The Courtiers waiting outside the Imperial residence, the doors were finally opened for them by Lan He along with a couple of the Emperor's elite Palace guards.
They were ushered into a small audience Chamber where they found the Emperor seated on a small throne with Eunuch Deng standing by his side along with Peng Zishou.
"Your Majesty." Shi Miyuan led the officials in paying their respects to him as he raised his head and looked at them as well.
"I have heard your plea along with the cries of my people." He said.
"Your Majesty........" Shi Miyuan speaking up he was interrupted.
"Consort Cao will vacate the Inner Court and will be stripped of her Consort status therefore the Empress will return to the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Princess will be allowed to wed her husband and I approve that based on the Imperial Court's decision, a Crown Prince's Cohort from the Imperial Clan will be selected." He said.
"Your Highness is sagacious." Shi Miyuan led the others in unison.
"But...." He spoke up while they each fell silent as they awaited his final words.
"What is it Your Majesty?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"The Imperial Princess is getting married to someone from the Lin Clan which happens to have fallen victim to the great purge for having attempted treason, Consort Cao will vacate the Inner Court on condition that the Imperial Court joins me to posthumously reconsider the meritorious achievements of those traitors at least." He responded.
"Your Majesty, if it is your wish then who are we to say no?" Shi Miyuan appeared to agree with the rest of the officials behind him.
"Very well then." Emperor Ningzong said and smiling at him the latter returned his gesture with too much calmness.
The sky darkening with nimbus clouds hovering over the place, the Courtiers faced the audience chamber earnestly as its doors were instantly flung open.
Through them, a familiar silhouette, the Imperial Grand Chancellor Shi Miyuan stepped out, holding in his hands a golden scroll.
He halted right in front of the world, his feelings inexpressible while they all were awed, a silence prevailed where the Courtiers' plea had ceased, shortly afterwards, each of them curiously waiting, Shi Miyuan broke the silence.
"His Majesty the Emperor's Edict." He announced and at once every one of the officials situated outside went onto their knees and they bowed their heads as Shi Miyuan unfolded the Imperial Scroll.
"HER GRACE THE IMPERIAL CONSORT OF THE CAO CLAN IS HEREBY CHARGED WITH ILL CONTEMPT FOR HAVING HARBOURED SELFISH AMBITIONS AMD WAS FOUND GUILTY, AS A WOMAN OF HIS MAJESTY THAT DISREGARDS THE EMPRESS' POSITION AND BREACHES DECORUM THEREFORE HUMILIATING BOTH THE IMPERIAL FAMILY AND THE INNER COURT, AS THE HIGH AND MIGHTY SOVEREIGN OF THIS OUR GREATER HEAVENLY EMPIRE, I PASS MY VERDICT IN FAVOUR OF THE EMPRESS WHO IN HER KINDEST NATURE HAS FALLEN VICTIM TO HER INSIDIOUS POLITICAL SCHEME, SHE IS HEREBY DEPOSED TO THE RANK OF A COMMONER AND WILL BE BANISHED FROM IMPERIAL PRECINCTS WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT NEVER TO RETURN ON WHATEVER GROUNDS, THIS IS MY WILL, MY WILL WHICH IS YOUR LAW." He read.
"Long Live Your Majesty, Your Majesty is sage." The Courtiers said in unison as they bowed their heads in the direction of the audience hall while Shi Miyuan folded the scroll and sighed confidently with relief.
Emperor Ningzong inside the hall hearing their unanimous praise was more uncomfortable than happy and overwhelmed with rage but unwilling to vent it out he clenched his fists while Eunuch Deng watched.
"Is there anything wrong Your Majesty?" He asked.
"What type of person do those men take me for?" He asked him, "they all pretend to be loyal before me and the whole world yet their hearts must be exploding with excitement." He added.
"Your Majesty is the Ruler of our Greater Heavenly Empire, you have been annointed by the Heavens, you have the power to stand up to the world and kill them all if they seem like a hamper to your influence, what is stopping you from doing so?" Eunuch Deng asked when the former finding the question quite challenging he hesitated before he spoke up.
"Maybe because it isn't my nature." He said.
"But a monarch must make even the most ruthless decisions for the sake of the State." Eunuch Deng opposed.
"As I am already old and my hair has started turning grey it's better to just let it be." He muttered.
"Then carry that guilt Your Majesty, embrace their protection, yield to their plea and the generations to come will call you a good Sovereign, it's much better than being deposed, much better than being ousted from power, after all, if it comes to that, everything that you have done even for the greater good, it might be perverted into evil." He said.
Consort Cao in her Chambers she was being undressed by her ladies in waiting.
"Your Grace." They cried to her removing her jewelry and replacing her silk garments with a long plain white cotton hanfu.
"Are you done?" She asked Linxiang who was trying hard to hold in her tears.
"Yes, Your Grace." She responded.
"Let's go." She muttered and turning around, she slowly stepped outside the doors of her chamber where she found Beiyuan waiting for her.
"This way Your Grace." He said as he led the way forward through the hallway, moving towards the main exit of the building where they negotiated a corner and descended the stairs taking the path through the back Palace.
