han Touzhou said and Lin Xue walking up to him he laid at the table in front of him the silver hairpin which he seemed to realise instantly.
"Does Your Excellency know what this is?" Lin Xue asked.
"It's been a couple of years, have you forgotten already?" Han Touzhou replied and Lin Xue caressing his chin he thought hard until a familiar incident came to mind.
"Wasn't this the Silver hairpin that you gifted Princess Consort Li as a wedding gift?" He asked.
"It is." Han Touzhou replied, "I am very certain." He added.
"Then it's likely that the person that is outside and requesting for an audience with you is a servant of the Princess Consort?" Lin Xue asked.
"Hurry up and let her in." Han Touzhou replied maintaining his composure while Lin Xue quickly walked out of the room.
"Greetings Your Excellency." Liu Zhan said as she kowtowed to him.
"You are here in the name of the Princess Consort?" Han Touzhou asked.
"I am Liu Zhan her lady in waiting." She replied.
"Given that you have turned up uninvited then there must be something that you wish to say to me if I am not mistaken." Han Touzhou said.
"Your Excellency is in deed well informed and I won't refrain or fall short in my duty." She remarked.
"Tell me what has brought you." He said.
"Her Highness requests to have an audience with you and she believes that for the sake of the welfare of both you and herself it's necessary that you meet and talk face to face." Liu Zhan replied.
"Tell me about it." Han Touzhou said.
"Since it is a secret then Your Excellency can organise it very well, my duty is to report back to Her Highness and tell her where a d when." Liu Zhan said.
"Is that it?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Time isn't something in our favour and Her Highness believes that the sooner the better after all your enemies are too many and perhaps there is more than one way in which she could lend a hand in securing your position in the state and you yourself securing hers." Liu Zhan replied.
"Such a confident tongue, the perfect servant for Her Highness." Han Touzhou remarked.
"I am flattered Your Excellency." Liu Zhan replied.
"Very well then, I'll think about it." Han Touzhou said and Liu Zhan bowing her head she withdrew from the room leaving Han Touzhou alone with Lin Xue.
"What do you think?" He asked.
"About what?" Lin Xue asked.
"Her Highness." Han Touzhou replied.
"I don't know." Lin Xue replied, "but the blessing of her marriage was given by you." He added.
"Many people are benevolent and keep giving regardless of the circumstance, however how many of the people they reward try to remain grateful?" Han Touzhou asked.
"If it's to keep a close watch on Her Highness I certainly will." Lin Xue replied.
"What about the blood letter?" Han Touzhou asked.
"There haven't yet been any suspicious movements so far." Lin Xue replied.
"Keep watching closely." Han Touzhou ordered.
"Yes." Lin Xue replied bowing his head.
"Zhang Shen stood at the balcony where he watched the sky and caught sight of a pigeon that landed right next to him and studying it closely he noticed the small bamboo that was tied to it's leg.
Holding it up, he pulled out a small piece of paper which he carried inside the building and handed over to Zhang Shansheng.
"A message Milady." He said while she unfolded the paper and read through it's contents smiling before she rested it on the candle that was burning right next to her and slowly watched it evolving to ash.
"What did it say Milady?" Zhang Shen asked.
"It is as I expected." Zhang Shansheng replied.
"The Empress is really bent on tackling Han Touzhou?" Zhang Shen asked.
"She hasn't changed over the years it seems." Zhang Shansheng replied while she appeared to be lost in her own thoughts.
"Make preparations." She ordered.
"What for Milady?" Zhang Shen asked.
"The security of the Fraternity can not be compromised so all our people should be sent out of the Capital first." Zhang Shansheng replied.
"Why?" Zhang Shen asked.
"A meeting with Her Highness could jeopardize her position and we can't be sure that she is too careful on her side to not be watched." Zhang Shansheng replied.
"I see." Zhang Shen muttered when suddenly the doors of the room were flung open and one of their subordinates rushed in.
"Milady." He said as he fe fell down onto his knees.
"What is it?" Zhang Shansheng asked him.
"The Mountain is surrounded." He replied.
"How is that possible?" Zhang Shansheng asked.
"I don't know." The young man replied.
"Could it be....?" Zhang Shen asked.
"Her Highness was too lax or the letter..." Zhang Shansheng said as she looked at the pile of ashes in front of her.
"Mei'er?" She muttered while her eyes widening she seemed certain that there was something awful bound to happen.
Zhang Shansheng rushed out of her small cottage and standing at the balcony she looked in a distance and saw a couple of horsemen that were riding into their direction.
"How is that possible?" Zhang Shen asked.
"Forget it." Zhang Shansheng replied as she picked up one of the bows that was hanging nearby and a quiver and swiftly she descended the stairs while she was being followed to one of the small cottages that was right by her side.
There she barged through the door and she found two young girls around the same age that were seated and spinning fabric with one perhaps slightly older.
One of them turned to her.
"Mother." The younger said.
"Mei'er." She called in reply while the young girl about eight years old hurried over to her side with her colleague.
"Milady." The other said as she bowed her head.
"Get up." Zhang Shansheng ordered and she complied when suddenly there was a very loud explosion that came from outside.
She covered her daughter's ears while the young child was still traumatized all of a sudden that one of the guards rushed in almost immediately.
