With the sound of trumpets and drums in the air, the Palace thrown into jubilation had its doors open wide as the Sedan chair carrying the Imperial Prince was lowered.
He stepped out with the help of Wei Shi who held his hand, slowly he approached the gilded threshold of the crimson gate that ushered him into the vast expanse of the Central Square.
He lifted his right foot and went over it, only to be greeted by the Empress' ladies in waiting and Eunuchs who had been joined by a large group of officials.
The Grand Chancellor Shi Miyuan along with the leaders of the three offices and six ministries dressed in their official robes kowtowed as the young man passed through their midst, slowly and gracefully, he approached the stairs that led to the Central Hall.
Stopping right in front of it he went onto his knees, his resistance hard to notice as he appeared to act out of cheerfulness and gratitude.
"I, the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun greet Your Imperial Highness." He said as he bowed his head, a voice which resounding through the walls found its way to the ears of the old woman who appeared to be patiently standing behind the main two closed doors.
Xiaoyang noticing that she'd been taken aback stared at her intensely as she mustered the courage to speak up to her.
"It is time Your Highness." She said.
"Have them announce me." She ordered and the latter turning to the door knocked twice which sign Beiyuan who was standing outside was swift to interprete.
"Her Imperial Highness deigns you all with her presence." He notified the congregation outside and a couple of Court ladies seizing the doors pulled them open for her.
Meeting the radiance of the late morning sunshine that was cast on her crimson dress, the Empress stepped forward into the view of everyone else shining like a goddess.
Her hair was held back by a set of golden floral hairpins and dyed fully black to hide her grey strands of hair, she progressed with her youthful appearance until she stood at the tip of her staircase.
Beiyuan looking at Manyin, she rushed towards him with the crimson chest bearing the Crown Prince's seal and slowly taking it from her, he transferred it into the possession of the Empress who smoothly embraced it.
Once certain that she had it firmly within her grip, she proceeded to descend from the height towards her son, the majority enthralled by the pageantry which appeared exquisite quire a number were sighing in relief yet the Empress and the young Prince battled with their inexpressible mixed feelings until she was finally standing right in front of him.
"Your Highness." He said.
"My Prince." She responded.
"Take me as I am." He muttered and herself responding with silence temporarily, she shifted her attention to the Courtiers in front of her.
"THE HEAVENS PLEASED AND VESTED THEIR MANDATE TO OUR ZHAO, WE GAVE OURSELVES ONCE IN OUR DIFFERENT CAPACITIES TO THAT PROMISE THAT WE'D MAKE OUR GREATER HEAVENLY EMPIRE GREATER YET AGAIN, OUR FOUNDATIONS CRUMBLE, OUR INSTITUTIONS WEAKEN, YET WHAT HAS KEPT US ALIVE TO THIS DAY, IT IS OUR WILL TO LIVE, OUR WILL TO SURVIVE, THE WILL THAT COMPELS OUR BROTHERS TO DEFEND OUR BORDERS, THE WILL THAT MOVES OUR MOTHERS TO RAISE AND FEED OUR CHILDREN, THE WILL THAT CASTS IN THE HEART OF EVERY MAN A FLAME TO RESIST SUBJUGATION FROM OUR BARBARJC ENEMIES, THE WILL THAT MAKES OUR PEOPLE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER THROUGH EVERY STORM OF THIS LIFE, WE ARE STILL TOGETHER WHATEVER THE FUTURE HOLDS, AND AS IT IS THAT WE ARE ENTRUSTED WITH THE UNEASY TASK TO LEAD THE PEOPLE THAT HEAVEN HAS BESTOWED UPON US ALL, I WON'T DISAPPOINT THEM, I'LL GIVE MY ALL TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY WITH MY FULLEST ABILITIES, MEN SAY THAT EMPIRES RISE AND WANE, BUT I TELL YOU THAT FROM THIS DAY FORWARD THAT SAYING IS ABOUT TO CHANGE, REGARDLESS OF HOW HARD THE ENEMY HITS US FROM EITHER WITHIN OR FROM OUT, I SPEAK AS THE IMPERIAL REGENT, EMPOWERED WITH FULL IMPERIAL POWER, I WILL LEAD YOU AND THE LEADERS OF THIS COUNTRY TO VICTORY, NOT AS A WOMAN BUT AS HEAVEN'S BLESSING, AS THE NATION'S MOTHER, AS THE DYNASTY'S FINEST WARRIOR AND ITS MOST SAGACIOUS GUIDE, THIS IS MY PROMISE TO YOU." She announced.
"Long Live Your Highness, Your Highness is Sagacious." Shi Miyuan led the Courtiers who immediately sang praises to the Empress while she handed over the Crown Prince's seal.
"You didn't even inaugurate me in your speech Your Highness, what use is it to make me the Crown Prince's Regent when you can rule on your own?" He asked as he took the seal.
