Lightning streaking across the dark sky, thunder roared and shook the heavens while the wind violently howled, the rain fell heavily throughout the city, drenching the walls and streets entirely as paddles formed within the halls.
The Empress with the Courtiers were seated in a secret room and Shi Miyuan at the forefront on her right Yang, Bao Langya took a seat on her left.
"I am very grateful to have you all gathered here." She said.
"Your Highness is merely concerned for the General welfare of our Great Heavenly Empire, it is only right therefore that we abide with you." Shi Miyuan said.
"As you are all aware, we were unfortunate as the Imperial household to lose our two dearest Princes, the Crown Prince in particular, and as such the East Palace lacks a master yet considering the current state of affairs and His Majesty's health, the seat of the Crown Prince can not be left empty for two long it needs an occupant right now." The Empress mentioned.
"If I may Your Highness?" Shi Miyuan spoke up and the Empress nodding her head in approval turned around and faced the others.
"His Majesty is aware that we'd bring this up but most importantly in choosing the Crown Prince we need someone who will be our political protector, they must be outstanding and morally upright, elegant and dignified and my search has led me to one candidate in particular who leaves me quite intrigued." He said.
"Surely if Your Excellency deems him competent I am willing to embrace him." Empress Yang professed.
"The Imperial Prince Zhao Hong is an adopted son of Zhao Kai, the biological son of Emperor Xiaozong and would be considered the foster cousin of our reigning Emperor, as he is a child of the Imperial Clan it brings him much closer in the line of succession and makes him the most reliable candidate having excelled in mathematics and history, he is well versed with Confucian principles and diligent in his conduct." Shi Miyuan reported.
"But I heard that he is an outspoken person and is very confident, he never admits defeat and he finds fault with quite a number of things, what's the guarantee that if we support him he won't turn on us?" Bao Langya inquired.
"Because if he stands against us he stands against the peace and prosperity of our Great Heavenly Empire, as one time the Late Crown Prince's background nearly made his ascension to the position of heir apparent face intense opposition, the fact that he is a foster child can suit us well enough to put him out of power if he doesn't act up to his expectations." Shi Miyuan responded.
"As it happens that the office of the Crown Prince is something that requires our most immediate attention we shall act up cautiously, tomorrow the Grand Chancellor shall submit an appeal to His Majesty and the enthusiastic scholars will take their stand behind us, until then before Consort Cao and her cohorts act up first we shall have made the appointment of the Prince Zhao Hong public and more appealing to the ears of many." The Empress decided.
"Yes Your Highness." The Courtiers said in unison bowing their heads to her.
A couple of women with a black parasol stealthily making their way through the streets under the heavy downpour they approached a small villa and knocked on the door once, thrice and then twice, opening immediately, they made their entrance into the vicinity and moving up to a small detached house on the left side of the structure, they entered and started removing their drenched cloaks.
It turned out to be Consort Cao and Linxiang who were received by a young man.
"Is everyone here?" She inquired.
"The only person that we've been waiting for is Your Grace." The young man responded stepping aside as he bowed his head.
She took the humble gesture as a sincere invitation to her entry and thus she moved through the doors where she found four men headed by the Minister Ye Shi seated.
Recognizing her presence they instantly stood up from where they were seated and bowed their heads to offer their salutations to her while she took the seat at the forefront which she was certain was prepared for her.
Sitting down, they all did the same.
"You asked us here?" Ye Shi inquired.
"I was reliably informed that His Excellency was closest to you people the most in the entire Court you also favoured his arguments as much and were as displeased with the Empress' involvement in the Affairs of State considering the fact that she is naturally handicapped for the job." She asserted.
"And what is the difference between Your Grace and her, don't you seek out an alliance with us so that you too can much up to her power or perhaps even surpass her, what is the guarantee that you won't be worse than the Empress?" Ye Shi asked.
"My only reason for strife is my own survival and it so happens that more than anything else I appear to be concerned for His Majesty's safety, as you can see that thanks to him the Ex-Minister of Rites had the chance to keep his life, if we allow the Empress and her supporters to monopolize Imperial authority wouldn't they get rid of us with the first chance that they get?" She inquired.
