Shi Miyuan was silent as Dong Hua rode the horse while he tightly held onto him.
"What did you do?" He asked.
"I told her." Shi Miyuan replied.
"There's a wound on your chest." He muttered.
"She was saving my life." Shi Miyuan replied, "if I didn't die a fabricated death I would have died a real one." He added.
"I would have protected you." Dong Hua said.
"You are obliged and you are very loyal, on the other hand she makes me realise that it feels nice for the first time having someone scold or quarrel with me." Shi Miyuan replied.
"Hold on tight." Dong Hua said.
"You fear I'll fall?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"I fear for many things." Dong Hua replied.
"Can you tell me one of them?" He asked.
"Pain." Dong Hua replied, "isn't that good enough?" He asked while Shi Miyuan remained silent.
Yang Meizi riding towards the cottage seemed to recall the words that Shi Miyuan had said to her and while she did not notice her heart was starting to feel very soft yet that one memory kept on rewinding itself at the back of her mind.
"Why am I thinking about it right now?" She muttered under her breath.
"Is there anything?" Nuwa asked.
"Nothing." Yang Meizi replied as they arrived at the cottage and got off their horses while Nuwa's eyes seemed to be searching around for something.
"What are you looking for?" Yang Meizi asked.
"The other horses." Nuwa replied.
"They must have been travelling, that's why you probably won't see them around." Yang Meizi replied.
"Why are you so sure?" Nuwa asked.
"I'm going to pray." Yang Meizi immediately excused herself as she returned inside while Nuwa seemed to notice a sudden change in her behavior much as she seemed to try harder at hiding it.
Prince Zhao Kuo was seated at his table and still thinking about it.
He recalled how Yang Meizi had looked while she walked out of the Martial Academy and yet better still he could feel that his heart was uneasy at the memory of it.
He held his chest feeling his heart beating faster and at the time the doors of his quarters were opened and the Princess Consort Han walked in while being accompanied by her Ladies in waiting.
"Your Highness." They greeted Zhao Kuo bowing their heads yet he seemed distracted that his wife waving at them they immediately withdrew while she turned to her husband.
"Kuo'er?" She called him and he turned and looked at her.
"Princess Consort?" He seemed very surprised that she was present.
"Yes." She replied.
"How long have you been standing there?" He asked, "I'm sorry I was just thinking about something." He added.
"I just arrived in." Princess Consort Han replied and the young Prince pointing for her to sit down she complied while facing him yet he let his mind wander away once Again.
"You haven't visited my Chambers lately and the last time we had a dinner commitment you didn't turn up." Princess Consort Han said.
"I'm sorry." Zhao Kuo replied, "I was busy." He added and the latter folded my hands.
"We've been married for a while and yet I still don't know it understand your mind." She muttered.
"Excuse me?" Zhao Kuo asked.
"You are lax on the affairs of State, that I have heard quite often, you are painting or reading poems in the Imperial library when you are free.
You go for a walk around the palace in the morning when you wake up, at noon when you are done eating and at night before you sleep." Princess Consort Han said.
The young Prince kept quiet.
"Your Highness is in deed very busy that you can't stop by my palace and at least have a meal, or you wouldn't care to ask what it is that I have prepared for you, yet for the snacks that I send over to your residence you are generous enough to give them to your servants in a literary sense I am the one offering them a service and cooking for them." Princess Consort Han said.
"Let's not talk about this." Zhao Kuo Said.
"If we don't talk about this today Your Highness then when shall we ever do so?" Princess Consort Han asked while he kept quiet.
"I am a woman and I am human too, if there is a problem then the both of us can talk it out." Princess Consort Han said.
"You want a child?" Prince Zhao Kuo suddenly asked.
The Princess Consort looked very surprised hearing those words coming out of his mouth.
"Your Highness?" Princess Consort Han asked.
"I only choose to remain silent I know everything that happens within these palace walls.
I am very sorry that I disappoint you but what has your father given me in this life?" Zhao Kuo asked.
She kept quiet.
"Tell me that you married me for love." He demanded, "look into my eyes and tell me the reason that you endured was because at one point you hope that when I can become an Emperor you can be my Empress or at worst in case I die to young and you're widowed at an early age as the mother of the future Emperor you'd be the Empress Dowager?" He asked.
"Your Highness?" Princess Consort Han called.
"I don't hate you but perhaps I don't treat you like a woman because I don't know, when you two Han sisters are closely affiliated with your uncle to make effective use of me none of you would care about my emotions just as much you'd wish to lie with me and have children to give power to your people while I remain a lonely husband surviving this world's most cruel machinations.
