Tsubaki’s POV

I sat in the central garden, meditating by the stream that ran through the palace. I was uneasy by the recent occurrences; from me becoming the next emperor to the now reports of thugs, gangs and thieves littering my empire. The empire was quite large and I knew that it would need more people to create a better government. However thought that the emperor, elders and royal family could command one empire. And our empire was one of the largest in the country, expanding by the day. I should create more positions but what should I do with the positions- I was still thinking through.

“Your majesty, you seemed troubled through your spare time. Do you want to converse about your problem?” Akio appeared beside me.

I sighed as I opened my eyes, quickly looking towards the moon, “I am worried about the quick expansion of the districts. I wonder if it is too much for the elders to handle, I am even stressed out about it and I am not the one necessarily overseeing it.”

“So like a supervisor?” Akio asked.

“Yes, in a way but I don't know if I should make it temporary or permanent?” I wondered.

“Wouldn’t being permanent be better. Thinking about future occurrences, wouldn’t it be better for the long run?” Akio questioned.

“You are right, now how should I distribute it?” And what should I call them? And how powerful are they?” I tapped my lap as I thought.

“Your majesty.” Ruogang appeared on the edge of the stream in front of me.

“Yes, Ruogang?” I responded.

“There is an unknown presence nearby, although a very small one. I think they are trying their hardest to hide but they aren’t doing so well.” Ruogang started.

“A small unknown presence? How does it feel?” I asked.

“It is a very small sense of when you are in a forest. A rainforest to be exactly as if the rain just fell.” Ruogang told me.

I smiled, “She is trying to look for me, I thought I told her to go home.”

“The small girl that you skated with today?” Akio asked.

“Same one. Akio you are a gentle soul, make sure the girl comes to me safely. It seems like she is in distress at the moment.” I spoke up.

“Distressed?” Ruogang asked.

“Oh yes, for I do remember her presence being like a rainforest but it wasn’t the fresh rain kind, more like a dry oasis,” I explained.

“I will go.” Akio bowed then jumped towards the roof.

“Head of State.”

“Your majesty?”

“That is what I will name their positions in government.”

“Oh ok.”

I chuckled, “Don’t worry Ruogang, it is for the betterment of the empire.”

“I will trust your judgement and your majesty any day.”

“Oh, don’t be like that. There's something  called a healthy disagreement.”

Mitsuki’s POV

I had successfully entered the palace without being spotted by any of the guards that roamed the palace. I quickly went through the bushes as I tried to locate Emperor Tsubaki without being detected. The trees were helping me, they have been there for me my entire life. I reached another tree and placed my hand on its bark. 

“Yes, my child?” the will tree asked.

“Do you know where the emperor is?”

“Oh, the emperor you seek, is in the most tranquil part of his grounds. A palace he currently is at peace in.”

“Can you tell me where specifically?”

“He is in the centre garden, by the stream at the golden bridge.”

“Thank you.”

“You are so welcome to my child.”

I released the tree and turned towards the door of a building. Looking around before dashing for the entrance. I quickly ran through the halls, looking down before running down them. I paused as I heard someone walking down the hall behind me. I paused waiting for them to go into a room but I heard the footsteps stopping. I pressed my back against the wall I situated myself. I would be in big trouble if I am ever caught. 

“I know you are there, little Mitsuki.” The person down the hall spoke.

“Emperor Tsubaki?” I questioned.

“No, but one of his faithful and loyal guards, Morino Akio at your service to escort you to his majesty. I am pleased to be your acquaintance.” a man suddenly appeared in front of me.

I fell on my butt as a tall man towered over me, he was a tall light brown-skinned man, with large brown eyes and long black hair that passed his shoulders. His skin has a yellow hue as the lantern on his hand burned which he held outward from him and over me. I remembered him from earlier today, he looked very different from when I saw him today- more loose but still frightening.

“I know you, you were with Emperor Tsubaki today, so I already know who you are.” I slowly rose from the ground.

“But you didn’t know my name, also I was personally asked to escort you so let us go.” he stood upright.

“I am fine on my own.” I got up walking down the hall he was before our conversation.

“You are going the wrong way though?”

I paused, “ I knew that it was the hall down more I was just testing you.” I said quickly walking to the said hall.

“But it isn’t that way either.”

“I knew that.”

I paused, flushed and pouting, looking towards him, “Maybe I would need your assistance.”

“Thank you, I would be in big trouble if His Majesty found out you went to him without me,” I said, holding out his hand.

I slowly grabbed his hand and led out the building and down the path that led to a bridge. I looked across the bridge and saw a large garden with many plants, herbs and trees. I stared in awe for a bit before being drawn back to reality.

“Mitsuki, dear. What brought you here to me?” I heard.

I looked as Emperor Tsubaki walked towards me, meeting me halfway on the bridge. As I saw him, he smiled down towards me so softly my emotions got the better of me. Tears started falling and before long I was crying, I couldn’t hold myself any longer from the sadness that I remembered I was going to tell him. 

