The thunder roared aloud yet again and Zhao Kuo at the time close to his grandfather the doors of the room were flung open as Liu Cheng stepped in and stared at the two in each other's embrace.
Nearly as old as he was he could hardly believe his eyes.
"Cheng'er?" Emperor Xiaozong called.
"Your Majesty." He replied bowing his head.
"Now you see me." He remarked.
"When I heard that the Imperial grandson was present my heart leaped with so much joy." Liu Cheng replied.
"And here you are yet again." Emperor Xiaozong said, "remind me, how long has it been?" Emperor Xiaozong asked as the Crown Prince held him closer he was leaning his head on his chest.
"I am as old, over twenty years I recall." Liu Cheng replied.
"We have certainly grown yet, my memory still faint I recall the memories of our youth, when we were filled with pride and owned the world, we hardly bled from the words the people hurled at us and the actions of those conniving men and women." Emperor Xiaozong muttered.
"They were peaceful." Liu Cheng remarked.
"In deed they were." Emperor Xiaozong agreed as he looked at his grandson while silence prevailed in the room for a moment.
"I had that you smacked your head on the floor for me." Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"It's all that I could have done." Liu Cheng replied and the Emperor not breaking his gaze from his grandson he sighed lightly as he patted his head.
"You are a very good boy my dear child but your father on the other hand he must hate me too much." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Don't say such words grandfather." Crown Prince Zhao Kuo rebuked him that instant.
"I don't blame him for all my life I tried so hard to stop at being a good Emperor and perhaps the best, did too little to see him sleep on those cold nights or let him linger around me too often, at once he would tell me the darkest of secrets but I suppose it was my privilege which he outgrew, alas I regret that I made him too humble and I broke him over and over again as I trampled his heart that he wouldn't wish to see me again." Emperor Xiaozong said in tears.
"Grandfather?" The Crown Prince broke down lightly as he tried to restrain his own.
"And what would comfort me?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.
"Grandfather." The Crown Prince kept on saying over and over again.
"I couldn't seek comfort or refuge in him at the end I exalted the Nation which was my children above yet another that was a seed of my own flesh and blood that sprouted from between my legs." Emperor Xiaozong weakly muttered.
"I will ask father to see you." Crown Prince Zhao Kuo assured.
"Forget it." Emperor Xiaozong said, "I am far too tired." He went ahead to say while Liu Cheng quietly seating opposite from the bed he broke down as he watched that alarming sight.
"Who cares if we are Sage Rulers, who cares if we are Kings of the world that the people worship and the stars surround, whether we are the light of people or their darkness, we are close to gods in the earthly realm they overestimate us and forget that we are humans who hurt, love and bleed the same." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"Grandfather, calm down." Crown Prince Zhao Kuo patted his shoulder while the later breaking his gaze from him he stared across at the doors that were shut.
"I see those shadows again waiting to rip me to pieces and use my corpse for their schemes, willing to tarnish whatever little reputation the son of heaven has and render him another common man like them." Emperor Xiaozong said.
"What is it Grandfather?" Crown Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"If ever I must breathe my last let no one tamper with my body and guard it until the day I am led to my tomb, I wish that no bribed coroners defiled me and I merely wish that I could go in one piece to the ancestors as I came." Emperor Xiaozong said as he ceased his grandson's right hand with his two and looked him in the eye.
"Promise me?" He demanded aloud as the thunder roared outside again and lightning illuminated the whole room.
"Yes, I promise." Crown Prince Zhao Kuo reluctantly replied as the old man finally let go and laughed raising his eyes up to the ceiling above him.
"You are very good my son." He remarked as he coughed out some blood and the young Prince being drawn into a shock he panicked.
"Someone call the Imperial physician." The Crown Prince demanded.
"Don't bother." Emperor Xiaozong halted him and falling silent he looked at his old man whose silver hair had become prominent against his dark strands and his body was starting to turn pale, bags were developing right under his eyes and his veins were appearing dark on top of his skin.
"Grandfather?" The Crown Prince cried.
"Your Majesty." Liu Cheng supplemented in what was a fairly loud tone.
"I only wish that your father held no guilt and he knew that even now I feel sorry for overstepping my boundaries but I certainly loved him too much, too much more I loved him that even now even if he wishes to see me no more, I love him nonetheless, think about him day and night, I wonder if he has eaten well or if he is surviving the cold." Emperor Xiaozong said closing his eyes and starting to lose consciousness.
"He is my son, and I will always love him." He spoke once again before he took a deep breath and let go as his arm collapsed onto the bed and his heart beat came to a halt.
Not a single thing could be felt, the last lively thing to see was a single tear running down his cheek from his left eye, just like that the two people present in the room seemed to understand much more than anyone else that the oldest man in the room and the one lying peaceful in the Crown Prince's embrace had shuffled off the mortal coil.
"Your Majesty?" Liu Cheng cried aloud as he bowed his head.
"Grandfather." The Crown Prince cried even louder that his screams reached out and resounded through the hallways to even courtyard while the thunder trying to cover the loud wailing it seemed unsuccessful.