"You should raise your head and see this, you should burn it in your memory, the Mandate of Heaven loses meaning if I say it does because this way I trust you'll remember, the woman who made you a king." She responded.
"Even with these praises, remember, I'm not doing this for your sake Your Highness." Zhao Yun whispered.
"As rulers are not born but made, I don't seek absolution for any of my actions so far, I'd be lying if I said so anyway, the thing is eventually in my eyes you made the right choice." The Empress remarked as she smiled at herself ghastly.
Zhao Hong seated in the East Palace in his bed could almost hear the faint nose, himself immersed in his thoughts and ailing, the doors of his Chamber were flung open as Eunuch Ling rushed in.
"You are awake your Highness!" Himself quite surprised but excited halted beside his bed.
"I could barely stay asleep throughout the noise that came from outside," Zhao Hong asserted as he raised his head and looked him in the eye, "the Palace must be in high spirits." He sounded lamentable.
"The Commandery Prince has been formally adopted by the Empress as an Imperial son, she has delivered your seal, the seal of the Crown Prince of this country to him." Eunuch Ling reported.
"Titles and privileges too are like gifts, at one point when earned can be lost and given to others." The Crown Prince responded.
"Just as your title is temporary Your Highness." He muttered.
"It is only a matter of time before I lose if too, the last thing I'm holding on, who would have thought that before all those eyes, I'd have to kill my biggest dream, the one responsibility I had long cherished and warmed up for, I just traded it for my life." Zhao Hong remarked, beating himself in his heart.
"But we must endure." Eunuch Ling said.
"Of course we will." Zhao Hong said as he furiously clenched his fists.
The Empress settling in her seat, Shi Miyuan smiled heartily to lighten her mood.
"The speech was well received Your Highness, you spoke quite like an Emperor." He praised her.
"I needed the moment to shine." She responded.
"And you succeeded Your Highness." He said.
"Perhaps." She responded sounding uncertain which descended upon the two an awkward silence momentarily before Shi Miyuan chose to break it.
"Finally, we can now end those protests and appeals." He muttered.
"The thought is good but I don't think it is necessary yet." Empress Yang mentioned which startled him.
"I don't quite understand Your Highness, it was your intention to pacify the political institutions and masses involved while protecting the Crown Prince of this country by Imperial amendment." He seemed confused.
"Yet the Imperial Clan, scholars and Censors still desired to replace the Crown Prince, was it not the initial reason for the protests?" She asked.
"Then perhaps..." Shi Miyuan was hesitant to conclude as yet and the old woman took notice.
"It wouldn't have been very easy to escape public criticism by making a lowborn Commandery Prince the Emperor of this country unless we secured and legitimised his position first, the ascent might have seemed bureaucratic to many but it was my handiwork with the intention of slowly phasing out the current Crown Prince without causing much upheaval." She confessed.
"I see, in any case, if the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun became the Emperor we'd face minor resistance from the masses given that his ascent would be justified by the fact that to many he earned his position by merit." Shi Miyuan muttered.
"And thank heavens now that the world seems aware that the Crown Prince can no longer fulfil his duties." Empress Yang asserted.
"What are we going to do next Your Highness?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"Many must be waiting for me to realise that my position doesn't require me to give partially therefore the Imperial Clan, scholars and Censors should use this opportunity to their advantage and intensify their plea for the Crown Prince to be deposed." She responded.
"You want them to pressure both Your Highness and the General public?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"They must," Empress Yang responded, "in the mean time, there's one more thing for me to take care of." She mentioned.
"What is it Your Highness?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"His Majesty our Emperor's last testament." Empress Yang responded.
Zhao Hong still beating himself up inwardly and lost in his thoughts, Eunuch Ling stood outside the room when suddenly Zhao Yun appeared in the hallway and approached him.
"Your Highness." He greeted him.
"Where is His Highness?" He demanded to know, "I need to see him." He insisted.
"His Highness wishes to be alone." The latter responded.
"Let me in." Zhao Yun ordered.
"Did you not hear me Your Highness?" Eunuch Ling stood up to him.
"Step aside." Zhao Yun insisted.
"It isn't in my jurisdiction as mine is to obey my master whom I serve." Eunuch Ling asserted fiercely staring him in the eye, "you may be my senior as an Imperial Prince but the Crown Prince is my master above anyone else." He notified him.
Zhao Yun's patience having worn out he forced his way through, seizing the doors and throwing them open he walked in on the disheartened Crown Prince.
"How dare you?" Eunuch Ling yelled after him while the Crown Prince turned and faced the latter in front of him.
"Enough." He shouted and Eunuch Ling restrained he stepped back.
"Was this why you did it?" Zhao Yun inquired.
"Leave us." Zhao Hong ordered and Eunuch Ling bowing his head he slowly withdrew from the room leaving the two alone.