"What was that?" Zhang Shen asked.
"They are here with gun powder and fire lances." The man who had rushed in replied.
"We just get out of here." Zhang Shansheng said.
"What about the evidence Milady?" Zhang Shen asked.
"Now isn't the time, don't worry about it." She replied.
They walked out of the cottage and arriving outside there were people that were dressed as Imperial guards fighting with the other members of the fraternity.
One of the men seated on a red stead gazed about the place while the buildings were being consumed by flames when he caught sight of them fleeing.
"Stop them." He shouted while pointing at them and his fellows emerged from behind and ran towards their direction.
"They're coming closer." Zhang Shen said.
"Mother, what is happening." Mei'er asked as they continued.
"Don't worry." Zhang Shansheng replied and hardly had she spoken when in front of them another person rode.
They halted and looked up at the well built man that was surrounded with guards, his armour was made of iron and coloured brown while he wore on his head a helmet that was forged to resemble the face of a tiger.
The long maroon cape that hang at his back and the sword in his scabbard were all rare in appearance and size as they seemed too heavy and while his hands tightly held the reins of his horse, they looked rough with his veins prominent.
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"Get out of our way and we'll spare you." Zhang Shen said.
"What is it that you want from us?" Zhang Shansheng asked.
"I believe you know what it is that I want." The man said.
"A Courtesan is murdered, and the Empress' as well, I wonder what the Emperor would think or who are you even to threaten me?" Zhang Shansheng asked.
Letting go of the reins the man raised his hands and ceased his helmet, pulling it off, his long hair had been held back by a small golden pin and his eyes were dark and brown with his face round it ended in a double chin.
Zhang Shansheng seemed surprised but she wasn't intimidated.
"Li San?" She called him.
"It's been a very long time." He replied and herself picking up an arrow from her quiver she put it in her bow and pointed it at him.
"You know that I don't miss my target." Zhang Shansheng said.
"And where shall you run to?" Li San asked.
"This is my place and this is my home, if you think that I designed it for you to come from nowhere and create your own commotion then you are mistaken." Zhang Shansheng replied.
"What's the best that you can do?" Li San asked.
"Look at me." Zhang Shansheng replied with a smile on her face as Zhang Shen igniting the end of the bag of gun powder while she lowered her target to the ground and shooting immediately, Li San realising a little bit too late asked his men to fall back when an explosion happened.
He fell from his horse and landed on his feet while Zhang Shansheng lifting up her daughter she turned to the left with her people and they got into the stables where they found a couple of horses and mounted them.
"Be careful sister." Zhang Shen said.
"We need to get the girls to safety." Zhang Shansheng replied.
"What about you?" Zhang Shen asked.
"It's my fault." She replied.
"Sister?" Zhang Shen was saying when she held his mouth.
"I know that we are not related by blood but this is all I can ask of you otherwise if you can't save these girls then all our brothers and sisters of the Fraternity shall have fought in vain." Zhang Shansheng said.
"Promise me that you'll stay alive." Zhang Shen said.
"We'll meet at the cliff." Zhang Shansheng said as she pushed him towards the stead he mounted it reluctantly while Mei'er her daughter was seated at the front.
"Mother?" She called.
"I'll be there with you." Zhang Shansheng said to her turning around and pulling from her scabbard a long thin flexible sword.
"Hold on tight Nuwa." Zhang Shen said as he tied the other girl to his waist and then looking back at his foster sister disappearing out of his sight, he rode off through the back of the encampment.
Li San led his party inside and found Zhang Shansheng already waiting and staring coldly as she tightened her hand around the sword.
"What is it that you are dying for?" He asked while she kept quiet and threw herself at him with her sword aiming for his chest.
Li San swinging his own he guarded against the attack while the sword landing on the edge of his it curved a little to his right he was forced to move lightly that his hairpin was knocked out of his hair and it fell.
Ceasing that opportunity Zhang Shansheng leaped into mid air and flying she threw a double kick at her contender he guarded with his sword but was pushed back nonetheless.
Zhang Shansheng standing on her feet again pointed her sword at him while she smirked a little amidst his staggering.
"A flexible sword?" He muttered.
"I am not too easy a target." Zhang Shansheng replied.
"Impressive." Li San remarked angrily planting his sword on the ground and looking up at her.
"I don't care if you have to strip her down until she is naked, I don't want anything on her." He ordered his subordinates around that they moved ahead and surrounded the young woman who still determined stared at them fiercely.
They closed in with a single blow while she flew upwards spinning her scarf there was a powder she scattered into their eyes that a shirt while later they cried out bitterly while she landed between them.
Spinning with the edge of her sword and themselves blinded she spit their throats as they held onto them while falling to the ground before she looked at Li San once again.
She broke free from their midst and sprang at him with her sword pointed a second time when she heard the sound of arrows vibrating against the wind that she summersaulted and dodged them her enemy out of her close proximity while a couple of other guards were converging.
She cut open the ropes which bound the doors of the stable and whistling the steads rushed out disorganizing the soldiers' formation while she leaped onto one and picked up a group of four arrows which she aimed ahead.
She let go and cleared her exit while she rode through them and infiltrated their defense of the area.
