"Hahahahahahahaha." She laughed evilly as all the Ladies of the harem and the inner Court watched her while the Empress Han looked embarrassed.
"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
"You hate me that much Your Highness, you really want me dead that much?" Yang Jieyu asked while everyone kept quiet and her hands still on the ground she looked up at her hatred burning through her eyes.
"What did I do to deserve the cold side that Your Highness has given me, what have I done wrong to anger you or turn you against me?" She asked.
"There were rumours in the Inner Court and as the Empress I had to confirm to get rid of any suspicion." Empress Han excused herself.
"Then you would have asked me Your Highness there are many physicians within the palace and each of them is as qualified you could as well send your order and they would have listened but to drag me out here in front of the Imperial Concubines and Consorts, Imperial Princesses and the the Court Ladies Your Majesty ashames me and accuses me of lying to His Majesty in the open which crime is equal to treason." Yang Jieyu said as she stood up.
"You have your answer Your Highness and they have all seen, you rule the harem and the inner Court yet listen to rumours without concrete evidence and nurse baseless accusations you defy decorum...." She was still saying when Shaanxi walking up to her she slapped her.
"How dare you talk to the Empress like that?" She raised her voice and Yang Jieyu staggering she turned her eyes and looked at her angrily.
"Because I am a mere Concubine there's nothing I can do." She said as she turned around and swiftly she walked out of the Palace and left everyone else startled while the Empress was quietly seated.
Xiaoyang following her Manyin was approaching from a distance with the Emperor and seeing them from the corner of her eyes, tears started to flow ceaselessly while she stood at the top of the staircase and held her forehead.
"Maha are you listening?" She thought to herself while she looked about the place.
"Are you alright Ma'am?" Xiaoyang asked her.
"Forgive me my dear but I have come so far now to get everything I shall do whatever it takes to get what I want." She thought inwardly when the Emperor noticed that it seemed as though her head was spinning.
"Mei'er?" He called her but she ignored him and letting go of herself intentionally she skipped a step and like that she rolled down the stairs with bruises forming with every impact all seven of them completed she was a casualty faking consciousness while Xiaoyang and the Emperor along with the two retinues rushed to her aid.
"Mei'er?" The Emperor called her as he shook her body while she didn't respond and at that moment the doors of the Central Palace being flung open the Empress Han emerged at the top of the staircase while the Emperor raised his eyes and looked at her fiercely.
"Your Majesty........" She said as she noticed the fair and vulnerably looking Yang Jieyu fallen onto the ground in the young man's arms.
"I'll take her to the Grand Palace." The Emperor said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied and the others who were nearby helped him bear her on his back as he quietly walked away while the Empress looked frightened.
"We are in big trouble Your Highness." Zhong Furen muttered to her.
"She played me." Empress Han said under her breath, "she played me." She added desperately.
"What are we going to do Your Highness, the situation is out of hand?" Shaanxi said.
"I don't know." Empress Han replied and Yang Jieyu being placed in the Emperor's Chambers the Imperial physician that Master Bao had sent her rushed in with his equipment in his possession as the Emperor quickly turned to him.
"How is she?" He asked.
"Allow me to examine." The physician said as he sat beside her and picking her hand he took her pulse as the young man eagerly waited.
"Your Majesty, it's already time for the Daily Assembly." Eunuch Deng said to him.
"How is it that I could possibly just leave her in this state, for the time being you shall inform the Courtiers that something happened in the Inner Court." He said, "they shall have to come back the day after tomorrow." Emperor Ningzong added.
"Yes." Eunuch Deng muttered as he withdrew from the room while the Emperor turned his attention back to Yang Jieyu.
"How is she?" He asked the physician.
"Forgive me Your Majesty her fall was rather severe that at this rate it's hard to tell when she will regain her consciousness." The man replied.
"Your Majesty if I may be brazen?" Manyin said.
"What is it?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"What does She know Your Majesty, the Empress was coercing her inside the Main hall of the Central Palace." Xiaoyang said.
"What do you mean to say?" The Emperor asked.
"Her Highness the Empress in front of the Inner Court and the harem made false allegations that Yang Jieyu was not pregnant and that she rather had a phantom pregnancy and she arranged to pay a certain expecting young woman beyond the Palace walls to have her child delivered and brought into the palace as your own." Xiaoyang said.
"What nonsense is this?" The Emperor Ningzong furiously asked.
"The Empress was about to have her beheaded had it not been for the young woman to confess that she wasn't pregnant at all and the physician to re check her pulse after another of the concubines concluded that she'd detected a slippery pulse......" She was still saying when the Emperor interfered.
"The Empress what?" He asked.
"It is as you have heard Your Majesty, she threatened to have Milady beheaded....." She responded and halting halfway the Emperor looked at her and clenched his fists.
