Rescue Me, My Love

Our Trial is Upon Us

     The Empress Bai Qian was sick and tired of the harem intrigue.  If it wasn't for her worthless husband, she would have killed them all.  Her husband.  What a weak worthless man he was.  He knew he should name Ye Hua as Taizi but he hadn't done it yet and now he was dying.  And war was coming.  Of course Ye Hua was more then able to command.  He was a brilliant strategist and the army commanders followed him without complaint.  The only problem was that worthless second prince.  If only she could get rid of him.  At this point, no one was to be trusted.  She had her own maid prepare her food and Ye Hua's when he was home.  She was guarded day and night.  The second prince, Yang Ti, was never going to give in.  This upcoming war was proof.  He had joined the enemy to see that his brother would never take the throne.
     Ye Hua was in his tent.  He was sick and tired of his brother.  He was going to end this once and for all.  They had tried to poison him six times already.  He roared his anger the last time and threatened to have every cook killed if poison was in his food one more time.  He had food tasters and guards.  He had called a meeting with his generals to work out the battle plan.  Something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.  They were waiting on him to start the meeting.  Ye Hua stood up and walked by his generals slowly.  He was an imposing figure in his black armor with red imperial trim.  He was tall and his gaze pierced through them.  "So tell me what's wrong with this battle plan.  Surely you can see it."  He waited patiently for an answer.  One general stood and pointed.  General Kai Hong spoke.   "This whole battle is a ruse, a plan to get us away from the palace.  We could defeat this rabble easily.  I say we go back to the imperial city now before it's too late."  Ye Hua nodded.  He had been thinking the same thing but just wanted to hear it himself.  "Prepare the army!  We march to the city!"
     Empress Bai Qian was uneasy.  Her husband was going to name Ye Hua as Taizi Dianxia.  Finally!  It had been too quiet and she was beginning to wonder why.  She hadn't seen the second prince in days and that bothered her.  She called a meeting of the palace guards.  Ye Hua had named a new commander.  He was young but he had proven himself to be more than capable.  He was ruthless when it came to protecting her and her household.  She liked him.  She sat down and waited for everyone to sit.  The new commander rose and bowed.  "My Empress, news has arrived that the first prince is on his way back to the city.  He is in fear of an attack here.  He sent messages for me to lock down the palace immediately and not let anyone in.  I pass on this information to you and await your command."  "We will do as first prince has suggested.  See to it immediately.  No one, and I mean no one is allowed in.  Not even deliveries without every box being opened, every cart searched and every person searched.  If they are new, don't allow them in.  We wait for Ye Hua to return."
     Ye Hua was wary.  People were lining the streets.  His soldiers were having a hard time holding them back.  His eyes were darting everywhere.  He had to get to the palace!  His unease was increasing and he picked up the pace.  Just another block!  He was approaching the gate when he saw the grinning face of his brother.  Too late he realized his mistake.  Something was thrown and exploded in his face.  That grinning face was the last thing he saw.  General Kai Hong jumped down and before Yang Ti knew it, his throat was slit.  He died there on the street as worthless as the paupers.  The general smiled.  Worthless piece of humanity.  The gates were opened and Prince Ye Hua was brought hurriedly into the court yard.  He was screaming.  He was taken to his quarters and the physician was called immediately.  Acid had exploded in his face.  His eyes were damaged beyond repair.  He would be blind for the rest of his life.
     Empress Bai Qian had rushed to his chambers.  Although Ye Hua was not her child, she had loved him like he was hers.  She slammed into the doors and rushed in to his bedside.  "Ye Hua, Ye Hua, it's mother!  Can you hear me?  Ye Hua!"  Ye Hua could hear her just like he had heard everyone else.  His brother had the last laugh anyway even though he was now dead.  He heard General Kai Hong telling his mother how he himself had killed the second prince.  He was no longer a threat but at what cost?  How could he rule when he was blind?  What would his worthless father do now?  Not to mention his own wife.  He thought of her.  He knew she had never cared for him but her treachery knew no bounds.  He had caught her with his brother.  He had loved her and she betrayed him.  Oh the humanity of it all!  "Mother, I'm blind.  I can't rule now.  There is now nothing I can do.   Have my worthless wife executed.  She was a part of this.  She and my brother.  General Kai!  I leave this task to you.  Everyone leave me now except for mother."  They all left quietly.  "Ye Hua, you can't give up.  You just can't!!"  "Mother, what can I do?  I can't see!  By all the gods, I can't see!  Please just kill me!  I can't live like this!"  "Yes, Ye Hua, you can and you will!  You just need to adjust."  "Where is my worthless father?  If he had just named me to be Taizi Dianxia none of this would have happened.  Tell that bastard I want to see him now!"  Bai Qian left his room.  She went to her husbands room to find him in bed with some maid.  Her commander was with her.  "Take this maid to the dungeon.  I will be there shortly." He called a guard who took her away.  "Well husband, for someone who is so sick all the time you seem to be doing very well for yourself.  I will kill every woman you bring in here from now on.  Now get dressed.  Ye Hua is asking for you!"  "What good is he now?  He's blind!  Looks like his brother wins after all!"  "I suppose you know he is also dead?  General Kai Hong killed his worthless self.  He will be a threat no more.  Now get up!  You're coming with me!"
