PANDORA UNBOUND

f o u r t e e n

The dreaded day had come for Su Hong. It was time for his daughter to depart for Cixi. Although it was still incredibly early almost everyone inside the Capital was wide awake as they anticipate the army that was mobilize perfectly for Su Lan Yue by the emperor. Each men were at least in soulstress stage or about to break through. Such a strong army caused everyone mouths to twitch.   

'You gifted your niece an army that could bring a city down in couple of days, yet you wouldn't give your son any of these before he departed to war.'

They really couldn't help but to have thoughts that Su Lan Yue is secretly his daughter as that was the only possible explanation for his actions. The emperor couldn't have possibly forgotten the past, before he ascended the throne?

It was taboo for everyone to talk about the years prior before the emperor had claimed his throne, as that throne should have belong to another Qing whose name is now Su Hong.

"Don't forget to always wear your armour, and be careful of what you put in your mouth." Su Hong tied the ribbon tightly around his daughter neck. "And be always, near your brother."

"Um." Su Lan Yue let out a giggle which earned a glare from her father. "If you think I'm joking around, I'm sorry to tell you i am not."  Su Hong pinched his daughter nose as it turned bright red. Su Lan Yue squirmed in pain before swatting her father's hand away from her face.

Su Hong could only grin as he watch his daughter reaction. Seeing the warm air escaping from her mouth Su Hong couldn't help but frown. He patted Su Lan Yue head and ruffled her hair. "If it gets dangerous, escape. Girls like you can easily garner the attention of wolves."

Su Lan Yue couldn't but feel warmth at the attention that his father gave her. Letting out a deep sigh she hugged her father. Of course, she knew the dangers that lies in the battlefield, not only death awaits her but if she fails she could be raped by the enemy soldiers. Slowly letting go, Su Lan Yue mounted her horse. When the enormous gate of the Su residence Su Lan Yue manage to stop her lips from twitching when she felt the gaze of the people who came to look. Especially the look of the person dressed in gold robes.

The Emperor appearance was no shock to everybody, but Su Lan Yue however left their jaws wide open. Her fiery red hair was tied up in a high ponytail with no decorations. The general's uniform seemed natural and dignified to her. As she wasn't stiff nor uncomfortable. The most shocking however is that she looked like Su Hong, when he was young. Although their eyes looked different, the rest was uncanny.

If Su Lan Yue never spoke the emperor would still be in daze. Su Lan Yue never bothered on dismounting as it was troublesome so the emperor had to look up and she had to look down.

"You are free to come home anytime." The emperor force himself to smile but instead his face was contorted into an ugly looking expression. Sneering inside, Su Lan Yue nodded and started to move towards the capital exit, never bothering to look back.

There is it again, that looming emotion in the emperor's heart. That child really looked like Su Hong when he was still known as Prince Qing Hong. Both have the same presences to be acknowledge as a dragon but now the former couldn't be called anywhere to a dragon. Seeing the dejected state of Su Hong as his daughter left, he retire to his study not wanting to be bother. The emperor could only smirk, the apple doesn't trully fall far from the tree. He only wished that Su Lan Yue is the apple of Su Wangfei alone.

---
When there was already a great distance between the capital Su Lan Yue begin to pick up the pace which caught most of the soldiers off guard. But Su Lan Yue rolled her eyes and gave her first order. "Gentleman are you all walking in a park? Stop frolicking and start using your mount." Some of the soldiers were red because of her snide comments and couldn't help but grumble in their hearts.

One brave soldier bravely strode near Su Lan Yue who caught her attention instantly. "You plan on reaching Cixi in few days time?" The soft voice made Su Lan Yue lips twitched as she blink a few several time before shrugging.

"Two days."

"Isn't that a bit harsh for your soldiers?"

"Its not harsh for me." Su Lan Yue instantly dismissed the soldier. "And it would be better for us to reach Cixi before your father notice you are missing."

The soldier let out a laugh earning a weird look from the Princess Yue. Actually tearing up from her laughing Guan Ningxin wiped off her tears, and flashed a smile at Su Lan Yue. "I also think that i could be a great asset to the nation and too you." Guan Ningxin winked friovously.

It was indeed true, Guan Ningxin is one of the rare talents in Han Nation and is skilled in Qi manipulation. Although her attacks aren't showy, it was lethal. She is the perfect pair for Su Lan Yue who is great in supporting and area of effect attacks. But the thought of supporting two people at the same time made her sucked her breath. It wasn't a problem, but it was troublesome and mentally draining. Her plan was to only support her brother who specialize in Tanking all the while protecting herself and at least killing the soldiers that could complete her quest.

But who was she too complain, a gift came to her without even asking. Although it was trouble it was worth it. The more talented people aid her the better it is to land a kill shot on Kai Wen.