Within the capital of the Baihu Empire, it was a state of celebration as beautiful decorations and banners hung all over the streets.
Children laughed and played, adults went about their business while the store owners and street vendors advertised their wares with just a bit more zeal than normal.
It was a time of celebration that came about every year, a period of one month when everyone set their personal feelings aside and spent their days indulging in their little desires and happiness.
The Founding Festival.
A tradition that has been around for more than eight centuries and has changed and grown alongside the empire.
It is believed that the Baihu empire was founded by a large group of disgruntled cultivators and mortals who fled from the Yin Long empire which was struggling to feed and care for its people in those times.
These people were supposedly led by a peerless cultivator who quickly rose from the Foundation Establishment stage to the peak of the Dao Integration realm, a stage of cultivation that has become a myth in modern times.
Supposedly, many massive battles took place between the newly formed Baihu Empire and the Yin Long Empire of that time, but after the leader single-handedly slaughtered a group of the Yin Long Empire’s elite forces, they were supposedly forced to compromise and negotiate a peace between the two empires.
While it is quite clear that the majority of these beliefs are propaganda, there is always a kernel of truth hidden beneath a mountain of lies.
Whatever the case might have been, the thing that matters today is that the citizens of the Baihu empire care greatly about this specific time of celebration due to how they idolize their founders and the leader who eventually became their very first Emperor.
Baihu Jinlie, the first Emperor of the Baihu Empire whose lineage holds sway to this day even if the current emperor is not part of the Baihu family by blood.
Since there is such a significance associated with this timeframe, it was a given that certain people from outside the Baihu Empire would arrive at the Imperial capital, both with benign and malevolent intentions.
Two such people walked down the streets, looking at the festivities around them.
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I smiled as Yin Lingxi looked at the large selection of gems and colorful stones placed on the cart in front of her, the seller meticulously explaining the significance and specialties of each stone and gem.
Of course, most of these things were mortal gems and stones geared towards mortal men and women. However, that did not mean that people like Yin Lingxi would not be attracted to them.
It is normal for pretty things to attract the gaze of people.
Looking at my surroundings, I found all types of people wearing traditional long robes decorated in various ways. They walked either with their lovers, or families or individually, browsing and purchasing wares from stalls or shops and happily talking among themselves.
It reminded me of the festivals in the East, specifically how they were celebrated in China, Japan, India, the Philippines, and various other countries back home.
Of course, given that it was a festival and we would look out of place in our usual clothes, we too bought a set of traditional clothes.
I wore a long white robe trimmed with gold threads, which was spiritual gold made specifically for cultivators, and a set of traditional Qi conductive straw shoes. I also had a small fan in my hands to compliment my clothing and make it look like I was some kind of a noble or one with a good background.
I learned early on in my life that It is better to look the part of an influential person, even if you are not one, to ward off any unwanted trouble.
Yin Lingxi, on the other hand, wore a beautiful red dress that subtly complimented her natural beauty. Her dyed black hair was done up in a bun just like she started to do ever since our visit to that frontier city. Her golden eyes were highlighted with subtle mascara and her face glowed with confidence and happiness.
All in all, she looked absolutely breathtaking.
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Shaking my head to clear those thoughts, I turned back to the conversation between Yin Lingxi and the stall owner who gave a warm smile to us and handed over the necklace made from simple gems.
Paying the appropriate amount, we soon started walking on the street just like everyone else, losing ourselves in the atmosphere.
“…You know, I think I could get used to living like this. No thinking about the future of my people, no stressing over the management of resources, no presiding over the court, no micromanaging the various forces and sects, no political intrigue. Just the life of a simple woman with simple joys.”
Once again, I smiled at those words.
“You could achieve that by throwing the throne to one of your brothers and moving to our village. But, I know you, Lingxi. You are not that kind of a woman. So you are stuck with those responsibilities. Besides, why are you talking as if you have been running your empire for your entire life? Didn’t you leave the capital behind just a few weeks after your coronation to travel with me and leave everything to Miss Yao to manage?”
Yin Lingxi gave me a sullen look at that reminder before falling silent for some time.
