Chereads / ROSES OF BLOOD : THE MAGNIFICENT CENTURY / Chapter 17 - UNEASY LIES THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN

Chapter 17 - UNEASY LIES THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN

The Southern Song Imperial troops stood atop the gray walls of Guanghua and there in the dead of night they gazed across the hills in the darkness, about ten thousand men manned the magnificent fortress, and only two hundred kept watch as they studied the enemy territory.

In the shadows unbeknownst to them a group of invaders' emerged, all of which were led by the Princess Imperial Zhangguo and had veiled their eyes with dark colours.

She pulled out her bow from behind along with a sharp pointed arrow from the quiver next to it and taking a keen interest in one of the men that was situated next to what appeared to be a warning gong, she put him in her target and fired once.

The arrow flying through the air made a remarkable landing in the latter's head, barely having time to respond he died instantly.

It was the signal that the rest of her colleagues needed and aiming at the remaining ones they fired as well but not so perfectly as she was, the attempt alone alerted the defenders that the enemy was close.

"It's the Jurchens." One of the men mentioned and his colleague sounding the gong, the Princess Imperial confidently launched the attack with her men as they ran towards the wall.

The archers guarding it could barely aim at night and with the immense darkness that was surrounding them they could hardly recognize the silhouettes of their enemies.

"Cannons at ease." The Commanding General ordered and the latter were immediately prepared by the firing squad.

"We can't take them at a distance in the dark Your Excellency." One of his subordinates cautioned.

"Don't aim for the dark." He responded as he looked him in the eye, " aim close to the wall." He ordered.

"But the impact Your Excellency, it could shatter our walls or weaken them." The young man cautioned.

"Regardless of what you say or see, what you believe I don't care but tonight can not be the day that the Jurchens seize this fortress." The General ordered as he took a fire lance and placing it on his bow, he seemed to patiently listen to the sound of the approaching footsteps that were getting close enough.

"Extinguish the Torches of the walls." He commanded.

"That's suicidal Your Excellency." They pleaded with him.

"Do it already." He ordered and the fires lining up along the entire wall were immediately put out as he let go of the fire lance and shot it forward.

Landing amidst their invaders, it exploded launching a majority to the sides, at last, he had seen it, he had seen where they were.

"Fire along that line, two hundred metres." He ordered and the men on the cannons immediately released their heavy fire.

The Jurchens flew up and down into pieces and the ambush seemed less successful but nonetheless, it was what the Princess Imperial needed as she took her bow and arrow the second time and fired above the walls she happened to release a coloured powder that the Han General recognized immediately.

"Cover Your eyes." He cautioned them as a majority were too quick to comply while the later minorities taking it in they started to cry, at a distance from the field in the darkness Jurchen catapults had been aligned and recognizing the smoke in the darkness they immediately set ablaze the stones in their possession.

The General recalling to look forward could see ten of them ready to fire when he realized that the attack was a diversion, the cannons already aiming closely would have a hard time to adjust and the casualties in large numbers even those that had survived the explosions were drawing closer.

"Archers ready?" He ordered and the few still standing immediately mobilized themselves and aimed right when the Jurchens fired their catapults.

"If it is to die then we'll die along with these miscreants." The General said and those trying to adjust the firing range of the Cannons making the final attempt they could find, he gave the order to fire and his archers complied.

They managed to strike a couple of those advancing but faced the impact of the catapult rocks themselves which crashed through the walls and others flying over they landed within the fortress.

The Jurchens who were close by fired arrows at the battlements but could hardly see in the darkness that was still lingering save for the faint fire left behind by the catapults that were preparing to take a second strike.

The General as though out of ideas he ran to one of the Cannons and ceasing it with the few that still stood he ordered for them to lock the catapults in their target which they did.

The Catapults fired at the same time the Han defenders of Guanghua retaliated, a collision of forces with the burning rocks instructing them they laid to waste the wooden inventions while the rest of the soldiers fired at the ground in front of the wall.

The Jurchens were themselves unaware, the soil on which they had encroached had been partially covered in fuel which was being held by a small bamboo pipe surrounding the fortress.

Remarkably a ring of fire formed across the Southern Song Defense and by default the Princess Imperial new that it was going to take much longer than that night to capture the Fortress of Guanghua as even her partially successful strategy had been foiled by their partially successful defense.

The General studied his creation and for a moment he smiled knowing the gods of war were with him while the Princess Imperial still standing in front of the flames grinned at the sight of the ghastly smile that he expressed to the Jurchen invaders.

Lightning streaked across the Eastern Sky and thunder roared all over the capital, Beiyuan running through the streets of the Imperial City he negotiated corners that eventually brought him through the Northern gates of the Grand Palace.

He hurriedly moved past the Imperial guards patrolling and mounted the stairs that led to the Emperor's Chambers where he met a group of ladies in waiting standing outside.

"I need to speak to Her Highness." He said as they moved aside for him to cease the doors and push them open, he quickly approached the Empress who was sleeping beside the Emperor's bed.

