"Announce me to His Majesty." Empress Han demanded aloud.
"What's she doing here?" Lan He asked.
"I don't know." Eunuch Deng replied.
"Her Highness the Empress." They announced her at the door.
"Let her in." Emperor Ningzong said and nodding their heads in approval they walked out while the doors of the room being opened the Empress gracefully made her way in.
"Your Majesty." She softly greeted him.
"You ask to see me." Emperor Ningzong said.
"Pardon me Your Majesty as I didn't mean to intrude and come here unannounced but I was just as surprised there is a matter that I need to discuss with you." Empress Han said.
"What is it that could be very urgent at the time?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"I understand that it must be hard for Your Majesty right now but it so seems that these men have fallen out of order, I have been quiet over the issue the past couple of days but I can not take it anymore." Empress Han replied as she walked closer to the Emperor and sat down in front of him and from her sleeve she pulled out an envelope which she slid across the table.
The Emperor looking at it he was reluctant to open it.
"What's this?" He asked.
"The only way Your Majesty." Empress Han replied, "the only way that I can save Lady Yang." She added and startled her husband he could hardly blink.
"What?" He asked.
"Yes Your Majesty." Empress Han replied.
"Protect Lady Yang?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Every woman within the harem is a part of me and moreso Your Majesty's family." Empress Han muttered and the young man hesitantly opening the envelope he pulled out the paper his eyes widened while his eyes trembled.
"No." He rebuked.
"It's the only way Your Majesty." Empress Han pleaded.
"What's the most that the harem can do?" He asked.
"The concubines have my order Your Majesty but the reason that all these events are transpiring is because Your Majesty for so long the Imperial Court has interfered in the state of affairs within the harem and Lady Yang though one of Your favourites Sire the very reason that they feel that they can attack her is because she isn't even close to a Secondary wife." Empress Han remarked.
"The Empress Cao hoped for the same, to raise a Concubine in rank with no valid reason the Courtiers will oppose." Emperor Ningzong muttered.
"Yet this is my harem." Empress Han muttered.
"Empress....?" Emperor Ningzong protested.
"Who tells you our most August Sovereign when to manage the household as it is so my duty as your wife, if they stretch their hands too far they are merely asking me to break them and furthermore they prove to the world that this is an affair that I can not manage." Empress Han defended.
"Is this your decision?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"This is the back of the harem Your Majesty and not the Imperial Court, it's better that they learnt sooner or later their limits and that they are Censors and Officials but not your concubines and Consorts." Empress Han replied, "if they point a hand at anyone against my will then they rise up against we sisters in the harem." She added.
"Then can you give me the power?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"They are here because it so happened to be the hour of the Morning assembly, send them away Your Majesty and deliver these words to the Nation I am so certain that they shall understand." Empress Han said with a smile on her face and the Emperor looking at her he felt a bit strange while she stood up from where she was seated and bowing her head she walked out of the room.
Arriving at the entrance she stood at the top of the stairs and there in a distance she stared down at the officials especially her Uncle before she turned and walked away.
Eunuch Deng hurriedly rushed into the room.
"What was it Your Majesty?" He inquired.
"I must draft and Edict." Emperor Ningzong replied.
"What?" Eunuch Deng inquired.
"The Empress is right and the Courtiers have in deed extended their arms too far into the harem and my personal affairs." Emperor Ningzong replied, "it is that notorious arm of theirs that we must sever first in order to protect Lady Yang." He added while Eunuch Deng unable to hint on what he was saying he seemed puzzled.
Empress Han arriving in her Palace she quickly moved behind her table where she sat.
"Your Highness....." Qing Yi still saying the young Empress interfered.
"I am sure that I know what you're going to ask." Empress Han said.
"But...?" Qing Yi nearly protesting she halted her.
"Don't just say anything as of yet, we must first become blameless before we can blame someone else." The Empress muttered as she smiled at herself ghastly.
Lady Yang still seated in her Chambers in silence Xiaoyang walked in and bowing her head to her she didn't seem to notice her presence.
"Ma'am?" She called.
"I'm bothered." Lady Yang muttered.
"The Courtiers seem to have gotten out of order, yet I don't understand.....?" She was still speaking when Yang Meizi looked to her.
"Zhao Ruyu can't protect us." Lady Yang said.
"Why Ma'am?" Xiaoyang inquired.
"We can't be too direct and because we don't know what the Empress is up to it's very dangerous to be hasty." Lady Yang replied.
"I heard that the Empress has been over to the Main Palace." Xiaoyang said.
"And....?" Lady Yang inquired.
"We don't know as of yet what it was that she talked about with the Emperor." Xiaoyang replied.
"Let it be." Lady Yang said, "it couldn't be anything in our favour." She added.
"Then what are we to do Ma'am?" Xiaoyang inquired.
