GAME OF THORNS

It was getting dark by the time Yang Meizi and Nuwa arrived at the foot of the mountain, there she gazed at it touching the sky while the clouds hovered above the top and the wind blowing through the trees they shook back and forth to the silence of everything else around.

       "We are here Milady." Nuwa muttered and Yang Meizi rode off uphill while they approached a small cottage, in a distance she beheld the tombstones and immediately she got off her horse and moved up to the two of them.

      Nuwa followed while she knelt down in front of the two brushing off the leaves her face was suddenly sombre.

       "Mother?" She called in the silence while she looked up at the grave.

       "Do you know that until now I really miss you?" She added but there still wasn't a reply while Nuwa looked the other way better to not bother her.

       "I have grown and I am fine in the Palace, at times the walls there become cold and I am haunted by the shadows of the trees when it rains." She said wiping a tear from her eye as she looked the other side, "I have forgotten very many things, how to smile heartily or play and you always wished that I'd find a man who loves me and together we'd be married until now I don't think of it as a possibility." She muttered.

       The wind blowing seemed to bring a smile on her face while she was overwhelmed with so much excitement that she smiled even looking at the characters alone.

       "I am on my way mother, I am looking for justice on your behalf, I thought that I would really be content but my heart is still longing to destroy them all down to the very last person." Yang Meizi muttered while she took out a jar of wine and then poured it in a bowl she raised it to the two gravestones and poured it on the ground before she took another herself and she kowtowed thrice in front of them.

        The Dowager Empress Wu arrived at the Ministry of Justice and there she was greeted by her ally Minister Xin Qiji .

        "Your Highness." He said as he bowed his head to her.

        "The culprits?" She asked.

        "None have said a word all though one attempted to swallow their own tongue." Minister Xin replied

        "How Loyal he is a man, I wish to see if these men really can not be broken." Dowager Empress Wu remarked joyously as she charged inside being accompanied by her brother Commander Wu as well.

        Walking down the dark corridors and bypassing a series of prison cells, she was led into one that was made of thick wooden poles and there was a man whose head was bent and his entire body assaulted.

       He was bleeding endlessly and with the sight of things he seemed unconscious that the Dowager Empress looking at one of the guards nearby they picked up a bucket and poured water on the victim.

       He instantly awakened.

       "This is.....?" She asked.

       "Their leader." Minister Xin Qiji replied and she instantly smiled ghastly while she made her way inside the cell only to be realised by the prisoner.

        "You." He said in what sounded to be s cursing tone.

        "Do you recognize the Dowager Empress?" She asked and he instantly looked the other side.

        "What is it that Your Highness wishes to know?" The man asked.

         "I'll be frank and ask who sent you?" Dowager Empress Wu said and the old man hearing that he laughed aloud shaking the whole prison while the tone in his voice echoed he immediately looked at her with the most nasty gaze.

        "Would Your Highness believe me if I told you that it was the Late Emperor, perhaps it was His Majesty that sent us?" the man replied.

        "How dare you speak ill of the name of his Late Majesty?" Commander Wu asked but Dowager Empress Wu raising her hand he halted while she walked around the dungeon and inspected it.

       "This is such a terrible place to die from." She muttered.

        "We noble men are not afraid of death." The Prisoner said and the Dowager Empress turned to him.

       "Do you even know what death is?" Dowager Empress Wu asked with a smile on her face as the man kept quiet.

       "As I had expected." She replied as she moved closer and stood in front if him once again.

       "At the time parts of Kaifeng fell to the Jurchens and the Northern Song Dynasty was in turmoil, we constantly marched in war footing and I rode beside His Late Majesty the Emperor in his campaign.

       I took some of the most poisonous arrows the one I recall to be most fatal had totally shattered me to the extent that I fell into a coma for fifty six days.

       Not seeing the light of day and listening to the screams of women and children one could have as well said that I was being driven mad by it but you can guess what happened." Dowager Empress Wu muttered.

       "You walked again?" The prisoner asked.

       "Isn't this Dowager Empress standing in front of you and not your master?" She asked while he only jeered at her and spat blood on the ground.

        "You call yourself honourable but do you know the most dangerous type of a person?" Dowager Empress Wu asked while the old youth kept quiet.

        "It is someone sinister, someone that looks so innocent and boils with anger constantly sealing it off with happiness on top and waiting for the moment that some idiot is going to come up and light a fuse that will force them apart in the deadliest explosion." Dowager Empress Wu replied while she stood up right.

       "You were just transferred here from the Ministry of Rites and you must have heard a great deal of what this place is well known for doing to criminals." Dowager Empress Wu said while she looked back into the eyes of the man that were still fearless.

       "I have twenty four arrow scars on my body, sixty seven drawn by swords, eight from snake bites and nineteen from leeches." The man boasted.

       "Those creatures were generous however I am not the one to spare you any scars because I will not leave you without a skin and as your family might be far away from the capital it's not a guarantee that within the four corners of this kingdom they'll be any safer from me." Dowager Empress Wu muttered.

