《5 Threads of Fate》 1: Boundaries of Fate Clack, clack, clack. A lone woman sat by the window before an empty loom, weaving what seemed to be nothing at all. Her feet worked the pedals, her deft hands on the bar, the clacking sound of the loom forming a rhythmic tune. Outside the window, the rain fell in droves. The droplets ran down the eaves in rivulets of water. They spilled out over the edges, forming small waterfalls that cascaded off the roof and down to the mud stained floor. The woman looked up, her eyes unfocused as they gazed off somewhere into the distance. Far, far away, beyond the curtain of rain, she could see the vague, blurry outlines of golden dragons and bamboo roofs. The Imperial Palace of the Kingdom of Yang. Somewhere, within the confines of those crimson halls, the Emperor Huo dwelt. As she pushed the bar and stepped on the pedals, she wondered how the young ruler fared on a day like this. Gorging on fine wine and surrounded by women, most likely. A rustle of cloth. ¡°It is time to leave,¡± came a low, melodic voice from behind. ¡°Yao Lin.¡± She turned to see a man standing behind her. A man where there once was no one. He was a tall, wry old man, dressed in robes radiant as the morning sun. In his hand was a fan of polished bamboo, atop his head, a tall hat. Engraved on the hat were the words ¡°Met with Prosperity¡±, a testament to who he was. ¡°General Xie,¡± said Lin, turning back to her loom. ¡°I¡¯m not yet ready.¡± ¡°It is time to go,¡± said the messenger of the Underworld. ¡°Death waits for no one.¡± His eyes softened. ¡°Not even the exalted Weaver of Fate.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t leave yet. I still have five threads,¡± she murmured, running her fingers through the empty crevices in the loom. To the bystander, she was merely pantomiming. Yet to her eyes, the loom had never been vacant. A stream of red cloth parsed between her fingers, rippling through the air in undulating waves. A small fraction of the great Tapestry of Fate which wound through the room, coiling around and through the two of them like a great, crimson snake. ¡°You know the rules, General Xie. A Weaver of Fate dies only after weaving all threads assigned to them. No sooner, no later. All threads must be accounted for in the Tapestry of Fate.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What are the five threads remaining?¡± asked the General instead. The clacking stopped. Lin raised her hand to behold five long strands of crimson, one of which was already attached to the loom. ¡°One, the Emperor will be lazy and incompetent, overly trusting in women.¡± ¡°Two, the waters of the Changjiang will flow backwards and flood the capital.¡± ¡°Three, the Kong kingdom will invade and leave with five cities, but will return in a year for another invasion.¡± ¡°Four, an army will advance from the south.¡± She took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°Five. The Yang kingdom will fall.¡± The General frowned, his hand lifting to stroke his beard. ¡°You¡­ have been saving the worst for last, haven¡¯t you?¡± He finally said. ¡°Yes,¡± she murmured. ¡°The worst for last.¡± The two fell into silence. ¡°General, I have something to ask.¡± Lin said. There was no reply. ¡°General?¡± She turned to find that the man had disappeared. She was the only one in the room, just as she had always been. She got up from her seat and approached the door, opening it to the thundering downpour outside. The rain plummeted down from the sky in large droplets, falling endlessly from the recesses of the grey clouds above and hitting the ground with a splash. She did not know what compelled her to stride back inside, to take an umbrella, and step out into the rain. Until that moment, the rain and its sounds had just been close by, but now it was all around her, droplets impacting the surface of her umbrella and filling her ears with shapeless noise. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Out on the streets, there was not a soul to be seen. All potential passers by were tucked up cozy within the dry confines of shelter. If given the choice, no one would want to brave the storm outside. Lin strode through the empty streets, the soles of her shoes splashing through shallow puddles, a sound that was dampened by the cascade of ever falling rain. She continued to walk as the stone turned to cobbles, then to dirt as she followed the road further and further out. She knew where she was going, and knew that she should turn back. Yet she could not find the strength to stop herself as her feet carried her all the way beyond the city. The guard at the gate greeted her as she passed. She knew she ought to return the salutation, but could not find herself able to give more than a brief nod. Out in the plains, a way away from the city gates, her feet began to slow, then finally stopped. She stood staring out at the vague, shifting landscape amidst the pouring rain, her vision blurring and shifting like the scenery before her. The green of the grass morphed and merged, flickering and stretching into delicate whites. The chrysanthemums swayed lightly in the wind, gentle raindrops falling onto their petals where they lay like small pieces of jewellery. The rain that fell now was still a downpour, but in her mind¡¯s eye, it was just a gentle shower. A rainfall light enough that the white chrysanthemums stood unperturbed and elegant in the rain. ¡°Lin¡­¡± whispered the chrysanthemums. ¡°Lin¡­¡± A wisp of a giggle made her turn her head. Behind her, blurring and shifting amid the rain, was a young girl of about ten years old. ¡°Auntie Lin!¡± smiled the girl. ¡°Teach me to weave!¡± ¡°When you¡¯re older, Zhi¡¯er¡± she recited as she stared out blurrily at the scene. ¡°You still have much of your life to live. It¡¯s too early for you to weave the threads of Fate.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t get to do anything around here¡­ You all say that the Weavers of Fate can only watch and witness. So the sooner I¡¯m done with all my threads, the sooner I can be free to make friends and do what I want!¡± ¡°Zhi¡¯er, the threads of Fate are not a joke,¡± She felt her fingers tighten around the handle of the umbrella and loosened her grip, only for it to tense again as she shifted her attention. ¡°It¡¯s all up to the will of the Heavens anyway,¡± Zhi¡¯er shrugged. ¡°Tian ming, right? There¡¯s nothing I can do to stop what¡¯s going to happen, so I might as well let it happen sooner. Then I¡¯ll be free!¡± One droplet of rain rolled down Zhi¡¯er¡¯s face, then another, then another, leaving clean streaks of sky wherever they landed. The little girl amid the chrysanthemums was washed away like paint off a wall, just like the day she had completed all her threads. ¡°Zhi¡¯er!¡± Lin cried out, dropping her umbrella. The field of chrysanthemums wobbled, dissipated, becoming a field of grass once more. She knew that it was futile, but couldn¡¯t stop herself from turning her head frantically, trying to spot that small figure before she lost her again. Yet it was as she had expected, there was none to be seen, only the looming fogginess of the city walls that stood back the way she had come. Thunder crashed through the loud downpour, the forked curve of lightning splitting the sky in a bright flash of white. For a moment, she saw a face reflected in the mountains, a craggy face with a wise pair of eyes that shone like the stars. ¡°Little Lin,¡± rumbled the thunder. ¡°The Weaver of Fate is a role passed down within our family for generations. There are boundaries to what we can and cannot do.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± she managed, her voice emerging as a breathy whisper. ¡°What are those boundaries, Grandfather?¡± Grandfather propped himself up in his old rickety chair, his stick shuddering under the force of his grip. He cleared his throat with the rumble of passing thunder, dignified words spilling from his lips. Lin spoke as he did, the words of the three rules passed down within their family for generations. ¡°No threads of Fate may be broken or lost. No Weaver may interfere with the course of Fate.¡± ¡°The threads represent the will of the inevitable tian ming.¡± Grandfather stroked his beard and gazed kindly down at Lin. ¡°My threads are nearly finished, little Lin. Grandfather will go soon. Remember. We cannot go beyond what we were born for. Our role is merely to record and bear witness. Fate cannot be changed. The sooner you realise this, the lesser the burden you will bear.¡± Once, she had pestered Grandfather with questions. Asking why he was so sure that the threads were unchangeable, why tian ming was so cruel. But now, she found that she could not say anything anymore. Instead, she slowly raised her hands to clamp over her ears, so that she could hear the storm no more. One by one, the memories came, trickling slowly at first, then faster and faster, till they came flowing back to her in a stream. Zhi¡¯er and Grandfather; Mother and Father; her rowdy elder brothers and her stream of distant cousins; Da Li, Ri Bei, Er Lan¡­ How it all started out, and how it all ended up. In the muffled quietness of the world around her, she sunk into her memories. The good, the bad, all whirled together in a reminiscent swirl of colours and smells, of soft touches and painful heartburn. The rain fell thick, white streaks painting her vision like snowfall. Amidst the blizzard, a woman sat weaving at her loom. Her eyes were sunken, her lips chapped. Yet still she wove tirelessly the Tapestry of Fate, the glowing red fabric cascading through the snowstorm like a river of crimson. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see how far we can go?¡± the woman asked. ¡°How far beyond our so-called boundaries of Fate?¡± The glow of the Tapestry threaded through the air, waving enticingly to her. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to leave a shining legacy? That neither Fate nor Death can take away from you?¡± Lin reached out her hand, and stopped, the rain pelting her back to reality. The woman faded. The memories halted. It was just her, drenched, in a field of soaked grass, the rain still coming down in droves around her ears. ¡°A shining legacy¡­¡± murmured Lin. ¡°Prosperity for all¡­ beyond the boundaries of our role.¡± A lazy king. A river flowing upstream. An invasion. An army. And finally, the fall of a kingdom. Lin stood in the rain and thought for a long time. She knew what she had to do. 2: Imperial Exam On the day of the annual Imperial Exam, Lin strode into the Palace of the Emperor. She wore loose-fitting garbs for men, her hair tied back into a neat bun. Her strides were wide and her footfalls heavy, an impersonation of the mannerisms her second brother often displayed. Just for today, she would not be Yao Lin, but Yao Si, a young man attempting the Imperial Exam, hoping for a place in the Emperor¡¯s Court. The receptionists at the entrance registered her name and waved her in, none the wiser to her true identity. There, she stood amongst crowds of candidates old and young alike, all waiting for their chance to scale the ranks. All men, of course. The Yang kingdom was a patriarchy, only men had the chance to guide the kingdom on its path. As a woman, Lin found herself lucky enough that her family saw fit to educate her in both scholarly and martial pursuits. After all, it would not do for a Weaver of Fate to be ignorant to the ways of the world, even if her role would only ever consist of watching and witnessing. After a period of waiting, they were ushered through a grand set of iron gates and into a courtyard lined with desks and chairs, filled with the scent of peach blossoms. There, they were seated by order of surname, given sheets of paper with questions written on them. ¡°Silence! Silence!