The Courtiers gathered in the Grand Hall for the Daily Assembly, the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji was presented before them.
Emperor Ningzong seated on his Imperial Dragon throne quietly Eunuch Deng moved forward with an Imperial Edict in his hands.
"THE IMPERIAL PRINCE ZHAO JI IS ENTERPRISING AND AS IT SO HAPPENS THAT THE CROWN PRINCE IS SICK AND HAS TRAVELLED SOUTH TO RECUPERATE, HIS OFFICE CAN NOT BE EMPTY AND THEREFORE IT IS NECESSARY THAT SOMEONE MUST TAKE CHARGE OF HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES, WITH EFFECT IMMEDIATELY, THE IMPERIAL PRINCE WILL BE GUIDED BY HIS MOTHER TO OVERSEE THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, HE SHALL TAKE PART IN OFFICIAL DISCUSSIONS AND WILL EQUALLY PRESENT HIS ADVICE TO THE CROWN, THIS IS MY WILL." He said and folding the Edict he moved over to the young man and handed it over to him.
"The Imperial Prince Zhao Ji thanks His Majesty." He said as he held it in his hands and bowed his head.
"Long Live Your Majesty." The Courtiers led by the Grand Chancellor spoke in unison as they kowtowed as well.
The Assembly dismissed, the Imperial Prince stood at the entrance of the hall and the officials passing by personally congratulated him.
Shi Miyuan seizing that opportunity moved up to him.
"You sure look radiant Your Highness." He remarked.
"Both mother and father take good care of me." He responded.
"Governance isn't easy but for a fifteen-year-old boy I heard that you are quite the exception when it comes to many like you, talented, humble, kind and dignified." He said.
"Everyone gets ahead of themselves the dignity of my brother and the Imperial house is what I have been called upon to uphold. " He responded.
"A wise choice of words Your Highness, many people can forget their duty but don't lose sight at any one point, remember who you are standing in for." Shi Miyuan said.
"Rest assured Your Excellency, the Monarchy must shine, never the monarch." Prince Zhao Ji said and kowtowing to him one final time with a smile on his face he continued his way.
Empress Yang seated in her Chambers, Xiaoyang walked in and offered her respects.
"How did the Daily Assembly go?" She inquired.
"Smoothly, the Emperor officially designated the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji before the Courtiers as the Crown Prince's temporary regent, he even declared to the Imperial Court that you'll help him with his duties officially." She responded.
"What about the Imperial Prince, I wonder how he must have felt." She pointed out.
"Everyone seemed endeared to him for having retained his composure, he was calm and humble as ever. " Xiaoyang responded.
"He does remind me of his mother, when Consort Cao was still the Nuwa I knew, she was much the same in character, obedient and I loved her to the point of sharing everything I owned with her, when I had an apple I would give her the bigger piece, growing up without a mother at least she made me feel I had a sister." She remarked.
"Were you so fond of her Your Highness?" Xiaoyang asked.
"His innocence reminds me of those moments, honestly, there are times I can't help but wonder how life would have been if both Consort Cao and I had remained friends." She responded before she took a deep breath and sighed when Shi Miyuan's presence was announced outside the hall.
Permitting his entry, the latter walked through into her presence.
"Your Highness." He said kowtowing to her.
"Alas, you are here." Empress Yang mentioned as Xiaoyang withdrew from the room.
"Pardon me for the Late appearance." He said.
"It's nothing major." Empress Yang replied as he took the seat right in front of her.
He noticed that she was lost in her thoughts.
"You asked to see me, is it about the Crown Prince?" He asked.
"You would understand if I said that someone is after him or in particular his position, things have been peaceful for so long why now of all times?" She responded.
"I understand, it couldn't be easy." Shi Miyuan said.
"I asked Manyin and Xiaoyang to look into his staff and so far they found nothing and are still digging into the details." Empress Yang said, "however this worries me seeing that at last there is a very discreet enemy, they are like a cat in a cupboard which makes us uncertain when and where they'll jump next." She muttered.
"I sent some men to follow the Crown Prince and Princess outside the Palace, they arrived safely at least now that Your Highness has been designated as the Imperial Prince's helper officially by His Majesty there's no better time to act than now." Shi Miyuan said.
"I thought about it just the same as this might be the way to reveal a most likely culprit." She professed.
"Have you anyone in mind Your Highness?" He asked as the Empress kept quiet momentarily.
"I'll ask the others to convene with me at our usual place tomorrow night." She said.
"Don't worry Your Highness, I'll prepare some memorials and present them myself." Shi Miyuan notified her.
"No," she responded, "you are an exception." She added.
"But Your Highness....." He was about to speak in protest when she held his hand.
"I am putting everyone else at risk, you,, however, are more important, you are more powerful than they all are, you must survive." She said to him.
