Chapter Text
After the Wen Empire announced its secession from the United Nations, the Wen Empire was arising with fear and fury. Military tanks trampled across cities, as soldiers marched onward. Terrorizing each city with anguish and bloodshed. In the capital of the Wen state, Emperor Wen drank his cup of wine as his servants and soldiers scatter in the palace. However, the chaos got interrupted when the doors of the palace open. General Wen Xu walks towards his father before stopping. He got down to his knees and bowed.
“Emperor…Father…we have managed to suppress and detain small nations like the Yao Kingdom and the Republic of Tingshan.” Wen Xu exclaimed with accomplishment.
Emperor Wen Ruohan gave him a wicked smile, “Excellent… This has been a glorious occasion…” He got up from his throne and walked past his son. So much power was overflowing within him. Many people quivered at his presence, even his son who felt like a weakling as he was still on his knees.
“I-is that so…” Wen Xu stuttered. “W-what m-makes it such a joyous occasion?”
Wen Ruohan looked at his son on the ground, “Not only are the other kingdoms are finally understanding the immense power of the Wen Empire. The Lanling Kingdom might finally join our side.”
Wen Xu was surprised, “Are you sure about that, Father? I mean, many people in that kingdom have shown their deep hate for our cause. How are you so sure?”
“I don’t have to worry. That slut of a leader, Jin Guangshan, is too much of a coward to take a stand against us. His people don’t matter.”
“What about his sons? Jin Zixuan is going to show retaliation, and-” However, Wen Xu was quickly interrupted as Wen Ruohan showed that he was getting irritated.
“I’m sure we can eliminate him in time. Now be quiet and leave!”
Wen Xu nodded profusely, and he stood up and left the throne room. Wen Ruohan let out an exasperated sigh before smiling once again. His smile not reaching his eyes, filled with heinous and devious intentions. He ordered one of his servants to write a message.
“Send this to Wen Xu. I want him to attack the Gusu Empire, the Empire of the Flowing Clouds. That empire has the biggest ties out of all the nations. Mostly because of that Empress that Emperor Lan married…” He said in a bitter tone. “Tonight is the night of the discussion conference of the United Nations. The Empress is in charge while his husband is away, so it’s the perfect time to attack. Eliminate anyone that stands in the way of the attack. Steal the blueprints and artifacts needed for their most powerful inventions! Kill their heir, kill the Empress! That’s an order!”
The servant got sent away to deliver the message. Wen Ruohan returned to his throne, eager to see what happens.
Empress Wei felt something dreadful was about to happen. The nations were angered about the current state of the Wen Empire. One by one, they were destroying small cities to small nations. Many people were shocked and outraged. From articles he’s read, citizens of the Wen Empire have protested about the violence that had sprouted from power-hungry officials and Emperor Wen. Sadly, they were met with cruel faiths. Gas bombings, arrests, and shooting from the government was all they received. To Empress Wei, he felt that hurting the citizens because of power was unjust. Even though he wasn’t at the discussion conference, he hoped that the leaders and officials would address this issue.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted when a general had arrived in the throne room. From the look on his face, he felt something was afoot.
“Empress, it’s an emergency!”
“Quickly, is it the Wens?”
“Yes, they have arrived! They’re marching their way to the palace! Seems like they are ready to attack!”
Wei Wuxian was angered that the Wens had dared to attack on the day of the Discussion Conference, “Call the troops to line up immediately. To protect civilians, half of them will go through the secret passageways. The others will surround the palace as much as they can. Immediately station the artillery. Go Now!”
The general saluted the Empress and ran as fast as he can to give the orders. Wei Wuxian got off from his throne and started preparing for the attack.
“Is there anything else we need to do, Empress Wei?” asked one of the servants.
He nodded as he looks outside the window, “Tell my son and Jingyi that they must pack their things. Explain to them briefly of what is happening.” The servant bowed at him and went to find them.
Wei Wuxian ordered the soldiers to station themselves in the Library Pavilion and guard the place, as attendants grabbed all the scrolls and textbooks to secure them in the highly mechanized vault. Powerful enough to withstand most of the attacks and talismans.
Without warning, he heard the thunderous sound of General Wen Xu’s voice from outside the palace. From the window, he could see that the general has a megaphone.
“Empress Wei, as the son and general of the Emperor Wen, we have been ordered to tear down this Empire for conspiring against the Wen regime!” Wen Xu shouted. When Wei Wuxian looked at him, all he wanted to do was just swipe that wicked and smug look off that Wen-dog’s face.
He turned on the outside speakers of the palace to reply. “What makes you think that we have conspired against you? It seems to me that you arriving at a nation un-invited and with the military, shows that it’s you that was conspiring against us all along.”
Wen Xu was angered at his statement, “On the accounts that you have insulted the Wen Empire and humiliated us for years, you and this Empire will be punished!”
“Never in my life have I done anything to insult any nation! You’re spitting lies against me and others. What is it that you really want?”
Wen Xu was silent before signaling his men to attack when he gives them the signal. “You have aided traitors of the Wen Empire for quite some time now. You may have been the one to make the Wen people delusional enough to cause them to riot, destroying the peace that the Wen Empire had.”
