"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 as 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 to the ground in the most shocking manner while everyone was spectating he knelt 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 legitimate son and make me the Crown Prince's Cohort." He said as he bowed his head right underneath her feet while 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.
"Get up and return to your house." The Empress ordered and Mu Lang surprised he raised his eyes to her and studied her expression, somewhat doubtful of her real motive.
"Your Highness....." He hesitated.
"Wait there and when the time is right I shall have you formally received in the capital." She assuredly spoke turning around and entering into her carriage as Mu Lang stood up with the help of Bao Langya and stepped aside.
The Empress having settled her procession started towards the West Gate of the Palace while Mu Lang still unsettled couldn't help but keep thinking about what to do next.
The Courtiers gathered outside the Grand Hall in their official robes, the carriage bearing the Emperor halted at the entrance of the magnificent structure.
Eunuch Deng opening for him he stood and faced the General Court.
"Welcoming His Imperial Majesty the Emperor." He announced as the old man stepped out, dressed in a long crimson hanfu while holding a Jade ceremonial tablet in his hands, wearing the Official black futou with a pair of long feet.
He stepped over the threshold accompanied by his retinue and the Courtiers recognizing his presence bowed their heads to offer him their respects.
He moved forward and slowly mounted the stairs that led to the Grand Hall where upon reaching the top he turned and faced the world.
"Long Live Your Majesty, Long Live our Emperor." They sang in unison as the old man looking down upon them reserved his words while slightly turning to Eunuch Deng and intensely looking at him he took it as a signal to pass on his communication.
"We celebrate His Majesty's return along with Her Highness' return to the Palace, as such, therefore, the Daily Assembly will be convened in an hour." He notified the officials who keeping quiet they only bowed their heads to the Emperor to show their acceptance.
The Crown Princess Wu along with all the other ladies of the harem and the Inner Court lining up along the Empress' path in the Central Palace with her at the forefront waited earnestly as the Empress' sedan chair appeared.
Being lowered outside the entrance, Beiyuan turned and faced them.
"All ladies of the harem and the Inner Court, humbly receive Her Imperial Highness the Empress, welcome her return to the Central Palace." He announced and the Empress stepping down from her seat with the help of Manyin and Xiaoyang both of whom tightly held onto her hands, she was escorted through.
Walking down the path that led to her audience hall the ladies all bowed their heads as she passed, slowly approaching her daughter-in-law who was herself dressed in a beautiful turquoise hanfu that was adorned with scarlet and gold floral patterns.
Reaching right in front of her she bowed her. head.
"I the Crown Princess humbly offer my sincerest greetings to Your Highness." She politely spoke and the Empress smiling at her held her hands in her two palms.
"Your Highness is very fragile and your soft hands give me comfort, I am sorry that my absentia must have made running the Inner Court a bit more hectic than usual." She muttered.
"It is no big problem as it is my duty as the Crown Princess of this nation Your Highness, besides, nothing would have given me more pleasure in this world and lifetime like being of Great service to you." Crown Princess Wu remarked.
"If you say so." Empress Yang said and the young woman kowtowing once more the Empress turned around and faced her ladies.
"I sincerely apologise if my absence has disheartened you, however now that I have returned we shall resume with the preparations for the Imperial Princess' marriage." She announced.
"Yes, Your Highness." The ladies responded in unison.
"If that's it then you are all dismissed." She said and bowing their heads one final time with the Crown Princess inclusive, the ladies withdrew from the Courtyard leaving the Empress staring at them as they departed.
Beiyuan moving up to her right she noticed his proximity which appeared to be sufficient enough to have her concerned.
"How is the Grand Palace?" She asked him.
"Everything is fine as His Majesty has arrived, the Daily Assembly was postponed to begin in an hour's time therefore the Courtiers are still gathered outside." He responded.
"It means that we have some time." The Empress muttered under her breath.
"What do you mean Your Highness?" Beiyuan asked.
"Tell the Imperial Grand Chancellor that I wish to have a word with him immediately." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Beiyuan responded.
Zhao Hong seated in his room, his Eunuch made his entrance and halted right before him kowtowing his head when he found the young man reading but absent-minded.
"Your Highness?" He called to him finally attracting his attention.
"What is it?" He asked the young man.
"His Majesty the Emperor and Her Highness the Empress have entered the Palace." He reported.
"Is that so?" He asked disheartened.
"Yes." The Eunuch responded.
"Then I should pay my respects." Zhao Hong said as he stood up from where he was seated while the Eunuch bowed his head.
"Bring me the Scroll." He ordered.
"Which one Your Highness?" The young Eunuch inquired.
"The one that I have been preparing for Her Highness' return." He responded.
"Yes Your Highness." The young man replied as he moved up to the Crown Prince's study table and opening the drawer, he pulled out a golden scroll which he carried towards the Crown Prince and ordered to him.
He held it in his hands and stared at it intensely.
"I may have been a failure, I may have been too weak but I must remain a filial son at least, after all, it is what is required of the Crown Prince of this country." He remarked as he charged out of his Chambers.
