"So she is that capable?" Empress Wu asked.
"Not so disappointing Your Highness." Wan'er said.
"Her guts worry me a little bit and I can't help it." Empress Wu said.
"But this is something that can't possibly be ignored by the Emperor and lucky enough since Han Touzhou invested so much in that secret copper mine his wealthiness might be weakened." Wan Mei remarked.
"What about Yang Meizi?" Empress Wu asked.
"She hasn't yet returned to the palace." Wan'er replied.
One of the students of Master Bao walked in on the four and Yang Meizi raised her head and looked up at him.
"What are you doing here?" Bao Langya asked.
"Forgive me Milady but there is someone out there that wishes to see you." He said.
"Who?" Yang Meizi asked.
"One of the Civilians that you rescued from the mine and he isn't alone." The young man replied.
Yang Meizi standing up she walked out of the door and noticed that in the small backyard there were people that were waiting for her.
"Milady." An older man that was standing at the front said as he went onto his knees while she looked so surprised by his reaction.
"Excuse me." She said.
"You are the last blood of our Guardian, you are the true heiress of the silver fraternity." The old man said and the others following his lead they knelt down and bowed their heads while Yang Meizi turned to Bao Langya and stared at him while he shrugged.
"Please spare us Milady and save us all." The old man cried on their behalf while Yang Meizi looking at most of them even noticed some very young teenagers that were staring up at her with their eyes glittering with hope.
"There's no silver fraternity." She muttered and they sounded so surprised while she recalled how everyone fought seventeen years ago protecting both her mother and herself that she couldn't help it but start shedding tears right away.
"Have mercy Milady." The old man continued to plead but Yang Meizi ignoring his words she descended the stairs and walked through the backyard to the brown stead finally mounting it and then riding away.
"Milady?" Nuwa called out to her but she ignored while her hands tightening the reins and her eyes could no longer hold back her tears, she exploded in silent painful sobs as she rode on faster and faster against the wind.
"What have you done?" Nuwa asked as she turned to the old man who was still standing nearby.
"These are all descendants of that noble line of martyrs and heroes, children of men that died fighting for the great cause." The old man said.
"And what is she?" Nuwa asked angrily as she turned around and faced Bao Langya and Bo An while they all walked away.
Yang Meizi rode the stead in tears while the painful memories of that loss seventeen years ago returned and replayed at the back of her mind, for a moment she had forgotten where she was headed and where she was coming from and even the place around her felt empty as she deeply grieved and mourned.
The stead halted while she looked around and noticed that there was a small narrow path that was descending into the Eastside of the Capital.
She got off and abandoned it while her feet led her into the streets she was running through the alleys uncertain why she was afraid and what it was that was responsible.
"You must survive." She remembered the words of her mother Zhang Shansheng and slowly she leaned against the wall and her legs failing her she sat down while she vividly recalled the arrow that was shot and the bow that was stretched, the very blade that her uncle had wielded and the sound of theirs clashing with the enemies.
"No." She said to herself as she recalled the awful words that Li San had mentioned against her uncle's corpse.
"You are the heiress." She recalled the claims of the old man.
"What is that Silver Fraternity?" She asked herself in the silence.
While she seemed distracted in her thoughts she heard the sound of footsteps headed her way and while she moved out of the alley she accidentally bumped into someone that she ended up falling onto the ground.
There as she held her forehead with a very slight headache, she raised her head up high and noticed a very handsome young man about her age standing there and looking at her.
"Are you alright?" He'd just asked when he was interrupted by the noise which came from behind.
"Get him." She heard a very deep commanding tone and before she could react on her own she was raised from where she was seated and found herself being led away by the young man.
She studied his robes and they looked very noble and while he wore an expensive hair pin while his clothes appeared to be woven from fine silk, she could tell that he was privileged and for some reason she couldn't break her attention from him.
They negotiated a corner and entered into another alley having ran around for a while that as they looked ahead there were two blocking their path the young man having no choice he moved into the nearby alley on his left only to meet a dead end.
"We're trapped." The young man said and turning to look at the young woman he realised her familiar face while she didn't seem to know him at all.
"You?" Shi Miyuan said barely believing that it was the girl that he had seen at the martial Academy a couple of days ago.
Yang Meizi seemed to get back to her senses that she turned around to see who it was pursuing them.
There were a couple of men that appeared to be in their mid thirties or forties, tall in height and bearded while they were well built and judging from their appearance very cruel.
"Get behind me." Shi Miyuan said as he spread his arms apart while Shivering slightly.
"You are one very fast devil but you suck at martial arts." One of the men said.
"There's a misunderstanding here." Shi Miyuan said.
"You lecture us for what?" The leader of the five asked, "because you are privileged you tend to forget that we're tired of listening to your pathetic words and as it is that your father is an esteemed Courtier then he'll offer a very handsome price for you." He added.
"Stay away." Shi Miyuan said and Yang Meizi tired she pushed him to the side as she positioned herself ahead of the bandits.
She unsheathed her mother's sword and immediately she pointed it at them.