You come and go as you please yet if I hold your waist I'm afraid to offend your uncle and father, when I look into your eyes your beauty vanishes and is replaced with his cheek bones and temples along with those cruel dark eyes. It's not any easier for me to live as well and I try but I don't know how to treat you." Prince Zhao Kuo replied.
"I got married to you I was ready to face anything Your Highness, as long as you can find ways to be comfortable around my father then and only then could you survive the cruel machinations of this world." Princess Consort Han said while she gracefully stood up and bowed her head before walking out of the hall.
The Prince Zhao Kuo feeling her presence slowly waning he looked at the candle on the table.
"If only I could see you, if only I could have you, perhaps from the love I have lost and this life that I do not cherish, I could try and find something beautiful to call my own.
Dowager Empress Wu was seated in her Chambers when Wan'er walked in on both her and Wan Mei.
"Your Highness." She greeted while the Empress Dowager smiled ghastly.
"Any good news?" She asked.
"The soldiers are all ready, what is your order for Commander Wu?" Wan'er asked.
"Spare no effort, I don't want anything to leave that place breathing." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"What about Han Touzhou Your Highness?" Wan'er asked.
"Trust me, more than anyone else, Commander Wu will understand what to do with him." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Wan'er replied while she withdrew from the room at once.
"Han Touzhou is smart but this was a full proof plan that he'd dare not predict it and after tonight if he survives your power in the Imperial Court will be unmatched." Wan Mei praised.
"Tonight a very good move would finally confirm the Emperor's suspicion in him and if he wishes to dispose him, then certainly he'd be faced with much more limited resistance his fall will come too easy for us." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Surely Your Highness' future is bright." Wan Mei said.
"All this scheming has brought us this far, with this I can finally get even with that sly fox for killing my husband." Empress Dowager Wu remarked.
"What about the Crown Princess Li?" Wan Mei asked and the Empress picking up a cup of tea she slowly lowered it back onto the table.
"That wench's image can only endure as long as the one for Han Touzhou does, so if we topple Han Touzhou it's like cutting the roots it would be but impossible for the tree to survive." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
Yang Meizi was kneeling in front of her mother and uncle's gravestones and looking at them intensely.
"Do you know what day it is today mother?" She asked but there was a silence.
"Today is my birthday, today is your death day and today is also the day that I finally grew more confident at making those people pay, they rode through the streets of Lin'an very proud and I watched while your corpses weren't even granted a proper burial." She said and finding herself in tears she slowly started to wipe them away.
Instantly, she recalled the words that Shi Miyuan had said to her and she found a smile on her face.
"Today mother, someone told me that they liked me and I stabbed them in the chest with your sword, today my heart for the first time beat for a person who looks intelligent but he is a coward, judging from his hands he can't even wield a sword but then when he holds me and we both run, it is so tight that I don't have to fear that he will let me go." She muttered and yet quietening down she could feel the cold wind rushing on her face.
"I don't know why, I don't know what his eyes see, I don't know what he likes or dislikes, nor how he lives his life, the family that he comes from or his name. Nonetheless mother, I don't dare lie to you, honestly for the first time in my life I felt nice and the genuine nature of another person's heart." Yang Meizi muttered as she bowed her head and kowtowed three times before smiling at tombstones.
Han Touzhou had arrived at the small house and was seated in his Chambers when Lin Xue suddenly barged in on him.
"Your Excellency." He cried as he fell down onto his knees while bowing his head.
"What's the problem?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Your Excellency's caravan." Lin Xue replied as he picked from his clothes a token which he handed over to his master.
"What is this supposed to mean?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Earlier in the day the caravan on its way to the warehouse was ambushed by a group of skilled bandits and not much was identified by them however in the strife there was something that we believe was dropped by one of the attackers." Lin Xue replied.
"It's this token you say?" Han Touzhou asked as he inspected it carefully.
"Does it not look familiar Your Excellency?" Lin Xue asked.
"Where did I see it?" Han Touzhou asked.
"It's an ancient token from the Northern Song Dynasty, sure Your Excellency, you must have heard of the token from the House of Li." Lin Xue replied.
"Isn't it no longer in use?" Han Touzhou asked?
"Then why would it appear at the scene Your Excellency?" Lin Xue asked, "what's stranger is that General Li and General Qin who are both aware of this had their routes rather safeguarded and had it been the Empress Dowager then why would she have chosen to spare the other two and instead not topple you all three down?" He said.
"When you say so, it makes sense." Han Touzhou remarked when suddenly they heard screams coming from outside and explosions.