A roar that like no other threatened to shake the whole world was followed by the heavy drumbeat that reached Yang Meizi's ears in her dark confine.
The Empress in her Palace slipping herself under the covers with many of her allies preparing to put on a show to compel the Crown Prince to depart from the Palace of Virtue and Longevity heard it as well, the Empress Dowager in her Grand Hall in the Cifu palace seated on her throne appeared to have been waiting.
Commander Wu and the other guards surrounding the whole residence heard it all and in a short while a strong wind broke into the small Chamber and extinguished the candles and lanterns, a lifeless Emperor's death was as good as confirmed through the dark crimson walls of the Cruel Palace.
Daiyu walked into the Retired Empress' Chambers and there she found her standing by the window and looking up at the stars.
"Your Highness?" She called concerned while the other seemed so absent minded but heard her nonetheless.
"How is it that I shall forget this night?" Empress Dowager Xie asked.
"I don't know Your Highness, is it that you stood here the whole night?" Daiyu asked.
"I could hear the screams coming from the South, the sound of the drums itself was loud enough to outcompete the thunder." Empress Dowager Xie replied.
"Then Your Highness must know." Daiyu remarked.
"Sadly enough I was prepared for it yet it still hurts too much, I was aware that he couldn't make it through the night and convinced myself that I was too strong but now I am here again also broken." Empress Dowager Xie asked, "Not even a glimpse in the very last moment of his life of his face, I regret that he couldn't have one of me in the last second he chose to humble himself and submit his life to the Grim Reaper." She sobbed silently.
"Could it have set the Palace at ease?" Daiyu asked.
"You tell me what he gained from his rather long life." Empress Dowager Xie asked, "after all in the end he was another lonely and heartbroken monarch." She remarked with a hint of remorse in her tone Daiyu could feel how much hurt her mistress was.
"Nonetheless you are the keeper of His last memories." She calmed her down.
"Yet I am not the strongest keeper." Empress Dowager Xie muttered as she sighed looking in a distance at the uneasy lights that shone throughout the palace.
"What has His Majesty left behind?" She asked herself inwardly.
In a moment's silence the doors to the Retired Emperor's room were flung open and Grand Empress Dowager Wu stepped in while many of the people present there recognized her presence.
At the time the storm had settled and the moon was out in the night sky done hiding behind the clouds that it cast it's wan moonlight on the golden colored roofs of the six palaces penetrating deeper to the interior between the pillars and then the windows.
She performed a rather graceful bow in return to the humble salutation as she approached the quiet Prince who still lost in his thoughts had done little to change his attire.
There was barely a person dressed in satin or white linen as the death had come abrupt and the storm itself having prevailed the past couple of hours many were confined to their residences in the palace while others were just coming over to confirm with their eyes and stopping outside the Retired Emperor's Chamber.
The Grand Empress Dowager looking over at her Great grandson she sighed in dismay as her eyes travelled to the very young man that she had raised having grown old and withered yet in that awful dark spot next to him.
"Where's His Late Majesty's Imperial garb?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"We could hardly find the time to make him wear it, in the very least we needed to first stop the bleeding and substitute his clothes with a much cleaner underwear." Crown Prince Zhao Kuo replied.
"Where is the Emperor?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"There's hardly been a sight of him." Liu Cheng replied, "not even a Eunuch or messenger from the main Palace." He insisted that the old woman with her head held high she seemed traumatized by his reply she clenched her fists.
"You heard everything that His Late Majesty willed on his deathbed?" She asked?
"Yes." Liu Cheng replied barely looking at the Crown Prince in the eye while he intensely stared at his Grandfather hoping that he would miraculously leap onto his two feet."
"In a very short while the Courtiers and other ministers shall gather to mourn and the untimely death of His Late Majesty has left us not a single bit the same, we can not stall his funeral preparations by pretending that we'll be hearing from the Main Palace soon enough, I fear as it is that since His Majesty could hardly make it when his father was living what about now that he is dead?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu ensured that she was loud enough for the Crown Prince to hear.
"Grandfather asked for nothing much prior to his death." The Crown Prince remarked.
"Then I shall see to His Late Majesty's funeral preparations myself and if Your father wishes to be more filial then he is welcome by me, as it is that I can I shall certainly ensure that he is given the honours befitting of an Emperor so that I don't have to worry about shocking the world with him being buried as a lesser Prince instead." Grand Empress Dowager Wu informed the latter while she turned that very instant and walked out of the room.
In the meantime at the gates of the Han Manor, walking right across the Courtyard an Imperial Guard was led outside the study of Han Touzhou who was moving from his bed chamber and meeting halfway the two kowtowed to one another before Han Touzhou led the way inside.
Lin Xue was burning some charcoal in a brazier and gathering it he placed it in a small golden pot which he carried over to his master while the Imperial Guard sat across the room.
"So the Retired Emperor is dead you say?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Yes." The soldier replied.
"He was bound to go sooner or later, after all he was old and the world belongs to no man." Han Touzhou remarked as he smiled faintly.
