Snow falling from the sky it descended upon the entire Empire, in the cold morning the Courtiers gathered from the highest to the lowest in the Grand Square knelt outside the Grand Hall inside which the Emperor was seated.
"Please depose the Crown Prince of this Country Your Majesty, restore the honour of the Imperial house." They pleaded in unison while bowing their heads into his direction.
"His Highness the Imperial Heir is Sinful towards our Greater Heavenly Empire, he is unfilial and devises wicked schemes to dishonour and supplant his mother and covets your power." Shi Yuzhi said.
"How can a son as vile as he be mandated to rule over our people when he is a traitor?" Yang Gu said.
"For the sake of the stability of this Empire, please depose the Crown Prince Your Majesty." Peng Zishou said.
"Please depose the Crown Prince of this Country Your Majesty, restore the honour of the Imperial house." They pleaded in unison yet again and their cry rising reached the Emperor who was seated inside furiously.
The Crown Prince in his Chambers seated quietly was startled when the doors opened before him and walking through them one of the Eunuchs that had been newly assigned to his service moved forward.
"Your Highness." He said to the young man who taking a deep breath sighed.
"What is it?" He asked.
"The Courtiers backed by the scholars from the Imperial Academy are gathered outside the Grand Hall to censure Your Highness, they are requesting the Emperor to have you deposed." He reported.
"Is that so?" He asked.
"Yes." The young man replied and the Crown Prince hearing that stood up that very instant.
"I'll go see the Courtiers." He said and the latter paving way for him the Crown Prince immediately headed outside.
"Please depose the Crown Prince of this Country Your Majesty, restore the honour of the Imperial house." The Courtiers persisted and Emperor Ningzong seated inside slowly started feeling more and more uneasy than he already was.
"How long has it been?" He asked Eunuch Deng who was standing not so far from his throne.
"Approximately four hours as it is now the hour of noon." He responded.
"What's the situation outside?" He demanded to know.
"I'd be lying to Your Majesty if I said that it is any better, apparently, the scholars themselves from the Imperial Academy have leagued with lesser officials and commons to back the Courtiers from outside the Palace, the three armies as well seem reluctant to suppress them as this has become a universal plea as the more lenient Imperial State Tribunal is demanding that the case of treason be made public in detail, however concerning the current state of affairs, it shall be more difficult." He responded.
"I see." Emperor Ningzong said, "how is the Crown Prince?" He asked.
"Still in the East Palace, we have barely received any word from there." Eunuch Deng responded when suddenly, their conversation was interrupted.
"Her Highness the Empress?" Beiyuan announced the Empress' presence and the doors of the Grand Hall being flung open she walked through as she approached her husband who was seated on the Imperial Dragon throne.
"Your Majesty." She said to him bowing her head.
"What are you doing here my Empress?" He inquired.
"What do you think Your Majesty?" She asked him.
"You aren't siding with those Courtiers are you?" He was curious to know.
"I wish it wasn't the case, I wish it didn't have to come to this, you saw how hard I tried to be a good mother to His Highness, even then, despite all the tolerance that I nursed, all the affections that I offered every time that he slapped me in the face, at the end of it all this is how he chose to repay me." She responded.
"You don't really think that he deserves absolution?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Which absolution does he deserve for having already brought worry to your heart?" Empress Yang challenged the Emperor while he remained silent.
"You're his mother." He responded.
"And I am the mother of this nation, I am the mother of everyone in this our Greater Heavenly Empire, for heaven's sake I am also your wife, this much he should have understood, this much he should have known, I can cast aside personal affections but I can't embrace any longer anything that jeopardizes the stability of this nation, I can't possibly allow myself to embrace anything that jeopardizes the existence of the Crown." She said.
"Then what is it?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Please hear out your officials Your Majesty, please listen to the outcry of your people, the people of this country." She said.
"That's preposterous." Emperor Ningzong insisted.
"The Crown Prince of this country put his greed for the throne ahead of the welfare of the state, slandered his legal mother and listened to the ill advice of his kin to orchestrate treason, as this isn't something to postpone Your Majesty must grant an Imperial sanction, you must be aware that there is no way out which is why I ask you to heed your Courtiers' plea and depose the Crown Prince." She said and furious the Emperor smacked the table in front of him and he stood up.
"And what happens if I don't?" He asked her while she still confident and unmoved looked him in the eye.
"It doesn't matter what happens in this Hall or what you say to me, but if Your Majesty finds it inappropriate to do so then I swear that as long as it's in my power I am going to have him deposed." She responded.
"Must you really stand against me?" He asked his eyes becoming teary.
"A Crown Prince who seeks to satisfy his carnal pleasures, forsakes repentance of his sins and brings dishonour to his parents and the Imperial family by indulging in the gravest of crimes is not fit to inherit the Imperial Dragon throne, I warned you Your Majesty that I would give him one more chance, I promised you." Empress Yang said.
"It is your word against mine and your power against mine as well." Emperor Ningzong mentioned.