"But how is it that I can survive without you Your Highness?" He asked.
"Then survive to save me." She said, "for the sake of the Crown Prince, there's more that I can not tell you now but in the future I shall disclose everything." She insisted as Shi Miyuan hesitantly withdrew his hand from her grip and bowed his head to her.
The Imperial Prince Zhao Ji seated inside his room quietly he looked at a blank piece of paper in front of him.
Having mixed the ink well enough he wrote down some words on it and folded it into a letter which he slid into a red envelope.
With a knock at the door alerting him that someone was present he slowly hid it beneath his table.
"Come in." He said and at that moment a Eunuch walked in with his head bent low.
"What is it that you want?" He asked.
"Do you not recognize me Your Highness?" The man asked and raising his head he looked him in the eye.
"Feng Ba?" Zhao Ji asked.
"Yes Your Highness." He responded as the latter signalled for him to sit down.
"As expected, the Empress is caught up in her thoughts." He muttered.
"The Crown Prince is out of the Palace, they say that he went South to recuperate but I'm guessing that the Empress is merely acting up to protect him from danger." Zhao Ji said.
"The Grand Chancellor sent another secret group of reinforcements to ensure the same." Feng Ba said.
"But that means well, she of all people will least expect herself to be the target of our next move." The Imperial Prince Zhao Ji pointed out.
"The Crown Prince doesn't have long to live, as the one presiding over his duties and the next in the line of succession after him you'll be a step closer to inheriting the Imperial Dragon throne, in your new position we should discuss your marriage and alliances." Feng Ba said.
"You worry excessively, I already had a word with the Minister of Rites and he's gathering all the support we need from the Empress' enemies." Zhao Ji said.
"It isn't enough to win over her enemies, her allies are essential as well." Feng Ba remarked.
"It won't be easy to convince them to break their devotion to her." Zhao Ji said.
"Then force them to do so." Feng Ba said as he stretched his hand into his sleeve and pulling out an envelope he slid it across the table to the young man who took it.
He opened it and pulled out a letter to look through its contents.
My men inform me that the Empress' supporters have been frequently gathering every night at the Gongqian Court where they have discussed politics with her and presented memorials, I am convinced that tomorrow night they'll convene there again so this is our opportunity to fish out the entire shoal from the sea." Feng Ba said.
"I may be in a position of reasonable power but I can't command the Imperial troops." The Imperial Prince Zhao Ji said.
"Then move the Emperor," Feng Ba said, "where the dragon moves, certainly, they shall follow." He added as he smiled at the young Prince ghastly while he returned the smile with a more sincere one.
It was very early in the morning and the Emperor Ningzong seated in his study the Imperial Prince presented some snacks to him.
"Greetings father." He said kowtowing to him while he took them into his hands and studied them.
"Did you make these?" He inquired.
"I inquired from the staff of the Imperial kitchen, you barely eat much these days, it isn't a man's place to acquire culinary skills but it is a son's place to serve his father to his fullest pleasure, I was merely hoping that a bite would ease you of your worries before I ask you of a favour." The Imperial Prince responded.
"Since you went out of your way to put a smile on my face I shouldn't let you down." Emperor Ningzong said as he picked up one of the snacks and pulling it closer to his mouth he took a bite.
It was so tasty that he couldn't help but smile.
"Remarkable." He said to him before he reclined in his seat, "Ask me for anything." He added excitedly as Prince Zhao Ji smiled.
"Forgive me father but I am sure that the Palace can be quite stuffed, you have hardly left it in years, you have hardly been amongst your people, mother might scold me but I was proposing, I heard that the Gongqian Court has a lovely musician called Lady Peony that is good at playing the Guqin, some call her music the healer note, it wouldn't hurt of you accompanied me to appreciate this as she shall have a special presentation tonight." Prince Zhao Ji said.
"Very well then, if you insist then I agree." Emperor Ningzong said.
"Thank you Your Majesty." The Imperial Prince Zhao Ji said smiling at himself before withdrawing from the room instantly.
One of the Imperial Prince's attendants walking out of his chambers, she bore in her hands a small stool pot which she was hiding secretly.
Reaching the back of the structure she opened it and tossed its contents behind the nearby hedge before she continued her way uncertain that she was being watched.
The secret follower approaching the scene she realised that there were numerous husks some of which were already decomposed and hard to recognize.
She picked up a few and tied them in her handkerchief before she stood up and making sure that no one was watching her, she stealthily ran away.
Moving into Manyin's Chambers she placed them on the table in front of her.
"What is this?" She asked.
"One of the Imperial Prince's ladies in waiting was always constantly in touch with the East Palace and her colleague was suspicious, there are no clear details as to how she entered the Palace or when but I managed to learn that she came from Shaoxing, around the same territory where Consort Cao currently resides." The young woman replied as Manyin opened the handkerchief and saw the husks.
