CHAPTER ONE.
Da An was a peaceful kingdom containing Wei Zhuang, the smallest and the only magical land among all other kingdoms. The legends have it that some people born in Wei Zhuang have magical powers. Outsiders will not be able to get inside hence the legends stay as the legends. Another says that the Wei Zhuang royals will give birth to a Jade Ring for each generation. Jade Ring has the ability to produce jade pearls that can be modified into deadly poisons or life-saving medicines. This causes Jade Rings to hide their special identity.
The clouds were dark and sorrowful followed by thunders of lightning as the guards of Hei An Guang chased the flying ship. The ship was decorated with cascading plants covering the hull, shrouds, and the mast as purple flowers bloom. The view was outstanding but not the vibe. The Hei An Guang guards chased faster, under the ship with their mighty horses running.
The guard's outfit was dark brown on the outside but yellow gold on the inside, decorated with black fibrous weaving pattern. The upper part of their faces were mysteriously covered in the outfit's cloak. Solid black poisonous arrows were struck as high and as accurate as what the guards were capable of.
"Argh!" a young woman cried in pain as she continued pushing her baby out with all of her blood sweat and tears even at such crucial moments. Her bottom was on the cold and bare floor, and her under was bloody. The air was freezing cold, layering her skin. She was the first princess of Wei Zhuang, the last Jade Ring, Feng An Cai.
"GET RID OF THE HEI AN GUANG GUARDS!"
She ordered, giving her last push, pounding her fist on the floor, moaning in pain . Long cascading plants started to grow through her pasted warm hands on the wood floor of the ship. The plants were covering her newborn, crying it's heart out.
"Yes, Princess!" the Wei Zhuang top general, Gan Luo Yi replied just before an arrow hit the princess's back. The arrow released such an unyielding force that it managed to push the princess's body down to the wooden floor of the ship.
"Foxglove?" She noticed as she smiled, conjuring the pain, her teary eyes turned red as her body started to shiver in grieve. The cascading plants proceed to grow through her black hair horizontally to her forehead, forming a headpiece on the forehead. Her lip's shaded dark blue. She raised her back, unwilling to give up, not yet.
On the verge of death was the princess. Nevertheless, she was still trying to reach for her newborn, covered with the cascading plants that grew from she grew previously, unknown of the baby's gender.
Before the princess could grip on the baby, an appearance of a female took the baby away into her own arm. The appearance was nothing but a women with a tall and slim figure, displaying a majestic colours of gold and white with a single wooden headpiece through her long ponytail hair. It was the second princess of Wei Zhuang, Feng An Xin.
"Archery, teach her archery." the princess begged with a breathy voice, assuming the baby was a boy to the little sister in front of her, having the grip on her own baby.
"You've got nothing to worry about," the second princess lifted the corner of her right lips, devilishly she started smirking.
The princess dropped her last tears, smiling as she slowly fell to the ground and died at the scene.
"AMBUSHED! PROTECT THE PRINCESSES!" The guard suddenly shouted as more arrows flew towards them.
--
"I failed," Wei An Ge, the 13 years old Crown Princess of Hei An Guang reported to the strict training guard, Rong Zhe. She could barely lift her chin up, shamed of her zero accomplishments. He was standing straight with both of his hands at the back, hiding a long slim wood. The tall figure of the guard always scares the small girl. Strictly, he glared his pupils down to her once to see for her reaction. Indeed what what he expected, her face was pulled downwards as it always been. Instantly, he hit her right wrist for the 13th time that day as she failed her archery training again.
The Crown Princess Wei An Ge was taught archery as long as she can remembered. However, for the whole thirteen years of living, she never succeeded and if she failed her right wrist would be slashed by the training guards.
Her left hand was always covered with black gloves and can never be hit in any of her training or else the person will be considered as discriminating against the imperial decree. Even the King can be charged guilty.
"Start again," the Rong Zhe ordered with his deep and emotionless tone of voice, as cold as ice blocks.
Wei An Ge picked the plain wood bow, going for another attempt, full of determination. The same results were obtained every time she trained. She finished the training for the day after the 50th hit.
Noticing the bloody marks on the wrist, she walked to the imperial medication house around the imperial palace, attempting to ask for medicine to treat her wrist.
Wei An Ge was trained and hit every day as she always failed the training .It was always that way. To ensure her determination to the training and the kingdom, she was told it's better to be in pain since young then her people being in pain. Hence, she always ran out of medications.
"Crown princess," The old imperial physician greeted, full of respect upon witnessing her arrival to his Imperial Medication House. His white beard hair was hanging on his chain as his smiles, the eyes were squinted, wrinkly.
The crown princess, Wei An Ge replied with a smile, fully showing her teeth.
"Medication please," She ordered, in a low tone of voice, scanning around the house.
"I'll prepare it for you," the old physician, Li Zhi Jian, walked backward with his back and head lowered. Li Zhi Jian was a grandfather of two siblings. He was old enough to have white stripes of hair on him.
The next morning, the sun rises beautifully for the so called darkest kingdom, Hei An Guang. Wei An Ge was preparing herself to attend the court. Her long hair was tied highly by the maids of her manor, Chang Ge.
All of the collected hairs were tied with a golden cylinder hair accessory. The hairstyle made her look like a man at first glance. However, her lip was red-colored and her lower cheeks were decorated lightly with pink blushes.
"I'll be bald by sixteen if this is how my hair keeps being tight" she complained in pain staring her reflection on the mirror.
The maids laughed, covering their mouths and manners.
