"You requested my presence so surely, there must be something you wish to say." He mentioned.
"Your Majesty may be aware of the reason as to why and neither shall we rush about it." Officer Jiang Chen replied and at that moment the criminals were dragged out in front of them along with the guards that were each bearing their confessions as they bowed their heads before them while Yang Guifei's gaze for a moment moved on to the Crown Princess that was next to her husband on the opposite side of the Emperor she smiled.
"I'll ask once, do you agree that you wrote these confessions?" Officer Jiang Chen inquired as he looked at Yang Guifei's ladies in waiting.
"Yes Your Excellency." They replied in unison.
"And in so you admit that you wrote them without any duress but just as you each claimed?" He asked the second time.
"Yes Your Excellency." The ladies replied in unison and Officer Jiang looking at Xiang Mu, he bore the letters up to the Emperor Ningzong and bowing his head, he offered them to the young Emperor who opened them and perused through.
His eyes for a moment widening with surprise he froze and lowered two of the letters back onto the tray.
"What is this Officer Jiang?" He asked.
"Your Majesty heard for yourself what these criminals had to say, they confessed that they were in deed ordered by Yang Guifei to bring the witchcraft and the dark materials into the Palace to harm the Crown Prince and frame the Crown Princess." Officer Jiang Chen replied.
"What?" Emperor Ningzong muttered.
"Yes Your Majesty." The latter replied and the Crown Princess looking at Yang Guifei who stared back at her she smiled ghastly.
"So this is your decision?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"What do you mean to say father?" The Crown Prince asked when Yang Guifei stood up from where she was seated.
"Your Majesty......." She was saying when he interrupted.
"I shall give you a chance to be sincere to me." He demanded as he looked at Officer Jiang.
"What does Your Majesty mean to say?" The latter inquired.
"Please Your Majesty don't." Yang Guifei said as she bowed her head to him.
"Why?" He asked her, "you are innocent and powerless, you are tolerant and because of that they trample you, your lowly origin makes you no match for me at least they think." The Emperor mentioned.
"Your Majesty?" The Crown Princess said.
"I won't hear what the State Tribunal has to say." Emperor Ningzong mentioned and everyone surprised they stared at themselves surprised.
"But Sire.........?" The Crown Princess called while his father interrupted.
"The Commander of the Imperial guards will report everything to me in detail." Emperor Ningzong mentioned and at once Lan He and his colleagues stepped out from the majority before everyone else setting in place a rather suspenseful atmosphere, Yang Guifei ceased the opportunity to return to her seat.
"Your Majesty." They said as they bowed their heads to him.
"I trust that you heard my Imperial order." He mentioned.
"Yes Your Majesty." Lan He replied.
"Tell me what transpired here." He demanded and the latter quietly he bowed his head for a moment while the Ministers of the State Tribunal started to inwardly panic.
"The Ladies of Yang Guifei did write confessions Your Majesty however the confessions before you aren't any of them." He mentioned.
"What?" Eunuch Deng muttered and the Crown Princess instantly frightened at that moment she stole a glimpse of the calm Yang Guifei that seemed to notice her attention from the corner of her eye.
A series of trays with boiled potatoes and the confessions that were genuine was delivered to the Emperor's presence and himself taking one in his hands he looked through while the rest of the people around him impatiently waited.
Furious, he clenched one of them in his feast.
"The Chief Officer and Minister of the State Tribunal colluded with his fellows and they hired calligraphers and ghostwriters that imitated the ladies handwritings and using these boiled potatoes transferred their thumbprints from the original confessions onto the falsified ones, had we not accessed them in time they would have been destroyed." Lan He replied.
"Is this true?" Emperor Ningzong asked but the Minister Jiang Chen kept quiet and looked down.
"One of the Crown Princess' ladies in waiting confessed to having sneaked the dark objects into the Yuxiangling Palace to frame Yang Guifei and instead of being heard out she was murdered by Officer Jiang's subordinate Xiang Mu." He mention when a stretcher was borne and delivered in the centre of the torture ground where it was laid before everyone else and as they watched, the veil over the face was lifted to reveal the pale body that the Emperor disgusted he raised his hand and the corpse was withdrawn from the place.
"Your Excellency merely wishes to say that it was the Crown Princess that was behind this?" Yang Guifei asked.
"All the evidence suggests so Ma'am." Lan He replied and Yang Guifei closed her eyes publicly displaying her discontent and dismay, a lot of uneasiness could be felt in the atmosphere thanks to her efforts and she let the Emperor see her disappointment.
"Is this true Officer Jiang?" Emperor Ningzong asked the second time and himself unwilling to respond one of the ministers spoke up.
"Forgive us Your Majesty, we were in disagreement, all that Officer Jiang did was to force us onto the plot, forgive us for we have sinned greatly by lying to you." He suddenly exploded that everyone turned to him.
"What is the duty of the state Tribunal?" He asked.
No one responded.
"Remind us perhaps Eunuch Deng." He turned to the Superintendent.
