Author Angel Chua
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong'er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
The World's Power (Raw)
A man on top of the hill slowly playing a futile flute, so sad that it broke his fingers and suddenly bloody bright red on his sight. To his eyes, its nothingness let's the blood drip, to his ears its tune is emptiness cannot listen to its melody, to his touch it is cold and distant unable to feel any warmth. His sword-like eye brows have withered like the snow-capped mountains on the far side. His lips almost cannot command without anger and rage, his heart won't allow him to make amends. Fate firmly established him as "The World" a King by force, by the might and force of his formidable will, all shall bow, even Generals and slaves not only obeys but perishes. The search for justice bred ruthlessness and now continuously bite his inner core, settling to his dark side.
So many blood is spilled, so many wars have been fought, so many friends he betrayed. The absence of General Zhong Yu left Yan Xun a void that no one could ever fill. When everyone else was unreliable, Zhong Yu was the only trusted General next to A'Chu (Chu Qiao) and even can go as low as a servant to accomplish a Prince of Yanbei's command. There is no question to her loyalty and A'Jing deliberately reminded him and like a deaf King, Yan Xun intently did not listen, drunk all the cups of revenge that day then poured out to one , to a General who saved his life countless times. Zhong Yu like a blade of Yan tested on the fires of its wars, only to be left without use, lost its essence and value in an instant.
A'Jing , Yan Xun's closest comrade whose is also fond of Zhong Yu, almost like a family companion, tried to tie the laces of these grim events and connect deeper into Yanbei's greater cause. He tries to reason out, to the best of this ability looked back once again to the Shen Jing Gong palace. The day of slaughter of all Yan royal bloodlines in the name of loyalty and cut the word revenge, Yanbei perished, so bloody and cold without help, laid open for attack.
Gathering all cords of Yanbei, A'jing can still vividly remember how he ran from Yan Palace corridors to save anything but it was all too late. And the only strength left were all placed by this Crown Prince named Yan Xun who suffered like no human could ever imagine at the Jiuyou Platform. What more worst can happen than a royal status stripped off like its just a torn cheap peice of cloth.
Back then Yan Xun was just an innocent boy, a six year old boy who volunteered as a tribute to the capital. While all Yanbei's princes refused, a small boy whose sword-like eyebrows stood tall, confident as if he has all the entire weight of the world on his shoulders. That day he responded to the call and became "The World" to confirm its father's token of loyalty to the Great Summer Throne. Yan Xun left Yanbei to settle in the capital and never looked back. He is like a sheep offered to the capital for a slaughter to saved all Yanbei's veins of family and people. It is true when Yan Xun said: "The gods have never had mercy on me."
Today, A'jing faced the reality that he is no longer an innocent boy who offers brotherly love nor can value loyalty in front of the blades of Yanbei's sword of justice. Everyone must go except Xiaolong's Blade.
He whispered to himself… Not even the girl A'Yu, A'Chu and Wu Dao Ya.
A'Yu, how can I make amends?
A'Jing pours out himself where he could still feel it human and frail, left a tearless eyes staring blankly at the coldness of Yanbei Plateau. Without noticing the sun has already settled in the skies. When twilight suddenly burst in the horizon, the skies painted it like an abstract art, as if rewarding all creatures who endured the day pretends there is still beauty left to gaze while you are in the world. Yet, A'Jing cannot even appreciate such fleeting glimpse of sunset's rays spread across the fire red orange skies.
A'jing stood behind Yan Xun, has so many things to say yet forgets them all, he said, this is useless words, no weight or value at all.
Yan Xun suddenly gathered all his palms force to crush the ordinary flute, more blood gushed out but as if the King has no pain left to feel, just dripped slowly.
He threw the flute and softly said… "yes all is useless after knowing the sad truth of taking actions what a King must do, after all her badge of loyalty, I Yan Xun granted the General Yu a fast death. I forgot that she too, may seek justice to speak for herself."
To make matters far deeply irreconcilable, award her the medal of the Traitor of Yanbei. The corpse is forgotten and no memory tablet to honor her. This is useless.
Meanwhile in the Yanbei's war room, a voice haunting as hell said: Report!
The World, we received a ground spy report that Qinghai was trying to destroy its own land.
What!
His sword like eyes blazed like a fire, did he heard it right?
