Winter arrived as snow had fallen over the rooftops the Palace.
The Crown Prince Zhao Hong along with Zhao Guicheng seated on a pavilion that faced the frozen Imperial pond, they were warmed by the brazier which burnt in their midst.
The Crown Prince's tutors had gathered right in front of the two and Shi Miyuan at the forefront of the Group he studied the two Princes intently before he spoke up.
"The result from the essays that Your Highnesses presented is out." He announced and a heavy and uneasy silence descended upon everyone in the pavilion as the Grand Chancellor turning to Yu Tianxi, he presented the scroll in front of everyone with three seals attached to it.
They were inspected by Eunuch Ling who turned to the Crown Prince and nodded his head.
"The seals have not been tampered with." He notified everyone and withdrawing at once, the Imperial Grand Chancellor taking the scroll in his hands started breaking the seals one by one until he had finished.
He stood up, still tightly holding onto the scroll in his hands and moving forward he suspended the scroll on a stand before opening it.
The Courtiers themselves were startled at the sight while the Crown Prince's gaze froze when he saw the result as well.
The Crown Prince Zhao Hong had topped his colleague and seeing this Zhao Guicheng still keeping himself composed turned to Wei Shi.
"Congratulations Your Highness." Eunuch Ling muttered with so much excitement while the Crown Prince for a moment unable to believe it looked at Shi Miyuan who stared at him expressionless.
Perhaps he'd been looking at the wrong person all along, perhaps he'd been certain that the result was bound to be something else he couldn't stop himself from turning and looking over his right shoulder at Zhao Guicheng who feeling his gaze upon him was determined to keep pretending that he was ignoring it.
He stood up shortly after and faced the tutors.
"Forgive me Your Excellencies for having disgraced myself and the Court by getting the worst grade, I beg to be excused." He said and kowtowed to them before he walked away from the pavilion while the Crown Prince barely reacted and did nothing but slowly watch him disappear.
Emperor Ningzong seated in his bed was looking at a memorial in his hands when Eunuch Deng walked in before him standing behind the silk curtain of his bed.
"Your Majesty." He greeted him bowing his head.
"What is it?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"It's the result from the Crown Prince and His Cohort's exam." He responded.
"The Crown Prince's Cohort excelled again?" The ailing Emperor asked.
"No," Eunuch Deng responded, "that's what's most surprising Your Majesty." He remarked and the Emperor curious turned his attention away from the memorial, finally closing it, he looked straight at the old man in front of him.
"What happened?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.
"The Crown Prince passed with an excellent but his Cohort, he failed with the worst grade." Eunuch Deng reported and the Emperor hearing this was taken aback.
"Impossible." He muttered to himself and coughing vigorously he covered his mouth with his right hand.
"Are you alright Your Highness?" Eunuch Deng inquired.
"Yes, I wish to be alone." Emperor Ningzong responded and the latter stepping outside the building while the Emperor watched to make sure that no one was around, he slowly lowered his hand from his mouth and looking at it he noticed the blood in it.
Zhao Guicheng stood over the bridge that overlooked the pond as he slowly threw stones into it one by one lost in his thoughts.
Zhao Hong and the rest of his retinue approaching him the young man halted in his footsteps.
"Stay here." He ordered Eunuch Ling along with the others who stepped away as he mounted the bridge and moved closer to Zhao Guicheng.
The latter seemed to notice the Crown Prince's proximity that he faced him and kowtowed to offer his respects.
"Your Highness." He greeted him.
"Why?" The Crown Prince inquired.
"What is Your Highness talking about?" Zhao Guicheng inquired.
"You failed, with the worst grade at that." Zhao Hong responded.
"You don't need to make a fuss about it Your Highness, we all fail and it's natural, we're all humans and we are not gods, for the things in our power is it not better to hope and work harder to do better next time?" Zhao Guicheng asked.
"This isn't you Mu Lang, no, Zhao Guicheng." Zhao Hong insisted.
"And do you know me Your Highness?" Zhao Guicheng inquired, "are you familiar with the type of person I am are you even aware of my innermost nature?" He muttered as the Crown Prince kept quiet which gesture induced Zhao Guicheng to face the pond once again.
"Don't take it to heart Your Highness, you shouldn't sympathize with me but rather be glad with my inadequacies, enemies can not love, care or feel sorry for each other, I am your political rival who by convention or not, might and power and even by my mere presence can take every little thing there is in your position." He said.
"Since when did so many things ever come between us?" Zhao Hong asked, "I once told myself that in this tug of war, you'll always do nothing but win even when I'm right but if your prowess and your once supernatural talents decline are you not worried that you'll be abandoned?" He begged to know.
"I was already abandoned by the person I cared for the most in this world, or perhaps it's the other way round, rather than me, worry for yourself Your Highness, you just can never know when a fly which is too small will become big enough to make you sick." Zhao Guicheng remarked.
