//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: The History Behind Alícor 
// Story: The Legend of the Sun and Moon 
// by RuanQingSi 
//------------------------------//

Long before Equestria was founded, there exists an ancient, but advanced civilization named Alícor, a land primarily made up of ponies with both wings and horns who call themselves alicorns. Each of them were in charge of the necessities in daily life. These alicorns were a symbol of life and harmony to other creatures from the beginning of civilization. 

The Alicorn and Draconequus species have been in conflict for hundreds of thousands of years, one representing harmony, while the other, represents disharmony. Now though, alicorns were divided into separate states, fighting each other for land and power. Their battles were met with destructive consequences.

These states have been divided for fifty thousand years, and each state has its own ruler. These states were ruled by kings, who came from a lineage of powerful alicorns. In the Ju Feng state, the current ruler is King Zhou of Ju Feng, Long Juan Feng. Their imperial family was tasked with the responsibility of managing the wind and hurricanes the like, should they utilize their destructive powers for their own ambitions and benefits however, backlash would be met among the other five ruling states. 

One of these other five is the Hai Xiao state, the current ruler is King Yu of Hai Xiao, Zhu Bo Lang. They wielded power over the oceans and seas of the Alícor continent. In the Di Zhen state, the current ruler is King Tu of Di Zhen, Wang Ji, with their imperial family’s dominion residing over the land. The fourth state, Zhong Zhi, has King Yuan of Zhong Zhi as it’s ruler, whose name is Cai Qiang Hua. The Zhong Zhi state’s own specialty was their affinity and strange magical connection towards nature, plants, and trees.

Also known as the strongest state during the Bloody Six States Period, the Yue Liang state’s current ruler is King Yan of Yue Liang, Huang Meng Xiang. They hold control over the moon and its night, which they use to their advantage in many wars. As for the last state, it could be known as the weakest state out of all the six states, the Tai Yang state, even as their imperial family were ones who spread light and warmth with the sun.

This was due to having a fatuous ruler by the name of Yang Bao, titled King Jin of Tai Yang. The Tai Yang state was on decline, and events of robbery and embezzling of funds from disaster reliefs became increasingly common each year. It could be said that the Tai Yang state and the whole land of Alícor is undeniably at the peak of chaos. 

Farmlands, villages, and cities were destroyed, weaker or defenseless creatures were either seriously injured, or killed, and families had to face the losses of their children. Now, alicorns are no different from those they oppose, their greed and hatred for one another causing divided nations, and dissent for their own species.

****

After the death of the infamous King Jin of Tai Yang, Yang Yong Gan’s mother took the initiative to announce his imperial father’s “will”. The will his mother proclaimed to the public stated that he was to become the next king of the Tai Yang state, though no pony ever knew if the will was forged or not. Due to Yang Yong Gan’s young age, his mother, now Queen Dowager Gu, ruled the kingdom in place for him.

In just a few weeks, Queen Dowager Gu’s reputation as a materialistic, greedy, selfish, and ruthless mare had reached to everyone across the Tai Yang state. As regent, she watched the sufferings of the ponies in her state with folded hoofs, surrounded herself with corrupt officials, indulged in pleasures of the palace, living in wealth but spending luxuriously while most of the commoners didn’t even have a grain of rice to consume.

Queen Dowager Gu was also infamous for eradicating any pony who spoke out against her, or those that angered her. Heavens, she may even take their lives for fun. At least, that was what others outside the palace said. 

When it comes to public opinion, in the eyes of others, Yang Yong Gan could be considered quite smart, yet nothing abnormal. However, little did they know this seemingly ordinary young ruler would be the first to do something no one had done ever before, thus altering the course of Alícor’s history forever.

Ten years after Yang Yong Gan ascended the throne, Queen Dowager Gu had still not relinquish her power, even when he had became of age. Many officials of the state began to suspect that the Queen Dowager has been harboring thoughts of treason, but Yang Yong Gan, even though he was a king, he wholeheartedly trusted and respected his mother. He believed her words when she claimed to be protecting him from the dangers of the court, and guarding him from those ministers she described as “sly and scheming”. After all, who wouldn’t trust the pony who had raised them for more than ten years?