"Then what have these husks got to do with this?" She asked.
"The Imperial Prince's Court Lady has been dumping these things secretly behind the detached storehouse close to his residence, I thought it was worth the attention because it could be that His Highness the Imperial Prince's life might be at stake." The young woman replied.
"Keep a close watch on the Imperial Prince's every movement and notify me if you notice anything else that is suspicious amongst his staff." Manyin said.
"Yes Milady." The Court Lady responded as she slowly withdrew from the room leaving Manyin alone with the husks while she held up a small sample of them and studied it.
"Anyone?" She called when another Palace maid walked in.
"Yes Milady?" She said.
"Tell the Imperial physician to go to the Central Palace." She ordered.
"Yes Milady." She replied as she immediately got out as well.
Manyin carried the husks into the Empress' presence and placed them on the table in front of her.
Looking at the Imperial physician standing close by he held up the handkerchief that contained the husks in his hands and slowly he started examining them.
"Cassia twig, red ginseng, Rehmania." He said which startled the Empress
"Aren't these all special and expensive herbs that are all used to treat heart palpitation?" She asked.
"It is among the many diseases that are treated with it." The Imperial physician responded.
"What do you mean?" Empress Yang asked, "is there another disease that I should know of?" She asked.
"I may not be too well informed but red ginseng is also used to stimulate men who are sexually inactive, however, seeing that Rehmania was present then I am certain that the consumer suffers from a number of diseases." The Imperial physician responded.
"Heart Palpitation is equally interesting." Empress Yang said, "most people that consumed the cassia twig along with Rehmania are casualties of Heart Palpitation." She added.
"Your Highness suggests that the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji could be suffering from Heart Palpitation?" Manyin asked.
"I realise that I have raised him for the last eleven years but come to think of it, I never considered studying his medical history even as his mother." She responded.
"Because he hardly fell sick." Manyin said.
"Or because like it happened with the Crown Prince he kept his ailings secret from me." She asserted.
"But Heart Palpitation is something serious, at least his physician would have reported this much, why did he keep quiet?" Manyin asked.
"I am just taking a wild guess as these husks moved out of the Imperial Prince's residence, but something this serious and his official protectress was kept in the dark he couldn't have possibly trusted me as his mother." She claimed, a strange and inexplicable expression engulfing her face in the silence.
The Imperial Prince Zhao Ji seated in his own Chambers quietly the Minister of Rites Qian Xiangzu seated in front of him he bowed his head.
"What are we going to do now Your Highness?" He asked.
"You attempted to expose the manipulation of State Affairs to the Emperor before." He said.
"Yes." Qian Xiangzu responded.
"A woman of the Inner Court indulged herself in the affairs of State, we have had numerous predicaments in our Glorious Dynasty's history we can not commit the same mistake again." Zhao Ji muttered.
"What are you saying Your Highness?" The old man asked.
"The Imperial Censors exist to reprimand and censure the Crown, as the minister of Rites your best chance to help them is by according them reason." He responded.
"I don't quite get the clear understanding of what Your Highness is getting to." He said.
"The Empress will step up and fall, when she does the High officials that are affiliated with her will plead for her political asylum, yet as it happens that protecting her will only destroy the very statutes that they are bound to uphold, surely we can have a chance to turn the people to our side." He concluded.
"Your plan is feasible Your Highness, but the Empress is too strong and her influence runs too deep within the State to have her ousted by a mere clash of public sentiments." Qian Xiangzu cautioned.
"What if the Empress sinned against the Crown Prince?" Zhao Ji asked and Qian Xiangzu surprised widened his eyes.
"What more are you up to Your Highness, what do you know?" He asked.
"Do you honestly think the Crown Prince left for the South?" He asked as he smiled at himself ghastly while Qian Xiangzu kept quiet.
"The Empress lied to the Emperor, and concealed the health condition of the Crown Prince, if he dies, who in the world can shoulder the responsibility of bringing chaos and turbulence to our Government but herself?" He muttered while looking him in the eye.
Bao Langya gathered a couple of Imperial guards with him and standing right behind the Grand Palace armed he made his way to the top of the staircase where everyone could see him.
"As you are all aware His Majesty will travel outside the Palace tonight, we are to ensure that his safety is guaranteed along with that of the Imperial Prince without drawing attention, a seat has been prepared secretly for him in the Gongqian Court's upper pavilion, you must defend it at all costs." He ordered.
"Yes Sir." The guards said in unison bowing their heads to him.
Empress Yang seated in her Chambers Manyin walked in and bowed her head before her.
"It is time Your Highness." She said while the Empress stood up from where she was seated.
