“In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of. ``

* Confucius

It was the 217th year since the founding of the Great Sui Dynasty, the empire, after years of expansion, is larger than any dynasty that had come before it.

In it’s Center, lays the heartland of the Empire, encompassing four major rivers flowing to the TianWu ocean, ensuring a system of effective transportation for goods to travel as well as centralised governance, consisting of primarily fertile farmland, millenniums of construction projects has led it to produce a constant supply of food, and the greatest concentration of humans in the world with the latest imperial census reporting a population of 300 million, primarily of the Zui group.

To the North, it had conquered the nomadic khanate that had once raided the land. Before the Sui, every dynasty had to spend much of their government budget on expeditions to pacify these nomads. Yet the Sui had managed to integrate the barbarians 23 years after its founding after an extensive period of campaigning. At present, their culture is near non-existent, replaced after an extensive movement and intermarrying of ethnic Zui group into the former territories of the nomads.

The South borders two kingdoms, addressed by the Empire of NanMeng and XiGu, both of which pay an annual tribute to the empire, yet merely decades before, there had been one additional kingdom, NanHai, which had remained independent for hundreds of years, however, had submitted as a vassal state after a series of disastrous flood that led to decades of famine within the kingdom.

The empire’s territories to the East comprise of it’s most recently acquired prize after an ambitious prince had led his private army Eastward in a 5-year campaign in search of fame, through this, they had conquered vast amount of territories beyond the Yun Mountains, which had historically been the furthermost the empire extended. Comprising of barren deserts and mountains. It did not grant the prestige the prince had hoped for, and soon after his return to the capital, he found his faction had been wiped out, ultimately leading to his demise.

Yet after decades of prosperity in the empire had left its court corrupt and decaying, factions of officials constantly scheme against opposing factions, while the current head minister of treasury had been infamous due to the vast sums of public funds channelled into the pockets of his allies.

The emperor himself had not helped the situation in any way, preferring to spend time with his concubines rather than attending court, leaving his ministers to bicker amongst themselves.

Yet the much empire still remains prosperous, mainly due to the constant stream of talented officials as a result of the reformed Imperial Examination. Even then, cases of corruption are no longer treated with the same amount of severity as before, resulting in influential families filling the court with officials personally loyal to them.

While the court remains decadent, the common people are beginning to neglect their duties, instead preferring to spend much of their time engaging in the most recent gossip.

Recently, in the capital of the Sui Dynasty, rumours have been circulating among the commoners. The only daughter of the prestigious Xu family, was born with an illness that will kill her on her fourteenth birthday, this story eventually became so popular that it even spread to some of the lower-ranking nobles. Ultimately reaching the servants of high ranking nobles, the servants reported to their masters about the recent news, their only response was a round of laughter, leaving them confused, yet out of fear, they remained silent.

“This is the further it could be from the truth,” the nobles collectively thought to themselves.

In the far East of the empire, lays a collection of cities and towns under the rule of the Xu family, a family with a long military history stretching far back even before the founding of the Sui Dynasty. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, it remains largely self-governing from the rest of the empire. Yet contains one of the highest concentrations of cities in the empire, due to the countless tributaries flowing from the Chang River, which starts from the Tian Mountains. The Xu family’s current patriarch, Xu Jin has five sons and a single daughter.

The five brothers are all actively serving around the empire, Xu Li, the oldest, is currently the general of the Imperial Army. Xu Wuling, the second son, is a master of martial arts well known throughout the empire. Xu Shu as the middle child acts as the Minister of Military and is in a constant struggle with the Minister of Finances. Xu Tianjian, the third youngest is a member of the emperor’s personal bodyguard, while Xu Gaoyun, the second youngest of the sons had just started his military career. All of these 5 brothers are well known throughout the circles of nobles in the empire, yet the youngest of Xu Jin’s children, as well as the only girl, has remained completely unknown to anyone outside of the Xu family manor.