¡± the examiner at the front of the courtyard called out in a reedy voice. ¡°The 64th Imperial Exam will begin shortly!¡± She closed her eyes and rested as the rest of the candidates quieted down and settled in. She had been studying diligently ever since her epiphany two years ago. She would aim for a jinshi degree, one of the highest honours that would allow her a place in the Emperor¡¯s court. It would be difficult, given all the talented individuals taking the exam today, but not impossible. With a strike of a gong, the exam began. The candidates picked up their calligraphy brushes and began to write. Lin regarded each question carefully before answering, making sure that all she¡¯d written would be insightful and useful to the emperor. ¡°What did Confucius have to say about teachers?¡± In walking the path of life, one out of three men can be my teacher, she wrote carefully. Choose that which he does well and learn from it. Choose that which he does poorly and do better. ¡°What would a pious son do to honour his late parents?¡± He would mourn his parents for three years, following the rules of propriety. ¡°What would a pious son do if his father commits a crime?¡± A pious son would not allow his father to commit immoral acts in the first place. If he does, he would gently but sternly advise his father to turn away from his wrongdoings and do the correct thing. Confucian literature, arithmetic, law¡­ she answered all these with relative ease. The teachings her family had given her were put to good use, she managed to complete all questions with answers she felt satisfied with. Finally, she reached the last question. The poetry section. ¡°All things natural are governed by the will of tian ming. With this line as inspiration, compose a poem.¡± Her mind flashed back to the field of rain watered chrysanthemums, the faces of Zhi¡¯er, Grandfather, and all others sacrificed to the weaving of Fate filling her head. ¡°The will of the inevitable tian ming.¡± She thought for a moment, before pressing her brush to the paper, the ink leaving elegant strokes on the milky white surface. Peach blooms ripe in spring. One shot turned to waste. Moonlit drinks for two. All things have their place. With the resounding strike of a gong, the exam was over. She was swept along with the crowd as they were ushered back out of the courtyard, accompanied by the reedy reminder to return in a month for the archery and martial prowess tests. She spent the rest of the month at home practicing, shooting at a target set up in the yard over and over again. Even after two years of practice, it took all her strength to pull open the military grade bows that would be used in the exam, even more to keep it drawn long enough to aim and make her shot. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. She did not hope to outclass the other candidates at the physical tests. After all, they would likely trump her in both skill and strength, some of them having been training for most of their life. However, she had other plans to reach her goal. ¡°Will you not reconsider today either?¡± The General was watching her train, his eyes tracking her every arrow as she tried again and again to hit the bullseye. ¡°Not today,¡± she said resolutely. ¡°How many threads are left?¡± ¡°Five.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made no progress,¡± the General waved his bamboo fan. ¡°You cannot delay the inevitable, you know. The threads will weave themselves if you take too long.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve made progress, alright,¡± She drew her bow and took a shot. ¡°These threads just need a few extra steps if they¡¯re to be woven with grace.¡± *** The day of the physical tests dawned, and Lin was swept along with the crowd of candidates as they hurried into the exam venue. The atmosphere seemed to be a lot more tense than it was during the written examinations. The candidates whispered to one another in low voices, their murmuring filling the waiting room like the low hum of bees. ¡°They say that the Emperor himself will be invigilating today,¡± said the whispers. ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll commend anyone?¡± They were hushed and ushered into the same courtyard that the written examinations had taken place in. This time, however, instead of desks and chairs, the courtyard was lined with wooden targets. An examiner lined them up in groups of 10 in front of the targets, and handed the first in each line a bow and arrow. ¡°Silence!¡± called out the reedy voiced examiner, before bowing and gesturing to a balcony on the upper left. ¡°All hail his Majesty, Emperor Huo!¡± Lin turned. Standing on the balcony overlooking the courtyard was a tall figure dressed in rippling, yellow silk. His black hair was swept back over his head in a wave, his eyes dark and vacant. The Emperor¡¯s gaze swept absently over the crowd of candidates, his hands placed demurely behind his back. ¡°Health and longevity to his Majesty!¡± Lin bowed along with the crowd, keeping one eye on the man on the balcony. According to the threads of Fate and her own research, the Emperor was a lazy ruler, who did not care much about the affairs of the state, tending to hand official business off to his eunuchs. He spent his days holed up in the Imperial Palace writing and sampling poetry, waited on by beautiful women. Despite his incompetency with ruling, however, he had always personally graded the poetry sections of the imperial examinations. The Emperor waved his hand to silence the crowd¡¯s chants. ¡°There will be three shots per candidate,¡± he announced in a slow, uninterested tone. ¡°No more no less. You will be graded on these three shots. You may begin.¡± The examination began. Young and older men alike stepped up to the starting line and pulled open the heavy, military bows like they were nothing, taking aim at the targets. One, two, three, all arrows met their mark near the inner circles of the targets, some even hitting the bullseye. One candidate hit the dead centre of the bullseye all three times, splitting his arrow down the middle for each. Another missed all three, the arrows falling uselessly to the floor. Lin watched as it grew closer and closer to her turn, pressure arising in her stomach. She would not fail. A bell rang. She stepped up to the starting line. The bowstring was tight, taking all her strength just to pull open. Her hand trembled with exertion as she pulled the string to her cheek, taking aim at her target. She shot almost immediately. She had to make her shot before her strength failed. Thwump. The arrow hit the outer circle. She drew her bow again and shot. Thwump. One in the middle circle. It wasn¡¯t enough. She gritted her teeth. She had to send her message here and now. The crowd was beginning to twitter to each other in hushed whispers, watching her subpar performance. With the last of her strength, she pulled the bowstring open, the string digging into the flesh of her fingers like knives. She raised the arrow to her cheek and took aim. Her vision wobbled and wavered with concentration, her target seeming to multiply and dance before her eyes. Her hands shook. Beads of sweat rolled down her face. She took a deep breath. Thwump. The arrow shot past the wooden target and into one of the peach trees flanking the courtyard. It split the flesh of one of the freshly grown peaches with a sickening splat, before goring itself deep into the wood of the tree trunk. The twittering laughter from the other candidates grew louder, followed by a few hushed jeers. The Emperor stared. He then turned and left, gesturing for his attendants to take over the invigilation. She lowered her bow, her brow slick with sweat, her heart racing. This feeling. It was the feeling of victory. 3: Infiltration That night, a dark shadow slipped into the Imperial Palace through the servant¡¯s entrance, its shoes tapping quietly against the polished stone tiles. The lights in the kitchens and the servant¡¯s quarters were out, and not a sound was to be heard. All but the guards were asleep, tucked away soundly in the dormitories, and no one was there to witness the shadow¡¯s infiltration. Lin quietly closed and locked the door to the servant¡¯s entrance, using the fake keys that she¡¯d bribed a servant into giving her a key mould for. She knew that this would be risky. Should she be caught, her life would end regardless if she¡¯d woven the remaining five threads or not. She snuck out through the kitchens and into the servant dormitories, hugging the rough stone walls so as to blend in with the shadows. It was a long walk to the Emperor¡¯s section of the Imperial Palace, but the servants¡¯ walkways stretched throughout the palace, making it easier for her to get close to where she had to be without running into too much opposition. Once, she had to duck into the shadow of a pillar as footsteps came echoing down the hallway. At that time, a guard had come trooping down the corridor, one hand holding a paper lantern, the other resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword. ¡°Damn Ah Li and his greediness,¡± he had muttered in a low voice as he walked past her hiding place. ¡°Always causing trouble.¡± With a swing of the lantern, he turned the corner and disappeared. Lin waited a few moments with bated breath, just to ensure that he¡¯d truly gone, before pressing on. The stone tiles gave way to polished wood as she left the servants¡¯ section of the palace and stepped into what was considered the true Imperial Palace, decked with gold ornaments spelling out the wealth of the Yang Kingdom. The bright red pillars of the hallways were hidden mostly in shadow, the dim light of the oil lamps lining the walls casting flickering shadows on the painted surfaces. Occasionally, Lin would pass by a door inlaid with rice paper windows, leading deeper into the Imperial Palace. There, the echoing sounds of boots against wood could be heard as the guards patrolled the vicinity. Being even more cautious than she had been previously, she snuck past the guards, making sure to keep her footfalls light. According to the map she¡¯d bribed her way into getting, she was supposed to turn right here. She looked up and surveyed the intersection she was at. Forwards, backwards, left¡­ but no right hallway. All that led to the right was a blank wall. She studied her map again. Maybe she had taken a wrong turn somewhere? She headed back down the corridor, and checked the map again, only to find herself in a completely different place than she had remembered. A courtyard, flanked by peach trees, similar but different to the courtyard she had taken the Imperial Exam in. Voices. She ducked behind another pillar as a pair of guards appeared in the doorway of the hallway opposite to the one she had come out of, her heart pounding. ¡°What do you think his Majesty¡¯s waiting for?¡± she caught snippets of their conversation as they patrolled through the courtyard. ¡°A nonexistent sign.¡± ¡°If someone heard you say that, then you would¡ª¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one here. Just you, me, tian and the earth. None of who would tell.