The sun rising over the Empire, the young Emperor lowly stood in front of the mirror as his maidservants helped him wear a beautiful purple hanfu along with his black headdress. For a moment appreciating his radiance while the latter was immersed in a series of thoughts, a familiar voice emerged from outside.
"Her Highness the Empress Dowager requests to have an audience with His Majesty." Eunuch Deng announced.
"Let her in." Emperor Lizong responded and at once, the young ladies tending to him withdrew as the old woman made her entrance into the room.
She was much livelier than he recalled harbouring what appeared to be the most sincere affections a mother would give a son.
"My pillar?" She said as she bowed her head to him.
"It is alright." He muttered.
"Is it?" She asked and the timid young man responding with silence she smirked at him.
"You are becoming a good liar every day, but don't worry, you'll get used to it much sooner," she remarked.
"Is there something more you wished to say to me?" He asked.
"I am concerned as you have barely eaten well the past couple of days." She responded.
"I can't seem to put my mind at ease since a bloody wind is howling over the Empire, there are rebels after my head so wouldn't it be understandable that I am merely cautious of my life?" He asked.
"I understand how it feels because I believe that even with your head on the line, mine too might not be an exception." Empress Dowager Yang replied.
"And yet you are this calm Your Highness?" He pointed out.
"Because today will be the beginning of the end." The old woman confidently responded which momentarily had the young man confused.
"What are you going to do Your Highness?" He asked.
"Don't concern yourself with those rebels too much Your Majesty," she responded as she got close to perfecting his attire while looking him in the eye, "you have an event today since you are seeing the people so you can not look weak or frightened in front of them." She muttered.
"I understand, Your Highness." Emperor Lizong remarked.
"It wasn't easy to give you the throne so you need the acceptance of the people and their sympathy, just observe the dignity of an Emperor and keep in mind that the monarchy must shine." Empress Dowager Yang muttered as she eventually withdrew smiling heartily at him.
"Yes, Your Highness." The young man responded.
"I like this about you, be positive, endure this and stand strong for I shall slay the giants ahead of you My Liege." She sweetly spoke before she turned around to depart from the room leaving with the young man an aura of fright that was so intense that he could barely breathe as she eventually stepped outside the structure where Manyin and Xiaoyang were waiting for her.
Seeing her, they all paid their respects as she looked back at the doors of the Emperor's room.
"Is anything wrong Your Highness?" Xiaoyang inquired concerned for her well-being.
"Tell all the Court Officials to get ready in their official attires and wait in their homes, when they receive my invitation, they must report to the Grand Square at once." She responded.
"Yes Your Highness." Xiaoyang replied as she immediately withdrew from her presence.
"I'll see how you'll survive this with all your followers Your Highness." The Empress muttered under her breath and offering her hand to Manyin, she descended the stairs and sashayed into the direction of her residence.
The Imperial procession ready, Eunuch Deng moved up to the top of the staircase that rose to the Emperor's private Chambers.
"His Majesty the Emperor deigns you all with his presence." He announced amidst the sound of drums and trumpets and the Court ladies in charge of his wing opened the doors for him.
He slowly descended, supported by another pair of royal women as he held onto his ceremonial jade tablet and descending the very stairs he approached the palanquin that had been arranged for him.
Making his entrance into the magnificent gilded structure he was eventually veiled from sight, with only thin wood and a set of gold silk curtains between him and the public eye, the procession remarkably exited the Main Palace.
People lined the streets in excitement as the procession passed while the Empress Dowager caught up in her own thoughts uneasily waited inside her own study with Manyin standing by her side.
Shi Miyuan standing at the balcony of his residence could hear the joyful sound of music rising from the East, there Dong Hua, his most loyal retainer advanced to his side and halted upon realising that the old man appeared to be taken aback.
"Are you alright Milord?" He eventually had the confidence to ask.
"The sound of the ceremonial drums and trumpets has me guessing that His Majesty's procession from the Palace has begun." He muttered.
"In deed." Dong Hua replied as the latter smirked at himself.
"What about the Empress Dowager?" He asked.
"She has asked all the officials to put on their Court attires and wait for her to Summon them to the Grand Hall." Dong Hua responded.
"I see." Shi Miyuan muttered.
"But what are the odds that the Deposed Crown Prince and His supporters will act, judging by the way of things it has me believing that this operation might be compromised if he doesn't." Dong Hua remarked.
"Don't be too disheartened, the truth is that Her Highness isn't in the very least bothered even if the Deposed Crown Prince's supporters don't act," Shi Miyuan said, "at this point, the only thing that Her Highness is after is the public sympathy towards His Majesty, all other things though to be determined by her are of secondary importance." The latter insisted as he smiled at himself ghastly.
The procession approaching the city Square in the company of the Imperial guards and the Capital patrol who were on duty, within the crowds a couple of individuals got close enough to the front to watch the young Emperor's palanquin.
Eventually, while the masses cheering slowly started bowing down as the Imperial presence passed, four men from the mob hurled a couple of explosives at the delicate structure.
With a loud thud, the ground was shaken and some of the Imperial guards were mildly wounded, the Emperor's defense eventually at stake another group of swordsmen charged from the common people towards his mobile shelter.