“……Da Wei, what if, there was a way for me to achieve both the happiness I crave, and retain my throne?”
I raised an eyebrow at those words but Yin Lingxi did not meet my gaze and continued speaking.
“What if, I knew of such a way, where I could both run my empire and also experience the joys of being a simple woman? A way that required your help. Will you do it? Will you help me?”
My response was swift. Filled with confidence and care.
“Of course! Anything you need, I’ll do it.”
“Thank you. Truly. Now, come on, I heard that they are going to have a play tonight about the founding of their empire, and I want to see how they portray my Empire.”
I just gave a gentle smile as she dragged me down the street.
'You are not the only one who could get used to living like this, Yin Lingxi.'
'Just make sure that you don't forget what the future has in store for us'
'I have you to remind me of things don't I?'
'Fair Enough.'
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Deep within the Imperial Palace of the Baihu empire, a large group of people sat and discussed the ongoings of the empire.
“The day for the annual Secret Realm competition is approaching, have we selected our representatives yet?”
“We have. There were several promising seedlings this year during the various sect competitions and our own internal tournament.”
The current Emperor of the Baihu Empire, Baihu Hankai, born Jun Hankai, nodded at those words from his Prime Minister and turned towards the rest of the officials gathered in the court.
“I don’t think I need to tell you people just how dangerous our current position is. So, I’ll just say this. Keep doing your work and make sure that the Founding Festival this time is much more extravagant and fulfilling for the people of the empire, enabling them to forget about the looming war for at least this month.”
“”””We Obey Your Command!””””
The various officials and ministers of the Empire, who were made of energetic young men and women along with wise Elders, swiftly walked out of the court to carry out their various tasks with a zeal that could not even have been imaginable in the Yin Long Empire.
Unlike its neighbor, the Baihu Empire was founded on strict meritocracy, where the personal power and talent of an individual matter more than their lineage. It was a way of life that affected even the Royal Family as they quite often took in talented outsiders into the family and sometimes even had them ascend to the throne just like the current Emperor.
This system was originally implemented by the founders of the Baihu Empire out of necessity. Back in those days, the Baihu empire was only a fraction of the size of the Yin Long empire, barely the size of a few cities.
The only way such a small nation could hold off the aggression of its neighbor was by using Quality instead of quantity.
This method was only viable, and worked wonders for the Empire, allowing it to grow into an Empire that was similarly sized to the Yin Family in a century in those days because the Yin Long Empire of that time was very weak in terms of martial prowess and military ability thanks to several factors. Such a method would no longer work in this day and age.
However, whatever the facts and reasons of those times might have been, the Baihu empire of this day still practices these traditions as they had become integral to their culture and identity.
With a sigh, The Emperor turned to his Prime Minister, Ling Tianze, who was his sworn brother during their younger years.
“What do you think?”
“I think you handled it pretty well-“
“Tianze now is not the time for your games and sarcasm. I am asking about the war declaration.”
“….Fine. I think that was a very stupid decision you made in the heat of the moment. Even if it was a valid reaction since it was our home village that was attacked and annihilated to the last man.”
Emperor Baihu Hankai gave a bitter smile to his sworn brother.
“I know that now with hindsight, but what is done is done. How are our preparations?”
“General Dugu has just returned to the capital, so you can hear the exact numbers from him. But from the information I received, our military is steadily growing, with conscripts being recruited from across the empire’s pool of young men from all walks of life. As for Cultivators, the various sects have sent a lot of their disciples to the capital in response to your command.”
“That’s good. Are there any Core Disciples from the sects or is it just the inner and outer disciples?”
“As a matter of fact, several Core Disciples are being sent, however, they will arrive a bit later than the others since they will be coming with their Elders.”
“That’s good. We can see if there are any worthy seedlings among those disciples that we can poach for the Royal Family.”
“…..You Highness, the Sects will start to rebel if you keep poaching their talented disciples.”
Baihu Hankai gave a smirk to his exasperated sworn brother and got up from his throne.
“Let’s go, I want to hear the exact numbers of our forces from the General.”
“As you wish.”