"You heard him." She said, "stay away." She added.
"You even hired a private guard?" The leader asked and Shi Miyuan keeping quiet Yang Meizi spoke up.
"I am not very patient and a few people know that, if you are not willing to leave then I'll make you leave and if I can not then perhaps I can break each and everyone of your bones until you can only live the rest of your life crippled or worse bedridden." She said.
"There's five of us each nearly as twice as your size, what makes you think that you can beat us all?" The leader asked.
"Try me." Yang Meizi said and looking at two of his fellows they moved forward while Yang Meizi did the same.
The alley very narrow and fairly isolated a mild wind howled through it while she tightened her hand around the arm of her sword and the bandits gazed up at her.
She charged first at them head on and the two leaping on the walls they descended upon her.
She turned while their swords missed her and lowering her body she struck them on their lower abdomen that they staggered backwards.
She turned and threw herself in the air finally spinning a kick she knocked them down by their faces before she landed firmly on her feet with her left fist clenched and her right hand pointing with her sword at the remaining three.
They looked at their fallen commrades crying out in pain and Yang Meizi determined she still gave off the fierce glare.
"Attack." The leader commanded the remaining two and they charged at her while she did the same.
The first throwing his chain at her she jumped to the side and dodged it ceasing it halfway with her left hand and twisting if around her sword it bent in the chains direction before she slid right underneath the second one her foot halting at on the wall.
She stood up and dashed along it while the chain moving around it tripped the second while the owner seemingly losing his control she had tied him entirely that he fell onto the ground while her sword was freed.
The other two got up once again and Yang Meizi standing in front of Shi Miyuan she still faced them with her sword pointing ahead at their leader.
They charged towards her with their swords pointed at her while she too made her attack throwing her sword into mid air and moving swiftly she ceased their armed fists and twisting them their grip forsook their swords which falling towards the ground in different intervals she kicked them that they cut slightly past her attackers feet and the two immediately went onto their knees.
She raised her hand and her sword landing in her grip she spinned around and threw it towards the leader who slightly moved to the side while the sword planted itself in the wall on his left.
He read the character that was inscribed in it as "ZHANG." while his allies getting onto their feet she placed a sword on their master's neck while he still stared at her intensely.
"So much strength for such a young man." The leader said.
"I didn't start off with the best day." Yang Meizi said and the man pulling out a dagger she ceased his arm and twisted his fingers that his grip loosened for it to land on the ground.
"Another attempt and I promise I won't spare your eyes because my patience is wearing thin." She muttered.
"Alright, I admit defeat." The man said and hearing those words Yang Meizi slowly withdrew and throwing his sword on the ground she pulled hers out of the wall.
"You realise how lucky you are because that could have been the hole on your skull." She muttered.
"You prove your point." The leader said.
"Then order your men to fall back." Yang Meizi said and himself nodding at the others they carried their fallen colleagues and moved behind him while she watched.
"We've complied." He said.
"Get out of here before I can change my mind." She said and the five complying they withdrew from the alley leaving her alone with Shi Miyuan who was staring at her so intensely.
She returned her sword to the sheath and turned around to walk away.
"Wait." Shi Miyuan said and sge halted slowly turning around to look at him.
"What is it?" She asked him so coldly.
"Are you going to just leave me here alone?" He asked.
"I just saved your life." Yang Meizi replied, "that alone should leave you eternally grateful to me." She added.
"And what if they come back for me?" He asked.
"You are a man and you were vying to protect me in the first place that I wonder what happened." She replied while Shi Miyuan smiling he scratched the back of his neck.
"At least I should know the name of the person who saved me." He said.
"You are a noble scholar and I can tell that you must be from a well off family, on the other hand I am a nobody so it doesn't matter whether you know my name or not we won't be seeing each other again any time soon." Yang Meizi replied.
"How sure can you be that I won't follow you?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"I can knock you out at any of your pressure points here and now and even if you did decide to follow me with those thin legs of yours you couldn't possibly keep up because you didn't feel like a very great athlete a while back." Yang Meizi replied as she turned around and started walking out of the alley.
"Wait for me." Shi Miyuan said but before he had finished she had climbed onto the balcony of the next building and standing there she faced him and waved with a smile on her face.
"You.?" He tried calling but she had already started in the opposite direction climbing roof from roof.
It was getting late by the time she arrived at the top of the hill where she had left the horse and underneath the afternoon sun she found it grazing on the grass under the large oak tree that stood facing the city.
"So you waited here for me?" She asked the horse while smoothly caressing is neck yet it remained silent that she nonetheless smiled with contentment.
"An old man that can't even put up a fight?" She thought to herself recalling the events that had happened earlier that before long she found herself smiling for a strange reason.
"Milady?" She suddenly heard Nuwa calling her name and turning around to see where she was coming from she caught sight of her and Bao Langya coming closer they immediately halted in front of her.
"Where have you been?" Nuwa asked.
"I was just here." She lied but the two seemed to buy it very well as they didn't bother asking her anything else.
