TIANSHI, THE WARRIOR EMPRESS

PROLOGUE

Dedicated to Giramia Noelle

The black stallion raced through the open fields of the corn to the dusty streets of the  TIAN DYNASTY.

A sweaty rider was seated on the back of the animal that sped past the streets, he was young but nobly dressed.

He had very long black hair and despite being thirty, his appearance made him look younger.

The stallion stopped in front two very huge black iron gates, they were decorated with golden dragon images and above them hang a pallet made of copper with silver writings.

"THE TIAN PALACE." The pallet read and it was a matter of time when the gates opened wide and the rider rode in.

He came to stop in front of a very long staircase that comprised fifty stairs and got down from his horse.

The servants around came rushing to him and bowing their heads down to him.

" Your Majesty." They said but the man did not pay any attention and further continued running up the stairs that led to a very huge palace.

The man stormed through the palace doors as he was met with a couple of ministers and some servants.

" May his majesty live forever." They said as they bowed down.

" Where is Qing Ye?" The man asked.

"This way your Majesty." One of the servants said s he led the Emperor to a wide hallway that was filled with loud moans.

They became clearer as the company of men got close and they sounded effeminate, moans of not just ordinary pain but moans of labour.

The Emperor stopped with the others at a door which was closed and by now the cries had intensified and they loudly echoed throughout the place.

"Push." There were soft but fairly loud voices saying.

" You can do this Your Majesty." They further went ahead as a female cry was heard.

The Emperor noticed one of the members in his company that he had not noticed, an elder with long white hair dressed in sapphire robes.

"Who are you Sir?" The Emperor asked.

"I am Bai Jingshen  a prophet, priest and astrologer, it is quite important that I be present at the time of this royal birth." The  man replied.

"The loud moans were sooner replaced by the faint but loud enough cries of an infant.

The Emperor raised his eyebrows finding it quite unbelievable but could comprehend it that his child had been born.

An heir had come finally, son of his flesh and blood, he was overwhelmed by joy and tears immediately ran down his cheeks.

The doors were opened and he was invited inside with the astrologer who moved towards the very large bed where a young woman was cuddling a young baby.

" With heaven's blessing, I bring a child to his Majesty, a daughter to him." The young woman said.

The expression on the Emperor's face suddenly changed and his smile was no longer wide like it had been before.

"What?" He asked not thinking clearly about what he had just heard the woman say but the woman was still looking at her baby with her attention fixed on it she could not hear her husband's words.

She started to cough loudly and the Emperor moved on to the side of his wife whose face was pale and her eyes suddenly saddened and teary.

"I would fain provide for my dearest daughter the love of a mother before I die, I can feel death crouching at my door." She said as she coughed while covering her mouth.

The Emperor looked at the beautiful scarlet eyes of the young child, they glowed with a very rare magnificence and the baby had a very light shade of pink on her cheeks.

She  was awake but still, with her gaze fixed on the frozen male figure that towered above her.

She had ceased to cry the moment her father had come very close to her and engulfed her in his arms.

"My dearest angel, she is every inch beautiful." The woman said before she was interrupted by the Astrologer

"HER FORTUNE SHALL BE VAST AND SHE SHALL BE GREAT, HER BEAUTY AND HER BRAVERY SHALL BRING SO MUCH CAUSE FOR ENVY, HER BEAUTY SHALL CAUSE THE FALL OF MEN AND HER ONLY REWARD SHALL BE HER VICTORY.

THIS TIME THREE PLANETS ALINE, HER LUCK REVOLVES AROUND AQUARIUS, VIRGO AND CANCER.

THE HEAVENS HAVE PREPARED GREATNESS FOR HER AND SHE SHALL BE GREATER THAN ANY MAN THAT EVER LIVED." The Astrologer said.

"She is my angel and my Pride." The woman said.

"She is indeed an angel, a beauty with scarlet hair, she is extraordinary." The Emperor said.

"She is my greatest creation, please, i ask that you love her no less than any of your future children, call her XIANG TIANSHI." The woman said as she looked at her husband who sighed and looked at her.

"If you say so." The man replied before the eyes of the woman closed as she became still.

"Qing Ye." The Emperor called out her name but did not receive any reply.

"She is no more, she has gone to her ancestors." The Astrologer said as the Emperor began to sob silently with the child in his arms.

He noticed the very faint mark of a star below the right eye of the baby and in an instant, his mourn was a wan smile.

"I asked for a son, heaven gave me you, I know that however, this is for a particular reason.

You look more beautiful than your Mother and I wish that you were not this unfortunate to lose her when your born." The Emperor said.

He pulled the baby closer to his face and she held out her hand and touched his cheek.

It was warm and it was peaceful, he could feel a very comfortable and passionate emotion surging in his entire body.

"I shall love you no less, I have promised." The Emperor said as the toothless baby smiled at its father.

The Astrologer was impressed and smiled as well as a very faint wind howled and carried the leaves and flowers of the peach trees in the palaces back yard.

"A warrior has been born." The Astrologer muttered under his breath. 

The midwives around smiled at the very adorable family and it was on this day that years of war would begin to come to an end.

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Thank you for reading and supporting me so far and I hope that no one is lost now because trust me, this is now the stem of this story.

~Benjamin~