"As long as we remain silent, we shall survive." One other official said.
"As long as you are alive and are still members of the Imperial Court your very presence will invite the Empress' subjugation because it threatens her position along with the power that it commands." Consort Cao said.
"Give us one good reason we should trust you when those that have allied with Your Grace in the first place have met tragic dates." Ye Shi spoke demandingly.
"As it so happens that the East Palace lacks a master, the Empress will be more hasty and eager to gain control of it so that she can safeguard her position, what if I told you that she would adopt a candidate who would be more useful and honourable to us than to her, would you be willing to lend me your allegiance?" She inquired.
"How can we be certain of your words when there's hardly any proof to support your claims?" He asked and Consort Cao looking at all of them smiled at herself ghastly.
It was very early in the morning and the Courtiers gathered in the Grand Hall with the Emperor seated before them, Shi Miyuan stepped forward.
"Your Majesty." He said bowing his head to him while he retained his poise which he took as the latter's approval to proceed.
"It has been twenty-six years since Your Great Heavenly Majesty ascended the throne and a year after the passing of the Crown Prince, as the Imperial Court of this nation and the Supreme Government of our Great Heavenly Empire, we are worried for Your Majesty as it appears that you might find it troublesome which is why we jointly petition that you hurriedly designate an heir apparent to the Imperial Dragon throne to assure a smooth transition of power at the hour of the succession." He said.
"Please select a Crown Prince Your Majesty." The other Courtiers strongly pleaded with him while bowing their heads as well.
"You all are right to be concerned, as the Sovereign is the Compass of the nation and the Crown Prince the foundation of the Empire, as it has been a year it's already too long and the East Palace does need a master." The Emperor mentioned, "however seeing that the duties of a Crown Prince could be hectic I can't help but feel concerned, for the welfare of the state we need someone energetic which is why I would very much prefer to consider adopting a boy at least fourteen years old." He added.
"Your Majesty is truly wise and sagacious, if I may?" Yang Gu mentioned as he moved forward right next to a Chancellor, "I do find a much worthy candidate for this position." He claimed.
"Who could it be Your Excellency?" Ye Shi, the Minister of Personnel asked.
"The Prince Zhao Hong, the adopted son of the Imperial Prince Zhao Kai and also Your Majesty's cousin, as it so happens that he is exactly fourteen years old and the closest in the line of succession, as long as he is appointed as the Crown Prince of Our Great Empire, many people would welcome the idea." Yang Gu responded.
"I personally think that choosing the Crown Prince of our Great Heavenly Empire is no easy job and as it is that this is someone we are to entrust with the mandate of heaven to justly govern the generations to come, we should consider his competency and not just his legitimacy alone." Ye Shi proposed.
"The Prince Zhao Hong is well known to be an excellent performer in the liberal arts and Mathematics, besides, his character is one that is unique and befitting of a monarch when you are to put into consideration the fact that he is pious and dignified." Yang Gu said.
"Rumour is a great Traveller but we can't solely rely on it to justify our claim." Ye Shi protested.
"Alright, enough." Emperor Ningzong commanded in what appeared to be a very calm tone and everyone immediately complied.
"All your arguments are right and sure make sense which is why I have decided that as a result to make it fair and acceptable, an unbiased judgement I shall invite Prince Zhao Hong to the Hanlin Academy and I shall have the scholars personally test him, basing on their result I shall finally make my final decision." He said.
"Long Live Your Majesty, Your majesty is truly sagacious." The Courtiers said in unison bowing their heads to him.
The Courtiers stepping out of the hall, Yang Gu and Shi Miyuan along with Peng Zishou and the rest of their clique walked towards the exit of the Imperial City.
"I didn't expect the Minister of Personnel to put up such intense opposition." Peng Zishou pointed out.
"They are not wrong to worry, certainly their fear is the enthronement of a Crown Prince that favours us against them." Yang Gu said.
