The sun was high in the sky and the birds glided over heads as Xu Yiran took a sip of his black tea . Sun Ping stood by his side as his personal servant .
Xu Yiran wore a lavish white robe with light ruby eye makeup complimenting his light brown doe eyes as his long brown hair fluttered in the air . Sun Ping had Black hair tied in a bun with a headband around his forehead. He wore a dark green robe and had a sword attached to his side .
Just then a servant came running towards them .
" Young Master ! "
Xu Yiran got up , " What is it ? "
" His Grace summoned you . A royal decree came from the palace ! "
" A Royal Decree ? " Sun Ping muttered " Let us go , young master "
" Hmm" Xu Yiran agreed but couldn't shake the feeling something was odd . Why was a royal decree sent to his house ? Was a war coming up ? Or was it related to trade ? Whatever it was , he didn't really care so he tossed his thoughts out and marched for his fathers house .
The Duke's estate was tall and painted black,white,gold,and some other lavish colors. The doors were tall and had dragons,elves and sirens embroidered on them . On top was an eagle , the dukedom's symbol. The Door to the duke's Hallway opened .
" The young master of Dukedom Xu has arrived "
Xu Yiran bowed lightly before taking a seat beside his mother , Madam Lin Hua or now known as Xu Hua .
" Child , How are you feeling ? "
" Splendid Mother"
Madam Xu hua smiled at her son's ethustiastic reply . Then Xu Yiran noticed his elder Sister seated next to his mother's other side . He smiled , " Hello , Sister "
Xu Meiyun looked at him amd though she let off a dark aura , she immediatly smiled so brightly , the sun would have quit his job . " Xu Yiran ! ! "
Just then the steward announced , " His Grace, Xu Mingzhao and Young master Xu Liang have entered "
" Mother, Yiran, Meiyun " Xu Liang spoke as he bowed lightly before taking a seat next to Xu Yiran
" Greetings to you all. I hope none of you were busy ?" Their father chimed . Xu Mingzhao had always been a jolly man.
" No , Your Grace " They said as one .
Seeing that the family had done their greetings , the envoy sent from the palace bowed and spoke up .
" Greetings to His Grace and his Family. May a thousand years of happiness find you. "
" Yes,yes . Now then , if you may . "
The envoy nodded and read aloud from a scroll he took out from his Golden and white robes -- proof he was from the Palace --
" His Majesty, Emperor of Hualing Empire , has issues a royal decree " he began .
" Psst , do you know what it might be ?" Xu Meiyun whispered to Xu Yiran .
So she didn't know either. Xu Yiran shrugged in reply . Xu Liang then shot his sister a death glare that most probably meant , " Can you shut up and listen ? "
" The Crown Prince , Hua Yue--"
Oh? This was finally getting interesting.
" The heir to the throne will get--"
But what did they have to do with the crown prince ? Xu Yiran was getting bored and tired . Hurry up and go awa---
"married to the youngest son of Duke Xu Mingzhao"
....
silence.
And then ," What?" his father stood up . " Wait , Yiran ..?" his mother's color drained from her face . " What!?" his sister almost turned the shade of a tomato. "..." his brother said nothing and glared at the scroll like that woud burn it. And Xu Yiran was just stunned. After that his father fainted or no , was it his mother ? he couldn't remember , all he knew was that his world was shattered.
*Hualing:
华 (Hua) → means splendor, magnificence, or civilization — it's often used to represent elegance, culture, or "China" itself in a poetic sense.
灵 (Ling) → means spirit, soul, or divine energy.
So together, Hualing (华灵) roughly means "Empire of Divine Splendor" or "Glorious Spirit Empire."