Mu Lang and the rest of the Crown Prince's guards were dragged through the gates of the Imperial State Tribunal as they approached its Dungeons while Lan He led the way.
"You can't treat us like this, there must be a misunderstanding." He protested and Lan He unwilling to listen watched as they threw him along with his colleagues into their respective cells.
"You can keep quiet and wait for your trial." Lan He responded.
"How dare you do this to us, by what prerogative are you mandated to do so?" Mu Lang lashed out at Lan He.
"How is it that the Guards of the East Palace raise alarm and armed they charge towards the Grand Hall, if this isn't an attempted Coup then what do you suggest it is." Lan He asked while Mu Lang kept quiet instead.
At that moment, one of his subordinates rushed in right beside him.
"Your Excellency, we have a bit of a problem." He said.
"What is it?" Mu Lang inquired.
"The Grand Prince Zhao Kai was caught commanding a private army in the Capital that was illegally holding arms under the aegis of the Minister of Personnel." He reported.
"What!" Lan He exclaimed.
"Word has already started to spread considering everything that has happened and rumour therefore has it that the Crown Prince and his biological father were plotting treason." He reported that Mu Lang hearing this in the cell where he was confined immediately fell onto his knees.
"No." He muttered to himself while Lan He immediately rushed out of the building.
Empress Yang seated quietly in her room while sipping at her cup of tea Manyin threw the doors open and instantly rushed into her presence.
"Your Highness?" She called excitedly as she bowed her head to her while the latter raising her eyes looked at her before putting down the cup in her hands.
"What's with the excitement?" Empress Yang inquired.
"The Capital guards found the Grand Prince Zhao Kai at the sight with the weapons while on the other hand, the Crown Prince's guards were surrounded within the Grand Palace, as of now all evidence to suggest that the phantom coup is real is present Your Highness." Manyin responded.
"The Grand Prince is also involved now, things appear to have turned out much better than I had expected." Empress Yang remarked.
"The Crown Prince's actions are vividly directed to the fact that he attempted rebellion." Manyin mentioned.
"And now it's time to move the next piece." Empress Yang muttered.
"I await your humble instructions Your Highness." Manyin said while bowing her head to her.
"Summon all the ladies of the harem and the Inner Court outside the Central Palace at dawn." Empress Yang ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Manyin replied as she withdrew from the room immediately leaving the Empress smiling at herself ghastly.
"Let's see Your Highness, how is it that you'll survive this now?" She whispered to herself as she picked up her cup of tea and sipped at it before smacking it onto the table.
Crown Prince Zhao Hong seated in a small room the doors were instantly flung open and right through them one of his father's servants rushed in.
"Your Highness, we are in trouble." He cried.
"What's the problem?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"His Highness the Grand Prince has been arrested by the Capital Patrol guard." He reported when the Crown Prince hearing this he stood up immediately.
"What!" He exclaimed when the doors were abruptly flung open and right through them a series of Imperial soldiers of the Imperial State Tribunal made their entrance into the building.
"How dare you, do you think you can get away with this?" Zhao Hong lashed out at them.
"Forgive me Your Highness for sounding impudent but as the Crown Prince the East Palace is where you should be, however residing outside the Palace in secrecy at such an ungodly hour when rumours of treason are all over the place, I beg to understand what is it that you certainly expect us to do?" Shi Yuzhi inquired as Zhao Hong instantly fell silent.
"As it is that Your Highness is still young you must have acted inappropriately, on the orders of Her Highness we are to safely escort you back to the Palace before dawn to avoid a scandal within the Imperial family." Shi Yuzhi mentioned and looking at the guards behind him they moved forward and surrounded the Crown Prince.
"Please come with us Your Highness." They spoke in unison.
"I am not going anywhere like a prisoner." Zhao Hong demanded.
"Then Your Highness will have to forgive us for using force." Shi Yuzhi said as the guards closing in they bound the Crown Prince with ropes while he fought in protest.
"How dare you do this to the Crown Prince of this Empire, you must have forgotten exactly whom this country belongs to and to which Clan in particular." He made a fuss but Shi Yuzhi unwilling to listen the Crown Prince was dragged out.
Shi Miyuan standing at the top of the staircase in front of the main square of the Imperial State Tribunal silently watched the night sky when Zhao Kai was led in along with his subordinates who were part of the Private Army.
Halting right behind him, they were forced onto their knees amidst protest many aching from wounds and bruises that had been branded on them.
He took a deep breath and then slowly he turned around and faced them with the most fierce expression on his face.
"So these are the traitors of this our Greater Heavenly Empire?" He inquired from Bao Langya.
"Yes Your Excellency." He responded and the latter descended the stairs slowly as he approached the Crown Prince's Father and looked him in the eye.
His eyes fierce and furious, painless and deep he was indeed the first man that sparked off wariness in the younger's heart.
"Your Highness would really think of doing such a frivolous and barbaric act, are you not afraid of the heavens which designated the Mandate to His Majesty to reign over its people?" He asked.