It was there that they were intercepted by the Empress and her retinue which was travelling from the opposite side of the walkway forcing them to halt.
Deposed Consort Cao recognizing the Empress bowed her head to her while the latter got close enough.
"I see you finally made up your mind." She said.
"I did as you asked Your Highness." She responded.
"I expected some resistance from you honestly, now that you gave in to me I can't help but be curious why." She mentioned.
"Have I ever told you the reason why I wanted to become the Empress?" She asked.
"To protect His Majesty?" She responded.
"Yes." Deposed Consort Cao affirmed.
"You must have really loved him." Empress Yang remarked.
"And I still love him dearly, I love him much more than anything else, I loved him to the point of giving up our sworn sisterhood as I knew that even if he loved you so much, those feelings were merely too poisonous, poisonous to the point that I believed your very existence compromised his own, it drove me to get a knife and drive it right into your abdomen, drove me to kill your children to pave a way for my own, it drove me to desire more power every day that dawned so that I could ably contend with your might, so that I could rise to your position even if I had to lose myself understanding that he'd never have me take your place in his heart." Deposed Consort Cao lashed out at her.
"And this is how it ended for you, a deposed Consort, so far away from her only daughter, your child died so tragically and every minute of every hour, of every day in the Palace you lived suffocating from the loneliness as the darkness slowly drove you mad." Empress Yang mentioned.
"But it won't end with me leaving the Palace Your Highness." The Deposed Consort Cao assured her.
"That I am well aware." She responded.
"Then you must be ready Your Highness, you are not invincible and neither are you immortal." She said.
"But who will kill me?" She asked.
"Certainly not the heavens however one thing is certain, there shall always be someone with that destiny, someone whose very intelligence and wit surpasses yours." She responded.
"I'd worry more about myself if I were you, life outside the Palace at your age is something that won't be easy." Empress Yang assured her.
"Even if it is beyond the walls of this Palace I shall certainly survive Your Highness, I'll survive for that day, the day when your tears will turn into blood and the day that the sun will turn into darkness." The Deposed Consort said as she bowed her head to her before she continued her way through the gates of the Palace.
The Empress raising her head looked at the dark sky somewhat bothered.
"Are you alright Your Highness?" Xiaoyang inquired from her.
"A storm is coming." She responded.
"We'd better go inside Your Highness, it won't be good for your health." Manyin insisted.
"Nothing good ever comes from running away, I want to feel it, once more." The Empress replied.
The rain starting to fall slowly it became more and more intense.
Yu Tianxi along with a retainer taken by surprise took shelter under a bridge as they watched the heavy downpour.
"How come it's this intense?" The young man asked him.
"It's a very good thing, it had taken a while." Yu Tianxi responded as his eyes travelled through the light fog that was starting to descend and he beheld two silhouettes, one taller than the other moving closer.
Once they had passed through the mist it turned out to be a youthful man along with a boy who appeared to be in his early teens and moving towards the end of the bridge they took shelter there as well.
"You are all wet Yurui," The older, Mu Lang said as he tried to dry his face with his hanfu.
"I hadn't eaten the candid haws when you were away, no matter how hard I tried, it didn't taste the same as it used to when you were around brother." Yurui the young boy muttered.
"Here I am now my dear, I'm not going anywhere." Mu Lang said.
"Can you promise me that you won't go anywhere?" Yurui asked him raising his pinky while Mu Lang looking upon him he smiled as he lowered his pinky as well and swore to him.
"I promise, I'll never leave you again Yurui, I'll look after you and Uncle Shen, I'll watch you grow into a very strong and brave man, I'll make sure I protect you from the dark and unwise world." He said as he hugged him.
"I have the best brother in the world." Yurui said as he smiled heartily and Yu Tianxi looking at Mu Lang's face noticed that the older wasn't sincerely happy.
"You're a very good young man." He suddenly spoke up and Mu Lang raised his head and looked at him.
"You don't know me, how can you tell?" He asked.
"Your brother must love you dearly and being a big brother is not so easy." Yu Tianxi responded.
"Surviving is what isn't easy." Mu Lang appeared to rectify him.
"Why do you say so?" Yu Tianxi asked.
"I served once a man I believed to be the best master I ever chose to have in the whole world, he cared even for the least of people that being close to him made me wish that I was just like him." Mu Lang said.
"Did your wish change?" Yu Tianxi asked.
"So many things came between us." Mu Lang responded, "I worry that he might be lonely, I worry that his nights are sleepless, eating in a gilded cage must be hard when he has to worry for his safety without trusting anyone, if he walked out, the rain must have soaked him because he is good at taking care of other people but very poor at taking care of himself." Mu Lang responded.
"Seeing that you know his character too well, the both of you must have had an intimate relationship." Yu Tianxi remarked.
"He was my master but he cared for me like a brother, like his bosom friend, it's too bad that even though I was willing to die protecting him, now only by being distant, only by keeping away from him can I keep him safe." Mu Lang asserted.
"I see." Yu Tianxi muttered.
"But why are you even listening to what I am saying, you should care less as it isn't your business, besides I think I know most people in this populous city, however, I don't think you are from around here." He said.