"Let's go." She ordered and leading the way out of the room the young woman instantly followed her through the doors after which she descended the stairs that led from it and entered a small dark palanquin that had been prepared for her.
Qian Xiangzu and Ye Shi seated in a small dark room they were joined by a few of their supporters who made up much of what was the insignificant opposition to the Empress' rule.
"Why are we gathered here?" Ye Shi seized the opportunity to ask Qian Xiangzu who was staring at the candle that was burning brightly in front of him.
"This night the Empress will finally be caught in wrong by the Emperor." He responded as he turned and looked at them, "I want us to make another concerted attempt to drag down the Empress." He informed them and seemingly reluctant to join him many of them lowered their heads.
"It's already miraculous that we are alive, you once failed Your Excellency." Ye Shi boldly spoke up what may have appeared to be on the minds of the others.
"Perhaps," he responded, "I do not have what it takes that is why I wished that you that are here with me stand and vote with me in favour of another reliable candidate that is capable of dragging down the Empress." He added.
"Forgive me Your Excellency, where is such a man in this Empire?" Ye Shi inquired yet again.
"The Crown Prince doesn't have that much to live, my sources inform me that he is on the verge of death, what's alarming is that the Empress secretly keeps him in the Palace and is silent about his condition to the Emperor lying about his departure to the South to recuperate." Qian Xiangzu muttered and everyone surprised they broke into murmurs.
"How can you be so sure Your Excellency?" One of them asked.
"With such a claim if it turns out to be a lie you will be held accountable for slandering the Empress of this Country which this time I doubt she'd be willing to let you survive much longer." Another pointed out.
"We are only worried Your Excellency, even without the Crown Prince who would be more likely to take the Imperial Dragon throne one day and fight in our favour?" Ye Shi asked.
"There is a child that was born from the Emperor's legs, in fact, without the Crown Prince, what would stop us from elevating the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji to his position?" Qian Xiangzu responded.
"You seem to ignore the fact that it was the Empress that raised the Imperial Prince as well." Ye Shi challenged him.
"Even a loyal dog can turn on its honour, who to say that the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji won't, until now his birth mother has lived in obscurity and the story has been pushed back and is long forgotten if we revive this tale in the Imperial Court there is bound to be considerable conflagration in which we must prove ourselves useful and loyal to His Highness." Qian Xiangzu said, "if the Renzong Emperor could supplant the very people of the Empress Zhangxian of the Liu Clan after learning of his true birth mother, whose to say that the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji won't do the same?" He asked them as he smiled at himself ghastly.
Emperor Ningzong's carriage arriving outside the Gongqian Court, he stepped out a short while later accompanied by his son.
Raising his eyes to the magnificent two-story building he smiled momentarily as he took in a deep breath and sighed.
"I seem to have in deed missed out a lot about the public that I didn't notice." He said to his son.
"I just thought that the Palace could be a lonely place for you father, as it is that the Crown Prince is away and mother will be busy overseeing my Official conduct, I worried that you haven't had much fun lately so I considered bringing you to hear to appreciate the music." Zhao Ji muttered.
"How thoughtful of you my Prince!" Emperor Ningzong muttered when the young boy smiling he looked around the place and his eyes travelling to a door not so far away, he finally caught sight of something intriguing.
"Is that not Court Lady Xiaoyang?" He openly asked when the Emperor following his gaze he only saw the back of a woman dressed as a Court Lady covering herself and making her entrance into the building.
"What is the Empress' Head Lady doing here?" Eunuch Deng seized that opportunity to ask as well supposedly stirring the Emperor's curiosity.
"Let's go." Emperor Ningzong said and enthusiastically leading the way into the building, the Imperial Prince inwardly excited but not showing it followed him along with a couple of his guards.
They slowly followed the Court Lady who made her entrance in a certain room that was not so far from one which had been prepared for the Emperor and his son.
The Empress with the Courtiers seated in the dark room behind the silk screen had already indulged themselves in a political discussion.
The Minister of Public Works Yin standing up from where he was seated he faced the Empress and bowed his head.
"Here to report to Your Highness, we finished the construction of the Xiehou bridge in the North over the Han river, it is estimated to increase our annual trade sales with our Southern people in the Jurchen territory, as it is that our trade is unofficial and done is secrecy, the wealthy Jurchen traders have benefited from it in contrast to the Jurchen Government so their Economic situation is worse." He said.
"That is good, the Jurchens will certainly realise that they can not survive without our tribute and as it so happens that the Mongols are seriously weighing down on them I want us to use this to our own advantage." The Empress mentioned.
"What do you suggest Your Highness?" Minister Yin inquired.