"How come Qinghai is destroying its own land? Why would you tear down your own land? Tell me!
"The World, the Moon Kingdom . . . "
The ground spy Chief Lieutenant not yet finished speaking suddenly faces a sharp blade in his throat and heard a haunting voice: If you will recite bedtime stories again, I swear, I will slather your neck vein here, let you lick your own blood!
Suddenly the man loses its rage, laughs out loud then casually said: I never believed in legends or myths or what's this Moon Kingdom? Seriously, I only believed in what this sword could do.
Yan Xun slowly unsheathes his Xialong sword and touching it, coldly, staring at it, squinting his eyes, mirroring himself in its blade. The Chief Lieutenant suddenly shivers in fear cannot say any words but forced his lips as the audience in front of him is ready to feed him in his blade said: Your Highness, I can take you to what they call a Thousand Caves, and maybe we will find more tangible proof of its existence. Although it has been the favorite bedtime stories and gossips of gypsy travelers, the nomad hunter gatherers in the west and some spiritual healers which Qinghai oftenly denies, its presence is already coming into seams. They even said that the Moon Kingdoms belongs to the lost King Chu Teng Gao.
Yan Xun heard it well and the familiar surname takes him back to the time on his imprisonment, the surname Chu, is someone so close and so important, he tried to relax the tension in himself chuckled and said: "Now you really wanted to die?!
Have pity Your Highness! Nobody in the camp wants to report this not even me because we know this is not so military in nature. We tried and tried to verify the truthfulness of this matter and we only find the same information every time my men blends in to the Qinghai territories. And the lost General Chu…
Yan Xun suddenly shifts his mood at the topic of General Chu, touching the sharp blade of the Xioalong sword said: You know what I'd like to kill you here, but I think I can delay.
Your Highness, have pity on me and my family. I only want to report to you without misinformation. I don't intent or referring to General Chu.. May she rest in peace?… Suddenly the Chief Lieutenant is becoming more uneasy, hesitant to continue, still lost for words, sort of like in confusion resurfaced topics more complicated than what he knows.
Yan Xun, looked at him and his foxy eyes, once again painted the King of Yanbie's hint of childish aura while the Chief Lieutenant head in kowtow position buried his head to the ground.
A'Chu…who dares… who are you to bring this matter to me? Yan Xun's fierceness suddenly gone almost whispering to himself said further, General Chu died in the battle of trade for Prince Zaru. Buried her body in the Xiu Xui Mountains and dedicated a memorial tablet in honor of her. Succeeding events unfolded with your Queen of Yanbei who seems to be jealous of A'Chu keeps on telling me, that I buried the fake A'Chu, that she is not the real A'Chu but her double agent Xia Chong whom she imprisoned in Liang State. Time never gave me enough to recover nor validate things as they were because your Queen was taken in captivity and became a Prisoner of War in the Qinghai's camp on that day… Yan Xun as if recalling it happened just yesterday said slowly.
All of a sudden, someone who looked like General Chu became the Empress Dowager in Liang State and saved the Emperor Xiao Ce's death day but then eventually died too. She just disappeared putting the whole Daoming Palace into chaos and made us all suffer hypothermia. Suddenly another Master who has never been seen for decades came out. Zhan Ziyu the leader of the afterlife death camp suddenly came into the picture, killed my mother in law who died that day, The Queen of Yanbei holding her in her arms and this… this mysterious Lord of Qinghai who slipped from the crowd of enthronement with his guards taking action baffled my mind, saw Yue Qi.
Yan Xun paused and asked him, you know very well how Yuwen Yue's close-in bodyguard was killed in the icy lake tragedy right?
The Chief Lieutenant responded: " Yes your Highness, I gave you the bow and famous Yan white feathered arrows aimed at his heart to weaken the heir of the Eyes of god."
Yan Xun responded said coldly, and you saw it with your own eyes, how Yue Qi his formidable guard had fallen and died. However it seems that day did not happen, I am sure everyone saw, he is alive, throwing themselves in killing spree of chaos. Does the dead come back alive? Explain it to me! Yan Xun shouted at him, expressing his anger and showing unbelievable facial expression even said:
"And this hellish girl with a whip… they called her name Viper suddenly leaped like a civet cat in the middle of Enthronement room?! The Audacity! I think I might have seen her around General Chu as her trusted aide and spy reason for her not to reveal her whereabouts even if I already requested Deputy General He Xiao many times to provide more information."