"I was just passing by, I'm running an errand for someone I respect, someone like a mentor and a brother to me." He responded.
"Judging from your accent, and the way you are dressed, you are humble but not an average person, you sound like someone from the Capital." He said.
"You can tell coming from this humble part of town?" Yu Tianxi inquired.
"I have been around people from the capital much of recent." Mu Lang responded.
"Then you could be of help to me," Yu Tianxi said.
"What do you want from this humble place?" Mu Lang asked.
"I am looking for the Late Commandery Prince Zhao Xilu's residence, do you happen to know where it is?" Yu Tianxi asked.
"That's our home." Yurui suddenly spoke up interrupting their conversation.
"Is that so?" Yu Tianxi asked.
"Yes Sir." Yurui responded.
"Stop." Mu Lang said to his brother who quietened down immediately as he turned to Yu Tianxi.
"What do you want from us?" He asked.
"The Commandery Prince had a very calm and reserved son, judging from your nature, you must be him, you must be Zhao Yuju." He muttered.
"You're a stranger, I have no business with strangers." Mu Lang protested.
"We should be slightly more than that given the fact that you have opened up to me." Yu Tianxi insisted.
"You'll forgive my impertinence Sir, let's leave it at this, as it happens that as my father's natural successor during his absence I am responsible for his household, there's nothing there that would require your interest so I ask you to please stay away from us." Mu Lang said.
"You do not even know who I am." Yu Tianxi said.
"And I deliberately don't wish to know you." Mu Lang said as he raised his eyes and looked at him, "anyone interested in my ancestry would do so for purely political reasons to which I am not just reluctant to indulge myself but I am abhorrent." He said and bowing his head he held his brother's hand and holding onto his parasol, he instantly walked away.
"Let's go." Yu Tianxi muttered.
"Where to Milord?" His retainer inquired.
"Let's head back to the Imperial Grand Chancellor." He responded.
"What about the Commandery Prince Zhao Xilu's residence?" The young man inquired.
"I have already seen what I needed to see." Yu Tianxi responded as he smiled at himself ghastly.
Empress Yang seated in her Chambers Eunuch Deng moved in up to her presence where he bowed his head.
"Your Highness." He greeted her.
"Superintendent Deng." She responded.
"I wish to relay a message from His Majesty." He said.
"Go ahead." She permitted him.
"Consort Cao has already vacated the Inner Court as required by the Courtiers and citizens, His Majesty's presence in the Capital is equally essential, as such he wishes to return to the Imperial Palace so that we may proceed with the Imperial Princess' marriage." He responded.
"I see." Empress Yang mentioned, "I'd like to ask for one more day, I have barely enjoyed my stay in the Taiping Palace and there's yet something else that requires my attention equally." She responded.
"I'll relay your words to His Majesty." Eunuch Deng said.
"Please do." Empress Yang responded smiling at him heartily that the latter withdrawing from her presence, Manyin walked in.
"Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head to her.
"Have you heard from the Imperial Grand Chancellor?" She inquired.
"We are yet to." Manyin responded.
"Wait earnestly." She ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness." Manyin responded but still curious she voiced out her concern.
"If I may Your Highness, is there something that you expect from His Excellency?" She asked.
"Just a simple favour I asked him to do for me, you'll know in due time." She responded.
"If it is Your Highness' wish." Manyin muttered.
"How far with Bo An's treatment?" She inquired.
"We've barely received word from the capital." Manyin responded.
"Once he recovers I'll need him by my side." She said, "it'll help me make up for the things that happened to him, the pain and aching he was through all those years." She uttered.
"Certainly." Manyin agreed.
"What did she say?" Emperor Ningzong asked as he stared at the brazier that was burning in front of him while warming his hands.
"Her Highness asked for one more day." Eunuch Deng responded, "she still wishes to enjoy the environment of the Taiping Palace." He asserted.
"Have the Imperial Palace prepare ahead for our reception the day after tomorrow." He ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng responded as he stepped out of the room and on the other hand, Lan He walked in.
"Your Majesty." He said bowing his head to him.
"Did you do as I asked?" He inquired.
"Rest assured Your Majesty, we'll keep watch of the Courtiers' moves from now on and we'll know whatever they are up to." He responded.
"What about the Empress?" He asked.
"We shall do just as much." Lan He responded.
"She's naturally a very cautious person, therefore every step you'll take you'll certainly need to be more cautious than she is, I don't have much time left in the world that is why I wish to at least give her some peace." He muttered under his breath.
"Don't worry Your Majesty, I won't let you down." He swore while the Emperor seemingly calm, he stared into the heart of the flames that were burning in front of him.
Shi Miyuan standing on top of a small pavilion that overlooked the gardens of his small villa Dong Hua approached him as he watched the mild drizzle of the downpour that was slowly dying down.
"Your Excellency, the Vice Minister of Rites is kindly requesting for an audience with you." He notified him.
"Let him in." Shi Miyuan responded and the latter withdrawing momentarily he returned with the young man right behind him.
