👑 SHOCKED EMPEROR 👑

<EMPEROR’S LIBRARY>

The Emperor was going through some complaints sent to him, most complaining about the harassment they face daily in the hands of millitary personnels and how the ministers always stood by the soldiers.

“This is why I make them let their sons join the army but they dare call me cruel and still complain”. The Emperor scoffed shoving the scroll containing such similar complaints to the side of his desk.

“I’ve seen the way some soldiers treat the people and really cruel..

“So what do you expect me to do? My father made them dominant before his death, he cherished his army more than his own people and that rule’s been laid for thousands of years now, going against it means bringing a curse to this kingdom and we’ve seen a lot since the last war”. The Emperor stated getting up and slowly moving to the window as he stared out of it.

Then his face suddenly turned into a frown as he looked to the side were Kai stood behind him.

“What’s that scent?”. The Emperor asked and Kai looked back in puzzlement.

“I don’t know what you mean…your hands are…glowing”. Kai suddenly muttered in astonishment as he pointed at the Emperor’s gloved hands that was releasing golden flames.

The Emperor looked down at his hands also and creased his brows in puzzlement also.

“Did i say something to trigger your anger, your majesty?”. Kai quickly bowed his head in fright.

“It’s not me”. The Emperor replied facing the window back and suddenly he disappeared from the Library appearing on top of the Palace roof.

The palace was the highest building in the whole kingdom and with the Emperor’s sharp sight he was able to locate a part of the kingdom that was burning furiously and many people though trying to run for their lives still got burnt to ashes by mere flames even without the main fire touching them.

Kai appeared beside him and his eyes widened as well, then he faced the Emperor.

“Did you fight with the heavens in the forbidden forest? Is that…the reason why they’re sending fireballs…

“Shenghai isn’t that cheap to sacrifice innocent people. It’s someone else and some how its affecting me also”. The Emperor said staring his hands that wouldn’t stop emanating strong golden flames till he sharply disappeared.

“Someone else?”. Kai uttered in disbelief before disappearing also.

<MARKET>

Jade’s powerful voice didn’t break as she aimed to bring down the whole market visualizing everyone running for dear lives as soldiers and ki||ing each and everyone of them in the spot.

Her eyes from light blue were now completely sparkling gold, her hands widened and palms opened as it emanated the same flame oozing out of the Emperor’s palms.

“You ki||ed Ming. All of you ki||ed Ming!!”. Jade screamed as she put her hands to use this time and immediately both her targets and the shelter they were running towards to hide got burnt down to ashes disappearing like nothing.

She turned to another direction and threw a fire ball at it and that single fire ball plunged the whole market into a burning furnace.

By this time most people were dead while few already escaped for their dear lives and seeing Ming’s head lying at the side of a burning cart she couldn’t help but yearn for more blood, then suddenly she heard faint cries behind the cart Ming’s head laid and in anger she stormed towards it throwing the cart away she saw two little siblings boy and girl, of about five years hugging each other tight as they cried their eyes out.

She paused instantly holding her head as her eyes began changing colours from blue to gold, which means she kept seeing the kids as the kids they were and I some seconds the wicked Captains head would appear on their faces making her want to ki|| them like everyone else.

Tired of the eye color switch and scared of hurting the children she turned away from them so she wouldn’t see them again but everything went down hill when the little boy picked up a sword and slayed her right arm.

“Dont hurt my sister!!”. The boy screamed fearfully cringing to the sword to slay her again, and she instantly turned to face him, rage filled in her golden eyeballs as she used telekinesises to raise the boy up from the ground to her height and squeeze life out of him while his sister sat by the cart crying deeply.

The little boy was already turning pale in her powerful squeeze and right when the little boy was almost dying, it was at that moment the Emperor appeared behind Jade, using his left hand to hit the side of her neck, she fainted letting go of the boy who landed in shocked Kai’s hand while she fell straight into the Emperor’s arms.

The Emperor caught her, on hand supporting her back as he stared at her in confusion and hidden daze, then his gaze moved round the burning market place and then returned back to unconscious Jade.

“What exactly are you?”. He muttered.

“See to it that the children are safe and call the chiefs to stop the fire”. The Emperor said before disappearing along with Jade.

Kai whom was just ordered couldn’t move as he was now sitted on the ground with opened mouth and widened eyes staring at the burning area while the children only consoled each other as they stared at him.

“She did all this? How? Is she truly a witch?”. Kai gasped like he discovered something and quickly covered his mouth before taking the children to a safe place and do what the Emperor instructed.

<PALACE>
QUEEN MOTHER’S CHAMBER.

Hani, Asa and Mina stood right in front of the Queen mother with their heads lowered as the Queen Mother walked thro and fro surveying them closely with her sharp eyes.

“Do you all really want to become the next Empress?”. The Queen Mother asked.

“Yes Queen Mother!!”. The girls chorused at once and the Queen Mother scoffed.

