The Arrival

The little princess, Feng Yue, dressed in a simple blue patterned hanfu, and her nanny, alighted from an inconspicuous carriage in front of a slightly large building with the plaque "Yushan Private Clinic".

Yue-er and her nanny hurriedly climbed the stairs leading up to the entrance, where the two guards at alert greeted her. Feng Yue nodded at them and the door was pushed open.

"Miqi! Where are you?" The princess called excitedly.

A small girl emerged from one of the rooms off the corridor.

"You're here, Yue. That's fast,"

The girl was around twelve, was dressed in a yellow dress with an apron over it. She had curly eyelashes and brilliant blue eyes.

"Come on, the pill is ready. I didn't want to disappoint you since I'll be out of town shortly," she started walking down the corridor. Feng Yue followed her. The nanny stayed behind.

"Where are you going, Miqi?" Feng Yue asked.

"I'm running away! Someone wants to rob the cradle- but forget it anyway. We're here,"

It was a room with a handwritten sign above the door: Medicine Room, Staff Only. Miqi pushed the door open.

A thick medicinal scent billowed on then immediately. Feng Yue drew in a long breath with her eyes closed.

"I feel so invigorated! You're really a genius, Miqi!"

Lin Miqi rolled her eyes.

"What invigorated? You're twelve. How are you supposed to be feeling, cranky? Tsk," she strode to the open vat.

Feng Yue was looking around the room.

"Why did you say you were leaving, Miqi? Tell me, please. I - my father can help you, you know,"

Lin Miqi had extracted the pill out of the vat.

"No way. Are you kidding? The person I'm running from is at the top of the food chain. At the top of the pecking order, if you get my drift. They're basically the law. Your dad can't help me, Yue-er,"

Feng Yue bit her lip. She was about to say something but Lin Miqi beat her to it.

"Don't worry about me. Now here's the pill. Give Du the money as usual-"

"How much?" Feng Yue blinked.

"Fifty gold taels,"

Feng Yue: what?!!!!? Even I as a princess don't have that much!!

"Close your mouth," Lin Miqi sniggered, "Du will be expecting the money. Bye," she headed out.

"Miqi, wait!" Feng Yue chased after her. She ran into the corridor. Her nanny hurried up to her.

"Did something I? Miqi has problems and I can't even help her. She's honest with me yet I keep secrets from her. I'm horrible,"

"No, your highness!" Ruyin countered, "it's for your safety. You must remember her majesty's words,"

"Safety, safety, safety! Would I even be here if Miqi did not save me?" Feng Yue flared up, "look at her, look at me. She can take care of herself. I can't even do anything! Guards must follow me all the time. Miqi killed that bandit that almost got me. Can I even kill an ant--"

"Princess!" Ruyin gasped, "stop! Don't say this things!"

"That's it, isn't it?" tears slid down Feng Yue's cheeks. "Because I'm a princess, I can't do anything, I can't say anything --"

"Princess, you have a beautiful life. Look at the love the Emperor and her majesty showers you with. And the crown prince. The two elder princesses, even the empress dowager. Miss Miqi doesn't have that--"

"But she has freedom!" Feng Yue cried, "even when she's threatened, she's still alright! If that -- I don't know what's happening to her but if it were to be me, how many squads of guards would father have deployed? How many innocent girls would be cloned as me, to confuse everyone?"

Ruyin sighed.

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"Halt!"

A carriage was stopped in the middle of a busy street by patrol guards. It was the eldest miss Xiao's carriage. A shy face peeked out. Xue Er, the young miss's maid in waiting.

"You are under arrest!"

Xue Er paled.

"What?! I didn't do anything -- help! Stop! Leave me!"

She struggled but was eventually overpowered by the guards.

They brought her to the Prisons. There, in one of the chambers, sat Wang Feng Li himself, looking serene. Xue Er was pushed into the convict's chair roughly.

"And I suppose your wife will replace her when you injure her," Wang Feng Li raised an eyebrow at the overenthusiastic guard. Sweat dropped from his forehead.

"Forgive me, your highness!"

"Forty lashes. That will make you treat my consort's favorite maid with respect,"

Two other guards dragged the offending guard away to receive his punishment.

Wang Feng Li leveled his eyes to Xue Er's. She was shaking.

"So,"

"I-- I don't know where my lady is, your highness --" Xue Er stammered, "she left without me," she stifled a sob.

"I want to know," Wang Feng Li pursed his lips, "who Long Ao Tian is to my consort,"

Xue Er spasmed slightly. It didn't go unnoticed by the crown prince.

"He--" Xue Er thought of a likely story quickly, "Old madam-- old madam used to read her fortune from him,"

"Once," Wang Feng Li snapped, "and I want to know about my consort, not Marchioness Xiao,"

"Young miss--" Xue Er was sweating now. It was Tao Qi that came up with the stories, not her.

"Young miss--"

"Was in love with him?" Wang Feng Li growled dangerously. Panicking, Xue Er shook her head no like a rattle drum.

"Had a crush on him?" another growl. Shake shake shake... hesitate...

Xue Er: maybe young miss won't be Long Ao Tian in a while ....

"Ye-- yes I -- yes, she--"

"I knew it!" Wang Feng Li slapped the table between them and rose angrily.

"My consort went to read her fortune, taken, as the future empress. The damn liar, the damn charlatan, that oily face, that--" Wang Feng Li ran out of abusive words, "told my consort some nonsense claptrap, frightened her, egged her to run away! Damn him!"

The guards outside were shaking in their boots, having never witnessed the cool and collected crown prince lose his temper like this, even in the heat of war. They all lit a candle for Long Ao Tian in their hearts, and prayed fervently that the rage of their master wouldn't overflow and wash them all away in it's aftermath.

"Feng Yan!"