"Greetings, Your Excellency." Yu Tianxi greeted him
"Did you do as I had asked?" He inquired and Yu Tianxi looking at Dong Hua he stepped away from the two while they each turned and watched the rain.
"You'd be very much surprised that the young man found me instead." Yu Tianxi responded.
"Need I ask how it was?" He asked.
"It was a good thing." Yu Tianxi replied.
"What are your thoughts about him?" Shi Miyuan wished to know.
"He is a fine young man, he cherishes personal affections, a loving brother, cautious, caring one would say that his benevolence, reasonability, and peacefulness are the makings of a good ruler." Yu Tianxi responded.
"I was hoping you'd say hot-headed, I was hoping you'd say he isn't the type to be easily pacified." Shi Miyuan mentioned.
"You must have heard about his fearless nature then." Yu Tianxi pointed out.
"The people's perception of him is equally relevant, besides when cultivating political allies it is very vital to put into consideration the personal feelings of the majority that are served within this state." Shi Miyuan remarked.
"What do you think Your Excellency?" Yu Tianxi asked, "as I was pleased with him, as I believe he is the right person for this job, as I believe the Empress did not err in her choice, can he serve our cause?" He wished to know.
"Did he seem concerned?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"With the capital, he of all people was most resentful of the idea of being affiliated with those from it especially individuals who belong to the political circle." Yu Tianxi said.
"I see, I'll get back to you briefly as I need to relay this to the Empress and see what she thinks." Shi Miyuan muttered.
"Very well then Your Excellency, if it pleases you allow me to take my leave." He said while kowtowing to him and Shi Miyuan nodding his head in approval, he immediately walked away from him.
Mu Lang in his residence caressed his little brother's head while the young one peacefully slept underneath his warm covers.
In his silence, while he was immersed in his thoughts, an old man who appeared to be roughly in his sixties made his entrance into the room carrying in his hands a small tray.
"Milord." He said bowing his head to him, "you haven't had anything since morning and your grandmother asked me to bring over some chicken soup." He said as he put it on the table.
"Thank you Uncle Shen." He said.
"You needn't thank me Milord, I seem to notice that there's something greatly bothering you these days." Uncle Shen muttered.
"Someone." He responded.
"A friend you met in the Capital?" He asked.
"Yes." Mu Lang responded and something coming to his mind he instantly turned to him.
"Have you still not heard from Uncle Bo?" He inquired.
"Not yet." Uncle Shen responded, "are you worried that something bad might have happened to him when it's his nature to vanish and appear when he pleases." He pointed out.
"Perhaps, after all this time things were slightly different that I can't help but fear that for my sake he could have landed himself into big trouble." Mu Lang responded.
"What kind of big trouble Milord?" Uncle Shen asked as the latter preferring to keep it to himself he remained silent.
Empress Yang poured some tea into the cups before them and lowering the small teapot back on the stove close by, she picked up her cup.
She blew at it slowly, cooling the tea before she took a sip herself.
"Your Highness?" Shi Miyuan called, seated right in front of her.
"First try out the chrysanthemum tea that I have prepared." She responded and Shi Miyuan hesitantly picked up the small cup in front of him, stared at it intensely for a long while before he brought it closer to his lips.
He looked at the Empress who smiling nodded her head signalling for him to proceed.
He took a gentle sip while she watched earnestly, somewhat contented before he lowered the cup on the table again.
"It all seems to have proceeded quite much faster than I expected." She said.
"Yu Tianxi was rather quick to study Zhao Yuju's personality, in fact, he was rather enamoured by him." Shi Miyuan responded.
"What type of person is he truly?" She inquired.
"Very kind and generous, quiet but hard-headed yet affectionate to his people." He responded.
"I suppose he takes after his father so much, the very qualities one could say would make a good ruler." She responded.
"Won't he be a Great one instead?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"Most times in this world, Great rulers aren't the kindest of people, Great rulers like me aren't the best of mothers or fathers." Empress Yang responded as she raised her gaze from the stove at which she was staring and looked at Shi Miyuan.
"Can we rely on him?" She asked.
"It'll be very hard to convince him to become the Crown Prince's Cohort, I have thought about it, he finds politics very hateful, he couldn't possibly commit himself to the life of becoming the Crown Prince's biggest contender for the Imperial throne." Shi Miyuan seemed certain in his response.
"I'll talk him into it." Empress Yang mentioned.
"I can't permit that Your Highness." Shi Miyuan responded.
"Why?" She asked.
"Understanding your relationship I worry that you'll stir suspicion in the Imperial Court, your mere closeness to him could compromise your security and we can't risk the possibility of our enemies learning the truth behind Zhao Yuju's paternity." Shi Miyuan responded.
"How long have you known me?" She asked.
"Thirty years Your Highness." He responded.
"You worry for nothing Your Excellency, no one understands my position better than myself, I can not certainly allow my personal feelings to get in the way of our Great Cause, I'll commit myself to that word, after all, none amongst you shall pacify him to ally with us much better than me." She asserted while picking up her tea cup.
"But Your Highness....." Shi Miyuan still protesting she smacked it down onto the table, angrily while smiling at him.