"There's an inauspicious air in the palace Xiaoyang, the only way to get rid of an ill omen is by delivering it's source to the fire." Lady Yang replied.
"I don't understand Ma'am?" Xiaoyang said.
"The Empress shall have to first attack." Lady Yang replied, "We have seen many Hans and Lady Caos and none of them even have a grave." She added as she stood up from where she was seated and launched outside her Chambers.
"What?" Lan He asked.
"His Majesty seems to be resolute yet I don't seem to understand what it is that the Empress said that turned him that way." Eunuch Deng replied.
"Is he bent on issuing the Edict?" Lan He inquired.
"He even asked to be alone, there's no way he couldn't be joking about it." Eunuch Deng replied.
"Anyone?" The Emperor called and Eunuch Deng quickly turning around he rushed through the doors.
"You called Sire?" He Said and the Emperor stretching out his hand towards him he held the Golden scroll.
"The Empress shall arrive shortly, I have sent someone." Emperor Ningzong said.
"There's the Courtiers in front." Eunuch Deng said.
"The back of the Palace is sufficient." Emperor Ningzong replied.
The Empress seated she quietly waited and the doors of her room being opened Qing Yi walked up to her.
"It is time Your Highness." She said to the latter who smiled at herself.
"Gather all the Emperor's Concubines and Consorts." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Qing Yi replied.
"We should lend our husband all our might." Empress Han muttered to herself and Qing Yi bowing her head she withdrew from the room at once where she stood outside the palace at the top of the staircase where a group of other ladies in waiting were.
"Hear Her Highness the Empress' Imperial command." She said and at once they bowed their heads.
"You shall go out in all the six Palaces and summon all the Concubines and Consorts in His Majesty's utmost service." He said, "you shall gather them at the back of the harem over looking the Grand Palace.
"Yes." The Ladies in waiting replied as they each scattered into all the various directions while Lady Yang back in her residence she sat beside Manyin's bed.
Slowly she held the young Lady's dying hand while she looked pale and thin already in her coma.
"What did the Empress do to you?" She asked herself inwardly, "you were so free of smiles that they filled this whole Palace." She added but there was no silence.
"Ma'am.....?" Xiaoyang called her.
"You can imagine that it was her own brother that entrusted her to me, having been a slave in the mines all those years she joyfully willed to serve me yet I deserve nothing." Lady Yang muttered.
"Don't say that Ma'am." Xiaoyang pleaded.
"Where on Earth and in heaven could I avoid it?" Lady Yang inquired, "because of my rigorous fight it has brought you in your most fair innocence against the wall with me." She added.
"Trust me Ma'am that all will be well." Xiaoyang said.
"I wish it was that easy for me but the Empress on the other hand longing to cut me off for a while, to detach me from whatever power I have I can't help but wonder if it wasn't the plague that got to her then how did she end up this way?" Lady Yang asked herself.
"We'll find out soon Ma'am." Xiaoyang replied.
"It wasn't something that they ate or that they applied and in this condition it couldn't be they must still be subject to exposure except that....." Lady Yang was saying when she halted.
"But Ma'am, at this rate none of their senses are active." Xiaoyang said.
"No." Lady Yang replied.
"What?" Xiaoyang inquired.
"They can not eat or apply anything to their skins, the reason that it wasn't the food or the make up even in a coma there's still one sense on which someone would rely the most." Lady Yang said.
"Ma'am, could it be.....?" Xiaoyang inquired as though hinting on whatever it was that her mistress was thinking at the time.
"Yes." Lady Yang said, "smell." She replied.
"If Manyin is smelling something and all the other girls as well, then it must be in close proximity." Xiaoyang said while Lady Yang immediately stood up and then she distanced herself from the young woman.
"The ornaments that we checked no, what about the clothes that they are wearing?" Lady Yang inquired.
"No." Xiaoyang confirmed.
"It must be the clothes, usually their sheets were changed but ever since they acquired this disease others were weary they couldn't parade any of their laundry around, then the covers and everything else might be containing the substance too." Lady Yang concluded.
"It has to be the only way Ma'am." Xiaoyang said.
"You shall hear my orders." Lady Yang said, "have all the girls undressed and their clothes shall be gathered and sent to the Ministry of Health for Investigation." She added.
"Yes Ma'am." Xiaoyang said and preparing to walk out of the room one of the ladies slid the doors open and bowed her head to her.
"Ma'am." She cried allowed that the two turned to her.
"What is it?" Lady Yang inquired.
"The Empress has passed an Imperial order as the head of the Inner Court." The young woman replied.
"What is it?" Xiaoyang asked.
"All Concubines and Consorts in His Majesty's utmost service shall gather at the back of the harem over looking the Grand Palace." The young woman replied.
"What?" Lady Yang asked.
"Yes Ma'am, everyone is moving there as we speak." The young girl replied and Lady Yang looking at Xiaoyang she immediately interpreted the latter's signal.
