Empress Of The Lost Kingdom

Li Juan read the contents of the journals with a perturbed mind, every single incident mentioned in them left her consciousness into absolute chaos.

It was nothing but torment.

For a moment, she cursed herself for reading them. Why would someone keep their painful past? 

She closed the journals and looked outside and stared at the moon rising over the Yun mountains.

After reading one thing she became clear was about the truth about Tang Wei Sheng,

The person who knew her past and present blatantly lied to her. He took advantage of her memory loss and made her believe that he still loves her.

A cheater deserves no second chances,

Li Juan rose from the sofa in the balcony and headed towards the bed with light steps. After her accident, she always slept peacefully, however, today is going to be a sleepless night.

After tossing and turning in the bed for a while, Li Juan slid into a deep slumber.

While she was sleeping, Li Juan had a dream.

She sat alone in a lonely valley, under the fully blossomed plum tree, the sweet smell of plum blossom's lingered in the air, leaving her in a tranquil state of mind.

Once the moon has risen over the sky, the silence in the valley was broken by a loud growl of a wolf. 

In the dark crevices of the valley, a pair of eyes burning amber eyes stared at the woman who bathed in the moonlight,

"Who is there?" She said in an unflinching voice, "Come out and show yourself,"

After a moment, A majestic white wolf leapt from the dark rocks and strode towards the plum tree,

Though she was startled by the sudden entry of the beast, Li Juan immediately regained her composure and stared at the blazing eyes which pierced into her soul,

"Come here,"

Like an obedient puppy, the wild beast advanced towards her and halted his steps in front of her.

"Were you looking for me?"

The wolf moved its head, 

She reached out to stroke it's fur, under her touch, he moved closer and snuggled to her body. 

"Lili," someone called her, Li Juan turned around and met with a woman adorned into a pure white Hanfu,

"Majesty," She called out and tried to walk over, However, the wolf suddenly laid down to her lap and restricting her movements.

Bai Yu Yue moved towards her with a smile and sat next to her,

"Thanks for bringing me home," she said,

"Why are you thanking me, it is my duty to-" Li Juan stopped in midsentence and gazed at Bai Yu Yue who appeared like his reflection,

"Were you waiting for me all these years, alone?

"I was waiting for you," Bai Yu Yue reached out to hold Li Juan's arm, "but I wasn't alone, at least in the beginning,"

"Was there someone else with you?"

"Yes, there was someone," Her eyes perked in happiness, "Someone who was supposed to become a part of our family,"

"Where is he?"

"He had to leave, its been centuries and only I was the one who bound to the sacred land of Yu clan until you came and set me free." Her mesmerizing face bloomed into a compassionate smile, "What do you want in return?"

"Thanks for your offer, but you have already given me enough," Li Juan refused with a smile and continued,

"Even though you cannot give me back my parents lives, you gave me a family. I am happy with it,"

She really meant it, on the pursuit of the Queen and the lost kingdom, she found her family.

"Really," Bai Yu Yue's eyebrows raised in curiosity," What about your memories?"

"My memories are in a tangled mess, I am unable to find an end," Her voice sounded desolate, "it is better to leave it as a mess," 

"How about I help you with it?

Bai Yu Yue's question made Li Juan's eyes waver in anticipation, 

To be honest she wished to untangle the mess inside her head and found the truth but was afraid to face the consequences of the truth.

"Go back to the last place you remember and restart from there," Bai Yu Yue suggested,

"S city?"

"You will find the answers there," She patted the wolf laying on Li Juan's lap and said, "He should know the truth, too"

-------------------------------

Bai Qi was taking a stroll in the garden when he ran into Li Juan who was sitting in the pavilion as if she was waiting for him.

"Good morning grandpa," She greeted in an elated tone, "I was waiting for you, can you sit down for a cup of tea?"

Looking at her enthusiastic approach, Bai Qi felt that his eyes have been trying to deceive him, it was the first time his granddaughter made an effort to initiate a conversation with him. 

"I would love to have a tea with you, princess," He sat opposite to the woman who was carefully pouring the tea,

"Did you read the books that I've sent?"

"Yes, I have enjoyed reading them," She smiled and gave him the teacup. "Grandpa, I have a request,"

Bai Qi looked at her with anticipated eyes. Is it about Tang Wei Sheng? Does she want to talk about their marriage?

"Can you push forward the dates for my coronation ceremony?"

"Huh, coronation?" Bai Qi was confused for a moment,

"May I know the reason behind your sudden interest in coronation?"

"I saw her in my dream, again." Li Juan paused for a moment, "The last queen, Bai Yu Yue,"

"She thanked me for bringing her home,"

Though they have brought the remainings of the queen to the palace, due to Li Juan's hospitalization, none of the memories prayers or ceremonies has been conducted for their ancestors.