"Is it for His Majesty that you speak or Her Highness the Empress?" Zhao Kai challenged.
"Was the Empress not His Majesty's blessing, a blessing that he bestowed upon this country?" Shi Miyuan inquired spitefully as he brought his face closer to his.
"What did she ever do to deserve your undying loyalty?" Zhao Kai challenged yet again.
"And what did this country do to deserve a woman like her?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"Aren't we so unfortunate?" Zhao Kai mentioned.
"I hardly believe the same as you do, after all, who but me can ever see her as a woman who is trapped within that dark and lonely castle?" Shi Miyuan remarked as he stood upright.
"You have no right to judge me then." Zhao Kai said.
"Perhaps," Shi Miyuan responded, "For it is that your son chose to fight the most precious person to me and everyone in this nation that you are going to dearly pay for his mistake." He assured him.
"Then between me and you who is the real traitor?" Zhao Kai inquired seemingly one last time.
"That history will certainly tell, However until then I shall be the one to write it and rest assured, a strong and valiant rebel, if fortunate enough that's how you shall be remembered." Shi Miyuan responded.
"You can never stop the dragon from rising to its rightful throne." Zhao Kai appeared to warn him.
"Just wait and watch who decides who the Dragon will be." Shi Miyuan said and looking at Bao Langya and the others, they lifted the Grand Prince along with his cohorts and dragged him away as Dong Hua moved up beside his Master.
"How's the Empress?" He asked.
"She's convening the Ladies of the Harem and the Inner Court within the Central square." Dong Hua responded.
"What about the Crown Prince?" He inquired as well.
"They are returning him to the Palace." He responded.
"Now the big game will begin." Shi Miyuan muttered under his breath.
"What!" Consort Cao exclaimed.
"The Capital Patrol guards apprehended the Grand Prince on the charges of treason and they took him to the Imperial State Tribunal, the Imperial Palace is in uproar and the Empress is convening a meeting with the ladies of the harem and the Inner Court in the Grand square at dawn." Linxiang reported.
"What about the Crown Prince?" She asked.
"He wasn't present in the Palace at the time of the coup, he was at his father's residence within the capital." Linxiang responded, "The Imperial guard is escorting him back as we speak but one thing is certain, this conflagration is slowly starting to get out of hand because even the Minister of Personnel's private army was involved too." She informed her.
"It's very much unlike the Crown Prince, considering how well I have known him, a coup was something that I least expected him to do." She asserted.
"What do we do now Your Grace?" Linxiang inquired.
"If the Minister of Personnel is supplanted then our strongest pillar in the political arena shall be annihilated." Consort Cao remarked, "The Crown Prince can save himself but we must save His Excellency." Consort Cao insisted.
"And how do you suggest we do that Your Grace?" Linxiang asked the latter who remained silent.
Emperor Ningzong looking through the memorial in his hands suddenly felt infuriated that folding the small booklet he threw it on the ground in front of Shi Miyuan.
"So you are telling me that the Crown Prince of this nation connived with his father the Grand Prince and attempted to rebel against me in a coup?" He inquired.
"Yes Your Majesty." Shi Miyuan responded.
"Do you take me for a fool?" He asked.
"I wouldn't dare Your Majesty." Shi Miyuan replied.
"Then how do you explain it?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"I beg that Your Majesty hears me out, I speak out of my best interests for this country, as it so happens that the capital patrol guard found him commanding Imperial guards and an entire lot of private soldiers belonging to the Minister of Personnel, with them we unravelled a large number of weaponry and ammunition not to mention the fact that the Crown Prince's guards charged towards the Grand Palace armed." Shi Miyuan mentioned.
"So what are you trying to say?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Your Majesty may not take to heart any of these occurrences, Your Majesty might not even consider the Crown Prince and his father's resistance a plausible event but all evidence to suggest that a coup was orchestrated is present and not to just the Courtiers and officials but also the common people appear to believe that the same." Shi Miyuan responded.
"So?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"With Your Majesty's permission for this grave sin against the State I was kindly inquiring that You our August Sire permits that the Imperial State Tribunal be allowed to investigate this matter further that we may unravel the details and save the reputation of the Imperial family." Shi Miyuan responded.
"Are you not asking for time to confront the Crown Prince?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"As Your Majesty must have grown attached to him it must be hard for you to think him capable of doing this, but until now my loyalty and love for this country has been unsurpassed therefore, if the Crown Prince did nothing then it shall be brought to light as well." Shi Miyuan replied.
"What if I refuse to give my consent?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Then Your Majesty will only prove guilty enough to try and protect him that I can't help but worry greatly that your reputation of being an upright and just ruler amongst your people and other nations which do acknowledge our diplomatic suzerainty will be dented." Shi Miyuan responded.
"What is it that you really want Grand Chancellor?" Emperor Ningzong asked, seemingly rhetoric in his articulation.
