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Best memory.
To be brief.
After the conversation with Dorian in which he found out that some special measures are taking into consideration for what concerns Weddings of young people, like in his case, he and Dorian got an appointment to Anthony to discuss the matter with him.
Choi explained the King that he must go to join the fights in the East, to honor his ancestors and to carry on what his father and brothers died trying to achieve: a better East of equality and honor; in other words, restore it to what it was, before it got ruined by a long list of dreadful rulers.
He knows there are serious possibilities that he will lose his life in the battles and the idea of "abandoning" his beloved Scheireen like that, without having the chance to leave anything concrete to her, dreaded him beyond belief and it's the only thing that kept him so hesitant for these months, regarding joining the fight.
After also having some private words with Dorian, who clearly was fully willing to guarantee for the young man, the King granted his authorization to he and Scheireen to get married despite she is just 16 and not yet 21. In cases in which one of the two might soon face death for whatever serious circumstances (with the exception of a legal execution), the King can grant underage people to get married, as long as:
1 The youngest of the two is 16 or older;
2 The oldest of the two is not older than 26;
3 Parents of the youngest one grant their blessings. (The only hard part, in other words.)
Knowing he has a chance to marry her before leaving for the battlefield gives Choi a huge motivation. Received the King's authorization, he doesn't wait a minute to go to /beg/ Shi's parents. Starting with Edward.
No, Edward doesn't kill him on sight, prepared to what he is going to ask him. He possibly would, if he was free, but of course he can not. Not just it doesn't exist one single possible reason in the world to not give Shi to Choi, it's also clearly the Gods' will and he can't go against it. Even if in truth, he is pretty jealous of his daughters, especially Scheireen. After a long number of promises Choi made to him, Edward indeed gave his blessings. The real problem there would be Shelly, and everyone knew.
He tries in every possible way to convince her he would never harm Shi, that he'd rather die, that they can kill him if he does the slightest wrong to her, but nothing worked. She didn't want to hear reason, to her it was a NO. Luckily enough, Sao was around. He tells Choi to go to propose to Shi and speaks privately to Xiu. Even he can't deny that this marriage is a good idea. It will motivate Choi to fight and survive and he is the best party she could possibly find. If everything will go as planned, Choi will become Emperor, thus Shi would be Empress. And she surely will never have another possible chance to be Queen anywhere else. Not to mention that if she forbid the wedding and Choi died, Shi's life would be ruined forever and she'd blame herself for it. In the end, Sao manages to open Xiu's eyes and even if she still doesn't fully approve and looks displeased and grumpy (the fact that Sid was sent to fight in the East a few days before doesn't help improve her mood), but she won't say anything else. She will never trust Choi. -She thinks.-
Since Choi will have to leave in three days, the wedding has to be organized very hastly and quickly, for the next day, so there is not the time for huge massive parties and such.
In the end, it turns out to be a very discrete and small thing just for the close relatives. How Edward likes it.
Ceremony at the Temple, celebrated by Priestess of Dessa and Zimkesha and Priest of Fiared and Morgan. Afterwards, a very small party. Even though this won't be RPed, family and friends were invited to participate, and in the end it turned out to be a rather nice wedding, despite very humble for the standards of High Nobility.
Murphy and Khai best men for Choi, Tomiel and Dexter for Shi. The whole thing took place in the evening and lasted till late night. Everything is done in Northern style 100%, including the couple's outfits. {When Choi will be Emperor, they will celebrate a second Wedding, in big style.}
The young couple will spend their first days as wife and husband -yes, including wedding night- by Edward's mansion, until Choi will have to leave for the East.
After the conversation with Dorian in which he found out that some special measures are taking into consideration for what concerns Weddings of young people, like in his case, he and Dorian got an appointment to Anthony to discuss the matter with him.
Choi explained the King that he must go to join the fights in the East, to honor his ancestors and to carry on what his father and brothers died trying to achieve: a better East of equality and honor; in other words, restore it to what it was, before it got ruined by a long list of dreadful rulers.
He knows there are serious possibilities that he will lose his life in the battles and the idea of "abandoning" his beloved Scheireen like that, without having the chance to leave anything concrete to her, dreaded him beyond belief and it's the only thing that kept him so hesitant for these months, regarding joining the fight.
After also having some private words with Dorian, who clearly was fully willing to guarantee for the young man, the King granted his authorization to he and Scheireen to get married despite she is just 16 and not yet 21. In cases in which one of the two might soon face death for whatever serious circumstances (with the exception of a legal execution), the King can grant underage people to get married, as long as:
1 The youngest of the two is 16 or older;
2 The oldest of the two is not older than 26;
3 Parents of the youngest one grant their blessings. (The only hard part, in other words.)
Knowing he has a chance to marry her before leaving for the battlefield gives Choi a huge motivation. Received the King's authorization, he doesn't wait a minute to go to /beg/ Shi's parents. Starting with Edward.
No, Edward doesn't kill him on sight, prepared to what he is going to ask him. He possibly would, if he was free, but of course he can not. Not just it doesn't exist one single possible reason in the world to not give Shi to Choi, it's also clearly the Gods' will and he can't go against it. Even if in truth, he is pretty jealous of his daughters, especially Scheireen. After a long number of promises Choi made to him, Edward indeed gave his blessings. The real problem there would be Shelly, and everyone knew.