"We were planning to hold the ancestral rites within this week," Bai Qi informed her,

Li Juan remained silent for a moment and inquired,

"What about arranging the coronation ceremony on next week?"

"Yes, we will do that for sure," He assured her without any more questions. If the princess wishes to hold the ceremony, then they are not in a position to defy her orders.

"Am I allowed to invite people outside our clan?" Li Juan asked suddenly,

"The ancestral rites are always done with our clan members and for the coronation, we are planning to invite monks from the North temple and Guan family. If you want to invite someone, you can do it,"

"Hmm, I wish to invite my senior," Li Juan said,

Bai Qi's lips curled into a smile, he was expecting that,

"I will come up with a date and let you know,"

"Thank you,"

As per Li Juan's wishes, the dates for the coronation has been push forward and decided to hold the ceremony on within a week.

It was she who asked for the coronation to be held immediately,

The Yu palace was decorated with lavishly with flowers and silver brocade curtains, 

It was after a long time that Yu clan gets to witness the enthronement of a queen born in the royal bloodline. 

Even from the break of dawn, guests started coming to the palace on expensive cars, making the palace ground look like an automobile expo.

Bai Qi swept a glance around the royal ceremonial hall filled with Yu clan members and representatives from the North temple,

"What about the Guan family?" Bai Qi asked his son,

"General Guan was about to come, but he had some last-minute urgency and they have informed that Young master Guan will attend on behalf of him,"

As soon as Bai Zhu finished, a lush black Bugatti La Voiture Noire crawled into the palace grounds, gaining everyone's attention,

Tang Wei Sheng elegantly stepped down and strode towards the royal hall,

"Who is that?" 

"Don't you read the newspapers? He is the CEO of Tang corporations."

"Woahhh, is that him? He is so young?"

"What brings him here?"

"He and the princess are friends,"

The crowd started murmuring, 

"Did he came to show off?" Bai Yu said in a displeased voice, "That Basta-"

"He is our guest," Zhang Zhi Jun warned him, even he disliked Tang Wei Sheng, as long as Li Juan treats that cheater as her friend, he was supposed to acknowledge Tang Wei Sheng.

Even before the uproar in the crowd faded off, a metallic black Maybach Excelero entered into the palace grounds, which is escorted by two black range rovers,

A group of neatly dressed bodyguards stepped down from the range rovers and stood in line,

The doors of the Maybach opened at the same time and two tall figures stepped down,

"Who is it now?" Bai Yu asked,

Everyone gazed at the two men who set foot on the palace grounds like to deities descended from heaven.

"It's him," Zhang Zhi Jun said with a smile, "Liang,"

His tall frame was wrapped in a custom-tailored black suit and his charming face clad with the same aloof expression.

"Who is that man with him? Bai Yu observed the man who is walking next to Liang, 

"Isn't he the commando who came to Tu valley?" his small eyes widened in bewilderment, "Is he related to bro Liang?"

"What on the earth we are blessed to witness such handsome men this day?" All the woman in the crowd gaped,

Both of them walked towards the Bai Qi and bowed before him,

"Good morning Elder Bai, I am Guan Tian Long. grandpa sends his apologies for missing the ceremony,"

"Grandpa Guan?" Bai Qi was lost for a moment,

"General Guan," He replied in a proud voice,

"What the heck? He is the renowned young master Guan?" Bai Yu almost choked upon hearing his words,

Even Zhang Zhi Jun was left surprised, he knew that commanding officer held power but he never expected that he belonged to Guan family,

The family which has become the face of the military of C country. If the president is the king of C country, then Guan family is the kingmakers- the people who held the ultimate power.

"And this is my cousin-" Guan Tian Long turned to face the man who stood beside,

"Bro Liang," Bai Yu called out his name in an excited voice,

Guan Tian Long's glanced at his cousin and the young man with a confused expression, 

"My name is Tae Yang," Liang corrected himself,

"Guan family pays respect to the Bai family and Yu clan," Both of them bowed,

No one could believe what they have heard just now,

Liang, their princess's friend and her personal doctor was actually from the Guan family? Even Bai Zhu was dumbfounded for a moment,

No wonder he could not gather any details about Liang,

"Please come inside," Bai Qi invited the duo to the royal hall where the ceremony was held,

Within a few minutes, the royal hall got filled with the chanting of the prayers by the monks from the North temple,

Everyone was waiting for the entry of the Queen,

"Behold the Queen," One of the guards who stood next to the giant door informed and everyone's attention turned towards the door,

A Slender frame adorned in scarlet red ceremonial robe walked into the hall with elegant steps.

A golden phoenix was embroidered over the seven yards scarlet red ceremonial robe, her lush black hair has been secured into a high bun and it was decorated with jade and golden ornaments.

"Li Juan, the direct descendent of Bai Yu Yue, daughter of Bai Ze and Li Qin, the princess of Yu palace enters,"