"Listen to what I have to say." He said.
"Your Majesty." Everyone present said in unison.
"I shall have a word with the Empress." He muttered as he got up from Yang Jieyu's bedside and furiously he rushed out of the room leaving her alone with the Imperial physician who trying to cover her, he got closer while she held his arm and opened her eyes.
"Ma'am?" He whispered under his breath.
"Get rid of this child." She said.
"What?" The man asked.
"Induce a miscarriage." She replied.
"The fall was rather hard Ma'am at this rate if I do you could..." He was still saying when she interrupted him.
"I have gotten everything through toil and I have come this far even if it has to cost me my life, you shall do as I say as long as I make the Empress collapse." Yang Jieyu concluded and the latter pulling away from her he opened his box and out of it he picked a small needle.
"Be strong Ma'am, I can't guarantee that you shall make it but this shall surely hurt." He whispered as he pierced her and slowly she gained unconsciousness.
Empress Han still seated in her Chambers she heard Shaanxi cry
"Your Majesty please appease your anger." She said but the latter not listening he furiously flung the doors open and charged in.
"Your Majesty." Empress Han said standing up and bowing her head to her.
"What is this that I am hearing?" She asked.
"Pardon me...?" She was still saying when he raised his voice.
"Haven't I already been too lenient?" He asked.
"There were merely rumours that were going around the palace and I had to confirm them myself which is why I asked Yang Jieyu to be present and confess if she wasn't pregnant." She replied.
"The Palace has way too many Imperial physicians you could have had her tested a number of times even before this day and it's not like she had anything to hide to begin with I thought you of all people did understand her position I was clearly mistaken and I have come to regret it." The Emperor said.
"I understand that Your Majesty is furious." She said.
"So what you went ahead and ordered for her to be beheaded despite knowing her condition I trusted you knew that it would compromise the health of both the mother and the child yet you went ahead to use such a crude and cruel means to reassure the people when everyone confesses that she was clearly coerced?" The Emperor asked.
"I admit my fault Your Majesty." Empress Han confessed, "I listened to the rumours and I was a bit harsh on her." She added as she fell onto his knees and ceased his clothes while he pulled them away.
"You are the Empress and the mother of the nation, I was even going to make the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun the Heir apparent to the Dragon throne trusting in your moral restraint I believed you to be a very understanding person you'd refrain from hurting her because even when I was reluctant she pleaded for you." He said while she kept quiet.
"Your Majesty?" She said.
"You are a disgrace to the world, you are a disgrace to the Imperial family, you are a disgrace to the Imperial Prince and you are a very big disgrace to me." He said to her while she let go of his cloak.
"If it is so that Your Majesty takes it to be." She said.
"I shall seek out every detail from this room however big or small, I am going to get everything that happened here in front of the Inner Court Your Highness and should any harm befall the Imperial child or Yang Jieyu, I promise that I shall destroy you with my bare hands." He said to her.
"Your Majesty?" She cried.
"Don't force me to forget that you are a relative of the Left Chancellor." He said to her as he continued his way and Shaanxi seeing how distraught the Empress was she rushed over towards her and helped her onto her feet.
"Your Majesty?" She cried but he couldn't even spare her a glance as he negotiated a corner and vanished from sight.
Princess Qi'an walking through the gardens of her residence she was inspecting the flowers and pruning them while she hummed a beautiful melody that set her mind at ease.
"Your Highness?" Lanhui shouted that the latter was derailed and she looked at her rather desperate expression.
"What is it?" The Princess asked.
"Something urgent happened in the palace." She replied.
"What could it be at this time?" The Princess asked.
"Let's get inside first Your Highness." Lanhui said and the latter complying they got into her Chambers while she sat down.
"You can now tell me." She said.
"The Empress threw a tantrum and claimed that Yang Jieyu was not pregnant and even nearly had her executed on the charges of lying to the Emperor and the country." Lanhui replied.
"She must have been out of her mind." Princess Qi'an pointed out.
"She seemed certain that it's likely that she had her own evidence which was falsified that it's likely she just happened to fall into Yang Jieyu's trap." Lanhui responded.
"Her capabilities make her rather fierce." Princess Qi'an remarked.
"She is in deed as fierce as they say." Lanhui pointed out.
"When I think about it though what would the Empress use to get out of this already dire situation?" The Princess asked.
"Truthfully as I was informed Yang Jieyu collapsed and fell off the stairs and she is still unconscious as we speak I fear that at the very worst this could hit the Empress so hard she could even collapse." Lanhui said.
"Then inform Lady Cao." Princess Qi'an said.
"Yes Your Highness." Lanhui replied.
"We'll need her to be ready to act soon." She added as she smiled at herself.
