Chapter 108 - The Yu Kingdom

In the royal court of the Yu palace, the lords of various tribes and ministers were on fire,

"The Wei Emperor who is infamous for having countless concubines has sent a proposal to their Queen."

In the history of the Yu clan, it was the first time that an outsider sent a proposal to a woman in the Yu kingdom.

In the far end of the courtroom, the Queen, Bai Ling Yue, adorned in a mustard yellow and blue "phoenix gown" seated on an emerald green Jade Throne. On the top of her head, a crown embellished with five coloured gemstones and phoenix rested majestically,

With eyes which resembles a doe, Bai Ling Yue carefully listened to the court officials discussing over the national emergency.

"The whole world knew that Yu clan never accept proposals from outside and why is emperor acting out sudden?" Wu Qi, the minister in charge of the security and protection of Yu kingdom, asked in a displeased tone. 

"We are not sure about it minister Wu, but the emperor is keen on gaining power all across the land without any bloodshed." Fu Jian, the minister of business and diplomatic relations shared the details his squad collected from various neighbouring kingdoms.

"Why does he need the queen of jade land, that too as a concubine? Is he out of mind?" Wu Qi did not try to control his vicious tongue,

"Minister Wu, please calm down." Another soft-spoken court official tried to pacify him, "We should look at the situations first."

"Did anyone inform the emperor about the rules of the Yu clan?" Bai Li, the father of the Queen and previous King asked in doubt. The location of Yu clan is hidden from the world beyond the Tu mountains, but not the tales about Yu clan. 

Even though the stories circulated in the mainland about Yu clan were waved with fantasies, almost everyone knew about the kingdom which follows matriarchy and practices endogamy. 

Then why did the Emperor sent a proposal? 

"Yes, but." Fu Jian hesitated to speak and looked at the prime minister for help. Bringing such a terrible news before the royal court has already put Fu Jian in a tough spot. He was on the verge of being called as a traitor. 

"He said that rules are supposed to break." Su Binqi said with an expressionless face.

"What?" The prime minister's words left an uproar in the royal court. Like a swarm of buzzing bees everyone started to discuss about it. 

"He said that it is an opportunity for Yu kingdom to rise in power." Fu Jian reluctantly said.

As the minister in charge of the foreign diplomatic relations, he was the one who interacted with the messengers from the Wei Kingdom. 

"When did Yu clan started to believe in power?" A soulful voice put an end to the heated conversations in the court room.

Everyone's gaze turned towards the direction from which the voice was heard,

A tall slender figure stood at the far end of the long hall bathed in warm sun rays, elevating her ravishing countenance.

Even though the figure was dressed up casually, the domineering aura surrounded her screamed of royalty. 

The cold and sharp eyes that could pierce the soul belonged to one person in the entire Yu clan,

"Bai Yu Yue," The king uttered the name with immense love, 

"Princess Yue," Everyone said univocally 

Striding with a graceful and elegant gait, Bai Yu Yue walked into the long hall filled with court officials and kneeled before the Queen.

" Bai Yu Yue of Yu clan salutes the Queen, the mother of the Yu clan and protector of the Jade land,"

Bai Ling Yue's gorgeous face brightened when she saw the familiar silhouette which she has been waiting for the last six months,

"Rise," The Queen ordered and scanned the skinny girl who stood before her,

Bai Yu Yue tried to hide her tired face and bowed before the court officials and the king to pay her respects.

Fu Jian glanced at Su Bingqi with a horrified face, "Who informed this little monster?" was written all over his face.

Su Bingqi turned towards the handsome man stood next to the throne with a proud face.

General Zhang Yi Jun, the commander in charge of the Jade land army and the royal guard. Bai Yu Yue's comrade brother. 

Zhang Yi Jun and Bai Yu Yue, the biggest trouble makers in the entire kingdom. Even from their childhood those two stood next to the Queen and sworn to protect her with their life..

When Fu Jian saw the evil smirk on Zhang Yi Jun, he lost his will to live,

first of all he brought the proposal for the Queen and secondly he tried his best to stop the news to reach the ears of their tyrannical princess. 

Their Queen was gentle and magnanimous, however, her little sister was not,

They looked alike but their personalities contrasted each other.

One was an angel other was a devil.

"No one answered my question," Bai Yu Yue looked around the faces of court officials and enunciated each word,

"When did we, Yu clan, started to believe in power?"

"Princess, you are aware of the political changes happening all over the mainland and," Fu Jian was trying to explain but when he met with an overbearing stare from Bai Yu Yue, he stuttered,

" The emperor is famous for his vicious nature. He is gathering the masses and aiming for the unification of the mainland. In this situation, we are not in a place to refuse him."

"Do I need to remind everyone who is this person is?" She glanced at the queen and continued,

"Minister Fu, why don't you tell me?"

Fu Jian gulped in horror, 

"The great Bai Ling Yue, the 98th queen, the mother of Yu clan and protector of the Jade land."

"Mother of the Yu clan," She repeated the line,

"The soul of a family lies within the mother. How can she leave her home and go somewhere else?"

According to the customs of the Yu clan, the Queen is considered as the embodiment of mother nature and the nurturer of everything in the valley. It was believed that her presence is the reason for the eternal spring bestowed upon the Yu kingdom. She is not allowed to leave the borders Tu mountains no matter what happens, her absence would kill every single living entity on the valley. 

"I agree with Princess Yue. How can the queen leave her home and live in a harem as someone's concubine?" General Zhang Jun said with a calm facade which perfectly masked his boiling temper.

