The Minister's wished to throw the two Princes a celebration banquet upon their return, but their Emperor seemed reluctant, which surprised them. Minister Wen convinced him that the banquet would be beneficial to the Emperor for he could openly show his pride for these two war heroes that shared his blood and name, also might there be a fair daughter or son(he shuddered, when he spoke this latter word) that pleased him enough to become his new Empress? He suggested several Ministers and officials who might even be able to arrange things for him, leaving out his own name. The Emperor did not accept his being humble nor letting others take fall if the banquet should fail and told him to do it instead. He also assigned the long suffering Feng Chun to assist him.

Renowned musicians and a dancing troupe were invited and several excellent cooks travelled from his House and that of a couple of his allies to assist in food preparation. Many Furen's and their daughters became giddy with anticipation. Was this banquet not only an opportunity to sing the praises of the Emperor, but a chance to gain the attention of one of the two elusive Princes? Plus the disfavoured Prince was now ten and could also be presented. He might not be Crown Prince anymore, but that did not mean he might not one day become Emperor. All four Princes were on similar footing, but First and Second Prince stood a little ahead due to their age.

A huge rise in the sales of silks and accessories swept through all three regions, though naturally, the most were sold in the Capital. Some even made their way to the White Orchid Palace. "Does the Emperor really expect me to be seen wearing these silks?" Yu Long lamented as he stretched out a bolt of red silk with brocade of Phoenix feathers along side patterns of dragons.

Jie Long laughed, red would suit his brother, but these suggestive patterns were too much. "You know, Shu Jia and Tang Jia also sent silks. There is a particularly interesting blue silk with patterns of koi and water symbols. Perhaps brother might find it more to his interest?"

"Perhaps," Yu Long mentioned, though truthfully, he did not wish to attend at all. "And what will brother be wearing?"

"Who knows," Jie Long teased.

As it happened, Jie Long's robes were purple with silver emblems across much of the hem and along the coat edge. Along with Yu Long in blue and silver, the Princes made quite the vision and hearts beat swiftly in young daughters breast. The girls sat along with women to the left of the Emperor's seat and men to the right. Girls generally attempted to look coy as they glanced through long lashes at the Princes, who dared not even blink too much in their direction, less the girls were deceived into thinking certain thoughts.

The Emperor did look over the girls with their fancy jewels and powered faces and felt none could compare with his Yu Long. He was even more pleased to notice that neither Prince had taken any interest in these girls and so turned his attention to the food before him.

"Ah the young Miss of the Shu family seems to be smug upon viewing you," Jie Long teased.

"Choosing a silk to turn into robes does not make one favoured," Yu Long muttered, irritably. "I blame you."

Jie Long laughed openly and warmly smiled at his brother, causing many girls to glance his way and weep inwardly. When would Wáng Jie Long look their way with that smile?

The dancers performed with style and grace drawing delighted comments from around them. Even the three Princes (for Ya Bao was close by the older Princes) seemed impressed and the girls urged their mothers to let them perform in front of the Princes. The women looked towards their husbands and eventually one Minister suggested that there were many here with talents for the Emperor and three Princes to enjoy. And so these girls played their favoured instruments, recited poetry and danced before the Princes and Emperor.

"Boring, even Sun Mama's lullabies do not put me to sleep this fast. Dancing, what dancing, was she not just fending off a bee? That's the same sound my cat produces when she is in heat!" These unkind words muttered under breath were from their sour little brother, but Jie Long and Yu Long had to straighten their faces upon hearing these words more than a few times. The boy also said his last words a little too loudly. "What does she know of poetry? Second Brother ought to send Lâoshi to school her!"

"Oh and small Prince is so well tutored that he recognises worthy poems?" That girl retorted, before being hushed by her mother.

"Of course!" The Prince said boldly and began to quote;

Oh Graceful willow tree

With back arched and branches splayed

Jade leaves droop towards the ground and lake

The water reflects Xi Shi

Holding firm to climb on into

Branches offering shelter inside

The Willow tree has taken firm root

Deep into the warm earth

Silence followed his poem. The young girls and their mothers could not quite say if they had been schooled by this young Prince or not. The poem sounded quite beautiful, but it was unlike anything they had heard before and not one written by a renowned poet.

Conversations slipped on to other things, after the Emperor thanked the Third Prince for his contribution.

"Brother," The First Prince murmured. "Was that not one of your poems? It's just, it sounded a little perverted..." Yu Long flushed red. It was indeed and it was not one meant for public ears!

*****

*Mission; Travel to the Heartlands Border*

*Mission; Halt the Second Army's invasion*

*Mission; Save the people trapped in the Summer Temple in the Heartlands*

Yu Long dressed in black, ready to blend in with the shadows and escape the confines of the Imperial Palace, but he was swiftly stopped by another Prince, who also happened to wear black. Jie Long was hurt that Yu Long sought to leave without telling him.  "Where are you going?" Jie Long asked as he confronted the Second Prince upon the rooftop.

"I couldn't trust General Jun to retreat on the word of a messenger, so I sent a spy to see if he would follow orders or chase his own glory," Yu Long lied.  Actually, he would have done, if he had thought of it sooner.