"A peaceful nation, a glorious Empire, that's all we have ever wanted as statesmen and if we must strengthen the foundation of our fledgling nation then it is only right that for our sake and the sake of the generations to come the aggressors and rebels to our hegemony are suppressed, hard enough to learn from their mistakes, hard enough to repent of their sins, hard enough to discourage others from leaguing with them and trying to overthrow our most Supreme Dynasty." Shi Miyuan said as he went onto his knees, "For the sake of the Imperial Court, please permit our Investigation of this case Your Majesty." He pleaded.
"Very well then, I leave you to it." Emperor Ningzong said hesitantly.
"And I won't disappoint you, Your Majesty." Shi Miyuan spoke assuringly.
The Black palanquin bearing the Crown Prince Zhao Hong made a swift halt right in front of the Palace gates and Shi Yuzhi raising the gate pass to the guards who immediately recognized it they flung them open and it was led in.
Moving into the direction of the East Palace as the Palace staff stepped aside, they halted right in front of the Crown Prince's gate and opened the small door for him.
Still seized by his captors they dragged him through and eventually across the East square and leading him up the stairs that led to his private Chambers, they opened the entrance and he was thrust in.
"Please stay calm Your Highness and act with utmost dignity, heed our advice and do not leave the Palace otherwise your guards who are now in our custody will not like it." Shi Yuzhi muttered.
"You speak with arrogance because your father is the High Grand Chancellor, how is it that you dare to treat your future Sovereign and Emperor as a prisoner?" Zhao Hong lashed out at him.
"As Your Highness is well aware you are not yet the Emperor of this country and are merely a Crown Prince, considering the grave crime that you have committed with your people I believe you should be praying that you are able to keep your position." Shi Yuzhi responded and turning around, he with his colleagues departed from the room locking the doors behind themselves.
The ladies of the harem and the Inner Court convened within the Central square and Consort Cao taking the seat at the forefront they each earnestly waited for the Empress amidst so much curiosity.
"It's been a long time since Her Highness called for this meeting," Liang Shuyi one of Emperor Ningzong's concubines pointed out.
"Apparently something transpired yesterday night and word has it that the Crown Prince and his biological father who also happens to be His Majesty's paternal uncle attempted a coup using his guards and the Minister of Personnel's private army." Guo Chongrong reported.
"But what has that got to do with Her Highness urgently convening us here?" Liang Shuyi inquired.
"What do you think now that she's confined to her residence?" Guo Chongrong mentioned, "She ordered the Crown Prince to be secretly returned to the Palace, she's most probably going to ask us to ensure that we refrain from spreading the rumours so that the Crown Prince isn't harmed." She remarked.
"Is that so?" Liang Shuyi inquired.
"Certainly." Guo Chongrong responded.
Empress Yang waiting in her Chambers with Xiaoyang beside her Manyin made her entrance.
"Your Highness, the ladies are gathered already." She reported.
"Very well then, bring in the witnesses." Empress Yang ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Manyin responded as she withdrew from the room.
The ladies still waiting at the gates of the Central Palace were opened instantly and right through them the prisoner from the Imperial State Tribunal where she was moved into their midst.
"Her Highness the Empress." Beiyuan announced and her Court Ladies opening the main doors to her Chambers, she quickly walked through them and stepped into everyone's sight while Consort Cao and all the other concubines recognizing her presence turned to her and kowtowed.
"Greetings Your Highness." They said in unison and she responded with silence as her eyes travelled to the Crown Prince's lady in waiting who had previously testified against her the day before.
"Su Shanxiang I heard, will you now confess your crime?" She inquired from her.
"I am afraid that I do not know what Your Highness is saying." She responded and Linxiang present couldn't help but feel uneasy herself.
"I'll give you another chance, are you going to confess your insidious deeds or perhaps would you best suggest that I force the truth out of you?" She inquired.
"Forgive me Your Highness but I know not what you are talking about." Su Shanxiang responded.
"Very well then, if that is what you are saying, if that is what you have decided." Empress Yang mentioned and Consort Cao warily staring at the Empress who kept quiet, Xiaoyang interpreted this silence as a signal she needed to act.
"Bring in the witnesses." She said and the ladies immediately looking about the place a couple of Court ladies along with guards of the Dungeons of the Imperial State Tribunal made their entrance into the square.
They halted right beside Su Shanxiang and facing the Empress they bowed their heads to her.
"Greetings Your Highness." They said in unison.
"Go ahead and tell everyone here, what happened to Court Lady Su on the day before the interrogation of the Crown Prince's staff." The Empress ordered and at that moment one of the guards stepped forward.
"The day before no one was allowed to enter into the Dungeons but in the dead of night there was a change in shifts and it was then that I saw a woman hidden behind a veil bribing one of the officers to have her way in." He professed.
"By any chance, if you saw the woman would you recognize her?" Empress Yang inquired.
"No Your Highness." The man replied and Linxiang taking a deep breath she sighed.
"But there is something that I remember about that woman." He mentioned.
"What is it?" Empress Yang inquired.