"The Palace could go in arms any moment soon." The soldier replied, "there's hardly been any reaction from the main Palace and the Grand Empress Dowager is proceeding with everything concerning the funeral immediately as normally as possible." The soldier muttered.
"Surely she won't be charged with any fault." Han Touzhou replied, "the controllers of the Main Palace are likely to be the Retired Emperor's killers and another more alarming unfortunate happening is that they were the Retired Emperor's mortal enemies, to put it simply, it's like inviting a traitor to a feast." Han Touzhou remarked.
"What does Your Excellency have in mind?" The soldier asked and Han Touzhou sighing he stood up and started walking across the room.
"This is a matter of the Imperial family for a moment the Courtiers might do little with all the other officials to express themselves but that doesn't mean that they'll totally overlook the situation, the Grand Empress Dowager is buying more time that the Empress doesn't seem to realise that unless she does something she's going to end up facing the most dire consequences that are yet known to anyone in the Dynasty." Han Touzhou replied.
"So Your Excellency shall sit back?" The soldier asked.
"Some time back I learnt that the Empress has nothing against me, then again I am not a fool recently she might have thought that the betrothal of Princess Qi'an to Shi Miyuan would in turn give her power she could have not considered time itself it makes Chancellor Shi Hao a much bigger ally than me.
There's too little she has given me that's meritorious and yet I chose to keep quiet at a time like this the Great Song is in no need of a very staunch supporter of the Empress but rather a faithful and loyal Courtier." Han Touzhou replied.
"But can the Grand Empress Dowager accept your loyalty?" Lin Xue asked.
"It's better to set a common grudge aside to get rid of a much bigger enemy and after all the Crown Prince is married to my niece gives her all the more reason because we the Hans for the time being are a clan that she can't afford to lose to her primary enemy who still happens to be the Empress and not us." Han Touzhou replied.
"Alright." The soldier muttered as he stood up and bowing his head he slowly withdrew from the room while Lin Xue drew closer to his master.
"There happens to be something on your mind." He pointed out what seemed to be obvious.
"Prepare my mourning attire." Han Touzhou replied instead with a rather carefree smile on his face as he turned around and walked out of the study at once leaving his retainer baffled by his strange expression that he could hardly move.
The sun rose over the capital and the Empress was seated in her Grand Hall as it was empty.
"Where's everyone in the harem?" She asked.
"They are all at the Palace of Virtue and Longevity." Chiyun Ling replied.
"It is good though Your Highness that the Retired Emperor has finally perished." Chiyun Ling said.
"I could hardly take any delight, the Empress Dowager stands on her two feet." Empress Li remarked.
"Grand Empress Dowager." Chiyun Ling corrected her.
"And my son?" Empress Li asked.
"He has hardly left the coffin." Chiyun Ling replied, "I heard that he was traumatized and early in the morning he sent for his mourning attire from the Eastern Palace, it has been entirely stripped of all it's colourful banners and lanterns and they have been replaced with plain white linen and talismans." She added.
"Quite a filial grandson." Empress Li remarked.
"The Grand Empress Dowager seems very bent on keeping anyone from coming into contact with him, not a single servant of guard can come close enough without her prior knowledge." Liu Zhan said.
"Surely, she is now showing off her power, I'd have to worry about how much she is poisoning my own son against me." Empress Li muttered when Li San walked in and bowed his head.
"Your Highness." He greeted his sister who reserving her response she waved her hand lightly signalling him to stand upright which he did.
"What is it now?" She asked.
"And order from the Grand Empress Dowager inviting you to attend the funeral." Li San replied, "one of the Imperial guards from the Retired Emperor's Palace has dropped it over." He went ahead to say.
"I suppose it shouldn't be for me." Empress Li remarked.
"If not you then who could it belong to Your Highness?" Li San asked.
"The Li Clan is behind me and a number of officials would not desert my cause, in the very least before accepting it my husband's approval is much necessary and of course unless he says yes, I shall stand behind him if he chooses not to." Empress Li replied.
"I understand Your Highness." Li San replied.
Emperor Guangzong sat in the Imperial Hall waiting on the Courtiers, his eyes gazing at the gilded floor for a while where the map of the Dynasty rested he temporarily sighed after a long while.
"You tell me that the officials couldn't make it?" He asked Eunuch Win.
"Your Majesty, the Retired Emperor just perished and in the very least they couldn't desist from offering him the last respects." Eunuch Qin replied.
"And must we compromise the stability of the Dynasty with the life of a single man?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"Your Majesty, the Retired Emperor is just no ordinary man." Eunuch Qin replied.
"Then perhaps he is a god that is helpless in the face of death, we mourn every now and then but will those tears protect our castles and our children?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"Please rescind Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin pleaded.
"I don't understand how it is that those Courtiers dare to honour a dead King more than a living one." Emperor Guangzong remarked when staring in a distance he saw a number of black hats rising and before long he could see yet a number of scholars dressed in their official wear mounting the stairs as they made their way into the Imperial throne room.
Marvelled the Emperor stood up from his seat as they settled themselves beneath his staircase and bowing their heads he recognized the one at the forefront as his father in law.