"After her." Li San ordered and the other horsemen that were still present at the scene followed Zhang Shansheng into the woods.
Crown Princess Consort Li was seated at the table in her chambers seeming so focused as she wrote on a piece of paper with a smile on her face.
The doors to the room were flung open and Liu Zhan walking in she halted in front of her mistress bowing her head to offer her salutations.
"Tell me something good." Princess Consort Li ordered.
"His Excellency wishes to consider." Liu Zhan replied.
"That's good enough." She replied, "I was rather worried that he'd look the other side." She added.
"But Your Highness seems to be already pleased." Liu Zhan said.
"After today I believe that he'll have a reason to trade with us." Princess Consort Li replied as she looked up from the paper to her servant her ghastly smile unchanged she already seemed like she had done something.
"A man like him who is very cunning and scheming can not be trusted Your Highness, after all we could learn best from the example of others that getting close to him is coming very close to fire." Liu Zhan cautioned.
"Are you warning me?" Princess Consort Li asked.
"I'm sorry Your Highness, I was just concerned." Liu Zhan replied while the Princess Consort returned her attention to the paper having written only one word "ALLEGIANCE."
"I am not after trust and that you don't have to worry." She muttered, "I only need allegiance which will come along with a guarantee." She added her lady in waiting sure that there was something going on even without her own knowledge, unable to do a thing she kept quiet.
Riding through the trees Zhang Shen halted at a cliff that over looked the river and in the distance below he could see the capital Lin'an's buildings towering with a thin fog resting upon them.
The young girls in his care already seemed frightened.
"Where is mother?" Mei'er asked but he was quiet and thinking that she was not getting out of his grip anytime soon she surprised him by sliding down off the horse.
"Mei'er?" He called wanting to go after her but with Nuwa tied to his body it was close to impossible.
"I'm not going without mother." Mei'er replied and dashing away, Zhang Shen untied the cord binding him to Nuwa as they got off the horse.
"Please don't leave me." She said while clinging to his feet before he'd run away.
"Let go." Zhang Shen ordered but Nuwa still held onto him so tightly.
"If we don't go right now and save her then she'll go like your father and never come back." Zhang Shen said and the Eleven year old girl seemed to be frightened instantly she loosened her grip.
"Let's go." Zhang Shen ordered and they strode into the woods following the path that they were certain they had seen Mei'er take.
The young girl even with small feet seemed to be used with the fortress and she was swift on its floor while the wind blew through her hair and she breathed intensely straining her ears for a voice or anything that she could tell to be very familiar.
Alas there was the sound of horses and as it grew louder she knew she was close enough that she quickly moved ahead to a part of the forest where the trees were thin and partially scattered.
It took a short while for her to see a white stead and while she serveyed the area she caught sight of three more ordinary brown ones in pursuit that she quickly moved over to the side where she was certain to intercept them.
"Mom." She shouted and Zhang Shansheng hearing her voice she halted while Mei'er jumped out of the forest and stopped in front of her horse.
"What are you doing here?" Zhang Shansheng asked.
"Mother, I'm not coming without you." Mei'er replied.
"I told you that I'd meet you at the cliff." Zhang Shansheng scolded but at the moment she heard her pursuers getting closer that she quickly turned and grabbed her daughter pulling her up onto her stead.
She continued riding into the forest her daughter in front and Mei'er craning her neck she looked behind to see the men coming closer to them having slightly increased in number but there was one in particular that she identified as the man that her mother had called Li San who was holding a bow and aiming at them.
Looking ahead there was a cliff and a ghastly smile appearing on Li San's face before they'd negotiate the corner, she released his arrow from his bow and shot the thigh of the white stead that it instantly lost its control.
"Zhang Shansheng realising that the stead was leading them faster to the edge she ceased her daughter and the two leaped off landing onto the ground while stumbling over the horse fell neighing aloud having raised a thin cloud of dust.
Mei'er coughed while the dust starting to settle the two realised that they had been entirely surrounded by their enemies who were looking down on them.
Zhang Shansheng forced herself onto her feet and tightly she held onto her thin flexible sword which she pointed at Li San.
"There is death behind you and in front, hand over what I want and I can guarantee that you shall receive an Honourable burial on the soil that belongs to your fraternity." He muttered.
"Don't pretend that you do not know me." Zhang Shansheng replied.
"A beautiful dancer like yourself with a spirit of iron like this is unfitting, and simply to settle an old grudge against your grandson's family don't you think that is wishful thinking?" Li San asked.
"I am holding on." Zhang Shansheng said and holding into her clothes she pulled out a small signet ring which she showed to him.
"Is this what you want?" She asked him and Li San looking at the ring and closely inspecting it even from a distance he could recognize it.
"Is that your decision?" He asked.
"You can never live up to your word and even if I did I want to watch you all burn down one by one." Zhang Shansheng said.
"Then I hope that you rot in hell." Li San said as he picked up a bow and with his arrow he aimed at the young woman who looked at him fiercely.
"Is that the best that you have got?" Zhang Shansheng asked.
"Too bad I know how to break your spirit." He replied and turning the arrow to the young girl by her side he released it from his grip that it went flying straight.