One day, Queen Dowager Gu had invited Yang Yong Gan to accompany her on a tour around the state, stating that the objective was to let him understand the condition his subjects lived in. This was an unprecedented thing for his mother to do, seeing as she never allowed him to roam outside of the capital, but Yang Yong Gan, not inclined to be suspicious of his mother, agreed to it after slight hesitation. Moreover, this would give him a chance to explore different cities, and figure out what his subjects did on a daily basis. 

Unfortunately for his curiosity, the carriage he had been sitting in stopped in a mostly deserted city that was the second closest “city” to the capital, which means they had not even reached the middle of the tour before something wrong had happened.

The name of the city they stopped at was Nanhe, which has a geographical location very close to the South River. The South River provided for the transportation of goods, water for agriculture among farming alicorns, and a defense mechanism for war. 

The South River stretched from the southern part of the Tai Yang state to the northern border of the Hai Xiao state. Such a good tool and place was unfortunately ruined during his father's reign, the King Jin of Tai Yang. 

During his rule, the South River became polluted due to unknown reasons, though many of the smart commoners speculated that the Governor of Nanhe was behind the pollution after it came to light that the Governor of Nanhe had received many benefits from an enemy country. After the South River became polluted, the conditions of the city of Nanhe dropped, and many ponies couldn't survive, thus, slowly but surely, Nanhe became an abandoned city.



Yang Yong Gan had a bad premonition in his heart. He didn't know why, but he couldn't help but feel nervous when the carriage stopped. 

Yang Yong Gan opened the curtains of his carriage and observed the area around him. He had studied the geography of his state before, and he was 90% sure that his carriage had stopped in Nanhe, a famous abandoned city. Why did the carriage stop at Nanhe, but not Guangzhu, the city his Imperial Mother and him agreed on? He thought to himself. 

The young king frowned as several thoughts and reasons appeared in his mind. Could the carriage driver be an assassin who's waiting to strike right when he steps down? Have bandits appeared, blocking their path? Could it be Imperial Mother...No, it couldn't be that. 

When he was busy sorting out his thoughts and guessing what his situation was, a large sword was thrown in the direction of his carriage, tearing through the carriage's curtain. However, Yang Yong Gan, the target the large sword was meant to strike, was not touched in any way. 

Due to the Martial Magic that his maternal grandfather had taught him secretly and a few assassination attempts, Yang Yong Gan had always been physically vigilant ever since the age of ten. Therefore, he was able to fly out of the carriage fast enough to avoid the destruction of that sword without a scratch.

During his first assassination attempt, when he was trying to avoid an assassin's attack, he suddenly felt that his body had become light in a certain position. Only after the assassination did he realize he had used Martial Magic. His maternal grandfather, seeing his potential in the study, taught Yang Yong Gan the basics and left the child to practice the rest on his own. 

Strangely, he was very determined to improve his skill in Martial Magic since he was young, though it was a not surprise as every skill and information he deemed important, he must master and memorize it no matter what. This concept was something Yang Yong Gan picked up naturally as a young king who was burdened by the responsibility of restoring a country.

As Yang Yong Gan landed on the ground, he was able to spot several assassins in black hiding behind withered trees, all of them surrounding his carriage. A sudden thought appeared in Yang Yong Gan's mind. Where are all the guards Imperial Mother assigned for him? Didn't they follow our carriages? 

It was not even a full second when Yang Yong Gan landed that the leader of those assassins galloped toward him and tried to slash him with a short sword. Seeing their leader attack, the assassins hiding behind withered trees followed suit, attacking Yang Yong Gan with their weapons at incomprehensible speeds. 

Having dozens of assassins attacking on all sides, Yang Yong Gan had no chances to conjure a sword or shield to defend himself, thus, he could only dodge their attacks or lead them to accidentally attack one another. 

