A Love Written In The Stars

"General Li wei, you are under arrest for exposure of confidential military information," declared the officer.

Li Wei's Pov:

I spent a few precious weeks with my family, but the Minister's threats never left my mind. I couldn't let my guard down, knowing this peace wouldn't last. He wouldn't stop until he had me under his thumb—or worse.

Too soon, a letter arrived, summoning me back to my post. Refusing wasn't an option. Doing so would only endanger my wife and children. With a heavy heart, I prepared to leave.

That evening, I told Yu Jin about the summons while we shared a meal. I could see the worry in her eyes, though she said nothing. She simply nodded, offering her support.

By morning, she helped me gather what I needed for the journey. As I stood by my horse, she held me close and whispered, "Return to us safely." Her words gave me courage, though I could feel her fear hidden under her composed demeanor.

As I rode away, I began to reflect, could I continue to serve, knowing the Minister's corruption pulled the strings? I couldn't stomach the idea of being his pawn, yet any choice I made carried a price.

When I arrived, I tried to prepare myself for what lay ahead. The Minister's reach was long, and I knew trouble awaited, still, I wasn't prepared for the chaos I found in my office—papers scattered everywhere, drawers ransacked, and cabinets emptied as if a storm had torn through.

Before I could make sense of it, armed guards stormed in.

"You're under arrest," one of them barked.

They didn't wait for an explanation or allow me to defend myself. Shackles were clamped on my wrists, and I was dragged away like a criminal. In the holding cell, they laid out the charges against me—claims that I had leaked classified battle plans and smuggled weapons. They even produced documents as proof.

The accusations were lies, yet they carried enough power to destroy everything I had worked for.

It was clear the Minister wasn't wasting any time with his plans. Once again, my life and career were on the line.

My cell was cold and dark, and every movement sent pain through my body as old wounds flared from the beatings.

Two more days of beating followed, as they tried to force a confession out of me. But I stayed silent, knowing they wanted something I couldn't give. On the final night, I was dragged before a tribunal. Generals and officials sat in judgment.

The Minister sat in the audience, a smug smile on his face, clearly enjoying seeing me brought down.

The charges were read again, and more documents were presented as proof. A soldier was brought forward, he claimed to have found secret documents in my possession—documents detailing troop movements and battle plans. I couldn't believe it. This soldier was someone I had helped countless times in the military, yet now he was a part of this lie.

I felt disappointed, but I remained still. I couldn't blame the soldier, in a world like this, survival came at any cost, and turning on me was the easiest choice. I kept my expression neutral, knowing that showing too much emotion would only make me seem miserable.

Then, a merchant appeared, holding stolen military supplies he claimed I had sold to him. "He said the army had no use for them and offered them to me at a bargain," the merchant lied, clearly following the Minister's orders.

I Laughed.

I found little hope as the tribunal adjourned to decide my punishment, and even less when I was returned to my cold, empty cell.

Hours later, they called me back. The tribunal had reconvened, and I was led before them once more. This time, the minister sat at the head of the table, his face unreadable as he addressed the room.

"Li wei," he began, "you stand accused of revealing confidential information that puts the lives of our state and fellow soldiers at risk. Do you have anything to say in your defense before we deliver our judgment?"

I met the Minister's eyes with a smirk, uttering no word.

"Your silence cannot erase the evidence stacked against you," he declared. "Your actions have compromised the safety of our nation and the lives of our soldiers."

He paused, letting his words settle in the room, before continuing.

"For these severe breaches, the tribunal has reached a unanimous decision. You are hereby stripped of your rank and title, dishonorably discharged from military service effective immediately."

After declaring my dishonorable discharge, the minister stared deeply at me, as if savoring the moment.

"And," he continued, his tone colder now, "for your treachery, you are also sentenced to life imprisonment. You will be removed from the public eye, locked away, where your dishonor will be forgotten by all but those who condemn you."

The words hit me like a blow, life in a cell, forgotten, silenced—his punishment wasn't just for my actions, but for my very existence.

There was no justice here; this was nothing more than a kangaroo court.

All I could think about was how this would affect my family. How could I protect Yu Jin and the kids now, when I could barely protect myself?