"To give justice and pass judgement on criminals of the State." He replied.
"The bureaucracy governs, the Crown is dignified, the Imperial State Tribunal is efficient, as such is it not a most significant pillar in the government?" He asked.
"I am at fault Your Majesty." Officer Jiang mentioned.
"But that doesn't make things alright." Emperor Ningzong asked, "it must be that I have been very tolerant with you but this is an issue that involves the Imperial family." He mentioned as he stood up from where he was seated and the officials present sensing his wrath they immediately fell onto their knees and they bowed their heads.
"Please have mercy Your Majesty." They said in unison.
"Hear my order." The Emperor Ningzong raised his voice, "By Imperial prerogative, the Imperial State Tribunal is temporarily suspended with immediately effect until further notice." He said when he immediately descended the stairs that led from his seat and everyone moving away, he walked out of the gates leaving the others quite surprised.
The Crown Princess making her way out with her husband Yang Guifei advanced and intercepted the two bowing her head to them she got closer to the Crown Princess and ceased her hand while her husband was watching.
"Ma'am?" He raised his voice.
"You don't even have the dignity of a Crown Princess." She mentioned to her, "Your Highness I must say that your wife is in deed dutiful." She mocked and the young man got closer as the officers were stealing glimpses.
"You wish to send me out of this Palace Your Highness it's your ill fortune, one way or another you will be the one to go but at the very least pray that you leave it alive." She mentioned and bowing her head to them she withdrew and walked down leaving them surprised on the stage.
Bao Langya and the rest of Yang Guifei's followers gathered in the Lanling Court
"You summoned us Ma'am?" Master Bao mentioned.
"You must have heard everything that happened at the State Tribunal by now." She remarked.
"They tried to destroy you Ma'am, it's only right that they get what they deserve." Bao Langya said.
"For our sake I remember Peng Zishou was dismissed to the Yu Prefecture as it's Magistrate." She mentioned.
"All the men that once were under the Empress Mother have been pacified into a strong army that can suit our exploits Ma'am, they shall move when you tell them, halt when you wish, and some of these with our wealth we have saved their families they are more than willing to die for our cause." Master Bao remarked.
"And those in the Imperial troops?" She asked as she turned to her brother Yang Cishan.
"Rest assured Ma'am, we have about just enough men there as well at our disposal and nearly a half of them are loyal to you." He replied.
"What about the Imperial guards?" She asked Bao Langya.
"It isn't as easy under the leadership of Lan He but we have quite the foundation that is sufficient." He replied.
"For a moment we could feel guaranteed of some safety in the Palace, I trust that all these like you understand my greatest cause above all, besides it isn't my intention to divide the kingdom but we must gain control to give it stability." She remarked as she took from underneath her sleeve a scroll which she placed onto them table.
"What's this Ma'am?" Master Bao asked.
"We have our connections and I have dug out all the crimes and atrocities that the State Tribunal has performed over time I therefore think it right that this way we could redeem the Neo-confucianists." Yang Guifei replied.
"But Ma'am, Han Touzhou won't let the Imperial State Tribunal collapse as he has relied on it to gain control of the Imperial Court and persecute his enemies, how sure can we be that this evidence is withstanding?" Yang Cishan asked.
"Then we'll just create more sufficient evidence and we'll gain it as a tool to control the Imperial Court and persecute our enemies as well." She replied.
"How Ma'am?" Master Bao asked.
"There's no use having a government that can not serve the people and the people's plea to His Majesty should be the loudest because they are the reason the Monarchy survives, what we need is to turn the people against Han Touzhou and the Tribunal and afterwards, we'll get rid of both that office and the Crown Princess in a single blow." She replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.
"Yang Guifei what?" Han Touzhou asked.
"It must have been that either His Majesty has always been suspicious of the State Tribunal or Yang Guifei in a way convinced him to prepare beforehand." Lin Xue replied.
"That hussy." Han Touzhou said furiously smacking the table.
"She has His Majesty enchanted and at this point it's clear that the State Tribunal was in a deliberate attempt to get rid of Yang Guifei whom he loves much more than anything else it's sufficient to compromise the positions of our men in the State Tribunal." Lin Xue replied.
"No." Han Touzhou replied.
"What?" Lin Xue asked.
"His Majesty can't totally dismember the Imperial State Tribunal for a mere Concubine of his and if word were to spread out then he would become no less than a joke to pretty much everyone out there." Han Touzhou replied, "if they admit fault they deserve to be punished but for the sake of the Crown Prince it's necessary that we make feel some remorse." Han Touzhou replied.
"Then he won't be harsh on the Crown Princess?" Lin Xue asked.
"Yes." Han Touzhou replied but himself seeming a bit doubtful of the very words that he had mentioned.
The Crown Prince and Princess walked into his Chambers accompanied by Liu Zhan and Shaanxi altogether as they sat down at the table.
"Your Excellency?" The Crown Princess said to him.
"Don't mention it." He replied.
"We were too hasty and for that reason we fell into Yang Guifei's trap." The Crown Princess mentioned.