The force of dozens of alicorns fighting caused the earth to rumble and trees to fall around Nanhe. 

One assassin, whose whole body except for his yellow eyes were covered in black cloth, saw that Yang Yong Gan had exposed a vital point, thus swiftly dashed upwards to strike him without mercy. One blow, and Yang Yong Gan's blood would gush out uncontrollably. 

Yang Yong Gan, who was in the middle of dodging another assassin's attack, saw this as an opportunity and quickly maneuvered himself. He wanted to be in a position where he could use the assassin who was aiming at his vital point's head to be a stepping stone to propel himself further into the sky. 

Just as that assassin's was about to stab him, Yang Yong Gan spun himself sideways and used his left foreleg to jump onto the assassin's head, which allowed him to be in a higher position than all the other alicorns here. 

Taking advantage of the time the assassins consumed to fly upwards and reach him, Yang Yong Gan summoned a longsword two-thirds his height, one made of the hottest metal and had the symbol of the sun engraved on the handle.

Now with a weapon in his hand, Yang Yong Gan was on the offensive as he swung his longsword to injure an assassin, incidently cutting off the head of an assassin near him. The ground was tainted with red as blood squirted out of the head when it fell, and the mutilated head, which once contained any other pony's complexion, now looked bloodless and chilling, causing Yang Yong Gan to flinch. 

Even though he had fought against assassins before, the result was only using his magic to teleport them to an unknown, faraway place, it was his first time killing, so he couldn't help but be afraid. 

Noticing the slight hesitation, the leader of the assassins stealthily rushed towards his back in an attempt to catch him off guard, and it succeeded. A short sword pierced into the meat of Yang Yong Gan's neck, and red ink slowly flowed out. 

It seems like even a moment of hesitation is not tolerated in situations like these. 

Gritting his teeth in hopes of controlling the pain, Yang Yong Gan used his right foreleg to grab the pony behind him and swung him with as much force as he could muster onto the ground. Seeing how the assassins were determined to kill him, Yang Yong Gan thought of unleashing his full magic capacity. 

It was risky, as he could lose control of himself more easily than if he assumed a form to accommodate such magic, but he couldn't begin to list how many cons would outweigh the pros if he used that method. If he didn't do it now, there is a higher chance of him ending up dead. 

Touching the amethyst colored gem carved in the shape of a diamond placed at the center of a golden accessory hanging on his neck, his golden mane and tail, which he had inherited from his father, erupted into flames, and the light emitting from them was spookily terrifying. For his pale magenta eyes, contrarily from his mane, was engulfed in a cold aura, but if one looked carefully, one could see a bit of blood red and fiery yellow. If looks could kill, the assassins standing before him would've died thousands of times. Though, it didn't matter one bit, as his physical strength, speed, Martial Magic, and natural magic were infinitely more powerful than it was before. Now, even a hundred alicorn soldiers were no match for him. 

Yang Yong Gan was not stunned by the sudden power rush he received, even though it was his first time releasing his magic seal. It was to be expected, since there were history books written in detail about this event, should it ever occur in an alicorn's life. 

What was not in his expectations however, was the shower of confidence he felt as the overwhelming power surged within his body, and the appearance of a sudden temptation to burn everything he hated to the ground. 

Now full of unrestrained, almost infinite power, he no longer hesitated as he chopped off one assassin's head, instead, he felt strangely delighted. The fondness made the sobered part of him scared, it was something he couldn't make head or tail of. 

After ten minutes of fighting, less than five assassins were standing, while Yang Yong Gan only had a few bleeding scars. Next to him is an exquisite and brilliant longsword engulfed in red colored magic he had conjured during that three seconds of spare time. 

"You...you know Martial Magic?" The leader of the assassins asked as he breathed heavily, struggling to sputter words out. The leader of the assassins trembled as he struggled to stand from severe wounds inflicted by Yang Yong Gan, his left foreleg holding onto his short sword for strength. 

