Han Touzhou in the comfort of his abode he read the letter in his hands and infuriated he clenched it in his fists and threw it in the brazier that was in front of him.
"What did it say Your Excellency?" Lady Han inquired.
"The Empress confirms, she is suspicious that it had something to do with the Lady Yang." Han Touzhou responded.
"She is herself a hot topic in the capital my dear but not like you and the Empress care to listen to me, I am largely exclusive in my view, if she could at this rate influence the position of Grand Chancellory she is for the both of you someone to dread." Lady Han muttered.
"Milady is right." Lin Xue said.
"Perhaps it is so." Han Touzhou responded, "just how great of a woman is she and how bewitching could she be to be lowly and yet sufficient in stirring this much chaos for us all?" He inquired.
"There are too many theories amongst the people a most common perception is that she's tied to the Yang Clan somehow having been a daughter to the Yang Cairen who'd perished in the Palace at the hands of the Empress Li much as her origins are rather hard to trace rumour had it that Zhao Ruyu had a distant friend who adopted her." Lady Han replied.
"I suppose a meeting with her won't hurt." Han Touzhou said when he seemingly recalled something rather strange.
"But at least Your Excellency is the Left Chancellor and Zhao Zizhi I heard is a rather humble man even if with the support of Zhao Ruyu's people his might is inadequate to contend with use at the end of it all there's no use in having a position without the power that should be wielded by it." Lady Han remarked.
"I believe Milady is right Your Excellency." Lin Xue said, "anyone can be the Grand Chancellor but not everyone can act like one it could suit our best exploits we are not so far from the true source of power." Lin Xue flattered him.
"Perhaps you are right but Qing Yi is dead such a fatal woman in the Palace could cease it from our Control and should that alone happen, we wouldn't want to have our Emperor heeding to her whispers all the time." He said.
"What does Your Excellency suggest we should do as it seems the Empress promised to entirely handle this matter?" Lin Xue inquired.
"The Empress is fighting against a flawless enemy who as a Court Lady buried the influence of once the most powerful woman in the land, as it crumbles her in the Inner Court whether she likes it or not we must support her from collapsing." Han Touzhou said and looking at Lin Xue, he nodded his head.
"Come in please." He said and at once a woman who appeared to be in her mid forties walked through the doors that Lady Han turned to look at her.
"Who is this Milord?" she inquired.
"The unfortunate death of Lady Qing leaves the Empress without a close and reliable female aid, this here is Shaanxi, a skilled and retired Palace lady that once served the Empress Xia who was the second Empress Consort to the Emperor Xiaozong." Han Touzhou said.
"Greetings Your Excellency." The woman said.
"She seems in deed as reliable as you say which for me is good enough but shall the Empress accept her?" Lady Han asked.
"She'll understand better that this is a most remarkable gift." Han Touzhou concluded.
Lady Cao reading a letter she also furiously clenched it in her fist while Linxiang watched .
"Please appease your anger Ma'am." She said to her.
"It's good that Han Touzhou didn't become the Grand Chancellor but at the works of Lady Yang if she's already tapping so far into the affairs of state and moreso the Imperial Court, she seems to have grown gradually more powerful over a short period of time." Lady Cao responded.
"Don't let that get to you Ma'am." Linxiang remarked, "Zhao Zizhi I heard is a man that is kind at heart and so reserved, given his personality it's very possible for Han Touzhou to eclipse him regardless of how hard he tries to resist." She added.
"It's rather sad that you don't understand this as much as I do, Lady Yang didn't put a weak aid in the position of Grand Chancellor, she rather chose a manipulable one that shall be more than willing to do her bidding." Lady Cao said while Linxiang silenced herself.
"I didn't think that far." She said.
"With the General appearance of things I fear that sooner or later she'll be the virtual ruler containing the powers of Han Touzhou and his influence in the Imperial Court, to us it is a big disadvantage that could alter all our possible hard earned efforts she'll become politically invincible." Lady Cao confessed.
"We need to act before it is very late Ma'am." Linxiang remarked.
"Rooting out Lady Yang will probably be very difficult but the only force capable of containing her is Han Touzhou whom she threatens as well, he can't be a trustworthy ally but if we must kill then it's better to use a borrowed knife." Lady Cao replied.
"You mean to say........" Linxiang asserted.
"Every problem must be eliminated at the root and discord is a sufficient resolution to weaken both parties we shall gather our strength at their expense." Lady Cao replied.
"But how shall we do that Ma'am?" Linxiang inquired.
"There are secrets that we should let them know about one another." Lady Cao replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.
Zhao Zizhi's carriage having arrived in the capital in halted right in front of Lanling Court and himself setting foot out slowly he stood at the entrance where he was ushered in by the attendants.
Being led up to the counter he found a young woman standing behind it.
"How may I help you?" She inquired.