¡± The sound of footsteps faded into the distance. She took the chance to peek out from behind the pillar. The courtyard was empty once more. At this rate, she¡¯d get caught. She had to hurry. She tried to find her bearings on the map a second time, finding herself once again confused as she stumbled this way and that through the twisted maze of the Imperial Palace. Was it left this time? Or was she holding the map upside down? Through the window, she could see the moon hanging high in the sky, a brilliant silver disc amidst a speckled shroud of stars. Midnight already? She still had a ways away before she could get to the Emperor¡¯s chambers, and she was already lost¡­ She still had to get in and out before anyone noticed, and not to mention¡­ She was definitely out of her league. She had been overconfident in her abilities given her ability to see Fate, and forgotten that no matter how able she was, she was still a young woman with no experience or training in infiltrating guarded mansions. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. She took a deep breath to calm her racing thoughts. No matter. She would retrace her footsteps. Surely there was a landmark around here somewhere that she recogni¡ª THUMP. Something hard hit her in the back of her neck. Colours flashed before her eyes, and she collapsed to her knees. She hadn¡¯t even heard anyone approaching her, where did they¡ª She was yanked back upright by the roots of her hair by a gruff hand, causing her to cry out in pain. ¡°An amateur,¡± she blurrily saw someone hoist her up into the light of a paper lantern. ¡°At both stealth and information gathering. I thought Ah Li said that the briber was a guy. You sure this is the one?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll keep searching for more. Either way, the Emperor was expecting a guest tonight,¡± said another voice. ¡°Send her in.¡± She struggled to keep herself awake for longer, but eventually, her concentration fell, and she slipped off into unconsciousness. *** The first time Lin had seen General Xie had been when she was ten years old. ¡°Who are you?¡± she had asked the white haired old man that had suddenly appeared in her backyard. ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to be here.¡± The old man chuckled. ¡°My name is Xie Bi¡¯An. I am a General of the underworld. You could call me¡­ a family friend.¡± ¡°Underworld? Is that where you go when you die?¡± Her family had told little Lin much about the underworld, hoping to acquaint her with death earlier than her peers. After all, as Weavers of Fate, they would likely leave the world of the living much earlier than others. ¡°Yes, it is,¡± if General Xie had been surprised by the little girl¡¯s nonchalance, he didn¡¯t show it. ¡°It is the place that mortals go after living out their role.¡± ¡°Role? You mean tian ming?¡± Lin tilted her head. ¡°Mama always told me that it was tian ming that made me a Weaver of Fate.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± General Xie nodded. ¡°At your age, you will likely have already started seeing your first threads.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Lin held up her hand to reveal a thick bundle of intertwining red threads. ¡°There are so many of them though¡­ I¡¯ll never get through them all!¡± ¡°You will with time,¡± he said. ¡°With time, you will weave the threads of Fate, in the pattern that you deem best.¡± ¡°I get to decide how to weave them?¡± ¡°Why yes, of course. You get to decide whether the outcome is good, bad, or neutral.¡± ¡°But Mama always said that us Weavers have to follow the will of tian ming. Papa, brother, and Grandfather too. If tian ming says that it¡¯s good, I have to make it good. If it says that it¡¯s bad, I have to make it bad. It¡¯s my duty.¡± ¡°Duty¡­ such irony. And do you have an example of a thread that is bad?¡± ¡°Yeah! Tian ming says¡­ says¡­¡± Lin sifted through her bundle of threads. ¡°Uhh¡­ tian ming says that Granny Li¡¯s cat will die at ten years old.¡± ¡°And is that a bad thing?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ let¡¯s say her cat is fated to die either way. This is true for all things, regardless of whether it¡¯s written in the threads.¡± ¡°Okay¡­?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say her cat was healthy and happy, and pleased with life. Then one day, it was run over, and thus passed away.¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrible!¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± General Xie waved his bamboo fan. ¡°But let¡¯s say that instead, the cat was old and was plagued with aches and pains. One day, it passed peacefully in its sleep.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not as bad as the first one.¡± ¡°Indeed. In both cases, the cat dies at ten years old. But whether such is a good thing or a bad thing depends on the events leading up to it, no?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ But what has that got to do with the will of tian ming?¡± ¡°Tian ming is neither good nor evil,¡± said General Xie. ¡°It just is. What is known as the will of tian ming is simply the natural course of all things.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it¡­¡± ¡°A strong wind can scatter seeds to faraway places, or it can topple trees and bring death to the plant. A rainstorm can irrigate the crops, or it can sweep them away and ruin the harvest. Is the wind good or evil? What about the rainstorm?¡± ¡°Umm¡­¡± ¡°It is simply what is natural,¡± said General Xie gently. ¡°Just like your role as a Weaver of Fate. Things like duty and benevolence are man-made concepts. Only you are able to decide what to make of them.¡± ¡°I get to decide my duty?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± General Xie¡¯s dark eyes gleamed. ¡°So, little Lin. Is your duty to yourself? Your people? Or this man-made interpretation of tian ming?¡± 4: The Emperor Lin awoke to the sound of rustling silk. Her sleepy awakening was quickly overtaken by a sense of rising panic. That was right, she had been caught on her way to the Emperor¡¯s chambers. She blinked, her eyes taking time to adjust to the flickering light of the paper lanterns. She was lying on the wooden floor of what seemed to be a large study, her hands bound together in front of her by iron chains. Wooden bookshelves lined the walls, each one crammed full of bamboo scrolls. In the centre of the study was a low wooden desk piled high with documents, as well as a comfortable chair decked with pillows. Sitting in the chair was the Emperor Huo himself, dressed not in his yellow court robes, but something more comfortable and easy to move in. Dismay turned to confusion. She hadn¡¯t been locked away in the dungeons for her mistake? And the Emperor himself was here? The Emperor glanced up dismissively from where he was reading a bamboo scroll similar to the ones collected on the shelves. ¡°And so the intruder awakes¡­What do you have to say for yourself?¡± ¡°Your¡­Majesty?¡± ¡°You must be surprised. I know I would be,¡± he said lazily, his head resting on his hand. His silken robes trailed all the way down to the floor where his foot tapped slowly against the floorboards, a mere few inches away from Lin¡¯s face. ¡°I suppose I am¡­ Why am I here?¡± ¡°Did I let you ask questions?¡± interjected the Emperor, his voice raised. He then shook himself, and settled back down in his chair. ¡°You are here because I was bored. And also because of another matter of my concern.¡± ¡°Tell me, intruder. What do you think of these words,¡± he cleared his throat. ¡°Fruit hangs low in June, Three times boiled in wine. Sunkissed feast for one. Tian-blessed kingdom fine.¡± Lin nodded as best she could from her current position. ¡°A good poem, your Majesty.¡± ¡°Indeed. I wrote it in response to your little message,¡± the Emperor tossed the scroll to her feet, where it rolled open to show in her own handwriting: Peach blooms ripe in spring. One shot turned to waste. Moonlit drinks for two. All things have their place. ¡°I find little riddles like this so very fascinating,¡± said the Emperor. ¡°I¡¯m sure you do too, seeing as you saw fit to write me one.¡± He wasn¡¯t angry! Lin¡¯s heart leapt into her throat. Her eyes sharpened. She now had a second chance. ¡°Tell me if I interpreted it correctly,¡± the Emperor stood up and began to pace back and forth in front of her. ¡°You shot a peach at the martial tests instead of the target, turning it to waste. Thus, you marked the day of your visit to my abode,¡± he turned and stared at her. ¡°In an offer to drink with me?¡± ¡°As expected,¡± Lin dipped her head again. ¡°Your sharp mind so easily deciphered my humble message.¡± The Emperor nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Sit up then,¡± he commanded, and pulled a wine jar out from under the table, followed by two porcelain cups. ¡°Seeing as you are a fine young woman, I will indulge your lowly desire.¡± Lin squirmed around with some difficulty, but eventually managed to maneuver herself into a kneeling stance, her bound hands bracing against the wooden floor. The bottom of her chin barely reached the surface of the table. With a bit more squirming, she was able to position her hands atop the table in a somewhat uncomfortable but still manageable position. The Emperor picked up the jar and broke open the cloth seal. He first poured himself a cup of wine, then one for Lin. Lin wondered how she was expected to be able to drink anything from this position. The Emperor, however, didn¡¯t seem to care whether she drank or not, and took a sip from his cup. ¡°When the guards brought you in,¡± he began. ¡°I wondered what man would be so bold. To attempt an assassination without so much as a weapon or poison on his person. What do you think, woman?¡± ¡°Only a fool would do so,¡± said Lin politely. ¡°A fool! That¡¯s right. And then as I looked at you more closely, I realised that you seemed familiar,¡± the Emperor pointed his cup expectantly in her direction. ¡°Ask me why.¡± ¡°Why is it so?¡± ¡°Because you were so scrawny! The scrawniest out of all the contestants at the martial tests! Even my lowliest consorts have more meat on their arms than you do. It was a wonder that you could pull that bow open at all!¡± ¡°A wonder indeed.¡± ¡°Shush. I didn¡¯t tell you to talk. So I looked at you even more closely and thought, why, that¡¯s a woman! Surely I must be mistaken! Women can¡¯t take the Imperial Exam. But I wasn¡¯t, was I?¡± ¡°No, you weren¡¯t, your Majesty.¡± ¡°I thought so. To think that the intruder was in fact a contender for my court, and a woman disguised as a man!¡± The Emperor enthusiastically downed his cup of wine, and began refilling another. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I sincerely apologise for the deception, your Majesty,¡± Lin bowed her head. ¡°But as I am sure your Majesty is aware, women do not have many chances to ascend the ranks, regardless of their skill.¡± ¡°Oh? So you think you have skill?¡± the Emperor paused, his cup lifted halfway to his lips. ¡°All you did was write a good poem. Shoot a peach with those scrawny arms of yours. What makes you think you have skill in ruling a kingdom?¡± The irony of such a statement, thought Lin to herself. The Emperor didn¡¯t do much to govern the state either. All he did was sit in his room writing poetry. ¡°Or do you think you lack skill,¡± the Emperor continued without waiting for her answer. ¡°Seeing as you decided to seek a private audience with me instead of waiting for the results of the exam. Did you think I¡¯d be so impressed by your dedication that I¡¯d give you the post?¡± ¡°No, your Majesty,¡± Lin leaned forward. ¡°But I did hope to engage in an insightful conversation with you.¡± The Emperor stared. Then he began to laugh. ¡°What can a lowly peasant expect to teach an Emperor? But fine. I will give you a chance to speak of what you know,¡± he stroked his chin. ¡°Let me think¡­Tell me then. What do you think of the Kong kingdom in the North?