Zhang Shansheng realising it was her daughter's life on the line she turned around and descending on her she tightly embraced her while the arrow struck through her back.
She vomited blood that was abnormally dark and instantly turning pale they were so close to the short cliff underneath the water of the river was slowly rushing by.
"Mother?" Mei'er shouted while supporting her weight they rolled down the cliff into the nearby shrubs.
Using every last bit of strength left within her body, Zhang Shansheng tightly held onto her daughter while the stones cut through her body and the thorns pricked her before they ended in the water.
There weak she appeared to let go but Mei'er's turn at hand she held onto her mother so tightly.
Li San looked down and there was nothing in his view.
"Your Excellency, there's no way they could have survived that fall." His subordinate said.
"Regardless of what it is dead or not I want their bodies found and brought to me." Li San ordered.
"Yes Your Excellency." They replied in unison and walking away they left him staring at the water whose momentum increased by the second and there still wasn't any sign of a head emerging on the surface.
He turned around to walk away when he felt something on the ground and removing his foot he bent down only to see the same signet ring had been abandoned there he picked it up and smiled at himself.
How sad it is that you went through all that for something as little as this!" He muttered to himself as he folded it in his palm and clenching his fist he stood up and continued to his stead which he mounted and rode off along with the few others that had remained with him.
"Mother." Mei'er called trying to pull Zhang Shansheng to the shores of a rocky cave where the water was beating against a large pile of boulders that were stationed there.
It was relatively hidden in the side of the mountain and quite difficult to spot yet as Zhang Shansheng seemed to have some life left within her body she had entirely become pale and her eyes and lips were purple.
"Please live mother." Mei'er said.
"I can't." Zhang Shansheng said.
"I'll save you mother." Mei'er cried out.
"You need to live my dear." Zhang Shansheng replied when suddenly Zhang Shen and Nuwa appeared at the entrance of the cave and they rushed over to the two.
"Uncle?" Mei'er called her eyes brightening with hope yet as he hurried over and fell onto his knees holding up his sister, he realised that her back was long drenched in blood that had turned black in color.
"Please save her." Mi'er requested whole he seemed to be shocked he was silently looking at his palm trauma reflected in his eyes.
"Sir?" Nuwa called but he ignored her as well that Mi'er stood up and walking up to him she held his hand and pulled at it impatiently.
"Do something uncle." She persisted.
"There's nothing that we can do." He lashed out at her instantly with a very rude temper the younger was frightened and her eyes teary she'd never heard him raise his voice that loud all his life.
"No." She said while she turned to her mother and crying on her body there wasn't a single response which forced her to touch her hands only to realise that they were cold yet she still cared less.
Zhang Shen seeing this ceased her into a hug while she wrestled exploding in tears while crying out to her mother hoping she'd stand up and look at her but to no avail.
"Mother is gone." He shouted at her, "the arrow was poisoned." He added yet she lost her every bit of strength her will to rebel against his embrace still seemed undying.
"Mi'er?" He called, "listen to uncle." He added, "What was it that mother told you when you were going?" He asked that she quietened down almost immediately while retaining light sobs that memory replayed at the back of her mind.
"Be brave my little girl, one day you will grow up, and when I am not here to listen to you I just hope that you can always pay attention to your uncle and do as he tells you to do." The Late Zhang Shansheng had said, her strength collapsed.
"Mother." she called once again in a lowly tone but still no response she'd just believed there and then that her mother wasn't going to wake up anytime soon.
Everyone else bowing their heads Empress Wu walked past them and slowly and as she approached a pair of doors she stared at them intensely.
The guards that were stationed outside them recognising her presence they stepped aside and opening the doors it was dark inside the only beam of light that made its way through came from the entrance.
She stared in a distance and smiled at the old man chained to the central pillar that supported the whole room.
She walked closer while Wan Mei and Wan'er followed her as she halted in front of him while he raised his head to see he it was.
"Your Highness." He muttered.
"Is this he?" She asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Wan Mei replied that she smirked as she inspected him from head to toe.
"At last it is you." The old man said.
"I have heard so much about you." Empress Wu replied and looking at the guards nearby, they rushed over to her captive and unchained him as he massaged his wrists while they slowly withdrew from the room.
"I suppose you know why am here and I wish you could find it in your heart to forgive my people for having been a little too rough on you?" Empress Wu asked.
"As long as you want something that I am in the position to give, you would be most sincere." The old man said.
"Certainly." Empress Wu replied as she walked to the side.
"What if I don't have the answers to your questions?" The old man asked.
"I highly doubt that." Empress Wu remarked as she turned around and looked at him so fiercely that he gulped and closed his eyes for a while.
"Perhaps Your Highness." He muttered and opening his eyes he stared at her.
"You know what it is that I want to hear." Empress Wu said.
"Tell me Your Highness." The old man replied.
"Why did Han Touzhou target the Yang Clan and why suppress them brutally?" She asked.
"You speak of the man that helped me?" The old man asked.
"I heard that the two of you were in contact reliably and all this time even with his allies he never took up arms until recently after he had just spoken with you." Empress Wu said.
"Even the most powerful of people in the world have at least something that they fear." The old man said.
"What does he fear?" Empress Wu asked and the man looking right into her eyes he remained silent.
