"Old man... The new emperor wants us to go to the court?" Qiu ye asked, holding on tightly onto her husband's arm.

"Yes, he does. He didn't state the reason, but wants us there as soon as possible." He sighed. "We can do nothing but to comply."

"We didn't do anything wrong did we?" Yu ling, the second wife asked.

"Not that we know of." He replied.

"Perhaps we did something right." Qiu ye smiled. "And the emperor wishes to reward us."

"That would be the best" Yu ling agreed.

"Before we go," he said "you children have anything to say? Kai feng?"

Kai feng shook his head. "No, father. I have been performing my duties as I was taught and ordered to do."

"Anyone?" He asked. "Huan le, you very so often visit the palace, have you done anything wrong?"

Huan le shook her head "most definitely not! I wouldn't dare!"

Everyone was silent.

"Then we leave. Get a carriage ready, we leave within the hour."

<>

Jin qing rode the carriage with Huan le and a crying Xue hua.

Xue hua was worried about the sudden calling. She worried that they did something wrong and was going to be punished.

Jin qing's heart broke to see her sister like this, sobbing on her lap. She said soothing and comforting words to help calm her sister down.

"What are you crying for?" Huan le said. "We did nothing wrong."

"Its the fear that we are falsely accused." Jin qing replied quietly.

"The right has nothing to fear but fear itself." She said. "The wisest of men have the clearest vision"

"Even the wisest men can be blinded and fall." Jin qing quoted.

"I bet you're not worried." Huan le said. "Look at that smug and calm face of yours!"

"As long as my last name is Li, I will act and think for the best interests of this family." She replied, understanding the meaning behind the words.

Huan le said nothing else.

<>

As the entire family walked in with Jim qing behind them, the entire court bowed.

Everyone was perplexed and assumed they bowed at Qiu ye, being the first wife and all.
But Jin qing noticed something else.

She noticed that everyone started to bow only when she came in, not when Qiu ye did. 

Xi Jian, the new emperor, sat regally at his throne, his expression filled with a youthful playfulness.

"Greetings to the emperor!" They said in unison and knelt for a kowtow.

"Rise!" He said. "Need not to worry, today I came to congratulate you."

Qiu ye looked up, puzzled. "What for?"

"For raising such successful children!" He exclaimed.

Qiu ye smiled brilliantly "if the emperor didn't provide such a safe place for us to raise them, they wouldn't be where they are."

"Let's see," he said. "Your eldest is officially a general. Your second son is a skilled musician and commander. Your eldest daughter is known for her talents and beauty, what a family!"

"Thanks to the emperor!" Qiu ye smiled.

Jin qing had a bad feeling.
A very bad feeling about this.

"Though one child I have to thank more than anyone else."

Everyone couldn't help but wonder who.

Jin qing realized what is going to happen, and she wished to leave, right, now.

"She was a close advisor to my father and helped him during times of great need."

Jin qing began to wonder if she can fake a convincing faint and get out.

"But her work did not bring her splendor nor fame. It bought fame to her title, but not to her." The emperor said, "when my father told me who she was, I couldn't believe my ears."

Jin qing's heart pounded. No no no no, be quiet!

"Li Jin qing, please step up."

Jin qing's entire body was shaking. She knelt to kowtow but was stopped by the emperor.

"Not today." He said. "Get up"

Jin qing got up.

"My father rewarded you with his white cloak, but as he passes, so does the meaning of the cape he gave you, and I shall give you my own."

As the words left his lips, servants walked in, bearing a giant white cloak in their arms.

The emperor accepted it and threw it over her shoulders, the light cloth resting across her shoulders.
The cloak was made of fur and the inside was silk. Beads and jewels decorated the entire thing in all shades of white and silver. It had a hood that was edged with fur and silk, designed to keep her warm. The bottom had red on it, scattered like flowers. Just like how blood splatters on snow.

"From this day forward," he said, "the kingdom will acknowledge you as your rightful name: All hail the Xue xian!"

