*The enemy comes to light*
(Day of the Lantern Festival)
As the day of the festival arrived, everyone in the palace was brimming with happiness and joy.
"For this one-day I... we just get to be ourselves", said Arceus as he stared out his terrace with a smile.
{Crown Prince Residence}
"Did you get it?", asked he (Zhinu) worried. "Yes, your Highness", said his head attendant, and he smiled with joy and excitement. "Do you think she will like it?", asked Zhinu excitedly. "Of course, this is an imperial artifact that you asked your mother and begged her for", said Qi Qian, head attendant, and Zhinu smiled with joy.
(Moon Palace)
"Do you think he will like it?", asked Xi Yuan to her maid Yuyu, uncertain. "Yes, the Crown Prince Zhinu will like it", answered Yuyu, certain. "No, not Zhinu", said Xi Yuan, shocked by her maid's answer. "Mu Xuan", said she (Xi Yuan) happily, and her maid had a look of uncertainty on her face.
At another part of the residence, the Heavenly princess was also preparing a gift, "Zhinu will certainly like this", said Chongyi as she held a huge spear, smiling. "Yes, your highness, he will", reassured her attendant, Qiyu.
The night of the festival, everyone was heading to the festival market where it is held. It was full of people chattering as different races and peoples were present. "We only get to have this festival once every 500 years.", "Yes, I am so glad that the recent event didn't stop the Imperial from holding it". With the festival full underway, many nobles and officials of the court were flooding the lower ring and middle ring, purchasing lanterns and small trinkets while love filled the air.
At one stall at the market, Chang'an was attended by Mu Xuan. "Princess, is there anything you want?" asked Mu Xuan, with a soft intent. That's when Chang'an saw a beautiful bracelet with a sapphire incrusted into it. Mu Xuan noticed it and offered to buy it, to which she agreed. He brought the bracelet and placed it on her arm, allowing for a sweet yet tender moment, which made them both cringe and smile.
Elsewhere in the lower ring, Ying Pu was wandering around the large crowds, amazed by the colourful and beautiful displays on the streets, when he bumped into someone. He fell backward, but was caught by the person, a dashing young man, dressed in a noble hanfu, with beautiful green eyes, that pierced straight through Ying Pu into his soul. This caused him to become shy, and he jumped up, "I am sorry I didn't see", said Ying Pu, stumbling over his words with an amusingly shy expression that made the man smile. This made Ying Pu more embarrassed, and he ran off into the crowds. "What a strange one", said the man, smiling warmly.
As the night progressed, the sky was lit with beautiful fireworks to announce the beginning of the Love Festival. During all this happiness and celebration, a mysterious and shadowy figure sneaked through the outer ring of Esnor. As he flies over Esnor that full of celebration, he smirks and continues to flash in the direction of the upper ring.
At the festival Xi Yuan and Yuyu were walking in the crowded market area looking for something to eat, "Your highness look, that's the legendary Eternal Pika cupcake, can I have one", asked Yuyu overjoyed, "Yeah buy for us", said she(Xi Yuan) as she handed the money to Yuyu, "Sir, can we please have a dozen of those cupcakes", said she with a soft voice, "Let's eat", said she after getting the cupcakes and they started to eat.
"I didn't know the Demon Princess was so fond of Eternal cuisine", said Zhinu as he appeared behind them. "Your highness!", said Xi Yuan as she was standing with a mouth full of the cupcake. "Wow u have an appetite", said he (Zhinu) as he laughed at her, and she giggled back. Yuyu looked on, pleased, and smiled when someone appeared.
"Xi Yuan, Princess of the Demon realm, we are to arrest you under the orders of His Majesty the Emperor of the Eternal realm Zhi'an", said an Imperial Guard of the emperor.
"What, you must be joking about this", asked Zhinu, surprised as he looked at her (Xi Yuan). The guard then took her into custody, "My prince, you know what will happen if you try to stop us", said the guard as remined the prince of his position. "Don't worry, I will talk to my father and find out what is going on and get freed", he said, determined.
They then flashed off, and he looked on.
As the sudden arrest of Xi Yuan took place, the Capital was enjoying the festival and was getting ready to release the Love Lanterns. With people gathering in the massive city square, along with nobles and officials, Chang'an and Mu Xuan, alongside Mu Yuan and Ying Pu, arrived as well. "Oh, there you guys are", said Ying Pu as he rushed towards them. "What's wrong? Why are you so out of breath?" asked Chang'an, worried. "It's nothing", responded Ying Pu, gathering his breath, with a soft, nervous smile. Chang'an looked at him, but took his word for it, but she sensed something strange, a familiar scent on him, "Elder brother?", she thought to herself.
At that moment, Xi Yuan's maid arrived, who was sent by Zhinu, and told them what happened. Shocked, they looked at each other and agreed to go help them, and they flashed off.
