BAPTISM OF FIRE

             The Capital Patrol guards along with the officers from the Imperial State Tribunal approached Shi Miyuan's residence and they flung the gates open, rushing through into his inner Courtyard they forced the servants onto their knees as they started shuffling through his property thoroughly.

            Lin Xue amongst them mounted the stairs that led to his private study and ceasing the doors he pushed them open and studied the area.

             His colleagues accompanied him looking through books and cupboards, under his table and his seat until eventually Lin Xue personally noticed a small wooden trunk in one of his drawers.

             Pulling it out he placed it on top of the table in everyone's presence and opening it inside he saw a small bottle.

             "I found it." He spoke certain of himself and walking out of the building he was joined by the others.

             Shi Miyuan and the rest of the Courtiers still being held at the Imperial State Tribunal silently, the Capital patrol troops along with the Tribunal's officers made their way in while carrying the trunk forward where the Imperial physician was stationed.

            "We found this in the Vice Minister Of Rites' residence." Lin Xue said and opening the small trunk he revealed the small bottle which was handed over to the Imperial Physician.

             He first smelt it and then tasted it while everyone was watching, there with his eyes widening he seemed frightened as he returned the bottle to its chest.

            "What is it?" Grand Empress Dowager Xie demanded.

            "Forgive me Your Grand Highness but I am certain that it's had the same poison that was used on the Princes and the Imperial Prince's mother. " He professed and the rest of the Courtiers taken aback Han Touzhou looked at Shi Miyuan.

            "Have we not seen?" He asked himself, "Your Grand Highness and all these people here bear me witness." He claimed.

             "Someone is trying to frame me." Shi Miyuan protested.

             "And who has accessed your residence apart from you Your Excellency? " Han Touzhou asked, "Prince or not the Crown Prince is a victim fighting for his life we can not look aside when a member of the Imperial Court has erred, otherwise what example do we set to the people, we must ensure that from his mistake others learn so that none of them is able to fall into the same temptation." He asserted.

            "Please seek justice for the Crown Prince and the Imperial Prince." Han Touzhou's supporters requested the Grand Empress Dowager.

             "The Vice Minister of War has committed a very grave crime against this Dynasty that is equivalent to treason, he has brought instability to the harem and the Inner Court and has divided the Imperial Court with his schemes, as such I must become a model to the people of this nation but even with my benevolence and acknowledgement of his service, I can't turn a blind eye to this." The Grand Empress Dowager muttered, "with the power that is vested in me as the Grand Empress Dowager and informal regent of this our Heavenly Empire, His Excellency shall be stripped of his titles and banished from his office, he is hereby exiled to the Island of MEIZHOU to live there the rest of his life." The Grand Empress Dowager ordered.

             "Your Grand Highness, His Excellency killed an Imperial Prince, stripping him of his titles and exiling him is not enough, for such a treasonous act, he should be executed." Han Touzhou petitioned.

             "Many people are already shedding their blood for the sake of our country and the majority of the Imperial Court pleads his life to be spared." The Grand Empress Dowager mentioned, "I have made up my mind and I can't shed more of the blood of our people." She remarked as she stood up and accompanied by her retinue, she departed from the Tribunal.

            Consort Han in her Chambers, Court Lady Liu throwing the doors open she rushed through excited and reaching her she bowed her head.

            "Congratulations Your Grace." She said to her.

            "What happened?" She inquired.

            "The Court Lady testified as you had ordered, we created evidence at the right time, the Vice Minister of War couldn't deny anything at all and he didn't have any evidence to prove his innocence so the Grand Empress Dowager exercised her Imperial prerogative to strip him of his title and exile him to the Island of MEIZHOU." She reported.

            "An Imperial Prince happened to lose his life so why is that bastard keeping his?" Consort Han asked.

             "The Grand Empress Dowager was rather reluctant to take his life and the majority of the Court were in favour of sparing him." Court Lady Liu responded.

              "After all they are a source of her power so she wouldn't wish to aggress them in one way or another." Consort Han remarked.

               "But at least Shi Miyuan will be far from the capital and that means that the Crown Prince and the Grand Empress Dowager herself in the Palace will be defenseless." Court Lady Liu mentioned.

              "We need to take care of the opposition in the Imperial Court if we want something to be done." Consort Han muttered, "we are not strong enough to succeed as long as the Empress' men are out there." She emphasized.

              "How are we going to take care of them Your Grace?" Court Lady Liu inquired.

              "His Majesty is still unconscious until now and his situation will become direr, we should execute the next phase of our plan." She responded.

              "Yes Your Grace." Court Lady Liu said as she withdrew from the room immediately while Consort Han remaining seated herself she smiled ghastly.