"I don't want to care about the reason you'd take this path, I don't want to pretend that your sympathies are of any concern to me, as long as you are the Empress' person, as long as you survive within the shadow of her wings, it isn't about how strong our relationship is, it is just enough to make you my contender." He appeared to caution him.
"You worry for me unnecessarily Your Highness, so much that it moves my heart, but as it is yet too inadequate and I am best reserved, I'll honour the promise I made to myself, the promise to protect those I love and cherish, to keep them safe from harm's way even if I must die doing so." Zhao Guicheng uttered confidently bowing his head to him before he walked away.
"You are telling me that the Crown Prince's Cohort for the first time failed the exam with the worst grade?" Empress Yang inquired.
"Yes Your Highness." Xiaoyang responded that the latter smiled at herself.
"It's good enough for the Crown Prince, he seems to have made an effort to change himself in the past couple of years, but it's very much unlike the Crown Prince's Cohort, he had always had many opportunities to try and protect the Crown Prince yet he waited and chose now of all times." Empress Yang muttered.
"Your Highness, I find it strange as well, if it comes to the worst, the Courtiers might start to abandon the Commandery Prince and this will only give the Crown Prince a chance to garner more power and influence." Xiaoyang cautioned.
"He understands that a simple Examination won't make him lose his place as the Crown Prince's Cohort and the officials themselves will naturally feel cautious of his attitude." Empress Yang remarked and putting her hand on the table she slowly started tapping it.
"What are you thinking about Your Highness?" Xiaoyang inquired.
"The Commandery Prince probably knows better than anyone else that we'll give him another chance, he'll be more prepared than anyone to make the outcome much worse." She responded.
"We should stop him." Xiaoyang muttered.
"No." Empress Yang responded.
"Then what are you going to do Your Highness, watching him have his way would jeopardize everything that you have worked hard for so far." Xiaoyang seemed more concerned than she was.
"We can't rid the Commandery Prince of his affection for the Crown Prince therefore the only way that we can succeed is by having him express it." Empress Yang mentioned as she smiled at herself.
"Your Highness, it'll be too risky." Xiaoyang still discontented she was opposed to her ambiguous designs.
"We'll be celebrating His Majesty's thirtieth year of reign so the public will have their eyes on the Imperial family, as the preparations will be personally handled by the Inner Court and I shall oversee them, there's no better opportunity to act than this." She muttered.
"But should anything go wrong Your Highness then I fear that you shall be held responsible." Xiaoyang said.
"Worry less about me, besides it may seem unusual but pink gold is brightest in the strongest fire." Empress Yang remarked as she smiled at herself casually.
Shi Miyuan and the rest of the high-ranking officials gathered inside their office silently, he could tell by looking at the majority that they were worried and pretending to ignore them Peng Zishou gathered the courage that he could find to break their silence.
"If I may Your Excellency?" He requested.
"Yes Grand Secretary." He responded.
"Are you not worried about the result from the examination?" He inquired.
"Should we be?" Shi Miyuan asked surprisingly.
"The mere fact that the Commandery Prince who is also the Crown Prince's Cohort failed and with the worst grade at that is something that is very serious." Wei Yuanzhang, the Minister of War responded.
"To what degree?" Shi Miyuan asked that he started to seem to the rest rather not serious about the issue.
"Consequent actions are usually what we rely on to pass our verdict as statesmen but as politicians usually the first signs take great significance in defining one's political position." Yang Gu, the Minister of Personnel remarked.
"In a manner that is quite intriguing if considering the Commandery Prince's intellect he isn't one who would perform in such a manner, when the rumours of course get out of hand as we concern ourselves with this what is a small spark might produce intense conflagration." Yang Shi, his brother, the Minister of Works supplemented.
"It is a shock of the first magnitude Your Excellency, one that is bound to come with very appalling results unless we handle it properly." Wu Xiang, the Minister of Revenue asserted.
"What's your opinion on this?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"The Commandery Prince has fought very hard to rise to prominence in the past couple of years since he became the Crown Prince's Cohort, if his popularity starts to diminish at the expense of the Crown Prince then it'll be much harder in the future to contain the Crown Prince's power and even supplant him if he chooses to rise against us." Peng Zishou responded.
"We have all concerned ourselves with the Commandery Prince's behaviour which is good but what about the Crown Prince?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"What are you trying to say Your Excellency?" Wei Yuanzhang inquired.
"Do you not wonder what the Crown Prince could possibly do now that he has gotten a chance to improve his public image?" Shi Miyuan asked them directly and momentarily they fell silent each unable to give an answer.
"His Majesty will be celebrating his thirtieth year on the throne very soon and that means that a lot of eyes all over the Empire will be directed to the Imperial family and to the Imperial Palace in particular." Shi Miyuan pointed out, "it'll certainly be the best time for the Crown Prince who having changed to become a filial son will look forward to stealing the show from the Commandery Prince." He added.
"Even if we have the Crown Prince held down in the process, it'll be useless if we can not move the Commandery Prince to win the public popularity." Yang Shi insisted.