     His father walked into his room.  He knew it was him by the smell of his fear.  He hated him.  Only his mother had ever cared for him.  He owed her everything.  "I can hear you father.  I suppose you had a hand in my being blinded?  I wouldn't be surprised to find out that you did.  I guess it pleases you to know that my brother's grinning face was the last thing I'll ever see in my life.  If you name me Taizi now, I will spare you.  If you think I can't make threats against you, think again.  I've had the palace guards under my control for quite some time, isn't that right mother?"  "Yes, my son, it is!  Meet General Zi Lan.  He is loyal to me and Ye Hua."   "How do you feel, father, being the one to betray your own son?  Mother, do with him as you will.  Make him sign the paper declaring me to be Taizi then get rid of him.  I never want to hear his voice again!"
    He had been in bed for a week when he decided he at least had to make an effort at a life.  Either that or he might as well cut his own throat.  His father had signed the decree.  He had been drunk for a week when his mother found him passed out on the floor of his room.  He died two days later.  With his death,  the throne had passed to Ye Hua.  A great uproar had broken out in the throne room.  Dissent was heavy in the air.  "So you all think because I'm blind that I can't rule.  There are some things that are true.  I can't command an army, I can't see an attack, I can't eat properly.  I can tell you this, I can smell your fear.  I can hear your whispers behind my back.  I will make changes now.  All of my father's advisors are to be executed except for the one's my mother deems worthy.  General Zi Lan will be in command of the palace.  General Kai Hong will command my armies.  I will name a new minister in a few days.  I will also pick an empress.  My mother will help me.  If there are no more complaints, then I leave you to wonder will your worthless lives be spared!" 
     Zi Lan had slowly worked himself up to general.  He had hoped to just be a guard.  He didn't know that the palace was in such a mess.  He was even more broken hearted when Ye Hua was blinded.  He desperately needed to report to Die Feng.  He planned a trip to the market so he could escape for a few minutes.  He was walking among the booths when he saw Die Feng, but what or rather who he saw next was a total shock.  It was Yang Cao.  What was he doing here?!?  He was following Die Feng.  Zi Lan moved quickly to get along side Yang Cao.  He was almost upon Die Feng when he raised a dagger to stab him.  Zi Lan grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back.  Die Feng turned around and his eyes got wide when he saw who was behind him.  Die Feng snatched Yang Cao's collar.  He nodded to Zi Lan.  "Report later.  I'll try to get back as soon as I can."
     Die Feng jumped Yang Cao straight to Kunlun.  Zhe Yan came out to meet him.  "Look who I have here!  He just tried to stab me in the mortal world!   Just exactly what should I do with him?"  Zhe Yan walked around Yang Cao and snorted.   "Just what is your intent, Yang Cao?  Why would you want to bring the wrath of the master of Kunlun on yourself?  Do you actually think your measly presence could change anything?"  Yang Cao laughed out loud.  "You think that weak, love struck bastard can do anything?  He's not even able to rise from his sick bed!  God of War!  Ha!  What a joke!  He can't stop me!  I know Ye Hua is on his high god trial.  I will do whatever I can to make sure he fails.  And he will fail!  Haha hahaha!"  JinDe had walked out just in time to hear Yang Cao's tirade.  He jumped over to him and grabbed him by the collar.  JinDe's eyes were pure gold.  He blew smoke out of his nose.  "So you think my Fuqin is weak, do you?  He has more power in his little pinky finger than you have ever cultivated.  Say one more word, just one more!   I have more power than you do!  No wonder you fear Shushu Ye Hua.   He is very powerful.  He will take the throne and you will be gone forever!  Just give me a reason to snap your worthless neck!"  Zhe Yan placed his hand on JinDe.  "He's not worth your time.  Block his powers and lock him up.  It's only a few more days."
     Ye Hua was by his mother's bed.  She was old now.  She had stood by him.  She had been his right hand for over thirty years.  Now she was leaving him.  Tears streamed out of his useless eyes.  He had regained partial sight in one eye but he could only see shapes.  He was still technically blind.  She raised her hand.  He took it into his own and kissed it.  "Ye Hua.  I'm leaving you now.  I have kept you in my heart and done all I could for you.  I love you, my son.  I have one more thing.  I'm not your birth mother.  She died right after you were born.  I took you to myself and raised you.  You never knew it.  You have always been mine.  Please keep me in your heart!  I must go now.  I love you, my son."  He was holding her hand when she took her last breath.  Ye Hua wailed so loudly they thought he was ill himself.  General Zi Lan came to his side.  "My emperor, let me help make the arrangements for your mother's burial.  I will handle it."  Ye Hua stood and wiped his face.  "Bring my wife to my chambers please.  I need to see her to pass her new duties."  "Yes, my lord!"
     Empress Qing Song Ti hurried down the corridor to Ye Hua's chamber.  She new his mother had died.  She also knew she would now be in charge.  She was about to step into his door when she felt the knife in her side.  The attacker drug her into his room and slammed the door.  "Well Emperor!  It seems your watchdog is dead now!  I have waited for years to get rid of your worthless hide and now I can!"  He sliced the throat of Ye Hua's wife.  Her scream was cut off when the knife cut her vocal cords.  "What no guard?  I guess you should know who I am!  You see, your General murdered my father.  That's right!  I'm your nephew!  A hidden son.  Now the throne will be mine as I finish what my father started.  Die now!"  He lunged at Ye Hua and stabbed him square in the chest.  He had come full circle.  Love and loss.  Health, wealth, loss.  Life, and loss.  He gasped out his last breath and sighed to wake no more.