Liu Zhan barged into the Empress' residence in the wee hours of the morning and rushing towards the doors of her Chambers she slid them open and quickly walked in while the latter was asleep.
"Your Highness." She cried falling down onto her knees as the Empress listening to her noise she woke up immediately.
"What's it now?" she asked.
"The Courtiers are already in the throne room." Liu Zhan replied.
"This early?" The Empress asked.
"It's two hours to the morning Assembly but when I inquired it seems that they were summoned by the Empress Dowager regarding the issue of the Crown Prince." Liu Zhan replied.
"Could it have been that she consented as I had intended then she would have been a bit more patient but now that it seems to me that she has convened the Assembly without my knowledge then something isn't right." Empress Li said.
"She's still preparing for it, perhaps we could beat her to the throne room first." Liu Zhan said.
"Prepare my robes." Empress Li ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Liu Zhan replied.
Wan'er walked into the Empress Dowager's Chambers and found her seated in front of the mirror with Wan Mei tending to her hair.
"Reporting to Your Highness." She said bowing her head.
"Are the Courtiers ready?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"The Alarm has been sounded and the Empress panickingly is on her way there." Wan'er replied and Wan Mei looking at her mistress' reflection in the mirror she smiled.
"Everything is all ready Your Highness, you look twenty years younger." She remarked.
"Then we won't keep the Empress and the Courtiers waiting." Empress Dowager Wu said as she smiled at herself.
Empress Li had stationed herself behind the screen and she was smiling ghastly.
"Why won't Your Highness start the Assembly?" Chiyun Ling asked.
"I did not call it so it's natural that we wait for the Empress Dowager, I want to see how she will force me out of this seat." Empress Li replied and the two smiling at each other the Eunuch walked up right in front of them.
"Her Highness the Empress Dowager deigns you all with her presence." He announced and the doors of the throne room being flung open the Empress Dowager walked through the aisle while everyone was watching her finally halting at the front where her gaze penetrating the silk screen met the Empress'.
"Your Highness." Everyone said in unison bowing down their heads to her.
"I see that you are all as concerned about the state and I apologise if I arrived any later but as I am too old I certainly can not stand and there's no time to put in place another screen, since my meeting with you is only temporary I will look into the depth of the matter of the appointment of the Crown Prince and that will be all for today." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"But Your Highness can not just stand here." General Li San remarked.
"Certainly." Han Touzhou supplemented and the Empress Dowager holding up her robes she slowly mounted the stairs that led to the dragon throne as everyone watched and gracefully she sat down on it.
"Your Highness?" General Li said.
"Did you not say that I can not just stand here?" Empress Dowager Wu asked and looking at the other Courtiers looking at him, he lowered his gaze while the Empress behind the screen clenched her fists.
"A majority of you are in favour of naming the Crown Prince and I am not against you in one way or another but as for his investiture it's necessary that we discuss some terms." Empress Dowager Wu said and everyone maintaining their silence she took it as their approval for her to continue.
"His Majesty the Retired Emperor had already chosen for him some of the best tutors and scholars so I can trust that he is well qualified, but for the issue of the Crown Prince's guardianship we must all come to a common agreement." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"The Crown Prince is the son of the Empress, who is much better a legal guardian if not her?" Minister Li asked.
"On this issue the Empress can not be the legal Political Guardian of the Crown Prince and neither can she come close enough to supervising his activities." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"And why am I not qualified Your Highness?" Empress Li asked.
"It may sound as if I have spoken out of turn but for the welfare of both the Crown Prince and the state, the rumours of Your Highness poisoning the Imperial Consort Huang and killing her unborn child is still seriously spreading across the land and in the capital things aren't any better." Empress Dowager Wu replied, "I fear that for the Imperial house His Highness might be implicated and I know that all of you understand what I mean." She added.
"The Empress is a pillar of the Nation, certainly if Your Highness were to raise the Imperial grandson following the past series of unfortunate events in the palace the people might be biassed about him." General Wu said.
"It is safe to say that the Empress Dowager has a point." Chancellor Shi Hao said and the rest of the Courtiers murmuring amongst each other they all seemed to agree.
"But the Imperial grandson is my own son." Empress Li said.
"And I trust that Your Highness would really care so much to protect his image no mother in your position would wish to have their child implicated because of a past misunderstanding." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Please listen to Her Highness." General Wu said.
"It's only safer this way if we wish to protect the image of the Crown." Chancellor Shi Hao supplemented.
"What do you think Your Highness?" The Empress Dowager asked her and the Empress taking a deep breath she sighed.
"It was my ignorance and short sightedness, surely Your Highness knows what's best for the Imperial family and what's best for the state." Empress Li replied.
"I am very glad to hear that." Empress Dowager Wu said with a ghastly smile on her face.
"I trust that Your Highness can deal with the formalities." Empress Li muttered.
"I won't let you down as well my dear." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"The Political situation has gone out of hand now." Chancellor Shi Hao said as he placed his cloak on the the hanger while he approached his son that was seated at the table and eating his dinner.
"I have heard that the Empress Dowager and the Empress are now pretty much vying for supremacy." Shi Miyuan said.
"And the competition though stiff it seems that the Empress Dowager is having the upper hand." Chancellor Shi Hao replied.
"But sadly she is growing old." Shi Miyuan said.
"Yet with her appearance in the throne room she seemed to be becoming somehow younger." His Father replied.
"Nonetheless if she dies the Empress will have every reason to become the most powerful woman in the Inner Court." Shi Miyuan said.
"Trust me, when Han Touzhou's niece becomes the Empress naturally their Political alliance will weaken and who knows that in the end we might be as well supporting the Li Clan?" Shi Hao asked.
"I highly doubt that." Shi Miyuan said.
"Why?" Chancellor Shi Hao asked.
"Imagine I got you a very smart Daughter in Law, perhaps even our clan could enjoy Imperial supremacy or even better the House of Li could become inferior to us." Shi Miyuan replied.
"Make me look forward to that day." Shi Hao said and his son remaining silent he seemed to drift away into his own thoughts.
Empress Xie was seated right next to the retired Emperor's body and pulling up the blanket to his chest she left a part of his right hand exposed as she held it in her own and then she kissed it.
"Why won't you get up Your Majesty?" She whispered to him but the silence already predominant she kept quiet as she slowly lowered it back on the bed.
"Her Highness is already having a hard time and the country in a major crisis, we need an Emperor right now and I also need a husband so Your Majesty, please don't leave me." She said.
