Eunuch Qin rushed into the hall and there he found the Emperor seated in his chair while looking through some of his memorials.
"Your Majesty." He cried as he quickly fell down onto his knees.
"What's wrong with you?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"It's bad news." Eunuch Qin replied.
"Rebels broke into the Palace a couple of days back and they were apprehended by the Empress Dowager eventually death was their only calling." Emperor Xiaozong said, "what more could be worse than that first attempt to throw the Capital in chaos?" He asked.
"Her Highness the Empress Consort." Eunuch Qin replied.
"And what's wrong with her?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"While leaving the Temple an attempt was made on her life." Eunuch Qin replied and the Emperor hearing those words he was infuriated that he slammed the memorial on his table while he stood up immediately.
"An attempt on the Empress' life?" He asked for a confirmation confronting his anger while seemingly being unsuccessful at his attempts.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin replied.
"First it was the Empress Dowager and now the Empress, before long who else would it be that they go after, myself or my children?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"That's what was reported." Eunuch Qin replied.
"The Empress is but a frugal woman and she lives a rather quiet lifestyle, it's more unbearable for me to involve her in any matter that could put her life in danger so why would anyone make an attempt on her?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"There are rumors Your Majesty that Her Highness could be but a potential threat in the future much as none of those claims have been justified." Eunuch Qin replied.
"How is she?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"The Heavens were merciful that the Empress was unscathed." Eunuch Qin replied and keeping quiet he bowed his head.
"There's something that you are not telling me." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"The Empress' safety wasn't guaranteed by the Imperial guards, in the process of defense it is rather saddening but the orphaned Daughter of Yang Cairen took the lethally poisonous arrow that was meant for her." Eunuch Qin replied.
"Where is she?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"She was taken into the Empress' Palace and they are overseeing to everything concerning her health." Eunuch Qin replied.
"Take me there." Emperor Xiaozong said and Eunuch Qin bowed his head while the Emperor descending from his seat he quickly marched through the doors.
Yang Meizi was brought into a room by a couple of Imperial guards and they placed her on the bed while the Imperial physician accompanied them.
The Empress in fright had been following and soon enough in the room as well she caught sight of the young girl who was pale and sweating profusely.
The physician took her pulse but Nuwa and the Empress impatient they drew closer to where he was.
"How is she?" Empress Xie asked and the physician at first silent he turned his attention to them.
"She's very lucky to get here in time but I'll have to do my best because the arrow itself contains a very lethal poison we have to remove it before the poison can spread to other parts of the body." The physician replied.
"That poor little girl." Empress Xie muutred when the doors of her Chambers bring flung open her husband walked in.
"Your Majesty." Everyone greeted bowing their heads while the Emperor walked up to the bedside and stared at the young woman.
"What is her condition?" He asked.
"It's not critical but treatment can not be delayed." The Imperial physician replied.
"I want you to use the best herbs and I also give my orders for the Imperial kitchen to take good care of her, if it doesn't bother Your Highness could you have her sleep over in your Palace?" Emperor Xiaozong asked as he turned to his wife.
"Had it not been for this poor little girl then heaven alone knows what would have been of me." Empress Xie replied, "letting her stay over is the very least that I could possibly do." she added while the Emperor stared at her intensely.
"Others would care less yet she actually rushed her life?" He said, "the Imperial guards should be ashamed if one simple woman could do the job that they have trained so hard for their entire life." he added.
"What more should we do Your Majesty?" Eunuch Qin asked.
"This is the Empress' wellbeing and her life having been threatened this is a matter of the state that we can't possibly let go." Emperor Xiaozong replied as he turned to Eunuch Qin, "have Minister Zhao Ruyu look into each and every detail of it and report to me whenever he finds concrete evidence." He ordered.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin replied and the Emperor turning around while everyone else bowed their heads, he walked out while the Imperial physician prepared his tools.
"Yang Meizi was shot?" Empress Dowager Wu asked Wan'er.
"Her Highness the Empress was coming from the morning prayers while we were taking your offerings when she took a very poisonous arrow for her and she is in the Empress' Palace as we speak." Wan'er replied her heart uneasy while the Dowager Empress was confused.
"Was this what all those other rumours were about?" She asked herself.
"Calm down Your Highness." Wan Mei said but the Empress Dowager was rather unsettled.
"This is a clear act of provocation and the Emperor won't take it lightly, but why would Han Touzhou considering how suspicious the Emperor is of his actions react in such a reckless manner?" She asked herself.
"Even I don't know but when you come to think of it I in deed find it quite odd." Wan'er said.
"Look into this matter carefully and report back to me." Empress Dowager Wu ordered.