The Emperor getting into his study he was accompanied by Eunuchs Beiyuan and Deng along with Lan He.
"Your Majesty?" Lan He spoke up when he interfered.
"I have been too lenient with the Empress." He said.
"But this is an issue that we can't act hastily about." Eunuch Deng said.
"I also agree with him Your Majesty." Beiyuan muttered.
"I need to know all the details before I pass judgement onto the Empress as I am very sure that Han Touzhou and his clique shall each demand an explanation should the worst come to the worst I intend to look into this matter myself that the Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Palace is to be excluded from this matter." The Emperor said.
"How so Your Majesty?" Eunuch Deng asked.
"I shall leave it to you, get all your trustworthy Eunuchs and go out to all the Imperial Consorts and Concubines and in your presence make sure that they write and confess in detail everything that happened in the hall." The Emperor said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng and Beiyuan replied in unison as they withdrew leaving the Emperor alone with Lan He.
"What shall I do Your Majesty?" He asked.
"Deploy a group of Imperial guards and have them surround the Empress' Palace." The Emperor replied.
"Your Majesty, to get men too far in the heart of the harem...." He was still saying when the Emperor interrupted.
"This is a state of emergency and what's worse is that at this rate the Empress very desperate might concoct means to try and escape her judgement which is something I can not allow to happen even if I know that the Imperial Censors shall censure me we shall regard this a family affair that doesn't require their unnecessary scrutiny lest they shall additionally be violating the very decree I issued to warn against this." Emperor Ningzong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Lan He replied as he got out of the room.
"Eunuch Deng along with Beiyuan guiding a group of other Eunuchs and ladies in waiting each bearing a tray with a piece of paper and a brush about fifty in number, they moved out to the Concubines quarters while Lan He mounting the stairs that led to a platform that overlooked the Imperial guards he had gathered, he faced them.
"Listen to His Majesty's orders all of you." He said as they stood at attention.
"You shall surround and secure the Central Palace and no one is to go in or out without the Emperor's permission." He said.
"Yes Sir." They replied in unison as they immediately set out of the building and moving towards the Central Palace, having arrived at once in lines of two they scattered and surrounded the whole place while they stood at attention.
"His Majesty suspending the daily assembly is in deed something very strange." Han Touzhou muttered as he lowered himself in his seat with Lin Xue.
"I heard that it is something to do with Yang Jieyu but I am deficient in the details we'll have to wait a while to receive some news." He said.
"Well done." Han Touzhou remarked.
"Why does Your Excellency seem bothered though?" He inquired.
"I don't know how to say this but I can't help it but feel uneasy about it." Han Touzhou replied.
"Your Highness?" Shaanxi cried as she made her way before the Empress.
"What is it?" She asked in a lowly tone.
"His Majesty has dispatched a whole regiment of Imperial guards to surround your Palace." Shaanxi replied while the latter looking at the candle in front of her she closed her eyes and sighed in dismay.
"He must really love her so much." She said.
"You must persevere Your Highness." Shaanxi said to her.
"What's there to persevere about?" The Empress asked, "by now the whole capital should be bustling with lots of rumours about me everyone must think me to be a jealous woman and what's worse is that Yang Jieyu has won which is most painful to me." She added.
"Your uncle is behind you Your Highness you must still persevere." Shaanxi said to her while she in turn kept quiet.
Emperor Ningzong seated in his study Eunuch Deng walked in with the other Eunuchs and carrying each the testimonies of all the Imperial Concubines and Consorts as well as the servants that were present they immediately lowered them on the table in front of him.
"Your Majesty." They said while he picked a couple of samples and looking through each one of them he clenched his fists in fury.
"Could the Empress really stoop so low and be this cruel?" He asked.
"They each admitted in their own words that she coerced Yang Jieyu and that she was behind every allegation and to make matters worse despite her denial of all the charges that were placed upon her, she still insisted to use her iron hand and influence in the harem." Eunuch Deng replied.
"What did the Imperial physician say?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"He committed suicide by poison by the time we got to him to demand his testimony that it's likely having worked on the orders of the Empress we can not rule out the fact that he was silenced to keep other devious secrets Her Highness must have had." Eunuch Deng replied and placing the papers on the table, the Emperor took a deep breath and he sighed.
"There was really so much that I didn't know about the Empress until now." Emperor Ningzong Said.
"Pardon me Sire." Eunuch Deng asserted in his most sombre tone.
"Your Majesty?" There was a very loud cry coming from outside when at that moment the doors of the room being flung open Beiyuan rushed in and fell before him on his knees.
"What are you doing?" The Emperor asked.
"Yang Jieyu." The Emperor replied.
"What about her?" He asked concerned at that very moment at the edge of his seat.
"The Imperial child has been miscarried." He said when the young man shot up from his seat.
