Chapter 1: Before the City Gates

"Halt!"

Zhou Ming Dan jolted awake and yawned. She shifted the curtain and peeked through the window of her carriage. The mountains stood majestically green at the distance thickly populated by pine trees, their peaks barely visible due to the white clouds that spread thin at the top, and the bamboo trees swayed slightly. It was lush green as far as the eye could see, she smiled. Some bird she had never heard before chirped continuously. She drew her attention to the conversation going on in front of her carriage. She could hear Housekeeper Yuze speaking with the officials but couldn't see much of what's going on in front of her carriage. She closed the curtain at the side and moved to the seat in front of her, she drew the curtain of the window separating her from the carriage driver. The road was empty of people except for the guards who stood at the big city gate, the final checkpoint where the identity of her father, her grandmother, her father's subordinates and servants will be verified and their carriages, luggage and every horse and cow are approved.

A team of medical professionals were dispatched, one of them came to examine her horse. Hua turned her face away from the doctor, he brought out something from inside his sleeve and offered it to the horse, she flipped her head and neighed and then brought her nose to the doctor's open palm. The doctor rubbed her muzzle and she ate from his hand. He proceeded with his examination.

Around her, her family's carriages were all being checked. Her father watched the proceedings silently, yet sharply. Feeling the sudden eye on him, he looked back at her carriage to see his daughter peeking, he nodded at her. They had started their journey from the country three days ago after only a week of preparation. Her father, General Zhou was summoned to return to his post at the capital. The city was in turmoil after the Left Prime Minister Chen passed away. They had moved to the country when she had turned five and her mother had just passed away. Her father couldn't contain his grief and had asked for permission to carry out his duties in the Southern Jiang Province. The emperor granted him a palace and assigned him and his army to take care of the bandits from the wasteland that caused trouble for the farm village. She grew up in peace with friends from the village who because of her had access to education. Since they had all turned fifteen now and had to be married off, their matchmakers found higher branches for them to climb to because of their education. They had parted with such tearful farewells. Saying goodbye was hard, but she knew there was nothing much left for her in the village after her friends were married off. They had their families to take care of, she was only grateful to god for allowing her to be of use to her friends where it mattered the most. She didn't want them to suffer in a household with no means or culture where they would be ill-treated.

The men finished checking and went back to their post, and bowed.

"The General Zhou and his household are thoroughly inspected and approved for passing by the Royal Bureau of Safety! We welcome General Zhou, the matriarch, and the household in the name of His Majesty Jiang, Supreme Power of the Military, Son of the great river…" the titles went on for a few minutes, "...first of his class, The Eagle-Eyed Archer and Lord of A Thousand years." the announcer proclaimed loudly and bowed at the end of his piece. The horn was blown and the ginormous gate started to open slowly.