"We can convince the six Ministries starting with the Ministry of Rites, as it so happened that I championed the renunciation of diplomatic relations between our two states six years ago it is High time that we redefined our diplomatic and social status amongst all Nations," she said, "you'll petition to His Majesty, with effect tomorrow, we shall refer to ourselves as the Greater Heavenly Empire of Southern Song and our Emperor as the Greater Heavenly Majesty, besides, I want us to start diplomatic relations with the Mongols to ensure our future security,, therefore I am hoping that you'd stand with me." She added.
"Rest assured Your Highness," the Courtiers said to her in unison and the Emperor having eavesdropped everything he clenched his fists in fury.
The doors of the room were suddenly flung open and there a familiar silhouette appeared before its inhabitants.
All of them turning their attention to the strange intruder marvelled at his sight as the Empress stood up behind the silk screen confidently perhaps having been expectant of the arrival.
"Your Majesty." They the lesser officials said as they fell onto their knees bowing their heads to him while he walked to the forefront.
The Empress being led by Xiaoyang stepped into his sight and went on her knees before him while the Imperial Prince was watching she bowed her head.
"Your Majesty." She said gracefully.
"What is this Your Highness?" He asked, "what are you doing here my Empress?" He spoke fiercely.
"It's not as it seems Your Majesty." She said.
"They are my officials, are they not, they are submitting memorials to you are they not?" He asked.
"Yes." She responded confidently.
"I see." The Emperor said and raising his head he looked all over the place, "Since when?" He asked.
"Eleven years Your Majesty, each of them ordurous, hard to bear, but every breath I have taken has been devoted to the welfare of our Great and Heavenly Empire, your welfare in particular." She said.
"You go behind my back, collude with these lowly Courtiers to manipulate the politics of the country, you may be my Empress, but you have overstepped your boundaries." He said as he turned around to walk away.
"I am not in wrong Your Majesty, I am not sorry, I did what was right, it doesn't matter who speaks in protest but if I had the chance, I would gladly choose the same path and I am going to follow it until the very end." The Empress muttered that everyone was surprised.
"Your Highness?" The Courtiers spoke up while the Emperor turned around furiously and looked her in the eye.
"What did you say?" He asked.
"I am not in wrong Your Majesty, I am not sorry, I did what was right, it doesn't matter who speaks in protest but if I had the chance, I would gladly choose the same path and I am going to follow it until the very end." She repeated herself as she bowed her head to him.
"Hear me out, have all these men dragged to the Imperial State Tribunal and the Empress effective immediately is barred from leaving the Central Palace without my permission, whoever pleads on her behalf is guilty of treason and will therefore be sentenced to death." The Emperor ordered as he stepped out of the building and at once, the Imperial guards making their entrance they took prisoner all the low-ranking Courtiers present and dragged them out while the Empress was escorted from the room.
Walking past the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji who was standing close to the door he naively fidgeted with his hands and turning her back on him, he broke the sombre expression and turned it into a ghastly smile.
Shi Miyuan uneasily pacing across the room Dong Hua threw the doors open and rushed in immediately falling onto his knees.
"Your Excellency?" He cried aloud.
"What happened?" He asked.
"The Emperor barged in and ordered the imprisonment of the Courtiers present, the Empress has been barred from leaving the Central Palace and she's being escorted back to be placed under house arrest." Dong Hua reported.
"How could His Majesty do such a thing?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"He decreed that whoever pleads for the Empress will be guilty of treason and shall face a death sentence immediately that I fear there is no way we can save Her Highness." Dong Hua responded as Shi Miyuan infuriated turned to his table and threw everything down.
A loud cry escaping his mouth with his hands on his head he descended onto the ground while Dong Hua sensing his tragic mood could almost hold himself in not to utter any word.
"No, " he said, "His Majesty can not do this to you." Shi Miyuan whispered to himself sounding insane and his eyes widening were bloodshot while his veins surfaced on his head as he turned around to look at Dong Hua.
"Gather the scholars and elites, everyone of the soldiers in the three armies." He said.
"But Your Excellency........" Dong Hua reluctant to obey the order was soon to speak in protest when Shi Miyuan unsheathing his sword which was close by he brought it right next to his neck.
"If you see and honour me as your Master you'll do exactly as I say." He mentioned.
"Yes Your Excellency." Dong Hua without a choice finally agreed to his demand before he exited from the room.
The Empress in her Chambers she sat down while Beiyuan and her attendants Manyin and Xiaoyang knelt before her.
"What are you to do now Your Highness, nothing you'll say will make His Majesty forgive you now that he has seen for himself." Xiaoyang pointed out.
"His Majesty is greatly displeased my Empress, any further action of you tantamount to resistance will be taken as your outright disregard for his position along with the power that it commands." Manyin supplemented.
"That doesn't worry me," she said, "of it is so then so be it." Empress Yang mentioned.