¡± ¡°I think they are a formidable threat. The harsh weather conditions in the North have fortified their minds and bodies, allowing their people to become hardy and resilient, suitable material for soldiers in war,¡± Lin explained. ¡°They have already captured the independent states surrounding their kingdom, they will soon come for us as well.¡± ¡°Formidable? They are nothing but uneducated barbarians!¡± the Emperor announced. ¡°They will never be able to lay a finger on the great Yang.¡± ¡°I would be hesitant to declare that, your Majesty. Even a dog can kill a man if given enough incentive. The Kong kingdom may not have as long a history or as rich a culture as the Yang, but it would still be unwise to underestimate them simply because of that.¡± ¡°They are a young kingdom, merely a few decades old. The Yang enjoys several centuries of prosperity. If they are wise, they would not attack their senior.¡± ¡°When a man slaughters a hen for a feast, he will choose the fattest of the bunch to butcher. It is precisely our prosperity that makes us a target. The Kong cares not for the rules of propriety, they care for riches, silks, fine pottery¡­ All of which the Yang has in abundance.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ that reasoning does match the uncultured thinking of barbarians,¡± nodded the Emperor slowly. ¡°Well¡­ how do you suppose the great Yang should treat them? An aggressive approach perhaps? Nip the threat in the bud before it can grow?¡± ¡°The Yang should aim to preserve its strength and limit losses. Our armies have grown tender in these times of peace, and are no match for the hardiness of the Kong kingdom.¡± ¡°But there is strength in numbers. If we send everyone, surely we will succeed!¡± ¡°We may, but it is too great a risk. To take the offensive may lead to the thinning of our armies, leaving insufficient soldiers to guard the Capital. As such, the whole kingdom may fall.¡± The Emperor crossed his arms, his eye twitching. ¡°You seem to think so very highly of the Kong kingdom, woman. What makes you think they have what it takes to defeat us? Do you not have faith in the strength of the great Yang?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Lin bowed her head. ¡°But it is my faith in the Yang that leads me to acknowledge its weaknesses. There have been countless incidents in history where barbarian kingdoms like the Kong were underestimated, eventually leading to the fall of cultured but complacent nations. I do not wish to see the Yang tread the same path.¡± The Emperor said nothing. Lin saw this as the opportunity to go on. She took a deep breath. ¡°The Shu, Liaoling, Gaicheng¡­ all these kingdoms have fallen to the Kong in the past ten years. Sooner or later, the Kong kingdom will invade the Yang. This is inevitable, given their activities in the region. Whether we are prepared enough to cut losses is the question.¡± The Emperor stared, his previous arrogant attitude replaced by one of incredulous surprise. ¡°So many? Surely you jest.¡± ¡°I do not, your Majesty.¡± ¡°I was here this whole time, and have heard nothing of the matter.¡± ¡°Then your advisors may have been withholding information from you, your Majesty. Such news is prevalent even in the smallest towns and villages.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± the Emperor¡¯s eyes narrowed. He then stood up and called in a loud voice. ¡°GUARDS!¡± The doors to the study burst open, and a pair of heavily armed soldiers rushed in. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± ¡°Send for the Grand Chancellor. I need information!¡± he swept his hand through the air. ¡°Yes! Your Majesty!¡± Within half an hour, the Grand Chancellor was summoned, his robes ruffled and his hair unkempt. With how disgruntled he was, he looked like he¡¯d been shoved unceremoniously out of bed and rushed all the way to the Palace from his home. He glanced disdainfully at Lin. Then he bowed to the Emperor. ¡°What can this lowly servant do for your Majesty?¡± he asked in a nasally, self assured tone. ¡°What, and how many kingdoms have fallen to the Kong?¡± the Emperor demanded. ¡°Pardon?¡± the Grand Chancellor raised his head sharply. ¡°The Kong kingdom. The barbarians in the North. How many have fallen to them?¡± ¡°Well¡­ you see¡­¡± ¡°Enough dithering! Do you know or do you not?¡± ¡°I do know, your Majesty,¡± the Chancellor folded into a bow twice as deep as the first. ¡°Liaoling. Gaicheng. The Shu. The Tiehan¡­¡± The Grand Chancellor rattled off a list of names, some of which Lin recognised, others she did not. The Emperor¡¯s frown grew deeper and deeper with each name listed, his eyebrows furrowing. ¡°¡­the Ping, the He¡ª¡° ¡°Enough!¡± the Emperor slammed his hand on his desk. ¡°Why was I not notified of this sooner?¡± ¡°Your Majesty was busy with other affairs, you ought not concern yourself with mere barbarians.¡± ¡°The Shu and Tiehan were our powerful allies! To think that they were defeated by the likes of the Kong. Is there anything else you are hiding from me?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°Is there?¡± ¡°They are merely simple matters, your Majesty! Everything is under control! We did not think you would be concerned by them. If you are interested in the Kong, next time, I will inform you myself.¡± ¡°There will be no next time,¡± the Emperor said, every word carrying a bite of frost. ¡°You are fired from your position. Guards!¡± ¡°Yes your Majesty!¡± The Emperor turned away from the ex Grand Chancellor. ¡°Get him out of my sight.¡± As the once Grand Chancellor was towed away protesting, the Emperor''s eyes grew distant, deep in thought. The light from the oil lanterns flickered, sending their shadows dancing against the wall. Lin watched and waited. ¡°What is your name, woman?¡± the Emperor finally spoke, his voice lower and less demanding than it had been before. ¡°Yao Lin, your Majesty.¡± ¡°Well, Lin,¡± He leaned forward across the table, his cup of wine pushed to the side. ¡°What do you propose we do in response?¡± 5: The Kong Will Take 5 Cities Lin sat in front of a pair of great gates, a guqin resting atop her lap. By her side stood two burly men clad in the rough cotton of commoners, their sharp polearms disguised as brooms. Behind her, the city was completely silent. There was no crowing of roosters, no bustle of noise. Just the sound of the wind whispering through the leaves of the trees, and silence. She had travelled far from the Capital on the Emperor¡¯s orders, all the way to the city flanking the borders of the Yang and the Kong. It had been evacuated, its people hurried away to the next closest settlement within the Yang kingdom¡¯s borders. Upon receiving the news of the advancing Kong army, the Emperor had sent her as an envoy to lead the negotiation attempts. On her orders, the Yang armies and their citizens had retreated from the five cities closest to the boundary. Far in the distance, she could spot a dust cloud beginning to form on the horizon. She had an inkling of what it was, but she was in no hurry to move. After all, they would come when they came, there was no need for her to rush them. Her fingers plucked the strings of the guqin as she thought. The notes that drifted out from between the strings were slow and thoughtful, and while not the work of a master, they were still pleasant to the ear either way. Her mind floated back to her conversation with the Emperor before she left on her journey, saddling her horse with a pair of soldiers to accompany her. ¡°I am trusting in your plan to complete the negotiations successfully,¡± he had said sternly, his eyebrows furrowed. ¡°You will be generously rewarded when you return.¡± ¡°Of course, your Majesty,¡± Lin had replied. ¡°The Kong will only take five cities, and none of our people¡¯s lives.¡± They had ridden for three days from the Capital before reaching the border, where the scout had told her about the situation with the Kong. An army had been spotted advancing down from the North, heading straight for the border city. An estimated ten thousand foot soldiers and three hundred riders. It was clear that from the sheer numbers in their army that their intentions were anything but peaceful. But now, everything was in place. Lin had all she needed to ensure a successful negotiation. No matter the cost. *** General Chun Wai was in good spirits. The Kong army had set out from the Citadel in full force, with sufficient food and blessings granted by the King himself. Crossing the Yang-Kong border, there had been no guards at the checkpoint. Throughout their march southward, all they had been met with were empty villages and abandoned farms. His men were suspicious of this lack of opposition, but General Chun Wai was glad. Less opposition meant less fighting, less fighting meant less injured and less losses. That, in turn, meant less weeping families to break his heart when he went to deliver the bad news. Chun Wai was not a barbarian. He did not enjoy the bloodshed in war, but if it meant that it would bring hope to his homeland, he would gladly don his helm and ride out into battle. Riding at the head of the charge, he slowed his horse as the scout came galloping towards him. ¡°What is ahead?¡± he asked briskly. ¡°A city!¡± cried the scout. ¡°But the gates are open and unguarded. All that is there are two men and a woman playing some sort of stringed instrument.¡± ¡°Two men and a woman, hmm?¡± Chun Wai thought for a moment before consulting his right hand man. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°A trap or an envoy,¡± the right hand man replied. ¡°My thoughts exactly,¡± agreed Chun Wai. He spurned his horse forwards. ¡°Stay here, Liu Si. I will speak with the three. Sincerity must be offered in a negotiation.¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s a trap?¡± ¡°Then I alone will suffer the consequences,¡± replied Chun Wai. ¡°The armies will be under your command until I return.¡± He gathered a small company of skilled riders to join him, before turning to the scout. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Chun Wai and his company rushed their horses forwards and galloped across the sandy terrain. Soon, the silhouettes of city walls came into view, followed by the sloped, bamboo terraces so characteristic to Yang architecture. Chun Wai squinted through the dusty air to find that all was as the scout had reported. The city gates had been thrown wide open, revealing the deserted streets within. There were no guards atop the watchtowers, nor any standing to attention along the walls. No cries of alarm, or warning bells chiming, or the bustle of panicked activity that Chun Wai had grown used to on his excursions to nearby nations. All that was there were the lilting tunes of an unknown instrument. It was unlike anything Chun Wai had heard before. It was brief like the fall of raindrops into a deep lake, yet also reverberating like the calls of the cows in the pasture. Long yet fleeting, slow yet fast. Foreign, yet nostalgic. The song of love for a people. His ears followed the sound of the music till his eyes fell upon its source. A young lady dressed in silken robes, her hair styled back in the complicated coils of Yang women. Chun Wai had seen his fair share of women in his lifetime, but something about the young lady enamoured him. It wasn¡¯t that she was particularly beautiful, in fact, she was quite plain looking. No, it was the look on her face that captured him. A look that beheld wisdom beyond her years. He tugged on the reins and dismounted, choosing to walk towards the lady and her two bodyguards instead of riding. At his approach, the lady stopped playing her instrument and stood up. She bowed, the bodyguards following suit. ¡°Greetings, General from afar,¡± she said politely. ¡°This one is Yao Lin, an envoy from the Yang kingdom. Emperor Huo sends his well wishes.