Chan Lian Knows The Way:

It's early in the morning and I am know standing next to His Majesty in morning court. The Emperor is addressing the officials regarding the crisis with the desert bandits when His Majesty turns to me for a suggestion.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Imperial Guard Chan Lian!

Chan Lian: Yes Your Majesty?

Emperor Jin Laohu: How do you suggest we handle the situation with the desert bandits?

Empress Xieye: What would she know about solving this crisis? Why not ask my father to solve it instead, Your Majesty?

Emperor Jin Laohu: You stay silent! How dare you interrupt the Emperor! Chan Lian is my Imperial Guard. And is the daughter of the legendary General Hulv. She is more qualified than anyone.

Prime Minister Han: Your Majesty, Imperial Guard Chan Lian is indeed very fit to take out the desert bandits. But perhaps we should leave it to General Pings authority.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Enough! I'm the Emperor! Chan Lian?

Chan Lian: Yes Your Majesty?

Emperor Jin Laohu: How do you suggest we tackle this issue.

I get down on one knee and put out my hands clasped together with my arms extended out to show respect while delivering my plan.

Chan Lian: Your Majesty, I would like to assemble a small group of men to go with me to the desert to observe the bandits. When we get the right chance we will infiltrate their group and wipe them out from the inside.

Empress Xieye: That's Ridiculous! How

can a women like you lead an entire army?

Chan Lian: Your Lady Majesty, I am not requesting to lead an army, I'd only need a small group of ten or more men to take out the bandits. My disciples would gladly accompany to the desert.

Emperor Jin Laohu: That is very smart, you should send your men to do it.

Chan Lian: Your Majesty, I'm not planning to send them out on their own. My plan is to take them with me.

Empress Xieye: How can a few servants fix the entire nations crisis.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Shut Up You!

Chan Lian: My disciples and I have years of experience in martial arts. Many of them are commanders in our victorious battles.

Empress Xieye: You are nothing compared to my fathers military power.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Chan Lian, I cannot let you go out to the desert. It's too dangerous.

Chan Lian: Your Majesty please grant me permission to lead this attack. It is my duty as Imperial Guard to help protect the country.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Chan Lian, we need you to remain in the palace in order to protect the royal family.

Chan Lian: Your Majesty, I will deploy my greatest disciples to take my place until the mission is done.

Prime Minister Han: Imperial Guard Chan Lian, how long would this mission take?

Chan Lian: If everything goes according to plan, than it should take two or three months.

Official Lang: Imperial Guard Chan Lian, that's far too long. This crisis needs to be solved immediately.

Chan Lian: Official Lang, perhaps you have a better plan?

Official Lang: If His Majesty gave me some time I'd make a perfect plan.

Chan Lian: It's like you just said this crisis is severe and needs to be solved immediately. I'm the only one who has a plan and is capable of carrying it out.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Chan Lian, your plan is indeed very intelligent but you must find a way to compose it without you leaving the palace.

Chan Lian: Your Majesty I must be the leader of this mission. I'm the only one who knows how to navigate through the desert.

Empress Xieye: Yes, Your Majesty. You should let her go to the dessert.

If the Empress likes it that it most likely means she's plotting something. Or maybe she's just happy that I won't be around for so long.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Chan Lian, we will talk about this later on. Right now I want to return my chambers to rest. Servant Ming Li!

Servant Ming Li: Yes Your Majesty?

Emperor Jin Laohu: Take the Empress back to her chambers.

Servant Ming Li: Yes Your Majesty!

Empress Xieye: Your Majesty, why must I return to my chambers?

Emperor Jin Laohu: You are being grounded to your Palace for offending me by interrupting me.

Empress Xieye: Your Majesty I never intended to offend you. Why must Your Majesty be so cruel to me?