"What?" He shouted on top of his voice.
"Yang Jieyu is in a very critical condition due to the excessive bleeding." He added that the latter stumbling and nearly falling Eunuch Deng supported him.
"Your Majesty?" He said concerned.
"Let's hurry to her." He said as he walked out of the room at once and being accompanied with his retinue he rushed across the palace until he arrived at the complex where Yang Jieyu was and running he stopped outside where a couple of physicians were moving in and rushing out.
"Your Majesty." They halted as they noticed him and they bowed their heads to show their respect which he gave little attention as he mounted the stairs and sliding the doors open he saw her on the bed shivering for a moment he froze.
"Mei'er?" He called her while the physician around stepped aside the rest having gathered the bloodstained clothes and sheets on her bed and preparing to take them out she looked weakly at him.
"Your Majesty." She lightly muttered underneath her struggling voice with bags under her eyes her lips were pale and dry she had grown strangely thin at that moment he quickly rushed over to her side and ceased her.
"No." He cried, "this can't happen." He said.
"Why Your Majesty?" She asked.
"You can not leave me Ma'am." He said, "you must hold on and persevere please don't leave me." He said.
"How is my baby?" She asked.
"Our child is fine." He lied in tears.
"I want to see him grow up to become a very strong and carefree Prince like yourself Your Majesty." Yang Jieyu spoke weakly as she shivered and sweated profusely.
"Our child is waiting for you to save him you must hold on." He said as he hugged her tightly.
"Your Majesty." The latter said.
"Don't say a word." He responded while she let go of him and her hand falling he could feel her response having ceased for a moment his eyes widened while he pulled apart from her and the physician checking her pulse the Emperor was himself already traumatized and speechless.
"Your Majesty, she's in a coma." He said that the young man at a loss of strength he offered his hand to Beiyuan who held him while he struggled to stand up as his eyes travelled back to the very clothes that were bloodstained next to him .
"I'm sorry Your Majesty, I deserve to be killed." The physician said.
"She miscarried?" He asked.
"She couldn't take the pressure and the shock at all she was already weak and her body was strained combined with the heavy fall I tried my best but her child, her baby just couldn't be saved." He replied and the latter closing his eyes in disappointment he shed a tear.
"There's no need waiting for the day after tomorrow." Emperor Ningzong said as he turned to Eunuch Deng.
"Your Majesty?" He responded.
"Inform the Imperial Court that there shall be a daily Assembly tomorrow." The Emperor said.
"Yes Your Majesty." He replied as he got out of the room while the young man turned around and he looked at Yang Jieyu who was unconscious at the moment before he walked out.
The Courtiers earlier the next day were led through the palace to the Grand Hall and holding their ceremonial tablets they mounted the stairs in groups of four as they each took their positions in the room themselves rather surprised.
Once they were in they gathered in cliques and began murmuring amongst each other when the doors of the room were instantly flung open.
"His Majesty the Emperor." Eunuch Deng announced and at once the young man made his way through the aisle that everyone seemed rather surprised when they beheld him out of the usual Court attire and wearing his Imperial Dragon coronation robes as well as the twelve beaded crown.
Slowly mounting the stairs that led to his throne he turned around and faced them before he sat down.
"Long Live Your Majesty." They said in unison while he raised his hand and signalled for them to stand at ease which they did.
"Its great to see that you are all here." He said.
"All the officials are gathered Your Majesty it must be an important occasion for the State." Han Touzhou pointed out.
"It is." Emperor Ningzong replied.
"Please enlighten us Your Majesty." Minister Xia and a few more said in unison.
"As you are all aware I happened to suspend the Assembly yesterday as something had come up in the harem and the Inner Court it wasn't something to be taken lightly I have therefore made up my mind and come to this resolution." The Emperor said and everyone falling silent at that moment, the young man sighed.
"In the first year of the Qingyuan era 1194 I blessed the Crown Princess of the Han Clan and made her my Empress, I trusted that she was Virtuous and exemplary a mother of this nation and that she would capably manage the harem." He pointed out.
"Is Your Majesty regretful?" Han Touzhou asked.
"The reason that I summoned you here is because I wished to discuss with you all the Deposal of the Empress." He said and everyone surprised they broke into murmurs.
"Your Majesty, deposing the Empress?" Han Touzhou asked.
"Yes." Emperor Ningzong assured them and the old Courtiers murmurs only got louder while the Emperor looked on.
"Your Majesty can not wake up one morning and wish to depose the Empress without a reason, which grave crime is it that she has committed to deserve such a cruel punishment?" Minister Xia asked.
"Such a cruel punishment?" He asked as he smirked and looking at Eunuch Deng and nodding his head, the Eunuchs walked into the hall bearing with themselves the testimonies which they had gathered from the Imperial concubines and Consorts.
