Zhan's pov.

Roland was just starinag at me as if he was waiting for me to say that I am joking, but I was not.

I spoke, "Roland, I am supporting prince Simon in the line of succession, and I am going to help him in the rebellion against the emperor and we want you to join us.

You have given me your word, loser will do anything the winner asks. And I have heard that the Evercrest family never ever go back on their words, so what are you going to do?"

Roland just gave me a hard stare before he burst into laughter. I just stared at this weird man, waiting for his response, feeling a little anxious.

Roland wiped his face and smiled at me, "the crown's dog is planning a rebellion? Your family is in it? really? I mean everyone know that the Xiao family are super loyal to the crown... what happened that suddenly made you choose to rebel?"

"I am waiting for an answer Roland."

Roland smirked and came closer, "what about family? what do they think about this?"

"My brother agrees with me."

"And your father." Roland asked and I did not reply to that.

In the end Roland sighed and said, "I gave you my word and I never go back on my word. I will join you in the rebellion."

Ziyi smiled and so did I. I raised my hand for a handshake waiting for Roland to take it.

Roland took my hand into a firm handshake and said, "this will interesting."

We spent a few days at Roland's camp and I told him about our plans and introduced him to Ayla, Kairos and Haoxuan. We spent an entire day discussing out strategies.

"Your plan is solid." Roland said, as we sat down for dinner, "with duke Ashvald's help we are quiet powerful."

I nodded, "yes, we are."

Roland added, "besides prince Simon is far better than Gideon." I nodded in agreement.

Roland then patted my shoulder, "let's go and have some food. Tomorrow I would like to spare with you again. "

I laughed, ever since I defeated him in the duel Roland is hellbent on fighting me till he defeats me.

"Sure." just as we were about to head for dinner, Roland's close comrade Sylvester barged into the room and he looked really worried, "Roland! Its an emergency."

"What is it?" Roland asked getting all serious.

"It's Gareth! He has been captured and the emperor has announced the annihilation of the Solmara clan for wishing death upon the emperor."

Roland immediately stood up, "What?"

Solamra tribe, a tribe of oracles. A tribe whose people often have the power to predict the future. And they it is the same tribe for whom Roland had went on war against the emperor.

My heart sank when I heard this. It was too soon.

I got up and asked with a dread in my heart, "who are they sending for this operation?"

Sylvester spoke, "Who else they are gonna send other than that Wang dog, its Wang Yibo of course !"

Roland immediately took out his sword and spoke with venom, "I am going to give each and every member of the Wang family a dog's death if they dared to hurt the Solmara tribe. Everyone! prepare for the fight!"

"Wait Roland!" I grabbed his arm, "calm down... you can;t just go on a war for some tribe."

Roland glared at me and he yelled, "that tribe is my family!"

"What?"

Roland took a deep breathe and said, "my mother was from the Solmara tribe, I am from that tribe! That person Gareth is my cousin! And if he dies then I am going to give Wang Yibo a brutal death, I am going to cut off his head and hang it from the palace walls and feed his body to the dogs and that's my promise."

With that Roland walked out of the room.

"Shit!"

~~

Yibo's pov:-

I was summoned by the emperor not long after Zhan had left.

Even if I didn't want to go I could not turn away from my duties, I missed Zhan like crazy, I wanted him to be here.

I had no idea where had he gone, and what was he up to. Was he safe or was he in danger, I didn't even know when he was going to come back.

I missed him.

And at the same time I hated myself for missing and loving a traitor, but Zhan was not always like that. I did not fell in love with a traitor, I still could not understand that what in the world happened to my Zhan. Why did he change so much.

Once I was in the presence of the emperor I bowed before him, "your majesty." I said.

"Get up, dear." he spoke in his usual sweet voice, I looked up at him and saw him smiling, "how are you now? are you well?"

"Yes, your majesty I have been fully recovered."

"That's good." he said, "I was quiet worried about you, since your parents told me that you were not doing so well."

I nodded, the emperor has always been nice to me, he was so kind and he cared about his people. How can Zhan betray him.

"Your majesty, may I know the reason for this summon?"

"Ah yes." he said and then looked at crown prince Gideon before speaking, "you see recently we have encountered a rebel."

My heart skipped a beat, when I heard that.

"A rebel." I spoke somehow keeping my voice steady.