              Han Touzhou returning to his study infuriated he sat down behind his table while Lin Xue bothered by it he moved to his side.

              "What's the matter Your Excellency?" He inquired, "Shi Miyuan has been dismissed from office and shall go into his exile on the island of Meizhou." He tried to console him.

              "You have no idea," Han Touzhou responded, "people without positions in the Imperial Court can still be in the position to wield tremendous power, besides, having been a close confidant of the Empress there are still followers among those Courtiers that are ready to stand by him." He asserted.

             "It bothers you this much?" Lin Xue inquired.

             "As long as the Empress returns to the capital, with her influence and herself being the chief protectress of the Crown Prince everything else will be reversed." Han Touzhou replied.

            "I see." Lin Xue muttered.

            "As long as one is alive, there is hope to fight another day that is why exiled or not we need to make sure that he never surfaces on the face of the Earth again." Han Touzhou remarked.

             "Rest assured Your Excellency, I shall have my men perform this odious task for you." Lin Xue assured him while he nodded in approval.

              "Do not be troubled, I trust that you certainly will." Han Touzhou remarked as the latter kowtowing to him he withdrew from the room as well.

               The Generals from Tsaoyang and Te-An arriving at the Jurchen camp along the border were ushered into a tent where the Princess Imperial, Chuchu, Wanyan Guang and their commanders were seated and there they offered their salutations.

              "Greetings Your Highness, Your Excellencies." They kowtowed to them before they knelt upright.

              "I am grateful that you are here." The Princess Imperial mentioned.

              "We heard that Your Highness needed our help, we bring with us a total of fifty thousand troops." The General Tushan Teling reported and the Imperial Princess standing up where she was seated she moved to the two men and personally helped them onto their feet.

             "Forget the honours, don't stress yourselves about it too much." She said as they stood upright, "the reason I called you all here today and the reason that we have gathered is because we each have a common foe, as it so happens the Southern Song troops have turned the tide of war into their favour and have captured Teng, we all know that as it so happens that Teng is the strongest fortification in the South West they have their cannons aimed at Bianjing our Southern Capital." She said while everyone listened attentively to her as she picked up her sword and unsheathed it to point towards the map that was in their midst.

             "I heard that the Empress of the Southern Song Dynasty is at the forefront, so many rumours have already circulated amongst the Han people praising her bravery and wisdom, they have even called her a Goddess of War." Tushan Teling remarked.

            "When she landed in Guanghua last I heard after annihilating our troops that approached from the South, she kissed the ground and that day was officiated to be annually celebrated as a public holiday." His colleague Heshilie supplemented.

             "All that said, if we intend to win the war, we should take care of the Empress first." Tushan Teling suggested.

             "Except that it won't be easy, the strategies that she is using are not part of Sun Tzu's Art Of War." Heshilie mentioned.

             "The Southern Song Dynasty Empress is a remarkable military talent but if we could win this one attempt soon enough then all her victories would have been fruitless." Princess Zhangguo mentioned.

              "What are we to do Your Highness?" They asked her.

              "If estimated between Xiangyang and Guanghua, they can raise at most a strong army of twenty thousand men and based on the information I have they are still days away from acquiring reinforcements." She responded.

              "Their West is equally vulnerable, as it so happens that our ally Wu Xi was assassinated yesterday and much of the province is in disorder, the Southern Song Government is also most interested in keeping it's grip over the territory we wouldn't also risk exposing our South Western territory to attack." Wanyan Guang informed them.

             "In any case time is more on our side than it is for our enemies that is why we must cease this moment while the hour is still ripe." Princess Zhangguo mentioned.

              "We're now numbered to seventy five thousand troops, the Southern Song Dynasty on the other number may be deficient in it's numbers but they have long-range cannons on the walls of their fortresses and fire lances that are fast and efficient, very many explosives which could slow our advance towards their walls." Tushan Teling pointed out.

             "Unless we took them by surprise." The Princess Imperial Zhangguo suggested.

             "To take Guanghua and Xiangyang in the dead of night would be difficult, more wary of us now I am certain they couldn't be lax even at night." Heshilie mentioned.

              "Don't worry, I have an idea." The Princess remarked as she smiled at herself.

              Empress Yang, Bao Langya, General Wu Sanxiang along with Wei Yuanzhang were seated in his office while staring at a map of the territory when Beiyuan walked in and bowed his head to them.

             "Was my message delivered to Xiangyang?" She inquired.

              "Yes Your Highness, however the General Han Guang is unwilling to sacrifice the lives of his men manning the Fortress, he insists that if they are to die then they shall die defending it with all their might." He reported.