They stopped in front of each of the first fifty officials and these took the letters into their hands and read through their contents while the Emperor silently watching them he was about to explode with fury.
"Surely here goes the most benevolent mother of the nation, here goes the ruler of the harem and she misuses her authority and slanders other Concubines and Consorts she is no different from a tyrant." The Emperor furiously asserted.
"Your Majesty, we understand that the Empress has committed a grave sin......." Han Touzhou spoke up.
"But she above everyone else should learn from her mistakes." Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi interfered.
"As a mother of the nation Her Highness is supposed to be exemplary I fear that her conduct has shown the highest degree of savagery and incivility." Shi Miyuan seconded.
"When the Empress reprimands a concubine and accuses her falsely she nearly killed the Emperor's woman without a proper excuse Your Majesty we can not look aside." Wengong added his opinion.
"Regardless of the crime that she has committed she's still a mother of this nation." Han Touzhou pointed out.
"Which is why I seem her no longer fit for this position." Emperor Ningzong said.
"Please reconsider Your Majesty." All the other supporters of Han Touzhou said in unison.
"Don't force my hand." The Emperor demanded.
"The Jieyu survived death there's not much left to hold the Empress accountable as the truth was revealed and the Empress was literally trying to confirm the rumours that were circulating about the capital." Han Touzhou pointed out.
"Should I report to you entirely the rationale of this move, should I expose the malice of the Empress to the world and indirectly hurt the prestige of the Imperial Prince?" He asked.
"Your Majesty...." Minister Xia still speaking up he raised his hand and silenced him.
"Because the Empress was inconsiderate she called for Yang Jieyu to offer her daily greetings even if she wasn't feeling there and reaching in the main hall in front of the entire Inner Court she embarassed her by putting false charges of lying to me about her pregnancy on her despite the fact that she yelled in protest and tried to defend herself the Empress was determined to have her beheaded even the executioners were ready.
That's not all you loyal ministers of the Great Song your very virtuous and moral and achieving Empress went ahead and to manipulate the Imperial physician and after brought in a girl she asserted was expecting yet she wasn't and claimed that Yang Jieyu paid her to have her child delivered and brought to the palace." He talked on top of his voice while everyone fell silent feeling the rage and the fury that was radiating from his body.
"The Empress must have been crazy but her duty and her role demands that she'd be understanding and what's worse when Yang Jieyu walked out of that room she collapsed and rolled down the staircase after which she was heavily bruised yesterday night she miscarried and her condition was critical in the past eight hours she has been in a coma fighting for her life because of the Empress' mistake I am left to ask you if you have the audacity to censure me and claim that the punishment for the Empress is too cruel aren't you equally trying to imply that a devious and malicious woman such as herself was right and blameless?" He asked.
"Your Majesty should depose the Empress." Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi said.
"If Your Majesty doesn't punish the Empress then it shall reflect badly on your reputation." Wengong said.
"Please depose Her Highness." Yang Jieyu's supporters shouted in unison and Han Touzhou looking all around at his enemies he could only watch silently without even daring to protest against the already infuriated men.
The Assembly being dismissed Princess Qi'an in her quarters Lanhui rushed in.
"Your Highness, the situation has gotten out of hand for the Empress." She pointed out.
"Really?" The young woman asked.
"The Courtiers are infuriated, the life of the Imperial seed was compromised and Yang Jieyu is currently in a coma since her condition exacerbated the previous night I heard that the Emperor confronted the ministers and delivered the testimonies from the Imperial Consorts and Concubines and declared his intent to depose the Empress." Lanhui said.
"Really?" The latter sought clarity.
"Yes " Lanhui confirmed.
"How spectacular!" The Princess remarked, "first my mother was banished to the Cold Palace and now the Empress will be deposed, Yang Jieyu has some hard luck and her cards have ultimately paid off." Princess Qi'an pointed out.
"Surely." Lanhui replied, "but we needn't forget that Han Touzhou benefits the most from the Empress' presence in the Palace he wouldn't easily let her collapse." She added.
"You are right but what more can he do to save the Empress?" Princess Qi'an asked.
"Truthfully speaking, I don't know myself either." Lanhui replied.
"His Majesty has sufficient evidence to topple the Empress and root out her power in the Inner Court but if her title is forsaken if he pushes for Yang Jieyu to become an Empress ultimately it shall be to our very own disadvantage." Princess Qi'an said.
"We can't let that happen Your Highness." Lanhui pointed out.
"Definitely but there's another opportunity at hand that we could manipulate." Princess Qi'an said.
"Does Your Highness have anything in mind?" She asked.
"We couldn't possibly kill Yang Jieyu even if we wanted at this time all her supporters would be very cautious and if we are hasty we could collapse with the Empress it's much better if we sought out Han Touzhou's assistance." The Princess responded.