She slowly stood up to get the bowl of medicine to feed him when she saw his fingers slowly moving.
"Your Majesty." She called noticing a mild twitch in his eyes that she quickly lowered the bowl halfway.
"Anyone there?" Empress Xie asked and Daiyu quickly rushed in.
"Your Highness." She said bowing her head.
"Summon the Imperial physician right away." Empress Xie said.
"Yes Your Highness." Daiyu replied as she quickly rushed out of the room.
"I am right here Your Majesty, I am right here." She said as she held up his arm and put it right on her cheek slowly caressing it.
The Imperial physician having arrived he slowly listened for his pulse and the Empress looking on by the time he concluded he put his arm back into the blanket.
"Good News." He said, "the poison seems to have cleared right now and to estimate clearly he'll get up in the next three days." He added.
"Thank heaven." Empress Xie said.
"You can tell everyone the good news." The Imperial physician said.
"No." The Empress replied and both himself and Daiyu were puzzled.
"Your Highness....?" Daiyu was saying when her mistress interrupted.
"We can't forget how His Majesty got into this position and as it seems that someone is after the Empress Dowager they might act out of turn and make the situation much worse." Empress Xie said.
"I see." The Imperial physician remarked.
"Regardless of everything that happens, the Crown Prince's investiture is on the way and right now we can not afford to offend anyone we'll have to drag the Emperor's coma for a little while longer." Empress Xie said.
"Yes Your Highness." The two replied in unison.
Empress Dowager Wu and Empress Li met at the bottom of the staircase that led to the throne room and the two looking at one another the Empress bowed her head.
"You must have looked forward to this day that your son becomes the Crown Prince." Empress Dowager Wu Said.
"I personally think you must have looked forward to this day that you are taking my son away from me." Empress Li replied.
"Taking him from you?, I'm just protecting him from his cruel overbearing mother because hadn't you hoped that with him safely settled in the Eastern Palace you would maintain your power and position?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Everything that I did was for my own son." Empress Li said.
"You can as well justify the murders of those innocents and perhaps for him attempt to rule this country." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Don't worry about me Your Highness." Empress Li said.
"I am not worried." Empress Dowager Wu said, "I only pray that he loves you for the rest of his life and that you also don't have to raise your hand to hurt him for the rest of yours." She added.
"Only a mother would understand." Empress Li remarked.
"If you think that only giving birth to a child from your womb qualifies you to be a mother then you are mistaken because sometimes if you are not too careful your children might end up bearing the weight of your sins." Empress Dowager Wu said and leading the way she mounted the stairs.
"She thinks that she has the right to lecture me about being a mother?" Empress Li said to herself as she followed.
With the Courtiers and everyone inside having taken their positions, Eunuch Qin stood in front of everyone with the Imperial Edict.
"Announcing the Imperial grandson." He said and the doors being flung open the young Prince led by a procession of some generals carrying standards with themselves he moved up to the front of his Great Grandmother and mother dressed in the finest golden robes.
Eunuch Qin opening the Scroll with all the Courtiers watching he smiled.
"His Highness is smart and intelligent, good at calligraphy and poetry and very filial a son and a grandson, he is kind hearted and gentle and he is warm with everyone and exemplary in his conduct, he is strong and brave and he is noble in appearance and dignified that with heaven's blessing all worship him with the power that is vested to us by the Mandate of Heaven and we do crown him the Crown Prince of the Great Song and Grand Heir to the house of Zhao." He announced.
"Thank You Empress Dowager, thank you Empress." The Crown Prince said audibly as he bowed his head while the Empress behind her screen smiled with a tear rolling down her cheek.
"Long Live Your Highness the Empress Dowager, Long Live Your Highness the Empress, Long Live Your Highness the Crown Prince." The Courtiers all said in unison and Eunuch Qin handing him the edict he smiled as his eyes looked up to the dragon throne.
In that very moment, the Empress Xie tending to her husband the retired Emperor, he opened up his eyes as though he had seen a ghost.
"Your Majesty?" She called while he swiftly sat up in his bed throwing his covers away.
"What's going on?" He asked immediately but the Empress slow to respond Daiyu happened to rush in at that moment.
"Your Highness." She said panickingly, "The Prince Zhao Kuo has been invested as the Crown Prince." She concluded realising later that the Emperor was looking at her that she quickly fell onto her knees.
"Zhao Kuo, Crown Prince?" He asked.
"Yes Your Majesty." Daiyu replied.
"How long was I out?" The Retired Emperor asked.
"A week." Empress Xie replied.
"And the Empress Dowager?" He asked.
"Nearly incapacitated as you were but someone needed to contend with the Empress' might." Empress Xie replied.
"Clearly a poison to the state as it seems that first it was her husband's concubines and now she also wishes to kill me?" The Emperor said to himself as he angrily clenched his fists while his breathing became intense all of a sudden.
"Congratulations Your Highness." Yang Meizi said as she bowed her head to the Dowager Empress.
"No need." She replied as she sat down in her seat and Yang Meizi supporting her leg and resting it on a footstool she started massaging her.
"I heard that His Majesty the Retired Emperor regained consciousness." She Said.
"That's good enough to hear." Empress Dowager Wu remarked, "the Empress can now live in fear." She added.
"Your Highness knows as well as I do that she isn't that type of woman." Yang Meizi said.
"There's a number of things that she can afford to lose right now." Empress Dowager Wu remarked, "apparently the one thing that isn't one of them is her power." She added.
"A Tree may grow tall enough to touch the sky but it doesn't get to decide when it is to be cut down or left to stand." Yang Meizi said.
"You seem to be thinking about something." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"You have the Crown Princess but blood is thicker than water and as long as the Empress is alive regardless of the number of times you put her down she'll still prove a problem." Yang Meizi replied as she moved her fingers around her ankles.
"So you're implying that.....?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Your Highness doesn't have much time left and the Empress is leaning on that, I have on the other hand been too merciful when I am to think of it the day that you for what would become of your people and this our great country?" Yang Meizi replied.
"You realise what you are asking for isn't that easy." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"This is no longer an issue concerning my quest for vengeance but now it's the welfare of the state because her mere presence and tarnished reputation has implicated the Crown if you let her linger around the Court she'll only become more notorious." Yang Meizi said.
"His Majesty the Retired Emperor." Eunuch Gao announced and hearing this Yang Meizi stood up and moved to the side while the Emperor Xiaozong walked through the main doors into the centre of the room.
Empress Dowager Wu beholding his presence quickly got up from where she was seated and rushed over to him.