"Is that what brought you here?" He asked.
"When you came to me yesterday, when you told me those words, was this, perhaps why?" Zhao Yun demanded to know when Zhao Hong stepped out of his bed and approached the nearby window where he stood.
"Yes." He finally agreed.
"You asked Her Highness to grant you her Imperial sanction permitting you to abdicate your position as the Crown Prince of this country, have you any idea what you just did?" Zhao Yun asked.
"You are not in the position to judge me." Zhao Hong insisted.
"Is that what you keep telling yourself to justify your actions?" Zhao Yun inquired, "It's pathetic you know, very brazen of you, what dignity have you as a man?" He provoked.
"If I didn't act up then it would have been the Empress, you have seen the Scholars, Imperial Censors, Courtiers and members of the Imperial Clan, if I didn't move they would have probably against the Deposed Crown Princess, probably against my own people, those ultra-loyalists, I merely chose to survive." Zhao Hong replied.
"Thanks to you, I shall always suffer for that," Zhao Yun muttered, "thanks to you I'll never find peace until the day I die." He said.
"And thanks to you I can finally be free, thanks to you Your Highness I will live, is it not much better, to be banished to the ends of the Takla Makhan, to love whoever I want and live away from this political intrigue, this castle that is no different from a gilded cage, this prison that drains the life and happiness from me?" Zhao Hong mentioned.
"Now that I think about it our fate must be tragic." Zhao Yun professed.
"For my best friend, the one person, the one man I knew I could trust with my entire life to become my biggest political rival." Zhao Hong mentioned.
"What makes you think I am any better?" Zhao Yun asked.
"That's why I'll never forgive you, for having lived, for having come into my life, but most importantly, I can never forgive myself, for having known you, for having embraced you in my life, for having come this close but only been powerless to not protect the people that were dear to me, for having not confronted the Empress directly and defeated her." Zhao Hong responded.
"What then will you do?" Zhao Yun inquired.
"I believe the person who should be asking themselves that question is you." Zhao Hong responded, "I will survive wherever the world chooses to throw me but what about you?" He asked the young man who responded with silence, himself unable to even come up with an answer.
"Now you know." He mentioned when Eunuch Ling suddenly walked in on the two of them.
"Your Highness, we have a big problem." He broke off their conversation.
"What's the matter?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"The Imperial Censors, Scholars and members of the Imperial Clan have returned to the Palace, they are insisting that Your Highness be deposed." He reported.
"How is that even possible, I have taken over the Crown Prince's official duties, I have been elevated to the position of the Imperial Prince of the first rank." Zhao Yun protested.
"It is because of that." Zhao Hong mentioned as the latter turned to him.
"What!" Zhao Yun was confused.
"As it is that I can no longer perform the official duties of the Crown Prince of this country, as it is that Your Highness has legally become my brother, it isn't enough to act like the Crown Prince, it is all the more necessary for you to become one." Zhao Hong mentioned.
"How can you still be calm, how can you be like this after hearing that?" Zhao Yun asked.
"It is because it was inevitable, knowing this perhaps I prepared myself well to this point." Zhao Hong responded.
"There has to be a way, you can't just give in like this." Zhao Yun insisted.
"Do you know the most dangerous thing in life?" Zhao Hong inquired while he instantly went speechless.
"It's hope, there's nothing more dangerous than that, I have to admit the truth, I must accept reality, the sooner, the better." He said.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince is unable to fully perform his duties as required by the position he holds, being the foundation of this our Greater Heavenly Empire he is too weak to hold the reins of power, please reconsider your decision Your Highness, please depose the Crown Prince of this country." The Prince Zhao Xuan said.
"Please hear our humble plea Your Imperial Highness, grant us your sanction to depose the Crown Prince." The other members of the Imperial Clan behind him requested in unison as stationed outside the gates of the Central Palace.
"The Crown Prince has sinned by attempting to honour his calling and abandoning his people, he can no longer command the confidence of the government and the Imperial Court of this country, how then can he become our Greater Heavenly Empire's most August Sovereign?" The Head of the Neo-Confucian scholars said.
"Please hear our humble plea Your Imperial Highness, grant us your sanction to depose the Crown Prince." His colleagues stationed outside the Palace gates requested in unison as they bowed their heads.
"Because the Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty indulged himself in the carnal pleasures of his flesh he ignored his duties as a monarch, it nearly annihilated the Dynasty and greatly compromised the security of heaven's Mandate which cost our Empire nearly half its original territory, please heed our command Your Imperial Highness, grant us Your Imperial sanction to depose the Crown Prince of this country." The Imperial Censors led by Wu Zhen petitioned outside the gates of the Grand Square.
"The Imperial Prince Zhao Yun is diligent and wise, he is generous and filial in his conduct, being a legitimate son to both His Majesty and Your Highness, there's nothing more that makes him any less suitable to occupy the position of the Crown Prince of this country." Shi Miyuan asserted.