"Yes." Wan'er replied and bowing her head she walked out of the room while the Empress was stranded in a series of very deep thoughts.
"An attempt on the Empress' life?" Han Touzhou asked so shocked.
"It's now become public Your Excellency and everyone knows it and much as the Empress was unharmed His Majesty is certainly going to pursue this." Lin Xue said.
"Who could have a grudge on the Empress?" Han Touzhou asked.
"There were rumours that she'd be a plausible threat in the succession being the Primary wife of the Emperor but considering the fact that she is childless and she best tries to keep herself from interfering in the politics of the state and the inner Court such a rumour would be very hard to believe." Lin Xue replied.
"The mere fact that someone reacted arises caution." Han Touzhou said.
"At this time with His Majesty rather suspicious don't you think that Her Highness the Empress Dowager was responsible for this to find a way of getting back at you?" Lin Xue asked.
"It doesn't feel right and besides the both of us have been rivals for more than two decades, I believe that I understand best when it comes to her style of attacking the enemy otherwise this is a move that is by far beneath her." Han Touzhou replied.
"I don't understand." Lin Xue said.
"If Her Highness was to try and wage a greater war between His Majesty and me she wouldn't need to beat around the bush by aiming highly for the Empress Consort, rather she would go for the Emperor himself." Han Touzhou replied.
"But if not Your Excellency, and not Her Highness, then who in the world could it possibly be?" Lin Xue asked.
"Minister Li and his son Li San could certainly stoop that low but given the current situation if they aim at cutting me down the Crown Princess will also fall along with me." Han Touzhou said.
"We don't have that much manpower to conduct an investigation though." Lin Xue said.
"The little that we have is best reserved, as this could likely be or not be a diversion it's better that we progress much carefully according to our plan." Han Touzhou replied as he sighed while reclining in his seat.
Prince Zhao Kuo was walking around the Palace when he walked past a couple of Palace maids that were murmuring amongst each other.
"I can't believe that she was just as courageous?" They said.
"Who would take an arrow for another?" Another asked.
"Her and the Empress aren't even close." One said.
"Moreover when she lost her mother not long ago and I heard that the arrow was poisoned." Another said.
Prince Zhao Kuo halting in front of them they bowed their heads and greeted him.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Does Your Highness really not know?" One of the maids asked.
"Why would he be inquiring from you?" Lan He scolded.
"My apologies." The lady in waiting replied.
"No need." Prince Zhao Kuo muttered, "just tell me what happened?" He asked.
"Earlier in the day Her Highness the Empress had gone to the Temple to worship and while there an attempt was made on her life but another person took the lethally poisonous arrow for her and much as she is safe the you g woman's condition isn't yet known." The lady in waiting replied.
"Do you know who the young woman that saved the Empress was?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"Sure enough everyone in the Cifu Palace knows her well, she is the foster Daughter of the late Yang Cairen and chief entertainer in the inner Court, she's called Yang Meizi." the lady in waiting replied.
"Yang Meizi?" The Prince Zhao Kuo muttered as he seemed to recall the words that Wan'er had told him a couple of days back.
"Could it be her?" He muttered under his breath.
"Is there anything Your Highness?" The lady in waiting asked.
"No." Prince Zhao Kuo replied, "where is the young woman?" He asked.
"In the Empress' Palace." the lady in waiting replied and the Prince nodding his head they continued past him while he moved at a slower pace with Lan He closely following him.
"What are you thinking Your Highness?" He asked.
"Could it be her?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"We can go and confirm first if you wish to?" Lan He replied.
"No." Prince Zhao Kuo replied, "you go there and check it out on my behalf." He added.
"Your Highness?" Lan He said quite surprised.
"If I'd go only Buddha knows what the Princess Consort would think, better enough for you to act as my eyes and ears, hopefully you understand what I mean?" Prince Zhao Kuo said.
"Yes Your Highness." Lan He replied Boeing his head while the Prince continued ahead leaving him behind.
Bo An sprang the doors of the room open and walking in first thing he caught sight of Bao Langya who was seated on the ground.
"Brother?" He called and the latter only speechless he raised his head and his eyes met Bo An's.
"What's wrong?" Bo An asked.
"I don't know what to do." Bao Langya replied that closing his eyes he shed a tear from them which compelled Bo An to walk up to him and then lower himself by his side.
"If there's anything that you wish to tell me then you can say it." He said and Bao Langya raising his head he looked right in front of him Bo An taking it to be an order did the same and his eyes landed on the bow that was hanging on the wall and the quiver set right beneath it.
"What did you do?" Bo An asked.
"She asked me to aim for her literally." Bao Langya replied.
