A cold wind swept in from across the steppe. Above the encampment the red and black banners of the Zhou Army stirred and snapped in the gathering dusk. Not far from the well ordered lines of tents, crows descended to feast upon the carnage of a still fresh battlefield. Another great victory for the man they called The Young Dragon, The Bastard Tyrant, The Usurper… Zhou Xiaolong.

The soldiers celebrated their victory around the cookfires of the camp, making merry with wine and song, it was no different in their commanders’ pavilion.

The remains of a meal lay strewn across the table, the half gnawed bones of a suckling pig carcass still being picked over by the men sat around it, just as other scavengers pecked at the bodies outside. The air was heady with smoke from torches and braziers, their light the only thing keeping the tent from darkness. Somewhere underfoot a dog circled the assembled guests, nuzzling at the legs at each in turn for a scrap of the feast above.

Ignored by the soldiers, the hound’s begging went unanswered, until it made its way around to the young man lounging at the head of the table. He was tall and strong, still half dressed in his armour despite the late hour, with an unruly mane of black hair streaming unconstrained down his back. The torchlight picked out the pale scars than ran across on his handsome face, his dark eyes glinting like shards of obsidian.

Absent-mindedly the young man petted the dog’s head, tossing the animal a rib from his own plate, before returning to the letter he held in his other hand.

“News from the capital?”

The question came from the man sat to his right. They were of a similar age and appearance, both tall and dark haired. Though the man to right was paler, and his hair straight and fine where the other’s was wild and untamed. The way they held themselves could not be more different, either, while the man reading the letter lounged with a casual arrogance, the other sat straight in his chair, looking by far the most prim and proper of their company.

“Nothing new, my advisors want me to marry.” His tone was low and he spoke slowly, but nonetheless the conversation began to die down as soon as the man at the head of the table spoke, it was clear that he held sway over all the others here.

“Zhen Min?” Came another question from further down the table. The letter reader murmured assent in response.

“Him and Wen Tao, the Grand Chancellor sends a list of worthy noble ladies he thinks would make an acceptable Empress. As well as some foreign princesses that may prove valuable alliances.”

“Hmm… better than wedding a traitor I guess.” The next speaker was the man to his left, broad and brawny, with light brown hair and an easy smile. He drained a glass of sweet plum wine as he made the quip.

“You do the Grand Secretary a disservice Commander Hu.” Came a rebuke from further down the table. “A match with a noble family of known rebel supporters would do much to pacify the situation in the provinces.”

“Bah! Give me the men and I can pacify any province in the Empire, nobles be damned!” Another solider chimed in with a bash of his fist to the table, he was a giant of man, skin criss-crossed with numerous scars, a black leather patch where his right eye should have been. “Your Highness should take a peasant to be your Empress, rub it those nobles face that the old order is over, we’re in charge now!”

“I’m in charge now, you mean, good General.” The Emperor, Zhou Xiaolong, shot the general a dangerous glance, but a thin smile was playing at the corners of his lips. “But it is an intriguing idea… my ministers have plenty of ideas as to who my Empress should be, but what do my loyal war hounds say?”

At first silence hung over the gathering, the soldiers not exactly sure at what to do with the permission they had just been granted to pick over the personal life of their fearsome and ruthless leader. Then one by one, they all began to speak, with increasing intensity, until a flood of wildly differing opinions had been unleashed and small arguments were breaking out down the length of the table.

“Meaning no disrespect, but there’s more value to be had in a noble match than a common. Turn a foe into an ally, gain another pillar of support, more troops to swell your armies.”

“A foreign alliance is clearly the best course, secure our borders, allow us to turn our forces inward to put a stop to the rebels once and for all.”

“Common or noble, this is your wife we’re talking about, so she has to be beautiful above all else!”

“Beauty is more than skin deep, a true partner for life comes from your compatibility. Find someone who speaks to your soul!”

“You need strong sons, take a woman with good hips!”

“You know… I do have a sister...”

After a several minutes of chaos, the Emperor raised his hand to silence the arguing. There was a savage gleam to his black eyes, half amused, but still with a hint of a roiling anger hidden somewhere deep inside.

“So as I understand it, my Empress should be a common noble from a great house who fought against me in the rebellion, but who’s family is still powerful. She should also be a foreign princess, exceedingly beautiful, the mirror of my own soul, and have excellent child bearing hips. Oh and she should also be Kang’s sister.” He scoffed derisively. “Does that about cover it? Now tell me where can I find a woman like that?”