Yang Yong Gan's pale magenta eyes, which began to revert back to its original state along with his mane and tail after he had touched that same amethyst gem, looked over at the leader's left foreleg that was holding a short sword and said, "From this king's observation, you are a second class swordspony." 

A piece of his mind was disappointed at the gradual disappearance of that infinite power, and couldn't help but want to grab hold of it forever, never allowing it to return to his magic seal. However, Yang Yong Gan knew what was currently important and irrelevant, so he pushed the thought to the back of his mind and focused on the leader of the assassins. 

The moment Yang Yon Gan finished that sentence, the leader's whole body stiffened and his grip on his short sword tightened. Seeing the leader's movement, Yang Yong Gan's expression darkened. "There are only two ponies in the Tai Yang state who are second class swordsponies, Ye Chao and Wan Fu Du. Wan Fu Du has gone to assist on a diplomatic mission in the Hai Xiao state. You must be Ye Chao." 

In addition to studying geography, he had also vigorously studied on all of the noble families of his state and their history, therefore, he knew the existence of every noble in the Tai Yang state. Although Ye Chao is not well known throughout the Tai Yang state, Ye Da Fan, Ye Chao's uncle, is. 

Ye Da Fan is the Prime Minister of the Tai Yang state and a close friend of his Imperial Mother, Queen Dowager Gu. Ye Chao, as Ye Da Fan's nephew, is a rare genius who had became a second class swordspony at the age of thirty, which is extremely uncommon. 

Most swordsponies in the Tai Yang state, even if they practice rigorously, in rare circumstances could they become a second class swordspony around the age of fifty. Of course, family members of a state's imperial family were exceptions as they possess a strong lineage of magic. 

Yang Yong Gan's eyes narrowed, feeling both relieved that he had attained such information a few months ago, and angry that Ye Chao would use his excellent skills for treason. However...Yang Yong Gan didn't have any grudges with Ye Chao, so the only explanation for Ye Chao's actions is that someone ordered him to do it. The only person who has the power to order and influence Ye Chao to secretly assassinate his king is...Ye Da Fan. 

After finishing off the remaining assassins around Ye Chao, Yang Yong Gan quickly hit certain acupoints on Ye Chao's body that restricted his movement, and dragged him to Queen Dowager Gu's carriage. 

Seeing Queen Dowager Gu, Yang Yong Gan estimated that the distance from his carriage to his Imperial Mother's carriage was around two miles. Although the two carriages were quite far away if one walks, but the distance should be enough for his Imperial Mother to hear the loud commotion of fighting and destruction. Why didn't she come help him? This question only contributed to his suspicion. 

Turning around and seeing her son, Queen Dowager Gu's eyes widened a bit. Seeing the strange expression on her son's face, her eyes quickly averted to a certain motionless pony behind Yang Yong Gan, Ye Chao. When Queen Dowager Gu saw all the wounds on Ye Chao's body, and the blood on Yang Yong Gan's magnificent conjured longsword, she knew the assassination had failed. 

Instead, Queen Dowager Gu unconsciously felt a chilling sensation when she realized the current situation. How did he survive fighting against thirty-six third-class swordsponies and Ye Chao? She had watched Yang Yong Gan grow up since the moment he was born and had never given him a teacher for sword fighting. When had Yang Yong Gan become so strong?

"Imperial Mother?" Yang Yong Gan asked with a smile, his pale magenta eyes twinkling with mysterious intent, "Did you know that this son had encountered assassins?" 

With a brilliant mane and tail that looked like it could be made with pure gold, dazzling snow white fur covering his entire body, long legs that represented his tall stature at a young age, and perfect wings that could be said to be from an angel, Yang Yong Gan would've looked angelically elegant and unparalleled were it not for his odd smile. 

Looking at the scene in front of her, Queen Dowager Gu couldn't find any words for a good response. "Aijia..." It was if her mind had stopped working out of shock and fear and the words she was about to utter out were stuck in her throat. 

As Yang Yong Gan carefully watched his Imperial Mother's every movement, his smile turned slightly bitter, not enough for other ponies to notice though. He was suspicious when he was fighting those assassins, but now, his Imperial Mother's body language confirmed most of his fears. 