"Greetings Your Majesty." She said but pardoned she stood up.
"Your Majesty hasn't fully recuperated, I was about to drop by your Palace later so you shouldn't have taken it upon yourself to come all the way here." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"No need, you are old and I heard that you were a victim as well." Emperor Xiaozong said as he turned to Yang Meizi who bowing her head she withdrew from the hall while the two sat down.
"Seeing that you personally come to see me it must be very urgent." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"The Empress has gone too far to dare." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Her disposal was considered but as the mother of the now Crown Prince and with a couple of supporters towards her natal family on her side the people's opinion is no longer enough to oust her from the Political sphere." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Because of the decision of the Crown Prince she has become very powerful and with us aging she's the youngest in our generation." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"We all underestimated her." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"But not anymore." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Why?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"My son's life is in her hands and I must first protect him." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"How so?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"A Tiger may be very fierce to others but tender to its own and in this context as long as we put the Emperor in her care one single misstep is enough to cost her that power that she's holding onto." Emperor Xiaozong replied.
"I see." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"But she won't be that easy an opponent and if we must take care of her then we must do it precisely." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Your Majesty can leave that to me." Empress Dowager Wu said as she smiled ghastly.
Yang Meizi having entered the Martial Academy she made her way into the Chamber where her other colleagues were already waiting for her and she sat down.
"You all must have heard." She said.
"The Empress survived our ploy and the Crown Prince has been designated." Bao Langya said.
"The Retired Emperor has also gained consciousness." Bo An supplemented.
"At this time the Empress has a number of Courtiers rushing to her side expecting to curry favour with her and as it is that the Empress Dowager is already aging as our main Imperial pillar if we don't take down the Empress now we'll never make an attempt in the near future." Yang Meizi said.
"But what could we possibly do, as the de facto ruler of the Empire with the I'll health of her husband herself calling all the shots puts us at every possible disadvantage." Bo An said.
"There's still one person that we can certainly use." Yang Meizi said.
"Who could be much more efficient at this time?" Master Bao asked.
"The Retired Emperor." Yang Meizi replied.
"And he'd be willing to support us?" Bo An asked.
"One thing I have learnt from life is that every action is either active or passive." Yang Meizi replied, "what matters isn't the oath of allegiance but the person that can play very well the role of a Political ally." She added.
A majority of her fellows seemed confused.
"To strengthen her influence the Empress went out of her way to make an attempt on the Retired Emperor's life whose unsuccessfulness by now she is most aware is her gravest mistake." She said with a smile on her face.
"Because if the Emperor is now we'll aware of her true colours then he wouldn't just sit back and do nothing." Bao Langya said.
"She only made the situation worse and that being the case any friction between herself and the retired Emperor if pushed to one extreme all that would be left would be to use His Royal prerogatives to abolish her." Yang Meizi said.
"That's an extreme measure and it calls for great precision." Master Bao said.
"The Empress can only rely on the rift between father and son and on the other hand we should widen the rift between the father in law and the daughter in law." Yang Meizi said.
"It's unlikely that it'll work out." Bo An said.
"The Empress can only rely on her husband to keep her position and the only way that he can protect her from his father is if he becomes a Political enemy, on the other hand the Retired Emperor could not blame his son naturally the only way he'd possibly think of for being the cause of all misfortune would be the Empress." Yang Meizi said.
"You realise that the consequences of your actions involve tearing the Imperial family apart." Bao Langya said.
"For her sake enough families were torn apart." Yang Meizi said, "judge me or not with heaven as my witness I am only returning the favour." She concluded so confidently.
Empress Li was seated inside her Chambers when the doors were flung open and right through them Eunuch Gao walked in while holding a scroll.
"An Edict from His Majesty the Retired Emperor." He announced and everyone in the whole room went down onto their knees.
"Women participating in Politics is the root of all disorder and as nominal Regent designated by the Crown the Empress shall tend to all affairs of state from her Quarters, all necessary decisions shall be dealt with by the Empress Dowager and myself and with effect immediately Her Highness shall no more come into close proximity with the Courtiers." Eunuch Gao said as he folded the Golden Scroll.
"These are my words." He said and everyone in the room bowing their heads he handed over the scroll to the Empress who took it without hesitation.
"Long Live Your Majesty." She said and hearing this the young man and his retinue quickly withdrew from the hall while the Empress leaving the scroll on the ground Chiyun Ling and Liu Zhan helped her.
"So Her Highness thinks that she is the only one that can pull the big strings?" She said.
"It was automatic that she'd turn to the Retired Emperor after that incident." Chiyun Ling said.
"Get to the Courtiers." Empress Li said.
"What should I tell them Your Highness?" Chiyun Ling asked.
"His Majesty is old and he feels just as tired and I trust the Empress Dowager is feeling the same, surely what's the use of having an Emperor without full Royal powers." Empress Li asked.
"But His Majesty hasn't yet regained consciousness." Liu Zhan said.
"There was talebearing that the Han Empress Lü Zhi kept her son poisoned which kept him constantly weak and unhealthy while she tended to the affairs of the state." Empress Li replied, "what's wrong if History were to repeat itself?" She added as she smiled ghastly.
"Yes Your Highness." The two replied in unison while smiling along.
"The Empress Dowager is too old to manage the affairs of state and I am not fully recovered from the episode." Emperor Xiaozong said after reading the memorial and furious he toast it into the brazier and watched the fire rise that instant and consume it.
"Your Majesty." Another of the Eunuchs cried as they barged into the room.
"What is it?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"There are rumours all over the Capital that Your Majesty had the Emperor poisoned to deliberately rule the Empire in his stead." The Eunuch replied and furiously the Empire smacked the table.
"These Courtiers." He muttered.
"At this rate all that they could be after is the restoration of the Empress and the official announcement of her regency." Eunuch Gao said.
"They'll demand for a more legitimate reason for her dismissal from Court." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Your Majesty can't fail to point out her many faults." Eunuch Gao said.
Empress Dowager Wu marched up to the entrance of the Empress' Study.
"Announce me." She ordered and a Eunuch there bowing his head he turned and faced the doors as well.
"Her Highness the Empress Dowager." He said and Empress Li and her ladies in waiting seated inside she nodded her head at them to move out and approaching the doors, they were opened while a path was paved for the Empress Dowager.
She proudly walked in while the Empress stood up from the table where she was seated and bowed her head to her.
"To what do I owe the honour of Your Highness' visit this early morning?" Empress Li asked.