"Yang Meizi?" Bo An asked.
"I suppose with all the rumors that are travelling around you must have figured out a story by now." Bao Langya replied.
"We are not as scheming, in fact we aren't as smart." Bo An said.
"It's her life." Bao Langya said, "just like you and me and all those other orphans that we became following the great massacre of the Fraternity." He added.
"I remember the day so clearly." Bo An said, "those men that were were dressed in fine shining armour carried with themselves swords, spears, blabberbusses and fire lances while they had their banners flying in the sky.
Hearing the noise from the training camp's store I walked out and then as I watched slowly one of those fire lances happened to land nearby giving off an explosion that was so large it threw me away and in an instant my head hit the bark of the tree and I thought that was the end of me." He added.
Bao Langya kept quiet and Bo An took it as a sign for him to continue.
"It wasn't all of a sudden, my eyes opened and in that strife there was another child that was about my age and perhaps only slightly older, he had the dark and the most compassionate eyes yet his gaze was all the more poisonous one could clearly tell the longing for vengeance that consumed his soul and just about then when he held my hand, he said to me that, "you must live." Bo An muttered while Bao Langya turned around and looked at him.
"What are you saying to me?" He asked.
"Think about all those that died protecting us and like herself don't just feel sorry for yourself instead build up your wrath and your anger, go out of your way to avenge all those that brought harm upon the ones that you loved that they might find peace in the Netherworld and let that alone become the new essence of your conflict." Bo An said.
Bao Langya kept quiet as he sighed in dismay.
"If she is willing to sacrifice everything to the very last bit of her humanity then she could face her mother in the Netherworld when the time comes and perhaps she too could swell the mighty flood that could take the earth and everyone in it by surprise." Bo An said.
"Put yourself in my shoes and tell me how you would have felt when the arrow that left your bow struck me?" Bao Langya asked, "tell me that you would have stood twice as strong when I was lying on that bed only taking a gamble with my own life and relying on you to protect me even with your own such open attack?" He added.
Bo An looked the other way.
"I might not face myself that I won't lie...." He replied.
"But...?" Bao Langya asked.
"For whatever reason that you chose to take it upon yourself in such a fashion and embrace such pain even without myself being close enough to help you share it I would still have faith in you." Bo An replied and slowly with his left hand he patted his friend on the shoulder.
"Find a reason to believe in her too." He muttered before standing up and walking out of that very room.
Bao Langya hearing those words he looked at his hands and sighed.
"Am I that strong enough?" He asked, "could I save you as I did seventeen years ago?" He went on, "could I really feel easy and believe in her?" He persisted but with only silence he bowed down his head.
It was a while later and Lan He had arrived at the Palace of the Empress Consort Xie.
He saw a couple of ladies in waiting walking back and fourth and while he stopped at the entrance he craned his neck while his eyes looked through the nearby window to the bed where the patient was being tended.
There were many people in her care and on top of that the Empress herself was seated by her side as a close inspection even from their enabled him to confirm that in deed that was the face they had seen in the Courtyard next to the Ministry of Rites some time back.
"It is her." He said to himself quickly walking away he later entered into the room of the young Prince and found him pacing around.
"Did you see her?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Lan He replied.
"Tell me, is it her?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"I could have been at a distance but I am not mistaken at all, it is in deed her." Lan He replied.
"How is she doing, is she alright, is it serious?" He asked himself a little bit worried.
"I have seen for myself there isn't any panic around the Palace she must certainly be out of danger right now." Lan He replied.
"I suppose she doesn't stop at only stepping on my back, but saving my grandmother as well she really is very much unlike any other woman that I have seen." He said his temper somewhat calm the transition was noticed by Lan He.
"You really care about her Your Highness but not to sound a little bit offensive, does she even remember you?" he asked.
"What are you trying to imply?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked furiously.
"You've been watching her all this time and yet you haven't taken much care to approach her, why is that so?" Lan He asked.
"What would you know?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"You're not afraid of her are you?" Lan He said and the Prince looking up at him he slapped him on the shoulder.
"You know that hurt." he cried.
"Why are you speaking senseless things, are you asking me to have you beheaded?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"I was just stating the facts." Lan He replied and the young Prince slapped him once again.
"What did you do that for?" He asked.
"You're annoying me." Prince Zhao Kuo replied.
"But now that she saved the Empress even the Emperor knows her, if you were to ask for her hand in marriage he wouldn't hesitate because very many women in the Palace all wish to have your attention, she couldn't possibly be any different." Lan He remarked.
"I don't think." Prince Zhao Kuo replied with a smile on her face, "after all she had the courage to mount on me what more could stop her from turning down this proposal of mine if I forced her, would she not end up putting her sword on her neck and in the end should anything happen to her then I'll be the one to feel guilty." He added.