"What's going on?" He asked and the doors of the room immediately flung open one of his men rushed in.
"We are under attack Your Excellency." He said while Han Touzhou's eyes widened and Lin Xue just as surprised he stared intensely.
Han Touzhou fell into his seat.
"How's all this possible?" He asked.
"Tell everyone to resist." Lin Xue ordered.
"Yes." The man replied stepping out of the room.
"Our hands are really tied." Lin Xue said, "this is a double disaster." He added.
"Let's leave." Han Touzhou said.
"Your Excellency?" Lin Xue was questioning.
"If we are caught here with the prisoners then it would be a capital offense because we both know that they were charged with rebellion." Han Touzhou replied.
"Think about it Your Excellency, with such an organized attack and Imperial troops outside this whole hill is entirely surrounded there isn't much that we can do about it the only way we can escape this is by creating a diversion." Lin Xue said.
"With who?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Allow me Your Excellency." Lin Xue replied.
"You are well known as my subordinate and you are not as wealthy enough to hire skilled assassins, if you were to use yourself you'd obviously be protecting me so you would doom us both." Han Touzhou said.
"Then what do you want me to do Your Excellency?" Lin Xue asked.
"It is Han Touzhou that they want so we shall give them a Han Touzhou." Han Touzhou replied as he smiled ghastly.
Commander Wu and the others having landed in Han Touzhou's men and slaughtering them mercilessly he caught sight of a small group of people getting out of the cottage while being escorted by a number of guards.
"Catch that traitor." He shouted and all the soldiers diverted their attention to the six men that mounted the nearby horses and rode them downhill.
"Han Touzhou," Commander Wu thought, "I won't let you go anywhere." He swore as he mounted his horse and together with seven of his men they pursued Han Touzhou leaving the rest of the hilltop in chaos and strife.
As they rode through the tree tops for a while Commander Wu picked up his bow and arrow and aiming at the defenders of Han Touzhou he fired at them while he penetrated his defense from behind.
The first three men fell and another three were left as he picked up the second set of three arrows and took his aim once again and having locked his targets he fired a second time and succeeded in shooting the last three down until Han Touzhou was left all alone.
He looked ahead and noticed a group of torches flying and banners of the Imperial troops to realise that they were approaching a barricade.
At once, Han Touzhou all alone he instantly stopped his stead while Commander Wu's men at the front knocked him down with their thick nylon ropes the hood he was wearing on his head was blown away revealing a set of frightened unfamiliar eyes.
Commander Wu and his subordinate rode up to the young man who judging from the injuries on his body he seemed to be one of the victims of the arrest.
"That's not Han Touzhou." His subordinate said and Commander Wu widening his eyes in shock something occurred to him.
"Its a ruse." He muttered as he quickly turned his horse around and started off quickly in the direction that he had come from while lightning then streaking across the sky, it started to drizzle slowly.
Han Touzhou and Lin Xue bring escorted by their elites had walked out of the cottage through the back in the middle of the fight, themselves dressed like Imperial soldiers they quickly dashed through the trees.
"Watch Your step Your Excellency." Lin Xue cautioned but Han Touzhou too worried while it seemed so dark was relying on his own instinct not to be tripped by the large buttresses that crept on the ground.
They had travelled a distance and the noise of the swords clashing itself had died out while the last they could see was the flaming tortures and the Imperial troops being locked into a very serious struggle.
"The Mountain must be sealed off." Lin Xue said.
"But there is a river that we can follow." Han Touzhou replied, "as long as we can get to the capital before any informant does." He added.
"Why of all things are you worried about that Your Excellency?" Lin Xue asked.
"Surely the Empress Dowager expects a word from this operation and if I can't be found on these grounds and she is to react impulsively, then she'll use her position and power to charge through the gates of the Han Manor." Han Touzhou replied.
"And if you are not there it's only more effective in her hands to raise suspicion from all the others the majority being her supporters surely you won't get away with it." Lin Xue said.
"We are not faster than carrier pigeons but should the worst come to the very worst then we'll need an alibi." Han Touzhou said.
Commander Wu returning to the battlefield he got off his stead and unsheathing his sword he cleared the surrounding soldiers in his way as he further approached the stairs that led to the interior of the main cottage.
He broke down the doors storming into the room but was alarmed to find it empty while everything seemed to be in order.
"Search the room." Hd shouted on top of his voice and his followers complied while they shuffled through everything over turning the tables and the chairs while the others were looking through the various cabinets and he himself knelt down and started hitting the wooden tiles on the flow to check if they were hollow.
