A full moon shone over the walls and gardens of the imperial palace. It was just past midnight, but the entire palace was on alert. Even the guards stood unwavering despite the cold air outside.

A small man made his way angrily down the halls, cloak billowing behind him and making him look ten times more dangerous. A guard led him down to the dungeon, where a lone prisoner sat in a tiny cell. The gates to that cell opened, and the Emperor himself grabbed the prisoner and slammed him hard against the wall.

"What information do you have that could even remotely begin to save your life?" He hissed. His hand remined around the prisoner's neck, pinning him up against the cold stone wall.

"I think….. know….son is" He choked out. The emperor's eyes widened and he let the man go. His weak body hit the ground with a thud.

"What?" the Emperor asked as the man coughed.

"I think I know where your son is." The Emperor glanced to his guard and back to the man. He crouched to look him in the eyes.

"Where is he?" His voice was soft. The prisoner winced at the change in tone.

"I think he is in Mongolia. Some of the traders in Xiongxang were talking about how a group of Mongolian raiders passed through the town, carrying something in what looked like a brown bag. They swore they saw it moving, your grace." The prisoner bowed his head towards the Emperor. Meanwhile, the ruler glanced to his guard in confusion and shock.

Mongolia and China had been at peace for years. The two nations frequently traded and the two rulers often had parties and dinners together. All of that, however, seemed to fade as the ruler begin processing that his son could be there. That his son was kidnapped. The Mongolians knew the Emperor just as well as his people did, and maybe that was the problem.

"You have done me a great service." He said slowly, rising from his crouch. His eyes and mind were a million miles away. He made his way out of the cell, and the guard followed him after deadbolting the door.

"What are we to do, my leige?" he asked.

The Emperor stared straight ahead, eyes dark and steely. His posture was rigid, his jaw set. He said only four words, but those four words would cause the biggest crisis China had seen in centuries.

"We go to war."

A/N: Sooooo…..Hi. How's it goin? I'm still relatively new here, so be nice please. Any constructive criticism is welcome. 3