The Eunuchs led by Eunuch Deng cleaned the Emperor's corpse while at a distance split by a thin folding screen Empress Dowager Yang stood with Shi Miyuan while facing the open window.
"Winter is upon us Your Highness, are you alright?" He suddenly inquired from her.
"His Majesty is dead and it greatly bothers me, I can't help but keep thinking to myself inwardly that even I too could come this close to death, even I once will lie in that coffin." She mentioned.
"Don't worry Your Highness," Shi Miyuan consoled her.
"To die is inevitable, you speak as though you could save me from it." She said.
"Suppose I could?" He asked.
"Let's forget about it, there's something that we should deal with first." Dowager Empress Yang muttered.
"His Majesty's last bold action was to eventually depose the Crown Prince and name the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun as his successor in front of the officials, as such could he have not saved us the trouble initially seeing that there's even more people in the Imperial Court that are in our favour?" He asked.
"Should that be the case, still, I can't take the risk of an oral testament seeing that people would rather believe something that they see." Empress Dowager Yang replied.
"In any case........" Shi Miyuan hesitated.
"I will be the one to write the Imperial Edict," she concluded, "as I have succeeded in doing so before I couldn't possibly fail in doing it again." She boasted.
"Sure thing Your Highness." Shi Miyuan said and bowing his head to her, he slowly withdrew from her presence leaving her staring at her husband's corpse behind the folding screen.
Zhao Yun quietly standing in his Chambers, a couple of ladies in waiting that had been designated by the Empress were helping him dress up his mourning attire.
Wei Shi appearing through the doors, he was being accompanied by Beiyuan along with a couple of other Eunuchs.
"Your Majesty." He said bowing his head to him that the young man turned around and faced him.
"His Late Majesty's corpse is yet to turn cold yet you are already addressing me as the ruler of this Empire." He mentioned.
"In the event that the incumbent is deceased, by Imperial mandate his legitimate successor on his deathbed must assume the duty." He responded.
"I see." Zhao Yun said, "what about Crown Prince Zhao Hong?" He asked.
"I believe it would be best if Your Majesty addresses him as the Deposed Crown Prince." Beiyuan asserted.
"What about my brother?" He asked.
"His yet to be dealt with but seeing that we are mourning and he did nothing serious, I trust that for your sake Her Highness would prefer to banish him from the Capital where he'll leave peacefully." Beiyuan responded.
"How lucky he must be to have finally let go of this burden, how fortunate he is it only makes me wish that I was the one in his place." Zhao Yun mentioned.
"Your Majesty has received a privilege that many men in the world would kill for but can not have, Your Majesty has become the ruler of this country." Beiyuan said.
"Am I really?" Zhao Yun inquired, "am I the real ruler of this country?" He insisted on forcing the words out of the latter's mouth yet himself preferring to brush it off lightly smiled instead.
"It is time Your Majesty, you must present yourself at the funeral parlour right now." Beiyuan reminded him and the young man unwilling but unable to express it only strode out of the room as his retinue soon followed him.
The Courtiers and other officials in the government along with members of the Imperial family had gathered in the square that was enclosed within the North Palace. They dressed in plain white attires burnt talismans while the Buddhist priest present chanted sutras while praying for the Late Emperor's soul.
Empress Dowager Yang at the forefront had the two Princes Zhao Yun and Zhao Hong slightly behind on her right and left respectively and while her eyes were fixed on the wooden plaque, she read the words that were inscribed on it.
"PEACEFUL ANCESTOR OF THE SONG, ZHAO KUO." It was boldly written that momentarily lost within her thoughts, she took a deep breath and sighed.
"Present His Late Majesty's will." She spoke up to Eunuch Deng who was standing beside the coffin while holding a golden scroll in his possession.
He stepped forward where everyone else could see him.
"All Hear and receive His Late Majesty our Emperor Shengrui's last will and Posthumous Edict." He said and immediately, the congregation present stretching from the interior of the parlour to the outer courtyard bowed their heads as he unfolded it.
"I HAVE HEARD THE CRIES OF MY SUBJECTS, ALONG WITH THOSE OF MY DESTITUTE PEOPLE, UP TILL 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 AND AFFLICTING THE LAND OF OUR FOREFATHERS. AS THIS STATE WAS ONCE ENTRUSTED TO ME BY PREDECESSORS I CAN NOT FLAG OR 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, THE VERY FINAL OUNCES OF IT I WIELD, 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 read and folding it in his hands he walked up to Zhao Yun who stole a glance at Zhao Hong who appeared to be unmoved by everything that was happening.
Hesitantly, he took it into his hands and the Empress Dowager not breaking her contact with her husband's altar, she remained there momentarily as the snow persistently fell outside.
The Imperial Princess Yuping along with her husband stared at the three from a distance.
"It's a bit unnatural for the Crown Prince to be calm when everything is being taken away from him slowly." He pointed out.
"All he is left with is marrow that could be useless, even if it were to act up, it would only produce nothing more than coarse hauteur." Princess Yuping remarked.
