He is standing nearby his mother as an eunuch. Even though he don't have much of his memory back, her face is seems familiar. He watch Shung Yun, his wife interact with his mother. HIs hands tremble and his nose started to have fluid flowing out. His eyes are tearing. The personal eunuch of the dowager notice that Xian Wen is unsettle. He silently walk over and whisper to him. " Go to the back room to settle down, your highness. Lady Su will be still sitting here when you return." Xian Wen nod his head and walk out slowly without anyone noticing him. The dowager sees her son suffer from a distance she sigh.
"Your highness, do you have something to tell me?"
"No much. I think you hear enough from me. I am wanting to know how is your tummy lately? Any good news?"
"No your highness. I am sorry to inform you that."
"I understand. My son indeed a problem. Ever since he got married. Only two women managed to get pregnant and they are peasants. "
Prince Xian Wen slip in quietly and stand in the same spot. Lady Su takes her slip of tea. Somehow, he feels like his wife isn't this manner when they married. Did she change like Duke Su said, her spirit is broken down. She doesn't seem happy.
After awhile, She take her leave and return to the emperor quarter. Xian Wen watch her in a distance as she walks further way.
"What are you thinking, my son?"
"I don't think my wife is this..."
"Anyone who comes in the palace to live in here, have to change. That's why you have your mansion when you are 15. Your bother envy you to escape. While he might have the eastern palace all to himself. He is alone and have to conduct his manners when all eyes are on him.'
"Her change of behaviour might be due to your bother too. He is a man who desire to control the people around him. He watch his father and learn this. Xian Wen, you have to understand, when you return to your position and your titles, everything is return to you. Everything except her. Your brother desire to control her above all things. She is very disobedient when she is in the palace. Punishment is not enough to hold her down. He have found a way to discipline her and control her. Besides this the empress is not an easy person to deal with."
"Can i see her again?"
The dowager takes his hand and pat them gently. She touches his cheeks, she remember the boy that grows up alone outside the palace outside her care.
"I will try again my son." She look at his hand. She take his other hand and place them together. "Later after dinner, i will show you a short cut to where you can see her. Maybe you can help your brother ... I know it is selfish for me to keep asking you to do this but i cannot let the bloodline to die off."
"What are you asking me to do?"
"If you can, go sleep with Lady Su. I will hold back your brother. This is the good for this country. "
His hands tremble and the dowager hold on firmly to his hands and look him in the eye.
After dinner, she walk him to a secret door behind her bed. Her personal eunuch stay behind to keep watch out. The tunnel is long but it isn't dark because of the torch lighted on the walls. As they walk on, there are some sound of people talking ahead. Quietly they walk to a particular wall. The dowager remove a small opening. It acts like a peep hole big enough for them to see ahead what they are looking. That room is the emperor's room where Su Shung Yun is sleeping in. After the maid and Lady Su walk out of the room and the door completely closed, the dowager show Xian Wen a stone to push and twist, it open up. He walk in slowly and look at the room. "Your father had place this secrect door here. I happen to know one day. That is how he sneak out every night to the brothels. You can meet her this way. This is the best i can do. The rest is up to you to decide. I trust you will know what is best to be done. You never disappoint me when you are a child. Your decision will me mine as well. We have support your brother this far. Let's continue to help him further. I may not live any longer but i will be happy to know my sons are doing their best and our ancestors will be in peace. Xian Wen, know this, your son will be sitting on the throne when we are gone. His mother, Lady Su will be under his protection." She looks at him gravely. "No one will know this and all these will be in peace. If your son don't sit on the throne, can you see that what will happen to Lady Su? She will die in the palace, lonely without anyone. Duke Su or the Su clan can't even take her out here alive. How much chaos will happen. My son, see what is needed to be done!" Xian Wen's tears roll down his cheek and at that moment there are people talking outside. Quickly hasty, they walk back to the stone door and shut it. Xian Wen take another look at Shung Yun and the peep hole is close.