"To contain the Crown Prince is all we have to do, the Empress and the Inner Court which is going to oversee the ceremony will deal with the Commandery Prince." Shi Miyuan assured the rest.
"And what happens afterwards, if anything goes wrong we might give our enemies a chance to aim at not only the Commandery Prince but also the Empress?" Yang Gu more concerned for his aunt spoke up.
The climax of the strife of the Princes is at hand and we can't prevent blood from being shed, however, if there is one thing that we should stop at all costs then it is the Crown Prince whose mere chance to attain more power will automatically mean the end of us." Shi Miyuan responded.
Empress Yang standing on the pavilion which overlooked the capital beyond the walls of the Palace was lost in her thoughts.
Herself staring at the distant rooftops could hear the noise from the masses below that taking a deep breath, she sighed.
It was then that the Crown Prince Zhao Hong and the Commandery Prince Zhao Guicheng approaching from opposite sides they faced each other and Zhao Guicheng bowed his head to him.
"You haven't yet vacated the Imperial precincts?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"Her Highness invited me over for a cup of tea." Zhao Guicheng responded and Zhao Hong responding with silence he mounted the stairs of the pavilion first while Zhao Guicheng followed him.
Finding the Empress enjoying the breeze they halted behind her while Beiyuan moved over to her.
"Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince Zhao Hong and His Serene Highness the Commandery Prince Zhao Guicheng are here." He notified her and the old woman opening her eyes she turned around to look at the two of them.
"Greetings Your Highness." They sang in unison each of them kowtowing to her.
"I see you are all in high spirits." She remarked.
"Mother is well and you invited me over, as I did well in the exam and made you proud as the Crown Prince of this country how is it that I can not be cheerful now of all times?" Zhao Hong responded.
"If His Highness is happy then so am I, as his tutor however to receive Your Highness' sincerest grace I am truly humbled that it flatters my heart." Zhao Guicheng muttered.
"Your words are all too sweet, your expressions very much alike it must be that enjoying each other's company has made you more intimate." Empress Yang mentioned, "I hate to keep you waiting seeing that I am old myself I still wish to live a bit longer, if you don't mind let's enjoy some tea." She said as she led the two boys to the short table that had been prepared where they all sat down on the stools that had been prepared for them.
Manyin, Xiaoyang and the rest of the Empress' retinue hurrying over they poured them some tea in their cups and withdrawing, the Crown Prince studied his cup intensely.
"Mother, Chrysanthemum tea has always been your favourite, however, I see that this time round it is biluochun tea that you have prepared instead." Zhao Hong mentioned.
"You are right, Chrysanthemum tea is my favourite, however now that the occasion is rather special I prefer to have the biluochun tea as it is His Majesty's favourite." Empress Yang responded as she commenced the session by picking up her cup first and taking a sip.
The two Princes watching followed her, first making a toast and then sipping at their cups simultaneously before they lowered them on the table and the Crown Prince was somewhat concerned noticing a strange expression on the Empress' face.
"Is there something bothering you mother?" He asked with worry painted all over his face.
"You are all aware that in a couple of days His Majesty will be celebrating thirty years on the throne." Empress Yang responded.
"What's the matter with that mother?" Zhao Hong, more talkative and more concerned was inquisitive of her innermost worries.
"The burden of the Crown hasn't been easy on his shoulders as the Crown Prince along with your Cohort, I wish to ask you both to prepare a special present for him individually based on your own preference." She responded.
"Just this alone Mother, it shouldn't have worried you so much, you would have told me." Zhao Hong said.
"It isn't easy being the Crown Prince either and you should have noticed that time isn't on our side, I only humbly ask that each one of you puts your heart into it." She said.
"Yes Your Highness." The two Princes responded in unison as they bowed their heads to her simultaneously and she smiled at them heartily as well.
Emperor Ningzong seated in his bed while Lan He was by his side, an Imperial Physician taking his pulse appeared distraught as he finally let go of his arm.
"What's the problem, is there anything wrong with me?" He asked.
"Forgive me Your Majesty." The Physician muttered.
"What is it?" Emperor Ningzong was curious while Lan He beside the Emperor looked at the old man cautiously.
"Your Majesty might have been quite lucky to have lived this long." The Physician responded.
"What do you mean?" The old man startled demanded an immediate answer.
"In the past seventeen years Your Majesty ingested a very vicious poison, as a result, your recovery was based on the fact that another poison had to be administered to fight the other which induced a series of violent reactions within your body and ultimately your Majesty's vitals have been severely damaged." He responded.
"So what I experienced is a result of that?" He inquired.
"I'll be very Frank Your Majesty as much as it really hurts me to say this, there isn't hope for recovery and what you experienced was your blood fighting your body and it'll happen recurrently until these symptoms and signs get out of hand....." He hesitated.
"How much longer do I have to live?" The old man inquired curiously.