The emperor spoke, "yes, you see a few days ago when the crown prince and I stepped out for a walk, we encountered a person, who comes from a Solmara tribe, that person tried to attack me.

Although I was unharmed that person managed to escape, what I want you to do Yibo, is capture that person and kill him, and also I want you to find his tribe."

"His tribe?"

"Yes, the Solmara tribe has been sheltering rebels, and also they have illegally occupied the land where they are staying and doing illegal activities there, I want you to kill that tribe."

I felt my heart drop, my eyes widened slightly and my stomach felt weird, "kill an entire tribe, your majesty?"

Gideon spoke next, "that tribe has not only illegally occupied a land, they ate also sheltering rebels, feeding them and sharing their resources with them, they are really harmful Yibo.

I know you must be thinking that those people are innocent, but think about it, because of their actions of sheltering rebels how many innocent people are going to die, how many innocents are going to suffer.

They have become so bad that they even tried to assassinate the emperor, can you imaging had they succeeded what would have happened? It would have caused chaos.

We have given them repetitive warnings before but the refuse to mend their ways. Hence this is the only option left. Even we do not like such massacre but for the betterment of the kingdom sometimes we have to take hard decisions Yibo.

I hope you will understand."

I nodded slowly, "yes your highness, I understand."

The emperor smiled and said, "good, now I want you to find that person who had tried to assassinate me, I will have his sketch drawn."

"Yes, your majesty."

"You may leave."

I bowed a little before I finally left.

~~

I was feeling sick to my stomach, but I knew that it was the right thing to do, but still, I could not stomach down the thought of killing so many people.

But those people were criminals, and I should not have any sympathy for them.

I sighed as I made my way to my office where Adrian was already waiting for me, "we have a new task Adrian."

"Yes, commander."

A few hours later the sketch also arrived and I handed it over to Adrian, "I want this man to be found and once you find him bring him to me. Also prepare the soldiers, once we find this man we are going to leave to find the tribe of Solmara"

"Yes sir."

I soon sat on my seat and got started with my work, my mind was still wandering towards Zhan but I shook my head and tried to focus back on my work, but a knock on my door garabbed my attention again.

"Come in." I said and crown prince Gideon walked in, he had a smile on his face as he walked towards me, I immediately got up from my place and greeted him, "Crown prince."

Gideon smiled at me and said, "it's good to have you back in the office, Yibo. I am glad to see you are doing well now."

I nodded, "thank you for your concern, your highness."

"Have you prepared your soldiers to go with you?" he asked.

And I nodded before he said, "I want you to take some of my men too with you."

I looked at him with confusion, and he said, "do you have any problem?"

I shook me head, who am I too question him, if he is sending his men with me then there has to be a reason, however I could not shake the feeling that maybe it was to keep an eye on me, or maybe it was because I had failed my last mission and he did not want me to fail this one.

It hurt my pride a little to think that he was doubting my abilities, but that is what happens when you are at a high place, my position does not allow me to make mistakes.

Gideon placed his hand over my shoulder and said, "it's not that I do not trust you Yibo, but it's just that last time you were so badly injured and I don't want you to get hurt again."

"I understand your highness."

"By the way, why didn't you inform us that general Xiao was also at the scene when you were attacked by the rebels?"

I felt the ground beneath me shake when I heard that, "your highness...it was Zhan who saved me from those rebels."

"But how did he know where you were? did you inform him?"

"Yes, I did." I lied through my teeth and suddenly his grip on shoulder tightened a little, "I wonder when you told him because from what I was told there was not a single interaction between you and general Xiao. Did you send someone to inform him?"

I broke out in cold sweat when I heard that, my heart was beating so fast that I was afraid it was going to pop out of my chest, and I finally asked, "are you keeping an eye on me your highness?"

Gideon just smiled in the end and said, "of course not, I just had a talk with your soldiers and Adrian when I encountered them in the palace. Why would you think that I would keep an eye on you, after you are my most subject aren't you. You can never really betray us.

However I am just worried that since you are mingling with general Xiao a lot these days, it is affecting your work. General Xiao is also neglecting his border duties and is just roaming here and there these days.

Maybe it's time to send him to the borders. So that he can get back on track."

Gideon then patted my shoulder and removed his hands, "I am just saying it for your own good Yibo, lately general Xiao is not a good influence for you."

And with that he was out of my office, once he was gone I just collapsed on my chair.