"The prudence of a Crown Prince is to desist from making mistakes and if I allow Your Majesty's glorious legacy to be inherited by a man that is deficient in this very quality then Your Majesty would go down as a bad ruler of his people." Empress Yang remarked.
"His only crime is that he makes you feel that your safety, your power and your political influence are threatened." Emperor Ningzong said.
"And I need them to protect my husband." She responded.
"So you'll go this far?" He asked.
"Much further than this, as far as I possibly can, even if I must rip out my limbs, even if I must lose myself doing so, I must survive, I shall survive." Empress Yang responded, "I can not protect the Crown Prince anymore." She notified him as the latter having lost his strength fell back onto his throne.
"Is this what you have decided?" He asked her.
"And I don't intend to change my mind anytime soon Your Majesty." She confessed.
"Then listen to me my Empress," he said as he looked at her furiously, "you will not depose the Crown Prince, no one will." He insisted.
"Then let's see Your Majesty." Empress Yang responded and kowtowing to him, she turned around and walked away.
"Please depose the Crown Prince Your Majesty, restore the honour of the Imperial house." The Courtiers led by the Grand Chancellor Shi Miyuan pleaded outside the Grand Hall kneeling in front of it.
"Until now the Crown Prince has acted with disdain and his arrogance grows worse by the day, how can such a man be deemed worthy to inherit the Mandate of Heaven?" Peng Zishou asserted aloud.
"How can the future ruler of our Greater Heavenly Empire stoop so low as to intend to oust his own father from power through a coup?" Yang Gu shouted.
"The Crown Prince has lost respect from the people and he can not command the confidence of the Imperial Court." Yang Shi supplemented.
"Please depose the Crown Prince Your Majesty, restore the honour of the Imperial house." The Courtiers shouted in unison yet again while the Empress who had walked out of the Grand Hall stood on top of the stairs ahead of them.
The Crown Prince and his retinue appeared through the doors of the Grand Square, a point from which he stared at his foster mother.
He took his first step and walked in while the Empress also descended the stairs and reduced the gap between them.
Halting in front of one another, they each kowtowed to themselves before standing upright while the Empress looking more serious than ever, the young man was closer to his breaking point.
"I'll hand over my father who is guilty of treason and misleading me, just like the Imperial Court has decided, but please spare my people I humbly ask of you." Zhao Hong spoke up.
"Your Imperial Highness, to connive to carry out treason isn't a matter that is to be dealt with very lightly." Empress Yang said.
"In that case, what can I possibly do for you Your Highness?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"This foolish woman doesn't understand what His Imperial Highness implies, a mother of this nation can only advise the Crown, however as always, the final say rests with His Majesty alone." Empress Yang remarked.
Zhao Hong walking closer to her halted right in front of her face, burning with hatred and pain while tears fell from his eyes he let go of his pride and humbled himself by falling onto his knees before her.
"What is it that you are doing?" She asked at the top of her voice as the young man looked at her, "do you dare look down on the dignity that your position commands? " She inquired that the Courtiers surprised they turned to look at the two.
"Protect me Your Highness." Zhao Hong pleaded.
"Your Highness is the foundation of our Greater Heavenly Empire, you are the foundation of the Imperial house, how is it that as our foundation you would dare to bend this easily? " She asked him.
"The true foundation of this our Great Heavenly Empire are the people, the people which are Your Highness, as my misconduct has brought the Imperial Court into peril, I am willing to take it upon myself to absolve for the sins that I have committed against our people." Zhao Hong professed.
"Why should I believe a word you have said, I have given you many chances to repent." She pointed out.
"Regardless of whatever it is I do, not even His Majesty, the Ruler of this our Greater and Heavenly Empire has the power to protect me," Zhao Hong responded, "I can only survive on my own, if only I have my head even if I lose my limbs, I am desperate, I want to survive more than anything else." He added.
"What do I get in return?" Empress Yang inquired.
"All Your Highness has asked of me is to be a good son, a filial Crown Prince of this country, one that pays attention to everything that you say so, I have decided that I'll be just that, I'll be just that much for you Your Highness." He responded.
"Surviving requires the will to live." Empress Yang pointed out.
"Being Your Highness' legitimate son, being your loving son is my ultimate will to live." Zhao Hong responded and the Empress looking down at him smiled at herself ghastly.
"Of course it is." She said.
The snow falling upon the two, the young man his eyes dark and sunken was exploding with hatred from within yet struggling hard to conceal it, he'd been beaten, he'd been defeated and just like that, with perhaps the hope of seeking vengeance in the near future, he held onto his life so dearly that tears fell from his eyes.
The scholars and people waiting outside the Imperial Palace Imperial guards marching through the gates Eunuch Deng stepped forward with an Imperial Edict in his right hand and stood in front of the masses.
"His Majesty, the Emperor's Edict." He said and at once everyone went onto their knees and bowed their heads.