Empress Yang quietly seated in her Chambers, the doors were opened and Shi Miyuan walked in.
"Your Excellency!" She exclaimed.
"You are most welcome back to the Palace." Shi Miyuan remarked as he kowtowed to pay his respects.
"At ease, the air at Taiping Palace felt fresh and I hadn't enjoyed it in a while, besides, owing to the fact that things appear to have come to a wholesome State it in deed feels good to be back into the Imperial Palace." She responded as he took a seat in front of her while she looked at the chessboard in front of her.
"You are playing alone Your Highness?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"There's still forty minutes to the Daily Assembly and there is something that I wished to discuss with you urgently as you join me." She responded while she picked a white piece and placed it on the board and Shi Miyuan without any hesitation picked a black piece and made his move as well.
"What could it be Your Highness?" He asked.
"His Majesty aside from promising to ensure Consort Cao's vacation of the Inner Court gave his word that he shall embrace the Imperial Court's decision of the Crown Prince's Consort." She muttered as she played.
"And it'll be hard to elevate the Prince Zhao Yuju to this position." Shi Miyuan said seemingly reminding her.
"What if I told Your Excellency that I fulfilled my promise?" She asked and himself having played his move withdrew his hand from the board taken aback.
"Are you certain Your Highness?" He inquired.
"He knelt down in front of me while the whole world was watching, he asked me to make him the Crown Prince's Cohort, I liked the thought that despite his initial resistance being intense he finally bent." She remarked as she played.
"That's a great thing Your Highness." Shi Miyuan seemed somewhat excited.
"In deed," Empress Yang responded, "however, even if we have this great opportunity we can't delay things further just because fate seems to fit in our scheme of things." She added.
"What should I do Your Highness?" Shi Miyuan asked, finally playing right into the centre.
"Our enemies will never rest, whenever we relax we are giving them a chance to breathe again which mistake I am unwilling to tolerate." She uttered as she moved another piece while Shi Miyuan noticed that he'd played into a dangerous area.
"Your Highness means to suggest...." He hesitated.
"The Imperial Court will entirely stand before you, in the Daily Assembly even if it means backing His Majesty into a corner unit he can't escape, push for the Prince Zhao Yuju to be designated as the Crown Prince's Cohort." She responded playing her final move that Shi Miyuan realized he had long lost the game as the Empress smiled at him ghastly.
The Crown Prince Zhao Hong while being accompanied by his retinue appeared through the gates of the Central Palace where he was spotted by Manyin and Xiaoyang.
Walking down the Empress' path he mounted the stairs that led to her Chambers and there he was intercepted by the two ladies who bowed their heads and paid their respects.
"Greetings Your Highness." They spoke in unison.
"I'm here to see Her Highness." He muttered under his breath.
"We weren't expecting you." Court Lady Xiaoyang stuttered.
"The Empress has returned to the Imperial Palace alongside His Majesty which is something worth celebrating since I dearly missed her presence, as the Crown Prince of this country how is it that I can not offer my mother the respect that she demands?" He remarked.
"Of Course Your Highness, Her Highness also missed you dearly, but if it doesn't offend you please wait, as it so happens Her Highness is enjoying a game of chess with the Imperial Grand Chancellor." Manyin said.
"Alright then, I'll wait." Zhao Hong muttered and the two nodding in approval the doors of the Empress' audience hall being opened Shi Miyuan appeared that everyone present kowtowed to him.
"Your Excellency." Zhao Hong greeted him kowtowing to show his respect that everyone present was instantly astonished by his expression.
"How is it that Your Highness would bow to a subject?" He asked.
"Her Highness once said that I am for my people and they are for me, I may be the master of all those under Heaven but I have also been appointed by Heaven to serve all those under me when my time comes." Zhao Hong responded in the most sincere manner.
"It's good to see that Your Highness has turned a new leaf." He praised him.
"Once I was surrounded by sinful company and I paid for my crimes, as I was heavily admonished by the Imperial Court how could I have not realised my mistake after all, what good is it to have a leader that does not learn from his mistakes?" He muttered.
"You are right Your Highness, after all if the sinful faced the fate they helped mete out of so many and Your Highness' Company has been refined, who's to say your actions won't become upright and Your Highness wouldn't certainly adopt the qualities of a good Sovereign?" Shi Miyuan indirectly teased.
"Good isn't enough for me Your Excellency, I intend to become a Great Sovereign." Zhao Hong swore.
"Between a Great Sovereign and a good one, there's a very big and vivid distinction." Shi Miyuan pointed out.
"As Her Highness advised all I need to do is to embrace the loyal officials and listen to the meritorious subjects of this country for the Mandate of Heaven to be surely vested in me." Zhao Hong said as he bowed his head to him.
"As you take after Her Highness she really did an excellent job teaching Your Highness, it won't be easy but I am certain that you shall adequately prepare yourself for the throne as it is now your inheritance after all." He said as he bowed his head to him as well before he walked past continuing outside the residence while the Crown Prince turning his head looked back at the old man treading the same path he had trod.
"Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince is here requesting to see you." Xiaoyang announced his presence as Manyin looked on.
"Let him in." Empress Yang responded and the young man wearing a sincere smile on his face was ushered into the fairly dark room where he walked up to the Empress' presence.
"Your Highness." He greeted her.
"My Prince." She responded.
"This room is much darker than I remember." He said.
"Forgive me as I have been away for a while that I got accustomed to the dimness of the Taiping Palace I couldn't help but admire the atmosphere therefore it'll hold this aura from now on probably until the day I die." She responded.
"Don't say such ominous words Your Highness." He rebuked.
"Wouldn't that be a good thing since heaven would have rid you of the one thing that greatly restrains the power that your position commands?" She asked.
"What son would find peace in this dark and cruel world at the loss of his beloved mother, my heart would rip into two, unable to be consoled for eternity in the desperation of hoping to meet you again in the Netherworld which for me would be a distant dream." He responded.
"I am deeply humbled, however, what brings you here my Prince, I didn't expect you seeing that you were absent at my welcoming." She muttered.
"Forgive me if it brought worry to your heart Mother, as it is I could hardly sleep in peace in your absence that the lights of the East Palace were never extinguished and burned bright throughout those tragic dark hours, when I heard that Your Highness would finally return, I gathered all my strength and composed myself to make your welcome remarkable and unforgettable that I had to arrange a small but to me a priceless gift." He responded.
"Where is this priceless gift my Prince?" She asked sweetly and the latter holding onto his sleeve he pulled out the golden scroll which he personally handed over to her.
"This is....?" She spoke inquisitively.
"First open please it mother." Zhao Hong requester and the old woman complied as her eyes rested on its contents they suddenly beamed with both surprise and joy.
"AS THE DAYS OF MY LONELINESS GO BY, I AM GRACED BY THE HEAVENS WITH WORD OF YOUR RETURN, SINCERELY MISSING YOU I PRAY FOR YOUR LONGEVITY MY DEAREST MOTHER, THANKFUL FOR YOUR UNDOUBTED AND ETERNAL LOVE ABUNDANTLY POURED UNTO ME DESPITE MY SHORTCOMINGS IF THERE IS IN THIS WORLD TO BE A WOMAN AS FINE AS YOU ARE AND ONE THAT MAKES ME THE MOST SPECIAL MAN IN THE WORLD LIKE YOU WHOSE BRILLIANCE AND MAGNIFICENCE IS SECOND TO NONE, IT WOULD BE PROFANE TO PRONOUNCE THAT MAITREYA INCUMBENT AS YOU ARE ONE IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD, YOU ARE ONE THAT IS DESCENDED FROM HEAVEN, ANOTHER LIKE YOUR IMPERIAL SERENE HIGHNESS IS SO FAR TO BE BECKONED WITH AND HARDLY TO BE CONCEIVED SOON UNDER THE SUN." She read aloud as he nodded in approval while she folded the scroll and rested it calmly on the table smiling heartily.
"I must say, your sincere words move my fragile old heart, Your Highness has made great progress in being a filial son, I am in deed happy you thought this highly of me, happy that you missed my welcome to put me in such high regard." She remarked.
"Your Highness having accepted my sincerity it means the whole world to me." He responded.
"Really?" She asked.
"Yes." He responded confidently.
"Now that I have seen this I can't contain my excitement, the decision of your Cohort shall be finalised today and he shall move into the Imperial precincts to study with you regularly while staying close with effect from the day after tomorrow, as you can call it an expression of my gratitude to your earnest affection as my son, I took the liberty to choose someone from your social class that is humble and less assertive to pacify the Courtiers, besides, it's someone that I trust might have once been your closest confidant and isn't a stranger to you after all." Empress Yang muttered.
"If it's Your Highness' thought and choice it must be perfect therefore I shall look forward to meeting my Cohort the day tomorrow." Zhao Hong said.
"Rest assured, I bet you will love him." Empress Yang confidently responded and the Crown Prince suspicious but acting as though he took it in good faith, he smiled at her.
"I'd love to chat more with you mother but as we aren't an ordinary mother and son and our official obligations bind us I must tend to certain State affairs as the Crown Prince, forgive my premature departure if you can find it in your heart." He said as he stood up and bowed his head to her.
"No worries, I understand, I can't stay seated seeing that your sister is to get married at the end of this month which is only a couple of days away therefore I can promise when I am free enough I'll invite you over to a cup of tea." She said.
"Thank you, mother." Zhao Hong responded as he slowly withdrew from the room leaving her alone.
"What!" Emperor Ningzong exclaimed.
"As Your Majesty is probably aware you gave your word to the Imperial Court and can't go back on it for the sake of your reputation, since the Crown Prince's sombreness greatly troubles the Inner Court and he's personally agreed to place his confidence in us that we may pick his cohort soon, we as the Imperial Court after much deliberation have found a proper choice." Shi Miyuan professed.
