"I am going for the Second sister. She is pregnant" Xiao Feng said to her brother.
"Be careful. I will handle everything here" Xiao Feng nodded and went towards her Second sister and bowed to her brother-in-law.
"Sister, you should rest, since you're pregnant"
"Your sister is right. How about this, wife you rest in princess dowager's palace. I will come to pick you up after this end" She nodded as Xiao Feng help her sister to stand up as she quietly said to the fourth prince, "something is going to happen to be careful. I will take care of the sister" fourth prince look at Xiao Feng and then nodded.
Xiao Feng took her sister to the place where she decides to take all the womenfolk in the palace, Moon palace. Princess dowager is already there with the empress. In a minute Linlin came in with the Second prince and eldest sister.
"Xiao Feng, what's the emergency?" The second prince asked after greeting the empress and princess dowager.
"Something is off today. I should go back. Shadow guards are here to protect you if something happened. It's not easy to come to moon palace from the great hall"
"Husband," Xiao Li asked.
"I already warned him about it. If everyone came out it would suspicious. After all, my brother is there. Make sure, don't go out even though something happened" Xiao Feng went back with Linlin. Nothing had happened yet as she went to the hall and sat down.
Xiao Feng had already written "take care of your concubine, no need to worry about others" on a piece of paper. She gave it to a maid and ask her to bring it to prince Jing. She saw the maid giving it to prince Jing.
"This is the last time I'm helping you just because you're my nominal husband" General Yan patted her hand. General Yan could hear soldiers' step sounds as he nod to Xiao Feng and then to his mother. Xiao Feng looks at her nominal husband who was reading the message and then he looks up to see who send it the first one he saw was Xiao Feng and Xiao Feng just looked at him as the doors opened and many soldiers surround the place.
"Protect the emperor" Someone shouted and Xiao Feng was still sitting looking at Prince Jing. It is hatred she has for prince Jing. He was biased. He was blinded. He ignored her, the whole manor ignores her existence and no one acknowledges her existence in the prince Jing manor.
There wasn't anyone who respect her even after the empress gave the household back. In front of her everyone was fighting but she was still in the same place as she sighed and stand up. Grabbing the hand of the soldier who was going to attack she punch him a few times and took his sword. She stabs everyone in a move as she went toward prince Jing.
"This is the last time I'm helping you, take her back," Xiao Feng said and give a sword to prince Jing.
"Royal father?"
"My brother is here" Prince Jing nodded as going to go and turn back.
"Thank you" Xiao Feng ignores and keeps up with fighting. Xiao Feng saw a soldier near the emperor ready to stab the emperor.
"Brother!!" He looks at Xiao Feng as he also looks toward the emperor and he sends her sword toward the man who just tried to attack. General Yan's sword hit his abdomen cutting but they didn't notice that the man sends a needle before dying as the emperor touched his neck from pain. At the time Xiao Feng stabbed the person who tried to attack her brother.
"Xiao Feng, protect the emperor. Our soldiers must be coming near" Xiao Feng nodded and went toward the emperor.
"Royal uncle, are you okay?" Emperor nodded and at the time princess Heiping came there and land in front of them.
"We should escort his majesty out of here" Xiao Feng nodded and they finally could bring him to a hallway but to his surprise, the seventh prince was there as he smirked.
"Royal father, where are you going?"
"You ungrateful brat, you're a rebel"
"Even though I'm a rebel, I will not after you die"
"Older cousin, I just knew that you're working for the third prince," Xiao Feng said raising her eyebrows.
"Sister-in-law. No, Princess royal, seem to know everything well but it's pointless now"
"Your majesty, do you want him dead or alive?" Princess Heiping asked.
"What's the use of ungrateful son? A rebel?" Princess Heiping took the sword to the other hand show it in front as a few needles went half of the soldiers fell dead and, in a minute, everyone fell dead.
In the great hall the fight was going on and in the princess dowager's palace, everyone was restless. Princess Heiping and Xiao Feng brought Emperor there. Xiao Feng decided to go back but interfere with Linlin coming inside.
"Great general's soldiers came for rescue" Linlin half stopped.
"What happened?"
"Third prince is missing. General Yan is searching throughout the palace and wants to ask permission to check the capital"
"It's good. It's good. I want that ungrateful son's head" Xiao Feng went to the great hall together with Linlin. General Yan was in front of the great hall and Xiao Feng joined her brother. Servants were cleaning the bloody mess.
"It was a close call"
"Right"
"Where's mother and father?"
"They both accompanying emperor and empress" General Yan nodded.
"Your friend Shan Yuan is not bad"
"Why does it sound different?"
"Because it is" Two siblings laughed but were interrupted by a group of soldiers.
"Great general, we search through the palace but there isn't any trace of 3rd prince"
"Got it. Keep searching in the capital" General Yan signal them to go as they bow and went away. They both look at the night sky.
"What a great welcome for us by the third prince" Xiao Feng giggled hearing her brother.
The next day prime minister, princess Heiping, general Yan, and Xiao Feng were eating together.