“But you all can’t remove the sword from the rock and even the earlier contest that blind girl shockingly outdid you all especially you Mina I couldn’t even hide my disappointment”. The Queen Mother muttered in a little mocking tone.

“I’m the strongest amongst us your highness…

“Oh please shut your mouth! You’re just like your father! The people loved him more and voted for him to be prime Minister but the fact that he was only loved by the people but can’t do a thing without his servant made my late husband the Emperor choose Minister Wang over him and you’ve just shown me fully trusting and grooming you to become my son’s bride will be a big mistake if you don’t have your sneaky friend with you!”. The Queen Mother spat harshly and Hani took in holding back her tears with so much energy.

“Then groom me your majesty. I’m fit for it and more desperate than ever…

“You’re just desperate to get rid of the blind snake and not win the Emperor’s heart…

“Winning his heart changes nothing. If we’re incapable of removing the sword then..we’ll go home as stated by the rules…

Asa was cut off by the Queen Mother’s laughter then the Queen Mother walked up to her.

“Heard you’re the smartest and also the prettiest in your Family. How about i groom you to be the next Queen, don’t worry about removing any sword there’s always a solution as long as I want it to be”. The Queen Mother said with a smile and Asa bowed in response while the two girls eyed her in shock.

‘Always acts like a saint but she’s the worse’. Mina glared at Asa.

“I’m flattered your highness. But I prefer going through the LEGAL procedures. I’ll be on my way now”. Asa bowed lastly before leaving and Mina only rolled eyes at her.

“Stressing the word legal like i don’t know the meaning. What was i thinking almost entrusting the Emperor to the hands of a girl born by a mere mistress they’ll always have a red flag no matter how grand they try to cover It”. The Queen Mother muttered in rage with balled fists.

“Pick Mina then. And regret it later cause she is always destined to fail”. Hani muttered suddenly loosing her temper and bowing before walking out.

“Arrogant like her mother. Leave”. The Queen Mother said to Mina who refused moving from where she stood.

“You don’t see me desperate enough but I really am. I grew up in a huge family full of competitions between the main kids and those of mistresses but always stood out as the most powerful, though my step-brother mistakenly shows signs of being powerful but I always over powered him to prove to my father that having countless mistresses to bare for him when his real wife was available was of no use. Now one of the lowly siblings i have is now here to fight and steal my side with the Emperor just like her mother did to my father. I really want to put them all in the slumps where they deserve!! So pleas…please consider taking me into your wings, i promise you won’t regret it”. Mina said going on her knees and bowing so much that her head hit the floor and the Queen Mother smiled staring at her, then used her hand to raise Mina’s head to face her directly.

“Now this is the glow I’ve been dying to see in the eyes of a youngster. You remind me of my younger self I did alot of things to become the Queen only for the Emperor to die untimely cause of his favorite son”. The Queen Mother suddenly scoffed her face mixed with h@ťě, hurt and bitterness.

Then suddenly the door popped open and the Queen Mother’s head maid ran in.

“A huge riot is going on outside the palace gate your majesty. The people believe the Emperor’s harbouring a ki||er and wants her to be brought out and executed”. The head maid said and immediately the Queen Mother’s eyes widened as she ran out of the room with the head maid and Mina followed suit.

<EMPEROR’S CHAMBER>

“Your majesty!! Please continue in your father’s great legacy and bring out the Witch!!”

“She ki||ed our loved ones and deserves death also!!”.

“Your majesty! Please continue your father’s legacy and bring out the witch!!”.

“She ki||ed our loved ones and deserves death also”.

The angry mob of many villagers chanted non-stop as they tried focing themselves through the huge palace gates but the soldiers on standby were huge hindrance to them.

The Emperor stood at the balcony right in his huge chamber as he stared down at the running troops of his soldiers to guard the gates as the people chanted their anger chant and used unison force to bring down the palace gates.

The whole minsters were downstairs staring up at the Emperor’s sharp eyes since his face was masked as usual, the Emperor stared back at them but only silently went back in.

“The Emperor would never harbor a ki||er. What exactly is wrong with the people?”. Minster Ling said and Zhuo shook head at him.

“You know nothing. People who survived the whole Yan Market incident said the culprit was the blind girl who is currently rumored to be the Emperor’s mistress. They even said the Emperor was the who took her away from the sight himself and told his guard to coverup the whole thing as a demon intruding the market”. Minster Zhuo said and the whole 20 ministers gasped in shock.

“Her witchy powers finally revealed! I knew it! We should have just ki||ed her when we had the chance!”. Minister Wen said and everyone agreed.

“This is why we keep the rule of ki||ing powerless beings at twenty but now let’s move it down to ten we can’t risk the loss of more lives”. Minister Dong said and everyone turned to face Minister Wang who stood separately from them.

“All his children does have potentials”. One Minister scoffed.

“Let’s just dismiss him from his position also he’s been around a lot of dramas lately”. Another said.