"I understand the worry that overwhelms you Your Excellency, I know where it stems from, for a man like you that is committed to loving me to the point of death, can't you possibly trust me this much?" She asked.
"Forgive me Your Highness." Shi Miyuan apologized.
"I can forget that you doubted my efficiency, I'll prove you wrong, meanwhile gather all the patriotic scholars and the rest of the Imperial Court, when I push for Zhao Yuju to be adopted as an Imperial son then all must be ready to stand with us." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Shi Miyuan responded as he bowed his head to her while the Empress smiled at him ghastly.
"Consort Cao finally vacated the Inner Court, the Crown Prince appears to have lost the will to challenge the Empress' hegemony, in a rather shocking turn of events the Empress emerged at the top, I find this quite remarkable." Feng Ba muttered.
"Word just arrived from Jiangning that His Majesty ordered the Imperial Palace to prepare for the Empress' formal return to the Palace, after that preparations for the Imperial Princess' wedding will proceed as soon as possible." Hua Jin reported.
"Forget it." Feng Ba said, "now that our best allies have been ousted from this conflict we can only survive on our own." Feng Ba mentioned.
"Once you become the Grand Internal Prince Consort then it will be easy." Hua Jin muttered.
"I am afraid not, after all, whatever power I shall achieve from this marriage the Imperial Court will only be more cautious and wary of me." Feng Ba professed.
"Then what are you going to do Milord?" Hua Jin asked.
"We'll have to strike first and deep enough." Feng Ba responded, "there will be a need for the Emperor to determine a Cohort for the Crown Prince who is supposed to assist in his studies and personally tutor him." He said.
"Isn't the Crown Prince's Cohort supposed to be someone that will protect the Crown Prince as his most loyal subject and even give him counsel?" Hua Jin asked.
"Since he's to be chosen from the Imperial Clan then it's likely that this time round the Empress intends to put the Crown Prince in check since his Cohort if competent enough could even challenge him for his place." Feng Ba responded.
"You mean to say, the Empress isn't looking for a mere Cohort but the Crown Prince's replacement?" Hua Jin asked.
"Seeing that the Crown Prince attempted treason once is good enough to keep her cautious, besides, she had his father executed as a traitor and even demoted to the rank of a commoner she's wary that His Highness might look for a chance to avenge his death." Feng Ba said, "seeing that after the wedding it shall be a ripe time for her to act up, if we can't influence who gets to be the Crown Prince's Cohort then we should move the Crown Prince and hide in his shadow." He added.
"How are you going to do that Milord?" Hua Jin inquired.
"I'll do it as the Grand Internal Prince Consort." Feng Ba responded as he smiled at himself.
The sun had set and the Empress standing in the cold air right next to her window stared outside at the full moon possessing the skies.
With the wind howling mildly she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she sighed as though with relief, it was then that the doors of her room were opened and through them Xiaoyang walked.
"Your Highness." She bowed her head to her.
"Is the Palanquin ready?" She inquired.
"Yes Your Highness." Xiaoyang responded.
"There shall be eyes watching us closely." She muttered.
"Rest assured Your Highness, I've made all the necessary preparations, Your Highness will not get into trouble." She muttered.
"I'll take your word for it." Empress Yang mentioned.
"Yes Your Highness." Xiaoyang said as Manyin walked in holding in her hands a very long black cloak which she handed over to her.
"Please cover yourself with this Your Highness." She said and the Empress without any hesitation took it and wore it over her black hanfu.
Lan He watching her residence from a distance, he saw a group of three women, recognizing two to be both Manyin and Xiaoyang descending the stairs of her room stealthily.
"Follow them." He ordered his subordinates who kept a close track of them while he stayed behind monitoring the residence.
The Empress' Court Ladies led by Beiyuan moved around the building and arriving outside the main entrance they stood still guarding it.
The three women approached the West Gate of the Palace and there Xiaoyang revealed a token to one of the two guards standing there who granted them passage.
Moving through to one of the nearby alleys a small black palanquin had been arranged and the veiled woman entering it those carrying it lifted it and started their journey, travelling west of the city while Lan He's men watched closely.
Lan He still watching the Empress' residence could hardly tell anything suspicious going on.
The men bearing the palanquin arrived outside a temple where they lowered it, opening the doors, the veiled woman stepped out while Lan He's men watched her mounting the stairs that led to its entrance quietly.
Mu Lang quietly seated in his study Uncle Shen walked through its doors.
"Milord, there's someone here to see you." He said.
"Who is it?" He asked.
"I don't know." Uncle Shen responded,
"Send them away." Mu Lang ordered.
"She said that it's urgent," Uncle Shen insisted, "she said that it regards Uncle Bo." The old man reported and hearing this the young man was taken aback.
"Uncle Bo!" He exclaimed.
"Yes Milord." Uncle Shen responded.
"Let her in." Mu Lang acquiesced reluctantly and the old man stepping out for a moment quiet prevailed before the doors slid open and right in front of the young man there stood a veiled woman who slowly approached him while he studied her.
She walked with grace, her footsteps being light, a black conical hat with a long black veil hanging from her head to her waistline he was very curious about who was hidden underneath.