"At last the Empress has triumphed, if Initially the Emperor's presence only curtailed her direct Influence, now as the most affluent senior of the Palace she'll exercise immense power at her discretion." Feng Ba mentioned.
"You can't be too certain that the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun is a pushover after all that seat is very irresistible, I believe one would be surprised, no one enjoys being under the yoke of another for a very long time." Princess Yuping muttered.
"Perhaps you have something in mind my dear." Feng Ba started to notice that her rather ambiguous confidence wad stemming from somewhere.
"With a new Emperor taking on the throne, it's only a matter of time for us to gain some power." She responded.
"What do you suggest Your Highness?" He asked his wife, curious about what she was thinking.
"The Imperial Prince might have become an Emperor but his position is still insecure, naturally he has to yield to pressure from the Imperial House and Clan to carry on the succession, for that to happen he'll need to bed with a woman of reliable social background." She responded.
"In any case, we should not only supply the mother of the future Crown Prince but also his future Empress." Feng Ba caught on.
"However if we are direct with the decision of the Empress the Empress Dowager will only manipulate it." Princess Yuping pointed out.
"Don't worry my dear, I understand." Feng Ba said and smiling at her, he turned his eyes and looked at the Empress and the two Princes.
The mourning had been concluded and Empress Dowager Yang along with her retinue were exiting the funeral parlour when Lan He suddenly blocked her path.
"What are you doing?" Beiyuan inquired.
"Your Highness." He greeted her.
"What's the problem with you?" She asked.
"It's about His Late Majesty, could I have a word with you, that is if you don't mind?" He said.
"Perhaps." She responded as she looked at Beiyuan and the others.
The two moved into the Imperial Garden and standing atop the bridge of the small pond.
"Whatever it is that you wish to say to me, please say it." She mentioned.
"His Majesty was aware that he didn't have so much time left in the world, he trusted me to deliver this letter to you, I have had it for the past couple of months." He responded and stretching his hand into his cloak, he suddenly pulled out a white piece of paper which he handed over to her.
She looked at it reluctantly before she reached for it and held it in her hands.
Slowly she unfolded it and her eyes perusing through its contents she caught sight of its feelings.
"Mei'er my dear, Mei'er my darling, when was the last time I called you this, the last time that we enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the setting sun? It has been thirty five years that I have known you, my heart though weak and ailing I couldn't bear to keep living without you by my side, however I imprisoned you, I trapped you within the walls of this Palace even if I asked you to die with me you'd forever hate me in the Netherworld which hurts me so much, it breaks me down so hardly that I can't help but keep wishing that, if only I could rewind time, I could go back to the day we first met, I would have never loved you, I would have never held your hand, I would have never admitted you into my harem, I would have looked away without ever looking back. What is it that I found though, what did our meeting accomplish, when our marriage was something you tried to turn into the most memorable moment of my lonely life, you have no idea how much I prayed to the heavens that you hated me instead of faking your affections, it's my fault too, for having grown comfortable in that position, for having wholeheartedly embraced that illusion and held onto it tightly it is now that I realised I probably aren't just strong enough to fight fate but I also never had the will from the very beginning.
It hurts, it hurt me more than anything else in the world, burying our children, our family crumbling because of a political feud, who would understand the weight of an entire Empire on a pair of shoulders, who would imagine how intimidating the expectations from the world can be, what I endured, the blood, toil, tears and sweat? For my sake you became a sinful woman, for my sake I allowed you to put yourself on the line for my happiness, but we're all human, we want to always keep winning, I'm sorry that by the time you are reading this, I won't be there to protect you from the world, you'll probably be preparing to join a nunnery, or if it's too late your hair must be shaved by now. You will be saved nonetheless, someone will come to your rescue, you'll love any man you so wish afterwards, consider this my most sincere apology for having ruined your perfect youth and the love of your entire life. For old times sake, in the name of my undying and unrequited love, please leave on as a free woman who at once was my lover, my Empress and my political rival." It said and slowly her eyes becoming teary she folded it.
"What is this?" He asked.
"Even until His final breath, all that His Majesty asked me to do was to guarantee Your safety, to protect you even with my whole life." He responded.
"It must have been hard for you." She mentioned.
"It isn't the ideal thing I'd consider." He responded.
"But what did he mean by me being sent off to a nunnery?" She inquired.
"I have no idea Your Highness," Lan He responded, "however there's only one likely scenario in which that would be possible." He asserted.
"If the reigning Empress Dowager gave up her Imperial titles." She responded.
"Perhaps...." he responded hinting on something else.
"Or there is a provision that demands so." She mentioned startled when she suddenly recalled the words that the Emperor had mentioned to her before he passed pm.
"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'd said and reflecting on the words within the letter it all started to make sense.
"You said that His Majesty gave you this letter a couple of months ago?" She asked Lan He.
"Yes." He responded.
"Then perhaps there's someone else that he gave something to." She mentioned, "if I can trust that you'll keep your word then I should let you know that there's a Posthumous Edict that His Majesty might have left behind to someone that he knew he could trust, someone who could reliably use it well enough." She asserted.