"What do you mean? If it's not for father emperor to fall sick suddenly I would have come and stopped that marriage. Husband, Xiao Feng is our daughter. How can you marry her to someone like that"
"Wife, she is already married and it was the wish of empress dowager to take care of Xiao Feng's wedding"
"But I agreed for her to engage the crown prince was he was only 6 years older than her but prince Jing is 12 years older than Xiao Feng. Even 8 years older than Yan Yan"
"I don't think Shan Yuan is much older. Should be at most 3 or 4 years" Xiao Feng glared at her brother and kick him under the table.
"I am telling the truth. He isn't passed 20 for sure"
"I was going to ask who Shan Yuan is," Princess Heiping asked.
"My lady, it's princess royal's new friend. Prince of Yang" Linlin said smiling as Xiao Feng glared at her.
"He is 18 to be exact. His servant boy said once" Weining said and Linlin nodded as Xiao Feng just scoff and start eating her meal.
"No wonder prince of Yang praise Xiao Feng in the great hall after prince Jing badmouth Xiao Feng" Prime minister Xiao said.
"Ho? Seem like my Xiao Feng has made herself a friend," Princess Heiping said highlighting the word "A friend"
"Mother!!" Their talk was interrupted by a servant who came running.
"Masters, there is a eunuch in front of the entrance saying it's an emergency"
General Yan went to the front together with other following as the eunuch came and said the message to the 4 people and their eyes went wide.
"Xiao Feng, you should go now, since the emperor only asked for you"
"Yes, father. I will go now father, mother, older brother"
They both hurriedly went to the palace as they enter the rest of it calmly. Xiao Feng enters the inner chamber of the great hall. Everyone was kneeling and the emperor was sitting beside the emperor's bed and was holding the emperor's hand.
"Xiao Feng!" Emperor calls out seeing Xiao Feng and Xiao Feng went toward the emperor.
"You all dismissed" Everyone bowed leaving the emperor and Xiao Feng. Empress hesitates to know this going to be the last hours maybe minutes of the emperor but still went outside. Emperor was shuttering in each word.
"Xiao Feng, my biggest regret is you. I shouldn't grant you and prince Jing a wedding. I am sorry. You will forgive me, right?" Emperor's eyes were filled with hope. Xiao Feng was holding the emperor's hands. Xiao Feng nodded as a few tears escaped. She was affectionate to the emperor more than her father.
"I saw you growing while you were like a melon" Xiao Feng nodded at each sentence said by the emperor. "You were raised as my daughter. You were used to running around the palace in childhood then later you visit the military camp more often after your grandfather died. Not many years passed, you're still a kid but you're mature enough as you take the right decisions. The military power of the North is under your brother. Take that box" Emperor showed a box behind the bedside table.
Xiao Feng let go of Emperor's hand and quickly took the box and again knelt beside the emperor as the emperor open it revealing 2 more tiger tokens.
"The South is now yours. Military power was owned by general Xiao's family in the first place. Capital's power gives it to the next emperor. Quick take out the South tiger tally" Xiao Feng shook her head.
There are mainly 3 armies under the court. Capital power represents the imperial guards, the South represents the black armored army now which is also under capital power and the North tally represents the red armored army.
"Don't tell anyone that you have this. No one means no one. Take it, it's my order" Xiao Feng took the tiger tally which has 'Nan' and put it in her sleeve.
"I know general Xiao's family is loyal to the throne so I don't fear giving military power back but if other ministers know about it, they will make problems in the court. In the future, if there is a need for it then take it out. I will send your brother back to the border. I don't want ministries to be afraid of general Xiao's family for military power" Xiao Feng nodded understanding what is said by the emperor.
Her father has the highest power in the court and her brother has a tiger tally.
"This you don't have to open it now. They are my wishes. After 3 months of mourning for me, then open it" Xiao Feng again nodded and then shook her head after getting what was said by the emperor. Putting the letter also in her dress she silently cried. No sob was heard but the tears were falling continuously.
"This is my edict for the new emperor and the imperial seal" Emperor took out the edict and the imperial seal behind him.
"Read it. Ministers must be on their way to the great hall by now" Xiao Feng nodded again as Emperor closed his eyes his hand fell from Xiao Feng's grip.
"Uncle!!" Xiao Feng cried as the door opened and all the princes and princesses came inside with other royals. Everyone was crying. Xiao Feng wiped her tears and stood up.
Emperor was dead though there are elders like princess dowagers and empress the most powerful person was Xiao Feng as there is no crown prince.
"Hu Man, call for the court"
"Yes, your highness" He bowed and went out as she took the 2 boxes with the edict as she gave the two boxes to her brother motioning him to follow her.
"Royal princes, please follow me to the court to take the imperial edict" Xiao Feng gripped her hands in the edict trying not to break down. The former emperor was like a father to Xiao Feng. There were many memories. He gave more fatherly love to her than her father.
"Uncle, I will surely bring the traitor's head to your memorial" Xiao Feng mumbled. The court was already filled with ministers as they were gossiping with one another. All princes enter the court.
"Princess Royal is here!" Xiao Feng stands at the end of the stairs to the emperor's throne.
"Fourth emperor of Sui has gone back to heaven" Everyone gasped and 9 bells start ringing.
"The imperial edict by the fourth emperor of Sui!" Everyone knelt.