There wasn't any success for a while until eventually he caught sight of a small section of the wall that stood behind one of the cupboards in the room.
He looked at everything else and noticed that a majority of them were covered in dust yet as he looked at the shelf it seemed very orderly and clean.
"Put the shelf away." He said and his men complying he looked at it keenly once again.
"Good enough." Commander Wu muttered.
"What is it Your Excellency?" His subordinate asked.
"Everything in the room is at least covered with dust meaning that this place wasn't in use for quite a while and yet this shelf is strangely very clean it's likely that they feared to leave their fingerprints in the dust that would show us their secret passage to stall time and get away." Commander Wu replied.
"I don't understand Your Excellency." One of his men said and himself moving a little bit closer he started knocking on the wall until he reached in the middle and the sound felt a little bit deeper.
He smiled.
"There's a hollow." He said and furiously he swung his right foot and kicked through the wood cracking it he in deed found a very narrow compartment through which he walked up to the back of the building.
"Those Scoundrels." He cursed and at the time the sky roaring with thunder the ground shook while the drizzle that had been very mild suddenly evolved into a heavy downpour while Han Touzhou and his men looking up at the night sky they appreciated the clouds.
"It's raining." Lin Xue said with a smile on his face.
"Then the doves won't fly." Han Touzhou replied as he smiled ghastly.
"I want every section of this hill entirely blocked and no one should leave and climb it even the Imperial soldiers on it themselves." Commander Wu ordered.
"Yes." His men replied in unison and at once they quickly scattered.
Dong Hua barged through the doors of the Shi Major carrying Shi Miyuan on his back as he came face to face with his father Shi Hao.
"Where were you?" He scolded, "you didn't return home the whole of yesterday." He said.
"Forgive me Master but Young Master is unconscious and he needs a physician to tend to him right away." Dong Hua said.
"Take him upstairs." Chancellor Shi Hao said and without the slightest bit of hesitation Dong Hua mounted the stairs that led to his master's room where he placed him on the bed.
"Young miss." He kept on calling under his breath while Dong Hua looking at him it was only a matter of time before the physician arrived into the room.
Shi Miyuan lay sleeping on his bed with his clothes having changed and his bed covers adjusted just as the Physician read his pulse and then checked his fever.
Shi Hao standing there he looked impatient and it wasn't until the doctor closed his toolbox that he got the chance to ask his question.
"How is he?" He asked as the physician stood up from where he was seated and slowly the three walked towards the doors of the room.
"There's nothing serious that requires attention and the wound itself isn't harmful so he won't die." The physician replied.
"Then what about his unconscious?" Dong Hua asked.
"You slept in a shed and we aren't sure if there were any warm covers it's likely that he contacted the cold as he posseses those symptoms and similarly he seems to be in shock." The physician replied.
"What could shock a brave and confident young scholar like him, since childhood this was unheard of." Shi Hao said.
"The wound was very close to his heart that naturally he must have been shocked by the experience of the sword stabbing him that he passed out." The physician replied.
"Very well." Shi Hao muttered.
"I have left you with prescriptions surely if you're not going to ask me anything else then I am going to leave." The physician said.
"Thank you Sir." Dong Hua and Chancellor Shi Hao said in unison as he walked through the doors before the old man turned around furiously and looked at his son's retainer.
"Tell me first of all what you were doing so far from the Capital?" He asked rudely while Dong Hua bowed his head instead feeling a weight of humiliation on his shoulders.
"Pardon me Your Excellency." Dong Hua said, "it's all my irresponsibility." He added.
"Your irresponsibility or not that's up to me to decided but I wish to know why." Chancellor Shi Hao said.
"You might have heard Your Excellency, young Master fell in love." Dong Hua replied.
"That boy?" Chancellor Shi Hao muttered as he caressed his chin.
"What's wrong Sir?" Dong Hua asked.
"I had my men try and investigate a female student at the Martial Academy but I have failed to find out more about her as it seems her information is perfectly closeted there must be someone very powerful that is affiliated with her." Chancellor Shi Hao replied.
"Can you be very certain sir?" Dong Hua asked.
"I have confirmed with my own eyes and the Martial Academy isn't affiliated with any of the ministers at least I know or members of the Imperial family." Chancellor Shi Hao replied while they both turned to look at Shi Miyuan who was fast asleep.
"Isn't it good if she is being sheltered by a powerful person, for all that we know she couldn't possibly be coming from a bad family." Dong Hua said.
"Not necessarily." Chancellor Shi Hao muttered.
The rain was slowly dying out and Wan'er waiting at the balcony she immediately caught sight of a carrier pigeon that landed right in front of her.