"But how can you be certain Your Highness, even if that was the case, His Majesty would have been very careful if he didn't want it to land into the wrong hands." Lan He remarked.
"When I think about it, there could only be one person." She responded, "someone who can not harm me but will certainly protect me." She concluded.
"Who is it Your Highness?" Lan He inquired and the Empress responding with silence preferred to keep it to herself.
Eunuch Deng seated in his small room he stared at a small long chest on his table, hesitantly, he slowly opened it and his eyes landed on a gilded scroll that had been placed within.
Slowly, he pulled it out and studying the thread that had been tied around, he loosened it to open the magnificent scroll, slowly, his eyes perused through its contents and shortly afterwards, they widened with surprise.
"No." He said to himself, "how can this be?" He thought inwardly that he closed the scroll again and placed it on the table.
"Her Highness the Empress Dowager deigns you with her presence." He heard one of the Eunuchs announce her from outside and without fidgeting he only remained calm as the old woman made her entrance into the room.
She halted right in front of him and he responded with tranquillity as she studied the objects on his table with the gilded scroll in particular.
"Seeing how silent you are, you must be aware of the reason for my presence." She said.
"It isn't that I know nothing, I'll make it that way, I have not seen or heard the words you have said to me, however, I believe this is something that shouldn't be mine." Eunuch Deng muttered.
"You are right, the Palace still needs you as the Head Eunuch." Empress Dowager Yang said as she bent over and seized the scroll in her grip, slowly opening it to read through its contents while Eunuch Deng looked aside.
"It can't be." She mentioned.
"His Majesty gave Your Highness the chance to break free, he willed that if it was still your desire he'd let you return to the world not as his wife or his Empress." He reported while the words on the white parchment resounded through the Empress' mind.
"IF IT IS HER HIGHNESS' WISH TO STEP DOWN AS THE EMPRESS DOWAGER, SHE WILL BE ALLOWED TO DO SO AND LIVE OUT OF THE PALACE AS A FREE WOMAN THAT WAS NEVER ONCE A MEMBER OF THE INNER COURT." It read and slowly clenching it in her fist she turned and faced the brazier whose fire was slowly dying out.
She approached it and without any restraint she let go of the scroll, landing it into the heart of the flames which grew wilder and engulfed it as it evolved to ashes.
"Anyone?" She called when Manyin and Xiaoyang hearing they immediately barged into the room halting behind her.
"You called for us Your Highness." They said while bowing their heads to her.
"I wish to speak with the officials at the Imperial office." She mentioned.
"When Your Highness?" Manyin inquired.
"Immediately." She responded.
"Yes, Your Highness." The two women replied in unison and looking at Eunuch Deng who seemed uninterested, they departed at once while the Empress Dowager moved her eyes back to the brazier where the scroll lay in a heap of nothingness.
"Forgive me Your Majesty as I have come this far and can't stop now," she thought to herself, "I'll now use every ounce of power that was bequeathed to me by our Great Southern Song Country, it is now my time, Yang Meizi's time to rule." She swore to herself silently as she turned and walked out of the room leaving Eunuch Deng startled.
Zhao Yun returning from the funeral parlour had negotiated a corner as he approached the doors to his quarters when he suddenly halted upon recognizing the Deposed Crown Prince Zhao Hong.
"Your Highn........" he was about to say when the latter interrupted with his own salutation.
"Greetings Your Majesty." He said making the young man feel awkward but rather preferring to retain his silence only nodded his head momentarily.
"What are you doing here?" He asked finally breaking the silence between the both of them.
"I was hoping to have one final glimpse of the Grand Palace." Zhao Hong responded.
"You are free to look around, you can do it as long as you want." Zhao Yun said.
"Until when will you keep treating me this way Your Majesty, I am no longer your brother for I have now become one of your many subjects." He said.
"That's for me to decide." Zhao Yun said.
"An Emperor doesn't get to decide what to do but does what must be done." Zhao Hong insisted.
"Then I am not just an Emperor." Zhao Yun insisted.
"None of us wanted this, that's why we should come to terms with it, accept the cruel fate that divides us." Zhao Hong mentioned.
"I had said this once that I had become the Crown Prince's Cohort so that I would be in the position to protect you, if it is because I failed in the end you can hate me as much as you want but never hate the innocence that were involved." Zhao Yun said as he walked past him along with his retinue while he made his entrance into his temporary room.
The Empress Dowager accompanied by her retinue marched through the gates of the Imperial office and treading beside the Emperor's way she mounted the stairs that led to the small but raised building.
She halted at the doors where a couple of Eunuchs and Court ladies received her and bowing their heads, they stepped aside and opened for her while she gracefully stepped over the threshold and moved in.
The Courtiers and a couple of lesser officials murmuring amongst themselves ceased immediately as she approached the seat of the Emperor then divided by a silk screen.
Facing them, Shi Miyuan led them into giving their salutation before she settled down.
"You called us Your Highness." Shi Miyuan spoke up.
"As I felt that there was a need for us to interact with one another." She responded.
"Is something wrong Your Highness?" Yu Tianxi inquired.
