The lightning streaking across the sky, the thunder violently roared and it shook the earth, there was a heavy downpour beating against the roof top and Yang Jieyu who was lying on her bed and closing her eyes, Shaanxi sneaked into the room and moved up to her.
There were bags under her eyes even as she slumbered and sweating profusely, she shivered to the bone while the latter that was present appeared to be pleased with her condition.
Holding a sword in her hand and descending it upon the young woman, she opened her eyes immediately and from underneath her pillow she pulled her smaller and thinner flexible sword that once belonged to her mother and swang it at her.
"The young woman covering her mouth was shocked after the young woman screamed allowed.
"Assassin." She alerted everyone that the latter had no choice but to leap out of the building through the window at once when Manyin, Xiaoyang and the others rushed in.
"Are you alright Ma'am?" Manyin asked as she rushed over to her.
"Maha." Yang Jieyu replied as she looked at her in the presence of some other Eunuchs from the Grand Palace she immediately fainted after that.
"Ma'am?" Manyin and Xiaoyang cried for her and one of the Eunuchs present sneaking away from the scene he negotiated a small corner while in the same group another still under the heavy downpour did the same.
Shaanxi unharmed stood next to the storehouse when she caught sight of the young man who whispered something into her ear while on the other side another came into close contact with Eunuch Deng and did about the same.
Being informed immediately his eyes widened and he became tense that he walked up to the entrance of the Emperor's Chambers where Beiyuan and Lan He were waiting.
"Superintendent Deng?" They greeted him saying his name as they kowtowed.
"Has His Majesty Retired?" He asked.
"Just a short while ago, he seemed so exhausted he could hardly keep reading." Beiyuan replied that the latter hearing this he immediately fell quiet.
"Was there anything that you wanted to say to him?" Lan He asked.
"It is nothing urgent, I shall tell His Majesty tomorrow." He replied with a hustled smile on his face before he turned around in the rain and descending the stairs that led to the hall, she slowly walked away and vanished from sight.
Empress Han quietly seated in her Chambers Shaanxi approached her.
"How is she doing?" She asked.
"She's pale, she's sickly and she passed out." Shaanxi replied.
"The purslane should be taking effect by now." Empress Han muttered.
"The baby won't make it through the night." Shaanxi assured her.
"Certainly, after all, should His Majesty learn about what happened tonight even tomorrow morning, I promise you he'll be disappointed." She said.
"So it shall seem." Shaanxi said.
Yang Jieyu lying in her bed Shaanxi's spy arriving at the entrance he was halted.
"Where are you going?" Xiaoyang asked him.
"To check on Her." He replied.
"That won't be needed." She replied when the doors of the room were opened and Manyin along with other ladies in waiting walked out holding buckets that were reeking with the stench of blood and crimson towels as well.
"Our Lady is exhausted from the night and she is recuperating, from this moment we shall restrict the movements of you servants with her." She said while she turned around and the doors being opened for her, she walked in while the young man struggling to see he beheld a trail of blood on the floor before the door was shut down.
He turned and leaving the vicinity, he secretly negotiated a corner and moved around the building as he approached the back where the latter's bed seemed close.
"Ma'am?" Xiaoyang called to her and coughing it sounded as though she was just regaining consciousness.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Forgive us Ma'am, for we are so incompetent." Manyin said to her as well.
"My abdomen is aching, my child how is it?" She asked.
"Ma'am, there's no child anymore." Xiaoyang said to her.
"What?" She slightly raised her voice, "I was pregnant so what do you mean that there is no child anymore?" She inquired.
"Perhaps it's heaven's will but the gods must be cruel Ma'am, I am sorry but only your life could be saved and the life of our dear child...." She hesitated.
"No." Yang Jieyu protested, "it can't be." She assured herself.
"I wish that I was lying to you to Ma'am, sadly I am not and all I have is this bitter truth, the reason that you are in pain is because you have miscarried." She informed her.
"What?" She asked.
"Yes Ma'am." Manyin confirmed.
"Do you know what you are talking about, do you know what you are telling me?" She muttered.
"Yes Ma'am...." Xiaoyang still saying was interrupted.
"You shall listen to my orders and not mention a word of this to anyone." Yang Jieyu said.
"Ma'am....." Manyin in protest she was silenced.
"A couple of months ago His Majesty was happy to learn that I was expecting and just like that I miscarry he shall be disappointed his hard earned favour shall diminish and all our supporters shall abandon us." She Said.
"Ma'am, we could be punished by death for lying to His Majesty." Xiaoyang pointer out.
"As long as no one knows." Yang Jieyu said, "the Emperor shall have a child when I say he will and it shall come to pass, even if we have to bring a bastard from outside the palace, we certainly will." She determinedly spoke up the young man hearing all this he withdrew his head from the wall and covering his mouth, he swiftly walked away.
It was very early in the morning and the Emperor Ningzong seated on his throne the Courtiers had gathered for the daily assembly as Han Touzhou stepped out of the mob and moved forward up to him.
"I greet Your Majesty." He said.
"You're welcome." Emperor Ningzong said, "I heard that there is a pressing issue on you." He added.
