"How dare you barge in here like this, do you think you can get away with coming into the Chambers of the Crown Prince of this country without being summoned?" He lashed out at them while Lady Mo stepped forward.
"Forgive us for intruding on Your Imperial Highness' privacy but our presence here is mandated." She professed.
"And on whose order is it so?" Zhao Hong furiously inquired.
"It is on my order." A familiar voice emerged from outside and the doors being slid open, Xiaoyang made her entrance before the Crown Prince and she bowed her head.
"The Empress' Head Lady?" Zhao Hong muttered with disgust all over his face.
"I speak for Her Highness and my words are her words, the Staff of the East Palace shall be investigated for spreading the insidious rumour intended to misguide the nation and the Imperial Court that His Majesty our Supreme Greater Heavenly Emperor is suffering from Senile Dementia." Xiaoyang said.
"Those are all lies." Zhao Hong said.
"And how are you certain Your Highness?" Xiaoyang inquired.
"How certain are you that someone from the East Palace was responsible for spreading the insidious rumour regarding His Supreme Majesty's health in the first place?" Zhao Hong challenged her.
"Because we have reliable sources that are more than willing to take responsibility if by any chance the East Palace staff are innocent, however, if Your Highness insists on disrupting the order of things and you protest against the interrogation of your people, you'll not only disregard your Legal mother's position but at worst might never be able to contain the spread of undesirable rumours which are most likely to hold you responsible one way or another." Xiaoyang responded as she got closer to the Crown Prince who furiously clenched her fists.
"If Your Highness is truly an innocent man then surely you have nothing to fear." She whispered to him.
"Please allow us to do our job Your Highness, please let us perform our duty to our very best." The officers of the Imperial State Tribunal insisted with him while he responded with silence.
"We won't disturb you then Your Highness." Xiaoyang said and at once the officers scattering all over the place, they started searching the vicinity while arresting the members of the Crown Prince's staff while he furiously watched clenching his fists.
Consort Cao seated in her Chambers Linxiang threw the doors of her room open and she swiftly rushed in before her.
"Your Grace, we have a big problem." She reported as she bowed her head to her.
"What is it?" Consort Cao inquired.
"The Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Imperial Palace along with the Imperial State Tribunal are searching and arresting the Crown Prince's staff on the charges of spreading an insidious rumour to disrupt the Imperial Court and also slander His Majesty." She reported.
"It's very much unlike His Majesty of the officials to be worked out by a mere rumour." Consort Cao mentioned.
"So it may seem Your Grace but it is too alarming and unpleasant to hear." Linxiang remarked.
"What is this insidious rumour that you talk about?" She inquired.
"Talebearing has it that His Majesty is suffering from Senile Dementia." Linxiang responded and Consort Cao startled momentarily she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"I didn't expect the Empress to stoop so low." She remarked, "is she out of tricks to pull that she now resorts to using fabricated rumours?" She said.
"I find it rather too strange for us to conclude that to be the case." Linxiang mentioned.
"It might equally be a good opportunity for us to act as well." Consort Cao remarked.
"I don't quite understand Your Grace?" Linxiang said, "this could compromise the Crown Prince's position so how would it be a useful move to us?" She inquired.
"It's simply because it could compromise the Crown Prince's position." Consort Cao responded as she looked at Linxiang, "I am sure that in such a desperate situation it would be much easier to find someone that would be willing to speak whatever it is that we want the world to hear." She added as she smiled at herself ghastly.
Empress Yang walking into her room while being accompanied by Bao Langya and the rest of her retinue she sat down behind her table while the latter took a seat on the stool that was situated in front of her.
"We've brought in the Crown Prince's staff." He reported.
"Now I believe we have all the attention that we need." Empress Yang mentioned.
"We can act with our utmost discretion seeing that the Crown Prince is defenseless." He muttered.
"I never thought that I would have to consider his cunning nature but it's unlikely that he and Consort Cao will sit and do nothing." Empress Yang remarked.
"Should we move the culprit?" Bao Langya inquired.
"Yes." Empress Yang responded and Bao Langya standing up, he bowed his head to her and slowly withdrew from the room.
"Your Highness, this is a very risky move that you are making." Manyin cautioned her.
"Nothing good in life ever comes without a sacrifice," Empress Yang muttered to her instead, "I am going to use this to internally cripple the people's confidence in the Crown Prince along with His Majesty's as well." She added.
Emperor Ningzong still standing on top of the balcony that overlooked the city, Eunuch Deng moved forward and halted in his presence where he bowed his head to him.
"Your Majesty?" He said.
"What has happened?" The Emperor inquired.
"The East Palace has been rounded off and the court ladies and Eunuchs have been taken to the Imperial State Tribunal." He responded.
"Is that so?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"Her Highness insists that we're all present for the interrogation tomorrow at the hour of noon." He reported.
"I shall be there." Emperor Ningzong responded and Eunuch Deng slowly walking away, Lan He moved closer to the Emperor who took a deep breath and then sighed.
"Are you worried Your Majesty?" He asked.
"For the Crown Prince I certainly am." Emperor Ningzong responded.
"What about Her Highness?" Lan He inquired.
"Honestly, I don't know." Emperor Ningzong responded.