Silence was the only answer from the other end of the table. These were all men who knew the moods of the Emperor intimately, and few dared raise their head above the parapet of what appeared to be the opening salvo of Xiaolong’s infamously bad temper. His personal and family life had always been an excessively treacherous topic to bring up around the Young Dragon.

One man however seemed largely unperturbed by this turn of events. Commander Hu, captain of the Imperial Guard, just continued to sit there with an easy smile, pouring himself a fresh glass of wine.

“Why not just send for them all?” He asked casually with a shrug of his broad shoulders.

“A harem? You know how I feel about concubines.” The tension in the pavilion could be cut with a knife. Xiaolong’s tone was now low and dangerous, he had balled up one of his fists atop the table and had fixed the commander with a steely gaze as he leant forwards in his seat.

“I didn’t say marrying them all, just send for them. It’ll gets the eunuch and Wen off your back, decide which, if any, you actually want later. Send the rest back.” Hu just sipped at his wine, barely paying the Emperor any notice. Xiaolong just stared at him for a moment, before slumping back in his chair to his former reclined position. Quiet conversation uneasily began again at the far end of the table.

“You know, that’s not the worst idea I’ve heard you come up with Hu.”

The Emperor went back to read the letter again, his free hand slid beneath the table and he ruffled the head of his favourite dog once more.

Outside in the fields, just North of the capital two very different conversations were happening with the Xiang sisters.

“My child, you should be getting ready.” A calm collected voice spoke, an elder gentleman approaching Yue with his hands folded neatly in front of him dark brown eyes watching his niece train in the fields of his farm. “Your sister is quite excited.”

“My sister cares for wealth and status, she’ll be thrilled at the opportunity to become Empress.” Swiftly moving to the tree as she pulled three silver daggers that had been thrown at it, embedded in the bark as target practice. Glancing at her uncle she gave him a knowing look, clearly not over the moon at how her sister viewed things in life. Sighing to herself as her uncle just smiled in return knowing she was right. Mei was practically giddy at the invite. It wasn’t surprising as she’d taken their new status quite hard and had even refused to help out on the farm. Recalling the spoiled harsh words she had thrown at their uncle and the staff, ‘I will not sully my hands with work of the help. I am a lady, not a commoner.’

“Yes, that is true, but think of it as a blessing in disguise. Remember, you can use her to your advantage. Whilst she gains his attention you will be free to move within the shadows.” Chuckling as he stroked his beard, watching Yue fiddle with the daggers he had gifted her as his eyes swept the empty land. Ensuring that nobody could overhear them as a gentle breeze swept through the farm. This kind of talk would have them killed faster than they could notice.

Glancing up at the sky as if looking for an answer within the clouds, she knew what they had discussed. The assassination. Yue had trained herself relentlessly under the guidance of her uncle, focused solely on getting herself ready to carry out the most daring act she’d ever considered doing. Yue was no warrior, no killer and had never spilled blood before, but her uncle had full faith in her that she could complete this task and end the reign of Zhou Xiaolong. Stowing the daggers safely in her pocket she knew what she had to do.

“I’ll do what needs to be done uncle.” A quiet promise, confirming to him that she was still intent on going forward with this plan. Risking her own life, as well as the last remaining members of what had been a great family. If she was caught, if she wasn’t successful, she had no doubt her sister would be slaughtered, the same for her uncle. The less that people knew, the better and perhaps it could give her sister deniability if the worst did happen.

“Come, let the girls get you ready. That is if you still remember how to be a lady after sullying such delicate hands.” Her uncle teased with a laugh as he began to guide her back inside, the staff members had all been running around after Mei and ensuring she looked every bit royal that she could. Mei could be quite demanding, but they had all grown used to it.

“Oh please, I can’t forget my upbringing. It was instilled in me. I know how to act.” Yue gave a light hearted smile, moving inside with her uncle already hearing the loud giggles of her sister who was buzzing from excitement at the invite.

“Just think, me? An Empress?” Mei loudly proclaimed, talking to any member of staff that would listen to her. All who just nodded along and continued to style her hair as they let her prattle on about how much better life would be, that she would have her status once more. “Of course I won’t forget you, and maybe even my little sister. It’s only fair. Family after all?” Mei was already talking as if she had won, despite knowing that invites had gone out to all the eligible women she felt like she had won the competition.