"It's already been a couple of hours and we haven't yet returned to the palace." Nuwa said when Yang Meizi seemed to remember that there was still the palace to return to.
"We'd better hurry." She said as she got onto her horse and Nuwa mounted hers as well and the two rode off into the direction of the Palace that was stationed downhill.
Yang Meizi walked through the gates and she was led through the entrance of the Cifu Palace to the very quarters of Empress Wu.
She knelt down in front of her and bowed her head thrice.
"There's no need." Empress Wu said while Yang Meizi stood up and noticed that there was a rather faint smile on her face.
"Your Highness." She said.
"I should thank you more than this after all it is now that I see your true intentions and you haven't disappointed me." Empress Wu said.
"I promised Your Highness that vengeance was my calling." Yang Meizi said.
"Then you must know what's already going on in the palace." Empress Wu said.
"I believe that one can say the tables aren't in Han Touzhou's favour.
"The Emperor was able to conduct a thorough investigation earlier in the day through Zhao Ruyu and you can guess what the results were." Empress Wu said.
"For Han Touzhou it must have been horrendous." Yang Meizi said.
"The land on which the mine rested undeniable wasn't state owned land for it had been personalized by Han Touzhou and even if he can deny the claims with rather insufficient evidence excavations can in deed prove it was a copper mine that was buried he can't escape the attention of the Emperor right now." Empress Wu said and Yang Meizi said.
"Just this one thing isn't enough." She muttered, "prior to the explosion I was able to gather information which proved that meeting the expenses in the mine was done so with evasion of taxes and a lot of money that was supposed to go to the dormant ministries was repatriated but the worst part was that even with it alone Han Touzhou borrowed money from other few lesser and well off bureaucrats." Yang Meizi said.
The Empress smiled right when Wan Mei walked through the doors.
"Your Highness she said as she fell onto her knees in tears that Yang Meizi and the Empress quite surprised their faces were overwhelmed with worry.
"What is it?" Empress Wu asked.
"His Royal Majesty the Retired Emperor." Wan Mei replied while nodding her head.
Emperor Xiaozong shot up from where he was seated his eyes teary.
"What?" He asked Eunuch Qin who stood in front of him crying out his eyes red and his head lowered down looking onto the ground.
"His Majesty the Retired Emperor has passed on at half past noon." Eunuch Qin replied and the Emperor holding the brush that was in his hand he let it go while around his belt where the Jade pendant had been hanging it fell down and shattered into pieces.
His breath was short as he sweated profusely and reclining into the chair Eunuch Qin seeing his condition he rushed over to his side.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" He asked.
"I need to go to the Palace of Virtue and Longevity." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"I shall have a sedan prepared for Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin said.
"Halt such buffoonery and take from my closet all the fancy robes back to the laundry house, fill it with those made of white linen and better bare cotton while you can cast out my sandals or keep them where I can not see." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin pleaded.
"I am going to see my father as I was with nothing yet he gave me everything I shall bid him farewell with nothing." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Your Majesty, consider your health as well." Eunuch Qin said.
"That was an Imperial order and if you defy it then that is treason." Emperor Xiaozong said.
Eunuch Qin was instantly threatened that he withdrew his argument.
"You have heard well, what are you waiting for?" Emperor Xiaozong asked when all of a sudden the mourning drums were sounded throughout the Palace that he closed his eyes and turning towards the window he wandered helplessly on his barefeet while he faced the East where the Palace stood and towered with magnificence touching the sky.
"At last His Majesty has been laid in peace." He muttered, "I never thought that I would be hearing those drums anytime soon." He added.
"Long Live His Majesty." Eunuch Qin said as he got out of the room.
Han Touzhou was seated at a small in as it was already dusk, the streets were busy with people when through the doors a young woman walked in being escorted by another.
Her face veiled the path was blocked by Lin Xue and the woman lifting the veil on her head he immediately bowed his head with out saying a word that he led her upstairs into the room.
He slid the doors open and inside Han Touzhou was seated when the Crown Princess walked in.
He greeted her and signalled for her to sit down while She turned to Lin Xue who withdrew from the room immediately.
The Crown Princess picked up the cup of tea ahead of her and sipped at it with a smile on her face.
"I was reliably informed that you wished to have a word with me." Han Touzhou said.
"It was necessary for me to congratulate you." Crown Princess Li replied and Han Touzhou smiling he placed his cup of tea on the table.
"Is that the very best that got you here?" Han Touzhou asked, "you must have heard that the copper mine exploded and with that alone I have been financially crippled, what news is there for you to congratulate me about?" He asked.
"The Palace is in tumult and at the same time the court itself is turbulent, the nation has been entirely overwhelmed by grief, which of the two had more meaning than the other if we are to compare the Copper mine to the life of the Emperor?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"You understand much better than anyone else that perhaps it's fate and heaven is on my side." Han Touzhou said.
"If you can kill a man then their fate is in your hands." Crown Princess Li replied.