"HIS HIGHNESS THE GRAND INTERNAL PRINCE COLLUDED WITH THE MINISTER OF PERSONNEL AND THEY MALICIOUSLY TRICKED THE CROWN PRINCE OF THIS COUNTRY INTO ATTEMPTING A COUP TO OVERTHROW HIS MAJESTY AND SEIZE POWER FOR THEMSELVES THEREFORE MISUSING IMPERIAL POWER, AS SUCH THEREFORE ARE FOUND GUILTY OF TREASON AND CONSPIRING AGAINST THE CROWN THAT THOSE SOLDIERS INVOLVED ARE SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND THE RING LEADERS STRIPPED OF THEIR TITLES SENTENCED TO DEATH BY POISONING TOMORROW AT THE HOUR OF NOON, AS THE CROWN PRINCE IS HOWEVER STILL TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS MISCONDUCT, HIS REGENCY WILL BE TERMINATED AND HE IS TO BE CONFINED TO THE EAST PALACE, THIS IS MY ORDER." He read.
"Long Live His Majesty, Long Live our High Emperor." The people cheered in unison.
Linxiang standing right beside Consort Cao's bedside, her mistress suddenly opened her eyes.
"Your Grace!" She exclaimed with so much excitement as she sat upright trying to recollect her thoughts.
"How long has it been since I passed out?" She inquired.
"Two days." Linxiang reported, "The Imperial Physician had much of the poison removed." She notified her.
"Two whole days?" She remarked discontented and judging from Linxiang's expression she could tell that nothing good had happened.
"What happened?" She inquired.
"The Minister of Personnel and the Grand Internal Prince, with all the ringleaders of the phantom coup were found guilty of treason and sentenced to death by poison after which their bodies shall be mutilated and displayed all over the Palace walls." She responded.
"And the Crown Prince?" She asked.
"In exchange for his life he chose to bow to the Empress." Linxiang responded and hearing this at once Consort Cao smiled at herself.
"Is there anything wrong Your Grace?" Linxiang inquired.
"I can't help but wonder, what is it that the Empress is made of, I envy her all the more, seeing that she could do as much while all I do is nothing." She responded as Linxiang lowered her head as well.
"Dress me up for I am going to meet His Majesty." She ordered.
"Yes, Your Grace." Linxiang responded.
Empress Yang seated in her Chambers Shi Miyuan suddenly walked in before her and bowed his head.
"Your Highness." He greeted.
"Please have a seat." She requested and the latter complying she smiled at him.
"How is it that you are this pleased?" He inquired.
"The day turned out much better than I had expected." She responded.
"The Minister of Personnel will fall tomorrow at the hour of noon, once that happens you'll have full control of the Six Ministries and your political influence will be absolute, is that not it?" He inquired.
"It's good enough, however, I can't shake the feeling that eventually the Crown Prince chose to bow, it gives me some peace." Empress Yang remarked.
"Where is peace in this Palace and where is there a day you'll enjoy a single breath without any respite from anxiety?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"You seem bothered." Empress Yang pointed out.
"My intuition has never lied to me at least Your Highness but do you possibly think that this little gesture is sufficient enough to humble His Highness?" He inquired.
"You are right to think that it isn't." She said as she turned her head and looked at the window on her left, "The Grand Internal Prince will die tomorrow, this much he must be thinking, I could see the desperation in his eyes as he was begging me to protect his position." She said as she turned back to him, "do you care to know what else it was that I saw in him?" She inquired.
"It would please me Your Highness." Shi Miyuan responded.
"There was wrath, insatiable greed backed by anger and intense hatred, for a moment I could see him ripping me apart, after all, if it isn't vengeance that can turn a weak man strong, strong enough to survive and get even at the world what is?" She muttered while Shi Miyuan fell silent momentarily.
"You don't trust His Highness nonetheless just as much as I don't." He said.
"This is merely the first step, the first sip with which we could put the Courtiers in check." She said.
"What about the Crown Prince Your Highness, what are you going to do with him?" He asked but the latter not responding she preferred to keep quiet
Zhao Hong arriving outside the gates of the Imperial State Tribunal, the guards present opened for him and bowing their heads he walked through right up to the dungeons.
Descending within the darkness while walking cell to cell, slowly he studied their condition and noticed how greatly they mourned and grieved while others dead and the rest dying had been brutally wounded beyond recognition as he moved forward until he recognized from a distance Mu Lang.
He halted in his footsteps momentarily and the guards accompanying him seemed startled.
"Is there a problem Your Highness?" One of them inquired.
"The stench of blood is so strong within these walls." He remarked.
"It's pitiful Your Highness, a sinner must pay for his sins, if only they were subjects that were loyal, of only they had walked in the paths of righteousness, they would have become one day the meritorious subjects of this country, they would have become heroes of our distinguished future." He responded.
"What use is it to be a meritorious subject when after all, at the very end all I have seen are graveyards of many that have tried and only few that ever succeeded." he remarked as tears flowed from his eyes.
"I'm sorry Your Highness." One of the guards found himself speaking up abruptly.
"The only sorry one here should be me." He coldly responded as he continued down the hall and Mu Lang with still some bit of consciousness raised his head.