"It's already been a day since His Majesty passed, his final testament was delivered to the country before his coffin, as it is that the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun currently stands as our Head of State, it is important for us to hurry and enthrone him to secure his position as the Divine Ruler of Our Greater Heavenly Empire." She replied.
"But it has only been a single day since the passing of His Majesty, according to the rites and customs that govern our society, a new Emperor can not be enthroned until ten days have passed after the death of the former Sovereign." Shi Zhaozhi pointed out.
"His Excellency is right Your Highness, we can't simply ignore this as it could induce a number of political institutions to censure us which could only produce intense resistance amongst the masses." Yang Gu seconded the thought.
"That I am aware and it is because of that that I wish to push forward my proposition." Empress Dowager Yang asserted.
"What does Your Highness wish to say?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"Initially, prior to the passing of His Late Majesty, I had been tasked with the responsibility of managing the affairs of State by the government and the Imperial Court, as it so happens that the exercising of Imperial power still rests in my control to prevent resistance from the provincial governors who own large armies I wish to invite them to the Capital with their armies." She responded surprising a number of many.
"What!" Shi Miyuan exclaimed.
"You heard me." Empress Dowager Yang clarified.
"We can't consent to that Your Highness." Shi Miyuan spoke up.
"Why is that?" She asked.
"If the provincial Lords gather around the Capital with their armies they might overrun it and it isn't certain on our part that they might not revolt once given the chance." Yu Tianxi said.
"Your Highness, the Imperial Court may control the Central government but our power is too weak to manage the provinces effectively, the only exceptions to the movement are the border troops but in case of internal conflict they too will become unreliable as it would put the border in jeopardy and on top of that even if they agreed, it would take long for them to travel and reinforce us." Yang Shi pointed out.
"The State of affairs will only decline and the country will be thrown into turmoil Your Highness so we kindly ask that you please reconsider this." Shi Yuzhi pleaded.
"Your Highness, quite a number of officials will be clearly opposed to this, please rescind your decision and refrain from calling in the provincial leaders with their armies." Shi Miyuan said.
"Please hear us Your Highness and rescind from inviting the provincial leaders along with their armies towards the capital." The rest of the officials bowing their heads appealed in unison while the Empress Dowager studying them smirked at herself.
"I knew that it wouldn't reach your ears well enough and soothe your hearts, that's the reason why I thought of a countermeasure Initially." She said.
"What do you mean Your Highness?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"The Deposed Crown Prince who is the most likely cause for insurrection will be secretly sent from the Palace on the day of the coronation to Huzhou while the armies of the provincial leaders will be pooled in Wuzhou, the terrain there is rugged which would make fighting difficult while Imperial troops will be stationed at the hilltops which will make them impenetrable, additionally without their leaders the provincial armies will be uncoordinated which will make resistance impossible or even if it occurred ineffectively, besides, Wuzhou is a safe distance away from the Capital which is enough time for us to get reinforcements in the case of war. I have decided that all provincial leaders will hand over their authentic military tokens to the Ministry of War and these will be temporarily held in a secret location until the end of the coronation after which the provincial leaders will be sent off." She responded and the Courtiers silent they appeared conflicted.
"Does this give you some comfort?" She asked.
"It is quite risky Your Highness but the countermeasures are reliable." Yang Gu said.
"I also find the offer reasonable." Yang Shi supplemented.
"In deed, if we held the Provincial leaders in our custody and even their military tokens then I believe that their forces would have reason to rebel if they cared for their safety." Shi Zhaozhi supported the motion.
"What does the rest of the house think?" Empress Yang inquired.
"It is appropriate if Your Highness sees it fit, I couldn't say much in opposition as I seem content with Your Highness' resolution." Shi Miyuan agreed.
"If Your Highness wills it, we will stand with the Imperial Grand Chancellor's word." The others responded in unison as they bowed their heads.
"In that case, I'll have the Ministry of Personnel identify the provincial leaders as they make their entry into the province at the designated checkpoints before they progress further towards the capital, The Ministry of War and Defense will be in charge of mobilising Imperial troops within Zhejiang Province to ensure the security of the Capital while the Imperial guards will oversee the general security of the Palace, the Ministry of Rites will oversee the coronation ceremony and the Grand Secretariat will oversee the lower administrative units of the Empire, I'll personally look into the Civil and Military affairs of the State while His Majesty observes mourning for his father and the commencement in the construction of the Imperial mausoleum." Empress Dowager Yang ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness." The Courtiers responded in unison.
"That said, I wish to have a word with the heads of the three offices and the Six Ministries in my audience hall afterwards." She ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness." They all responded in unison kowtowing to her as their meeting was adjourned.
The Deposed Crown Prince Zhao Hong returning to his residence bypassed a couple of Eunuchs who were murmuring amongst each other.
"What do you think the Empress Dowager discussed with the Officials.
"I don't know but what I heard is that it is something concerning His Majesty's coronation." The other responded and the young man halting in his footsteps was somewhat lost in his thoughts.