"But His Majesty appears to be most interested and most cautious in the choice of his heir apparent." Shi Miyuan said, "entrusting such a big affair to the Hanlin Academy makes me certain that there's another ulterior motive of his that he is pursuing." He said.
"And what could it be?" Yang Shi inquired.
"The Hanlin Academy Scholars are expected to become future Court Officials if they pass the Imperial Examination, this is both a test of their credibility and a test of Prince Zhao Hong's ability to win their loyalty." Shi Miyuan responded.
Empress Yang standing on the balcony of the Central Palace perused through a written report in her hands before she folded it and handed it over to Manyin.
She slowly started walking with Beiyuan and Yang Cishan beside her.
"You look troubled Your Highness." Beiyuan pointed out.
"His Majesty in deed takes caution in the choice of the Crown Prince and decides to entrust this great task to the scholars of the Hanlin Academy." She mentioned.
"For a fourteen-year-old boy, it mustn't be an easy task." Beiyuan pointed out.
"As it is a judgement of prowess he won't consider a boy younger than fourteen years it is vivid that he is trying to avert the possibility of a regency, in particular, he could be worried about his Late Grandfather's Posthumous Edict." She mentioned.
"But it no longer exists." Beiyuan said.
"Thankfully." Empress Yang responded as she halted in her footsteps all of a sudden.
"We are lucky though, the Hanlin Academy is filled with our people, it won't be difficult to convince them to stand with the Prince Zhao Hong." Bao Langya suggested.
"There will be no such thing." Empress Yang responded.
"Why Your Highness?" Beiyuan asked.
"His Majesty is testing the credibility of the Hanlin Scholars and our intervention will only justify his act to unleash his political fury against us which would furthermore jeopardize Prince Zhao Hong's ascension to the position of the Crown Prince." Empress Yang responded.
"Then is Your Highness suggesting that we just sit down and do nothing?" Beiyuan inquired.
"Yes." She responded and they were entirely startled.
"That could be a dangerous move Your Highness." Bao Langya said.
"I know but come to think of it His Majesty might probably be sure that it is easier for us to cheat than to play by the rules, let's first beat him at this." Empress Yang proposed and the two unwillingly, they agreed with her.
The Capital guards patrolling through the streets of the city they suddenly halted right in front of one stall that was selling oranges.
The Head guard slowly moved closer and picked up one which he studied with interest.
"Should I sell you one?" an old woman who was working their inquired.
"How much is it?" The Head guard inquired.
"It's only two copper coins Milord." The old woman replied.
"That is too expensive." The man said as he took a simple bite on the orange and savouring it's taste momentarily, he spat it out of his mouth.
"This is too bitter." He asserted.
"How is it Milord when it is amongst the juiciest on this street?" The old woman asked.
"Are you saying that Milord is lying?" The Head guardsman's subordinate lashed out at her.
"Now that you have bitten it Milord I can't sell it to another, as such is the case you must pay me back." The old woman said and the head guardsman infuriated moved closer to the old woman and violently seized her hand.
"Do you understand who it is that you are talking to you old lady?" He said as he pushed her down when everyone was watching at a distance a simple but smart-looking young man arrived at the scene and knelt beside the old woman while everyone was watching.
"Are you alright Madam?" He asked the latter who was in tears still fallen onto the ground.
"Those crude and vicious men have cheated me." The old woman complained as they helped her onto her feet.
"What are you doing here young man, this is not your business?" The Head guardsman inquired but the young man retaining his silence helped the old woman take a seat behind her stall first.
The crowds gathering, another strange looking young man, roughly the same age as him with a wide brow and fairly small dark eyes, a round face that ended in a chiseled chin made his way to the forefront.
He stopped there and looked at them.
The old woman's saviour who appeared like a scholar stepped forward in front of the guards, literally challenging them in front of the masses that he'd won over some public attention which bred the necessary excitement.