“Hear that my sweet little sister? I’ll be sure to make sure you are looked after.” Mei grinned, her eyes lighting up as her imagination clearly got the better of her.

“Very kind of you, thank you.” The sarcastic comment did earn a look of distaste from her sister.

“Now girls, I have a surprise for you both.” Signalling to the staff one of the girls brought in two boxes, both of which had a very beautiful fine piece of clothing for them inside. It was to help set an impression when they arrived. It had cost a pretty penny for him, but he needed to keep them both in the competition for as long as Yue needed to kill the emperor. “These should help make a fine impression when you arrive, I’m hoping it will give you both an edge. Perhaps catch his eye?”

“Oh uncle, thank you! I was so worried on what I would wear. I didn’t want him thinking I’m not of good standing.” Mei practically grinned as she took the box, the excitement bubbling away as she truly believed she would be the next Empress.

“No thanks needed, all I ask is that you are respectful, but most importantly enjoy yourselves.” Waving off the girls as he turned on his heel to arrange transport for them both, they had decided not to include Mei on their plan. The less she knew the better, and he had come to learn she was desperate for status once more and he knew that she would not be on board with this plan in the slightest.

A clarion call of trumpets sounded from the horsemen that galloped towards the capital, announcing the Emperor's arrival. Bells rang out from the walls and towers of Jiang'An in response, spreading the news that their sovereign and his army had returned to the great city. Night had fallen, the gates had already been barred to any further travellers desiring entry. But at the sight of Young Dragon's personal guard, they were thrown open once more.

Jiang'An had been the seat of imperial power and the home of the emperor for years untold, stretching back into the times of the ancient dynasties, before the Zhou had risen to the power and bent the central plains under their dominion. It was a city of over a million inhabitants, a bustling metropolis of unparalleled size. The Imperial Palace at its centre was the heart of the sprawling bureaucracy that stretched throughout the provinces and protectorates, and it was in itself a monument to the power and splendour of the Empire in its vast size and opulence.

There was nowhere on this earth that Zhou Xiaolong despised more.

The streets weren't busy this late in the evening, and what few crowds that could be found were quickly cleared from the central avenue that lead to the palace. Few cheers went up from the citizens that saw their Emperor ride by. Most simply watched silently, or muttered something to their companions, some turned their faces away in disgust or spat at the ground by their feet. Even in the capital there was little love for Bastard Tyrant.

Before long the city itself was behind them, and they were crossing the great moat that surrounded the red stained walls of the Imperial Palace. The five gates of the Gateway of Divine Might were already open, their carved and painted exteriors studded with rows upon rows of gilded nails. Word of their arrival had proceeded them through the city, as they streamed through the open gateways into the great outer court, a pair of officials were hurriedly making their way across from the inner palaces to meet them.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Your humble servants did not expected you back so -err- soon."

Xiaolong reined his horse up before them. He vaguely recognised them, one of them was a junior minister from the Court of Ceremonies, the other held some position within the Imperial Stud. These men were of little importance to him, they normally went beneath his notice. He hadn't bothered to learn their names.

"Well it seems your expectations were incorrect. Where's Wen Tao, or Secretary Zhen?"

"The Grand Chancellor is currently at his residence outside the Palace, The Grand Secretary was indisposed, but has been summoned. This humbled servant must apologise, the riders Your Majesty sent lead us to believe you would make camp up river and return to the city next mornin-" Xiaolong cut him off before he could finish the end of his sentence. A flicker of annoyance at the blatant rudeness and disrespect almost emerged on the face of the official.

"The army is encamped up river, I decided to make haste and ride ahead of the main column. I trust this causes no issues?" The pointed question at the end was more than enough to remind him exactly who he was dealing with here, the current Emperor had few qualms about disposing of ministers that displeased him, so he once again schooled his face to show nothing more than look of humble obeisance.

"O-of course not, Your Majesty. It is only that we wished we could receive your glorious presence more appropriately. There was to be a grand reception, followed by a feast! If Your Majesty recalls the instructions you sent regarding the arrangements you wished to make for the Imperial Household, the noble ladies have been gathered and are await-"

"Ah yes!" He cut the official off again. "Here, take this." With a leap, the Emperor vaulted off of his horse and passed the reins to one of the officials, specifically the junior minister from the Court of Ceremonies, who automatically took it before looking up at the horse with in of mild bafflement.