"So Your Highness is saying that I killed the Retired Emperor?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Am I wrong to think so?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"What if I did?" Han Touzhou asked.
"To prove your innocence and guilt isn't up to me and moreso when I think about it His Majesty was already old enough and suffering from a series of complications.
If he inhaked something or ingested it that would be hard to determine after all the remains of himself are considered sacred and can not be defiled be a coroner's hands would their be a need for a post mortem?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"As usual even now you surprise me." Han Touzhou replied.
"Then why would I see you?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"I'd wish to believe that the issue of the mine is foregone is there any need for you to offer another hand to me especially right now?" He asked.
"Why not?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"The results from this were very Excellent and perhaps much better than I expected, the reigning Emperor made a fuss and rid himself of all jewels befitting of a monarch and a king to mourn his late father." Han Touzhou said.
"So your main aim wasn't simply the mine issue but you were reliant on His Majesty's Filial piety?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"You're not wrong." Han Touzhou replied and the Crown Princess smiling he studied her eyes.
"Why?" She asked.
"His Majesty has Always been very filial and in a situation like this that he loses his father what do you think would happen if he were to go into total mourning?" Han Touzhou Asked.
"Enlighten me." Crown Princess Li.
"The state is secure and peaceful for the time being, the army as well would perhaps anticipate an attack at the moment from an enemy, moreso to him the affairs of state would come nothing more than hamper to his duties as a filial child." Han Touzhou replied, "there are the Han traditions according to which the mourning period of two years is to be respected even by the reigning Emperor and he must not be wasteful in erecting the Imperial mausoleum, so if he were to hear cases every now and then and Courtiers pointing fingers at one another what would he think?" He asked.
"I'm marvelled." Crown Princess Li said.
"Yet you don't look content." Han Touzhou muttered.
"You seem to have prepared for my visit well enough." Crown Princess Li.
"Justify your cause Your Highness." Han Touzhou muttered.
"Don't you wonder what would happen after the mourning period and moreso right now that the state needs the Emperor?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"What are you trying to imply?" Han Touzhou asked.
"You know that I know that the Empress is quick witted and she would perhaps understand this as a diversion of both the public attention and the reigning Emperor's?" Crown Princess Li replied.
"What if she did?" Han Touzhou asked.
"At her urging she'd rather request the Emperor to wield more power at the time being which could prove fatal now that the Crown Prince is under her guidance." She replied, "should that be the case she'd continue her reign as regent through the foster grandson more so the de facto power of the Empire would rest in the hands of His Majesty as the retired Emperor." She added.
"And how sure are you that it isn't want I want?" Han Touzhou asked me
"Her allies aren't flawless and more so her clan isn't sinless as well, if I can try to understand your motive you intend to make her forcefully bend to your will so the position of regency is nothing more than a temporary ruse because what use is it to have such a high position and no power." Crown Princess Li asked.
"You know the true objective of this." Han Touzhou said.
"What if I did?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"Simply know that there aren't any hard feelings involved my only search is for Political insurance." Han Touzhou replied.
"Two years ago I made your nieces Princess Consorts." Crown Princess Li said.
"And I appreciate your favour but that isn't adequate enough." Han Touzhou replied.
"Then what is?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"The position that I have given you." Han Touzhou replied the young woman keeping quiet she picked a cup of tea from the table and sipped at it once again before she rested it back again.
"I need one of my nieces to become the Crown Princess and perhaps in exchange for that you can become the Empress without my own interference." He said.
"Don't you trust me?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"Half of all politics is suspicion and I am not much of a person that easily trusts us, because only if I can be assured that my niece is granted the title of Crown Princess can I certainly start to trust you just as much." Han Touzhou replied and the Crown Princess standing up from where she was seated she walked out of the room at once while Lin Xue hurried in.
"Why did she look furious Your Excellency?" He asked.
"Look a little bit closely." Han Touzhou replied.
"You realise that the investigation of the mine can be halted or wrapped up of she were to become the Empress?" He asked.
"She is cunning and she is very smart yet as I give her power I don't wish to deprive myself of any more of it." Han Touzhou replied, "at the time the Dowager Empress is surviving on my mercy and I could crush her power if I willed except that if she can't rule the inner Court then she can't restrain the Crown Princess' powers." He added.
"And aren't you aware that she is aware?" Lin Xue asked.
"Even if she is she is pretty much doing the same thing with me that to rebuke me publicly she is very certain I'll retaliate yet at a time like this she has Consort Huang to also worry about." Han Touzhou replied.
"It is in deed as they say that the both of you are crouching dragons." Lin Xue remarked.
"I've given her the best offer that she can find and while she could reserve the right to use her Imperial prerogatives to overrule me, I can simply let the Dowager Empress to use her seniority as a way of managing her." Han Touzhou remarked.
The Crown Princess Li halted outside the building so furiously.
"Calm down Your Highness." Liu Zhan muttered.
"Han Touzhou that sly fox is purposely testing my patience." Crown Princess Li said.
"He's not afraid that you could expose him." Liu Zhan said.