"And where was I? I was held and restrained by Liang's forces where Sun Di put the King and Queen of Yanbei into Palace House arrest! Do you know how important this order of events report is?"
"Explain to me how the Enthronement turned into ambush scenario? Leaving dead people around, king and queen in arrest and to make matters worst Chu Qiao like in dream receiving the Fengguan Dowager crown turning to the next scene is a dead half brother in law emperor coming back to life!"
"And today you are saying about this Moon Kingdom, are you reporting another unbelievable intel report, land found nowhere in the map of the world empire?"
Yan Xun sits calmly, his eyes showing disgust, still holding his sword, as if he is ready to chop or if he feels lenient would allow what the Chief of Lieutenant has to explain. He suddenly finds himself oddly drawn to this pivotal events happened so fast like he is in a theatrical play.
The Chief Lieutenant upon hearing this, did not move but Yan Xun is waiting, his Majesty needs answers and he doesn't know whether to report or recall past events about General Chu. Because he himself is unsure about what happened. The real and fake General Chu appears and disappears at the same time. Her whereabouts are hard to track, her Xuili army had protected her space and camp to the extremes that even the King of Yanbei is unable to source any information or has to discreetly invade his own borders.
The Chief Lieutenant gently move his head to look at Yan Xun's figure. A very handsome yet weary King appeared in his sight waiting for his words, he said: Your Highness, after all you met the real Chu Qiao at the battle in Yangmingguan Pass. And the General is alive and well. Dangerously rode with her horse, came alone to challenge his Majesty, her horse galloped forward and pointed her sword at tour neck, she can take your life easily, just like that and you did not retaliated or made it clear to the troops are we in a battle or a reunion? In fact, we were all waiting for your orders to shoot the arrows aimed at her but your hands like a rock stood still. Our ranks passed many remarks and questions your Majesty's actions. But the battle outcome is clear, the Yan military brightest stars buried their spears that day, held their arrows in the air and the King of Yanbei followed General Chu's as she pulls back to her Xuili camp, no harm done, nor anyone died that day. Like a hypnotized guard behind the beauty of all foxtails, your Majesty's quietly recognized the Xuili army, became equal to our troops that day.
Yan Xun recalled… that day, he was rolling in the deep, she remembered how it all started with A'Chu. That hole in the Celestial prison garrison in Wei. How she had kept him alive when she said:" Even when it is like a dog, live it!
He held on to A'Chu's words, carved in his heart, never let time erase it. Recalling the Jiuyou Platfrom, A'Chu screams calling out his name "Yan Xun" pierces more of his inner soul than the wounds and cuts he received from the Wei guards. Not one of the arrows shot at him did not count, everytime A'Chu cries in desperation calling out his name, his consciousness as a human being disappears forcing him to act as an animal. A rabid animal who wants to devour all those present in the Jiuyou Platfrom. Truly, there is no man in this world who received such punishment as Yan Xun received. The blood of the Yan nobles relies on his breath to obtain justice and avenge their deaths.
Moments had gone by, Yan Xun finally with hint of mischief said to the Chief Lieutenant: " You deserve to die! But not today! Because I am going to punish you before I kill you if I find out you are luring me to believe in this Empire that sits in Qinghai nowhere to be found in the world's map!"
Dark skies echo the silent passing of the moon over the clouds.
For the second time, the death of A'Chu in the middle of the battlefield stripped Yan Xun every last emotion he held in his heart. From thereon, Yan Xun became ruthless not trusting anyone even with the name Zhong Yu and Wu Dao Ya. For this reason Wu Dao Ya sought to evade Yan Xun to protect Zhong Yu. He pretended busy reorganizing the Datong Way. The last time Wu Dao Ya was seen, he attended a secret Datong Banquet where He welcomed new members and provided them an orientation on how Datong Works. After then, these ninety wealthy lords of Yanbei occasionally meet in Pengcheng harbor near Liang State. They continued to shovel gold and bring Yanbei's economy to prosper. Yan Xun lived luxuriously through the Datong Way. This Chamber of Commerce used Yan Xun to collect taxes and trade business in Wei and Liang States. In return, this Chamber financed Yanbei's ruined cities from the Blackguards deployed black seal attack and help them restore Yan Palaces structures and other architectural landscapes.