"Your Highness?" He called her as she awakened immediately and looked at him studying his expression.

"It is very late, what appears to be the matter?" The Empress asked.

"Forgive me Your Highness but this is very urgent news from the North." Beiyuan responded as the Empress sat upright while he gasped for air.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Things are going out of hand." Beiyuan responded and the Empress without wasting more time she immediately changed her clothes and joined by Manyin and Xiaoyang along with her retinue she made her way through the streets of the Imperial City up to the gates of the Ministry of War which was close by.

The guards stepping aside as they offered their salutations, she walked in on the Ministers who were already seemingly studying the tide of war on the huge metallic model of the map on the floor and recognizing her presence they immediately fell in order and ended their discussions.

She took the Emperor's seat at the forefront her eyes undoubtedly searching for the Grand Chancellor who was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is the Grand Chancellor?" She demanded and one of the Ministers of his War Cabinet Zheng Song spoke up.

"I have sent for him." He responded.

"Things are falling out of order, that's the report I have received in the Palace, is there anyone amongst you all that would care to explain to me what the problem here is?" She inquired.

"Forgive us Your Highness but our military intelligence from the North reports that Guanghua and Xiaoyang, two of our strongest Northern fortress are under siege and news isn't any better in the East as Chu is itself exposed to attack." Qiu Jung reported.

"What went wrong?" The Empress Yang asked while trying to retain her composure while they fell silent, "you are telling me that we are losing the war?" She pressed

"We aren't winning." Zheng Song muttered.

"There isn't a difference." The Empress lashed out at them.

"I was hoping that you would at least grant me reason to rescind or perhaps we had confidence on our part, perhaps the War Cabinet in league with the Ministry of war would give me vivid answers and a way forward to avert the crisis but I suppose putting our confidence in you in the first place and allowing you to take responsibility for the results of this revanchist policy would make you act up keenly but it turns out this was a fatal mistake." Empress Yang remarked.

"We can still change everything." Qiu Jung insisted.

"Tell that to everyone." The Empress muttered as she reclined in her seat and taking a deep breath she sighed and turned to Beiyuan, "Convene an immediate Council." She ordered, "I want every Courtier in the Grand Hall in an hour." She emphasized.

"Yes, Your Highness." Beiyuan responded along with the others who bowed their heads while the Empress studied the map in front of her.

"Prepare the report." She said to Shi Miyuan.

"As the Vice Minister of War Your Highness that isn't in my capacity." He remarked.

"Your opinion is irrelevant as it was an order so do not reason with me or anyone else in this room." Empress Yang responded.

"Yes Your Highness." Shi Miyuan responded hesitantly.

Consort Han in her Chambers Court Lady Liu walked in before her and bowed her head.

"Your Grace." She greeted while the latter calm as usual was immersed in her thoughts.

"Another defeat." Court Lady Liu informed her nonetheless, "the Empress has called for an immediate Council in the Grand Hall." She reported.

"It must be that she's overly concerned." Consort Han mentioned.

"Her Highness has hardly slept the past couple of days." Court Lady Liu mentioned.

"No one in her place would find it easy." Consort Han mentioned," She must have realized that it'll take more than a demoralized and decadent army to restrain further Jurchen advancement." She asserted.

"But I am worried Your Grace." Court Lady Liu mentioned, "if word were to spread that you are providing military intelligence to our enemies then I dear that the whole Han Clan might be persecuted." She remarked.

"No one will know as long as we remain silent and act out of caution." Consort Han mentioned while Court Lady Liu reluctantly abandoned the idea.

"How is the Imperial Prince?" She asked.

"Both Princes are fine." Court Lady Liu mentioned, "but I can't help but wonder when Your Grace plans to bring them into the Palace." She mentioned.

"Patience, as long as the Empress is in the Palace we can't do anything." Consort Han mentioned, "I was hoping that given the current circumstances, I heard that my Uncle plans to petition to the Empress and the Court that they move to Shaoxing for safety at the very least." She asserted.

"What's the guarantee that the Empress will listen?" Court Lady Liu asked.

"She might care less but it's the security of the Emperor and the Imperial Clan that is at stake, further advances in the North risk exposing the Capital to invasion and if the Capital is to fall then the Court must be preserved at the very least for the security of the Dynasty." Consort Han mentioned.

"We are in a very tough position Your Grace." Court Lady Liu said.

"We either gain everything or lose it all." Consort Han confidently swore.

Han Touzhou joined by his supporters they were led through the Imperial City along with all the other Courtiers.

"I heard that the Empress was furious." He whispered to Qiu Jung.

"She put on quite a show at the Ministry of War." He responded.

"Am I the only one that seems to realize that Her Highness is exercising her power as Regent excessively?" He inquired.

"A majority of the people are confident in her and rumours have circulated about the capital that she had predicted this ordeal and it's the reason why she was initially opposed to our revanchism, quite a number of her followers are emerging from brothels to commercial centres and the war has hit us badly, she has opened the State Granaries to supply people with relief food things are getting out of hand for us." Su Shidan responded.