"We have no choice left, Crown Princess" The 30 years old maid, Jing Nu, tightening the Crown Princess's head. Jing Nu was the head maid of the Chang Ge Manor as well as the imperial palace.
Jing Nu was also a teacher for the others noble daughters of the ministers serving the kingdom and a mother for Wei An Ge.
"Properly tight hair defines our Hei An Guang rules and its people,"
"Straight and well behaved," Jing Nu added, tightening the Crown Princess's hair.
"No. It's painful and balding, actually" Wei An Ge joked
A few minutes passed as Wei An Ge made her way to the court with her silver horse, alone. As she stepped inside the court in the Imperial Palace, maids and eunuchs were marching beside her.
"The crown princess, Wei An Ge has arrived!" One of the eunuch at the door shouted as she stepped a foot inside, entering.
She was wearing a dark brown on the outside but yellow gold in the inside dress, decorated with black fibrous pattern weaving on it. Her upper facial appearance was covered in another layer of cloth with a hoodie and only her lips and lower cheekbones were revealed. Her appearance shut the whole court silent as all of the generals and ministers bowed for her.
Along the long and straight path, she's walking on, there was a fully grown man around his 30s smiling proudly to welcome her, the kingdom's Crown Princess. The man was the current King of Hei An Guang called Wei Guang. His face was still youthful and energetic, perfectly matching his age. The King has been one of the most mysterious. He deny that the crown princess was his but continued giving her the tittle at such young age. The King didn't even have any consort or even a queen by his side.
Nervously, Wei An Ge bowed before the King in respect.
"Wei An Ge is here for training to serve the court in the future" She reported wih such vibrant and loud tone of voice.
Her palms laid on each other as she bows lower.
"We will help the Crown Princess for her training to serve the court in the future," The generals and ministers joined her, bowing.
The court was full of spirit for the kingdom.
"GOOD ENOUGH!" The king burst into excitement, guiding Wei An Ge to her own throne, beside him. The throne was made of wood and decorated with a few pieces of white shining pearls.
Her court training was her favorite since she started at 10 years old. All that she had to do was nothing except than sitting and watching how the court works. Sometimes, she did fell asleep easily knowing that the dress's hoodie covered most of her face especially the closed eyes.
"How was the court?" Sun Ai'er asked, tangling her arms on the crown princess's.
Sun Ai'er is the daughter of Minister Sun, a member of the court. Sun Ai'er was very friendly, bright, and cheerful. Her smile was pure and innocent while her eyes displayed her youthful compassion. After every court training, Wei An Ge will have to visit the Sun manor to have snacks and review what she learned from the court training the day.
"Boring as always," Wei An Ge replied, rushing towards the table of snacks just in front of her.
Her body posture was kept straight and her hoodie was still covering her facial appearance. The excitement of seeing the snacks and cakes were revealed with her smile from ear to ear as she rushed towards them. The rushing figure creates a flowy look on her dark brown dress.
"How can you say that?" Sun Ai'er stopped her, widening her arms, blocking the way. "If you fail to review today's court content, my dad will beat you,"
"Isn't that how I am always treated every time?" Wei An Ge explained, forcing her way out of Sun Ai'er and proceed on reaching for the snacks. "It's better to be in pain since young than our people being in pain." she recited, already biting a round brown cake she reached.
A few minutes later, Wei An Ge found herself in front of the table with a roll of paper, brush, and ink inside a common room. The reciting room of the Sun Manor.
"What did His Majesty did to the witness?" Sun Lai Zhe tested, hiding another slim wood stick at his back. He walked back and forth, unsettled, looking intimidating. Sun Lai Zhe was about the same age as the King, 34 years old.
"Send him to court?" Anxiously she replied, already offering her right wrist, ready to be slashed. Her eyes were closed, ready to bear the pain.
"Crown princess, he is in the court!" Sun Lai Zhe hit her right wrist once. "You are the court!"
He went for the second hit, harder, shouting.
At the same time at Wei Zhuang, the magical land of Da And.
"Harder, you can do it!" Wei Zhuang's top general, Gan Luo Yi, supported the little boy practicing his sword game.
The little boy was named Gan Xin, 13 years old, the only son of the mighty general of Wei Zhuang. His father picked up Gan Xin's shiny and heavy sword as if it was as light as a feather, effortlessly. He returned the sword to Gan Xin's grip.
"Try again," Gan Luo Yi smiled, taking steps backward. His look was encouraging and convincing. Good enough for Gan Xin to regain his confidence.
With all of his remaining strength, Gan Xin went for another attempt, learning the new technique he learned from his father previously. He knew well in his heart what he wanted to be, someone who's done a good deed to Wei Zhuang.
It was not good enough for Gan Luo Yi but he knew Gan Xin was still young and his magical power has not yet been awakened.
"Stop torturing my son!" A figure of a young woman in her late 20s was seen, holding a plate full of sweet snacks, running to them. "Xin'er, let's eat!"
She smiled, trying to catch her breath, already petting her son's head.
(Note: 'er is sometimes put at the end of names. Usually by parents. Like for example, Matthew turns into Matty)
"Thank you, mother!" Gan Xin immediately dropped his sword, running towards her mother for a hug.
The father smiled, following his son as soon as he picked the sword.
"I didn't even lay a finger on him, how am I torturing him?" Gan Luo Yi debated, hugging the women, his beloved wife from the side.
The wife, Gan Xie Le smiled in reply.
"It's okay, mother!" Gan Xin shouted, no longer shoving sweet cakes into his mouth. "I'll practice all day so that I can protect you and father when you guys turn old!"
The parents laughed, proud of their son.
Gan Xin smiled, silly with cake crumbs on the corner of his lip.