"Feng Yan reports!" even he was shaken.

"Where is that charlatan! Why haven't you brought him!"

"Your highness, the Blade Pavilion hasn't found him!"

"How come! Is he a martial artist? How are you unable to find him!"

Sweat ran down Feng Yan's back.

"I don't know, your highness. We followed the trail from his house on Wenjiu Street towards the South Gate and then we lost it completely,"

"Hmph! Do you want me to go myself? I can't rely on the Blade Pavilion anymore? Do you all want to go back to training?"

Feng Yan almost burst into tears.

"No, no, your highness! We'll find him. We'll find him!"

Training?!!! It was better to serve them all as minced meat.

"Leave Long Ao Tian alone for now," Wang Feng Li suddenly regained his cool, "find me my consort. When you discover a trail, inform me. I want to go after her myself,"

"Yes! I have received your order!" Feng Yan hurried out.

Wang Feng Li turned to Xue Er.

"I'll send you back to the Xiao Manor. Pack my consort's things and yours and move to the Eastern Palace,"

"Ye-- yes, your highness,"

"From now on, I am your master, and you report to me the truth. Do you understand!"

Xue Er gulped.

"No,"

Wang Feng Li frowned.

"What did you say?" It was a dangerous tone.

"No, I can't report to you!"

"Hahahaha," Wang Feng Li laughed, "why? Do you think you are the only young girl in Jin Empire? Do you think I can't find another faithful maid for my consort?"

"I know you can. But I can't report to you! The young miss is my master!"

"Fine," Wang Feng Li turned around, "fine," he turned back.

"Feng Xie!"

A silver clad young lady entered, went down on one knee.

"Feng Xie is here!"

"Bring Xue Er to the Xiao Manor and escort her to my palace when she's done with her task. From now on, I appoint you as the Imperial Bodyguard to the Crown Prince Consort,"

"Feng Xie will not let your highness down!" The lady raised her sword in salute.

Wang Feng Li nodded and waved them away. He himself left the Prisons soon after, returning to his chamber

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Xishan Market, South Gate of the Imperial Capital

It was lively, but the crowd weren't buying and selling. The majority seemed to be girls and women, who held various banners and flags and boards. It seemed like a rally, except they were stationary, as if awaiting something.

Upon closer look, the items they were carrying had a common feature on all of them: the image of a young man with his face covered, leaving only his eyes visible. Above or below this portrait were different slogans that also all included the name, Ling Dao.

"He'll be here soon, oh!"

"Is my makeup intact?"

"I'll see him today, I'll see him!"

The women and girls, their ages ranging from nine to fifty, all chatted excitedly among each other. The euphoria reached the limit when the huge Gate was pulled open by the soldiers guarding it.

"AHHH! Ling Dao! Scholar Ling Dao! AHHH!"

"He's arrived! Oh my gosh, he's arrived!"

"AHHH!"

"AHHH!"

"AHHH!"

The screams rent the air. The entourage of the Scholar Ling Dao made its way into the Xishan Market. In an open palanquin in the middle, reading a book, was Ling Dao himself.

"Scholar Ling Dao! Scholar Ling Dao!"

"Scholar Ling Dao, look at me!!"

"Scholar Ling Dao, marry me!"

"Scholar Ling Dao, I love you!"

"Scholar Ling Dao, I love you!"

More aggressive ones flung themselves at the convoy. Ling Dao's guards had no mercy and pushed them backwards roughly.

"Scholar Ling Dao! I love you!"

"Scholar Ling Dao, take me with you!"

Ling Dao finally could not pretend not to hear them. He lowered the book slowly, revealing his masked yet exquisite face. He had penetrating blue eyes, and cascading smooth black hair that was held up by an headpiece. He wore beige robes and also carried a fan with the stamped calligraphy of Zuo Pie Zi almost visible a metre away.

"It's so good to be back in Jin Empire," Ling Dao smiled, his eyes crinkling, "You can all rest easy, I'm not leaving anytime soon. I'll stay to the very end of the Huren Literary Summit. Hopefully, I'll win the title of Erudite,"

"You'll win! You'll win!"

"They don't dare not make you win! We'll tear Huren down!"

"We'll tear Huren down, we'll tear Huren down!"

"I love you, scholar Ling!"

"Marry me, Scholar Ling!"

Ling Dao chuckled.

"Come to the Huren Literary Summit and you'll see more of me,"

"AHHH! We'll come! We'll come!"

"We'll come to see our darling scholar Ling!"

"We'll cheer for you, we'll boo the rest!"

"We love you!!"

The convoy soon moved into the capital, leaving the dreamy girls behind.

Peace lasted for a second, then the girls lost their minds.

"AHHH! Scholar Ling is gone, he didn't see me!!"

"AHHH, my darling scholar Ling!"

"How are we supposed to get tickets to the damn Huren Literary Summit?!!!"

"AHHH!"

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"Your highness!" Feng Yan stumbled into Wang Feng Li's chamber, "I require permission to deploy the Blade Pavilion!"

"Why?" Wang Feng Li frowned.

"There's a commotion occuring at the Xishan Market as I speak. The Top Scholar, Master Ling Dao, arrived at the capital for the Huren Literary Summit and all his supporters went out to welcome him. But when he left, they lost their minds and are now vandalizing everywhere,"

"What does that have to do with the Blade Pavilion? Let the City Patrol handle it."

"Yes, but her highness Feng Yue is in the midst--"

"Deploy the Blade Pavilion at once," Wang Fengli ordered immediately.

"Yes!" Feng Yan ran out.

Wang Fengli rose from his table.

"South Gate...," He murmured, "hmm,"

"Who's out there?" He called.

"Feng Hu reports," another Blade Pavilion member entered.

"Get me a ticket to the Huren Literary Summit,"

"Yes!"