"I am told that you asked to see me, I am told that it regards Uncle Bo." He muttered.
"Yes." She responded in a voice that was somewhat familiar to him but he couldn't recall quite clearly and the lady in front of him as though sensing his curiosity she boldly raised her hands and lifted the hat with the veil from her head.
The Crown Prince earnestly studying her appearance was surprised at the revelation of her facial features which he recognized instantly.
"Your Highness!" He uttered very much surprised.
"It is I." She responded and uneasy in his seat she invited herself to sit down on the stool right in front of him.
"What are you doing here Your Highness?" He asked, "why did you seek me out at such an ungodly hour?" He desperately inquired.
"Is that the least you can say to me after fleeing The capital, a Criminal who was charged with treason is now very much alive and well." She mentioned.
"But that criminal was declared dead before the entire world." Mu Lang muttered.
"How long do you think it would take me to make the world believe the criminal survived when the body suddenly vanished?" She asked.
"Perhaps you are ready to make them question the efficiency of the Imperial State Tribunal, it's very hard to control people's thoughts and words these days and where questions erupt intensely they are bound to cause a conflagration." Mu Lang said.
"You are in deed brilliant." Empress Yang remarked.
"Maybe you are here to kill me but certainly not to arrest me, judging from your attire I believe Your Highness intended to keep this visit something secret between us or the parties that might be interested." He pointed out and the Empress momentarily silent she studied his eyes.
"Why do you love the Crown Prince?" She suddenly asked.
"What!" Mu Lang exclaimed uncertain if he had heard well enough.
"Why do you love the Crown Prince?" She suddenly asked again and this time round he found the confidence to reply sincerely.
"Ever since I saw him, you can say that my life was never the same, he was a strong-willed and caring young man to the point of me thinking, if all Kings and all rulers were like him, then this world will certainly be a better place." He said.
"What do you think about the Empire right now?" She asked.
"Your world is bloodstained Your Highness." He responded.
"And you believe that His Highness would make it much better than it is right now?" Empress Yang inquired.
"If only you never stopped him." Zhao Yuju responded.
"It is the price I must pay for wielding all this power." She said.
"You don't seem remorseful Your Highness." He pointed out.
"Once I was a young girl who would have preferred growing up on the prairie, I had the ability to not be chosen, with a carefree spirit I had hoped that I would become the best general and I would win every battle or perhaps a housewife who weaves and raises her children while waiting daily for her husband to return home after a long day's work." She remarked.
"Then what went wrong along the way Your Highness?" He asked, "every person like you that has gone done the same path has that one excuse they bring up for having become the turning point in their pathetic lives." He remarked.
"I got up one day dressed as an ordinary girl to survive the mountains where I was raised, treading over corpses of my loved ones where the mountain reeked of blood and the ground itself was drenched in that awful red colour, there rose a feeling in my heart, perhaps it was because the Emperor wasn't wielding much power that Innocents bled every day, it was because a weak Emperor on the throne meant that many lives had to be lost at the expense of the greedy and unrighteous occupants of the highest corridors of power that I decided if only I gave him enough power to decide over life and death on his own, if only I strengthened the Crown then he would never have to bend to the will of Powerful officials." She responded.
"But people will be people." Zhao Yuju said.
"Perhaps," she responded, "my conviction had blinded me to the point that I had realized that as long as it was never another man's dream then they would never build the ideal world that I wanted." She mentioned.
"Too much power in the hands of an Emperor who can do nothing with it is as good as useless." Zhao Yuju muttered.
"Having dripped my blood in Teng, fighting ferociously in Guanghua and weathering the harsh conditions in Xiangyang reflecting on the lives that were lost to design the frontiers of our Greater Heavenly Empire none was as brave as I was charging against hundreds of thousands with only tens I realised that only I could design the Greatest Empire of my dreams." Empress Yang confessed.
"Henceforth I am now to become a pawn in that game of yours?" Zhao Yuju inquired.
"I'll do whatever it takes to achieve that dream of mine, even if I must manipulate a genetic lottery of Kings, I'll do whatever it takes to ensure that I usher this country into a Golden age, to ensure that a tyrant never sits on the Imperial Dragon throne." She responded.
"And tyranny to Your Highness is anyone that would oppose Your hegemony, if that is not rebellion to your most innocent dream what is?" Zhao Yuju asked mockingly.
"If the Crown Prince ascends the throne then it might be too late, my power could wane just as remarkably as it was built and I would die an ailing and miserable old woman that failed to see her dream come to fruition." She lamented.
"So you seek me out Your Highness are you not worried that I'd turn down this offer?" He asked, "I would bequeath more power to the Crown Prince the very chance I get, as long as it is in my capability even if it meant getting rid of you by manipulating the same resources you'd give me why bother taking this risk?" He inquired.
"Because only by putting you on the throne can I guarantee the safety of everyone's life including the Crown Prince's." Empress Yang responded and the latter seemed surprised.
"Why me Your Highness, why me?" Zhao Yuju pleaded to know.