Momentarily exposed this was what the young man's defenders needed to fire arrows from the surrounding buildings which struck down some of the intruders.
Eventually, the Imperial Guard swelling its numbers surrounded the Palanquin led by Bao Langya.
"Arrest these men and escort His Majesty to safety back into the Palace." He ordered as his force immediately disintegrated into a set of units that responded to the command.
The young Emperor partly shielded from public view though wounded before the frightened masses themselves was carried out of the palanquin that was being gutted by flames into a smaller carriage nearby and without further ado with hundreds of guards surrounding him he was escorted into the directions of the Imperial Palace.
Empress Dowager Yang still seated in her room Xiaoyang entered suddenly as she rushed into her presence.
"Your Highness......." She stopped to catch her breath, "His Majesty's procession has been attacked." She notified the old woman who clenched her fists in excitement.
"What about His Majesty?" She asked more eager to know his condition.
"He is being escorted back to the Palace." Xiaoyang responded, "as talebearing has it that his wounds looked so serious there is no doubt that the people believe that the attack was as fatal to His Majesty as it seemed." She pointed out.
"And the people involved?" She inquired.
"Some of our men, however it appears that even the Rebel Prince's supporters were present at the site," Xiaoyang reported.
"So in other words the attack turned out much better than I expected, now that we have some little mice we can proceed." Empress Dowager Yang remarked.
"This is our chance Your Highness." Manyin said as the old woman turned to Xiaoyang.
"Tell Beiyuan to call in the officials, and gather the doctors from the Bureau of Health along with all the Imperial physicians, meanwhile I shall go and visit His Majesty as well." Empress Dowager Yang ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." The two women responded in unison as they stepped outside the room while the old woman contented she smiled at herself ghastly.
The Deposed Crown Prince Zhao Hong seated in his tent with the masked lady the two seemed uneasy when the young woman's retainer made her entrance.
"Your Highness?" He cried as he fell onto his knees before them.
"How did it go?" The young man inquired.
"All our men were captured." The latter reported.
"And what about His Majesty, was he harmed?" The masked woman inquired.
"Everyone who saw him wounded says that it was very serious, besides, word from the Capital has it that the officials were immediately summoned to the Palace." He reported.
"Then it must be serious." Zhao Hong said.
"It's a good thing." The masked woman said.
"How so?" Zhao Hong asked.
"Our men were captured." The retainer reported.
"Even if." The young woman muttered as she turned to the young Prince, "I couldn't have been that foolish to send our immediate forces to the Capital much as I couldn't let go of this opportunity to assassinate His Majesty." She said.
"I see." Zhao Hong said.
"But in the wake of things the Empress Dowager is going to seize this incident to fire at us it is high time we took our strike." She responded.
"Are you saying that we march on the Capital right now?" Zhao Hong asked.
"The Emperor is brutally injured at the moment and the Court is in disarray, we can't keep waiting for a response from the Capital at the moment and the longer we delay the more time the Empress Dowager acquires." The masked woman replied.
"But what are the chances that she's not prepared for this?" Zhao Hong asked, "what are the odds of us winning this?" He insisted on knowing.
"I can't assure you that it's even fifty per cent, it could even be less than that, we can't make ourselves seen during the day, we should concert our every effort, advance with full force at midnight." The young woman replied.
The Emperor being lowered into his covers, the Empress Dowager made her entrance into the room as Eunuch Deng bowed his head to her.
"How is His Majesty?" She asked.
"I made him a concoction so he is unconscious, the accident however made an impression on the general public and they all seem convinced that he is in deed in a critical condition." The latter responded.
"It's good to know." Empress Dowager Yang muttered as she looked at the young man peacefully asleep.
"Were any civilians harmed?" She asked.
"Not even one, only the Deposed Crown Prince's supporters all of which were apprehended by the Imperial State Tribunal." Eunuch Deng reported.
"That's good enough." She muttered.
"Are you going to interrogate them Your Highness?" Eunuch Deng inquired.
"No, but I believe they will be of good use to consecrate the blades we have for long sharpened against these governors." She replied.
"I don't quite understand Your Highness, you could use them to reveal the whereabouts of their colleagues." Eunuch Deng voiced his opinion to her.
"And what are the chances that we won't be misled?" She asked, "besides if it is to confess who is to be held responsible for the attack then that shouldn't necessarily worry you as I have already taken care of that." Empress Dowager Yang responded when Beiyuan spoke from outside.
"Your Highness, the Officials have gathered in the Grand Square." He notified her.
"Have my throne and silk screen moved out as well and send for the people we can trust, open the gates of the Palace and let the world know that there will be an open council in the next hour." She ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness." Beiyuan responded as he immediately went to do as he had been told.
"An open council!" Feng Ba exclaimed.
"Yes Your Highness." His informant responded.
"Has there been such a thing?" Princess Yuping asked.
"Not that it has been significant in the Dynasty, in most cases even if it was the case, there was no time at which the general public has ever been invited into the Palace to listen to the Imperial Court in session." Feng Ba muttered.
"Could it be that His Majesty's injuries are as serious as they have been rumoured to be?" The young woman asked.