       "What's the best Your Highness has to offer?" the man asked, "the heads of all members of my clan and household, my while village?" The man asked and the Dowager Empress Halting she quickly looked at him fiercely.

       "Anyone." She called and a couple of guards rushed into the building the prisoner himself watching as they carried with themselves a number of knives and blades.

        "What are you going to do?" He asked, "kill me?" he added.

        "I want each and every day two fingers from both arms delivered to me in the palace, I want not less than a metres of his skin brought along, needles that are very sharp should be imbedded in his seat and nails six inches long on the ground where his feet would rest.

        Have a couple of the others hang on iron hooks and of the thirty I want at least a corpse to me delivered before sunset until one is willing to say something that I want to hear." Dowager Empress Wu ordered.

        "Yes Your Highness." They all replied in unison and at once the prisoner seemed panic stricken while she walked up to him and bowed her head staring into his eyes.

        "You know that I am not as patient and I'm waiting to see if you can honour your word." She muttered, "on the other hand I'll pray that one of your colleagues tells me something that I wish to remember and you never know, perhaps I can assure you a final rest in one piece while sparing your families if I come close to them." She added turning around and walking out of the room.

       She stopped at a distance while one of the soldiers walked up to the man and with the blade in his hands he cut off the right thumb the Prisoner not holding the pain he cried out loud.

       Content she went ahead while her brother accompanied her through the walls and corridors of the dungeons they eventually stopped certain that they were not being watched by anyone.

       "Get me someone that you can train as hard to become like them and I want him to master the history and everything that concerns his the one he'll substitute." Dowager Empress Wu ordered.

       "But sister, I don't understand who would not speak with the torture that you have put them up to?" The young man said.

       "Han Touzhou is a snake and we are human beings so there is never a guarantee of success to everything that we do, nonetheless if I try I only wish to be prepared for the very worst and moreso they'll learn to adapt to how cruel I can become." Dowager Empress Wu replied.

       "And the Emperor?" Commander Wu asked.

       "He'll have to only hear that I visited but the entire torturing process is in the hands of Xin Qiji." Dowager Empress Wu replied.

        "Yes Your Highness." Commander Wu replied while she continued the other way leaving him closely listening to the cries emerging from the cell that they had just left.

        She halted outside where she found Wan Mei and Wan'er standing and waiting for her.

       They rushed over to her side and bowed their heads while Wan Mei handed over a small envelope to her.

        "What's this?" She asked.

        "A confirmation from Minister Zhao Ruyu on the names that were forwarded." Wan Mei replied and opening it she pulled out the paper and read the names most of which had been written in a very small and thin calligraphy.

        "How many of these died?" She asked.

        "Only about a third perished." Wan Mei replied.

        "Find something to accuse them of and immediately have them report to me while we are what to do of this scoundrels." The Dowager Empress ordered coldly.

        "Yes Your Highness." The teo replied in unison and moving aside she descended the stairs into her carriage which rode off.

       There at a nearby noddle shop there were some men watching and after she had left they quickly moved into the nearby alley where Lin Xue was seated and whispered into his ears he immediately got up and left.

       He opened the doors to Han Touzhou's study and then walked up to him bowing his head.

       "What have you heard now?" He asked.

       "Her Highness visited the Ministry of Justice this night and it seems that the Emperor is aware as well, there were lots cries coming from inside and her composure seemed to be reserved." Lin Xue replied.

      "She is yet to hear what she wants to hear and I'd expect that from her." Han Touzhou replied.

       "I heard that Xin Qiji at her urging is employing some of the most cruel measures to get our men to speak up I fear that a number could lose their tongues." Lin Xue remarked.

      "We reared homeless people and those with families have them in our custody, they would rather die yet I too need to minimize casualties and prepare for the worst." Han Touzhou muttered.

       "What should we do?" Lin Xue asked.

       "The transfer isn't yet assured but knowing the Empress one way or another she could be forced to see to it.

       Let alone if they don't peacefully move from the ministry of Justice then we'll have to force them out of it." Han Touzhou muttered.

       "When you say this Her Highness either way could easily suspect your move." Lin Xue replied.

        "She could suspect the move but not the number of strikes just like you can be certain that there will be waves at sea but know not the number they'll hit against your ship." Han Touzhou replied.

       "But this is a very busy week, we expect salt and otterskins arriving in from Goryeo and moreso the Dowager Empress is going to organize a prayer while His Majesty the Emperor will go to watch and guard the Imperial mausoleum for a week's time." Lin Xue replied.

       "Her Highness will naturally be expectant in this commotion as it is but our only chance to strike so if we lose it there's no tomorrow we can as well resort to slaying everyone else that is exposed." Han Touzhou muttered.

       He clenched his fists on the table.

       "There's still no news from the Crown Princess as the Empress is sure to have kept her under surveillance it'll be very hard for us to keep in touch with her or hear a thing or two that'll be very useful." Lin Xue said.

