Falling Snow

Chapter 10

[Third person point of view]

The Sound of the drum could wake the whole empire, but that seemed to be the idea. As the nobles, advises and generals dressed in the most formal gowns gathered in front of the main palace. They stood facing the Emperor who was sitting on his dragon throne, proud and arrogant.

"LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!" All the powerful chancellors yelled in the loud voice. And they repeated the phrase for three times. They kneeled down as they yelled the words of obedience and submission.

"RISE, MY SUBJECTS" the Emperor said in a thundering voice. The chancellors rose like waterfalls. This was the daily gathering, where the Emperor and his chancellors discussed the problem of the nation.

"Your majesty, I have something to report." The grand adviser Su suddenly stepped out of the formation, and he bowed as he stood in front of the Emperor. The Emperor gave him a small nodded to signal him to keep going.

"The rebels attacked the citadel gates yesterday, and the guards barely kept the out only with the soldiers from the inside palace." The grand adviser Su said, the Emperor's face was stormy. Some of the chancellors in the line shifted uncomfortably. But the grand adviser wasn't finished.

"I would like to report the misjudgment of the grand adviser Wong. He didn't report the findings of the rebellion to the crown, until it is too late. If he would have report the sight of the rebels sooner, we would have stooped them before they ever reached the citadel." The grand adviser Su yelled out as be turned to face the grand adviser Wong.

"Is the claim true. Grand adviser Wong?" The Emperor asked in a harsh, scary tone. The grand adviser Wong stormed out of the line and kneeled in front of the Emperor.

"That is an outrageous false claim, your majesty. I never had any sighting of the rebels until last time, and I did everything to ensure that they are controlled and defeated!" Grand adviser Wong said loudly, and he shot grand adviser Su a murderous look. But adviser Su did not stand down.

"Your army and look outs are everywhere, and I have source that claim that they report the sighting of rebel armies miles away from the citadel in the country side. You failed to report them to the crown!" Grand adviser Su shout back with the accusation, and it immediately infuriated grand adviser Wong.

"That is blasphemy, I have never had any report about the rebel army. My loyalty is with the crown, your majesty, I assure you." Grand adviser Wong yelled back, this was a full on verbal battle. But before grand adviser Su can counter attack, the grand general Zhou suddenly stepped out of the line and quickly interrupted the ongoing bickering.

"Please, advisers, we shouldn't be accusing each other right now. Grand adviser Su, I know you mean well, but now is not the time to accuse a fellow chancellor in vain. We should all be focusing on how to resolve the problem of rebellion." He stood facing the grand adviser Su, whose face is now turning red as if he was swallowing pure rage.

"I think now is exactly the time, the traitors are dangerous inside and out side of the court. Grand General Zhou, you should not be the one talking. You should have command your army to help out. They are only a short distance from the scene, but they never showed up. Your majesty, I think that is very suspicious as the grand general held most of the military power in the Empire. I propose you take back some of the army in the concern of the general's loyalty." Adviser Su bursted out the words. The grand general and grand adviser Wong have the same furious and insulted expression as they looked at grand adviser Su in hateful and vengeful eyes.

"How dare you say we are traitors, have you not remember the victory I brought to this Empire!" The grand general Zhou yelled in rage, and the grand adviser Wong was also about to say something. But suddenly, the Emperor stood up, and the whole court became silent.