Wei Wuxian knew that he was talking out of his ass. He hasn’t been to the Wen Empire for a long time. The last time he was there was during a Discussion Conference that was held there. That was before the Wens decided to leave the United Nations. Did he think that would work against him?
“Final warning, Empress Wei! Agree to our demands or this place will burn down to the ground!”
Wei Wuxian was looking from his window and gave him a dark glare. “Over my dead body. You may have destroyed those cities and other nations through fear and brute force, but not this nation. I’m not afraid of you, nor are my soldiers. If you think you can destroy this nation, the nation that I rule alongside my husband, then you have another thing coming. I’m warning you. I will not stand down.”
Wen Xu wasn’t satisfied with Wei Wuxian’s answer. “Aim…Set… FIRE!” Then arrows started flying. Citizens started screaming as the wrath of the Wen Empire has begun. Luckily, Wei Wuxian had placed the barrier around the entire palace in time. He had at least a few minutes before the barrier broke. He went running to Sizhui’s room.
The Gusu Empire was in an uproar. The Wens had begun their attack, and the Emperor was nowhere present! Meanwhile, Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi were packing essential items they needed to evacuate, as instructed by Empress Wei Wuxian. Lan Sizhui grabbed one more item and placed it inside of his backpack.
“I’ve been kind of curious as to why Uncle Ning and his family left the Wen Empire. Well now I know why.” Jingyi said as he was packing his clothes.
Sizhui gave a faint chuckle as he continued to pack his things as well. He was also curious as to why Uncle Ning and his family left the Wen Empire at the beginning when he was a child. From the stories he heard, it was a suitable place to live but for his family, they felt like they were trapped. So, they fled somewhere else. He wanted to learn more but, the look of his Dad and Uncle Ning’s face told him that he shouldn’t push it.
Jingyi let out a grunt of frustration as packed. “Sizhui, Is this necessary? Why can’t we fight?! We’re 15 and we can definitely fight those Wens!” Jingyi asked. He wanted to fight those Wens for invading the Gusu Empire!
Sizhui let out a sigh and said, “Believe me Jingyi, I understand. However, Uncle Cheng and Uncle Huan might kill him if we let you fight out there. We know how reckless you can be.”
Jingyi and Sizhui laughed at the last statement. “Yea, they might kill him.” Jingyi joked as he continued to pack. They had pack extra clothes, their phones, their wallet and ID, a few scrolls and journals, and their swords. After the two finished packing, the Empress had barged into the room.
“Dad? What are you doing here? Are you supposed to be fighting?” Sizhui asked. However, Wei Wuxian didn’t say anything and dragged Sizhui and Jingyi by the hands, as they started running.
“Dad?!” “Uncle Wei?!”
“There’s no time to explain! We have to go now!”
“We can’t go! You must stay here and help run the Empire! We must wait until Uncle Lan gets back!” Jingyi shouted.
Wei Wuxian gives them a look and says, “Who said I will be leaving this place?”
As they were running, Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi saw the barrier activated. From the outside, soldiers were fighting Wens with all their might. Helicopters and cannons flying in the air, as the fire of the burning Empire continued. Sizhui was shocked at the many laying bodies of the soldiers, whether enemy or ally were on the floor. It was terrifying to him. So much bloodshed. When he turned to look at Jingyi’s reaction, it seems like he felt the same way.
After reaching the outskirts of the Cloud Empire, they stopped running. They were breathing heavily to catch their breath. After a few moments, Wei Wuxian looked at Jingyi and Sizhui.
“Listen. I want you two out of this place right now.”
Sizhui and Jingyi were taken aback by what Wei Wuxian had said. “No. No, we can’t leave now! What about Father?! What about Uncle Huan? Uncle Jiang? What about-!” However, Sizhui’s rambles were cut off by Wei Wuxian’s voice.
“Don’t shout. It’s not like you to shout like that.” Wei Wuxian said gently. He looked up at the barrier, it was about to crumble. He had to leave immediately. Wei Wuxian turned to Jingyi and Sizhui and placed a hand on their shoulders.
“I know it may seem unfair, but the world is unfair. I don’t want either of you getting hurt and I can’t risk any chances of the Wen Empire taking over Gusu. Especially, Jiang Cheng and Brother in law when it comes to you Jingyi.” The two teens smiled at Wei Wuxian to lighten their spirits. “Which is why I trust you two to do something for me.”
He pulled out a notebook, a map, and two scrolls from his robes and handed them to Jingyi and Sizhui. “The notebook contains the blueprints of the most powerful inventions we have and the scrolls…Well, I only want you to open the black scroll for now. Only open it when you two are in a safe area, where no enemies are after you.”
Empress Wei pulled the two in for one last hug, “Please…be safe.” He got up, got on his sword, and went straight into battle.
“DAD!!! DAD!!!” Tears began streaming down Sizhui’s face as he tried to chase after his Dad. However, he was being pulled back by Jingyi.
“LET ME GO! I need to help him! Jingyi, Let Me GO!”
However, Jingyi held his grip tight on Sizhui, dragging him away, “Come on, Sizhui! We must trust Uncle Wei! Please! Sizhui!”
Sizhui looked up at his dad who was getting smaller as he flew away, and the burning homes and buildings of the Cloud Empire. He hesitated for a moment before running as fast as he can, with Jingyi following him. They looked up one last time to the barrier finally breaking.