"We need to take precautions for the safety of the Government." Han Touzhou mentioned, "The Imperial Court and Clan should be moved to Shaoxing for safety." He remarked.

"But that isn't up to us to decide and seeing that the Empress' people are equally more powerful than we are, the War Cabinet has been restrained given the current state of affairs." Zheng Song muttered.

"This is a State of Emergency and if the Empress won't willingly heed our advice then we shall simply coerce her to do so." Han Touzhou proposed while his colleagues seemed hesitant to agree.

The Courtiers gathered in the Grand Hall and murmuring amongst themselves seemed to analyze the already tense situation.

Gossip about the war had reached most of them in every corner of the Capital and they were very anxious to hear from the Empress.

Eunuch Deng announcing her presence shortly after, they all fell silent and acted up reserved while she walked down the aisle between them and mounted the stairs that led to the Imperial Dragon throne, she moved further to the left where her smaller throne had been set behind the Silk Screen and the moment she sat down the Courtiers in their respective capacities offered their salutation.

"Shi Miyuan the Vice Minister of Rites, present to the Court the Report on the War." She mentioned apoplectically and the latter moving forward he bowed his head to her before he proceeded.

"We have had very mild territorial gains in the last two days, the prefectures of Feng, Xing, Tianxui and Zheng have been ceded to the Jin, the Commander in Chief of the Western Front Wu Xi has defected to the Jurchens and the Fortresses of Guanghua, Chaoyang, Xinyang, Hanyang and Xiaoyang lay open to siege, Te-an, Lu, Hao and Chu have been surrounded our Generals Wei Gong, Li Dan, Shu Helping and three more of their colleagues with ten commanders, twelve lieutenants and fifty thousand soldiers in numbers have all died." Shi Miyuan lashed out furiously while the rest of his colleagues fell silent.

"The Tide of disaster will never stop at this, never in the history of our great nation has there been such humiliation befalling us all." He insisted as he looked at the Empress who seated behind the Silk screen she closed her eyes and shed a tear.

"What has the War Cabinet done since the beginning of the war?" Yang Cishan asked.

"Quite preposterous don't you think?" Others remarked.

"I am sure the Grand Chancellor has something to say to us all." Empress Yang suddenly spoke up while Han Touzhou uneasy where he was standing he bowed his head to her.

"You seemed confident at the beginning of the campaign, convinced us that we had a chance against the Jurchens, at Tianxui our forces were outnumbered ten to one, we were caught off guard yet we had the skilled and ferocious Generals." The Empress muttered.

"We are short of supplies Your Highness and the soldiers are low on morale." Han Touzhou muttered.

"It has been a year already." The Empress mentioned.

"Save for the mountains, hills and lakes in the North Your Highness, the capital is prone to attack by our Jurchen adversaries, before the worst comes to the worst the safety of the Government should be ensured and I propose that the Government temporarily moves East to Shaoxing." Han Touzhou suddenly proposed.

"I will not allow it." The Empress spoke up.

"The Court can not move to Shaoxing." Yang Cishan equally seconded her.

"We must survive Your Highness." Han Touzhou remarked.

"By running away from the fight?" The Empress asked.

"It isn't my will Your Highness." Han Touzhou mentioned.

"We are going through a tough time, this is a national crisis for not only the Imperial Court but our people, the people of our Great Country, any act of flight will be deemed as an injustice to our ancestors, a disloyalty and betrayal to that love we share the future generations will call all of us in this room cowards, traitors and disloyal citizens." Peng Zishou asserted.

"We must survive today to fight tomorrow." Han Touzhou insisted.

"Why don't you realise it already you imbecile that there's no tomorrow if we do not fight for it today." Shi Miyuan yelled at the top of his voice.

"What is it that you would know?" Han Touzhou asked and Shi Miyuan crossing the floor to his side he startled wrestling with the old man as his supporters surrounded him and defended him.

The whole Court was in turmoil as the Courtiers improvised their ceremonial tablets and began caning one another as the Empress quietly watched everything.

"None of this would have happened had it not been you." Shi Miyuan cursed.

"Meanwhile I have staked my life to fight for this country and revive it's prestige and what has the rest of your lot of cohorts done?" Han Touzhou retaliated angrily.

"Please do something Your Highness. " Eunuch Deng whispered to Empress Yang who was still quietly seated behind the silk screen watching everything.

She took a deep breath and sighed in disappointment before she lowered her leg from it's footstool and stamped her shoe aloud on the floor.

"All of you enough." She lashed out at them as she threw her own ceremonial Jade tablet in between them and shattered it.

They ceased for a moment looking at her as she mustered all the courage she could find and standing up, she walked from the back of the screen and appeared in front of them while they immediately fell back into their order and bowed their heads to her.

"Men like you, statesmen that are dignified, Courtiers that call themselves the pride of this country and memorialize the throne of Zhao, you brazenly act in such a frivolous and barbaric manner in front of me?" She asked.

"Please forgive us Your Highness, His Excellency the Vice Minister of Rites Shi Miyuan started it." Han Touzhou openly accused him.