"Is there anything wrong Your Highness?" Eunuch Ling inquired.
"Did the Empress Dowager meet with the Court officials?" He inquired.
"She summoned them into the Imperial office for a secret meeting but no one is aware of the details." He responded.
"Have someone look into it." Zhao Hong ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." Eunuch Ling responded as he continued his way.
The Empress Dowager in her audience Chamber the heads of the three offices and the Six Ministries had gathered together before her quietly.
"Go ahead and ask." She said.
"I'm worried Your Highness," Shi Miyuan said, "to gather the provincial leaders, some of them are very powerful and quite a large number might feel you encroaching on their power." He insisted.
"I understand your concern, I very much appreciate it, I am aware that amongst many political circles there might even be a feeling that my position is vague and that I am exercising much more power than I should....." She hesitated.
"But?" Yang Shi asked.
"You yourselves said it that the provincial leaders exercise immense power and that the Imperial Court may control the Central administration but it is a weak institution beyond its constraints." She responded.
"In any case, Your Highness couldn't be suggesting........" Peng Zishou halted while the latter looking at him smiled at herself.
"Those old men are arrogant because most of their confidence stems from the armies that they control, my aim is simple, I want to gain that power that they possess, in other words, I wish to centralize all the power in the Empire to the Central Government." She revealed her thoughts to them.
"And the only way would be to restrain the provincial leaders and keep them prisoner?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"As it so happens that a new Emperor will ascend the throne, the seat of the Empress can not be left vacant even for a moment." She professed.
"Therefore in any case, Your Highness wishes to bring in the daughters of these leaders?" Shi Yuzhi inquired.
"That much can be said, however, there's still something else that I wish to verify from this that I prefer to share with you afterwards." She mentioned
"If it is so, then we'll put our faith in you Your Highness." Shi Miyuan said and the old woman reassured she smiled at herself ghastly.
Informers started putting up the notices all over the Capital and the masses gathered around to read through.
The Grand Internal Prince Consort seated in his study with his wife, one of his servants walked in and put a copy on the table in between them.
"Leave us." Princess Yuping ordered and the young man withdrawing from the room, Feng Ba picked up the paper and his eyes perused through its contents before he rested it on the table.
"What does it say?" His wife inquired.
"Your step brother will be crowned eight days from now and the Empress Dowager is inviting all the provincial heads along with their armies to Zhejiang." He responded.
"Is she out of her mind?" Princess Yuping inquired.
"It is very much unlike her, having all those men gather along with their power, if they join forces they could overrun the Central government." Feng Ba said.
"It's strange that the Courtiers would let her do this, are they not afraid of the consequences which might befall them?" Princess Yuping inquired.
"Experience has taught us that the Empress has nearly all those officials wrapped around her finger, none of them would voice out their opposition even if they wanted." Feng Ba mentioned.
"You are right my dear." Princess Yuping agreed.
"However, we might have an advantage." Feng Ba pointed out.
"How so?" His wife inquired.
"As the Empress Dowager isn't the type of person who would undertake such a huge risk without taking necessary precautions, she must be anticipating a reaction even I can't put my finger on as of yet." Feng Ba responded.
"Do you have anything in mind?" Princess Yuping asked.
"The Empress Dowager's invitation could ultimately mean one of two things, the first being the fact that she wants the Imperial Prince Zhao Yun to gain their recognition as the Sovereign head of State and the second most probably a means to curb down their power." He responded.
"I doubt she is the type of person that is willing to embrace an internal conflict especially now that the continent is facing a Mongolian catastrophe." His wife mentioned.
"One would certainly think that initially, however, if she does identify them as a threat to her power then she is the type of person who would prefer to dispose of them before they can evolve into an even bigger problem." Feng Ba pointed out.
"What do we do?" Princess Yuping inquired.
"If we can not be certain what the Empress is thinking then we should make the provincial leaders perceive what we want them to perceive." He responded.
"In this case, the Empress Dowager as an enemy?" Princess Yuping hinted at it.
"What do you think will happen in case a couple of the provincial leaders are attacked?" Feng Ba asked as he smiled at himself ghastly.
"Many of those provincial leaders are bound to have mixed feelings about this invitation Your Highness." Bao Langya pointed out.
"That's why after thinking about it I chose not to disclose the details of their accommodation in the Capital." Empress Dowager Yang asserted.
"In any case, aren't you worried Your Highness?" He inquired.
"That's too far from what I am feeling right now, however, I can't let my feelings get in the way of my motives." She responded.
"What do you want me to do Your Highness?" He asked.
"I want you to help me leak some information in regard to the details of the accommodation of the provincial leaders in the Capital." She responded.
"But Your Highness, if the Courtiers learn of it they might compromise your plans." Bao Langya captioned.
"Be at ease and leave the rest to me." Empress Dowager Yang responded.
"If you so wish Your Highness." The latter muttered as he bowed his head to her and finally exited from the room leaving the Empress Dowager staring at a tea cup in front of her.
Eunuch Ling rushing through the Palace stealthily, he entered the Chambers of the Deposed Crown Prince where he found the young man seated.