"Is that so?" Emperor Ningzong inquired with a tone of uncertainty.
"Yes Your Majesty." The Imperial Court responded in unison.
"I am flattered by your care for the Crown Prince of this Country, moved to the point of being unable to contain my tears, where is such a man that can heal my son's ailing heart and become his closest confidant and bosom friend, who is he?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"His Serene Highness, the son of the Late Honourable Commandery Prince Zhao Xilu Zhao Yuju, whose courtesy name is Ming, through his father he is the 10th generation descendant of the founding Emperor of our Greater Heavenly Empire Taizu through his son Zhao Dezhao, the Grandson of Zhao Shiyi, Great Grandson of Zhao Bowu, the Prince of Shunye Commandery." Shi Miyuan responded as Yu Tianxi stepped forward as well.
"If I may Your Majesty?" He requested and Emperor Ningzong nodded his head in approval.
"The Prince Zhao Yuju is known among his peers to be serious, studious, mostly silent, and wise, compared with the Crown Prince who is an outgoing character, I am confident that this match shall suddenly be of great help to one another especially if the Crown Prince is to improve his conduct." He remarked.
"I suppose as you all my loyal Ministers do agree and unanimously at that, then certainly, the Prince Zhao Yuju must be as worthy." Emperor Ningzong muttered, "I'll honour the promise I made, a Eunuch shall be sent with an Imperial messenger to the Prince Zhao Yuju's residence where he shall be fetched." He said.
"Thank you Your Majesty, Long Live Your Majesty, Your Majesty is sage." The Courtiers said in unison as they bowed their heads to him.
The Courtiers exiting the Grand Hall, Shi Miyuan walked with Peng Zishou by his side.
"Did the Empress really choose him?" He asked.
"Yes." He responded.
"We'd be certain the Crown Prince's Cohort to Her Highness must also be considered his most likely successor should anything happen to him, why then would the Empress be interested in having a distant member of the Imperial Clan take on the position of the Crown Prince's Cohort?" He asked.
"Do you question the geniuty of Her Highness?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"Pardon me Your Excellency, I am just as concerned that should there be a need to supplant the Crown Prince, his Cohort will certainly not be in a favourable position to compete for the Crown with him." Peng Zishou asserted.
"Perhaps that's the reason why the Empress chose him." Yu Tianxi remarked as everyone else fell silent.
"I don't understand you well enough." Shi Yuzhi remarked.
"There may be a need to oust the Crown Prince but even if we are to take such a step we can not risk having him replaced by someone more powerful as it would be a much worse outcome." Shi Miyuan responded.
"That means that in any case, the Empress intends to restrain the power of both Prince." Peng Zishou remarked.
"One has the blood of low-birth and the other an empty title, it's good enough after all as it might prevent the possibility of us being ruled by a tyrant ever." Shi Miyuan asserted as they vacated the Imperial precincts.
Emperor Ningzong walking into his study, was slowly accompanied by Eunuch Deng as he approached his seat behind the table on which he revised his memorials.
The old man being helped into his seat had a pair of blank eyes that sharply stared into thin air, his mind having wandered away, the old Eunuch concerned himself with his troubles.
"What's bothering you, Your Majesty?" He asked.
"It must have been the Empress' doing." He responded.
"Why do you think so Your Majesty?" Eunuch Deng asked.
"I don't think I should have a reason as yet, the Grand Chancellor reported to her Chambers prior to the beginning of the Daily Assembly." He responded.
"Have you not considered that there could be a possibility that Her Highness is protecting the Crown Prince Sire?" Eunuch Deng inquired.
"Why do you say that?" Emperor Ningzong was curious to know.
"Suppose Prince Zhao Yuju was the Empress' idea of the Crown Prince's Cohort but she chose not to directly involve herself in the fair, as much as I know, it seems to be well known that Zhao Yuju's humble nature is believed to have been inherent because of his mother's social position." He responded.
"His mother's social position, what do you mean by that?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Lady Quan, the Late wife of the Late Commandery Prince Zhao Xilu was a middle-born woman, her family were not so wealthy or extremely poor which means that running through Prince Zhao Yuju's veins is bourgeois blood." Eunuch Deng responded.
"A bourgeois-born Prince is hard to enthrone, even if one were to succeed it would be very hard for the Seigniors to pledge their allegiance." Emperor Ningzong muttered.
"Some concerned political circles may assert that the Empress intends to curtail the influence of the Crown Prince but in my opinion, I think it's to protect him, as it could be a chance for him to show his prowess and capabilities on one hand, it could also end the clamour of the masses and silence the officials." Eunuch Deng remarked.
"Even then, how can I trust the Empress when it seems that over the past couple of years, very many things have come between us?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"The Empress may be crude and headstrong but she loves this country as well, at least should Your Majesty forsake the love she has for you, have faith in the love she has for our Greater Heavenly Empire." Eunuch Deng spoke convincingly.
Zhao Hong seated in his Chambers was lost in his thoughts as he recalled the words that the Empress had mentioned to him which left him completely troubled.