"Since the founding of the Dynasty, it is the duty of the Capital guards to protect and serve, as part of the three armies you swear allegiance to His Majesty to defend his Empire and its people from all harm, threats that are both internal and external in addition to that you should acknowledge that your ill behaviour of harassing the weak and pleasing the strong is a great injustice to the citizens of Our Great and Heavenly Empire, how is it that you can dare to call yourselves men that are of loyal and dutiful service and claim to promote law and order when you bring shame to the Government, your mentors and the Capital Patrol guards along with His Heavenly Majesty?" He inquired.
"How can you claim to serve us you beasts when you are malicious to an old woman as well?" The people started venting out their anger.
"Pay her, double the price." He demanded.
"And who are you to tell us what to do?" One of the guards asked.
"He has every right to tell you what to do because His father is the Left Chancellor." The young man spectating from the crowds mentioned and everyone turning to see who it was, he stepped to the forefront while flipping a coin through his right fingers.
Judging from his character he was brazen and proud and as his appearance suggested, he was stubborn and perhaps playful but with a strong sense of justice and an ego of dominance.
"The Left Chancellor's son?" The people started murmuring amongst themselves when the guards noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere.
"You slander this old granny and on top of that you bully her, aren't you at least remorseful?" He asked while the virtuous scholar next to him stared as though in admiration.
"Are you out of your mind?" The Head guardsman asked.
"Let's do this alright?" The stranger asked with a smile on his face, "how about you pay back the old woman twice and apologize to her or else I will break your hands and legs and make sure you can't move again for a whole month." He added.
"You scoundre......." the Head guardsman was saying when they punched him across the face and everyone including his subordinates was startled while the attacker shook his arms in protest ailing from the immense pain.
"Shouldn't you watch your mouth in front of young children, don't teach them bad words." He cursed and the Head guardsman sitting upright pointed at him.
"Beat him up." He ordered his subordinates who immediately charged towards the young man who unsheathed his sword from his scabbard and standing in front of the young scholar who was still frozen in one place, he charged forward at a speed which seemed incomprehensible as he made his way through their defense hitting them with the sides of his sword and punching them they immediately landed on the ground bleeding seriously as he pointed the edge of his sword right at the neck of the Head guardsman.
"Pay the old woman double, don't expect me to be lenient a second time." He ordered and the latter shivering he pulled out six copper coins from his small pouch which he handed over to the stranger.
Taking them in his hand he studied them.
"Scoot." He said and instantly, his temporary captives left the area as he turned around to look at the scholar who was staring intensely at him that he walked closer to him until they were face to face.
"You're a good talker but I couldn't let you take all the credit alone." He said cheerfully as he walked over to the old woman and kneeling beside her while the people were dispersing, he took the copper coins and put them in her hands.
"I hope this makes up for the damage, it's not much but I hope it's worth it." He sweetly spoke to her when the scholar that had lifted her up moved closer.
"Thank you both, otherwise, I don't know how things would have been had you not intervened." She said while looking at them.
"It's alright granny." The young man responded and the woman standing up she took two peaches which she handed over to the both of them.
"You don't have to." The scholar refused first.
"Take it as a humble gesture from me, it's the least I can do to show you my gratitude for your health otherwise I'd feel really bad if you went through that trouble for my sake and I did nothing for you in return." She said.
"Sure thing Granny." The young man said as he took his first and the scholar unwillingly did the same.
Taking a bite in front of her, he stood up and started walking away in his own direction.
"Wait?" The Scholar shouted that he halted in his footsteps instantly and turned around to look at him.
"Thank you." He said.
"I wasn't helping you, there's no need to thank me." The young man responded.
"At least I should know my benefactor's name." He pointed out.
"You can call me Mu Lang." The young man responded as he turned around and eating the peach the young scholar put his arms in front of his mouth.
"Thank you Mu Lang," he said, "you can call me Zhao Guihe." He shouted after him but the young man continuing to vanish out of sight he raised his right hand and waved instead without looking back.
Zhao Guihe could feel a sense of attachment to him, something about his presence felt good but he couldn't possibly point it out directly.
