"Princess Huwanuwei!!!! My dear Aunt!!!!!" The crown Prince came to me running as i stepped out of the empress's palace. It was almost getting dark.
I turned towards the cheerful Crown Prince spreading my arms letting him hug me as though he was young he was almost at my hight, though childish infront of his family he was well built, handsom and was smart.
"Crown Prince! Hows your day?" I released his hug.
"Fine! How are you?" He is nice.
"Why do you ask so? You can see im well!" I acted a bit annoyed cause i liked him being so. His cheeks blushed.
"Just that everyone praises about too much of you, even Minister Choi who cant be that much pleased talked big about you! Though i felt happy about my aunt i was annoyed by his praises today! You didnt even come to see me for weeks! Are you that much busy????" He spoke truthfully.
Minister Choi! I didnt know that he is such a praiser either!My mind sank a bit deep for few seconds.
"Now whats so great he spoke about?" I asked more delightfully. Thinking that im trying to boast about myself the prince looked away showing fools pride and replied.
"Not that much!! He said that you will be a great strength to me. No matter what i should stand with you so nothing will affect me and also you are my family!" He spoke truthfully though he was annoyed. Family! Now why does he care about that?
Minister Choi, the defence minister!..... isnt he the son of the dead minister who punished my mother???? How can the son be so great??
"When did he say so???" I couldnt hide my curiosty. Prince turned to me with my serious tone and gave a huge smile.
"Now dont be that proud!!! It was actually few days after you revealled yourself as the Great Merchant! He highly regarded about you Aunt! And he continues everyday!!!"
So does he want to contact me as everyone is aware that crown prince is close to me??? Is he coming after power just like his father??? I couldnt finish my thoughts as the crown prince's next words made me feel more suspicious.
"Dont worry, after i become the Emporer i will be powerful as you as im sure my aunt will obviously help me!" The excited Prince clutched my hand and smiled.
Something is going wrong!!!
"Crown Prince! Why do you need me when you have such a loving father as the emporer and the lovliest most intelligent women in the empire as your mother!" I smiled and teased not showing my true feelings.
"True, mother is so great but father is not that impressive as an emporer though he is a loving father! I should serve my people better!" Crown Prince is too innocent nice and playful to think such a thing! These cant be his own thoughts! Emporer Brother, might be not that powerful but few days before to the little prince his father was all hero in his eyes as he protects and loves him and her mother so much!! Something is really going wrong!!!!
"Why did you come to thing so that your father is not that impressive as an emporer??" I asked mockingly.
The Prince looked concerned.
"I just felt so. As for these days Minister Choi himself willingly gives me lessons on politics. He said that we need many people around you under you to have true power and serve your country better! Actually he is quite impressed about my political knowledge! I even..." then the little prince started to boast about himself.
Minister Choi is poisening this young childs thoughts!!! Is he planning to have a new emporer????? I shrugged my head back again cause this might be a misunderstanding, but better be careful beforw its too late. I think ill have to meet this man personaly. As i was in my thoughts crown Prince jumped in front of me.
"Aunt! Princess Huwanuwei were you listening to me?"
"Yes of course! Shall i tell you something? Will you consider about what i say?"i asked him with my best smile on my face not showing my worries.
"Of course anything!! I love to hear anything! I believe you!" He smiled with a blush on.
I grabbed his both hands with mine.
"You know what! You are the best son in the world! Youll grow into a great man because your loving parents will always take care of you and will do anything for you! They are so proud of you! You are the luckiest in the world to recieve the best love of your family as i myself never had such! So make sure that you respect their immense love. Make sure that youll be there strength!!! All you said was true. You need people by yourside but most importantly your family! Cause they are your greatest strength! Theyll never leave you!" I said from the bottom of my heart heart. I ll do anything for my family! I couldnt stop a tear carve my left cheek. He hugged me smoothly drying my cheek with his soft yet strong hand.
"I know! I love you all a lot! Ill make father and mother proud of me!" He then loosened the hug.
"Crown Prince! Its already dark so ill have to leave! Make sure that you share all your feelings with the empress your mother every morning!" I then hurried out as the prince wished me good night. I thought of staying in the palacee for few days.
"Princess Huwanuwei, Minister Choi has arrived." One of the palace maids announced as i was reading some records of the mission.
"Let him in!" I replied. Since yesterday night ive been in the palace it was a bit odd. The man in red robes entered my study room( palace study room). Its now i looked at him properly for the first time. Though he was aged he was healthy and his eyes shined with pride, confidence, power and behind everything he looked cunning and very ambitious. He bowed.
"Princess, as you asked me to come last night through a servant, ive come to you early morning! Is something wrong?" He asked worried. Actually acting worried...
"Thankyou for coming Minister Choi at such a short request! Dont worry there is nothing such! First please take a seat!"i replied with a slight smiled and focused on the records. He smiled still expecting me to continue and sat on the chair at the left of the table.