The doors to his room being opened, the Crown Princess walked through.
"Your Highness." She said to him bowing her head as the latter barely noticing her didn't give a reply.
The Crown Princess judging from his expression could tell that he was bothered.
"Is there anything troubling you Your Highness?" She asked and Zhao Hong just noticing that someone was right there with him turned to her.
"Crown Princess!" He exclaimed, "when did you get here?" He inquired.
"I have just arrived and Your Highness didn't recognize me because you seemed bothered which leaves me to wonder, what's troubling you?" She asked.
"Don't concern yourself with me wife." He responded.
"I can't do that Your Highness as your troubles are equally mine as well, it breaks me when I see confusion and sombreness on your face." Crown Princess Wu remarked and the young man somewhat hesitant gave in.
"Her Highness assured me that Prince Zhao Yuju is someone I am familiar with, she told me that it's someone I shall certainly like, I can't help but wonder who it could be, as it is evident that the Courtiers feel compelled to push for this because they wish to keep me in check." Zhao Hong muttered and the Crown Princess frowned which forced him to hold up her hands.
"Your Highness...." She appeared speechless.
"What's Prince Zhao Yuju like, do you perhaps happen to know his character?" He asked and herself feeling shy she pulled her hands from his while she kept her gaze down.
"I heard that the Courtiers praised him in front of His Majesty, they called him humble, serious, studious, mostly silent, and wise" she responded.
"Of course if he is reserved then it would set the Courtiers at ease." Zhao Hong muttered.
"I understand that Your Highness is worried, I can't be of much help to Your Highness, if only I was a man then perhaps I would have been your most loyal Official, if only I was a man I would have been your most trusted guard, your Eunuch it all would have been meaningless but my heart would have been at ease knowing that I could shield you from the world." She said.
"Don't blame yourself my dear." Zhao Hong tried comforting her.
"Nothing good will come from fighting the Empress, if there's a chance for you to retain your position as the Crown Prince of this country, just focus on showing how able and competent you are, focus on being strong enough to draw public sympathy and popularity, even if once you choose to rebel again at least, that time, the people will be beside you." The Crown Princess said.
The lute-playing girl standing outside was eavesdropping on the entire conversation and was shocked to hear the words from the Crown Princess she gasped and covered her mouth before she ran off in the direction of the Central Palace.
She appeared before Empress Yang who was standing next to the window and staring outside in the direction of the East Palace.
She knelt in front of her.
"Reporting to Your Highness." She said and the Empress reserving her silence she proceeded nonetheless.
"Her Highness the Crown Princess..." She hesitated, "she told His Highness that if there's a chance for him to retain his position as the Crown Prince of this country, he should just focus on showing how able and competent he is, he should focus on being strong enough to draw public sympathy and popularity, even if once he chooses to rebel again at least, that time, the people will be beside him." She reported.
"Did the Crown Princess say that?" Empress Yang inquired.
"I wouldn't dare lie to you, Your Highness." She responded.
"Does the Imperial Grand Chancellor know about this?" She asked.
"Your Highness is the first I report to before anyone else, besides, like last time, if it is your will for me to do so then I shall comply and if Your Highness demands my silence then you shall have it." She responded.
"Alright." Empress Yang muttered as she turned around and looked at the young girl who kept her head bent low.
"Look at me." She said and at once the latter complied, raising her head and staring right into the little woman's eyes, seemingly innocent, but burning with another feeling, one she couldn't tell it was as though her sincerity was hard to read.
"What do you want to get in return, watching the Crown Prince for my sake, it isn't something so easy so there should be something that you personally desire." Empress Yang mentioned.
"At the end of all this, I only wish to humbly ask Your Highness to take me in as one of your Court ladies regardless of the rank, after all, if I am one of the Empress' Court ladies, god-willing it is rendered meritorious in your sight, who would dare to lay a finger on me?" She responded.
"So you are ambitious, I love that about you." She said as she turned around and looked through the window.
"Everything that the Crown Prince does or says, I want to know this much from you, when the time comes, I'll certainly have you promoted to the office of one of the six matrons." She muttered.
"Yin Yue, thanks Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head to her before she stood up and withdrew from the room.
Shi Miyuan seated in his Chambers Dong Hua walked in.
"Your Excellency." He said to him as he bowed his head.
"Tomorrow will be the Imperial Princess' wedding and after that she'll vacate the Imperial Palace, the day after, you and a couple of our elite guards should be watching the Prince Zhao Yuju in the Jiangning." He ordered.
"Yes Your Excellency." Dong Hua responded, "however there's something that I still need to inquire." He mentioned.
"What is it?" He asked.
"All the Courtiers seem convinced with the fact that the Prince Zhao Yuju is our shield against the aggression of the Crown Prince so who is it that Your Excellency is probably thinking would wish to bring him harm?" He asked.
"I can not trust a Crown Prince whose father I killed and neither can I trust an Emperor whose actions every day and thoughts remain a mystery to me." Shi Miyuan responded.
