Terminology:
Chinese names In Chinese names, the surname comes first followed by the given name. In formalities one would address another by their surname followed by their ranking/position/occupation. The given names are only used by people close to you.
The (Seven) Warring States Period: 475 BC- 221 BC, Ancient China was separated into 7 major states, which were continuously at war with each other. During this period, Agriculture, industry, economy, weapons and technology flourished. So did the legacy of war tactics written by tacticians of that time from that era which are still respected and studied in this age. This was a complete mess for the country itself, there was no time to develop the societies and culture until the next period of Ancient China were unification was beginning.
Tang Dynasty 618-907 A.D. The Tang Dynasty was the most prosperous era for the Ancient Chinese empire; flouris.h.i.+ng culture in the form of Arts. It was a period of progress and stability.
--- --- --- -- -- --- -- -- -- -- -- ---
Updated map of countries mentioned so far.
Key: Magenta – Li, Green – Tong and Red – Xi Rei
(Drawing an outline with a mouse was hard ;_;)
--- --- --- -- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
The scene that Feng Ming had first imagined was both men mounted on their horses, the animals in a wild bolt across an open plain.
His reality presented him with a lawn cordoned off by a wooden fence they didn’t even leave the confines of the palace.
The pitiful sight before him compared with his vivid imagination completely deflated his mood, sinking into a slump of anti-climax.
Subsequently, the animal that was lead out towards him was not even close to a horse, one could easily cla.s.sify the sorry looking animals a dumpy mule.
The romantic and wild horseback ride, turned into a complete flop, no one could blame the resentful eyes that fixated on Rong Tian.
Rong w.a.n.g paid no attention to the death ray aimed his way and instead explained why Feng Ming’s fantasy was brought to a halt.
“I believe you have also forgotten your horsemans.h.i.+p skills you have learnt from childhood. It is best you start with a smaller horse and work yourself up before attempting to ride a full size one outside of the Palace, safety comes first.”
Feng Ming bitterly mumbled.
“You tricked me.” He accused.
The attendants at ears length covered their mouths smothering their giggles at the couples bickering
In order to preserve the last remnants of his dignity, Feng Ming was refusing to mount the “horse” – mule, it was only going to happen over his dead body.
Rong w.a.n.g surrendered sighing at the stubborn boy he resorted to his last option and called out to his stable masters.
“Someone, prepare White Cloud and lead him out.” He ordered the servants.
Soon, a dignified high pitch of a horse’s neigh could be heard. An attendant emerged and lead along a snow white horse towards its waiting master.
The animal’s smooth white coat gleamed with a healthy sheen.
It was as if appeared from some mythical story, it emitted a majestic atmosphere. One could immediately tell that this horse was seared from a prestigious line of esteemed pedigree.
Feng Ming’s eyes quickly flickered with excitement.
Rong w.a.n.g laughed at the obvious change in Feng Ming’s mood.
The King swung his legs effortlessly over his horse and mounted it as if it was second nature he then promptly pulled Feng Ming up to join him.
“This here is my beloved horse, called White Cloud,” the King gave his prized pet a tap with his heels on its belly and the well trained horse screamed in response and toke flight into a gallop. The animal’s powerful legs carried his pa.s.sengers at a speed of wind.
This was Feng Ming’s first experience on a horse, and the adrenaline rush surging through him was more exciting than any crazy roller coaster ride.
With little effort White Cloud had made three laps around the restrictive trotting area at G.o.d speed.
Rong w.a.n.g reined in the bridle and the great animal obediently came to a halt.
“Continue! Hey! Come on!” cried the Prince still elated with joy.
“I have to attend to official matters in court, and I can’t stay here with you.” The King replied, regardless this didn’t dampen the younger man’s spirit.
“That’s even better, you can leave and I can ride White Cloud by myself!”
“I won’t permit you.” The King ordered bluntly as he cast rain over Feng Ming’s parade.
Rong Tian dismounted and reached for the other. There was a short struggled to tear the unrelenting Feng Ming off his perch.
The boy was still tightly holding onto White Clouds reigns when the King finally managed to yank him down.
“White Cloud won’t accept other people than me. He will buck and you will get hurt. You can ride that one over there.” His finger pointed off to the side at an innocent pony nibbling away at a patch of gra.s.s.
Feng Ming stared at the pony bitterly and straight up refused the degrading animal.
“That’s out of the question! I can ride a horse and I want to ride White Cloud.” He whined stubborn as a fat kid in a candy store.
As the result of their quarrel, Feng Ming revoked his chance to even ride a pony.
Rong w.a.n.g was afraid leaving the boy by himself would only end in trouble so he simply dragged the younger man kicking and screaming along to attend to Xi Rei’s business.
-- -- -- -- --
When the pair entered the official court hall, it was already occupied with numerous important figureheads.
Silence besieged the room.
Imperial n.o.blemen, generals and high ranking officers were stunned, their jaws jarred and eyes peel wide open to the bewildering sight before them.
Their attention had fixated onto Feng Ming.
The Crowned Prince who was tucked away deep in the secret maze of the Palace was brought alongside the Regent King to attend a meeting for official business.
Were their eyes playing tricks on them?
It appears the strange rumors flying around the Palace had more credit than any of them liked to believe, especially when the evidence was clear as day.
King Rong and His Majesty’s relations.h.i.+p appeared to have taken a new direction.
Within moments of their silent shock the officials scrambled to collect themselves, and offered their “Crowned Prince” the correct respectful salutations.
“Your Highness”
“Your Majesty.” They murmured one after another.
“…”
Feng Ming watched his subjects, who clearly held the Prince with no esteem. Apart from the formalities, the slightest hint of respect could not be sniffed out between their greetings.
This only paid to further highlight how each individual saw him, they were probably taunting how weak and incompetent he was inwardly, the Prince couldn’t help but feel the man beside him was somewhat responsible.
The Prince’s large solemn eyes turned to Rong w.a.n.g.
Instead of boiling over he decided not to be swamped by the att.i.tude he was receiving from the court officials.
He chose to turn the situation into a jest, for his own entertainment, given he had a golden opportunity to tease Rong Tian.
With a feigned blank expression he provoked the Regent King.
“Rong w.a.n.g, how am to address them? Do I apply that type of etiquette?”
Rong w.a.n.g’s eyes flared dangerously as they beamed down onto the younger man, in a low voice he replied aggressively.
“That type of etiquette is reserved only for the Regent King of Xi Rei.”
For better insurance to make sure Feng Ming was clear on the matter he further warned.
“You are not allowed to kiss any of the court officials, do you understand?”
The officials sat in their a.s.signed seats, and the Regent King arranged for Feng Ming to be seated with him in the middle of the room upon a platform. This position was given to him out of the proper respect of his Royal ident.i.ty.
In the centre of the hall was a mural map made entirely out of clay, it showed various countries with their terrains.
Countless miniature flags littered the map, making it look more like a pin cus.h.i.+on. Lines that curved over the surface of the map also helped defined the regions.
Xi Rei’s great kingdom occupied a vast area of land riddled with numerous mountain ranges.
Feng Ming studied the map closely, and recalled the information Rong w.a.n.g had given him.
Apparently within this era, there were eleven countries continuously locking arms in battle, wars often broke out between the kingdoms and it was chaos.
This type of situation was even messier than the period of Seven Warring States in ancient China which Feng Ming had known of from history cla.s.s in his own world.
“Disputes have increased at the borders we share with the Tong country. The number of thieves has escalated and our civilians have been pillaged. We have received reports of property damage and looting”
A heavy-set old and white haired General grunted.