"Your Highness." He greeted him as he noticed the young man staring at an empty chessboard.
"You're here finally, did you find out something?" He asked.
"You'd be surprised but Her Highness the Empress Dowager has hastened the coronation of His Majesty and it's just eight days away, however, the most surprising thing is that she's chosen to invite the provincial leaders along with their armies." He reported.
"Are you sure?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"It's all over the Capital on various noticeboards and messengers have been dispatched by the Ministry of Personnel to all the provinces within the Empire." Eunuch Ling responded.
"It is dangerous for the Empress Dowager, she wouldn't be this reckless to give the provincial leaders a chance to orchestrate resistance." Zhao Hong mentioned.
"What do you think Your Highness, the Empress Dowager isn't the type of person to act like this and my speculation leads me to believe that she must have an ulterior motive, I think she might have even found out." Eunuch Ling mentioned.
"It's possible but highly unlikely, we only need to act with great caution at this point." He responded.
"But Your Highness will never escape suspicion." Eunuch Ling reminded him.
"We can only prepare for the worst." He responded.
The provincial governors started receiving the invitations one by one while Bao Langya gathered a couple of his men secretly in a small dark room.
"Sir?" They greeted him as he stepped to the forefront.
"I called you all here because there is a message that I wish you would relay on behalf of Her Highness the Empress Dowager." He said as they each maintained their silence shortly as his subordinates walked in bearing pieces of paper in their hands.
"What should we do?" One of the men asked as they started serving them the papers before they returned empty-handed behind their masters.
"Have these secretly delivered to the residences of the governors in every province and make sure you're not caught." He responded.
"Yes Sir." The men responded in unison as they dispersed from the room.
The days and nights passed and the letters were scattered, being picked up by the Governors who looked through a number of them were suspicious.
Zhao Hong seated uneasily in his room always buried himself in thoughts while the Empress Dowager still calm occasionally strolled through the Imperial garden and mused at the Imperial pond.
The Palace busy with the preparations leading to the coronation the young Emperor Zhao Yun with his attendants were watching the erection of the Late Emperor's mausoleum.
Shi Miyuan standing on the balcony that overlooked his backyard garden Dong Hua suddenly walked up to him, worry all over his face and upon reaching his presence he bowed his head.
"We have a bit of a problem Your Excellency." He notified the old man who closing his eyes took a set of deep breaths and sighed.
"What is it?" He inquired.
"The provincial governors have started their journey but our spies reported a number of them to have conducted a set of secret meetings." He reported, "it appears that some of them must have been let in on the conditions for their accommodation in the Capital." HeP claimed.
"How can you be certain?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"One of our spies found this in the residence of the Governor of Jiangnan Fan Huangjing, he owns the largest provincial army of twenty-five thousand soldiers and judging from its contents he must have been tipped off concerning the Empress Dowager's preparations within the Capital." Dong Hua responded.
"Yet strangely enough he is proceeding as though nothing happened?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"Yes." Dong Hua responded.
"That is quite odd." Shi Miyuan muttered, "it only means that it is going to be very difficult for us to know for sure who will stand with us and who is against us, if he proceeds to act normally then my guess is that by all means necessary he needed to be close to the Capital with his troops." He asserted.
"We must do something about this." Dong Hua said.
"We only need to be cautious of their every movement, after all, if they are controlling what we want to see then we must learn about what they are trying to keep unseen." Shi Miyuan said.
"The Empress Dowager should be notified before it's too late." Dong Hua remarked.
"We'll do no such thing." Shi Miyuan greatly protested.
"Then you ate suggesting that we keep this a secret?" Dong Hua inquired.
"If the Empress Dowager finds out she'll only be worried, what's worse is that she might make a change in plans which will only make the governors suspicious, we need to make sure that none of them are aware that we know they know what we are up to." Shi Miyuan responded.
"Yes Your Excellency." Dong Hua replied as he withdrew from the latter's presence.
Empress Dowager Yang seated in her Chambers Bao Langya walked in before her.
"Your Highness." He greeted as he knelt on a cushion in front of her.
"Were the letters delivered?" She inquired.
"Yes, Your Highness." He replied.
"What about the Provincial Governors?" She inquired.
"They all act normal and there is none that seems suspicious." He reported.
"Is that so?" She asked.
"They all proceed to act as we desired which could literally imply that they are as normal as they shouldn't be." He muttered.
"Which means that I was right to worry for their influence, it only means that until now there could be someone behind them but who could it be?" She asked herself.
"I don't understand Your Highness." Bao Langya said.
"We gained control of the Central Government and the Seigniors to the point that we disregarded the provincial governors, if they could unite then they would overrun the Central authority but their alliance was impossible because it lacked justification, the more I think about it, at first I believed that if I gained control of their power then I would be invincible but to determine which ones to trust I needed you to deliver those letters, those that would have acted with or without suspicion would have been an easier target to me but the fact that each of them is perfect means that there is a possibility that someone got to them first." Empress Dowager Yang responded.
"But if that is just a possibility then what is the other side of the idea?" Bao Langya inquired.