"Is it not good for me to see you out of concern?" Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"Concern?" Empress Li asked.
"You surely don't think that I am not a fan of being in your presence?" Empress Dowager Wu said.
"For someone like Your Highness I must say that you are very sly." Empress Li said.
"Won't I have a seat?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Feel free." Empress Li replied while the latter reclined in the nearby chair.
"You must have heard reliably about the current occurrences at Court." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Surely the Courtiers are up in arms looking at the Emperor and greatly demanding that my husband became ruler with absolute Imperial powers." Empress Li said.
"Such matters don't seem to escape your ears." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Should they?" Empress Li asked.
"Maybe, maybe not." Empress Dowager Wu replied, "though I am curious about the reason that would push you to go that far into demanding for such Political liberties despite knowing that having them is but an unfeasible dream." She added.
"Has Your Highness not hard that one of the hardest things in this world to kill is impression?" Empress Li asked.
"And in this case....?" Empress Dowager Wu said.
"His Majesty would not let go of the absolute authority and in so doing I would have to worry less because it won't be necessarily put me into great conflict with him he'd instead have to worry about his son." Empress Li replied.
"How smart in deed." Empress Dowager Wu exclaimed.
"Since the Imperial power is something you'd prefer to cling onto until the point of death all I can do is use it as a weapon against you, after all by now you should have realised that this is one of those swords without haft's." Empress Li remarked.
The Empress Dowager smiled at her.
"You have finally grown too wise to dance according to the demands of your temper." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Perhaps it was Your Highness that taught me." Empress Li said.
"Very well then." Empress Dowager Wu said, "you seem excited about my old age but I assure you that before I can go to my grave I'll leave you with a lovely surprise." She confirmed.
"I can't help but wonder what it could possibly be?" Empress Li replied as she smiled at her ghastly while the latter standing up she ceased her robes and walked out of the room.
"You wait for me Your Highness." She swore while the Empress Dowager reaching outside the quarters she halted in her footsteps.
"What's wrong Your Highness?" Wan Mei asked.
"I need to have an audience with Yang Meizi." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"When?" Wan Mei asked.
"Immediately." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Wan Mei replied as she continued her way while Chiyun Ling who was standing behind a pillar nearby got out and saw them vanishing from sight.
"What did she say?" Empress Li asked.
"Something about the Retired Emperor." Chiyun Ling replied while the Empress looking content she smiled.
"She isn't quite a pushover." Empress Li remarked.
"Regardless of what she does, Your Highness still has the upper hand in this fight." Chiyun Ling said.
"Only time will tell." Empress Li said.
Yang Meizi secretly making an entrance into the Empress Dowager's Chambers she bowed her head right in front of her.
"I heard that Your Highness called for me." She said.
"There's something that I wish to talk about with you." Empress Dowager Wu replied and pointing right across in the empty seat, the young woman took it as a signal for her to sit down and she complied.
"Something is bothering you." She said.
"The unavoidable fact is that I am growing old." Empress Dowager Wu said, "and I know that you understand what it is that is my deepest concern at this rate." She added.
"The Empress?" Yang Meizi asked.
"Until now I have treated you like my own daughter but beyond this point when I am gone from the world I need to make sure that I leave the Empress with nothing and you yourself with so much more." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"We could make one strike with everything." Yang Meizi said.
"What if it's not enough?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"All these years of toil what could be more important than toppling the Empress, Han Touzhou and all those corrupt Officials?" Yang Meizi asked.
"Gaining this country." Empress Dowager Wu replied and Yang Meizi surprised hearing that from her she withdrew her hands from the table.
"Your Highness." Yang Meizi said.
"What could be more powerful for a woman other than an Empress?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Perhaps I could." Yang Meizi replied.
"Why do you think that the Empress herself chose to become a crown Princess rather than be a regular Princess Consort or Han Touzhou chose to marry his niece to the Emperor's only surviving son?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
Yang Meizi kept quiet.
"Without this title I would have been nothing and all wealth and power came easily because of it and looking at you only you can fit in my shoes and take over the world." Empress Dowager Wu persisted.
"Your Highness, I could tolerate anything but marrying into the family of my enemy, how would I look at my children having the Empress' blood flowing through their veins and even worse what about those of her victims that I have cherished over the years?" Yang Meizi asked.
"Your will is to fight and in fighting you must devote your all, for power their must always be a sacrifice and we have to trust that it's for the greater good." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Pardon me Your Highness as I do understand your very deep concern for me, I have no thoughts, no, I have no intentions of being Empress and if I must gain this country to have all the power it takes to oust the Empress and her supporters from power, I'll hold it in my own hands my way." Yang Meizi said as she stood up from where she was seated and bowing her head she quickly turned around to walk away.
"In case you really do change your mind then trust that I'll certainly help you but if this is not your calling then I don't wish to force you because for me it was just a suggestion." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Don't worry Your Highness, I take it that this conversation was in good faith but you can have my word for it that in this world I'll never give myself to a descendant of the Li Clan that's from the house of Zhao." Yang Meizi replied as she continued out while Wan Mei walked in.
"Do you blame her Your Highness?" She asked.
"It was merely a thought but who would have thought that she bore such a very deep resentment towards the Empress?" Empress Dowager Wu said.
"She believes that had it not been for her and Han Touzhou she wouldn't have been in this place and perhaps I too can try and understand just like Your Highness can as well, you can't possibly face your reflection in the mirror knowing that you married an Enemy." Wan Mei replied.
Outside Yang Meizi was joined by Nuwa who realised that something seemed off about her expression.
"Are you alright Milady?" She asked.
"I'm fine." Yang Meizi replied, "just a little bit exhausted." She lied.
"We have received important news." Nuwa said.
"What is it?" Yang Meizi asked.
"The Emperor has gained consciousness and the Empress is on her way to see him." Nuwa replied while Yang Meizi quickly halted in her footsteps.
"I need to see the Retired Emperor." She said as she quickly broke from her original path and moved into the direction of the Palace of Virtue and Longevity.
The Retired Emperor Xiaozong seated with the Retired Empress she was announced and the bedroom doors being opened she quickly walked in and went onto her knees.
"Greetings Your Majesty." She said.
"There's no need for too many formalities." Emperor Xiaozong said and the latter stood up.
"Thank you." She muttered.
"What is it that you wished to talk to me about?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"His Majesty the Emperor has regained consciousness." Yang Meizi replied and at once the Emperor stood up from where he was seated.