       "There's nothing that she can do except count on us and if we'd turn to Consort Huang I fear that we might aggress her to revealing the blood letter." Han Touzhou said as he massaged his head.

       "Shall we really make it out this time because most of the people that were subdued were our very best." Lin Xue muttered.

       "Trust me." Han Touzhou replied, "the Empress maybe a master at machinations but she is as human as I am." He added certainly.

       Yang Meizi was seated in the small cottage and watching the moon she marvelled at its beauty while it's light illuminated the tree tops in a distance.

       She marvelled at them when Nuwa seated at a distance she looked at her palms.

       "You know that the memories of my childhood to this day are very faint but I remember that day crystal clear as it was when I held my mother's body in my hands." Yang Meizi muttered.

       "How could I not recall!" Nuwa exclaimed.

       "What did mother do to deserve the cold shoulder of the world?" She asked.

       "It's all but very saddening in deed." Nuwa said.

       "Slowly gazing in a distance she caught sight of a couple of torches that were headed their way and closely watching she realized that they weren't more than two.

        "Someone's coming." She said.

        "Should we check out who it is?" Nuwa asked.

        "No." Yang Meizi replied.

        "Young Master, we have already been riding for a while." Dong Hua muttered.

        "You can as well go back." Shi Miyuan replied.

        "I don't understand, aren't you afraid that she'll hit you again?" Dong Hua asked.

        "Why should I be very afraid?" Shi Miyuan asked, "if she hit me it would be good enough, a scar itself very precious it would remind me of the fourth time I saw her and the third time we met." Shi Miyuan replied.

       They halted at a distance while he raised his eyes and noticed a cottage that was candlelit and glowing in a distance.

       "There." Shi Miyuan said as he pointed at it and Dong Hua seeing it he sighed with relief.

        The two arrived at the mountain top and knocking on the door Yang Meizi didn't move while Nuwa stood up from where she was seated as she approached it.

       "Don't." Yang Meizi halted her and raising her hand halfway she quickly lowered it down.

        "Stay away from that door." She ordered and the latter bowing her head she complied.

        "No one's opening." Dong Hua muttered.

        "Perhaps they probably don't wish to do so." Shi Miyuan replied.

        "We can't just spend the night outside." Dong Hua replied, "it's very cold here." He added while Shi Miyuan slowly started moving around the building and inspecting it while he followed his lead.

       They arrived behind and he realised that the window was open with a small leg swinging from it he further positioned himself ahead of the person that was seated on the windowsill finally identifying them they did the same.

       "You?" Yang Meizi and Shi Miyuan said to one another at the same time, "what are you doing here?" They asked simultaneously while Shi Miyuan laughed aloud and Yang Meizi felt somewhat offended.

        "Is it not fate." He teased while the latter rolled her eyes and ignored him.

        "Could we share the cottage?" He asked.

        "No." Yang Meizi replied immediately without giving it the slightest thought that Shi Miyuan was very surprised.

        "It's very cold out here." He said.

        "Ten years ago there wasn't a shelter on this Mountain, at the time I travelled here I survived in the cold, sure to make such a journey Your Excellency, you should have been prepared for the worst given how sensible you are." Yang Meizi muttered.

        "If it's about what happened in the city earlier today then I am very sorry and I mean no harm at all." Shi Miyuan said.

        "Please." Dong Hua pleaded with her and looking the other side she felt like ignoring them both yet she still resisted it herself deep down.

        "What is it that you really want?" She asked.

        "We are just staying here for the night." Shi Miyuan replied as he smiled ghastly.

        "And what are you doing on this Mountain?" She asked.

        "We were a little bit lost." Shi Miyuan replied.

        "I met you in the capital much earlier I can't help but wonder how and why you would be this far not knowing where you're going?" Yang Meizi asked.

        They were silent while she looked at them so coldly and seriously.

        "You tell me." She said, "twenty people die every year around these parts and do you know why?" She asked as the two looked at each other before they nodded their heads.

       "No." They said in unison while Yang Meizi jumped down from the windowsill and standing she faced them confidently while she walked closer and closer.

        "I heard there are mountain lions, I heard that in these trees and hedges there are snakes and scorpions." She muttered and Shi Miyuan standing his ground he felt somewhat intimidated, "there's a price that you must first pay for the both of us to let you inside." She added finally cornering him at a pole that Dong Hua trying to cease her shoulder she moved aside and twisted his wrist while he cried out a little bit too loudly.

      "I mean no harm." Dong Hua said while she stepped on his joints that he knelt down and looked up to her.

      "Pay up." She said and Shi Miyuan looking at her he realised how serious she was he held into his clothes and then pulled out a small bag which he handed over to her.

      Yang Meizi took it into her hands and weighed it.

      "It's a good enough price." She said to Nuwa while she turned around and walked away leaving the both of them behind.

      "Stay on that side of the room, cross it and I'll break your legs." She muttered and the others nodding their heads she smiled ghastly while looking at Nuwa.