"Those that wouldn't act according to rumours are very diligent and hard to manipulate." She responded.
"In any case it doesn't narrow down Your Highness' scope to who we are to be wary of and whom we shouldn't be afraid of." He muttered.
"Yes." She affirmed.
"Then what are we to do Your Highness?" Bao Langya asked.
"I have always believed that people find it easier to cheat than to play by the rules, however, rules aren't decided by players but by those who make the game." Empress Dowager Yang responded.
"In any case....." Bao Langya soon to voice out his opinion was interrupted.
"We'll proceed according to the plan." The Empress Dowager responded, "once they have all arrived in the Capital arrange for me to see them." She ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness." Bao Langya responded as he stood up and kowtowed to her before he walked out of the room.
The Empress Dowager alone leaned her hands on the table and drifted into her thoughts.
"Who could it be?" She asked herself inwardly, "who is behind the provincial governors?" She wondered.
"Anyone?" She suddenly called and Xiaoyang hearing from outside rushed within the room.
"Is there anything wrong Your Highness?" She asked, concerned for her well-being after she noticed that the latter was bothered.
"I need to have a word with the Minister of War and Defense." She responded.
"Right away?" Xiaoyang asked.
"Yes." She responded before the latter withdrew from the room.
Fan Huangjing an old man who appeared to be in his late fifties and the Governor of Jiangnan marched with his troops towards the small road block on the Western front of Zhejiang, there identified by a couple of soldiers he halted while the Officer in charge walked up to his horse.
"His Excellency Fan Huangjing, Governor of Jiangnan." His people announced him and the latter getting off his horse he stepped forward.
"I, Fan Huangjing, Governor of Jiangnan come to honour His Majesty's invitation to his Crowning Ceremony." He said.
"Your Excellency will be escorted by only five of your most trusted men depending on your choice, the rest of Your army as per the demands of Her Highness the Empress Dowager will be led to Wuzhou Valley, Your Excellency is to hand over the military token that gives you charge of your troops, please bear with us for purposes of security." The Chief guard Bo An demanded.
"Rest assured, we come in peace." Fan Huangjing responded and while the latter monitored him, he without the slightest bit of self-restraint pulled from his clothes his golden military token which he handed over for inspection.
At once, a group of soldiers from the Capital Province numbering to a hundred marched through the gates of the camp behind the roadblock and positioning themselves beside the vast army, they slowly started leading it away in the opposite direction leaving Fan Huangjing with only three men.
"These will be enough for me." He said.
"This way please." Bo An said and the old man was led into the province confidently.
Other Governors were handled in the same manner and each of them assigned to a secret residence that was somewhat luxurious, quite a number of them were marvelled.
Fan Huangjing arrived outside the gates of his residence and musing at it's tall pillars and remarkable construct while a couple of attendants waited to take him in.
"Greetings Your Excellency." They said in unison as they bowed their heads to him and the latter confident but calm mounted the stairs that led to the threshold while they stepped aside.
"I am alright, I hope you look after me very well." He said and stepping inside he moved up to the main building which was three stories high.
He was led farther inside into his bedchamber which was adorned with silk curtains most of which were scented with peony and camomile and his eyes studying the furniture, it was of fine quality just like the one in the Palace which induced him to take a deep breath and sigh.
"I am Wu Ting, if Your Excellency requires my service you can call on me anytime." The Head of the servants mentioned before he kowtowed to him and withdrew from the room.
"The Empress Dowager is quite the hospitable character and knows how to comfort her visitors well enough." Deng Yue, Fan Huangjing's retainer pointed out.
"I heard that prior to being a Court Lady she was once a Palace Courtesan." Fan Huangjing remarked.
"No wonder, she appears to have first-hand experience in handling versatile noble men." Deng Yue mentioned.
"Careful, your tongue could be the end of you." Fan Huangjing cautioned.
"I wouldn't mind dying at the hands of a beautiful woman, I heard that she's probably sixty-two years old but looks half the age there are rumours that she was even more beautiful than the former deposed Crown Princess Wu." Deng Yue teased.
"You are just as foolish as ever." Fan Huangjing muttered with a light smirk on his face before he sat down on the wooden stool behind his table.
"So what are we going to do now Your Excellency, we have already made it into the Capital, I am certain there must be more that is required of us." Deng Yue asked as he sat down in front of him.
"We have to wait." He responded.
"What for?" Deng Yue inquired.
"Her Highness, the Empress Dowager." Fan Huangjing responded, "Sooner or later, she'll call upon us." He insisted.
"How sure could you be?" Deng Yue suspicious appeared doubtful of the situation.
"It's as he said, all provincial governors having been gathered within the Capital with their armies and contained would only mean one thing, the Empress Dowager must have realised how significant our power is." Fan Huangjing responded.
"In any case, a meeting with the governors would be........" he hesitated.
"A way to determine those who will stand with her and those who won't." Fan Huangjing concluded.
Beiyuan walked through the doors of the Empress Dowager's chambers and halting in front of her he knelt.
"Your Highness." He greeted while she looked up at him.