"You may leave." She said and the woman withdrawing from the room she left the two together.
"Ma'am, the Empress is acting up." She said.
"I know." Lady Yang said, "what we have discussed you shall keep between the both of us, understood?" She demanded.
"Yes." Xiaoyang replied and opening the doors of the room Lady Yang looking at Manyin one last time she immediately strode out.
The Empress in the mirror she dressed herself up very well in silence and once she was done she smiled at her reflection when Qing Yi walked in.
"Everything is ready Your Highness." She said as she bowed to him.
"I see." Empress Han said as she stood up and turned from the mirror to face her.
"Let's go, I am sure that I have kept the others waiting for quite a while." She ordered and Qing Yi smiling at her she stood aside while the Empress led the way out of her own room.
The doors to Emperor Ningzong's study were flung open and Eunuch Deng walked in.
"It's Time Sure." He said to the latter who turned to look at the Imperial Jade Seal that was right next to him.
"God bless the Empress." He muttered with a smirk on his face the young woman standing behind the gates to the Courtyard of the Grand Palace they were flung open while the Courtiers already ahead of them watched through the East that faced the back of the harem.
"Her Highness the Empress." Eunuch Gong announced her and themselves puzzled could hardly believe the reason she was present in the vicinity they watched as she led the Imperial concubines and Consorts around to the very grounds next to them and facing the Grand Palace as well and her uncle in awe, they knelt down and bowed their heads to the Grand Hall.
"Please divine Your Majesty." The Courtiers had persisted to cry to him hoping that she'd respond sooner or later in their unison they seemed to be already on tension but rejuvenated.
"Hear us Your Majesty." Empress Han raised her soft voice higher than she'd ever done before, "rescind your Courtiers and send them home." She surprised them ceasing the moment and their attention they each seemed startled that Lady Yang a little bit too late to unable to comprehend what she'd heard she halted in her hasty steps.
"What?" Xiaoyang inquired.
"Your Majesty.....?" Han Touzhou making an attempt.
"The harem is Your Majesty's personal affair and so is his family." Empress Han said, "for those Courtiers to come as they please and point fingers at us, we as the Inner Court respond with discontent and censure them for being too disloyal your servants and brazen and undisciplined Citizens of this nation." Empress Han said.
"To touch one of the Emperor's women is to touch us all Sire." Xie Cairen said, "we have consecrated ourselves to your service and we shall oblige only to your commands and counsel." She added.
"Please don't consent to this appeal Your Majesty." They once more exploded into unison and the Emperor Ningzong seated inside could hear all their voices rising up to him.
"Really?" The Courtiers started murmuring amongst themselves while Han Touzhou looked at his niece who stared back at him.
"How is it that the Empress........?" One of his colleagues inquired when he interfered.
"Persist." He demanded aloud.
"Sorry...?" A minister seemed to be asking for clarity.
"I said continue." He added and at once they each returned their attention to the Emperor's hall.
"Please Your Majesty?" They cried to him.
"For the dignity of the Inner Court Sire, I ask that you please rescind." Empress Han requested.
"For the dignity of the Inner Court Sire, please rescind." The other ladies backed up her plea and the pleas persisting Lady Yang turned around.
"Let's go." She demanded.
"But Ma'am...." Xiaoyang trying to stop her she gave a glance over her shoulder which was enough to have her humbled.
"Yes." She conceded and Lady Yang and the rest of her train backed off from the scene.
The two parties remained their battling one another and each hurling requests for a while that the Emperor confined within the walls of the of his study for a little bit longer he seemed reluctant the Eunuch Deng and Lan He turned to him.
"Your Majesty." They pleaded to him.
"I want to trust the Empress." He said.
"You told us yourself that it had to be the only way." Lan He muttered
"How I so wish that it had to be that simple, yet inwardly I must consider that the Empress is Han Touzhou's blood." He remarked.
"She could be acting strange but she of all people should be worried that if she excludes the Courtiers from involving themselves within the affairs of the Inner Court then it would be her own room as well." Eunuch Deng said.
"I'd be no different from the Taizong Emperor of Tang, or his son Gaozong, my question however is that if the Empress would attempt this political suicide then what is it more that she could earn from it better than anyone else?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"I am not as smart to comprehend her motives however this is the mother of your first son and it is her who desires to protect him more than anyone else, hers could be a fear that her Uncle or Clan's influence might curtail his own or even perhaps hers over her son." Eunuch Deng muttered.
"She'd take such a big gamble for a distant dream?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"A man would most certainly do anything when they are desperate, even if it means that they must cut off their limbs and devour them to survive." Eunuch Deng replied.
"Then she is too awful a woman, if it's this wisdom that she could portray herself to me, I fear there will be more and more days I shall cease to trust her." Emperor Ningzong said.
