(Xuanfang Tower)
"Do you think he will be okay?" asked Shangyu with a concerned expression. Taiyu then walks forward, and he places his hand over Arceus's body, going up and down. "State Preceptor?", said Shangyu, concerned as he got no response from Taiyu. Taiyu continued to scan Arceus' body with his inner force, not responding to Shangyu. At that moment, Taiyu suddenly felt a surge of Qi, but he could not react as he noticed Shangyu did not sense it, "Impossible", said Taiyu, knowing what it was.
Suddenly, the door to the chamber opened, and it was Xinyu. Shangyu looked surprised, "You're here?", said Shangyu in a confused tone. "Elder brother, what happened?" asked Xinyu as he immediately noticed Taiyu scanning his father's body. Shangyu, hearing his question, lowered his head and wrapped his arm gently around Xinyu, pulling him closer to Arceus. "While you were in seclusion, the Capital was under attack. Father traveled to the Monster realm but was heavily injured. It seems that his body can't remain conscious for some reason", explained Shangyu quietly as not to disturb Taiyu. Hearing this, Xinyu felt a surge of sadness, as he could not do anything to help his father.
"If only I were...", said Xinyu with disappointment on his face, but Shangyu reassured him that he should not feel guilty, for even if he were there, he wouldn't be able to do anything. Shangyu then gave Xinyu a gentle hug. Taiyu then suddenly stopped his scan, "My princes", said Taiyu in a disappointed tone, and Shangyu and Xinyu's faces turned into looks of worry. "What happened?" asked Shangyu, concerned and worried. "My Prince, Lord Arceus is fading", said Taiyu with a sad tone. "What!", said Shangyu, shocked, "That's impossible, is there anything that can be done?" asked Shangyu, concerned, with a look of fear. "Brother?", said Xinyu, seeing Shangyu's facial expression and stress of concern in his voice. Shangyu, hearing him, immediately switched his tone, "It's nothing, father will be fine", said Shangyu, reassuringly.
"Father?", said Qingyu, who just entered the room. Shangyu and Xinyu turned around immediately. Qingyu walked closer, and Xinyu held her close, giving her a hug. Shangyu looked at Taiyu, but Taiyu shook his head. Taiyu flashed off.
As Arceus' condition does not seem to be very good and is plagued by something unknown, elsewhere, the Eldar and Imperial court debates on what to do about the recent events.
(Hall of the Eldar)
"Your majesty, how was the enemy able to infiltrate the capital so easily?" asked one official. Zhi'an did not respond. "It's obvious that someone aided them from the inside", said Li Huan, sternly. "What are you saying that it's someone here in this hall that aided the enemy?" asked a lord sarcastically. "Minister Li is simply making a suggestion, but considering the actions of the Imperial Advisor...", said the Chief of the Censorate, very implicitly. Zhi'an, annoyed, looked at the Eldar who had not said anything and seemed not to be taking part in the political issue.
"The actions of the imperial advisor are not of my concern", said the Eternal lord drawing a clear line. "Are you saying that the incident does not affect the imperial court, and we should just ignore the plea of the people and forgive his actions against the Eternal throne?", argued Chief Censorate. This caught the attention of Zhi'an. "Why must we deal with the problems of the Eternal throne?" asked the Eternal lord arrogantly. This enraged Zhi'an, as it challenges imperial authority, but before he could respond, the Chancellor of the Eternal realm, Li Xuan, answered, "How dare you! Every problem of the throne is a problem of the people and the realm, so it is naturally a problem of the imperial court. We all serve the people but submit and obey the authority of His Majesty", argued and explained Li Xuan.
"Chancellor, if you so claim to know our duty, why has your grandson, Li Huan, not presented his findings about the case given to him. Does it mean you are hiding something or...", said the Eternal lord in an arrogant tone. "Insolent!" shouted Li Xuan in anger, "My family and I only live to serve his majesty and the duty to the realm". The Eternal lord wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Zhi'an.
"Enough!", said Zhi'an loudly, stopping the argument. As the room filled with a tense atmosphere, Taiyu flashed in. "Greetings, Your Majesty", said Taiyu, bowing. "State preceptor, rise", said Zhi'an, glad and relieved. "How is Arceus?" asked Zhi'an, curious. "Lord Arceus remains unconscious", responded Taiyu, disappointed. "Your majesty, I think it would be wise to hear from the traitor himself", said Taiyu. Most of the Imperial court officials hearing this nodded in agreement. Zhi'an, noticing this, then agreed and adjourned the session.
As the imperial court is seemingly in chaos. The Eternal Capital is slowly beginning to be rebuilt. Elsewhere, Zhuyuan is walking in the Prince's palace.
