Empress’s Demand

Zhao Hui lazily sat bored at his tent, having to see beauties dance at banquets such as these was nothing new, a woman slapped him on the shoulder, "Sit properly!" Zhao Hui's mother poked his back to force him to sit up straight.

The man next to him, his father, smiled at his mother, "Dear, there is no need for such strict etiquette as of right now," the man held his wife's hand, lovingly, "This banquet is not an official event." trying to appease the tigress from ripping their only son apart, but internally he knew that appeasing this tigress was very difficult. Secretly, the man signalled Zhao Hui to get out of the tent, which Zhao Hui complied and ran off.

Whilst in the midst of running to a more secluded area of the Imperial Palace, two running figures caught his attention. Jumping to the rooftop for more coverage, Zhao Hui watched the two girls. One of them he recognised one of two girls, Ruan Jingyi, the youngest child of General Ruan, considered a genius informant with the ability of a tactician. But, the other was an unknown girl with her eyes flashing between brown and ash grey eyes.

Ash grey eyes. Those ash-grey eyes were the same as that little girl many years ago. The girl pulled out a low tier talisman, chanting the spell, however, the strong wind muffled the chant, therefore, lessening the effect. Zhao Hui pulled out a high tier talisman from his space ring, but the sudden movement slightly shuffled the terracotta roof tile underneath his feet, enough that no normal person couldn't hear but the girl turned her head to his direction.

Impossible! He couldn't feel any Qi influx from that girl. But, despite the abnormal hearing of the girl, Zhao Hui threw the high tier talisman to the girl. As the girl caught the talisman, the expression in her face was stunning, it was pure shock as if she knew that those high tier talismans were from speciality shops. But to Zhao Hui, those talismans were easy to use and disposable. But, the wariness of the girl started forming at she continued to stare at Zhao Hui.

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Fangsu felt a cloud of wariness shroud over her heart, staring at the man on the rooftop. Thinking it wasn't worth the risk, Fangsu placed talisman on the handle of the railing. Pulling Jingyi by the hand, Fangsu felt the stare of the man piercing right through her back. They returned back to the table hoping for no one to notice Fangsu's change of eye colour. Occasionally, Jingyi would shield Fangsu from others using her height. Li Mo And Biyu stared at Fangsu's ash grey eyes, "Jie Jie! Your eyes are very pretty!" Biyu stared at Fangsu who placed a finger on her lips, signalling to the young twins to keep the colour change a secret.

Once Fangsu reached her grandpa, tugging at his sleeve, "Grandpa the talisman ran out!" Silently whispering.

Fangsu's grandpa saw that the talisman's magic has expired and Fangsu's eye colour was now back to normal, "Is Ming Yue with you?" Fangsu's grandpa placed his hand over Fangsu's eye placing an illusionary spell to cover her ash-grey eyes.

But, Fangsu shooked her head, "She is at home, cultivating." The thought of Fangsu preparing a reliable bodyguard ahead of time astonished her grandpa who knew it was only a matter of time. Fangsu's grandpa ruffled Fangsu head. But, Fangsu swatted her grandpa's hand from messing up her hair any further.

Li Mo and Biyu held onto Fangsu hands, dragging her to where the Empress Dowager was viewing the martial competition without much enthusiasm. However, once Fangsu and the twins came, the Empress Dowager facial expression perked up. Li Mo, Biyu and the Empress Dowager surrounded Fangsu as they began talking with each other why ether the topic was about plants, skincare or childish topic. The Empress Dowager sighed heavily, "The Empress beloved Black Mirage Leopard has become crazed, but no one has been able to cure it." The stress of such a prized mount of the Empress could become euthanised.

Fangsu took a silk handkerchief and began folding it repeatedly until it turned into a paper crane, "A Black Mirage Leopard?" but the floppy paper crane as it was unable to hold its own weight and soon collapsed by itself, "It's very rare that a Magical Beast would be crazed." Fangsu was bewildered. Biyu stared at the collapsed crane, grabbing it to try to straighten the crippled folds.

