Imperial edict.
The next day comes and brings bad news to the young princess from the "Lost palace" exactly on her seventeen years birthday.
Early in the morning right when the sun rises, an emperor's eunuch steps over the threshold of the "Lost palace" and summons the princess to receive the imperial edict.
The eunuch starts talking in front of the residence of the princess...
Eunuch Lu
Princess Qi XinYang, come forward to receive the imperial edict.
The few maids from the "lost palace" who were sweeping the yard get startled by his hoarse voice.
After a short time he starts again but this time a bit louder.
Eunuch Lu
Princess Qi XinYang, come to receive the Emperor's edict!
One of the maids runs inside the building to see if the princess is awake.
Mo FeiFei
Princess...
your highness....
An imperial edict just arrived and...
She suddenly stops when she realizes that princess Qi Xin is still in bed and loudly snores.
Mo FeiFei
Princessssssssss.....
You're killing me!
Get up please!
She keeps shaking Qi Xin's body, hoping to wake her up.
A soft and lazy voice replies...
Qi XinYang
Leave me alone...
It's so early!
I still want to sleep...
Qi XinYang
Don't bother me...
Qi XinYang
Tell the girls to clean the kitchen....
I almost incinerated it last evening.
Mo FeiFei
They did that Miss but that's not the problem right now. You must get up and receive the Emperor's edict!
Qi XinYang
What edict?
It's too early and is my birthday today, so I don't want to get up.
Mo FeiFei
But Miss, that eunuch is yelling outside...
He will barge in if you don't get out.
Qi XinYang
Why is he sending an imperial edict now? Did the old emperor remembered about my existence and sent me a birthday gift?
Mo FeiFei
I don't know Miss but please get up!
Qi XinYang
Ok, ok....
I'll get up.
Qi XinYang
Help me put some decent clothes on me.
Mo FeiFei
These...
Are these good?
Qi XinYang
Hmmm!
A beautiful dress indeed!
It's a good choice for today.
Her most trusted maid and childhood friend, Mo FeiFei, helps her get dressed and they both go out to receive the edict.
Eunuch Lu
Princess XinYang, you're finally showing your face! Thank goodness that it happened today and not tomorrow!
Qi XinYang
I'm sorry about this but can't you people be less speedy and arrive a bit later?
Qi XinYang
The people are still sleeping at this hour...
Eunuch Lu
Princess Qi XinYang kneel to receive the imperial edict!
She and her maids kneel down and kowtow...
They keep their heads on the ground while the eunuch speaks.
Eunuch Lu
"Princess Qi XinYang is beautiful and eloquent. As present for her seventeen birthday, I bestow her a marriage with the crown prince of the Azure clan!
The wedding procession will leave in one week."
This being said, the Emperor's will is granted.
The eunuch hands her the imperial edict.
Eunuch Lu
Princess, we are leaving now!
The eunuchs leave and the maids rise up on their feet, starting babbling about what just happened.
(Voices: But that's not a gift, that's a condemnation! How can the Emperor be so cruel to our princess? She's still a royal blood, even though is just his brother's granddaughter.
(Voices: The Azure clan is a demon clan from the Forbidden land! I've heard that no flower grows there and is only winter all year. I personally prefer the southern regions of the Forbidden land.
(Voices: But there's lava everywhere and volcanoes! I don't think that's a good choice, I'd rather go to the Azure clan.
(Voices: What's wrong with the lava? At least is warm!)
(Voices: Yes, warm! Very warm!
Better said, HOT!!! How can a mere human live there? It's suicide!)
(Voices: I've heard a soldier who fought them in the war saying that they boil their prisoners into huge kettles and after they eat their flesh and drink the soup.)
(Voices: Yaaahhhh! Stop talking! I'm throwing up! How can our poor princess survive there? If their crowd prince is unsatisfied, he will probably do the same to her. What can we do?)
(Voices: Emperor Qi is worse than these demons! He's sending her to death! This won't stop the war!)
(Voices: Of course it won't! The old emperor is delusional!)
Qi XinYang
Stop talking nonsense!
I can't defy the imperial edict!
If is the Emperor's wish to send me there, I can only submit and do how I am ordered.
Qi XinYang
Don't say a word.
Maybe this is my fate.
Maybe that crown prince won't be entirely merciless and I will still have a chance to survive.
Mo FeiFei
Miss...
...but why you?
From all the women in the palace?
Qi XinYang
They are proposing a marriage alliance, of course we must send a princess.
Qi XinYang
I suppose that I'm the only orphan in the palace that no one likes and wants around.
Mo FeiFei
Miss, don't say that! I will never leave your side! I'll follow you to the Forbidding land!
Qi XinYang
You don't have to do this, who knows what awaits for me there!
Mo FeiFei
I don't care! You still need some maids there! I'm your personal maid, of course they will allow me to follow you!
Qi XinYang
I'm just saying that you don't have to make this sacrifice! From now on, you're a free person! You can go back home and live togethers with your family.
Mo FeiFei
Miss, have you forgotten that my only relative died years ago? She was killed during a demon raid!
Mo FeiFei
Yes!
Your father also died fighting in that war and your grandfather too!!! Later your mother died of bad heart...
Qi XinYang
You're right.
I almost forgot that.
I just wanted to forget the past and live a peaceful life here in this dark corner of the palace but it seems that I am not allowed anymore.
Qi XinYang
If I can't live a peaceful life here, at least I have a chance to avenge my father now.
Mo FeiFei
We're just women, what can we do?
Qi XinYang
It doesn't matter what we are.
Once we're there,our lives will be in danger all the time, so it doesn't matter what will happen in the next moment, it only matters that we have a chance to kill these murderers.
Qi XinYang
Let's go inside and start packing. One week will pass fastly!
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