“Don’t try it now or we’ll be accused of conspiracy”. Tha last one said and the others nodded in agreement glaring at Minister Wang.

“She might have been bewitching the Emperor for long, he doesn’t even want to bring her out”. Minister Zhuo said then he faced Minster Wang.

“Hey Wang! Write a letter to the Emperor telling him to bring out your witchy daughter so she could face justice! Hiding under the Emperor’s Wings do her no good!!”. Minister Zhuo yelled and Minster Wang balled his hands in rage.

“I should have just ki||ed her immediately after birth like Lani my wife stated now she’s truly a witch and has made people lower than me speak to me anyhow”. Minister Wang said before walking away.

“I think he’ll go tell the Emperor directly”. Minister Ling said.

“Let’s make our own protest. Making the witch drop out from the contest, denouncing her from her unofficial mistress position and persecuting her for wasting many lives”. Minister Ling added and the Ministers agreed then instantly they went their way to do what they agreed.

<EMPEROR’S CHAMBER>

“The scholars submitted their own requests your majesty, all asking for Jade to be put to death. They believe she’s a witch”. Kai said to the Emperor whose back was turned on him, his hands behind him as he stared at the tons of scrolls on his desk all requesting for him to bring out Jade and let Justice take it’s course.

“Don’t accept anymore complaints shut them all off till further notice”. The Emperor said and Kai bowed before walking out of the chamber only to come back minutes later.

“The Queen Mother is outside your majesty she’s requesting to see you”. Kai said.

“Let her in”. The Emperor permitted his tone cool and calm and Kai bowed before leaving and almost immediately the Queen Mother rushed in bowing immediately.

“Your majesty the worse has really happened. You can’t protect her for too long if you don’t act fast the people plan on going to mount Shenghai to summon the heavenly officers once they take on the case they’ll hold you accountable for protecting a ki||er just give her to the people, so justice can be served your majesty”. The Queen Mother muttered in a pleading as she lowered her head more.

The Emperor’s back was still facing her as he kept absolute silent.

“You may leave”. The Emperor said and the Queen Mother’s eyes widened.

“You’ll sacrifice the throne just for a witch…

The Queen Mother was cut shut when the Emperor waved his hands and she met herself outside with the door shutting in her face.

“Just for a blind thing, you’ll sacrifice the same throne your father worked for? Not on my watch”. The Queen Mother sneered before walking away.
***

The Emperor slowly walked thro and fro in the chamber. His eyes blank but filled with a lot of insights. The first time he actually ever felt confused, not because of he was currently being pressurized or anything but because he was still trying to figure out Jade’s capability. If he decided she was a phoenix then why’s her powers connected to his?

“Or is Shenghai just playing tricks on me?”. The Emperor muttered and then a knock came on the door Kai ran in.

“She’s finally awake! At least she woke up at the right time to show people her powers and let them see for themselves that she isn’t a witch”. Kai said heaving a sigh of relief and the Emperor nodded.

“Where’s she? Stealing again?”. The Emperor asked.

“No, she’s standing right outside, she wants to see you”. Kai said.

“Send her in”. The Emperor said as he went to sit comfortably on his throne like chamber seat and immediately Kai left, Jade ran in still looking messy cause of her earlier. Her hair a little brushed with her hand so it wasn’t too good and her face very dull and unhappy.

Then she slowly walked more closer to were he was seated.

“You finally thought of waking…

The Emperor was caught unaware when Jade went on her knees right in front of him and he gave her an arched eyebrow that asked his question for him but she only lowered her head avoiding his gaze.

“I’m sorry…I’m really sorry for being so rash and rebellious against you and everyone else, but…please…please help me bring back Ming i don’t want to leave in regret all my life and his parents can’t leave without him…please I promise…to do wh@ťěver you want of me but I’m begging you, please help me bring back Ming”. Jade pleaded tears repeatedly falling down her eyes as she tried cleaning them but they just wouldn’t stop coming.

The Emperor’s stared at her, a little stunned since it was his first time seeing her cry and beg with so much sincerity and desperation in her tone.

Then suddenly his eyes began itching and he blinked profusely in confusion.

‘What’s going on?’. Emperor Damien asked in himself as his eyes soon became blur and the unexpected and impossible happened.

A tear fell from his eyes as well falling down to his hand and his eyes widened getting up in shock. He never cried ever since he began crawling on his own, even when his father and other of his loved ones died he never shed a single tear for them but now his eyes were now consistently releasing tears when he doesn’t even feel like crying?

“Stop crying”. He said to Jade with the aim of confirming something even though the other side of him really didn’t like her in tears.

“O..Kay”. Jade mumbled wiping her tears and the Emperor’s tears stopped falling also, then his eyes widened more as he ran his hands into into hair.

“Shenghai has done me dirty. Shenghai you old schemer!!!!!!!”. The Emperor yelled up at the ceiling frightening Jade who wondered if he had gone mad…