"I understand Your Highness." Lan He said.
Empress Xie still seated by the bedside and watching Yang Meizi her eyes began twitching lightly before they were entirely opened as she looked up at her.
"Young Miss?" Empress Xie called.
"Where am I?" Yang Meizi asked as Nuwa helped her up while her eyes looked around the entire Palace which seemed quite lively and moreso surprised by her awakening.
"This is my palace." Empress Xie said.
"Your Highness." Yang Meizi said as she tried bowing her head and greeting her but feeling some slight pain on her back she was instantly refrained from doing so.
"Thank you." She appreciated the Empress' care.
"I should be the one thanking you young miss." Empress Xie remarked with a smile on her face.
"There's no need Your Highness, I was just doing my duty." Yang Meizi said while coughing a little bit.
"Are you alright?" Empress Xie asked.
"My eyes have opened up to the beauty of the world and I haven't been blinded nor have I been confined to the demands of the grave, surely, as long as I am alive and breathing which many aren't I am fine." Yang Meizi replied.
"Such a principled young woman and courageous, many would find keeping their lives much more important than sacrificing them for others moreso strangers." Empress Xie said.
"I am perhaps not like other people." Yang Meizi remarked.
"You are one of the few I have seen." Empress Xie replied.
"All in all I just felt that your life was in deed more valuable than mine." Yang Meizi said.
"Then allow me young woman to ask you to rest over for a couple of more days and recuperate, surely we'll take the best care for you within these walls and it's the smallest token of my gratitude that I could offer." Empress Xie said.
"Pardon me Your Highness but I don't wish to impose on you." Yang Meizi said.
"No red tapes, His Majesty already acquisced to that moreso I don't t want to feel uneasy in case something happens to you out there because the reason that you are lying here is because of me." Empress Xie said.
"If Your Highness insists then how could I possibly refuse." Yang Meizi said.
"Thank you." Empress Xie said.
"However I have one simple favour to ask of you that is if you really don't mind?" Yang Meizi said.
"You are my benefactor, whatever it is that I could possibly do I could be willing at your invitation." Empress Xie replied.
"I am from the Cifu Palace and the Empress Dowager could be just as worried, I was hoping to have an audience with her then perhaps that way I could be able to set her mind at ease." Yang Meizi said.
"Rest assured." Empress Xie replied, "she heard about the accident and she is set to turn up here later to see you, I wouldn't mind." She added with a smile on her face while Yang Meizi returned an equally bright one.
"What?" Crown Princess Li said.
"I heard that there was an attempt on the life of the Empress and she was rescued by a certain young woman." Liu Zhan replied.
"Do you happen to know who she is?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"There's no one in the palace that doesn't know her moreso you too know her well enough as she is the daughter to the deceased Yang Cairen." Liu Zhan replied.
"I heard reliably that she was quite good at dancing and very beautiful an entertainer, it's just that after the incident of Yang Cairen's death she wasn't as active." Crown Princess Li said.
"Well enough I heard that she remained under the guardianship of the Empress Dowager but whether the two are very close I can't be as sure of now, yet she did leave the Palace a couple of days ago for prayers at Mt. Tai and judging from her personality I have heard that like her mother she is more reserved." Liu Zhan remarked.
"Quite an interesting personality but I do remember that she was present at the time one of Consort Huang's spies made an attempt to steal something from her late mother's room." Crown Princess Li said.
"She was a witness and arrived first enough much as the man committed suicide the details of it weren't entirely publicized perhaps even Consort Huang wasn't willing to make it a very big issue and the Empress Dowager as well." Liu Zhan replied.
"By the time she'd take an arrow for the Empress then she certainly is a very remarkable young woman that is above par." Crown Princess Li said.
"But as I have heard from some very close ladies in waiting she was discontent with her mother's death and I don't think that she herself is as settled with the fact as she may seem to be." Liu Zhan said.
"She'd be very loyal because it is quite suspicious that until now the Empress Dowager seems to have not favoured her surely their relationship isn't as perfect if you say so." Crown Princess Li said as she smiled ghastly.
"I don't understand." Liu Zhan said.
"Think carefully about it." Crown Princess Li, if she is just as naive it isn't hard for us to reveal her mother's murderer as the Consort Huang and moreso if she were to become an ally within our palace then it would be our good fortune in going up against the Empress Dowager sooner or later." She added.
"But what are the chances that she will believe us Your Highness, and moreso as someone that has closely served the Empress and was brought up in the Cifu Palace it means she owes the Empress Dowager her life in the name of such loyalty it isn't that easy to say she will defect moreso if her foster mother was given by the Empress Dowager herself." Liu Zhan said.