"The woman had a long dark scar perhaps from a blade on her right hand." He responded and Linxiang where she stood she seemed surprised to hear this while Consort Cao trying to tame her curiosity couldn't stop wondering what the Empress was up to.
"All the Court Ladies that serve within the six Palaces are in this place, however high ranking Court Ladies are the ones that have easy access to the Imperial State Tribunal's offices and dungeons therefore only one of the Senior Court Ladies appeared before you on that fateful night." Empress Yang said as she looked at Su Shanxiang who immediately started to whimper with fear.
"Allow me to ask one more time after which I don't intend to repeat myself, will you tell me what that Court Lady told you to do or shall I force it out of her mouth as well, a case which suggests that you'll all be guilty for slandering the Empress of this Country and therefore worthy of death?" She muttered.
"Forgive me, Your Highness." The woman cried aloud, "I have been wronged and forced to give false witness against you Your Highness." She insisted.
"Tell me who is it that made you do this?" Empress Yang inquired.
"I was blackmailed Your Highness by the Imperial Princess Yuping." Su Shanxiang mentioned, "Her Head Lady Mu visited me that night and asked me to spare the Crown Prince and profess that it was on your orders that I spread the insidious rumour regarding His Majesty's health." She said.
"How dare you?" Consort Cao said as she stood up from where she was seated.
"Enough." Empress Yang lashed out at her.
"You dare to frame the Imperial Princess, are you not afraid of death?" Consort Cao inquired.
"I have proof." Su Shanxiang spoke up and all the ladies of the Inner Court startled after having heard this covered their mouths in shock as they looked at one another.
"You brazen wench." Consort Cao abused her as she turned to the Empress, "all that this woman is saying is pure lies, there's no way that the Imperial Princess would do something atrocious as this." Consort Cao defended.
"Is it because she's your daughter Consort Cao?" Empress Yang asked and Consort Cao keeping quiet that instant the Empress seemed more reserved than anyone else that slowly she offered her hand to Beiyuan who took it and gracefully, she started descending the stairs towards Consort Cao.
Halting in front of her, she turned and looked at Su Shanxiang.
"If the Imperial Princess convinced you to give a false witness against me, it is possible that she was knowledgeable about something you were well aware of, perhaps, you really know who was responsible for spreading those insidious rumours, isn't it?" She asked as Su Shanxiang hesitated.
"Of course you do." Empress Yang said after studying her expression while Consort Cao trying to restrain her fury was burning down in her silence.
"Who was the brain behind this absurd rumour?" She asked Su Shanxiang who momentarily fell quiet in front of everyone as she gathered all the courage that she could find to speak up.
"It was the Crown Prince Your Highness." She finally professed and everyone present on hearing it even the Crown Princess was alarmed.
"The Imperial Princess and the Crown Prince of this Country devised a wicked scheme behind everyone's back to try and slander the Empress of the nation?" Empress Yang asked yet again seeking clarity.
"Yes Your Highness." Su Shanxiang responded.
"A Court Lady's testament is unreliable when deciding such a serious matter Your Highness, all wrongdoing is to be taken into account only with the presence of irrefutable evidence if it is our intention to silence public clamour." Consort Cao spoke up.
"I was hoping that this would be Your Grace's reaction." Empress Yang said.
"The papers that were used to spread the rumours all over the Capital by pinning them up onto the notice boards if well-studied one would identify the origin of that material to be from the Crown Prince's study, save for the Crown Prince himself, not a single person would access the vicinity without his permission." Su Shanxiang said, "the Imperial Princess and Crown Prince occasionally exchanged letters devising all possible schemes to try and topple Her Highness and most importantly I am certain, the Court Lady used a token from the East Palace belonging to the Crown Prince to access the Imperial State Tribunal's dungeons that day and she showed it to me that I may believe she was really from him, if I am not lying and it's still too early then, the Imperial Princess must be having that token in her possession right this instant." Su Shanxiang said sparking off an intense uproar amongst the Consorts and the ladies of the Palace present at the moment including the young Imperial Princess who remained silent.
"Have all officers search the East Palace and the residence of the Imperial Princess, find the letters and tokens immediately and bring them to me." Empress Yang demanded and at once the Eunuchs spread out with the ladies of the Central Palace.
Moments later the Imperial guards were up all over the place and the Empress having dismissed the Consorts and concubines returned to her Chambers and sat down.
"What's going on Your Highness?" Xiaoyang asked worried as she took a very deep breath and sighed.
"I'll need to have a word with the Grand Chancellor." Empress Yang responded.
"If you so wish Your Highness." Xiaoyang said as she stepped out leaving the Empress alone with Manyin.
"You had a chance to get back at Consort Cao directly, now that you are using the Imperial Princess I fear that Your Highness might be on to something very dangerous." She cautioned.
"Survival is itself a very dangerous game Manyin," Empress Yang responded, "As Consort Cao isn't someone easy to pacify I realised that only if I used something that makes her vulnerable would she care to seek some restrain in her actions." Empress Yang replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.