She took out the small piece of paper that was tied to it's leg and immediately she charged through the hallways while the other Palace maids honoured her bowing their heads as she passed.
She entered into the Empress Dowager's Chambers and bowing her head she offered her the small piece of paper which she took into her hands and read through it's contents.
She seemed enraged by the time she had concluded and folding it up she tossed it into the brazier and watched it burn with so much discontent.
"What's wrong Your Highness?" Wan'er asked.
"The siege was unsuccessful and I am afraid that Han Touzhou was able to escape." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"How was that even possible?" Wan'er asked.
"During the attack he set them up with a decoy and managed to escape at the time of the fight when disorganisation was all over the place." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"Your Highness can give charge of Imperial soldiers to round up his mansion and search for him." Wan'er said, "if he's not present at that time then it's likely to put him under the suspicion of many." She added.
"Han Touzhou isn't that stupid to not know that I could make such a deliberate attack and if I did in the eyes of the Courtiers and the world it would seem as though my grudge and dislike to him is baseless by now he must have organized an alibi which could only cause me to humiliate myself." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"I see Your Highness." Wan'er said.
"This was a very perfect scheme and it's just that we weren't cautious enough, Han Touzhou might be weak but now that I have given him a cold arrow he is going to get onto his feet and charge against me." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"What should we do Your Highness?" Wan'er asked.
"I simply can't let this slide." Empress Dowager Wu replied, "have all the rebels slaughtered and leave nothing to deal with them alive." She added.
"Yes Your Highness." Wan'er replied as she withdrew from the Hall.
"You wait Han Touzhou, it's a matter of time before I can tear you down entirely." She swore with anger all over her face a ghastly smile completed it.
Han Touzhou was helped into his bedroom by Lin Xue while he shivered having contracted a cold from the rain.
He was helped down to his bed and their Lin Xue picking up his feet he removed the shoes and then dried them with a piece of cloth before he tucked him into his covers.
He sat by the bed side and watched him having placed a wet piece of cloth on his forehead while the latter was shivering intensely.
"Your Excellency?" He called but didn't seem to yield a response soon enough, "how hard it must be." He added as he sighed.
Han Touzhou suddenly opened his eyes and looking around and noticing where he was he quickly sat up in his bed and turned to his right.
"Lin Xue?" He muttered quite surprised.
"It's about time you realised." Lin Xue replied as he took the fabric away and placed it back in the water while Han Touzhou massaged his temples.
"Are you feeling alright?" Lin Xue asked.
"How could I?" Han Touzhou asked, "after everything that has happened I am going to be nothing but a joke to the eyes of many." He added.
"Do you think that the Empress was involved?" Lin Xue asked.
"Empress Dowager or not it doesn't matter as it is likely that there is a traitor amongst us and moreso the one person consequently yielding from everyone of my failures is Her Highness." Han Touzhou replied.
"What if there's a mole in us?" Lin Xue asked.
"Her Highness would be just as smart and just as shrewd and I know that after having failed to hold me up in the arms of Justice all our brothers won't survive death so she wouldn't have lost as much and moreso at a time like this the Emperor will only trust her just as much." Han Touzhou replied.
"It's a dead end." Lin Xue said.
"At this rate the more powerful the Empress Dowager becomes she won't be my equal any more but rather a superior." Han Touzhou muttered.
"The only way that I see it we are left with one option." Lin Xue said.
"Give power to the Crown Princess." Han Touzhou replied.
"But from a very close analysis Your Excellency, you can't tell me that you don't see the other very likely possibility?" Lin Xue said.
"General Li is about the traitor, the copper mine and the caravan of the smugglers he knows a thing or two perhaps if he got me to feel hopeless then eventually I'd grant him about just as much power as he needs to take down the Empress Dowager who is more powerful." Han Touzhou said.
"By supporting the Crown Princess you shall have danced according to his tunes Your Excellency." Lin Xue said.
"I understand that this is a very big risk but if we don't act that way then I fear the house of Li would be about just as suspicious." Han Touzhou remarked.
"Then why not support Consort Huang?" Lin Xue asked.
"Her ambition is lean and she is rather bent on becoming an Empress, she doesn't have that many supporters that giving her our loyalty shall make of us an Enemy to the house of Li which is our greatest ally. At this rate without reason we can't offend the Crown Princess as she is but the likely match to the Empress Dowager's power and if the two could tame each other into open war they'd weaken gradually at their own hands." Han Touzhou remarked.
"Divide and rule?" Lin Xue asked.