In all of Yanbei's splendor, recaptured cities, and bloody encounters, to whom can we owe gratitude for its success today?
A woman dressed in regal white once said: " the Yan's would rather bleed than weep. . ."
She smiled bitterly at the last wounded almost dead eagle, unrecognizable prince of Yanbei due to arrows shot into his body, full of deadly cuts and deep wounds. Hostaged in her own house, treated her family as a traitor and trampled on her Royal status as the Great Summer Eldest Sister, Bai Scicheng sealed all Yan fate that day. Dancing her way to death, she faced the Jiuyou Platform full of hatred and courage. She identified all of executed Yan Royals starting from his husband Yan Scicheng, the Duke of the Northwestern territory of Wei, who tirelessly defended the Emperor and saved him when he was still a 17 year old prince and not yet a ruling Emperor, Yan Ting the Commandant of Cavalry that governs the Xuili army, Yan Xiao the Commandant of Gallantry and the only princess of Yanbei Yan Hongxiao who is pregnant died with the unborn life inside her.
When Bai Scicheng looks back, she recites all of their contributions to the empire and noble deeds. All of Yan royal descendants are heroes of the old and equal in status as the closest bloodline relative of Emperor the Great Summer throne of Wei. Once declared hereos yet that day ended as traitors of Wei, she ordered Yuwen Yue to throw all of the golden boxes into the furnace of fire, casting a mocking look and completely disregarding Yuwen Huai's authority as the Master Executioner. This paved the way to preserve the remaining breath in Yan Xun obtaining pardon from his Uncle Emperor and escape the grim royal execution.
The world cannot recount or cover-up just to prove that justice is truly what happened that day. Whether its done to protect the national interest of Wei or the Emperor was used as a tool to accomplish their enemies goals, Yuwen Huai as the Chief Executor Official provoked and mocked Yan Xun to face irreconcilable pain that haunted him from that day forward. Yuwen Yue who served as the Deputy second in command of Yuwen Huai used all his subtle method in buying more time to keep Yan Xun alive. His mind is keen and eyes is sharp, even used his own body as a human shield ready to receive the arrows that Yuwen Huai commanded to shoot at the weak almost dead prince of Yanbei. The bowman's hand trembling just by seeing the target was blocked by Yuwen Yue subdued all arrows that aims to shoot Yan Xun that day.
Yuwen Yue argued the entire time while Yuwen Huai deliberately challenged Yuwen Yue during the execution, throwing insults, questions, and debate in front of the lifeless mother of Yan Xun and other members of the Zhao and Wei Valve clans. Yuwen Huai mocked him and scored big time, enjoyed Yuwen Yue's enduring turmoil of his cousin knowing he became powerless at his command.
Despite Yuwen Yue's twitching palms and sweaty forehead, he remains calm and strong while bearing the excruciating pain of involving the two people he regards important is in this platform of execution, Xing'er and Yan Xun.
To the best of his ability, he performed his duty to the Empire, never sat down or throw Yan Xun and Xing'er to face their fates. Yuwen Yue knows that in his hands, his involvement still may apply some solutions given the opportunity Yuwen Yue will seize it. He has only one thing in his mind that day, if he is not careful, both of them may die at hand and cannot counter Yuwen Huai, as far as hierarchy is concerned he is to play by the rules as second in command. If Yuwen Yue, gives away to show his foolishness by giving into his emotions and show his true self in front of everyone on the platform, or let's say leading a revolt by himself, he may have been killed at first, very untimely, making himself fool and irrelevant. If this happened, that would leave Xing'er and Yan Xun no one left to protect them discreetly given the need for someone at their side to be objective and calm in that very critical time.