Zhao Hong infuriated Consort Cao suddenly made her way through the doors of the room as she took her place right in front of him.
"Your Highness." She said bowing her head to him.
"Your Grace!" He seemed surprised but sounded lowly as well.
"I heard what happened," Consort Cao said as she slowly sat down in front of him, "but you should be used by now at least as we that have spent much longer in the Palace are well aware that this is the Empress' true nature." She tried to comfort him.
"I am defenceless if even my guards are to be questioned, surely they'll be subjected to intense torture which will leave many of them either dead or perhaps in no condition of service until they confess that I was the one who incited everything." Zhao Hong said.
"Then if it's a confession that the Empress wants to hear we shall give it to her." Consort Cao muttered.
"You couldn't be serious Your Grace." Zhao Hong dismissed the idea.
"For the Empress to have attempted such a move naturally she'd be prepared to see to it that you bear the burden, one of her people must be ready to run their mouth and hold you accountable which is why we must seize this opportunity to beat her at her own game." Consort Cao confessed suddenly giving the young man an idea.
"You aren't possibly suggesting that......." He seems hesitant to say it.
"It's our best opportunity to create the perfect scapegoat." Consort Cao said as she smiled at herself ghastly while the Crown Prince studying her he appeared convinced that she was thinking the same thing that he was thinking.
Consort Cao stepped outside the East Palace and taking a deep breath she sighed before she slowly descended the stairs that led from it.
As she slowly moved towards the gates that showed her out, her path was suddenly blocked by a strange young man.
"Your Grace?" He said bowing his head to her while she instantly recognized him as Feng Ba.
"What are you doing here?" She inquired.
"If you don't mind Your Grace I wish to interest you with a word or two." He responded and Consort Cao reluctant, she nodded her head in approval.
The two returned to her chambers and Linxiang exiting from the room she stared at the tea pot that was already boiling in front of her.
Gracefully the old woman lifted it and poured for the young man some tea in his cup which he instantly took in his hands and then gently sipped at it.
"Tell me." Consort Cao demanded to know.
"There's word going around that the Empress gave birth to twins and his them from His Majesty." He said.
"Seeing that word reached you too then it must be spreading at quite the desirable pace." Consort Cao said as she picked up her cup and sipped at it.
"You'd be surprised that it isn't the case Your Grace." Feng Ba responded.
"If it isn't so then what is?" She inquired.
"The people must have been bewitched by Her Highness that they think otherwise, it might not be what you expect but do you wish to know another interesting rumour that's going around?" Feng Ba inquired.
"What is it?" Consort Cao inquired curiously.
"The Empress keeps trying but the Crown Prince refuses to accept her affection, what's even more interesting is that it is reliably being asserted that the person that is coming between you is none other than Your Grace." Feng Ba responded.
"I have a hard time believing that." Consort Cao mentioned.
"The Palace is a gilded cage and the people within are manipulated into hearing what they want to hear, you might be unaware of what goes on in the outside world but I only beg to inquire from your most sincere heart if you think that the people that are standing with you behind the Crown Prince are very loyal." Feng Ba mentioned as Consort Cao remained temporarily quiet.
"Why do you bring this up." Consort Cao inquired.
"Hasn't it occurred to you that there could be a possibility that the Crown Prince is using you?" Feng Ba asked.
"On what grounds would I allow that?" Consort Cao inquired.
"The grounds that he married the Empress' niece and affiliated himself with one of the most privileged aristocratic families, if he hopes for the support of the Wu Clan in the near future their alliance would be feasible because it could only imply that the blessing of the Empress would be from the house of Wu therefore as the Emperor would wield immense power what more power would you think you have left to hold onto?" Feng Ba asked.
"So what are you trying to say?" Consort Cao inquired.
"Both the Empress and the Crown Prince have something that they can use against each other to firmly hold onto their power I think that Your Grace's position will be at risk because if the Empress' niece even rises to the position of an Empress you wouldn't even run the harem and the Inner Court you should therefore use your most reliable and powerful tool to garner your own power." Feng Ba responded.
"And you have a reasonable suggestion?" Consort Cao inquired.
"Give me your daughter the Imperial Princess Yuping's hand in marriage." Feng Ba responded as he bowed his head to her.
"You are brazen enough to ask for my daughter's hand in marriage are you not afraid that I would say no?" She challenged him.
"Best understanding Your Grace more than anything else I believe that the type of man you would want for your daughter would be he that can certainly protect both her and yourself, one that can serve your best interests Your Grace." Feng Ba responded.
"And what makes you think that you are the fittest person for this job?" Consort Cao asked.
"Your Grace understands me for who I am above everyone else and you can guarantee that I could never shift my loyalty to another considering the fate to which both the Empress and myself are tied, besides, I know that you would be quite surprised at the amount of power and influence I wield in this country." Feng Ba responded and Consort Cao looked all the more curious.
"Who would dare marry your daughter without fearing your Empress, besides, I assure you, none would put up a more fierce resistance against her than me." He responded.
"Your offer is reasonable, we have too many things in common, however as you see I may be Princess Yuping's biological mother but as a mere Consort in His Majesty I must legally acknowledge the Empress' sovereignty as her most legal mother and protectress which means that it isn't my position to decide the spouse she needs." Consort Cao insisted.