Princess Consort Li was standing in the backyard of her garden pruning the flowers when Liu Zhan walked up to her and bowed her head.
She seemed to notice her presence even without turning around as she breathed so intensely the aura that radiated from her body was one of absolute excitement and herself sweating profusely it was as though the young woman would smell her even at a distance.
"What is it?" Princess Consort Li asked.
"Congratulations Your Highness." Liu Zhan replied bowing her head that her mistress turned around to look at her and noticed that there was something like a sachet that she held out to her.
She took it and opening it she pulled out the signet ring that Li San had procured.
"His Excellency was successful and I have been asked to give you this.
"The Clan signet of the heir to the house of Han." She muttered.
"Was this the evidence that Lady Zhang claimed to hold in her position.
"Something this small is necessary but insufficient." Princess Consort Li replied, "we could use it to our advantage but it won't do the trick very well." She added.
"General Li said that they surrounded the fraternity following the carrier pigeon and they suppressed all it's members even in resistance." Liu Zhan said.
"And the Claimant?" Princess Consort Li asked.
"Zhang Shansheng was shot with a lethally poisonous arrow and she rolled down the rock cliff with a very young girl, right now they have put a search party to find the two corpses but the river was quite fast today if they aren't found near then certainly the tides must have taken them." Liu Zhan replied.
"Han Touzhou will have a reason to believe and if Zhang Shansheng is dead and since the dead do not speak then he'd trust that we have the one more vital thing he cherishes fervently and doesn't wish to expose to the world." Princess Consort Li remarked.
"But will Han Touzhou agree?" Liu Zhan asked.
"With the signet ring in front of his eyes and at the same time in our possesion, I have every reason to believe that he won't act out so rushly lest he'd be digging his own grave." Princess Consort Li replied as she smiled at the flower ghastly and then cut off a few branches while she withdrew a little to appreciate it.
"Tell me." Empress Wu said.
"You should know that His Excellency was afraid of Yang." The old man said.
"Why is that?" Empress Wu asked.
"There's always glory even in the days of prime, like it or not you yourself might be surprised yet as you devote your all to vanquish him his fate has long been written and heaven has willed it that his demise will be at the hands of Yang." The old man said.
"General Yang is already dead, how could his bane be sealed by a man that is already six feet in the ground?" She asked.
"He merely wasn't against a man but an entire clan, more so as it once was that the North star was once more brilliant when the world heralded the birth of a great ruler eight years ago, he's merely ignorant of the fact that his true contender is but a living child." The old man replied.
"I am politically apt and powerful, my allies are his greatest enemies, where does an eight year old girl get so much more power than that?" Empress Wu asked as she turned around and looked at the side.
"Iron sharpens iron, just as your Highness shall forge a sword without a haft and wield it long enough and if so what you want is the Victory of your own people and the greatness of the nation then aid she who will live through the reigns of five King's." The old man replied with a smirk on his face that the Empress smiled.
"In my hands I can protect you and you know better right now that if I let you go I am uncertain whether you'll not keep your mouth closed." Empress Wu said.
"Will you be as heartless?" The old man asked.
"If I must but you are just still too valuable to me." She replied.
"The stars allow us to look into the plans of heaven and not alter them, all mysteries can not be revealed even to my own eyes that I know there'll be a time I once will evolve into a burden you'll wish to relinquish." The old man said.
"So you ask for death?" Empress Wu asked.
"Other than this there is nothing more for me to tell you." The old man said and the Empress still calm she walked out of the room while the doors were shut behind her.
"What are we going to do with him?" Wan Mei asked the moment that they reached outside.
"Send him to the monastery just near Mountain Tai." Empress Wu replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Wan Mei replied and the Empress continuing her way, she remained behind watching the door with her guards.
"What?" Han Touzhou said as he stood up from where he was seated.
"The Princess Consort's brother had a small force of five hundred troops which marched up the mountain in the Lin'an suburbs, as far as I heard there was a massacre of bandits in that vicinity." Lin Xue replied.
"Bandits?" He asked.
"They were well hidden and it seems that they have been well known around the area for a while." Lin Xue replied.
"And I would believe that?" Han Touzhou asked.
"If not bandits then who else would bear a grudge with General Li or the Princess Consort in particular?" Lin Xue asked.
"We aren't the first people hearing this and as I could turn the General Yang into the rebel he wasn't don't you think Her Highness is capable of doing the same to another?" He asked.
"Forgive me Your Excellency, I didn't think about it that much." Lin Xue said.
"Forget it." Han Touzhou said.
"I heard that some bandits fled and that there is a siege around the mountain if I am not mistaken." Lin Xue said.
"These bandits are very interesting while of late it seems that I might have to worry about having more than one enemy to begin with." Han Touzhou said.
"But with the Princess Consort involved then why don't you ask her tonight?" Lin Xue asked and Han Touzhou who was picking up the cup of tea from his table halted.
"Princess Consort?" He asked.
"Sure enough she is the daughter of an ally wouldn't it be good for you to hold hands?" Lin Xue asked.
"In deed what you have asked for can be granted but other than you I think you tend to forget that I trust no man." Han Touzhou replied and sighing he lowered his hands onto his knees, "if I could hold the Li's power in my own hands and prevent them from becoming arrogant as they strengthen themselves then it is only then that they are very good allies." He added.