"Greetings Your Majesty." They said in unison.
"Have all in the Court but the Children of Li forsaken me?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"Your Majesty is the Ruler of the Nation and it must nonetheless be led, we can not compromise it's stability even if some of us are old and weary in our age for the sake of a mortal that can no longer exist in the world with us." The old man said.
"Great." Emperor Guangzong remarked as he nodded his head with a brilliant smile all over his face.
"Whatever it is Your Majesty, we shall face it with you." They assured him and the latter very pleased to hear these words he reclined in his seat at the very time that Li San marched through the open doors as well holding in his possession a golden scroll.
"Greetings Your Majesty." He said.
"I suppose you are also here to protect me?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"Pardon me Your Majesty, the Grand Empress Dowager has an order that I merely wish to deliver." Li San replied.
"Burn it." Emperor Guangzong decreed and everyone surprised by his reaction they gulped.
"Perhaps we should...." Li San still speaking the Emperor interfered.
"Surely there can only be one ruler in the land and the mandate of Heaven was equally vested in me, we are governed by laws and principles that transcend other civilizations on this Earth and our right is God given, if I do recall I am the Emperor and the ruler of the Great Song is not the Grand Empress Dowager or the Retired Emperor but me, it is meaningless to call myself a monarch when I am a subject to the order of another of those that I govern, another of those that is beneath me." Emperor Guangzong said.
Everyone falling quiet they could only tighten their hands together while the old man smiled.
"Burn it." Emperor Guangzong ordered yet again, "that is my answer." He insisted.
"Yes Your Majesty." Li San replied as he bowed his head and he withdrew from the hall at once.
"What did you say?" Yang Meizi asked Nuwa who was standing in front of her cell.
"That's it." Nuwa replied, "I am not as smart as you are to understand but the Grand Empress Dowager sent an order to the Emperor to attend the funeral of his father and surprisingly the Emperor instead ordered for it to be burnt." She reported that Yang Meizi turned around and faced the window behind her.
"I thought I could no longer see the light of day again." Yang Meizi remarked.
"What do you mean?" Nuwa asked.
"The Retired Emperor failing me or not I am not certainly but how is it that there could be a moment for me this beautiful?" Yang Meizi replied as she turned around and looked at Nuwa with desperation in her eyes.
"I don't understand." Nuwa confessed.
"You won't bribe your way in the next time as well but there is one thing that you can do for me in the mean time and I could die without regrets." Yang Meizi remarked.
"Whatever it is, please tell me Milady." Nuwa pleaded.
"Bring the Grand Empress Dowager to me." Yang Meizi replied and Nuwa taken aback with her eyes teary she stared into those of her mistress while she nodded at her firmly with so much contentment.
"Yes." She agreed hesitantly.
"I am begging you." Yang Meizi pleaded and holding her hands tightly she withdrew at a distance as the guard descended.
"Your time is up, if you delay any longer then I shall be in trouble." The guard reprimanded and Nuwa quickly turning around she walked away stealing a glimpse or two of Yang Meizi who moved back towards the window and stared at the light that was shining through it.
"Watch for me mother." She muttered under her breath, "Mei'er will make you proud." She added as she smiled at herself ghastly for a moment the guard still staring at her thought that she had lost her senses.
Nuwa hurrying to meet the Grand Empress Dowager she accidentally bumped into an old man.
"Sorry sir." She said as she bowed her head while he looked at the young woman who was preparing to run away
"You're a servant, aren't you?" The old man asked that she halted in her steps.
"Why do you ask?" Nuwa inquired from him.
"A great future was laid ahead of you that fateful day you set foot in the Palace yet all I see is darkness." The man replied.
"Who are you?" Nuwa asked.
"It doesn't matter." The old man replied.
"Is it so?" Nuwa said.
"You can strive and reach every height but even in that very place that light exists darkness must reside like you there's another to be beckoned with." The old man asserted to her.
"As it is I have nothing so whoever shall be beckoned is my shadow?" Nuwa inquired.
"No." The old man refuted, "you are her shadow itself that if you must contend devote your all otherwise it's too bad you'd wish that you had never met." He assured her.
"Do I know them?" Nuwa asked.
"So much you do, knowing them so much makes you their their greatest foe." The old man added as he continued his way outside the palace of Virtue and Longevity while Nuwa turned and hurried over to the Grand Empress Dowager.
Grand Empress Dowager Wu, Empress Dowager Xie and Crown Prince Zhao Kuo kneeling in front of the Retired Emperor's coffin a messenger rushed through the Courtiers kneeling outside and mounting the stairs he moved right into the interior of the funeral parlor.
Grand Empress Dowager Wu at the right side Wan Mei approached her and leaning over as she was chanting her prayers she whispered into her ears that the old woman seemingly furious she opened her eyes and stared at the Memorial tablet in front of them before she offered her servant her hand and they helped her up onto her feet.
She walked away leaving the Crown Prince and Empress Dowager burning talismans in front of the coffin as she moved to the side where she saw Nuwa and Eunuch Deng standing and waiting for her.