His Majesty is indeed very cruel to his Empress. Even though she's unbearable, and a little mean she is still very loyal to His Majesty. I wish he would open his eyes and see her as I do. Although she's always hated me, It's not hard for me to notice her natural beauty and zest for life. I think His Majesty hates her because he knows she often bullies me. That's why I always stay out of her way, and am very nice to her. I really hope to see His Majesty happy with his Empress.

Chan Lian: Your Majesty please excuse Empress Xieye. Her Lady Majesty was only trying to help you as is her duty. Please excuse her.

Empress Xieye: How dare a lowly servant like you beg His Majesty on my behalf! Your Majesty, I'm willing to take any punishment you bestow on me as long as you know that I never meant you any harm.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Chan Lian, there is no need for you to continue to bow down in front of me. The Empress deserves the punishment. I'm doing this so that she learns proper palace etiquette.

Chan Lian: Yes Your Majesty.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Servant Ming Li take The Empress back to her palace and do not allow her to leave until I say it is permissible.

Her Lady Majesty's Servant Ming Li takes her by the arm and leads her outside the court. The officials all bow down to the Empress in respect.

Emperor Jin Laohu: You are all dismissed.

Officials: Yes Your Majesty!

Emperor Jin Laohu: Except you Chan Lian. I need you to accompany me in my Palace to continue to talk about your plan.

Chan Lian: Yes Your Majesty.

His Majesty and I make our way to his palace. Once we enter his study chambers he dismisses everyone and sits on his golden throne.

Chan Lian: Will Your Majesty grant me permission to go out on the quest with my men?

Emperor Jin Laohu: Chan Lian, I've told you to forsake formalities when we are alone. We are friends so there is no reason for you to call me "Your Majesty"

Chan Lian: Very well then Jin Laohu! Will you allow me to enter the desert to get rid of the desert bandits.

Emperor Jin Laohu: No.

Chan Lian: May I ask why?

Emperor Jin Laohu: I don't want you to leave me here alone. I need you to stay close to me. You're the only one I trust in the palace other than my mother.

Chan Lian: Maybe you should take this chance and get close to Her Lady Majesty. The Imperial Court would be so pleased if you conceived a Crown Prince.

Emperor Jin Laohu: No! I promise I won't go to her palace at all. Don't worry, I will never be with her.

Chan Lian: Jin Laohu, I think it would be really good if you spent some time with Her Lady Majesty. Maybe once you get to know her you'll fall for her and finally be happy.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Chan Lian, why are you always pushing me towards that witch?

Chan Lian: I want you to be happy. I know you'd do the same thing for me.

Emperor Jin Laohu: I would never push you into the arms of another man.

Chan Lian: I mean I know that you'd want me to be happy.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Chan Lian I cant be happy with someone I don't love. If it were up to me I'd depose the Empress and make the woman I love my new Empress.

Chan Lian: Why don't you make the woman you love your Royal Imperial Concubine? That way she'd be only one step below the Empress!

Emperor Jin Laohu: I don't think she would agree to become my concubine.

Chan Lian: Nonsense! Who wouldn't want to marry the Emperor and become his beloved concubine?

Emperor Jin Laohu: This girl is different. She's tough, and smart, and beautiful. But she's stubborn and would never agree to be my concubine because that would mean she'd have to give up her job and be forced to live the rest of her life in her palace.

Chan Lian: I understand how she feels. The idea of being trapped in the palace for the rest of my life and sharing my husband with another women makes me depressed.

Emperor Jin Laohu: So what should I do?

Chan Lian: Let her go. Even though you love her you can't ignore your duties as Emperor for a woman.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Never. I won't let her go!

Chan Lian: Have it your way Jin Laohu. May you please grant me your permission to lead my men in the desert.

Emperor Jin Laohu: I cant...

Chan Lian: Jin Laohu, this is my dream. I've always wanted to be like my father and this is a good opportunity for me. Please!

Emperor Jin Laohu: Chan Lian, I will grant you permission if you agree to three of my terms.

Chan Lian: What are they?

Emperor Jin Laohu: 1. You will send me letters every week while you're away telling me everything going on. So I know you are safe and well.