"If someone is to be held responsible then I am to blame, we only thought that she could be foolish to entrust her fate in the hands of our people, who knew that we didn't see this coming?" The Crown Prince Zhao Jun mentioned.
"Forgive me Your Highness for I have failed you, in the eyes of His Majesty, the true witch of the two of us has come to light I can not expect to live in the Eastern Palace with you much longer." The Crown Princess said.
"I won't let that happen." The Crown Prince mentioned.
"Your Highness........" Crown Princess Cao Xuan saying he interrupted.
"I won't hear anything from you." He Said, "I shall ask father." He added as he got up from where he was seated and he strode out of the room.
"One of the Government's most efficient arms would rather sink itself because of a mere Concubine." Emperor Ningzong mentioned.
"I understand that Your Majesty is disappointed." Eunuch Deng said.
"Do they really dread a harmless gentle woman that much?" He asked.
"Yang Guifei is no ordinary woman Your Majesty but your very own favourite, she has sired for you a son and adopted another in your name surely, they with the Crown Prince must feel more than insecure with her mere presence in the Palace." He responded.
"The Crown Prince is my eldest son and my own flesh and blood, his mother may have been sinful but in all my children there's none that I have considered more worthy to safeguard the Imperial Clan and rule this Empire one day like him." Emperor Ningzong muttered.
"It will take more than words to convince those men otherwise." Eunuch Deng said, "we can not forget that some of them are Han Touzhou's disciples and they listen to him much more than anyone else, his heart must still be uneasy with Her Late Highness the Empress' passing that he begrudges Yang Guifei." Eunuch Deng replied.
"For once I wish that he could just stop." The Emperor muttered.
"I wish for that just as much but Your Majesty, if the Imperial State Tribunal could do this much to frame a mere Concubine what about the other officials?" He asked.
"What?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"Hasn't it occurred to Your Majesty that the lives and career's of other officials could be at stake if the Imperial State Tribunal continues with such arrogance and besides what use is it to be the ruler of this nation but when such Ministers in your government honour and bow their heads to another?" He questioned.
"You are well aware that regardless of how vile they may be and there great sin today, they have at least in the past been an efficient institution of the Imperial Court, if I am to clear it, Yang Guifei would only become to the people another disregarded figure." He mentioned.
"Your Majesty may be cautious and perhaps I can understand what you are going through, but there's no smoke without fire for certain how sure can we be that this is the first time that the Imperial State Tribunal has attempted to use such a deceitful method to cover up the crimes of others?" Eunuch Deng inquired and the latter seemed lost in his thoughts.
"Summon the Grand Chancellor." He mentioned, "tell him that I wish to have a word with him immediately." The Emperor ordered.
"Yes Your Majesty." The latter replied as he withdrew from the room and left him alone.
The Crown Princess seated in her own quarters she was lost in her thoughts for a moment when Shaanxi noticed that she was rather absent minded.
"Is there anything wrong Your Highness?" She asked.
"Make arrangements for me to go to Yuxiangling Palace." She mentioned.
"What?" She inquired.
"I need to have a word with Yang Guifei." The young woman replied.
"Yes." Shaanxi responded as she withdrew from the room.
"Yang Guifei seated in her Chambers at her table Manyin walked in limping.
"You are not yet alright." She mentioned.
"Ma'am, you have had it hard yourself it isn't my position to be idle." She replied.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess is here requesting to have an audience with you." She muttered.
"The Crown Princess?" She seemed surprised.
"Yes." Manyin replied.
"Let her in." She finally permitted and at that moment retreating from the hall, the young woman took her place in front of her mistess.
"Your Highness." She greeted her.
"I heard that you wished to see me." Yang Guifei mentioned.
"Won't you let me in?" She asked.
"Have a seat, I am not stopping you after all." She said and the young woman moved up to the seat that was opposite hers the table between the two Yang Guifei looked at the Centre of the Hall.
"What do you want Ma'am?" Crown Princess Cao Xuan asked.
"That's a wide question." Yang Guifei replied.
"I understand as well as you do that my presence in this Palace isn't in any way the most pleasant to you Ma'am that I have decided to make this gamble." She mentioned.
"I am listening." Yang Guifei said.
"I shall leave this Palace that is as you want." She mentioned.
"But......?" Yang Guifei asked.
"I don't wish the Crown Prince to be implicated by me." She replied.
"You must really love him." She mentioned.
"Perhaps as much as you love His Majesty." The Crown Princess Cao Xuan muttered.
"As much as I love His Majesty!" Yang Guifei exclaimed and closing her eyes she smiled for a moment while the young woman watching she opened them.
"What kind of woman could make a man love her more than his throne, what type of person do you think I am that you delight in professing to me that such is what you see when you read me?" She asked.
"Ma'am?" The Crown Princess said.
"I had the chance to not be chosen, I for once felt I had the dream to be a mother growing up with a caring husband and loving her own children more than anything else." She spoke somberly and the Crown Princess sighed.