"Then all it requires is to move the Empress first before we could act." Feng Ba responded.
"I believe you know that it isn't quite an easy job." Consort Cao said.
"Then leave this to me Your Grace." Feng Ba said and standing up with a smile on his face, he bowed his head and withdrew from the room at once leaving Consort Cao alone and lost within her thoughts as Linxiang made her entrance.
"What's the problem Your Grace?" She asked.
"I guess he takes very much after his father." She responded.
"Do you trust him?" Linxiang inquired.
"A man driven by vengeance will certainly do whatever he can to get it, besides, someone as smart and intelligent as he is could not only be our most reliable comrade but his wrath will fuel him up, enough to burn down the Empress." She responded.
"It's only one day Your Grace." Linxiang remarked.
"Yes, it certainly is." Consort Cao agreed as she smiled at herself ghastly.
The sun rising over the capital it found the Crown Prince seated in his personal Chambers wide awake.
He could barely sleep through the night as every breath was weighed down by his anxiety and his much uneasy heart was only trying to keep calm and confident in the words that Consort Cao had mentioned to him.
The doors being slid open, slowly and gracefully, Manyin moved up to his presence.
"Your Highness has been requested to be present at the Imperial State Tribunal for the Interrogation, it is time." She reported to him while bowing her head and at once the young man stood up.
"Let's go." He ordered as Manyin stepped aside and he led the way out before she followed shortly after him.
Empress Yang and Consort Cao having arrived beforehand they crossed paths with each other.
"Your Highness." She honoured him.
"Your Grace." Empress Yang remarked calmly.
"What a brilliant day this is!" Consort Cao exclaimed.
"We can't be too certain that the Crown Prince feels the same about it." Empress Yang muttered.
"But at least You must feel it so Your Highness," Consort Cao said, "For all we know, the Crown Prince's title is on the line." She added.
"But His Highness isn't the only one spreading false rumours to try and slander a member of the Imperial family." Empress Yang mentioned.
"I don't quite understand Your Highness." Consort Cao said as the Empress slowly moved closer to her and standing right next to her, she slowly bent by her right side.
"Talebearing has it that I gave birth to twins and I kept it a secret from His Majesty, seeing that someone could be as brazen to spread such a preposterous rumour I can not help but assure you that once I am done with the Crown Prince, I shall have whoever is responsible skinned alive." She whispered as she stood upright again and slowly stepped backwards.
"Then accept my heartfelt wish that you handle the Crown Prince soon enough." Consort Cao said.
"You speak so confidently." Empress Yang mentioned.
"You never know how tricky fate can be." Consort Cao responded as she bowed to the Empress and then she continued her way leaving her lost in thought that Xiaoyang bothered by it she moved to her side.
"Are you alright Your Highness?" She inquired.
"Let's go." Empress Yang responded as she continued her way as well.
Moving to the Torture square where the seats had been prepared for the Emperor, Empress and the Crown Prince, the old woman came face to face with her foster son.
"Crown Prince?" She said to him.
"Your Highness." He responded bowing his head to her as well unwillingly.
"There's no need to be formal, we are one family after all." She said.
"My understanding of family doesn't match up to yours Your Highness, at the very least family don't draw daggers into each other's backs." He responded.
"I tried to be a good mother to you Your Highness, I am still giving you a chance to be a good son, accept my protection as the mother of this nation or face me as the good wife of my husband." She remarked.
"If Your Highness could hold on until the end, why couldn't I possibly do the same?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"You are not me Your Highness, please remember this, if you understand me, embrace me but should you choose to contend with the might that heaven has bestowed within my hands then please be sure that I shall devote my all to vanquish you." Empress Yang threatened him when the attention drum was sounded.
"His Heavenly Majesty deigns you all with his presence." Eunuch Deng announced and the two turning to face the direction from which he emerged they bowed their heads to accord him his respect.
He slowly mounted the stairs to the throne that had been prepared for him and sitting down immediately, the two sat down after him as Shi Miyuan standing at a distance faced the Imperial State Tribunal's guards.
"Bring in the Criminals." He ordered and at once the servants of the East Palace were dragged into the square already heavily bruised.
Zhao Hong seeing Mu Lang from a distance his heart broke as he noticed blood that was oozing from his wounds and staining his white attire.
The ladies in waiting were tied to wooden chairs while the Crown Prince's Personal guards were forced to stand right in front of shattered pieces of glass on the ground.
"Begin the Interrogation." Emperor Ningzong ordered and the Empress confidently watching it was commenced.
Huge blocks of stone were placed on the thighs of the ladies in waiting who shouted in pain while the guards were forced to kneel down on the shattered pieces of glass.
Cries escaped the square for the next hour while Shi Miyuan insisted on asking them the same question.
"You dared to spread false rumours concerning His Majesty's health which brought chaos to the people and the Imperial Court, if you don't speak up who did it your lives shall not be spared." He threatened them.
"I know." One of the Court Ladies suddenly mentioned that she appeared to have reached her breaking point which induced everyone in the square to keep quiet.