The young man returning to his home he walked through the doors.
"Young Master?" One of the household servants, a man immediately rushed towards him and bowed his head.
"Where have you been, Milord has been asking for you and we searched everywhere but still couldn't find you." He pointed out.
"I had gone for a walk, I am a busybody after all." He responded.
"Sssh." The man said to him.
"What is the matter Sir Qin?" He asked him.
"His Majesty is in the living room with your father, Milord said that once you come in, I should send you there immediately to pay your respects to His Majesty." The old man responded.
"Me?" Zhao Guihe inquired startled.
"Yes." They assured him as they led him towards the living room.
"Milord, His Serene Highness has arrived." The old man announced his presence.
"Come in." His father Zhao Kai said and the doors being opened for the young man, he walked in and bowed his head.
Raising his head he noticed the presence of three men instead of two, his father, an old man dressed in simple clothing and another fairly more muscular in Imperial robes.
"Greet His Majesty." His father ordered and turning to the old man who was dressed in simple clothing, he bowed his head to him.
"Greetings Your Majesty." He expressed his salutations.
"Why do you think I am the Emperor?" Emperor Ningzong who was dressed simply he asked.
"Your Highness is sagacious and known to be kind and dignified, the man that is dressed in an Imperial Robe doesn't seem to possess any of the qualities that you are well known for, judging from his build and how he appears to have been slow at aging I could tell he was a warrior that is less regal in appearance." Zhao Guihe responded.
"If so then I wish to inform you that the reason I came here was to ask you three questions, "tell me my dear, what makes that man less of an Emperor?" He asked.
"I wear clothes made of fine silk but it doesn't make me less of a man, a man may wear the Imperial Dragon Robe but it does not make him an Emperor, only he that is called by heaven, he who has its mandate vested in him and can command the confidence of both the people and the government, he is the true ruler of a nation and as that man possesses none of those qualities, it makes him much less of an Emperor." He responded.
"And what do you think an Emperor treasures the most in the world." Emperor Ningzong asked.
"If you ask me Your Majesty, according to my understanding, a good Emperor is one who treasures his people the most in the whole world." He responded.
"Well done." Emperor Ningzong said and smiling at him he turned to his Uncle.
"He is in deed a brilliant young man." He remarked.
"What about the third question Your Majesty." Lan He dressed in the Imperial Robes asked.
"His Majesty already posed three questions, leaving the last two I answered, the first was when He inquired why I thought he was the Emperor." Zhao Guihe responded.
"In deed." Emperor Ningzong said and studying the young man's eyes, he first beamed with excitement.
A short while later they stepped outside the room and the Emperor walking with Lan He couldn't stop smiling.
"Were you really impressed with him Your Majesty?" Lan He inquired.
"He looks much older than they say he is." Emperor Ningzong responded.
"It's always been his nature since childhood." Lan He remarked.
"But a man that is perceptive and pays keen attention to everything he eats, thinks twice before acting and is dignified and respectful in his conduct, it is without a doubt that he could make a brilliant choice of a Crown Prince and ultimately an Emperor." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"I did some little research, he is very much illiberal which could bring him to fatally clash with the Grand Chancellor one day, however, when I think that he proposed him to be put forward as the best candidate for the seat of the Crown Prince, could it be that he hopes to be in a position to pacify him?" He inquired.
"The Crown Prince is supposed to represent the Imperial Crown and uphold the dignity of an Empress, as he is eager to protect the Empress more than anything, he must be certain that Zhao Guihe of all people is the most suited for the job." Emperor Ningzong responded.
"What if he becomes the Empress' political enemy?" Lan He asked and the Emperor instantly stopped in his footsteps.
"That won't happen." He said resolutely as he turned and looked at Lan He.
"How can you be certain Your Majesty?" He inquired.
"Because at the end of it all, the demands of our laws will be his Greatest confines and he'll realise that her support would be vital if he were to ascend the Imperial Dragon throne as it would mean the support of her protectors, the support of her people." He confidently responded.