"But Your Highness.....?" Beiyuan attempting to convince her otherwise raised her hand and halted him.
"I am tired of hiding much longer, until now I have kept quiet that some people still fail to understand my position and stance, I want to educate my enemies and if I must directly confront the Emperor of this country to do that then I am going to see to it that I keep things that way until the very end." She assured them.
Shi Miyuan and all the other Courtiers gathered outside the Grand Hall at the break of dawn, an hour away from the Daily Assembly dressed in their official robes they knelt in the Courtyard facing the throne within.
"Hear our plea Your Majesty, absolve the Empress of her and do not punish her so harshly." They cried out in unison.
"Please forgive the Empress Your Majesty." They pleaded louder and louder their cries reverberating throughout the Palace that they could be heard from the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji's room.
Emperor Ningzong seated inside the Grand Hall was quiet while Eunuch Deng hardly mentioned a word.
"What's going on?" He suddenly asked.
"The Grand Chancellor and most of the other Officials are kneeling in front of the hall and they insisted that they won't leave until you retract Your order Your Majesty and end the Empress' punishment." He responded as his eyes travelled to the Eunuch who was bearing in his hands a couple of memorials.
"What are those?" He asked.
"When many of the Courtiers and Senior Officials heard about what happened to the Empress at Gongqian Court, they all decided to write petitions to Your Majesty pleading for the Empress' pardon." He responded.
"Which officials in particular?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"All of them from the six Ministries save for the Minister of Rites." Eunuch Deng responded as the Emperor furiously clenched his fists.
"Burn them." He ordered.
"Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied as he turned to the Eunuch and waved him out with the memorials.
"What about you?" The Emperor suddenly mentioned, "have you anything to say to me?" He inquired.
"No Your Majesty." He responded.
"This is your last chance?" He muttered.
"Wouldn't Your Majesty wish to know what my opinion is as always?" He pointed out.
"Tell me." Emperor Ningzong said.
"From what you are seeing, this much Your Majesty should be in the position of judging how much power and how much influence the Empress wields, however, I wish to inquire two things in particular, why do you think she did not rebel against you in the first place and why is it that she couldn't have convinced the Higher officials to stay silent since they were absent?" He pointed out.
"Have you an answer to these questions yourself?" He inquired.
"It could cost the Empress her life but she went out of her way, let Your Majesty uphold your Sovereign dignity and govern from the shadows why don't you hear out what she has to say first and based on that finally make up your mind to institute your final judgement?" Eunuch Deng responded.
"The Courtiers are in deed very brazen to come to my presence after acknowledging the mastery of another that is not me, let them keep pleading there and we'll see whose will breaks first." The Emperor mentioned instead while Eunuch Deng sighing in disappointment tried his best to hide it.
The Imperial Prince Zhao Ji seated in his Chambers Qian Xiangzu sat down in front of him.
"The officials are all kneeling in front of the Grand Hall and begging His Majesty to retract his oral order of placing the Empress under house arrest, seeing that they are all out they must have moved with a single order." He reported.
"It didn't strike me that they would come up with such a dense move, what is it that the Empress hoped to achieve by advertising her power to the Emperor let alone helping him see those who are loyal to himself and the ones loyal to her more clearly?" The young Prince mentioned.
"Even I don't know but the Empress wouldn't act so recklessly, how is it that she could take this huge risk without an ulterior motive?" Qian Xiangzu inquired.
"Regardless of whatever it is that she is thinking, what matters most is the best we can do out of this situation." Prince Zhao Ji said.
"What do you suggest Your Highness?" Qian Xiangzu asked.
"We should make this public and extremely sensation, strong enough to force the Empress' deposal." The young Prince responded.
"How can you be certain Your Highness, we have tried before and failed, what hope is there that this time round things will be different?" The old man asked.
"Because this time even His Majesty will abandon her." The young Prince replied as he smiled at himself ghastly.
The Empress accompanied by her retinue approached the side doors of the Grand Hall where she was halted by the Emperor's Head Lady.
"Step aside." She said to her.
"Forgive me Your Highness but His Majesty ordered us to prevent everyone from going in." She insisted but the Empress unwilling to listen turned to Xiaoyang and Manyin who dragged them away while she pushed the doors open and walked in amidst the endless protest of her husband's attendants.
The Emperor seated on his throne was alarmed by her entrance as she moved up to his presence and halted there.
"Empress?" He shouted at the top of his voice as she halted right in his midst.
"Your Majesty." She said bowing her head to him while he clenched his fists in fury, listening to the Courtiers outside petitioning for the Empress' pardon.
"The Courtiers have been there for a long while, won't Your Majesty give them an answer?" She asked.
"I don't wish to." He responded.
"Then send them away." She mentioned.