"Who started spreading this insidious rumour?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"I heard it from one of the ladies in waiting that is part of His Highness' retinue, Su Shanxiang." The woman responded and Shi Miyuan turning to the other ladies at once fury was written all over his place.
"Where is she?" Shi Miyuan asked and the rest of the ladies turning their heads to look at the young girl she started shivering instantly.
"No." She said nodding her head in fright, "forgive me." She pleaded while the guards untying her they instantly dragged her forward where they cast her beneath the stairs that supported the feet of the Emperor, his Empress and the Crown Prince.
"Did you spread the rumour that I am suffering from Senile Dementia?" Emperor Ningzong inquired as the young woman instantly looked down unable to find the courage to face him.
"Forgive me Your Majesty but I just did as I was told." Su Shanxiang responded.
"Who gave you such a preposterous order, who asked you to spread that insidious rumour?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"It was........" She seemed hesitant.
"Should I be asking a second time?" Emperor Ningzong said.
"I acted on the orders of Her Highness the Empress." She responded.
"What!" Everyone present exclaimed amongst themselves.
"You are aware of the price one pays for slandering a member of the Imperial family, how is it that you dare to accuse me of such a heinous crime, such heresy, are you not afraid of death?" Empress Yang asked her furiously but trying to keep calm.
"Forgive me Your Highness but I can not hold it in any longer and I can not keep hiding the truth, it was you who asked me to spread the rumour." Su Shanxiang responded.
"How dare you?" Shi Miyuan lashed out at her.
"What is Your Excellency's opinion?" Zhao Hong suddenly spoke up amidst the silence.
"We can't trust the words of a mere lady in waiting." Shi Miyuan responded.
"Then what was the purpose for arranging this session and inviting us to be present during the interrogation, perhaps had it not been the Empress who had misled this young woman, had it been someone else would your reaction have been the same?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"Calm down Crown Prince." Emperor Ningzong said.
"There is no guarantee that her confession is reliable, we can not come to a conclusion without concrete evidence to assert her claim." Shi Miyuan said.
"But her confession appears to be the only evidence we have for now, if we turn a blind eye to it then the General public might suspect that the Imperial State Tribunal is partial which could mar the reputation of this prestigious institution." The Crown Prince muttered.
"I agree with His Highness." Empress Yang suddenly spoke up, "at this moment, at this particular hour everything comes into question as he deems it." She professed.
"Your Highness........" Shi Miyuan was reluctant.
"The Crown Prince's lady in waiting Su Shanxiang ascertains the Imperial State Tribunal that I am to be held accountable for having asked her to spread this insidious rumour that in the absence of solid alternative evidence to suggest otherwise as the Crown Prince sees fit I too should be apprehended as a suspect." Empress Yang spoke proudly.
"You heard Her Highness." Zhao Hong said as he looked Shi Miyuan in the eye, "so that we don't raise public discontentment, I kindly suggest that the Empress be confined in the Central Palace and forbidden from meeting or coming into contact with anyone." Zhao Hong said as he turned to the Emperor.
"Yes." He agreed reluctantly and the Crown Prince smirking lightly at him bowed his head.
"Thank you Your Majesty." He muttered and the old man standing up from where he was seated, he walked out of the square as the Empress and Crown Prince kowtowed to him.
Once he had vanished from sight the Empress slowly approached the Crown Prince and stood in front of him.
"Your Highness." He said kowtowing to her.
"Such a smart move Your Highness, to be honest, I really didn't expect you to come at me this way." She remarked.
"To do whatever it takes to survive in this Cruel Palace, this much I have learnt from you Your Highness." Zhao Hong responded.
"But what are the chances that you'll beat me at it Your Highness, don't you worry that you're a little bit too confident and it's all for nothing?" Empress Yang inquired.
"What hopes have you that you'll make a smooth comeback at me, or do you really think that the truth can remain hidden forever?" He asked.
"And what truth do you think the world will choose to hold on to, which truth do you think the world will believe?" She asked as he remained silent.
"I thought that I needed you, these past couple of days made me realise that it is otherwise, I dread more than anything the day that I chose to make you the Crown Prince of this our Greater Heavenly Empire but if you think that confining me to the Central Palace is enough to put an end to my reign then you are so gravely mistaken because, after all, I am going to survive to make right my wrong." Empress Yang said.
"Then I hope you live a long life Your Highness, long enough to see me rise to the Imperial Dragon throne." Zhao Hong said as he bowed his head to her.
"You'd be surprised Your Highness, it's a little bit too soon to decide the victor in this war, only time will tell but much sooner than you expect, you'll be begging me on your knees." Empress Yang muttered and turning around, she descended the stairs and was accompanied out by her retinue into the direction of the East Palace.
"What are you waiting for?" Zhao Hong inquired from the guards who were still holding some of his staff, "let them go." He ordered as he ran down the stairs towards Mu Lang who was at that time brutally wounded.
Standing in front of him the young man raised his eyes.
"You are alright Your Highness." He spoke joyously tears running from his eyes.
"It must have been very hard on you." Zhao Hong muttered.
"But I am a lowly servant, too lowly that you shouldn't concern yourself with my well-being." Mu Lang insisted.
"You held on long enough, for my sake." Zhao Hong responded.