"You think either His Majesty of His Highness would orchestrate an insidious scheme to harm the Prince!" He exclaimed.
"It's because this one Prince can be considered a blade hanging over their heads therefore I prefer to be safe rather than sorry." Shi Miyuan responded.
At the break of dawn, with the sun magnificently possessing the sky, it was roughly four hours to the hour of noon, the Palace in jubilation all members of the main Imperial family were gathered along with those of the Lin Clan and some Courtiers.
Feng Ba (Lin Xue) stood right in front of the wedding altar while the drums and trumpets being sounded, Eunuch Deng announced the presence of the Imperial Princess Qian.
The gates of the Grand Square being opened the young woman walked through with the help of two of her ladies in waiting, she was dressed magnificent crimson dress that was adorned with beautiful floral patterns all of which were embroidered with precious silver and gold silk thread.
On her head, there was a large phoenix headpiece with two rails surmounted with pearls and turquoise stones the rest of it made of Ruby and Jade.
She gracefully walked past her congregation of what seemed to be admirers as she mounted the stairs that led to the small platform that had been erected in their midst.
The Emperor and Empress seated side by side at the top of the staircase were each dressed in their official ceremonial attires as they enjoyed the view of the Imperial Princess and her soon-to-be husband.
The couple facing each other the Minister of Rites along with Xiaoyang the Senior Court Lady started to preside over the wedding ritual.
The Imperial Princess kowtowed to her husband thrice and her husband did the same after her and the ladies of ceremony bearing a pair of nuptial chalices they brought them between the two who were seated right in front of each other and poured them some liquor.
The couple simultaneously picked up their chalices and raising them toasted to each other before they drank up from then.
After they had concluded, they lowered them down and stood up, they turned to face their respective parents and paid their respects as the Emperor and Empress smiling heartily, Eunuch Deng moved forward once the wedding had been concluded bearing in his hands an Imperial Edict.
"Her Highness the Imperial Princess, His Highness the Grand Internal Prince Consort, all hear and receive His Majesty's Edict." He said and at once, the two in the presence of their family members and the officials went onto their knees as Eunuch Deng unfolded it.
"MY DAUGHTER IS GRACIOUS THROUGHOUT THE LAND, SHE TAKES AFTER MY EMPRESS AND IS MY JOY, AS THE GRAND INTERNAL PRINCE CONSORT HAS HIMSELF BEEN CHOSEN BY THE HEAVENS TO LOOK AFTER HER, HE SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE HONORARY PRINCE YINGNAN, THE SECOND RANK MARQUIS OF WEI and he's hereby elevated to the office of the Deputy Minister of Agriculture." He read as he handed over the Edict to the young man.
"I Lin Cun, Grand Internal Prince Consort Yingnan thank His Majesty." He said as he received the Edict and bowed his head to the Emperor who lightly smiled at him while nodding his head in approval.
Deposed Consort Cao seated in a small crumped up room she stared at the blank wooden table in front of her as Linxiang made her entrance.
"Ma'am." She said to him bowing her head to her.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Her Highness the Imperial Princess was finally wedded in the Grand Square," Linxiang responded as she stretched out her hand towards her revealing a small envelope.
"Whom is it from?" Consort Cao inquired.
"His Serene Highness." She responded as the old woman hesitantly taking it in her hands unfolded it finally revealing its contents and then permitting her eyes to peruse through.
After a while, she placed it down on the table.
"What does it say, Ma'am?" Linxiang inquired.
"His Excellency was appointed by His Majesty to the office of the Deputy Minister of Rites, he was created the second rank Marquis of Wei and additionally honoured as the Grand Internal Prince Yingnan." She responded.
"It's good enough, His Highness can now certainly garner more power as it is." Linxiang said.
"It's far from over." Deposed Consort Cao remarked.
"Why could that be the case Ma'am?" Linxiang inquired.
"The Imperial Court moved His Majesty to designate a minor Prince Zhao Yuju as the Crown Prince's Cohort it only means that the strife between the Empress and the Crown Prince will become more intense." She replied.
"As such, what do you expect to be the outcome Ma'am?" Linxiang inquired.
"If the Crown Prince triumphs then the Empress will lose, should she win this strife then she'll lose her son, either way being just as painful, I'll close my eyes and die in peace having avenged my son." The Deposed Consort Cao muttered as she smiled at herself ghastly.
The ceremony having come to an end the Empress returned to her Chambers being accompanied by Beiyuan and Manyin as she sat down.
"When will the Prince Zhao Yuju come into the capital?" She inquired.
"Tomorrow." Beiyuan responded.
"How is the Crown Prince?" She inquired.
"There's barely been any reaction from the East Palace just as he seemed composed during the wedding of the Imperial Princess." Beiyuan responded.
"I see." Empress Yang muttered.
"Is there anything else Your Highness?" Manyin inquired.
"It's most probably because I am anxious after all, I can't wait to see the look on the Crown Prince's face when he receives him in his study." She muttered confidently.
