Flowers Bloom from Battlefield

Capital of Ming Kingdom

The emperor looked towards the messenger. "General Soujin had won the battle?"

The news brought by the messenger is from the war from the east. Soujin battle was the first one, the other still hadn't started yet when they received the news of this victory.

"Tell him to go towards the Mountain Kingdom and battle with them!"

The messenger wore an awkward face. He took out a paper. "General Soujin says that should you ask him to battle with Mountain Kingdom, this subject needs to pass on this paper to you."

The emperor brow creased. He told the eunuch to take it and after he did, the paper was handed to the emperor. Emperor face turned dark the moment he read the content. The message was short, but it was enough to infuriate him.

'General Soujin was granted one wish from the emperor. For that wish, this general had chosen to be given the right to battle however I wish and use my way.'

The emperor had forgotten that for the reward for Soujin and Jun Min back then, he promised to give the two of them any wish they want. At that time Jun Min asked for his sister to have the role of a princess while Soujin hadn't asked for anything. With time, he had forgotten about it. Now that Soujin asked for that kind of thing, can he reneged his word?

The emperor felt that his schemes were getting duller as time passed by. During his youth, not a single one of his schemes failed and he could get control over the four big families. When did it all change? He felt that he can no longer hold onto the four big families. One of them was destroyed, one had abandoned Ming Kingdom, one was being willful, and one has just faced off a betrayal.

All of them exposed in such short time, making him feel enraged. To think they dared to scheme in front of my eyes! The emperor was really angry until he spurted out blood.

"Your Majesty!"

To calm down, he needed some time and the officials were all looking down. Deep down, some of them were yelling indignantly. The whole incident was started from you, wasn't it? If you hadn't tried to intervene with the four of them, maybe the situation today won't happen.

There was nothing they could do anymore. The situation has grown to this point, and it would be useless to force Nanglong family and Jun family. Forcing Nanglong family to do as his wish might result in another betrayal and it would be the end of Ming Kingdom. Forcing his rage to go down, the emperor dismissed the meeting.

"Wu, what have I missed?" the emperor's face was red with fury. Now that there was no one left, he turned towards Strategist Wu furiously.

Strategist Wu also didn't know what they had done wrong. Ever since the act the emperor done towards each of the family, starting from Jun family, they had been keeping a low profile. At that time, they continued to struggle and didn't do anything big. The only one that underwent change was Jun family since they started to rise again. The emperor closed one eye because he wanted to use that military strength of Jun family, yet his plan foiled even before it was executed.

In the first time over his reign in Ming Kingdom, his plan failed. The emperor was not that old yet, he was still in his mid 40-s, his mind was still clear. Yet, what he has missed has been fatal.

"Investigate the Nanglong family," the emperor said with ruthless tone. "I will show them the same thing as years ago."

Strategist Wu nodded. It was time to rebuild this emperor prestige.

"And that Jun family, don't let them away. I will take my land back. Also, that girl from Lan family, kill her!"

This was the first time the emperor felt the pressure. He had just realized that the numbers of his enemies were a lot. They were all waiting to pounce on him. Gritting his teeth, he gave another several order before leaving to his chamber.

While walking, he passed by the empress who was walking in the garden. Despite her old age, she still emitted the prestige as the noblest woman in this kingdom.

"Greeting Your Majesty," the empress bowed slightly upon seeing the sight of the emperor.

The emperor stared at the other party. "The sun is still high, don't you feel the heat?"

"Replying Your Majesty, this one is bored, so I take some time to walk in the garden," the empress smiled, showing her beautiful and bright face.

The passage of time hadn't decrease the charm on the empress at all. Despite already in her early 40-s, she still looked beautiful, therefore captured the heart of the emperor. Looking at that smile on the empress, the emperor felt slightly better.

"Tonight, I will come to your place."

With that, the emperor paced away. The empress still stood on her place unmoving as the maids around her looked excited.

"Empress, isn't it a good thing?"

The empress only smiled mirthlessly. Having stayed on the imperial house for so long, how can she do not know what the emperor liked? With only a few sentences, she changed his mood.

Looking towards the flower, her smile deepened.

The next few days, the emperor kept on receiving news about the battle reports from the frontline. The condition of Ming Kingdom against the other kingdoms was still relatively safe. There were some causalities, but the enemy hadn't broken into their territory yet.

"Prince Ming Kui manages to hold the advance of Pan Kingdom."

"Prince Ming Gong and the Lan army didn't have any trouble facing Pan Kingdom."

"Prince Ming Xiao with Princess Lin San and General Fan Dan is captured, and the southwest part of the kingdom is taken."

The last news had brought the emperor to be stunned. He looked towards the messenger with rage.

"That useless son!" bellowed him.

Strategist Wu brow creased. To lose the battle so early, the prowess of Ming Xiao was truly lacking. What had caused them to lose so miserably?

"Wu, you go to the Southwest and take the territory back! Then return to the capital once finished!"

"Yes Your Majesty."

"Should we deploy people to save Prince Ming Xiao?" one of the officials asked.

The emperor looked back coldly. "Such useless son, this emperor didn't need him!"

The officials were all saying pleasantries while their heart turned cold. The emperor who ruled the Ming Kingdom was really cold blooded.

…

Kai Kingdom

Receiving the news of the death of his son was not easy. The only one to return was only the fourth prince. Some people thought that the fourth prince really had supernatural luck to escape death not only once, but twice. Despite his terribly haggard appearance when he returned, they still think that this prince has supernatural luck.

"Jun Min ghost is protecting the Jun Family."

That was the sentence he kept on repeating during his report. He couldn't give better explanation about the girl he saw. With his mind being tortured because of fear, he kept on saying that to convince himself.

The emperor can't believe what Yang said, but the other party insisted that it was true. Regardless, no one really believe him since he returned with haggard clothes and all, they think that he had escaped before. Facing that big wave, how did he survive?

"Father, I'm not lying."

Yang was already feeling half-crazy. That arrow reminded him so much of Jun Min, but at the same time he knew that Jun Min was dead. Facing his family that didn't trust him anymore, he felt that his heart turned cold.

"Return to your place, Yang!"

Yang wanted to refute, but seeing the face of the emperor was really dark, he swallowed all that he wanted to say. With disheartened feeling, he turned back.