High in the gleaming palace, on the golden throne, a brooding dragon spirit sat resting his cheek on a clenched fist. He studied the unopened memorial before him - the fourth one in the past year - through cold, narrowed eyes. There was no need to read it for him to be aware of its contents.
"May your majesty please consider the proposal," the official urged with a bow.
Runyu, the Heavenly Emperor, looked upon the cowering officials in a frosty silence. Standing some distance aside, an anxious fox spirit dressed in red and white fiddled with his fan. "Yu'er, perhaps it's time to give some thought to the matter. For the sake of the Six Realms, a solution is imperative and should not be put off any longer," the Matchmaker pleaded with his nephew.
It had been 2000 years since Runyu ascended the throne. Yet to find a successor for the position of Night Immortal, Runyu painstakingly juggled the responsibilities of both the Heavenly Emperor and that of his old duties. He had a daily schedule meticulously planned down to the very seconds, and to this arrangement he had always been faithful. With his servant Kuanglu to keep him in check, it was like clockwork, with everything working perfectly as it should have.
However, the weight of these responsibilities had started to become more than he alone could bear in recent years. Aside from taking a toll on his health, the few, but inexcusable slip ups that had occurred under his charge was causing growing unrest amongst the citizens of the Six Realms.
The proud and unyielding dragon spirit had repeatedly rejected memorial after memorial imploring him to name a new Night Immortal, or more appallingly - to marry a Heavenly Empress to share his burdens, or take a consort who could bear him a successor.
After an icy silence that felt like centuries, his voice rang out across the great hall, causing the officials to shirk their bowed heads, hiding behind their still-clasped hands. "How many more times do I have to refuse your memorials for all of you to understand that I will not take a wife?"
Thousand year old memories came flooding back into Runyu's head. A day of celebration and happiness turned into one of catastrophe and heartbreak. A loveless marriage. A furious wife. A fragile husband mourning his last chance at love storming out of his life.
Runyu slammed his fist onto the table, the loud bang sending an echo of "Your majesty, calm down," through the frightened officials.
Suddenly, a young official gathered his courage and stepped out from the crowd. "Xiaode* greets your majesty," he bowed, then met Runyu's furious gaze unflinchingly. "The memorial submitted today neither requests for your majesty to name a successor nor take a wife. We implore for you to consider the new proposal before passing judgement."
Again, the Heavenly Emperor descended into a cold silence, holding the brave official's gaze for a few more moments. Then, he released a sign and reached for the memorial.
Official request for the Heavenly Emperor to summon Light Immortal, Juying* to the Empyreal Cloud Palace.
Night will be the default state of the Six Realms and Light Immortal Juying may assume the duty of bringing day. By engaging the assistance of the Light Immortal, the Heavenly Emperor will be freed from a significant portion of his daily obligations, such that he may focus on the other official matters of Heaven.
Runyu's grip on the memorial tightened. His fists were trembling, struggling to contain his building rage. He challenged, "Are you criticizing me for doing such a poor job of governing the Six Realms that I must engage the service of a mere child?"
YOU ARE READING
Embers of Love
Fantasy"When I found you, the sun found me." ~ It has been 2000 years since Runyu's ascension to the Heavenly Throne. Citizens of the Six Realms are beginning to question the Heavenly Emperor's ability to cope with both Heaven's affairs and his old duties...