"Why are you only telling me this now?" He asked and Yang Meizi looking at the Empress who nodded her head she took it as a sign.
"I am sorry that Your Majesty wasn't informed but even I have learnt that Her Highness the Empress was on her way to see him and that she has forbidden anyone from spreading this news throughout the palace." Yang Meizi replied.
"And why would she do that?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"I can only assume." Yang Meizi Said.
"You have served me for a long while now so tell me when your assumptions have ever been wrong?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"Your Majesty is more confident in me than I am in myself." Yang Meizi said while bowing her head.
"Tell me what the Empress is thinking." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Not informing Your Majesty beforehand and deciding to keep the Emperor's consciousness a secret could mean one of two things the first being that she is afraid of Your Majesty and the second being that she intends to keep him sick forever." Yang Meizi said.
"Have you any idea what allegation you are making?" Empress Xie asked.
"Your Highness knows as well as I do that the Empress is the type of person at this rate that is willing to go as far as possible and learning from the past incidents with both His Majesty and the Emperor's Consorts we can all be well convinced that the latter is something very much possible with her." Yang Meizi said.
"You seem to take into understanding her deepest thoughts." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Is it not right to be cautious?" Yang Meizi asked.
"If the Emperor remains bedridden she can continuously exercise more power and influence in the Court, we'd be doomed if she doesn't kill the Emperor and create a Dowager of herself now that her son is the Crown Prince." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"But if we still have time Your Majesty then I suggest that we can keep this fight going." Yang Meizi said.
"What do you have in mind?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"The Empress should take proper care of the Sovereign and if she doesn't that's as good as a State offense, also quite popular among the people as a cunning poisonous woman raising doubt of the people and public execution from her shortcomings isn't a problem." Yang Meizi replied.
"So you want me to condemn her in Court while the public condemns her beyond the Palace walls?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"Your Majesty is sage, after all people are power and he who doesn't have the people will never have the world." Yang Meizi replied.
"At this rate we are going to need more than the rumours themselves or allegations." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"There is the State Tribunal and there is also the Ministry of Justice." Yang Meizi replied as she bowed her head.
Empress Li seated beside her husband he opened his eyes and looked up at her smiling.
"You are up Your Majesty?" She asked softly picking up a bowl of medicine and the Emperor sitting up in his bed he looked the other side.
"Get out." He ordered and while she cooled the medicine and resting it on the nearby table she didn't bother.
"Shouldn't you care what it is that I have to say before you can send me out of this room?" Empress Li asked.
"What's there for me to hear from you if you could go as far as killing a mother and an innocent child." Emperor Guangzong asked.
"Do you really think Consort Huang was innocent?" Empress Li asked.
"What if I do?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"It was never my fault Your Majesty, only yours." Empress Li replied.
"For heaven's sake you are the Empress and on top of that it's only natural that as an Emperor I have concubines, they serve well enough as insurance to allegiance of the Courtiers and yet if you kill them how would they support me or our son in future as a matter of fact?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"You wouldn't care to know that I was nearly poisoned by the Guifei by a combination of the same poisonous substances or that she had become arrogant knowing that she would give birth to a son?" Empress Li asked.
"Nonetheless you rule the harem and not her." Emperor Guangzong Said.
"Perhaps I do but the hardest thing to control in life is human will." Empress Li said, "you know as well as I do that the road to the Crown is paved with trachery and so much bloodshed and it wouldn't have been the first time that siblings rival for the throne because even your father in nature a number of years ago had a contender for it." Empress Li said.
"You would rather lose your humanity?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"I don't care how many regimes criticize me but perhaps it's important that you know that if you won't fight for our son then as his mother I'll fight for him fiercely even if I must lose every last shred of humanity there is I have left." Empress Li said.
"You are still as stubborn but you forget that our descendants pay for our sins." Emperor Guangzong said.
"You might fear karma as much or the world as it is but you'll never be a mother enough to understand what's best for your children and that you might not see it in this life or even in death but who has loved our son much more than I have?" Empress Li asked.
The Emperor kept quiet.
"You trust your father so much and the Empress Dowager at that but none of them made your son the Crown Prince, only I did and the questions regarding your health have you never wondered who is responsible for your condition.
Right now you have survived poison and perhaps the world would be foolish enough to think I was responsible but if I was in confinement at the hour that you became incapacitated doesn't that raise your doubts about who could be the real villain in this story.
Perhaps if that is not the case it has already been three years since you became the Emperor but until now why is it that the Empress Dowager is your Regent and your father has never granted you full Imperial powers?" Empress Li asked and the curiosity on her husband's face seemed to bring about a certain degree of comfort.
"Your Majesty, until when will you stop thinking me to be your enemy and realize that in this Political arena I am your only ally?" She asked.
"Impossible, my father would never do such a thing." Emperor Guangzong said.
"If you trust him as much as you claim to do then it's not that hard for us to prove, out of all the things in the world if he has faith in you as the ruler he should trust that you can handle state affairs efficiently and that you are nature enough and on the other hand himself a victim of senility it's high time that he found comfort in his last years like the Gaozong Emperor did." Empress Li said.
"So what are you saying that I do?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"If you have that much faith in yourself you have some of the nation's best talents, it's high time that you took your power as an Emperor and stopped playing the puppet." Empress Li replied while he widened his eyes.
"Let your father prove his faith in you by granting you full Imperial powers." She persisted and her husband looking away she also stood up and turned to face the doors as she smiled ghastly.
The Emperor still puzzled was left alone looking at the bowl of medicine while the words of his wife lingered at the back of his head.
Yang Meizi walking around the darkened corridors of the Palace entered into the Imperial archives and there with a lady in waiting there was a group of guards that were keeping watch.
With her presence they bowed their heads and Yang Meizi looking at the Lady in Waiting she smiled.
"It has already been seven years since you served the Empress." Yang Meizi said.
"Trust me, Her Highness knows nothing." The woman said with a smile on her face.
"I am sure you recall your debt." Yang Meizi said.
"As an orphan that's gone through the pain of Her Highness' misdeeds I dare not forget those our people that her men ruthlessly massacred." The Lady in Waiting replied.
"If you betray our brotherhood you are well aware of what I am most capable of doing." Yang Meizi said.
"Heaven strike me dead the day I think so I shall have been disloyal to my parents and to those our brothers that perished as well." The Lady in waiting replied.
"You know what must be done." Yang Meizi said.
"Yes." The Lady in Waiting replied.
Nuwa on the other hand arriving inside the Hall of the Cifu Palace where the Empress Dowager was seated she quickly bowed her head to her.