"Your Majesty, there is tranquil within the state and hardly any ill omens in the Palace this is in my opinion the best time that we can consider to give joy to the people and strengthen Your Majesty on the throne." Han Touzhou replied.
"What do you mean Your Excellency?" Zhao Zizhi inquired, "perhaps you mean to say that His Majesty's claim is not sufficient?" He said.
"How so do you wish to do this Left Chancellor?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"It has already been a while since Your Majesty ascended the throne, a while since Your Majesty become our most August Sovereign of this country." Han Touzhou replied, "we have weathered storms to get to this point my Sire you shall believe me but that doesn't stop us from being cautious if rebels and usurpers as well as those bent on sowing discord between you and the public at this point I feel a Crown Prince should be chosen." He confessed and at that murmurs erupted amongst all the other ministers some lowly protests while Shi Miyuan quietly watching from nearby he remained silent.
"Please appoint an Imperial heir Your Majesty." Han Touzhou's supporters shouted in unison.
"What does my Grand Chancellor think?" He asked the Innocent looking Zhao Zizhi whose face seemed discontented at the thought.
"We are still mourning Her Grand Highness the Late Grand Empress Dowager Your Majesty shall forgive me if I sound a bit improper in saying this but I assure you that following our customs there's been no such precedent in the dynasty I hope that you shall reconsider." He pointed out.
"Please reconsider this Your Majesty." Yang Jieyu's supporters continued to back him up while the Emperor in silence Han Touzhou ceased the opportunity to speak up.
"Since time past even in all the Dynasties that preceded us Your Majesty must know that the Crown Prince is a foundation of this nation Your Majesty, there's hardly any Princes in the harem Sire but the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun is well cultivated and smart, diligent and filial in his conduct, furthermore he is passionate and takes after Your Majesty very well and not to mention he is the legitimate son of the Empress." He said.
"It is only proper Your Majesty and I believe that the decision shall be entirely welcomed by the people." Minister Xia seconded him.
"It is a decision wise enough Your Majesty." The other supporters of his agreed while Zhao Zizhi and his men fell temporarily silent.
"You each have a point at hand that I can't dismiss, as it is we are still in mourning but even then the stability of the state remains crucial and it is something that we must ensure, it is only right that we uphold values and decorum but even so, we must have the sympathies of the people on our side." Emperor Ningzong said.
They each kept silent.
"This is an issue that requires much deliberation and I shall think about it, otherwise, if this is all then we can end the Daily Assembly at this.
"Thank you Your Majesty, Long Live Your Majesty." They sang in unison as they bowed their heads to him and a short while later, the Courtiers exiting the Grand Hall, Han Touzhou and Zhao Zizhi descended the stairs that led from it together.
"You never cease to impress me." Zhao Zizhi mentioned.
"I heard that you are a man of many talents I am equally delighted to let you in on mine." Han Touzhou responded.
"You are as fearless as they say." Zhao Zizhi muttered.
"Even you know what His Majesty's final resolution shall be and the Grand Empress Dowager's mourning still going on, you understand that it is a weak excuse to stall the appointment of the Crown Prince yet you still went ahead to openly oppose it." He remarked.
"What's pleasant for His Majesty you tell me, having you for an ally or an enemy?" He asked.
"The latter kept quiet.
"You never see my intentions but what's worse you never see His Majesty's intentions and that makes him more dangerous than even myself, what I am trying to tell you is this, it's better to allow him to have the feeling that he can predict your thoughts and actions, wouldn't he be more confident around a man that he knows more than a man that he is most uncertain about." Zhao Zizhi responded as he continued his way and left the old man still lost in wonder while he was joined by Minister Xia.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Nothing." Han Touzhou replied, "nothing." He confirmed again.
Empress Han and Shaanxi in her quarters the Eunuch that had been spying behind Yang Jieyu's room the previous night suddenly turned up in front of them.
"Your Highness." He spoke excited with a smile on his face.
"What are you doing here?" Empress Han asked.
"Congratulations." He said.
"Upon what?" Shaanxi asked.
"Yang Jieyu Your Highness....." The man replied.
"What about her?" She asked.
"Yesterday at night past the hour of midnight, she miscarried." He responded that at once the Empress taking a deep breath she sighed.
"What?" She asked with a smile on her face.
"Yang Jieyu miscarried Your Highness, I saw with my own eyes and I heard with my two ears when her servants confessed everything to her." The young man replied that the Empress ceased her chest.
"Heaven is on our side Your Highness." Shaanxi muttered.
"Surely it is." Empress Han said, "why wouldn't it be?" She asked.
"We must expose this." Shaanxi pointed out.
"Not yet." Empress Han replied, "we've gotten rid of that bastard but His Majesty shall surely sympathize with her that it won't be too easy." She muttered.
"What do you mean Your Highness?" Shaanxi asked when the Eunuch hearing this something came back to him.
"There's something else that I heard Your Highness." He said and they each turned their attention to him.
"What is it?" They asked.
"Yang Jieyu intends to keep this a secret from His Majesty." He Said.
"You mean to say a fake pregnancy?" Shaanxi inquired.