Yan Xun never understood Yuwen Yue's actions in the Jiuyou platfrom nor validated to Yuwen Yue and reflect on his actions. As his closest buddy and bestfriend, Yan Xun expected Yuwen Yue to have acted on his behalf given Xing'er's life depends on him too. Yet Yuwen Yue's end goals was focused in saving the dying prince of Yanbei with the hopes of setting Xing'er free and grant her the statement of freedom from her slave status in the Yuwen Household. Howeve, could this still be done? Xing'er avenged her sisters and brother death by killing the grandfather of Yuwen Huai, Yuwen Xi? Killing the official of the third branch of Yuwen household is not a minor offence. Xing'er will still eventually fall at the hands of Yuwen Yue. As far the Fourth Branch of Yuwen Household function were to gather intelligence, it also serves as the repository center of the empire. While the third branch of Yuwen Household tha tYuwen Huai serves as the chief of Slave Chamber Pavilion which houses all unimaginable kinds of torture thus further escalating it to Yuwen Xi's Jile Pavilion or the Death of Pleasure Pavilion intended for maids guilty of breaking the laws and protocols of the Yuwen and Wei Empire.
Yuwen Yue decides and controls the fates of everyone in the empire whether a slave, a commoner, or a royal by birth. As Yuwen Yue describes, the heir of the Eyes of god is like cage build by Mohist Masters, a never-ending maze of lures, traps, schemes and deception. He dreams that one day breaking out from this cage and achieve freedom. Later did he know, the icy lake tragedy made this possible.
Looking back, the goals that Yuwen Yue set in his mind did not match Yan Xun's expectation. Clearly, Yan Xun did not accepted or reflected the fact that all of Qingshan and Hongshan courtyards of the enitre Yuwen nobles relies on Yuwen Yue and Yuwen Huai's execution of entire Yan clan.
Given the involvement of two Yuwen's most powerful figures, it is their duty to the empire to perform such execution fit for the royals who committed sedition-like scenario staged by Yuwen Huai and Princess Xiao Yu. In a nutshell, this was all incited and planned by no other than the Princess of Liang, the Master of Skyshadow spies Xiao Yu used Yuwen Huai. Because according to the Princess, his ambition to rise in power and hunger for position is like an appetite that propels them to achieve their goals. She promised him bed of roses swaying him to become her ally. Princess Xiao Yu's connection to the third branch Yuwen Household were all dated back as far as his Grandfather's Yuwen Xi who fells as victim from the blackmail of Liang Princess.
Having so many years passed, Yan Xun never stepped out of Wei. The old Duke of Yanbei suddenly out of whim sent Yan Xun a letter to Zhong Yu. The letter contained only a simple request and that is to secretly travel Yanbei accompanied by Zhong Yu as the Royal Escort, the arrangements and life of the crown of prince of Yanbei Duke was all entrusted to the General Yu. As Zhong Yu calls him the Hostaged Prince because his detained status in Wei makes all Yanbei people live in peace and enjoy the Great Summer Emperor's favor. This peace ended after Yan Xun responded to his father's letter out of respect and yearning to the endless grasslands of Yanbei.
The letter of response was not written without so much caution. Yan Xun understands that, to stir calm waters would send ripples and reveal murky waters. As much as he controlled his emotions this past few years, that day became different ordered Zhong Yu to deliver his letter. Zhong Yu knows that Yan Xun palace mansion were not safe, sent two versions of Yan Xun letter. One through a bird courier to lure the spies. Two through a trusted channel secretly arranged by Yuwen Yue and Yan Xun. You can tell how Yan Xun receives special treatment from Yuwen Yue. A trivial matter not to be known by anyone not even the Emperor itself.
Meanwhile, a nearby Skyshadow spy Tao Ye, intercepted the letter capturing the bird courier and Zhong Yu knew, the bait worked,quickly replaced with another fake letter and freed the bird as if nothing happened. Another pair of eyes was watching it, he is not a spy but was tasked to monitor Zhong Yu's activities and report to his Master.
Jiang He reported the incident to no other than his Master Dong Fangyi. And while reporting Dong Fangyi did not waste time wrote another letter used fake seal of Yan Xun.
He mentions: that's why they said I am so crooked, I study on how to assist an emperor but it seems I am all wrong. For ten years, I realized today I am not learning and have no growth. I am not an emperor maker at all. Dong Fangyi insulted himself.
Jiang He listened to all what his master also said: Do you need someone to personally deliver the letter to Duke of Yanbei?
Dong Fangyi responded: No I will take this letter myself.
