*Part Two: Hidden Enemy Moves*
[Eternal Capital: Middle Ring]
(Falling Dawn Pavilion)
"Has it been done?" asked Yujin one of the followers of the Imperial Advisor.
"Yes, My Lord, it is done, but….", said the soldier who was one of the Imperial guards, Xie Juan.
"But what?" asked Xi Jin, the Imperial Advisor, who was seated with a look of concern.
"My lord, the Crown Prince and Heir of the Prince of Su discovered the hidden portal-link", answered Xie Juan with a slight trembling voice.
Upon hearing this, Xi Jin looked at the weiqi game he was playing with Yujin, and with a rather calm expression, he uttered, "Begin." The guard then nodded his head and exited the room.
"Sir, are you sure?" asked Yujin with a tone of concern and an uneasy expression. "Yes, they have already discovered it, so it's no use hiding anymore", responded Xi Jin as he placed his final weiqi piece on the board winning the game, "You lost."
"Inform our guest he may do whatever he pleases", instructed Xi Jin to Yujin as he sipped his tea.
As the plans of the Imperial Advisor take shape, elsewhere in the palace of the deposed Empress she got an unexpected visitor.
(Yunxi Palace)
(Slumbering Phoenix Hall)
As things unfold and chaos sweeps the Eternal Capital, the empress is quietly sitting in her chambers, doing embroidery. "Your Majesty, you have been knitting this whole time. How about taking a break and going for a walk in the garden?", suggested her attendant, Mingyi, who was concerned about her well-being. As no one has visited the palace of the empress since that day, not the emperor, not even the crown prince.
"No, it's alright", replied Qing Tian as she embroidered.
As she continued, Mingyi left the hall.
"How have you been?" Jing Ke asked as he appeared in front of her. The sudden sound of his voice hit her, and she immediately stopped with the embroidery and looked up at him, "What are you doing here?" she asked in an unwelcoming tone.
"I have come to check up on my older sister, is that so wrong?", said Jing Ke sarcastically, "You're the reason I am here confined", said Qing Tian with anger in her voice, "Me, no you are here because you simply did what you always wanted to do, I merely help push you a little", responded Jing Ke with sinister smile as he walk forward patting her on the shoulder, "You did well, sister", said he softly, "You avenged our father and people for the massacre that was brought upon them by the Imperial Family."
"I hurt my family, my children…", said Qing Tian with a sobbing voice, allowing a sad tone to take over her, "Family? Your family is dead, I am the only one left", replied Jing Ke in a sinister voice, playing to Qing Tian's emotions. As she looked at him with a face that reeked of emotional dependence and need for pity, he smiled and proceeded to walk next to her side.
Suddenly, a streak of lightning flashed and illuminated the room, and the massive lightning arrow shot into the room before Jing Ke could even react strake him. As he shot backwards the lightning started to swirl around him and streaks of lighting binding him by his waist and wrist to the ground. Everything unfolds before Qing Tian eyes, and she looked at her pinned-down brother in shock.
"The emperor arrives!!", announced the Head eunuch, entering the room with Zhi'an.
In shock, Qing Tian turned her head, her eyes meeting directly with Zhi'an's eyes. As Zhi'an walked into the room, Mingyi rushed towards the empress to check if she is okay, "Your majesty?". As she checked, she noticed the emperor had also arrived, "Greeting Your Majesty", said she as she bowed.
"Your Majesty…", said Qing Tian in shock with a trembling voice. Zhi'an looked at her, then at Jing Ke, who was pinned to the ground, "Ahh, my empress", said he as he walked closer and stood still next to her, facing Jing Ke. Jing Ke knew there was no way of escaping but still pleaded with Zhi'an to spare Qing Tian, knowing full well the Imperial court would want to kill her,
"Guards arrest him and take him away!" ordered Zhi'an.
"Don't do anything to her!"
"She didn't do anything wrong; it's all my fault!"
Shouted Jing Ke as he was being dragged away by the Imperial guards.
"All of you leave us", said Zhi'an, ordering everyone in the room to leave. As everyone left, Zhi'an gently hugged Qing Tian, "Are you okay?", he asked softly, and she silently nodded her head. He took her to sit and poured her a cup of tea, "Here, drink some, it's good for the nerves", said he as he smiled in a warm voice.
She took the cup and drank a little bit of the tea, "Can you spare him? I have lost to many of them", asked Qing Tian as she looked Zhi'an in the eyes, "Okay", responded he, but she knew by the look in his eyes he only said that to calm her and comfort her because what Jing Ke has done is inexcusable.