"Don't be touched, my wings were clipped and those dreams crushed by Han Touzhou, the Empresses Gongshu and Ciyi, Cao Zhaoyi they all are enemies you perhaps leagued yourself with." She said.
"Pardon me Ma'am." The Crown Princess said.
"You're in no position to be sorry, people like you don't get to insult those like me but rather get to be eternally grateful." Yang Guifei said as she turned to her.
"Ma'am?" The Crown Princess asked.
"You have a Crown Your Highness, I have nothing but a blade hanging over the heads of both me and my children, yes, because of this I must become an Empress, because of this I will do whatever it takes." She replied as she stood up to go.
"I beg you Ma'am." The Crown Princess said as she stood up and went onto her knees the latter turning to glare at her she walked closer.
"I beg you Ma'am, I'll do whatever it takes I just want His Highness to be safe." She mentioned.
"You don't think that wanting you out of the Palace is enough for me." She mentioned.
"Just as you are a woman that wants to protect your family I am a woman that wishes to protect mine." The Crown Princess replied and the latter pulled back.
"You want to know what you can do for me?" She asked.
"Yes Ma'am." The Crown Princess replied.
"Then go and tell Your husband to abdicate his position as the Crown Prince of this nation in favour of my son the Imperial Prince Zhao Zeng." She replied, "do this for me Your Highness and I might consider sparing your family." She mentioned and turning around she walked away while she left her there on the ground in a short while Shaanxi walked in and helped her up onto her feet.
Cao Zhaoyi seated in her Chambers she was infuriated as she clenched her fist on the table.
"It can not be." She muttered to herself.
"I heard it with my own ears." Linxiang said as she bowed her head to her.
"The Imperial State Tribunal is now at fault she hopes to crumble it, on the other side the position of the Crown Princess is in jeopardy." She mentioned.
"That means that we can't do anything to the Imperial Prince Zhao Tan." Linxiang mentioned.
"No." Cao Zhaoyi mentioned.
"Ma'am, if we insist then the one person that shall come under scrutiny will be the Crown Princess given this witchcraft scandal." Linxiang mentioned.
"It doesn't have to be that way." Cao Zhaoyi muttered as she raised her head and looked at her in the eye.
"Please, enlighten me Ma'am." She requested.
"If we couldn't make Yang Guifei a witch then we shall make her a murderer." She concluded.
"What?" Linxiang asked.
"All can be sinful and some can even seek absolution, but certainly in this state there is always one lesser and one greater of two evils." Cao Zhaoyi replied confidently as she smiled at herself.
"Yes Ma'am." Linxiang muttered.
The Crown Prince walking with his Retinue through the gates of the Grand Palace he mounted the stairs that led to his father's study but he was halted by Eunuch Deng.
"Your Highness?" He Said.
"I am here requesting to have an audience with His Majesty." He mentioned.
"His Majesty is busy at the moment and doesn't wish to see anyone." He responded.
"Please?" The Crown Prince Zhao Jun pleaded.
"I wish that I could be of some help but he's having a word with the Grand Chancellor." Eunuch Deng replied.
Emperor Ningzong seated inside the Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi appeared before him and bowed his head.
"Your Majesty." He greeted.
"Have a seat." Emperor Ningzong muttered and he complied as he lowered himself in the chair that was right next to him while the young man seemed to have a hard time talking.
"Something is bothering you Your Majesty." Zhao Zizhi mentioned.
"It's the Imperial State Tribunal." Emperor Ningzong replied.
"What about it Your Majesty?" He asked.
"The Crown Princess brought in dark matter into the palace, bewitched the Imperial household including the Crown Prince who is her own husband at least and then Yang Guifei was framed by the Tribunal with the hope of saving the Crown Princess it's also likely that this was intended to have her sent from the Palace." The Emperor replied.
"And you're Majesty is rather worried that this might harm the Crown Prince?" The Grand Chancellor inquired.
"Yang Guifei would feel guilty for that, the Crown Prince's reputation would be shattered because of the Crown Princess' actions, yet I am forced to consider that perhaps she too being somewhat young was manipulated by Han Touzhou as it's natural that Yang Guifei is no ordinary woman but my very own favourite in the harem, she has sired for me a son and adopted another in your name surely, He with the Crown Prince must feel more than insecure with her mere presence in the Palace especially considering the fact that the Empress is dead." Emperor Ningzong replied.
"But if the Crown Princess is a woman that is manipulable by others then forgive my rather ill tongue she isn't worthy to be by the Crown Prince's side." Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi muttered, "she is the ruler of the Inner Court and she serves His Highness the Crown Prince and no one else, to usher herself into the service of the others and listen to their ill intent isn't in line with the rules of the harem." The Grand Chancellor mentioned.
"That's agreeable." Emperor Ningzong muttered, "but that doesn't bother me the most." He mentioned.
"What else does Your Majesty?" He asked.
"Han Touzhou has had a hand in the Imperial State Tribunal clearly those men must be loyal to him and not to me, I let him have his way but then it occurred to me that he has misused my trust and faith in him as such I feel that I am afraid there's much more we don't know." Emperor Ningzong mentioned.