"But Your Highness......" Manyin hesitant was bound to speak in protest.
"You just wait and see." Empress Yang spoke reassuringly.
The guards and Eunuchs barging through the two residences they immediately started turning everything inside upside down as they studied the area.
Going through the chests belonging to the Imperial Princess they landed upon one and opening it they looked at its contents only to realize the letter and the Crown Prince's token.
Bearing the small chest they hurriedly carried it to the Central Palace and handing it over to Manyin she carried it towards the Empress and placed it on the table in front of her.
The Empress stretching her hands opened it and looked through, recognizing the letters almost instantly that she smiled.
"The Imperial guards and Eunuchs found them." She reported.
"Another job well done." Empress Yang remarked.
"Her Grace Consort Cao is requesting an audience with you Your Highness." Beiyuan announced outside the room.
"Let her in." Empress Yang responded and Manyin withdrawing from her sight instantly, the doors were opened and Consort Cao moved forward bowing her head to her.
"Your Highness." She said.
"I thought that you wouldn't come." Empress Yang mentioned.
"Now that I am here I am certain there is something that you wished to say to me." Consort Cao remarked.
"We haven't talked face to face I am certain that you wouldn't mind hearing an offer from me." Empress Yang responded and Consort Cao unwillingly took a seat in front of her.
"Up till now my daughter the Imperial Princess has never been in your interests, why do you wish to drag her into this fight?" She asked.
"Why do you think so?" Empress Yang inquired.
"Her only crime is being my daughter." Consort Cao responded.
"Have you ever wondered how it felt for the first time in my life living in a harem where there was silence?" Empress Yang asked.
"You enlighten me Your Highness." Consort Cao responded.
"It was peaceful, it was remarkable, for the first time no one had to succumb to my repression and despite knowing that it was temporary, honestly, I enjoyed it." She said.
"Why now?" Consort Cao asked.
"How many people must die for you to realise that you'll never defeat me?" Empress Yang asked.
"I don't know what you are saying, Your Highness." Consort Cao muttered.
"Perhaps you didn't learn from the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji well enough otherwise I am forced to believe that you wouldn't care as much for the Imperial Princess, but if you ask me losing a single child and also losing all your children which is worse between the two, wouldn't you care to know my answer?" Empress Yang challenged.
"Living is just more painful than death isn't it?" Consort Cao said.
"What if I told you that it doesn't have to be that way, I can't help but wonder why you are breaking every day for a child that isn't yours or you'd risk everything that you have protected so far to protect and fight alongside a young man that can not protect himself let alone those around him." Empress Yang mentioned and slowly she lifted the chest that she'd been given and placed it on the table in front of her.
"What's this?" Consort Cao asked.
"You said that you wanted irrefutable evidence to prove the Imperial Princess' involvement in slandering the Empress of this country and I created it, within this chest however are letters not only describing the nature of their alliance but as the young girl might be linked to recent treason with His Highness, at worst even incest is a likely crime." Empress Yang responded.
"How dare you?" Consort Cao said.
"There is evidence Your Grace, by now you should have noticed that when I call a white stone black then black it is and when I call a black stone white then white it is." She boasted.
"What do you want?" Consort Cao asked.
"You come between me and my legal son that it leaves me frustrated, sooner or later the Crown Prince will yield and know who holds the real power in this country, Her Highness can be spared, all that I ask you to do is to remain silent." Empress Yang said, "make it seem as though you do not exist, don't move or breathe or allow your presence to be felt, just live for the sake of your daughter until the day I get to decide when and how you die." She insisted and Consort Cao disheartened with her eyes teary she couldn't help it but feel suffocated.
"Do you really want to know my answer?" She asked and the Empress a bit startled looked at her.
"Until now you only got away with everything by winning the sympathy of the people you forgot one thing, you are not the only one that can get away with that." Consort Cao said when she suddenly spat blood from her mouth and coughed vigorously.
"Chen Fei?" Empress Yang shouted at the top of her voice.
"You may hurt and break me Your Highness, crumble my limbs and tear them off one by one even gouge out my eyes or cut my tongue but as long as I am alive, I will never yield, I will never bow and when the time is right, I will get up onto my feet again." Consort Cao said as she threw down the things on the table in front of them.
"Anyone?" Empress Yang called and at once the doors being flung open her ladies-in-waiting rushed in.
"Save the Imperial Consort of His Majesty." She ordered as they immediately rushed to her aid while she slowly slipped unconscious.
"What!" Emperor Ningzong exclaimed as he stood up from where he was seated.
"Her Grace the Imperial Consort Cao went into the Central Palace to have a word with Her Highness when she passed out abruptly." Eunuch Deng reported.
"Consort Cao was healthy the last time I heard, what would be the reason?" He asked.
"A search initiated by the Empress throughout the harem proved the Imperial Princess Yuping to have connived with the Crown Prince to frame the Empress for spreading the insidious rumours concerning Your Majesty's ill health, the Empress insisted that it be kept a secret but word seems to have already travelled outside the Palace walls." Eunuch Deng responded.