"Whether they are serious or not the only thing that matters is the mere fact that His Majesty was nearly assassinated which itself produced the necessary conflagration that Her Highness needed to win over the Public's sympathy to her side, in the mean time, we can't act rashly because our involvement might take a catastrophic turn." Feng Ba replied.
"So we'll sit and do nothing?" Princess Yuping asked.
"We gain nothing if the Rebels overrun the Central government and we can't be certain as of yet that the Empress Dowager will win this war, it is a much safer enterprise for us to remain neutral than to engage in the conflict whose outcome is still uncertain." Feng Ba said, "we need to survive." He remarked.
"If you say so Milord." Princess Yuping responded.
"An open council?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"Yes Your Excellency." Peng Zishou responded.
"What is Her Highness thinking?" Yang Shi asked.
"She's merely making the incident much bigger, in any case, could it be that she's openly seeking out the public support towards her verdict?" Yang Gu pointed out.
"It's probably for the best." Shi Yuzhi said, "at times the people's greatest weakness is that they can't decide for themselves what they want so naturally if I were her, I would do the same first as a way of gaining their approval and secondly as a means of getting them to believe that at the end of it all they are partly responsible for the welfare of the State." He asserted.
"I hope everything works out in our favour." Yang Gu muttered and Shi Miyuan listening he reserved his silence as he looked up at the empty seat at the top of the staircase while the masses gathered at a distance to watch everything.
"Her Highness the Empress Dowager deigns you all with her presence." Beiyuan announced and everyone wherever they were bowing their heads, the old woman majestically walked up to her seat and settled ahead of them behind the silk screen.
"Greetings Your Highness." They said in unison and receiving what appeared to be awkward silence it was a matter of time before what appeared to be a couple of partly restrained sobs emerged from where she was stationed.
The whole world turning to look at her could even from a distance spell the sad expression written on her face, the men and women who were more sympathetic couldn't help but fix their full attention on her as she dried the small tears that had escaped her eyes.
"NEWS OF HIS MAJESTY'S PREDICAMENT AS WE SPEAK HAVING REACHED MY EARS IT STRUCK A VERY DEEP AND SOMBRE NOTE HAVING BEEN LESS THAN A YEAR EVER SINCE HE TOOK THE THRONE, BUT WHAT'S EVEN MORE APPALLING IS THE MERE THOUGHT THAT IN THE COMMOTION THE LIVES OF OUR OWN SONS AND DAUGHTERS WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST.
AS THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WE HAVE SOUGHT COMPROMISE WITH THESE REBELS BECAUSE WE TOOK THEM TO BE A PART OF OUR OWN PEOPLE, WE BELIEVED THAT CONFLICT OF ANY NATURE AS LONG AS IT WAS AMONGST US WAS UNNECESSARY AND FOR THAT WE WERE WILLING TO REASON WITH ONE ANOTHER.
SPEAKING TO YOU AS THE MOTHER OF HIS MAJESTY I ACHE SEEING OUR AUGUST SIRE FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE FEELS WE NEED HIM, EVEN THEN I CAN'T BRING MYSELF TO ABANDON THE THOUGHT THAT HE NEEDS US THE MOST ALONG WITH OUR PRAYERS IN THIS HOUR OF HIS DEEPEST NEED.
WITH THE POWER THAT IS THEREFORE ENTRUSTED TO ME I WISH TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT AS THE REGENT WITH FULL IMPERIAL POWER I AM GOING TO EXERCISE MY AUTHORITY AND OVERSEE THE AFFAIRS OF STATE, I SENTENCE ALL THOSE WHO WERE ARRESTED BY THE IMPERIAL STATE TRIBUNAL TO DEATH BY STONING AND MOVE THE PUBLIC TO REPORT ANYTHING THEY KNOW ABOUT THE REBFLS.
ALL INFORMATION WHICH WILL BE FOUND LIABLE AND AUTHENTIC WILL BE REWARDED BY THE CROWN AND WHOEVER DELIVERS THE REBEL GOVERNERS DEAD TO US WILL BE GIVEN TEN THOUSAND TAELS." She said.
"Long Live Your Highness, Your Highness is sage." The common people cheered her.
"Long Live Your Highness, Your Highness is sage." The cheers only grew louder and louder.
Walking away from the square, the Empress Dowager was intercepted by Shi Miyuan.
"Your Highness?" He greeted her.
"Imperial Grand Chancellor." She replied.
"So this was it?" He muttered.
"Is this cause not justified?" She asked, "we have the people behind us as it seems, now we can wait for the enemy." She responded.
"Will the Deposed Crown Prince act?" He asked.
"Posters will fly all over the Empire with the faces of the Rebel governors and the heads of those we captured will rise on stakes, amidst immense fear with the masses soldiers and hunting dogs of our own, the only way to end the conflict will require them to charge at us before even their soldiers seek their heads for a couple of thousand golden taels." Empress Dowager Yang responded as she smiled at herself ghastly.
Bao Langya and Shi Yuzhi convening all the soldiers started handing out posters to them and that very instant the Imperial Edict requesting the entire population for the heads of the Rebels with the promise of a reward was publicized.
Soldiers began moving all over the capital and security along the walls was heavily tightened.