"So did I," Jie Long mentioned opening his palm which contained a small note that had been attached to a trained bird.  It was clear what it stated.  "But why do you think that you ought to stop him?"

"I dragged brother along once already," Yu Long mentioned.  "You ought to stay, rest and convince the Emperor to make you Crown Prince."

"How dull," Jie Long pouted and then accused; "You simple wish to escape the Emperor's fawning!  You know it's no fun around here without you!"

"You are not going to let me leave without you, are you?" Yu Long sighed and crossed his arms about his chest.

"Of course not," Jie Long grinned and leapt down towards the Palace gates.

"You were this way when we battled on the frontlines as well!" Yu Long muttered as he followed.

****

The two Princes did not go alone, they had gathered themselves an attachment of trustworthy men over the years including the brothers Wu Tian and Wu Chang, Keung Shui and Ling Jun.  The small group swiftly reached the North gates of the Capital where the guard waited for them with horses and declared that his comrades were waiting a few miles away for them.  As the number of men did not exceed twenty, they could travel at far greater speeds than an Army of 10,000 men, so reached the Barrier Mountains before noon the following day.

They forced themselves to rest for the next part of the journey would not be so easy as it.  Mountain paths were treacherous and a few bandit groups were thought to lurk in certain parts.  They stopped for just an hour before they led the horses into the mountains.  They did not come across the bandits, perhaps they had been wiped out by the army, or perhaps their instincts were sound enough to realise that facing these twenty men would be suicide.  They were not even halfway up the mountain when they were forced to rest once more as the sun set in the west.

It was cold and damp, but better to not blind their eyes by fire and suffer ambush by enemies.  The men took turns to watch throughout the night, though they urged the two Princes to rest.  They would need to spend at least another day within the mountains before they could pass the border into the Heartlands.

When they finally reached the border, they could see that the Second Army had already burst through its walls; there were lingering fires and debris and scattered bodies of dead men, many from the Second Army. Jie Long asked their men to see if there were any survivors, but knew they would find none.  General Jun wished to paint his name into the history books with blood.  "Where to now?" Jie Long asked.

Yu Long looked into the beautiful land sheltered by mountains.  Tall, green trees, wild ferns and flying birds was much the view as well as small roofs peeking out of the canopy.  The buildings here must be tall, unlike those found in the Empire, Yu Long thought as he scanned the land he could see.  The army had made quite the mess as they entered this tree filled landscape, breaking branches and cutting saplings to make way for them.  The Princes and their men could just follow this trail of destruction.

"Look!" Wu Chang mentioned as he indicated a smoke trail coming a thousand or so li from their position. 

"Let's go there then," Jie Long shrugged, before mounting his horse and leading them into the woods.

Wu Chang was correct with his assumptions and helped lead them to a Temple Building that appeared to be under siege.  There were the random fires that threatened to leap into the surrounding woods and hundreds of dead men about the Temple gates, many struck with arrows. Jie Long raced ahead and Yu Long cursed him for a fool and followed.  They were even attacked by some of the men in this army as they did not recognise these two young men.  But there were few soldiers who did not recognise Wu Chang.

"Where is your general?" Wu Chang demanded.

General Jun acted surprised to see them as he sat in a tent drinking tea as his men carried out his orders.  "Wu Chang, what are you doing here?"

"I came to end your dissubordination!" Wu Chang said, quietly furious.

"I'm sure I do not know to what it is you refer to," Jun Qiu replied. 

"You did not receive an Imperial edict to begin this war," Wu Chang declared, "but one was sent to have you return to the Second Army barracks."

"Oh and I will, of course," General Jun declared.  "Once I have obtained this gift for the Emperor."

"You act above your place, General," Jie Long stated as he came to stand by Wu Chang.

"Little boys not long removed from mothers milk should not speak during the discussions of men," the General's sub commander sneered.  The General smirked.

"General! We have broken through the defences!" Came the voice of a soldier.

The General rose from his seat.  "If you will excuse me, I have a siege to finish."

"I never thought that the Second Army would be so uncouth, brother," Yu Long murmured loudly.

"I agree, brother," Jie Long replied.  "It is really a pity that this Army, which serves our Imperial Father is lead by such disrespectful men."  The General paused and paled.

"Oh that reminds me, General Jun, I forgot to introduce you," Wu Chang announced.  "Please give greetings to his highness Wáng Jie Long, the First Prince of the Empire and his brother, Second Prince Wáng Yu Long."  The subcommander fell to his knees and prostrated with a whimper.  The General could only follow suit.  Soon all of the soldiers bowed before them.

*****

As Yang announced his missions were completed, one by one, Yu Long was rushing into the building, the feeling in his heart telling him he should hurry.  As he entered the Prayer Room, he saw a young man seated, quietly in wait, with a servant in black and a servant in white behind him.  The young man had hair loose that fell about his back like a midnight cloak.  His eyes were mesmerising, large and pale.  His face was ambiguous, both feminine and masculine, but Yu Long knew that it was a man who sat before him.

The man smiled, his soft lips curving and his eyes shining bright.  "What took you so long?"

Author's note; Yay finally!  Oh and by the way, were you able to translate the poem?