"His Highness the Imperial Prince has shown his prowess and excellence as the Crown Prince's Cohort and possesses the qualities of a good monarch." Yu Tianxu supplemented.
"Our Country couldn't be more blessed than to have him as our governor for the generations to come." Wei Yuanzhang praised him.
"Please hear our humble plea Your Imperial Highness, grant us your sanction to depose the Crown Prince and elevate His Highness, the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun to his position instead." Shi Miyuan pushed his request forward.
"Please hear our humble plea Your Imperial Highness, grant us your sanction to depose the Crown Prince and elevate His Highness, the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun to his position instead." The rest of the Courtiers supported them in unison while the Empress within her Chambers laughed at herself ghastly.
"Who would have thought that the opposition to the Crown Prince would intensify at this rate?" She asked rhetorically.
"So it may seem that he is politically defenceless as we speak as the people demanding for his deposition are themselves too many." Xiaoyang remarked.
"But we can't act as yet." Empress Yang responded.
"I don't quite understand what Your Highness is saying." Manyin mentioned.
"I must resist the people's urge until the bitter end." Empress Yang said, "if there is someone who should yield to this plea then it is His Majesty." She remarked.
"But he won't act in that vegetative state Your Highness." Xiaoyang appeared to remind her.
"Except that no one in the world even has an idea that he is in such a state therefore it won't be much of a problem." Empress Yang responded.
"I sure hope it is the case Your Highness, even then, once the Crown Prince has expired, we must dispose of him." Manyin mentioned.
"Rest assured, at least thanks to the look of guilt in his heart, I have arranged for him to move out of the Capital where he will be closely surveilled, not too close but not too far as well." The old woman boasted.
"However, what are you going to do with the others kneeling outside begging Your Highness to depose the Crown Prince?" Beiyuan inquired.
"Who cares whether they kneel there the entire day, the longer they press, the more exciting this becomes." Empress Yang responded.
The sun shifting the hours went by and the officials involved in the protest still persistent knelt in their respective positions as it scorched them.
The Emperor lying unconscious in his bed had Lan He seated by his side, the latter pitifully gazing at his half-lifeless form couldn't help but start shedding tears.
"It's already been so long Your Majesty," he suddenly spoke up as he rested his hand on his, "this country, it has changed so much." He asserted a bit hopeful that he was listening and perhaps waiting for a response, his glare only grew more and more intense with every second.
There was none, there wasn't even the slightest gesture of a moving finger, the only thing he could console himself with after perceiving his master's condition was his rising and falling chest, at least he was certain that he was still breathing even if the intensity appeared to reduce over and over again.
"The Courtiers and Officials are gathered outside and begging the Empress to depose the Crown Prince of this country, the Empress unwilling defends him with her life and position yet I see for myself that it is nothing more than a lie to gain public sympathy." He continued to report, "the scientists from the Imperial observatory say that Winter is soon coming upon us, I only wish that this time round I shall be burning coal for you." He continued mumbling as his eyes descended onto the Emperor's again.
He was still and silent, he wasn't responding, and Lan He knew that he didn't want to say it but was probably too weak to refrain his feelings from running wild he mustered the courage to let the words that were itching him.
"Please get up Your Majesty, at least one last time, even if it is not for my sake, please get up." He said as he lowered his head onto his covers and started sobbing quietly but bitterly.
He could only feel silence lingering in the air and as he took a deep breath and sighed to hold back his tears he suddenly felt a hand on his left shoulder.
He seized instantly and raised his head, startled, he could hardly believe his eyes when he recognized the Emperor lying awake in his bed.
"Your Majesty....." He stuttered and trying to get up to call the Imperial Physician, the Emperor held onto him.
"Please don't." He muttered.
"Your Majesty has gained consciousness, I should inform the Imperial Physician." Lan He insisted.
"I know that but before, there is something that I wish you would promise me." He spoke in a frail voice and Lan He calming down he returned to his side, closer this time round.
"What is it Your Majesty, whatever it is, I shall certainly ensure that I fulfil it to the best of my abilities even if it means that I must follow you to the Netherworld." Lan He assured him.
"I know you would do that but it isn't yet your time." Emperor Ningzong mentioned, "I ask this of you because aside from you, there's no one else that I could trust." He asserted.
"Please tell me Your Majesty." Lan He said.
"I don't have a long life to live and this world is full of only cruel people, I swear that for a moment I could see my father and grandfather calling to me, when I am gone there's no guarantee that those vicious Courtiers will not turn on the Empress one day." He said.
"What are you saying Your Majesty?" Lan He inquired.
"Protect my Empress, protect Her Highness for my sake, just as you would give up your life for me I want to ask you to give it up for her," he responded in tears.
"Your Majes..." Lan He hesitant to comply the latter tightly held onto his hand.