The rumours in the capital had originated from the regional capital of lands ruled by the Xu family, named Xuchang, it had originally been a military camp during the campaigns of the ambitious prince, yet its excellent position had made it grow exponentially, with a population of six hundred thousand in the present day.

Located at the Northern edge of the city lays the Xu family manor, within it, countless maids and servants running around, serving each member of the Xu family.

In the Southern wing of the manor, typically used by servants, houses the mysterious daughter of the Xu family. Yet unlike her other brothers, there are no servants attending to her needs.

The youngest child of the Xu family, named Xu Xiaomeng, had lived in isolation ever since the day of her birth while her dark black eyes seem dull, as if devoid of emotions.

Her body seems as if it could be blown away by a single gust of wind, it was as if her entire life had been spent within this uncomfortable room, rarely had she seen the light of day. Yet it appears that she by now is long used to it.

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From her dull eyes, a single tear rolled down her delicate face, as it falls, onto her clothes, which appears to be of more worth than any other object in the room.

The tear spilt appears like a flower blooming.

Li Ming felt rather miserable, as he struggled to maintain his last breath, finally, his eyelids ultimately became too heavy to remain open.

When he had once more opened them, he found himself in the house he had been living in for the past three years, yet the metal table had been replaced with a wooden one with skilful cravings. Where there had been two frames containing the newspaper, sits a bronze mirror in its place.

Looking outside the window, Li Ming saw nothing but a white void.

“What a shame”, Li Ming mumbled to himself. “I still had to build up the nation, yet now I could only hope my successor can maintain the current state of the country”.

Remaining in his position for an unknown amount of time, he suddenly heard the sound of a single droplet of water splashing against the concrete floor.

Turning his head towards its origin, he notices a girl, surprisingly with white hair, appearing certainly no more than 14 years old, materialising off in the distance.

“Guess we’re both dead,” he thought to himself as he began approaching the figure. Noticing her old style of dressing, similar to ones worn during the Ming Dynasty, he chose to cup his hands as he greeted her”.

“Greetings”.

The figure seems startled, with her body suddenly jumping, pausing for a moment, she turned her head towards Li Ming.

While Li Ming had seen plenty of beauties in his life when he was still the heir to the Li corporation, countless celebrities had appeared in his mansion, yet she seems to be in another realm of charm. The girl possessing a petite oval face, cherry sized lips, and a modest nose, it could be said that she possesses a level of allure rare in the modern world, a more natural sense of beauty. Yet her most distinguishing features would be her long silver hair, flowing along her back, touching the floor as if a waterfall, it’s colour shines like mercury as it reflects the dim lights produced by the lightbulb within the room.

The girl, still in her adolescence opened her mouth to speak.

Li Ming internally frowned, as he could not determine the language she was speaking, yet kept a smile on his face.

Yet moments after, the meaning of those words mysteriously appeared in his mind, this time, his face could not maintain the smile, and shock replaced it for a split movement, before long he returned to his friendly face once more.

It seems the girl had not realised his temporary moment of shock, as she continues on.

“May I ask sir where I am, could this be the afterlife?”

Despite the sweet and melodious voice coming from her, now that Li Ming understands the content, it’s contents are eerily chilling, while her tones appear indifferent.

Yet he did not show any of it on his face, maintaining his smile, he replied gently,” It seems to be so,” he sighed before continuing,” I had recently been assassinated”.

“I see”, her voice once more rings out, despite its euphonic nature, it sounds incredibly apathetic.”Seeing as we may be here for some time, may I ask for sir’s name, I am Xu Xiaomeng, the sixth child and only daughter of Xu Jin, governor of ChangTian province, named after it’s rivers and mountains,” pausing for a moment, a cynical smile appeared on her exquisite face,” no, perhaps it no longer matters where I came from.”

“My surname is Li, and my given name is Ming, as in bright,” Li Ming responded with a slight smile, yet he was shocked once more, as far as he is aware, he had never heard of a province called ChangTian.