Everyone in the room repeated the chant as Jin qing turned to face the crowd, the robe trailing slightly behind her.

Her face was serious and unreadable. She looked regal in the cloak.
If it wasn't for her plain dress, she would have been mistaken for a member of the royal family.

Jin qing watched in silence as they chanted, even the members of her family had to. 

Jin qing was furious.

<>

Jin qing's life will have many changes now. Because she is known now as the Xue Xian, she cannot dress like she used to before. She must always wear some kind of white ornament to show her rank.

As soon as she was redirected to her new room, she found robes of silver and white, and multiple capes and cloaks just slightly less majestic and long as her official one.

Instead of a white or silver robe, she chose a washed-out blue one.

She pinned on white jewelry and a white brooch by her chest. It was heavy, but that was only a small price to pay.

Her maids were terrified.
They have never seen their miss this quiet.
Never, in their years of service have seen her this quiet.

Her eyes were shut and her face emotionless. She was so quiet and still, you couldn't even see the rise and fall of her chest.

Huan le was furious. She stormed into Jin qing's new room uninvited and went right up to her, and rose her hand to slap her.

Jin qing's eyes flew open and Huan le froze.

"How rude." Jin qing said. "Coming up to me and not at the very least giving me a curtsy. Out of all the things your mother taught you, did she not teach you manners?"

Huan le's nostrils flared as her face turned pink. "You fake! You don't even act like the Xue xian. How do I know? I have met her! My mother has taught me many things, including how to tell when someone is lying or not-"

"Are you implying that the emperor- the mighty emperor is wrong?" She asked softly. "And I know you have met the Xue xian quite a few times. The most recent one was on the night of the banquet- celebrating the successful fire decree-was it not?"

Huan le stepped back.

"Yes," Jin qing said, her voice soft just like that very night. "I know, I met you. You were so polite to me, I thought I was dreaming!" Jin qing reminded herself to calm down a little. Ahhhhh but who cares! I can finally talk down to her like I wanted all these years!

"So?" She said. "Curtsying or not?"

Huan le scurried down for a kowtow.

Jin qing stood up with her maids behind her.
"I won't keep the things you have done to me in the past on my mind- what happens in the house stays in the house. We start on a fresh page," she paused and leaned down "but don't expect me to forget them"

Jin Qing walked away in the fashion of her sister, as Huan le knelt on the floor, shaking from head to toe.

<>

Jin qing looked for the emperor.

Maids bowed when she flew by, which she paid no attention to.

Jin qing was still furious, and she needed to talk to Xi Jian.

She found him in the gardens alone, and she walked right up to him.
They were equals now and they can talk however they wanted.

"Oh?" Xi jian smiled "The calm and composed Jin qing is gone, I see."

Jin qing took a very deep breath. "I see you ignored your father's words when he said to keep this a secret."

"Yes, but I found it wrong to hide a person's potential. The strong should be recognized for their actions." He said. "Sit, I have tea."

"And why should I?"

"We talk and work as equals, and I wish to be friends. Now sit, lets us chat."

Jin qing sat down on the opposite side of him and waited impatiently for him to speak.

"First, where you are going to stay." Xi jian nodded "I have a place for you in the palace, and you are welcome to stay anytime. You are allowed to live in your own home, of course."

"Go on."

"Next, and you know this already, you must be able to report to all summons."

"Of course." Jin qing nodded. "And I assume now I can go on battlefields to command armies myself."

"Yes. But the only thing I worry about is your authority. The generals have never seen your face either."

"Don't worry about that, I should be fine. Anything else I need to know?"

"I already sent word to your maids on what you should be dressed in and such, but it seems like you already know."

Jin qing had long managed to calm down enough for her to speak in a calm manner.

"So?" She said. "Back to the reason why I'm here. Is that all the reasons why you want the world to know I'm Xue xian?"

"In simplest terms. Besides-" he said, and leaned in closer "I know how you are treated at home, and I want to make it better for you." He said, and smiled.

A/n
And the secrets out!
If this chapter sounded crappy im sorry >~<