"I am here to see the owner." Zhao Zizhi replied and the woman nodding her head a couple of male servants moved up to him and they escorted him upstairs to the second story where he was led to a room.
Leaving him alone, he walked in and between himself and the person on the other side there was a silk screen that separated them he could tell from her silhouette that it was a woman.
"The Noble Lady Yang, I have heard about you Ma'am." He spoke comfortably.
"You aren't as bad a man yourself." Lady Yang responded and raising her hand towards him signalled for him to sit down at the table that was not so far from her.
"Ma'am is expecting someone else?" He inquired.
"A reliable friend you don't have to worry it'll be in a short while that he shall join us." Lady Yang responded as she picked up a cup of tea and sipped at it gently before resting it on the table in front of her.
An awkward silence prevailing between them for a moment was broken when Shi Miyuan walked into the room shortly after.
"Ma'am?" He greeted her.
"It hasn't been so long." She muttered and the latter nodded in response as he took the sit that was opposite that of Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi.
"Why did you wish to see me?" He asked first.
"Your father was pardoned by my own will and you owe me his life." Lady Yang responded to Shi Miyuan and turning to the new Grand Chancellor he simply bowed his head.
"You understand why you are here I trust." She said to him.
"Yes Ma'am." Lady Yang replied.
"Han Touzhou wants Dominion and he wants to rule over us all while our positions in the Imperial Court have weakened because of his presence, the Grand Empress Dowager Wu as it is has become less assertive which has suited his exploits if you do not ally with me he is going to come after your heads and the heads of your families." She said.
"So you ask that we stake our allegiance with you Ma'am?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"How well is it that you know me?" Lady Yang inquired while he kept quiet.
"We could therefore trust you Ma'am?" Zhao Zizhi inquired.
"The Imperial Clan is threatened by Han Touzhou and he is confident because he has his support being the Empress in the palace, from recent events that have transpired you should have noticed that the only person in the harem that can contain the Empress' might and contend with her is not the Empress Dowager Xie but myself sooner or later." Lady Yang replied.
"You speak so confidently of Yourself." Zhao Zizhi muttered.
"Because you are where you are because of me." Lady Yang replied.
"You must have heard that the people call me a man of principles and slow wit, that I am kind and benevolent and upright in social conduct, surprisingly hundreds of thousands of people that assert that know not the things that transpire in my home, they can not tell the thoughts that conquer and rule my mind and neither can they tell clearly the ambitions I have set ahead of myself." Zhao Zizhi remarked.
"Because you let them believe that you are weak?" She inquired.
"Because I make them believe that they can manipulate me." Zhao Zizhi replied.
"So you trust the same thought to belong to me as well?" Lady Yang asked.
"What makes you Ma'am even slightly different from all the other people that we have seen with our eyes?" Zhao Zizhi asked.
"The man seated across from you is a man I trust that could rip out your heart if I tell him to and it's not because he could serve me wholeheartedly but because I have something that I could make him lose if he doesn't, I summoned you here to let you know that I gave you power not because I can wield it but apart from any other man I chose you because like everyone else you'll be someone that has so much more to lose to me than you'd lose to Han Touzhou." Lady Yang replied.
"Then prove it Ma'am?" Zhao Zizhi dared her.
"You won't need me to prove it to you." Lady Yang replied, "Han Touzhou shall prove it himself." She asserted as she smiled behind the silk screen and picking up her tea cup, she took a sip before she placed it down onto the ground contented.
Emperor Ningzong was seated in his study when Eunuch Deng walked in and greeted him.
"Something appears to be bothering you Your Majesty." He said.
"I don't know." Emperor Ningzong replied, "the reason that the Empress has loathed Lady Yang was merely because she is fair." He added.
"Please Sire?" He said.
"Is there anything that you can say that could ease my heart?" The Emperor asked.
"Lady Yang Your Majesty is your favourite and you meet her more frequently than any other lady in the harem, but each time she comes and goes the same it is a slap in her face she's only wearing an empty title but hasn't received your grace." Eunuch Deng replied.
"This is for me much more ordurous." He responded, "even if I was willing would she accept my heart and treasure it, would she put me in her mind and in her sight?" He inquired.
"She drank poison for Your Sake Your Majesty and nearly died, on top of that she defended the Empress because she felt weak every moment and on top of that she understood that it would break your heart when she was parted with Lady Cao but barely complained and was framed for being cursed called a witch she went to all lengths to contain all that pressure in the Inner Court." Eunuch Deng replied.
"You speak so much in her defense." Emperor Ningzong muttered.
"Because..." Eunuch Deng spoke hesitantly.
"Is there something that you're hiding from me?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Pardon me Your Majesty but she asked me to keep all these things from you yet it is very hard for me to watch you suffering from a distance that it breaks my heart so much." Eunuch Deng replied.
"Really?" The Emperor asked.