His Imperial Mother that he trusted so much likely ordered Ye Da Fan to send Ye Chao and dozens of assassins to kill him. Yang Yong Gan's body turned stiff from holding back a river of tears and his teeth gnashed from confined anger. Why? How could a mother do this to her son? What had he done to deserve this? 

Without knowing, Yang Yong Gan had let his magical grip on Ye Chao tightened, causing Ye Chao to let out a groan in pain. Ye Chao's groan awakened him from his emotional abyss. 	

After taking a deep breath, Yang Yong Gan expression turned to that of a stoic smile, one he often used in court and in unfavorable situations. "Imperial Mother, as this son had encountered assassins on the way, this son was worried that Imperial Mother had also encountered some assassins, so this son wants to ask of Imperial Mother's wellbeing."

Hearing Yang Yong Gan asking her with words full of concern, Queen Dowager Gu's panic subsided. 

Yang Yong Gan understood his mother's nature. Although she was not sharp nor eloquent, she had years of experience scheming in the inner palace, so she was bound to pick up some things. 

As he had expected, Queen Dowager Gu soon glided over her shock concerning his magic, and responded with a smile. "Imperial Mother is fine, but you my son, must of been scared. Come now, tell Imperial Mother what had happened." 

Queen Dowager Gu, although she was reckless, she wasn't stupid. How else could she respond? With panic, or say that she wanted to assassinate him to replace him with another son she conceived with Ye Da Fan? Only afraid that after she finished saying that sentence, even her family wouldn't be let off. 

Even though Yang Yong Gan was her son and her family was his maternal family, since she had experienced it herself, she knew that betrayal from a pony's closest ones hurt the most. Moreover, he was a king, betraying him was considered treason. Three-generation executions would considered as mercy. 

After hearing his explanation, which contained every detail of today's incident except the part of him releasing all of his power, Queen Dowager Gu confidently said, "Yong Gan, it must be those scheming officials! They see me as a scourge, so naturally, they would also hate you! However, even if I did provoke them from time to time, you are innocent! How could they do such a thing?" 

As Queen Dowager Gu spoke, her voice soft and moving as sparkling tears fell down her cheeks; her long eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a butterfly as she blinked and cried. The average age for an alicorn's beauty and refined features to fade is when they are six thousand years old. Queen Dowager Gu was only fifty-eight years old, thus, when she cried and became so delicate, it was both charming and pitiful. 

It was as if she was mourning for his injustice, outraged at the audacity of those treasonous officials who dared to touch her beloved son.

Yang Yong Gan frowned when he saw what method his Imperial Mother used to try and evoke pity from him. This act of hers was like a concubine's; it only served to make him disgusted.

"Speaking of scheming officials, Imperial Mother must be talking about Prime Minister Ye right? From what I see, Prime Minister Ye is the only one powerful enough to send such assassins to eliminate me." 

As soon as Yang Yong Gan spoke of Ye Da Fan, Queen Dowager Gu's body stiffened and crocodile tears stopped flowing from her eyes. "Moreover," Yang Yong Gan began, finally sparing Ye Chao a glance, "I have concrete evidence that this assassin is Ye Chao. Ye Chao is Prime Minister Ye's nephew, only he can order Ye Chao to do such a thing. "

"Imperial Mother, you are right. Prime Minister Ye is a powerful official, so he and Ye Chao must be thoroughly investigated. Imperial Mother, you should stay away from Ye Da Fan at this juncture. He is dangerous." Spoke Yang Yong Gan, the tempo of his words slow, the meaning behind them were cold, but the tone of his voice was surprisingly innocent, like he was worried that his Imperial Mother would be tricked by Ye Da Fan. 