"You." He turned to the official from the Imperial Stud, who visibly paled at being addressed directly. "Take me to see my brides."

"B-b-but, Your Majesty, should we not wait for th-" He gestured helpless at both his fellow minister and the horse he was now holding.

"Now." He didn't even raise his voice, didn't even particularly change from his relaxed demeanour. But there was just enough of an edge to that single word to make this particular lowly official's skin crawl. He had been at the palace for some time, long enough to have heard plenty of stories about what happened if you displeased The Young Dragon. Long enough to have seen it happen a few times for himself.

"Of course! This way!"

Commander Hu and few of his guards fell in beside him as he marched across the courtyard towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the Inner Court and Palaces beyond it. The Commander was chuckling to himself.

"You mixed them up on purpose didn't you?" He asked with a wry smile. Hu was the Commander of the Emperor's Personal Guard. Xiaolong had known him since he was sixteen, a green junior officer with the Northern Frontier Army. Hu had been a common solider under his command, they had come a long way together since then. He was one of the few people that the Emperor trusted absolutely.

"I encourage my ministers to take on a wide array of duties." He replied sardonically, a hint of a smile of his own creeping up onto his otherwise stern visage. It was one of the few perks of returning to the Imperial Palace, putting the fear of the Gods back into the sycophants and schemers that swarmed the place, unendingly courteous to your face, undoubtably plotting behind your back. He preferred to do away with such pretence.

They passed into the Inner Palaces, the personal residences of the Emperor, his family and his harem. The Emperor and the Empress shared two expansive palaces linked by a central hallway, while numerous other courtyards and palaces sprawled to the east and west. Some were set aside for designated purposes, such as residence of the Crown Prince, while others were distributed according to the Emperor's whim and favour.

The Palace of Surpassing Beauty was different, it was a vast edifice set aside for the lower ranked members of the Imperial Harem. While favoured consorts and concubines might be given their own residences, certain unchaste and lecherous Emperors of the past had desired more women than could easily be accommodated in the palaces they had to dispose of. They built this as their solution.

Around its numerous interconnected courtyards, the Palace of Surpassing Beauty could accommodate hundreds of women. While not quite quite as luxurious as other residences, it could not be matched in terms of the volume of individual bedrooms it boasted. This was where the official had brought Xiaolong to.

"Y-your Majesty insisted all applicants be accommodated to the same level, regardless of prior rank or status."

"Perfect."

It was one of the things he had thought of later on that night after Hu had first suggested this scheme. Every faction at court was trying to foist an Empress of their choosing onto him, he would both mollify them all by giving their candidates the opportunity to do so, whilst simultaneously eliminating them through tests and trails of his own design. Once he swept all the favoured candidates of the big political players from the board, his key advisers would beg him to reconsider naming an Empress and he would be free of their continuous pestering.

This was his first test. Let's see how the daughters of the great noble families reacted to being treated the same as the common beauties he had told his provincial governors to round up and send to the Palace.

He strode towards the door, the eunuchs standing to attention there preparing to draw them back for him, when the official who had guided him here made a half choked gasp of shock and surprise.

"B-but, Your Majesty, the hour is late, you are armoured and dusty from the road. Besides, many of the noble ladies might... already... be... sleeping?"

The look the Emperor affixed this lowly official with was capable of freezing a man's blood solid in his veins. Whatever courage this man had once possessed, withered and died beneath the glare of those black and terrible eyes.

"Then wake them."

This was the second test.

The journey had been tedious, an absolute bore as Yue had to listen to her sister babble on about how great of an opportunity this would be for her. Talking as if she had already won, gushing over the idea of status and the finer things in life once more. How she would single handedly bring back their family name from ruin, that she would be its saviour. It irked her, how she had forgotten the very man she was so desperate to get her claws into had been the cause of their parents' demise. This Emperor had stripped all their titles, killed their parents and all she could think about was living the high life once more. They had been lucky that they had not been killed by association with how brutal he was rumoured to be.

Mei seemingly didn’t notice her sour mood, she continued to talk on and on even though Yue had tuned it out. Looking out at the scenery as they made their way to the city. Growing up with her sister she was used to how self-absorbed she could be, Mei was constantly in her own little world and whilst she never intended to be malicious, she wasn’t always aware of the back handed compliments she would give. It would certainly get her into trouble in the city if she wasn’t careful.