"I am not so foolish everyone in this room would stand my witness that the war was your idea, we are losing on every Front, we are putting up insufficient resistance and you suggest that the Court be moved to Shaoxing? " The Empress mentioned.

"Would Your Highness take responsibility if harm were to befall the Central administration?" Han Touzhou asked.

"That is the very reason that I am in that seat," she said as she pointed at her throne behind the silk screen, "that is the reason why instead of being beside my husband's bed I am standing in this Hall and that is the reason why I am the Sovereign Regent and Empress of this country." She emphasized.

"Forgive me Your Highness." Han Touzhou immediately apologized.

"An Empire that is toppled by it's enemies can rise again but that which crumbles from within dies forever. " Empress Yang remarked and majority of her supporters sulking Han Touzhou and his clique could barely look her in the eye.

"This is what our enemy wants to do, to drive a rift between us from the inside and instead of collectively trying to come up with a way to inspire the people to fight with us, to raise the morale of our soldiers you proudly present yourself before me and suggest flight, what is it that you expect the people fighting and the soldiers up North risking their lives to do once they hear that?" The Empress asked as she slowly descended the stairs and halted in their midst.

"Your Highness, this is a State of Emergency." Han Touzhou insisted.

"We have not done enough and perhaps the Imperial relatives can seek refuge in Shaoxing along with the scholars because this country will belong to them in future, but this is our generation, this is our age that is why the moment I hear anyone else suggesting that we move the Court to Shaoxing even if it is the Grand Chancellor themselves regardless of the position I shall consider that treason and as the Imperial Regent exercising emergency powers I shall punish them accordingly." She mentioned, "Am I understood?" She inquired.

"Yes Your Highness." All the Courtiers responded in unison as they bowed their heads to her while Han Touzhou and Shi Miyuan stared at each other furiously.

The Empress returning to her own Chambers she sat down behind her table while Yang Cishan, Shi Miyuan, Bao Langya and Peng Zishou accompanied her.

"Please appease your anger Your Highness.Theyhe earnestly pleaded.

"All of this would have been very easy in the first place, had we chosen to not fight the war, had we prevailed over Han Touzhou initially then none of this would have happened." She remarked.

"We did all we could Your Highness." Shi Miyuan mentioned.

"Isn't your wife worried?" She asked, "I heard that you have barely slept at home the past week and asking around I was reliably informed that you were overseeing the provision of relief supplies and their distribution." She mentioned.

"The officer in charge lost his son in the war and fell sick." Shi Miyuan responded.

"What is it that I could do from the back of a silk screen, what could I possibly say when tale bearing has it that my husband is least interested in the war and I can not even speak up to the world and tell them that he is gravely ill." The Empress remarked.    

"And the Emperor can not travel to fight alongside his people, his presence would perhaps give them the courage they need but without it they couldn't fight with their all." Yang Cishan mentioned. 

"Is there such a superhuman person that could motivate resistance from decadent soldiers?" Bao Langya asked.

"Is there such a superhuman person?" The Empress repeated those words that for a moment it appeared as though something had come to mind.

"What's wrong Your Highness?" Shi Miyuan inquired.

"It doesn't matter what we hold in our past, the present deems us children of this country, this is our soil, and if the Emperor won't motivate his people then their Empress will." She responded.

"What do you mean Your Highness?" Yang Cishan asked.

"All of us in this room will age with time, we will die, but if there is one thing that I feel I could do as the Regent of this country that is enough then it is this." Empress Yang replied.

"No Your Highness." Bao Langya opposed.

"I'll go and inspect the troops in the North." She replied.

"But Your Highness, your presence is necessary in the capital, your absence will bring disaster both to yourself and to this Dynasty and who will protect the Empress and the Crown Prince in the process?" Shi Miyuan protested.

"I swore to His Majesty and I promised him that with my whole life I shall use my position as his Empress to protect him, it is either I sit down and wait for disaster or face it head on." Empress Yang replied.

"We are merely worried for your sake Your Highness." Bao Langya remarked.

"I am also worried but we have no choice." Empress Yang insisted, "I understand your fears which is why I think there may be a way to overcome them." She mentioned.

"If you insist Your Highness." Bao Langya mentioned reluctantly.

The sun rising over the capital in the early morning, Grand Empress Dowager Xie was busy feeding her parrot when The Empress appeared before her while being accompanied by her retinue.

"Your Grand Highness." She said to her.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of receiving you here in person my dear?" Grand Empress Dowager Xie inquired.

"Pardon me Your Grand Highness I only happened to learn that your health has improved." Empress Yang replied.

"Seeing that you were very busy with both His Majesty's health and the affairs of State I couldn't help it but understand your situation and how desperate and tiring it must have been." The Grand Empress Dowager remarked.

"Even then Your Highness, I brought over some biluochun tea that will help you get some strength and I was hoping that you'd help me with something." The Empress Yang muttered and Grand Empress Dowager Xie turning her attention away from her parrot she immediately turned to her.