"Alright Your Excellency." Lin Xue replied.
"Keep watch of the Empress and let not the Princess Consort distract us entirely however have someone dig into some clues of this mountain and find out more about these so called bandits." He ordered.
"Yes." Lin Xue replied as he turned around and withdrew from his presence leaving him alone and staring at the tea cup in front of him.
Emperor Xiaozong was seated in his Chambers when Eunuch Qin hurried in.
"Your Majesty?" He greeted but the Emperor looking at the memorial in front of him only nodded to show his approval eventually he stood up from where he knelt and faced him.
"How is my father?" He asked.
"I have heard from the Imperial physician, the Retired Emperor is still resting but his condition isn't that bad." Eunuch Qin replied that the Emperor turning around he placed the memorial on the table and stared intimidatingly at him.
"What do you think about General Yang's Rebellion?" He asked.
"I am merely a Eunuch Your Majesty, I am not qualified and politically apt when compared to your Courtiers so how would my opinion matter?" Eunuch Qin replied.
"No Red Tape, you can trust that I won't take it to heart if it might sound offensive." Emperor Xiaozong replied.
"Very well then Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin replied, "I have every reason to believe that there are a number of loopholes in this matter." He added.
"Why is that so?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"Your Majesty, I find it a little bit too strange that his name was severed from the Clan records prior to this incident and if that is the case itself then I do believe that this was his deliberate move because he might have felt threatened." Eunuch Qin replied.
"In other words you are saying that he knew a disaster such as this would befall him?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"Perhaps and perhaps not Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin replied.
"And why do you think he would continue to walk into this trap even if he was aware?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"Perhaps it was a diamond plan that was hard to crack itself but if I am as foresighted as he was the one truimph of his that was indirect was the fact that more than ever he was able to prove to your Highness that the loyalty of the House of Yang can be most trusted." Eunuch Qin replied that the Emperor looking at him he smiled.
"You in deed are as smart as I have heard." He remarked as he stood up from where he was seated and in his hands he carried a scroll which he handed over to him.
"Your Majesty?" Eunuch Qin said a little bit puzzled.
"Perhaps naturally you would know the contents within this scroll but I want you to send it to the Minister Zhao Ruyu and tell him to comply." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin replied as he took it into his hands and slowly bowing his head he walked away while the Emperor turned to look at the memorial that he had been reading on the table.
Mei'er gazed at the corpse of her mother the sky above them dark, she'd mourned for so long and was out of tears and all that was left for her to hold on to and call very dear were the memories that she had shared with the woman in front of her.
Zhang Shen kneeling right by her side didn't try to bother her even a little bit as she sighed while raising her hand to reach for the body once again she shook it hoping for a response yet there was none.
"Why won't mother wake up?" She asked.
"Your mother is gone." Zhang Shansheng replied his eyes already dark and lifeless he was short of breath in each and every word he spoke.
"Why?" Mei'er asked, "How could they be so cruel?" She added but silence alone prominent in the air, she could only force a tear down her cheeks.
"What was that?" Zhang Shen asked angrily having heard her sobs that she turned to him while he grabbed her shoulders and gazed at her coldly the aura around them all had drastically changed.
He had held in all the grief and pain perhaps waiting for that moment to let it all out on her she instantly felt frightened.
"The strong don't cry." He muttered to her, "tears are only shed by the weak." He added as he vigorously shook her.
"You're hurting me." She complained.
"So what?" Zhang Shen asked loudly that she instant shut up her mouth and looked him in the eye.
"The world has always been so ugly behind it's rainbows, men and women scheme and all humans are fall of nothing but evil, the simple joys that heaven grants the world crushes and takes away and yourself born with nothing you'll return to the earth with nothing as well." He uttered so seriously Nuwa seemed to think that he had lost it entirely.
"Uncle?" She called but he ceased her by her cheeks and brought his face closer that they were inches apart.
"You must live well." He said, "that is what you promised." He added.
"No." Mei'er replied and startled his hands abandoned her at once that he seemed to calm himself down.
"My mother's spirit is not settled in the Netherworld, it's my fault that she died protecting me." Mei'er said so confidently, "I must get even with those men, I must sever them all down to the very last." Mei'er said.
"Do you understand what you're saying?" Zhang Shen asked.
"I want to avenge mother." Mei'er replied and quote strange for an eight year old Zhang Shen's eyes were lit up.
"You are like them." He said.
"What?" Mei'er asked.
"At last even at this tender age of yours can you resist the urge to fight like them?" He asked.
"There's something here?" They suddenly heard some people saying and turning to look around outside the small cave they could see torches in a distance.
"They didn't leave the mountain?" Zhang Shen said to himself a little bit surprised.
"Are they the same people after us?" Nuwa asked but Zhang Shen keeping quiet he ceased Mei'er by her hand and they both stood up.
"Uncle?" She called.
"We have to go." Zhang Shen replied.
"What about mother?" Mei'er asked.
"Forget it." He replied to her and dragging her she still resisted.
"I'm not going anywhere without my mother." Mei'er said.
"You don't understand." Zhang Shen said.
