Mother

Four days later. The Imperial Jin City.

It was a cold night.

The winds howled a ghostly tune. The darkness was waning, making way for the winter sun. Critters cried right and left.

Through a hidden route only known by a few select of the inner courts, came a rider in all black. This figure's coat twirled about in the breeze, and its form merged with the night's darkness.

The route was covered in overgrowths. It was not a path used often.

The giant black horse stormed by, tearing at vines and twisted twigs. The hidden path gave way to a long, winding dark tunnel. The many passages within led to various parts of the glorious city of gold. This rider only had one destination in mind.

The rider slowed the horse to a jog and took a single lit torch off the browned, damp walls. In a certain passage, a drop of condensation hitting the stony earth, echoed. The tunnel was dark. The torch had been left by the rider's counterpart. Or rather, their superior's men. They clicked their leather boots against the horse's bulky sides to move a bit faster.

This information needed to reach the rider's superior before it made its way to the general court. It had to.

When the rider could see the end of the tunnel, they came to a stop and came off the beast. The horse was then tied to the iron bars of the tunnel entrance. Someone would come get it later. It neighed in protest but was soothed by the coated rider.

Afterward, this messenger dashed out and merged into the shadows that remained of the night. Dawn was fast approaching. At any moment, more riders would come with this same information.

They needed to hurry. With swift moves, they passed through this hidden area. It was a place full of broken structures and overgrowth. It should have been a grand garden once. There was a small lake not too far away as well. It was frozen solid. Beneath the layer of ice, were bodies and bones of the silenced. Sneaky kills in the politics of royalty.

The rider went on. Through these gardens, through deserted courtyards, over roofs, underneath small bridges.

Forward, this messenger went, trying to out run the sun. This was the inner courtyards of the imperial palace. Jin city was designed with the imperial palace towards the northern and eastern walls which meant the sea was directly behind. The secret route was located at the eastern walls.

This set up was that of a cowardly and foolish emperor who did not want to be surrounded on all sides by peasants and rebels. He was the current ruler's great grandfather. It seemed no one in his dynasty wanted to change. And it also appeared that no one considered a possible attack from the foreign lands. Perhaps the decades of peace had made them go soft.

The rider looked to the clouds above. The times were changing. Whatever form of peace this was that the dynasty reveled in, was gradually coming to an end.

Something was going to shatter through the silence. This rider wondered if it would be this message. Could it be big enough?

They ran forward, nursing all these questions as they skillfully kept away from sight.

After a long and ardous journey of four days and four nights of ceaseless riding, the messenger had arrived at their destination. They stood in front of a grand gate with carved gold tigers as knockers. The tigers seemed so real, and their eyes resembled flames. They seemed to mock this bearer of news.

The rider didn't go through the gates but over the stone walls that surrounded this particular courtyard.

The sun had started to sparkle. Landing over the high walls, the cloaked messenger could see a few maids busying around the courtyard. It was a beautiful space, with Cherry blossom and orchid trees that bloomed even in the winter, small ponds of ice that shimmered brightly and a heavenly scent that permeated the air.

The rider ignored the familiar sights and went directly to the beautiful architecture in the far middle of this estate. The maids saw this figure and even if they didn't see its face, they scurried far.

Finally, the messenger had arrived.

A maid opened the smaller gates to the quarters of the owner of the courtyard and closed them back as the rider went in.

It was quiet.

The rider took off the hood of the black cloak, revealing a heavy braid of dark hair, fair skin and sharp eyes. It was a woman. No. A young girl.

Her bright pink lips were chapped from frost and there were bite marks over them as well. Her expression was that of confusion laced with traces of fear.

"Ruoxi, my dear. "

The clear, crisp voice of a woman came through. Not long after, a royal lady dressed in soft pink fabric, flowers and heavy jade adornments came walking out of the in-house temple. Her hair was held in a grand updo with pearls and gold dangling from it.

On a closer look, one could see how her clothes became taut over her bulging mid section

There was a pleasant smile on her round face and a burning incense stick sat in her snow white hands. The morning sun rays ricochetted off the lady's milk skin, casting a goddess like glow around her.

She walked over to the pedestal in the middle of the great house and dropped the incense stick without care. Then she bowed to the pedastle. Strangely enough, there was no Buddha or ancestral statue sitting in it.

When she lifted her head, Ruoxi shivered.

A Foundation establishment cultivator. One of the higher realms of Qi practice.

"Mother," the rider, Ruoxi said. She lowered her head, showing obedience.

Her mother laughed in a carefree manner and walked over to her shaking daughter. A hand was gently patting over her pregnant belly. "Now, now child. There's no need for such formalities when I am in such good mood! Ha. I believe the work is done?"

Ruoxi kept silent, watching her feet, gritting her teeth.

"My goodness, child. You wouldn't dare come back if you hadn't finished the assignment I gave you, hm?"

"My little assassin!" The woman laughed gently and pulled at her daughters cheek softly so she looked up. The grip on her cheek tightened immediately but Ruoxi dared not show that it hurt.

Her mother hated to see her in pain.

"The prince was killed, mother. B-but not by me. Someone....I don't know who. I-I didn't see. Mother—"

The lady released her grip on the girl's cheek and leaned over so her painted lips brushed the reddening spot. "Calm down, my love."

"You say you have no idea who killed that awful boy?" She asked, her voice a whisper.

Ruoxi shook her head no.

The next thing she saw was white. A heavy slap landed across her cheeks. It was fueled with Qi, slamming her straight into the ground so her bones cracked and the stones underneath broke.

"You vile thing! I give you one job! Kill the damned prince and bring his soul to me. Where's the spirit bottle I gave you? I planned this for months! For my boy. I planned this so my boy would— argh!"

Like a taut rope cut loose, she spiralled. Cursing, ranting and kicking down potted plants. Ruoxi lay on the ground biting her lips, breathing slowly, doing anything but show the pain.

"I gave you one job, my princess. For your little brother! Now the only grandson of the emperor. Aha!"

A sudden change and the woman was laughing again. She threw her head back and giggled so loud the early morning birds a distance away took flight. The maids outside the small gates shivered at the sound.

"My unborn baby is now the only living grandson of the emperor. My husband would be quite hurt that his first son and beloved child of his favorite wife has passed. How sad! I should go offer him comfort once the news reaches his ears. Ha."

Her eyes swiveled and she turned to Ruoxi again in disgust. "You had one job, girl. And you failed. "

She tugged at her collars, shakily smiling.

"Never mind that now. I care not one bit who killed the brat. His soul was what I was after. A pity. I shall have to find another one before my baby is born then."

A smile grew on her lovely face and she walked over to where Ruoxi lay motionless on the ground.

"Oh my dear child, did I hurt you? Are you in pain? Mother is so sorry, my love." The smile disappeared and she instantly began to weep intensely, burrowing her face into the crook of her daughter's neck.

Ruoxi clenched her eyes shut. She raised her hands to pet her mother's hair. It felt so soft.

"No mother, I am fine. When you find the soul you need, command me to get it. I shall not fail you again. "

The royal lady looked up, eyes shining. Anyone who saw her face now would believe her the most beautiful of women and their hearts would itch at her falling tears.

"Thank you, my sweet princess. My little assassin. Aha!"

Far into the city, past the inner, middle and outer courts, the great capital bells rung loud, sharp and clear.

At the dawn of the thirteenth day of the second winter month, it was announced. Prince Qinshan, First grandson of the emperor and son of the Third Prince, had been killed.

The cogs of the game were beginning to spin.