"The decision is yours Your Majesty because after all I can only give you a piece of my mind which you can take or refuse but as a subject that could understand your every burden I only wish for you once even with everything in the world in your hands that is seen and unseen to be happy." He replied and placing Lady Yang's name tag onto the table he slowly withdrew from the room and left the Emperor alone and lost in his thoughts.
Princess Qi'an had gathered with some of the women in the area and as they embroidered their handkerchiefs together one of them spoke up.
"I think I happened to see His Excellency walking into Lanling Court yesterday." She said.
"Lanling Court?" Princess Qi'an asked.
"His Excellency is quite dignified so why is it that he'd go inside a Courthouse?" One of the women inquired.
"These days a man can do almost anything, it is asserted that every time that a man is not at home then he is cheating but strangely enough, Lanling Court doesn't posses the most beautiful prostitutes it's mainly a depot where people go to appreciate music and I heard that they have good Mengding tea and liquor which a large number of people love." The other replied.
"Really?" Princess Qi'an questioned.
"Your Highness has been in the Palace for quite a very long time I wouldn't entirely blame you if you didn't know but I heard that they offer some discounts to women, I believe that we should stop by sometime." The other said.
"Mrs. Mo is right, as we support our husbands I shall make arrangements for some time away." Princess Qi'an Said smiling at them.
A short while later Lanhui saw them off and after they vanished from sight she got into her mistress' room where she was seated silently in distress and recalling everything that they had said.
"Your Highness seems very bothered." She said.
"My husband in a Courthouse is very much unlike him." Princess Qi'an replied as she looked at Lanhui.
"Perhaps he just went there to relax his mind." Lanhui said.
"You don't know him much better than I do so find someone to figure out what it was that he was doing at the Courthouse yesterday." Princess Qi'an ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Lanhui replied as she got up and walked out of the room.
Lady Yang inside her room Beiyuan sat down in front of her.
"The Grand Chancellor refuses to swear his allegiance to you?" He asked.
"Would I lie?" Lady Yang inquired.
"No." Beiyuan responded.
"For a man like him it's merely natural, after all it's hard to tell the type of person one could really be." Lady Yang remarked.
"He is damned without you in the Palace." Beiyuan muttered.
"And Han Touzhou being furious I expected him to borrow a leaf but he is rather confident in his own talents, skills and prowess and man that is self reliant like himself is a very reckless ally because he won't listen to anything." Lady Yang concluded.
"I was told you said that Han Touzhou would prove it to him that he needs you but exactly how shall we come around that Ma'am?" Beiyuan inquired.
"Han Touzhou's influence has weathered about a great deal of storms you see but as Grand Secretary he had persecuted a number of people for the neo-confucianists their opposition to his elevator to the post of Grand Chancellory was a political comeback which Han Touzhou is going to retaliate against." Lady Yang replied.
"Neo-confucianism was banned already so what's the very worst that could happen?" Beiyuan inquired.
"Han Touzhou is militaristic and has the War Party faction in the Court behind him not to mention the Empress, he accorded the Neo-confucianists his benevolence but they have taken advantage of that in his sense blood must flow." Lady Yang replied.
"The Capital will be in arms." Beiyuan muttered.
"Which is good enough." Lady Yang replied, "Han Touzhou is the one who shall benefit from that chaos and Zhao Zizhi will be the one who's politically purged by it." She added as she smiled at herself ghastly.
Emperor Ningzong in his study and lost in his thoughts still he was interrupted when Eunuch Deng walked in with the Imperial Tutor Zhu Wengong.
"Your Majesty." He greeted him.
"Master Zhu." He replied happily.
"My Sire looks rather bothered." He said.
"Is there a day when governing the Empire isn't hard?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"But thanks be to heaven we hereby have a very strong Emperor amongst us." Zhu Wengong replied.
"There's something that I need your counsel on." Emperor Ningzong muttered.
"You can tell me anything Your Majesty." Wengong responded.
"What do you think a Good Ruler should do?" Emperor Ningzong asked and the old man smiling he stretched his hand and put it into his cloak, finally removing it a short while later where he carried it over to the young man and placed it on the table in front of him.
"What is this?" He asked.
"I figured that there could hardly be any good books in the Imperial library I devoted my energy to compile this one and was preparing to burn it, but seeing that knowledge is to be shared my Sire, one or two things could give you peace at heart within those pages I piled with my very own hands." Wengong replied and the Emperor perusing through the pages he smiled.
"I see that it seems quite interesting, I'll spare time to read more details." He said.
"Then don't frown My Sure, you are benevolent so they say, blessed so they believe but most importantly every ruler has a mirror which guides him in seeing his faults, for the Emperor Taizong the mirror was the Empress Zhangsun, the reason the people loved her so much was because she was exemplary and well learnt, kind and virtuous, free and abhorred ill intent and most importantly, where she succeeded it's because she used her most righteous means to govern the harem and the Inner Court, mother the nation and love the Emperor." Wengong replied.