"If it's within my capabilities." She responded while she ushered her inside her hall and the two women sat at a table face to face.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Things haven't gone well for us the past year, it isn't any peaceful along the border, the Imperial troops are low on morale and the Jurchens seem very eager to keep the conflict ongoing that I was hoping that perhaps I should visit the North." Empress Yang responded.

"What about the Palace and the Government, what about the Crown Prince?" Grand Empress Dowager Xie inquired.

"If I don't fight for my son's future he'll have no kingdom to inherit, if I hide behind the walls of the Imperial City then I won't protect His Majesty from the Jurchens for long." Empress Yang replied.

"Daiyu informed me that the Grand Chancellor had suggested that the Court be moved to Shaoxing." Grand Empress Dowager Xie mentioned.

"Unlike Lin'an, Shaoxing will barely hold us in safety, besides that could decay our morale further and might incite the Jurchens into believing that we are afraid of them and perhaps too weak to sustain resistance." Empress Yang replied.

"How passionate Your Highness but what more could you possibly do in this situation?" Grand Empress Dowager Xie asked.

"If I must bear the sword or the sabre I certainly will, If I should charge ahead of the battalions while bearing the Imperial flag then I shall certainly do so." She replied, "a woman on the battlefield might be a great idea because sitting behind the silk screen to give orders is not good enough if I can not stand with the people and fight with them." She remarked.

"And what happens to the Imperial Court in your absentia?" Grand Empress Dowager Xie inquired.

"I want to entrust you with its safety and the life of the Crown Prince." Empress Yang replied that the old woman smiled at herself.

"You overestimate me Your Highness." She mentioned.

"You underestimate yourself Your Grand Highness." Empress Yang remarked.

"There are two ways to survive in this Palace, your way requires fighting with every ounce of energy that you possess while for me, I can remain silent and speechless enough to go unnoticed, my breath can't be caught and neither can I be felt like the wind, the Courtiers eventually lose interest, the Consorts lose interest and I die at a very ripe old age and decay as I return to my creator." Grand Empress Dowager Xie professed.

"But your silence in the end could make you the most dangerous person in this game." Empress Yang mentioned, "as it is there's no one else that I can trust to protect the things I love and care about the most, the things that I am leaving behind." Empress Yang muttered. 

"Even so, I am powerless Your Highness." Grand Empress Dowager Xie reminded her.

"Even so, one's worth is determined by the position they hold and if it is power that I can give you to protect yourself I will." Empress Yang insisted.

"Your Highness, must you really do it?" Grand Empress Dowager Xie inquired from her again.

"Why did we become Empresses, why were we chosen as mothers of this nation, between you and I we do not have our husbands to fend for us, because we were chosen, because it was the grace of God, because it doesn't just please but it saves, we must protect the throne from falling into the wrong hands and we must guard this nation against falling into the darkness." Empress Yang replied.

"If you insist Your Highness then I shall gladly help you see to it." Grand Empress Dowager Xie mentioned as she held her arms and stared her in the eye assuringly.

Han Touzhou in his study he stared at the map of the kingdom as he studied the military situation, for a moment lost in his silence he seemed right that every strategy was remarkable but he couldn't seem to put a finger on what it was that they were doing wrong to bring the disaster of loss upon themselves.

"How are those barbarians even winning?" He whispered to himself when he heard the doors of his Chambers being slid open and turning around Lin Xue was rushing towards him.

"Your Excellency." He said as he fell on his knees sweating profusely and gasping for air as he struggled to speak up.

"What now?" He asked certain that it was another military defeat.

"Her Highness the Empress......" Lin Xue responded as his heart skipped a beat and he took a deep breath, "the Empress will personally visit the North. " He concluded and Han Touzhou surprised to hear that he walked closer to him.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"An Imperial Edict has been drafted by the Grand Secretariat declaring a State of Emergency to the people, the capital will be placed under Martial Law and for the safety of the Courtiers she's dispatched at least four guards from the Imperial troops to ensure their security and the security of the Imperial Clan, the number of Imperial guards has been doubled and upon her departure, all affairs of State and the Palace shall be overseen by the Grand Empress Dowager." He responded.

"Is the Empress out of her mind?" Han Touzhou asked at the top of his voice.

"Her Highness is determined one way or another to do so and she has organized a worship ceremony that will be held in the Palace tomorrow at the hour of noon, the common people will be allowed to witness and partake in it along with all Officials of the Government." Lin Xue reported and hearing this Han Touzhou fell silent for a moment.

"Perhaps it's good." He mentioned.

"What do you mean Your Excellency?" Lin Xue inquired.

"The Empress is always a problem every time she's in the Capital but away from the Central authority it might just be the opportunity we need after all, riding off to a battlefield anything can happen and people die of stray arrows and in explosions." Han Touzhou mentioned.

"But Her Highness personally picked guards for the Courtiers and nominally designated the Grand Empress Dowager to handle State affairs in her stead while giving her control of the Palace, she's trying to protect her power even at a distance it is clear that she has foreseen a likely danger on her side." Lin Xue mentioned.