               "Honestly, I didn't expect so much from him." Empress Yang remarked.

              "There are seventy thousand Jurchen troops stationed along the border, roughly ten miles away Your Highness." Beiyuan reported.

              "We are only ten thousand men within these walls that are prepared to charge forward, the remaining five hundred will man the Fort along with our supplies, we are outnumbered by sixty thousand soldiers." Wei Yuanzhang pointed out.

             "I have seen war, I know what it can do, in what history however Your Highness has an army of roughly fifteen thousand men suppressed a gargantuan force that skilled?" Wu Sanxiang asked.

             "How long has Guanghua held out?" She inquired.

             "One whole year Your Highness." He responded.

             "How many people have you buried?" She asked.

             "Thousands." He replied.

             "What did all those people die for?" She asked while he kept quiet

             "Was it their heart's deepest desire to fight?" She mentioned and Wei Yuanzhang bowing his head embarrassed Wu Sanxiang looked the Empress in the eye.

             "It is because they died that I am worried, I don't want to bury any more people." He said.

             "You were confident before because you were certain that we would have reinforcements, you are afraid now because it seems that the weight of the hopes of everyone are on our shoulders alone." Empress Yang mentioned, "do you expect the Jurchens to be any merciful by suppressing their crude and barbaric nature of being oppressive when they conquer our lands?" She asked.

             "No." He responded.

             "I'll tell you why all those men held out Your Excellency, it wasn't because they were strong, it wasn't because they were capable, they were all aspiring to protect something that they dearly loved and cherished, hoping and believing that someday they would do the same even in their deaths to inspire someone who will keep on honouring this fight and protecting their people for their sake." Empress Yang mentioned.

            "Your Highness we are not heroes." He asserted.

            "You don't get to decide that." Empress Yang insisted, "we are the ones who choose that oath." She assured him.

             "You know we might not win." Wei Yuanzhang mentioned.

            "But I am hopeful that we might." The Empress proudly said.

            The people gathered outside Shi Miyuan's residence they murmured amongst themselves while he was seated in his study dressed in a plain white hanfu.

             The doors being opened Yang Cishan walked in and himself standing up from where he was seated, he bowed his head to pay his respects.

             "At ease." Yang Cishan ordered while he complied, "who are you putting your faith in?" He asked.

             "In Your Excellency, in His Majesty, in Her Grand Highness, in Her Imperial Highness, all of you that are our people, this country for which we fight." He responded.

             "You could have lost your head." Yang Cishan remarked.

             "But I didn't." Shi Miyuan confidently reminded him.

             "Why did you let them repress you?" Yang Cishan inquired.

             "Because they need to think they did, because I am confident that my power can not allow them to kill me, I have taken this step with faith, to only get close enough to their fire and physically extinguish it." Shi Miyuan responded.

            "Meizhou Island doesn't isn't as near as you make it sound, where will you go from there?" Yang Cishan asked and the young man walking up to his side he halted in his footsteps.

             "Don't be frightened, Her Highness entrusted you all to my care so I won't let her down, don't miss me too much because I will be with you, seeing the things you see, hearing as well, tasting and smelling perhaps, I will even surpass the things in your reach." He whispered and bowing to him, he continued towards the doors which he faced.

            Personally opening them, Dong Hua was standing outside.

            "I entrust my family to you." He mentioned while Dong Hua without any hint of hesitation kowtowed to show his acceptance.

             Majestically descending the stairs he was bound with ropes and in the most Grand procession and the most humiliating one he was put inside a carriage which rode through the streets of the Capital up to its gates.

             Han Touzhou in his study he was uneasy while Lin Xue and his men at a distance in the woods, they watched him leaving carriage and getting onto a boat, it sailed for a distance getting offshore and having reached far, the whole ship burst into open flames and capsized while Lin Xue certain that no one had survived he smiled before he departed with his team of assassins.

              Consort Han inside her Chambers she was staring at white powder on a plate in front of her table.

             "Your Grace it is I." Court Lady Liu announced her presence and Consort Han permitting her an audience she walked up to her and offered her respects.

              "I didn't call you." She mentioned.

              "There is something urgent that I wished to report to you Your Grace." She responded.

             "You seem rather unsettled so I can't help but wonder what the problem could be." She remarked.

             "I am rather excited Your Grace, the ship that was transferring the Ex-Vice Minister of Rites exploded and capsized before he the island of Meizhou." She reported.

             "All of a sudden?" Consort Han inquired.

             "His Excellency the Grand Chancellor was unhappy with the decision of keeping him alive and he ordered Lin Xue and his men to personally make sure that they kill him." Court Lady Liu responded.

