The Rise Of An Empire

Heavy footsteps resonated within the halls of the palace as a group of 11 heavily armed people from the initial 30 was surrounding one single lady while rushing to their destination. The atmosphere was heavy for everyone present because they could hear weapons clashing, the scream, and death of those who reside within the palace.

"Hurry your grace, we must get you to safety quickly."

"Where are we going? And what about the men back there, shouldn't we help them?"

"To a hidden passage your grace, the lord have prepared it beforehand since he knew that Gaixu Sang will seek to destroy the Yin family. As for the elite guards that stayed behind to buy us time…..there fate is sealed."

"Why would the prime minister do this? After we found out that it was him who tried to kill us back then. My father have not even thought about taking revenge! He only want to live peacefully and care for his people."

Years before when Mei Yin and her father was journeying back home after the gathering with other officials they were attacked and was put on a knife edge. If it wasn't for Lu Liang rescuing them then all of them would have die there. After safely returning home, Sima Yin did his investigation at the information pavilion which cause him a heavy sum but it was all worth it because he found out that it was Gaixu Sang. The prime minister of Pei kingdom that has send assassins to take their life!

"Apologies your grace, although we are part of the elite guard and his lordship has brief us on the situation but as to the reason why it started. We don't know, I'm sure you will get the chance to know after delivering that letter the lord give you."

Looking down on the letter, Mei Yin could feel how heavy it is.

"Sigh, I just hope father and everyone else will be fine."

"Don't worry your grace, the lord is no pushover plus the garrison commander and the elite guard's captain is with him. As for everyone else, they will do their duties to the lord until the end."

While conversing with each other, Mei Yin along with the elite guards have reach the end of the hall where a big door could be seen standing tall with three key hole in the center. Approaching closer, the elite guards begin to insert the key and with a loud rambling. The door was open, hurrying inside and closing the door quickly behind them.

Inside Mei Yin saw…..herself! Someone who look exactly like her was looking back in their direction. Noticing that her grace was looking confusingly, the other Mei Yin move forward before stopping three feet away from the real Mei Yin as she bowed deeply.

"Ning Xa greets her grace."

"Ning Xa? What are you doing here and why are you looking just like me?"

"This is a human mask that allow this servant to take on a face of another, his lordship have instructed this servant to wait here for your grace arrival so that I can take your place in this chamber while you escape through the hidden passage."

"If that the case then wouldn't all of you going t—"

Boom!

Mei Yin stopped mid-sentence as an explosion that seem to be coming from the outside which cause the whole room to shake frighten her greatly before hearing one of the elite guard urging her to move.

"Your grace, the shadow demon have caught up and trying to blow the door open. You must leave now! the door won't be able to hold for long if it continue on like this."

"None of you are coming with me?"

"We can't your grace, if any of us leave here than those shadow demon will surely get suspicious so you must go alone. The path will lead you near the Chu River with a horse, men clothing for your disguise, and enough supplies for you on your journey."

Boom!

While explosion could still be heard from the outside, at this point Mei Yin can't help but have tears in her eyes because she know that the chance her father could make it out are slim. Otherwise, why would he make such detail arrangement. And going as far as sacrificing these guards and the servant girl named Ning Xa so that she can live.

Boom!

Hardening herself under the urges of the people inside the room, Mei Yin ran toward the hidden passage where the guard has already open for her and waiting to close it once she enter. Standing inside of the passage while it closes Mei Yin turned around with tears in her eyes. But what she see made her emotion to run wild even more because everyone was smiling at her and bowed.

"Take care of yourself, your grace."

Inches before the door is completely close….

BOOOOOM!