"No Your Highness, you stood strong enough to fight for us." Mu Lang mentioned.
"What!" Consort Cao exclaimed beaming with excitement.
"The Crown Prince's lady-in-waiting confessed to having been influenced by the Empress to spread the rumour, thanks to His Highness, she'll be contained in the Central Palace for the time being and she's not to move out any time." Linxiang reported.
" I see." Consort Cao remarked.
"The Grand Chancellor strongly insisted that the maid's profession isn't totally reliable and this move is intended to contain any negative rumours that could defame the Empress amongst the people." Linxiang said.
"But some cheap trick can't necessarily stop us or the people from running their mouths." Consort Cao said as she smiled at herself.
"I knew that Your Grace would say something like this which is why I prepared in advance for that possibility." Linxiang said.
"Arrange for me to meet the Minister of Personnel along with the Crown Prince and let's make the necessary preparations in advance, the Empress shall be hit hard by this when she least expects it." Consort Cao remarked.
"Yes Your Grace." Linxiang remarked as she slowly withdrew from the room.
Empress Yang walking into her residence, Manyin and Xiaoyang accompanied her with Beiyuan as she took her sit.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" They inquired.
"The Crown Prince has acted up," she responded, "we must proceed with the plan." she said.
"But Your Highness, once we get caught in this then I fear that the situation will be much worse than it already is at the moment." Xiaoyang seemed hesitant.
"There'll be no such thing." Empress Yang confidently mentioned, "as long as I am the High Heavenly Empress of this our Greater Heavenly Empire, I won't lose to the Crown Prince that easily, never." She swore.
"The Empress couldn't be as foolish to spread such a rumour." Emperor Ningzong remarked in the presence of Lan He.
"Do you trust her that much Your Majesty?" He inquired.
"Most of her life in the Palace she has been a victim of circumstance, besides, if she was a very cautious woman that I had hoped her to be she wouldn't have sat down quietly and she should have foreseen this." Emperor Ningzong responded.
"But Her Highness' relationship with the Crown Prince since his investiture has never been smooth, I want to believe that she isn't capable of doing so but we can't turn a blind eye to the fact that quite a number of Courtiers especially those influenced by the Grand Chancellor will always cherish her and support her if it means to stand against you." Lan He muttered.
"So what's Your Opinion?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Now the Empire doesn't need the Empress' husband and neither does it need the Crown Prince's Father, a just Sovereign is the best that you can do and seeing that there isn't adequate evidence to hold the Empress accountable you still can't dismiss her without punishment if you intend to uphold your dignity as the Sovereign of this nation." Lan He said.
"Isn't the Empress' confinement enough?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"For peace to prevail I believe both the Empress and the Crown Prince should at least reside apart, for that to happen seeing that the Crown Prince has already been designated as the Regent, both Your Majesty and Her Highness should move to the Deshan Palace." Lan He responded.
"The Palace of the Retired Emperor!" Emperor Ningzong exclaimed.
"By moving to the Deshan Palace Your Majesty shall have proven to the whole world that you are confident in His Highness and you may consider it a way of not only protecting the Crown Prince's legitimacy and also giving her Highness what she desires, peace of mind with her husband." Lan He responded.
"I'll think about it." Emperor Ningzong said, "you may leave." He sent the latter away and kowtowing to him, he withdrew from the room.
Consort Cao, Zhao Hong and Ye Shi quietly sat down right next to each other and herself seemingly fairer and more confident she broke the silence.
"Can't we be happy that at least the Empress is contained?" She asked.
"What we have is insufficient to keep her low." Ye Shi said.
"Declawing a tiger doesn't make it harmless as long as it still keeps its teeth." Zhao Hong remarked.
"Which is why I kindly requested that all of you be present here with me so that we may discuss something very vital concerning our well-being now that the Empress has descended into a dilemma." Consort Cao said.
"What do you wish to put forward Your Grace?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"I want us to discuss the deposition of the Empress." Consort Cao confidently responded.
"What!" Ye Shi exclaimed.
"Considering everything that each of us in this room has been through I wish we all stood and moved forward the deposition of the Empress." Consort Cao emphasized.
"The deposition of an Empress is a very critical matter when it comes to the current state of affairs, it's vital to the point that it doesn't just require proposition but also intense support for success, perhaps you do understand, majority of the Courtiers within the Imperial Court will most certainly be unwilling to support us." Ye Shi said.
"Unless we knew their weaknesses well enough." Zhao Hong suddenly responded.
"The Empress might be ruthless but her supporters are loyal men with whom we can hardly find fault, a majority are incorruptible and upright." Ye Shi said.
"In that case we have to flaw them like we flawed the Empress, we'll create weaknesses like we did for Her Highness." Consort Cao responded.
"You can not be solely driven by ambition and fury if you intend to drive the Empress out, what's more is that if even the people joined hands and empowered her, the Courtiers' influence would be curtailed." Ye Shi insisted.
"In that case, I might know a way to justify the Empress' deposition and equally isolate her from the people." Zhao Hong suddenly spoke up.
"And what would that be Your Highness?" Ye Shi asked as he turned to him.
"Even an Empress can not survive treason." Zhao Hong responded and Consort Cao looking at the two smiled.
