Morning arrived at the palace's main court, where the wind was extremely strong. The king sat on his high throne, with the council of ministers on either side. But beneath this calm, a storm was brewing.
Minister Mu Lin, whose language is gentle but whose intentions are terrifying, stood in front. Standing next to him was Tian Xuning. The scar from Ming Yi's slap on Tian Xuning's cheek may have faded, but the revenge in my mind still burns.
"Your Majesty," Mu Lin bowed his head and said, "Although our state is now free from danger, it is necessary to mobilize internal forces. General Wei Long's influence on the border is growing, while Princess Ming Yi's own forces are also quite strong. Is it right for good governance to have so many devoted feudal powers in one state?"
The king looked at him with sharp eyes. "What do you mean, Mu Lin?"
Mu Lin smiled a little, which was actually a trick. "I want to say, we also need to strengthen our own royal power. Tian Xuning is now young; if he also has a large part of the military in his hands, the kingdom will be more secure."
The mother of Tian Xuning, the 1st Royal Princess, sat next to him and gave a gentle nod, but the king could not take it lightly. The king knew that Mu Lin actually wanted to put Tian Xu in power so that they could seize power together.
"General Wei Long and Ming Yi are both my trusted men," The king said. "Ming Yi is my daughter; I know very well that she can never betray me. If it weren't for Ming Hua Yong, I would have made Ming Yi the Crown Princess even though she is a girl. She is perfect as a queen, but Ming Hua Yong is perfect as a king even if he doesn't fight, so I made him the Crown Prince."
The king also said, "And you're talking about General Wei Long. I brought him here; I trained him. I trust him. He will never be partial to me."
"But Your Majesty," Mu Ling again threw out words like medicine, "What if there were ever a rift between the General and the Princess? Is there any civil war in the state? Should we tie the two of them together, or spread their power further?"
In the court, that's where a rumor started. The king realized that the ministers were now divided into two. It is now clear to the king that Mu Lin has secretly joined hands with Tian Xuning.
Tian Xuning stood in a corner of the court, looking at the seat between Ming Yi's. His mind, which now has only one thought and Ming Yi, wants both, even if the alliance is blood-stained.
The excitement of the royal court has now arrived at the Royal Private Quarters. The king and queen sat alone, lost in thought. The growing power of Mu Lin and Tian Xuning has made the king deeply worried.
"We need to take a big step," The king said in a serious tone, "Tian Xuning has a part of the military in his hands. Mu Lin is also with him. If I leave Ming Yi alone, they might try to devour her too."
The queen said worriedly, "But our daughter doesn't understand anything except the sword. Will she accept this political arrangement?"
"This is necessary for her safety." The king said, "General Wei Long has the most powerful army in the kingdom. And Ming Yi has her own elite force. If these two forces become one, neither Tian Xuning nor Mu Lin would ever dare to rebel. This marriage is actually a treaty."
At that moment, Ming Yi was summoned. The king explained everything to his daughter.
"Married? With General Wei Long?" Ming Yi's face turned pale. "Dad, he's a clever, playboy man! How can I share my life and my military with him?"
The king approached Ming Yi and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Yi, this isn't just a wedding. There is only one way to save this kingdom. You need Wei Long's power to save you and your soldiers from Tian Xuning's wrath. Can't you make this sacrifice for your kingdom?"
Ming Yi fell silent. She thought of his four protectors—Zhao Ling, Yi Nuo, Fen Lan, and Min. She needed this strength to keep them safe.
Far away, in the general's palace, Wei Long also received this news. His face, that ever-familiar, mysterious smile, opened. He knew that Ming Yi hated him, but he really wanted this Sword Princess by his side, not just for power. Rather, he respected his fierceness.
"The decision has been made." The king announced. "Princess Ming Yi and General Wei Long will be married on the next full moon. The two great military powers of the state will come together."
The whole state was shocked by this news. Some were happy, some were terribly angry. Especially Tian Xuning, who heard the news and broke the mirror in his house. "This marriage can't happen!" He roared.