Two days before Ishu Chu attacks. Five days since the Abbot's death. Across the bridge of peace, into the village of fire. The political scene is chaotic, and at any moment someone will pull the trigger…
"He knew who I was, Liang. One look. Why would he lie about something like that?"
"I'm just saying, if we want the truth, why not go to Father?"
Weilong clenched his fists.
"I'm not ready to face him. Why wouldn't he tell us? I killed my own uncle, Liang. Do you understand how messed up that is?"
Liang stayed quiet.
"And if the people find out," Weilong continued, voice shaking,
"Our claim to the throne could be illegitimate. Jing was older than Father. That means he was the rightful heir."
Silence.
"So what do we do?" Liang finally asked.
"I don't know," Weilong said quietly. "But you can't tell anyone. No one. Promise me."
Liang nodded.
Neither of them noticed the shadow listening from the darkness.
Down in the Hu estate, in the not-yet-prince's room, the shadow appears…
"Xuanming!" Hu Renxuan jumped. "You have to stop doing that. What if someone was in here?"
"You'll want to hear this, young lord," Xuanming said calmly.
Renxuan leaned back, smirking. "Then talk."
"It concerns the Zhao family's claim to the throne."
Renxuan's eyes widened.
"Kai Zhao has an older brother," Xuanming continued. "Recently killed. I don't know the full story, but this means Kai Zhao's reign has been illegitimate from the very beginning."
Renxuan's grin slowly spread, "I could destroy the Zhaos with this."
"Precisely," Xuanming said. "Kai Zhao will address the people later today about Ishu Chu. That is the perfect moment."
Renxuan laughed under his breath. "Perfect indeed. Leave me."
Xuanming vanished into his portal.
Renxuan stepped into the hallway, heart pounding. He had always wanted more than noble blood.
Today, he would take it.
His sister, Hu Lihua, who had just stepped out of her room, noticed his grin immediately. "You seem happy," she said. "Don't tell me you've fallen in love with another poor girl."
"Never," Renxuan replied. "Today will be the end of the Zhaos."
Lihua raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I know something no one else does. Something big."
"And what do you plan to do with it?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
Renxuan smirked. "Don't ask dumb questions unless you want dumb answers."
They entered the dining room where their parents waited. Their father, Hu Junlie, was a restless nobleman. Their mother, Hu Xiurong, was warm and gentle.
Renxuan couldn't contain himself. "Father, I've discovered something."
Junlie gestured. "Speak."
"Kai Zhao's claim to the throne is illegitimate. His older brother was the rightful heir."
Junlie's utensils clattered to the table in shock. "And where is this brother now?" Junlie asked.
"Dead," Renxuan said. "Recently."
Junlie sighed. "Then it changes nothing."
"But that's where you're wrong father. It changes everything," Renxuan insisted. "This means for decades, Kai Zhao ruled without legitimacy."
Junlie thought for a long moment.
"So what will you do?"
"I can't say," Renxuan replied. "But it is important you all attend the emperor's address tonight."
In the emperor's meeting room sat his remaining generals, and his sons…
"War with Ishu Chu is unavoidable," General Wen said. "Their abbot is dead, their village is in ruins. They'll want to retaliate. If we strike immediately and deny them time to recover, we can overwhelm them before they regroup."
"I think we've done enough," Prince Liang said calmly.
"I don't care what we do," General Huo said with a grin. "As long as I get to fight the strongest, I'm satisfied."
"Can you idiots shut up?" General Leng snapped. "All this talking is giving me a headache."
"Wouldn't want you to get a brain freeze," General Bo said mockingly.
Leng snorted. "Funny. At least I don't look nine months pregnant, fatty. Your belly could be its own weapon on the battlefield."
A few chuckles rippled through the room, everyone except Leng Shiming, who didn't seem capable of laughing at all.
The doors burst open, and silence fell instantly.
Everyone stood.
Emperor Kai Zhao had arrived. He lifted a hand, and they sat.
"As you all know, the Abbot of Ishu Chu was killed in the attack on their village," the emperor said. "Thanks to my son, Ishu Chu is wounded. But like rabid dogs they will retaliate, so we must take them down before that happens. We will finish this struggle in two days."