"But what poise has the Grand Empress Dowager?" The Grand Chancellor asked, " she doesn't have the reserves to resist us even if she willed and even through a common understanding it is senseless for powerful people to protect someone who is weak." He responded.

"So what will you do Your Excellency?" Lin Xue asked while the latter smiled at himself ghastly.

"What?" Consort Han asked at the top of her voice while Court Lady Liu jealously knelt down in front of her.

"Her Highness the Empress will personally visit the North and inspect the troops there tomorrow and has therefore issued An Imperial Edict through the Grand Secretariat declaring a State of Emergency to the people and placing the Capital and country under Martial Law. For the safety of the Courtiers she has dispatched at least four guards from the Imperial troops to ensure their security and the security of the Imperial Clan." Court Lady Liu reported that her mistress pleased and closed her eyes and sighed in relief.

"Alas." She mentioned.

"It's unbelievable Your Grace." Court Lady Liu remarked.

"How is it even possible, why?" Consort Han asked herself as she craned her neck trying to think about it.

"Traditionally Emperors rode to war to stand beside their troops and raise their morale, the White Deer Grotto Academy prepared a portrait in advance that read the Empress Chengtian rides to war, certainly it seems to me that Her Highness thinking along these lines has inspired them to take after the Liao Dynasty's warrior Empress." Court Lady Liu mentioned.

"Once the Empress leaves what will happen to the Imperial Court?" Consort Han asked.

"It has been decided by the Empress already that the Grand Empress Dowager will be briefed, consulted and assisted on all matters concerning the affairs of State while she'll equally oversee everything that goes on in the Palace." Court Lady Liu responded as Consort Han smiled at herself.

"It's going to be useless." She remarked.

"How so Your Grace?" She asked.

"The Grand Empress Dowager is less formidable than we are and perhaps this is the opportunity that we have been waiting for." Consort Han confidently mentioned.

"What are you going to do Your Highness?" Court Lady Liu inquired.

"It doesn't matter if the Grand Empress Dowager is the Emperor and Crown Prince's protectress, it's already good enough for us that she isn't in the position to inflict serious harm to us." Consort Han responded as she looked at her servant, "make all the necessary preparations, as it is that the two Princes have been weaned, inform their mother that they shall be returning to the Imperial Palace much sooner than expected." She ordered.

"Yes Your Grace." Court Lady Liu responded as she stood up and withdrew from the room immediately leaving her mistress ghastly smiling at herself.

The Crown Prince Zhao Xun in his Chambers the Empress walked in on him while he was reading a book.

He stood up immediately and welcomed her as she got close enough and picked it up.

"Changes of Zhou?" She said.

"Yes Your Highness." Crown Prince Zhao Xun responded while the Empress sat down in front of him.

"What do you think?" She asked him.

"About what mother?" He inquired.

"Is it that you have not heard about the Imperial Decree?" She asked him again.

"Mother is sagacious, mother is very right, in times of war it is only right that a Sovereign stands with his people, the future generations will surely put you to great account." He responded.

"If perhaps I cared that much what future historians would say, I have fought long and hard to get here, the State Granaries won't supply people for good, it's best that we ended this war immediately without having to sacrifice our pride as a nation." She remarked.

"Don't worry mother, I will protect father with all my effort." The Crown Prince asserted while she picked up his right hand and held it in her own.

"This is motherhood, there's no guarantee that I shall return to you strong as I may leave, even then my strife is that in future you may become the ruler of our Heavenly Empire, that I may protect you and your father from our external enemies." Empress Yang muttered, "the Grand Empress Dowager shall look after you both on my behalf but she'll only be able to succeed where you are willing to listen with her and act up cautiously, it's natural for Princes to die in the Palace that is why as I shall fight to survive and return to you, Your Highness must fight to survive and wait for me." She said.

"Yes Mother." The Crown Prince replied and standing up, he approached his mother and hugged her where she was.

"All will be well my son." Empress Yang comforted him before they pulled apart a short while later.

"You should take your lessons seriously." She mentioned to him while he nodded his head in approval as Manyin and Xiaoyang watched her.

Stepping outside the Eastern Palace she halted and beheld the Grand Palace at a distance.

"What's the problem Your Highness?" Xiaoyang inquired from her.

"I need to see His Majesty." She responded as she seized her hanfu and she descended the stairs towards the direction of his quarters.

Beiyuan gathering with the Palace staff that was loyal to the Empress they were all quiet while his eyes studied each of them individually.

"What's the problem Superintendent Beiyuan?" One of the Eunuchs asked him.

"Tomorrow we shall have a worship ceremony held in the Palace and the day after the Empress will travel to the North to inspect the Imperial troops in His Majesty's stead, only a few of us will travel with her and that means the rest of you shall stay behind." He replied as they started murmuring amongst themselves for a moment before they quietened down.

"What are we going to do?" Some asked.

