Imperial Decree

Great Xia Empire

The Great Xia empire stretched thousands of miles across the Eastern region , Legend has it that the great Xia territory was a whole before a battle between two Powerful Experts ruined the Northern territories into the Barren Wastelands of today, due to the terrain of the wastelands they serve as a natural fortress and an attack front for the great Xia empire and the geographical location makes it easy to resist invasions

...

Zhan manor , Barren wastelands

In a large training courtyard , a young boy around 13 years of age could be seen training with a Spear, he had a tall physique and long hair that reached his shoulders with facial features that were a bit wild yet extremely handsome.

The Great Spear in his hands, a large broad sword joined to a strong metal shaft brought fierce winds as it swept through the Courtyard and even after hours of spear practice his hands were still stable and his thrusts and sweeps full of vigor. His movement, form and actions powerful.

Still the greatest anomaly were his eyes , no pupils, they were like seas of molten gold, beautiful and dominating, and with every thrust his muscles contracting and relaxing, his breath heavy, then he hears the sound of footsteps approaching and his eyes reverts back to normal, pupils dark in color appearing .

A soft knock could be heard outside the door , And he laid the Spear beside a huge stone and answered, "enter !".

A young petite maid enters the yard, her curious eyes sweeping across the Courtyard, her eyes catching the large Spear by the stone and the dented pit beneath it,due to it's frequent placement at this spot this ordinary looking spear close to the height of an average man had caved in the ground.

her eyes carrying an hint of admiration, according to accounts she heard around the Manor this spear weighed a monstrous 10 thousand jins, weilded by a strong cultivator it was thinkable, but by a mortal, it was astonishing.

It always amazed her how her Young Master wielded it at ease ... his physical strength was simply inhuman!

With such powerful ability he dominated the younger generation, though he was not thought much off.

Snapping from her thoughts back she bowed, " Young master! , the Elders request your presence".

" Alright, I'll be there soon ", he said softly as he entered into his quarters

...

After washing up , Zhan Shenwei walked to the Main hall where the Elders gathered.

The Zhan Clan was a powerful War Clan in Barren Wastelands, stretching across a large expanse, even with the closeness of his residence to Main hall due to his status, it still took a while to reach there.

The large main hall had a solemn vibe with the Elders sitting on both sides of the hall and the Clan Leader sited at the foremost seat, after entering he bowed , "Zhan Wei greets the Elders and Clan Master !" , and looked to the person on the foremost seat "Father".

His father the Clan Head nodded in response and one of the elders started to speak " The Capital is in turmoil right now , Rebel forces have assassinated the Crown Prince and Princess Yunzi is destined to ascend the throne , with no other male descendant to ensure the continuation of the Imperial line , the Emperor issued a decree that you be betrothed to the princess to leave future descendants for the Great Xia Empire".

Caught quite off guard at the sudden news news of betrothal, he asked in a slightly raised voice. "I understand that there is a civil war in the capital and the Emperor is trying to consolidate the imperial line, but even if there was a need for a Prince consort to be chosen, I can't cultivate, so why was i chosen? ".

The decree of the Emperor seemed so incoherent with relation to him... Crown Prince, Princess Yunzi, Future descendants.

He couldn't understand the intricacies, yet as his mind spun he could grasp an inkling.

Without waiting for a response he continued, "so What is the decision of the Elders ?".

Zhan Wei's father Zhan liang looked at his son deeply as he replied "We have to abide by the Emperor's decree".

Not surprised by his father's reaction, The Zhan family had no reason to refuse and in a way, of all the possible suitors he was simply the best option for betrothal to Princess Yunzi.

Zhan Shenwei felt a pang of rage flow through him, he was drawn into the underlying currents of the Great Xia empire, because they thought he was weak or " he would be weak ", he was being used.

"This child will abide by Father's wishes ", he bowed and left the Main hall.

...

After his departure those in the hall continued in meeting.

Zhan Liang tapped the armrest of his large seat as he said "Elders what do you think of the imperial decree ".

An Elder sighed and spoke in response, " the young master is clearly dissatisfied ".

The same Elder that spoke to Zhan Shenwei when he entered the hall "the Second Elder" answered him, " Clan head!, with the rebel forces and the capital in chaos, I think the Emperor wants to increase the strength of his forces by involving our family".

Zhan liang laughed aloud, " Increase his forces!, you underestimate the Emperor ", he said as he shook his head

Although there are rebels in the capital , they are just pawns of an outside force, the Crown prince lived a life of debauchery and was poisoned through intercourse with a courtesan already containing the poison in her body , it was a premeditated attack that no one could have expected, the poison was extremely potent so it was not noticed until it was too late".

He continued , "Since the founding of the Empire , Our Zhan clan has guarded the Barren Wastelands with the other War Clans from beasts and outside forces, and years of war to any threat to the Great Xia Empire has made us formidable with high merits but distance to the capital has made us not involved in court matters... the Wasteland war clans have defended the North for centuries but we have not much say or prestige in the Imperial court and this has made some clans disgruntled, this Marriage bridges the Wastelands with the Imperial court , but marrying the princess to Zhan Wei who can't cultivate and hence not much threat to the Imperial Family is the main advantage ".

With a light chuckle on his face, Zhan Liang said, " to be honest I can't fully fathom the thought of the Emperor, but to think the Emperor needs our Clan to consolidate his power is a bit far fetched, beneath the Great Xia Sky, none is equal to The Emperor in might, even in the entire Eastern Region few are his peers.

The Second Elder had a look of shock on his face, " Clan head is wise!" , he had not thought of things this deeply

The Third Elder, a thin old Man with a sharp presence spoke out, his voice a bit skeptical, "shouldn't the Young Master know about this? "

Zhan liang shook his head, as he replied " I can't reject the decree but Zhan Shenwei is my only son, not being able to cultivate makes him not much a threat in the capital so the less he knows the better , gather a group of maids and warriors to serve him in the capital, Second Elder will accompany them".

 " We will obey the Clan head's orders " the Elders cupped their fist as they bowed.

...

Thousands of miles from the Northern border Wastelands, Imperial Observatory, Imperial palace, Capital city.

A dignified old eunuch could be seen looking towards the night sky in the North direction, as if peering into distance, with a light sigh he hesitated before bowing towards his right direction," Your Majesty this humble servant thinks the boy you choose is not suitable for the Princess".

A middle aged man with sword shaped brows and a sharp dashing face dressed in regal Imperial robe with a jade crown on his head , his body exuding an aura of power and authority with his deep black eyes carrying a sense of solemness and wisdom.

This was the Great Xia Emperor that dominated the Eastern region, Xia Tianming!, his gaze also settled on the Northern sky, the barren wastelands direction.

A moment of silence engulfed then Xia Tianming responsed, " We have our reasons, when he comes let him go through formal training, you may leave ".

" Yes your Majesty" the head eunuch bowed and left .

" What do you think " , the Emperor spoke in the seemingly empty room , yet a reply reached him .

An old man appeared from the shadows, his back was hunched , he had white hair and beards yet his eyes seemed to be filled with spirit .

" I understand your Majesty concerns, How many more years does his Majesty have ?"

The Emperor looked at him , with a stern fierce look on his face as he said " it should be enough, before Yunzi is ready We would do everything in our power to protect her , We won't go down so easily".