THE ROYAL NEW YEAR HUNT

POV: PRINCE LIU XIE- LORD OF THE CRANNIES

LOCATION: THE ROYAL PALACE - THE ROYAL HUNTING GROUNDS

TIME: THE MORNING OF THE NEW YEAR

You wake that morning to the feeling of pouring water on your face and you stand up immediately only to see the angry face of your head maid.

"What is the meaning of this su min? Have you no respect for your prince?" You ask in anger

"A prince who demeans himself before mere commoners has no use for respect." She replies in an equally angry voice

Your anger softens into a smile

"Do not tell me you are still angry about the rice bun eating contest?"

"You went into a competition made for fat gluttonous men my prince and you expect me not to be angry?" She cries

"Hey I won six hundred silver coins from that contest"

"Which you gave to Shang as a thank you helping you win with his prediction." She counters hotly

"I still have the five thousand silver coins I won from the wrestling contest you know." You say defensively

"And I do not disapprove of your gambling." She says calmly and then her voice boiled over in anger

"What I disapprove of is watching my prince walk up to a podium looking like a drunk, obese man and babbling complete and utter nonsense. What under the heavens did you mean by telling them to kill people?"

"I said that?" You ask in confusion

"Yes and I was so embarrassed that if I were in better shape, I would have dragged you of that podium myself."

"Thanks heavens you were not in a good shape yesterday then." You reply calmly

"Now you want to tell why you decided to pour cold water on me?"

"The son of heaven has demanded your presence." She says finally

Her words makes the terrible hangover from the wine and the terrible belly ache from the food to hit you with the force of a fully loaded, maximum speed, moving train and you collapse to your knees.

"Can you please tell him I am sick?" You plead

"You think I have not tried that?" She counters

"I have tried every single excuse under the sun but he is having none of it. The emperor DEMANDS your presence my prince. Do not make it harder on your self by keeping him waiting."

"I take it you have prepared something special?" You ask

"The emperor himself wishes to see you what is more special than that?"

You slowly go into the bathroom and sink in to the warm water that Su Min had prepared for you. Your mind races over the possibly reasons why the emperor would want to see you and for the first time in your entire two lives you come up blank.

As though reading your thoughts the dragon on your hand begins to vibrate and you fecth the red letter which was in your blue garment. It reads

Well I must say professor of all the people I expected to have an inner party animal you were by far beneath the least. How was your outing yesterday? Was it fun for you? Personally, watching you gallivanting around eating and drinking sweets like a child was an absolute waste of time yet fun to watch.

However like all good things the time for vacation is over and it is time for serious business.

The emperor himself has demanded your presence for the new year royal hunt .

YOUR MISSION (Should you choose to accept it) is to Impress all political factions in louyang whether for good or ill

REWARD: Favour of the emperor, imperial recognition and a little surprise pack you will find very helpful later on

As always professor if you fail this mission you die a painful death and I will see to it that you suffer much more in the after life. Keep in mind this is the beginning of a chain link quests that will eventually draw you and all of china in the yellow rebellion. Pay attention to the smallest detail professor you never know when will need them. You are smart are you not? Save the Han dynasty

GOOD LUCK PROFESSOR

You lean back into the water and the only thought running through your head is

This is troublesome.

Eventually you finish taking your bath and walk towards the clothes that Su Min had prepared for you but you find that it will not be functional given the the situation. This makes you to send orders for Su Min who comes rushing to you with a long wooden box.

"Forgive my tardiness my prince"

"Have you found out why my father sent for me?" You ask mainly because you are interested in what she has to say

She nods fiercely

"The emperor has sent for his two sons, his note worthy generals He Jin, Hanfu Song, Zhu Jun and four others, his personal eunuchs Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong and over a thirty guards to accompany him. The suspicion thing is that he did not invite the empress or the rest of the eunuchs." She explains

"All this along with the time of the year, tells me that the king plans to go on a royal new year hunt"

"Well if he is going to a new year hunt then why are giving me silk to wear?" You ask gently

"You do not sound surprised my prince." She narrows her eyes in suspicion

"Do you think because I gave you the lin kwei that I stopped looking for ways to gain information?" You ask in a gentle voice

"How are lin kwei soldiers looking?"

"Scorpions 1-20 are battle fit and ready and scorpions 21-50 are eager, willing and getting there." She says with pride

"However I can not really speak with certainty as they have not been in combat situation before."

"Do you mind telling me why you call them scorpions?" You query as you could hardly understand the term.

"A mole rat once walked in to our training ground chasing a prey. Normally we would have killed the rat and its prey and be done with it but we became interested when the prey a scorpion, decided to fight back. The rat was bigger and stronger than the scorpion but the scorpion was far more nimble and far more clever. Eventually the scorpion was able to paralyse the rat and it used it's deadly sting to kill it in one strike. From that day on all the children began to compare themselves to that scorpion. Fast cunning and able to take down any target in a single strike." She explains

"Do you have a mission for them?"

You nod

"As far as uncle He Jin and my brother are coming along I won't take my safety lightly."

You say as you begin to put on the white armor she has brought.

"Not to mention that you are already on bad terms with the two attendants." She adds às she helps you with the armor

"Exactly, so can your scorpions protect me?" You ask

"We will kill or die for you my prince ." She replies with venom in her voice

"Kill or die"