"God knows what those men will do to my mother, I can not leave her here alone." Mei'er said.
"She risked everything to try and protect you and even she would agree with me." Zhang Shen said, "if you go back there and those men find us then your mother shall have died in vain." He added.
"Please listen to her Mei'er." Nuwa pleaded.
"No." She replied and Zhang Shen walking closer to her knocked her out that she fainted.
He ceased her and placed her on her shoulders while Nuwa followed her deeper into the woods.
A couple of soldiers arrived at the entrance of the cave and illuminating the floor with their torches, they caught sight of the corpse that had long turned pale and cold.
"What did you find?" One of Li San's subordinates asked as he walked closer.
"It's the ladies body and it's so close to the water perhaps the waves washed her up here." The other replied.
"And the child's body?" He asked.
"It's nowhere close." The other replied.
"Perhaps the currents carried it a little bit further." Another added.
"That's enough." He said, "prepare and we'll bring the body with us." He ordered and the others complying a group of guards walked from behind and placed the corpse on a stretcher.
Zhang Shen was carrying Mei'er with him as he dashed through the woods with Nuwa following closely behind and while the stepped out onto a narrow winding path he accidentally caught the attention of two other soldiers that were talking with each other.
He froze as they identified his attires.
"He's one of them." One said.
"Surely." Another replied as they held onto their swords and unsheathed them while Mei'er was just regaining consciousness.
"Mother." She muttered.
"Run." He shouted at Nuwa as they returned into the trees and one of the soldiers fired a fire signal up into the sky which exploded and alerted the others that were around the Mountain along with Li San.
"Your Excellency." One of his men called him.
"Someone has been spotted." He replied.
"We await your order." The soldier said.
"Kill anything that breathes around within this radius." Li San commanded and spreading out he joined them.
Mei'er coming to her senses while they were running she broke free from her uncle's grip and him realising it he slowed down a little while Nuwa did the same.
"Mei'er?" He called.
"Mother?" She replied.
"Don't waste your time if they catch up to us they'll kill us all." Zhang Shen said.
"We have to hurry." Nuwa cried out to the both of them and calming down it seemed that the two were coming to an understanding.
From the trees the other two guards that had spotted them first emerged and while they charged towards the three, Zhang Shen pulled out the flexible sword that had been wielded by his late foster sister and pointed it at the both of them.
They didn't seem frightened that they persisted in their attack while Zhang Shen spinning he dodged the first attack and severed off the arm of one.
The second slowed down for him to leap into the air and spinning he landed a kick on the man's head that he stumbled and collided with the nearby tree breaking his neck.
He could hear the others coming his way.
"They're close by." He muttered to the two young children frightened while he picked up the sword of one and tied it to the side of his body.
"Let's go." He ordered and ceasing Mei'er by her hand they continued through the woods.
Li San riding his stead approached the place a short while later only to see the corpses of his men on the ground.
He got off and moving closer he inspected the hand of one against the light.
"His Artery was cut and naturally he was paralyzed and died due to massive blood loss while he suffered a concussion and damage to his brain." He muttered.
"He must be very skilled to be this precise in subduing his enemies at their vital points." His subordinate said and Li San looking further ahead he realized a set of footprints in the mud.
"Three sets." He said.
"Two are relatively smaller than those of an adult." His subordinate remarked while Li San seemed to think back earlier in the day.
"The two girls that were with her." He said.
"I remember them." The other replied.
"That girl that fell off the cliff with her." Li San said as he quickly moved to his horse something having immediately come to his mind.
"What is it Your Excellency?" They asked him.
"If there is another person that was involved and didn't fall in the water it's likely that they are a witness having belonged to the fraternity however the worst thing that could possibly happen is that they have something valuable to us in their possession." He replied.
"They couldn't have gone far, they are about ten minutes away if I am to estimate." The General's subordinate remarked.
"We can't be too lax, we need the elder much more than anything else." Li San cautioned and mounting his stead he rode off in the direction of the footsteps in front of him.
Zhang Shen still fleeing with the girls Mei'er tripped and she fell down onto the ground while Nuwa halted in her footsteps.
"We have to hurry." Zhang Shen said.
"I can't, I am too tired." Nuwa said while Mei'er trying to stand up she looked at her uncle which was sprained.
"I can't move." She said and it was then that they heard the sound of horses neighing coming from behind them.
"They're here." Nuwa said and Zhang Shen looking at the two girls and inspecting them he saw that they were unfit to come with him that he knelt down onto his knees and placed his hands on the shoulders of Meier.
"Listen to me." He said and Nuwa craning her neck she moved closer as well while he caught her hand and placed it in Mei'er's.
"Take care of her like she is your sister because you are older and I wish for you to remember the blood of all your dear ones that has been shed for you today.
The world is full of injustice and chaos and the Empire is troubled but forget not that there's something that your brothers and all your friends have died for in common." He said to the two and stretching out his hand and touching into his cloak, he pulled out a scroll which he put inside Mei'er's clothes.
"Take this and when you reach into the city you know the whereabouts of Master Bao, you shall tell him that it is I who sent you and that the Empress needs to write to you." Zhang Shen said and the two girls nodded their heads that he felt relieved.
