Clearly this was a well layed out trap orchestrated to attack me using my Emperor's unyielding suspicion. I clutch Ke'er close to my side and pull my jade hilted dagger from it's sheath. I point the dagger at Sio Ji and when I look at Zhen and see he is completely calm I see the situation clear, in exchange for Ke'er to remain safe I must die.
* * *
"The other Prince's are unfit to rule and the Consort Sio is not someone who should have the power over the country at this moment," The Prime Minister commands and I dismiss the court and worry about the future of my son and the future of Great Chu.
After a month of endless debate and constant danger the court finally decides to crown me Regent to support young Ke'er. When I pass on complete power to Ke'er I will be able to remain Empress Dowager.
I realize by the time Ke'er reaches a suitable age to marry and complete competence to manage the nation's affairs on his own, by then my father will reach sixty years old. They will both be reaching grand feats in their lives while I struggle to keep myself sane.
Under my nose Sio Ji uses the Emperor's token to set her plot into motion. Guards are more often new or reassigned and unfamiliar but I let it go as they were doing a great job at keeping the palace safe.
Due to the number of guards changing I offered to train them in my non existing free time so every once in a while I could be seen training palace guards. I did let my guard down and assume that the changes were for my son's benefit.
In the court I didn't feel opposed or favored but in an almost dangerous neutral position. If I proposed something of high importance the same amounts of power would agree and disagree. In the end a losing battle would be fought in court allowing mistakes to happen and for plots to take hold.
After a month of trying to reinstate a second defense for the Capital I put my foot down and appointed trusted military minister, Du Lin as General of Lasting Defense. Soldiers were picked and guards were the result. I fought for the mere security of the Capital but I didn't think to place anymore guards inside the palace.
There was a large number of guards that were in the palace and thus I was able to hold my false sense of security. I choose to ignore the unseemingly frequent guard changes and often rotations as a sign of changes happening in the balance of power.
Sio Ji opens her mouth to call me tyrant and my son a puppet king. When I order her capture the guards hesitate. I can feel that this is a bad sign. Sio Ji jad long stayed out of my sight and now she presents herself to spew nonsense to my face? I catch a smile appear on Sio Ji's crying and outraged face.
"The Deposed Empress sits her son on the throne, makes herself Regent Empress Dowager and doesn't search for the Emperor!" Sio Ji shouts.
Her words are not true as I have sent many teams to find even a hint of the Emperor's whereabouts, who his abductor is, and if he is alive. These teams report daily and are done in as much secrecy as possible.
I know if Tuoba He Zhen is alive I will be happy, if he can return he may cast me away but as long as Ke'er lives I can be content that our great state of Chu will be looked after. I will give everything to my Ke'er even Great Jin will be his.
I write my declaration for Ke'er in secret. After telling my father plan he agreed as long as I agreed to rule as the Seventh Monarch of the Xing Royal Family. Officially it grants my first born child be it a female or a male the right to hold the throne of Jin.
I situate the court to suit Ke'er placing talents of sword and literature in the court. I grant Sio Ji's child a 10 li fief and banish Sio Ji there. I hear "jealous, unforgiving, ruthless, intolerant," and other words that suggest I was in the wrong to punish Sio Ji.
Just as I was about to leave my palace a hand holds me from behind and pulls me into an embrace. with all I have experienced I shake off the person and come face to face with my Emperor, Zhen. I attempt to pull away but in the end the Emperor gets what he wants.
I sneak away from He Zhen after he falls asleep. I am repulse, he was probably at the mercy of Sio Ji and her underlings. I left Sio Ji with a weak spell cast on her and if this was He Zhen taking revenge I don't want to find out what that wicked woman has in store.
As quietly as I can I prepare decrees and organize officials and set a trap for He Zhen. If he thinks he could escape from his duty as Emperor he was wrong. Knowing the people will need Ke'er I leave a decree saying I've sent Ke'er to check on the Empire and sent him to travel the entirety of the nation.
After the decree is officially announced I gather Ke'er and Min'er and as fast as possible we are packed and set out of the palace. I know that by the time we reach the outskirts of the capital city He Zhen will likely have awoken and he will come out to face the ministers. My leaving had a good effect on the court. The ministers agreed I would remain Empress and that Ke'er would remain Crown Prince for the people's sake. If the Emperor wanted to change it they promised to stand up for the citizens of Chu.
Initially I sent the carriage towards the border of the north western region but at the first place we took rest I collected my boys and gave them a rundown of our situation.
"Sio Ji and your Emperor father are a danger to our lives. I am in most danger but I am not keen on abandoning either of you. I must protect you both but if something happens I know I can protect Ke'er from afar and take Min'er to hide. I can't tell you exactly where but I'll leave you clues," I promise to my son's.