"I see." The Emperor Ningzong said.
"Then I think I can take my leave." Wengong said.
"Surely." The Emperor agreed and slowly he withdrew from the room as the young man looking at the book in his possession in silence he summoned Eunuch Deng who walked in.
"Your Majesty has called for me." He said.
"Prepare the extension of the Imperial library, you shall bring the Lady Yang to me at night." He ordered.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied with a smile on her face.
Shi Miyuan walking into his Courtyard he was intercepted by the Eldest Princess.
"My dear." She greeted him.
"Your Highness." He replied.
"You must have had a very long day." Princess Qi'an remarked.
"Don't worry about me, I shall be fine as long as I have some rest." He responded while he prepared to walk past her when she spoke up.
"You were at Lanling Court yesterday, my friends told me so." She informed him he merely turned around and looked at her.
"Your Highness wanted this marriage and I personally did not." Shi Miyuan replied.
"And I understand that regardless of how many times you say it but remember Your Excellency you aren't just any married man but you also happen to be the Emperor's brother in law and a first rank Marquis, your actions reflect on me....." She was saying when Shi Miyuan interrupted.
"Until now Your Highness claimed that you loved me so deeply your devotion must be deep as well, it doesn't matter what your friends say you as my wife of all people I expect to understand my nature but as it is that this is a marriage of convenience we can't pretend or try to be like other real couples." He said to her.
"Do you hate me so much?" Princess Qi'an inquired.
"Your Highness is free to love any other person in the world I won't stop you but just as you can not reciprocate your feelings towards me and give them to another, neither can I reciprocate mine and give them to you." He replied as he continued his way when Lanhui walking in through the gates she'd witnessed what had transpired in the Courtyard that she made her way towards her mistress.
"Your Highness." She greerted her.
"Did you find out what it was that I asked for?" Princess Qi'an inquired.
"Without fail Your Highness." Lanhui replied and the two quickly getting inside the house, the Imperial Princess sat down behind her table while Lanhui put an envelope in her hands which she took and opened to pull out a letter she unfolded to read.
"It appears that at the same time Lady Yang had stopped by the Court house as well, it's possible that they met with each other face to face." Lanhui said to her while the furious Princess clenched her fists and smacked the table.
"That bitch again." She shouted on top of her voice.
"So it seems that she really is a hard headed woman." Lanhui said, "we can as well report this to His Majesty..." She was still saying when the Princess looking at her furiously, she immediately quietened down and looked down.
"This isn't sufficient evidence and even if we proved that the Prince Consort would be implicated and in this position we wouldn't possibly protect my brother." Princess Qi'an replied.
"Your Highness would rather remain silent?" Lanhui asked.
"I haven't said that I will do nothing about it." Princess Qi'an confessed, "arrange for me to visit the Palace." She ordered.
"Your Highness....." Lanhui protested.
"Let's talk face to face first as women first." Princess Qi'an concluded.
"Yes Your Highness." Lanhui replied hesitantly
Empress Han seated in her Chambers Han Touzhou turned up and bowed his head to her before he took the seat that was in front of him.
"I told you that this Lady Yang was no easy person Uncle." She reminded him.
"She must be a remarkably marvellous woman given that she'd convince his Majesty with her most deadly whisper." Han Touzhou remarked.
"It was herself who said that to me." Empress Han muttered, "she claimed that the voices of all men in the world could never eclipse her whisper it has come to pass." She added.
"I wish to see her for myself." Han Touzhou said.
"Are you serious Uncle?" Empress Han inquired.
"A glimpse of the young woman wouldn't hurt as the mere fact that she could be as brazen in challenging me it is to be applauded." Han Touzhou responded.
"You might find being around her displeasing." Empress Han said.
"Surely but it won't hurt to give it a try after all, given everything that has transpired in this Palace after the death of Qing Yi I thought it best to get you a new Court Lady Shaanxi." Han Touzhou muttered.
"Is there anything that you don't give me in abundance?" Empress Han asked.
"I am certain that you my dear child shall find her to be of your liking." Han Touzhou responded as he looked over his shoulder.
"Come in." He demanded and at once the doors were opened while the fairly old woman made her way in and bowed her head to the both of them.
"Your Excellency, Your Highness." She greeted them.
"You are Shaanxi I am told." Empress Han said as she smiled at the young woman.
"Yes Your Highness." She replied and the Empress pleased by her tone she turned to her Uncle.
"She is reliable I can assure you and once served as a spy for us in the Palace under the previous Empress Xia, the second Empress Consort of the Xiaozong Emperor." Han Touzhou introduced her.
"How loyal shall she be to me?" She asked.