"Please," he said, "it's the last thing that I am asking from you." He insisted and Lan He momentarily falling quiet he looked him in the eye.
Desperation burned behind those dark irises, so much that he could almost feel it off him, struggling, holding on a little bit longer but in pain, for just this one request, he was giving in too much of his energy.
"Yes Your Majesty," he finally responded, "I'll gladly protect the Empress even with my life just as I would readily give it up for you." He assured him.
Emperor Ningzong convinced withdrew his grip.
"Thank you." He said.
"You don't have to thank me Your Majesty." Lan He remarked.
"I should, after all, those fifty years of my life, since I saw you, none were easy but at last, your protection, your safety, it brought me this far." Emperor Ningzong said as he slowly closed his eyes and shed a couple of tears.
"Your Majesty?" He called him.
"I want to have a word with the Empress, you can call in the Imperial Physician first but ask the Courtiers to wait outside." He ordered.
"Yes Your Majesty." Lan He replied in a sombre tone.
Beiyuan dashed through the hallways, fairly lit by the crimson lanterns that hung from the rooftops, at that time the sky dark was possessed by thick clouds and the moon veiled from sight could hardly be recognized.
He negotiated a corner that set him right in front of the doors to the Empress sleeping Chambers and there noticing a couple of Court ladies that were standing guard they only kowtowed to him upon realizing his presence.
"Is Her Highness asleep?" He inquired.
"She retired very early today, it's been four hours already." One of them responded.
"I need to see her, there's something urgent that I wish to relay to her." He muttered and the two of them stepping aside, he made his entrance into the dark room.
Only lit with a few dim candles that were far from her bed, the Empress lay peacefully while incense burnt close by.
"Your Highness, there's something urgent that I wish to report to you." He mentioned and the latter hearing him instantly she opened her eyes and sat up in her bed, slowly arranging her hair and covering herself, she turned to Beiyuan who was standing in front of her behind the silk curtain.
"You aren't one to usually bother me at such ungodly hours, if it concerns the officials then it can wait." She responded.
"It isn't the case Your Highness, this is about His Majesty." Beiyuan mentioned.
Empress Yang surprised by what she had heard went speechless.
"What about him?" She anxiously inquired.
"His Majesty has gained consciousness and requests to have a word with you." He responded.
"Impossible." She muttered unable to believe it as she stepped from behind the curtain and stood right in front of Beiyuan.
"What about the officials?" She inquired.
"He has asked them to wait outside the building." Beiyuan responded.
"Anyone?" Empress Yang called out when the ladies standing guard outside immediately rushed in.
"What's it Your Highness?" They inquired in unison.
"Summon Court Lady Xiaoyang and Manyin, bring the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun to the Grand Palace as well." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." The two responding in unison immediately withdrew from the room.
"What are you going to do Your Highness?" Beiyuan asked her.
"My heart is uneasy and if His Majesty has summoned the Courtiers it greatly troubles me all the more." She responded.
"Have you something in mind perhaps Your Highness?" Beiyuan inquired.
"We must take all the necessary precautions just in case," Empress Yang responded, "if His Majesty in deed wishes to see me then I don't see any reason to refuse." She professed.
Zhao Yun sleeping in his Chambers the doors were thrown open with a loud thud which immediately awakened him forcing him to sit up in his bed.
He recognized one of the Court ladies of the Central Palace almost instantly as she stepped to the forefront which was a couple of feet away from his bed.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Forgive us for intruding on Your Highness' privacy unannounced but Her Highness the Empress has requested your presence at the Grand Palace immediately." She responded as she bowed her head to him.
"Have I a choice?" He inquired.
"Of course if Your Highness declines we have been sent with a couple of Eunuchs that will drag you there either way." The old woman responded.
"Very well then, I shall get ready." Zhao Yun responded and the woman smiling at him slowly withdrew from the room leaving him with a couple of Eunuchs in attendance.
Zhao Hong seated in his own Chambers could hardly sleep as his eyes were set on what appeared to be a map of the Empire in front of him, his room partially illuminated by the dim light from the small candle that burnt on his table, he was engulfed in darkness as his own thoughts preyed on him when Eunuch Ling made an unexpected entry into the room.
"Your Highness." He greeted him, sweating profusely as he gasped for air.
"Is something bothering you?" He inquired.
"His Majesty has regained consciousness." He responded.
"I see." Zhao Hong responded.
"Aren't you happy at all Your Highness?" The young man asked, "if His Majesty is alive then that means that he'll surely do whatever it takes to protect you." He reasoned.
"It's only tragic that you are still naive regardless of how far we have come, do you not wonder what the reason is for us to have come down this path?" He inquired.
"I understand that Your Imperial Highness thinks that hope is very dangerous but I very much wished that things could not end up coming to their worst." Eunuch Ling mentioned.