"His Majesty was excited that she was with child and losing it might make him feel disappointed and what's worse is the possibility of herself being blamed for not taking proper care of her body." Empress Han muttered while she smiled at herself.
"Doesn't she realise where such a big lie could get her?" Shaanxi asked.
"Who cares when she has only made things better for us and now to offset the possibility of being accused for having schemed to make her lose her baby, we could arrange for rumours to be spread that she was never pregnant to begin with." Empress Han claimed.
"Something that big would break all her supporters and would cost her her whole life it would be killing two birds with one stone." Shaanxi muttered.
"Then you know what must be done." Empress Han muttered.
"Yes Your Highness." Shaanxi replied.
"We shall keep this little secret long enough for it to create a scandal that is big enough to burn her whole world." The Empress remarked as she smiled at herself ghastly.
"I can't believe, we are still in mourning for the Grand Empress Dowager and they suggest that a Crown Prince be installed they really are brazen and it's not so unexpected of them." Emperor Ningzong said as he slowly walked with his Retinue from the Grand Hall.
"It's very much like these politicians Your Majesty I doubt that you have heard the rumours saying that it was because of the Grand Empress Dowager's influence that they had feared to make this attempt in the first place." Beiyuan spoke to him.
"How strange, alas their hamper is non existent and they have an Empress who is their own blessing as a part of the dynasty, they trust that it shall be much easier for them to push for the appointment they are right though." Emperor Ningzong said.
"How so Your Majesty?" Lan He asked.
"I need to give them a reassurance that their Empress is as good as protected for a moment it's important to lure their attention from my other Concubines and Consorts, it is in our best interest." Emperor Ningzong replied.
"Has Your Majesty not heard what the servants are saying?" Beiyuan inquired.
"What could be so bothersome to them?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Apparently last night there were assassins that were spotted around Yang Jieyu's quarters." Beiyuan replied and the young man hearing this halted in his footsteps and turned to look at him.
"What?" He asked.
"Yes Your Majesty." Beiyuan replied.
"And why are you telling me this now?" He asked furiously.
"I guessed today morning that it was what Eunuch Deng wanted to talk to you about yesterday and I hoped that Your Majesty was already informed." Beiyuan responded as the Emperor turned to Lan He.
"What is he talking about?" He asked.
"Pardon me Your Majesty, last night there were Intruders in Yang Jieyu's residence...." He was saying when the Emperor going crazy on hearing that he immediately ran in the direction of her residence while his Retinue rushed after her.
Yang Jieyu seated in her Chambers Manyin rushed through the doors.
"Ma'am, His Majesty is here to see you." She said and the latter quickly preparing herself the doors were flung open while she'd finished wearing a sickly and weary expression the Emperor looking at her she weakly stood up from where she was seated and bowed her head.
"Your Majesty." She said to him but not caring about it at all he moved closer and held her hands and inspected her.
"Are you alright?" He asked, "were you hurt anywhere?" He said as he studied her entirely.
"No." She replied.
"What about the child?" he asked, "what about our child?" he inquired and the rest of the ladies falling silent she spoke up.
"The child is alright Your Majesty." She said.
"Who is it that dared, who could think of such a thing, who would wish to assassinate you my dear?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Don't overthink it Your Majesty." Yang Jieyu responded.
"How can I not?" He asked and looking at the others in the room the Emperor went silent when the Empress suddenly walked through.
"Your Majesty, " she greeted, "Yang Jieyu." She further extended her salutations to her.
"What is this that I am hearing?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"I also just happened to learn about everything this morning Your Majesty when Yang Jieyu didn't turn up for the morning greeting and I decided to come and check out for myself as I was worried both about her and the child that she is carrying." Empress Han responded.
"We are both fine Your Highness." Yang Jieyu said.
"Seeing that you look awful and frightened my heart breaks Yang Jieyu and for your sake and the sake of the dynasty since you are carrying an Imperial child I was thinking of hiring a special physician to look after you and the baby...." Empress Han still saying she was interrupted by her.
"No need to worry about a thing Your Highness the baby and myself are both fine." She muttered, "in fact I was hoping to be brazen between Your Highness and His Majesty." She added.
"What is it?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"I was hoping to invite a family physician to look after me and the child." Yang Jieyu responded.
"Why?" Empress Han asked, "aren't the physicians in the Palace skilled enough to do the job?" She inquired.
"As an expecting mother it is natural that I be cautious Your Majesty for the sake of both myself and the Imperial child I won't be comfortable having others working on me being new to the experience." Yang Jieyu mentioned and hearing this the Empress was quite pleased.
"I think the Empress is right." Emperor Ningzong spoke in her defense.
"Let her be Your Majesty." Empress Han mentioned.
"Really?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"Yang Jieyu is the one expecting the child and not one of us I fear so much that if we stress her too much it won't be good for the health of the two her resolution is much more favourable." Empress Han supported her.
"If you insist." Emperor Ningzong said.
"Seeing that she was already attacked once I was hoping that Your Majesty would permit for her to come into my custody and I shall look after her to ensure that no harm comes upon her." Empress Han said.
"It's alright Your Highness, you don't have to bother yourself with me." Yang Jieyu spoke in protest.
