Imperial City

As Liu Tián Qǔ prepared her Residence for the arrival of the returning families. She was unaware of the furor that begin taken hold of the Imperial City. The Grand Prince, Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā and Wang Fèn Yǒng had decided that they would meet the returning families at the gates of the city as the returning families entered the Imperial city. The Grand Prince sent his house Butler to the Imperial palace to report the developments to the Emperor.

At the time that the Emperor received the message, he was in a meeting with the four Imperial Commanders that govern the generals, the Minister of War and several Imperial Blacksmiths, Bladesmiths, Swordsmiths, Armorsmiths, and Craftsmen. They were discussing where to build the Melded Ore forge and which armies to began arming with Melded Ore Armor first.

It was Eunuch Rong who had whispered the message in the Emperor's ear. It was said that when the Emperor received the Grand Prince's message, he had almost dropped his teacup in shock. The Emperor's face had grown ashen then it flushed blood-red in joy. The Emperor's reaction to the message left everyone extremely curious as to what the message was that Eunuch Rong had whispered in the Emperor's ear.

The Emperor immediately adjourned the meeting. He then rushed off to change into his ceremonial robes for receiving returning warriors. Never had anyone ever seen the Emperor in such a fluster. Every General, Noble, Official, and Minister immediately began to investigate. Messenger birds covered the skies of the Imperial City as messages flew back and forth. Many local spy networks became active as the spies of the various houses got to work, trying to figure out what was going on.

Many Nobles, Officials and Ministers rushed to the Imperial Palace. Elder Chen and Minister Lan was just executed that morning. Court was canceled in preparation for the Memorial of the Four Martial Families, which was to take place in the Imperial Square of the Imperial City.

However, these Nobles, Officials and Ministers survived many years in the Imperial court. They had developed a sixth sense that informed them when a big change was coming. They were absolutely sure that the Emperor's reaction to the secret message he received herald a big change.

As many Officials, Ministers, Nobles, Generals, and Commanders all began rushing to the Imperial Palace. Many froze in utter shock to see the Emperor rushing out of the Imperial Palace with a massive entourage of Honor Guards practically chasing after him. The Imperial Honor Guards was a mixture of Shā Qì Warriors, Gòu Army Warrior, Elite Imperial Immortal Warriors, and Shadow Dragoon Warriors.

An old retired Elder was rushing to the Imperial place, still tying his ceremonial hat onto his head. He was not too far from the Imperial Palace and witnessed the Emperor rushing from the Palace with an immense Honor Guard that looked to be chasing the Emperor trying to keep up with him. The poor old Elder Ou lost his composure and sense of direction in his shock. He crashed right into a horse who was standing on the side of the road minding its business.

It startled the poor horse so bad the startled horse almost ran the poor old elder over as it bolted down the road dragging the wine cart that was attached to it. The owner of the horse was a wine seller. The Wine seller pointed and screamed at Elder Ou in a fury, "You old buzzard. If anything happens to my horse, you will be held responsible. How could you not have seen the horse and run into it. If you're blind, stay home. Why are you bumbling around on the street, causing catastrophes?" The owner then turned around and chased after his horse trying to catch it.

The poor old Elder legs went weak, and he staggered and almost collapsed on the side of the road. "That ignorant fool!" The Elder gasped. "What kind of halfwit did I just have the misfortune of meeting?" The Elder felt so wronged.

"I almost got stomped to death by his imbecilic horse, and instead of asking about my well being, he cursed me instead!" The old Elder was working himself into a fine lather. "How dare he curse me when I am the victim!" The Elder seemed to forget all about the fact the he was the one to startle the horse and cause it to bolt.

The Elder was so busy working himself up into a fine fury that he forgot the reason he was in such a hurry. He also missed the exodus of Officials, Nobles, Generals, Commanders, and Ministers from the palace as they chase after the Emperor and his huge entourage.

The runaway horse was finally caught six streets away by three warriors who teamed up to stop the horse. However, the damage the horse left in his wake was not small. Stalls, carts, and goods were strewn all over the six streets the horse ran through.

All the vendors, merchants, and owners of everything that got destroyed in the wake of the horse chased after the owner. All the while, they were screaming curses of rage and fury at the wine seller as they chase after him, and he pursued after his horse. Beggars and their children popped out of nowhere. They hurried to gather as much of the destroyed goods that they could and run away. While the owners'of the damaged goods chase after the horse owner and the horse owner chased after the runaway horse, it was a chaotic affair.

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When the owners of the destroyed goods caught up to the owner of the horse who finally caught up to his horse. The owners of the damaged goods commenced with screaming in rage and demanding compensation from the wine seller. The wine seller calmly held his hand up to stop the verbal abuse and curses that everyone was hurling at him as they demanded compensation. "Everyone," the wine seller yelled to get everyone's attention.