"Your Highness?" He said as he searched with his eyes for a trace of him but was unable to find any before alas, he took a deep breath and sighed.
"I must be hearing things," he said to himself, "wherever you are, I hope that you are doing well enough." He muttered under his breath.
Arriving outside the cell of his father the Grand Internal Prince the guards opening for him he made his entry while they granted him some privacy.
He studied his father, kneeling as he was dressed in thick linen bloodstained clothes, his hair unkempt falling all over his face he could still see wounds, scars and bruises some dried and a majority still fresh.
"Father?" He called him and the old man hearing his voice slowly raised his face to him.
It was then that he realised that the latter's eyes had been burnt and anger boiling in him the old man stretched his hand to reach for his face that he couldn't help but shed tears immediately.
"My Prince?" He mentioned.
"What have they done to you?" He asked himself.
"How unfortunate!" He exclaimed, "the years that are left in your life shall certainly be the loneliest and the most painful, knowing at least a father that raised you well enough, a man born a Prince for your sake died worse than a Commoner, he died a traitor of this our Greater Heavenly Empire." Zhao Kai muttered.
"It is all my fault." He said.
"Then get out of my face." He lashed out at him, "you were very weak and pathetic to this point, you couldn't save tens, you couldn't save hundreds of men that perished to Protect your Empty title, to protect you powerless bastard." Zhao Kai abused him.
"You are right, I was weak, half as smart as you were, too hasty in this strife, it cost me my dignity, it cost me my natal support and power." Zhao Hong said as he beat his chest.
"So what will you do from here, bite when the Empress orders you to do so, sit quietly and do nothing, bow every other day of your life and live like a loser drowning in remorse and cursing the day you were born?" He asked.
"As if?" Zhao Hong responded.
"The world belongs to the Zhao Clan, one day I am hopeful even in the Netherworld that it shall belong to you therefore I only ask but one thing from you, consider it my last will, my heartfelt desire, for my sake even if strife becomes meaningless." Zhao Kai said.
"What is it father?" He inquired from him.
"Please Crown Prince, even if you must tear off all your limbs do ascend the Imperial throne, kill the Empress and wreak my vengeance on the whole world." Zhao Kai responded.
He kept quiet slowly looking at his father.
"All the blood that has been shed on this day, its cry for vengeance will forever resound within my ears, I'll ascend the Imperial throne and become the ruler of this country, I shall see to it that whoever brought this upon you, upon my people, that I have their heads delivered as an offering before your graves, with these two bear hands of mine." He swore.
"I am tired, I want to sleep." Zhao Kai said.
"Please do father." Zhao Hong said, "Hong'er, Hong'er loves you." He mentioned and the old man slowly resting his head on his chest, momentarily tears flowed from the very place his eyes had once been in the form of blood which stained the young man's clothes.
Instantly, the entire room felt chilly and there and then holding his father's cheek did the young man realised that the man who had raised him was no more.
Emperor Ningzong seated in his Chambers looked at the window on his right-hand side lost in his thoughts when Consort Cao's presence was announced.
"Let her in." He agreed to her entry and the doors being opened she walked right into his presence.
"Your Imperial Majesty." She honoured him while bowing her head.
"You ingested poison Your Grace, how is it that you are already this proactive?" He asked.
"The Empress commands the harem and the Inner Court as the most senior secondary wife it is ok not right that I assist her with the duties that her office commands." She responded.
"Are you certain you are healthy?" He asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty." She responded.
"Very well then." Emperor Ningzong said, "you asked to see me and I can't help but think that perhaps there is something that greatly bothers you." He mentioned.
"Of course Your Majesty, you must be aware that there are rumours that were spreading around claiming that the Imperial Princess was involved in an incestuous relationship with her brother the Crown Prince." She responded.
"A lot has happened recently, and now that things appear to have settled down I am sure that the rumour will ultimately subside therefore it shouldn't get you worked out." Emperor Ningzong said.
"It may seem something minor Your Majesty but I am an Imperial mother that is also concerned for the reputation of not only my daughter as the eldest Princess but also the reputation of the Imperial family." Consort Cao responded.
"What is it that you want from me then?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"The Imperial Princess is old enough Your Majesty, I am sure that this ridiculous blasphemy against her name and the Imperial family will come to an end once she gets married and leaves the Palace." Consort Cao responded.
"I may be the Ruler of Our Greater Heavenly Empire but the Empress is the Ruler of the harem and the Inner Court, my interference in its activities is something restricted by customary law unless necessary." Emperor Ningzong said.
"However Your Majesty's blessing is equally significant in this choice." Consort Cao said.
"You can talk to the Empress and have her help you choose a worthy spouse for your daughter." Emperor Ningzong said.
"Except that I can't be too certain that Her Highness will take into consideration my opinion as I seem to have found myself one I believe to be a suitable spouse for my daughter." Consort Cao said, "up till now Her Highness would only worry about another way to strengthen her power and influence but I don't want my daughter to end up becoming someone else's pawn in the political game that I ask Your Majesty's help." She insisted.