"It is only right that we too be cautious at this stage it would be immoral for me as the Empress to fail in taking proper care of you I insist." Empress Han said and before Yang Jieyu could speak up again the Emperor interfered.
"I also agree with the Empress." He said.
"Your Majesty?" She asked.
"Seeing that you are in a very delicate condition my heart can not be at ease when someone already made an attempt on your life and aside from the Empress I was hoping that there's not a single person in the harem that I can trust to take very good care of you I hope you understand my resolution." Emperor Ningzong said.
"Surely Your Majesty, our dearest Yang Jieyu understands." Empress Han said as she smiled at her.
"Yes Your Majesty." She replied.
"I shall have you brought in to the complex close by my Palace." Empress Han said.
"Yes." Yang Jieyu agreed reluctantly while the Empress could judge from her tone and tell that she was feeling uneasy about everything she kept a cool head of things herself while Shaanxi watched behind her a bit perturbed.
"Your Highness." She said while they got into her Chambers and she sat down.
"Have I disappointed you?" Empress Han asked Shaanxi.
"Why?" She asked but the latter lightly chuckled.
"I merely seek for your enlightenment." She persisted.
"Strangely enough His Majesty is a man that is hard to read himself and the past has itself taught us well that if we cling so much to old methods we'd only be aiming for our destruction." The Empress responded.
"I don't know why you would opt to protect her especially now?" Shaanxi asked.
"If she has miscarried then her hope is to become pregnant with the Emperor's child again and I can not allow that to happen otherwise it would jeopardize everything that we have worked hard for so far." Empress Han replied, "additionally after the assassination attempt, His Majesty was bound to be more curious if I demand that Yang Jieyu resides in my care then he'd merely agree because he understands that if I am to do something bad to her it would hit me directly he'd trust that I am unwilling to take that big risk." She added.
"I see." Shaanxi replied.
"This is our opportunity to monitor her every step closely and we'd come one step closer to exposing her sins, I hope that you understand that more than ever we should push her at this point and make her desperate to make a blunder on her own." Empress Han said.
"Yes Your Highness." Shaanxi replied.
"Alright." The Empress replied.
Yang Jieyu seated in her Chambers she was lost in her thoughts as Manyin and Xiaoyang positioned themselves in front of her.
"Ma'am?" Manyin called.
"She must be aware that I miscarried." Yang Jieyu replied.
"She's calling you to live close to her and You agreed Ma'am that we are so troubled about it, you're getting to close and you might get burnt." Xiaoyang remarked.
"It is as I had expected it is so much like the Empress herself and now that it's been a while since she got rid of Superintendent Gong she's only grown more confident." She pointed out.
"Reliably I was told that there's tale bearing that you never concieved before a child for His Majesty and on top of that others claim that it must have been a phantom pregnancy." Manyin said.
"I can only suspect it to be the work of the Empress and no other person.
"Surely." Yang Jieyu responded, "we shall lend her our hand." She added.
"What are you saying Ma'am?" Manyin asked.
"So what if I am not pregnant, what will happen if Her Highness reveals it to the world?" She asked as she studied them fiercely.
"Forgive us Ma'am." They said in unison.
"Master Bao shall send a physician over on my orders but the Empress shall also have her own at one time, surely we must be prepared for the worst because beyond this point we could gain it all or lose all." Yang Jieyu asserted.
"Yes Ma'am." They replied.
"What?" Shi Miyuan asked Dong Hua as he lowered himself down in his chair.
"There are rumors spreading about the palace in the past couple of days that Yang Jieyu had a phantoms pregnancy and others are suggesting that it was faked to curry favour with the Emperor." He responded.
"Something this major having travelled so far beyond the Palace walls is sufficient to ignite enough suspicion from the public which can be very deadly to Yang Jieyu and furthermore I heard that Han Touzhou's clique is still petitioning to His Majesty to appoint the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun as the Crown Prince the Empress must be calling all the necessary shots." Shi Miyuan said.
"I think so too." Dong Hua said while the latter fell silent.
"What does Your Excellency think about Yang Jieyu's offer?" He whispered.
"Our involvement at this point could only make matters worse it's better that we kept our distance for the time being." Shi Miyuan responded.
"Yes Your Highness." Dong Hua replied as he bowed his head to her.
Princess Qi'an seated in her room as well Lanhui walked in and halted in front of her.
"Your Highness." She said.
"What is it?" She asked.
"There's talebearing that's going around the entire capital and it is allegedly a rumour that claims that Yang Jieyu isn't pregnant and other sources assert that she's having a phantom pregnancy." Lanhui replied.
"That's strange." Princess Qi'an muttered.
"Everyone finds it to be so Your Highness." Lanhui agreed.
"And have there been any reactions from the palace?" She asked.
"None at all Your Highness." Lanhui replied that the latter brushed it off easily.
Yang Jieyu's supporters had gathered in a special room at the Lanling Court when the carriage bearing her arrived at the entrance where Bao Langya and Bo An waiting they opened the door for her and set below a footstool on which she rested her feet.
"Greetings Ma'am." They said to her.
"Is everyone inside?" She inquired.