Eunuch Demg standing beside Lizong's bed watched the unconscious young man, his eyes momentarily twitching he drew his face close before the latter opened them wide and stared at him.
"Your Majesty!" He exclaimed as the latter sat up in his covers struggling to set his heart at ease as he kept on gasping for air.
He was sweating profusely and his eyes were bloodshot while he couldn't help but feel frightened at the mere memory of the explosives that had violently exploded around his palanquin.
It was as though he was still choking on the smoke from the site before he partly came to his senses and realised he was in the Palace.
"Are you alright Your Majesty?" He asked.
"Her Highness....." he kept on stuttering, "where is Her Highness?" He insisted on knowing.
"Anyone?" Eunuch Deng called and at once the doors of the room being flung open one of the other lesser Eunuchs rushed in.
"Yes?" He muttered bowing his head.
"Report to the Central Palace about His Majesty." He commanded and the young man exiting the room instantly Eunuch Deng turned back to his master.
"Please calm down Your Majesty." He said.
"What has happened?" Emperor Lizong asked.
"The procession was attacked but Your Majesty was saved as the injuries turned out to be minor, Her Highness called for an open council in your absence and empowered by the Imperial Court and the General public she issued an Imperial Decree declaring the Rebels outlaws who must be killed on sight." He responded.
"What!" The young man exclaimed.
"Her Highness put a heavy price on the heads of the Rebel governors so it appears that now the conflict has shifted to its most extreme stage." Eunuch Deng supplemented and the latter all the more surprised was demoralised.
Empress Dowager Yang quietly seated in her room with her hand at her table, she tapped it as she usually did while immersed in her thoughts before her peace was interrupted when Manyin made her entrance.
"Your Highness." She said as she bowed down before her.
"What is it?" She asked looking the other way.
"His Majesty has regained consciousness." She reported.
"Eventually?" She muttered seemingly uninterested.
"His Majesty is requesting to have an audience with you, he asked to see you first." She muttered triggering the old woman's attention that momentarily she was surprised.
"Is that so?" She inquired.
"Yes Your Highness." Manyin confirmed.
"I'll go see His Majesty then." She responded and the young woman getting out, Empress Dowager Yang remained curious.
Emperor Lizong still uneasy was seated in his covers with Eunuch Deng when his legal mother's presence was announced.
Permitting her entry she sashayed through the doors as she approached him.
"I see you have regained consciousness Your Majesty." She said.
"Yes Your Highness." Lizong replied and the old woman smirking at him she took the seat beside him before she turned to Eunuch Deng.
"Leave us." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." He responded before he withdrew from the room leaving the two together.
An awkward silence temporarily prevailed before the Empress Dowager broke it.
"I was told you wished to see me." She said.
"What have you done Your Highness?" Emperor Lizong inquired.
"Is this linked to the rebellion of the Deposed Crown Prince?" She asked.
"The open court." Emperor Lizong responded.
"I am taking care of the Rebels." Empress Dowager Yang reported.
"By turning all the citizens into hunting dogs, gaslighting desperate people and inducing them to hunt down criminals, you are turning them into monsters, murderers." The young man protested.
"I am doing what needs to be done." The old woman responded, "this rebellion, this civil war, it has to end and the only way it will end is by deciding a winner and a lower." She muttered.
"So what will you do if they win?" Emperor Lizong inquired.
"The victory of my enemies will be the end of me, there's no fear and defeat in death but to live defeated, to live ingloriously, that to me is to die daily." Empress Dowager Yang responded.
"Just how far are you willing to go Your Highness, how many more people must you lose, how many people have to die?" He asked.
"I didn't start this Your Majesty," she replied, "you very well know it, I gave the Deposed Crown Prince a chance to repent, I gave him an opportunity to redeem himself by submitting to the Crown." Empress Dowager Yang remarked.
"Then perhaps......." Zhao Yun was suddenly hesitant to complete.
"If I dare win this war Your Majesty, beyond this point I can't guarantee that for the safety of your throne, I will let His former Highness keep his neck." She said.
"You can't do that Your Highness, in any case, the people are aware that the Deposed Crown Prince resides with us and the one amongst the Rebels is a dupe, if you insist on killing him then you will have just as much admitted that you lied to the whole world." Emperor Lizong said.
"That is itself too little a matter to concern myself with, if I create the truth then it becomes the truth and survives as such." Empress Dowager Yang muttered.
"Your Highness, don't do something you might end up regretting." Emperor Lizong said.
"Regret is inevitable Your Majesty, the only difference is that in life there are bigger and smaller regrets," Empress Dowager Yang said as she stood up, "instead of worrying for the Deposed Crown Prince's welfare I'd prefer you worried for your own health, after all for stability to reign in our Greater Heavenly Empire Your Majesty must be healthy and able again." She remarked as she turned around and exited from the room.
"Your Highness." The young man cried after her as she strode out of the doors, there meeting Eunuch Deng along with Manyin and Xiaoyang they bowed their heads to her.
"Make sure His Majesty doesn't leave until he is fully recovered." She ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness." Eunuch Deng responded as she continued her way.