She took a seat in the small chair that was nearby and covering her hands with a white wolf skin she sighed.
"Is it true?" She asked turning to Eunuch Deng at first.
"Yes Your Highness." Eunuch Deng replied, "His Majesty the Emperor ordered for the invitation order to be burnt, I am afraid that the ministers outside are well aware and a number of them are furious but they dare not voice out their concern they'd rather turn to Your Highness." He added.
"And the Emperor is yet an old man and not someone that I can spank, when I tell him to do this he will still not listen to me but he'll dance to the tune of his very dear and cruel loving wife." Grand Empress Dowager Wu muttered as she turned to Nuwa who was standing nearby.
"Are you also here concerning this too?" She asked.
"Pardon me Your Highness, I am here for my mistress Head Lady Yang." Nuwa replied.
"She's a powerhouse when it comes to conjuring schemes surely there's something in mind." Grand Empress Dowager Wu remarked.
"Your Highness knows her as well as she admires you." Nuwa replied.
"Speaking of which I haven't seen much of her recently." Grand Empress Dowager said.
"Reporting to Her Highness, she was detained by the Crown Prince in the dungeons." Nuwa replied.
"And I know my great grandson as he isn't a man of many extremes, Yang Meizi is yet another hard headed person that gets herself in trouble so what is it that she did to the Crown Prince?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked.
Nuwa kept quiet.
"Did you not hear me or you'd rather not tell me?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Pardon me Your Highness but she slapped the Crown Prince." Nuwa responded and the old woman surprised she froze.
"He's much lenient to let her have her life and she should learn from her faults as well, if it is to plead her release or Innocence then you understand my stance when it comes to discipline for a while the issue concerning the Retired Emperor's funeral shall prevail and I'll deal with her later." Grand Empress Dowager Wu said as she waved her away.
Nuwa looking around and having nothing to do she fell down onto her knees before the Grand Empress Dowager.
"Court Lady Yang has no such intention Your Highness she's merely requesting to see you in person." Nuwa pleaded that the Grand Empress Dowager stood up.
"What is more important than the funeral of my son?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Please Your Highness, hear her out." Nuwa cried as she touched her feet and looking at Wan Mei and Wan'er the two kept quiet beside her.
"She raised her hand and slapped an Imperial grandson, regardless of what it was that he did wrong outside there the Courtiers and members of the Royal clan would be pleading for her head." Grand Empress Dowager Wu muttted while Nuwa dismayed she kept quiet.
"If you insist though and it is vital then I shall see her." Grand Empress Dowager Wu said.
"Thank you Your Highness." Nuwa kowtowed to her as she stood up.
"If that is all then I shall return to the funeral hall and shall surely see her." Grand Empress Dowager Wu muttered as she vanished from sight leaving both Eunuch Deng and Nuwa in the room with one another.
"Do you know why?" Eunuch Deng asked.
"No." Nuwa replied.
"Then could it be something else that she lost her calm?" Eunuch Deng asked.
"I only know that Milady was prepared for death even when she threw that slap at His Highness." Nuwa replied.
"And I heard that you put yourself between them for him?" Eunuch Deng asked as she kept quiet while he walked closer up to her.
"She understands better that none of us belong to the Palace and the Palace is full of suspicion, you understand as well that the safest way to exist is do nothing that could turn your allies against you." Eunuch Deng whispered as she stared him directly into the eye.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Nuwa remarked.
"Are you sure?" Eunuch Deng asked as he slightly walked past her and infuriated she could only let herself smile faintly.
"You too aren't that good at keeping some secrets." She spoke up before going any further.
"And I am curious why?" Eunuch Deng asked the two still not facing each other.
"Who would understand better than me where you came from and you fear something about His Late Majesty which might cause all those involved to suspect you of not doing your job well." Nuwa replied.
"There's nothing for you to prove." Eunuch Deng spoke confidently.
"Maybe for now or perhaps even better, there could be someone else that could do it?" Nuwa replied as she walked away from the room as well while Eunuch Deng stared angrily as she vanished from his sight leaving only suspense for the latter.
Crown Prince Zhao Kuo remained seated in front of his grandfather's coffin while every one slept away and dozed off the lanterns were extinguished by the wind one by one the night itself having fallen and darkness lingered above the whole kingdom.
Eunuch Gao who stood next to the Empress Dowager Xie moved closer with a lighter.
"No need." The Crown Prince Zhao Kuo replied and as he had dared he withdrew in his very footsteps while the young man sighed.
"What did father say?" He asked.
"There's no response from the main Palace." Eunuch Gao replied.
"How did our family come to this?" Crown Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"Honestly even I wouldn't understand." Eunuch Gao said.
"It's better for me to say that I envy grandfather." Crown Prince Zhao Kuo remarked.
"Why So Your Highness, is that life of yours not precious?" Empress Dowager Xie asked a tone of fury being felt and the young man restraining himself pretended not to hear it while she seemed certain that he knew what he was doing.
"I could hardly see much of him since I entered the Palace, his final years for once gave me much of a husband and not an Emperor that to say that I came here in the first place is something I'll never regret if I die." Empress Dowager Xie muttered.