The meeting having concluded both the Crown Prince and the Minister of Personnel stepped outside where the young man kowtowed to him.
"You needn't bow your head to this useless servant Your Highness." He said.
"You are my elder and like a father to me which therefore gives me enough reason to honour you." Zhao Hong responded.
"There are two types of people that talk to me, those that are willing to give something to me and those that are willing to take something from me." Ye Shi said.
"So?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"Which one are you between the two Your Highness?" Ye Shi inquired.
"Which one do you think I am Your Excellency?" Zhao Hong retaliated with a question as well.
"I'd like to very much presume that it's the latter of the two." Ye Shi responded.
"I am deeply humbled by that." Zhao Hong professed.
"Then get to the point Your Highness." Ye Shi said.
"The Crown Princess is my Principal Consort but I was hoping that as she is yet to bear me a child I shall certainly need a concubine to help me father an Imperial Heir." Zhao Hong mentioned.
"And what has that gotten to do with me?" Ye Shi asked.
"I heard that Your Excellency has a very beautiful niece, I therefore hoped that with your help, if I could admit her as a concubine it wouldn't be a bad thing if Your Excellency above all men in the world was the Granduncle of the future Crown Prince." Zhao Hong responded.
"You overestimate my niece Your Highness." Ye Shi muttered.
"You underestimate yourself Your Excellency." Zhao Hong responded.
"Even if I willed it the choice of Imperial consorts and concubines even for the Crown Prince rests primarily with the Legitimate Head of the harem and the Inner Court, based on my understanding, the Empress still holds that position and still reserves that power." Ye Shi said.
"It's only a matter of time Your Excellency." Zhao Hong spoke confidently.
"It isn't my niece that you want is it?" Ye Shi inquired.
"If it pleases me then at one time should she ascend the Imperial Dragon throne then she would become my Empress, after all, the only thing that I would require when restoring this Nation to its past glory that had been instituted by our Great Forefathers that founded this Magnificent Dynasty is a family of righteous officials that I can trust." Zhao Hong responded and smiling at him he bowed his head, "I'll leave Your Excellency to think of it and I shall need your answer when we're done with the Empress." He said as he turned around and walked away.
Consort Cao quietly seated in her Chambers she was immersed in her thoughts as Linxiang entered with a tray in her hands bearing some snacks when she noticed that her mistress was absent minded.
She lowered it on the table in front of her.
"Are you alright Your Grace?" She inquired.
"What are your thoughts on His Highness, I mean the Crown Prince?" She asked as she turned to her.
"He is a fine young man and his will is indomitable, very strong, very agile." She responded as the Empress nodded her head seemingly understanding the description.
"But why do you ask Your Grace?" Linxiang asked.
"I suppose they are very much alike, that is one thing that I find very intriguing and on the other hand, something that I can't help but feel is very dangerous for us." Consort Cao responded.
"If he can be useful enough to enable us topple the Empress, all other things are of secondary importance." Linxiang remarked.
"Perhaps." Consort Cao mentioned and taking a deep breath she sighed.
"Make the necessary preparations for me to leave the Palace, there's someone that I must see alone tonight." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Linxiang responded.
Zhao Hong returning to his room he found his father seated comfortably and waiting for him that the old man recognizing his presence stood up and bowed his head to him.
"You needn't Father." Zhao Hong said as he took his seat in front of him.
"I was reliably informed that Her Highness has been confined to the Central Palace, the rumours have already circulated at an unimaginable momentum that everyone in the Capital seems aware despite the numerous loopholes." Zhao Kai reported.
"Consort Cao has taken a more aggressive step and much sooner than we expected she seems very anxious to have the Empress deposed." Zhao Hong informed him.
"What about the Empress?" Zhao Kai asked.
"She's quiet but my conscience compels me to believe that she is merely bidding time to make a comeback." Zhao Hong responded.
"What about you?" Zhao Kai inquired.
"With the Empress temporarily contained I think that there's a way that we can oust her from power for good." Zhao Hong mentioned.
"And how do you intend on doing that Your Highness?" Zhao Kai asked.
"Before the apprehension of the Staff of the East Palace, my personal retainer overheard the Empress' men plotting my assassination in three days' time on her orders and found a secret hideout where the Empress keeps a small secret personal army, I have no doubts that she'll change her mind which is why I decided to play along." Zhao Hong responded, "all I have to do is to catch the assassins within the Imperial City and their hideout." He added.
"When is the assassination?" Zhao Kai inquired.
"Tomorrow." Zhao Hong responded as he smiled at himself ghastly while Zhao Kai seemed displeased with the idea.
Empress Yang quietly seated in her room alone was engulfed in the darkness while her thoughts wandered.
The wan moonlight cast on her face through the window, she turned her attention to the candle that burnt in front of her.
"Rest assured Your Highness, tomorrow will decide the final winner." She thought to herself as she tapped her table.
Consort Cao making her way through the shadows with a long dark cloak veiling her as she sashayed through the streets, she approached the gates of a small villa and reaching there she knocked loud enough for the people inside to hear her.
The gates were opened and Hua Jin appeared through them.
"Who are you?" He asked initially unable to recognize the stranger until she removed the cloak hanging over her head.
