Chapter Two

Qinshen is a small kingdom. It may be small in area but its the most prosperous kingdom. With Yu Ring as the Emperor and the Yu He as the Crown Prince ,the kingdom was blooming in all fields, starting from wealth, social living of people to the security and powerful army. Qinshen had good friendship with its neighbouring kingdoms as well. Qinshen was surrounded by kingdom of Taijing in the west, Xianghua kingdom in the east, Zhaoshu in the north and, LiaoShu mountain and the Sea of BeiZhu in the south.

Taijing and Xianghua were in good terms with Qinshen and had very healthy trading and political alliance. But the ties with Zhaoshu were severed ages ago. Taijing was very advanced in the field of poisons and medications.

Xianghua was the mostly a natural area. It had the best agricultural advancement and its forests were a heavenly abode for magical beasts and spirits.

Qinshen was advanced in terms of education and cultivation techniques.

So these three kingdoms were good at exchanging services and goods among one another. Cultivators came to Qinshen for practice. Qinshen lacked good soil hence depended on Xianghua. Taijing also depended on Xianghua for supplies of rare medicinal herbs and plants. These three kingdoms were in harmony and their interactions made it seem as it these were on big kingdom and not three different. Yu Rong of Qinshen, Hu Zhen of Taijing and Gu Lin of the Xianghua were sworn brothers.

Zhaoshu was the largest kingdom and its area was greater than that of Taijing, Xianghua and Qinshen taken together. So the ancestors of these three kingdoms had pledged to assist one another at the time of threat or jeopardy.

CaoYi immediately dashed out of the royal study with a letter with a seal of Qinshen and made his way to the mystic birds in the palace. Mystic birds were used as a means of transportation and communication. Immediately CaoYi sent a messenger with the letter to LiaoShu mountains.

Meanwhile, Yu Long, on seeing his father rush to his study in distress, knew some kind of emergency had dropped in. He had a bad premonition.

"Royal Father looked stress." Yu Long said looking at his Mother Empress in anxiety.

Lin Na didn't respond. She stared quietly at her porcelain cup half-full with tea.

"That scroll had ZhaoShu's seal on it. Is it war, Brother Long?" Yu Lin questioned after seeing her family disturbed after that letter arrived.

"Please don't make presumptions. Let us retire for the day." Lin Na finally spoke. Her voice hinted vexation.

Yu Long and Yu Lin bowed and moved to their quarters. Yu Lin was scared at sudden change in the mood of her family members. So she didn't go to her quarters instead made way to meet her Brother Long. She ran to grab Yu Long's sleeves. Yu Long was taken aback by this surprise attack of her sister. He looked back to see Yu Lin shuddering. He couldn't help but take her in his arms and patted her head to calm her down.

"Nothing will happen. Your Brother Long will always protect you no matter what. For now how about I play you a song on my Flute."

She politely nodded. Yu Long took her to her quarters and played his favourite music piece to calm her down. Slowly her eyes started drooping, she yawned twice and soon fell asleep. Yu Long had poured his magic into this piece which acted like hypnosis.

Yu Long also couldn't shake off the idea of something bad was going to happen.

Next morning, Yu Lin again came to wake her brother up. This time she was smiling. "Brother Long, Elder brother He has come. We have to go and greet him. Please hurry up and get ready."

Yu Long lazily got off his bed and proceeded to the bath chambers and sooner got ready in a sober yellow silk with silver belt.

Yu Lin and Yu Long hurried to meet their elder brother, the Crown Prince Yu He. But before they could meet their brother they were stopped by CaoYi. "Greetings Royal Highnesses, proceeding further is strictly prohibited for anyone. These are strict instructions given by your father, His Majesty."

"CaoYi, has Brother He already arrived? Can we not see him?" Yu Long said creasing his brows, showing distress and concern.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Crown Prince has arrived safely and is currently in a meeting with your father. You can meet him when he summons you of course. Currently, Qinshen needs his attention."

Both the siblings nodded in agreement.

"Can I ask what was such an emergency? Even yesterday Royal Father left us in mid of conversation. He appeared in stress. Exactly what is happening, Chief Eunuch."

Chief Eunuch on seeing the concerned beautiful glowing eyes of Yu Long, he couldn't help but look away. He wanted to alleviate his pain and distress but he was instructed by His Majesty himself that this matter should not be told to anyone by anyone but himself.

"I am sorry, Your Majesty. I cannot answer your question even if I want to."

Chief eunuch said bowing his head with respect.

Yu Long was disappointed and upset. He was left out on such an important discussion. Yu Long knew that one person must definitely be aware of what was going on in the palace and specially the emperor. Yu Long asked Yu Lin to patiently wait in her bed chambers till she is summoned. Once Yu Lin made way to her quarters. Yu Long made way to meet his Mother Empress.

Seeing Yu Long early in the morning, Lin Na knew at once that her son was troubled by what was happening. Without making a delay she welcomed him and asked her personal maids to prepare a warm meal for both of them. She didn't ask him. Instead she told him what he wanted to hear.

"Zhaoshu is a very powerful kingdom. Taijing emperor was forced into submission yesterday. Hu Zhen wedded his youngest daughter into the Royal family of ZhaoShu to save his crown. Xianghua and Qinshen have received warning letters. If we do not submit, we will have war. Xianghua has no successor. Gu Lin has no other option but seek our help. I can do anything but give up my daughter,Long'Er. She isn't even thirteen. She is a child."

Lin Na wasn't able to control her dejection. She broke down into tears. Yu Long seeing his mother in low spirits couldn't help but hold onto his mother's hands showing empathy.

"ZhaoShu has grown a lot powerful. It is said that Zhang XinYi has taken up the throne. All he is doing is seeking vengeance. XinYi is too strong for any of us to face. He can not be stopped easily. I am worried what will happen if your father faces him in a war. I as the Empress can not be selfish and need to think for my people. But this uncertainty in the outcomes is making me worry about Qinshen and Xianghua."

Zhang XinYi was only seventeen when he ascended the throne. He became the most brutal king this world has ever seen. He gets whatever he wants. In two years he expanded his kingdom, advanced the forces of his nation and made it more prosperous. But he has never shown mercy. If anyone dares to go against he is skinned alive, or burned alive, or beheaded in public. He is ruthless. He treats war prisoners even worse. It is said dying is better than suffering a day in their prison.

Yu Long couldn't help but shiver in fear and trepidation. He was also worried.

During this time, in a faraway land.

"Your Majesty, your trusted servant will definitely gift you Xianghua emperor's head in upcoming week." said a silver haired man dressed in armour all ready for war.

"Don't disappoint me."

The armoured man bowed and left the court.

"Finally I will cut the wings of these rebels and crush them so they can never rise again."

Then the hall was echoed with villainous, bloodthirsty laughter.