       It was already very dark and dawn was approaching, Bao Langya and a number of people in his party hid in the trees that overlooked the narrow path that emerged from the coastline.

       In a distance they would see a couple of torches shining and there were some small buildings around while the ships well docked had their sails lowered with the masts reflecting the moonlight the water looked relatively calm.

       A couple of soldiers were moving about and private guards seated and some talking to one another.

       "There's very many of them." Bao Langya muttered.

       "Are we certain that Han Touzhou's caravan will travel through this way?" Bo An asked.

        "Mei'er has watched this place for the past couple of years, it took a while for her to master the movements.

        None of this is a coincidence, it's merely a routine." Bao Langya replied.

        "There's only three more hours to dawn." Bo An muttered.

        "Tell everyone else to be ready." Bao Langya ordered and Bo An listening he stood up from where he was seated and walked away to the others leaving his friend behind.

       The Saffron sky hovering above their heads, the coastline was already organised with the goods themselves packaged into three different convoys.

       "Is everything ready?" One of the guards in charge asked.

        "As usual." His subordinate replied.

        "We set out immediately." He ordered and the latter nodding his head they quickly walked out of the room into the open where all the others were preparing themselves a majority sharpening their sabres and swords.

         Bao Langya still watching Bo An knelt down beside him.

        "How's everything?" he asked.

        "They're preparing to leave it seems." Bao Langya replied.

        "What about Mei'er?" Bo An asked, "still no word from her?" He added.

        "Don't worry, she knows what she will do and at a time like this, it's her opportunity to tackle the enemy she certainly wouldn't let it go.

      Dowager Empress Wu was seated in her room and looking through a small book when the doors were opened and Wan Mei walked up to her bowing her head.

       "Tell me." She ordered.

       "Everything's prepared your Highness and Commander Wu told me to inform you that he succeeded." she muttered while she smiled ghastly.

        "Then the prayers must not be delayed." Dowager Empress Wu said as she placed the book on her table and standing up she walked away while her attendants followed.

        Han Touzhou walked into a room that was on the side of his manor while being accompanied by Lin Xue and halted at the front where he turned and faced a large number of people that were dressed in black attires.

        "You that are all here must have known what you're up for and I am going to go through the plan one more time." He Said.

        "Yes." They replied in unison while he smiled.

        "Your target isn't the soldiers but the prisoners and we are at no advantage because where we are going the soldiers are expecting us.

      If we can stick to the plan then it'll be much easier for us to survive but even one simple misstep could cost us every effort we have invested in this." Han Touzhou said.

      "Don't worry Your Excellency, we understand what must be done." One of them said.

       "The transfer of these prisoners is going to be slightly concealed so as to not draw any attention so the defense might seem relaxed but I assure you that shall be nothing more than a decoy keep that in mind because the Assassins are regarded as traitors they wouldn't be spared easily." Han Touzhou said, "your only initiative is to make them believe that you have fallen for their ruse twice." He said.

      Dowager Empress Wu's sedan chair was carried and it halted right outside the temple where a large number of all the other Imperial relatives had gathered.

       She offered her hands to Wan Mei and Wan'er who helped her up onto her feet and slowly she mounted the small staircase that led to the very front while the Emperor Xiaozong walked ahead.

       The two of them halted in front of the large golden Buddha statue and the Dowager Empress leading them all they knelt down and kowtowed to it while looking at the memorial tablet of Late Emperor.

       Looking at it she was immersed in a series of thoughts as she seemed to recall the times they had been through together and how tightly he'd embraced her back in the days of their youth.

       How he had nursed her wounds and she had done the same for him and how well they rode on one horse together during the war.

       The arrows that she'd taken for him and the promises made slowly returning for a while she couldn't help it but feel overwhelmed with so much sorrow she found herself in tears.

       "Don't worry my dear." She thought to herself inwardly, "they that killed you will surely pay." She swore bitterly while she bowed her head.

       Commander Wu and his men were escorting the prisoners through the abandoned streets at the back of the ministry and in the silence as he looked around suspiciously his eyes travelled over the rooftops to the surrounding balconies while trying to steal a peek and the doors and windows if there was anything strange that was coming from inside.

       The silence grew a little too overwhelming but he didn't seem bothered by it until all of a sudden they heard the sound of arrows vibrating against the wind.

       "Watch out." Commander Wu shouted and unsheathing his sword he struck one of the arrows aside before it hit his face.

       Looking on the rooftops a Series of armed assassins descended in their midst and one coming particularly for him he shot his horse which leaped and attempting to fall down the Commander jumped off of it.

        "Defend the prisoners." He shouted and with his sword he charged towards his attacker while a battle ensued between the two antagonistic parties.

        He swang his sword towards the enemy they simply withdrew backwards while he charged and close enough to his chest to lay a strike, the attacker moved around and positioned himself behind swinging his sabre as the Commander sommersautled and dodged the attack.

        The assassin determined he dashed towards him consequently swinging his sabre while the old Commander kept on guarding continuously.