He tries in every possible way to convince her he would never harm Shi, that he'd rather die, that they can kill him if he does the slightest wrong to her, but nothing worked. She didn't want to hear reason, to her it was a NO. Luckily enough, Sao was around. He tells Choi to go to propose to Shi and speaks privately to Xiu. Even he can't deny that this marriage is a good idea. It will motivate Choi to fight and survive and he is the best party she could possibly find. If everything will go as planned, Choi will become Emperor, thus Shi would be Empress. And she surely will never have another possible chance to be Queen anywhere else. Not to mention that if she forbid the wedding and Choi died, Shi's life would be ruined forever and she'd blame herself for it. In the end, Sao manages to open Xiu's eyes and even if she still doesn't fully approve and looks displeased and grumpy (the fact that Sid was sent to fight in the East a few days before doesn't help improve her mood), but she won't say anything else. She will never trust Choi. -She thinks.-
Since Choi will have to leave in three days, the wedding has to be organized very hastly and quickly, for the next day, so there is not the time for huge massive parties and such.
In the end, it turns out to be a very discrete and small thing just for the close relatives. How Edward likes it.
Ceremony at the Temple, celebrated by Priestess of Dessa and Zimkesha and Priest of Fiared and Morgan. Afterwards, a very small party. Even though this won't be RPed, family and friends were invited to participate, and in the end it turned out to be a rather nice wedding, despite very humble for the standards of High Nobility.
Murphy and Khai best men for Choi, Tomiel and Dexter for Shi. The whole thing took place in the evening and lasted till late night. Everything is done in Northern style 100%, including the couple's outfits. {When Choi will be Emperor, they will celebrate a second Wedding, in big style.}
The young couple will spend their first days as wife and husband -yes, including wedding night- by Edward's mansion, until Choi will have to leave for the East.
深深的思念
In the last years, he has lived a rather wonderful life thanks to Dorian and his family. Despite everything, he really had no problems in the North, he felt good and relaxed like never before.
This until his 21st, when some new feelings started to spread in him. When he met Chi Feng back in the party in the East where they all went, he learnt about what they are fighting for, their struggles and brave sacrifices for a better East. The same cause his whole family died for. While being underaged, he could ignore this as he would be not be allowed to join any sort of real fight, but now...how could he just stay safe in the North where nothing can touch him, while his brothers in the East are dying for their country and his father's ideals? He must join them, he knows and feels this, he is ready, Sao has been preparing him for this for all this time, without ever mentioning it, he is not afraid to die for what he believes. There is onyl one thing that troubles him and restrains him from just make the decision and go: Scheireen.
He is deeply in love with her, for real. He doesn't want to leave her...the only thing that worries him to die there is to lose her forever, leaving her absolutely nothing more than a broken heart. For that, the only solution he sees to be able to go there with some more peace in his heart would be to marry Shi before leaving for the East. And he thinks it's impossible and undoable. She is just 17 and to what he knows, underaged people can't get married no matter what. Not to mention that her mother would never, ever give her blessing to them considering how badly she hates Eastern men. Plus Edward does not look like an especially understanding man. And least but not last, she is Sao great-niece. How could he even have the guts to ask them Scheireen's hand? The very thought makes him feel a little sick.
And his undecision makes quite some mess in their plans. He has to go there and fight, he has to prove himself, Chi himself has to recognize him as his Emperor and convince him to be that. But if Choi doesn't go to fight in the East, everything will be screwed up.
One thing that is not very known, since in the North only selected, trained soldier joining the army out of their free will are sent to fight, is an old *exception law, for what concerns marriage common laws. Back in the times when the army wasn't organized like the modern one is, and when draft in case of wars was still a thing, this specific exception law was made in order to grant young in-love boys to go to fight with a lighter heart and more motivation to go back, by granting them to get married with their beloved without undergoing the typical laws.
According to this law, if a boy is to go to fight in circumstances that might potentially cause his death, even if the bride is underage (only if she be older than 16 and the groom being no older than 30) the wedding could be authorized by a royal special granting.
In other words, if a young man is going to a mission that will potentially get him killed, he has the right to bring the matter to the King and beg him for a special granting in order to be married before leaving. That way, if the man dies, all of his belongings will also be given to the young widow rather than someone else or get lost.
{{{Johnny knows of this law}}}
Right now, Choi looks rather thoughtful and depressed, training by himself in their home's garden, under the rain.
This until his 21st, when some new feelings started to spread in him. When he met Chi Feng back in the party in the East where they all went, he learnt about what they are fighting for, their struggles and brave sacrifices for a better East. The same cause his whole family died for. While being underaged, he could ignore this as he would be not be allowed to join any sort of real fight, but now...how could he just stay safe in the North where nothing can touch him, while his brothers in the East are dying for their country and his father's ideals? He must join them, he knows and feels this, he is ready, Sao has been preparing him for this for all this time, without ever mentioning it, he is not afraid to die for what he believes. There is onyl one thing that troubles him and restrains him from just make the decision and go: Scheireen.
He is deeply in love with her, for real. He doesn't want to leave her...the only thing that worries him to die there is to lose her forever, leaving her absolutely nothing more than a broken heart. For that, the only solution he sees to be able to go there with some more peace in his heart would be to marry Shi before leaving for the East. And he thinks it's impossible and undoable. She is just 17 and to what he knows, underaged people can't get married no matter what. Not to mention that her mother would never, ever give her blessing to them considering how badly she hates Eastern men. Plus Edward does not look like an especially understanding man. And least but not last, she is Sao great-niece. How could he even have the guts to ask them Scheireen's hand? The very thought makes him feel a little sick.