"I trust that she shall remain silent for your sake and she can do whatever you ask of her, after all don't be fooled by her innocent face, she's seen the worst of wars within the palace that you are yet to see my dear." Han Touzhou replied.
"Lady Yang's residence isn't so far from here, Eunuch Gong shall show you the way." Empress Han said and her Uncle smiling at her, he stood up and bowed his head before he walked out of the room with Eunuch Gong and left the two women behind.
"Shaanxi?" She called her.
"How may I be of help Your Highness?" She responded.
"I want you to help me kill someone." Empress Han whispered to her while she retained her composure and didn't seem shocked by the order she immediately agreed.
Lady Yang in her Chambers Manyin immediately rushed towards her.
"Ma'am, something big has happened." She said.
"What is it?" The young woman replied.
"The Left Chancellor Han Touzhou is here to see you." Manyin replied and hearing this Lady Yang smiled.
"Is it so" she inquired.
"How can you be happy hearing that?" She inquired.
"Both himself and me were predestined to meet face to face someday, I just never expected it to be this soon but nonetheless I have always looked forward to this day." Lady Yang replied, "let him in." She ordered and the young woman complying she walked out while the fairly old man walked in and saw her Majestically seated behind her table.
"You asked to see me?" She said.
"Greetings Ma'am." He offered his salutations.
"You can have a seat." She signalled for him to sit down in front of her which he did so comfortably that they looked each other in the eye.
"Alas, the Great Han Touzhou and left Chancellor, we meet." Lady Yang said.
"You are in deed as witty as they say and Charming that I can clearly see what it is that His Majesty sees in you." Han Touzhou muttered to her.
"You must have heard a great deal about me that you were compelled to come here on your own will." Lady Yang said.
"I doubt it is as much as you have heard about me in this harem and this capital though I must say that as a Court Lady, I barely took to notice your presence in the Palace it is yet alarming that the present seems rather surprising." Han Touzhou remarked.
"Whether it was felt or not the outcome could judge, but seeing that you are here with me it must be that you feel that presence now." Lady Yang flattered herself.
"I had a share in learning your ambitions." Han Touzhou confessed.
"For a man like you they might seem too unrealistic." Lady Yang muttered.
"You tell me yourself Ma'am." Han Touzhou said.
"Surely people like myself without ambitions can not be trusted, or should I put it right, can I not desire this grandiose dream of mine?" Lady Yang inquired.
"Lowly as you are." Han Touzhou remarked.
"Is it a cause for me to be insufficient?" Lady Yang asked.
"Who do you so hope to be, like the Grand Empress Wu or the Empress Li, whose acumen shall you possibly inherit, that of Wu Hou, Lü Zhi or the Empress Zhangxian?" He inquired.
"It is said that when you get where you're going don't forget to turn back around, numerous hampers for long manifested themselves in your rise to power the most significant of these being the fact that you personally were a man devoid of the most remarkable talents in life." Lady Yang concluded.
"Yet I trusted myself to be the smartest of men and I didn't need a degree or a diploma to prove that, I didn't need to belong to a common school of thought." Han Touzhou defended.
"Similarly Your Excellency I am unlike the Empresses Xia and Han, or perhaps those before me." Lady Yang responded.
"It's hard to prove when your poise might seem too shallow." Han Touzhou remarked.
"You think so?" Lady Yang inquired.
"Correct me if I am wrong that is between me and you." Han Touzhou demanded and for a moment a strange silence prevailed between the two they exchanged a rather uneasy gaze.
"You should dread more than anything else the very day that I shall become Empress because then the House of Han shall bow and learn to be answerable to me." She swore.
"This World rests under my Emperor's feet and that Emperor rests under my foot." Han Touzhou remarked.
"You Scoundrel!" She exclaimed in protest above her voice.
"You Wench." He silenced her for a moment retaining his composure and smile, "you'll do well to remember your place." He added.
"I will heed your words well Milord, I shall consecrate my Crown with the blood of both you and your people." Lady Yang responded.
"Do you even comprehend what it is that you are asking of me right now?" Han Touzhou inquired.
"Relentlessness, no hesitation and devotion to vanquish me." Yang Meizi replied.
"Then make sure to remember this day." He whispered.
"Don't worry about me Your Excellency, I won't forget any detail of it." She replied and himself standing up from where he was seated, he bowed his head and withdrew from the room leaving the young woman staring at him fiercely as he vanished from sight.
Getting outside he found Eunuch Gong waiting eagerly for him.
"How was she Your Excellency." He asked.
"A remarkably poisonous young woman." Han Touzhou replied and descending the stairs that ushered him out of the compound he met face to face with the Imperial Princess Qi'an who greeted him.
"Your Excellency." She said to him.
"The Eldest Princess here what a surprise it is to see you." He responded.
