Wind and thunder rage, ocean and dragons lament – 1

In the royal palace of Tao City.

The moon’s glow was faint, and all its inhabitants had retired to their chambers. A profound stillness enveloped the palace. Yet, amidst this tranquility, a lone silhouette, holding aloft a palace lantern, traversed the lengthy corridors, making its way to the temple on the western side. In the vast expanse of the darkened palace, only this temple’s windows and doors emitted a hint of lamplight.
Pushing open the temple doors, the vast hall was dimly lit, with only a single candle burning on either side. At the very front of the hall, the altar was lined with numerous ancestral tablets. Their presence, combined with the dim candlelight, imbued the hall with an eerie aura. At this moment, the King of the Northern Sea knelt before the altar, his head bowed in reverence.
“Father,” a voice as melodious as a nightingale’s song softly called out.
Without turning his head, the Northern Sea King responded, still in his reverent position, “It’s late, Xuan Ji. What brings you here?”
“Father, if you are aware of the hour, you should be resting in your chambers,” replied Princess Xuan Ji of the Northern Sea. She gracefully entered the hall and hung her lantern, which contained a luminous night pearl, on its stand. Instantly, the hall was bathed in a brighter light, revealing every delicate feature of the princess beneath the lantern: eyebrows as ethereal as mist, lips as red as cinnabar, raven-black hair half-pulled into a bun and half cascading down her back. By her temples, a pair of golden phoenixes adorned with jade swayed gently. The crimson agate tassels that hung by her ears accentuated her complexion, making her skin appear as fresh as snow and her face as radiant as a blooming peach blossom. She wore a flowing gown of deep purple, which accentuated her slender frame, making her appear as if she had stepped out of a painting.
The Northern Sea King straightened his back and looked up at the ancestral tablets, letting out a deep sigh. “With our kingdom on the brink of collapse, how can I find peace in sleep?”
“Father,” Princess Xuan Ji said, bending down to support her kneeling father.
However, the Northern Sea King did not rise. Instead, he shifted to sit on a cushion, his gaze still fixed on the altar. “I am here to seek forgiveness from our ancestors. It is due to my mistakes that our kingdom faces its imminent doom.” His voice choked with emotion as he finished his sentence.
In the dimly lit hall, Xuan Ji sat beside her father. It was only now, in this close proximity, that she realized how much he had aged. Her father, who was just over fifty and had always been robust and spirited, now exuded an aura of fatigue and aging. The temples of his hair bore streaks of white, reminiscent of frost.
He had ascended the throne at a young age and had ruled diligently for over two decades, always radiant and full of life. Yet, in just a short month, the lines on his forehead and around his eyes seemed to have deepened, as if etched by a blade.
“Father,” Xuan Ji began, her voice gentle, “You shouldn’t blame yourself too much. The prosperity of the Northern Sea over the past two decades is largely due to your efforts.”
The King of the Northern Sea gave a wistful smile. “This is the so-called double-edged sword of leadership. Success and failure both rest on my shoulders.”
“Father…”
“Xuan Ji,” he interrupted, his gaze piercing into hers, “Do you think I am a wise ruler?”
“Of course,” she replied without hesitation. “For centuries, the Northern Sea was a small and impoverished frontier nation. But in the past twenty years, it has flourished and prospered like never before. Even powerful nations like Meng Cheng and Dadao have taken notice. This alone proves that you are a once-in-a-century wise monarch.”
“Yes,” the king mused, looking towards the palace doors and the stars beyond, as if reminiscing about the golden era of peace and prosperity. “Under my rule, the Northern Sea has grown stronger, and our people have lived in increasing comfort and happiness. They have always praised and adored me.” He paused, his eyes clouding with regret. “But this golden age… I destroyed it with my own hands, blinded by my arrogance and ignorance. I regret it so deeply, and I despise myself for it.” He clutched his head, pounding it with his fists as if trying to drive away the painful memories. “Why did I overreach and attack Dadao? Why did I ally with the treacherous Meng Cheng? How could I have made such a grave mistake?”
“Father! Father!” Xuan Ji rushed to stop him, grabbing his hands. “Please, stop this!”
The king’s voice was filled with anguish. “I’ve brought this great calamity upon us. I regret it so much!” The sight of his once mighty army decimated, and the enemy at the gates, had shattered the composure of this once revered monarch.
“Father!” Xuan Ji’s voice was stern. “Regret is of no use now. We must plan our next move.”