"Another Prince taking the position of the Crown Prince's Cohort will only covet his power, the only one who would only see this as an opportunity to protect him, the only one who would take this upon themselves as a chance to be close enough to avert the attention of the Courtiers, the only one that will never see him as a threat but as a valiant young man in need of a best friend, in need of a brother being you how is it that I would cast my eyes elsewhere?" She responded.
"The Crown Prince is your enemy, I don't understand, why is it that you make it seem as though you wish to protect him?" Zhao Yuju asked.
"No one is to be trusted, not even me, I'll kill the Crown Prince with the very first chance I get, if it is your earnest wish to ensure that he survives then you must protect him on your own." She responded as she looked him in the eye, "you must come into the Palace, come in as my son." She said to him before she turned around.
"Why does it have to be me, protecting the Crown Prince this way Your Highness, it is not enough." He insisted.
"So you may think, but who's to judge, your capabilities and incapabilities my dear aren't your own making but if it is surely as painful as you make it seem then you must give in your all and protect the Crown Prince of this Empire even if it means becoming his political rival to do so." She responded, "I have your uncle in my custody so you needn't worry, since he is useful I'll take good care of him, come to the Taiping Palace and find me when you make up your mind, I'm giving you until sunrise." Empress Yang muttered as she walked away leaving him startled and unable to believe the words that he'd heard from her.
Lan He's men still watching the temple, the veiled woman stepped out after roughly an hour and descended the stairs leading to her Palanquin where Manyin and Xiaoyang opened for her the doors and led her in.
She made her swift entry and the Palanquin started out into the direction of the Palace.
"Go ahead and notify His Excellency about what you have seen." The leader of the Imperial guards ordered one of his subordinates who immediately left while the rest of them followed the small procession.
Lan He seated in his office the informant entered inside and removed his veil.
"Your Excellency." He greeted him bowing his head.
"Where did the Empress go?" He asked.
"We all watched the profession keenly until she arrived outside a Temple." He responded.
"Have you any idea what she was doing there?" He asked.
"We kept a close watch, no one arrived there after her and I don't think anyone left as well, she spent roughly an hour and as we couldn't get close wary that we could stir unnecessary suspicion we couldn't tell what happened inside at that time or whom she met." The informant responded.
"There's a temple within the Palace so why would the Empress travel to another temple outside at such an ungodly hour in a very discreet manner?" Lan He appeared to ask himself.
"Is there anything else I should do Milord?" The informant asked.
"Find out more about the temple and those officials or important individuals who visited it previously and report back to me as soon as possible, most importantly, find out who is in charge of the temple as well." He ordered.
"Yes, Your Excellency." The informant responded as he exited from the room.
"The Empress left the Palace at an ungodly hour to go to the Temple?" Emperor Ningzong asked as Lan He stood in front of him less confident in himself.
"Yes Your Majesty." He reported.
"Have you any idea what she was doing there?" He asked.
"No." Lan He responded, "my men are still looking through it.
"Are you certain you were not fooled by the Empress?" He asked.
"We watched Her Highness' residence, no one else left after the veiled woman." Lan He responded.
"Which temple in particular did she visit?" Emperor Ningzong inquired..
"Lingyin Temple." Lan He replied.
"It's one of our most auspicious temples." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"Does anything come to mind Your Majesty?" Lan He asked.
"Let it be, just tell your men to keep investigating this in secret and keep a close eye on the Empress." Emperor Ningzong ordered.
"Yes Your Majesty." Lan He replied as the latter lost in his thoughts leaned his head on his right hand.
"What are you up to my Empress?" He asked himself, "what is the reason behind your visit to Lingyin?" He thought to himself inwardly.
Mu Lang seated in his room was lost in his thoughts as he recalled the words that the Empress had said to him.
They kept on lingering in his ears as he immersed himself in endless questions.
"What should I do?" He asked himself, "Uncle Bo, Your Highness?" He pondered in the silence as though expecting an answer but receiving none.
The Empress having returned to her Chambers was equally quietly seated in the darkness, partially being illuminated by the wan moonlight that shone upon her through the window, she clenched her fists in determination.
"You will yield my Prince," she kept on thinking, " you will yield to me, Your Highness." She insistently said to herself inwardly taking a deep breath and sighing.
The darkness slowly passed and the morning came, with the first beams of the sun possessing the dark sky it evolved into a saffron firmament, with the melodies of the birds filling the air and the dew settling on the trees and the rooftops slightly dripping, it found the whole Palace preparing for the Emperor and Empress' departure.
Manyin made her entrance into her mistress' Chambers where she found her seated in her seat silently.
"Good Morning Your Highness." She greeted her.
"What time is it?" She asked.
"7:00am Your Highness." She responded.
"Is that so?" She asked.
"It's only two hours to the time of departure." Manyin muttered.
"Is there anyone else that is here to see me?" She asked.
"No." Manyin responded and the Empress fell quiet momentarily which concerned the latter.
"Are you expecting someone Your Highness?" She asked.
"Perhaps." The Empress responded seeming uncertainty herself.
"If there's someone then I shall inform Your Highness beforehand." Manyin tried to encourage her.
"Please do." Empress Yang said, "how did things go last night?" She asked somewhat concerned about something else suddenly.