"They are all waiting your presence Ma'am." Bao Langya replied and hearing this the latter immediately walked in the doors being opened everyone of the men inside stood up and bowing their heads to her she looked at all of them.
"Where is the Grand Chancellor?" She asked.
"Pardon me Ma'am but he still insists that he won't be in the position to make it to any of these meetings." Zhu Wengong said and the latter smiling, she sat down as the others followed her example and did the same.
"If that's the case then let him be." She remarked.
"We never thought that he'd be this stubborn." One of the others said.
"No worries, he shall certainly come around." Yang Jieyu muttered.
A silence prevailed for a moment's before she'd utter another word and she could tell from their expressions that there was something that was bothering them.
"I am no stranger so you can present your worries." She said.
"Ma'am, there's been a number of rumours going about the capital and they leave us so concerned." Wengong said.
"The phantom pregnancy?" She asked.
"Yes Ma'am." They replied in unison.
"And who would you believe?" She asked.
"As always you Ma'am." Wengong spoke up.
"You have said it yourself and I hope you do understand by now who is behind this." She muttered.
"That's not even a question." Others remarked.
"We have nothing more but concern to feel for one another that is and strangely enough I am reliably informed that Han Touzhou and his clique have continued to petition to His Majesty to install the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun as the Heir apparent to the Dragon throne." She pointed out.
"We are still mourning Her Grand Highness and they bring up the issue we can't let that be so, if Han Touzhou becomes like a grandfather to the Crown Prince then we are doomed for sure." Wengong said.
"I have listened to all of you and I understand all your concerns and fears alike as well as your ambitions." She said.
"You do understand Ma'am that the Crown Prince himself could as well jeopardize your influence in the Inner Court." Master Bao said.
"I am aware of all that but knowing His Majesty well enough he shall certainly make the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun his heir apparent firstly to protect me and give Han Touzhou some contentment yet it can adversely suffocate the influence of the Grand Chancellor as such he'll be forced to seek refuge in a rather powerful confidant." Yang Jieyu responded.
"If this is your resolve Ma'am then what shall you suggest we do?" Bo An asked.
"Let them have their way." She responded and at once murmurs of protest erupted amongst all the others who were surprised by her response yet she seemed very calm and resolved.
"Ma'am, you couldn't possibly ask us to become soft and let them have their way." Wengong said.
"You shall hear from me that it is most important if I am to take over the Inner Court some time soon and there's no use arguing over a position the young Prince won't hold for long I plan to use it to reveal the Empress' malice to the world." She assured them.
"How are you going to do that Ma'am?" Master Bao asked.
"Just be patient Your Excellencies and soon enough I shall show you how fatal the Empress' current actions shall soon become." Yang Jieyu assured them as she smiled at herself ghastly.
Emperor Ningzong standing on top of the bridge that overlooked the Imperial pond, Yang Jieyu arriving from her new quarters caught sight of him and slowly approached the young man who was lost in his thoughts.
"Your Majesty." She greeted him.
"You are here?" He asked.
"You looked troubled and I couldn't help it but feel concerned." She responded.
"I was also hoping that you'd come around." He said to her while she smiled back at him Innocently.
"Tell me what it is that is ailing you so much?" She asked him and the latter ceasing her hand the two of them sat on the wooden rail.
"You must have heard that over the past couple of days the Courtiers keep on petitioning to me to designate the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun as the Crown Prince of the nation." He muttered.
"He is the Empress' son there's surely nothing wrong about that and furthermore I trust that it's what the people are thinking too beyond the palace walls." She said to him.
"Perhaps it is so." Emperor Ningzong said.
"Is Your Majesty displeased?" She asked.
"How is it that you could be so carefree truthfully speaking I am envious of you right now." He responded.
"The Courtiers are merely desperate it is understandable and they can manipulate mobs in protest that if Your Majesty refuses then they shall use it as an excuse against you my only advice is to give them a guarantee but not what they want." Yang Jieyu responded.
"How so?" He asked.
"The Protest and controversy that is turning this into a major factional conflict is the question of the Grand Empress Dowager's mourning period which as a matter of fact has increased their vigour and resistance the question can be settled if you guarantee them that after the mourning period, the Crown Prince shall be designated as per the Han Customs that guide our Dynasty." Yang Jieyu replied and looking at him she smiled.
"I might have just enough time to groom him which is a good thing." He said.
"And I trust that you won't be disappointed Your Majesty." Yang Jieyu assured him.
The Courtiers had gathered again for the daily morning Assembly a couple of days later when the Emperor Ningzong made his way up fo the dragon throne in his Imperial robes.
"Your Majesty." They greeted in unison while he turned to Eunuch Deng who stood beside him and the latter moved forward.
"You asked that I considered your plea and I welcomed the thought in favour of both parties." He said.
"What does Your Majesty mean to say?" Zhao Zizhi the Grand Chancellor asked.
"The Crown Prince is the foundation of the country that I had to agree but in respect to a very senior figure of the Imperial family, the Palace and the Inner Court are still mourning the Late Grand Empress Dowager which I fear could surface about just as much opposition and criticism from some people including the Imperial Censors and scholars." Emperor Ningzong replied.