"I didn't know that." Crown Princess Li said.
"Such conversations are common in the inner palace moreso amongst the ladies in waiting and the Eunuchs, I have heard the same story over and over again and besides the Empress Dowager wouldn't be as foolish to murder someone under her roof and this too that young woman must know." Liu Zhan said.
"Forget it then." Crown Princess Li said.
"Your Highness seems to be a bit disappointed." Liu Zhan said.
"I was just thinking that it would be very good if she could serve as diligently but given all the necessary precautions you really can't trust a person from the Cifu Palace that easily after all." Crown Princess Li muttered.
Endless Dowager Wu walked through the doors of the room and there she found Yang Meizi, Nuwa and Empress Xie along with some attendants they instantly stood up except for the patient and offered their salutations.
"Mei'er?" Empress Dowager Wu said but herself looking at her she realised what the latter wished to say she signalled for the others to get outside including the Empress who didn't seem bothered by it.
The Empress Dowager then walked up to her and sat down beside her bed while Yang Meizi looking around in the dark and certain that no one was watching she sat upright and faced her.
"How did this happen?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Don't wear yourself out Your Highness." Yang Meizi muttered.
"How could I not when you are in such a state, surely an attack like that which wound up with you involved leaves me unsettled and more so I have my suspicions in place it's very hard to dispose them off as easily as one would." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"You don't have to investigate this case because you won't get the culprit but at least it is important that you know that the brains behind this was none other than me." Yang Meizi said and the Empress surprised she widened her eyes.
"You?" She said, "you would hurt yourself this much?" She asked, "why?" she added.
"Because it's necessary Your Highness and because I must make the world believe." Yang Meizi replied under her tone.
"You nearly got yourself killed." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"I had to take the risk after all a poisoned arrow was enough to get the Emperor to come to me Your Highness, a poisoned arrow could have certainly created more doubt in his heart, a poisoned arrow that has made me the Empress' benefactor." Yang Meizi muttered.
"What for?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Mere talk won't be enough to rid us of the Crown Princess and her allies moreso now that the Palace is in order we can't risk it falling into chaos." Yang Meizi said.
The Empress Dowager kept quiet.
"Right now Han Touzhou's might has been greatly challenged and alone he can no longer be a match for you moreso when your influence in the palace is vast, when I think of it to contain your might his last resort would be to support the Crown Princess and helping her gain a great deal of power in the inner Palace.
If I am with nothing I can't help Your Highness but if I can gain control of the palace then you of all people shall have consolidated your might." Yang Meizi replied, "in a simple pretext I could merely ask you to create me a Court Lady but even then Han Touzhou and the Crown Princess would think highly of me being your ally which is the very last thing that we need." She added.
"I see." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"My guess is that if I could be the Empress' benefactor then she would remain indebted to me and if she were to create me a Court Lady on the grounds of myself having protected her given the fact that she has kept a distance when it comes to Affairs of the inner Court then it won't be as surprising and moreso you shall not be implicated in one way or another." Yang Meizi said.
"But yourself becoming a Court Lady hasn't yet even crossed the Empress' mind so how do you expect her to help you become one?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Rest assured Your Highness, leave everything to me, I am certain that by now she should be hearing a thing or two about it." Yang Meizi replied.
Empress Xie was seated in her Chambers next to a brazier while sewing when for a moment she became absent minded and recalled the incident that had happened earlier in the day at the temple.
She could almost feel it recurring once again and the look on Yang Meizi's face clear at the back of her mind she sighed as her attendant Daiyu walked in and kneeling down she placed a small cup of tea on her table while she turned to her.
"Are you alright Your Highness?" She asked.
"How could I possibly be?" Empress Xie asked, "I can't help but imagine what would have happened to me had it not been for that young girl?" She added.
"Is Your Highness guilty?" Daiyu asked.
"I'm grateful but how to repay her I am certainly puzzled." Empress Xie replied.
"I see." Daiyu remarked.
"What is everyone saying about her?" She asked.
"She certainly is a very brave person and moreso she is your benefactor, she could be favoured by the Emperor just as much or she could gain a prestigious position as a Head Lady in the Palace." Daiyu replied.
"What do you think?" Empress Xie asked.
"Very many ladies in waiting pray for the opportunity to be invested as Head Lady, surely she wouldn't say no if you offered and she would be very grateful and come to think of it she was highly praised in the Cifu Palace at a time like this with someone like her we could have some degree of order." Daiyu replied.
"It makes sense." Empress Xie said.