"It is impossible for me to ascertain how much longer Your Majesty will live but all I can assure you is it is only a couple of months if Your Majesty were lucky enough." The Imperial Physician responded and distressed the old man taking a deep breath he sighed.
"If you want to be safe, make sure you don't tell anyone else about this." Emperor Ningzong ordered.
"Yes Your Majesty." The Imperial Physician responded as he stood up and bowing his head to him, he slowly withdrew from his presence leaving the Emperor alone with Lan He.
"Your Majesty...." He tried to comfort him while the teary old man smiled at himself.
"There's no need to trouble yourself." He muttered to him.
"You did nothing wrong Your Majesty, you were only a very Good Emperor." Lan He remarked.
"I stole the happiness of the woman that I loved, I have lost all my children, I have swallowed poison and ailed in darkness, perhaps to die would be my salvation." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"And what about me Your Majesty?" Lan He asked, "who will keep you warm in the Netherworld, who will pray for your soul, who'll guard you, when you stumble, who'll lift you when even when you staked your life for the woman that you loved, she'll just never be entirely yours?" He asked.
"You will be well." Emperor Ningzong responded.
"No." Lan He refused, "before you die Your Majesty, I must wither, I must bleed first because you are all that I swore to protect, you are all that I have to protect." He assured him.
"Enough Lan He, you are no longer a little slave boy I took in, maybe when I die and my body turns to dust, when my soul meets my creator you will finally be set free." Emperor Ningzong muttered under his breath and closing his eyes he slowly without a word started shedding tears.
Returning to his Chambers, the Crown Prince sat down while Eunuch Ling accompanying him halted
Lost in his own thoughts, it was clear from his expression that he was restless and the latter curious didn't hesitate to voice out his concern.
"What's wrong Your Highness?" He asked.
"Are you certain that you're unaware?" The Crown Prince Zhao Hong asked him instead.
"It is about the Empress' request, isn't it?" Eunuch Ling responded.
"We all do understand that it won't be a mere presentation of gifts to His Majesty." Zhao Hong mentioned.
"The Palace has been quite noisy ever since the result of the exam between Your Highness and the Commandery Prince was revealed, there have been quite a number of rumours circulating many of which have greatly marred the Commandery Prince's public image." Eunuch Ling reported.
"Then perhaps that's what it is all about." The Crown Prince Zhao Hong asserted as he appeared to have thought about something.
"What is it Your Highness?" Eunuch Ling inquired.
"This is merely the Empress' excuse to have the Commandery Prince have another chance to save his waning fame." Zhao Hong responded.
"It only means that Your Highness must present a more excellent gift to His Majesty." Eunuch Ling pointed out.
"I am afraid that it shall be very difficult considering the fact that the Commandery Prince is quite talented especially in the liberal arts if he's to be compared with me, let it be a poem or painting or calligraphy, his works will be much better." Zhao Hong muttered.
"Then what are we to do Your Highness, if we can not surpass the Commandery Prince in winning His Majesty's favour then I fear that it'll only hit us hard in the end." Eunuch Ling insisted.
"If we can not surpass the Commandery Prince then we should make sure that his present is bad enough to arouse public excitement." The Crown Prince Zhao Hong remarked.
Zhao Yuju walking into his room he accompanied by Wei Shi he moved over to his seat where he immersed himself in his thoughts instantly.
"The Empress asked Your Highness to prepare a present for His Majesty to celebrate his thirty years on the throne, I find it quite strange." Wei Shi asserted.
"It is very clear that she feels threatened that public sentiment is most likely to take a drastic turn and shift in favour of the Crown Prince." Zhao Yuju responded.
"There are rumours spreading all over the Capital following Your Serene Highness' result from the exam with the Crown Prince, knowing that you are talented I am certain that she's giving you an opportunity to show that your personal talents surpass the Crown Prince's." Wei Shi remarked.
"Perhaps." Zhao Yuju muttered as he took a deep breath and sighed, seemingly worry-free.
"Aren't you bothered by it Your Highness?" Wei Shi inquired out of curiosity.
"There's nothing for me to worry about, it isn't my intention to compete with the Crown Prince after all." He said.
"But does he think the same Your Highness?" Wei Shi asked.
"It doesn't really matter, at one time the two of us were closer than best friends, perhaps even closer than brothers, sharing a very deep affection, a deep fondness, a deep bond that made me willing to even lay down my life for him." Zhao Yuju responded.
"But His Highness is now your political enemy, if he ascends the throne, he'll either have you exiled or if it comes to the worst, you could be executed." Wei Shi tried to persuade his master.
"It doesn't matter, I'd do any of that gladly, after all, it was him who gave me the hope of living, the reason for me to return, someone to protect dearly, it was him." Zhao Yuju responded.
"If you so insist Your Highness." Wei Shi muttered, "but you must at least give a gift to the Emperor, at least so that you aren't punished for disregarding the Empress' order." He insisted.