        Eventually he placed the sword at the attacker's neck while the attacker did the same and looking into his dark eyes for a moment there was a loud explosive sound that alarmed them all.

       The Assassins turning around they noticed the Imperial troops closing in on them while Commander Wu smiled at his prisoner who hit his sword away and flew up to the nearby roof.

      "Retreat." He shouted and his fellows trying to escape some were held down and slaughtered while the others rising to the rooftops and balconies they turned back and looked at the prisoners that were still trapped in their wooden cells.

       "We can't possibly beat them." One whispered and Commander Wu looking at them he smiled ghastly while they vanished.

       Minister Xin walked up to his colleague and then greeted him.

        "I hope that we weren't very late?" He asked.

        "The prisoners are still in our custody." Commander Wu replied, "however we have a number of casualties even if the wounds aren't that  serious." Commander Wu muttered.

      "It isn't far from here to the offices of the State Tribunal." Minister Xin muttered.

       "We can as well make it on our own." Commander Wu replied as he bowed his head.

       "Someone should still watch the Ministry of Justice, I believe that our job here is done." Minister Xin said.

       "Thank you Your Excellency." Commander Wu said bowing his head and the latter doing the same he led his division of the Imperial troops away.

       Commander Wu mounting another horse he quickly led the prisoners away confident that they were safe and only a couple of minutes later he heard cries that were coming from behind.

        "What's with the fuss?" He asked one of his subordinates and immediately turning around he noticed that some of the guards were stabbing their fellows and untying the ropes while breaking the chains of the cages.

       "No." He muttered, "how's that possible?" He asked as he recalled the brief fight that they had had before.

       "They must have blended in during the fight." His subordinate replied and the two quickly turning around their horses they heard another cry emerging from above the rooftops the Assassins that had left them had not entirely gone.

       "We've lowered our guard down." Commander Wu said and while he charged he was surrounded while the assasins picking up the escort horses they rode away from the street leaving the cages abandoned.

        Han Touzhou was seated and lost in his own thoughts inside his study when the doors were opened and Lin Xue rushed in with a smile on his face he immediately fell onto his knees before his master.

        "How did it go?" Han Touzhou asked.

        "The mission was a success and our brothers were liberated much as some of them died in the interrogation and the strife but compared to the Imperial troops, we sustained minor casualties." Lin Xue replied.

       Han Touzhou sighed in relief.

       "At last." he said to himself and immediately stood up.

       "Explain to me how it was pulled off." He demanded.

       "As you had anticipated Your Excellency, in deed the convoy had reinforcements that were waiting and the Dowager Empress foresaw that you'd strike.  

       While the fight raged a few of our assasins blended in with the advancing reinforcements and thd two armies wearing a similar uniform it was difficult to distinguish between the enemies and the allies and that's how the second attack was pulled off to Commander Wu's surprise." Lin Xue replied.

        Han Touzhou thinking about it he nodded.

        "Definitely an iron proof plan and as I had been worried I'm glad that the Dowager Empress didn't see through it." Han Touzhou remarked.

        "Your Excellency is wise and had I been in her shoes I definitely would have not seen it coming and moreso that the Assasins went missing under her very own negligence, this can be the perfect excuse for us to try and topple her in the Court given that His Majesty will need an explanation." Lin Xue muttered.

       "Don't be too rash." Han Touzhou muttered, "nothing is for certain otherwise if we rush we'll crush and dig our own graves." He said.

       "I don't understand." Lin Xue said.

       "No one knows what the prisoners who died under torture or those that we had saved said, if we bring up an issue like that supposing the Emperor had hinted at something and we directly attack the Empress Dowager then he'd in deed learn that there's something more to the matter than that which meets the eye." Han Touzhou replied.

      "Are you saying that we shouldn't react?" Lin Xue asked.

       "I haven't said that either." Han Touzhou replied with a ghastly smile on his face.

       "Enlighten me Your Excellency." Lin Xue requested.

       "Think about it, if someone is to bring up the topic of the assasins then for our own safety it shouldn't be one of our people." Han Touzhou replied.

       "But if we don't then who will?" Lin Xue asked.

       "The people themselves." Han Touzhou replied as he smiled widely.

       Dowager Empress Wu walked into the Ministry of Justice and Minister Xin and Commander Wu noticing her presence they quickly went onto their knees.

       "Pardon us Your Highness, we failed you." Commander Wu said.

       "Don't weep so much over it." Dowager Empress Wu replied, "I understand that the task itself wasn't as easy." She added.

       "But we let our guard down and now because of that our firm grip on Han Touzhou has been lost yet certainly when the concern is raised the Emperor will need to hear about the investigation." Minister Xin said.

       "Leave that to me and you don't have to worry because you did a very great job." Dowager Empress Wu praised the two they seemed surprised as they looked at each other while she walked past them.

       "Han Touzhou could have foreseen our recklessness while on the other hand I too foresaw his success.

        If we kept those prisoners they would have hardly said a thing to us but now that Han Touzhou himself has taken it upon his shoulders to liberate them and return them to his care that is good enough for me " Dowager Empress Wu said.