The second party went back to its headquarters evading all strategems in the Greenhills courtyard,finally arrived at the Eyes of god repository center. Yuwen Yue received the original letter of Yan Xun bearing his true seal. Silently interpreting it, Yan Xun trusts Yuwen Yue to decide whether to deliver the letter to his father or hold it. The latter act of Yuwen Yue's decision to write another version of letter and burning the original one weren't approved by Yan Xun. Yuwen Yue used judgement call to act upon the matter since he knows this may bring trouble to Yan Xun and put Yanbei into chaos. Yuwen Yue knows so well that the matter is highly offensive to the Emperor and might be used as a tool to shed blood and perform drastic action that cannot be undone. Yuwen Yue' s wisdon is honed and bred since his birth, it was always his role to interpret and recoomend the best course of action. That day, his course of actions was neatly summarize into three goals. Two for the Empire and one for personal reasons, the third goal, to protect Yan Xun at all costs became a natural instinct. You may say that Yuwen Yue showed his silent fondness in favor of the Prince of Yan at this point and not to mention Xing'er is also entagled into the Prince of Yanbei's infatuation may somehow save her while he is tied to his Office as the Master of the Eyes of god, he can't show his affections too publicly and lose himself in the process. Hence, Yuwen Yue also feels and has emotions despite his stoic nature.
With Yuwen Yue's empires top-notch spies, took the chance to control the situation as discreetly as possible to prevent the clash of empires and possible bloody encounters. Yuwen Yue acting like a counter-intelligent spymaster, his two empire goals were simple. One, to frustrate Liang's sky shadow spies. Two, to protect the integrity of the Eyes of god and exclude Yuwen Huai's involvements which places the entire Yuwen clan in the Shen Jin Gong Palace court.
Three, he will protect Yan Xun's life, his bestfriend at all costs and everyone can return to their normal routines. The third one would be out of something he would not typically perform yet ended up completing it during the icy lake tragedy. It costs too much loss of his own life and not to mention dragged Xing'er. Playing the scenario in his medication, He angrily said: Repeat!
Next, his mediation is elevated into this scenario, His revered and respectable position as the Master and Heir of the Eyes of god , throwing Qingshan and Hongshan into deep trouble under the Wei's Imperial edict. Yuwen Yue knows he is always in the losing end.
The unpredictable tide of events and some unreasonable fears creeps during Yuwen Yue's reflection played this scenario over and over, foresaw it all.
Yet, he resolved himself on what can be done at the moment which is to avoid the storm brewing in the clouds.
He also secretly hopes, that by doing so, may take out Xing'er in the loop of these two Empire's clashes. So blood thirsty empires that will not stop the cycle of avenging family blood debts.
It is right to think, only a Yuwen Heir can handle such difficulty and deal it swiftly, managing it discreetly. As if all is well and normal. Although, the last piece of the puzzle might put him into dead-end irreversible situations, the reality cannot be avoided. Like some areas are not under his control.
Xinger leaving Qingshan Courtyard who later joined forces with Yan Xun that helped him revolt from the Great Summer Throne.
During his reflections, Yuwen Yue wanted to give in to the reality of limitations and stakes are too high. He has to trust his intincts the last resort of reversing the belief that such evilness would not devour Yan Xun character. That is use Xing'er as a lure, a bait of revenge to avenge the slaughter of Yan Royal Clan.
That is such a low life thinking he resolved. Yan Xun is not born to think such low life human lure strategies, he retored.
And yet the unthinkable happened. He ended up doing what is not typically himself.
Exhausting more effort than he is willing to give, placed Xing'er in a precarious situation, and led to the tragedy in the icy lake.
Despite his reflections of seeing it all, placing all of his bet in the chance that "what if it may not happen" took over this overthinking Spymaster to wrote a fake letter with a stern warning to inform the Duke Yan Scicheng not to march towards Chang'an.
Everyone knows this well. Without the Emperor Edict to march in the Capital, no one should dare to stage a coup or show military's force and might in front of higher power. Because at any point, it may be misunderstood that Yanbei is acting independently and leading rebellion outside Wei by capturing its main capital city Chang'an.
Yuwen Yue drawing his judgement call further, having known Yan Xun from their childhood to this day, familiar with their father and son style of writing and code, Yuwen Yue wrote the letter that only Yan Scicheng can decode.
A horse from the Yuwen Household galloped away without trace went to meet the endless grasslands of Yanbei.