"I am just as surprised by your presence Your Excellency, meeting one of the Imperial Concubines yet the harem isn't a place for Courtiers and Consorts to interact freely." Princess Qi'an reminded him.
"It appears that I might have lost my way yet the Empress gave me her blessing well enough." Han Touzhou replied.
"It seems to me that there's a strange energy that attracts us to this Palace." Princess Qi'an muttered.
"Perhaps on that we could agree." Han Touzhou replied as he smiled at her.
"Then I won't detain you much longer Your Excellency, you must have busy days with the new position that you have acquired." Princess Qi'an Said to him as she bowed her head and walked passed him while he bowed his and offered his respects she mounted the stairs and halted in front of Xiaoyang.
"Announce me to the Lady Yang, I am requesting to see her." Princess Qi'an Said and Han Touzhou continuing his way Xiaoyang rushed in and alerted the Lady Yang.
"The Eldest Princess!" She exclaimed with surprise.
"We've had way too many strange visitors Ma'am." Manyin pointed out and quietly, Lady Yang acquiesced to her entry she made it in a short while later the latter forced to stand up she greeted her.
"Your Highness." She said.
"Ma'am." The Princess greeted her.
"Please take a seat." Lady Yang requested her and humbly the young woman complied looking around the fairly spacious room.
"Seeing that you look quite surprised it's a bit too strange that I have received a number of visitors since morning." Lady Yang said.
"Is that so?" Princess Qi'an inquired.
"Your Highness the Grand Princess is here to see me just immediately after Han Touzhou the Left Chancellor made his departure that I can't help but wonder what's the special occasion to which I owe Your kindest consideration?" Lady Yang asked.
"I heard that you contacted Shi Miyuan." Princess Qi'an replied.
"Pardon me if I was a bit indiscreet concerning the issue." Lady Yang replied.
"You understand that he is a married man and I come as his wife I was hoping that we'd speak face to face and woman to woman." Princess Qi'an informed her.
"The whole world knows he is a married man but you see now that we are family it's so funny that we could address ourselves as in laws Your Imperial Highness don't you think or perhaps there's a law that forbids that then please enlighten me Your Highness, won't you?" Lady Yang asked.
"What do you want to achieve by doing this when you know how poisonous your actions might be?" Princess Qi'an asked, "what is it that you really want?" She insisted.
"What I want?" Lady Yang responded as she poured herself a cup of tea which she took in her arms.
"You have this Palace, power, wealth and everything in the world a woman would desire, couldn't you simply forsake his heart to me Ma'am?" The Princess inquired and looking at her fiercely Lady Yang having raised her cup of tea to drink she viciously rested it onto the table.
"Your Highness wishes for me to take my sole love that is buried deep inside my heart, rip it open and hand it over to you?" She asked, " no, never." She protested.
"But you are the Emperor's woman." Princess Qi'an remarked.
"And I am not to blame Your Highness for everything that you brazenly stole from me, if Shi Miyuan's heart is to belong to anyone then it must solely be mine should it be an ounce to strong or a single string of affection there's not a thing in this world I won't do to protect it." Lady Yang responded.
"You'll only put him in trouble." Princess Qi'an said.
"You take well from your mother, you should have learnt from what I have done to the Empress, I won't rest my heart until you have atoned for your sins with tears of blood." Lady Yang replied so confidently.
"Ma'am, I have been silent and as his wife you should understand that I'll do whatever it takes to protect him from anything that might bring him danger, even if it's you." Princess Qi'an threatened.
"Rest assured Your Imperial Highness, I am more sure that I need him so much more than you do." Lady Yang assured her.
The Princess Qi'an walked out of the room infuriated while Lanhui joined behind her.
"Your Highness seems infuriated.
"Coming here was a waste." Princess Qi'an replied as she turned around and looked back at the building.
"I told you Your Highness." Lanhui reminded her.
"Let's go." Princess Qi'an ordered as she led the way out.
"Ma'am, the Princess is a big headed person you must know, she won't back off that easily, after all, she's probably just like her mother." Manyin muttered.
"There's only enemies around us in this Palace, we must exploit every alliance as best as we can." Lady Yang replied.
The servants working in the kitchen were preparing meals when all of a sudden Shaanxi made her entrance and judging from her robes they could tell she was a superior Head Lady.
"Milady." They greeted her.
"The Empress has ordered you to make for her rice dumplings." She said and the servants looking at each other they barely moved.
"Haven't you heard me?" She asked.
"Pardon us Milady but the Grand Empress Dowager's order comes earlier as always you we'll get to it as soon as it's done." One of the kitchen ladies replied and Shaanxi looking at the dishes behind them she smiled.
"We'll come back later." She said as she withdrew from the kitchen with her retinue leaving the kitchen immediately while the cooks returned to their business.
Halting outside she stopped by the room where the utensils were and inspecting them slowly she looked out for one particular bowl that was familiar to the one that she had seen.