"What does it matter Your Majesty, it is our most immediate advantage that comes first so the rest could be outdone with time." Lan He said.
"Then deliver my instructions to the world and let them all hear my voice, speak my mind to them and tell any who are willing to rebel to my will to surrender their heads at the doorstep that led them through." Emperor Ningzong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng said as he bowed his head and there with the Edict in his hands he charged out of the room, the narrow corridors leading him finally at the top of the staircase that led to the Grand Hall.
His presence stirred great silence and the gates of the Palace being opened a large number of guards made their way through and surrounded the whole Courtyard that was being governed by the Courtiers themselves a brief display of the swords, sabres and Spears silenced what was even the loud breathing that emerged from them that they were overwhelmed with fear.
"Hear this His Majesty's Edict to you all." Eunuch Deng announced and the men already on their knees while the guards stamped the ground with their spears there was no need to grovel they each bowed as comfortable as they could be.
"I AM THE SOVEREIGN OF THE PROVINCES AND THE SON OF HEAVEN, DESCENDANT OF THE GREAT ZHAO AND COMMANDER OF THE DRAGON BANNER, THOSE THAT ARE BEFORE ME ARE THE SUBJECTS THAT HEAVEN HAS BESTOWED WITH ABUNDANCE AND THE VERY PEOPLE I AM FOR, THEY ACKNOWLEDGE ME THEIR FATHER AND I CALL THEM MY CHILDREN BUT SINCE WHEN COULD A SON POINT AT HIS FATHER'S CHOICE OF A WIFE OF CRITICIZE HIS INTELLECT IN CHOOSING WOMEN, SINCE WHEN DID THE AFFAIRS OF THE EMPEROR'S BEDCHAMBER BECOME THE AFFAIRS OF THE SIX MINISTRIES, YOU OF ALL PEOPLE DISTURB THE STABILITY OF THE NATION BY ROOTING DISORDER IN THE IMPERIAL FAMILY AND EVEN THE RENZONG EMPEROR OF NORTHERN SONG CENSURED THE TRAITORS THAT DEFAMED HIS HOME, AS IT WAS WITH THE TAIZONG EMPEROR OF TANG AND THE FOUNDER ZHAO KUANGYIN OF THE DYNASTY IT IS WITH HEAVEN'S GRACE THAT I CONVEY MY WILL, ANY ACT THROUGH WHICH THE COURTIERS COULD INTERVENE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE INNER COURT SHALL NOT BE TOLERATED HENCEFORTH IT SHALL BE CONSIDERED A CRIME EQUAL TO CONTEMPT FOR THE THRONE AND TREASON IN CAUSING NATIONAL DISORDER, THIS IS MY WILL AND THIS WILL IS MY LAW." Eunuch Deng read.
"Long live Your Majesty." Everyone else that was present said in unison and at once the Empress herself contented she looked at her Uncle in a distance and smiling ghastly she offered her hand to Qing Yi who helped her to her feet and the rest of the Concubines followed her response.
"Thank you Your Majesty." They said in unison and at once the Empress turning around she marched away from the Grand Hall as graceful as she could be.
"What?" Lady Yang inquired while Xiaoyang humbled herself before her.
"The Empress defended you Ma'am and she must have even put in a word in your favour to the Emperor that he had to take such a drastic step." Xiaoyang muttered.
"And Han Touzhou and his supporters backed off that easily?" Lady Yang inquired.
"Strangely enough." Xiaoyang replied, "surely it's because it is an Imperial Edict and for the first time in the presence of the Imperial guards it seemed to me at that moment that for your sake the Emperor was determined to have the heads of those who rebelled roll over soon." She added.
"You can not blame him." Lady Yang spoke in his defense, "he of all people has been tolerant to these men and some believe he is still too young to run the state but I suppose he has shown great charisma which soon enough posed a challenge for them to revise their conduct." She added but her emotions and thoughts looked scattered.
"Narrowly you have been saved Ma'am, but what's with the long face?" Xiaoyang inquired.
"A storm to have calmed that easily you and I understand that it is not how the Palace works on a normal day." Lady Yang replied.
"I would agree on that but the Empress must have realised sooner that if she'd sided with her people then she'd face the wrath of His Majesty sooner or later." Xiaoyang remarked.
"Regardless my dear, you are naive, if the Empress herself could accord me grace and such great affection, even in caution you notice that with what happened to Manyin and all the other girls it would have been enough for her to get rid of me doubt she knew I would soon learn of it she hastened to my aid, no." Lady Yang replied.
"But you didn't expose her." Xiaoyang said.
"She has been merciful enough people would look at me badly if I attacked and now that she has protected me I have every reason to embrace caution as firmly as possible." Lady Yang replied.
"We could as well shelf this for the future." Xiaoyang said.