At that moment the Supreme Commander of the Imperial guards, Yuan Changjian, entered the room and walked up to Zhi'an and Qing Tian, "Your Majesty", said he as he greeted Zhi'an and looked at Qing Tian, "She is still my wife, speak", said Zhi'an reminding Changjian of Qing Tian position, "Your Majesty, Yujin was spotted heading towards Kongtian Shrine", informed Changjian confidently, "Kongtian Shrine, he does not have authority to enter that place", said Zhi'an confused, "He might not but his master does", said Qing Tian reminding Zhi'an who looked rather concern and uncertain what steps to take.
"What could be so important that Yujin would go there?", asked Shangjian, Changjian's son and captain of the Imperial guard. "It houses an ancient power, left behind by the God Realm, Kongtian Seal, a scroll that contains a powerful technique", explained Changjian to his son, allowing him to know of the importance of Yujin's actions.
"Has he arrived?" asked Zhi'an curiously. "Yes, he has, and head straight back to Xuanfang Tower", answered Changjian with a tone of certainty. "And the current problem?", added Zhi'an, concerned. "The First Prince has departed to the Eternal Forest", responded Shangjian confidently. "Good, Shangjian, go and aid the First Prince and Changjian arrest Yujin", commanded Zhi'an sternly.
Elsewhere, things are not going according to plan, the barrier is breaking, and the children can't hold on.
(Eternal Forest: Lower Ring)
"Hold it!", shouted Zhinu as he struggled to hold his ground. "The barrier is cracking", said Mu Yuan, concerned and being pushed back. As they tried to hold the barrier, a few cracks appeared wider, and out of it escaped a few shadow beasts. "Oh no, they are escaping!", shouted Jinxi as he reinforced the barrier.
"I got this", said Chang'an as she leaped into the air and unsheathed her sword.
A beautiful flower in the form of energy appeared behind her, and swords formed from it, and she pointed it directly at the shadow beasts. She sent the energy swords hurling towards the creatures and killing them as they tried to escape, but the swords follow their every movement, killing them instantly.
"Amazing!", said Mu Yuan as he looked at Chang'an floating in the air surrounded by beautiful pink flower petals, which made her look like an angel shining like a bright star at night with a powerful burst of supernova. Mu Xuan also looked at her, but his reaction, though warm, was one of feeling much more than amazement. "Beautiful", said Mu Xuan softly with a warm smile, and Zhinu, noticing, "Focus on the barrier!".
As they continue to struggle with the shadow horde and contain it, Jinhui is taken to the Imperial Archive.
[Hou Palace]
(Taiji Hall)
"Father, you summoned me", said Wu'an as he entered the Hall. "So, this is the Heir of the Hou Clan, as expected, powerful", said Jinhui as he looked at Wu'an.
"Yes, you will come with us", responded Anwu sternly, "Let us go".
As they walked to the Imperial Vault, Wu'an looked at this part of the palace that he never seen before, "Where are we going?" he asked curiously. "Hou Clan Sanctuary", answered Changchen sweetly, looking back at Wu'an. "The sanctuary is normally forbidden. Why would it house the Imperial Vault? I thought it would be kept by the Imperial Clan", said Wu'an, unaware of the reason.
"Yes, but it's about balance more than location", responded Jinhui.
"When the Eternal Realm was still split into Six Kingdoms, and the ruling Dynasty had not yet been established. The six Eternal ruling families decided to collect information and knowledge to strengthen their positions in the war-torn Eternal realm. They acquired it all but when the powerful and mighty Xuan Clan who ruled over Eternal Kingdom of Esnor welcomed a new King, Xuan Dongyuan, who later become the first Emperor of the Eternal Realm, The Yongshen Emperor, he grew fearful of the knowledge gathered by the other kingdoms believing it could threaten his throne and authority and wanted to unify the Eternal realm under his rule and led a campaign to conquer every Eternal Kingdom he succeeded and he established the current ruling dynasty. Under his rule to ensure noble clans especially the Six Great Noble Clans of the Eternal Realm (Xuan, Hou, Shen, Chen, Di, Yu) do not circulate knowledge and information deemed useful and harmful to the authority of Xuan Clan he decreed that the only one clan will be responsible for handling information and knowledge within the Eternal Realm the Hou Clan, but in turn he stripped them of the military power. This ensured safety and balance with the noble class of the Eternal Realm and also the supremacy of the Xuan Clan", explained Jinhui as they walked towards the entrance of the Sanctuary.
"Wait make our clan the Guardians of Knowlegde, we to were a rival kingdom", said Wu'an confused, "That's because during his conquest besides the Di Clan who added their military mighty to Xuan Dongyuan cause, the Hou Clan who ruled a kingdom submitted to the Xuan Clan to avoid bloodshed of the people showing our clarity in decision making and always seeing the bigger picture", explained Anwu calmly, "And being in such a position is a double edged sword, if knowledge and information given or stored by the Hou clan is exposed or surfaces…", said Changchen before stopping adding to the reason behind why they were chosen.