Empress Yang seated in her Chambers Beiyuan walked up in front of her.
"Reporting to Your Highness, His Highness the Grand Internal Prince has passed on." He notified her.
"How is the Crown Prince?" She inquired.
"He was present and the Grand Internal Prince having died in his arms left him distraught that he returned to the East Palace and chose to confine himself there." Beiyuan reported.
"It couldn't have been easy, it very much reminds me of the time that I saw my mother dying right in front of me, by then as a young girl every breath I took was out of absolute difficulty until I decided that I would prey on the hatred in my heart and wreak vengeance on the people that brought it upon my family." She remarked.
"You are only trying to survive Your Highness." Beiyuan consoled her.
"If only I could use this much power I have gained to heal the people of this land, even if I had to rot in the darkest depths of hell I wouldn't mind it." She muttered.
"Things will only get more hectic tomorrow, after all, the rest of the ring leaders, the Crown Prince's closest confidants will meet the same fate they hoped to mete out of us." Beiyuan said.
"I hope His Highness takes this for a good lesson." The Empress remarked when all of a sudden Manyin announced her presence from outside interrupting their conversation.
"Come in." The Empress responded and the young woman instantly rushed up to her presence where she bowed her head to offer her salutation.
"Your Highness, there's some bit of strange news coming in from the Grand Palace." She said.
"What's the matter?" Empress Yang inquired.
"Upon Consort Cao's plea to His Majesty, he has issued a declaration of the Imperial Princess' marriage.
"What!" Empress Yang inquired.
"Yes Your Highness." Manyin confirmed.
"His Majesty the Emperor." Eunuch Deng announced and at once the doors of the room being flung open he moved up to his wife who stood up from her seat and bowed her head to him.
"Your Majesty." She greeted him.
"My Empress." He responded staring intensely at her before the two exchanged their seats.
"I just heard that Your Majesty issued a declaration of the Imperial Princess' marriage." She said.
"Yes." Emperor Ningzong responded.
"I see." She remarked.
"Do you have a problem with it?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"Your Majesty seems to have diminished your confidence in my capabilities, an Imperial marriage without my own knowledge leaves me displeased." She responded.
"I best understand that Your Highness must have been exhausted with everything that transpired in the Palace of late, not to mention the fact that you didn't seem to be in the best spirits as well, you can rest assured that I understand very well the type of man my one and only daughter is to get married to." He pointed out.
"This isn't a matter of my capabilities and incapabilities, as it is something that requires the attention of the Inner Court which is headed by me Your Majesty wouldn't best consider the words of a Consort who knows not well enough the mechanics of an Imperial marriage." Empress Yang insisted.
"Your Highness seemed to concern yourself with State Affairs which too wasn't a problem on your side." Emperor Ningzong reminded her.
"Then are you suggesting that we switch roles Your Majesty?" Empress Yang asked him.
"I have seen the marriages you have designed Your Highness and I did for a moment fear that it would be a distortion to my daughter's happiness, if by the mechanics of an Imperial marriage you imply gaining more power I can't dare to transfer any more of it from the Imperial Clan after all it was Heaven's will that its Mandate be bestowed upon the Zhao Clan." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"Then if it is Your Majesty's will I will refrain from speaking up in protest, as it so happens it must be that you desire much more than I do that Her Highness be happy I will comply." She suddenly said.
"I am not certain that it was as sincere as it should be." Emperor Ningzong muttered.
"One must always be careful especially an Emperor when it comes to choosing his in-laws, after all, if one family can ultimately become strong enough to grant more power to the throne then it can also become strong enough to force it to yield it back to them." Empress Yang responded.
"And you seem to have considered this?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"At the very least when keeping other clans in check allow them to share in power and glory and keep them strong enough to contain each other." Empress Yang responded.
"Don't worry my Empress, I shall certainly keep your words in my heart." Emperor Ningzong asserted.
Consort Cao seated in her chamber with her daughter in front of her looked at a draft of the Imperial declaration silently as Linxiang made her way through the doors.
"Your Highness, Your Grace." She honoured them while Consort Cao lowered the Rescript onto her table.
"Any word from the Central Palace?" She asked.
"His Majesty sought out the Empress and she seemed to embrace the idea nonetheless." Linxiang responded.
"As an Imperial Declaration had already been issued by His Majesty she must have realised that it can not be reversed, the officials on the other hand have no right to interfere seeing that this is a matter of the Inner Court." Consort Cao responded.
"Feng Ba requested to have an audience with you." She reported.
"I'll see him later, I wish to have a word with my daughter in private." Consort Cao said.
"I'll take my leave." Linxiang responded as she withdrew from the room leaving the two together as the Imperial Princess faced her mother.
"Why?" She inquired.
"I have a hard time believing that you of all people are the one asking me that question." Consort Cao mentioned, "considering what happened in relation to the Crown Prince I am unwilling to risk your safety as I am certain that by now you must be well aware the type of person the Empress is." She insisted.
"Even then mother, how certain are you that the man to whom you intend to offer my hand is capable of protecting me?" Princess Yuping asked.