“Please give us some space.” Emperor Tsubaki spoke.

The two guards bowed before going down the bridge and sitting at a bench on the other side of the garden. I felt Emperor Tsubaki kneeling in front of me before hugging me. I paused for a bit before continuing to cry into his clothes. He picked me up, swaddling me in his grasp before going down the bridge and walking upstream, silent with the embrace and slow movements. I turned towards the direction he walked, and I saw a small waterfall. He sat down on the grass and settled me on his lap and waited.

“Thank you, Your majesty.” 

He looked at me in shock, “Not Emperor Tsubaki? I got so used to it.”

I lowered my head, “Emperor, why must people suffer, why must my mother and brother suffer.”

“In terms of?”

“My mom is ill and no matter if my brother pays the doctor just said he won’t come again unless he pays more. Then my father is always drinking and throwing bottles at me and my brother- wasting my brother's money that he works so hard to get. Then, my brother works four different jobs but it still isn’t enough. Then you have all of us, we eat only one meal a day, I hate it.”

“Noone should experience such things, not even a child,” he responded.

“So I knew you were an emperor, so I thought you could help me?”

“I can't do that, that would be favouritism.” 

“Oh.”

“Well, at least not directly.”

I looked back at him as he smiled down at me, “You mean it?”

He nodded, “I have already started in some ways but I may help with his jobs. What can your brother do?”

“He has flower magic, he can heal anything, both humans, animals and plants. He can do other things with it too, one time he put papa to sleep for a week out of anger.”

“I think I have a perfect position for him. Give me two days alright.”

“Thank you, Emperor Tsubaki, I appreciate your help.” 

“But two things.”

“Yes, but can you keep these things a secret, it would be odd for you to suddenly be in contact with the emperor himself,” he said, placing a single finger over his lips before winking at me.

“Ok.” I mimicked his actions.

“Also what is the doctor’s name?”

“Doctor Long Sanyuan, why?”

“Oh nothing, let us just say that he will be removed from his position as of now. Akio!”

“Yes your majesty?” he appeared once more.

“Please take Mitsuki home for me.”

“Yes your majesty, come on Mitsuki. I can maybe carry you on my back.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

With that, I got on the guard's back and he jumped from roof to roof carrying me home.

Tsubaki’s POV

“Ruogang,” I called.

“Yes your majesty,” he responded.

“Elder Kong Yun, has insomnia right?”

“Well, he has experienced such cases.”

“Go to him, and if he is still awake. Tell him to fire Doctor Long Sanyuan from his post and hold a test for royal physician positions.”

“Yes, your majesty.” Ruogang soon after disappeared.

I stood for a while before walking towards my room, taking a quick bath before placing on my sleeping garments. I sighed as I sank on my bed, replaying the recent events over and over in my head. Were my actions rushed or called for? Only time would tell, but it would be safe to address it in the morning briefing tomorrow.

~~~~~

Myself, Elder Meng Ling, Elder Sun Ping stood in front of the crowd below us as they each sat at a table- each table separated by a good six feet.

“Welcome everyone to the first test to be conducted on royal grounds for the new positions of Ministers of Government. Today, you will be testing with multiple questions addressing the position you wish to apply for.” Elder Meng started.

“Please be mindful of the rules. No cheating, no noise, no use of your magic abilities, your mind and your heart shall be the only things needed in this test. Guards from all angles will be watching you as you test. Please don’t make them have to escort you out.” Elder Sun finished.

“And yes you are seeing right, there are females testing with you. As well as people from various walks of life, some seeking power and others seeking a way out from their troubling lives. Please don’t discriminate.”

“The test has 100 questions. And you have 2 hours to complete them all. If you finish beforehand and want to leave then you can. When the test is complete they will be marked by all the Elders, royal family and the future emperor. After the top ten highest-scoring people will be called in for another test before the successor is chosen.”

“Good luck as you test for the position- Minister of Foreign Affairs. I hope to be working with the one who is most successful in the long run. Your time begins now.” I finished.

With that, they all turned in their papers and began going through the questions. I smiled before turning around and walking towards the government building the test was in front of. I went in with the two Elders overseeing the test. I walked in seeing my mother looking at my desk.

“Mother, is there something wrong?”

“The complete opposite. You are changing this empire for the better with every move you do. Don’t you think you should find at least a consort now? Or at least a Concubine if you aren’t ready for that yet?”

“I have thought of that mother, but none come to mind especially since I was barely let out of the palace.”

“You also know I can recommend people to you and invite females into the court?”

“You do what you need to do mother.”

“I know my son, but I wanted to ask you first. Do you only want females? Or do you want men too?”

I looked at my mother as she said so, she smiled and cupped my face and smiled at me.

“You don’t mind?”

“Nope, I heard you fell in love with your teacher one time.”

“Oh, that incident.”

“Not an incident, just a crush.”

“You wouldn’t mind recommending it. I will marry anyone I get. I just need to connect with them, you know?”

“Understood.”

“Thank you, mother.”

“No problem my child. No problem.”