And his undecision makes quite some mess in their plans. He has to go there and fight, he has to prove himself, Chi himself has to recognize him as his Emperor and convince him to be that. But if Choi doesn't go to fight in the East, everything will be screwed up.
One thing that is not very known, since in the North only selected, trained soldier joining the army out of their free will are sent to fight, is an old *exception law, for what concerns marriage common laws. Back in the times when the army wasn't organized like the modern one is, and when draft in case of wars was still a thing, this specific exception law was made in order to grant young in-love boys to go to fight with a lighter heart and more motivation to go back, by granting them to get married with their beloved without undergoing the typical laws.
According to this law, if a boy is to go to fight in circumstances that might potentially cause his death, even if the bride is underage (only if she be older than 16 and the groom being no older than 30) the wedding could be authorized by a royal special granting.
In other words, if a young man is going to a mission that will potentially get him killed, he has the right to bring the matter to the King and beg him for a special granting in order to be married before leaving. That way, if the man dies, all of his belongings will also be given to the young widow rather than someone else or get lost.
{{{Johnny knows of this law}}}
Right now, Choi looks rather thoughtful and depressed, training by himself in their home's garden, under the rain.
V.v
In these days since they moved to Benjamin's manor, he has never once went out, since he wanted to be available in case anyone could need any help from him. He is extremely grateful for the care he is being given and feels the need to repay them for it.
So, as Amelis decided to go out to buy some flowers for the house -she is in a dreadful depressed mood as she found Johnny's letter to Benjamin- (www.roleplay.me/blog/10846), he was asked by Dorian to accompany her to make sure she won't do anything foolish and to check she will be alright, he agreed without second thoughts.
They went to Thylum and just ended up walking around in the streets without entering any shop, in fact, Amelis is not even glancing at those.
So, as Amelis decided to go out to buy some flowers for the house -she is in a dreadful depressed mood as she found Johnny's letter to Benjamin- (www.roleplay.me/blog/10846), he was asked by Dorian to accompany her to make sure she won't do anything foolish and to check she will be alright, he agreed without second thoughts.
They went to Thylum and just ended up walking around in the streets without entering any shop, in fact, Amelis is not even glancing at those.
幫助
It's a very cold morning, about 10 am. it's snowing but the blizzard has not yet started, it will be in a couple of hours, so most of the people are out to get anything they might need since it will potentially last for the rest of the day and most people wouldn't take the risk to go out with that.
The center of Thylum is rather crowded, for this reason, many people making haste to buy food and other useful things and among them is Choi as well, but he is there because Dorian asked him to go buy a specific book for him at the library.
After buying the book, the young man decides to take a look at the few stands, he would love to see some items from his country, he misses his home all the time, regardless of the terrible things which happened while he was there and the fact he would be targeted by who knows how many assassins if he set a foot there again. He misses the landscape, the weather and the art, not the people.
Everything goes right, if it wasn't that as he looks a bit ahead from the stands, he notices someone who is looking straight at him, someone he knows, but clearly doesn't want to meet.
He starts to walk away, pretty quickly, often looking backwards to see if he is being followed, and it actually sems to be the case, so he even starts to run, veeeery distractedly, looking more at Sao behind him in the distance than at what/who is on his path. (XD)
The center of Thylum is rather crowded, for this reason, many people making haste to buy food and other useful things and among them is Choi as well, but he is there because Dorian asked him to go buy a specific book for him at the library.
After buying the book, the young man decides to take a look at the few stands, he would love to see some items from his country, he misses his home all the time, regardless of the terrible things which happened while he was there and the fact he would be targeted by who knows how many assassins if he set a foot there again. He misses the landscape, the weather and the art, not the people.
Everything goes right, if it wasn't that as he looks a bit ahead from the stands, he notices someone who is looking straight at him, someone he knows, but clearly doesn't want to meet.
He starts to walk away, pretty quickly, often looking backwards to see if he is being followed, and it actually sems to be the case, so he even starts to run, veeeery distractedly, looking more at Sao behind him in the distance than at what/who is on his path. (XD)
The East.
Meanwhile...
Jackil, with Christoph' s assistance, took care of Choi's desperate condition as it required very delicate surgeries that he could not perform on his own nor he could ask for support of other official doctors or healers which would require documentation.
The beat up Sami gave him was deadly, it broke 3 ribs which ended up piercing Choi's lung (which is what was quickly killing him) and in addition to it, his gall-bladder broke too thus had to be removed urgently. For the rest, broken arm, knee, very messed right eye and no mention of how many uber violent kicks Sami gave him 'there'. He thought he was his sister's rapist after all.
Jackil does a great job saving his life and fixing the damages, even though it will take a while for the young man to fully recover.
¬Not even an adult.¬ Christoph says while they perform the surgery. Being a beyond expert anatomist it takes him barely a glance to his inner organs and teeth to know that Choi can't be older than 20.
At the end of the surgery they take him to a bed in Jackil"s office as he will have to stay there for a while, as his condition must be constantly monitored.
{Add what happens in Bart's note here}
Though, troubles for Choi are not over. Even though at peace currently, there are some special procedures concerning Eastern people who move to the North even for a travel, to prevent possible attacks from haters.