"With or without the Empress in the Palace, everything remains the same, it is up to you however to guarantee the safety of the Grand Empress Dowager, the Emperor and the Crown Prince there isn't another person that Her Highness would possibly trust with that task but you." Beiyuan replied.

"Consort Cao was banished to the Cold Palace and the Palace has been peaceful for a while now, what makes you think that something unfortunate is bound to occur now of all times?" One of the Court Ladies asked.

"We are surrounded by enemies, snakes and scorpions that are ready to prey on us any moment we can't possibly let our guard down." Beiyuan responded, "we can guarantee you the safety of both your lives and your families and I am certain that you can not forget the Empress' kindness so this is the time you can consider yourselves to be paying her back for it." Eunuch Deng ordered.

"Yes Sir." They replied in unison as they bowed to him.

Empress Yang walking into her husband's Chambers she looked at him unconsciously lying on the bed, getting closer to his bed side she sat down and with both her hands she ceased his right that was still somewhat warm.

"I hope you can hear me Your Majesty." She whispered, "I won't be by your side for long." She mentioned as she kissed it while Manyin, Xiaoyang and Eunuch Deng close by they watched her and thought her to be pitiful.

"I am doing all I can to make sure that you are better, I am trying where I am not strong enough, all this would have been much better if you are awake but as you must be seeing I have been headstrong all my life and you have suffered for that." She remarked, "I worry that I might not see you again, honestly I don't think I am even ready to face the world in this state, but even when you awaken I want you to know that I shall be beside you even like the wind, I won't leave you and I will use everything in my power to protect you, to protect Zhao Xun and this great Zhao State I shall fight no matter how long and hard it may be, long enough for you to see a beautiful world, a beautiful Mei'er." She mentioned as she stood up and bowed her head to him before she turned to Eunuch Deng.

"You have known me well and long enough, I promised that both you and myself would survive if you held my hand back then." She remarked as she walked closer to him.

"Protect His Majesty, that's all I shall ask of you, for my sake and the sake of this country, do whatever is in your jurisdiction and protect him." She said.

"Don't worry Your Highness, even at the expense of my life I won't let you down." Eunuch Deng assured her as she held into the sleeve of her hanfu and she pulled out an envelope which she handed over to Xiaoyang.

"Your Highness?" She muttered in disbelief.

"These are all my instructions to everyone else, see to it that you deliver them to Shi Miyuan as he will see them through." She responded.

"Yes Your Highness." Xiaoyang replied as she took the envelope into her hands and bowed her head to the Empress before she withdrew from the room.

"Have the Ministry of war designate a force of a thousand elite troops that will escort me North." She ordered Manyin who complied immediately.

Han Touzhou and the rest of his clique gathered at a tea house in the dead of night and himself speechless for a moment Qiu Jung broke the awkward silence between them.

"Her Highness declared that she will visit the North to inspect the Imperial troops." He mentioned.

"What authority has she?" Su Shidan asked.

"The White Deer Grotto Academy prepared a portrait titled 'THE EMPRESS CHENGTIAN GOES TO WAR'." Zheng Song mentioned, "the Capital is thrown into excitement and the Opera houses and brothels are all depicting her as the Liao Dynasty's Warrior Empress Dowager." He remarked.

"Someone must do it if the Emperor won't." Han Touzhou suddenly spoke up, "besides it could even be for our own good if the Empress left the Capital." He said.

"Suppose she is taken prisoner by the Jurchens?" Qiu Jung asked.

"Prisoner or not she'd rather die than be held captive by our enemies." Han Touzhou mentioned as he leaned on the table, "what matters is the Imperial Court and the Balance of Power in it, the Grand Empress Dowager may be the protectress of her influence in her absence but she isn't strong enough to contain us." He asserted as he reclined in his seat.

"The Grand Empress Dowager's position may be nominal but that means that the Empress' people can move her when they please especially if it is against us." Zheng Song remarked.

"All the better for us," Han Touzhou concluded, "if they can move the Grand Empress Dowager then so can we." He confidently remarked as everyone fell silent as he smiled at himself ghastly.

The people gathered outside the Palace and officials in their Imperial attires surrounded the altar that had been erected in front of the Grand Hall.

The people at a distance they watched with awe as the drums commencing the worship were sounded and trumpets joining in the melody, the Gates to the magnificent courtyard were opened.

"The Provincial standards being borne while led by the Emperor's personal Dragon standard were exhibited first.

The Phoenix flag for the Empress followed and the fairly old woman dressed in her peacock-patterned outfit she made her way through while everyone bowed their heads to her.

Holding onto the Ceremonial Jade Tablet she approached the altar with regality as she stared intensely at the Ceremonial plaque that was set in front of her, for a moment uneasy she could try to ignore the gaze of the people but her adversaries were pleased and the ladies of the harem and the Inner Court led by the Empress Dowager spectated from a small isolated pavilion.

Halting in front of the Altar, she mounted the stairs that led to it and while she knelt down in front of it on a cushion, she kowtowed the first time and the masses fell silent.

Raising her eyes up to the sky she lifted her hands high enough to gather the attention of the people.