"How could we after what he did to your mother?" Lanhui asked.
"It doesn't matter anymore and it's already done we can not change a thing but what matters is the fact that if we allow the Empress to be annihilated then Yang Jieyu will only become more powerful in the harem we need to buy time before the Empress' flame is stumped out." Princess Qi'an said.
"If your Highness wills it." Lanhui said.
"I need to talk to Han Touzhou in person." The Princess said and Lanhui hesitantly she stood up and bowed her head before she withdrew from the room leaving the young woman alone.
The physician still tending to Yang Jieyu she opened her eyes all of a sudden and looked at the ceiling.
"Ma'am, can you recognize me?" He asked.
"Yes." She replied while the latter smiled.
"Her Grace has finally regained consciousness." He said to Beiyuan who sighed in relief and smiled as he moved over to Manyin.
"Yang Jieyu is awake, make haste to inform His Majesty." He said to her while the latter bowing her head she ran all the way up to the Emperor's study where she got in before him.
"Your Majesty." She said with a smile on her face.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Yang Jieyu has regained consciousness." She said and the young man hearing this he immediately got up and rushed through the doors making his way to the side Chamber of the Grand Palace, he caught sight of her seated in bed while she was sipping a bowl of medicine.
"Your Majesty." She said weakly when she saw him that he rushed over to her immediately and pulling her into a hug he tightly embraced her.
"Mei'er my beautiful one." He said, "I thought that I had lost you." He added while she also returned his hug with a sincere one as well.
"Why are you crying Sure?" She asked him while he pulled apart and looked into her eyes.
"Do you really want to know?" He asked.
"No." She replied.
"I'll tell you nonetheless that for a moment I was scared that I would never see you, that for a moment I was scared that the next place I would be standing was close to your coffin and that for a moment I feared that I was going to be alone for the rest of my life.
"Don't worry Your Majesty, I won't be going anywhere soon." She said, "I hope that in the next couple of months you would proudly hold the child in my womb and smile, that you would forget the pain and the darkness that you have been through." She said to him as she looked him in the eye for a moment feeling sorry he couldn't help it but touch her cheek.
"You are very right." He said as he studied the faint glow in them.
"I want to give you many princes and Princesses Your Majesty." She said to him.
"And you certainly will." The Emperor said to her while the Imperial physician and the others got out of the room and they left the two together.
"I was the only child begotten of my mother's dearest bosom Your Majesty, I was too young and innocent, slightly past juvenile fatuity, I resented the world so much that I realised it could only return hatred to me I in turn opted to be a much better person." She whispered to him.
"Then I am to blame for your pain." The Emperor muttered.
"No Your Majesty." She replied, "not at all." Yang Jieyu defended.
"Who has caused you to suffer more than I have?" He asked
"It is because I want to be good Your Majesty, it is because I love being so good, it's because I couldn't win over the Empress' affections regardless of how hard I arrived, because my Sire I was too disloyal a subject that failed to be loved by your people." Yang Jieyu blamed herself.
"Who has shed more tears for me in this world than you have?" He inquired.
"Not the Empress Your Majesty, not that I even understand why she resents me so much, why she would be so cruel to not see my calm and good resolve." She responded.
"I have been too lenient and perhaps because of that she has tested my limits and pushed so far beyond them." Emperor Ningzong concluded.
"This is the harem Your Majesty, whether young or old we youthful women and your dearest flowers live or die for you." She asserted.
"But I don't want you to die for me Mei'er, I want everything that is seen and unseen in my whole world, in my whole kingdom to belong to you, I want to set you so high above any other man and woman, above any star and moon or ant sun." He said to her as he tightly held her close to his chest.
"But I shall ail where my heart can not rest beside yours Your Majesty, the Empress defames you both as a monarch and a father of this nation I don't mind that but if you retaliate the people will say that I bewitched you and should her actions be made known to the world then I fear that none shall be more humiliated than yourself Sire." She pleaded.
"I can forgive any of her sins past and present, but the most unforgivable that the Empress committed was to cause you to shed a tear which crime to me can not go unpunished." He said.
"Your Majesty..." Yang Jieyu still speaking he was interrupted.
"I won't hear it anymore because you shall not protect the Empress as this is my order." He said as he tightened his grip around her and fury radiating off his body she could feel it flowing through his veins, poisonous she had set a fatal pace and the femme fatale in her having blossomed, she smiled ghastly where she knew his eyes could not see.
A short while later the Emperor got out of the room a short while later and Eunuch Deng hurrying over to his side he turned to Manyin and all the other attendants.
"Poor her she thinks that she's still pregnant if she finds out that she miscarried it shall certainly break her heart." He said.