"You are lucky your final memory of him was the most beautiful." Crown Prince Zhao Kuo remarked.
"He ate what was cooked by my own hands, I could see less of him again he must have selfishly worried how I would feel, he worried for my very weak heart and my innocence being broken, my silence being too painful, all those in his mind he would rather not let me come close or look at him in that helpless state." Empress Dowager Xie said.
"How was he not good a father if he endeavored so much even in the very end?" Crown Prince Zhao Kuo asked.
"I don't know how hard he tried." Empress Dowager Xie replied, "I only know that he was a Great Emperor and in the most another great husband." She added while tears fell from her eyes and the wind blew once again calm while they stared at the words written on his memorial tablet that was gilded with beautiful Dragon and floral designs, they twisted and formed excellent and lively Vines.
It read with so much boldness "THE FILIAL ANCESTOR OF THE GREAT SONG, ZHAO ZHEN." And so much strength could be felt in each and everyone of the strokes that had been drawn with so much care.
Above a portrait of the Youthful Emperor seated on a small chair and majestic in his Red Garb his eyes stared down at the grandson in front of him.
White talismans shook fairly hanging from the ceiling as his spirit felt present but not breaking his stare the Crown Prince Zhao Kuo stared blankly the Empress Dowager could hardly put a finger on whatever it was that was going through his mind at that very hour.
Yang Meizi still seated in the dungeon she leaned her back against the wall, slowly she caressed her abdomen which was ailing fairly as she got lost in her own thoughts for some reason looking at the Jade pendant that she had in her possession.
"Yuan'er will forgive me." She muttered to herself in a very lowly tone, "I failed you and I am not sure if I shall survive yet another day beyond these walls." She whispered when she heard someone descending the stairs and her eyes turning around she saw the Grand Empress Dowager Wu confidently approaching her with her brother and Wan Mei and Wan'er approaching her closely from behind.
An Imperial Guard opening the door of the cell for her she walked in and standing in front of the young woman she could hardly believe how awful she looked.
"A remarkable brain like yourself." She muttered, "you must have lost so much weight these past couple of days to look this bony." She remarked as she held her chin and raised her head forcing her to look into her eyes.
"Finally Your Highness has beheld this sight." Yang Meizi replied.
"Why?" She asked.
"There's yet so much I expected from this palace and even unable to have it all I can somehow deal with one of your greatest worries." Yang Meizi replied.
"Say it my little girl, aren't you willing to let me save you?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"I lived my whole life building on the Retired Emperor's efforts, if he perished yet without a single trace of Justice being left behind then every thing I invested was a vain attempt." Yang Meizi replied.
"So you don't want my help?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu said.
"I only want to be able to sleep in peace, if I find my mother in the Netherworld, if I reunite with her soon enough, I want to tell her that I tried to get as much Justice for her, as much justice for our brethren and I am sorry that I couldn't live well like she'd instructed me." Yang Meizi replied.
"The Palace is full of filial grandchildren and filial servants, why is it's true master so different?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked as she stepped back and turned around, "what did you do you poor thing?" She asked.
"One by one I can count all the sins that I have committed my whole life, I could own up to many machinations, however when I raised my hand despite knowing what was coming, the pain and anguish I could cause for me there was not a feeling in the world more beautiful." Yang Meizi replied.
"Why are you still brazen?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Just let me out of that conversation Your Highness, allow me to tell you the best that can be done." Yang Meizi replied.
"And what is it?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked as she turned around confidently even in her old age still bearing the very strong and prominent black strands of hair, her eyebrows narrowed.
"The Emperor is unfilial and he makes the Great Song a laughing stock, how more could the Courtiers respect their ruler, how is it that they could bow before him if he could be as heartless, what qualifies him to be a father of the Nation, what makes him different from the Jurchen rebel Wanyan Liang or Emperor Wu of Han?" Yang Meizi asked.
"Watch your mouth." Empress Dowager Wu said.
"I am walking on a rope, I am treading on very thin ice Your Highness." Yang Meizi replied.
"It's good that you know." Empress Dowager Wu muttered.
"It's my good intent speaking to Your humble Highness and yet my ego at the same cautioning you." Yang Meizi replied.
"You are at the Prince's mercy yet you are running your mouth carelessly." Wan Mei cursed.
"You are fearless?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu remarked.
"The Nation needs a father that leads as an example and the nation needs a Monarch that the Jurchens can look to and call astute, one whose very nature is the heavenly brilliance and one that can honour each one of hour customs and traditions hardly breaking one." Yang Meizi ratted.
"Silence." Grand Empress Dowager Wu ordered.
"Those Courtiers of Li failed to advise the monarch wisely and the Empress herself is no more a popular figure for the people she's a witch that they see and fear in the dead of night, altogether they held an Assembly while the household grieved the Retired Emperor showing no respect to your humble orders had a servant burn them before the world who better than them should remember that you gave the descendants of Taizu that magnificent Dragon throne and you put our heavenly world into their hands?" Yang Meizi shouted.