"We are only curious about the resolution Your Majesty." Han Touzhou pointed out.
"Eunuch Gong I trust shall make known to you my resolve this very day." Emperor Ningzong said and the latter holding an Imperial Edict the Courtiers all went onto their knees as they held up the ceremonial tablet.
"LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR MAJESTY HAS TO SAY TO THE NATION, THE CROWN PRINCE BEING THE HEIR PRESUMPTIVE TO THE IMPERIAL DRAGON THRONE IS THE FOUNDATION OF A COUNTRY'S STABILITY AND ITS PEOPLE AND CONSIDERING THAT THE NATION MOURNS HER LATE GRAND HIGHNESS THE GRAND EMPRESS DOWAGER I CAN ALSO NOT IGNORE WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME AS THE NATION'S SOVEREIGN TO HONOUR HER AND DILIGENTLY SERVE AS FILIAL, WITH HEAVEN'S BLESSINGS I SHALL MAKE KNOWN TO THE WORLD THAT I AM THE MOST AUGUST RULER OF THE SOUTHERN SONG AND THAT I AM THE SUN THAT GOVERNS BY DAY AND THE MOON BY NIGHT WITH THE POWER VESTED IN ME I PROMISE THAT IN RESPECT TO HAN CUSTOMS AND IMPERIAL LAW AND PRECEDENT IN THE DYNASTY, THE CROWN PRINCE SHALL BE DESIGNATED ONCE THE MOURNING PERIOD IS OVER." Eunuch Deng read and hearing this immediately, the Courtiers each looked at one another.
"This is His Majesty's will." Eunuch Deng informed them.
"Long Live Your Majesty." They shouted in unison while Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi looking at all the other supporters of Yang Jieyu they each looked down on the ground unable to face him.
After washing Yang Meizi's underwear, the young Manyin put it on the hanging lines with blood and sneaking away for a moment there were a number of ladies in waiting that rushed over and inspected it at once.
"Your Highness." Shaanxi said as she rushed over to the Empress' presence while she received her kindly.
"You look rather surprised." She said to her.
"Yang Jieyu is having her periods." She responded and at once the Empress' eyes lit up.
"Things are working out much better than I expected." The Empress muttered to herself while Yang Jieyu seated in her own Chambers Manyin approached her.
"Ma'am, everything is going according to the plan and the news is spreading about like a wild fire." She said.
"The Empress must be pleased." She remarked.
"What shall we do next Ma'am?" Manyin asked.
"The dispute of the Crown Prince might have settled yet it signals a rather turbulent undercurrent that can't be easily seen." Yang Jieyu replied as she looked at her.
"I am listening." She said.
"The Empress is watching our every move, we should let her have her way." Yang Jieyu responded.
"Yes Ma'am." Manyin replied when Xiaoyang suddenly walked into the room.
"Ma'am." She greeted her.
"Did you find the young girl?" Yang Jieyu asked.
"She's just as old as your pregnancy is supposed to be Ma'am." Xiaoyang replied.
"Have you walked her through what she's supposed to do?" She asked.
"Rest assured Ma'am, she has you to be very grateful for everything that she has I am certain that nothing shall go wrong." Xiaoyang replied.
"Impressive." Yang Jieyu said, "arrange for us to meet tomorrow night." She said.
"Yes Ma'am." Xiaoyang replied as she withdrew from the room.
Going outside with Manyin and noticing that they were being followed, they stood in a small corner which was hidden.
"See to it that not a single person knows that Her Grace has left the palace at night and keep the news about the expectant girl that she's supposed to meet a secret." She said.
"Yes Milady." Manyin replied and hearing this Shaanxi spy rushed over to her and whispered everything in her ear, the latter surprised she gripped her mouth and swiftly making her way up to the Empress she presented herself before the young woman.
"What?" Empress Han said.
"Yes Your Highness, our spy just reported that Yang Jieyu intends to leave the palace tomorrow night to see an expecting woman outside." Shaanxi conformed.
"She really is desperate." Empress Han remarked.
"There's no better opportunity than this." Shaanxi reported.
"We'll let her." Empress Han replied.
"How so Your Highness?" Shaanxi asked.
"If we are to make allegations then we shall need concrete evidence and Yang Jieyu you must have learnt that by now she's not an easy person to contain a more plausibility testimony to believe is that of the young woman in our hands." Empress Han replied.
"I see." Shaanxi realised.
"You shall quietly follow her until she has met the girl and after her departure, capture her and bring her into our custody." Empress Han ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Shaanxi replied as she got out of the room and left the Empress lost in her own thoughts and seemingly determined.
"I want to see how you shall get out of this Jieyu, you have made everything easier for me." She said to herself.
Yang Jieyu seated in her Chambers quietly the following night, her hand at her table she quietly waited until Manyin walked in.
"Everything is ready Ma'am." She said and Yang Jieyu wearing a hood over her body with a veil she got up from her seat and she walked out of the building while she was being escorted by her ladies in waiting.
Negotiating a corner she was being followed until she moved out of the palace and walking through the streets, she halted right in front of an inn where Bao Langya and Bo An waiting for her, she got inside.
Empress Han eagerly waiting Shaanxi rushed in.