"Everyone, there is no need to get upset. Everyone will be compensated for their damaged good," The wine seller yelled. Everyone halted in the midst of hurling their abuse.

"You better not be trying to trick this old granny. I will hunt you down and beat you to death if you think to escape without paying me for the goods your horse damaged" An old granny shouted as she shook her fist at the wine seller.

"Elder," the slick wine seller said. "I would never!"

"You better not!" The old lady warned him.

Before anyone could say anything else, the horse owner quickly said, "Elder Ou, startled the horse. He said to tell everyone who suffered on account of the horse he startled. Ou Manor will reimburse everyone for their destroyed goods. Tally your goods that were destroyed and come. I will go with everyone to the Ou Manor to seek Elder Ou and reimbursed everyone for their destroyed goods." The lying horse owner said.

"For real? You're not lying?" Another stall owner asked.

"No, I am not lying. Elder Ou's sight has been going bad lately. Poor Elder Ou ran into my horse by mistake and startled him. However, Elder Ou is just. He will pay everyone for their damaged goods." The lying slick wine sellers confidence and the firm way in which he answered made everyone believe him.

"Hurrying and go tally all the goods that were damaged. We will go to Elder Ou Manor and seek reimbursement together. Hurry." The Horse owner said.

When everyone rushed off to go tally, all their damage good. The wine seller sneakily slipped away with his horse. By the time everyone realized the wine seller was gone. The wine seller had already runaway thanking his lucky stars he had already delivered all his wine.

By this time the Emperor had met up with the Grand Prince, Lady Wǔ Gāng Huā and Wang Fèn Yǒng. Messenger birds once again cover the sky of the Imperial City. Messages flew back and forth across the city, carrying the news that the Emperor left the Palace with a huge honor guard entourage in tow.

However, as more Royals, Officials, and Ministers hurriedly ran to flock to the Emperor's location. The Imperial Dragon Victorious Fireworks begin to light the skies over the imperial City.

This caused the entire Imperial City to screech to a halt as everyone looked to the skies over the Imperial City and voiced the question that was repeated millions of times that afternoon.

"The country is not at war what is the meaning of the Imperial Dragon Victorious Fireworks being released over the Imperial skies?" The unfortunate Elder Ou yelled in frustration as he stood on the side of the road seeking an answer.

Sadly, Elder Ou's day was destined only to get worse. His frustration would peak when a large group of merchants and vendors, later on, bombard Ou Manor demanding compensation for their damaged goods that Elder Ou caused by running into the wine sellers' horse and scaring it.

By the time the unfortunate Elder Ou came to himself after almost getting trampled to death. The Emperor, his entourage, and the hundreds of nobles, ministers, commanders, generals, and officials that chased after the Emperor and his entourage were gone.

None of the Imperial guards guarding the Imperial Palace would answer Elder Ou's questions. Since the Emperor officially left the Imperial Palace. Everyone seeking entry was denied entry as protocol until the Emperor returned to the palace.

The Imperial Dragon Victorious Fireworks was only released over the skies of the Imperial City after a victorious war. It was released when the returning victorious warriors entered the imperial city. It signaled the official victory of the returning warriors and the official end of the war.

So many people were confused to see the Imperial Dragon Victorious Fireworks light up over the Imperial City at this moment. It was as the Imperial Dragon Victorious Fireworks were lighting the skies over the Imperial City that the Four martial Families entered the Imperial City under the escort of two hundred Liu Residence Warriors.

The armor of the warriors that escorted the returning families was pitch black with blood-red highlights. The flag they flew was a black flag with a drawing of a fierce attacking Griffen in blood red. The armor, weapons, and gear was expensive and top of the line.

The warriors entered the city, escorting a beautiful regal-looking carriage. Approximately fifty warriors rode on horseback. They completely surrounded and escorted three men on horseback. They shielded the men so well it was hard for anyone to catch a glimpse of the men. The other one hundred and fifty men surrounded the regal-looking carriage on all four sides.

The second question from over the hundreds of thousands of people that were hastily gathering to welcome the returning Four Martial Families was, "Who's families warriors are those?"

Many of the hundreds of nobles, officials, generals, commanders and ministers looked on in envy and deep confusion. As the Liu Residence Warriors completely surrounded the returning four families and escorted them into the Imperial City. It was clear with one glance that these were not the average Tolling Land warriors. These warriors clearly had an edge to them that was different. They were armored in top of the line armor, carried top of the line weapons and had top of the line gear.

'Who were these warriors, and where did they come from?' Was the question on the minds of every General and Commander that stood in the massive gathering crowd to welcome the returning Four Martial Families. These Generals and Commanders knew every army of the Tolling Lands. Yet, no one that stood in the enormous crowd recognized the armor or color of the warriors that escorted the returning Four Martial Families.