Not that it should be something she should worry about, Yue was there for a different purpose and she couldn’t babysit her sister on top of the most daring plan that would get her killed in a heartbeat if she wasn’t careful. Mei was older, she should have more sense to be careful and it was clear her sister only cared for one thing and had her own mission in mind. It didn’t mean Yue wouldn’t keep an eye, despite the jealousy and rivalry between them growing up she was still her family. Although she wouldn’t admit it, or voice it out loud she had a deep-seated worry about getting caught and her sister also suffering with the crossfire.

Despite the droning on of her sister, the anxiety that bubbled away as she thought about all the ways this could go wrong. The what ifs, the what could or would happen, the journey to the city had been a smooth one. Both girls arriving in one piece and with a bunch of other potential candidates.

“This competition will be easy.” Mei boasted, clearly eyeing up the girls that stood in her way. Already noting some of them had no titles nor wealth so surely it would not catch the Emperors attention.

“Mei, we are all on equal footing here. We’ve all be invited for a reason. Don’t you see that?”

“Oh, sweet little sister, no. He needs someone with a title, someone that can help calm all this unrest. No commoner would do that. Even though our titles were ruined, imagine the hope it would give people as he took an Empress from a family who had been once great, who he had personally destroyed.”

A brief pause as Yue considered her sisters words, feeling a mixture of shock but also a hint of pride. Not for the insult to the other women, but the fact her sister had considered about the unrest of the population this Emperor faced. Perhaps she had viewed her sister as materialistic without any sort of sense, but that comment suggested she had thought about an angle to go for that could be quite smart. It all depended on what the Emperor wanted, but should he be looking for a way to appease some of the people, he could consider taking someone who had a title even with a previous ruined name.

It mattered not, before Yue could even answer her sister all the girls were being ushered to follow. Announcing that they’d be shown their accommodations. Leading them all towards a more communal style of housing, much to the clear disgust of some of the noble ladies. Even her sister pulled a face at the idea of it, but Yue wasn’t surprised. With a lot of candidates this would be the easiest to keep them all in one place, to no doubt watch how they interacted with one another and suss out personalities.

“Trust me, mingle with the girls, do not act like this accommodation is beneath you or that anyone else is.” Whispering the advice into her sisters' ear, it was up to her on if she would listen to it, but she hoped she would heed the warning. This was a test; everything would be a test on their character and she needed her sister around to keep the attention if she planned to stay under the radar.

“I... w-well. Of course.” Mei stammered out; her face heated at the warning because she had almost said something about having a better place to sleep. “Thank you.” Begrudgingly offering a word of thanks as she listened to advice, slipping into the crowd to mingle and talk with the others.

There had been no Emperor to greet them, no sign of his presence as they were shown around their new lodgings. Yue had spent the evening making small talk with the other guests, eyeing up potential areas to sneak in and out of all whilst keeping an eye on her surroundings, as if they were being watched.

As the evening pressed on it was clear to see the variety of mixed emotions between all the girls. Some excited, happy, nervous and even upset. Yue could name every emotion as everyone played nice and attempted to get to know one another and the competition they all faced.

By now with the hour being late most of the girls had gone to bed, exhausted with the travel and the range of emotions that they felt. Even her sister had turned in for the night, but Yue was still sat in the communal area with a book in hand reading. Turning her face towards the doors as she heard voices, furrowing her brows as she tried to hear what was being spoken.

Moments after the doors swung upon as a rather nervous looking official rushed inside to follow orders that had been given to him. To wake all the girls. Glancing up from her book she followed the rushing male before she took note of another figure, deep green eyes finally meeting her target.

The Emperor.

The very man she was here to kill.

Rising to her feet she brushed down her fine dress that her uncle had provided as she watched him, tucking the book away under her arm. Speaking no words as she had not been addressed, but she couldn’t help herself as her eyes wandered. Eyeing him up and down as she took in his appearance. Surprised by the handsome looks as she had always painted him out to be some old looking monster in her mind.

It didn’t last long before the bustle of the girls started to pour out, most dressed in sleeping attire, some looking dishevelled not having time to arrange themselves and when the penny dropped on who was here to see them, Yue caught a few mortified looking faces in the crowd. Whispers spreading through the group as some eagerly awaited on what he had to say.