"We all at some point wished for the same, we all at some point prayed for it, suppose we won this time, I couldn't help but wonder if this strife would ever end as long as one of us lives." Zhao Hong mentioned.
"Your Highness....." Eunuch Ling seemed persistent.
"I only need to endure this," Zhao Hong responded, "I wish to have a walk in my backyard." He requested.
"I'll make all the necessary arrangements Your Highness." The young man assured him as he walked out of the room, leaving his troubled master alone in the darkness again, the latter only appeared to return his attention to the map in front of him.
Empress Yang approached the Emperor's Chambers accompanied by her retinue as she made her entrance into the Inner Corridor.
Her path cut off by the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun who stationed himself before her, he bowed his head.
"Greetings, Mother." He spoke nonchalantly.
"I see you made it." She mentioned.
"You requested for my presence." He responded when suddenly the doors being opened the Imperial Physician stepped out.
"Your Highness, my Prince." He greeted them with a sombre expression written on his face.
"How is His Majesty?" Empress Yang inquired.
"I only wish that it was any easier for me to deliver this news but my heart is heavy, His Majesty sure is conscious but his pulses are very weak and faint." He responded.
"Will he be alright?" Zhao Yun inquired, eager to know the most.
"Forgive me but this is the last radiance of the setting sun." The Imperial Physician replied.
"It's alright, leave us." Empress Yang muttered and the two withdrawing at a distance, she faced the doors silently for a moment before she had the courage to walk in.
She could see the silk curtain hanging in front of her husband's bed while he calmly lay on his back, getting closer she realised that his eyes were wide open and barely blinking, she was certain that he was looking at the ceiling or perhaps his mind was elsewhere.
"Your Majesty is alive, I am so relieved." She said.
"Are you really...?" He asked hesitantly.
"Yes," she responded when she realised that the way he'd sounded was awkward.
"Your Majesty?" She called waving her hand in front of him.
"Don't bother my dear." He responded.
"It can't be." She suddenly felt overly concerned.
"Of course, as I have lived a sinful life, I have seen what I should not see that the heavens finally deprived me of these eyes." He mentioned.
"Since when?" Empress Yang inquired.
"It doesn't matter any way, at least it's much better that I don't see the misery that's written on your face." He replied.
"You can not die yet, please Your Majesty, you can not die." She pleaded with him while he closed his eyes and shed a tear as silence prevailed temporarily.
"I hate it, I have always hated that I am weak and it's all I have ever been." He professed.
"What are you saying Your Majesty?" She asked.
"For my sake, you became a monster in the name of acting up to your responsibility as a loving wife and the mother of this nation." He responded as he faced her.
"A monster emerges in turbulent times....." She excused herself when he interfered.
"And I am another turbulent time for this kingdom, another turbulent time for this Empire, you have no idea how it preys on me, so much that when I looked at the poem that the Crown Prince presented to honour my three predecessors, the mere fact that I was reminded that I permitted myself to become the political pawn that was used against my father in a very dangerous game, that I submitted and bent and usurped his throne aren't I the most sinful of children this generation has ever seen?" He asked.
"Your cause was justified Your Highness." She consoled him.
"Because there were people around me that were out to seek their revenge, because I had people all around me that were out to fulfil their ambitions, but how much blood was shed for it, in the thirty years that I have been on the throne, thirty tiring and painful years of heartache and guilt with loneliness, how many people both known and unknown to me have been buried for my sake, for the sake of a gilded chair, a Mandate I gained by winning a genetic lottery?" He asked.
"You have been a good Emperor, perhaps I felt that it was worth it too, perhaps I too understood how hard it must have been, I thought that if I gained just as much power, if I too could make ruthless decisions, it would comfort your heart and ease that burden." Empress Yang confessed.
"And I hate that of all the people that suffered the most it had to be you, I hate myself for having enslaved you to that obligation which only made things worse." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"But you don't have to feel so sorry for me." She confessed.
"It's pitiful enough, it would have been much better if you were born a man, perhaps you'd make the most loyal subject of this Greater Heavenly Empire, after all, was it not you Your Highness that made it much Greater than I did?" He asked.
"Your Majesty, there's something else that you want to say to me..." She pointed out.
"But Why, why is it that of all people in the World, it had to be Shi Miyuan?" He suddenly asked her.
"Perhaps because both Your Majesty and I were much too alike, perhaps it's because staring at you I could not help but recognize another reflection of me and unlike him all he's ever thought of was me from the very beginning, maybe he didn't feel restrained by his official position or because he caused mountains to bow down to me." She responded.
"At first I thought that at least if I died you deserved to carry the guilt of living in this world, however, shortly after that, I learnt that it all started ever since I took what was meant to be yours and gave it to another person in the name of being selfish at least." He confessed.
"What do you mean Your Majesty?" She asked as though starting to get a glimpse of something that appeared to be going on in his mind.
