The palace bells rang softly in the afternoon air. From the grand hall, the King's voice echoed: "Han Zhen! Come to me at once."
But the boy did not answer. Instead, young Han Zhen crouched behind the flowering shrubs in the royal garden, a mischievous smile dancing on his lips. He loved to trouble his father with these little games.
The King's footsteps grew louder as he searched. "Han Zhen, where are you hiding?"
The boy stifled a laugh, pressing his hand against his mouth. He peeked through the leaves, watching his father's puzzled expression. For Han Zhen, this was not disobedience — it was play, a way to feel close to the man who carried the weight of the throne.
Finally, unable to resist, Han Zhen leapt out from the bushes. "Father! I was here all along!"
The King sighed, half‑stern, half‑amused. "One day, my son, these games will end. But for now… let me enjoy your laughter."
And in that moment, the palace was filled not with duty or sorrow, but with the simple joy of a father and son.
From the moment Han Zhen was born, the King cherished him above all else. There was nothing in the world equal to Han Zhen in his father's eyes.
The boy would often play in his father's lap, laughing freely, while the King held him close. For the King, these moments were treasures greater than the throne itself.
He gave Han Zhen his true nature — kindness, devotion, and love. From birth until his final breath, the King's heart belonged entirely to his son.
In every act of justice, in every deed of philanthropy, the King always saw Han Zhen. To him, his son was the living reminder that kindness was never wasted.
The King believed: "If we give to those in need, the gods will bless us with more, so that we may give again."
This faith shaped his devotion. From Han Zhen's birth until the King's final breath, every gift, every mercy, every act of compassion was offered with his son in mind — as if the boy himself were the embodiment of divine grace.
Suddenly, King Han Zhen awoke from his dream. The laughter in the garden, the warmth of his father's embrace — all of it vanished like mist. They were only memories now, for his father, King Han Wu, was no longer among the living.
The wound of loss grew fresh again, bleeding inside his heart. Han Zhen felt the weight of grief pressing upon him, heavier than any crown.
Seeing her husband drowning in sorrow, the Queen moved closer. She placed her hand gently upon him, her voice trembling yet firm: "Do not let grief consume you, my King. Your father's spirit lives in you. His kindness, his devotion — they are yours to carry forward."
Han Zhen closed his eyes, torn between pain and duty. The dream was gone, but its echo remained, guiding him toward the path his father had left behind.
King Han Zhen turned his gaze toward Queen Mei Lian. Her presence stirred memories of the day they first met — a meeting unlike any tale of lovers. It was not warmth that filled the air, but the sharp edge of rivalry.
For Mei Lian was not born of his land. She came from the kingdom that once stood as the fiercest enemy of Han Wu's Dragon Fire Kingdom. Their union had begun in shadows of distrust, as if two enemies had been forced to share the same path.
But before that union, Mei Lian had endured a cruel betrayal. On her wedding day, the man she loved abandoned her, leaving her to stand like a lifeless figure before the world. Her father, filled with scorn, taunted her: "You have shamed this empire. Leave my sight and never return."
Broken and cast aside, Mei Lian seemed destined for despair. Yet in that moment, a man stepped forward, took her trembling hand, and declared: "I will marry her."
That man was Han Zhen. And from that vow, born not of romance but of defiance, their story began.
Then suddenly, Advisor Chen Rong entered the royal chamber. He bowed deeply before both the King and Queen, his armor gleaming under the torchlight.
"Your Majesty," he said, his voice heavy with urgency, "the astrologers have arrived. They await your command."
The King's eyes lingered in silence for a moment, weighed down by sorrow. Finally, he spoke in a low tone: "Hmm… I will arrive in some time. You may go."
Chen Rong bowed once more, his head lowered in respect, and quietly withdrew from the chamber, leaving behind an air of anticipation.
The Queen's voice broke the silence, steady yet filled with resolve. "So now, we shall learn the truth about Bai Zhen from these astrologers. Whether the answers are clear or clouded, some knowledge we will surely gain."
The King lowered his gaze, his thoughts troubled. Doubt gnawed at him — perhaps the astrologers will reveal nothing, perhaps only riddles. Yet deep inside, he knew that even a fragment of truth could guide him.
The Queen tightened her grip on his hand, her eyes unwavering. "Do not worry, my King. Even shadows carry signs. Let us listen, for destiny speaks through them."
The chamber grew tense, anticipation hanging in the air. The astrologers' arrival promised revelation — and perhaps the first step toward Bai Zhen.
part :2 The courtroom with the astrologers
The grand courtroom was lit with hundreds of torches, their flames flickering like restless spirits. King Han Zhen entered slowly, Queen Mei Lian by his side. The nobles and generals bowed, and silence fell across the chamber.
At the center stood the astrologers, robed in deep blue, their eyes shadowed by the mysteries of the stars. They bowed low before the throne.
"Your Majesty," the chief astrologer spoke, his voice echoing like thunder, "we have searched deeper into the heavens. We had never heard the name Bai Zhen before, but last night, as we read the ancient holy books, a name appeared before us — Bai Zhen."
The astrologer's voice trembled with awe. "Bai Zhen is the holiest and purest spirit. Whoever finds him shall win dominion over the earth. He carries knowledge greater than any living soul, wisdom beyond the reach of kings and sages. He is destined to change the fate of kingdoms."
The court gasped, whispers rising like waves. The King's heart pounded, torn between fear and hope, while Queen Mei Lian's eyes glimmered with the weight of destiny.
The King sat in deep confusion, his thoughts tangled like shadows. "Before his death, my father told me: I will find the way to reach him. He said the way lies where my mother is. So tell me — where is my mother?"
Suddenly, his eyes widened, and a spark of clarity lit his face. "Ah! Where is my mother? I understand now… I have found it!" Without hesitation, the King raised his hand and gave a signal to Advisor Chen Rong. "Prepare my horse. I will ride — I must go where destiny calls me."
Chen Rong bowed deeply, understanding the urgency, and hurried out to fulfill his King's command. The chamber echoed with the sound of fate awakening.
King Han Zhen rode forth upon his horse, Advisor Chen Rong by his side. An ambitious smile lit his face — the smile of a man determined to complete his father's last wish, to free his mother's spirit, and to uncover the path to Bai Zhen.
The journey carried them beyond the palace walls, through forests and valleys, until at last they reached a quiet place. There, beneath the shadow of ancient trees, lay the grave of the King's mother.
Han Zhen dismounted slowly, his boots pressing into the earth. His eyes scanned the surroundings — the graves stood solemn, silent, and sacred, as if guarding secrets of destiny.
The King's heart trembled. He whispered softly: "Mother… I have come. Show me the way."
Suddenly, Advisor Chen Rong slipped as he stepped near the Queen Mother's Xiu Mei grave. He fell hard against the stone, and with a sharp crack, a hidden mechanism was triggered.
The stand bearing the Queen's name shifted, grinding against the earth. Slowly, the grave opened, revealing a passage — a secret room long concealed beneath the tomb.
The King's eyes widened in awe. His father's words echoed in his mind: "The clue to Bai Zhen lies near your mother."
Now he understood. The grave was not only a resting place, but a gateway. Within its depths lay the path to Bai Zhen — the holiest spirit, the destiny his father had foretold.....