The martial competition came to an end when the top 5 winners received their rewards. Surprisingly first place went to Wen Cheng who received the which made of one of the Top Five Metals, Solar Metal with a seventy per cent purity, which was ranked fourth. Second place went to someone familiar, Gang Hai who Fangsu only met once, received a purple ranked halberd made from Mist Orichalcum which was also in the Top Five Metal Ranking, ranked fifth and it's handle was make from white wax wood. Third place went to Su Hua Jing who received a beautification Pill which had a green-blue marking. Fourth place went to a more unknown background a person called, Chuang Xiulan, received a bluish-purple ranked snake lance which made from the solar metal and the handle was also white wax wood. Fifth place went to Ruan Jingyi who received a fifth-ranked martial art tablet, Ice Lotus Cage.

Jingyi ran to Fangsu with her prize in hand, "Fangsu! Come we must enter the banquet hall for the feminine art competition!" Jingyi waited for Fangsu to follow her, but Fangsu helped Biyu up, holding the small girl's hand whilst walking back into the banquet hall. As the women were seated back to their seat. The feminine art competition had started, women from ages 13-18 were to participate whether it be embroidery, music, reciting poems, calligraphy or dancing. Fangsu, however, wasn't proficient in embroidery, poems or calligraphy since she never had the need to learn them.

The countless girl began performing in a chance to gain the favour of either Empress or the Empress Dowager. But, trying to impress the Empress Dowager was considered impossible as she was very traditional. Jingyi has done a calligraphy painting showing majestic cranes in the mountains which embodied longevity and peace which was highly praised by both the Empress and Empress Dowager and was rewarded with the Frosted lotus cultivated in the Frosted Lake in the Snowy Plains. It gave off a cool frosty mist which was good for the summers, but it would also aid a cultivator who had an affinity with ice.

Fangsu, however, was nervous as her turn was soon approaching but a small hand placed itself on hers which calmed Fangsu down, "Jie Jie, you will be fine!" Biyu's cute speech made Fangsu smile. Patting the little girl's head. Fangsu stood up with her back straight and her head held up.

With the poise of a noblewoman, Fangsu, the young girl who was still blooming into her beauty walked down from the tent to present herself in front of all to see. But, internally Fangsu couldn't stand the staring of all these people. Bowing to the Empress, "Long live the Empress! My family name is Chen," Fangsu stated her family name, "Chen Fangsu." Fangsu waited for the Empress to allow her to stand back up.

"Rise." The Empress finally allowed Fangsu to stand, "Lady Chen what will you be showcasing for us today?" The stare of the Empress beaming down on was quite overwhelming for Fangsu.

But, remembering Biyu's words, Fangsu took a breathe, "Your highness, this lady is not proficient in many feminine arts." Those words were the truth, "I'm only proficient in more practical skills." To others, it shocking that someone who blatantly say that they were untalented.

The Empress amusedly raised her eyebrow, "So what are you proficient in?" The Empress leaned her chin on her head bored having watched the same performances from all the other nobles which were mainly embroidery, music performances and reciting poems. But, Fangsu was like a breeze of fresh air in high society with her honesty and humility.

Fangsu cupped her hand, "I heard from the Empress Dowager that there was a crazed magical beast," Those words were profound as many whispers echoed throughout the banquet hall, "Perhaps I could take a look?" Those words make the Empress' eye widen in shock.

"Are you crazy! There were hundreds of beast caretakers and doctor that weren't able to cure it!" Su Hua Jing shouted, clearly the topic of the Empress' mount was highly sensitive, "What makes you think you can cure it?" Many other noblewomen agreed with Hua Jing statement. Many doctors who have undergone many years of studying and training to be a doctor yet a young girl barely just 16 years old wanted to look.

Fangsu turned her attention to Hua Jing with an expression of annoyance, "Lady Su, I did not claim that I could cure her highness mount," Fangsu words were brutally straightforward, "But, I only requested that I could see for myself, there is always something to learn from experiences to prevent this type of event to happen in the future." Fangsu was very factual as she has used past experiences to help expand her knowledge of plants and magical herbs and find out beneficial properties of those plants/herbs to use.