"Don't worry, I won't be a disloyal subject to His Majesty at least." Zhao Yuju remarked as he lightly smirked at him.
Empress Yang sat face to face with Shi Miyuan who was awfully quiet in front of her.
"How has it been?" She asked him.
"The Courtiers are ready and they'll move once you give me your word Your Highness." He responded as she smiled at him momentarily.
"His Majesty has been on the Imperial Dragon throne for thirty whole years, this time round I intend to give the Crown a bit more transparency." She mentioned.
"I don't quite understand Your Highness." Shi Miyuan said.
"It is said that rulers are appointed by heaven to govern the people therefore I don't think that it'd be too absurd to convene the public and allow them into Imperial precincts." Empress Yang uttered.
"But Your Highness, there has never been such a dynastic precedent, if more of the General public enter the Palace then it might compromise the security of the members of the Imperial family." Shi Miyuan claimed.
"If we wish for His Majesty to show his disregard for the Crown Prince it's something that he must do in the open." Empress Yang said, "now is our chance to hold down the Crown Prince and furthermore win the Commandery Prince more popularity." She insisted.
"But I am still curious, how do you intend to defame the Crown Prince?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"His Majesty must have had a number of sleepless nights, definitely being haunted by that memory that he had to rebel against his father and force him to abdicate the throne in his favour, any wise person desperate to abstain from trouble would best understand that reminding him in the gaze of the public is the last thing they should do." Empress Yang responded.
"Her Highness asked the Crown Prince along with his Cohort to present gifts to His Majesty upon the celebration of his thirty year reign?" Feng Ba inquired.
"Yes, Your Serene Highness." Hua Jin responded.
" Everything seems to have taken a more drastic turn." Feng Ba remarked.
"The Crown Prince is as desperate as ever to keep his position and he has set his eyes on the throne while on the other hand for the Commandery Prince it is an opportunity for him to restore his slowly waning fame." Hua Jin asserted.
"I heard that the Commandery Prince is very talented especially in the liberal Arts?" Feng Ba appeared to inquire.
"He even surpasses the Crown Prince." Hua Jin claimed.
"If the Empress proposed it then certainly there must also be something she's up to." Feng Ba said.
"Whatever it is Your Highness can leave it to me, I'll have my people keep a close eye on the Empress." Hua Jin assured him.
"Report to me any of your findings immediately." Feng Ba ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Hua Jin responded.
It was very Early in the morning and the Commandery Prince Zhao Yuju seated in his living room Wei Shi appeared in front of him with another old man.
"Your Highness." They greeted him in unison while he too nodded his head in appreciation.
"This is one of the most famous Carpenters in the entire Empire." He introduced him.
"I am Li Shouyi, I greet you your Highness." He said as he bowed his head to him.
"I heard that your work is an exception and I wish to personally exhibit your talent during His Majesty's forthcoming celebration of thirty years on the throne." He muttered.
"There isn't anything I can not make as long as I can understand how it is that Your Serene Highness would love to have it look." Hs claimed.
"I don't want you to make something for me." Zhao Yuju suddenly responded.
"What!" Both Wei Shi and the old man seemed surprised.
"Then why did you ask me to hire the best carpenter in the Capital Your Highness?" Wei Shi inquired.
"I want you to make someone who is good with his hands make something precious for me." Zhao Yuju responded as he smiled at himself.
"Very well then Your Highness." Li Shouyi responded as he bowed his head to the young man who studying his expression only responded with silence as well.
Zhao Hong seated in his own study Eunuch Ling walked in carrying a bowl of dried persimmons which he placed down on the table where the carpenter Li Shouyi was seated in front of him.
"You said that the Commandery Prince asked you to make someone who is good with his hands do something for him?" Zhao Hong inquired as he picked one of the persimmons and studied it keenly.
"Yes." He responded.
"Who is it and what?" Zhao Hong asked.
"He didn't tell me any details but he only asked me if I am willing to take up the offer." Li Shouyi responded.
"And you agreed?" The Crown Prince seemed inquisitive.
"Yes Your Highness." Li Shouyi responded.
"The Commandery Prince took the liberty to invite you which means that it must be in regard with the Emperor's gift." Zhao Hong asserted.
"Perhaps but I am yet to know whatever it is that he is working on." Li Shouyi responded.
"You may leave." Zhao Hong ordered and the old man standing up he bowed his head before he withdrew from the room while Eunuch Ling got closer to his master.
"The Commandery Prince having become secretive it is clear that he has foreseen the possibility that Your Highness might act up." He said.
"Yet it is strange enough that we are all very much aware how the Commandery Prince is terrible at woodwork, in any way why would he consider presenting to His Majesty something that he is very terrible at doing?" Zhao Hong asked when Eunuch Ling comprehending what he was trying to hint at something came to mind.
"Your Highness is suggesting that this is most likely a decoy?" He asked.
"At first I had my doubts but the moment I had that the Commandery Prince chooses to be discreet I am now certain that we are treading the right path." Zhao Hong responded.