"I heard that after the death of her mother Yang Cairen she is not a Princess of the Royal blood so that alone makes it rather difficult for her to stay in the Palace whereas if she were created a Head Lady I think she would have all the more reason to stay behind." Daiyu replied.
"Would the Empress Dowager agree?" Empress Xie asked.
"In my opinion she raised her up so she'd naturally understand and moreso if you sought the approval of the Emperor then her position would be as good as secure." Daiyu replied.
"Arrange for me to write a petition to His Majesty." Empress Xie said.
"Yes Your Highness." Daiyu replied bowing her head.
Emperor Xiaozong was seated inside his study when Eunuch Qin rushed in.
"Your Majesty." He cried as he brought to his presence a scroll and taking it into his hands the Emperor unfolded it and read its contents.
"Are you sure it came from Her Highness?" He asked.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin replied and the Emperor placing it down onto the table he smiled.
"Prepare an Edict." He said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin replied.
He left the study immediately and he was accompanied by a series of attendants and in the middle of the night travelling through the palace they made their way up to the Empress Consort's residence.
Daiyu barged in quickly and found her pacing around the room.
"Are they here?" She asked immediately.
"Eunuch Qin is delivering His Majesty's Edict." Daiyu replied.
The Empress and her ladies in waiting hurried to Yang Meizi's chamber and there seated with Nuwa she smiled at the sound of footsteps headed her way.
"It came a little bit sooner than I expected." She muttered as the doors were opened and Eunuch Qin with the Empress walked in while she faced them.
"An Imperial Edict from His Majesty." Eunuch Qin announced and Yang Meizi attempting to step out of her bed she was halted.
"YANG MEIZI IS TALENTED AND SMART AND HER GOOD SERVICE HAS SECURED THE INNER COURT AND THUS THE GREAT SONG STATE, SHE IS HEREBY AWARDED WITH THE RANK OF HEAD LADY AND CHIEF COMMANDER OF THE TEN DEPARTMENTS OF THE IMPERIAL HALL." Eunuch Qin Announced.
"Long Live His Majesty, Thank you Your Majesty." They all said in unison while Yang Meizi stretching out her hands she took the scroll into her possession and slowly bowed her head with a ghastly smile on her face.
"Thank you for Your kindness Your Majesty." She thought to herself inwardly.
Yang Meizi stood in front of the mirror while Nuwa helped her dress up in her new attire.
She soon enough stepped out of her new residence and walking through the corridors of the Palace all the other maids and ladies in waiting bowed their heads as she passed.
She negotiated a corner and then entered another compartment where a number of them were gathered and while ahead of her there was a chair that had been set with a footstool, right next to it was a small table set with a jug and tea cup that were made of the finest China ware.
She gracefully sat down while the others bowed their heads and greeted her.
"At ease." She ordered and they all complied.
"Yang Jiejie is in deed very beautiful." One remarked.
"Tell us how you managed to save her Highness." Another muttered.
"Yang Jiejie was really very brave to take that arrow." the other said and while listening to all their compliments she smiled and then picked up her cup of tea.
She slightly blew at it and then taking a sip as they watched she placed it onto the table.
"Work with diligence and commitment, if something isn't worth your attention don't overexert yourself.
The Inner Palace is the peace of the state and if it is not stable as well and the Emperor not as comfortable we are to be blamed.
You are either doing it or not, lingering in between is not an exception and when you are with your seniors respect you must give and I shall respect you all in your different calibers.
If you want a favour then ask, if Buddha has it that it's my doing then so I shall see to it if I can't forgive me for my inadequacy.
Honour hierarchy and I promise that I'll honour you as much, don't slack off and if trouble comes in the future I could ask the Imperial relatives to spare your head." Yang Meizi said.
"Yes Milady." They all replied in unison.
"Now it's interesting, there is a secret that I need to tell you." She said and they all looked at each other.
"I have survived in the palace long enough and some of you might not know me but you are the very bottom of the ladder it's natural you'd wish to do anything to climb it. Nonetheless, there is a word or two that I wish to say, we all serve the Emperor and any other master other than him you might posses is at your own risk as long as you're sure that they can protect both your clan and also your life then you are good to go but the palace has rules many of you are to follow and if so you are in trouble when in service, say that the Emperor has told you and look the other way." Yang Meizi said.
"Yes Milady." They all replied.
"I won't detain you any longer, report to me at the days end on all activities and I'll certainly be very sure to see to it that you get your rewards as well as sustaining you within these walls." Yang Meizi said.
She stepped with Nuwa out of the hall and they walked around the palace.
"Tell me what must be done?" She asked.