"Much we don't know?" Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi inquired.
"The State Tribunal was very much manipulated and they falsified evidence to try and confront Yang Guifei their fear is reasonable, but as a pillar of the State how many times could they have used this crude method for their political and economic maneuverings and if so how many of those innocents there were implicated?" Emperor Ningzong clarified.
"We can't rule out that possibility in deed Your Majesty." The Grand Chancellor remarked.
"The issue of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess may cause a stir in the near future but I have come to realise that Han Touzhou is too powerful under my protection and as such has become much too arrogant, that arrogance with his emotionally unstable temper will cost him and the Imperial household just as much I have you to turn to that I may protect both the Imperial house and my people." Emperor Ningzong said, "conduct for me an investigation in secret to reveal the atrocities of the Imperial State Tribunal over the years." He mentioned.
"Me Your Majesty?" He inquired.
"You became a Grand Chancellor because you were incorruptible and if the Courtiers in my government belong to many vying factions and form cliques for themselves, you remain neutral and unbiased there isn't another that I can trust with my whole heart for this task." The Emperor replied.
"Your Majesty is confident in my talents I surely can't let you down, as you have so seemed me worthy in every way I shall bring everything that I possibly can to light." The Grand Chancellor replied.
"Thank you." Emperor Ningzong mentioned and the latter standing up he bowed his head and withdrew from the room leaving the Emperor alone inside.
The Crown Prince walking back and fourth, the doors were opened and the Grand Chancellor appeared at the top of the staircase that his eyes met his.
Humbly he descended them as the Crown Prince got closer and halting right in front of him, he bowed his head and offered his respects.
"Your Highness." He said.
"Your Excellency." He replied.
"It's very late." Zhao Zizhi muttered.
"I was here to see His Majesty." He replied.
"He is rather furious." The Grand Chancellor asserted, "it was hard to speak formally and calmly, the rage in his eyes is that of an angry and fierce tiger, it's like he could leap up on anyone at any moment and kill them." He said.
"Is it so?" The Crown Prince inquired.
"Perhaps it is much safer for Your Highness to return tomorrow and that is if you deem it fit, after all His Majesty is your father only time could make him more calm and easier to talk to." The Grand Chancellor advised.
"Hmmmm." The Crown Prince mumbled and the older kowtowing to him he moved past the place leaving the young man who hesitant to go in turned around and walked out of the compound of the Emperor.
The Crown Princess Cao Xuan in her Chambers seated she couldn't help but recall the words that Yang Guifei had mentioned to her.
"Go and tell Your husband to abdicate his position as the Crown Prince of this nation in favour of my son the Imperial Prince Zhao Zeng, do this for me Your Highness and I might consider sparing your family." She'd threatened her.
"Shaanxi?" She called and the latter walked in through the doors.
"Your Highness?" She muttered.
"Make all the necessary preparations." She said.
"For what Your Highness?" She inquired.
"I shall make a formal appeal in front of the Yuxiangling Palace." She replied.
"What?" Shaanxi inquired.
"You heard me." The Crown Princess replied.
"Yes Your Highness." The latter replied and bowing her head she walked out of the room immediately.
The sun rising in the morning Shaanxi holding a tray that was bearing the Imperial Prince Zhao Tan's food she arrived at the doorway of his residence.
"Your Highness?" She called to him, "it is I?" She added but there was no response from the young boy.
"Your Highness?" She called a second time until she was concerned and opening the doors she walked in up to the young boy's bed and pulling off his sheets she noticed that the young one wasn't in his bed.
"Your Highness?" She screamed when all the other servants rushed into the room and looked around.
"What is it Milady!" They asked.
"Where is the Imperial Prince?" She asked.
"He was just inside the previous night." One of the ladies in waiting replied.
"Find him before His Highness the Crown Prince finds out." She ordered the others and the rest of the group panicking they scattered about the place and started searching for the sickly young boy.
The Imperial Prince Zhao Tan walking through the forbidden palace halted at the entrance of the Yuxiangling Palace and Manyin along with Yang Guifei walking in the compound they caught sight of him.
"Who is that?" The latter asked Xiaoyang.
"He's quite far." She replied and Yang Guifei turning she moved towards the young boy that was quite surprised he hid behind the pillar of the gate.
Once she was close enough she seemed to notice who he was immediately.
"It's the Imperial Prince Zhao Tan." She mentioned.
"In deed Ma'am." Manyin replied and the latter getting close to the boy he kept the rest of his body hidden while she halted in front of him.
"Your Highness?" She greeted but he didn't say a word.
"Ma'am?" Xiaoyang mentioned when she took the lunch box that Manyin was holding in her hands and kneeling down, she opened it, she revealed a couple of snacks to him the young one was immediately captivated.
"Do you want some?" She asked and the boy nodded in approval.
"You can come to me, don't worry I won't hurt you." She said to him with a very innocent smile that the young man stepped out from the shadows and slowly moved up to her while she nodded every time to prove how harmless she was.