"Then what are we going to do Your Highness?" Eunuch Ling asked.
"Keep a close eye on him, however, there's yet another more interesting person that I wish to have monitored in this game." The Crown Prince Zhao Hong responded.
"Who Your Highness?" Eunuch Ling seemed curious.
"The Empress called the shots and she is the one who proposed the idea that the Commandery Prince should also present a gift to His Majesty, it isn't enough to watch him alone if we intend to win this game it is best that we understand what the main mastermind is up to." Zhao Hong responded.
Wei Shi and a couple of other servants carry on a large piece of wood they brought it before Zhao Yuju who looked at it earnestly with some bit of excitement.
"This is it Your Highness." Wei Shi notified him.
"Red Mahogany, in deed very rare." He responded as he touched it with his right hand and felt its surface.
"I asked a couple of our men to keep a close eye on Li Shouyi, after his departure was spotted entering the East Palace." Wei Shi reported and Zhao Yuju halting his hand he raised his head and looked at him.
"I see." He muttered seeming uninterested.
"The Crown Prince must be cautious about our every move towards the celebration......" He remarked.
"Which is a good thing." Zhao Yuju interrupted, "he can do whatever he wants, nonetheless, my plan will remain the same." He insisted as he turned to the wood once again and slowly feeling it underneath his palms, he smiled at himself.
The days passed swiftly one by one and the Empress standing at the top of the pavilion that overlooked the capital Beiyuan accompanied by Bao Langya approached her.
"Your Highness." They greeted her.
"Did you bring it?" She asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Bao Langya responded as he kowtowed to her before they opened a large scroll in their hands.
She slowly shifted her attention from the city and towards the golden masterpiece in front of her as she moved her right hand and felt it underneath her fingers reading its contents.
"It's beautiful." She said.
"But Your Highness, I still don't understand, how will this enable us to get what we want?" Beiyuan inquired as she smiled at herself and turned back towards the balcony.
"It'll bring back certain memories to His Majesty." She responded, "most probably one of the memories that is very familiar to me, from my childhood." She professed but the two barely understanding what she was thinking preferred to keep their silence.
Zhao Yuju standing in his woodshed, barely having done a good job he stared at the rugged plaque that he'd designed and varnished in maroon and gold, he smiled at himself as he touched the characters.
"It is beautiful." He remarked.
"That's tragic Your Highness, are you making a joke of His Imperial Majesty when it is not only cheap but also imperfect?" Wei Shi asked.
"Imperfect? Yes, but perfect enough to lay behind the Crown Prince, I must admit that I have done a great job." He responded.
"Are you really not interested in restoring your reputation Your Serene Highness, are you really bent on losing to the Crown Prince?" He asked.
"As long as I am alive I shall always lose to the Crown Prince, as long as there's breath in my lungs, in any tug of war I'll always lose to the Crown Prince even when I'm right." Zhao Yuju responded sternly.
"Forgive me Your Serene Highness, I spoke out of turn." Wei Shi apologized instantly.
"I understand people like you very well, it doesn't matter if I am misunderstood, but who understands someone like the Crown Prince, someone who has tirelessly spent the last couple of years preparing to take over the throne, someone who has lost himself and accepted his destiny of becoming the ruler of our Greater Heavenly Empire one day, he who has trod on thin ice all his life and bore the pain from the ambers underneath his feet?" Zhao Yuju muttered to himself as he took a deep breath and sighed facing the window on his right which overlooked the East Palace.
In the East Palace, the Crown Prince seated in his audience hall was lost in his thoughts as Eunuch Ling moved forward with a huge scroll and knelt in front of him.
"Your Imperial Highness." He greeted while bowing his head which induced the young man to snap out of his thoughts and accord him his full attention.
"Yes!" He responded.
"It is ready." He notified his master as he spread it on the floor right in front of him that the Crown Prince studied the drawing of the plum blossoms that had been adorned with a beautiful poem
"FOR AS YOUR MAJESTY IS BLESSED BY THE HEAVENS, WHOSE WILL IS UNDOUBTED AND WHOSE BENEVOLENCE IS SUPREME, FOR JUST AS AUGUST AND BEAUTIFUL AS THE PLUMS OF MAY, YOU REIGN MAGNIFICENT AND PACIFY THE SEAS." He read it.
"I must say, the words move my heart so deeply, Your Highness, with this you'll certainly win over His Majesty's heart and surpass the Commandery Prince's popularity." Eunuch Ling assured him.
"Certainly." Zhao Hong spoke to himself confidently and smiling, he folded the scroll and tightened it in his grip.
The lights within the East Palace were extinguished and silence descended over the Imperial City as the servants prepared to retire and sleep.
With only a couple of Imperial guards standing guard outside a small Court lady dressed in a pair of dull robes stealthily made her way through the Inner Courtyard as she approached the Crown Prince's main Chambers.