The Deposed Crown Prince Zhao Hong pacing around his tent while the troops were being prepared outside, Eunuch Ling, his attendant suddenly rushed in dismayed.
"Your Highness," he cried, "we have a bit of an issue." He notified him.
"What's the matter?" He asked as the latter stretching his hand into his sleeve he pulled out a piece of paper which he handed over to the young man who took it into his possession.
He unfolded it and studied its details recognizing the face that had been drawn as his own.
"What is this?" He asked.
"Many of these such posters are going around, the Empress Dowager has issued an Edict demanding the heads of the Rebel leaders and along with them a promised of ten thousand golden taels." Eunuch Ling reported.
"How dare she?" Zhao Hong asked as he crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it in the brazier in front of him.
"We need to muster our men soon and attack before the common citizens arm themselves, now that the Empress Dowager has turned them into hunting hounds, once this news reaches our troops then it shall be too late." Eunuch Ling remarked.
"Send word to all the other governors and tell them that the hour is nigh, the moment it clocks midnight then we shall march with our full force on the capital behind the Pang brothers." Zhao Hong muttered.
"Won't you join them Your Highness?" Eunuch Ling inquired.
"I'll take the Palace." Zhao Hong replied, "tonight, we shall move our remaining few people in it." The young man asserted.
"Yes Your Highness." Eunuch Ling said as he withdrew from the confine.
Approaching her residence, the Empress Dowager caught sight of Shi Miyuan who was standing outside.
"Your Excellency!" She exclaimed.
"Your Highness." He gracefully muttered as he kowtowed to her.
"Is there something you wanted to say to me?" She asked.
"Perhaps," he replied, "but by the time I turned up you had left your Chambers." He replied.
"His Majesty wanted to see me." She said.
"Is our August Sire in good health?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"It's good enough for us," she replied, "please do follow me inside." She invited the latter as she led the way into the building while he followed.
Once they were inside the doors were shut behind them and the old woman taking the seat at the forefront, he positioned himself right in front of her.
"Forgive me as I have not visited you quite often of recent." He apologized.
"You needn't burden yourself with an apology as it could be considered a good thing for me, besides, I understand that of recent we have both been very busy." Empress Dowager Yang said.
"Then allow me to brazenly ask you this question Your Highness." Shi Miyuan spoke up.
"Please do." The old woman permitted him.
"What are you going to do once you arrest the Deposed Crown Prince and His supporters Your Highness?" Shi Miyuan asked out of the blue which had her momentarily startled.
"Need you ask that question Your Excellency?" She pointed out.
"Pardon my impertinence, I thought you might consider doing otherwise." He said.
"Then of what use would it be to put a price on the heads of those ungrateful scoundrels?" Empress Dowager Yang inquired.
"Can you kill them?" Shi Miyuan asked.
"I have already come this far Your Excellency, what do you think?" She responded.
"It could be my old age that makes me worry too much recently." Shi Miyuan confessed.
"Could it be that you can no longer withstand the pressures?" She asked.
"I worry not for myself but for you Your Highness," shi Miyuan replied, "I worry if you will sleep in peace, I worry if your later years will be tranquil and more than anything, I worry that this might become a burden too big for your fragile heart." He replied.
"It's good enough that you worry Your Excellency." She said coldly.
"Your Highness........" he reacted with concern.
"Did I not accord His former Highness my benevolence, did I not spare his life to begin with, this uneasiness, this friction that rests between us, it seems it can never be dissolved unless one of us drains the life force from the other." Empress Dowager Yang remarked.
"Just don't push yourself too hard Your Highness, I was hoping that I could take care of this for you." Shi Miyuan pointed out.
"No." She immediately refused.
"Why?" He asked.
"All this time perhaps, I have been a coward throughout my life, maybe I am tired of you facing my demons for me, it is high time I faced them myself." Empress Dowager Yang replied.
"Don't say it that way Your Highness." Shi Miyuan rebuked.
"It's good to have you worry for me, but we are not there yet, this strife is still in its deciding phase, I only ask you to let me move this once, I'll trust you with the rest shortly after." Empress Dowager Yang said looking aside.
Shi Miyuan could tell that there was something going on in her mind but preferred to not provoke her, in response, he stood up and kowtowed to her.
"Are you leaving already?" She asked.
"I must get ready Your Highness," he replied, "ready for you to trust me to complete this task." He insisted.
"Then I'll contain you no more." She said to him and smiling lightly, he withdrew from her presence as she leaned her hand on the table.
"Anyone?" She called as Xiaoyang made her way into the room.
"Yes Your Highness." She responded.
"Tell the kites to fly out now." She ordered.
"Yes Your Highness." She replied as she dashed out of the room leaving her smiling at herself ghastly.
The soldiers patrolling around the camp suddenly halted at the sight of many kites flying high above their heads, eventually dropping the pieces of paper that they were carrying around, these slowly descended upon then and quite a number of them picking them up, they looked through its contents.
A large wave of surprise swept over the numerous camps as they recognized the faces of their respective leaders in the pictures.
The Deposed Crown Prince Zhao Hong stepping outside his tent witnessed the scene with his own eyes and for a moment meeting the gaze of many of the soldiers who were looking at him selfishly, he stumbled before Eunuch Ling held him up.