At the break of dawn, a very small but beautiful red carriage drawn by a tawny brown stead made its way through the streets as it approached the South Gate of the Imperial Palace where it halted.
A couple of Imperial guards recognizing it they walked up to it to stand guard as the rider a handsome young man who appeared to be in the early years of his youthfulness moved down towards its doors.
"Why have we stopped Wei Shi?" Zhao Yuju inquired.
"We have arrived at the Imperial Palace Milord." The young man responded as he opened the door and at once, Zhao Yuju stepped out dressed in a remarkably beautiful turquoise robe and his head was adorned with a beautiful black futou whose design perfectly resembled that of an official.
Facing the guards that had surrounded him, they greeted him in unison while he responded by kowtowing to them before he faced the entrance of the Palace.
"This way Milord." One of the guards said to him as he led the way through the Magnificent structure moving into the direction of the East Palace.
Empress Yang quietly seated in her dark room was slowly tapping her table emersed in her thoughts when Manyin suddenly barged through her doors and rushed right in front of her.
"Prince Zhao Yuju has arrived in the Palace Your Highness." She said and the latter seizing tapping the table at once she relaxed in her seat.
"Is that so?" She asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Manyin confirmed that the Empress strangely calm she lightly smiled at herself.
"Let the game begin." She whispered to herself and Manyin curious she couldn't help it but feel confused.
Approaching the East Palace, Zhao Yuju was intercepted by Eunuch Deng and the rest of his retinue which standing in front of the gates to the Crown Prince's residence they bore in their hands a golden scroll.
"Milord." They greeted him while bowing their heads to him.
"What's the matter?" He inquired.
"Receive this Edict from His Imperial Majesty." Eunuch Deng responded and at once Zhao Yuju along with his escorts knelt in front of him as he unfolded it.
"THE PRINCE ZHAO YUJU IS HEREBY PROMOTED TO THE POSITION OF THE CROWN PRINCE'S LECTURER AND COHORT AND THUS HE IS HONOURED AS HIS SERENE HIGHNESS THE COMMANDERY PRINCE OF CHEN ZHAO GUICHENG." He read.
"I Zhao Yuju thank His Majesty." The young man said as he bowed his head while Eunuch Deng smiling at him he folded the Edict and handed it over to the young man who hesitantly took it into his own hands.
Looking at it he stood up while Eunuch Deng and the others standing in his path moved away.
"Please proceed to the East Palace." Eunuch Deng said to him and Zhao Guicheng nodding his head walked through the gates.
The Crown Prince Zhao Hong seated in his Chambers was still lost in his thoughts feeling tensed as the Empress' words still lingered at the back of his mind.
Breaking his silence, Eunuch Ling his attendant rushed in.
"Your Imperial Highness, His Serene Highness, Prince Zhao Yuju, your lecturer and Cohort appointed by His Majesty has arrived." He notified him.
"Let him in." Zhao Hong responded and the latter withdrawing from the room momentarily, the young man took a deep breath and sighed before Eunuch Ling returned with his Cohort.
Anxious for a moment as the young man walked behind the Eunuch which kept him hidden from the Crown Prince's sight until they got close, Eunuch Ling bowing his head he stepped aside to reveal the Prince's visitor.
The Crown Prince recognized almost instantly the face before him and the expression itself was very familiar as well.
The dark eyes staring into his and that forehead with prominent temples, that hooked nose and those small tan lips,
"It can not be." He thought to himself inwardly.
"Your Highness." Zhao Guicheng spoke to him in that familiar voice that he was used to, one that he clearly recalled as he bowed his head to him and the Crown Prince still silent appeared to study him with caution and some degree of disdain.
"Leave us." He ordered his personal Eunuch.
"But Your Highness...." Eunuch Ling speaking in protest he smacked the table aloud.
"Which part of my order in particular was not clear?" He asked.
"Forgive me Your Highness." The young man responded as he slowly withdrew from their presence granting the two men some privacy.
"What are you doing here Mu Lang?" He inquired.
"I am here as Your Highness' Cohort." He responded.
"Do you understand what that means?" He inquired.
"Yes Your Highness." Zhao Guicheng replied hesitantly.
"You walk through those gates as the Empress' person, you come before me as a sword that is sharpened and aimed at my neck, my enemies honour you and exalt you with a good name it isn't so hard to understand their intentions." Zhao Hong remarked.
"I understand what you must be thinking Your Highness." Zhao Guicheng mentioned.
"Is that so?" He asked.
"I'm sorry." Zhao Guicheng apologized.
"Is that the least you can say to me after everything that happened between us, after what we've been through, you have no idea how hard it was for me to make it through those sleepless nights, haunted by thoughts and visions of myself staring at your corpse, my heart, it beat hard, it was weighed down by guilt, so much guilt as I had been unable to even look at you in your final hours, I didn't know where to begin with to find your body, I worried so much that you couldn't rest in peace as I couldn't even give you a proper burial, what to tell your parents if ever I found them, all that transpired, brought me to hate myself till now when finally you appear before me as an enemy that I should get rid of." He said shouting at the top of his voice.