"They won't leave." Emperor Ningzong responded.
"Then drag them out of the Imperial City, it is Your Majesty's residence after all, not a playground, if they can not yield when you are merciful, surely, they'll yield when you are forceful." She remarked.
"And what good would that do?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"You tell me Your Majesty, do you have that heart in you?" She asked.
"You of all people, you choose to stand against me?" He asked.
"Yes Your Majesty." Empress Yang boldly replied.
"Why?" He asked, "why are you doing this to me?" He insisted on knowing.
"Do you desire to know the truth, I was hoping you would see for yourself depending on what it is that I have asked you, isn't it?" She asked as she moved a couple of steps closer, "Are you asking me that question?" She muttered as she looked him in the eye.
"You convene the Courtiers in secret behind my back, need I remind you that their sworn fealty to me and their contrasting actions only make them traitors, people that are intending to misuse their positions, their Imperial authority for their selfish reasons and they dishonour the Son of heaven?" He lashed out at her.
"And it's because of their loyalty that is undying that they would take the risk, that they would undermine public scrutiny and demonization by future generations, unwillingly bow their heads to my service, have you known subjects that serve you affectionately as they do?" She inquired from him while he fell silent all of a sudden.
"Do you really ask me why I did this Your Majesty, do you really wish to know why I went so far, why I indulged myself in the governance of the nation behind a silk screen, why I sacrificed those nights, twenty paces, ten or even one more close to you if I dare do you really not wonder why I would throw my life into that bottomless pit, that underworld that burns and scorches the humanity of my soul, that rips apart my sense of reason, for f justice to make me a warrior on a bloody battlefield and a woman surpassing all the regulations there are that were forged by our forefathers?" She mentioned.
"Is this how you justify your actions?" He inquired.
"Do you think you are any better Your Majesty hiding the truth from me, when you can't even stand on your two feet and execute me on this spot for conflicting with your power, conflicting with your influence are you any better a man?" She lashed out at him, "does it make you a better person keeping it a secret that you don't have that much time left in the world, that you won't live a long life?" She pestered him.
"What are you saying my Empress, who whispered those lies into your ears?" He asked.
"You suffer from Bechet's disease, I know because I am the one who recommended the best Physician I could find in the country to treat you, for me it was like an achievement until it came to my understanding later on that your activeness in the affairs of State would weigh down your health, that you would ail and fade, perish and turn to dust before my eyes, I would remain a widow all alone within the walls of this crimson Castle, without a comforter, weathering the cold without anyone to turn to that I would reach that point where my very own existence will be unbearable." She confessed that for a moment it appeared as though the Emperor's heart had gone soft, he held onto his chest speechless.
"My Empress, have you any idea what you are doing?" He asked in tears.
"This could besmirch me of everything that I have worked hard for so far, I know, I could become the biggest sinner in the Dynasty who cares, why worry about the future when I prefer to be selfish with the life of my husband, no one would hurt as much as me without you that thinking about your every word or thought or action I only told myself that for your sake it's worth it, to be hated, scorned, if this Crown or this State was too big for you what was stopping me from becoming your Crown, what was stopping me from becoming your State?" She mentioned.
"I promised to protect you my Empress, I won't let you offer yourself for my sake, I don't care, even if I have to fight you with my position to ensure that." He insisted.
"Then you can't die Your Majesty because if you do it shall be the end of me," Empress Yang assured him, "you have always protected me so it is my turn to return the favour therefore whether you like it or not even if it means that I must become your enemy, I shall stake my life, my position, I'll fight you with every ounce of power that is in my command until the very end and if sharing power is the only way that I can do that then like it or not we shall rule this world together." She emphasized her stance bowing her head and turning around to walk out of the room where the Emperor stood up.
"Your Highness, do not force my hand." He cautioned.
"Stay alive, for my sake, for the sake of our children and for the sake of Our Heavenly Empire, that's all I am asking from you." She mentioned while looking over her shoulder before turning around and continuing her way out of the room as the Emperor with Eunuch Deng he startled and fell back into his seat.
"Please forgive the Empress Your Majesty." The cries of the Courtiers reverberated in the Grand Hall.
Empress Yang returning to her Chambers she sat down with the Grand Chancellor in front of her having deeply immersed herself in her thoughts.
"I did as you asked Your Highness." He said while she turned to him.
"What's His Majesty's will?" She muttered, "for a moment I took a close study, his suspicions, his gaze at me, he wasn't angry, he's just another tragic character of life." She mentioned.
"Then I trust that your questions have been answered." He said.
"One character benefited from all this conflagration, the most silent relied on our differences and our blindnesses to divide us and move further with immense support." She remarked.
"Who is this character Your Highness?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"I suppose the apple never really falls so far from the tree, I nurtured the snake that turned on me with my two hands I have realized that if I wish to hold onto my power I should go this far." Empress Yang responded when Manyin walked in.