"Calm down Your Highness." He said.
"Where is the masked woman?" He desperately inquired.
"She's in her tent." Eunuch Ling responded when all of a sudden there was an intense explosion which threw everyone into panic.
Immediately, Fire lances possessed the sky as they rained upon the camp, bathing it in tongues of Fire that grew monstrously while soldiers charged from the trees in small mobile units towards them.
Zhao Hong then started seeing a large strip of flags surrounding the hill top from many directions as they moved through the trees.
"How is it possible?" He asked himself, "where did the Empress Dowager get this large army?" He inquired as the flags were closing in on death.
"They'll only forgive us if we deliver the head of the Deposed Crown Prince." One of the soldiers within his regiment shouted.
"It's not like we'll benefit from the change of government, only those filthy greedy miscreants." Another one shouted in protest.
"We should leave Your Highness." Eunuch Ling said as the Deposed Crown Prince's soldiers slowly turned on him and pursued him as well making his way through the trees with his sword at hand.
The masked lady in her tent her retainer suddenly made his entrance.
"Milady?" He cried rushing to her presence while the latter stood up from behind her table.
"What's the problem?" She asked.
"We need to go," the young man responded, "we have been surrounded by the Imperial troops and they appear to be in large numbers." He reported.
"What!" The young woman exclaimed, moving forward towards the entrance and stepping outside to a fierce conflict that was raging between their forces and the Empire's, arrows and fire raining from the sky as her people were slain, for a moment, she too froze at the sight of the tall flags towering above the trees in a distance.
"There she is." One of the invaders shouted with their sword aimed at her.
"I'll take care of them Milady, find your brother and leave Immediately." Her retainer insisted and handing her one of his swords, she immediately rushed off into the direction of her brother's tent.
She found the latter making his exit as well and the two holding hands, they made a run for it into the thick woods amidst heated pursuit.
Shi Miyuan arriving at the Office of the Inspector General found the place devoid of forces, there was only a handful of Imperial soldiers loitering about and recognized by one, the young man drew closer to him.
"Your Excellency." He greeted him.
"Where is everyone?" He asked, "where is my son?" He insisted on knowing.
"He left with the others." The latter responded.
"Where to?" He asked.
"Pardon me Your Excellency but nearly the entire force, they have set out to attack the camps of the Rebels surrounding the Capital, roughly two hours ago." He reported.
"And who's defending the Capital right now?" Shi Miyuan inquired.
"I am Your Excellency." A strange but familiar voice emerged from behind him causing the others present to kowtow as they offered their salutations while Shi Miyuan turned out to see for himself.
"The Grand Internal Prince Consort!" He exclaimed.
"Yes." Feng Ba affirmed.
"How?" He asked.
"In the wake of the resistance, in the absence of our leading Generals, Her Imperial Highness found it rather appropriate to grant her Imperial sanction which has therefore empowered me to oversee the security of the Capital in the absence of the leading officers." He replied and Shi Miyuan hearing this smirked.
"What more can I say, Her Highness must have had her reasons." He said.
"One wouldn't help but wonder, to who exactly does this country belong to." Feng Ba said.
"Who do you think?" Shi Miyuan asked as he drew closer to the young man and looked him in the eye.
"Or perhaps is it that she thought she could no longer rely on you, are you even that able in your old age, perhaps it's because you are not as invincible as you once were." He said.
"That should be my concern." Shi Miyuan said and quiet for a moment he knocked his shoulder as he walked past the door way before he halted in his footsteps yet again.
There was something that he had noticed all of a sudden that had him frozen.
"No." He muttered under his breath as his eyes widened.
Just a moment ago when Feng Ba faced him, he could have sworn that he saw the last thing he had expected to see in over forty years. That memento of his love with the Empress Dowager in the days of their youth, the halved jade pendant that was hanging from his belt.
"Are you alright Your Excellency?" Dong Hua asked as the old man turned around to look at Feng Ba who was facing him, his eyes staring intensely at him, he cared less for anything in the world that he got closer to see for himself yet again.
It was in deed the same, after all those years so much had changed but the pendant, it still remained the same.
"What is the problem Your Excellency?" Feng Ba asked a second time.
"Nothing." He suddenly replied as he raised his hand and touched the latter's right shoulder and patted it
"This is a small world Your Highness, an uneasy one at that, the Empress Dowager is one who rarely sows where she doesn't expect to bountifully reap, I do hope you consider that there could be more to her than a couple of impressively looking young talents." He whispered before he turned around and with the help of Dong Hua he walked away.
"What did he mean Your Highness?" Feng Ba's retainer inquired.
"I don't know." The young man replied, startled by his expression as well.
Shi Miyuan getting outside he halted momentarily.
"I want you to do something for me." He said to Dong Hua.
"What is it Your Excellency?" He asked.
"When I come to think of it we have barely concerned ourselves with the Grand Internal Prince Consort's identity, I need you to look into his past, even the smallest detail." He ordered.
"Is there anything wrong with him?" Dong Hua asked.
"He is a passionate young man but his gaze his fiery, he so much reminds me of my youthful days, perhaps even better, his eyes are dark and soulless like Her Highness." He replied.