And that is when a pretty **shole Royal Guard of the immigration branch and wanting to get some fast promotions (very like Stahl) gets to know of Choi and taking profit of Jackil's absence from the office (guarded by just a young healer while the doctor is busy with his duties and Elite Guard matters as well) she comes forces the healer to let her take the boy.
She heads to the King right away, even without an appointment with Choi who can not even stand on his own and struggles to breathe.
For other matters, in the room there is also Shelly who was speaking with Anthony when the guard arrives.
The guard walks in, pulling the boy in with her, she bows and forces him to kneel.
¬Guard Stahl (ye fantasy with names ftw) , presenting this indicted criminal clandestine. He is accused of thievery, piracy, terrorism and complicity of Her Grace's rape.¬ she says with her obnoxious tone.
Anthony. He looks at the boy then at the guard. ¬He does not look in condition to withstand a questioning.¬
Stahl. ¬Terrorists are not granted law's tutelage, why waste efforts and resources on someone who will potentially be executed in few days?¬
Anthony. ¬I am well aware that he is no responsible for the damages to the bridge on the Shadowmoor, nor of Tomiel's abduction and least of all Lady Meredith's rape. I have already been provided truthful visual memories of the actual criminals guilty of said acts. Bartholomew II Riddle has not been accused of piracy nor crimes committed on the Realm soil and all accusations towards him and his followers fell. They never committed any naval crime, they can not be accused of piracy just out of the fact they call themselves pirates.¬
Shelly. ¬Or we would have to accuse of piracy almost the totality of middle class children of this world¬
Stahl. She is left quite speechless in fact, realizing she will most likely be punished for this than promoted.
Some minutes after, Jackil (warned by the healer) arrives there to speak to Anthony and tell him the boy should not have moved from bed. Jack and Anthony move to a private place for some minutes to speak while the other 3 remained in the throne room.
Choi. He is quite desperate, dizzy, sad, suffering and scared to death. He is in such a mess he does not even manage to speak common language right now, not even in his poor way. Though noticing that Shelly is clearly Eastern too, decides to make a desperate attempt to be helped. ¬病休嵐不過來 越大家的¬ (totally random letters without even using any translator due to lack of net x) but still "meaning" ¬I am innocent¬)
Shelly. She gives him a death stare at his words. ¬杰嗓 人昧竹 烤刀 難竹尸十戈¬ (¬maybe of one woman, the previous and the future ones still deserve your punishment.¬) she is beyond merciless towards Eastern men because she knows too well what they are like, but this makes her too fast to judge and condemn, refusing to see the very few exceptions like in Choi's case.
Anthony. He and Jack wall back inside and let the doctor take his patient away. When alone he looks at Shelly seriously. ¬Summon Khai Ming and...Sao Yung.¬
Shelly. ¬Sao Yung?! You can not be asking this to me!¬ She says with an almost shocked tone.
Anthony. ¬Indeed, I am not asking it to you, that'd be an order.
I want to know everything about that kid and I want to know the real UNBIASED truth about him. I do not blame you for your feelings and attitude towards them but I claim to know the truth before condemning someone, most of all considering he is underage.
Did you hear what grandmother said about him? He is the one who rescued her from the rapist and killed him if the boy was guilty she would not have invented a story that would make him look like a hero do not you think?¬
Shelly. ¬He probably did it to have his life spared by Vik and his men, not out of mercy towards a woman.¬
Anthony. ¬If it was his plan, it clearly did not work.
Now go, I want to see them within 2 hours.¬
And after some time, Sao Yung indeed went to the King, while Khai Ming could not join due to be out in a mission in the East.
After some talking, Anthony orders him to visit Choi in Jackil's office and find out who he actually is to start with.
Sao. He indeed goes as ordered. He is a rather old Eastern man who has been working as a spy for the Northern Realm since 8 years. He was rather famous in the East and he still is, as his deeds/work when living there will never ever possibly be forgotten by the people there.
He speaks with Jackil first agreeing that he should not worry him too much and keep him quiet. Plus Jackil claims to be present also wanting to ask him a few questions, needing an interpreter.
Jack leads him to Choi and leaves them alone for some time to take some things.
Sao approaches the boy in the bed and looks down at him not saying anything yet, just trying to figure out who he is. He finds him familiar.
Choi. At the very sight of Sao he starts to panic, completely, his heart starts to pump like crazy and he starts to pant madly even trying to sit up, even if unable to.
Jackil. He rushes to Choi as he notices he is panting, he can not breath so fast or he risks his lung to collapse in this state.
He injects him immediately with a strong dose of tranquilizers to slow down his heart and breathing before it will be too late. ¬What have you done to him?!¬
Sao. ¬I have only received a confirmation.¬ He says while staring at Choi's face. Afterwards, he raises the boy's shirt and moves the bandages a little to see his family "tattoo". ¬妐難 齘 戈居, 卷軸 它們¬ (¬we meet again Li-Huang¬)
Jackil. ¬I almost fear asking you how you know him...¬
Sao. ¬He is the youngest and last Li-Huang, his name should be Choi. Do not write his name on his folder and don't spread it much , you will risk to find him with a dagger in the eye.¬
Jackil. ¬His problems with the men of the club should be clarified now.¬
Sao. ¬He has more enemies than you imagine doctor. What else do you have to ask him?¬
Jackil. ... ¬How old is he, exactly?¬
Sao. ¬灶君不 篕在今 一 才器履蹣有的¬ (¬how old are you? Do not force me to make you answer.¬)
Choi. ¬19...¬ he murmurs barely having voice to speak.