"You have the right to be angry Your Highness, I will never hate you for that, our fate is itself too cruel that once your liege man of honour now the same can't be said, now I have become your enemy." He responded.
"You have been a Prince all your life, I can't help but wonder why I am only learning that right now," Zhao Hong muttered as he raised his right hand and beat his chest, "perhaps it's because I was foolish, perhaps it's because I trusted you, maybe it was all part of the Empress' scheme, a scheme to get close to me and make me lose those that I loved and cherished dearly." He asserted.
"It's better if you think about me that way Your Highness." Zhao Guicheng remarked.
"And I shall do so Mu Lang, no Zhao Guicheng." He said as the young man still quiet looked him in the eye, "as my Cohort the Empress only asked me to prove worthy enough to hold my position and on the other hand you must naturally devote your all to resist that." He muttered.
"And I will gladly do so Your Highness." Zhao Guicheng mentioned himself not so happy and his eyes teary it was clearly that he was struggling to cage his pain.
"Should I ascend the Imperial throne you understand well enough that I'll make sure you can not survive, living will be difficult for you if I wish to hold onto that power." Zhao Hong mentioned.
"In any case Your Highness, should I ascend the Imperial throne instead for old times' sake, I'll make sure that at least I let you keep your life, I'll let you stay far away from this cruel Palace, from this kingdom as a gesture of my gratitude for the care that you accorded me." He said.
"I don't think a traitor can possibly understand what it means to be sorry or grateful." Zhao Hong remarked.
"It's because no man in this world will ever understand this traitor's guilt, it's because no man in this world will ever understand this overbearing, this cruel, this insidious traitor's heart." Zhao Guicheng said as he stood up from where he was seated and still facing the Crown Prince, he kowtowed to him before he slowly turned around to walk away.
"Put your hands down and surrender at least." The Crown Prince shouted after him that he halted in his footsteps, "if you really are considerate, if it is for old times sake, put your sword down I'm begging you because it is the last shred of compassion I can accord you in my capacity." He insisted.
"I'm sorry Your Highness but I can't do that." Zhao Guicheng responded, "if you truly wish to be a powerful Emperor, if you truly wish to be a sagacious ruler of this our Greater Heavenly Empire, you must fight and defeat me Your Highness, even if you have to shed my blood in the process." He muttered as he continued his way right out of the room leaving the infuriated Crown Prince clenching his right fist and loudly smacking the table in front of him.
Zhao Guicheng stepping outside halted at the top of the staircase before he turned around and looked back at the plaque hanging over the entrance of the Crown Prince's Chambers.
"How lonely it must have been for you Your Highness, yet after all that time it is better for you to hate me this much I don't mind, I am certain, one way or another, this is the best and I'll do everything in my power to protect you, everything necessary even if it means that I must become your political rival." He thought to himself inwardly.
His personal attendant soon realising that the young man seemed lost in his thoughts he was somewhat concerned.
"Are you alright Your Highness?" Wei Shi inquired.
"Yes." He responded as he looked away and moving down the stairs he ushered himself out gracefully.
Empress Yang seated in her Chambers Manyin walked in and bowed her head before her.
"Your Highness." She said.
"How was the Crown Prince?" She inquired.
"He had a heated conversation with his cohort, everyone in the East Palace could almost hear him lashing out at him once in a while." She responded.
"Who wouldn't feel like the Crown Prince right now, I of all people probably understand him the most." She mentioned.
"Something is bothering you Your Highness." Manyin appeared to realise all of a sudden.
"You don't blame me for being ruthless, do you?" She inquired.
"No." Manyin replied.
"The Crown Prince of this country ill-treated me, he turned this whole world upside down to tarnish my name." She said.
"This matter is already over." Manyin remarked.
"That's what I fear because the vengeance of a mad man doesn't just stop at those that wronged him but ends up destroying the whole world along with everything else that may come in his path." Empress Yang muttered.
"Your Highness..." Manyin seemed speechless.
"I only wished to protect His Majesty in return for the protection he gave me, then I dreamt of creating a peaceful world, I dreamt of building my own Magnificent Century." Empress Yang professed, " But the Crown Prince of this country is not my son, the Crown Prince of this country was not born from my womb, he only knows to think that I am the reason he lost his loved ones and loyalists, I could tell from the look in his eyes every time he smiles at me these days pretending to be a very good and filial son not to be censured, do you know how much his gaze frightens me, suffocates me to the point that my chest feels heavy and every time I lose the air in my lungs?" She mentioned.
"I understand Your Highness." Manyin comforted her.
"There's nothing in this world for me to be scared of, there's nothing in this world that I should fear I can't keep deceiving myself that all will be well even when he takes the throne and that he might be merciful the only way that I can survive is by stopping him from rising to the Crown." Empress Yang swore, "I'll have to do just that even if it has to mean the end of me." She pronounced her resolve.
Strongly biting her teeth with her fists clenched, momentarily her tense expression evolved into an evil grin.