"The work is very hectic, you are supposed to help calculate the Palace expenses, see to all meals and clothes of the various members of the Imperial family and check out each and everything there is to know about the servants themselves.
"I need to check out the backgrounds of some of them so get me a group of young women between the ages of twenty to sixteen and I need to be well informed about their families.
I need a majority that are orphans and perhaps those from humble backgrounds, those that are victims of injustices and those that have suffered immense mistreatment." Yang Meizi said.
"To imagine all those categories Milady they are in deed too many." Nuwa said.
"If you can protect people as well then it's easy enough to have their trust and if you have their trust then they shall serve you diligently.
Moreso, to gain power is to gain people, to gain the palace is to gain its people." Yang Meizi replied.
"I heard that not long ago, the Crown Princess has been recruiting palace maids in her own service and it's likely that a war is going to break out in the Inner Palace, by that time everyone shall have taken their own sides." Nuwa said.
"Everyone us simply trying to test for grounds with the most adequate loyalties but I am less interested in this battle." Yang Meizi replied.
"Then what is it that you are after Milady?" Nuwa asked.
"They can all do as they please and I'm not worried about the Empress Dowager because then until now she has known how well to play and if she were in deed afraid she wouldn't have let the Crown Princess have her way.
The future for me is that there is way too much news that gets out of the Palace that should be retained and moreso in the future I'll not only need eyes and ears but I'll also need walls that will silently keep to themselves everything within this Palace they hear." Yang Meizi replied as she smiled ghastly.
"I heard that the Crown Princess wishes to see you." Nuwa said.
"Then I can't possibly keep her waiting moreso when like this she must be wondering who I really am." Yang Meizi said.
Lan He and the Prince Zhao Kuo happened to be walking by when he halted at a distance and saw her being escorted by Nuwa and other ladies in waiting.
"Your Highness." Lan He called when he noticed that his attention had been diverted.
"What is it?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"You seem to be just as interested." Lan He replied.
"It's not a capital crime." Prince Zhao Kuo replied.
"I heard that she was already elevated to the position of Court Lady." Lan He said.
"I'm not very blind from her attire I can clearly tell that." Prince Zhao Kuo replied.
"I also had men investigating everything that happened before, it seems that when she went to the mountains she was seen with two men along with her closest servant whom I have heard has a very good relationship with her since childhood despite being much older." Lan He said.
"What would two women be doing alone in the mountains with two men, how come you are just telling me this right now?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"What is Your Highness thinking?" Lan He asked.
"Nothing." Prince Zhao Kuo quickly replied.
"It's very hard for me to believe that." Lan He said.
"Do you even know who these men are?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"One is the son of Chancellor Shi Hao and the other is his retainer." Lan He replied.
"What would the son of a Chancellor have to do with a lady in the Palace?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked himself thinking about it deeply.
Liu Zhan walked into the room of the Crown Princess while she turned her attention to her.
"The new Court Lady Yang is here to see you." She informed and the latter was surprised hearing that.
"How come?" She asked, "I didn't send for her." She said.
"Shall I send her away?" Liu Zhan asked and the Crown Princess thinking about it relaxed herself a little bit.
"Let her in." she said and Liu Zhan complying she withdrew and returned a short while later with Yang Meizi whose eyes meeting the Crown Princess she bowed her head.
"At last I see you." She thought inwardly as she inspected her while the Crown Princess with her eyes she did the same.
"Have a seat." She said and Yang Meizi walking up to her she sat down.
"I was surprised when I heard that you are hear to see me." Crown Princess Li said.
"I was just as surprised hearing that Your Highness wished to see me." Yang Meizi muttered.
"Have I not listened well enough?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"If I interrupted Your Highness then I'll take my leave that is if it is a misunderstanding." Yang Meizi said and in an attempt to get up she was halted by the Crown Princess.
"Please stay." She said and Yang Meizi didn't show any restraints.
"I heard that you are the newly created Head Lady of the Emperor's Palace." Crown Princess Li said.
"I am." Yang Meizi replied.
"Congratulations." The Crown Princess muttered.
"Thank you." She said as she bowed her head.
"Surely to take a lethally poisonous arrow is something that requires great courage, let alone to cheat death as well deserves merit." The Crown Princess remarked.
"Many times I have cheated death and it seems so that heaven is on my side." Yang Meizi said.
"If not heaven's will then whose is it?" The Crown Princess asked, "as I heard well that you were raised in the Cifu Palace and your mother's loss must have struck a very deep and sombre note in you." Crown Princess Li said.
"Who can forget their mother, at times I was fond of her, all these years I watched the people around me die one would as well say that I am guilty I wasn't strong enough or smart enough but then is it not fate?" Yang Meizi said.