"Isn't that too long?" General Xuanming asked.
Kai Zhao's eyes narrowed.
"I'm sorry Emperor, it's just that we have the necessary weapons, and our numbers were not greatly affected by that attack."
"Enough," he said. "I will address the people today. Be present."
He motioned his generals out of the room to dismiss them.
Weilong clenched his fists, "I'll kill that man one day."
Kai Zhao placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "At this stage of rule," he said softly, "enemies are inevitable. Even from within."
Weilong tossed his father's hand off his shoulder, "The same could be said for liars," he grumbled as he glared at his father. He stormed out of the room.
"He's just having a bad morning father, forgive him," Liang said apologetically, while hurriedly exiting the room.
Kai Zhao remained seated, alone now, staring out the tall palace window. The noise of the palace faded, replaced by an aching silence.
"I wonder how it ever ended up like this," he murmured.
His voice barely carried. Tears welled in his eyes, blurring the world beyond the glass.
"Maybe if I wasn't so blinded by power… or so ashamed of what I had done that I refused to face you," he whispered. "Maybe then you'd still be alive, Jing."
A tear slipped free and traced a slow path down his weathered face.
Kai Zhao reached forward and pushed the window open. Cool air rushed into the room, brushing against his skin. He closed his eyes and let the wind wash over him, breathing it in deeply.
It felt familiar.
Jing had always loved the wind. He used to stand just like this, eyes closed, arms resting at his sides, saying it helped him think, helped him feel free.
The breeze picked up, stronger now, tugging at Kai Zhao's robes and carrying away the tears from his cheeks. For just a moment, it felt as though his brother stood beside him once more, wordless, forgiving.
In the Zhao family private dojo…
Weilong pounded away at the heavy bag, trying to take out his anger on it. Blinded by rage, he kept punching even till his hands bled, stopping only once he put a hole in it, watching as the sand fell down.
He felt a presence behind him, it was menacing, only one person had that type of aura.
"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you right now Xuanming. You know this is the 'private' dojo of the Zhao family. Last time I checked, you don't have a single drop of Zhao blood in you." Weilong said angrily without turning around to face Xuanming.
Xuanming clapped, "Impressive. A feat only 'The Flame-Born Prince' could pull off. But if we're on the subject of who doesn't have what, care to explain what your father is doing on the throne. Because from what I heard, that seat belonged to Jing Zhao, whom you killed not too long ago." Xuanming smirked as he said it.
Weilong roared and turned around, "Bastard!" He blasted fire directly at Xuanming, but when it hit him, he transformed into stone, breaking on the impact and crumbling to the ground.
Weilong felt a blade press against his neck, "don't be hasty now. You wouldn't want the word to get out that Kai Zhao killed his own brother to get a seat on the throne would you?" Xuanming laughed.
"You underestimate me, Xuanming. I no longer think he is deserving of the throne. So why would it matter to me!" Weilong declared.
"I think it's you who underestimate me, what if I told you your brother's life hangs in the balance."
"Ha! Funny joke Xuanming, you wouldn't dare. I call your bluff." Weilong said, not taking him seriously.
"Oh really?"
A portal appeared in front of Weilong, he looked inside and there his brother was, chained to a chair, guards standing by him with swords ready to kill him.
"Fine! Don't hurt him. What is it you want?" Weilong asked frustratedly.
"For you to enter a pact with me. Do so, and I will release your brother safe and sound. How's that sound?
Xuanming pressed the knife against Weilong's neck a little harder, causing some blood to get onto the blade. He let Weilong go, and a piece of paper appeared in front of Xuanming, it was floating. Underneath it was a small bowl, Xuanming let the blood from the knife drip into it. He threw the knife onto the floor, and grabbed a new one, slicing his hand, and letting the blood drip into it. He wiped the blade and put it away, "That's all I need from you. When the time comes you'll understand Weilong.
Xuanming stepped into a portal and disappeared.
Liang burst into the room, he instantly saw the blood on the floor, and the knife, "Weilong what happened here?!"
Weilong turned around to see Liang, Weilong's face looked like he had seen a ghost. Then he remembered what Xuanming was capable of, "illusion magic," he thought to himself. He clenched his fist, "Nothing brother, leave me."
