A few months ago:
The council of elders gathers for the seventh time that mooncycle. Two elders per clan attended, just like in the old days. Saran paces in front of the Yurt impatiently, listening in on their bickering, irritation almost getting the best of her. The temptation to barge in on them grows with every step she takes, but she knows she has to be patient. A loud crack of a jar breaking snaps her out of her thoughts. Shouting and swearing follows, but the sound of her grandfathers voice overpowering all the elders somewhat satisfies her need to smack them on the head.
The clans of the Wastes of Pyquan, like the Tékaguó Empire described them, used to live together in harmony. The council of elders were a court of justice, they solved the internal problems and those between clans; they were the wise counsellors of the headman. This all changed when the Crimson Dragon clan and the Gray Wolf clan went into war with eachother. Alliances were formed and the clans split in two, but even those alliances crumbled. Families were torn apart between the two clans, allegiances to different clans destroyed entire households. The council of elders tried all they could, but to no avail. The civil war raged on for centuries, all because of one runaway princess, until the Tékaguó Empire attacked. Their four Generals were strong and ravaged through the wastes like a hurricane, still the clans held. Many lives were lost on both sides, the Tékaguó Empire even retreating like the cowards they are. Then another general arose, not one of the four provinces, a greater and smarter one than those four combined: the Jade General. Rumors around his name and lineage spread like wildfire, but the only thing absolutely clear was his eyecolor: green like the jades that adorned the jewelry of the headman's wife. The Jade General was nothing like the other four, he didn't bother the conquered citizens, spared the defeated warriors, didn't feast on the spoils of war and forbade his warriors to touch the women and children. Many thought of this as a clever trick to gain their trust and resented him for his tactics. Hate for the Jade General is rooted deep within every man and woman. They want blood, the blood of the Jade General.
But before the clans could go into war with the Empire, internal problems had to be solved. This is where the elders come in, they are supposed to bring the clans back together, but as things are now, Saran heavily doubt their capability of doing so. The elders acted unlike their age, more like toddlers than 'elders'. As only child of the clan's only healer, she was supposed to attend every gathering. Instead she had to wait outside, because she was a woman. When yet another jar breaks, she loses it and barges inside.
"Saran, step outside right now," her grandfather immediately reprimands her.
"No, I am a healer, I have the right to attend, even if I am a woman!" she states while crossing her arms like an angry child. "You are getting nowhere with your quarreling. Start acting like people your age and find a way to appease the clans!"
The anger that radiates of the elders could burn her skin if it weren't for the layer of clothes she was wearing. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea?
"Saran, outside NOW!" her grandfather bellowes with his face contorted in anger. He's serious, Saran recognises the infuriated tone in his voice and quickly gets out of the Yurt.
"That wasn't a very smart thing to do, Saran," a voice tells her while the owner tugs her long, black braid.
"Nayan, let go of my hair!" Saran turns around to face him. "What do you want, Nayan? Don't tell me your little brother has hurt himself again?!"
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"No, no, be at ease! My brother is fine, I just wanted to check up on you, see how things were going," he says as he smiles, a blush tinges his cheeks a light shade of pink.
"Well... thank you," Saran replies akwardly. In her mind she curses at herself. Thank you, was that all you could come up with?! Now he must really think you're stupid!
Saran looks up at the tall, lean man. Though 'man' wasn't exactly the right word, he was but a year older than her, calling him a boy wasn't right either. He looks at her with an intense gaze, Saran quickly looks away. It was her turn to blush, she feels her face heat up while she fidgets with the hem of her ia.
"I was wondering if you would like to go hunt with me?" Nayan asks, knowing fully well she couldn't resist the offer of going hunting. Saran might be a woman, her female traits were exceeded by her adventurous nature and boyish manners.
"I would love to," she practically yells, but cringes when she realises she had answered way too eagerly. She mentally slapps herself. Idiot! Now he'll be freaked out! Thinking you're some kind of weirdo!
Going hunting together though, there would have been no way she could have contained herself. When she is about to go with him, her grandfather calls her inside the Yurt.
"Ah, why now?! I'm sorry, Nayan, I have to go," she apologises with a sad look on her face.
"It's fine, I understand... you should go now, your grandfather sounded quite angry."
Saran nods and looks at him one last time before entering the Yurt. Immediately she feels their gazes upon her face and she swallows, slightly nervous. After looking every elder in the eye and this time also bowing to show her respect *ahem*, she turns to her grandfather.
"Saran we have made our decision."
---
The Emperor sits behind his desk that is littered with bills, decrees, requests and more. His hands are in his black, silky hair, massaging his tired head. In the back of his head he knows he shouldn't be resting, he should be working, but his mind keeps on wondering to Yin. He had ordered the physician to bring him updates every hour, still he felt restless. Someone has poisoned one of his wives-to-be, someone on the inside, someone he trusts. He can't shake the uneasy feeling. The best remedy against restlessness for him was swordfighting, so he stands up out of his chair and makes his way to the trainging field. Once he arrived, he shakes of the heavy robes that he is expected to wear as emperor, and looses his muscles. As he makes his way to the weapon rack, lieutenant Lu Zheng joins him. They don't ask questions, just grab the weapon they preffered and started sparring. The Emperor wields his guan dao with utmost grace and power, while lieutenant Lu Zheng uses his kusarigama with a lethal perfection. They circle around each other like predators ready to strike at their prey, focussed to the point where they forget the world around them. With each clash of their weapons, with every calculated strike and every block, the Emperor feels his weariness leave him, like flower petals carried away by the wind. It is only until they are both hot and sweaty a soldier comes and breaks up their sparring session.
"My Lord, there is news about Lady Wei, the physician urges your Majesty to find him," he says emotioinless. He then bows and leaves them.
Lieutenant Lu Zhen raises his eyebrow at the Emperor in a questioning manner. He was suprised any of the ladies had managed to capture the attention of the stiff and pragmatic emperor. The Emperor notices his gesture and sighs deeply.
"This will be a topic for another time, Zhen, I have to go now."
Zhen nods his head in respect and grabs his guan dao and his own kusarigama. The Emperor leaves in a hurry, even forgetting to put on his robes on his way there. When Zhen notices, he shakes his head and smiles softly: he was head over heels and he didn't even know it.
In another part of the imperial palace, the Emperor is about to enter the room Yin resides in. His hand was already reaching for the panel when the old physician opened up.
"Your Majesty, I already thought it was you..." he trails off, his eyes look saddened. The Emperor swallows the lump that had formed in his throat, waiting impatiently for the old man to continue speaking.
"She hasn't-"