Zhao Guihe having remained with his father alone in the room, knelt in front of him.
"I'm so sorry that I left without your permission." He said.
"I nearly lost my face in front of His Majesty, do you know what position you had put me in?" He inquired.
"I realise it now." He responded, "but moving out today I was able to save an old woman that was being bullied by the Capital Patrol guards, when I think that my absence would have been very unfortunate for her it greatly weighs down on my conscience." He professed.
"If only all the men in the world were like you then perhaps it would have been a better place." His father remarked, "at the very least are you not curious why His Majesty made an impromptu visit to our home?" He inquired.
"No." Zhao Guihe responded.
"As you are aware, His Majesty has been down as it has been almost a year since the death of the former Crown Prince, his position can not be left vacant and considering His Majesty's old age the officials were concerned that they appealed to him to fill it with someone close in the line of succession, they proposed you to be the next Crown Prince of Our Great Heavenly Empire and His Majesty was simply testing you much as you shall be further tested and depending on your performance you'll be evaluated." His father said.
"Me, the Crown Prince?" He was startled.
"Yes." His father confirmed as he stood up from where he was seated and walking around the table he stood in front of him and looked down upon him, "I suppose you were in deed very lucky and now before you go running on the streets I ask that you first comprehend the responsibility that is ahead of you, the burden that has been cast on your shoulders because only by surviving will you one day become the Most Supreme Ruler of our Great Heavenly Empire." His father muttered before he continued his way and left the young man kneeling all alone in the room.
Mu Lang walking down the streets he was halted right in front of one of the best-known fashion houses in the city, there he found a number of people gathered and inspecting the fabric and as he walked through to study the material he saw an old tailor that was seated behind one small table in one of the nearby corners.
He moved up to him and noticed that he was embroidering a wonderful crimson brocade.
The old man noticing his presence cared to accord him his attention.
"How may I help you young man?" He inquired.
"There's something that I need to clarify with you." He responded as he held into his cloak and from there he pulled a very small piece of an expensive quilt which he handed over to the old man.
He took it and studied the patterns on it with a magnifying glass.
"Can you get me that material?" Mu Lang inquired.
"I am very sorry Sir but I am afraid that isn't possible for me, besides to acquire such a material will most probably be much harder than you think because not every storehouse can purchase and stock it in large numbers." The old man said.
"Then where do you suggest I can find this material." Mu Lang inquired.
"Even if you did they wouldn't sell you this material unless you are a noble because such silk with flawless markings and intricate patterns is particularly processed and used for members of the Imperial family especially those that reside within the Imperial Palace." The old man responded.
"Thank you." Mu Lang said as he turned to walk away while the old man returned to his work, he was himself lost in thought as he tried piecing everything together.
"Then that means father was right after all, my birth and paternity could be linked to the Palace." He concluded inwardly and continuing his way, he suddenly bumped into someone on his way that he startled and was about to fall when a strong arm held him.
"Forgive me Sir." He said as he slowly raised his head and his eyes met face to face with those of another strange man that fairly resembled him.
"Sorry." He said as he studied him quite intrigued by his facial features.
"Have I seen you somewhere?" Feng Ba inquired.
"Not that I recall us ever meeting before." He responded and Feng Ba studying him he noticed the strange quilt in his hand.
"Can I see that?" He inquired and hesitantly, Mu Lang handed it over to him while he took it in his hands and studied it keenly.
"Do you know this material?" He inquired and Feng Ba caressing it with his hands he immediately noticed the floral patterns on it.
"Why is it that you seem interested?" he asked.
"It's a yes or no question." Mu Lang mentioned.
"Perhaps." Feng Ba replied, "it certainly is from the Imperial Palace." He asserted confidently and the young man hearing this felt he had the assurance he needed.
"Thank you." he said.
"You should do slightly more than that." Feng Ba replied, "I seem to have done you a favour so you should return it." he insisted.
"And what would you have me do for you?" the young man asked.
"Maybe you and I can discuss this more." Feng Ba replied smiling at him ghastly.