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In a vast continent called Kenryoku, four empires gradually emerged: Great Ryū Empire, Fushichou Empire, Dāku Empire, and Tora Empire. Great Ryū, ruled by the Yamato Imperial Clan, is the oldest and the most powerful empire in the entire continent, controlling more than a million of skilled soldiers.

Its expansive and fertile land is divided into four large cities: Kita, Azuma, Nishi, and Minami. Each city is governed by the Four Great Literary Clans and guarded by the Four Great Military Clans.

|Four Great Literary Clans: Akishino Clan, Hitachi Clan, Mikasa Clan, and Takamado Clan.|

|Four Great Military Clans: Akamatsu Clan, Kyōgoku Clan, Yamana Clan, and Shimazu Clan.|

The Great Imperial Palace is located at the center of the four cities. It is laid out in a rectangle, measuring one thousand meters in length and width. A large wall which resembles the Great Wall of China surrounded the entire land of Great Ryū, protecting all of the citizens from any invaders.

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Second Year of Emperor Hyosuke Yamato's Reign- The 70th Ruler of Great Ryū

Outside the grand and majestic throne hall, where the emperor makes his judicial and legislative decisions, a woman whose beauty could drive thousands of men to distraction and bring about the downfall of an empire is kneeling on the ground whilst weeping bitterly.

She was dressed in rags and tatters yet her beauty could not be repudiated by anyone. Her name is Ainu Kyōgoku, the current empress of Great Ryū.

On her left side, a disheveled yet handsome young man is kowtowing persistently. "Your Majesty, please investigate this matter once again! The Empress is innocent!" Ainu snapped her head towards the said man as boundless tears continued to flow from her eyes. Akihito Yamato, the second prince and the only sibling of the emperor, he's the only one besides her family who continued to believe and fight for her.

Behind her, dozens of dead bodies were sprawled as their blood covered the ground beneath them. They were all her most trusted and loyal servants but now... they're all gone. 'What did we do to deserve all of this?! Why do we have to pay for a crime we did not even committed?!'

Ainu gripped the hem of her shabby dress as anger rose inside her uncontrollably. 'This is all that woman's fault!' She abruptly looked up and eyed the couple in front of her with deep resentment. 'You will pay for this a hundred-fold, Akira Midori!' But the shameless woman did not even spare Ainu a glance as she's busy flirting with the Emperor.

Akira Midori was once a lowly palace servant whom Hyosuke had taken as his concubine before his marriage with Ainu Kyōgoku. She was granted a noble rank and became a sokushitsu or a secondary wife of the emperor.

Unexpectedly, she was poisoned and eventually lost the child she's carrying a week ago during her birthday. Turns out, the incense sent by the empress was actually poisonous. But… no one knew that it was all planned out by Akira herself just to completely annihilate the empress.

Hyosuke Yamato stood at the center whilst ignoring Akira's advances. His perfectly chiseled features made him look like a god and despite the gruesome scene before him, his face remained cold and indifferent.

When Ainu Kyōgoku slowly stand up whilst groaning in pain, the crowd gasp in utter disbelief and even the emperor's facade faltered. Her white skirt is drenched with blood. 'The empress is pregnant with the emperor's child!'

Ainu looked down and upon seeing the blood in her skirt, her vision blurred and her body swayed as she slowly lost her consciousness. Fortunately, Prince Akihito was able to catch her on time before her weakened body hit the ground. Hyosuke's face darkened as he gripped his knuckles tightly in anger. "What are you all waiting for?! Call the Imperial Physician!"

Akira's face turned deathly pale. 'No, the empress shouldn't be pregnant. What will I do now?!' Hyosuke approached the second prince who was carrying the unconscious empress. He took Ainu and carried her towards his chamber where the Imperial Physician and half a dozen of nurses are already waiting.

Hyosuke can clearly feel the constricting pain in his chest as a pang of guilt crept into his heart.

When Hyosuke arrived at his chamber, he carefully put Ainu on the bed before turning his head to the imperial physician and nurses. "Save the empress and our child. If you can't, then, all of you will be beheaded. Do you all understand?!" His commanding voice echoed all throughout the room making everyone tremble in fear but they all nodded nonetheless. They have to save the empress and the future heir or else they will die together with their family.