"How are the governors?" She inquired.
"Fair enough, all of them have arrived and they met our conditions without the slightest resistance." He responded.
"I see." She mentioned, "I suppose I am right." She whispered to herself.
"Is there anything wrong Your Highness?" He asked.
"How is their stay?" She asked.
"They all are impressed and we have made sure that their location is not disclosed, they have each been requested to be present at the Lanling Court tonight as per your orders, I trust that a number of them will make an effort to do so." Beiyuan assured her.
That's a good thing then." Empress Dowager Yang remarked.
"If I may Inquire Your Highness, what is it that you plan to do with them?" He asked.
"I don't wish to disclose the details as of yet, in the mean time, I want you to prepare for my secret departure tonight." Empress Dowager Yang replied.
"Yes, Your Highness." Beiyuan responded.
Zhao Yun kneeling in front of the Late Emperor's mausoleum, he stood up and bowed his head before he turned around and faced Wei Shi who was standing behind him with Eunuch Deng.
"Your Majesty." They saluted him.
"We should head to the side chamber, it's cold out here and I feel exhausted." He muttered.
"If it is Your wish Sire." Eunuch Deng responded, "tomorrow however is the coronation and Her Highness asked that you return to the Main Palace." He insisted.
"We can leave early in the morning, as it so happens that winter is here and it is dark, not many people would want me alive to see the dawn of tomorrow which is why I have decided that for purposes of safety, it's much better for me to travel when the sun is up." Zhao Yun said.
"I'll relay the message to the Empress Dowager." Eunuch Deng assured him and bowing his head, the young man walked past while being accompanied by Wei Shi.
"Why haven't you gone to the Main Palace Your Majesty?" Wei Shi said, "aren't you worried that the Empress Dowager will be furious?" He inquired.
"Suppose she is, what will she do, after all if it's not me there isn't another Prince she's going to Crown as the Emperor of this country." He confidently spoke and halting outside the doors of the room, they were slid open as he made his entrance.
Moving further into the heart of the shrine where three golden Buddha statues had been erected, there he found his old househelp standing with his younger brother Zhao Yurui.
"Brother?" The young boy said and rushing towards him, he quickly embraced him.
"Your Majesty." The old man said and the young boy hearing this for a moment was so taken aback that he slowly pulled away.
"Your, your Majes........" he stuttered.
"Yes." Zhao Yun responded as he knelt in front of him.
"How?" Zhao Yurui inquired.
"You'll forgive me my dear, please forgive your big brother for not being there for you anymore but do you remember the promise I made to you on the day our father died?" He asked.
"You said you would protect me." He responded.
"And I shall fulfil it, I shall devote every ounce of my energy, even if it means that I must become the Emperor of this country, even as the Supreme Ruler of Our Greater Heavenly Empire." Zhao Yun said as he pulled his younger brother into a hug with Wei Shi watching them intensely, he couldn't help but let go of the tears he was holding back.
The Provincial governors secretly gathered in a small dark chamber within the Lanling Court, the Empress Dowager made her entrance and took a seat at the forefront behind a suspended silk curtain.
"Your Highness." They greeted her in unison while kowtowing to her.
"At ease." She responded, "you may take your seats." She requested and they immediately complied.
"You convened us here Your Highness, is there anything you wish we could do for you?" Lu Jinghua, the Governor of Huainan inquired.
"You'll forgive me for having asked you out at such an ungodly hour but given the current state of affairs I will get to the point and ask you all that are gathered in this room." Empress Dowager Yang spoke up as everyone suddenly responded with maximum attention.
"Yes Your Highness?" Fan Huangjing muttered for her to advance her concern.
"As you all are aware, the country has a new Emperor and it is rather unfortunate that much as he is of age, he isn't married." She said.
"But this is a matter of the Inner Court Your Highness, it is your jurisdiction to pick an Imperial wife from any of the notable families you so wish." Xiang Hao the Governor of Hubei interfered.
"That sure is right but as it so happens I can not be the governess of the harem and the Inner Court forever yet it seems that since this is a probable discussion of the Empress' position I was willing to bring this forward out of my concern for the welfare of the State." Empress Dowager Yang mentioned.
"Even if it is something that requires a lot of official concern, this is a matter that could best be considered by the Courtiers and not we military men." Yin Kexing, the Governor of Guangnan pointed out.
"I understand but it has come to my attention that for centuries it appears as though the Governorship of the nation has been ignored when it comes to the politics of this country, we stand as one nation even in the face of war so as a move to reconcile you with the Central government I decided that this time round, I wish to invite your daughters into the Inner Court to aid our Sovereign Majesty and also take up the seat of the Empress of this Country." She responded.
"What!" A number of them dumbfounded her eyes travelled to Fan Huangjing who still calm was comfortable in his seat.
"I wish to give you Governors more power and a political stand by making you part of the Dynasty, as it so happens I won't force any of you to take up this offer but in case you change your mind, inform me before the coronation begins." She muttered before she stood up while the majority of them caught up in a frenzy, she made her swift exit barely noticed.