"Where is Consort Cao?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"She's with Her Highness in the Central Palace." Eunuch Deng responded and the Emperor getting up from where he was seated he walked out of the room.
Empress Yang seated beside Consort Cao's bed Xiaoyang walked into the room.
"His Majesty is almost here." She reported.
"You may leave." Empress Yang responded and the latter bowing her head withdrew from the room.
The Emperor making his entrance shortly afterwards she stood up and faced him bowing her head.
"Your Majesty." She greeted him while the latter moving closer stared at Consort Cao who was unconscious in her Chambers.
"I heard that Consort Cao passed out." He said.
"Her Grace swallowed poison before me." She responded.
"How come?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"You must have heard that the Crown Prince's Court Lady confessed to her crime, the Crown Prince coerced her into slandering me for starting up that insidious rumour that Your Majesty was suffering from Senile Dementia, but what's more surprising is that she went ahead and confessed the Imperial Princess Yuping's involvement with her brother which condition was made worse when letters suggesting even an incestuous relationship between Her Highness and the Crown Prince in accordance with their collusion sufficed." Empress Yang responded.
"Impossible." Emperor Ningzong refuted this.
"There was also a time that I thought that the Crown Prince of this country at least reserved some sense of judgement and remorse, that he was upright and virtuous until with the very blade that you gave him he directed his wrath at both me and my people especially you Sure." Empress Yang muttered.
"Who would have thought...?" He mentioned.
"You gave him the token that commands the Imperial guard and he gave it to his father while he kept his absence from the Palace a secret from us all." Empress Yang said.
"Yet strangely enough even with it he couldn't command the confidence of the entire Imperial Guard." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"It is perhaps because those guards are too loyal or because Your Majesty was testing him hoping that he wouldn't have to use it." She said.
"I erred greatly." Emperor Ningzong professed.
"Yet I am a much bigger sinner for having deemed him worthy to uphold your legacy, it haunts me so much, seeing that if even Consorts could come this close to death, what would history books say about both Your Majesty and I who instead of moulding a Great Emperor for the people we fostered the most ruthless tyrant tis Dynasty has ever seen." The Empress spoke up.
"What will you do now my Empress?" He inquired.
"Perhaps I haven't tried as hard Your Majesty, I can see that you are deeply hurt because of it," she responded, "for your sake I am going to give His Highness one last chance." She confessed.
"What if he fails?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Do you still desire him as your successor?" She questioned.
"What if I told you that I held him blameless and blamed you instead, what if I suggested that a part of me insists on telling me that I never knew you from the beginning, what if I told you that this country needed a leader that is as strong and ruthless as himself to defend it, what if I told you that I was proud to keep him by my side even if it meant being criticized for the sake of ensuring that the future generations never called you a meddlesome woman?" He asked while she fell silent, "would you consider this feeling in my heart?" He mentioned.
"Then I shall fight you Your Majesty." Empress Yang responded.
"My Empress....." He protested.
"You don't have the future scholars and historians, generations forward a hundred or even a thousand years ahead to protect you, there isn't a single man in this world too that I can trust to protect you Your Majesty." She responded.
"Of what use is it to gain the world and lose yourself?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"It's more useful to earn your hatred and the eternal censure but not to lose you in a position you earned because of me and you might lose protecting me." She responded.
"I wish you were well aware how hearing those words flying from your mouth sounds disgusting to my ears." Emperor Ningzong said, "am I that sad and pitiful or is there a portion of your heart that sees me for a man who deeply loves you more than anything in this world?" He asked.
"If only Your Majesty were strong enough then my Crown wouldn't have been too heavy, if only you were healthy enough then maybe I wouldn't have wielded as much power, if only you never loved me I would have never been held within this lonely castle." She responded.
"Forgive me my Empress as this much darkness I see in your soul I have come to realize was nothing more than a part of me I created." He apologized.
"I too I'm sorry for jealously holding on and convincing myself that doing this much in return would ease the pain I am going through and the guilt that greatly burdens my conscience." She muttered as she turned around and that very instant walking out of the room she left the Emperor alone looking at Consort Cao who was pale and nearly lifeless.
Getting outside the building she found Xiaoyang and Manyin who were waiting for her.
"His Excellency will see you Your Highness." Manyin reported.
"Where is the Crown Prince?" Empress Yang inquired from Xiaoyang.
"As per Your Highness' instructions confined to the East Palace and the area has been tightly secured with Imperial guards to ensure that he doesn't escape." She responded.
"I'll see the Crown Prince." She muttered and all of them seemed surprised by her reaction while she immediately descended the stairs and charged out of the Central square into the direction of the East Palace.
Arriving inside the East Palace, her presence was announced and the young man confined in his Chambers stood up while the Empress made her entrance into the dark room.