Sao. ¬Nineteen, and I can tell for sure he was in the East up to at least 11 years ago.¬
Jackil. ¬Is he feeling pain in the lower part of his belly when he breathes? And tell him that he must try to stay calm, to not make efforts and to not scratch his wounds to avoid the patches to be damaged.¬
Sao. He indeed does translate that to Choi and refers to Jack what he answers to his question. ¬He says he feels pain in his chest when he breathes but not the low belly.¬
Jackil. ¬That is a very positive sign...thank the Gods...
Are we done with him?¬
Sao. ¬If you are. I know all I needed to find out.¬
Jackil. ¬That's all I needed to know about him, yes...I shall contact you if I will need more help...¬
Sao. He slightly bows in the typical oriental way and takes his leave, speaking in Khai Ming's mind to tell him to check some information there before he returns, then prepares to go to meet Anthony, but he claims the meeting to happen when Khai will be back and claims Shelly to be present as well.
(...) Two days afterwards, as Khai returned from his task in the East, the meeting was quickly organized and the 3 meet the King in his throne room.
Sao. ¬...and that kid is the most legit heir to the Eastern throne. Choi Li-Huang the last living son of Chen Ho, the only daughter of the last Emperor.¬
Khai. ¬But those kids were 3 bastards, neither of them born by her husband!¬
Sao. ¬Still blood of the last Emperor. Who could more legitly reclaim that throne?¬
Khai. ¬Even if that, the people will get him killed before he could even reach the Capital. No one forgot Li-Huang family.¬
Sao. ¬Their few supporters must have not forgotten either. And we can count the filo-north, they can be worked to join the cause.¬
Khai. ¬What game are you trying to play Sao?!¬
Anthony. He gives them an annoyed glare expecting to be told the story.
Khai. He shakes his head realizing they are excluding the King and looks down. ¬The last Emperor, Tai Ho, had only daughter, the princess Chen. As traditional, her father choose her husband, the man who would be his heir, a nobleman of Chu, Shin Cheng, but clearly there was no love involved.¬
Shelly. ¬In other words, she was sold like an object to a sick animal and treated like his little lifeless toy until given a male child when he would start to buy sex slaves and torment them.¬
Khai. He gives a death stare to Shelly then continues. ¬The princess was a brilliant and strong woman, much above the average. She studied on her own, learnt languages, history, law and magic, she was one of the few women in the East able to teleport but no one knew before she went riot.¬
Shelly. ¬Or she would have been killed, for daring to be a brained woman.¬
Sao. ¬Xiu, stop interrupting.¬ He says angrily and motions Khai to continue.
Khai. ¬...she also managed to be given the newspaper, which is forbidden to women, and kept herself up to date with the events. And according to her diaries, it is on the newspaper that she first heard of Kim Li-Huang, his movement, rebellion and ideologies -equality for women-. It attracted her to the point she started a secretive correspondence with him which quickly evolved in an adultery relationship. It is confirmed that all of the 3 sons she had, were Li-Huang' s.
Eventually, the two plotted her husband's murdering, she poisoned him during a...intimate moment and fled from their home with their children, leaving back a note in which she wrote her sons' name with Li-Huang as surnames, and a side note "brace yourselves, women's revenge is coming upon you."
She joined her lover who kept her in a secret place he deemed safe, together with the sons while Kim continued with his political fights, terrorism and recruitment to earn rights and equality to women.
Until...¬
Sao. ¬Until the emperor hired me. His daughter first. 2 years later Kim. The next year the whole family' s extermination. After 3 months I found the firstborn. He was with the youngest one. I woud kill both if, surprisingly, a 8 year-old had actually not performed a successful teleportation.
The second son was smarter than the first, it took me a while to get to him and he had already managed to send the kid away, and he was smart enough to not know where the kid had gone.¬
Anthony. He frowns at Sao. ¬No.¬
Sao. ¬No, it is not what I aimed for. My idea is much more radical than just killing an half-dead kid the almost whole East wants dead. I think...he should be put on the Eastern throne.¬
Khai. ¬You joke!¬ he does not sound pleased.
Sao. ¬He is young, good hearted, still a dreamer. With someone like that on the throne there will be a chance for the East, a chance for it to restore to its former splendor.¬
Khai. ¬So that the next one on the throne will be a female? Do you realize what that kid will do?¬
Shelly. ¬How many Goddesses are there? Whose daughters women are? Where would you be if your mother had not gone through pregnancy, delivery if she had not fed you, raised you? Who would have done it? Your father? Y- ¬
Sao. ¬He got your point, Xiu.
But still, it will not be easy. People will eat him alive before the crown could reach his head. We need to wait for the perfect moment, creating him a strong support there, meanwhile. ¬
Anthony. ¬Why should this involve the North?¬
Sao. ¬A good emperor, a smart, wise and cultural one who will stop attempting useless wars against the North, and finally focus on rising a nation on the brink of decay. A real, stable and durable alliance between East and North.¬
Anthony. ¬How do you suggest to proceed with him?¬
Sao. ¬The North did not exactly give him a warm welcome. I suggest to keep him here. He has still 2 years before getting adult, the law is on our side to not let him go till then. I say, we entrust him to a truly trustworthy family, someone with no prejudices , someone who will show him care, love and interest, patience and fairness. He needs to like people of the North, to respect you as King, to be happy, relaxed, to feel safe. He should be kept clueless about the whole matter until old enough. If he will be told too early he will get too scared and probably run away. Teach him, give him a real life, he spent the last 11 years living like a mouse, he will get used fast and quickly start to trust people. It is essential that he grows respect and affection towards the North, to bring what he learns here to the East.¬
Khai. ¬Right now in the Empire the situation is total chaos. Civil was is imminent, and different factions are colliding to try to steal the throne.