(Prince's Palace)
Zhuyuan was walking in his palace, with a look of worry and a sense of confusion, "How was he able to perform that array?" asked Zhuyuan to himself, as he pondered what Ying Pu did during the fight against the Shadow horde. Zhuyuan stopped on a bridge over a small pond, staring at the sky. "I think I should go visit him", he said to himself, and he then flashed off.
(Middle Ring: Main Gate)
Anwu and Changchen, who just finished their check-up by the medical department, were walking to their carriage. "Are you okay?" asked Anwu, gently wrapping his arm around Changchen's waist. "Yes, my love", responded Changchen happily.
"My Lords!" shouted a man from behind. They turned around and saw a eunuch, dressed in fair clothes. "He is part of her men", said Changchen to Anwu quietly. As the eunuch walked closer, he greeted them by bowing gently. "How may we help you?" asked Anwu warmly. "Her Majesty, the Grand Empress Dowager summons you to Shuijing Palace", said the eunuch commandingly. Anwu and Changchen nodded, and together with the eunuch, they flashed off.
[Lower-Ring]
(Yuan Manor)
As things unravel in the upper parts of the Eternal Capital, in the residence of the Yuan clan, tragedy has struck. Yuan Changjian, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Guards, died body has just been brought home.
"No!!!" shouted Yuan Xujing, an elderly-looking woman, wearing white clothes, as she ran towards the coffin that had been placed in the main hall of the residence on a pedestal. "My son, no no no, you can't leave me", said she with eyes full of tears as she fell leaning against the coffin, looking at Changjian's lifeless face. At that moment, Shangjian came running inside the hall, still dressed in his imperial guard armour, "Father!!!" shouted Shangjian, and he ran to the coffin, opposite his grandmother. All the maids and male servants, even the imperial guards who accompanied Shangjian and those who brought the coffin, lowered their heads as the room filled with sadness. The feeling of loss and despair could be felt inside the room; it hung like a dark cloud over the hall and the entire manor.
Shangjian looked at his father's dead body and lifeless face, and his eyes filled with tears, and he sobbed like he never sobbed before. His grandmother came around to comfort him, and he fell into her arms, giving in to his sorrow. "I am alone", said he in a sad voice filled with despair. "It is so sad to think he grew up without his mother, who died at childbirth, and now his father, life is cruel", said one friend of his grandmother who was in attendance. "It is truly, and he has no siblings, only his grandmother", said another one next to her.
As the room continued to be filled with sorrow, and Shangjian sobbing in his grandmother's arms, a voice announced an arrival.
"His Majesty arrives!". Zhi'an, along with Taiyu, entered the hall, and everyone fell to their knees. Shangjian and Xujing, shocked, stood up immediately, but reluctantly. "Greetings, Your majesty", said Shangjian, sad with a lifeless expression, bowing along with his grandmother. "Rise", said Zhi'an quietly. "Forgive us for not properly receiving your majesty, please punish me", said Shangjian, asking for forgiveness as he bowed. Zhi'an again told him to rise and proceed to place his hand on his shoulder, "No need for that, just mourn and grieve, I know he meant everything to you", said Zhi'an in a gentle and comforting tone.
Zhi'an then proceeded to walk towards the coffin, but he did not walk up to view Changjian's face. "My old friend, I failed you, but you can rest easy, I will take care of your son and family", said Zhi'an in a somber voice, with a little tear drop falling from his cheek, unnoticed. Zhi'an turned around and looked at Shangjian, "Accept my decree", said Zhi'an commandingly, and Shangjian, along with his grandmother, knelt before him.
"Yuan Shangjian has shown great merit by aiding the prince in the battle of the Eternal forest, ensuring the peace of the Eternal people, which is a great deed. I hereby promote him to Supreme Commander of the Imperial Guards and name him Valiant General of the North", said Zhi'an. Shangjian accepted the decree with pride and honor. Zhi'an walked up to Shangjian and lifted him up from kneeling, and Xujing rose with him, "Take your time, but the Imperial Guards cannot go without a commander", said Zhi'an, and Shangjian nodded his head, "Thank your your majesty, I won't fail you", said he proudly, with a sense of sadness. "You don't have to see us off", said Zhi'an softly as he walked off.
Zhi'an and Taiyu then proceed to walk out of the hall. They sensed a strong presence had just entered the Capital at that moment, which froze them in their step. They looked at each other, with worried and fearful expressions on their faces, and flashed off.
(Bifrost)
At the Bifrost, the gatekeepers were stunned, as the Bifrost was closing after it was opened on its own, and an unexpected person arrived through it. "I thought he was supposed to remain with the Seventh Fleet", said Song Yi, a young-looking boy with short curly golden hair.