"Your Highness, as expected, she is out of the residence." Shaanxi replied.
"Raise no alarm." Empress Han replied.
"Yes." She responded as she got out.
After talking for a while with the rest of the spies watching the inn, a short while later, Yang Jieyu walked out and at the time being escorted by Bao Langya she walked back into the direction of the palace while another Lady stepping out with Bo An they walked into the opposite direction.
The spies following the two they came to a small villa which was not so far away and about two stories high, the Lady bid Bo An adieu as he continued his way and she locked herself inside.
After a while when they were convinced that no one was watching, they surrounded the whole place and jumping over the fence they got inside the building and the young woman sleeping inside her Chambers the doors were slowly slid open and the men walking in unsheathed their swords herself waking up she could only see the blade close to her neck.
"You won't make a sound." They said, "come with us." They ordered as they ceased the young woman and covering her mouth and eyes, they put her in a sack and carried her away.
Making their way out of the residence Bo An at a distance saw them scattering before he got up and moved away from the scene as well.
"Your Highness it is I." Shaanxi said.
"Come in." Empress Han replied and making her way inside she bowed her head to the Empress who was anxious to hear from her.
"We have the girl as you ordered Your Highness." Shaanxi said excited and the Empress sighed in relief
"Great." She muttered.
"Congratulations Your Highness." Shaanxi said.
"Not just yet." Empress Han replied, "there's something that we must first do." She said.
"What more Your Highness?" Shaanxi asked.
"When she's past out, send a physician to her Chambers to inspect her condition." Empress Han replied.
"Yes Your Highness." Shaanxi replied as she immediately withdrew.
Yang Jieyu arriving in her chambers she sat down and noticed that the incense burning in the room smelled very strange.
"Ma'am?" Manyin whispered to her.
"I shall retire to my bed." She said.
"Yes." Manyin replied as the latter moved up to her bed behind the silk screen and there she calmly lay.
Xiaoyang waiting outside Shaanxi moved up to her while she bowed down and offered her respects to her.
"The Empress wants to have a word with you." She said.
"Yes Milady." Xiaoyang replied as she was led away while the Imperial physician getting inside the room he moved up to the incense burner and poured water into it at that moment it stopped smoking while he got closer to the bed and saw the latter's hand protruding through the sheets she moved closer and holding it he inspected the pulse while he immediately went quiet.
"Your Highness." Xiaoyang said to the Empress as she bowed her head to her.
"It's been a while since Yang Jieyu moved into the side Chamber and knowing that she isn't the type of person to think of me freely and speak her mind I thought it best to ask you if she is sincerely comfortable." Empress Han said.
"Yes Your Highness." Xiaoyang replied.
"Is there anything that you're not telling me?" Empress Han inquired.
"No." Xiaoyang replied.
"I hope that you understand my concern as it is that Yang Jieyu is with an Imperial child I can not allow myself to be too lax about everything you surely know why I am being a bit too assertive but I shall not forgot your words within this room tonight and you shall be held accountable for each and everyone of them." She Said.
"Yes Your Highness." Xiaoyang replied as she bowed her head when Shaanxi got in and stood behind her.
"You may take your leave." The Empress said and the latter complying, Shaanxi got closer.
"Did the physician get in?" She inquired.
"He'll be here Your Highness." Shaanxi replied when shortly after she'd said it, the doors of the room were flung open and at that moment, the old man made his way in.
"Your Highness." He greeted her.
"What did you find out?" The Empress asked.
"Forgive me for saying this Your Highness." The physician replied.
"What is it now?" She asked.
"It was I that concurred at that moment that she was with child but it was so hard to tell back then because the signs acted up vividly it's likely that they were self induced and her passing out she was merely overstrained from grief." The physician replied.
"What are you trying to say?" Empress Han asked.
"It's been three months since Your Highness and by now a slippery pulse should be detected however I felt Yang Jieyu's hand and there's no such thing." The physician replied.
"She's not with child?" Empress Han asked.
"Yes." The latter confirmed and at that moment, the young woman expressing her distress Shaanxi signalled for the man to leave the room which he did before she turned back to the Empress who appeared rather distraught.
"She in deed miscarried, and now I can't help but be more confident." Empress Han said.
"You have Your confirmation Your Highness." Shaanxi said.
"Tomorrow there shall be the daily greeting so all the members of the harem and the Inner Court shall converge here in the Central Palace." Empress Han said.
"Yes Your Highness." Shaanxi said.
"Yang Jieyu's time in the Palace seems to have come to a rather awful end and now for the sins that she has committed against the Imperial family and the dynasty I shall act with her accordingly." She asserted as she smiled at herself ghastly.
"Yes Your Highness." Shaanxi muttered as she bowed her head and withdrew from the room at once and left the latter alone.
It was very early in the morning and Yang Jieyu seated in front of her mirror Xiaoyang walked in.
"It's nearly time for the daily greeting." She said.
"If I have calculated everything right, it must be today that the Empress shall act.
"It may seem so." Xiaoyang replied, "all the members of the harem and the Inner Court are present Ma'am save for the Empress Dowager." She added.