¡± ¡°Greetings, Ms Yao,¡± Chun Wai returned. ¡°I am Chun Wai, General of the Kong kingdom. I have arrived by decree of our king to invite the esteemed Yang kingdom to join our great nation.¡± ¡°A generous offer indeed,¡± the lady smiled. ¡°The Yang has also prepared gifts to the Kong in anticipation for your arrival. But first, you must be tired, having travelled far to get here. Allow us to humbly provide lodgings for you and your men.¡± ¡°Lodgings?¡± Chun Wai frowned. ¡°Your people will not object?¡± ¡°This city is one of the gifts from the Yang to the Kong,¡± said Ms Yao. ¡°All that is within these walls is yours to make use of.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trap!¡± shouted one of his riders. ¡°Silence!¡± Chun Wai shushed the rider, before turning back to Ms Yao. ¡°You are aware that your proposition is suspicious, do you not?¡± ¡°I am aware,¡± Ms Yao bowed again. ¡°I assure you, the city is completely empty. You may scour the area if you wish.¡± ¡°I think I will,¡± Chun Wai gestured to his riders. ¡°Search the houses! Bring any hiding within them to me, alive or dead!¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Yes sir!¡± The riders searched every corner of the walled city, but found no hidden soldiers or lurking assassins. Chun Wai did a head count once everyone had returned, only to find all riders accounted for. The city was truly empty. ¡°What did you find?¡± he asked the head of the riders. ¡°Sir! All houses are abandoned but the essentials remain. There are also bedrolls and a feast set up in what looks to be the governor''s abode!¡± ¡°Those are prepared for you and your men,¡± said Ms Yao. ¡°Surely you are all weary from the long journey across the desert.¡± ¡°We are¡­¡± admitted Chun Wai, thinking of all the stale army biscuits they¡¯d been eating for the past month. ¡°But do we have any guarantee of your sincerity?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Ms Yao nodded. ¡°I and these two gentlemen have stayed behind as your hostages. Should anything go wrong, you may use us to demand compensation from the Emperor Huo.¡± Chun Wai considered the offer. Although his men had voiced no complaints, he knew that traversing the desert was no easy task. Especially for those foot soldiers who had to make the arduous journey step by step. The riders had confirmed the lack of soldiers within the city, and had tested the water sources and guaranteed its purity. This would make a fine rest spot for his men before they continued the journey southward as the King demanded. However, he just had one more thing to confirm. ¡°And who are you to think that you are important enough to serve as a hostage?¡± ¡°I am the Emperor¡¯s concubine,¡± said Ms Yao seriously. ¡°I am no Empress, but surely I am important enough for you?¡± Chun Wai hesitated. He thought about the possibility that this may still be a trap. He thought about the possibility that it may not. He thought about Liu Si and the others waiting patiently under the hot desert sun. His sympathy for his men gave in. ¡°Very well,¡± he said. ¡°We will stay a day in this city.¡± *** ¡°We should leave immediately,¡± said Liu Si, his eyebrows furrowed. Chun Wai drank leisurely from his flask of wine as he overlooked the feast from the second floor of the once governor¡¯s home. Below them, his men drank and ate to their fill, laughing and rejoicing at the idea of already having taken a city without needing to fight. ¡°Why?¡± asked Chun Wai. ¡°We¡¯ve already checked every inch of this small city. Ambushes, traps, even poisoning. There was nothing. Sure, the houses were a little grimy and covered in black dirt, but that was all.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, it all seems too good to be true,¡± Liu Si said. ¡°The proud Yang kingdom simply giving up a city to us? That¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Maybe they¡¯re just sincere,¡± said Chun Wai hopefully. ¡°The exploits of the Kong kingdom have spread far and wide, after all.¡± ¡°Forgive me for my words, but you are too honest, General,¡± Liu Si¡¯s right eye twitched. ¡°What if they intend to¡ª¡° ¡°General Chun Wai!¡± came a lilting voice from behind. Chun Wai turned to see Ms Yao standing in the doorway. ¡°Ms Yao!¡± His heart leapt at the sight of their kindly host. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°I am here to discuss the matters of the Kong-Yang relationship from now on,¡± she bowed. ¡°If you would follow me into the audience chamber.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± he got up from his seat. ¡°Stay here, Liu Si.¡± ¡°But General!¡± ¡°Watch over the men for me,¡± he turned and followed Ms Yao down a long, dark corridor and into a quaint little audience chamber. It was simply furnished with a desk and two chairs, with torches along the walls lighting the room. Oddly enough, that same black dirt that littered the city was here too, dusted along the surface of the table. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he murmured, sweeping a pile of dirt onto the floor. ¡°Do you Yang people have no sense of cleanliness?¡± ¡°I apologise for the mess, General,¡± Ms Yao sat down at the table. ¡°It¡¯s been a rough few years for this border town. The people didn¡¯t have much time to tidy up after receiving news of your arrival.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I suppose,¡± Chun Wai swept his portion of the table clean of the black dirt before turning Ms Yao. ¡°So, what are you here to discuss?¡± Reaching under the table, Ms Yao pulled out a map and placed it atop the table. ¡°This is a map of the Yang kingdom. These crosses symbolise the cities¡± she said. Pulling out a piece of charcoal from within her sleeves, she then circled five of the crosses closest to the border. ¡°These five cities are what the Yang are willing to cede to the Kong.¡± Chun Wai squinted at the crosses. Ms Yao pulled a torch from the wall and held it over the map so he could see better. From their positions, he recognised those five cities. They were the smallest border cities that the scout had mapped out in an infiltration mission, so small that they could barely be considered cities at all. Large villages, to be more precise. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you mistake our intentions, Ms Yao.¡± he shook his head and leaned away from the map. ¡°We come to take all of Yang into our borders, not a mere five cities.¡± ¡°I understand, General, but as I¡¯m sure you are aware, we cannot allow that to happen.¡± ¡°And I am responsible for guaranteeing that it happens.¡± ¡°Five cities or nothing,¡± a determined glint arose in Ms Yao¡¯s eyes. ¡±No, Ms Yao,¡± Chun Wai said firmly. ¡°To put it more bluntly, this is not a diplomatic exchange. This is an invasion. We have only shown you mercy so far because of the generous reception you have shown us.¡± Ms Yao said nothing. Chun Wai pressed on. ¡°I have a thousand men gathered downstairs, nine thousand more within the city walls. Come tomorrow, we will march southwards towards the Capital. If your Emperor surrenders gracefully, maybe we will be able to end this without a war.¡± His voice softened. ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice, Ms Yao. And neither do I. You have been kind to us, and for that I am grateful. But it is my duty to carry out the King¡¯s will.¡± ¡°And it is my duty to see the Emperor¡¯s will done,¡± Ms Yao got up from her seat and walked towards the back of the room, the torch still in her hands. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re the one who doesn¡¯t have a choice in the matter.¡± As she turned to face him again, he noted that the look in her eyes had changed. All emotion had drained from her face, leaving her expression one of steely resolve. No longer was it the gaze of a wise maiden, but the hardy glare of a soldier. A soldier prepared to die. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he sprang up from his seat. ¡°Remember the black dirt, General Chun Wai? It is an ingenious formula made by one of our alchemists.¡± said Ms Yao. ¡°A mixture of saltpetre, sulphur and charcoal, it ignites at the spark of a flame and explodes outwards with unimaginable force. The Emperor had loaned me ten carts full of the ingredients for this occasion. We call it gunpowder.¡± With a sinking heart, Chun Wai glanced around at the room that had been covered in that black dirt. ¡°Surely you don¡¯t intend to¡­¡± ¡°Five cities,¡± said Ms Yao. ¡°Or nothing.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not be hasty,¡± said Chun Wai, his heart racing. ¡°If you blow up the city, you¡¯ll die as well!¡± ¡°A small price for the good of our kingdom.¡± ¡°What about your people?¡± he tried again. ¡°Surely you wouldn¡¯t kill innocents in this wild plan of yours!¡± ¡°All citizens have been evacuated miles away. The only Yang people here are me and my bodyguards.¡± ¡°Our King will hear of this,¡± Chun Wai warned. ¡°Blowing up our armies is a declaration of war against the Kong.¡± ¡°Are we not already at war?¡± Ms Yao lowered the torch closer to the black powder along the ground. ¡°You said it yourself, General. This is an invasion. If I manage to take ten thousand of the Kong¡¯s armies with me at the price of one small city, I¡¯d say that it is worth it.¡± Chun Wai stared at the lady¡­ no, the soldier standing across the room from him. He could feel his heart thudding in his chest loud as a war drum. His mind was hazy from all the wine he¡¯d drunk before, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to think of any countermeasure to this plan. Just as Liu Si had said, he had been careless. He¡¯d been so confident with his past experience with ambushes that he¡¯d neglected the idea that the entire city may be a trap. A memory of a burning city clouded his vision. Of wooden beams falling, of innocents screaming. Of his men shouting as they choked up dark smoke, crying out for their family members. That same wild look, carried by enemy soldiers who had not been afraid to die for their kingdom. He sat back down. ¡°Five cities,¡± he said begrudgingly. ¡°No more no less.¡± Yao Lin smiled. ¡°Five cities.¡± 6: Bonfire After seeing the Emperor upon her return to the Capital, Lin returned to her home in the outskirts. She had taken care of loose ends after her negotiation with Chun Wai, making sure to release him and a few of his important subordinates from the boobytrapped city only after their armies had gone three whole days¡¯ progress back into the desert. Although she had no guarantee that he would keep his word to retreat back to the border, she knew that she had made an impact on him. Sometimes, an impact was enough. The Kong knew to be more careful before making more excursions in the future. They had lost five cities, but for now, the Yang was safe. The Emperor had rewarded her greatly for her exploits, granting her the position of Grand Chancellor, second in command to the entire kingdom. It was a lot more than she had expected. At first, she had thought he¡¯d made a mistake. ¡°There is no mistake,¡± the Emperor had said. ¡°You were able to do what the old Grand Chancellor had not been able to. That makes you all the more fit for the job.¡± ¡°You only knew of my presence a few months ago,¡± she had replied. ¡°Why do you trust me to do the job well?