Not Your Typical Villianess

THE CRIMSON PALACE, WANZHAU

The dark palace looked nothing like its name suggested, it was bright and beautiful like any other palace. The Wanzhau people were a set of people known to be very close to nature. Their closeness could be seen from the flower, tress and other vegetation that surrounded the entire kingdom.

The palace was like a nature conservatory, such flowers and trees growing around the palace and a natural waterfall at the side of the palace. They were a group of people that enjoyed roaming in nature and for generations had done exactly that.

The Wanzhau people lived by one rule, which was that they paid back every action in kind.

The Supreme leader of Wanzhau stood by the open window overlooking the music and performance department close to her palace. when one of her shadow warriors stepped out of the shadows. The shadow warrior a tall, slender woman dressed in black bowed respectfully, "Your Excellency, Commander Gao of Narashi sent a letter."

Without looking away from the palace up ahead, the Supreme Leader stretched out her arm silently. The shadow warrior stepped forward, placed the sealed letter in her palm and stepped back silently. 

The Supreme leader unsealed the envelope and pulled the folded letter out of the envelope. The message was written in a code only the supreme leader could decipher. Without looking away from the window, she placed the blank letter in her right hand and silently felt the surface of the letter with her fingers. 

Her commander didn't write much on the letter, only that he had met the young general but needed more time to feel him out. She threw both the letter and envelope into the fireplace and sighed. "General Lu is quite the Enigma don't you think? Why is my master so interested in him. I am a little curious what made him so special luckily, commander Gai would soon get ms the answers I want".

"What happens after he gets the answer, your Excellency? What about the ongoing war, we joined hands with Yan state, they expect us to meet our end of the bargain " the shadow guard said.

"What else would happen? Do you think I ever intended to take part in that aimless war? Once my orders are carried out, the men are ordered to pull out immediately. I never intended to get involved in their war" 

"Yes, mistress" the shadow guard replied a left. The Supreme Leader glared at where the shadow guard previously stood, eyes narrowed. 'This shadow guard... It is about time I got rid of her permanently', she thought turning around to look out the window.

*******

The temporary Military camp at the northern borders.

The medical tent was more crowded than before as a large number is soldiers were carried in. The beds were all filled, the thick smell of medicine and alcohol filled up the room. Su Liya went from bed to bed, with a bowl of clean water and a towel. She carefully cleaned up the injuries of the injured soldiers and dressed their wounds. 

Each patient was generated by the severity of their injuries, the doctors and surgeons attended ti the seriously injured patient while Su Liya and the other medical personnel attended to the easier cases. She attended to the patient until noon before her shift ended and she walked back to her tent.

Lu Yaozhu was speaking with a stranger dressed in all black when she walked in. The stranger was dressed like the typical shadow guard described in most books. The stranger stopped speaking passage arrived but she didn't take that action to mind. Lu Yaozhu's smiled and called her over she walked.

"Yaya! Is your shift over?"

"Yes it is, I am free until night." Her gaze fell on the cut on his chin, "You have a cut! Do you have any injuries?" She rushed over to get a better view of him. She relaxed when she didn't find any signs of injury on him. 

Lu Yaozhu smiled and held her hands up softly, "don't wort about me, I came back in one piece" he glanced at the man in black facing his table and continued, "this is your first time meeting each other, YaYa meet Yu Ke the commander if my secret guards. His team is in charge of our safety. Xiao Ke, this is my wife and your mistress Su Liya".

She exchanged a brief greeting with Yu ke before stepping back. She made a move to leave but her hand was pulled back by Lu Yaozhu. 

"Stay, I have nothing to hide," he said pulling her to the sear next to his.

"I... But.."

"Seat!"

"Oh... Okay," she straightened out her skirt and sat next to him.

Lu Yaozhu smiled down at her while holding her hands. He glanced at Yule, "you may continue".

"Yes, my lord." Seeing that his master was indeed serious, he continued. "The Crown Prince was attacked in his way back to the watchtower, he was run through with a sword and the Achilles tendon of his right foot was cut. By the time the Imperial guards found him, the wound was infected which resulted in his foot getting amputated".

Lu Yaozhu frowned, "how did that happen, didn't I put some secret guards on him"

Su Liya glanced at him as soon as she heard him mention that he out guards on the crown prince. There was nothing wrong with him putting guards on the crown prince as far as it was to ensure his safety and nothing else. However, she had this nagging feeling like those guards wasn't there just for his safety.

She has known Lu Yaozhu long enough to understand that he was a man that kept his cards close to his chest. There was always more than one reason behind any action he took. Xu Ke's words filtered into her ears gradually 

"The secret guards were all killed, he was attacked by Prince Du of Droko tribe and his elite guards. I sent a team to investigate the scene and the uniform checks out."

Lu Yaozhu rapped his hands on the table silently, "you said that he met with his mother's nanny before he was attacked?"

"Yea, my lord"

"His sudden interest in the last must have something to do with his new friend. Investigate the origin of those anonymous letters" 

"Yes, Sir"

"You may leave and Yu Ke, be careful out there. There is someone new in the game and whoever that is. Doesn't play fair".