The Empress stood up, "If you know anything, please come with me Lady Chen," Walking from her position to walk towards Fangsu and gestured to Fangsu to follow her. As they walked to the courtyard where the magic beast was occupying, a sketcher was bought through as a man was carried all mangled and bloody. His body was disfigured and he would likely die in a few minutes due to the heavy wounds and blood loss.

The servants placed the sketcher down to greet the Empress but she dismissed them so that they could care for the injured caretaker. As the caretaker was taken away, Fangsu stared at the bloody man nonchalantly as if the injured person unfazed her. Many people would faint or scream out of fear. Another caretaker paid respects to the Empress, "Your Highness!" The servant kowtowed.

The Empress acknowledged the caretaker, "What is the progress as of now?" This situation was getting about of hand and it was costing them dearly, money, resource and employees.

The nervousness on the caretaker's forehead were starting to show, "The Black Mirage Leopard's condition is getting worst, and there is a high possibility that the beast will have to be euthanised." The thought of killing the Empress's mount was very saddening as the magical beast has been with the Empress through hell and back.

The Empress's face tightened and her eyes were red with anger, "Who dares to kill my mount?!" Flicking her sleeve while in the process hitting the shaking caretaker who could only remain still and take the hit, "Guards! Take this man!" The Empress pointed at the innocent caretaker who silently accepted his fate.

Fangsu looked at the anguished caretaker and took pity on him. Standing between the Empress and the caretaker, Fangsu knelt, "Your Highness please quell your anger!" With a firm voice, the Empress was released from her trance of anger.

The Empress huffed, releasing most of the anger that once possessed her, "You dare stand in front of me to plead for this caretaker that fails to care for my magical beast mount." The Empress words were arrogant and unyielding, but it also served as a warning to the girl not to overstep her boundaries.

Fangsu bowed her head to lower herself, "Your highness, normally magic beast who have gone crazed would immediately be killed." Internally, Fangsu was shaking with fear knowing fully of the consequences of her actions, "The caretakers are the ones that are the knowledgeable about magical beast mounts and they continue to try care for the beast despite going against normal protocols." Despite her fears the fact that caretaker was someone who was worthy of praise having to deal with a crazed magical beast as it was a normal protocol that a crazed magical beast be euthanised before it could harm other magical beast or humans.

The Empress was impressed but the young girl's bravery since most girls would try to hug highly influential individuals in order to get a chance to climb the social ladder. Gesturing with her hand, dismissing the guards away which caused Fangsu to sigh in relief. "Don't think that I am letting you go now!" The Empress's word cause Fangsu clench her eyelids tight, "If you fail to cure my magical beast by spring both you and that caretaker will be thrown in the prison." Turning away from the two individuals who stood stunned in their position.

Fangsu released a breathe that she didn't realise she was holding. Supporting herself against a beam, the overwhelming pressure of the Empress was terrifying, and that the Empress tasked her and the caretaker to cure the Black Mirage Leopard by spring. The result would be a lifetime sentence to jail. "Young Miss, y-you save me? Why?" The caretaker was bewildered by an unknown young girl would save him.

Fangsu shook her head, "I don't know the reason why I saved you," An annoying headache was starting to form, "Do you have records of went the beast become crazed? What does its diet? Health record? Growth record?" Fangsu began to start working to figure out the cause of the crazed state of the magical beast as it clawed at the barrier placed to protect the caretakers. The whites of the beast eyes were red due to lack of rest and malnutrition as it refuses to eat. The fur of the beast lacked the lustre that a normal healthy beast would have and there were indicating of self-harm especially at the chest area.

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Grades of Weapons/ Pills

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Purplish Gold

Purple

Bluish Purple

Blue

Greenish Blue

Green

Greyish Green

Grey

Ranks of martial art tablet/ martial art techniques

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Second Rank

Third Rank

Fourth Rank

Fifth Rank

Sixth Rank

Seventh Rank

Eighth Rank

Ninth Rank

Tenth Rank