"He is a young man who is wealthy and from a respectable aristocratic family, he is reserved from politics and isn't someone that the Empress would consider a political threat at least, besides, if he becomes a member of the Dynasty, as the Grand Internal Prince Consort, you can be assured of the future support of his kin which will make it very difficult for the Empress to repress you." Consort Cao responded.
"But what about you mother, if I leave the Palace, what happens to you thereafter?" She inquired.
"I don't have that much time left to live, I am yet to settle the score between the Empress and myself over your brother's death, even if at the end I must die, I shall gladly be very happy to know that I left you behind with an aide who is capable of protecting you." Consort Cao responded.
"Alright Mother, if you deem him worthy enough then to this I shall hold no objections." Princess Yuping remarked as she smiled at her.
Feng Ba in his own study Hua Jin knelt in front of him.
"Consort Cao agreed to the meeting." He reported.
"Our move seems to have been very effective." He remarked.
"I wish to congratulate you in advance Milord." Hua Jin said.
"Not so so, I am afraid that now the struggle shall become more intense." Feng Ba mentioned.
"Once you become a member of the Dynasty Your Excellency then it shall be much easier for us to rally political support." Hua Jin said.
"Yes." Feng Ba seemed to agree and taking a deep breath he sighed.
Upon the dawning and of the next day, the Empress standing in her Chambers was dressed with Manyin and Xiaoyang's help in a set of phoenix robes, her hair adorned with precious ornaments she looked at her reflection in the mirror, herself ageing but still looking beautiful she couldn't help it but admire herself.
"You look splendid Your Highness." Manyin remarked.
"The Former Minister of Personnel along with many more of his cohorts will be executed very soon in my presence therefore it is only right that I retain the dignity of an Empress." She responded.
" Everyone will certainly come to fear you Your Highness." Xiaoyang remarked.
"How is the Crown Prince?" She asked.
"I heard word from the East Palace that he barely ate anything yesterday and locked himself within his room, he wasn't feeling well therefore it is much more likely that he might not be present to witness the execution ceremony." Manyin reported.
"Don't you think that it is a bit too absurd, after all, as it so happens that the Crown Prince of this country was linked to the charge of treason and found guiltless by the Imperial State Tribunal since evidence of his victimization sufficed he should be urged to be present at the ceremony whatsoever the case may be to set the people at ease and show the stability of the Imperial family?" Empress Yang muttered.
"I'll see to it that Your Highness' message is reliably relayed." Manyin said as she kowtowed to him.
"One more thing." Empress Yang pointed out.
"What is it Your Highness?" Manyin inquired.
"The Imperial Princess is yet to get married, I have barely been informed about her future husband, ask Beiyuan to arrange some details and information for me concerning him and also prepare for me to see the former Minister of Personnel." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Manyin responded as she withdrew from the room immediately.
Consort Cao equally seated in her Chambers Feng Ba appeared before him and kowtowed to offer his respects.
"It is you my wicked son-in-law." She said.
"Yes Your Grace." He responded.
"You requested to have an audience with me, pardon me if I reacted a bit too late but you of all people best understand the last couple of days within the Palace haven't been easy." She remarked.
"Surely, seeing that word of the Crown Prince's deposition sufficed from the Courtiers' lips how is it that Your Grace could not worry?" Feng Ba said.
"I am guessing that you unlike me were well aware that the Empress was not going to have the Crown Prince deposed." Consort Cao professed.
"He was her blessing after all and she must remain the loving mother in the eyes of the people regardless of her legal don't behaviour yet one would find that it was never the main objective in the first place, not even the second to begin with." Feng Ba asserted.
"If it is so then would you care to tell me what was?" Consort Cao asked.
"Initially once people get used enough to someone they can even abandon their loyalties, ever since the Crown Prince married the Empress' niece he thought that he might have found a way to divide the Empress' people and win a majority to his side which must have induced the Empress to retaliate in such a brutal way." Feng Ba responded.
"Of course, by having all his strong supporters and all those involved in the phantom coup purged she will not only be advertising the extent to which her power can be wielded, having the Crown Prince bow to her and even be present at the execution is to show those doubting her capabilities that the Crown Prince they sought to league with can do nothing at all to benefit them except saving himself." Consort Cao finally seemed to understand the situation.
"Considering everything that has happened now it won't be easy on our part once I become a member of the Dynasty and if the Empress wills it she'll see to it that she leaves no stone unturned until she unravels my background even personal details that I best prefer to keep buried." Feng Ba confessed.
"But you seem to be thinking about something else after all I trust that you didn't turn up in front of me to ask for my daughter's hand in marriage unless you were fully prepared." Consort Cao muttered.
"I fear that it might be to Your Grace's dislike however I am determined to move forward with my resolution." Feng Ba said.
"It might be to my dislike!" Consort Cao exclaimed.
"I can by no means whatever contact the Crown Prince now that he is a puppet piece on the Empress' chessboard, however, if I wish to gain power in the Imperial Court even by becoming a member of the Dynasty I must stand beside the woman you hate, beside your mortal enemy." He responded.