"You shall send Manyin over to His Majesty as it is I am not feeling well he should know." Yang Jieyu ordered.
"Rest assured Ma'am." Xiaoyang said.
"We shouldn't keep everyone waiting." Yang Jieyu mentioned and at that very moment she got up from where she was seated and she sashayed out of the room while the latter followed her outside.
The Imperial concubines and Consorts having gathered at the Empress' main hall they offered her their salutations.
"Greetings Your Highness." They said in unison.
"Thank you so much." Empress Han replied as her eyes looked around the place.
"How come I can not see Yang Jieyu anywhere?" She asked.
"She's on her way." Shaanxi replied and hardly had she spoken when that latter was shown into the hall and seeing her she smiled.
"Finally you are here Jieyu." The Empress said.
"Greetings Your Highness " she said gracefully.
"There's no need to act so formal." Empress Han said.
"Your Highness is the Empress, how could I abandon decorum before my very own superior?" She inquired when the latter smiled at her.
"Today I must say to you all that someone amongst us has committed a very grave sin and lied to not only His Majesty but to also the entire Nation." She Said.
"Who could be that brazen?" Zhong Furen asked.
"Do you really not know Yang Jieyu asked.
"Pardon me Your Highness but who would do such an outrageous thing?" Yang Jieyu asked.
"You tell us Yang Jieyu." Empress Han said when she looked at Shaanxi and at that moment the Imperial physician being led in along with the girl that had been captured by Shaanxi's spies they were each exposed to everyone that was present.
"Tell us Sir." Empress Han said.
"Yesterday night I got into Yang Jieyu's Chambers on Her Highness' orders and I was asked to examine the condition of both the mother and the child in her womb." The man said.
"What is this?" Yang Jieyu inquired.
"Silence." The Empress loudly rebuked her.
"After a much closer inspection I realised that being about three months pregnant by now the slippery pulse coming from her womb could be detected but I was very shocked myself as there wasn't any it's likely that the symptoms I had detected a couple of months before were self induced and Yang Jieyu had a phantom pregnancy." The physician replied.
"Do you have any idea what you are saying?" Yang Jieyu asked.
"I should be asking you that question?" Empress Han asked in the presence of everyone else.
"Your Highness, they merely wish to slander me with their false accusations that you couldn't possibly listen to what they are saying." Yang Jieyu pleaded.
"Perhaps we should not listen." Empress Han said and looking at the young woman that was close by Shaanxi brought her.
"Who is she?" Yang Jieyu inquired.
"You shall even pretend to not know that you are really one cunning bitch." Empress Han said, "you hired a girl that was expecting so that soon enough at the time of delivery you would use her child and lie to the Emperor that it belongs to him." The Empress said.
"Your Majesty, such is a very big accusation, please rescind your words I beg of you." Yang Jieyu pleaded.
"You shall be dragged out of here and beheaded at once." Empress Han said.
"No." Yang Jieyu protested.
Emperor Ningzong on his way to the daily assembly he was intercepted by Manyin who was panicking.
"Your Majesty if I may?" She requested.
"What's the matter with you?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Milady Yang Jieyu." She replied.
"What about her?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"She isn't feeling well and she went to offer her daily salutations to the Empress that I am worried." Manyin replied.
"When did this happen?" He asked.
"Since yesterday." Manyin replied.
"Your Majesty, we shall be late for the daily assembly." Eunuch Deng said.
"Let's first stop by the Central Palace." The Emperor said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Gong replied when they changed their route and they were followed by Manyin.
"Pardon me Your Highness but I don't know what you are talking about." The captive girl said.
"You insolent fool." Shaanxi said as she slapped her.
"Please reconsider Your Highness." Yang Jieyu still pleaded.
"What more excuses do you plan to use?" The Empress asked when all of a sudden the girl spoke up to everyone.
"I am not even pregnant Your Highness." She said when the whole room froze at once.
"What?" Empress Han asked and Yang Jieyu breaking free from the Ladies in waiting that were holding her she rushed to the Imperial physician.
"Please check my pulse again." She said to him.
"What do you hope to achieve by doing this?" The man asked.
"Just check it." She yelled on top of her voice offering her hand to him.
"I don't wish to be an accomplice of a criminal." The man protested when she turned to other Concubines that were present.
"Who of you can read a pulse?" she asked.
"You must have lost it to think that a slippery pulse shall miraculously appear from your womb." The Empress said until one of the girls volunteering she held her hand and the Empress watching for a moment the expression on her face changed.
"Your Highness?" She cried.
"What is it?" She asked.
"There's a slippery pulse." She said.
"What?" Everyone murmured amongst themselves that the Imperial physician getting close enough he inspected her and the results made him speechless that very instant.
"Is it true?" Empress Han asked.
"Forgive me Your Highness." The man responded when all the ladies so shocked Yang Jieyu exhausted with her hands and head facing the ground a silence prevailed.
"Hahahahahahahaha." She laughed evilly while crying as all the Ladies of the harem and the inner Court watched her while the Empress Han looked embarrassed that very instant.
"I must have lost it to think that a slippery pulse shall miraculously appear from your womb your Highness asserted." She said as she raised her eyes and fiercely looked at her.