"I understand your concerns, but we don't have any other options." The queen shared the words which everyone feared to say,

"We cannot fight against the emperor. How can I be heartless and lead my people into misery?" She asked everyone.

"My father has two daughters. Even if I leave, Yu kingdom has Bai Yu Yue, she will be enthroned-,"

"I object,"

Bai Yu Yue raised her voice in objection."I won't become the Queen,"

Bai Ling Yue looked at her adamant little sister, even when they were young, Bai Yu Yue never shown interest in becoming a queen or a princess. She always wanted to be a soldier who protects everyone.

"He may be the emperor of the greatest Wei kingdom, but for us, you are the only Jade land queen. We would rather choose death than relinquish you," Bai Yu Yue's words weighed down everyone present in the courtroom.

"Minister Fu, write a message to the emperor." She turned to face Fu Jian," Tell him that, Jade land will not accept this proposal." 

"Princess, don't rush into a conclusion. We can delay quite a bit." Prime minister Su Bingqi who remained silent, opened his mouth to stop Bai Yu Yue.

"Majesty, can I suggest something?" He asked for permission, 

"Yes, please,"

"At this point, we cannot afford to fight with the Wei kingdom. What we can do is logically avoiding the problem." 

"What are you suggesting, prime minister Su?" Wu Qi asked,

"We can move forward the dates for Queen's royal wedding. No one can take a betrothed lady." Su Bingqi stated, 

Bai Yu Yue wanted to refute, 

She herself challenged the emperor and took the woman who was betrothed to him.

"As per the rules, Jade land Queen cannot leave the Tu mountains and she will get married and settle here."

"The emperor and his actions are unpredictable, If we reject his proposal quoting our rules, will it create the same results which we are trying to avoid? The King asked in concern.

"If the emperor is looking for an alliance- a matrimonial alliance with the Yu clan, then we can reply with an answer won't cause any trouble" Lin Yi-Chen, the only woman among the nine ministers of the royal court and the wife of Wu Qi, apprised.

"Maybe someone else from the royal family," She gazed at the slender figure who was silently listening to everyone's opinions.

"What are you insinuating?" Su Bingqi inquired,

"Princess Bai Yu Yue," 

"No." The queen's voice rang in denial, "That can't be done. We are not dragging Yue into this mess,"

"No, my queen, I didn't mean that..."Lin Yi Chen clarified,

"We all love princess, none of us would think about harming her. We are only putting forward a proposal, with some conditions." 

"What conditions?"

"No matter what, we will follow our customs. The Princess will be betrothed to the Wei emperor only if he proves worthy of himself before the entire Yu Clan." Lin Yi Chen suggested. 

"As per our informers, the emperor never visit any of his alliance kingdoms for matrimonial ceremonies. Every single one of his concubines was sent to the Wei Kingdom itself. If we demand him to come here," Zhang Yi Jun looked at the queen in worry,

"He will not agree," Bai Yu Yue said.

"He will think that we are purposefully asking for trouble." The Queen pointed out,

"My queen, we are the Yu clan and we have every rights to put forward our conditions. This land is sacred and no one can just come and conquer it. We live by the rules to the sacred mountain and we treat our land and women equally. He is one who asked for trouble."

Zhang Yi Jun said in one breath and pointed towards the princess, 

"It is Bai Yu Yue of Yu clan, our pride. Whatever great emperor he maybe, if he wishes to marry her, he has to come here and prove worthy." Zhang Yi Jun declared.

"I agree with general Zhang, let's think that the emperor agreed to our conditions and came here, what will do then?" Fu Jian asked.

"Are we underestimating Princess Yue, minister Fu?" Zhang Yi Jun smiled in confidence.

"Princess's bars for her partner are, too high, minister Fu, she won't settle for a normal man."

"Is that so?" Fu Jian looked at Bai Yu Yue in awe. He always thought that Bai Yu Yue didn't care about getting married and settling like the other girls in the clan. Instead of getting dolled up, he has always seen her wearing the armour and sparring with men.

"If the emperor could impress Princess, then it won't be a problem for us." The prime minister declared.

"It is her life, we don't have any rights to force Yue, Let's decide after hearing what she has to say." The queen looked at her sister for the answer. 

Bai Yu Yue was contemplating over the issue,

The catastrophe which she has been trying to avoid badly for last few years, found its own way to reach her in its entirety.

Look at the irony, 

She tried to protect Yu Kingdom from the greedy eyes of the world, but failed to hide it from the Wei empire. 

She tried to save her sister and Xue Lian from becoming the concubines, but failed to recognise her own doomed fate to getting married to the Wei emperor.

The price of her choices and decisions were high,

It costed her own life. 

Bai Yu Yue stared at the people who were looking at her in anticipation, 

The future of Yu clan and the lives of her sister and others depends upon her choice. 

If she says no, Bai Ling Yue will abdicate her throne and her happiness for the sake of Yu clan to stoop down to become an object for pleasure for Wei emperor. 

She couldn't stand and watch Xue Lian being traded as a commodity to appease the emperor, how can she let her own sister go through the same situation?

"Princess Yue?" Zhang Yi Jun's voice woke her up from the never-ending trail of her thoughts. 

"I agree." Bai Yu Yue exhaled, 

The dead silence hooded over the royal court of the Yu palace shattered by the bickerings of the onlookers. 

Through the endless chattering, Bai Yu Yue's consciousness decided to stay calm, until a deep voice rang in her mind, pushing her into endless depths of sorrow.

"Wait for me,"