"She become much too astute in a short while I can't set my heart at ease, after all even counsel led men to believe that the devil was his very most dangerous when he wasn't being devilish." Lady Yang remarked.
It was dark and the doors to Lady Cao's compartment being flung open her father walked in to her and bowing his head she smiled at him.
"Tell me." She requested.
"I fear that it is something that might not be to your liking my dear." Minister Cao replied.
"If it is so that for the Lady Yang another crisis was averted then I couldn't be more surprised." Lady Cao muttered.
"So it may seem but of all people in the world surprisingly she has the Empress to thank." Minister Cao replied.
"You can't be too serious." Lady Cap remarked.
"I so wished and Han Touzhou and his faction at Court must have thought the same that the Empress would in this time be their most suitable ally." Minister Cao replied.
"So you tell me that the Empress would rather kill herself to save her?" Lady Cao inquired.
"No one knows what her motives could have been behind this but almost instantly the rumours of all those I'll omens that transpired in the harem were silenced somehow it has become an issue with so much abandonment that there's hardly anyone to care about it so much." Minister Cao replied.
"It is very much unlike the Empress the world must think but furthermore if she refused to grant that Lady Yang be divined then it could be that she had something else in mind." Lady Cao muttered.
"And what could that have been when there was very much of an easy way to get rid of the Lady Yang?" Minister Cao inquired.
"Believe me when I tell you that I have known about her for a long while right now father, if there is something that above everything else that we can not take for granted is the Lady Yang and her silence is just as fatal as her gaze." Lady Cao muttered.
"There wouldn't be any luck for you in this coven." Minister Cao said.
"Who says?" Lady Cao inquired.
"You can't be confident for so long." Minister Cao said.
"I am a dear daughter you raised and the Retired Empress must have reminded you that you need me, if it is Han Touzhou you wish to subdue you must bring him to your side first as an ally and that can only happen if the Lady Yang turns him well into a most irreconcilable enemy." Lady Cao remarked.
"You should have learnt from the example of the Retired Empress the type of person that Han Touzhou can be." Minister Cao muttered.
"Patience my dear father, to hold him in her arms was something that she failed at, if you so wish to abandon me you may feel free to do so but there's not a person on Earth and in Heaven that could ever dare to contend with the might of Lady Yang as best as I would." Consort Cao muttered as she leaned her hands onto the table in front of her, "we should be very happy that the Empress is cautious because that will make them strong enough to weaken each other for us." She added as she smiled ghastly.
Han Touzhou seated in his study Lin Xue walked in.
"Your Excellency." He called out to him having shown in a veiled stranger that pulled off the veil hanging over their head it was the last face that he was expecting to see.
"Just as I happened to be thinking of you." He muttered.
"I understand that you must be having questions Your Excellency." Empress Han said as she settled down in front of him while the latter studied her rather proud expression.
"Then you would care to explain what transpired at the Palace earlier in the day." Han Touzhou said.
"You wouldn't think that I defended Lady Han without a motive?" She asked.
"Was this what you meant you planned all this time?" Han Touzhou inquired.
"You were so sure that we had the upper hand and things would have gone better your way when until now Uncle Zhao Ruyu still holds the Court in his fists?" Empress Han scolded.
"Then please elaborate more on your rationale because my thoughts are clearly failing me." Han Touzhou said.
"How many people do you think know that I hate Lady Yang?" Empress Han asked and her uncle kept quiet at that very moment while she studied him well enough to tell that he had no answer.
"Then you tell me." He said.
"All those unfortunate events could have pushed the Emperor to in deed accept the request of the Courtiers to oversee the divination process and sooner or later supposed someone learnt that perhaps the heavens weren't as angry how would His Majesty look at me?" Empress Han asked.
"But I can't see how protecting Lady Yang was supposed to save us." Han Touzhou muttered.
"You worry for nothing as it is enough for me that the Emperor knows that in my sight the young Lady and his favourite poses no threat and at that time in the not so distant future we could use his words to gain control of the Imperial Court which by now I believe myself to understand well enough." Empress Han spoke up and the old man seemed calmed down.
"Then what would you do now?" Han Touzhou asked.
"His Majesty and I protected Lady Yang this time it was most deliberate that we kept the large number of the masses unaware but God willing the birthday of the Imperial Prince is around the Corner which event is to be considered a national affair." Empress Han said.
"Remember Your Highness, a solid hit to the Imperial Prince can get to us as well." Han Touzhou cautioned the young woman.
"What's the worst that could happen?" Empress Han asked, "I assure you my dearest uncle that you can leave the harem to me." She added and standing up before him, she bowed her head and immediately she withdrew from the room leaving the fairly old man puzzled that he could hardly believe each of the words that had flown from his niece's mouth.
Emperor Ningzong at the time strolling through the gardens he stopped next to the Imperial pond and their looking at the starry sky Lady Yang approached him from another direction.