General Wu, Jin Kan, Cho Fan, Po Bin, each one of them has an army, followers and a bunch of lies they call breaking reasons as for why they should be the new rightful Emperor. All of them promise war and a victory against the North.¬
Sao. ¬The nth massacre of Eastern innocent men for absolutely no point.¬
Khai. ¬None of them will make it to the throne, there will be a war in the middle of a civil war. The East will reach the abyss once and for all. But...there is a specific faction of young men, the first kids who returned after the Northern re-education project. They fight to make the East a Northern Northern, as they see the North as a perfect realm, ruled by the strongest King in the world. And every month someone return home from the North, their numbers will grow exponentially.¬
Sao. He smirks. ¬We have just found him his future Imperial Army.
It should not be hard to convince them to embrace a leader chosen by the Northern King, a man who will bring the Northern law, culture and strength to the East. All we need to do is to prepare them so that they will prepare the East for his arrival.¬
Shelly. ¬How could a bunch of inexperienced young ones be able to change the world in which the widest majority of people will want them dead?¬
Sao. ¬Terror. Threats. True fear.¬
Khai. ¬Serious terrorism, they need to scare people to death. They will need weapons and someone able to teach them.¬
Sao. ¬I will teach them, you will teach the future Emperor.¬
Khai. ¬They will never trust you, they will think it is a trap. I train them, you teach the kid.¬
Sao. ¬And you think he could ever possibly trust me?¬
Khai. ¬Will still do less damage than what the sight of you will cause them. They will disband at once if they think you are after them.¬
Sao. ¬Fair enough...¬
Anthony. ¬We have an agreement. I will make sure to give him a perfectly fitting family for the purpose.¬
Jackil, with Christoph' s assistance, took care of Choi's desperate condition as it required very delicate surgeries that he could not perform on his own nor he could ask for support of other official doctors or healers which would require documentation.
The beat up Sami gave him was deadly, it broke 3 ribs which ended up piercing Choi's lung (which is what was quickly killing him) and in addition to it, his gall-bladder broke too thus had to be removed urgently. For the rest, broken arm, knee, very messed right eye and no mention of how many uber violent kicks Sami gave him 'there'. He thought he was his sister's rapist after all.
Jackil does a great job saving his life and fixing the damages, even though it will take a while for the young man to fully recover.
¬Not even an adult.¬ Christoph says while they perform the surgery. Being a beyond expert anatomist it takes him barely a glance to his inner organs and teeth to know that Choi can't be older than 20.
At the end of the surgery they take him to a bed in Jackil"s office as he will have to stay there for a while, as his condition must be constantly monitored.
{Add what happens in Bart's note here}
Though, troubles for Choi are not over. Even though at peace currently, there are some special procedures concerning Eastern people who move to the North even for a travel, to prevent possible attacks from haters.
And that is when a pretty **shole Royal Guard of the immigration branch and wanting to get some fast promotions (very like Stahl) gets to know of Choi and taking profit of Jackil's absence from the office (guarded by just a young healer while the doctor is busy with his duties and Elite Guard matters as well) she comes forces the healer to let her take the boy.
She heads to the King right away, even without an appointment with Choi who can not even stand on his own and struggles to breathe.
For other matters, in the room there is also Shelly who was speaking with Anthony when the guard arrives.
The guard walks in, pulling the boy in with her, she bows and forces him to kneel.
¬Guard Stahl (ye fantasy with names ftw) , presenting this indicted criminal clandestine. He is accused of thievery, piracy, terrorism and complicity of Her Grace's rape.¬ she says with her obnoxious tone.
Anthony. He looks at the boy then at the guard. ¬He does not look in condition to withstand a questioning.¬
Stahl. ¬Terrorists are not granted law's tutelage, why waste efforts and resources on someone who will potentially be executed in few days?¬
Anthony. ¬I am well aware that he is no responsible for the damages to the bridge on the Shadowmoor, nor of Tomiel's abduction and least of all Lady Meredith's rape. I have already been provided truthful visual memories of the actual criminals guilty of said acts. Bartholomew II Riddle has not been accused of piracy nor crimes committed on the Realm soil and all accusations towards him and his followers fell. They never committed any naval crime, they can not be accused of piracy just out of the fact they call themselves pirates.¬
Shelly. ¬Or we would have to accuse of piracy almost the totality of middle class children of this world¬
Stahl. She is left quite speechless in fact, realizing she will most likely be punished for this than promoted.
Some minutes after, Jackil (warned by the healer) arrives there to speak to Anthony and tell him the boy should not have moved from bed. Jack and Anthony move to a private place for some minutes to speak while the other 3 remained in the throne room.