"If I were to react rashly then he'd learn that my leverage is non existent." Crown Princess Li replied.
"But he has supported you until now and the only reason that perhaps he doesn't dare to tamper with you is because he knows that you have something on him." Liu Zhan said.
"Yet that alone isn't enough." The Crown Princess Li replied.
"We could still use the issue of the mine to our advantage." Liu Zhan said.
"Don't you think that Han Touzhou would be testing our desperateness?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"Then where are we going to find out more against him Your Highness?" Liu Zhan asked.
"He's not the only person that can use seniority in the inner Court to his advantage." The Crown Princess Li replied.
"Your Highness?" Liu Zhan asked.
"I am an ambitious mother in law and there is no need for me to have a daughter in law like me." She replied as she smiled ghastly.
Emperor Xiaozong was seated with Empress Wu in the room and the both of them looked at the coffin ahead that was inlaid with gold and semi precious stones.
"It's very cold." Empress Wu muttered.
"At last after all those years it is today that my soul finally feels very empty." Emperor Xiaozong replied.
"You should have seen His Majesty when he was still young, he had the most zealous spirit and when the Jurchens took the North while he charged on the battlefield in his armour his Royal splendour and zeal were unmatched, when the battle went to the sea at Caishi all heroes of his generation fought there and defended the dynasty." Empress Wu said.
"I can only imagine how those days could have been." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"And this body of mine posseses six scars in total." Empress Wu said.
"Need I ask why?" Emperor Xiaozong said.
"One arrow in my back was guarding him, the second in my right chest I was doing the same, the third a blade struck my right upper arm and the fourth was from yet another arrow when he forgot himself and carried me uphill to the camp, the fifth on my neck was self sustained as I promised that I would rather die than abandon his side." Empress Wu said.
"And the sixth Your Highness?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"The child I bore him but I couldn't hold in these hands of mine I was at last very glad hearing that there was you I'd finally have someone to give warmth in the cold winter nights and together we would be a very happy family." Empress Wu replied.
"I am grateful." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"But I am more grateful Your Majesty that you give him something that I couldn't, that you loved him and cherished him and as much as it hurts me to walk up ahead I can't help but worry how lonely he must be in the Netherworld." Empress Wu said.
"Your Highness, what is it that you wish to say to me?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"Can I accompany him on that very ordurous journey?" Empress Wu asked.
"Why must you be so cruel Your Highness, what is it that I have not given you?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"You have given me more than I could ever ask." Empress Wu replied.
"Then I forbid you Your Highness." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Why?" Empress Wu asked, "those Courtiers would all wish to get rid of me now more than ever, when I know that the affairs of the state themselves are too much to handle on your own and when I look and see that you are a little bit too tired if I lend a hand they'll certainly call me a meddling woman." She added.
"You are the last mother that I have and something very dear to remind me of my father." Emperor Xiaozong said, "if the world dishonors you then they dishonor me as well." he added.
"I was thinking that by me you were offended." Empress Wu said.
"Never in the world." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Then where do we go from here Your Majesty?" Empress Wu asked, "Even if you were to protect me today how certain would you be that your descendants would do the very same." Empress Wu asked.
"Is there something that I do not know?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"Come in." The Empress ordered and Wan Mei walked into the room holding a tray which was covered with a white piece of cloth before she halted right in front of the Emperor.
She bowed her head and knelt down before him while the Emperor hesitantly he pulled off the veil and noticed a small empty bottle.
"What is this?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"The bottle smelled of Mercury and it was already examined by the Imperial physician." Wan Mei replied.
"Mercury is something very rare and in nature once inhaled it could lead to respiratory failure." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"This little bottle was found in my incense burner Your Majesty and I didn't dare report as I thought that the News might be too hard on you but yet I was surprised when an investigation of His Late Majesty's Chambers led me to something quite surprising." Empress Wu muttered and the doors to the side opening Wan'er walked in with a similar tray that was veiled as well and stopping in front of the Empress and kneeling where she knelt, she pulled off the veil and removed another similar bottle which she showed to the Emperor.
"Mother, you're saying...?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"You now understand." Empress Wu said.
"His Majesty, murdered?" He said surprised, "who would do such a thing?" He asked.
"How can we know, there are ten departments in the Palace and it employs five thousand workers and twenty thousand Imperial guards, all movements though regulated none can keep a close eye out for everything and yet despite our every effort we can only lean on heaven's good will." Empress Wu said while she stood up from where she was kneeling and she walked up to the coffin.
The Emperor who was still shocked went silent and seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
"Why?" He asked.
"It couldn't have been the servants alone, which one of them bears a grudge against His Majesty, it couldn't be the Imperial troops, which of them have access to his inner most Chambers, a move that is rash could simply alert the enemy to retreat and whatever little progress we would seek we would do so in vain, right now that I look at your father's corpse what strikes me colder than death itself is having to bury you because this life of mine is useless yet Your Majesty I can't bear to see you suffer this fate next." Empress Wu replied.