        "We don't understand." Commander Wu said.

        "When I asked you to find a replacement for one of the prisoners I had calculated the likely chance of either a prison break or a direct attack on our people while transferring the prisoners and Han Touzhou could have foreseen anything but not the possibility of one of the prisoners not being his own people." Dowager Empress Wu replied as she smiled at them.

      "If one of the prisoners is your men then automatically with an informant on the inside Han Touzhou shall have led you to himself." Minister Xin said.

       "And I can kill two birds with one stone by suppressing both the rebels and arresting their leader." Dowager Empress Wu replied as she smiled ghastly while she walked up to the nearby window, "Han Touzhou's demise shall come much sooner than he'll expect it." She added certainly the other two looking at her they simply bowed their heads respectfully.

      Shi Miyuan felt the heat of the morning sun on his face and slowly he opened his eyes and beheld first the tree leaves outside and the sun shining in the sky.

       Quickly he sat up and looked around the whole room but there wasn't a sight of the girls anywhere nearby.

       "Dong Hua." He called and his colleague opening up his eyes he looked at him.

       "Your Excellency?" He said but Shi Miyuan only seemed to be processing what was going on.

       "Where are the girls?" He asked.

       "Could it be that they already left because there's nothing like luggage which could be belonging to them here." Dong Hua said and Shi Miyuan hearing those words he immediately stood up.

       "How could it be, they haven't even said a word, they didn't even bother tapping us to wake up?" He yelled.

       "And what were you going to tell them Your Excellency?" Dong Hua asked, "That we are closely following you you simply can't get up and go?" He said.

       Shi Miyuan kept quiet.   

       "The least that they should know is our meeting having been a coincidence, by chance we were travelling to the North East." He said and Shi Miyuan looked the other way somehow disappointed.

       "Young Master, I don't understand why your are acting so childishly because of a woman?" Dong Hua remarked.

       "What would you know?" Shi Miyuan asked, "father has been pestering me to find a prospective bride soon enough and continue the family bloodline and by chance I found her and fell in love with her the very moment I laid my eyes on her.

       She is stubborn and loud my life would be interesting with her, and I can only imagine the children that the both of us will have together." He said as he smiled heartily.  

        "You don't know her name or where she is from." Dong Hua said.

        "It doesn't matter." Shi Miyuan said, "I knew from the moment I first saw her that she was the one I was looking for." He said as he looked out of the window.

        "But if they have gone it's a little bit too late for us to follow right now." Dong Hua said and immediately Shi Miyuan coming back to his senses he strode out of the cottage while he followed.

        He looked around and the whole place Silent they could only see two of their horses.

        "Their steads aren't here." Dong Hua said.

        "Could it be?" Shi Miyuan asked.

        "What?" Dong Hua asked.

        "We'll find them." Shi Miyuan replied.

        "What's the rush Your Excellency?" Dong Hua asked and while the two debated at a distance there was someone that was hidden in the nearby woods watching their every move.

        The Caravan that was carrying the goods was fast approaching while Bao Langya and his men stood in the woods waiting for it to pass.

       Yang Meizi rode up to the edge of a cliff where she looked down in the valley and saw them advancing in a distance and Nuwa riding the horse behind her she also monitored from the same height.

        "They are almost in range." She muttered.

        "When they get close enough the brothers are going to launch their attack." Yang Meizi said.

       "But I don't understand Milady, they could do this on their own so why are you even participating anyway?" Nuwa asked.

        "Han Touzhou is a very cunning man and should the worst come to the worst then I don't want to leave anything breathing moreso when I am going to reclaim this territory." Yang Meizi replied.

        "Milady?" Nuwa said so surprised.

        "This is a network of Han Touzhou to Goryeo that must be severed to ensure that he crumbles entirely, if I can gain possession of it or even better the State, then whatsoever activity that scum has been running will have to be extinguished." Yang Meizi replied while she turned her horse and rode off downhill.

        The Caravan arrived into the woods and the leader looking around he surveyed the area for anything abnormal.

        Bao Langya ready he raised his hand while the archers seemed to prepare to strike.

        He gave his signal and while the guards were in close proximity they fired at them first and shot down a few.

         The rest of them flew into a panic.

        "Charge." Bao Langya yelled and at once emerging from the trees they descended upon their enemies.

        "Defend the goods." The commander of the convoy shouted and the other guards surrounding the carriages they clashed with them.

        Bao Langya charged towards the commander of the convoy whose horse neighed and stood on its hind legs while he leaped and kicked it on the face an

        It staggered while the commander flew off  and landed on his feet.

        Bao Langya charged with a series of multiple attacks swinging his blade from side to side while the Commander guarding he returned a kick that he obstructed with his sword.

        "Reveal your face coward." The Commander shouted and at that moment he heard the sound of another blade that was vibrating at the impact of the wind and emerging from behind.

       He moved aside and Bo An struck the ground instead while he moved his hand towards him the Commander retreated backwards while the two were surrounded by his men.