"Your Grace!" He exclaimed.
"Your Master is expecting me." She notified him.
"Surely." He appeared to be aware that he stepped aside and let the old woman to walk past him and make her entrance.
Feng Ba seated inside his study, she was ushered through its doors that the young man instantly stood up upon noticing her and bowed his head.
"You asked to see me Your Grace?" He spoke inquisitively.
"I thought about what you mentioned to me about and I am here to give you my answer." She responded as she walked closer while the latter ceding his seat to her, she took it while he sat down on the other stool that was stationed right in front of her.
"So, what does Your Grace think?" Feng Ba inquired.
"The Crown Prince is a very good man and a noble one at that, of course judging from his personality and understanding him as well as you do, I have come to realize that both you and I could be thinking the same thing that surely, if he's to take power from the Empress, he'll be unwilling to share it, he'll only wish to rule alone." Consort Cao responded.
"Then both Your Grace and I are the same." Feng Ba remarked.
"It is useless to have a high position without real power." Consort Cao said.
"Should I take it that Your Grace has consented?" Feng Ba asked.
"Perhaps," Consort Cao responded, "however an Imperial marriage is not to be taken lightly, at least for the well-being of our Greater Heavenly Empire, for the well-being of the Dynasty and the Imperial house, not any man can marry the Eldest Princess and the decision will be backed up by many officials who are keen on the politics of the country and the elders of the Imperial house." She insisted.
"Please leave that to me Your Grace." Feng Ba requested her.
Bao Langya walking through the streets while being accompanied by his guards in the dead of night halted in his footsteps suddenly.
"What's the matter Milord?" One of his subordinates asked and the latter holding onto a couple of flying daggers tied around his waist he swiftly turned around and threw them behind.
"They went flying towards a certain masked stranger with a stick in his hand and the latter sensing them in close proximity tilted his body as they flew past him.
Bao Langya surprised that he'd missed those around him unsheathed their swords.
"Who are you?" They asked him but the stranger remaining silent he turned around and started running off in the opposite direction.
"Two of you get him." Bao Langya ordered and at once they pursued the stranger while Bao Langya still intrigued by his presence resumed his journey.
Unbeknownst to him, a couple of metres away and hidden within a nearby alley, there was someone who was watching him as he travelled in the direction of the secret hideout.
Zhao Hong seated inside his room and still feeling uneasy the doors being flung open Mu Lang walked in before him and bowed his head.
"Your Highness." He greeted him while the young man stood up from where he was seated.
"You aren't yet fully recovered and you already moved out without my knowledge." Zhao Hong scolded.
"This is a matter of Your Highness' life and death, how is it that I could permit myself to be at ease when Your Highness is still fighting this war?" Mu Lang responded.
"What about your family?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"I only got here thanks to you, everything can wait for the time being." Mu Lang responded.
"Very well then, if you insist." Zhao Hong said.
"Thank you Your Highness." Mu Lang commended.
"Now tell me, did you find out anything?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"The Secret army is still under preparation, I can't help but be certain, the Empress' confinement won't change anything and they are more than determined to push through with the assassination." Mu Lang responded and Zhao Hong hearing this he smiled.
"That's good then." He remarked.
"How can that be the case Your Highness?" Mu Lang inquired.
"At first I was worried that it would be very difficult to supplant the Empress but hearing this and should her plan push through I can't be more assured that everything shall work out for our good." Zhao Hong responded.
"I understand Your intention Your Highness but we can not possibly compromise your safety to ensure the success of the plan." Mu Lang said.
"Then what do you propose I do?" Zhao Hong asked.
"If it is a Crown Prince that they are after then we shall give them exactly that." Mu Lang responded.
At the break of dawn, the Emperor alone with the Crown Prince in the Grand Hall the young man knelt in front of him.
"You submitted a petition to me asking me to give you command of the Imperial guard." He said.
"Your Majesty has been burdened of late with the affairs of State and I can't help but worry for your health, I was well informed and took time to survey the soldiers and in this survey, I came to learn that many of them are leaving the Palace to celebrate the forthcoming Spring festival, as such, the Palace won't be strongly defended tonight." Zhao Hong responded.
"I am an old and dying man while you are still youthful, instead of worrying for my health you should look after yours and give the Imperial house an heir. " Emperor Ningzong insisted.
"As it is that I am Your Majesty's son the ailing of your heart is deeply felt by me, how is it then that I could disregard this strong feeling and not let your final years be peaceful?" Zhao Hong inquired, "please Your Majesty, allow me to prove to you and this State that I am a worthy successor." He pleaded and the Emperor taking a deep breath sighed.
"Very well then." Emperor Ningzong said and looking at his table, he stood up and picked a Gold token which he moved forward with and handed over to the Crown Prince.
"Tonight I shall entrust you with the Seal of the Imperial Guard, how I so deeply hope that you don't use it!" He exclaimed as he smiled at him.
"Thank you Your Majesty." Zhao Hong said as he kowtowed to him.
At sunset the Crown Prince seated in a room his father wad right in front of him and taking the small box that was in his sleeve he placed it right in front of him while the old man hesitantly taking it up he opened it and instantly recognized what was hidden within.
"The Seal of the Imperial Guard!" Hs exclaimed with so much surprise.
