Dagger in the Heart

Chapter 1

A/N: A few chapters will still be the background of the story before rebirth.

I am Wei Hua Lin and the second born of my father Wei Haung and my mother Zhu Li. And I have an elder brother, Wei Chu Min and my family is one of the top four powerful clans in the Ching Dynasty. My grandfather helped the current emperor's father in building Wang country. One can say that our Wei clan is the most powerful military clan of the country.

But my father always acts as a normal father at home rather than the general. Because when he was young, my grandfather always treated him as a soldier under his command rather than treating him as his son. My grandfather believed that as the next general, my father should not behave the same as the other children. So, he started learning military strategies, wielding swords, and shooting arrows since he was five years old. He was never a warm father to my father.

When we asked why he was different from grandfather, he answered "You're right. This father is different from your grandfather since we are different people. Naturally, we hold different values in life. He believed I must know all military-related stuff as I will inherit his title. But in my case, I believe if I cannot be a proper and warm father to my children, how can I become a general for my country. More than that, I want to give a father love in a normal way to my children which I didn't receive in my life.

But it doesn't mean I blame your grandfather. He just has a different view on life. So, remember that all of us have different perspectives on how to live in this world. And we do our best to achieve or give someone the best life we assume. So it is your responsibility whether you follow the life someone gives or have enough courage to fight for the life you desire."

Of course, as a child, I did not understand the meaning. I just nodded as if I understood. I should have known if I did not understand something, I should ask for the explanations again. Maybe I didn't ask back then because I wanted my father to think of me as an intelligent son. Later I realized instead of worrying about how people would think of me, I should focus on the important things for myself. At the end of the day, they are not the ones living my life; I am the one living it. And, no matter how perfect I am, I will never be good enough for people who refuse to acknowledge me. For those people, I will always be an option.

As the most powerful military clan in the country, half of the country soldiers are under my father's command. Because of this, the emperor is worried that the Wei clan will rebel against him so he wants to have something that he can use to control our family. It cannot be said it is his fault because my clan is not righteous; we have a fair share of bad deeds. And it is natural that as an emperor, he wants to have the full authority on the military.

My father grew up along side with the Emperor, so the Emperor knows how much the family means to my father. So, he wants to have someone dear to my father under his complete control. To have the influence on the Wei clan, he decides to use marriage. After all, it is the easiest way to gain control. And he also knows that the Wei clan will not miss this kind of opportunity.

Unfortunate to the Emperor, he cannot betroth the crown prince to my brother since my brother have to inherit the general title. But, he heard that my mother was pregnant again. Even though the Emperor knows the risk of the child will not be the girl, his worry is far greater than the risk. He thinks even if the second child is a boy, the Crown Prince can marry other girls to have children. So he summoned my father and said

"You and I grew up together. And your father also fought together with my father to build this country. But we never have a chance to tie relationships as a family before. And it is also my father's last wish to become a family with the Wei clan. So, how do you think about becoming a family?"

My family knows what the emperor wants. But he cannot completely refuse the emperor even knowing the reason. My father replied

"Thank you for your consideration. Unfortunately, this low servant only has a son." 

The emperor said "We* know. But We heard that the general is going to have a second child soon. How about We betroth the second child with the Crown Prince?"

A/N: ancient emperor uses the Chinese term "Gu" which means "We". So, in this story, I'll use "We" instead of "I"

My father replied "Your Majesty. This low servant does not know whether the child will be a daughter. What if the child is not a daughter?"

The Emperor said "We also consider this fact. But We want to fulfil the previous emperor's wish. We hope the general understands this. "

When the Emperor used the previous Emperor, my father could not refuse him So, my father requested time to discuss this matter with my mother. Even though my parents discussed the betrothal and did not want to accept it, they could not do anything except accept it. Because it is true that the Wei clan is strong, but it is less powerful than the Emperor. And this is not the only reason for accepting the betrothal. When the elders of the clan heard about it, they also tell my parents to accept it.

Because marrying to the imperial family means the clan will gain more authority and be more influential than the other three families. It is a win-win game for both the clan and the Emperor. Like this, even before I am born, my life is already decided.

After the Crown Prince, Wang Chen hears about this, he is furious. Because there is a fifty percent probability that he has to marry a boy. He is the first son of the Emperor and his mother, the Empress, came from the Lan family, which is one of the top four influential families. With his mother's family support and the Crown Prince title, there is no way he wants to accept the engagement. On top of that, he already met a girl he likes on his fifth birthday. Her name is Shu Lei Main, and her family is one of the last two powerful families. But unlike my family, most of her clan members are the scholars.

Unlucky for him, what the Emperor wants is military power. So, whether the betrothal happens or not does not depend on him. He knows that if he does not accept it, his father may have a change of heart on Crown Prince's title. After all, what the Emperor does not lack is sons. And he knows that the second prince, Wang Min, doesn't lack anything like him. The second prince's mother is the Noble Consort, which is the highest title after the Empress. And also the family of his mother is the last remaining powerful Nobel family. They have the power to get the Crown Prince title from him. So, he can't afford to make any mistakes that can give advantages to Wang Min.

And to be stronger than the second prince, he needs military power.  He knows that by marrying me, he will be backed by the strongest military general of the country. So, he can't miss the opportunity that has presented to him.

Moreover, his desire to become an Emperor far exceeds any other things in life and also he does not have enough courage to create the life he wants. So, he has to live the life someone gives.  Like this, our disastrous relationship begins.