"This is merely a gamble and so are the consequences, they aren't accurate but at least if it happens so we could use the Princess Consort Han to gain advantage of the situation and turn the tables on them." Han Touzhou replied.
"I see." Lin Xue muttered.
"Arrange for me to meet with the Crown Princess." Han Touzhou ordered.
"Yes." Lin Xue replied as he immediately excused himself and got out of the room while Han Touzhou was left alone in thought as he stared at the token that was left behind.
"Empress Dowager or Minister Li, it's high time you felt my wrath as well." He swore tightening his grip around it while he stared into thin air angrily.
Yang Meizi and Nuwa returned to the Palace which seemed quite lively with their arrival as they noticed the ladies in waiting and other maids constantly murmuring amongst themselves eventually they arrived at the Cifu Palace where they caught sight of Wan'er.
They bowed their heads and greeted her while she did the same.
"Are you here to see Her Highness?" she asked.
"We were just wondering what happened as the Palace seems to be disorderly?" Yang Meizi replied and Wan'er sighed.
"What more could cause such havoc within these walls?" She muttered.
"Is it Han Touzhou?" Yang Meizi asked.
"Of course rumours are spreading that he was involved in a series of illegal activities and Her Highness made a successful attempt to topple him he survived narrowly yet as it is his power has weakened while we can anticipate that he is going to retaliate sooner." Wan'er replied.
"And the rebels?" Yang Meizi asked.
"Since Han Touzhou escaped they were of no use to the Empress Dowager with the order from her brush they were publicly executed yesterday in the city square." Wan'er replied.
"I'll see Her Highness later." Yang Meizi muttered and along with Nuwa as they bowed their heads, they slowly turned around and descended the stairs out of the Palace to the side quarters.
"I can't believe that Fox Han Touzhou gas nine lives." Nuwa said.
"But at least we are halfway there, now that a number of his illegal backbone businesses are slowing down following the collapse of the Copper mine and the attack on his caravan it is safe to say that soon he'll be bankrupt." Yang Meizi remarked.
"Yet even if the Empress Dowager runs the Palace there is still the Crown Princess." Nuwa said.
"I have yet to make my attack on her but that is going to require me taking power in the palace and moreso I need to be able to approach his Majesty the Emperor." Yang Meizi Said.
"Why can't you see him now?" Nuwa asked.
"Until now don't you think that many have tried but it's impossible, if I am to rely on the Empress I might only end up exposing myself as an ally and I need to exploit the opportunity of their ignorance while approaching the Emperor when they least expect it." Yang Meizi replied.
"Aside from the Dowager Empress, the Empress Consort and a few other members of the Imperial family, there's no one else who can dare approach the Emperor as casually." Nuwa said.
"There are Eunuchs and at worst Palace maids, I am not qualified to be the latter the mist likely position to bring me into close contact with His Majesty is as a Court Lady as I fear the Empress Dowager might either be implicated or she might end up becoming too suspicious." Yang Meizi replied.
"It isn't as easy to become a Court Lady without the involvement of the Dowager Empress." Nuwa said, "how do you plan on doing that?" She asked while Yang Meizi smiled ghastly.
"Tell Bao Langya that I am going to need his help." Yang Meizi ordered.
"Yes Milady." Nuwa replied as she quickly withdrew from the place while the young Prince Zhao Kuo who was walking through the Palace halted when he caught sight of the fair maiden.
She didn't seem to notice his presence as she continued her way while on the other hand, he closely followed unable to bear the possibility of losing sight of her.
Han Touzhou arrived at a small teahouse and along with a a couple of servants and guards he was led inside into a small inner room where he found the Crown Princess seated over at a cup of tea.
Seeing her, he bowed her head while she also stood up and did the same and then pointing down to the seat in front of her, Han Touzhou unhesitantly sat down while they were excused by everyone else.
Almost like he had done she poured him a couple of tea and Han Touzhou taking it up in his hands he sniffed at it before finally closing his eyes and then swallowing it down his throat.
He placed the small cup on the table halfway with a smile on his face.
"It's quite Strange that the first time it was myself deliberately going out of my own way to seek an audience with you and despite all these years if I can remember very well this scene is very familiar and who would have thought that you too would need me?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"You can gloat all you want but I understand much better than anyone else that this is but a common enemy for us." Han Touzhou lightly scolded.
"Except that now you do realise that you seem to need me much more urgently than you did back then." Crown Princess Li asked.
"It's safe to say that you can never predict how swift your demise can come but for the good of all and even heaven itself can bear me witness, I needed an insurance and guarantee that you'll have to forgive me if I could only bestow upon you nothing more than a series of shortcomings." Han Touzhou replied.