"So what are you suggesting young woman?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Guilty is charged and the man that you are burying your hands once raised, sheltered and nurtured all the same with love and compassion he was yet a son of your soul that could think like you and love you back and respect you listening in everything you can not tell me that his reign was not your blessing." Yang Meizi replied.
The old woman listening she moved a couple of steps backwards while Yang Meizi gathering the strength she had she stood up and faced her with her hair falling all over.
"Who are you to decide, what are you trying to say?" She asked her.
"You are not the Emperor Your Highness, you are not the son of Heaven, you are the Grand Empress Dowager of the Great Song and you have the power and the chance to wipe out all those Scoundrels that boast in the might of their Li Clan, you can crush them so badly and humble them onto their knees that they'll plead to you for mercy because with what they did today they are equal to traitors." Yang Meizi replied.
The Empress only seemed to breathe intensely while she halted at a distance still in front of her.
"Twenty six of the Empress' relatives granted Imperial favours another one hundred and seventy two conferred with official ranks with one word can be wiped out, the Imperial Dragon robes can be removed and given to someone else, if not you who can explain to the Late Gaozong Emperor in the netherworld for the tears of His Retired Majesty when you promised him to guard this Great Song well?" Yang Meizi asked and the Grand Empress Dowager quickly turned around as she held her dress.
"Your Highness there's more than one way to get rid of an enemy and with such a chance presented to you from her arrogance and a malleable public opinion you can not tell me that you do not know what it is that must be done." Yang Meizi said.
"Await my Imperial Decree." Grand Empress Dowager Wu muttered confidently as she strode out of the dungeon and the doors were locked behind her leaving the young destitute woman alone once again in the darkness herself having walked a distance away in the corridor nearby she halted.
"She's losing it." Wan'er remarked instantly.
"No." Grand Empress Dowager Wu replied with a ghastly smile on her face.
"I could hardly make out any sense in whatever it was that she said." Wan'er replied.
"With time you shall understand." Grand Empress Dowager Wu muttered as she slightly tilted her head in the direction of her brother.
"Your Highness." He said at once bowing his head.
"Gather the others tomorrow night immediately." Grand Empress Dowager Wu ordered.
"Which ones?" Commander Wu asked.
"All of them." Grand Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"Yes." Commander Wu agreed immediately leaving her sister yet pleased she stared blankly at the doorway in front of them.
"Empress is smart." She muttered under her breath, "I wish to see how she will survive my wrath this time round." She convinced herself as she smiled ghastly her dark eyes glowing against the saffron light the torches gave off ferocity could be felt all around, nonetheless a beautiful old and scheming woman was what her magnificence spelt, she was in every way determined to proudly rest her mace on the hard head of her evil grand daughter in law.
Crown Princess Han seated inside the funeral parlour with faced her husband with her sister not so far away from him.
"I heard that he couldn't even have a drop of water?" Qing Yi muttered.
"How long has it been?" Crown Princess Han asked.
"About two days." Qing Yi replied.
"The Young Prince still looking at the Ceremonial plaque he started feeling dizzy and Lan He who was standing right beside him noticed how tightly he held his forehead as he seemed to sway.
"Are you alright Your Highness?" He asked and the Crown Prince forcing himself on his feet he turned to walk away when all of a sudden they failed him and he stumbled right into Lan He's arms unconscious.
"Your Highness?" Lan He cried out while Crown Princess Han and the others rushed over towards him and the whole room flew into panic.
Emperor Guangzong stretching his hands he walked into the Grand Hall of his Chambers while Eunuch Qin slowly approached him holding another scroll in his hands.
"Greetings Your Majesty." He said while the Emperor pointed at him standing in front of his chair.
"If it's another of the Grand Empress Dowager's orders then simply throw it away into the brazier." He ordered.
"But this is the third one so far Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin remarked.
"She isn't tired sending them over I am not tired as well getting rid of them." Emperor Guangzong replied and Eunuch Qin reserving his silence the old man sat down proudly in his chairs and opened the memorials reviewing them one by one.
"There's some News that's going around the Palace Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin said.
"Everyone in the Palace is a fan of gossip it seems, but worry less, there isn't a Dynasty and a kingdom bearing a Palace without such qualities." Emperor Guangzong remarked.
"Your Majesty has some truth in it but if you keep on turning down the Grand Empress Dowager's offer...." Eunuch Qin saying was interrupted when the furious Emperor smacked the table.
"Empress Dowager or Grand Empress Dowager are you really that worried, has she the power to butcher your clan and have all their heads pinned on spikes?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"No Your Majesty but the Crown Prince at the funeral parlor just passed out this morning and he hasn't regained consciousness." Eunuch Qin replied and the Emperor partially seemed calm.
"What about him?" He asked.
"Everyone calls him the filial grandson and his appearance has stirred a lot of gossip amongst the Courtiers and officials, the secrets of the Palace though questionable to the outside world everyone seems to be aware that you aren't attending or showing any signs of grief." Eunuch Qin replied, "I am afraid for Your Majesty that those rumours could be slandering your good will for the kingdom but the more you turn a deaf ear to the Grand Empress Dowager the more you are harming yourself." He insisted.