"Bring this." She ordered and her Ladies picked it up and immediately they sashayed out confidently.
Lady Yang still lost in her own thoughts Manyin walked in on her.
"Ma'am, Eunuch Deng is here requesting to have a audience with you." She said and Eunuch Deng following in after shortly he greeted her.
"Ma'am?" She greeted.
"Have you suited our purpose?" Lady Yang inquired.
"His Majesty requests your presence tonight at the Imperial Library's complex." Eunuch Deng replied.
"I heard that ever since he became the Emperor that place has been out of bounds to just anyone." Lady Yang remarked.
"It's remarkable, he wants to see you there tonight." Eunuch Deng replied.
"I won't be hasty." Lady Yang replied.
"Have you changed your mind Ma'am?" He asked.
"No." Lady Yang replied, "sooner or later I must get to the highest point that I can reach and to attain that power there's nothing I won't sacrifice you get me?" She Said, "there's nothing I won't do." She assured him.
"Very well Ma'am." Eunuch Deng replied as he bowed his head to her and standing up, he withdrew from the room.
"Prepare the scarlet Lily." Lady Yang said.
"Ma'am?" Manyin inquired so surprised.
"It's one thing I heard that can drive a man mad at the small we wouldn't have His Majesty changing his mind sooner or later." Lady Yang said as she smiled at herself while Xiaoyang present understood.
"Yes Ma'am." She replied.
Shaanxi put some sauce into the bowl and picking up a small bottle from under her cloak, she immediately poured it's contents into the bowl.
"Switch this." She ordered.
"Yes Ma'am." The lady in waiting replied and taking the bowl she hid it in her garment and rushing across to the kitchen leaving her mistress behind, she negotiated a corner and entered the kitchen which was busy stealthily.
"Are the Empress' rice dumplings ready?" She asked the girls.
"We are working on them." She added when another girl at the door holding a small cage she opened it and released a rat before she hid.
"A rat." The lady shouted and everyone screaming they were distracted she ceased the opportunity to switch the bowls while the others tried to run away she left immediately.
Returning to Shaanxi is secrecy she handed the bowl over to her.
"Are you sure that you have switched the bowls together?" She asked.
"Yes." The young woman replied.
"You may leave." She ordered and the young girl vanishing from sight she watched her go when a pair of men joined her.
"Silence her." She said, "throw her into the pond." She added.
"Yes." They replied while Shaanxi immediately turned and headed for the Central Palace while the two men dressed as Eunuchs followed the young woman.
Entering Empress Han's Chambers, she placed the bowl on her table and moved back to pay her respects.
"Did you do it?" Empress Han asked.
"Wait for the good news Your Majesty, the poison shall take effect in three days after which it shall be hard to trace." Shaanxi replied.
"No one knows?" Empress Han inquired.
"The job was cleanly done Your Highness, I assure you that there are no loose ends." Shaanxi replied
"That fox has lived long enough, we should wrest her once and for all." Empress Han muttered.
"As you wish Your Highness." Shaanxi replied.
Darkness descended over the capital and Lady Yang dressed in a crimson red hanfu her hair was combed while she was adorned with a precious golden hairpin.
She looked into the mirror and admired herself for a moment before her face became gloomy.
"What's with the long face Ma'am, aren't you happy?" Manyin inquired.
"You don't have to force yourself Ma'am, you can call in sick." Xiaoyang added.
"No." Lady Yang responded.
"Smile a bit Ma'am." Manyin said, "you look so beautiful." She added.
"I couldn't agree more." Xiaoyang complimented.
"Please go ahead and wait for me outside, I need sometime to be alone." She said and the two looking at each other quite surprised they withdrew from the room hesitantly leaving the young woman to stare at herself in the mirror she picked up a red handkerchief and looked at it while she recalled the promises that she'd made with Shi Miyuan all those years back.
Silently she broke down into tears and wiped them.
"Forgive me Yuan'er but these are the last tears I shall be shedding for you, hold onto your path for vengeance and meanwhile I shall hold onto mine." She thought to herself before she applied her make up yet again.
Xiaoyang and Manyin eagerly waiting outside wondered what it was that was taking her a long time when she flung the doors open and she appeared under the wan moonlight.
"Let's go." She said as she descended the stairs and was accompanied by her retinue of attendants.
Emperor Ningzong waiting under the dark sky she arrived and found him staring at the stars that she quickly drew closer to him while himself as though sensing her presence he turned around to look at her.
"Your Majesty." She said to him gracefully while he studied how she was dressed and amazed he could hardly stare elsewhere.
"You look remarkable." He said.
"Thank you Your Majesty." Lady Yang replied and the Emperor raising his hand he touched her left cheek while she blushed and hardly had the courage to look him in the eye.