Choi. He is quite desperate, dizzy, sad, suffering and scared to death. He is in such a mess he does not even manage to speak common language right now, not even in his poor way. Though noticing that Shelly is clearly Eastern too, decides to make a desperate attempt to be helped. ¬病休嵐不過來 越大家的¬ (totally random letters without even using any translator due to lack of net x) but still "meaning" ¬I am innocent¬)
Shelly. She gives him a death stare at his words. ¬杰嗓 人昧竹 烤刀 難竹尸十戈¬ (¬maybe of one woman, the previous and the future ones still deserve your punishment.¬) she is beyond merciless towards Eastern men because she knows too well what they are like, but this makes her too fast to judge and condemn, refusing to see the very few exceptions like in Choi's case.
Anthony. He and Jack wall back inside and let the doctor take his patient away. When alone he looks at Shelly seriously. ¬Summon Khai Ming and...Sao Yung.¬
Shelly. ¬Sao Yung?! You can not be asking this to me!¬ She says with an almost shocked tone.
Anthony. ¬Indeed, I am not asking it to you, that'd be an order.
I want to know everything about that kid and I want to know the real UNBIASED truth about him. I do not blame you for your feelings and attitude towards them but I claim to know the truth before condemning someone, most of all considering he is underage.
Did you hear what grandmother said about him? He is the one who rescued her from the rapist and killed him if the boy was guilty she would not have invented a story that would make him look like a hero do not you think?¬
Shelly. ¬He probably did it to have his life spared by Vik and his men, not out of mercy towards a woman.¬
Anthony. ¬If it was his plan, it clearly did not work.
Now go, I want to see them within 2 hours.¬
And after some time, Sao Yung indeed went to the King, while Khai Ming could not join due to be out in a mission in the East.
After some talking, Anthony orders him to visit Choi in Jackil's office and find out who he actually is to start with.
Sao. He indeed goes as ordered. He is a rather old Eastern man who has been working as a spy for the Northern Realm since 8 years. He was rather famous in the East and he still is, as his deeds/work when living there will never ever possibly be forgotten by the people there.
He speaks with Jackil first agreeing that he should not worry him too much and keep him quiet. Plus Jackil claims to be present also wanting to ask him a few questions, needing an interpreter.
Jack leads him to Choi and leaves them alone for some time to take some things.
Sao approaches the boy in the bed and looks down at him not saying anything yet, just trying to figure out who he is. He finds him familiar.
Choi. At the very sight of Sao he starts to panic, completely, his heart starts to pump like crazy and he starts to pant madly even trying to sit up, even if unable to.
Jackil. He rushes to Choi as he notices he is panting, he can not breath so fast or he risks his lung to collapse in this state.
He injects him immediately with a strong dose of tranquilizers to slow down his heart and breathing before it will be too late. ¬What have you done to him?!¬
Sao. ¬I have only received a confirmation.¬ He says while staring at Choi's face. Afterwards, he raises the boy's shirt and moves the bandages a little to see his family "tattoo". ¬妐難 齘 戈居, 卷軸 它們¬ (¬we meet again Li-Huang¬)
Jackil. ¬I almost fear asking you how you know him...¬
Sao. ¬He is the youngest and last Li-Huang, his name should be Choi. Do not write his name on his folder and don't spread it much , you will risk to find him with a dagger in the eye.¬
Jackil. ¬His problems with the men of the club should be clarified now.¬
Sao. ¬He has more enemies than you imagine doctor. What else do you have to ask him?¬
Jackil. ... ¬How old is he, exactly?¬
Sao. ¬灶君不 篕在今 一 才器履蹣有的¬ (¬how old are you? Do not force me to make you answer.¬)
Choi. ¬19...¬ he murmurs barely having voice to speak.
Sao. ¬Nineteen, and I can tell for sure he was in the East up to at least 11 years ago.¬
Jackil. ¬Is he feeling pain in the lower part of his belly when he breathes? And tell him that he must try to stay calm, to not make efforts and to not scratch his wounds to avoid the patches to be damaged.¬
Sao. He indeed does translate that to Choi and refers to Jack what he answers to his question. ¬He says he feels pain in his chest when he breathes but not the low belly.¬
Jackil. ¬That is a very positive sign...thank the Gods...
Are we done with him?¬
Sao. ¬If you are. I know all I needed to find out.¬
Jackil. ¬That's all I needed to know about him, yes...I shall contact you if I will need more help...¬
Sao. He slightly bows in the typical oriental way and takes his leave, speaking in Khai Ming's mind to tell him to check some information there before he returns, then prepares to go to meet Anthony, but he claims the meeting to happen when Khai will be back and claims Shelly to be present as well.
(...) Two days afterwards, as Khai returned from his task in the East, the meeting was quickly organized and the 3 meet the King in his throne room.
Sao. ¬...and that kid is the most legit heir to the Eastern throne. Choi Li-Huang the last living son of Chen Ho, the only daughter of the last Emperor.¬
Khai. ¬But those kids were 3 bastards, neither of them born by her husband!¬
Sao. ¬Still blood of the last Emperor. Who could more legitly reclaim that throne?¬
Khai. ¬Even if that, the people will get him killed before he could even reach the Capital. No one forgot Li-Huang family.¬
Sao. ¬Their few supporters must have not forgotten either. And we can count the filo-north, they can be worked to join the cause.¬
Khai. ¬What game are you trying to play Sao?!¬
Anthony. He gives them an annoyed glare expecting to be told the story.
