"THINK BEFORE YOU COPY OTHERS HARD WORK,"

Wind strides to the north, to a place teeming with laughter from people who have been at peace for decades with a new ruler. With ease and comfort, the warm breeze brushes against people's skin.
Children run through the busy streets, holding a kite shaped like an eagle with a simple design. As adults go about their business, buying, looking, checking, and selling items that people crave and require.

In the midst of the bustling streets and happy crowds. A tall and sturdy man dressed entirely in black and stretchy cloth strode to the left side of the secluded back yard and jumped up into someone's roof like a ninja.

No one noticed his stunts; his flow of jumping at the top was smooth, and when he landed, his boots sounded more like a bird feather.

A man's face was clothed and only his eyes could be seen, and at his back was a long and heavy sword inside a silver metal sheath with a carve design of a dragon that was safely tied on his left shoulder over his waist by a metal rope.

The mysterious man keeps running and jumping on the roofs of every house and inn he passes through like a passing breeze.
Using his martial arts skills, he eventually came to a halt at the residence, which was surrounded by cherry blossom trees and lotus flowers inside a pond full of various types of Koi fish.
He leaps from the canopy of the tree and lands in front of the lavender and rose-filled back yard.

The man landed like a feather, taking precautions and considering his surroundings. Following his landing, he bowed and kneeled to the ground as he sensed someone superior standing in front of him, demonstrating respect and loyalty to the person who stood three meters away from him.

"Greetings, your highness," a deep man's voice greets Empress Ren. The northern empress of the Leng Kingdom. A kingdom rich in agriculture and merchants.

"How's the search, Mao Han?" Empress Ren inquires, her gaze fixed on the person kneeling in front of her.

Mao Han, Empress Ren's shadow guard. The second-in-command to carry out her actions and plans. Their conversation continued as a strong gust of wind blew across the back yard, causing a mist fog to form around them.

"Greetings, your highness," Mao Han's five trusted apprentices greet Empress Ren as they enter behind him, kneeling in front of her. The high monarchy women give them a quick glance and nod before saying.

"Greetings, Mao Han. Please proceed,"
Empress Ren immediately drew her attention back to the topic at hand. Keeping a firm grip on the critical situation at hand. When Mao Han heard her comments, he immediately remembered all of the positive feedback he had received from his other apprentices.

"One of my apprentices in the Lan Kingdom found a lead," Mao Han said confidently and straightforwardly.

When Empress Ren heard Mao Han's words, she couldn't help but sigh with relief. One of her trusted ladies in waiting then approached her, holding a large paper fan in her hand, swung it open, and used it to provide her with a soothing breeze.

"I see, what's the situation?" Empress Ren didn't waste time looking at her and went straight to the matter.

"It's fine, but my apprentice loses them in a crowded market. That is why we'd like to inform you that we'll be traveling there for five days in order to expedite this matter," Mao Han responded.

"That's good; okay. You go bring three of your apprentice, but leave the other two for my safety; the rats and snake inside the concubine palace are making a move to harm me again," Empress Ren said, making Mao Han flinch in surprise.

He was unaware of this because he had been away for three days performing the empress task, and hearing the empress about a threat of those shameless emperor concubines made him feel hesitant and had a second thought about leaving the empress side.

Empress Ren lowered her gaze, sensing concern in her trusted shadow guard. She couldn't help but sigh and mutter.

"There is no need for you to be concerned. I already have two of your subordinates with me. They will be responsible for my safety while you are away. You concentrate on the task I've asked you to complete as soon as possible," Her words were considerate and simple, but Mao Han still felt it wasn't enough to convince him to leave the empress's side.

He was the emperor's shadow guard, tasked with protecting and supervising the empress's safety. If something goes wrong, he will be held accountable.

But he didn't care because, having accepted this type of job, he was already prepared to give up himself wherever and whenever. He was nothing more than a servant. A person who vowed to serve and satisfy their master's needs regardless of what happened.

"I understand," Mao Han said, his heart heavy. Empress Ren averts her gaze away from him and directs her gaze straight ahead, towards the cherry blossom tree, which is in full bloom and whose petals are falling like autumn leaves.

"Make sure you bring them here alive and unharmed, you hear me?" Empress Ren demands, happy and excited after hearing Mao Han report on the assigned task he entrusts to him.

"Yes, your highness," Mao Han replied unequivocally.

The silent breeze passes by like a spy, giving everyone inside the room chills and relaxations as it brushes against their hair and skin.

As they continue their conversation, Mao Han stops speaking while signaling the empress with his silence that someone is approaching the room.

Empress Ren then waved her right hand like a fan, signaling four of her trusted ladies in waiting, who all stood alertly in front of the sliding door.

Her maids were all chosen and trained by her and Mao Han. She chose them with the emperor's blessing, and she entrusted Mao Han with transforming them into a pawn and a weapon for her safety inside the lion and hyena dens.

At the age of eight, all of the young girls enter her palace, and by then, they are all aware of how they will be useful to the empress. Despite the fact that they were aware that they had been assigned a dangerous and life-threatening job, they never retorted or refused.

The empress was the one who saved them from death by starvation. She gives them a second chance at life and a place to live. So they had already made up their minds to serve the empress with loyalty and trust until their last breath.

Mao Han secretly trained all of them to their secret hideouts, which the empress built with her own money. Her shadow guard trained them all in combat, geography of all the kingdoms on the continent, martial arts, archery, and other skills required by the empress.

They were even trained to ingest various types of poison in order to become immune. However, before Mao Han carried out such a procedure, they were asked if they wanted to do so. The empress considered such a technique, but they never refused and gladly swore to do it for the empress.

A man in his forties strode in a hurry outside the empress palace, wearing a heavy golden metal belt and a green cloth that fit for a eunuch, then stood straight outside the empress study room, announcing his arrival and presence outside.

Informing the Empress of the Emperor's presence within her palace.

"Your highness, the Emperor has visited the Piang garden, and he wishes to have morning tea with you," the eunuch voice was hurried and anxious, and his breath appeared uneven. His demeanor and tone were similar to those who run ten meters away from the field.

Empress Ren couldn't help but sigh in annoyance at the emperor's unexpected visit to his palace, but she was also glad and happy. But his timing is off. However, the empress could not object because the individual was her husband.

Someone who meant everything to her. So, helpless, she turns to face the servant at her back who is waiting for her response, then says.

"Stand up," she orders, motioning to the six people kneeling behind her. Mao Han and his apprentice then stood up and faced the empress back, waiting for the empress's words.

"Go on, and do it quietly; the emperor must not be aware of this," she warned them repeatedly.

"As you wish, your Majesty," Mao Han replied as Empress Ren waved her right hand, indicating them to leave. Mao Han bowed with his five apprentices before departing with his people.
Her eyes became indifferent and lingeringly angry as the others left. Her piercing glare and impatient expression make her appear to be a completely different person. All of the ladies in waiting are now gathered around her, waiting for her command.

'Shaman Su, where did you hide the crown prince?' Empress Ren thought impatiently, clenching her left hand with anxiety and biting her lower lip with nervousness as she strides out of the room, followed by the servants at her back.

"It can't be delayed; time is ticking, and my days are numbered; they must find the crown prince quickly," Empress Ren murmured, looking straight ahead with an uneasy expression.

To be continued.
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