"Of course your mere presence will only induce more of her suspicion and aren't you worried that your smartness will only give you off if you're not careful?" Consort Cao asked.
"There's one of two possibilities, the first being that she'll value my talent and the second being that she'll feel threatened by it." Feng Ba responded.
"And I am certain the first is more desirable however I can't bring myself to not question how is it that you expect to make her consider it a possibility?" She asked him as she leaned over the table.
"What Her Highness dreads more than anything is the mismanagement of political power, "I intend to put His Majesty, the Crown Prince and Your Highness in check." Feng Ba responded and hearing this Consort Cao smiled at herself ghastly.
"You really are smart, my cunning, my wicked son-in-law." She remarked as the young man standing up before her he bowed his head.
Emperor Ningzong standing on the balcony that overlooked the Central Palace, Lan He suddenly approached him with a couple of more elite guards.
"Your Majesty." He greeted him bowing his head as the latter turned around and looked at him.
"What is it?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"Everything has been fully prepared and all that is left is your presence as the hour of noon is near." He reported.
"I see," Emperor Ningzong mentioned, "will the Crown Prince be present?" He asked.
"He didn't feel well ever since the passing of the Grand Internal Prince, However, I was reliably informed that the Empress relayed a message to him urging him to at least make an appearance for his own sake as given the fact that he was linked to the failed coup it is a way of redeeming himself in front of the people and also protecting him from future censure, especially by the neo-Confucians and Imperial scholars." He responded.
"She seems to be making progress every day with her governance skills." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"Is there something you wish to do about it Your Majesty?" Lan He asked.
"Don't worry, for her sake at least I shall live long enough." Emperor Ningzong responded as he smiled at himself heartily.
Ye Shi seated inside his cell bound by a couple of chains quietly looked at his scarred hands.
The darkness and silence driving him crazy with every second that went by he couldn't help but feel that everything was out of place, for a moment remorseful he permitted himself to shed a tear from sorrow before an intense noise sufficed.
"Her Highness the Empress." One of the guards announced and raising his head to look at the entrance of the cell he saw the old woman standing outside.
"Open it." She ordered and immediately the guards complied as she made her entrance into the dark space after which she halted right in front of him.
"Your Highness!" He exclaimed.
"How is it that once a man that exercised great power to call himself one of the most influential statesmen of this country wound up in this cramped up cell branded a sinner of the Dynasty?" She asked.
"You tell me Your Highness, until now I underestimated myself and just realised that perhaps you dreaded me much more than I imagined." He muttered.
"Had it not been the case though, I wish to know myself, would you have rebelled still had circumstances been any different?" Empress Yang inquired.
"Just as we supplanted Han Touzhou, just as we dragged down his old supporters, I would have rebelled gladly and entirely, I would have dragged you down Your Highness." Ye Shi responded.
"A subject that succeeds once at being a rebel is a vassal of merit, twice they become a traitor, dragging down His Majesty along with his Empress that is rebellion therefore, would you have weathered that distortion of your legacy in the annals of our history?" She inquired.
"With time a traitor's name can become long forgotten, however even when a hero is left behind in the hearts of the people who dare to understand how hard to make such a name must have been?" He inquired.
"You should have known better than anyone else that very many people tried to supplant me every day, very many people tried to challenge my power yet nonetheless none of their remains ever found peace even in death, their blood shed in vain that not even their names were remembered even God himself vested in me the mandate to govern this domain, I cried and bled and nearly died for it." Empress Yang professed.
"And what are you trying to prove Your Highness?" Ye Shi asked.
"The will of fate is upon me for you men couldn't even fathom that a woman could be this treacherous, the ones who bestowed all power to the Empress who is me are you very men." Empress Yang responded.
"And how much longer do you expect you shall survive, how invincible do you believe yourself to be or is it your firm belief that there shall never be someone in this whole world who is capable to contend with your might?" Ye Shi asked.
"Even if fire rains from the sky, I will take all the power which this country bequeathed to me and even if I must die it shall be as the Ruler of this country." Empress Yang swore.
"It is time Your Highness." Beiyuan notified her from outside the cell.
"Go in peace." Empress Yang said to the old man as she turned around and walked out of the dungeons.
Emperor Ningzong and the Crown Prince met at the stage that had been arranged for them and honouring each other they kowtowed calmly as they took their respective seats with the Emperor in their midst.
"Bring in the criminals." Shi Miyuan the Imperial Grand Chancellor ordered and at that very instant being dragged through the wooden gates of the Dungeons, the former Minister of Personnel Ye Shi at the forefront they were forced onto their knees within the bloody square.
The sky darkening above them while the wind only became more and more violent as it howled, the bowls of poison were later brought in by a couple of lady Investigators themselves and placed onto the small fourteen tables that had been arranged in advance for the ring leaders of the coup.
Zhao Hong's eyes momentarily wandering all over with fear he couldn't bring himself at ease as he searched for Mu Lang uneager to see him.