Emperor Xiaozong stood up from where he knelt with the help of Eunuch Qin and he moved closer until he looked at the Empress who seemed most sincere in her tears.
"Why not think of yourself now?" He asked.
"The Courtiers are scheming and your father abdicating the throne twenty five years ago he hoped to not only protect your position as his successor but soothe the ears of those wicked politicians." Empress Wu said.
"Must I?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"When the Ruizong Emperor abdicated to his son in the days of the Middle Tang, the succession was secured from the Taiping Princess and he retained the Ultimate power, you can give them the Crown to give them contentment but the real power must rest in the hands of Heaven's August Sovereign." Empress Wu said.
"If I must protect you then I fear who it is in this world can protect the Crown Prince and the Zhao Dynasty?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"I am your mother and I would do everything in my power to return the favor, if I must protect Your Majesty then allow me with whatsoever little power I have in the Palace to protect the Crown Prince." Empress Wu replied as she went down onto her knees and bowed her head.
"No need." Emperor Xiaozong said as he helped her up onto her feet, "it's very cold here today and tiresome to watch, while I spend the night with father you are old and you need to save your strength." He added.
"I will Your Majesty." Empress Wu replied and slowly she turned around while she was led from the hall leaving Emperor Xiaozong alone with the Eunuch Qin.
"Come here." He ordered and the older complied.
"Prepare an Imperial Edict." He said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin replied as he withdrew from the hall while the Emperor moved up to the corpse of his father and stared at how cold it looked.
"Allow me my father." He muttered under his breath, "allow me to protect mother for you." He added as he rested his palm on his hands.
"Is that it?" Yang Meizi asked.
"In deed." Nuwa replied.
"An attempted murder on the Empress and she deliberately kept it a secret to tell it to the Emperor?" Yang Meizi said.
"I heard that His Majesty was very displeased." Nuwa replied while Yang Meizi smiled ghastly
"Her Highness was prepared after all." She said.
"What for?" Nuwa asked.
"Some privileges can't be given without rank, if His Majesty were to protect Her Highness against those Courtiers then her position in the inner Court itself wouldn't be enough, rather he would give her just as much power to contend with them." Yang Meizi replied.
"But Her Highness is already by far very powerful." Nuwa said.
"She's been out of the hall, it's high time that she now took her place behind the silk screen." Yang Meizi remarked.
Eunuch Qin walked into the Empress' Chambers while being accompanied by a group of Eunuchs and attendants as he held in his hands the golden scroll which possesed the two dragons and the sun in between.
"An Edict from His Majesty the Emperor." He said and Empress Wu and her entire staff going onto their knees they bowed their heads.
"With the passing of the Emperor it has struck but a very deep and sombre note in us all yet as His successor and legal son I shall not be wasteful myself in erecting the Mausoleum for his worship.
As devastated as I am and in accordance to the very gift heaven has given me, mourning shall be observed for two whole years after which I shall pass down the throne to my Crown Prince, Her Royal Highness the retired Empress shall be honoured as the Royal Empress Dowager and shall rule as Regent to the Crown Prince at the time of the transition.
Henceforth heaven has had me blessed and I take it not for granted I won't disappoint heaven itself in these my words as I have put my name to them." Eunuch Qin read.
"Long Live His Majesty." Dowager Empress Wu said and everyone repeating after her in unison Eunuch Qin brought the Edict over and handed it to her.
"Congratulations Your Highness." He said confidently while she nodded her head with a smirk.
"What?" Crown Princess Li said, "that soon?" She asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Liu Zhan replied, "An Edict was received at the Cifu Palace earlier in the day and in it the Emperor clearly stated that he'll reign for two more years and then abdicate the throne and among the people to assist the Crown Prince when he ascends the throne as Emperor is the Dowager Empress officially as Regent." She added.
"Who would have thought he'd go this far?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"Why Your Highness?" Liu Zhan asked.
"Has it not occurred to you already that in so doing perhaps out of fright the authority of the Dowager Empress with his death being untimely would be undisputed?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"I now see Your Highness." Liu Zhan muttered.
"This must be something good to Han Touzhou even if not the very best." Crown Princess Li said, "after all to grant such power is very unnatural and now that the Emperor has indirectly made this declaration public he has secured the position of the Empress in the Inner Court and as it is that she is officially recognized as regent I can only function below her and not at the same level." She muttered.
"Anything can happen in two years." Liu Zhan remarked.
"Except that the Empress isn't a fool and as I think that she might start to grow doubtful of everything surrounding her husband's death she'd best know that there is a target on her back the only means through which she'd retaliate is to wait for us to make a misstep of launching an attack when she is well prepared for it." Crown Princess Li said.
"And if we delay I dear that in her eyes it'll be a little too obvious that we are waiting for her to lower her guard." Liu Zhan said.
"The Dowager Empress can be invincible but certainly not omnipotent, if she wishes to protect everyone she can't protect all the Courtiers in her favour." Crown Princess Li replied.
"We could find some dirt on them anytime but they are very Powerful." Liu Zhan said.