"At ease." Empress Dowager Wu said as she complied.
"Reporting from Milady." She said.
"What must I do?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"The Victim shall be delivered byYour Highness to the Retired Emperor." Nuwa replied as the Empress Dowager immediately stood up from where she was seated and the Lady in Waiting was brought in with a set of fabricated wounds and bruises all over her body.
"Can His Majesty handle this?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Without a spark their can never be fire, without an attack their can never be a war, as long as the arrow is freed from the bow, the rest is to fight for survival or defend whatever it is that you must." Nuwa replied.
Yang Meizi travelling back into the direction of her Chambers she was joined by Bao Langya and Bo An in their guises.
"You spoke to His Majesty already, must you really go this far?" Bo An asked.
"We can never be guaranteed that he'll act up, what is important is that every affection that could lead to His Majesty's restrain is dealt with." Yang Meizi replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.
The Doors of the Retired Emperor's Chambers being flung open the Empress Dowager charged in with the Lady in Waiting and halting right in front of the Emperor she was thrown onto her knees while the Empress bowed her head.
"What's this Mother?" The Retired Emperor asked.
"Pardon me Your Majesty." Empress Dowager Wu replied, "this Criminal was caught sneaking around your residence and after we interrogated her we were able to get an order out of her clothes." Empress Dowager Wu replied and looking at Wan Mei, she moved with a white piece of paper towards the Retired Emperor and handed it to him while his eyes perused through it's contents.
Furiously he placed it onto the table while clenching his fist.
"She would dare?" The Retired Emperor asked.
"Some piece of work she is in deed very brazen to have all future messages if any from yourself being passed to His Majesty intercepted and going to her first." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Summon all the Courtiers to my Palace tomorrow before the morning Assembly." The Xiaozong Emperor said.
"Your Majesty?" Empress Dowager Wu called.
"Right now it's about time we dealt with the Empress." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Empress Dowager Wu said while bowing her head and I'm secret smiling at herself ghastly.
"It's time that she got reminded of who the real ruler of this country is." Emperor Xiaozong remarked.
The Xiaozong Emperor stood in front of his dressing mirror being tended to by his valets and ladies in waiting when the Retired Empress walked in.
"You may leave." The Emperor ordered and all of them getting out his wife walked up to him.
"Would you mind helping me?" He asked and she nodded as she fastened the buttons at the neckline of the Imperial Dragon Robes.
"It's been a while since Your Majesty wore these." Empress Xie said.
"And seeing that I have gained some little weight over the past couple of years it's starting to feel a little bit tighter than I remember." Emperor Xiaozong replied.
"You can wear as you please, I don't understand why it must be the Imperial dragon robes?" Empress Xie asked.
"It's only formal that I am meeting the Courtiers hence I should look like one Emperor instead of a Common Royal." Emperor Xiaozong replied.
The Empress picking up the Jade belt she slowly tied it around his waist as she withdrew at a distance to admire him.
"In deed as an Emperor." She remarked.
"The Headdress is missing." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Pardon me Your Majesty, I hardly noticed because you already looked regal." The Empress said as she picked up the headdress and she rested it on his head as he smiled.
At that very moment Eunuch Gao spoke from outside.
"An urgent message for Your Majesty." He said his breath being cut shot as he sounded to be in panic.
"Come in." Emperor Xiaozong said and the doors being opened the Eunuch quickly moved forward and bowed his head to him.
"What's the matter?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"The informants to the Ministers were intercepted and a number of them knocked out in the streets." Eunuch Gao replied and the Emperor's eyes widening with surprise he froze as the Empress turned to the Eunuch.
"Does that mean that the Courtiers aren't gathered?" She asked.
"The Courtiers are already gathered." Eunuch Gao replied.
"Where?" The Retired Emperor asked.
"In the throne room." Eunuch Gao replied.
"Throne room?" The Emperor asked.
"His Majesty summoned them earlier and what they'll talk about it's still uncertain." Eunuch Gao replied.
"The Empress." Emperor Xiaozong said as he lifted his stride to walk out of the room.
"You can't go there Your Majesty." Empress Xie stopped him.
"Why?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"Because how will His Majesty look in the eyes of the other people?" Empress Xie asked and the Emperor starting to understand he kept quiet.
"As Your Majesty is well aware there can never be two sons in the sky just like there'll never be two dragons in the same nest, any attempt right now of appearance could forge a rift between father and son and don't you think that's what the Empress is after?" Empress Xie asked.
"I was too hasty." The Emperor remarked.
"And we can't let it cost us." Empress Xie said.
"But if I remained seated here and now then who knows what she might do or what is likely to happen?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"Pardon Me Your Majesty but the Empress isn't in the throne room." Eunuch Gao said.
"If she isn't in the throne room behind the screen then tell me where she is." Emperor Xiaozong demanded.
"Cifu Palace." Eunuch Gao replied.
"What is she doing there?" Emperor Xiaozong asked but Eunuch Gao unable to say a word he only kept quiet.
Empress Dowager Wu looked at the Empress who sat down in front of the Chess board that was between the both of them.
"You, here to see me over a game of chess?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Does Your Highness wish to decline my offer?" Empress Li asked.
"From the way that I have known you over the years this is something that you hardly bother yourself with." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"People change according to the times." Empress Li said as she picked up a piece and she placed it at the centre of the board.
"Your Highness is in deed a very bold one." Empress Dowager Wu said as she picked up her peace and placed it next to hers.
"Your Highness is just as daring." Empress Li remarked.
"What to say?" Empress Dowager Wu asked, "I am already losing my teeth and my hair turning grey, I don't have that much time left in the world to whine regretting some things so why not do what I still can?" She added with a smile.
"Wise words those are in deed coming from you." Empress Li said as she played her move.
"I want to see what you are made of after all you and I both know that it wasn't a simple game that brought you to me." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"What if it isn't?" Empress Li asked.
"Would you care to let me in on your tiny little secret?" Empress Dowager Wu asked with a smile on her face.
"There's not a thing for me to hide from you since you are bound to find out one way or another sooner or later." Empress Li said.
"You very well understand that it is a habit of mine." Empress Dowager Wu bragged.
"I understand that you allied with the Retired Emperor hoping to oust me." Empress Li said and the Empress Dowager only looking at her pieces she picked another one which she placed on the board.
"It's obvious that it's my best form of strategy right now." She muttered.
"And he'd call for the Courtiers very early in the morning before the Morning Assembly to discuss something with them." Empress Li said.
