3 The Massacre.

"I must protect the palace," General Song said.

"No! You have to protect the princess General Song and escort her out of this palace safely." Shoiming said.

"Where is my mother?"

"Where is  she? Princess Xiao Ai shouted and gripped Shoiming's arms in anger.

"She….she committed suicide" Shoiming replied and lowered her head in tears.

"She didn't want to die in the hands of the Song dynasty's soldiers." Shoiming added.

Princess Xiao Ai immediately loosened her grip on Shoiming.

"My…..my mother" Princess Xiao Ai frantically looks around as though she is losing her mind.

"I have to go and help my mother.I know she needs my help" Her eyes redened as tears flowed freely.

"No! You can't go.You have to get out of the palace immediately.The Empress died to save you.You shouldn't let her sacrifice for you go in vain and neither can I" Shoiming held Princess Xiao Ai's hands tightly.

Princess Xiao Ai stopped resisting and looked into Shoiming's eyes.She came to her senses and realised the situation that she is in.Even if she went to her mother's room,there was nothing she could do.

She went to her knees and cried even more.

"Your Royal Highness,I think it would be better for us to leave here quickly" General Song said.

"Your Royal Highness please we really need to leave now!" Bai Xi shouted at Princess Xiao Ai.

"The Falcon,now that the Emperor is dead and the edict is stamped I think we should talk about how we will get our  reward." Prime Minister Zhang said, smiling and looking at the other Ministers.

The Falcon laughed for a while leaving Prime Minister Zhang and the other four Ministers baffled.

"Why are you laughing? Prime Minister Zhang frowned and asked curiously.

"Don't worry,I will surely give you Ministers your rewards" The Falcon said in a mild yet cunning tone.

Prime Minister Zhang smiled and nodded his head happily.

"Prime Minister Zhang, if a human being jumps inside a sea full of sharks,what do you think will happen to him? The Falcon asked, slowly walking towards Prime Minister Zhang with his sword.

Prime Minister Zhang's smile disappeared quickly.Ofcourse he knew the answer to The Falcon's question but he was too afraid to answer.``What does this man mean by asking me such a question?" Prime Minister Zhang thought.

"You have already stained yourself with the blood of your own people.You destroyed your country for your own benefits.What is the guarantee that you won't betray me as well?" The Falcon asked, walking around Prime Minister Zhang.

Prime Minister Zhang is now trembling in fear and sweating profusely.The other Ministers understood what The Falcon said but they just couldn't escape from the room as The Falcon's soldiers were staring at them with their swords as if they were waiting for an order to kill.

"Father….. General Song,we need to check on Father." Princess Xiao Ai said as she abruptly stood up.

"Your Royal Highness,a rebellion has taken place and we can't expect the Emperor to be alive but let's go and check." General Song, Shoiming,Princess Xiao Ai,Bai Xi and A'fen go to the Emperor's pavilion.

"Kill them all!" The Falcon said coldly and walked outside the room.

"You are…." Prime minister Zhang's head fell on the floor before he could complete his statement.

The next thing that could be heard in the room were screams and sounds of swords.The Falcon looked back to see the dead bodies.He laughed and took his bow and arrow.He lights up the tip of the arrow with fire and shoots it to the sky to send a signal.

"General Song, what is that?" Princess Xiao Ai said, pointing to the lighted arrow in the sky.

"Signal of reinforcement." General Song stared at the sky in horror.

"Your Royal Highness,we must leave immediately.The palace will be under heavy attack soon." General Song said.

" But Father….." Princess Xiao Ai's eyes widened when she saw her father's pavilion from afar covered with blood stains.

"That is Princess Xiao Ai and her subordinates.Do not let them escape or else The Falcon won't spare us." Marshal Feng said in a hoarse voice pointing to A'fen from the palace gate.

"Yes master!" The soldiers chorused and charged towards Princess Xiao Ai.

"Let's go now!" General Song held Princess Xiao Ai by her hands and ran directly towards the East gate while Shoiming,Bai Xi and A'fen followed

Marshal Feng aimed his arrow at A'fen,thinking she is the Princess because she is actually wearing Princess Xiao Ai's Royal robe.

He fired the arrow straight at A'fen's neck.

"The Princess of Western Xia is dead! Kill the rest of them and make sure no one escapes." Marshal Feng said loudly to boost the morale of the soldiers.

Marshal Feng is known to be one of the three best archers in Song dynasty.Killing someone on the run is a piece of cake for him.

"A'fen!" Princess Xiao Ai shouted and looked back and saw A'fen lying dead on the floor.

"We can't afford to stop now princess.We must hurry." General Song shouted at Princess Xiao Ai.

Princess Xiao Ai realised she had earlier told A'fen  to change into her robe so she could easily sneak out of her room.She blames herself for A'fen's death.

"Princess!" General Song shouted again and held Princess Xiao Ai by her hand to the East gate with Shoiming and Bai Xi.

"Falcon,Princess Xiao Ai is dead.I shot her on the neck myself." Marshal Feng bowed and reported to the Falcon.

The soldiers brought A'fen's body in front of the Falcon.He frowned and stared at the body for a while.

"Are you sure this is Princess Xiao Ai?" The Falcon asked suspiciously.

"Yes,Falcon.She is wearing the Royal robe." Marshal Feng replied.

"Okay.Burn the palace and make sure no one survives.If it is revealed to Emperor Taizu what we did,our generation won't survive his wrath." The Falcon said and sat on his horse.

" I am heading to the palace now,finish everything quickly and return to Bianjing." The Falcon left.

" Noted, Falcon." Marshal Feng bowed again." Burn every nook and cranny of this palace and make sure no one survives".

" Yes Marshal Feng".The soldiers chorused and immediately started burning the palace.