"There's one more thing." He said and picking up the sword that had belonged to the late Zhang Shansheng he handed it over to the young girl.
"It is light and keep it with you, after all this will remind you that you are not alone and your mother is not with you but you'll have to forgive me for what I am about to do." He said when.
"Uncle, don't leave us." Mei'er said.
"In the next hour there's going to be a caravan of traders heading for the city and when you get from the mountain and join in it they won't find you but as long as you are out there trust no one and make sure that no matter how long it is that you take, make sure that you only give that scroll to the Emperor himself.
"Yes." The two replied in unison and the torches starting to appear in a distance, he pushed the two girls down a small narrow path and rolling they descended while he blocked the path with a number of branches.
Before they could go far Nuwa ceasing Mei'er with her hand they clung onto a long and thick root and looking up at Zhang Shen from the darkness while he attempted to flee his path was blocked by the guards that he was eventually surrounded.
"Well, well?" Li San said as he rode from behind and with his guards around him, Mei'er looking at that face she recalled it from a distance instantly as the man that had shot her mother in the back she felt infuriated that she shed tears as her glance became cold.
Zhang Shen held out his sword in front of him.
"There's nowhere else for you to run." Li San said, "unless you think that you can fight your way through all my men then be my guest as I am more than willing to see that." He added a ghastly smile on his face he seemed most confident in himself.
"I'll fight to the death and even if I must drag you to hell with me I shall certainly avenge the deaths of all those brothers that you have slaughtered." Zhang Shen said.
"What is this brotherhood of yours, what is it that you are willing to die for and become martyrs that much?" Li San asked.
"And what would you know?" Zhang Shen replied before charging towards him.
The archers that were nearby aimed their arrows at him.
"I want his feet." Li San ordered and at once shooting, Zhang Shen leaping a little bit and deflecting many of them with his sword he was still shot in the legs that he cried out in pain while Mei'er in tears and silent sobs she covered her mouth trying to minimize even the sound of her breath while her Uncle fell onto his knees.
"I'm going to give you a chance to tell me something that I want to hear and perhaps if I am excited then I can allow your corpse to rest in one piece and perhaps if I am even more generous I can let you keep that pathetic life of yours." Li San said.
"Rather than lose to you heartless monsters and feel humiliated before my ancestors in the Netherworld?" He said as he placed his sword on his neck, "I'd rather die a man that still has his honour than a slave ready to kiss your ass." He added and with one swift movement of his hands his neck was open and blood spilled to the ground while Li San closing his eyes he looked to the other side.
Mei'er's whole world had perhaps come to an end there and then while the time seemed to slow at last thunder streaking across the sky it opened it's flood gates and small droplets started to fall while gradually evolving into a very intense downpour.
The rain blended with both Nuwa's tears and her very own yet Li San staring at the corpse in front of him he sighed.
"He's butchered my men and to let him rest in one piece it would be a disgrace and a dishonor to their noble allegiance." Li San said.
"What should we do your Excellency?" His subordinate asked.
"I'd be generous offering his body to the crows that I'd prefer that it was offered to the swines, slowly I'd let their souls contently watch from the Netherworld how well they dismember him while nothing more is left except for the waste that would come of them." Li San replied.
"Yes Your Excellency." His subordinates replied while he turned around and walked away not knowing that the two young girls still surviving were hidden there having witnessed his every move.
Empress Wu was lying in her Chambers when the loud sound of thunder awakened her and forced her up from her sleep.
She was sweating profusely and her breathing intense Wan Mei who had been dozing outside she stood up and walked towards the silk curtain that separated them both.
"Your Highness." She said to her while she picked up a wet fabric and offering it to the Empress she cleaned her eyes.
"What's the matter?" Wan Mei asked.
"I had a very bad dream." Empress Wu replied, "I could see myself treading on a lot of corpses within the woods and while one of them looked up to me and I studied it in detail, I realised that the face was very familiar." She added.
"To whom did it belong to Your Highness?" Wan Mei asked as she slowly picked up one of the Jade cups and poured the Empress some water.
"Zhang Shansheng." Empress Wu replied that she halted in her movements a little bit shocked that her mistress had mentioned that name.
"Come to think of it until now she hasn't yet kept us posted on anything." Wan Mei said.
"I want you to send some men tomorrow and check out how the investigation is going." Empress Wu said.
"Sure Your Highness." Wan Mei replied while the Empress turned to look at the screen on the window which was illuminated by the lightning.
"Such a strong and abrupt storm." She remarked.
"Does Your Highness wish for more blankets?" Wan Mei asked.
"Forget it." Empress Wu replied when the doors to her quarters were opened and Wan'er rushed in immediately until she halted in front of the curtain.
"Reporting to Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head.
"I can tell that you are feeling uneasy and your tone is one that's full of desperation, what's the problem?" Empress Wu asked.
"Bad News Your Highness." Wan Mei replied.
"Tell me what happened?" Empress Wu asked.
"The Silver Fraternity." Wan'er replied a little bit hesitant in her speech.
"What happened to them?" Empress Wu persistently asked.
"Speak up." Wan Mei scolded.
"They have been annihilated Your Highness." Wan'er replied and at once letting go of the cup in her hands Wan Mei stood up beside her mistress.