Source of Eternity

Chapter 13

About a month after we'd completed our training with the Eight Immortals, Huorong and I stayed with Master Gang for a while. After that time passed, I knew it was time to take action. Huorong and I left and journeyed far to the city.

"You think this will work, Your Highness?" he asked me nervously as we rode on our horses.

"We can only hope," I replied honestly.

"Good enough for me," he said. Then, we stayed quiet as we entered the capital. I smirked as I saw the only guard I was ever really close to while I was at the palace: Jiahao. He was the one who secretly taught me kung fu when the emperor wasn't watching.

"Jiahao," I whispered as we came to the gate. He looked towards me. I lowered my veil around my face, gave him a small smile, then quickly put the veil back up.

"Da Xia?" he asked incredulously. I gestured for him to open the gates. "I- now?"

"Yes, now. Please..." I replied with a straight face.

"Of course," he said as he gave the signal to the guards to raise the gate. He gave Huorong a skeptical look. "Who's he?" he asked me.

"A friend. Don't worry," I whispered as I urged my horse forward without another word. As soon as I reached the stables, I got off my horse and made sure that my dagger was still on me. Huorong followed me through the front door to the palace. Surprisingly enough, the guards didn't stop us.

I snuck inside and laid eyes on the murderer-king himself, Wu Yingjie. My blood boiled at the thought of all he'd done over the past year. I raised my sword high as I prepared to strike him dead. "Little sister," whispered a voice behind me. I turned quickly to meet the eyes of my half-brother, Xi.

"Brother," I gasped. I jumped into his arms. "How? I thought he'd killed you!"

"He very well could have. But, I pleaded for my life, convinced him that I'm not a threat, and he let me live," he said, hugging me tight. "Jun wasn't so lucky."

"Thank goodness you're alright..." I said, a tear sliding down my cheek. Xi pulled back and wiped it away with his thumb.

"Little sister, what are you doing here?" he asked suddenly.

"Well..." I replied, showing him the dagger.

"Do it. We can get this nightmare over with," Xi said solemnly. I raised my dagger and plunged it into the sleeping usurper's heart, then sighed in slight relief.

"The guards will be after us," Xi said quickly. "Grab his imperial seal. It gives us power over the army."

"It gives you power over the army, my brother," I said, rolling my eyes. I grabbed the seal and gave it to him.

"I guess so," he said with a small smirk, taking it and putting it in his robes. A couple seconds later, we heard marching coming towards us.

I cursed under my breath and looked at Xi. "Brother. They're here. Get ready," I said quickly, pulling out my sword as Huorong burst through the door, sword drawn. He quickly stopped when he saw the body of the treacherous emperor with a sword sticking out of him.

"Mei- Your Majesty," he said, kneeling. "They -"

"Huorong," I said quickly. "We know. Fend off Yingjie's guards with us?"

"Gladly," he said, pulling out his own sword as Yingjie's guards burst into the room, swords drawn.

"The Emperor is dead!" one of them exclaimed before they attacked.

Huorong, Xi and I fought them off and, one by one, they fell.

"There will be more coming," I said as I dragged a couple of the bodies of Yingjie's fallen soldiers out of the way. Huorong and Xi nodded as we moved from the emperor's bedroom. Soon, Yingjie's guards surrounded us.

"Well, well, well," said a familiar voice. I turned to see Lu An with a smirk on his face. "The runaway princess, back from the dead."

"You'd do well to remember that my brother has regained control of his army, which now includes the Chu clan's army, Lu An. I think it is in your best interest that you surrender and face punishment," I replied.

"You're not bringing me down so easily, Princess..." he said before sprinting out the door.

"That's what he thinks," Xi said with a smirk. "Guards!" The emperor's guard ran after Lu An and soon came back, dragging him along with them.

Lu An chuckled. "If you kill me, my master's family won't forgive you," he sneered. "I promise you, this isn't the end. I will come back, and when I do-"

"Silence!" Xi roared. For a moment, time itself seemed to freeze. "To avoid another war, take your men, go back to the Wu clan and never return. Do not expect the same mercy from me the next time, messenger." During my time at the palace, I'd never seen my brother so frighteningly furious. It sent chills down my spine.

Lu An gave the new emperor-to-be a small nod and jerked away from the guards that were holding him just a moment before. His men followed him.

Once he'd left, Xi let out a sigh of relief. "Little sister..." he said with a soft sigh as he hugged me.

"Brother," I said, giving him a tight hug in return.

"Tomorrow, everything will be right again. I promise," he said, looking down at me with a smile as he put a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

Huo Rong let out an awkward cough. "Do you need anything else, Your Majesty?"

Xi rose his eyebrows in slight surprise, as if he'd forgotten that Huo Rong had been in the room with us the whole time, then looked at him with a small smile. "No need. Thank you, Huo Rong," he replied. Huo Rong looked at me for confirmation and I rolled my eyes. He smiled and gave Xi one last bow before leaving.

"Home..." I said softly, looking around.

"You might want to get to your quarters. You've got a surprise waiting," Xi said with a small smirk.

I gave him a confused look. He rolled his eyes. I ran to my room and opened the door to see two very familiar faces standing there.

"Mei? So?" I asked, a smile forming on my lips.

"My lady..." So said with a smile, falling at my feet and grabbing my hand. "You've returned!"

"Yes, I have. Are you two alright?" I asked quickly.

"Yes, Yes, Yes, of course," Mei said quickly. "Thank goodness that's over. Shall I get your bath started, young mistress?"

"Yes, please," I said as I sat down on my bed and waited for the bath to be ready. After I'd had my bath, my maids dressed me, I climbed into my bed and fell into a deep sleep.