Legend of the Dragon Princess

Chapter 10.2: Azure Reflection

Doleful silence rolled in, breaking up the exchange between us.  Soon, we were listening to the music of pitter-pattering raindrops and low, rumbling thunder from overhead.  The boy then flashed a small smile, attempting to reassure me that no harm was done as the wind blew against his caviar-black tunic.

"Heart-Joy." Xin Yi carried on, with his tuneful voice fading as if to escape the potential ears of those around us. "Major Tang told me that when he found me, I brought joy to his heart as a son to a father; hence, I was given the name, Xin Yi." The bodyguard paused as if to reminisce a golden memory. "But I've yet to understand what that name means to me." 

"Your Majesty!" It was Hao, calling out to us as both he and Ming raced toward us from down the hall.  Other guards moved to make space, and when the Chen brothers loomed closer, it became clear that they were both wearing their shining silver and gold chainmail armor.  "Your Majesty, I didn't know..." They both approached close, stopping short of a few steps from where Xin Yi and I stood.  Hao was even donning his giant golden helmet with the onyx-black plume while Ming wore his with a snow-white one at the top. The two young men were panting, having dashed their way from who-knows-where. "I didn't know how to tell you—and I don't expect you to understand—but Empress Bao Fan has halted your travel to the princess' wedding—and our father, General Chen, has adamantly commanded our presence down south, outside of the capitol."

What a way to announce two different sets of news!  To this, I raised a sharp eyebrow and asked, "What's happening outside of the capitol?" There were soldiers running down the stone steps below, ready to depart.  The loud clinking of their metal armor could be heard from all around. "Tell me now." Instantly, I met the eye of one familiar qiang liang, with new purple bruises across his face, before he sped off.

"We are to quell a large peasant rebellion and take any action that is necessary to prevent their entrance into the capitol's vicinity." stammered Hao, who seemed to be stunned at my calm demeanor.

"Why is there a large rebellion in the first place?" In the past, I often found politics to be dull and mundane—but it's different if innocent lives are involved. To my shock, the stoic older brother hesitated, pursing his lips tightly together into a line. "Hao, speak!"

"There was a bad harvest last year, and since they could not recover from the huge loss of crops, they were unable to..." He exhaled a long sigh. "They were unable to buy seeds and various goods to help them get ready for the new year."  Then, a surge of confusion swarmed in as the older boy tilted his head. "But you already know all of this..."

"Prices of the seeds and other market goods have been inflating since Emperor Fue's passing." Ming chimed in, nonchalantly.  Seeing that he has my full attention now, the young man placed a firm hand on my right shoulder. "Take care while we're gone and stay out of trouble.  It's best to not travel right now, anyway." He flashed Xin Yi a clouded look of warning before removing his hold of me.

To sum it all up, I can no longer leave to travel to Zhou Shun Hai's estate or to meet my twin brother, Jing.  Though the rebellion takes place down south, because of the man-hunt for the runaway assassin—there's probably more restrictions on travel and item inspection in all of the routes leading in and out of the capitol. "Wait, but my sister—" How bad is it really?

"I see that you are dissatisfied, my dear son." Immediately, I snapped my sight onto the beautiful, porcelain-pale woman garbed in a long, dark mulberry-red overcoat, ivory-white underlayers, and long matching gown covering her small feet. "You two may go, Lieutenant Hao."

Followed by a train of dark-navy robed women, the Empress gracefully glided up the long hallway from the indigo dusk into the open brightness.  One servant was hovering over the stately monarch with a silk umbrella, shielding her from the cold downpour.  At my startlement, her red-painted lips tugged into a subtle jeer.  Subsequently, Xin Yi stepped closer toward me, his foot ahead of mine.