Once he was right in front of the lunchbox, he stretched his hand and picked out one of the snacks and slowly pulling it closer to his mouth, he took a bite while everyone watched him for a moment the sickly Prince smiled at her heartily.
"There there." She mentioned to him as she patted his head when one of the ladies in waiting walked up to her.
"Ma'am, the Children are playing." She said to her and the latter standing up from where she was kneeling, she ceased the young boy and brought her to his side.
"The Imperial Prince can not be left on his own." She mentioned.
"Ma'am?" Xiaoyang protested.
"He should get along with his other siblings." Yang Guifei insisted.
"But Ma'am, if the Crown Prince or Han Touzhou find out....." She was saying when the latter interrupted her.
"I know they will and it is because that I know they will that he will Come with us." She mentioned, "I want to see the look on their faces either way." She added as she smiled at herself and looking down at the young boy who was still eating innocently, she smiled at him.
The Crown Princess Cao Xuan walking past the Imperial Prince's residence she noticed that the servants were panicking.
"Your Highness, what's the matter?" Another of her Ladies in waiting inquired.
"The whole place is disorderly and it seems that there's something wrong." She mentioned as she changed her course of direction and there walking through the gates, Shaanxi seeing her descended the staircase that led from the Imperial Prince's room she halted in front of her.
"What are you still doing here?" The Crown Princess asked and Shaanxi quietly she only kept her head down.
"Your Highness....." She stuttered.
"Tell me what's going on here?" The Crown Princess asked.
"His Highness....." She hesitated.
"What about him?" She inquired.
"The Imperial Prince......." Shaanxi responded.
"What's wrong with the Imperial Prince?" She inquired aloud again.
"Forgive us Your Highness but I don't know how I can say this." She said.
"Tell me." The Crown Princess Cao Xuan demanded.
"His Highness the Imperial Prince Zhao Tan is missing." She replied.
"What?" The Crown Princess asked.
"I came into his Palace in the morning and he wasn't even present." She mentioned, "it's like he vanished without a trace." She added.
"How can you be so negligent, if the Imperial Prince is lost in the forbidden Palace do you know how hard it will be to find him, this Palace is full of our enemies and you understand better than anyone else that his health isn't the best." The Crown Princess reprimanded.
"Forgive me Ma'am." Shaanxi said.
"If His Highness the Crown Prince finds out do you realise the type of trouble that you shall be in?" She inquired when Shaanxi staring behind her for a moment she froze and fell onto her knees.
"Your Highness." She mentioned when the Crown Princess turned around and seeing her husband walking in she moved to the side and bowed her head to him.
"Your Highness?" She said but he ignored her.
"Where's the Imperial Prince?" He asked.
"Forgive me Your Highness." She mentioned.
"I asked you where is my brother?" He furiously demanded aloud.
"Forgive me Your Highness but His Highness is missing." She confessed and the Crown Prince was surprised.
"What?" He mentioned.
"Yes Your Highness." Shaanxi responded and while they were caught up in the commotion a lady in waiting walked through the doors.
"Milady." She cried and the Crown Prince and Princess turning to her she immediately stopped right in front of the two.
"Did you find the Imperial Prince?" She asked.
"Someone reported seeing him around the Yuxiangling Palace." The young woman replied.
"That's Yang Guifei's residence." Shaanxi mentioned and the Crown Prince hearing nothing more he immediately moved out of the gates while the Crown Princess followed.
Eunuch Deng standing outside the Grand Palace one of the Eunuchs walked up to him and leaning in he whispered something to him while he handed over a small piece of paper which the latter ceased within his hands and read through its contents.
Once he was done he moved behind the Grand Palace where the Emperor Ningzong was standing and with a bow and arrow in his hands he tried to shoot some distant targets but didn't hit the bullseye.
"You're exhausting yourself Your Majesty." Lan He mentioned.
"To tell you the truth Lan He, I am uncertain of what it is that I want." The young man replied.
"How come Sire?" He inquired.
"The Crown Princess and the Crown Prince's supporters, if they really are guilty then to keep them around the Crown Prince would make him a very bad Emperor to the people, however I trust these men to be sufficiently loyal and perhaps they would die for him." The Emperor replied.
"Your Majesty, bad company corrupts good one and if there's a rotten apple in the basket of we don't get it out it might end up infecting the good ones as well, the Crown Prince is still young and surrounded by other able ministers I therefore trust that he won't fail to seek out formidable talents for his cause." Lan He replied.
"Perhaps." The Emperor replied and lowering the bow in his hands Eunuch Deng ceased the opportunity and got close to him.
"Your Majesty." He mentioned.
"Is something up?" The Emperor asked.
"Yang Guifei is out in the courtyard of the Yuxiangling Palace with the Imperial Princes and Princess she was requesting that you at least stop by and see them." He mentioned.
"I'll be there in a while." Emperor Ningzong said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied.
The Crown Prince Zhao Jun hurriedly making his way with the Crown Princess along with their retinues, they negotiated the corner that led to the gates of the Yuxiangling Palace.
