L_Y_N

The Middle Kingdom, being bestowed with great blessings from the heavens, lived in peace and harmony of hundreds of years now. But as humans failed to recognize this blessing, forgetting to take care of their fellow man, and indulging in pleasures, concerning only themselves with wealth and power, the whole kingdom is now in chaos. The reigning King Liu Wei, believes only with the power of man to rule the kingdom, decreed to destroy all temples throughout the kingdom. Kill all seers for spreading false prophesies to instill fear to the people and ban all practices of worshipping the gods. Little civil wars are happening throughout the kingdom while neighboring kingdoms are trying to invade small cities along the kingdom's border in the north. The court is in disarray because of officials who either want to keep their positions or wants to go up in authority and power. 
It's the fifth of the 7th month in the year 877, King Liu Wei sits on his throne while listening to the arguments of his ministries. It's been going on for four hours now but there has been no sound resolution yet. When, suddenly, the door of the great hall opened. Everyone fell silent and looked at the door. The king who slowly looked at the door suddenly gets angry to see a young woman, wearing a flowing black robe entered the great hall. She is looking straight at the man in the center of the throne as if there is only the two of them in that room. All eyes are on her. She walked calmly as if she is just strolling the garden in bright moonlight. 
"How dare you enter!" all eyes looked at his majesty as he spoke those angry words. Everyone is looking at his majesty and then to the woman who just entered. 
The woman, with no slightest emotion on her face, stopped a few meters away from him. Eyes locked onto him. 
"How dare you ignore the wrath of the gods who gave you and your descendants the power to rule this kingdom. How dare you take credit on the achievements that the gods aided you. Now listen, all of you! The gods will not be blind and tolerate such ingrate! Someone from the heavens will go down and destroy this kingdom and build a new one." 
Silence.
"And all of you…" she looked in everyone present in the court. "All of you who choose to please a mere human to save your little lives will know the gravity of your sins. You and your children will know the intensity of the wrath of the gods you are trying to ignore all these years…" A sharp arrow fierce through her delicate body. With bloodshot eyes, she looked at the king again, who is now holding a bow. "You, you will no longer produce an heir to the throne and…." Another arrow shot through her heart is released from the same bow that fired the first one.
"I don't care about your nonsense. If what you say is true, then, tell your gods that they are welcome to come here and they will know who they are dealing with. Now, go to hell." Three arrows simultaneously hit her body and she fell on the ground eyes wild open. After a few seconds, panic arose in the court. The things they saw brought chills on their spines. Confusion, fear, and anxiety filled the entire court.
"Quiet!!!" 
Everyone fell silent and looked at the man in front of them. 
"Whoever dared to believe that wretch woman will be put to death and be branded as traitors!" 
Whoever witnesses that incident will later on regret the decision they made.

Heaven's Retribution

Both Liqin and Jingfei were taken aback by her innocent but painful question. It took them a few seconds to say something.


"Is it because I am a burden to him?" Qiao Zhi continued to cry loudly this time. Jingfei, whose heart is already like Qiao Zhi felt sad towards her. She slowly moved towards her and hold her close to her.


"Shhhh... it's okay. Just cry it out." she said lovingly. Liqin, who is observing the scene felt something inside his heart. He knew how much Jingfei wanted to have a child and seeing her right now doing this to Qiao Zhi, he is sure that she could have been a great mother if they had a child.


"My dear, I guess Qiao Zhi needs to rest for now. Let's talk about this matter later."


Jingfei looked at her husband worriedly. Liqin gave her a reassuring look. When he talks about adopting to her a few months ago, she already raised this concern to him but he reassured her that everything will be alright. Now that Qiao Zhi seems to be against the adoption, he is thinking of ways to convince the young lady that staying in the Minister of War household is a good thing. 


Huang Jingfei helped the weak Qiao Zhi out of the main hall. Both women are quiet as they walked towards the young lady's new room again. Jingfei holds Qiao Zhi's hands firmly. The moment they entered the room, she helped Qiao Zhi sit on the bed.


Jingfei sat as well next to the young lady. She is looking at the room and thinking about how she can console her. 


"I believe that your master also had a hard time sending you over," Madam Jingfei said quietly. 


Jingfei smiled, touched her face which is wet with her tears.


"Of course. But remember that your master cannot marry and you are now a young lady. It will be hard for both of you to stay together like you used to."


Qiao Zhi thinks about it for a while. She must admit that for the past few years, her master becomes more distant and irritated towards her. She equated his behavior with his age but she never thought about anything else. 


When Jingfei felt that Qiao Zhi is open to listened to her, she continued. 


"Your master and our family are closed friends. Your master knew that our family has no children and that we wanted to have one. When we learned about your situation, we wanted to help your master as well. So, we thought that it will be best if we will adopt you."


Qiao Zhi looked at Jingfei and she saw hopefulness there. Qiao Zhi looked at her hands and said, "but I am just a lowly girl from the countryside. I don't deserve to your adopted daughter." hearing this, Jingfei's heart burst with happiness. She hugged the young girl immediately.


"Don't say that my dear, the moment I saw you I knew that you are the one we are waiting for."


Qiao Zhi, who was never hugged before so lovingly, hugged Madam Jingfei back. She felt a nice feeling inside her heart. She finally smiled.


When they finally looked at each other, both women are smiling.


"Can I make a request?" Qiao Zhi suddenly asked.


"Whatever it is," though taken aback, Jingfei will do everything to fulfill her daughter's request.


"Can I be who I am? It is tiring to act like a lady."


Huang Jingfei gave out a hearty laugh. She never thought that she will find an innocent, pure and confident girl as a daughter. Being raised by a general, Huang Jingfei knew how tiring acting in front of everybody just to be seen as a noble lady.


Outside Qiao Zhi's bedchamber, Huang Liqin is standing listening to the conversation of the two women inside. He smiled when he heard his wife's hearty laugh. It's been a while when he heard her laugh like that. Also, hearing Qiao Zhi's request, he is sure to have a lot of surprises in the future.


5. New identity