"Your Majesty..." Beiyuan speaking up he halted him with his hand.
"None of you is to mention a word to her about her miscarriage unless I permit you to do so." He ordered.
"Yes." They replied in unison as he went his way leaving each one of them puzzled.
Manyin getting into the room she found her mistress quietly seated.
"Ma'am?" She called to her concerned.
"I have heard everything that has been happening." She said while the young girl got closer and fell onto her knees.
"We were so worried that you wouldn't make it." She said.
"I have yet to destroy Han Touzhou and the rest of his kin there's no way on earth and in heaven that I would probably rest in eternal peace before that is achieved." She responded.
"His Majesty is bent on having the Empress deposed and even if her supporters are against it, she acted out of line this time round and fell in a trap she couldn't possibly save herself from even if she wanted they should sooner or later accept that she is already collapsing." Manyin muttered.
"We can't be too sure about anything." Yang Jieyu said.
"What more can we do Ma'am?" Manyin asked.
"It's good enough that the Empress looks bad let's make her look a lot much worse than that." She responded.
"How?" Manyin asked.
"Eunuch Gong shall be a big help to us." Yang Jieyu muttered as she smiled at herself ghastly.
The Emperor arriving in his Chambers he sat down behind his table where he noticed at that moment that there was a handkerchief and on it there were the characters for Eunuch Gong's name.
"Anyone?" He called.
"Yes?" Eunuch Deng replied as he made his way up to him.
"It's been a while ever since I have seen Eunuch Gong and if I vividly remember I don't recall sighting him anywhere close to the Empress' palace." He pointed out.
"It's been a while I think about a month or more since he disappeared and strangely enough the Empress didn't happen to report a thing or two on his strange disappearance." Eunuch Deng replied.
"How strange!" The Emperor exclaimed when Beiyuan getting closer having eavesdropped their conversation.
"If I may Your Majesty?" He requested.
"Have you sighted him anywhere?" He asked.
"The last time that I happened to see him he was in the bushes behind his quarters but it was very late at night he told me that he had spotted a snake and he was trying to kill it but I found him quite suspicious as he was frightened it seemed to me that he was rather hiding something." He said.
"What would Superintendent Gong have to hide so desperate?" Eunuch Deng inquired from him.
"How would I possibly know?" The young man asked.
"Superintendent Gong vanished he was very close with the Empress however if he was hiding something then we must find out whatever it was." Emperor Ningzong said.
"I'll look around his Chambers and I shall see what we could possibly find." Eunuch Deng said as he bowed to the Emperor and he immediately withdrew from the room leaving the young man still perturbed while Beiyuan studying his expression he excused himself as well.
"The situation is getting out of hand Your Excellency." Lin Xue said as they say down at his table.
"The Empress' crown is at stake I have that hussy to thank as I can't help but wonder how it was that she made the Empress' haste have the very best of her." Han Touzhou muttered in absolute distress.
"All that said she really is a big problem to us all." Lin Xue muttered.
"Even if we tried getting rid of her now the Emperor would instead become more furious she has him entirely wrapped around her finger there's not much that we could possibly do." Han Touzhou pointed out.
"There has to be another way." Lin Xue pointed out.
"I can't seem to think of any." Han Touzhou responded when the doors of the room were opened and through them one of his servants walked in.
"Your Excellency, someone is here requesting to have an audience with you." He said.
"Someone?" He asked puzzled.
"Yes." The young man confirmed.
"Let them in." He said and the latter withdrawing from the room a short while later someone wearing a veil over their heads walked in and pulling it off she revealed herself to them.
"My Princess?" He said surprised.
"Yes Your Excellency." Princess Qi'an replied and Lin Xue startled as well she got close enough for them to confirm with their own eyes while they fell silent.
"Aren't you going to welcome me?" She inquired and Lin Xue moving to the side she sat down in front of him for a moment looking into his eyes while he also tried to figure out what it was that she was probably thinking.
"Leave us." She ordered Lin Xue.
"Your Highness....?" Himself speaking in protest Han Touzhou interfered.
"Do as she says." He ordered and the latter hesitant he got out of the room leaving the Princess and the old man all alone.
"What is it that you wish to see me about?" He asked.
"There's something I am very sure is bothering you." She replied.
"Is it about the Empress?" He asked.
"Apart from Her Highness what else is more troubling at the very moment?" Princess Qi'an responded.
"I see." he muttered.
"Now that you know I shall get down to what brought me here." She said.
"What have you to offer this old man?" He asked.
"The Empress is collapsing which is her inevitable and unfortunate end Your Excellency." Princess Qi'an replied.
"If you are here to tell me this then you can show yourself out Your Highness." He furiously spoke.