        Bao Langya looked at Bo an and stretching out his right hand, Bo and ceased it and both their hands tightened themselves around the small sleeve bow that they shit at them while revolving around.

         Bo An breaking free he threw his sword around that it tackled the others Virginia them down by their necks while the Commander of the Caravan looking at the both of them he quickly called for his men to come behind him and they complied stretching their arrows as well.

        At the time there was another sound of neighing that emerged from a distance and while they pinned their attention to the end of the winding path they caught sight of another rider today that was headed their way with a set of flaming arrows in her bow she shot then at once and they flew striking the wooden carriages and the thick clothes that were being used to cover them.

       Instantly the goods were set ablaze.

       "Cease him." The Commander shouted while a couple of his footmen charged at Yang Meizi who unsheathing her sword she cut through a number of them before stopping and then raising it in the air.

        There wasn't any water and Yang Meizi looking at the wagon behind that was carrying Alcohol with it she took a fire Lance into her hands and then aimed for it.

         The Commander realising he picked up his bow and arrow as well to aim for her but Bao Langya kicking up one of the corpses of his men it blocked the target while she shot at the wagon causing it to explode a little bit loudly the people at the Port heard.

        At once they saw smoke rising from the trees and a number of them wondering what was wrong, their leader moving closer from the pavilion where he was standing only seemed to look and do nothing.

       Yang Meizi having the attention of the Commander she pretended to drop a certain token onto the ground and turning her horse around, she rode off leaving Nuwa caught up in the fight with the others.

        The Commander charged after her and the two rode off at a distance around the mountain.

        "I'll kill you with my own hands." The Commander swore but Yang Meizi smiling ghastly under her veil she took another long route intentionally while the Commander persisted in his own direction.

        "Is anyone here?" Shi Miyuan shouted having arrived in what seemed to be a grassland on foot while searching for Yang Meizi and her colleague and at the insisting of Dong Hua, the two had separated themselves.

        While he looked in a distance he could see a rider headed his way and judging from his prominent masculine features even in a distance he knew that the figure was rather strange given the rider held onto a very large sabre.

        At that moment he heard the neighing of another horse coming from behind and turning around to see who it was he caught sight of Yang Meizi who seemed too frightened.

         "What's this idiot doing here?" She thought to herself.

        "That must be the person responsible." The Commander immediately concluded having noticed that he was dressed a little bit too nobly.

        "Get down." Yang Meizi shouted as she charged on her horse and Shi Miyuan realising that the man riding towards them was holding up his bow and arrow he quickly fell down into the grass while Yang Meizi also ceased her bow and arrow and aimed at the man.

       "Go to hell." The man thought inwardly as she released his arrow from his bow and Yang Meizi doing the same her arrow flew towards his, colliding head on hers went above and the Commander's below towards the ground finally shooting him in the chest she lowered her bow and smiled while the Commander fell off his horse and died.

        There were other riders that were approaching and Shi Miyuan standing up, Yang Meizi rode up to him and ceased his hand pulling him to the back of the horse he tightened his arms around her waist and then she rode off into the surrounding trees.

        "Commander?" His men shouted and called to him but there wasn't a response coming from him as the culprits vanished from sight and the men cursed.

        Bao Langya having watched the goods burn entirely the battle still raging he whistled and immediately his men started withdrawing a large number of the guards still too weak and others too injured to pursue they simply watched them vanish back into the trees when another group of reinforcements from the port arrived a little bit too late.

       Commander Wu and Xin Qiji still seated in the office a guard walked in and offered them a small piece of paper.

        "The carrier pigeon has delivered this." He said as he handed it over and Xin Qiji taking it into his hands he smiled.

        "What does it say?" Commander Wu asked.

        "Han Touzhou shall be meeting up with them tonight in a small cottage outside the Capital." Xin Qiji replied.

        "At this point if he is rounded off with them then it's a direct charge of treason." Commander Wu said.

         "Even if he wanted he couldn't possibly come up with an excuse to defend himself from the Emperor." Xin Qiji remarked as he turned to the other guard that had brought in the message.

        "Tell everyone else to prepare and alert our team that we will be moving out tonight." He said.

        "Yes." The guard replied as he withdrew immediately from the hall while the two men remained their looking at each other.

        Shi Miyuan seemed to be enjoying the embrace of Yang Meizi as he smelled around her nose the cologne she was wearing and suddenly found the small droplets of sweat falling from her face very attractive.

       Even from the side he could have a glimpse of her eyes that burnt with so much passion and fire and her breath was warrior like in nature just as she tightly held onto the reins of her stead.

        They halted while he was absent minded.

        "We lost them." she said.

        "Hmm." She Miyuan muttered while nodding his head.

        "Get off." She said and he was quite surprised by what she was saying.

        "Excuse me." He wished to object immediately but Yang Meizi ceasing his hand she pushed him down while he lightly fell onto the ground.

        "How can you be very mean?" He asked.