"My Prince." She said bowing her head to him
"Your Highness." He responded returning the not so sincere salutation as she smiled at him before taking a seat in front of the young man.
"Such a tragic fate, you must be wondering what you did wrong to deserve this." Empress Yang muttered.
"Why are you here?" Zhao Hong asked.
"There are rumours concerning treason circulating around the entire Empire, others telling the tale of the Crown Prince who stooped so low as to frame his legitimate mother for spreading insidious rumours concerning His Majesty's ill health, as though that wasn't enough it must have been easy for him to fathom that he could just kill the Dragon to take its place so naturally of course, as a mother that is desperately trying to protect her son it is necessary that I shield you from all that." She responded.
"Shouldn't you be happy?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"You on the other hand are more composed than I thought, you seem bold and fearless." She remarked.
"You can't possibly kill a Dragon that easily, in the same way, I can't just bend as the Crown Prince who is the foundation of this country." He responded.
"You seem to forget who made you the Heir of this Greater Heavenly Empire." Empress Yang mentioned.
"I earned the favour of my people." Zhao Hong insisted.
"And it could as well be lost Your Highness." Empress Yang muttered, "what do you think ever made you so special, was it merely that ego of yours, the course hauteur that was supplied by your mere ancestry, so what if your ancestors were all Masters of the sword and sabre, don't you think that you are mistaken trying to point your sword at me when I hold your life in my hands?" She inquired.
"And what would you possibly do to me Your Highness, after all, is it not my position that protects yours as well?" He asked and the Empress keeping quiet for a moment studied him.
"Your Highness is gravely mistaken to think that you are one of the most important people that I can rely on, as I was gifted and called by the heavens, with virtue and sagacity that surpasses that of many before and perhaps likely to succeed me, I can protect myself reliably even without a Crown Prince, that much power sent me up against the Empress Han and Li, the Consorts Han and Cao and even up to now against you my Prince." She confidently said.
"Is that so?" Zhao Hong asked.
"Have you no idea?" She asked as she took a deep breath and sighed, "your father is in the Imperial State Tribunal being tortured each and every day into confessing your involvement in the coup to try and overthrow His Majesty, every minute of every hour evidence that is sufficient to support this claim suffices yet as I am concerned for you I feel obliged to give you another chance to repent of your sins, you should realise my sincere service to you Your Highness." She said.
"Then withdraw your involvement in the Affairs of State, the only way that you can offer me your sincerity mother is by granting me absolute power over this our Greater Heavenly Empire." Zhao Hong insisted.
"What if I don't?" She inquired.
"I will gain that power myself." He responded firmly, "after all, you may hurt those around me but as my legal protector, you can't possibly harm the Crown Prince of this Country." He added and the Empress hearing this went silent for a moment.
"I didn't want things to end up this way but now that this is your calling Your Highness then you leave me with no choice." She spoke under her breath as he watched her while she stood up from where she was seated and looked down upon him.
"You are wrong to think that as your legal protectress I can't possibly harm you and seeing that you have forgotten who made you the Crown Prince of this Country I am going to remind you who has the final say in this Empire, I'll show you the real power behind the throne after which you will bow and grovel at my feet." She swore as she turned around and walked away from him leaving him alone.
Feng Ba seated in his Chambers was lost in his thoughts while Hua Jin stood in front of him.
"Treason!" He exclaimed.
"The Grand Internal Prince Zhao Kai was arrested along with some of his men by the Capital Patrol illegally possessing arms and mastering soldiers, they are at the Imperial State Tribunal as we speak and as though it isn't enough the Crown Prince's Court Lady confessed after evidence linking the Imperial Princess' involvement with her brother in the ruse to slander the Empress for spreading insidious rumours concerning the Emperor's ill health sufficed that much of the General public is grief stricken and furious yet Her Highness is keeping silent." Hua Jin reported.
"I suppose the world must think her to be very generous and kind, as long as she proves that she can't dent her reputation in any way possible, what better way to socially isolate the Crown Prince and diminish his general popularity than playing the tolerant and pitiful mother trying to win her son's affection and recognition while he on the other hand is the overbearing son and greedy Prince with the traits of a valiant Rebel?" Feng Ba inquired.
"A very dangerously smart move." Hua Jin praised her.
"At first I wondered why she was silent when the Imperial State Tribunal argued that the Court Lady's testimony was inconsistent, she accepted punishment certain that the timing was still right in her favour she truly is a sagacious and cunning woman." Feng Ba complimented.
"The Grand Internal Prince is being tortured into confessing his son's involvement along with many others, all evidence points to the Crown Prince as we speak and what's worse is that the reputation of the Imperial Princess has never been more at stake as it is now." Hua Jin said.
"It is likely that the Imperial Princess might collapse with the Crown Prince." Feng Ba said, "seeing that Consort Cao as a mother took it upon herself and passed out to assert her claim to be a victim of this strife the Heir apparent is absolutely defenseless." He added.
"What are you going to do now Your Excellency?" Hua Jin inquired.