It was then that he noticed along with the Empress herself that the fourteenth criminal and head of the Crown Prince's guards was absent at the scene that she angrily clenched her fists.
"Fourteen criminals have been served, how is it that only thirteen of them are present?" She suddenly asked.
"Forgive us Your Highness." The Head of the Imperial State Tribunal's guards said, "it is rather unfortunate but the Criminal Mu Lang passed on a couple of hours earlier in the day." He reported.
"There's no need to fuss about it now that it is clear." Emperor Ningzong said and Zhao Hong deeply struck within tried to hold in the pain that he was feeling upon hearing the news as he permitted his mind to drift away into some of the memories that the two had.
It only felt like the day before when the two young men moved into the Palace, how he had temporarily suspended the search for his parents in his altercation with the Empress eventually his gaze descended onto the others that were looking up to him.
"It is time." Shi Miyuan notified everyone else and at once the Prisoners led by Ye Shi with dignity held up the bowls of poison that had been offered to them, there without much hesitation but some in tears holding them onto their lips they swallowed the poison whole.
Returning the bowls to the small tables instantly they started bleeding from their mouths and noses and in the most cruel twist of fate only a couple of minutes later with hardly any kicking they fell onto the ground dead.
The Crown Prince sobbed instantly and the Empress noticing she spoke up.
"Keep your head high my Crown Prince, the Crown has never been a burden too easy to bear, quite a number of people will come into your life with motives both pure and impure, I only wish that you know that the one sentence a traitor can never escape is death, however high and honourable they may be." She muttered as the Emperor kept quiet.
The execution ceremony having ended, the members of the Imperial family altogether stepped down from the platform that had been arranged for them as a series of coroners filled the place carrying away some of the corpses around and within the dungeons.
Approaching the gates both the Crown Prince and Empress kowtowed to the Emperor who took the lead and moved out leaving the mother alone with her son.
"I'll take my leave as well mother." Zhao Hong said and nodding to him with approval the young man instantly moved away from her presence leaving her alone with Beiyuan and her retinue.
"I am not sure that the Crown Prince is one that will heed your commands Your Highness." Beiyuan spoke up.
"One must first break to learn to survive." Empress Yang remarked, " regardless of how many times he tries to subdue me in this country, twice or thrice I shall get up and repress him with my power over and over again until he learns to give in to me." She responded.
"Yes Your Highness." Beiyuan said when the Empress looking at a distance she noticed one of the coroners pulling a corpse from the dungeons suddenly that her gaze froze in his direction as Manyin seemed to notice.
"What's wrong Your Highness?" She inquired while Beiyuan's eyes travelled into the direction of her gaze finally landing onto the strange man.
"Him." She responded.
"What about him?" Beiyuan asked.
"He seems old just like most of the coroners in this place yet strangely enough judging from his physique and movement I am certain that he is a warrior." Empress Yang responded.
"Don't bother yourself with him Your Highness." Beiyuan said.
"Life must be difficult for him." Xiaoyang asserted.
"One doesn't just simply move out of the military at least if he is skillful enough to live a miserable and lowly life, at least I can't help but wonder, how is it that he could have ended up this way?" She mentioned.
"If it pleases Your Highness I'll send some men over to look into him." Beiyuan said.
"Please do." Empress Yang responded as he slowly watched the strange man vanishing from sight and her heart couldn't help but have a very strange feeling of uneasiness that was preying off her.
Crown Prince Zhao Hong after returning into his Chambers he was seated down while listening to a young girl that was playing the lute for him.
He was drinking a lot of liquor which had filled his table and every breath seemingly more and more difficult he couldn't restrain himself from thinking about all the tragedies he'd been through in the previous couple of days.
"Mu Lang," he suddenly said to himself, "Mu Lang you boy." He persisted while beating his chest as the lute playing girl still listening she concentrated nonetheless on her music.
"Why did I bring you into the Palace in the first place, at least, had I known that things would end up like this, that things would end up with you dying for me, I never would have kept you close in the first place." He spoke remorsefully as he poured himself another cup of liquor filled to the brim and then drank it all that his father's last words came to him.
"Please Crown Prince, even if you must tear off all your limbs do ascend the Imperial throne, kill the Empress and wreck my vengeance on the whole world." He'd begged him and tears flowing through his eyes out of so much anger he threw his whole table down and broke everything that the lute playing girl startled she stood up instantly.
"Your Highness?" She said kowtowing to him.
"Get out." He ordered and without hesitation the young girl instantly made her exit leaving the Crown Prince alone within the darkness.
"Don't worry father," he said to himself, "even if I must tear off all my limbs I will ascend the Imperial dragon throne, I shall kill the Empress with my own two hands and banish Shi Miyuan along with his supporters further South as slaves, I shall wreak your vengeance upon the entire world." He swore while clenching his fists furiously.
He knew too little that in the hallway right outside there the lute-playing girl stood and having heard those sharp words flying from his mouth she couldn't help but hold her mouth as she stealthily made her exit from the grandiose facility.