Queen Dowager Gu originally never had a silver tongue, so she was unable to refute any of Yang Yong Gan's words. She could only reluctantly nod her head and display a strained smile. Somehow, she had to tell Fan Gege about this, or else, he could be in danger. Thought Queen Dowager Gu. 
On Yang Yong Gan's side, although he was smiling innocently on the surface, on the inside, his heart was in so much pain as if someone had stabbed it hundreds of times. What does his Imperial Mother want? Did he do something wrong? Did he offend her in any way? No, he never did. He had always wanted her to treat him with motherly love. He could have all the world's love and admiration, but the only pony he ever needed to treat him with such luxuries was his Imperial Mother. 

If I die, would she even shed a tear?....No, she wouldn't. Perhaps he had long known in his heart of his Imperial Mother's heartlessness. 

As the pony who called him her son finally turned her back on him and enter her large and luxurious carriage, a single drop of water unknowingly fell from his pale, magenta eyes, which was opaque to even him. Even as the carriage departed and flew up towards today's dull endless sky, Yang Yong Gan still stood there, in a trance. It wasn't until Ye Chao's muffled voice interrupted the silence that the snow-furred pony snapped out of it.

When he turned around and looked at Ye Chao, who had a black cloth in his mouth to prevent him from talking, straight in the eyes, he knew what were his priorities and soon turned cold toward his delusions.

Ye Da Fan should soon know of the failed assassination, if I don't attack now, who knows what will happen next? 

For now, Yang Yong Gan did not have enough power in his hooves, which means he could not tear off his mother's mask and punish the evildoers that collaborated with her, as half of the Imperial court's officials were in Prime Minister Ye and his mother's faction. However, that didn't mean he couldn't gain power, and he knew just the pony who could help him.  His maternal grandfather, Gu Hui Zhong.

Suddenly, Yang Yong Gan felt unbearable pain in his heart and stomach.



Yang Yong Gan expected to feel suffocated, as one should be when a creator of their life wants to end them, but his return to the palace surprisingly gave him a feeling of yearning, though the yearning isn't customary as it is only some desperate hope for the day to end. 

Granted, the dusk could start depending on his whims, but he wasn't willing to risk the commencing of a toxic indulgence on his part and world-wide anger. It was unique at this time that he felt the day to be too long, a testimony to the state of urgency currently residing in his heart. 

Stepping down from his royal carriage, he glanced up and met an endlessly tall gate, its pyramid roof that curved out at four ends dipped in the colors of greenish cyan, navy blue, bright red, and the grand imperial yellow, which were supported by a firm circlet of pillars made of the same bright red. 

When entering the palace, there would be three kinds of ponies, the first would be in awe of its luxurious setting, detailed architecture, and oppressive aura, while the second would only have their head down, too afraid to even allow their eyesight to land on something besides their hooves. 

Unlike the other two, the third understood the meaning behind such grandeur construction, as such places existed only to house bones and skulls of which were decorated with flowers and roses atop. Ponies belonging to this type would typically mourn those who have turned into bones lying beneath each meter of grass with a brief solemn expression, then go on with their lives. 

It was the way things operated in every Imperial Palace, and Yang Yong Gan, who was at the center of it, knew its order better than any pony else in the Tai Yang state.

As Yang Yong Gan entered his own dwelling, a large hall that rests in the center of all palaces, he took notice of Chief Eunuch Ji, who went into a deep bow when the young king stepped in the spacious hall. Chief Eunuch Ji was one pony he had spent a considerable amount of effort on to pull to his side, and of course, it involved benefits. Not many ponies in this imperial palace were willing to risk anything for you unless you give them benefits, no matter if it is in the form of money, power, or magic. 

Sitting down on a circular rosewood chair and setting his forehooves on a table made with the same material, Yang Yong Gan asked the pony bowing before him with an emotionless voice, "What are the results from the investigation?"

The alicorn who is known as Chief Eunuch Ji, sweated profusely on the ground and responded with cautiousness as he said, "Replying to Your Majesty, the former Chief Eunuch attests to that jade pendant to indeed be evidence of a promise between King Xian and the former Duke of Hui." Caressing the dragon carvings on the table with his forelegs, the young king fell into deep contemplation. 