Liang walked to the door but before exiting he turned to Weilong, "make sure you're at father's address tonight. I think he would appreciate it if you were there."
In the war room sits Emperor Kai Zhao, reflecting on his life…
After a long while, he stepped back from the window and straightened his robes. Whatever regrets he carried, whatever sins weighed on him, the people were waiting.
And an emperor could not keep them waiting, he turned and made his way toward the stage. The crowd had already gathered, as he made his way to the podium, he saw his sons sitting together, it put a smile on his face. Liang nudged Weilong, "I told you he'd appreciate it," he whispered. "Whatever you say brother," Weilong said, nudging him back.
Kai Zhao stood in front of the podium, ready to address his people, "people of Ihuoin Mechu," Kai Zhao said quietly. "I hope you are well."
The crowd cheered in response.
"Very good. Well, there was something we did recently that has raised questions among you all. An attack on Ishu Chu…"
Kai Zhao took a deep breath.
"I can confirm it was our soldiers. It was orchestrated by my very own son Weilong Zhao. They infiltrated the village of Ishu Chu, fought their soldiers, and killed their Abbot." Kai Zhao said, trying to mask his feelings.
The crowd cheered. Finally, Ishu Chu would fall.
"Looks like public opinion of you and dad just got even higher. Just like you hoped huh?" Liang said with a smile.
"Yeah…" Weilong looked down as he said it.
Liang didn't have to ask, it was written all over his brother's face. He was still thinking about how he killed his own uncle. And there was nothing he could say to help his brother.
Between their father talking and all the cheering, Weilong and Liang didn't really pay attention to the crowd and the speech. But then a voice rang out from the crowd.
"Fraud!" The word cut through the cheers like a blade.
Liang and Weilong thought they were just hearing things, but some members of the crowd grew silent. And then it rang out again.
"Liar!"
The crowd fell into complete silence.
All eyes were drawn to a single man, his hair slicked neatly back, his purple-and-yellow tang suit bedazzled and immaculate, glowed in the sun. Diamond necklaces hung heavy around his neck, rings glinted on every finger, and his earrings caught the light as he moved. A wide, smug grin rested on his face, like a man who believed the room existed for him alone.
"Renxuan!" Weilong said under his breath to Liang.
Liang palmed his face, "Of all the people…"
With all attention on him, Renxuan stepped forward and now stood in the center of the crowd.
Hu Renxuan yelled to everyone in attendance, "The Emperor's reign has been fraudulent!"
The crowd began to mutter. Kai Zhao froze for the first time in his life. Weilong stood, then Liang pulled him back down.
"You have to let father handle this one Wei." Liang said, but Weilong wasn't looking at Renxuan, he was looking for General Xuanming who was walking away from the crowd. There was no way Weilong would be able to catch him now.
Renxuan pointed at the confused looking emperor, "The true heir is Jing Zhao! The brother of the emperor who had been erased from our people's history! But I dug him up, Kai Zhao!"
Kai Zhao's jaw dropped at the mention of Jing.
"How does he know that name?!" Weilong stood frozen. Then he remembered Xuanming, he was the only one who knew. He'd always been against Kai Zhao, and telling the Hu family, especially Renxuan of all people, would put him in a position to gain even more power.
"That's not all! When Jing Zhao was kicked out by his own brother, he became the Abbot of none other than Ishu Chu Village. The same Abbot who was murdered by Weilong Zhao! They're frauds, all of them!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Kai Zhao froze.
Weilong stepped forward, shielding his father.
"Even if his reign was flawed," Weilong roared.
"He strengthened this village. He bled for it! He was on the front lines when our army was nothing, when all of you were too scared of battle! He fought tooth and nail, while you all sat at home comfortably. The nerve to question him!"
The crowd suddenly turned on them. Objects flew towards the stage where Kai Zhao and Weilong stood.
General Shiming, and General Dazheng intervened, shielding the emperor.
Liang dragged his father away as chaos erupted.
Renxuan smiled, basking in the chaos. He had got what he wanted, the truth was out.
His father, Hu Junlie came up to him shaking his hand hard, smiling widely, "good job my son, I could never have imagined this is what you knew."
The damage was done, and the Zhao dynasty…
Was finished.