"OH GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST, OUR HOPE FOR YEARS TO COME, IN THE NAME OF OUR BELOVED PEOPLE WHOSE HANDS BEAR THE GRAND FORTUNES OF OUR NOBLE AND SUPREME RACE, SUBJUGATED, CONFRONTED BY THE DURESS OF ARMS UNENDING WHOSE THIRST IS INSATIABLE. MY GLORY AND THAT OF THIS MOST MAGNIFICENT ZHAO DYNASTY IS THREADBARE AS WE HAVE APPROACHED THE STAGE WHERE WE MUST EITHER RECLAIM OUR LOST LANDS OR BE EXTINCT FROM THE PAGES OF HISTORY. OUR ENEMIES ARE COMMITTED TO PUTTING US DOWN, BEHIND THE SCENES OF PREPARATION WAR IS PROGRESSING AND THE SMOLDERING HAS BURST INTO A RAGING FIRE, THIRSTING, HUNGERING, FOR OUR WIVES, FOR OUR HUSBANDS, FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR FATHERS, AND MOTHERS. THEY VIOLATE THE SANCTITY OF OUR TREATIES AND GAZE LONGINGLY AT OUR PRESTIGIOUS BORDERS, DESIRING TO DESTROY OUR MOST BRILLIANT CIVILIZATION AND CORRUPT IT WITH THEIR ILL AND BARBARIC BEHAVIOUR, NEVER BEFORE HAVE OUR PEOPLE STOOD TO FIGHT IN A CLEARER SENSE NOR AGAINST A MORE MALIGNANT FOE, A DARKNESS UNSURPASSED AND TYRANNY THAT THREATENS OUR VERY OWN EXISTENCE AND THE SURVIVAL OF OUR GREAT NATION. THE TIDE OF DISASTER WILL NOT STOP AT THIS POINT AND THE ROAR OF THE RED CANNON SHALL NEVER BE SILENCED, THE ARROWS STILL RIDE WITH THE WIND, AND THE SWORDS, SPEARS, AND SABRES WILL BE BRANDISHED TO THE VERY END OF OUR DAYS, WE BREAK, WE BEND, WE BURN FOR THE CRIMSON FLAG AND THE DRAGON BANNER, WE ARE SINLESS IN OUR RESOLVE TO ABANDON OUR WEAKNESS AND FEARS TO FACE THE FIRE THAT RAINS FROM THE SAFFRON SKY, I HAVE DONE ALL I COULD TO SPARE THE JURCHENS AND THIS COUNTRY THE BURDEN AND SACRIFICE OF PREMATURE CONFLICT, THE PEOPLE BEST AWARE, THE HEAVENS MY WITNESS ALAS I PETITION TO YOU THE ALMIGHTY GOD, THE AUTHOR OF MANKIND AND THE HISTORY OF ALL NATIONS, THE DISPOSER OF ALL BATTLES, HEALER OF OUR LANDS AND GUARDIAN OF ALL MEN, BLESS OUR ARMS IN THIS OUR MOST GLORIOUS DAY AND GRANT THAT WE MAY RIDE ON THE WINGS OF VICTORY." She prayed aloud and burning some incense sticks, she placed them in the incense pot before she kowtowed thrice again.

"Long Live Your Highness, Long Live Our Empress." The People sang in unison while the Trumpeters sounded their trumpets.

The following day everyone in the Palace had gathered in front of its main gates and the Empress walking out of the Grand Hall while being accompanied by her retinue, the Crown Prince stood at the top of the staircase and looked at her making her way towards her carriage.

She halted in front of Shi Miyuan who was quietly bowing his head.

"Everyone I leave in your care." She mentioned, "don't forget to fulfill the instructions that I left you with." She whispered to him.

"Rest assured Your Highness, I won't let you down." Shi Miyuan confidently professed while she moved on to her brother.

"You are the Crown Prince's legitimate Uncle and people will be watching you, don't act up too much, your presence if too strong could make certain circles suspicious." She cautioned him.

"Don't worry at all Your Highness." Yang Cishan mentioned as she caught sight of Consort Han at a distance and without any hesitation she approached her and looked her in the eye.

"You are the most Senior Consort in His Majesty's harem, with the Grand Empress Dowager managing the Affairs of State you should give her a hand in running the Palace and the Inner Court." She reminded her.

"As my position demands, I assure Your Highness that I won't disappoint you." She gracefully responded and the Empress looking through her only gave her a sincere smile while she reacted similarly.

Done with the farewell she mounted the stairs of her carriage and got inside, at that very instant the procession leading her out of the Imperial City commenced while a tearful farewell was delivered to her.

"Rest assured My Emperor, I shall return bringing with me news of Victory." She thought to herself inwardly as Consort Han cared to look and confirm that she was out of sight while Han Touzhou's retainer Lin Xue standing along the streets confirmed that the latter had departed and immediately returned to his study where he found him standing while studying the map of the Empire.

"The Empress has left."  He confidently reported.

"Very well." Han Touzhou replied as he smiled at himself ghastly.