"Could it be that Her Highness was really moved by him, or perhaps she saw just as much?" Dong Hua asked.
"That much is possible." Shi Miyuan replied, "but I do suppose there is something more about him that makes me uneasy." The old man responded as he continued his way.
"Our troops along with the private soldiers have launched the attack as we speak." Bao Langya reported to the Empress Dowager who was uneasily seated in her seat.
"Then I suppose it is up to fate to decide since we have done more than we could." She replied.
"All this time, everyone including me thought that Your Highness was provoking the conflict and that in any case you were only preparing yourself to defend the Capital....." he hesitated.
".....you are curious why I eventually gave the order to attack or even how I knew about the whereabouts of the Rebel leaders?" She asked.
"Would you enlighten me on this Your Highness?" Bao Langya asked.
"I never trusted the Deposed Crown Prince to begin with, some times I would pay attention to the gossip within the Palace walls when His Late Majesty was still alive, quite frequently he lounged in the East Palace living off the precious liquor, he drank from morning to morning but once I found out that one fateful day he didn't even reek of that much alcohol.
Eventually, my spies notified me that the Provincial Governors were suspicious so I chose to install my own people amongst them, eventually, I just needed only one of those governors who would be loyal to me." She replied.
"You infiltrated them from within Your Highness?" Bao Langya asked.
"With time I learnt that not even the Pang brothers masterminded this, with time I learnt that another person, a masked woman who met the Deposed Crown Prince enabled him to orchestrate all this." Empress Dowager Yang replied.
"By any chance do you know who it is Your Highness?" Bao Langya asked.
"At first the only one who would come to mind was Consort Cao but she didn't even leave her residence at the time the Governors were having a meeting, eventually my guess shifted to the Princess Imperial Yuping but I learnt that despite her resentment she was much detached from the plot." She replied.
"If its not one of the two then who could it be?" Bao Langya asked.
"Even I asked myself, however, the truth can only be made known once I get a hold of her." Empress Dowager Yang replied.
The masked woman along with her brother continued to run through the trees even as the Imperial soldiers pursued them, leaping over the broken branches eventually, by accident the former's foot ended up entangled in one of the vines and she tripped and fell down.
Her brother turned around.
"Sister?" He cried out.
"Go." She shouted, "you must survive for His Late Highness' bloodline to take its rightful place on the throne." She insisted.
"I am not leaving you." The young man shouted as he immediately returned to hold her up, limping together with the young girl, he then saw an archer aiming an arrow at them.
The latter fired instantly with the two in his target and the lost Prince reflexively turning his sister over he was struck in the back before the two rolled down towards the river.
He held on tightly as the rocks cut his body to protect the masked lady before they ended into the water, the Imperial soldiers descending slowly continued to viciously battle the other Rebel forces in the territory.
The Deposed Crown Prince Zhao Hong and Eunuch Ling progressing they were eventually ambushed and blocked in front. Turning back to withdraw their pursuers had themselves drawn nearer that they were caught in the middle with only a handful of soldiers.
"Give in Your Highness." Shi Yuzhi who was seated on his horse instantly demanded, "Surrender at this point and we might spare your life......" He said.
"Never." Eunuch Ling suddenly cut him off with his sword aimed at the latter.
"What are you going to do?" Shi Yuzhi asked, "sometime back you might have been very confident in your numbers but I bet you can't even look to them knowing that they would want your head for a couple of thousands of golden taels." He pointed out.
"Hear me Your Highness," Eunuch Ling spoke up, "the ten of us that are here with you will gladly lay down our lives and fight for you until the bitter end." He swore.
"No." The Deposed Crown Prince said and Shi Yuzhi usheathing his sword signalled for his men to attack that eventually the hundreds stormed the tiny barricade that had been forged around the Deposed Highness.
The conflict persisted as the young man spectated from his stead, the last of the Prince's men fighting for his cause were dying with a couple of strikes, not immune to the long spears and blades, this wholesale butchery was driving Zhao Hong crazy, slowly by slowly.
"What did I do to deserve this, Father, I failed you," he thought to himself, "I'll never ascend the Imperial Dragon throne as I promised, I never got to wreak your vengeance on the world." He inwardly spoke to himself as he watched his men lifelessly falling onto the ground.
Eunuch Ling, perhaps the strongest was only getting closer and closer to Shi Yuzhi, with rage burning in his eyes as he looked at the proud and insolent fool, they were driving blades through his skin but he believed that he needed to get a little bit closer to protect his Highness.
They charged with spears right at his chest but he nonetheless broke them.
A second group did the same but this time he was too weak to evade the attack.
They went for his legs and the young and muscular Eunuch was forced to his knees. His eyes turned to heaven and closing them he could feel the blade slowly approaching his neck to end his life.
Zhao Hong could not let them die for him any longer, no, he could no longer risk the lives of these innocent men whose only crime was to follow him in life as they had hoped to do the very same in death.
"Enough." He shouted at the top of his voice, loud enough for every strife to be halted until they had fixed their full attention on him.
As they watched the once graceful young man, abandoning his pride he went onto his knees, everyone gasped save for Shi Yuzhi who was the most excited to behold what one would have considered the most embarrassing act.