"Then I should be scared that you have found out." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Except that you are strangely calm." Empress Li said while looking at her.
"I can expecting almost everything from you at this rate there's nothing that'll ever be new to me, having eyes and ears all over the Retired Emperor's Palace being perhaps your most obvious move who wouldn't think it out, but what's more is that I look like I have known about your moles for a while but why haven't I gotten rid of them?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"You really are as omnipresent as they claim you to be." Empress Li flattered her.
"My dear, I have been in this Palace much longer than you have and I have seen many people come and go just as much, I have witnessed what it means to be on a battlefield and I have embraced some of the most common tactics of war for my own advantage." Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Then you must know what's going to happen in the throne room anytime from now." Empress Li asked.
"A strained father and son relationship is going to worsen thanks to you and my quietness but then since you have ignited the fuse I wish you to be careful and wary of every consequence that's likely to erupt." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
The Empress smiled.
"To think that you might be quite surprised I came this far I am more disappointed in myself for being transparent to you." She said.
"You claim to have gone over your anger and rash temper those past couple of days in confinement on one hand but seeing as I can read your eyes will never be settled sooner or later it's going to be my open window to act from against you." Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"Alright." Empress Li Said.
"In good faith it's normal that men fight their wars with swords and spears but us women choose to fight with our wisdom, wit and minds, of course a trap that is laid by the hunter may catch the prey but even when the hunter falls in it it's just as hard for him to survive." Empress Dowager Wu remarked extending her smile to the Empress who returned it just as well.
The Courtiers having gathered inside the throne room Eunuch Qin announced the presence of the Emperor and all of them turning to him he gracefully made his way through the aisle and mounting the stairs to the dragon throne, he slowly lowered himself down onto it and settled.
Han Touzhou emerged from the Courtiers that were gathered there and he bowed his head.
"Congratulations on your proper recovery Your Majesty."He said.
"I have all your endless prayers to thank for having made a way." Emperor Guangzong said.
"As it is the heavens are very gracious and Buddha himself is merciful." Han Touzhou said.
"Well Said." The Emperor flattered him as he quickly turned to the Chancellor Shi Hao who stepped from the other Courtiers on the Right.
"Your Majesty wished to see us all here very early in the morning and we couldn't help but wonder what is very crucial and seems to be bothering your mind." Chancellor Shi Hao said.
"I am the son of Heaven and I am old enough to make most decisions on behalf of the state, is there any ill in starting to govern as an Emperor?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"As Your Majesty has mentioned you are the son of heaven and all creation worships you at your feet, how is it that you feel belittled at this strange hour when we your people serve you diligently?" Chancellor Shi Hao asked.
"In the Chunxi Era my father proclaimed me a Filial son in front of the masses and seeing that he is old I don't want him to be burdened that much with the responsibility that should be mine.
My heart breaks and I am in tears for the nights that he barely sleeps, my head spins when I hear that the braziers turn cold in winter and his eyes are strained nonetheless staring through all those memorials presented to him." Emperor Guangzong replied.
"It's only natural Your Majesty, no human is a God, he gets tired as you do and His Majesty only wants you to be healthy." Chancellor Shi Hao said.
"He understands your greatest struggles Your Majesty and as a father he'd also want what's best for you just like His late Majesty was with him." Minister Xie supplemented.
The Emperor smiled.
"I understand my father's intentions and I take his affections to heart, but how will the world look at me if he exhausts himself at the point of near death and I am not there to lift his burden." Emperor Guangzong asked, "the Primary issue for this meeting is that I wished to discuss with you all for His welfare and for the welfare of our great nation, it's important that at this time you joined me in petitioning to the Retired Emperor to withdraw from the affairs of State and grant me absolute Imperial powers." Emperor Guangzong said and a majority of the Wu Clan ministers looking at one another Han Touzhou smiled from the corner of his mouth.
"What do you think?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"His Majesty is right and out of Filial piety it's only fitting that the Retired Emperor be granted the last of his days in joy without much hustle." Han Touzhou said as he bowed his head.
"Until now His Majesty has cared for us endlessly it's time that we also granted him our most sincere appreciation." Minister Li said as he stepped forward and bowed his head to the Emperor.
"For decades His Majesty ran the country and now that there's an able Emperor before us I don't see the need of burdening him with it any longer." General Li San said as he stepped forward and also bowed his head.
Chancellor Shi Hao still standing at the front he bowed his head.
"It's hard to separate a soldier from the army just as it's hard to separate a chick from it's mother, the Retired Emperor is the mother and the reigning Emperor and the state are the children nonetheless, whether His Majesty grows weary or not how could he forgive himself in his senility for thinking himself to be a burden to you all and not helping you shoulder the responsibility of running the Country?" Chancellor Shi Hao asked.
"Please reconsider Your Majesty." Xin Qiji along with a couple of other Officials pleaded with him as they went down onto their knees and bowed their heads to him and the Emperor containing his wrath witnessing a majority of the Courtiers against him he clenched his fists in silence.
"What?" Bao Langya asked.
"Yes." Yang Meizi replied, "the Emperor will ask the Courtiers to appeal to his father to hand over all absolute Imperial powers." She added.
"But a majority of the Courtiers will disagree." Bo An said.
"Exactly." Yang Meizi replied.
"How will that condition our cause?" Bao Langya asked.
"About this time the Emperor will learn the loyalty of the Li Clan on one hand but he'll also realize the worst reality being the mere fact that compared to His father's might and the Empress Dowager's influence, the little that he has is close to nothing." Yang Meizi replied.
"It would be a civil war." Master Bao said.
"For which the Courtiers would hold the Empress responsible." Yang Meizi concluded.
"Nevertheless the outcome of a Civil war is unpredictable." Bo An said.
"The Retired Emperor might feel to merciful in the fear of hurting his son and grandson but I am willing to push the Empress to the end until she finds him there." Yang Meizi replied as she smiled ghastly.
Empress Li walked out of the Empress Dowager's Chambers and halted outside.
"Not even a whimper of fright in her eyes she is certainly made of something." Chiyun Ling remarked.
"I am not one to believe that there are people in the world without weaknesses." Empress Li said.
"But judging from her expression she is very hard to read though even if she noticed what it is that we were planning why did she let us have our way?" Liu Zhan asked.
"I would wish to say that she realised it at the last minute but it's quite hard for me to predict each one of her thoughts yet if she in deed saw through this ploy from the very beginning she wouldn't have remained silent or have restrained herself from acting up unless it was beneficial to her." Empress Li replied.