"And who exactly is this Grand Empress Dowager?" The Empress Li suddenly asked as she marched into the hall and faced Eunuch Qin.
"Your Highness." He offered his insincere respects but the latter didn't seem to take it to heart she turned and faced her husband.
"Your Majesty." She bowed.
"What brings you here Empress?" Her husband asked.
"Does Your Majesty not see the intentions of Her Highness?" Empress Li asked.
"What have you to say?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"I was merely concerned and thinking about it the Grand Empress Dowager seems to underestimate Your Majesty." Empress Li replied while having won over the attention of her husband she smiled seeing how hard he was struggling to think.
"Please elaborate." She said.
"One order the other day, three more today, in the eyes of the Courtiers and officials that she is well aware are residing currently in front of the funeral parlour, knowing your intentions that you won't budge or bend to attend the funeral other than intentionally making you seem evil and unfilial in the eyes of the world what is it that she could possibly be thinking about right now?" Empress Li asked.
Eunuch Qin keeping quiet with a glance from her it seemed sufficient an order demanding for his withdrawal while on the other hand the two being left alone the Emperor rested his hand on the table.
"I see." Emperor Guangzong muttered.
"I have news that she plans to meet up with some of those greedy Courtiers tonight and they haven't attended any of the daily Assemblies they do not acknowledge the code of conduct that is expected of them, the Emperor is a true Sovereign and all in the Country are his subjects if before there was no reason for you to get rid of those rascals now you have it my dear." Empress Li said with a smile on her face.
"And what is the rationale?" Emperor Guangzong asked.
"A member of the Imperial family secretly meeting with the Ministers without the Emperor's consent, Your Highness has been quite tolerant but what would that mean in a literal sense?" Empress Li asked and her husband widening his eyes he gasped and held his breath with so much shock.
"Is it...?" He asked.
"Treason?" She concluded.
"Yes." The Emperor agreed.
"My dear, let's make you a real Emperor." Empress Li muttered as she smiled at him ghastly.
Walking out of the room a short while later, she found Chiyun Ling, Li San and Liu Zhan waiting outside for her.
"How was it Your Highness?" Her brother asked.
"Muster all the men and the three divisions of the Imperial troops." Empress Li replied.
"Your Highness, what for?" He asked.
"The Emperor is a dragon as his wife I am his guardian, tonight we march and capture the rebels in the City." Empress Li replied.
"Yes." General Li San replied as he ran ahead leaving the three women and the Empress' retinue which continued right out of the corridor while Eunuch Qin having overheard everything he stepped out from the nearby corner and watched as the Empress vanished from sight.
Emperor Guangzong still seated inside was infuriated and his blood boiling with every single word that his wife had spoken the doors were flung open and Eunuch Qin walked in with his head bowed down.
"Is Your Majesty alright?" He asked.
"I have been too lenient perhaps." Emperor Guangzong replied.
"What happened Your Majesty?" Eunuch Qin asked as his master turned to him and looked at him so disappointed.
"You ask me what happened?" He asked.
"I am a uniformed Sire and that is my inadequacy, but if I have annoyed you in any way it is my humble appeal that you be truthful and point out my mistake which either I or Your Majesty shall deal with appropriately." Eunuch Qin replied.
"In the very least there is one thing that you can do for me." Emperor Guangzong replied and the doors of the room being kicked opened Eunuch Gong rushed in while being accompanied by a group of younger Eunuchs and Imperial guards all who surrounded the old man and pointed their swords at him while the Emperor stood up from where he was seated.
"What is this Your Majesty, what have I done wrong?" Eunuch Qin asked as the guards knocked him down onto his knees and ceased his hands the Eunuchs tying them behind and Eunuch Qin putting a sword right under his neck.
"You are that one flaw that must be dealt with and your lenience is good and I appreciate it as well yet sadly I fear that your will is too weak and your mind indecisive the very least I can do to repay you is confine you from this war which is coming." Emperor Guangzong replied.
"Your Majesty, whatever it is I ask that you please rescind before it's too late." Eunuch Qin said.
"The Grand Empress Dowager undermines my authority as a monarch and goes behind my back to conjure poisonous schemes that destabilize the Imperial Court and put the Monarchy in so much commotion, she takes for granted my silence and uses the Imperial favour and position that heaven has given her to interfere with my governance so much that she forgets this world belongs to the house of Zhao and not the house of Wu." Emperor Guangzong yelled.
"What nonsense is this Your Majesty?" Eunuch Qin asked.
"Who are you to question the Emperor when yours' is merely to do and not to reason why?" Eunuch Gong asked.
"There can only be one Dragon in the skies and there can only be one Crown, the kingdom is too small for both the Grand Empress Dowager and Me and the difference between herself and I is that I posses the mandate of heaven which she doesn't." Emperor Guangzong replied as he slowly approached him and leaned over right in front of his face, "I shall bring the usurpers of the house of Zhao to Justice." He assured him as he turned around and the old man was dragged through the doors of the hall pleading for the mercy he was certain his newly ambitious master couldn't give.