"Your Highness?" Xiaoyang intercepted them.
"Move." He mentioned.
"But......" She was saying when the latter stared at him.
"You mean to disobey me?" He mentioned.
"No." She replied.
"Then step aside." He demanded and at once she complied while the Crown Prince walking past, Liu Zhan and Shaanxi staring at her he approached the door that led him into the Inner Courtyard of Yang Guifei's residence where she stood at the top of the staircase with her young child the Imperial Prince Zhao Zeng in her hands and the rest of the children were playing with Zhao Tan beneath the stairs.
Her eyes meeting the infuriated Crown Prince she smiled at him while the Crown Princess uneasy as well for a moment the atmosphere between the two was tense.
"Welcome Your Highness, you are here much earlier than I expected." She said to him but for once the children were smiling at themselves and his lonely brother seemed quite lively he inwardly shattered and broke down into tears as he clenched his fists with fury.
He got closer while Yang Guifei walking past the children moved up to him and at that moment she bowed her head to offer her respects while she could read from his reaction how tense he seemed she was at most very pleased.
"What's the matter Your Highness, are you worried that I might harm him?" She asked with a smile while he kept quiet.
"I understand that we are all mature people and more than anything else that we are all in the understanding of the battles that we fight, but they are children and are innocent Your Highness, they are supposed to smile at each other with ease and should know better than anyone that they are siblings." Yang Guifei asserted and looking at the Crown Princess she smiled at her ghastly.
Emperor Ningzong walking into the Courtyard they each moved to the sides and they greeted him.
"Your Majesty." They said in unison as they bowed their heads.
"At ease." Emperor Ningzong replied as he caught sight of the Crown Princess.
Yang Guifei noticing that he was feeling somewhat uncomfortable she cleared her throat.
"If I may Your Majesty." She said.
"What is it?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"We are a family and we shouldn't let outsiders tear us apart I decided that it would be good enough for us to at least sit and dine altogether for breakfast." She mentioned.
"As always you never cease to amaze me and make the best out of every moment, I wish the Crown Princess would emulate your example." Emperor Ningzong said.
"You flatter me Your Majesty." Yang Guifei said innocently.
"It is because you deserve it." Emperor Ningzong mentioned.
"I couldn't be more grateful." She said to the Emperor and at that moment leading the way she showed them into the Yuxiangling Palace.
The Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi sitting in his office beside him were two other officials Yang Cishan and Zhao Rushi.
"Your Excellency." They said to him.
"Her Grace was right." He mentioned, "His Majesty has been convinced that one way or another the State Tribunal might be an inefficient institution within the state so he obviously worried." Zhao Zizhi muttered.
"I already made the necessary preparations and we have had more evidence buried waiting to be unravelled by we." Yang Cishan mentioned.
"There's no denying that this situation is very dire and His Majesty wishes to know everything as soon as possible." Zhao Rushi mentioned.
"The time is now ours to act." The Grand Chancellor mentioned.
Yang Cishan exiting the building with his subordinates waiting outside for him they bowed their heads.
"Your Excellency." They said in unison.
"Where are all the other troops?" He asked.
"Awaiting your command Your Excellency." They replied.
"We have the will of His Majesty, bring in the officials of the State Tribunal within the Imperial prisons and have their residences searched leaving no stone unturned whatsoever." He ordered.
"Yes Your Excellency." They replied each as they dispersed.
Time had flown and everyone that had stopped over at Yuxiangling Palace had left with the Crown Prince and Princess uneasy the Emperor himself had seemed troubled just as much.
Yang Guifei in her own Chambers Manyin rushed in before her.
"Ma'am?" She said.
"Is everything ready?" She asked.
"I have received word from the Chancellor and they are already on the move." She replied.
"There's another person that we should take care of in the meantime." Yang Guifei said as she placed an envelope on the table which the latter picked up and briefly examined.
"This is.......?" She was asking when Yang Guifei interrupted.
"Have it delivered to Superintendent Beiyuan and he'll know better than anyone else what to do." Yang Guifei replied.
"Yes Ma'am." Manyin replied as she withdrew from the room.
The Imperial Princess Qi'an seated in her Chambers the doors were flung open and through them Lanhui walked in.
"Your Highness." She said.
"What is it?" She asked.
"There's turmoil in the palace, word is spreading that the Crown Princess practices witchcraft and sorcery while the State Tribunal attempted to protect her they have come under question." She responded.
"It was already weird that Yang Guifei would walk into the trap herself in the very beginning and now that I think of it, she did consider the worst possible outcomes." Princess Qi'an muttered.
"I don't understand Your Highness." Lanhui mentioned.
"The State Tribunal is one of the most efficient institutions of the bureaucracy, it is the heart of the politics of the State and what's more people look to it to give order and justice." She responded, "however when it starts to defend criminals and act otherwise?" She muttered.
"It starts to seem useless." Lanhui replied.
"Sooner or later Yang Guifei shall certainly topple the State Tribunal, but just as it is essential the government can not live without it...." She said.