"Your Majesty wished to see me." She reminded him and facing Eunuch Deng, the latter drew closer with a piece of cloth in his hands which the young man picked up in his hands.
"Turn around." He said and the latter did without any resistance as swift as she could he raised the scarlet piece of cloth and gracefully he veiled the young woman's eyes.
"What are you doing Sire?" She asked.
"Just trust me." Emperor Ningzong replied and having tightened the cloth behind her, he offered her his hand which she took and slowly he led her up the stairs while she slowly mounted them towards the doors which were opened.
Slowly he guided her feet into the darkness and the deeper they got, he eventually halted in his footsteps.
"Your Majesty?" She said to him while he held her hand.
"Do you know the reason that I called you here?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"No Your Majesty." Lady Yang relied and at that very moment he untied the blindfold that was hanging over her eyes and opening them she beheld the portraits of herself across the whole chamber of the Library.
"Your Majesty?" She said to him rather shocked.
"Each of these was a very beautiful expression of your pure heart, your smile that lightened my mornings you were so free a person had the wings to fly and soar as high while I was held in this lonely castle." He said to her.
"I don't deserve Your Majesty's deep affection, if you hold such a special regard for me in your heart my soul is as good as alive there isn't a mountain that I am afraid to climb and neither is there a storm in this life with you I'm unwilling to overcome." She said and slowly walking towards the nearby chair that had been prepared for the both of them they sat down while he took his time to study her eyes.
"Is there something wrong Your Majesty?" She asked.
"No." Emperor Ningzong replied as he raised his right hand and touched her cheek she didn't dare to resist at that very moment she submitted while he could make out a passionate glance in her eyes.
"Speak to me, open out your heart." He commanded.
"I want Your Majesty's body to be imprinted on mine, I want to shed away these shells and see you, I want to close my eyes to your face and open them again to behold you, to hold me when nights are cold I know that I could be asking for too much Your Majesty but I can't take it anymore." Lady Yang convinced him.
"Loving me, and loving this Emperor of yours will hurt you." He confessed.
"I don't care if it breaks or kills me Your Majesty, I just want to send my heart to you wherever you'll go, be with you and feel what you feel, your song to rely on and a shoulder to cry on, to gather cherish those years of yours, as long as we both may live." She responded.
Softly he ceased her by her shoulder and slowly he forced her down with their faces only inches apart she tightly held onto him and embraced him.
"I am the torch you are the fire, I am the darkness and you are my light, I am blind for you are all I see, take this heart of mine devoted and undivided, give yourself to me." He said.
"I am all yours Your Majesty, I am your dearest and loving wife." She said as she tightened her grip and pulled him closer, kissing her along the neck her face hidden and looking behind him was already in expressionless tears.
Grand Empress Dowager Wu seated in her own bed in the darkness Wan Mei carried over her bowl of medicine that had been prepared by the Imperial kitchen and the old woman taking it in she had a simple sip before she lowered it on the tray yet again.
"Are you alright Your Highness?" She asked.
"I am tired Wan Mei." Grand Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"Please don't say such words Your Highness." She muttered to her.
"I had a dream and His Later Majesty was calling to me, I could barely imagine how thin he'd become and he on the other hand asked me how my hair turned grey." The small old woman replied.
"And what did you tell him Your Highness?" Wan Mei inquired.
"That I buried his son, that I lost to Han Touzhou, that I wielded so much power and that he burdened me when he demanded that I guard for him his greatest kingdom." Grand Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"But did you not love every moment of it?" Wan Mei inquired.
"He was nearly as old as I am yet I had to recall those times, the scars I got in war fighting with him, how strong we rebuilt this nation after Jinkang, I recalled most of all that he loved a simple young General's daughter like me if I were to rewind time and ask the heavens for a wish it would have been for us to be like any other ordinary couple." Grand Empress Dowager Wu replied while she rubbed the sapphire ring that graced her fingers and Wan'er looking at it she smiled.
"Your Highness inherited a most precious gift." She said.
"Once I was the most powerful woman in the Empire but even I have aged and I can not flee from it much longer I always prayed and hoped that this ring of the Empress Zhangxian, Cao, Gao, Xiang, and now me would settle in the hands of the little daughter of Zhang Shansheng." She muttered.
"Could she give it meaning?" Wan Mei asked.
"More than anyone else it reminded me of the words that old shaman told me all those years ago, Yang Meizi that girl, the one I raised like my own daughter is the one person in the Great Song that is bound to seal Han Touzhou's name." Grand Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"So says Your Highness?" Wan Mei inquired.
"She's brilliance, she's compassion, she's hatred, she's eternal vengeance that shall reign upon all her foes, be it lands and people, Empires and kingdoms, all of them, losing everything, leaving nothing." Grand Empress Dowager Wu replied and laying down on her bed slowly she covered herself in her covers while Wan Mei withdrawing behind the silk curtains, she left the room in tears.