"If there is fate then why do people keep fighting to become so much more than they already are?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"Fate is only written by one who is most powerful." Yang Meizi said, "just like the Emperor can decide both my fate and perhaps yours Your Highness, doesn't it take a swift snatch of power to decide the fate of another much weaker than yourself?" She asked.
"You are brilliant in deed." Crown Princess Li said.
"You flatter me Your Highness, I just stayed ordinary facts." Yang Meizi said.
"Then what is it that you believe?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"I am but a servant of the Emperor and his word is above all when compared to those of other people within the Imperial family, not the Empress Dowager, not the Empress but His Majesty for he who can spare both your neck and your clan is true Lord of all and is the one you should fear." Yang Meizi replied.
"In your opinion you would rather serve His Majesty than the Empress Dowager?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"Seventeen years I have been in the palace, seventeen years amongst my friends and acquaintances I have made enemies, seventeen years I have known where to step and where to stop and seventeen years I have learnt what is to be seen, what must be seen and what shouldn't be seen Your Highness, rather than stir up trouble or face a storm that I can not overcome, I dare not sail on the sea and I dare not overexert myself." Yang Meizi said with a ghastly smile.
"Most people choose to pursue wealth, fame and power, and for every position that is given it can be lost just as much." Crown Princess Li said.
"But how to have power and wealth without breath in your lungs, Your Highness, is it not as vain as having a carriage without horses to pull it?" Yang Meizi asked with a smile as the Crown Princess returned a similar expression while she picked up her cup of tea and then he sipped at it.
"It's inevitable for one to choose a side in this life." she said.
"Which is why I chose the Emperor Your Highness, after all it is where I am firm I can survive rather than have myself dig my own grave because of my intelligence and moreso to make very many unwanted enemies." Yang Meizi remarked and standing up she bowed her head and walked out of the room while Liu Zhan walked in shortly after her departure.
"Your Highness?" She said as she bowed her head.
"She really is very impressive." She muttered, "but as you said she is one of those types that can't be worked with." She added.
"For someone like her her service is with the guarantee of her own security, surely her loyalty to the Emperor is bound to be undivided." Liu Zhan replied.
"Are you sure the Empress Dowager had nothing to do with her appointment?" Crown Princess Li asked.
"I have confirmed and the appointment though from His Majesty was forwarded by the Empress Consort who could have done it as an act of gratitude for saving her life." Liu Zhan replied.
"Fate or not she makes me uneasy." Crown Princess Li asked.
"Why is that Your Highness?" Liu Zhan asked.
"The most fierce people are those that are very hard to predict." Crown Princess Li replied, "it is simply because you can never know what's coming and you can never be adequately prepared for it is much easier to draw the fate of another but harder to know when you will lose your head." She added.
"Yes Your Highness." Liu Zhan replied.
Yang Meizi was just leaving the building when she suddenly crossed paths with Prince Zhao Kuo and Lan He who smiled intently at her.
For a moment she was surprised.
"You're....?" She asked.
"The..." Lan He was about to reply when his master interrupted.
"The Minister of State." Prince Zhao Kuo replied and Yang Meizi looking at the way he was dressed nodded seeing those scholarly uniforms.
"Alright." She muttered as she prepared to walk away.
"Is that it?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"What more do you want from me Your Excellency?" Yang Meizi replied.
"Do you not remember me at all?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"Yes." Yang Meizi replied.
"The other night outside the palace, you stepped on my back." Prince Zhao Kuo said and Yang Meizi looking at him she nodded her head.
"Pardon me Your Excellency, whatever business it is that you wish to discuss with me I don't have time and moreso we are strangers there's nothing personal." Yang Meizi said.
"I'm the one who decides." Prince Zhao Kuo said.
"As who?" Yang Meizi asked.
The Prince kept quiet.
"I am the Head Lady in the Emperor's Palace and I'm not commensurate to another that isn't his Majesty, however much it is that you wish to know more about me, my commitment is already unaltered I'm not sorry to disappoint but there are things that I must get back to." Yang Meizi said and with a smile on her face she bowed and walked past him while the young Prince angry he wished to reprimand her but only held himself back while Lan He chuckled lightly.
"What are you laughing about?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"For the first time I have seen a girl turn you down, who wouldn't find it interesting?" Lan He replied.
"Are you forgetting who pays you?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"Don't get too angry you might grow yourself wrinkles for nothing." Lan He replied.
The Prince infuriated he started stumping the ground with his feet while Lan He smiled.
"If you don't mind Your Highness, even if she leaves you I promise that I won't." Lan He teased.
"Who needs you?" Prince Zhao Kuo said as he strode across the hall angrily.