        "I've already saved your life twice and I have given you a ride this far so I owe you." Yang Meizi replied.

         "That's unfair, I got there in the first place looking for you." Shi Miyuan said as he stood up.

        "I didn't ask you to do so." Yang Meizi replied.

        "I woke up to the silence in the room and there were only our horses that were left for a moment I was scared that something could happen to you." Shi Miyuan said.

         "And you would be there to protect me?" She asked while he immediately went quiet.

         "My martial arts skills are far more superior than those of many people in this world, moreso when it comes to protection aren't you a little bit too worried that it is me who would have to protect you instead?" Yang Meizi asked and Shi Miyuan was left speechless.

        She quickly turned her horse around but Shi Miyuan hurriedly stood in front of it.

        "What are you doing?" She asked.

        "Nothing." Shi Miyuan replied.

        "If you have nothing to say to me then I'll be going." Yang Meizi said.

        "No you can't." Shi Miyuan halted her.

        "Who are you to stop me?" She asked.

        He kept quiet.

        "I think you should know well enough that if you choose to stand in my way I won't hesitate to run over you with this horse." Yang Meizi said.

        "I have studied Confucian principles all my life and I know that since you saved my life you are not a bad person." Shi Miyuan said, "it's just that I like you." He suddenly added and Yang Meizi surprised her eyes stared at him on the verge of popping out.

       "I follow you around because I am concerned and everything that I do lately I have you on my mind, when I am all alone at times I forget to think about anything else and the. Suddenly you appear in my mind I don't hate it that I instead grow to feel happier." Shi Miyuan muttered and Yang Meizi unsheathing her sword she pointed it at him.

      "Get out of my way." she ordered while the latter remained silent.

       "Move or I'll move you forcefully." She said and Shi Miyuan hesitant he only walked closer to the horse instead while the edge of the blade rested on the left side of his chest.

       "You are very brazen and you are also very stubborn." She said.

        "I take after you and think about it as well it won't be that bad for me to die by the edge of your sword." Shi Miyuan muttered.

        "I am not a fan of having my limits tested, trust me you'll be disappointed." Yang Meizi said.

       "Go ahead and kill me." Shi Miyuan said and without hesitation she pushed her blade into his flesh while he cried looking at her as she mercilessly pulled it out.

        "I won't kill you, just play dead because there are enemies behind you." Yang Meizi whispered while Shi Miyuan fell down onto the ground and she charged in the opposite direction luring them away from him while he slowly watched them disappear from where he was.

     Yang Meizi rode her stead across the field while they followed in pursuit and reaching in front and certain that the distance between them both was a lengthy one, she turned her horse around and faced them while holding up her bow and putting in it three arrows.

       She aimed at the men who were advancing and they didn't seem to slow down despite herself having them in her target they simply started moving in cross cross formations to confuse her.

       She didn't falter and instead drew the bow much more as she waited for her Chance.

        Once they were in close proximity she fired and her arrows flying so swiftly and hardly seen they caught them and pushed them off their horses content she smiled at herself while she turned and rode away.

       "Young Master." Dong Hua screamed as he searched all over the place while there was no sight of Shi Miyuan anywhere.

       While he travelled through the tall grass he suddenly stopped when he caught sight of something on the ground and walking closer he quickly fell on his knees when he recognized the physique and the attire that was being worn.

      "Your Excellency." He cried as he tried slapping his face hoping that he would react he ended up disappointed.

       He took the pulse which seemed to be steady and checking for a fever there was none.

       "Did Young Master faint?" He asked himself and gathering the strength that he could find he quickly lifted him up and put him on his back.

       Shi Miyuan seemed to be gaining some confidence while he muttered a couple of words under his breath that Dong Hua didn't seem to hear clearly.

       Yang Meizi having ridden for a while she met up with Bao Langya and the others.

        "Milady." They said to her as they bowed their heads.

        "How did it go?" Yang Meizi asked.

        "We observed as all the goods were destroyed." Bao Langya replied, "definitely after what happened on the battlefield I am certain that Han Touzhou won't like the news at all." Bo An said.

        "Well done." Yang Meizi said, "however you must return to the Capital to celebrate the New Moon festival." She added.

        "What about you?" Bao Langya asked.

        "I still need to worship my mother and Nuwa and I can survive, it's likely that we'll return to the capital the day after tomorrow." Yang Meizi replied.

        "Then we'll take our leave Milady." They said in unison and bowing their heads they rode past while Nuwa moved to her side as she watched them go.

        "Are you alright." She asked.

        "Of course I am." Yang Meizi replied.

        "And the Commander?" She asked.

        "Rest Assured I have killed him." Yang Meizi replied.

        "We have toppled the caravan and surely you'll now have Han Touzhou's attention, what are we to do next?" Nuwa asked.

        "Just be patient and watch and see, once we have return to the palace the battle will ensue and these current upheavals concerning Han Touzhou are going to ignite the Emperor's suspicion for sure." Yang Meizi replied as she smiled ghastly.