"It would need to be replaced." Lanhui muttered.
"We should meet up with the others." The Imperial Princess Qi'an muttered, "it appears that we might have found our way to gain access in the Imperial Court." She said as she smiled at herself ghastly.
Officer Jiang Chen in his study he was seated with Xiang Mu.
"What are we going to do Your Excellency?" He asked.
The latter kept quiet.
"His Majesty is aware and there's irrefutable proof before the world, aside from that rumours are circulating about the Crown Princess practicing witchcraft in the capital and Yang Guifei as always the victim something is cooking up and it would be dangerous if we don't respond." Xiang Mu asserted.
"And why should we respond?" Officer Jiang inquired.
"Your Excellency....." Xiang Mu insisted.
"I have considered your thoughts as well, believe me, I have thought about it just as much, but what remains undeniable is the possibility that for long we have underestimated Yang Guifei how sure are we that when we act in panic it won't be used against us?" He said.
"Then are you insisting Your Excellency that perhaps we do nothing?" Xiang Mu asked.
"His Majesty has to choose between the Crown Prince whose reputation could be tarnished and Yang Guifei his favourite, what's best for both parties that a resolution may be reached is the fact that he buries it and when rumours are not coordinated and there's too many versions of a story, by nature they are bound to die down." Officer Jiang replied.
"I see Your Excellency." Xiang Mu said when at that moment the doors of the room being slid open one of the servants of the household rushed in.
"Your Excellency, it's trouble." She cried.
"What now?" Officer Jiang inquired and kicking the doors of the room open Yang Cishan and a couple of guards walked in with their swords at hand while they had them pointed right at the two men.
"Officer Yang, what is this?" Officer Jiang inquired.
"We have an Imperial order along with the consent of the Grand Chancellor to arrest all the members of the State Tribunal and search their homes." Yang Cishan replied.
"On what charges?" Officer Jiang asked, "is this about the Crown Princess?" He inquired.
"His Majesty wouldn't jeopardize the position of the Crown Prince and that is for certain, however the same can not be said for those who intend to ruin the Imperial Court and desire to drive a wedge between His Majesty and his people." Yang Cishan mentioned.
"Are you even hearing yourself." Xiang Mu mentioned and at that moment another of the officers walked in.
"Forgive me Your Excellency, we have found something." He asserted as he leaned over towards Yang Cishan's ear and whispered something to him the latter only seemed surprised judging from his expression.
"What are you saying?" Officer Jiang furiously raised his voice as he smacked the table right in front of him.
"Search this room." Yang Cishan ordered.
"Yes Sir." The others replied and immediately moved in turning everything upside down and pulling out his documents and looking through all of them along with the ledgers and even promissory notes.
Emperor Ningzong seated with the Grand Chancellor in his study the doors of the room were flung open and Yang Cishan, Zhao Rushi and Bao Langya appeared before the two men.
"Your Majesty." They said to him in unison bowing their heads.
"Did you do as I had asked?" The Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi asked.
"Yes Your Excellency." Yang Cishan replied, "come in." He said and the doors of the room being opened behind them a couple of soldiers bearing with themselves stacks of account books and ledgers and sheets of paper made their way into the room and placed the documents in their possession on the Emperor's table.
"What's this?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"There's been too many corpses that have been excavated in the compounds and backyards of the State Tribunal's Ministers and the Imperial Coroners have all agreed that these young men and women died brutally, along with them we found ledgers of bribes that they were taking from the taxes and other criminals, unresolved cases that were closed have been documented as well and some of files were even reported but never dealt with to begin with yet the Imperial State Tribunal has for long supervised the activities of the Capital Police." Yang Cishan replied, "In some residences even arms and ammunition have been unearthed and surprisingly these are the exact models of those that were found a couple of years back at the White Deer Grotto Academy." He asserted.
"No wonder the Imperial State Tribunal acted up, and even with resistance they framed Zhu Xi and his supporters they justified their ban on Neo-confucianism." Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi mentioned.
"They could be so crude." Emperor Ningzong said.
"In any way Your Majesty, I fear that the thoughts which haunted us have come to pass and the Imperial State Tribunal is morally decayed and corrupt." The Grand Chancellor muttered.
"And I don't think that there's a need for an Interrogation as it so seems that the evidence is sufficient the issue of the Crown Princess must be buried once and for all." Emperor Ningzong said.
"As you wish Your Majesty." Everyone said in unison.
Yang Guifei seated in her Chambers at the moment Xiaoyang walked in.
"Ma'am?" She said.
"What happened?" Yang Guifei inquired.
"It's the obvious now, the Imperial State Tribunal is sinful, His Majesty is aware, the people know as well." She said.
"Well done." Yang Guifei remarked as she suddenly stood up from where she was seated.
"Ma'am, where are you going?" Xiaoyang asked.
"The war has started, the Crown Princess shall be caught in the crossfire, she paid me a visit not so long ago, it's high time that I returned the favour." Yang Guifei replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.