"Your Majesty." She greeted him.
"Mei'er...?" He said quite surprised.
"Yes." Lady Yang replied as she bowed her head to him.
"Are you alright?" The young Emperor asked.
"I have Your Majesty of all people to thank the most for everything that has happened so far, I happened to hear that it wasn't that good a day for you I considered to have some snacks delivered to the main Palace I hadn't hoped that I'd come across Your Majesty on my way." Lady Yang gracefully replied.
"There's no need to thank me, I was merely worried but the real persuasion and the idea came from the Empress." He said.
"I heard Your Majesty." Lady Yang spoke in a lonely manner and studying her for a while he could tell that there was some degree of discomfort that she felt he ceased her by the arm and taken by surprise the young lady blushed heavily while the Emperor took her around.
"You don't seem as excited." He said.
"I am worried that those Courtiers must be pointing their fingers at you." Lady Yang replied.
"If it is to worry so much it should be the fear to lose me." Emperor Ningzong said.
"Perhaps." Lady Yang replied.
"Yet you don't sound as excited." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"It must have been a very long day..." Lady Yang was still saying when the Emperor halted her and touched her lips, slowly he stared at her while she embraced his gaze innocently and for a while the silence that brewed between the two seemed to be accompanied by a silent conversation in which they exchanged their expressions.
"Look at me Mei'er." The Emperor demanded, "you are all that I have left in the world to protect that is with even my whole life whether it'd be long or short, I don't care if it has to put the whole world against me but to confide in you and you alone could I possibly find the peace that I need in my storm." He assured her while she responded first with silence before her face brightened into a smile.
"If there was ever a woman in the world luckier than I am to have that heart of yours Your Majesty, they couldn't compare to me or even come close to the blissful person you have made me." She spoke softly and standing in front of him she bowed her head humbly which sign he took to heart as devotion the two continued to walk through the gardens in the dead of night.
Empress Han arriving in her Chambers Qing Yi was waiting for her while she sat down at her table in a moment of silence clenching her fists she was entirely lost in thought.
"Did everything go well Your Highness?" Qing Yi inquired.
"Hardly." Empress Han replied.
"The rumours have died down Your Highness, at this rate they can only move if you will and moreso they await a most opportune moment at which they can return to life again." Qing Yi muttered.
"I understand " Empress Han said, "His Majesty will still suspect and every effort therefore must be devoted to bringing him over to our side." She added.
"What shall we do Your Highness?" Qing Yi asked.
"She is non meddling at least His Majesty knows, and now that everything has fallen in place have all the necessary preparations dealt with in regards to the Imperial Prince's birthday." Empress Han replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Qing Yi replied as she withdrew from the room.
Lady Yang in her own Chambers was seated in the darkness recalling the words that the Emperor had mentioned to her it seemed at that moment that her heart was uneasy as the sentence was reflected at the back of her mind.
"Look at me Mei'er." The he'd demanded, "you are all that I have left in the world to protect that is with even my whole life whether it'd be long or short, I don't care if it has to put the whole world against me but to confide in you and you alone could I possibly find the peace that I need in my storm." He gone ahead to assure her the latter felt more uneasy about it in the silence that engulfed the whole place she could only make out a slight breath of air.
"How do I love you Your Majesty?" She thought to herself, "how could I take out my heart and give it to you?" She went ahead to question inwardly that the window being blown open a slight breeze made its way in and the candles that illuminated the place were entirely extinguished until she could rely solely on the wan moonlight that shone over her.
"Your love shall be the death of me Your Majesty, it set me in this position where I am bound by every effort to fight and even kill for it." She promised herself.
A number of days passed and the Lady Yang walking up to the Central Palace she was received by Qing Yi who was standing at the entrance.
"What brings you here Ma'am?" The young woman asked.
"I am merely here to report to Her Highness everything concerning the preparations of the Imperial Prince's birthday." Lady Yang replied and Qing Yi rushing inside she was left to wait while the young woman found the Empress seated and reading through some books.
"It is I Your Highness." She announced herself.
"And what could the problem be?" Empress Han asked.
"Lady Yang is here to see you." Qing Yi replied and responding with silence, for a while the Empress seemed to consider the thought until she gave her permission.
Lady Yang walking in halted in front of her and offered her salutations.
"You asked to see me." Empress Han said.
"Yes Your Highness." Lady Yang replied gracefully.
"You have my permission." Empress Han said.
"It's been a week and I didn't get the chance to thank Your Highness properly." Lady Yang said.
"About everything that transpired you can take it lightly, I believe that just as His Majesty considers you to be faultless surely it could be the sinister influence of some people within the Palace." Empress Han remarked.
"Your Highness thinks highly of me." Lady Yang said.
"Wasn't it I who promised to look after you well enough?" The Empress reminded her.