She seemed well versed with the entire place and comfortable nonetheless as she tiptoed inside, moving to what was the study area within the vast structure.
Covering her nose with a thin veil and temporarily holding her breath as she took a step forward, the incense burning next to the Crown Prince's bed was something she appeared to avoid so hard.
She then negotiated the corner around the table where she was able to spot a trunk that was hidden underneath, locked with a padlock, she was certain that what she wanted was inside.
She pulled a hairpin from her hair and opening it, it possessed a thin end that was sharp and somewhat flexible.
Fixing it into the padlock and twisting it, she succeeded in opening the small chest she momentarily felt like leaping up with joy.
There her eyes beheld the golden scroll that was safely tucked in, sealed with three seals and ultimately tied with a crimson and gold nylon rope.
She slowly pulled it out and placed it on the ground as she went further ahead to pull another one which was identical to her robes and putting it in place of the one that she had pulled out.
She locked the chest and returned it underneath, stealthily looking around one more time to make sure that there was no one watching her as her eyes travelled to the Crown Prince who was deep asleep.
Picking up the scroll that she'd stolen and tucking it within her robes again she made her exit from the building with the Crown Prince not barging at all.
Empress Yang seated in her Chambers with the young girl in front of her she looked at the scroll in her hands.
The beautiful painting stirred a number of emotions in her head and slowly she felt her heart beating uneasily.
"Well done." She applauded the girl, "did you put the thing I gave you?" She inquired from her.
"Yes Your Highness." She responded.
"You may leave." The Empress ordered and the latter without any hesitation she stood up and exited from the room while Beiyuan slowly made his entrance.
"What do you think Your Highness?" He asked.
"It's still too early for us to tell," she responded as she looked down again the scroll that they had given her, "tomorrow the Palace and the Inner Court will go through the mill, an odious tide of disaster that will undoubtedly shake our Greater Heavenly Empire, one that will undoubtedly shake our country, we only need to hold our anchor, we only need to survive to end up victorious." She remarked.
"Very well then, if Your Highness wills it." Beiyuan assured her.
The Courtiers gathered within the Grand Square, a vast number of commoners had settled down as well at the back.
Right in from of the Grand Hall two seats had been arranged for both the Emperor and Empress and With the sound of the trumpets and the drums, Eunuch Deng stepped forward right in front of the gates.
"His Majesty the Emperor and Her Highness the Empress deign you all with their presence." He shouted at the top of his voice and the two approaching the entrance from two opposite sides they kowtowed to one another while smiling at themselves before the Emperor offered his hand to his wife who placed hers in it.
They faced the Imperial walkway that divided the yard and slowly started walking through dressed in their Imperial robes as they smiled at their audience.
"You look strikingly beautiful my Empress." Emperor Ningzong muttered.
"You look Magnificent yourself too Your Majesty." The Empress responded.
"I am flattered, there are many eyes watching me." The Emperor said.
"The monarch must first shine for the Monarchy to shine as well, for the Crown I believe some little transparency amongst the common folk would make the Crown a more stable institution and an equally loveable one." Empress Yang confidently asserted as she held up her gown with her right hand and altogether they mounted the stairs.
Reaching the top they moved around the table that had been preparing for them and facing the masses the guests instantly bowed their heads to them.
"Long Live Your Majesty our Emperor, long Live Her Highness our Empress." They sang in unison as the two gracefully lowered themselves into their seats.
Instantly, the celebrations began as a number of troops made their way forward and started entertaining the guests.
The Crown Prince Zhao Hong was seated next to his Cohort Zhao Yuju both of whom were being admired by the Noble girls and commoners that had pinned their gazes on the two.
The Imperial Couple smiled at themselves once in a while before they turned back to their entertainers while Shi Miyuan seated next to Peng Zishou they watched the two Princes quietly as well.
"What do you think the two Princes have prepared?" The latter asked as Shi Miyuan huffed and ghastly smiling at himself he turned to him.
"So far that should be the very least of our concerns." He responded.
"If you think so Your Excellency." Peng Zishou uttered, "but if it isn't then what is?" He seemed more curious.
"What matters is His Majesty's expression." Shi Miyuan responded as he looked at the old man who appeared to smile heartily with his Empress by his side as the entertainers persisted with their amusing show.
The Show being concluded, Eunuch Deng stepped forward in the silence as then Princes themselves tried not to exchange glances.
"We'll now invite the Crown Prince of this country along with his Cohort to present their gifts to His Majesty." He announced and immediately, the trumpets were sounded as the two Princes stood up from where they were seated.
The Empress stared at the Crown Prince earnestly as he led the way, accompanied by the members of his retinue and the Commandery Prince Zhao Yuju followed in a humbler design.
They halted right in front of the Emperor and his wife and they each went on their knees and bowed their heads side by side to offer their respects.
Greetings Your High Imperial Majesty, Long live Your Great Majesty, the Lord of a thousand years." They sang in unison as the Emperor nodded his head in approval.