"No need." Crown Princess Li said, "we are on the same side after all." She added, "it is perhaps as I have heard from the palace that for some reason Your Excellency is broke and also that your income sources perhaps questionable or not haven't been very fruitful if late.
I understand that the Goryeo traders my father told me about wish to divert their attention to the Jurchens and perhaps the people of Wa and without wealth how could you certainly gain possesion of this country and rule it to your designs?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"You seem to be well informed." Han Touzhou muttered.
"I do some research and maybe through my father I could understand all your troubles and shoulder them with you." Crown Princess Li said.
"You are in deed very smart." Han Touzhou complimented.
"Now after you are starting to collapse you realise about how much the Empress Dowager is a very poisonous industry?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"I have been a politician for a while and at a time like this one must say it is when I understand what it is that must be done, it is at a time like this I reflect on having to keep fighting and the consequences that could likely befall us if our strife is engineered and devouted to fighting a fruitless battle." Han Touzhou replied.
"Which is the fruitless battle Your Excellency?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"Fighting the Empress Dowager with my own strength has been about just as Lethal as I have lost my informants and a majority of my strongest warriors, surely I have something that I regret and when I regret inwardly I am compelled to hold myself accountable for every single mistake and loss that I have encountered." Han Touzhou replied.
"You aren't very bad an ally and for the first time I feel that you are bring rather honest with me." Crown Princess Li said.
"The Day is coming when Your Highness is going to become an Empress." Han Touzhou said, "is it not better for me to give you my total allegiance while I still can?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Well said." Crown Princess Li muttered, "I really like that." She added as she raised her cup as though making a toast and sipped it while the two exchanged some of the most sincere glares that they could possibly find.
Han Touzhou placed his cup down at the table while the Crown Princess did the same.
"Tell me now what is it that I must do?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"The Empress Dowager isn't entirely the best person, if you want to build your own influence in the Palace and make great for yourself an army of your most loyal servants, try to begin with those that are afraid of her and consequently find those that hold a grudge with her.
At the time the battlefield will be divided into two armies all comprising of loyals you wouldn't be possibly worried of a traitor in your midst and certainly you have to make sure that the Empress Dowager herself doesn't know." Han Touzhou replied while he smiled at her.
"I see." Crown Princess Li said with a ghastly smile on her face.
Lin Xue still waiting at the doors of the room they were flung open and Han Touzhou walking out the latter joined his master as they descended the stairs of the building.
"What is it Your Excellency?" Lin Xue asked
"The battle has began." Han Touzhou replied.
"I don't understand." Lin Xue muttered.
"My sincerity is my only weapon at the time and perhaps you weren't wrong to think that Minister Li and his people pulled off this great act I certainly won't let them go." Han Touzhou replied.
"And the Empress Dowager?" Lin Xue asked.
"Don't worry after all I think that it's much better for Her Highness to know." Han Touzhou muttered.
"Won't that be very bad for you?" Lin Xue asked.
"She can smile with contentment having had a very active role in conjuring my misfortune but now that she knows I have met with the Crown Princess she'll take that as an open declaration of war and understand that she is now my greatest support.
Likely if they can divide the palace and exhaust all their wicked schemes on one another with truimph for one and disaster for the other, regardless of the results they'd have to weaken gradually and I'd make effective use of that to trample or extinguish them and rise up higher once again." Han Touzhou replied.
"But it's not a full proof plan." Lin Xue said.
"Before when I succeeded it wasn't that my plans were full proof but rather I was willing to take a gamble, if the risks are higher so are the stakes, the most interesting bit is having to possibly watch with contentment and be patient for the best result." Han Touzhou muttered.
Empress Dowager Wu seated in her room she was reviewing through some memorials while Wan Mei and Wan'er stood in front of her.
"I have heard that he is a bankrupt idiot." She muttered.
"And our men have reported that in deed he had a word with the Crown Princess." Wan'er said.
"When he has been destroyed and compressed from all sides the only likely way he would find some degree of revival and refuge would be clinging to another likely powerful ally in the palace and as such the only person who posseses such a rigid stature to be my equal is the Crown Princess." Empress Dowager Wu remarked.
"Your Highness is in deed foresighted." Wan'er said.
"She's confidently going to come at me with everything that she has and I won't sit quietly and also watch her instead of fighting back." Empress Dowager Wu said while she placed the memorial that she was reading onto the table and she faced them both.
"What does Your Highness have in mind?" Wan Mei asked.
"The palace is full of very many that are my people and I am sure it wouldn't be a bad thing to give that wench one loyal dog that will ultimately destroy her." Empress Dowager Wu replied as she smiled at them ghastly.