¡± ¡°You risked your life by sneaking into my chambers to tell me about the Kong, then again by facing their armies in a city filled with gunpowder. If that does not show your resolve and your love for this kingdom, then I don¡¯t know what does.¡± And so Grand Chancellor she became. How far she had come in just a few months, she mused to herself as she once more sat before the Tapestry of Fate. The shine of the crimson threads was just as she had left it, except perhaps, with a bit more girth to them. Two of the five remaining threads had already begun to weave themselves into the Tapestry. She stepped on the pedals quickly to finish the job. The Emperor will be lazy and incompetent, overly trusting in women. The Kong kingdom will invade and leave with five cities, but will return in a year for another invasion. She hummed as she pushed the bar on her loom, weaving the two stray threads into place. She only had three strands left, and then she would be free. The waters of the Changjiang will flow backwards and flood the capital. An army will advance from the south. The Yang kingdom will fall. The smile fell from her face. She stared at the three threads hanging loose between her fingers. There would be a flood, an army, and the fall of the kingdom. Not to mention the invasion within the year. No matter what General Xie had told her about the neutrality of Fate, all of them seemed to be inherently bad things. With the Kong kingdom¡¯s thread already woven, she had a year-long time limit to put things right. How could she turn all this into something good? Was it even possible? She thought and rolled the threads and thought some more. ¡°Why the sour look?¡± Speak of the devil. General Xie appeared, as soundlessly as he always had. ¡°You scored a brilliant victory.¡± ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t know how to proceed next,¡± she murmured, staring at the threads. ¡°I can¡¯t twist any of this.¡± ¡°There are limits to what the regular human can do.¡± he said gently. ¡°In the end, Fate is still Fate. Inevitable, unchangeable. You have already done more than enough to service your homeland.¡± ¡°I know, but¡­¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. She fell silent. ¡°If it distresses you, you can always go back to doing what your ancestors have done,¡± General Xie suggested. ¡°Watch and observe, and weave the Threads of Fate. Your duty does not entail creating a good outcome.¡± ¡°But I want to,¡± said Lin. But why? She couldn¡¯t help but question herself. Why did she want to create a good outcome? General Xie was right. While she was a Weaver of Fate, her duty never entailed trying to tip the scales towards the positive. All she had to do was to watch and witness. Yet despite knowing this, there was a burning determination within her heart. It blazed like a bonfire that couldn¡¯t be put out by a few splashes of hardship. She found herself perplexed by her own resolve. It would be so much easier to just let go. She stared out at the figure of the Imperial Palace through the window, and her mind began to drift. That same figure had stood unmoving throughout her childhood. Every time she looked out the window, she could count on it to be there. No matter rain or shine, there it would stand, golden and glorious as always. She remembered when her mother had first hoisted her up to see the Palace through the window, when she was merely a toddler. Then, she had looked at the glint of the sunlight reflecting off the crimson paint and polished bamboo roofs, and felt entranced. ¡°I¡¯ll become a princess when I grow up!¡± she¡¯d announced. ¡°Then I can live in the pretty Palace every day!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t become a princess, silly girl,¡± her mother had returned wearily, so burdened by the weight of Fate upon her shoulders that she hadn¡¯t had the heart to entertain the fantasies of children. ¡°We are commoners. We weren¡¯t fated for royalty.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll become an official! And then I can work in the Palace instead.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that either, Little Lin. An official is a job only for boys. You were born a girl. You weren¡¯t fated for that path.¡± ¡°Then what am I fated for?¡± ¡°Sitting at home. Weaving Fate. Until the day you finish all your threads.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I do more?¡± ¡°No, Little Lin. There are boundaries to our roles,¡± her mother¡¯s tired voice rang out in her mind. ¡°It is impossible to go beyond them.¡± Lin shook her head, smiling mournfully at the memory. How would Mother react if she saw her right now? Not only had she, a commoner and a girl, become an official, but the Grand Chancellor, the right hand of the Emperor. Her mind returning to the present, General Xie stood waiting for her answer, slowly waving his bamboo fan through the air. On his face was a weary look, similar to that of her mother¡¯s, but different. Less the look of one who had broken down under the weight of Fate, more of one who had watched countless others break down and waste away. She could tell. He did not believe she could twist Fate to create the happy ending she desired. She wanted to prove him wrong. To prove everyone wrong. ¡°All my life, I¡¯ve been told what I can or cannot do,¡± she muttered, half to General Xie and half to herself. ¡°That the things I wanted were impossible. That I should conserve my strength, so I don¡¯t end up burning myself out.¡± ¡°And they may be right,¡± said General Xie. ¡°There are only so many things one woman can do.¡± Lin ran her fingers over the glowing threads of the Tapestry. ¡°But still¡­ I want to keep running. Till I burn my spark out. To see how far I can go by my strength alone.¡± ¡°I want to create a shining legacy,¡± she turned away from her loom to stare determined into his eyes. ¡°One where the Yang kingdom, and its people, get to live long and prosper.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an ideal vision,¡± remarked General Xie. ¡°I know it will be difficult,¡± she replied. ¡°But I¡¯m still going to try.¡± ¡°As you wish,¡± sighed General Xie as his visage crumbled, slowly fading into nothingness. She watched him go, her resolve growing all the more. The bonfire in her heart flared into a roaring wall of flame. Slowly, she pulled two of the threads free from their tangles and wove them into the Tapestry. She would fulfil both her wish and her duty. No matter the cost, she would find a way. 7: An Army Will Advance From the South It was halfway through fall when the waters of the Changjiang began to flow backwards. At first, it had just been small signs, the waters creeping up the banks of the river a bit more than usual. Then, news from southern Yang. Whispered rumours that a large, black cloud had travelled over the mountains and into the unexplored land down south. It had seemed inconsequential. But it was only the beginning. One cool autumn day, the Changjiang had reversed its course. With a huge, wailing splash, the waters had stormed uphill, crashing over the Grand Chancellor¡¯s recently built walls and washing into the city. Doors were washed away from their frames. Furniture bobbed in the streets. A knee high deluge of water now swamped the Capital, covering everything in a thin layer of riverbed mud. Lin surveyed the damage, a scribe taking note of the losses harboured by each household. She had hoped that the walls would lessen the degree of the flooding, but it seemed that was not the case. Fortunately, the families closest to the river had already been relocated further uphill, so while there was property damage, the lives lost had been kept to a minimum. She and the scribe tallied up those missing or found dead, and paid visits to affected families. There was a lot to do after the flood, and while Lin wanted to hurry on to the next event, she knew that she had to finish up her work before heading off. Just as they¡¯d finally visited the last home that needed tallying up, a messenger came running to her. ¡°Report¡ª!¡± he cried, nearly tripping over the door frame. ¡°Slow down,¡± said Lin, stopping the messenger and ushering him back out the door, away from the curious gazes of the family they had been interviewing. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°A ship was spotted coming up the river from the south!¡± he panted. ¡°A huge warship! We don¡¯t know how something that big got past the rocky region of the river!¡± An army will advance from the south. ¡°I see,¡± said Lin calmly. ¡°How much longer do we have till it gets to the Capital?¡± ¡°Estimated three days.¡± ¡°Thank you. Send word to the Palace to inform His Majesty. Interrupt the court if you must,¡± she turned to the scout. ¡°Have the newly built docks been destroyed by the flood?¡± ¡°No, Grand Chancellor,¡± the scout bowed, his voice filled with urgency. ¡°The bottom floor has been flooded, but the additional upper section remains dry and stable.¡± ¡°Good enough,¡± she sighed, and began making her way back to the Palace. ¡°We have much to do.¡± By the time she and the scout arrived, the Imperial Palace was in a state of panic. Servants rushed here and there, and court seemed to have been adjourned, the officials hurrying off somewhere else. She pushed past the throngs of servants and officials till she reached the throne room, where the Emperor sat, flicking through a bundle of bamboo scrolls. ¡°Your Majesty,¡± she bowed before him. ¡°I have arrived.¡± ¡°Yao Lin!¡± the Emperor thundered, his eyes sharp. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Why was I only informed of this invasion now? Three days!¡± he held up three fingers to emphasise his point. ¡°Three days till this unidentified army comes straight to my door!¡± ¡°I apologise for my negligence, your Majesty,¡± she got down on her knees and kowtowed before him. ¡°I only recently received the news as well.¡± The Emperor grumbled and waved his hand dismissively. ¡°No matter. It¡¯s too late anyway,¡± he slumped back in his seat. ¡°What do you suggest we do? Order the armies in the outskirts to return to the Capital?¡± ¡°They will not arrive in time,¡± Lin dipped her head. ¡°Instead, please allow me to take five carts of fine silk and ten carts of gold to the new docks. I will meet the intruders myself.¡± The Emperor frowned. He then sighed, and waved his hand. ¡°I will allow it. You have shown your resourcefulness so far. I will trust your judgement a while longer.¡± ¡°Thank you, your Majesty,¡± she got up and bowed once more. ¡°I will not let you down.¡± A day later, Lin found herself standing atop the docks, a gentle breeze flowing through her hair. She had dressed herself in the finest robes she owned, and put on the untouched jewellery that other officials had gifted her upon her rise to the role of Grand Chancellor. Behind her waited a total of twenty cartloads of riches and finery, and beyond that, the armies of Yang lined the streets. All waiting for the arrival of the intruders. They did not have to wait long. Soon, from around the bend came a large, black ship. It was an odd ship, unlike anything that she¡¯d seen before. For one, it was made of metal instead of wood, large, thin slabs of metal hammered into place to make the hull. Secondly, it had chimneys. Dirty, black smoke puffed out the chimneys stationed at the highest point of the warship, streaming along behind it as it advanced upstream. It was fast for its size, unnaturally so, even with the reversed river aiding its progress. Within a couple minutes, the boat had rolled up to the docks and stopped. The ship was a lot bigger than she¡¯d anticipated, its deck towering high above the upper levels of the dock. And then nothing happened. The boat just sat there at the docks, the wind blowing black smoke into their faces. The armies behind her shifted uncomfortably. Lin raised her hands to the sky and called out at the top of her voice. ¡°Welcome, foreign visitors!