“If it is not rude, may I ask the lady where is ChangTian province?”

“Naturally it is not rude, it is at the edge of the Great Sui Dynasty, to its East is the Tian Mountains, while it borders the Yun Mountains to its South, and further South is the Southern Barbarians, the province is surrounded by mountains on all sides, leaving it protected from most invasions,'' she replied, pausing to take a breath, she continues,”I had heard it has the greatest natural beauty in all of the empires provinces, with mountains and rivers forming many sceneries”, when she mentioned the mountains and rivers, a look of lost appeared on her face.

“Yet sadly it seems like I can never experience it for myself,” she sighed, before strolling towards the wooden table, where she gracefully sat down with appearance like that of a lotus flower.

Li Ming by that point seemed even more confused, The Great Sui Dynasty? Throughout history, there had been one dynasty that followed the name of Sui, yet from her description, it seems to be talking about a completely different entity.

“Lady, I conclude that it seems as if our fate has led us from our different world into this encounter with each other,” he spoke as politely as possible, before taking a breath, then continued,” if it is not intrusive, may I ask how you have perished?”

“There is no need to be polite, for I had drunk poison to kill myself,” she described as if the person who had died was not her,” seeing we are to be here for a long time, I invite sir to share his origin as well”.

“Of course,” Li Ming state, remaining standing, he began,” I had been the leader of a recently founded republic.”

Yet as he was preparing to continue, Xu Xiaomeng questioned,” what is a republic?”

“A republic is a nation without kings or emperors my lady”.

“But how is that possible?” she asked,” is it not the will of the Heavens that they remain in power, that they are instrumental to the balance of the natural order?”

“What constitutes their right to rule? Is the emperor’s purpose not serves the common masses? Then, through the masses' own assessment, will it not produce a leader that serves the masses better than one born above them? If heaven determines a ruler’s right to rule, then why is it that plagues and famines occur under the rule of good emperors. If through good governance, that these could be avoided, then why have a system of inheritance when there are countless bureaucrats that could outdo the emperor in governance, yet remains in obscurity?”

“Perhaps the emperor may not be able to control heaven, and there are people with talent greater than the emperor, but what of the ignorant masses, they would not know what is best for themselves,” Xu Xiaomeng added.

“Then we must educate them through both theory and practice, before then, a group of educated individuals will act as the vanguards that will lead the nation, serving as it’s organs.

“It that so,” she paused, contemplate, before answering,” perhaps you may be right,” Xu Xiaomeng sighed,” I had seldom possessed any positive feelings toward the emperor nor my father. I have heard countless servants whispering their grievances stemming from nobles, I have spent far more time with them than with nobles, if they could have a far better life in this republic of yours, I accept your idea.”

“But us two are stuck here,” Li Ming commented.

“Indeed.”

“I have been standing the entire time, may I have a seat?”

“Of course,” Xu Xiaoming affirmed.

Li Ming, leaving the side of Xu Xiaomeng, sat down on the chair at the other side of the table, yet as his backside touch the surface of the chair, a sudden void appeared below the two.

Li Ming could feel his consciousness slipping away, before long, the two had entirely fainted.

When Li Ming had once again gained consciousness, he notices he was once again moved into a different location, while the wooden table that he sat behind was still there, the surroundings have entirely changed, his simplistic concrete room had been replaced with one made of wood.

Feeling a tingle by his cheek, he moved his hand to shift it away.

He took his hands away to look at it.

In it, a strand of silver hair could be seen.

Li Ming’s whole body froze, he could feel cold sweat on his back.

But it wasn’t his back, and those are definitely not his hands.

In front of him was a pair of delicate hands, so beautiful it seems as if it was sculptured, yet so soft it seems devoid of bones.

Staring at the bronze mirror in front of him, or perhaps more appropriate “her”.

Li Ming, who had stayed calm even during his moment of death, felt his whole existence filled with terror.