"I am not asking you to do so because I don't have to worry about her that much moreso when I know Han Touzhou isn't the person to let her become very powerful because that's not the Empress he is looking for." She said.
"If so then who is?" Liu Zhan asked.
"A very versatile one, one that he can use effectively, that he can swing from one extreme to another." Crown Princess Li replied.
"His Majesty has acted a little bit faster than I expected, moreso with everything that's going on I have every reason to believe that the issue of the mine will be buried along with the Emperor." Han Touzhou said.
"Congratulations Your Excellency." Lin Xue said.
"There's no need." He replied as he stood up from where he was seated and he walked over to the balcony.
"There's something that you are not saying." Han Touzhou replied.
"The Dowager Empress having been realised as a Regent has become too powerful yet you do not seem very concerned." Lin Xue said.
"Power is given and can be taken the same, her only use is to be powerful enough to control the Crown Princess but that doesn't mean that she can not be controlled." Han Touzhou remarked.
"The Crown Princess has seen this." Lin Xue cautioned.
"And she can let me have my way because she will benefit in the future while I also do the very same." Han Touzhou replied as he slowly tilted his head and looked at Lin Xue who seemed rather puzzled.
"Did you look into the issue of the mine?" He asked.
"Your Excellency, the people that were involved were unknown and the slaves there just vanished, with such discreet identities the orchestrators might not only be very skilled but perhaps they are being championed by someone who is very powerful." Lin Xue replied.
The attack couldn't have possibly occurred without a reason and considering my current position right now who ever was behind this must have been well informed yet if we are to rule out the likely suspects the number is still very high which leaves me with only one conclusion that those involved were either victims of my iron hand or perhaps what they were after was simply not the mine but the prisoners." Han Touzhou said.
"The scope narrowed down to those two still remains wide." Lin Xue said.
"I want to know about the orphans from all those years ago, either those from a failed rebellion or not to foreign informants that could be linked with the Jurchens themselves." Han Touzhou said.
"Yes Your Excellency." Lin Xue replied.
Yang Meizi and Nuwa walked into the Dowager Empress' Chambers and moved up to the very place where she usually sat as they knelt down while she raised her head from where she was seated.
"At last you have come." Dowager Empress Wu said.
"How may we be of service to Your Highness?" Yang Meizi asked.
"Han Touzhou is very watchful of each and everyone of our moves therefore the only person that I can dare to trust with this important task is neither Wan Mei or Wan'er but the both of you." Dowager Empress Wu said.
"Whatever you will Your Highness." Yang Meizi said.
"His Majesty the Retired Emperor was murdered and a similar attempt was made on my life, I would perhaps say that I am not willing to let off whoever was responsible and at the same time I could still guess but the palace is full of very many moles and I wish to dig them all out one by one or even better be watchful of them." Dowager Empress Wu replied as she looked at Wan'er and nodding her head, the young woman carried a small book that was in her hands and gave it to Yang Meizi.
She read what was written on top.
"The Music scores of the three kingdoms." She said.
"Anyone might as well think so but that book contains the names of all the servants from the different departments within the inner palace both the ghosts and the living." Dowager Empress Wu remarked.
"What should I do Your Highness?" Yang Meizi asked.
"Deliver this book to Zhao Ruyu personally and not even his closest servant." Dowager Empress Wu replied.
"I understand that very well." Yang Meizi said as she stood up.
"Zhao Ruyu doesn't know whether I am sending you or not and the only way that we can confirm that is if you give him something." Dowager Empress Wu said as she turned to Wan Mei who carried over a small casket to Yang Meizi and opening it she pulled out a simple token which she studied.
"This is a thick copper pass that is no longer used in the palace." Dowager Empress Wu said, "at the very moment that you show it to him then He'll understand what you mean." Dowager Empress Wu ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Yang Meizi replied.
She got out of the Hall being accompanied by Nuwa while they slowly halted outside certain that they were no longer being followed.
"This is very risky Milady." Nuwa said.
"Any risk is worth it as long as I can get my vengeance." Yang Meizi replied.
"It hasn't even been a week since the incident of the mine happened, at the time even though Han Touzhou couldn't have confirmed that we were responsible it still isn't wise for us to stir up some trouble any time soon.
Yang Meizi walked quietly and there she stopped somewhere near a corner.
"You think Her Highness is stupid?" She asked and Nuwa was puzzled while Yang Meizi's eyes searched around until she seemed to be sure of something.
"Tomorrow Her Highness is going to get out of the Palace and if anyone follows us out we'll be the bait to lure them from her because much as we aren't her people it's easier for her to use us as Messengers so that she doesn't arouse any suspicion.
Should that be the case Her Highness will be able to meet whoever knows and has all secrets above Han Touzhou while we on the other hand shall only be charged with delivering a book of music scores." Yang Meizi said.
"Yes Milady." Nuwa replied and the young woman smiling ghastly they walked away when a young woman emerged from behind the nearby wall and stared at them vanishing in the distance.