Yang Meizi was seated in her room and along with Nuwa, Bao Langya walked through the doors while he was led to the seat that was right in front of her.
"Brother Bao?" She greeted him and he returned the kind salutation with a simple bow before he sat down.
"I heard from Nuwa that you wished to talk to me?" Bao Langya said.
"I have a very small favour to ask." Yang Meizi said.
"You're welcome to tell me anything that I can do for you, as you are very much like a sister to me I have every reason to believe that your truimph is my truimph as well." Bao Langya said.
"I need a very skilled long distance Archer and perhaps even better I want you." Yang Meizi remarked.
"Why so?" Bao Langya asked.
"Trust me, there's someone that needs to owe me me their life." Yang Meizi replied.
"You couldn't be serious Milady?" Nuwa said.
"Great measures require great risks and to ensure that it's something very serious there must be lethal poison to be used." Yang Meizi said.
"Mei'er...?" Bao Langya said but was interrupted.
"Any objections can be reserved and it isn't that hard to pick someone else to do the role, it's just that if that person is not you whether the chances of survival are high or low no one could possibly tell." Yang Meizi said.
"I'll do it." Bao Langya said.
"If you agree there isn't turning back and should you delay as well there'll be someone else to take the shot unless it's immediate." Yang Meizi said.
"Who do you want to be in the target?" Bao Langya asked.
"I heard that following the death of His second primary wife His Majesty has a disinterest in women but regardless of that he deeply cares so much for the Empress Consort." Yang Meizi said as she smiled ghastly.
"If everything goes wrong Milady then you realise that pointing that arrow in the Empress firstly is considered treason." Nuwa said.
"That's why I said the greater measures require greater risks." Yang Meizi said.
"If anyone were to find out you'd be in big trouble." Bao Langya said.
"That's why I am asking you to trust me." Yang Meizi remarked and the two looked at each other hesitantly.
"What's the plan?" Bao Langya asked.
"The Empress Consort will be going to the Temple to offer her morning prayers as she usually does and as it seems that she is a refrained person that takes a dislike to politics I need rumours that pose her to being a plausible threat in the succession being the Primary wife of the Emperor." Yang Meizi replied.
"But Her Highness isn't politically apt, who will believe that?" Nuwa asked.
"We don't need to make the world believe it, we only need to start a fire to give off the smoke." Yang Meizi replied, "in that way there could be a suitable ground upon which to justify her attack." Yang Meizi replied.
"Alright Milady." Bao Langya said.
"Don't be too frightened as I assure you that nothing in the world would befall me and moreso the Emperor is already doubtful of some people as we speak and act like this could aggravate the situation and we would succeed in killing two birds with one stone." Yang Meizi remarked as she smiled ghastly while the others holding onto their own doubts they folded their hands.
Bao Langya and Nuwa walked out.
"Just how so does Yang Meizi wish for the Empress to owe her her life?" He asked.
"I don't know any better but we both are aware that she'll readily have someone else do the job and should it go wrong in the hands of another then she could be barred and executed on the charge of treason." Nuwa replied.
"To do or not it's not like we have a choice." Bao Langya saved as he recalled the words that Yang Meizi had said to him.
"You'll take your aim and shoot at the end of the prayers when Her Highness is descending the stairs of the temple." She had ordered.
"I'll try my level best." He promised.
It was very early in the morning and Empress Xie kneeling in the temple she bowed her head and worshipped the Buddha that was stationed in front of her.
Once she was done she was helped my her ladies in waiting to get onto her feet.
"Watch your step." Daiyu said as he slowly led her through the doors they slowly started descending the stairs while Yang Meizi, Wan'er and Nuwa who were carrying offerings on behalf of the Empress Dowager mounted them.
Halfway the long staircase, Yang Meizi seeing the Empress in front of her she slowly bowed down her head and paid homage while the fairly old woman looked at her and studied her nature.
By the time she had halted and she seemed to take a keen study at her when Yang Meizi looking in her eyes she seemed frightened that she dropped what she was holding.
"Watch out Your Highness." She said and turning her around while she embraced her the arrow instead struck her back while she instantly closed her eyes and collapsed with the Imperial guards rushing up to their aid Nuwa and Wan'er quickly shook her.
"Young Miss." Empress Xie shouted in tears, "someone help." She cried out.
"Defend the Empress." The Imperial guards shouted while Bao Langya at a distance he watched and unable to believe it himself he quickly turned around and made his escape through the trees while the Imperial guards started loitering around the place in total upheaval.