However, clever and discreet the moves of Yuwen Yue, it guaranteed fifty-fifty chance of success. Because the road to Yanbei is cold and harsh, the possibility of other spies involved along the way installed in Yanbei may intercept again and he has no back-up plan. Unknown by Yan Scicheng General Dong, the trusted Yanbei Adviser under Yan Scicheng's command who are not sold out to Datong Way, is not one hundred percent loyal to the Duke. His origins were as mysterious as Wu Dao Ya, yet they acted like they avoided or did not know each other's past.
They walked parallel yet different paths in assisting Yanbei towards common goal of establishing it as the Land of Freedom. An ideal world system, where only a child could dream of, there are no more slaves or imperial government systems advocating inhumane treatment, separating the nobles from the poor households, the control of the strong over the weak clans and families, where equality thrives, putting all not just those capable in same equal status.
In short, no to bullying and thus preventing the ruthless path of revenge and painful deaths.
Back to the letter of Yuwen Yue bearing the fake seal of the Yan Xun arrived. It was finally handed over to Yan Scicheng. Apparently, Yan Scicheng shared the news to his trusted Adviser Dong Fangyi.
As the matter is being discussed, Dong Fangyi assertively caught Yan Scicheng attention as he lures him into a real talk yet still a gossip, that he himself witnessed how the Liang Spies replaced Yan Xun's letter through the bird courier in Wei borders. Dong Fangyi persuades him further by saying, Liang spies wrote it. But in reality this letter was a courtesy of Yuwen Yue giving a hint about how Yan Xun write to his father to warn him of troubles ahead.
Hearing Yan Scicheng words, he already planned to travel to Chang'an and meet Yan Xun. This is not just a simple meeting but a grand display of abducting the hostaged Prince and intently challenging the Emperor by underestimating that Yan Scicheng has the immunity from attacks when he said: What can they do about me? Dong Fangyi loathes Yan Scicheng himself but said further: That is a bad idea your Highness!
Yan Scicheng tired of hiding and no actions to intercede in his son's hostaged situation, responded: I will write the Emperor and will not back out this time. What must be done should be done even if they have to kill me there. They should stay away from my son!
Dong Fangyi displays concerns yet loathes the Duke in his mind said: Well, we have to be prepared.
Serving his goal very well, Dong Fangyi assisted the Duke Yan Scicheng to travel in Chang'an with Yan military cavalries following behind,met his demise in the hands of Yuwen Huai.
Before all of this act, Yuwen Huai and Prince Xiao Yu agreed an arrangement. The day after it, Yuwen Huai strangely asked the Emperor to visit a place near the Ancient temple of the Wei ancestors silently luring him to notice a group of people ferrying a large stone tablet with inscriptions written: Wei is dying, Yanbei will rule the world.
The Wei Emperor went furious even ordered Yuwen Huai to perform a kowtow. To satisfy his anger the Emperor struck his back saying: This is your gift . Also he ordered all these people carrying such stone tablet be put captured and face capital punishment. The Emperor summons all Wei Valve Masters and asks them one by one.
Is this heaven's warning on me? The Wei Valve Masters Wei Guang said: We should find the perpetrator,, arrest, and punish them immediately.
While Zhao Gui simply said, I agree on Wei Guang.
The Emperor so furious continues to say; I trusted him so much, I gave his son a good life and special treatment from any other royals yet this is how the Duke pays me? Plotting a rebellion?
The Emperor's mind was completely brainwashed. A thing that Yuwen Yue predicted truly happened in the Great Summer Palace..
Yuwen Yue is still in the process of gathering intel information of this two Generals under Yanbei Wu Dao Ya and Dong Fang Yi or General Dong. All sources were found to be shady and unreliable proofs. Yuwen Yue also is well aware of Lou He and her daughter who fell from the last battle of his foster father Yuwen Hao. Later, he found out through his private chats with the Imperial Concubine Ning'er where he first heard of the controversial character. His confidential visits to the Wei palace introduced him to Lou He's daughters name is Chu Qiao who fell in a cliff and lost her memories then roamed around Ximeng continent. It has been said, that eversince then, she has never been found.
Today, Yan Xun, still unaware of the whole story. His oversight of these details cost deaths that could have been prevented.
The work of these stars to regrow the endless grasslands of Yanbei put together the World's power. However, will it give rise to true freedom and end the slavery system?