Khai. He shakes his head realizing they are excluding the King and looks down. ¬The last Emperor, Tai Ho, had only daughter, the princess Chen. As traditional, her father choose her husband, the man who would be his heir, a nobleman of Chu, Shin Cheng, but clearly there was no love involved.¬
Shelly. ¬In other words, she was sold like an object to a sick animal and treated like his little lifeless toy until given a male child when he would start to buy sex slaves and torment them.¬
Khai. He gives a death stare to Shelly then continues. ¬The princess was a brilliant and strong woman, much above the average. She studied on her own, learnt languages, history, law and magic, she was one of the few women in the East able to teleport but no one knew before she went riot.¬
Shelly. ¬Or she would have been killed, for daring to be a brained woman.¬
Sao. ¬Xiu, stop interrupting.¬ He says angrily and motions Khai to continue.
Khai. ¬...she also managed to be given the newspaper, which is forbidden to women, and kept herself up to date with the events. And according to her diaries, it is on the newspaper that she first heard of Kim Li-Huang, his movement, rebellion and ideologies -equality for women-. It attracted her to the point she started a secretive correspondence with him which quickly evolved in an adultery relationship. It is confirmed that all of the 3 sons she had, were Li-Huang' s.
Eventually, the two plotted her husband's murdering, she poisoned him during a...intimate moment and fled from their home with their children, leaving back a note in which she wrote her sons' name with Li-Huang as surnames, and a side note "brace yourselves, women's revenge is coming upon you."
She joined her lover who kept her in a secret place he deemed safe, together with the sons while Kim continued with his political fights, terrorism and recruitment to earn rights and equality to women.
Until...¬
Sao. ¬Until the emperor hired me. His daughter first. 2 years later Kim. The next year the whole family' s extermination. After 3 months I found the firstborn. He was with the youngest one. I woud kill both if, surprisingly, a 8 year-old had actually not performed a successful teleportation.
The second son was smarter than the first, it took me a while to get to him and he had already managed to send the kid away, and he was smart enough to not know where the kid had gone.¬
Anthony. He frowns at Sao. ¬No.¬
Sao. ¬No, it is not what I aimed for. My idea is much more radical than just killing an half-dead kid the almost whole East wants dead. I think...he should be put on the Eastern throne.¬
Khai. ¬You joke!¬ he does not sound pleased.
Sao. ¬He is young, good hearted, still a dreamer. With someone like that on the throne there will be a chance for the East, a chance for it to restore to its former splendor.¬
Khai. ¬So that the next one on the throne will be a female? Do you realize what that kid will do?¬
Shelly. ¬How many Goddesses are there? Whose daughters women are? Where would you be if your mother had not gone through pregnancy, delivery if she had not fed you, raised you? Who would have done it? Your father? Y- ¬
Sao. ¬He got your point, Xiu.
But still, it will not be easy. People will eat him alive before the crown could reach his head. We need to wait for the perfect moment, creating him a strong support there, meanwhile. ¬
Anthony. ¬Why should this involve the North?¬
Sao. ¬A good emperor, a smart, wise and cultural one who will stop attempting useless wars against the North, and finally focus on rising a nation on the brink of decay. A real, stable and durable alliance between East and North.¬
Anthony. ¬How do you suggest to proceed with him?¬
Sao. ¬The North did not exactly give him a warm welcome. I suggest to keep him here. He has still 2 years before getting adult, the law is on our side to not let him go till then. I say, we entrust him to a truly trustworthy family, someone with no prejudices , someone who will show him care, love and interest, patience and fairness. He needs to like people of the North, to respect you as King, to be happy, relaxed, to feel safe. He should be kept clueless about the whole matter until old enough. If he will be told too early he will get too scared and probably run away. Teach him, give him a real life, he spent the last 11 years living like a mouse, he will get used fast and quickly start to trust people. It is essential that he grows respect and affection towards the North, to bring what he learns here to the East.¬
Khai. ¬Right now in the Empire the situation is total chaos. Civil was is imminent, and different factions are colliding to try to steal the throne.
General Wu, Jin Kan, Cho Fan, Po Bin, each one of them has an army, followers and a bunch of lies they call breaking reasons as for why they should be the new rightful Emperor. All of them promise war and a victory against the North.¬
Sao. ¬The nth massacre of Eastern innocent men for absolutely no point.¬
Khai. ¬None of them will make it to the throne, there will be a war in the middle of a civil war. The East will reach the abyss once and for all. But...there is a specific faction of young men, the first kids who returned after the Northern re-education project. They fight to make the East a Northern Northern, as they see the North as a perfect realm, ruled by the strongest King in the world. And every month someone return home from the North, their numbers will grow exponentially.¬
Sao. He smirks. ¬We have just found him his future Imperial Army.
It should not be hard to convince them to embrace a leader chosen by the Northern King, a man who will bring the Northern law, culture and strength to the East. All we need to do is to prepare them so that they will prepare the East for his arrival.¬
Shelly. ¬How could a bunch of inexperienced young ones be able to change the world in which the widest majority of people will want them dead?¬
Sao. ¬Terror. Threats. True fear.¬
Khai. ¬Serious terrorism, they need to scare people to death. They will need weapons and someone able to teach them.¬
Sao. ¬I will teach them, you will teach the future Emperor.¬
Khai. ¬They will never trust you, they will think it is a trap. I train them, you teach the kid.¬
Sao. ¬And you think he could ever possibly trust me?¬
Khai. ¬Will still do less damage than what the sight of you will cause them. They will disband at once if they think you are after them.¬
Sao. ¬Fair enough...¬
Anthony. ¬We have an agreement. I will make sure to give him a perfectly fitting family for the purpose.¬