The king looked at her, seemingly taken aback by her assertiveness. “Xuan Ji…”
“Father,” she softened her tone, “You are the ruler of a nation. You cannot drown in regret and neglect the lives of your subjects.” She helped him sit on a cushioned seat. “The people of Dadao have sent a message, giving us three days to decide whether to surrender or fight. We must make a decision soon.”
Perhaps it was his daughter’s calm demeanor that soothed him, for the king slowly regained his composure. They sat in silence for a while.
After what felt like an eternity, the king finally spoke, “When we received the message today, I convened a council to discuss our options. Some advocated for surrender, while others for resistance. Xuan Ji, you’ve always been clever and decisive. What do you think?”
“Father,” Xuan Ji shook her head, “You are the monarch. Your decision should not be swayed by others. Whether we surrender or fight, I will stand by your side.”
The king sighed, looking at her with a hint of regret. “If only you were born a prince. But then again,” he chuckled, “having a daughter like you, what more could I ask for?”
“Father,” Xuan Ji nestled closer to him.
The king gently caressed her head. In this moment, he was once again the wise and loving King of the Northern Sea. “Xuan Ji, for your sake, I cannot let you suffer this great calamity.”
She looked up, “Have you decided to surrender, Father?”
“There are so many innocent people within these walls,” the king sighed. “I can die in battle, but after bringing this disaster upon them, I cannot let them suffer further.”
Xuan Ji nodded in agreement, “We have only twenty thousand soldiers left. Even if we fight to the death, we cannot hold out. It might be better to surrender and spare our people further suffering.”
“Yes,” the king said with a bitter smile, “History will remember me as the one who brought ruin to our nation.”
“Father, don’t speak such disheartening words,” Xuan Ji stood up, her eyes fixed on the ancestral tablets. “Just because we are defeated by Dadao today doesn’t mean we will always be. Our ancestors are watching. One day, our family will return and reclaim our honor.”
The king was deeply moved by her words. “Xuan Ji, do you have a plan?”
“Father, while the Northern Sea might surrender, our family must not perish,” she said determinedly. “Dadao has given us three days. Today is only the first. I propose that I handle the surrender. Since the enemy has never seen you, you can fake your death, take a thousand elite soldiers and loyal ministers, and escape under the cover of night. This will pave the way for our future return.”
“No, absolutely not!” the king immediately rejected the idea.
“Father!” Xuan Ji exclaimed.
“Xuan Ji,” the king looked at her with deep affection, “I couldn’t bear to give you away in marriage to the King of Meng Cheng. How can I bear to let you do this now?”
“Father,” Xuan Ji helped him up, standing tall in the center of the hall, facing the ancestral tablets. “You have raised me, and I owe you a great debt. As a member of the royal family, it’s my duty to protect our people. Today, I might kneel before the enemy, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for our nation.”
“My dear Xuan Ji,” the king caressed her face, feeling a surge of pride. He walked to the entrance of the hall, looking out at the night sky, lost in thought.
Seeing this, Xuan Ji pressed on, “Father, please grant me this request.”
The king remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, “Xuan Ji, you’re right. The Northern Sea might surrender, but our family must not perish. Tomorrow, you and your twelfth brother should prepare to escape through the palace’s secret tunnel at midnight. You are still so young, with a long life ahead of you. Your brother, though young, is clever. Nurture him well, and he might become a great ruler one day.”
“Father…” Xuan Ji’s voice trembled with anxiety.
“I am old,” the king interrupted, leading her out of the hall. The night sky was dotted with faint stars, and the shadows of trees danced in the courtyard. “Look at the moon, Xuan Ji. It’s so dim, just like your aging father, who can’t shine over the Northern Sea for much longer. I will stay, and you will leave with your brother.”
“No,” Xuan Ji’s refusal was firm and resolute.
“Xuan Ji…” The king was surprised by her unusual assertiveness.
“Father, although I am a princess, I am still a sheltered woman of the palace. And my twelfth brother is only nine,” she said gravely. “Think about it. Throughout history, there have been countless instances of ministers betraying their rulers. Now, in our time of crisis, people’s loyalties are most fickle. On the treacherous road of escape, if anything goes awry, how can we, a young girl and a child, control those fierce ministers and soldiers?”
