84 84. Shu Ya getting started

"Uhm?" She stared at him bewildered. "Godfather?"

He looked at her beggingly as he held her hands. "I know you are now Lady Ying. And you have Minister Ying as your family, Your Godmother will kill me if you forget about us. I might not be as powerful as Lord Ying, but I have a seriously solid background. You won't give up on us, huh?"

They all stopped in movement and looked at him flabbergasted. Even his own son felt ashamed by his words.

He stood up and pushed his own father away from still blinking girl that had no idea what is going on. "Father... Stop it right there. Seriously."

Lord Ka childishly stared at his own son. "I'm doing it for your mother."

"Yeah, right. Who are you trying to lie? You got used to having her in your life, just like we all do. Now that Minister Ying proclaimed her his own family, you got scared. Just admit it." Qiang Ka smiled at his own father evilly.

Suddenly a chuckle could be heard behind his back. He turned around and saw two big eyes staring at him filled with shine. She held Qiang Ka's hand and looked at her godfather.

"I am already part of your family. No matter what, I'm your goddaughter. Or will that change in future?"

Lord Ka shook his head and smiled brightly. "Then I can sleep better tonight."

Qiang Ka chuckled but saw the serious expression on Minister Ying's face. "Minister Ying. What is really going on?"

"Nothing really big. You know I have four sons." Minister Ying sighed as he spoke.

"Yes, two twins. The younger twin pair are at the same academy as I am." Qiang Ka was curious about Lord Ying's reasons.

"Well. I had no girls in the family. My father had only one girl, her aunt. And non of my brothers had girls. So in the whole family, there is only my sister as the only direct female of our bloodline." He sighed as he explained.

"My... I mean that the family has few female members. It is not like I'm the only one that is female from that line." She felt uncomfortable every time someone is using that woman's name to get closer to her. It's not this time as well, right?

Minister Ying almost read her thoughts and shook his head. "Lady Hong spoke so much about you that my mother and grandmother, my sister and my own wife can't wait yo meet you. They are amazed by all the things you did so far, while you are just this young. I don't want to be rude. Please forgive me for what I'll say."

Shu Ya could see his face becoming cold as he spoke but she stood up and respectfully bowed. "Sorry, child. But I really never liked Bai Zhenzhen. I have no idea why. She was an amazing healer. Beautiful like a fairy, but... I just can't explain it. She gave me a creepy feeling whenever I met her. I seriously have no idea why. There are so many people that adored her, but honestly, I always found her strange, in a bad way."

Shu Ya became silent. By the things she heard about her own mother and by the bits of information, she knew that Bai Zhenzhen was not a simple cute woman like everyone thought.

"Everyone has his own preference. I don't know her. Some people loved her from deep of their hearts. Some hated her. There are so many controversial stories about her, that I just can't make a picture who she really was. And I am not trying. I'm grateful to her for giving me life. The more I learn about her, the less I wish to know. I just want yo keep her in my memories as a mother. About everything else, we can talk once I get a bit better and get to the capital." She smiled at him and he calmed down.

Wen Delun became serious. It seems he must find more information. That woman was so beautiful, good and always happy. On the other hand, this child is the clearly complete opposite.

Why does he have a feeling he met someone who had similar aura? But who?

As they spoke suddenly Mingyu came inside and bowed politely. "Lady Ying, he is here... No. They are all here."

Shu Ya jumped off her chair in wonder. "Already? How is that possible?"

She didn't expect them for another few days.

"Godfather, granduncle let's go. I wanna see this. And of course, I need you to pay for the rice." She winked at the two of them and they started laughing.

As they went out Shu Ya saw the trader and smiled brightly at him. "You arrived quite fast. Amazing."

He bowed deeply. "Congratulations, Lady Ying. Ying Daren probably had a reason for asking me for such amounts of food."

Shu Ya rose her eyes up to the sky and pointed at heavy grey clouds that just stood there, unmovable. "I fear this winter won't be simple. I was appointed to take care of a few things in the name of the Emperor. The Empire is thankful for your quick response. Let's go to storages."

While she was talking to the trader, Minister Ying spoke yo General Shen. "The dormitories are almost finished. We took care that the military camp is next yo the city so it will be easier for you to protect it. And now let me introduce you to Ying Daren. She is maybe just a child, but Emperor himself appointed her this position. Do not be disrespectful. She is smart."

General Shen listened quietly and nodded. He already got reports about Lady Ying and knew that her position is not something he should doubt.