At the palace of the Eternal Dragon, the private palace of the emperor, Zhinu bursts in, "Father!", shouted he. "What the meaning of this behavior Crown prince", asked Zhi'an agitated, "How could you arrest her on the suspicions of a noble lord", asked he (Zhinu), "I suggested that you learn to control your temper Crown prince and don't think you can order me around", said Zhi'an in a serious voice, "and another thing if you wish to proof her innocence, you should learn to be more tactful than barbaric", added the emperor looking the prince straight in his eyes and Zhinu suddenly felt a feeling of fear creeping into his body but it was not because of his father's look but something else, "Now leave", ordered Zhi'an and he left.
Later, the children were walking to the Eldar chamber, "Do you know why we are being summoned?", asked Gu Nan, scared. "Nope", answered Ying Pu, unbothered but just as concerned, having heard what happened, "But you are so close to Xingyu", added Gu Nan. As they were walking Mu Xuan, Mu Yuan, Mu Chongyi also join them, "Do you guys know what happened and why we are called here", asked Gu Nan again to them, "It's because Xi Yuan was arrest and is being judged by the Eldar", said Chongyi proud and sarcastic, "Enough be quiet", said Mu Xuan silencing her as they entered the Chamber.
In the chamber, everyone is getting settled. "I wonder what the emperor is going to do about that demon girl?", asked one of the noble lords. "I heard that she has been having a romantic affair with the Crown prince", said another one, "How nasty and hideous, she even seduced the Crown prince".
As they continued to talk Chongyi walked passed and stopped, "It must be a misunderstanding dear lords because I can assure you that I have intended to attracted the prince", said she prideful, "Brilliant", said a noble lord, "The daughter of the Heavenly Emperor is a perfect match for the Crown prince than a disgusting demon", said Minister Kian Ching as he appeared behind them. "Yes, my lord", said all the noble lords around them, and Chongyi smiled, and he smirked.
As the chatter went on, the Eldar, who was already settled, looked down at the lords, "As always, they plot", said Xu Fung, certain and annoyed.
"The Emperor of the Eternal Realm Zhi'an and the Empress Qingtian arrive", shouted the eunuch, and everyone got quiet and stood in place, bowing.
"Greetings, Your Majesties", said everyone.
"Rise", said Zhi'an, and everyone raised their heads, and Zhi'an and Qingtian sat on their thrones.
As he looked out upon the lords and Eldar, he saw that Arceus wasn't present, "Where is the Twelfth Eldar?", asked he sternly, "Does he not know the importance of this meeting?", asked he (Zhi'an) agitated.
Suddenly, someone came in flying and landed by Arceus' throne, a young and youthful man, handsome in appearance, with long black hair, dressed in black and red hanfu, which flowed through the air. "Forgive, my father uncle", said Bai Shangyu, the eldest son of Arceus and Xuanyu, "but he is busy with something", said he, raising his head and looking at Zhi'an.
"What could be so important that he missed such an important meeting?", asked Zhi'an but Shangyu remained quiet and looked at him, "My father told me to come in his stead and act his will as the twelve Eldar", said he (Shangyu) sternly and the emperor nodded his head in agreement, and Shangyu sat down on the throne.
"Very well, let's begin", said Zhi'an, but everyone was still shocked to see Shangyu, who just gotten out of his Nirvene.
"Cousin Shangyu is wake", said Chang'an surprised, "So that's the eldest son of lord Arceus and Lord Xuanyu quite handsome and goodlooking", said Chong Yi sarcastic, "He is the eldest prince of the Eternal Imperial children, father said he is an extremely powerful being as skilled as lord Arceus and he is already engaged to a noble lady", said Mu Xuan looking at Chongyi. "Wow, incredible, as skilled as lord Arceus", said Mu Yuan, curious and continued to stare at Shangyu.
"Bring in the accused", said the head imperial eunuch, and Xi Yuan was escorted into the chamber and placed in front of the emperor and empress, kneeling and chained.
"Release the chains, she is a lady after all", said Shangyu sternly, and the guards removed the chains. "Do you know why you are here?", asked Empress Qingtian. "No, your majesty", answered she clearly, "You have been accused of breaking into the Imperial vault and taking an important artifact", said Zhi'an.
At the Imperial vault the Crown prince and his attendant Qi Qian enter and start looking for clues but is stopped by Grimm, "My prince you should know if you are going to go against your father there will be consequences and whatever you find will lead to greater problems", advised Grimm and he looked at him, "I must find the evidence to free her", said he (Zhinu) and Grimm looked into his eyes seeing and certain feeling and he let them go.
At the Bifrost, someone was arriving, "Finally, we made it", said a man with the appearance of a beast, certain.
"Welcome to the Eternal realm, envoy of the Monster realm", said Song Chu'an, greeting them.