¡± She waited. There was no reply. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°This is the Kingdom of Yang,¡± she tried again. Nothing. ¡°We do not wish for conflict. Only to talk.¡± That seemed to prompt a response. With a deafening crash, a section of the boat¡¯s wall fell open onto the docks, splinters from the wooden beams flying everywhere. Framed in the opening was a tall figure dressed in gleaming armour. The figure strode down the gangplank to meet Lin, their long hair flying in the wind. Lin bowed deeply as they approached her, her eyes cast downwards. ¡°Welcome to the Kingdom of Yang, esteemed visitor. I am the Grand Chancellor, Yao Lin.¡± The figure turned their head to glance around at the city, and nodded. ¡°I thank you for your welcome, Yao Lin,¡± from the tone of voice, Lin determined that the figure was a woman. ¡°I am the Queen of the southern Ruo kingdom, Li Zhi Yuan. With the rise of the river waters, we went on an expedition upstream, hoping to find riches and unite new lands under the banner of the Ruo. I hope our arrival was not too much of an imposition on your kingdom.¡± At the mention of the Queen¡¯s status, Lin dropped into a kneel and dipped her head lower. ¡°Of course not, your Majesty. All of Yang is touched by your presence,¡± she waved her hand in the direction of the cartloads of wealth. ¡°These are welcoming gifts from our Emperor to you.¡± ¡°Rise.¡± The Ruo Queen stepped past her and over to the carts. The metal bits and bobs on her armour tinkled as she moved. She surveyed the contents for a while, before turning back to Lin. ¡°These are fine gifts. Finer than anything I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± she murmured. ¡°Your kingdom must be prosperous indeed.¡± ¡°I thank you for your compliment,¡± Lin replied, getting up. ¡°These are but humble trinkets to welcome visitors from another land. The reception begins in the Palace, if you would follow me.¡± ¡°I think I will. I want to talk with your¡­ Emperor.¡± She gestured to the armies, and they parted, revealing a clear way to the Imperial Palace. The Ruo Queen gave a hum of approval before summoning a few attendants to join her. Peering into the hull of the ship the queen had arrived in, Lin could spot the silver glint of sharp weapons through the darkness. She shivered. There was an army in that ship, that was for sure. She was unclear on the Ruo Queen¡¯s intentions, but at the very least, she was considering diplomacy. Even if she wasn¡¯t, the armies were still stationed near the ship. If any of them decided to attack, the Yang armies would still be prepared. She led the Ruo Queen and her attendants all the way to the Imperial Palace and into the dining hall. There, the Emperor sat waiting for them, accompanied by a lavish feast. Lin sat by the Emperor¡¯s side, and the Queen and her attendants opposite to them. At the front of the dining hall, a small performance was taking place. A sword dancer twirled his tasseled sword, accompanied by fine music. Together, they dined and drank. All throughout the dinner, the Queen did not say anything, focusing on her food. Lin snuck several glances at the Emperor. He seemed to be nervous, picking at his food instead of tucking in like he usually did. Lin did not blame him. After all, they knew nothing of the lands beyond the mountains in the south. What the Ruo Queen had intended for them still remained to be seen. All they could do was put on a welcoming reception and flaunt their wealth and power. Hopefully, the Queen would come to believe that the Yang was not to be messed with and leave peacefully. Finally, after the dishes had been cleared away and the entertainment dismissed backstage, the Ruo Queen spoke. ¡°I thank you for such a generous reception. But let us get down to business, shall we?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± said the Emperor, leaning forwards over the table. ¡°What does the Queen of Ruo wish to discuss?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t know of the Ruo¡¯s might,¡± the Queen clasped her hands in front of her. ¡°The lands of Ruo are blessed with an abundance of coal and precious ores. As a result, we specialise in weapons manufacturing and maritime trade with a variety of our vassal states. The steam engine on our boat, in particular, was imported technology from a kingdom far across the sea.¡± ¡°To be blunt, we came upstream in search of new vassal states, new lands to recruit under our banner,¡± the Queen gestured amicably towards the Emperor. ¡°Would the Yang be interested?¡± ¡°That¡­¡± the Emperor¡®s eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Ruo is quite powerful,¡± said the Queen. ¡°We have weapons that can kill ten men with one strike, arrows the size of javelins. As our vassal state, the Yang will be under our protection. Only in exchange for yearly remuneration and your sovereignty.¡± That was quite the claim, Lin thought to herself. If anything, it served as both an offer and a warning. If the Yang did not agree, the Ruo was fully capable of taking the kingdom by force. ¡°Well¡­¡± the Emperor¡¯s eyes shifted towards Lin, seeking her help. ¡°That is quite the generous offer, your Majesty,¡± Lin said. ¡°But I believe that you may be mistaken.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± the Queen¡¯s eyebrows raised. ¡°Although the Yang may not have the military strength of the Ruo, we have connections all over the continent,¡± Lin gestured. ¡°Our silks and pottery are a luxury highly sought after. We have countless vassal states of our own. Forgive me for my harsh words, but what makes the Ruo believe that our kingdoms do not stand as equals, but instead as vassals and lords?¡± There was a moment of tense silence. The Emperor fidgeted in his seat. Then, the Queen picked up her cup and drank deeply from it. ¡°If what you say is true, then I may have indeed misjudged the might of the Yang,¡± remarked the Queen. ¡°I apologise.¡± She raised her head. ¡°To tell the truth, we may be the ones in greater need of this transaction.¡± ¡°Please elaborate,¡± replied Lin. ¡°All of Ruo has been suffering from a great famine. Pestilence spreads through our farmlands, each year¡¯s harvest smaller than the last. The past five years, our people have been surviving off of fish, and even that is running out quickly as we trawl our waters clean. All our vassal states are located across the sea, making import of food pricey and difficult. We took the opportunity presented by the Changjiang flowing upstream as a sign from tian ming. That there would be food further north.¡± ¡°My deepest sympathies to the Ruo and its people,¡± said the Emperor, finally speaking up. ¡°Thank fate, the Yang has yet to see such a disaster befall its lands.¡± The Queen nodded. ¡°Allow me to try again. The Ruo kingdom hopes to enter a mutually beneficial alliance with the Yang. The Yang will provide priority and benefits when trading with the Ruo, while the Ruo will offer military support and protection to the Yang.¡± ¡°A fine offer,¡± said Lin. ¡°May we write down the details in a formal contract?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The rest of the meeting took place in pleasant discussion, with Lin and the Ruo Queen smoothing out the details of the alliance. At the end, when everything was finalized and satisfactory to both parties, the Emperor and the Ruo Queen stamped their seals on the paper, signing the deal. Then, the Ruo Queen bid farewell to the Emperor and returned south in her boat, puffing black smoke as they went. The Ruo army never showed their face. Lin watched them go, and couldn¡¯t help but smile. Only one more thread left. 8: Up to Fate Winter left and spring came. Meanwhile, the Ruo-Yang relationship had developed smoothly in those short few months. True to her word, the Queen had sent a boatload of men to help guard the borders against the Kong, and agreed to send more in case of an invasion. A trading canal had been set up along the Changjiang river after the reversed waters returned to normal, ensuring that goods could be ferried easily from the north to the south. Occasionally, the Queen herself would come up the river with her entourage. Not for any formal business, merely to drink and talk with the Emperor. She seemed to be particularly impressed by his poetry skills, often giving him prompts so that she could listen to him make one up on the spot. At first, Lin joined these sessions, watching quietly from the sidelines and adding to the conversation when necessary. Afterwards, however, she was dismissed from the room with the rest of the servants, leaving the Emperor and the Queen to their own devices. Lin was troubled at first, but afterwards, found that her worries were for naught. It was good that the Emperor and the Ruo Queen could show such trust around each other. A sign that the agreement between the two nations was flourishing. She didn¡¯t have time to think about the Ruo for long though. Word came that the Kong was once again amassing its armies at the border. An army ten times larger than the one that Lin had turned away last year. Already, the first section of the army had begun its march across the desert. It was only a matter of time till they set foot on Yang soil. Lin sat by the window for the last time, frowning down at her old loom. The last remaining red thread twirled between her fingertips. Back and forth, back and forth. No matter how much she thought, she could not find an answer. The Yang kingdom will fall. All her struggles to twist the threads into something good for the kingdom, and this was how it ended. A straightforward message, marking the end of the Yang. No room for negotiation, no way around. In frustration, she chucked the thread out the window. It hung in the air for a moment, a shining red ribbon on a backdrop of gold, before falling down out of her sight. When she turned away from the window, however, there it was on her loom again, as if it had always been there. The Yang kingdom will fall. The burning bonfire in her heart spat in vexation. She could not accept defeat now. Not when she had come so close! Surely, surely there had to be a way. She picked up a small knife and tried to cut off the ¡°Yang¡± part of the thread. Maybe she could modify it so that it just said ¡°kingdom will fall¡±. She could work with that. But the thread stayed intact under the onslaught of the blade. No matter how hard she pushed, sawed, or ground away at it, it remained whole. General Xie watched her from beside the door, a rumbling sigh coming from his throat. ¡°Shut up!¡± Lin shouted, throwing the knife to the floor. ¡°I¡¯ve told you. I won¡¯t accept it!¡± ¡°Calm down, Lin,¡± he waved his fan slowly through the air. ¡°Even if you throw a fit, nothing will change.¡± ¡°I¡­ I know¡­¡± she fell back on her stool with a thump. She held her head in her hands. ¡°Is there really no other way?¡± General Xie shook his head slowly. Slowly, the flame in her heart faded. She felt her wish, her duty, all crumble up and wash away like sand on a beach. ¡°Won¡¯t tian ming give me a chance?¡± her vision blurred and wavered. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying so hard¡­¡± ¡°You have come far,¡± said the General, patting her sympathetically on the shoulder. ¡°Much farther than any of your ancestors have. Never have I seen a Weaver of Fate more successfully twist tian ming to match their vision.