"And I am deeply honoured." Lady Yang remarked.
"Speaking of which there must be something else that brought you here other than this." Empress Han said and Lady Yang stretching her hand into her sleeves she pulled out a memorial which she handed over to the Empress and slid across the table.
"That's an account of everything there is concerning the preparations with the music of the Imperial Prince's birthday Ceremony." She said.
"I'll keep it for future reference." Empress Han said.
"I was hoping that Your Highness would look through the details and advise me on the necessary adjustments that I may comply." Lady Yang muttered.
"I seemed you fit for the role for such a Grand occasion I must have trusted you, furthermore this is to probably rid the Courtiers and other ill wishing people of all possible excuses that could poison the relations between the harem and the state." Empress Han replied.
"Now that Your Highness trusts me I couldn't be more grateful." Lady Yang said.
"If that's all then I am sure that you must be very busy." Empress Han reminded her as she stood up.
"Then Your Highness will allow me to take my leave." Lady Yang said as she withdrew from the room and left the Empress staring at the memorial before Qing Yi rushed in shortly after the latter's departure.
"Are you alright Your Highness?" She inquired.
"Don't worry too much about me." Empress Han said as she smiled at herself ghastly, "it's about time." She added.
"Yes Your Highness." Qing Yi replied.
The courtyard was flooded with lots of entertainers and the sound of drums resounded about the whole place when the gates were flung open and with the sound of trumpets announcing the presence of the Emperor, everyone present turned around and faced the middle walkway that led to the stairs of the young Prince's Palace.
In his Dragon robes the Emperor marched down accompanied by his entourage of attendants and the ministers themselves dressed in their official robes bowed their heads each while the young man foregoing them arrived close to the Imperial Consorts and Concubines of the harem while the Grand Empress Dowager Wu and the Empress Dowager Xie waiting with the Empress in front of him, they each moved to the side and bowed their heads.
He mounted the stairs gracefully stealing a glance of the beautiful and fair Lady Yang who was dressed in a very beautiful blue and scarlet hanfu enriched with intricate floral designs and sparrows while she bore on her head a simple golden headdress.
Everyone at the time seemed to have taken to attention that she was the young Man's favourite and Han Touzhou in the congregation took to notice but he seemed to let it slide as the Emperor took his place behind the table and slowly, everyone turned and faced him.
"Long Live His Majesty, Long Live the Emperor." They said as they went onto their needs and bowed their heads, twice more they sang the same tone in unison before he sat down next to the Empress and the Lady Yang sat down not so far from them looking at the young man with bright sparkling eyes.
"The Imperial Prince moved up as the whole world was watching and walking up to his father he knelt down before him.
"Zhao Jun greets father, may Your Majesty live for a thousand years." He expressed his joys kowtowing to the old man who was more less satisfied to look at him.
"How you have grown, it feels like it was only yesterday that they put you into my arms as a baby." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"I have the heavens to thank that Your Majesty thinks so dearly of me." The Imperial Prince Zhao Jun muttered as he bowed his head to him and smiling the Emperor turned to the Empress whose charming sincerity seemed to be well noticed in the air the people might have thought them to be a match made in heaven.
"He really is a very sweet child." The Emperor remarked as he turned to the Empress.
"What do I have to say Your Majesty, he takes after his father very much." The Empress Han fluttered him.
"Henceforth I must concede, my Empress is quite lovely and given that the harem has been in order I must say I am impressed that you have proven most competent to handle it however trying it might have been." Emperor Ningzong muttered and from afar Lady Yang watching their expressions her gaze turning to the audience in a distance she beheld with her eyes Shi Miyuan who was positioned amongst all the other Courtiers.
The Imperial Prince standing up the festivities persisted for a fairly long while until eventually Qing Yi making her way to the Empress she whispered something in her ears and a most sincere smile forming on her lips, she turned and looked at Lady Yang who returned her most sincere one as well the Emperor being caught in between he thought it to be directed to him that he returned an equally sincere one as well.
Eunuch Gong stepping out from the servants positioned himself right in front of the Emperor and bowed to him.
"It's time for the Imperial Prince's special presentation Your Majesty." He informed him.
"Proceed with it." Emperor Ningzong said and immediately turning to face the dancers they halted and moved aside.
"Next we shall have the Imperial Bureau of Music performing for the Imperial Prince." He announced and at once the Zithers being borne by the Eunuchs were carried to the centre of the Courtyard and the musicians positioning themselves behind them they bowed to the Emperor before they sat down to perform to him while he smiled first at them and then at the Lady Yang who was at a distance.
"The starting drum was sounded and along with it a loud this, in a very brief and short while the musicians plucking the strings picked up a strong melody and just hitting the forth note the instruments went bland only for all the strings to snap immediately they cut the fingers of all the musicians who cried in pain and let go of the guqins the attention of everyone present turned to them all while the Empress and Lady Yang amongst others stood up at the sight of the blood that was dripping in front of them.
