“Your majesty, please reconsider your judgement. We can not allow you to do such a thing; it’s just so out of tradition.” Elder Hao Su pleaded. 

I sighed once more into my hands and rubbed my hands down my face, “It is the only way I am seeing it right now. The surveys the grand empress conducted proved to be in vain.”

“But the royals haven’t exited the palace unless it’s to attend a function outside the empire and even then they don’t go through the much poorer sides of the empire. Maybe we should force the survey to happen.” Elder Cao Weimin suggested.

“We will not force anything unto the people, especially something that should be by will and not by fear.” I spoke out, “This is why I need to see for myself. Let the people know that if they don’t do the survey I will go out and do so myself.”

“I don’t see what your Elders problem is, His Majesty has been desperate, I am sure if his guards follow him, he will be fine.” Elder Fan Wei silenced them for a moment.

“But what about the thugs that lurk through the streets?” Elder Hara Chiyoko questioned.

“Thugs!? In the empire!?” I yelled.

“Hara! That was supposed to be a secret.” Elder Laingyu scolded.

“Why wasn’t I told of such thugs on the lands?” I shouted once more causing the Elders to quiver under my voice.

“We… thought..” Elder Qin, He started.

“You have so many things on your hands already, your Majesty. We thought if we took this issue into your hands it would be better for you in the long run.” Elder Ushi finished.

“I knew I was incapable of ruling an empire but if my Elders believe that I can not help the empire against a few thugs. Then what can I do huh tell me right now? What is the duty of the emperor to his empire?” I glanced at them once I was done, “Come on tell me, I am all ears. Cause I thought an emperor was supposed to protect his people as if they were his flesh and blood, family. You doing this action behind my back just speaks volume to the other empires- the Hun emperor can’t do anything himself.”

“Your majesty, we never questioned your authority.” Elder Xiong Zhiqiang finally spoke out, “We simply believed that you already had too much on your plate.”

“You are taking on so many things because you want to fix what your father has done over so many years. You can’t get immediate results. But we love that you try, which we thought would help taking things from you since you did so much already.” Elder Sun Ping explained.

“We are sorry we didn’t think you would be hurt by our actions. Please understand your majesty, we were only helping in a way we can. We are sorry.” Elder Kristoff apologized first causing the others to start too.

I sighed, going back to my throne where I didn’t realize I got up, sitting back down and sunk into it. I threw my head back and pondered for a bit. I need to prove them wrong, somehow. I know I can’t handle everything but I need to show them that they shouldn’t hide these things from me. I rose from my seat once more, walking to the door, quickly opening it and walking out.

“Please, your Majesty, please reconsider this.” Elder Mao Jin yelled at me.

I ignored them once again, “Gu Ruogang, Morino Akio!”

Both my guards jumped from the government building’s roof and landed beside me walking at my speed.

“Ruogang, Akio, I am going to the districts and while I gather intel I want you to find those thugs for me. Once you do, get me; I will deal with them myself.”

They both bowed and disappeared in a flash, I walked as I felt people staring at me as I walked towards the front gate.

“Your Majesty please reconsider your decision, your majesty.” Elder Dai Weizhe called out once more.

I paused at the gate entrance, and I took a deep breath in as I took my first step outside before continuing towards the communities. I walked through the nobility parts, people bowed as they saw my robe but after just watching as I walked by. Then I finally reached this wall and I knew that I only walked for 15 minutes so I didn’t reach the outer wall yet. I looked around and called a guard over.

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“What was this wall built for?” 

“To separate your majesty.”

“Separate what?”

“The nobility from the poor, your majesty. That's where the lower class people live to make sure they don’t ruin the balance of the empire. The former emperor built it.”

“Get rid of it.”

“What your majesty.” 

“Take down the wall, no one will be segregated in my empire.”

“But your majesty, it took a lot of money to build.”

I quickly punched the wall causing a section of it to collapse, I looked back at the guard in pure anger, “I said, take it down.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

I then went to the gate and signalled for them to open up the gate. They did and I walked through, walking to the crowd that gathered. I looked at the crowd and they all looked desperate.

“What are they here for?”

“They are here for a better life, your majesty, only a few can come through each year.”

“Everyone, how long have you been waiting to be let through this wall?” I asked the crowd but few looked like they wanted to speak.

“Your majesty, you shouldn’t associate with these people.” a guard behind me spoke.

“Akio!” I yelled.

“Yes, your Majesty?” He appeared beside me causing the crowd to gasp.

“Who rules over this part?”

“No one sir, other than the emperor.”

“I will have to fix that. Go back to the Elders and tell them to go into the districts and find out everything that is going on in them. And any walls separating anyone will be taken down immediately.”

“Yes, your majesty.”

“Another thing”

“Yes, your majesty.” 

“Don’t tell anyone where I am.”

“But you will be spotted immediately.”

I quickly jumped into an alley and changed my form. I took my old shape with my dusty blonde hair and blue eyes, looking back at Akio.

“You are very smart, your majesty but that is your old form they will pick you up immediately. Here.” Akio quickly took his hairpins and fixed my hair into a high bun.

“Thank you, Akio.” 

“Yes, your majesty.”

With that, I separated myself and we both went our separate ways. I started walking through the districts gathering information about each. I found out about a lot of things just from being gentle with people and explaining why I was there. But my day was also filled with me hiding from people trying to search for me. I sighed as I sat in a tea shop drinking some green tea served by an old woman. This was where I got most of my information from; she was a wise old woman and I enjoyed her help. I also may have overpaid her and then hurriedly disappeared before she could realize but making sure that I watched her reaction. She clasped her hands and smiled so contently. 