"You may present your gifts." The Emperor ordered and the Crown Prince bowing his head he took hold of a big scroll that was handed over to him and with the help of Eunuch Ling, he unfolded it to reveal a set of Big characters that composed what appeared to be a single stanza of a poem.
"FOR WHO HOLDS IN HIS HANDS THE WORLD BUT ZHAO, HE WHO IS HIGH, FILIAL AND RADIANT, FOR WHAT GREATER BLESSING IS THERE FOR US THAN THIS, THE TESTAMENT SUPREME, THE PRESENCE OF THREE YAOS THAT SANCTIFIED OUR HOLY COUNTRY." The Scroll read.
The Emperor staring at it intensely was deeply immersed in his thoughts while the people still longing for a reaction from him appeared to have granted him their full attention.
"Three Emperors, all who abdicated in favour of His Majesty, no, the last of the three it was a Palace coup." Zhao Yuju thought to himself as the Emperor stretching his hand he held onto the scroll and appeared to caress it with his right hand.
"Whose piece is this?" He asked and Zhao Yuju looking at Zhao Hong who was startled where he was standing himself one more time he stepped forward.
"It was me Your High Majesty." He responded confidently as he went onto his knees in front of the whole world.
"Thirty years Your Majesty has led a virtuous Court and eradicated corruption, thirty years you dismissed the sinful officials and consoled the people, thirty years Your Majesty has been amicable was it not a good Emperor that this country asked the heavens and it gladly received from them, if there's a gift better than anything else in this world that I could think of then none is this testament of a promise, a dream that was realised." He said.
"All these years, how is it that I forgot it, I had to live with the fact that it was me myself that inherited this Dynasty by rebelling against my father." Emperor Ningzong said as his eyes turned back to the plaque that had been unveiled.
"GREAT PEACE BE UPON YOU, OH GREAT SON OF HEAVEN." He read the message inscribed on it.
"I suppose both Princes agree that I am peaceful." He muttered to himself.
"But Your Majesty, the poem, it bears the Seal of the Crown Prince." Eunuch Deng suddenly pointed out that the old man instantly shifted his gaze to the far lower left of the scroll where he instantly recognized it.
"What?" Everyone gasped with surprise.
"The Crown Prince!" Emperor Ningzong exclaimed as he raised his eyes to the quiet young man who was standing in front of him ultimately recognizing what appeared to be a reflection of his own self.
"You?" He asked.
"How dare you lie to His Majesty?" Empress Yang spoke up noticing that her husband was suddenly short of words that the latter raised his right hand and pointed at him while tightly holding onto his neck he appeared to instantly have some difficulty breathing.
He coughed once and then twice, thrice before it became hard while the two Princes stuck trying to process what was happening exchanged sharp glances.
"Blood!" Someone shouted from the crowd which forced the Empress to turn to her husband who at that instant had already started throwing up blood from his mouth.
Losing his equilibrium not forgetting his fragile old self, while Zhao Yuju noticed beforehand and the Empress shortly after, he had moved forward faster than the two, fast enough to miss his step and roll down the stairs.
"Your Majesty?" Eunuch Deng and Lan He shouted while Zhao Hong standing still was processing the fact that Zhao Yuju had rushed forward to help the man he didn't know was his father.
He held him up in his hands tightly as he shielded him against the stones and stairs until they were at the bottom, a spectacle being perceived by the commons, a confused crowd, the Eunuchs still believing that it wasn't too late rushed towards the casualties while the Empress swiftly made her way forward.
"Your Highness?" Manyin and Xiaoyang shouted after her, presumably cautious for her own safety as she reached her ailing husband.
Only seconds unconscious, the Commandery Prince was groaning in so much pain as he bled endlessly from his own wounds.
"You must survive Your Majesty." Empress Yang shouted while the Eunuchs slowly bore the two men away.
Murmurs ceaselessly erupted from the common majority while the Crown Prince looking at the scroll he had presented he immediately moved towards it and picked it up.
His eyes perused through its contents, he knew, it wasn't his work yet his seal and handwriting suggested otherwise.
"It's all the Crown Prince's fault, how could he be that insidious to his father, His Majesty was not pleased with his gift, how could he act with much selfishness?" The people murmured amongst themselves while the young man knew that only one person could be held responsible, only one person would have loved that spectacle, and only one person was the chief mastermind.
Slowly, he turned around and looked at the Empress whose gaze met his, she was contented, she was calm, even at that critical moment when he felt the world pointing its fingers at him.
Peng Zishou looking around while Shi Miyuan smiling at himself he slowly raised his eyes to the startled Crown Prince who stumbling was held back by Eunuch Ling as he turned to the vacant throne ahead of him.
Quite a number of thoughts in his mind, guilt being the most intense of feelings he harboured.
He'd done it despite knowing that the Empress had longed for that opportunity, he had allowed himself to be fooled by His enemies despite the fact that he had been cautious of them.