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s all over now,¡± Lin wiped her eyes. ¡°Everything that I¡¯ve done for this place. Gone. All because Fate says that the Yang will fall.¡± The General grimaced. ¡°I know, Lin. But such is the way of the world. All things have their time to shine, but all things will also fade someday. It is only a matter of how they do.¡± He stepped past her to gaze out the window. ¡°The Yang will fall, just as the Weavers of Fate will die. These are both truths, written into Fate by tian ming. But how the Yang falls, how you will die, can both be decided.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Will the Yang go out by the might of the Kong? The Ruo? Or by an inner turmoil?¡± General Xie held out his hand. ¡°All these are for you to determine.¡± ¡°You are not out of choices yet.¡± Lin wiped her tears once more and stood up. ¡°I suppose I am not. Thank you, General Xie.¡± There was no reply. She stood awhile in the empty room, gathering her thoughts. Then, she went to get ready. She stripped herself of her robes and put on the practical men¡¯s garb she had once worn on her infiltration into the Imperial Palace. She pulled on her new riding boots, fashioned for long marches in all climates. She took her helmet and armour from where they had been sitting quietly by the door, and put those on as well. Finally, when she was ready, she looked around her tiny room. The room she had grown up in. The room where she held all her conversations with General Xie. The room where all her memories lay. She turned, and strode out the door for the last time. *** Far on the outskirts, where the soil fell away into dusty sand, the armies of the Kong and the Yang stood facing each other. At the head of the Yang armies rode Lin, while opposite her, her old acquaintance, Chun Wai. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°It has been a while, Yao Lin,¡± said Chun Wai, his voice grim. ¡°Indeed, General,¡± she replied from atop her horse. ¡°We have come once again to take the Yang,¡± he gestured all around him. ¡°There are no cities for you to burn us in this time.¡± ¡°Turn back, this is your last warning,¡± Lin lowered her eyes. ¡°We have reinforcements coming from the south.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll just have to be a little bit faster with my assault,¡± Chun Wai rode his horse back into the midst of his men, signalling the end of the civil chat. After a while, the beat of war drums arose. Thump. Thump. Thump. Like a steady heartbeat. Following the signal, the Kong soldiers began to run forwards. ¡°Charge!¡± ¡°Hold the line! Till reinforcements from Ruo arrive!¡± The two armies clashed. Men from both sides swiped at each other with swords. The battlefield rang with the screech of metal upon metal, the shouts and screams of soldiers crying out as they fell. The ground was painted red with blood, bodies building up in a line where the armies met. Whenever one fell, another two would take his place, stopping the advance of the Kong. Out of the Kong¡¯s side came mounted riders, scattering the Yang¡¯s foot soldiers and trampling a few into the ground. The defense line fell apart, the once clear divide becoming a mix of soldiers of different clothing styles, all fighting for the good of their kingdom. The fight grew messy quickly as the archers jumped into the fray. From the sky rained down hundreds of arrows, piercing through armour of friend and foe alike. Some horses were shot down, leaving their riders to tumble off their backs and hit the ground. Soon however, the Kong began to gain the upper hand. The line of foot soldiers on the Yang side thinned, leaving them at a disadvantage. ¡°Retreat! To the pass!¡± Lin gave the signal and the remains of the Yang army retreated, fleeing from the battlefield. The archers covered the retreat with a hail of arrows raining upon the pursuers, forcing the Kong foot soldiers to take a step back. A rider broke free from the line and cantered forwards, only to be shot down by a stray arrow to the neck. One last arrow was shot, and then the archers, too, began to flee. Urging her horse forwards, Lin took a glance back. The Kong were giving chase, their riders taking the lead as they stormed ahead. ¡°Maintain formation! Take out the riders!¡± she shouted. One of the Ruo¡¯s garrisoned soldiers stood up in the stirrups. He precariously took aim with his crossbow and shot. There was a panicked whinney from behind as the closest horse fell. Its rider tumbled to the floor and was trampled under his own mount¡¯s hooves with a sickening crunch. The rest of the riders trampled over the body, no regard for their fallen comrade. The soldiers fled deeper and deeper into Yang territory, the Kong¡¯s riders following close behind. In the distance appeared a wide mountain range, with a narrow valley between the rocky cliffs. As Lin ushered her soldiers through the narrow mountain pass, the riders slowed their horses. They engaged in what seemed to be a brief discussion, before heading back the way they came. Lin watched the cloud of dust grow further and further in the distance, and heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed as if they¡¯d strayed too far from the main army, and were waiting for the rest of the forces to catch up before pressing on. This bought them some time. Time for the Ruo reinforcements to come up the river to help. She rushed her soldiers further through the pass, eager to get to the other side where they would be less vulnerable. Here, the rocky walls rose up like monoliths on either side. Sparse trees hang precariously from rocky walls, their roots anchored deep into the rock fissures. The pass was narrow and littered with pebbles, causing the army to have to traverse slowly and carefully. Lin brought up the rear, making sure that no one had been left behind. In the distance, she could see an emerging dust cloud, a sign that the Kong army was catching up. She gritted her teeth. That wasn¡¯t nearly enough time. Her soldiers were weary, and their numbers were growing sparse. At this rate, the Kong would breach the Capital before the Ruo reinforcements got there. The Yang kingdom would fall, but then, it would fall anyway, wouldn¡¯t it? That was what the Threads of Fate decreed. She looked down at her hands. Once, they were the smooth hands of a weaver maiden, but now they were rough and calloused. She had not been brought up prepared for the hardships of war, yet here she was. Completely out of her league. Perhaps she should give up. Behind her, the army was waiting for her orders. She looked at their faces, wrinkled with fatigue but attentive nonetheless. Each face the face of a man with a family, waiting for him to come home. To struggle against Fate was futile. But the journey was what made the struggle worthwhile, wasn¡¯t it? Lin made up her mind. She turned and grabbed a crossbow from a Ruo soldier, and swept her hand forward. ¡°Retreat to Hui¡¯an city!¡± she commanded. ¡°I will hold them back!¡± ¡°But Grand Chancellor¡ª¡° ¡°NOW!¡± The dregs of her soldiers nodded, before marching in the direction of the walled city. She watched them go. They would hold the fort there. She had faith in them. She steered her horse back down the middle of the pass, and waited. Approaching over the horizon, the first of the Kong soldiers began to emerge, followed by another, and another. They marched in unison, their heads held high. Seeing her standing alone, their footsteps hastened. Then stopped, as they reached the narrow opening to the pass. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± she heard Chun Wai roar from somewhere in the back. ¡°Advance!¡± After a moment of hesitation, the Kong soldiers pushed forward in single file, squeezing their horses through the narrow gap in between the mountains. Closer and closer they got, till one was within arms¡¯ grasp of her horse. Time seemed to slow as she raised the crossbow to the air, the tip of the arrow shining bright in the light of the sun. Shining like the thread of red that hung in the air as she threw it out the window. In the blinding light, she thought she saw the faces of friend and foe alike. The face of Chun Wai, frowning out of care for his men. The face of the Emperor, laughing with the Ruo Queen, more genuine than she had ever seen him. The faces of the men under her command, keenly awaiting her orders. The faces of her late family, already having given up, telling her to watch and observe. The Yang kingdom will fall. ¡°There are boundaries to what we can and cannot do.¡± ¡°You are not out of choices yet.¡± The bonfire in her heart flared. Yes. The Yang would fall. But it would not fall to the Kong. The arrow shot free from the crossbow, and with a crack, it landed in the roots of a nestling tree. The tree gave out a rumbling shudder, then a groan as its roots stretched and snapped under its weight. The tree fell, dislodging rocks and pieces of the mountain. An alarmed cry rang out from the advancing Kong army. ¡°Go back! GO BACK!¡± They began to push and shove at each other in their attempt to escape the collapsing mountain pass. Alas, it was too late. As the rocks rained down upon her, Lin thought she saw General Xie standing among the falling debris. As calm as always, with his hat that spelt out ¡°Met with Prosperity¡±, waving his bamboo fan. He reached out his hand to her. ¡°It is time to leave, Yao Lin.¡± Lin smiled. She took his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Epilogue By the noble sacrifice of the late Grand Chancellor, the pass between the Huang Yan mountains was sealed. The path southward blocked, the Kong was forced to go around the mountains to reach the Capital. During this time, the Ruo reinforcements successfully advanced up the river and rendezvoused with the remains of the Yang army. Together, they chased off the Kong army, and retook the five cities that were lent to the Kong a year prior. A grand memorial was held for Yao Lin, the first female Grand Chancellor of the Yang kingdom. The Emperor himself led the procession, marching all the way from the Imperial Palace to her childhood home in the outskirts. The Queen of Ruo gave her respects at the grave. Yao Lin had no family left to mourn her, and so all of Yang wept in their place. Seasons passed, and the Yang-Ruo relationship flourished. The river canal connecting the two kingdoms was busy with boats going up and down the river. On several occasions, the Kong tried to infringe on the borders, but thanks to the new technology from the Ruo, were turned away each time. Eventually, the rulers of the kingdoms announced good news. They would be getting married, the Queen of Ruo moving into the Imperial Palace. Their union spelled the union of their kingdoms. The kingdoms of Ruo and Yang were wiped off the map, in their place, a new kingdom was formed. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The kingdom of Ruoyang. General Xie closed the bamboo scroll he was reading from, a gentle smile on his face. By his feet was a lone gravestone. It had not been attended to in years, but still, nature had spared the words written on its side. In memory of Yao Lin. Esteemed Grand Chancellor of Yang. ¡°In the end, you managed to do it,¡± he said softly. ¡°You managed to go beyond the boundaries of your role, and accomplished much more than I expected you to.¡± The wind blew. The grass wavered. General Xie stepped away from the grave. With each step, his figure faded into particles of brilliant light. ¡°Well done, Yao Lin.¡± ¡°Sleep well.¡±