I started walking freely without any aim, I didn’t feel like going home yet and from the looks of it; the rumours are starting to spread and are very enlightening. The people seemed joyful from the wall being taken down to the hearing that I announced a mass renovation of each district. I was pleased by this and I decided to start heading home. I went into an alley and changed my appearance once again. As I came out, some people smiled towards me and quickly bowed, others came and voiced their appreciation which I got more information from. I wrote them in a scroll as they came up which I smiled at once more- ten scrolls filled with information. 

I heard chuckles and screams as I walked by this lake and stopped seeing that a lake was frozen over. And that it was snowing again. I closed my winter gown and walked towards the lake. Immediately getting attention, I glanced around and saw a building and walked into it- quickly getting shoes to skate. I quickly placed them on and went on the ice. But was met with an empty lake and several guards running the people off. 

“Leave them alone, let them on the lake,” I said, making the guards move aside.

“Tsubaki.”

I quickly turned to see my mother walking towards me followed by Lingjiang and Yunmo. They looked relieved to see me.

“You disappeared and reappeared when it was sunset. That was dangerous.” my mother began.

“Why do they treat those people so differently?” I said going on the ice and skating for a bit.

After a while, I got tired and skated towards the crowd and stared at them for a bit. Then I saw the crowd shift as a little girl came towards me and calmly tugged my sleeve. Guards started to go towards her but I raised my arm stopping them in their tracks.

“Your majesty, the emperor.” she started.

I knelt to her height, “Yes dear?”

“May I skate on the same lake as you?”

“Yes sure, what makes you think I will say no?” I got up and reached out towards her.

She smiled, grabbing it and I pulled her on the ice and skated with her. She was like a little diamond with her cute smile and her giggles as she twirled. I wouldn’t mind having a daughter like her one day. I soon saw more and more people skating on the ice with even my mother, Ling and Yunmo joining. But then I paused as I felt a menacing aura. The girl stopped and looked at the same spot I was.

“Oh no they are back.” she started to cry.

Akio and Guogang appeared on the ice beside me, “Your majesty they are here” they both spoke just as an explosion erupted into the air.

People started running away from the blast in fear of the thugs that started to wreak havoc in the districts. I jumped towards the screams that ran through the town with my guards in my toe. I came down and saw some guards harmed around me. I looked and saw three masked men running towards me. Akio stepped in front of me, throwing his hands behind him, then sent his right arm towards them, releasing a string of lightning which they dodged. 

“Let me handle this,” I said.

“Your majesty.” Guogang started.

“Stand down,” I repeated.

“Oh look, the new emperor thinks he can beat us.”

I bit my finger and let my blood drip into the streets, “I don’t think, I know. Blood Magic: Heaven’s cry”

My blood rose into the air quickly hardening before falling back to the ground where the thugs stood. They blocked it with their swords and smirked.

“That was nothing,” one spoke.

“I never said I was done.” I raised my hand and clasped it into the fist.

My blood went around their necks, choking them. They struggled for a while.

“Air magic: Wind wave.” one stuttered.

Guogang simply placed his hand in front of me quickly, creating a barrier that deflected his blast. The thugs soon passed out and I released them, making them fall to the ground with a thud. Guards immediately captured the thugs carrying them away. I healed myself and paused seeing the crowd around me that erupted into cheer. I smiled as I saw the girl from earlier running towards me hugging me.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, the emperor.” she laughed.

“It is my duty, my dear.” I smiled back at her, “What is your name my dear?’ 

“I can’t tell strangers.”

“Oh, then if I tell you mine; will you tell me yours?” 

“Ok.”

“My name is Tsubaki.”

“I am Mitsuki.”

“Well Mitsuki, I enjoyed your presence but it is getting late, go home ok.”

“Yes, Emperor Tsubaki.”

I took my leave, with a smile on my face after that.

Mitsuki’s POV

I slowly walked home not wanting to go home. The home was never safe even with my brother there. I opened the door and was met with yells and glass breaking. I walked in and was met with a bottle being thrown at me, which my brother quickly caught.

“How many times must I tell you to stop wasting money? I work so hard to get money. It is for your mother, not for you to waste.” my brother yelled.

“That old hag can die.” father responded.

“And I told you to stop throwing things at Mitsuki, throw them at me if you want a target.” brother yelled again.

Brother was quickly met with a bottle breaking on his forehead causing a wound to bleed. He sighed but stilled as the doctor walked out.

“She is getting worse.” the doctor said.

“She should die,” Father said again.

Brother sighed and went into his sleeve grabbing a bag, handing it to the doctor. The doctor opened it and counted the money inside.

“This is under the minimum amount again son.” the doctor spoke.

“I can’t do any better, the father keeps one wasting money and I don’t get enough at work. Please continue helping her. I will pay you back, promise.” brother pleaded.

“I am sorry, this will be the last time I come here until you can pay me better.”

With that, the doctor left and I hugged my brother as he started crying.

“I don’t know if I can continue working like a dog. I just want mom to get better, I can’t be the breadwinner of this house anymore.” he cried.

“Let me work brother please,” I asked.

“No, you will not work. I will send you to school so that you can get a better life.” my brother said as his hand glowed.

A flower grew in his palm and he placed it on the wound on his forehead, healing it quickly. He then gave me the flower and smiled going to the door.

“I am going back to work, take care of mom while I am gone.” he then left.

“I can’t just do nothing.” I ran towards my mother’s room and kissed her forehead, “Mama, I will be right back, I think I found someone who can help my brother.”

With that, I placed my shoes on and started running towards the golden palace on the hill, “Emperor Tsubaki will know what to do. He stopped the thugs so he will know.”