The king was taken aback by her words. She was right. In times of national crisis, the most unpredictable factor was human loyalty. Xuan Ji, having always lived in the palace, wouldn’t know how to handle the ministers, and her young brother was too young to be a pillar of support. If any of the ministers or soldiers were to rebel during their escape, how could they possibly manage?
“I understand your concern for me, Father,” Xuan Ji’s voice was filled with sorrow, “But if something were to happen to us on the way, not only would your efforts be in vain, but there would also be no hope for our nation’s revival.”
The king was deeply moved by her words. “Xuan Ji, how can I leave you behind and save myself?”
She took a deep breath, her eyes glistening with tears, “Father, you are the true king of the Northern Sea. Only you can control those ministers, only you can guide my twelfth brother to become a true emperor, and only you can rightfully rally our people to reclaim our nation.”
The king was lost in thought, deeply moved by her words. After a long silence, he finally spoke, “Xuan Ji, you have convinced me. Tomorrow, I will leave with your twelfth brother. You will handle the surrender.”
Xuan Ji nodded, her heart heavy but determined. The fate of their nation and family rested on their shoulders, and they would do whatever it took to ensure a brighter future.
In the vast expanse of his mind, a thought shimmered, and he solemnly declared, “Then, accompany me in departure.”
Bei Xuan Ji gently shook her head, her voice tinged with sorrow, “Father, my elder brothers have long passed, and the others fell in battle. The remaining siblings are yet to come of age. Once you leave with the twelfth brother, who will present the surrender document to the conquering nation? Who will stand as the beacon for our kingdom’s people? As the Princess of the Northern Seas, it is my duty to shoulder this responsibility.”
“No.” The King of the Northern Seas vehemently disagreed, unwilling to let his beloved daughter bear the weight of a fallen nation. “This calamity was of my own making. How can I flee to safety and leave you to bear its consequences?”
Xuan Ji knew her father’s concerns were for her safety, fearing the hardships she might endure. Her heart swelled with gratitude and sorrow, but this was not the time for tears. She tried to reassure him, “Father, since the Easterners conquered our land, there have been no reports of city massacres or large-scale slaughters of our people. I am of the Northern Seas royal lineage, but merely a woman. The Easterners might not be wary of me, nor would they harm me without reason.”
The King of the Northern Seas knew his daughter spoke the truth and her words held merit. Yet, gazing upon her radiant face, his heart was fraught with worry. The tales of fallen princesses being taken as consorts for enemy kings were not uncommon. The thought of his daughter serving the enemy was a bitter pill to swallow.
“Father,” Xuan Ji, understanding his apprehensions, offered a gentle smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons, enchanting and captivating. “If the Emperor of the East wishes to take me into his palace, wouldn’t that be an opportunity?”
The King of the Northern Seas stared at her, taken aback.
Yet, Xuan Ji’s demeanor shifted swiftly, her playful smile replaced by a solemn expression. “Father, if I leave with the twelfth brother, your fate is sealed. But if you leave with him, I might still have a chance to survive and await the day you reclaim our kingdom.” She grasped his hand, “Father, you must weigh what’s more important.”
The King of the Northern Seas remained silent. He knew his daughter’s analysis was sound, and her suggestion was the wisest course of action. He had ruled for decades and was no stranger to making difficult decisions. Yet, holding her close, caressing her hair, and gazing at her delicate face, he realized leaving her behind would be more painful than tearing his own flesh, more challenging than extracting his own bones.
“Father, our nation is in peril. Many of our warriors have sacrificed their lives for the Northern Seas. What is the sacrifice of one princess in comparison? If our dynasty returns, even if I serve the enemy, it will be worth it. Even in the afterlife, I will greet you with a smile.” Bei Xuanji embraced her father, resting her head on his shoulder, her voice unwavering, “Please, grant me this wish.”
“Xuan Ji…” The King of the Northern Seas was overwhelmed, his voice choked with emotion.
“Father, for our lineage, for the Northern Seas, please grant my request,” Bei Xuan Ji’s voice remained clear and resolute.
A gentle night breeze rustled the leaves, their whispers filling the air.
Amidst the soft sounds, the heavy and resigned voice of the King of the Northern Seas echoed, “I promise you. But you must promise me in return, to wait for my return.”
“…I promise,” Xuan Ji whispered, closing her eyes and sinking into her father’s embrace.
At the moment of parting, their promises weighed as heavy as mountains. Yet, who could predict the winds that might erode even the mightiest of stones, turning them to mere sand dunes in an instant?

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