"I understand what the collapse of the Empress could mean to you and I am not sorry but before you can throw me out I have a preposition that you would find rather interesting yourself that is if you are willing to listen." She said.
"Looking at you you are very much like your mother and I remember how desperate and cunning she seemed back then when she asked me to help make your father the Crown Prince, you Your Highness, have you anything against me to blackmail me the same way she did?" He inquired.
"I won't blackmail you and the Empress' collapse is itself something good to me yet I must be concerned that if she goes I fear that in a matter of time the Nation shall need an Empress the last surviving woman in the Palace that is fierce and would ably take that position is my brother's favourite Yang Jieyu." The Princess replied.
"It's not that easy for her to become an Empress." Han Touzhou said.
"By now you must have realised that she is a common enemy and to think that she's alone there are those old conservative ministers that follow her with rumours that she is herself the Grand Empress Dowager Wu's probable successor she'd have the support of her supporters as well naturally." Princess Qi'an said as she leaned her head closer, "need you forget the Empress Liu like that toppled the Empress Meng and regardless of her weak and humble social background to the opposition of many the Emperor made her his Empress even if she was weak willed." She asserted.
"What have you to say to me?" Han Touzhou asked, "one way or another His Majesty wishes to have the Empress deposed and his is a legitimate reason what's worse is that the people already aware are on his side and if it's collapsing we are talking about then the Empress has no foundation." He said.
"The Empress doesn't have to be deposed." Princess Qi'an said.
"Are you listening to yourself Your Highness?" He asked.
"I shall tell you the plain truth Your Excellency and you shall judge from the sincerity of my words, if it is something that you could use to protect the position of the Empress then it is the sympathy of the world towards the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun." She replied.
"What?" He asked.
"The Crown Prince hasn't been designated Your Excellency and if His Majesty intends to protect the position of the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun and make him a Crown Prince, he'll ultimately have the support of the masses if his mother is still an Empress and who cares at the very least she would be banished from the Palace for eternity but it's better to keep her owner and dignity as the Empress of the country." Princess Qi'an said as she smiled at him while he thought about what she'd said to him carefully.
Lin Xue earnestly waiting outside the room the doors were opened and the Imperial Princess Qi'an descending the stairs she looked at him and smirked from the corner of her mouth while he bowed his head to her.
"For the time being I beg that you consider my offer because it's the only way that the Empress can keep her title and that's of you're willing to hear me out." She remarked as she continued and showed herself out of the compound.
Lin Xue rushing inside he found His master seated alone and lost in his own thoughts.
"Your Excellency." He said.
"Gather everyone and tell them to come and see me." He said.
"What?" Lin Xue asked.
"There's something very urgent that we should discuss." He said.
"Yes Your Excellency." Lin Xue hesitantly replied as he bowed his head while the Princess Qi'an reaching Lanhui she stood beside her.
"What did he say?" She inquired.
"It's not like he has an option." She replied as she smiled at herself ghastly before going further ahead.
Eunuch Deng and a couple of his subordinates along with the Imperial guards arrived outside Superintendent Gong's Chambers.
"Such around and within." He ordered and at once they scattered about the place looking for something he casually looked around the place while the other palace staff looked on from a distance wondering what was going on inside.
After a very short while one of the guards returned.
"There's something that we have discovered Milord." He said and the latter surprised he followed the man behind where they came to halt behind a hedge that was right behind Superintendent Gong's Chambers.
"What's here?" He asked when the man pointed at a small rope that was protruding from the ground amongst the branches which they got close to and Eunuch Deng ceasing it he tried to pull it out but found it rather hard.
"It's not coming out." He said.
"Perhaps we should dig around?" The men asked and the latter agreeing a couple of small hoes were brought in and they started digging around the role until finally they hit something very hard.
"It's around here." He said and continuing deeper he caught sight of a small iron trunk which he pulled out.
Immediately he had it cleaned he carried it with the others to the Emperor and laid it on his table.
"What's this?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"We went with some Eunuchs and Imperial guards and we searched Eunuch Gong's residence Your Majesty, we happened to find this buried behind the building so we got it out and cleaned it." Eunuch Deng replied as the Emperor ceased the box and opened it to look through its contents.
First seeing a couple of papers he pulled out each of them and while his eyes perused through he couldn't seem to believe what he was seeing himself dismayed he clenched his fists.
"What is wrong Your Majesty?" Eunuch Deng asked.
"Get all the able bodied men that you can find." Emperor Ningzong said.
"What?" He responded.
"We are going to do some digging around the Central Palace." He ordered.
"The Central Palace, isn't that......?" Eunuch Deng muttered.
"The Empress' Palace." The Emperor Ningzong replied infuriated.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng hesitantly replied as he bowed his head to him before he withdrew with Beiyuan from the room leaving Lan He and the young man alone in silence.