"Because of me, it was never about protecting your power but rather because the Crown Prince was never our child, he was never my biological son." Emperor Ningzong mentioned and the Empress startled solicited all the courage she could find.
"You knew?" She asked.
"I heard." He responded.
"Yes, you did, because I told you thinking you didn't." She professed.
"There are officials waiting outside, I asked Lan He and Eunuch Deng to show them in ." Emperor Ningzong said when the doors of the room were immediately flung open and led by Shi Miyuan, they all walked through with the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun.
"What are you trying to do Your Majesty?" She inquired.
"I always told myself that when the time comes I'll heal your ailing and quell the bitterness in your heart, I'll have you resigned from the cruel entrapment that I imposed on you and will finally set you free that I might find peace in the Netherworld." He responded, "Forgive me if I did it without your consent but I believe it's something I should have done a long time ago." Emperor Ningzong insisted and everyone halting right in front of his bed behind the curtain, they kowtowed to him.
"You asked for us Your Majesty." Shi Miyuan spoke up.
"To deliver my final testament." He spoke up and each of them surprised widened their eyes.
"Your Majesty?" Empress Yang called her when the latter seizing the silk curtain he tore it down to finally reveal himself to all of them.
"Your Majesty?" They all bowed their heads that instant.
"Look at me." He angrily demanded and each of them unwilling complied instead being without a choice.
"I HAVE HEARD THE CRIES OF MY SUBJECTS, I HAVE HEARD THE CRIES OF MY DESTITUTE PEOPLE, UP UNTIL NOW THE CROWN PRINCE ZHAO HONG HAS ACTED WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT AND HIS ACTIONS HAVE SEVERELY DAMAGED THE CROWN PUTTING THE MANDATE OF OUR GREATER HEAVENLY EMPIRE IN JEOPARDY, AS THIS STATE WAS ONCE ENTRUSTED TO ME BY MY FOREFATHERS, I CAN NOT FAIL THEM NOW ESPECIALLY AT THIS HOUR WHEN OUR GLORIOUS NATION STANDS AT THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION, WITH MY LAST BREATH, WITH THE LAST POWER THAT THE HEAVENS HAVE BESTOWED UPON ME, I DECLARE THE CROWN PRINCE ZHAO HONG DEPOSED AND NAME THE IMPERIAL PRINCE ZHAO YUN WHO IS ALSO MY SON WITH THE EMPRESS BY LAW MY SUCCESSOR TO THE IMPERIAL DRAGON THRONE BEFORE MY COFFIN." He announced and everyone taken aback the old man struggled with a couple of breaths.
"Your Majesty?" Shi Miyuan and the others said.
"This is my final testament." He professed and slowly starting to gasp for air while the Empress was watching, she held onto him.
"Hold on Your Majesty." She said but his eyes at the time closing a bit too fast, it was only a matter of time before his hand which was holding onto hers finally hang free.
Once a handsome man in his youth, one could not imagine how much he'd aged in such a short time, his hair grey and scanty with his small face that was once bright pale instead, the good but not so Great Sovereign had breathed his last.
"Your Majesty?" The Courtiers cried aloud as they went onto their knees while Lan He standing not so far behind them tried so hard but could barely hold back his tears.
The Empress perhaps the strongest person in the room only remained to stare at him while struggling to force tears from her eyes, she could hardly believe that at that hour, the lifeless person in front of her was him.
The mourning drum was sounded aloud by Eunuch Deng as its noise resounded through the hallways of the Palace.
"Please return to us Your Majesty, please do return." His cries followed but wound up eclipsed by the sound of the mourning bells as well.
The people in the Capital awoke to the noise that followed from the Scholars who were still kneeling outside the Palace gates, joining them there, they mourned jointly while kowtowing to send his spirit away.
The Crown Prince Zhao Hong standing beside the pond in his garden looked at the moon, trying so hard to ignore the grief with Eunuch Ling standing behind him.
"I suppose His Majesty has finally shuffled off the mortal coil." He said.
"It's a pity, he may have been flawed but he was a good person nonetheless." The Crown Prince said.
"The Empress was present, along with the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun, I can't say that it is a good thing, for some reason, a part of me still thinks it was too soon." Eunuch Ling mentioned.
"Who cares, it was inevitable from the very beginning." Zhao Hong insisted.
"What do we do now Your Highness, I assure you, we don't have that much time left, you'll be in danger sooner or later." He reminded the young man.
"Patience Ling'er," Zhao Hong said, "now our fate and the final war have ultimately began." He remarked.
"Until how long will you endure Your Highness?" He asked.
"Hopefully, not so long from now." Zhao Hong doubtfully responded while Eunuch Ling all the more worried studied him out of concern most probably hoping that there would be an expression that would console him.
The Empress still silently looking at her husband she faced the officials who were sobbing in front of her.
