Imperial Guard Chan Lian:

My name is Chan Lian, I'm the Imperial Guard to His Majesty Emperor Jin Laohu. I've known His Majesty since I was very young. You see, my mother was Her Grace's, The Empress Dowagers favorite servant. I first met his Majesty back when he was still the Crown Prince when he was 11 and I was 8. He was swinging around a long sword sloppily. At first I didn't dare look at him since I was only the young daughter of his mothers servant but when I noticed that the way he was wielding the sword could end up killing him I stepped in to take away the sword. He was angry at first but then I told him that I was taught how to fight by my dad who was the famous General Hulv. From then on I taught him how to fight and stood by his side as his hand maid. We eventually ended up becoming the closest of friends and I remained by his side as the handmaid until his dad died and he took the throne. I was promoted to Imperial Guard. To His Majesty I'm very grateful. Without his friendship I might have not survived in the palace because of my reckless attitude but because of him I'm now the highest servant in all the palace. Being the Imperial Guard means I have plenty of money, and land. Although my dream is to become a great general like my father who died while fighting for our nation. I admired my father very much, and was very close to him. When I was young he taught me everything he knew about combat and sword wielding, and taught me how to strategize and be tactical in order to survive. I loved my mother more though, because even though she was the wife of a very rich man, she remained the maid to the Empress Dowager because of her loyalty. She taught me how to cook, sew and most importantly she taught me everything she knew about medicine. Her Grace the Empress Dowager favors me a lot, and often invites me to her palace to chat with her. She always grieves my mothers death, as they were less like master and servant and more like sisters. My mother died after consuming poisonous wine meant to kill the Empress Dowager. Her Grace treats me like the daughter that she never had, which is comforting. My life in the palace is very enjoyable except for the sexist officials who are against a female being in a higher position than them. It upsets me, but at least I have his Majesty's approval and the favor of her Grace the Empress Dowager. Now that I'm 19 I've reached the age of marriage and her Grace searches for suitable husbands for me. Many young rich heirs have asked for my hand, but for some reason the Emperor keeps denying the marriage proposals. I think he's just worried that if I get married I won't serve him anymore. Not that I'm mad at him for it. I don't want to get married. I haven't met the person who I want to spend my life with. Plus I've lived in the palace so long that I've seen how horrible it is to marry a rich man. The former Emperor had many concubines and consorts and often neglected the Empress Dowager. His Majesty Emperor Jin Laohu, has yet to get any concubines and only has her Lady Majesty Empress Xieye. The deceased Emperor forced him to marry her when he was still the Crown Prince. Even though she became Empress, his Majesty hates her and wants to depose her but can't. Empress Xieye is the princess of a foreign tribe who offered to become our ally and help us in our wars against our enemy nation if we made their Princess Xieye the empress. I feel bad for her, she really loves His Majesty but he hates her so much that he still hasn't consummated the marriage with her. She hates me more though. I guess she doesn't like the fact that I'm so close to his Majesty. She thinks we are lovers. I've tried to convince her that we were friends and that we were not in love with another but it's like she knows something I don't. She has sent many people after me but I keep quite in hopes that his Majesty will eventually love her and have a Crown Prince with her.

End of Chapter Thanks For Reading!

(This was kind of just a background/intro chapter...)