"You have praised me a lot infront of the Crown Prince! And he praised a lot on your Political Knowledge! I first want to thank you for the great support you gave to our empire all this time and sure even in the future!" I looked at him and said kindly.
"Thats my pleasure princess! Ill serve the empire as long as i live and for sure because of your great strength and support now, we will have a brighter future!" The minister replied like a humble servant.You Old Fox!what are you up to?
"How do you want me to support if i ask!" I replied releasing my sarcasm focusing my eyes back to the records changing my tone a bit cold. He smiled wickedly.
"Ive heard that you are so intelligent Princess! And now i see it!! You know what i mean, soon we will have a new emporer! He has forgotten you in the past and that itself shows his irresponsibility!! You might be feeling sorry for yourself but who cares Princess is more powerful! I evenheard about your rough reactions to the emporer after the state council that day!!!" He gave a demonic smile. So he is revealing his plans to me simply cause he thinks that i want revenge after hearing that i blasted in front of my brother!!! What a fool....or is he testing me????? Lets hear more....
Though his words hit right at my suspition i just arched my lips from the corner giving a more demonic smile still looking at the pages I replied.
"A new Emporer! Instead of a one who has simply isolated his only sister!For that we need to stengthen our little crown Prince with a special guidance since he doesnt have enough maturity!" I said simply closing the book away.
The Old man laughed.
"Im highly impressed by your words Princess! We need more Power and ill be a good teacher for the young Prince!" He again smiled victoriously.
I poured a cup of tea infront of me for myself and blew a bit on its steam as i continued.
"How shall i risk my power to this unwanted thing trusting only your simple position at the state Council. I agree you have a large power over military and some possesions but they dont worth my trust enough!" I took a sip of the liquid showing no intrest. A bit shocked he again spoke with more confidently with his super sarcastic tone. He laughed.
"Princess I agree that you are so powerful and your brother the emporer doesnt even worth as an enemy of yours and my possesions may not be attractive!.... but as i know The Red Eagle Nest is a worthy apponent on you! Isnt it???" I turned to him as if im slightly intrested making him overjoyed.
"Continue.." i replied keeping my cool tone.
"You should be aware that the red eagle nest should have great sponsors! If you support us we will support you as in the red eagle nest will be under your control!" He grinned. I arched my brow. So these ministers should be extremely wealthy!
"It cant be only your sponsorship so as you mentioned we how much support do you have in the empire?" This time i couldnt exactly maintain my coolness cause i was eager to know.
"Dont worry Princess! Four quater of the state Council is with us and i should say im a great sponsor of your enemy. With our support you will have nothing to worry! As for the suppoting people i dont believe i should reveal right now!" He said a bit concerned.
So thats it! No wonder the mission didnt go that far! Many Officials under these ministers should be helping..... and as the main sponsor this man Choi is too dangerous....
I cracked a laugh showing my dominance. Thats all i wanted to get confirmed on. After all this man has not such an idiot. Ministers's hopeful face darkened a bit statled of my next words.
"Oh Minister Choi,...so you are not that stupid to reveal everything and fully trust this Princess Huwanuwei! " His face clouded like hell as i continued.
"Sorry about breaking your hopes!! But you should be thankful for me cause i am not the person who likes to act loyal and trustworthy and stab at your back!!!!" Removing my sarcasm i said seriously.
"True i have my own hatings towards my brother, but ill have it in my way and for the Red Eagle Nest,... ill again have my own ways!!!!" He looked like he was poisened to death.
"Dont worry again Minister Choi, ill keep the todays conversation a secret cause your words were too harsh on the emporer and the punishment might be sincere!!!" I looked into his ferocious eyes.
He then again smiled hiding his anger.
"Princess Huwanuwei, indeed you are so intelligent! But i think you are wrong at making this decision! You must have easily gained our support! Now that you dismissed it i just wish good luck on your way! So if we are done please excuse me!" He said regain his prod composture and walked towards the door. But i disturbed.
"Minister...its a not fully true that i said that his majesty was not truelly poisened. Apart from the reasons i gave for his sickness, I found out that his each meal was poisened for few years with a so weak poison which with time will affect badly. However i found out the maid who did it as she was taking revenge for his family killed by the emporer few years before. She was killed as it is the punishment for such an action, just last night and i think you are aware about it." Im sure its you who did it yet that poor girl didnt accept it and was punished by not me but the Commander! I couldnt help it....its the law..... the old man smiled wickedly fighting hus ghostly horrific emotions.
"Of course princess, may be since it was just last night i didnt know until you told me right now....the one who did such a great crime deserves it!" He gritted his teeth still facing the door.
"DESERVES IT!!!....we should keep that in mind.
Now you may leave....." as i ordred sarcastically he vanished out of the room. I wont let anyone harm my family anymore Minister Choi!!!
So since his actions and power are a bit clear, i told the empress to lecture the crown prince everyday since the minister might provoke him to do the wrong during his politics lesson. Empress was first worried but surely she knew how to make his son understand everything with love.
NOW i have to be more careful with this new foe!!!!!