"What happened?" The Emperor asked.
"Forgive us Your Majesty." The musicians said in unison and at that very moment hardly noticing anything the plaque hanging over the Crown Prince's Palace fell down behind him and shattering aloud the guests each turned around to see what the problem was the Emperor nearly harmed looked at the top where the plaque had been hanging when the Empress turned around to look at Han Touzhou who was quiet a rather startled Lady Yang looked at the two from a distance.
The doors that were leading to the Courtyard we're immediately flung open and through them Lan He quickly rushed as he approached the Emperor who was still processing what was going on amidst the already erupting murmurs.
"Is Your Majesty alright?" He inquired.
"Forget about me." Emperor Ningzong said as he turned to the young man who still knelt in silence having known him for a very long while he could tell that the latter was being bothered by something.
"You aren't yourself." He pointed out.
"Pardon me Sire but I have some bit of news though I fear that it might not be to your liking." He said.
"What could be any worse than this?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"The Courthouses along with all the operas Sire, they happen to be in tumult." Lan He replied.
"Why?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"Everywhere, the stringed instruments...." He hesitated, "the stringed instruments...." He persisted yet again while the Emperor apparently seemed to prepare himself for what he knew could have been the problem.
"No." He muttered.
"They have each torn and the music has lost its melody with blood." Lan He replied and a much infuriated Emperor moving around the table he walked away furiously Eunuch Deng and His retinue first paving way for him they followed later the Courtiers murmuring stole a glance of Lady Yang along with the other Court Ladies and Ladies in waiting, noblewomen present and some commoners, it was for the young woman a most amazingly awful spectacle she held her hanfu and prepared to descend the steps towards her Chambers when the Empress intercepted her.
"Watch your step." She whispered.
"Shall Your Highness protect me yet again?" Lady Yang inquired.
"Don't worry, soon enough there'll be a more reliable way to protect you however if I were you I would be worried about my future in the harem." Empress Han muttered and Lady Yang looking at her she smirked.
"Is there a day I don't worry Your Highness?" Lady Yang inquired.
"I don't know." Empress Han replied, "this time who knows, the Inner Court could have protected you along with the Emperor but what about the people?" She asked while Lady Yang trying to uphold her decorum only got closer enough to lean and position herself close to her right ear.
"Your Highness, even if you gathered the voices of all the men in the world, their outcry would never eclipse my whisper." She said and pulling away she could tell the fiery glaze in her eyes.
"We aren't so far from proving that, are we?" Empress Han replied and Lady Yang bowing her head to her she immediately withdrew from the place while the Empress stretching out her hand towards her son he rushed over and ceased it while she watched the latter vanishing from sight.
"Mother, what did you say to her?" The young boy inquired and the Empress turning to look at her son she smiled with him beside her.
"Don't worry." She replied, "mother was merely teaching her some manners." She added while the Grand Empress Dowager Wu and the Empress Dowager Xie having watched everything she turned to look at them they both didn't seem startled they instead stood up and left the vicinity.
"I knew it." Xiaoyang muttered in front of the silent young woman who seemed lost in her thoughts, "the strings of all the musical instruments across the capital are snapping there's too much gossip of ill fortune that's lingering about the palace and the heart of the kingdom as well." She insisted.
"Alas this was where the Empress hoped to get us." Lady Yang remarked.
"Please do something Ma'am, we have the evidence that we need." Xiaoyang said.
"Suppose we redeemed ourselves now is not yet the time to reveal out true intentions to the enemy and especially now you should know better that any desperate reaction shall indicate our fear which major feat for us will empower our foes." Lady Yang muttered.
"Your Highness seems to be having second thoughts." Xiaoyang said.
"Understand me the way the Empress would and the way that I would understand myself, I feel your worry but you and I both know that above all things, great haste results into a general's defeat." Lady Yang said.
"If Ma'am insists." Xiaoyang said dismayed and Lady Yang taking to notice her rather unpleasant expression she looked her in the eye.
"The Empress saved me before His Majesty praises her rather new and kind nature, Consort Han we all thought to be meddling as well as himself is out of the Palace for days the Empress has put on an act of innocence which I fear the Emperor might have started to succumb to given the constant smiles and whispers they each exchanged at the Imperial Prince's birthday." She said, "if he's starting to trust right now then what matters is not exposing the Empress but destroying that very trust before it can grow too tall and thick a tree that might later give us a very hard time." She added.
"Alright Ma'am." Xiaoyang said as she bowed her head to her.
"Just keep me informed on everything that's going on." Lady Yang requested.
"Yes Ma'am." Xiaoyang replied as she withdrew from the room leaving her alone.
"What are you up to Your Highness?" She asked herself, "what is that mind of yours thinking?" She wondered.