"She is aware we have spies placed around the palace yet she lets them be." Liu Zhan said.
"Perhaps she wants us to see." Chiyun Ling said as they slowly started walking away.
"She wants us to see?" Empress Li asked.
"Your Highness knows as well as I do that at times there is much more than that which meets the eye." Chiyun Ling replied.
"I am listening." Empress Li remarked.
"What if Her Highness wishes to control what you see?" Chiyun Ling asked, "after all knowing where all your eyes are she could grant you a sight that's false and at the same time she could avoid your watchful gaze." She added.
"It makes sense." Empress Li said.
"Since she could still be hiding something from us." Liu Zhan remarked as Chiyun Ling agreed.
"Whatever it is she must be confident that it's the last thing that I'll ever see." Empress Li said.
"They'd all pretend to swear an oath of loyalty and fidelity to me on my coronation, in actual sense they still follow my father." Emperor Guangzong said.
"Please calm down Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin said.
"Would you be calm as well had you been in my place?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"I'm not in the position to suggest my loyalty." Eunuch Qin said.
"Then why is it that you serve me?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"Prior to your ascension I promised His Majesty that I'd serve you as best as I can, protect you with everything that I have, and be by your side all the time." Eunuch Qin said.
"Had he not asked you would you still do the same?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"I am but a servant of the son of heaven." Eunuch Qin replied.
"You are all very good hypocrites, you would rather be satisfied with a puppet as long as you would find something with purpose to cling on." Emperor Guangzong said.
"Your Highness only speaks with fury." Eunuch Qin said.
"And my fury is the fury of heaven for I am no longer a two year old at this age my father should be confident enough in my abilities and I should reign after all what's the use of dressing in these dragon robes and not wielding the strings of the country?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"Your Majesty, ruling isn't something that's easy." Eunuch Qin remarked.
"Perhaps you don't also think that I am ready." Emperor Guangzong said.
"And what point does Your Majesty wish to prove?" Eunuch Qin asked, "you realise that beyond this point in the eyes of those Courtiers you are declaring war on your father " he replied.
"What does it matter?" Emperor Guangzong asked, "I'm just fighting for my rights." He persisted.
"I can say less because I don't hope to change Your Majesty's mind but whatever His Majesty does it's for your own good." Eunuch Qin said.
"Then perhaps the Mung bean soup from Cifu Palace was for my own good?" Emperor Guangzong asked and Eunuch Qin kept quiet.
"Perhaps you turn a deaf ear to the words of the commons beyond the Palace walls but I am one to believe that rumours don't just fall from the sky." Emperor Guangzong said, "Tongues that tend to twist them in most cases and spread them usually have strings reasons and perhaps are even compelled by certain things hidden in the dark." He added as he slowly turned around and faced the wall.
"I'll take my leave Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin said.
"You are relieved from your duties for the rest of the week." Emperor Guangzong ordered while the latter silently he bowed his head.
"Thank you Your Majesty." He muttered under his breath as he withdrew from the room.
"A very filial son in deed." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Calm down Your Majesty." Yang Meizi said as she poured the old man a cup of tea and he took it.
"I might as well have tried to protect him but failed that he'd choose his conniving wife over me and demand that I hand him all my power." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Regardless His Majesty is only a victim." Yang Meizi said.
"And sadly his wife will be the death of me." Emperor Xiaozong remarked as he looked up at the ceiling and his gaze froze.
"I understand Your Majesty." Yang Meizi said.
"It's almost the lantern festival soon." He reminded her.
"Should I celebrate?" Yang Meizi asked.
"The Empress Dowager believes that you have worked very hard the past couple of days and perhaps being with you often I might have come to realise it just the same." Emperor Xiaozong replied.
"I am flattered Your Majesty but it's only my duty to serve." Yang Meizi said.
"How many people cherish their duty?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"It depends." Yang Meizi replied.
"And which one is yours?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"The wellbeing of the state." Yang Meizi replied.
"What could the wellbeing of the state mean to a Court Lady?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"Taking proper care of the monarch, advise in manner of conduct to maintain the standard of the Crown, if I could point out one or two officials that are corrupt, if I can maintain a peaceful household and a lively palace then in my opinion I have seen to the wellbeing of the State." Yang Meizi replied.
"Well said." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"At last Your Majesty seems calm." Yang Meizi remarked.
"Children will be children, cry, shout and scold them anyhow in the end could there be another that could love them much more than you?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"None that I can think of." Yang Meizi replied.
"The Great Song is the child of my flesh just like the Emperor is, while I am entitled to love it and give it my heart dearly, I desire to make of it the greatest Nation on earth and my Dynasty the model of Kings." He said while he picked up the cup of tea and looked at her while she stared at him composed.
"There isn't fear in your eyes every time I look at you but only confidence and perhaps you could make a very good Empress that is if I haven't spoken out of turn." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"I am flattered Your Majesty but I don't think I am cut out for politics, I'm not ready to fight my father in law or my husband's kin and further more, there is no freedom to choose what I want to be." Yang Meizi said.
"To make sacrifices and suppress who we are isn't a choice." Emperor Xiaozong remarked as he looked up at her, "it is our duty." He concluded while he sighed.
"I understand." Yang Meizi said.
"I wish that my son would talk as casually with me." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"There isn't a spell that can not be broken, if the Empress persists to come between Your Majesty and your son then Your Majesty can not give up fighting for your own." Yang Meizi comforted him as she smiled gently.
"You can go out of the Palace during the lantern festival." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Your Majesty....?" Yang Meizi wished to object but was interrupted halfway.
"That's an order." He said.
"Yes." Yang Meizi replied and bowing her head she withdrew from the hall.
"Eunuch Gao?" Emperor Xiaozong called and the latter quickly rushed into his Master's presence.
"How may I help Your Majesty?" He asked.
"I want you to pass my Decree to the Ministry of Justice and tell them to carry out an open investigation." Emperor Xiaozong replied.
"Concerning what Your Majesty?" Eunuch Gao asked.
"The poisoning of His Majesty, the Empress Dowager and Me." Emperor Xiaozong replied.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Gao said.
"There's another complaint that's coming from the Imperial household." Emperor Xiaozong said before the old man would walk out of his presence.
"Your servant is listening." Eunuch Gao replied.
"The Empress is charged for not taking proper care of the monarch." Emperor Xiaozong replied.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Gao replied and quickly turning around he rushed out of the doors of the room leaving the Emperor all alone inside.