"Now that we'll have the full command of the Imperial Guard, I am certain that everything will fall into its rightful place." Zhao Hong remarked confidently.
Mu Lang his personal guard arriving into the Courtyard of the East Palace he mounted the stairs that led his Chambers and reaching the top, he faced the guards of the East Palace who bowed their heads to him.
"Listen all you servants of His Highness, as you have been reinstated into the service of the East Palace you must ensure that you protect the Crown Prince with your lives." He ordered.
"Yes Sir." They replied in unison before they scattered about the entire place.
Bao Langya at the secret camp holding the Empress' private army he stared at the men who veiled their faces right in front of him.
"I won't say what has been said to you, you all must be aware at this moment that we put Her Highness' safety ahead of anyone else's therefore I ask you to fulfill your duty and tonight, you'll march into the East Palace and do what must be done." He mentioned.
"Yes Sir." The men replied in unison before they dispersed as well.
"Ye Shi the Minister of Personnel was seated in his office while looking at what appeared to be a sketch map when the door being opened, one of his subordinates moved forward.
"Your Excellency." He greeted him.
"Yes?" The old man replied.
"Your private soldiers are already ready to make the move, the Crown Prince's Father the Grand Prince Zhao Kai has been safely delivered with the Seal of the Imperial Palace guards now all that is left is to move the Capital Patrol." He reported.
"Proceed with the plan." Ye Shi ordered.
"Yes Your Excellency." The young man replied as he immediately withdrew from the room.
It was 10:00pm and a couple of guards and ladies in waiting standing watch outside the Crown Prince's Chambers, the assassins dashed lightly across the rooftops of his residence.
Hiding at a distance and taking out their bows and arrows, they aimed far at them and fired at once killing them on the spot without making a loud sound.
The first few assassins descending into the Courtyard they quickly rushed across it as they approached the doors to the Crown Prince's Chambers.
Opening them immediately, the assassins were taken by surprise only to find majority of the Crown Prince's guards stationed within and waiting for them with their bows and arrows aimed at them.
"Fire." Mu Lang Shouted and the assassins closing the doors dived down and majority dodged the attack while some few were struck dead.
Mu Lang threw the doors open and with the rest of the guards charging forward they descended the stairs immediately to the middle of the square where the assassins were ready with their swords aimed at them.
Quiet for a moment the two parties stared at each other while a mild wind howled all over the place and much of silence prevailed, there was hardly a movement and the lights of the East Palace were very dim, the clouds growing thicker soon veiled the moon from everyone's sight and at that hour everyone was taken by surprise.
A fire signal was struck into the sky which the two parties noticed.
"Retreat." The Commander of the assassins shouted and instantly, the Intruders dressed in black made their way through the gates much swifter than the Crown Prince's defenders had expected.
"Seize them." Mu Lang ordered and leading the rest he pursued the assassins through the walls of the Imperial City.
The assassins negotiating a corner travelled to the West upon a path that Mu Lang believed was similar that it was then that the reinforcements of the Imperial guard linked with them.
"Where are the assassins?" The Junior Guard Commander Meng Yin inquired.
"They are headed to the Grand Palace." Mu Lang responded.
"But isn't that where His Majesty resides?" Meng Yin inquired.
"We must hurry." Mu Lang responded as they swiftly rushed into the direction of the assassins.
Empress Yang quietly seated in her Chambers was waiting patiently, while outside the Imperial City, Zhao Kai and the Minister of Personnel's soldiers arrived outside the hideout of the Empress' private soldiers.
On his order they barged through the gates and moved into the Courtyard where greeted by silence they searched high and low for people but we were unable to find them.
"No one's here." Zhao Kai's subordinate reported and at that moment out of nowhere, flaming arrows flew in and started raining on them.
"It's an ambush, retreat." Zhao Kai ordered and the rest of his men pulling back towards the gates, they were flung open and the Capital Patrol guards flocked into the vicinity armed with their arrows and Spears and some with fire lances while the others aimed at them with their blunderbusses.
The guards stepping aside Bao Langya slowly walked through their midst and moving up to the forefront where he halted, he instantly recognized Zhao Kai.
"Your Highness?" He said.
"Your Excellency." He responded.
"Pardon me for sounding disrespectful to the Grand Prince of our Greater Heavenly Empire however I am here to arrest Your Highness on the charges of treason." He muttered.
Mu Lang and the rest of the Crown Prince's guards barged through the gates of the Grand Palace and the rest of the Palace staff present shrieked in fear as they looked around the place for the assassins.
"There was hardly anyone in sight and just as Mu Lang was moving closer towards the Grand Hall an arrow flew and landed right in front of his feet.
Immediately, the Emperor's guards led by Lan He emerged from behind the building and the rest of their reinforcements stepped in through the main gate.
The Crown Prince's guards caught in between suddenly halted at the sight as the swords drawn were pointed at them.
"Drop your weapons." Lan He ordered and Mu Lang hesitant he immediately dropped his while all the others followed his example.
"Seize them." Lan He ordered.
"What!" Mu Lang exclaimed as a couple of men rushed over and bound him tightly forcing him to his knees as he looked up at Lan He very much disappointed.