2. If the plan will take more than four months, you must return to the palace and have your men continue the plan on their own.

3. And once you return, you will agree to take a trip with me.

Chan Lian: Agreed. I agree to all of your terms as long as you let me go out and fight with my men.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Very well then, you may go as long as you agree to my terms.

Chan Lian: Is there anything else you need?

Emperor Jin Laohu: Im going to sleep, will you accompany me to my room?

Chan Lian: I'll stand guard at the door.

Emperor Jin Laohu: No come keep me company until I sleep. I can't fall asleep without someone near me.

Chan Lian: I know.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Good.

We go to his bed chambers and he lays on the bed and I stand next to his bed looking down at him. He looks just like he did when we were kids, so perfect but so much bigger than me. Even though he is the all mighty Emperor, he still looks like an innocent child laying there.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Do you remember when we first met?

Chan Lian: I do.

Emperor Jin Laohu: I was just a naive Crown Prince and you were a brave and beautiful girl. I noticed you as soon as you walked into the courtyard but you wouldn't look up at me. I kept wondering why...

Chan Lian: You were the Crown Prince and I was just a nobody. I was afraid of offending you.

Emperor Jin Laohu: But I was shocked when you took sword from my hands.

Chan Lian: You were wielding it wrong. You could've cut your own arm off.

Emperor Jin Laohu: You were so amazing when you showed me how to wield the sword properly. You were like this awesome warrior. I envied you!

Chan Lian: You became my closest friend. I'm forever grateful to you for helping me get to where I am. You are my wishing star.

Emperor Jin Laohu: You are the only one I can trust.

Chan Lian: Its my honor to be your trusted Imperial Guard.

Emperor Jin Laohu: I hope that you will always be my side until the day I die. I want you to be the last face I look at before I pass.

Chan Lian: Dont day that. Of coarse I'll always be by your side, and I'll always be loyal to you.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Maybe We'll die together in our old age. That would make me happy for us to move on to the next life together.

Chan Lian: We'd look so old and crinkly. Our faces will be so ugly.

Emperor Jin Laohu: I bet you'd be beautiful. You've always been an angel in my eyes.

Chan Lian: I bet you'd have a long white beard, and eyebrows. You'd look so old!

Emperor Jin Laohu: I hope we'll never separate from one another.

Chan Lian: No matter how far apart we are, you'll always be my king. In my heart you are the only king.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Can I ask you something?

Chan Lian: Of coarse.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Have you ever loved anyone?

Chan Lian: I loved my parents and I love the people of Huo Empire.

Emperor Jin Laohu: No I mean have you ever wanted to spend the rest of your life with one person.

Chan Lian: You. You're my only friend! I want to spend the rest of my life serving you.

Emperor Jin Laohu: I mean have you ever been in love with someone?

Chan Lian: I don't know...I've never thought about it. What is love even like?

Emperor Jin Laohu: Love is wanting to die with the person you're in love with. Your lover is all you think about and their happiness is the only thing that makes you smile.

Chan Lian: Sounds nice!

Emperor Jin Laohu: For me, love is torture. The only one I love is the only one I can't have. Whenever she's around my heart starts to beat and I can't help but stare at her. Whenever she's away from me she's all I think about. All I want is to hug her and kiss her. I dream of waking up next to her. We'd have lots of children and she'd help me rule the country.

Chan Lian: Who is this lucky beauty?

Emperor Jin Laohu: Shes an angel.

Chan Lian: Does she know you love her?

Emperor Jin Laohu: I don't know. But I want to tell her. I just don't know if she'd accept my heart.

Chan Lian: I think you should confess to her. You'll never know how she feels until you do.

Emperor Jin Laohu: Than I will, soon!

Chan Lian: Alright go to sleep!

His Majesty slowly drifts off in to sleep. After I check that he is asleep I leave. I return to my small palace and call on my favorite maid.

Chan Lian: Zhi'er?

Zhi'er: Yes Madam?