She quickly negotiated the next corner and started out while looking around to see if she was not being followed she finally entered the Imperial archives.
There she found an old Eunuch and greeted him.
"Anything new?" He asked.
"I have something very urgent to report to His Excellency." The young woman said and immediately writing a small chit the two tied it to a carrier pigeon which was released.
A young Prince stood at the top of the balcony and gazed at the city in a distance where he watched the buildings rising and the rooftops brightly shining from the sun.
There were plain white banners flying around the Eastern side of the Palace and much as it was beautiful and tidy the place itself felt sombre and the atmosphere lowly.
A Eunuch approached him.
"Your Highness." He said but the younger seemed to ignore him.
"Lan He is here to see you." He persistently announced.
"Let him in." The young Prince replied.
"There's no need." Another voice said and the Prince turning around he studied the man that had been standing behind him from head to toe that his eyes became teary.
"It's been very long Your Highness." He said.
"Who would have thought that your return would be to this sombre and destitute Palace?" The Prince Zhao Kuo asked and waving his hand the Eunuch withdrew.
"We were best friends, naturally hearing about the death of Your Great Grandfather I would return to the Capital." Lan He replied.
"How was Henan best friend?" He asked, "you left and this Prince Zhao Kuo didn't hear a word from you " he added.
"I heard that you got married." Lan He said as he moved closer and stood at the Pavilion looking at the city as well.
"What to tell you whether she is beautiful or not I myself do not know, how can I possibly bear to look her in the eyes when I see her father, or hold her and her older sister just the same when everything they do they remind me of him." Prince Zhao Kuo said, "I can't breathe in these confines and they only keep telling me read this and read that and you'll understand." He added.
"I am not noble, I don't know how to live that way." Lan He said as he turned around and looked at the Young Prince.
He laughed heartily that he was just as surprised.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"What should I tell you" Zhao Kuo asked.
"I thought that after those three years you perhaps would have become a little bit more mature." Lan He said.
"I am not yet the Emperor and you are my best friend, how could you return from having traversed such a very long journey and I don't take you around the Capital?" Zhao Kuo asked and Lan He laughed heartily as well.
"I suppose you still haven't changed Your Highness and you are just as stubborn." Lan He remarked.
"You are the only person that dares to say so." Prince Zhao Kuo said, "but how well I know the Capital leave that to me." he boasted as he turned from the balcony and walked away while Lan He followed him closely.
Lin Xue looked at the sky and watching the clouds go by a pigeon landed at the very balcony where he was standing while he took out the message.
He entered Han Touzhou's chamber and found him looking through some books.
"Tell me." He said.
"The Empress did send some people out of her hall earlier in the day but our spy eavesdropped their conversation and learnt that it's all a part of an orchestrated ploy to have us diverge our attention from the Dowager Empress." Lin Xue said.
"Why so?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Her Highness is on her way to find out something that makes you weak, reliably she wouldn't put in so much effort unless she is assured of a thing or two that could threaten your power and position." Lin Xue replied.
"How many people want me dead?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Very many." Lin Xue replied.
"Is it that easy?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Your Excellency, precautions must be taken." Lin Xue said.
"If so then why would Her Highness be very careless knowing that there could be people watching her every move?" Han Touzhou asked.
"What if she speculates that you might ignore it as well?" Lin Xue asked.
Han Touzhou kept quiet.
"Perhaps it's also a possibility." He said.
"Because one could tell that with rather unfamiliar faces they would perhaps survive the risk and as I am reliably informed one of the girls is the late Yang Cairen's Daughter." Lin Xue muttered.
"Now that you mention it I can't overlook the two possibilities because it is likely that one is the cover for the other but which is which?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Then maybe we should keep a watch for both." Lin Xue said.
"You don't think that there is a possibility that they are all distractions and the Empress is only trying to be careful not to expose a third move?" Han Touzhou asked.
"You are smarter than I am Your Excellency." Lin Xue said while Han Touzhou chuckled.
"There you are flattering me again but I don't have to care that much what the Empress does." Han Touzhou said.
"Then should we abandon that operation?" Lin Xue asked.
"Naturally I'd prefer that we used the same method against Her Highness." Han Touzhou replied.
"If you say so." Lin Xue muttered.
"There's been nothing strange from the Han Manor." Wan Mei said and the Dowager Empress resting some of the books that she was reading on the table she smiled.
"Proceed according to plan." She muttered.
"But how successful can we be if Han Touzhou doesn't strike Your Highness?" Wan'er asked.
"Any hesitation right now could alert him and regardless of everything that happens I am not afraid of what Han Touzhou is going to do because my main concern isn't that he learns about what I plan, rather it is that he paves way for me to do as I please." Dowager Empress Wu replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Wan'er replied.
"The guards will be shifting tonight and at the time there should be the commotion of the robbery, my palanquin will travel through the South gate while Yang Meizi and Nuwa shall go through the West Gate and at the time the criminals shall be rounded up." Dowager Empress Wu said.
"Yes Your Highness." The two replied in unison.