"WE HAVE ALL SEEN FOR OURSELVES, IN THIS VERY ROOM WE HAVE ALL BORE WITNESS, WHEN THE WORLD WAS NEARLY PLUNGED INTO CHAOS, AT ONE POINT IN OUR LIVES WE WOULD HAVE EACH HAD OUR OWN MEANINGLESS STORY. WE STAKED EVERYTHING THAT WAS DEAR TO US AND FOUGHT OFF THE CORRUPT LIKE MAD HOUNDS, WE SEIZED THE REINS OF POWER FOR OURSELVES TO END THE INJUSTICE WITHIN OUR COUNTRY AND SOCIETY, WE HAVE PROTECTED OUR SONS AND OUR BELOVED DAUGHTERS, OUR FATHERS AND OUR DEAR MOTHERS DOWN TO OUR OWN HOMELESS PEOPLE. WHO COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER SERVICE TO OUR NATION APART FROM US, WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER LEADERS APART FROM OURSELVES, AREN'T WE ALL TOO GOOD HUMANS, LET'S SAY OTHERS CALL US MONSTERS BUT HAVEN'T WE BEEN THE MOST GENEROUS THAT HAVE EVER LIVED?
THERE HAS BEEN ONE MAN AT THE CENTRE OF OUR EFFORTS, WE COULD COUNT OURSELVES BLEST, SOME OF YOU MAY SAY HE WAS WEAK, WHICH MAN AMONGST YOU HAS LOVED AND CHERISHED THIS COUNTRY MUCH MORE THAN HE HAS TO THE POINT OF CARING FOR ITS WELFARE EVEN AS HE APPROACHED HIS GRAVE? NONE I TELL YOU, NOT EVEN A SINGLE ONE OF YOU IN THIS ROOM HAS COME THAT CLOSE.
WE ARE ALL SADDENED AT THIS POINT AND THE PASSING OF HIS MAJESTY HAS STRUCK THE MOST DEEP AND SOMBRE NOTE IN US ALL, AS HIS SUBJECTS HOWEVER THAT HAVE RECEIVED HIS TRUST AND HEARD HIS FINAL TESTAMENT WE MUST CARRY IT OUT TO ENSURE THAT WE GRANT HIS SOUL PEACE ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT I MOVE YOU ALL, LETS TURN OUR EYES AWAY FROM AN ERA THAT IS PAST AND PEACEFUL AS WE TURN TO A NEW FUTURE, A NEW AGE, ONE BORN FROM CRISIS THAT WILL CERTAINLY FLUORISH AS THE PEAK OF OUR CIVILISATION AND WHOSE GUSTO WILL FOREVER BE UNCHALLENGED." Empress Yang said as she looked at Zhao Yun who was speechless which induced all the other officials to follow her example.
"Your Highness...." he was reluctant to accept what was going to happen next but the old woman at the time having made up her mind proceeded unhindered to further advance what she'd wanted for so long.
"GOOD LORD BLESS US ALL, GOD SAVE OUR EMPEROR." She said.
"Long Live Your Majesty, Long Live our Emperor." The officials led by Shi Miyuan said in unison as they all turned and faced the young man and bowed down to him.
"No." He said, partly infuriated and weighed down by the pressure from everyone, he clenched his fists as he slowly turned his head to look at the Empress who was still embracing the corpse of her dead husband.
Never had she appeared more astute and calm, most importantly, it appeared as though she was just trying so hard to not sigh with relief.
The praises persisted from the small room and alas the sky responded with snow falling upon its rooftops and eventually the entire capital, The Deposed Consort Cao standing in the small courtyard of her cramped up cottage faced the direction of the Palace, at the time unable to feel calm in her heart as she noticed a carrier pigeon landing right in front of her.
She bent down and pulled a letter from its foot, opening the small parchment, her eyes perused through its contents cautiously before she finally let go of it.
"Milady?" Linxiang suddenly called to her, descending the stairs of her room with a fur coat as she approached the old woman.
"It's tragic." She said to herself.
"You look disheartened Milady and it appears to me that Winter has come, at this rate you'll catch a bad cold if you stay out without covering yourself." Linxiang insisted as she put the coat over her back.
"His Majesty has finally died." Deposed Consort Cao said and the latter hearing this she froze.
"What!" She exclaimed.
"It mustn't have been easy for him surviving this long." Deposed Consort Cao said.
"I would say that I am relieved because all you ever did was love him wholeheartedly yet he could never reciprocate your feelings and for that you unjustly suffered." Linxiang said.
"But I am miserable nonetheless, he made life worth living for me." Cao remarked.
"Then what's the use of holding on Milady?" She asked.
"There's yet something I must see first." She replied, "before I can see His Majesty, before I can follow him to the Netherworld, there's still one last battle I should win." The Deposed Consort Cao insisted.