Chan Lian: Come and sit with me.

Zhi'er: Yes Madam. How was Morning Court?

Chan Lian: It was good. His Majesty granted me permission to go out on mission to the desert with my subordinates.

Zhi'er: Really? That's surprising!

Chan Lian: Yeah it took some convincing...

Zhi'er: When will you leave?

Chan Lian: I haven't discussed that with his Majesty but I'm hoping by the end of this week.

Zhi'er: Do you think His Majesty will let you?

Chan Lian: We discusses it and I agreed to follow his terms so he should be fine with it.

Zhi'er: It's just that His Majesty is very attached to you and wouldn't normally let you leave his side.

Chan Lian: I think it would be good for His Majesty to have some space from me. Maybe with me not around, the Empress will become more kind and they'll finally fall in love.

Zhi'er: That's very unlikely.

Chan Lian: Why not? The Empress is a very beautiful women.

Zhi'er: His Majesty is definitely not in love with her.

Chan Lian: Maybe if I gave them some space they'll begin to fall for one another. Maybe by the time I get back, the Empress will be pregnant with a little Crown Prince!

Zhi'er: Chan Lian, his Majesty will definitely never love Her Royal Majesty!

Chan Lian: Maybe than he'll get himself a concubine!

Zhi'er: Chan Lian, forgive me for my boldness but His Majesty only has one women in his eyes and that's you!

Chan Lian: That's silly! We've been friends for years.

Zhi'er: I've seen the way he looks at you, it's enticing.

Chan Lian: You're wrong! His Majesty and I are friends.

Zhi'er: Than May I ask a question?

Chan Lian: Of course.

Zhi'er: Do you love His Majesty?

Chan Lian: Of coarse I love him. He's my closest friend. I'd give up my life for his well being. He is my most beloved person.

Zhi'er: Then are you in love with him?

Chan Lian: I see him as a friend, but not a lover. I would never fall in love with His Majesty. A life in the Imperial Harem is very lonely.

Zhi'er: Than who do you plan to marry?

Chan Lian: No one! I want to stand by his side for the rest of my life.

Zhi'er: Chan Lian, one day you will meet the man you love who will take over your heart. And at that moment you'll no longer want to serve His Majesty.

Chan Lian: Nonsense! I owe his Majesty everything! He is the only man in my life. I won't love anyone as much as I love his Majesty.

Zhi'er: But you're not in love with him. Everyone has a soul mate and when you meet yours you'll forget His Majesty.

Chan Lian: Zhi'er quite spouting fallacies and go get us some tea.

Zhi'er: Yes Madam!

Zhi'er pours the tea and then sits down again.

Chan Lian: When do plan on getting married?

Zhi'er: I don't know...I haven't met the right one yet.

Chan Lian: Duke Of Goayang has always had his eyes on you.

Zhi'er: He already has so many wives. I'll just be thrown in a room waiting for the rest of my life. Plus being the concubine of a lowly duke is a demotion from being the favorite servant of the Imperial Guard.

Chan Lian: Indeed.

Zhi'er: Chan Lian, would you mind if I accompany you to the desert?

Chan Lian: Not at all if you would like to Than it's would be nice to have a women by my side. Plus you're probably my most skill fighter.

Zhi'er: You taught me.

Chan Lian: Yeah that's why you're the best!

Zhi'er: What part of the desert will we be residing in?

Chan Lian: Li Xi Territory

Zhi'er: Isn't that really close to the boarder of the Xing Dynasty?

Chan Lian: It is, but we'll be done with the mission by the time anyone gets a hold of our presence.

Zhi'er: I hope so! Because if they capture us than we'd all be executed.

Chan Lian: Probably.

Zhi'er: What are you planning to bring with us?

Chan Lian: Let's bring some poisoned needles, antidotes for the desert poisons, some snake and insect repelling powder, you know...things we'd need to survive.

Zhi'er: Alright!

End Of Chapter! Hope you enjoyed!