He looked at the serious child that had a list of stuff that this man brought with him and with a steady voice made orders. Even his children were in the academy and were serious for their age, so he accepted this quite fast.

"Lady Ying, this us General Shen Huang." Minister Ying introduced a man in armour.

General Shen bowed and gave a report. "I got a message from the palace to hurry up and report to Lady Ying as soon as possible. All soldiers from the other camp came with me. We brought all the food that we could. My report."

He gave her scroll and she calmly opened it and started reading. Her face became darker by the minute. "Your base had only this little food? It's impossible, by my reports you should have gotten ten times the amount. What happened? Minister Ying, please read this."

She gave the scroll to Minister Ying while she looked at the calm General. It seems he expected it. "How long is army so poorly supplied?"

"Five years." His answer was short but meant a lot. If he was held on short supply, then others as well?

She turned her face to Lord Ka and he nodded. "I'll send reports to the palace. Don't worry. If I don't get an answer, I'll travel myself to the capital. This is not a small matter."

The border bases were the most important points as protection against attackers. If they were too weak to fight, then it meant someone is working really hard to weaken the power of their Empire.

General Shen listened to her orders calmly and just silently followed her to the town where she ordered the trader to do all he could to send food to the other bases.

Looking at her quick decisions he suddenly wanted to protect her. Strange, she was just a child that got her naming not long ago, but her aura was strange. Almost like a Commander that needed to listen, no matter what.

Her fire clothes and sweet voice were almost just imagination. In his eyes, she was almost...

He snapped out his thoughts and paled. Such thoughts he shouldn't have. It's too dangerous. Way too dangerous.

At the same time, Shu Ya stood in mid of storage and made decisions. The trader had brought her not only rice. Dried vegetables that she ordered a month ago to be prepared.

Looking at storage that was filled to the brim, her face shone in happiness. "We can feed the base, the city, and even the tribes for at least one year. Let's hope we don't have to."

She looked at General Shen and pointed at the storage. "This place needs to be protected no matter what. Anyone who nears this place should be killed. No excuses."

She turned her head towards the City Lord and spoke respectfully. "From today on, there will be no more celebrations and gatherings. I am proclaiming the police hour. Anyone who comes to the city will be inspected. In two days General will go from home to home and check safety measures in case of fire."

"Fire?" City Lord suddenly paled.

Shu Ya smirked. "Yes. Fire. I don't want any excuses about big city fire where our supplies suddenly burn down and we all starve. Who doesn't let us in, General and his soldiers will enter by force? All people that officially live in the city must be probably signed in the city book. All others need to prove their background and cause of staying. All travellers will be sent away by tomorrow. No exceptions. The fate of the city will be closed and only the people LIVING in the city can enter. Before leaving and before entering they will be searched."

She was pointing at the walls and wanted to say more when City Lord angrily shouted. "Who gave you permission to make such a decision. I know that you became Ying Daren, but even you can't make such a decision."

She took out her clothes onyx seal and showed it to him. "My words are in the name of the Emperor. From today all border cities will do the same. Preparation will be made as if we are in mid of war. But this time, we fight winter, hunger and stupidity."

He shook as he saw the onyx seal in her hands. He didn't get report she had it. But looking at the calm expressions of people behind her, he knew he was doomed. And not only him.

He looked at his servant and motioned to go away, but General Shen just smirked. "My soldiers with Lord Ka and Minister Ying are already on their way while we are talking."

Shu Ya already made the decision even before entering the town. Bai family chose to help out and went with soldiers as well from house to house. Soon huge amounts of people were standing in front of Shu Ya and yelling.

She sat on the chair and opened the book. "Let's start. Family An..."

General pointed at a group of people that froze and let soldiers push them in front. Everyone became silent, as they wanted to hear what will happen.

"Family Ain has six sons, seven wife's, seventeen concubines, thirteen daughters and fifty four servants. The main income is trade. My people found out that two of your houses need to be repaired before winter and are in it that already. Your fireplace was situated on the right spot and there is no problem with fire. You may go home." She crossed her name from her list. "Next. Family Aislin..."

The Elder Ain blinked at her in wonder and saw soldier smiling at him. "We repaired the structure of your homes in case of heavy winter. If there is lots of snow, take it down."

He gave him a few more instructions and sent them back home. When he entered his yard he got a report from servants that soldiers didn't enter private rooms and just repaired a few dormitories where his concubines were living.

One family after others were checked and soon strange inconsistencies started appearing. She looked up and saw a young man coming forward with a strange smile on his face.

So here you are...