"Your Highness," she said bowing her head.
"Have you prepared it?" She asked her.
"Yes Your Highness." Manyin replied as the Empress stood up from where she was seated.
"Take me to him." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Manyin responded as she walked past Shi Miyuan the latter who was still trying to piece together the words that she had said to him.
The Imperial Prince Zhao Ji seated in his Chambers, his food was placed before him.
"There are too many dishes for me today?" He pointed out.
"Her Highness the Empress said that today is a special occasion and she'll have a meal with you." Xiaoyang responded with a smile on her face and the young man taking it lightly he studied the dishes momentarily until the Empress' presence was announced.
Majestically walking in the young Prince stood up and bowed his head to her.
"Your Highness." He said gracefully while she smiled at him.
"I haven't eaten with you in a while my dear, as it is that you'll handle the Crown Prince's duties, I prepared this in advance to congratulate you." Empress Yang said.
"Your Highness shouldn't have bothered, your boundless Grace has set me in this position and your proper upbringing." Zhao Ji muttered.
"Then let's dig in." Empress Yang said and sitting in front of him, he took a pair of chopsticks first and served her.
She unhesitantly took the first bite of the boiled rice while the young Prince following his example, he cut a piece of chicken and ate it as well.
"It's delicious." He remarked.
"It's marinated." Empress Yang responded as the boy persistently ate more and more while she watched him with a smile on her face.
He noticed a while later that the Empress was staring intensely at him, and hesitant, he lowered his chopsticks down.
"Is anything wrong?" He asked, "Your Highness seems rather bothered." He pointed out.
"Can I tell you a story?" She inquired.
"If it pleases you Your Highness." He responded.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful woman, everyone in the entire Empire knew that none could surpass her beauty and her heart was pure like Jade, her elegance was incomparable to that of many in her time the women called her yao and shun while for the men she was an immortal goddess.
She married the most powerful man in the world, but her position was coveted by many people, politicians schemed and killed her children and in a bid to protect her position and herself she took in a child that was born from her enemies.
"Surely," she thought, "if I raised it with my own hands it would be of great use to me and as the child grew up into a fine young man who was both meticulous and intelligent, the inevitable happened, the young man turned on the woman that raised him and chose to kill her so that he could take her power for himself." She narrated and abruptly ended the tale at that.
"Why are you telling me this story mother?" He asked.
"It was you who poisoned your brother Your Highness, it was you that attacked my son, that attacked the Crown Prince of this nation." She responded and the latter was startled.
"What are you saying mother?" He asked.
"You are a very smart child, you are really cunning and malignant enough that I thought all this time raising you I was using you yet it turns out that I only nurtured an ungrateful dog, a serpent was slowly growing beside me waiting for the right opportunity to strike my heel did you really think that you could keep it hidden from me for good?" She responded.
"Mother...?" He was still speaking when he suddenly felt discomfort in his chest.
"I suppose that an apple in deed doesn't fall so far from the tree, your mother risked so much to protect you, even her entire reputation, I can't help but wonder, how she will feel when she learns that all of it was in vain." Empress Yang said as she stood up from where she was seated and the young Prince violently scratching his chest and trying to gasp for air she stood expressionless.
He knocked over the food on the table as he groveled up to her holding onto her hanfu.
"Mo...." He was losing his voice slowly as his eyes turned red, his veins all over his head he'd started turning pale, "what have you done to me?" He struggled to ask.
"It is bittern, no one would surely know, and seeing that you suffer from heart Palpitation and kept it a secret, it will be much easier to fabricate your post-mortem." She whispered to him while he raised his hands higher trying to hold onto her lower waist.
It appeared in his eyes that he longed for mercy, that he hoped for forgiveness and help but the Empress confidently held his hands in her own and with all the might that she could find she cast them away so that the young man falling onto the ground coughed up blood.
Manyin and Xiaoyang watched quietly, the Empress not blinking studied the young boy's body as he took a deep breath before he breathed his last, his pupils eventually dilated, his entire body became cold, the incense still burning, the room went silent for a moment.
The Empress still courageous she looked at her reflection in the blood beneath her feet, without a hint of remorse or fear, she could almost see another in her place, another in her body and another in her reflection until Beiyuan stepped in beside her.
"Your Highness?" He called to her.
"Inform the Imperial Palace, sound the mourning drum, the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji has perished and the cause of death is Heart Palpitation." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Beiyuan responded and along with Manyin and Xiaoyang, the two withdrew from the room leaving her all alone with the body of the young Prince.
"Dear God, the healer of all mankind, kindly accept my profound repentance, for I have sinned by taking yet again the life of another." She whispered to herself.