"A traitor's testimony seems more reliable, However, the Imperial State Tribunal itself already has a name that it wants to hear, by using these two desires on both parties we might save both the Crown Prince and the Imperial Princess even if the Empress wins this game." Feng Ba responded.
"How can you be so certain Milord?" Hua Jin inquired.
"The Empress can't voice out her opposition directly if she wishes to protect her reputation on one hand, it's just the only flaw in her publicized personality that we can use to our advantage." Feng Ba responded as he smiled at himself ghastly.
Walking into her room she found Shi Miyuan waiting for her.
"Your Highness." He honoured her while bowing his head as she took the seat right in front of him while he knelt in her presence.
"I heard that you went to the East Palace, forgive my curiosity but I can't help it but wonder how it so happens to have been between Your Highness and the Crown Prince." He pointed out.
"He doesn't seem to understand the gravity of the situation which is why even when given the current state of affairs, he is resistant." She responded.
"He isn't the type to be pacified as of yet, only if we take more drastic measures to restrain his power and also crumble his position....." He was still saying.
"..... will he bend?" She asked.
"Won't that surely be the case?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"A spirit of Iron can't simply be forced to bend, even if we succeeded that will not be enough." Empress Yang responded.
"Have you a better idea Your Highness?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"We have to break the Crown Prince." She responded and Shi Miyuan feeling a bit hesitant kept quiet momentarily before he spoke up.
"That only means that Your Highness......" He halted halfway.
"Gather all the patriotic scholars and officials, our people from the highest of men to the lowest of women, we should discuss immediately the deposition of the Crown Prince." Empress Yang ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Shi Miyuan responded.
The Empress' supporters secretly gathered in a room, Shi Miyuan walked up in front of them and there they bowed their heads to him.
"We heard that the Empress made proof of her innocence suffice." Peng Zishou said.
"Her Highness' discretion concerning the Crown Prince's errors has aroused public discontentment and what's more is that lips in the Imperial Palace seem to be much looser." Shi Yuzhi reported.
"How far with the interrogation of the rebels?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"Until now many along with the Grand Internal Prince have still refused to confess the Crown Prince's involvement, our only advantage is that the Crown Prince was secretly outside the Palace and his personal guards were apprehended in the Grand square while armed as though they intended to attack the Emperor, this much including the Minister of Personnel's private army providing assistance against the Emperor's command is enough to hold the Crown Prince accountable both actively and passively as his position as the heir apparent is the most justifiable cause backed by his rift and disdain for the Empress whom His Majesty deeply loves for having attempted rebellion." Yang Shi responded.
"If the Ring leaders confess it will be much easier to apprehend the Crown Prince as well than it is now, all evidence however vivid still proves to be circumstantial and if manipulated the Crown Prince might still find a way out." Shi Miyuan mentioned.
"Then what are we to do?" Peng Zishou asked.
"Her Highness asked me to convey her earnest message to you all and asks that we join hands in unison not as Courtiers but as the people, not as judges but as statesmen." Shi Miyuan responded.
"I don't quite understand." Xie Ning said.
"If it is the people's desire then we can move that the Crown Prince be deposed." Shi Miyuan responded, "after all, all evidence though circumstantial is undisputed, now that Her Highness can no longer protect the Crown Prince what reason have we to hesitate?" He added and everyone hinting on what he was trying to say they responded with silence seemingly convinced what it was that they had to do next.
The Empress seated in her Chambers was quietly tapping her table while Beiyuan silently he studied her rather content expression.
"What's the matter Your Highness?" He inquired, "you seem bothered." He pointed out.
"Every moment seems rather uneasy." She professed.
"I'm curious as it is." Beiyuan professed.
"Can I enlighten you?" She inquired.
"I can't help it but wonder, what is your most sincere motive?" Beiyuan responded.
"What do you think?" She asked.
"Whatever it is Your Highness doesn't necessarily intend on having the Crown Prince deposed." He responded.
"So you do understand!" She exclaimed.
"Seeing that my brilliance is nowhere close to yours Your Highness could I beg you to eradicate my ignorance?" Beiyuan asked.
"The Crown Prince is a tragic character who will be severed from his natal support, most importantly he will best learn that my influence in the Imperial Court surpasses my presence within the Grand Hall yet amongst the Courtiers it will be an indirect warning that will force their loyalty to be tied down to only me while the people will commend my good Grace, kindness and generosity while the Crown Prince will sooner or later learn that at the end of it all, his position depends on solely my will." She responded.
"To gain everything, without losing nothing." Beiyuan muttered as he laughed at himself.
"There's still one person that worries me." Empress Yang muttered.
"Who could it be?" Beiyuan inquired.
"His Majesty." She responded.
"Why?" Beiyuan asked.
"Because as the Rift between us will only become deeper with every day one word from him one day will be my demise or most probably my empowerment." She replied.
"And which one appears more likely Your Highness?" Beiyuan inquired.
"I don't know and it's because I don't know that it makes him more dangerous." Empress Yang replied.