Zhao Hong could see nothing more but the corpses of his men around him, only two, with Eunuch Ling inclusive were still living on the thin line between life and death.
"What are you doing Your Highness?" Eunuch Ling viciously demanded.
"Please don't Your Highness." His other colleague pleaded.
"Please stop this," Zhao Hong muttered, "I won't fight with you anymore and I surrender, just let them all go and you can arrest me and take me." He insisted.
"Don't you think that is pretty rich coming from you?" Shi Yuzhi asked as he stepped down from his horse with his sword in hand.
"Was this not what you wanted, is this not what Her Highness wanted?" Zhao Hong inquired.
"You tell me, Your Highness, how many times did Her Highness spare you?" He asked and the young man keeping quiet he smirked at him.
"Her Highness unlike you has shed so much of her blood for this country, not your late father or his grandfather fought as hard as she did, charging against the Jurchens, sweeping across the North like our wind of hope for once we and all the other common people believed that God in her image resided amongst us." Shi Yuzhi muttered as he got close to Eunuch Ling.
"You and I know better, this country is supposed to belong to His Highness, he should be the one sitting on that Imperial Dragon throne." Eunuch Ling muttered weakly.
"You are wrong, what this country needed wasn't a bunch of blue bloods, those who know nothing of the suffering of the common people, those who care less for the General will but fatten themselves on the sweat of our own, husbands and wives, men, women and children." Shi Yuzhi said.
"Stop it," Zhao Hong insisted, "with all this killing, do you think you and Her Highness are making the world a better place?" He asked.
"Her Highness has loved this country more than anything else, however, it is full of useless, pathetic old scum like you," Shi Yuzhi said as he drew his sword and at once Zhao Hong's gaze froze, "only by getting rid of you rebels, you barbaric miscreants, that old scum that heavily pollutes our Greater Heavenly Empire shall the world realise true unity and be born anew, born from the ashes of you corrupt egocentric people." He shouted as he waved his sword and instantly sliced Eunuch Ling's neck.
Blood gushed out of his body as his head slid and fell down, the Deposed Crown Prince with his hand stretched out he mourned aloud and the sky resounding with him thundered.
The Earth shook and the noise came up to the Palace.
"Your Highness?" Beiyuan cried as he made an entrance into the room there falling on his knees before his mistress.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Victory, victory and victory I pronounce to you," he responded, "your enemies have been crushed and the heads of the Rebels have risen on the pikes that hold your standard." He reported.
"What about the Deposed Crown Prince?" She asked.
"We have him Your Highness." He responded.
"Well done," the Empress Dowager praised as she took a deep breath and sighed, "now it is time to secure His Majesty's place on the throne." She pronounced.
"What should we do Your Highness?" Beiyuan inquired.
"We might have cut off the Rebels but as long as we have the Deposed Crown Prince there is no guarantee that the strife will end at this point, I underestimated him before and paid for that by nearly bringing ruin to our Greater Heavenly Empire there is no way in the world that I can possibly commit myself to making the same mistake again." She muttered.
"Your Highness........" Beiyuan seemed hesitant.
"Convene the Imperial State Tribunal, we'll forward charges on the Deposed Crown Prince's crimes and he'll face trial immediately he enters the Capital." She'd made up her mind.
"Yes, Your Highness." Beiyuan replied as he stood up and withdrew from the room leaving her smiling at herself ghastly.
The Deposed Crown Prince kneeling lifelessly in the rain he was bound by thick nylon ropes, this time round the only survivor Shi Yuzhi dragged him as he walked behind his horse.
"What!" Emperor Lizong exclaimed.
"The Rebel forces were taken by surprise and defeated as the Rebel Governors have all been slain At least I have heard, the Deposed Crown Prince is being returned to the Capital as we speak." Eunuch Deng reported.
"Then perhaps Her Highness has spared his life." The young man remarked.
"I am very much afraid that it may not be the case." He replied.
"Why?" Emperor Lizong inquired.
"Because Her Highness is convening the Imperial State Tribunal." The latter replied and shocked the young man couldn't help but hold his head in shock.
"No." The young Emperor muttered unable to believe the words that he'd heard.
"I am afraid this is the truth." Eunuch Deng insisted as he too withdrew from the room.
Deposed Consort Cao stood on the balcony of her small straw house, gazing at the dark sky as the rain heavily poured and watered the earth.
Linxiang, her loyal servant advanced but she chose to keep her distance.
"How was the raid?" She asked.
"The Capital forces were successful Milady." She responded.
"What about the Deposed Crown Prince?" She asked.
"He's being held prisoner and in a couple of hours he will be led to the Capital probably before sundown to face trial." Linxiang reported.
"I see." Deposed Consort Cao said.
"Do you want anything Your Highness?" She asked.
"Just tomorrow, I want to return to the Palace." She said.
"What for Your Highness?" Linxiang asked.
"To have a word with Her Highness, for old times sake as I believe firmly, she will please it." Deposed Consort Cao said.
"If you say so Your Highness." Linxiang said as she withdrew while the latter looked up at the sky again.
"I'll see for myself Your Highness, I shall see you all one last time." She swore.