The King Xian that Chief Eunuch Ji spoke of was his paternal grandfather, who held "Xian" as his title, while the former Duke of Hui, also known as General Gu, is his maternal grandfather, who fought in many wars with King Xian. 

Unfortunately, his maternal grandfather ultimately had no children, thus the title could only be passed to his nephew, who is the current Duke of Hui. Contrasting to his nephew and niece, who is Yang Yong Gan's Imperial Mother, the former Duke of Hui is a loyalist, which meant he had a very strong sense of patriotism. This aspect is the main reason why Yang Yong Gan dared to reach out to his maternal grandfather, as he had always been aware of his maternal grandfather's disapproval for Prime Minister Ye's faction. 

If Yang Yong Gan could receive his help, then he would accomplish plenty with minimal effort. 

"A promise you say? Did the former Chief Eunuch mention what promise?" Yang Yong Gan asked. If the promise correlates with military assistance, then this investigation was by all means worth the trouble. 

Chief Eunuch Ji, still kneeling on the ground, glanced at his king. Information related to the old King Xian was not something that can just be bought with money. 

To attain this information, the king ordered him to constantly monitor the former Chief Eunuch, who was the old King Xian and Jin's closest servant, in hopes of catching his weakness. The result was, the eunuch' s one and only disciple, as well as adopted son, had a deficiency in both forelegs, which could not be cured by any magic. 

The king wanted to trade medicine with information, and thus searched even beyond the borders of Tai Yang for a physician to cure the former Chief Eunuch's son's illness. 

Unlike the Draconequus, who had talents in every area, alicorns lacked ponies who had an aptitude in the realm of medicine and poison, so Yang Yong Gan's was easier to be said than done.  

Nevertheless, one should not underestimate Yang Yong Gan for to his young age as he was mature, knew how to avoid provoking suspicion, and conducted things silently and efficiently. Although Chief Eunuch Ji did not regret accepting the position, serving such a king often made him sweat with nervousness, since he could not tell what his king's intentions were. 

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the promise does not just lie in words, but in..."

Yang Yong Gan spent the rest of that afternoon in his palace, discussing with the Chief Eunuch. Other servants were not allowed to enter, and the halls were locked. The Imperial Palace of Tai Yang was quiet and calm. Though it always was calm before the storm.



"Maternal Grandfather must be surprised," said Yang Yong Gan calmly, "You must be asking as to why I've invited you here." Standing under a plum blossom tree, Yang Yong Gan's robe swayed and whistled with the wind; his golden mane and tail the only source of light within miles besides the nightly body up above. Yang Yong Gan's rosy eyes glowed under the moonlight, giving him a mystical aura, and from the king's body radiated nobility and power. 

"Your Majesty, it is impolite to use informal language. This official doesn't deserve Your Majesty's words. Your Majesty has already become of age, capable of ruling independently without guidance from the senior officials. Although Your Majesty and I have blood relations, we are king and official first before family." Replied another voice. This voice, though gruff and aged, as if the owner was somepony who has already experienced thousands of years of hardships, contained an affectionate tone towards the pony in front of them.  

The bearer of the voice was hidden in the shadows, but if one looked carefully, one could see that the pony wore a worn out standard Tai Yang official attire, had an all white mane and tail; the mane itself tied in a high squarely curved bun encased in a silver piece. Combined with impenetrable red eyes and evident wrinkles, not to mention the pony's alabaster coat, the pony hidden in the umbrage looked like an old ghost. 

Yang Yong Gan scanned the old pony in front of him for awhile before saying, "Well then, Old Duke Hui must forgive Us for Our inconsiderate words. However, the reason We invited you here is not to exchange pleasantries, but for something greater." 

There was a moment of silence between the two ponies before Old Duke Hui broke the exchange with a polite statement. "Then, may Your Majesty grant this old stallion the privilege of hearing what Your Majesty has in store for this old one." Old Duke Hui's words were full of respect, but his eyes contained mazes that Yang Yong Gan simply couldn't see through.

Well, here goes my gamble.