"We were in deed followed to the Temple, Your Majesty was right, word came in that the Emperor's personal Guard Commander Lan sent a couple of Imperial guards to investigate your late night visit to the Temple." Manyin responded.
"Alas, His Majesty appears to have grown more distant and suspicious of me." Empress Yang muttered.
"Rest assured though Your Highness, His Majesty will never find out that you travelled elsewhere yesterday night." Manyin assured her.
"It doesn't necessarily matter to me." Empress Yang mentioned, "things between us are bound to take a very drastic turn sooner or later." She muttered.
"Aren't you worried Your Highness?" Manyin asked.
"Have the rest of my servants prepare, we should depart thirty minutes ahead of time." Empress Yang ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Manyin responded as she withdrew from the room.
Mu Lang seated in his room, Uncle Shen suddenly walked in with a tray in his hands when he noticed that the young man's face looked haggard and he had thick dark bags under his eyes.
"Milord, did you spend the entire night awake?" He asked.
"Uncle Bo is in trouble." He responded.
"How certain are you?" Uncle Shen inquired.
"There's something the woman asked me to do if I really want to save him." Mu Lang responded anxiously as he turned to the old man, "is there any news from the Taiping Palace?" He asked.
"I only heard because people are talking about it, the procession to escort the Emperor and Empress back to the capital is roughly an hour and thirty minutes away." Uncle Shen responded which induced Mu Lang to stand up instantly.
"I must go to the Taiping Palace." He said.
"Not in this state Milord." Uncle Shen insisted.
"If I don't go now it shall be too late, please, look after grandmother and Yurui for me." He uttered and rushing past the old man he strode through the doors of his room as he moved into the direction of the stables in his Manor.
Finding a red stead that had been roughly prepared he mounted it and seizing it's reins he charged through the gates of his household towards the Taiping Palace.
Emperor Ningzong already dressed in his Imperial Crimson robes stepped out of his personal quarters being accompanied by Eunuch Deng and his retinue where the Imperial guards ready they stood at attention with their Spears upright.
"Greetings Your Majesty." They said in unison as they kowtowed to him.
"All prepare to escort His Majesty back to the Capital." Lan He shouted and simultaneously, they each turned and faced the man South Gate of the Palace while the doors to the Emperor's carriage were drawn open.
"Where's the Empress?" He asked Eunuch Deng.
"Her Highness is a woman therefore she can't walk down the Emperor's path, as the head of the Inner Court she'll proceed right after Your Majesty from the harem." He responded.
"Let's go." Emperor Ningzong muttered and Eunuch Deng helping him they descended the stairs right up to the Imperial carriage as Lan He mounted the horse right in front of it.
The guards bearing the Provincial banners rode ahead as the procession started with music in great pomp, the sound travelled all the way to the Inner Palace where the Empress was seated quietly.
Manyin making her entrance she bowed her head to her.
"It is time Your Highness." She notified her.
"Let's go." Empress Yang mentioned as she stood up and Manyin rushing over to hold her hand she led her right outside her building.
Mu Lang on his horse had just arrived outside the Palace where Bao Langya standing at the West Gate instantly noticed him.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"I am Zhao Yuju, son of the Late Commandery Prince Zhao Xilu, here to see Her Highness." He responded and without much hesitation the guards stepped aside granting the young man entry.
"You must hurry to the gate of the harem, otherwise you shall be late seeing that the Imperial procession has just started." Bao Langya said to him.
"I've never been to the harem, I don't know where to start." Mu Lang responded as Bao Langya stared at him intensely, overwhelmed with silence momentarily before he eventually spoke up.
"Follow me." He said as he trod ahead of the young man who closely followed him behind.
Empress Yang with her retinue of attendants descending the stairs of her Chambers she approached the gates of the harem where her carriage had been prepared as the guards saluted her.
She was graceful as ever still looking young and lovely even in her old age, slightly chubby and somewhat fat one could tell how well she cared for herself or perhaps immortal she seemed.
They opened the door of the carriage for her and stepping over the threshold she prepared to make her entrance when out of nowhere she heard a rather familiar voice.
"Please wait Your Highness." A youthful plea reached out to her thereby gathering everyone's attention in which she was induced to turn around and see who it was.
Zhao Yuju stood right in front of her at a distance breathing heavily as he sweated profusely with his bloodshot eyes open wide.
"You." She casually spoke, sounding not so much surprised like everyone around her.
"Yes Your Highness." He responded as he slowly walked towards her while herself not hesitant got close enough as well.
"Did you finally make up your mind?" She asked him.
"Yes Your Highness." He responded and lowering his gaze onto the ground in the most shocking manner while everyone was spectating he knelt down in front of her, Xiaoyang and Manyin gasping along with some of the Empress' ladies in waiting.
"Please Your Highness, please I beg of you, adopt me as your own legitimate son and make me the Crown Prince's Cohort." He said as he bowed his head right underneath her feet while herself looking confidently at him she smiled.
"Forgive me Your Highness, forgive me Uncle Bao, I'll protect you Your Highness, even if it means that I must become your political rival." He thought to himself inwardly.