             "I suppose my Uncle hated him that much." She muttered as she took the powder and offered it to Court Lady Liu who took it into her hands.

              "What's this?" She asked.

              "I heard the Empress moved the Crown Prince to live in the Cifu Palace with her until he recovers." She pointed out.

              "Yes Your Grace." Court Lady Liu confirmed.

              "We have our primary targets in one place." She whispered to herself, "I had that specially prepared for the Cifu Palace, I want all the servants along with the Empress and the Crown Prince fed with it." She ordered.

              "Don't worry Your Grace." Court Lady Liu assured her as she took the spices away.

               In the dead of night, Daiyu stealthily being accompanied by a Eunuch made her way into the Grand Empress Dowager's bed Chamber where they found her seated in front of a brazier warming herself.

              "He's here Your Grand Highness." Daiyu reported.

              "You may leave." Grand Empress Dowager Xie ordered and the young woman stepping aside the Eunuch raised his head and turned out to be Shi Miyuan.

             "You realise I have broken almost every rule by setting an uncastrated man within the heart of the harem and the Inner Court." She remarked.

             "Which is more sinful Your Grand Highness, to protect the law and lose those we love or break it to protect them?" He inquired.

             "Once you are recognized we could all be in trouble." She cautioned him.

             "Don't worry about me Your Grand Highness, I could stay in this Palace even like a shadow, even like the wind, you should worry for yourself more and the Crown Prince for it is only in that worry that you'd accept my sincerest protection." He confidently assured her.

             Court Lady Liu secretly surveying the Imperial kitchen, she found the cooks busy preparing the meals and sorting the cooking pots according to the different places, moving towards the side where the dishes for the Cifu Palace were being prepared, certain that she was not being seen by anyone she poured the powder Consort Han had given her in the sauce and stirred it before she went her way.

             The chef returning she hardly noticed any change and she continued preparing the meal while Court Lady Liu at a distance she watched keenly and seemed certain that she had succeeded.

             The Grand Empress Dowager seated at her table Daiyu led the ladies in waiting who brought the dishes in and placing them onto the table they were tasted and proven harmless before they were handed over to her.

            She picked up her chopsticks and had the first bite.

             "How is it Your Grand Highness?" Daiyu inquired.

             "It tastes extraordinarily delicious today." She pointed out as enjoyed the beef stew and the boiled rice together with shrimp.

             The Crown Prince lying in his bed asleep was in a stable condition and seemed lively even as he peacefully slept.

             Shi Miyuan watched him in the darkness and studied his remarkable facial build, he did resemble the Empress so much even though he wasn't his biological son.

             "I wish you come back Your Highness, Zhao Xun is waiting for you." He whispered to himself as he stood up to walk away when he suddenly heard the boy speaking.

               "Father." He appeared to be dreaming, "please get up." He went ahead to mention and it occurred to Shi Miyuan that he had not visited the Emperor since he had passed out.

               Court Lady Liu returning before Consort Han the latter smiled at her.

               "I did as you commanded Your Grace." She reported.

               "Marvellous." She remarked.

               "Allow me to be bold Your Grace, what is it that the spices are intended to do?" She asked.

               "What do you think?" Consort Han asked.

               "If it was poison then it would be used against us in the end, besides the deaths of the Crown Prince and the Grand Empress Dowager being immediate are bound to cause chaos within the kingdom, it could even tear down the Government." She responded.

              "If it is to cause harm the best way is to ensure that we do not raise alarm." Consort Han mentioned as she leaned over her table, "I assure you, they will long, they will keep wanting and when they are done, pain will set in almost naturally, natural enough for the world to hold us guiltless." She whispered as she smiled at herself ghastly.

             Shi Miyuan in the Emperor's Chamber, he looked at him lying unconscious on his bed.

             He was much healthier than he remembered, gaining some more flesh on his eyes, his once sunken eyes with bags under them appeared to be recovering and going back to their old normal appearance.

            Suddenly, Eunuch Deng walked in.

            "So he has been in this vegetative state for a year?" He inquired from him without breaking his concentration.

            "Yes." Eunuch Deng replied as he halted right beside him, "Her Highness insisted that the dosage of his medicine be increased gradually, she feared that it could be harmful, he seems to have made progress in the past year." He claimed.

            "How long will he survive then?" Shi Miyuan inquired.

             "If he is lucky, it's another twenty years or more." Eunuch Deng responded.

             "It's good to know." Shi Miyuan remarked.

             "You finally became a part of the Palace." He mentioned.

            "There are things that I must protect." He responded while Eunuch Deng looking at him he lightly chuckled.

              "You are a married man, you now have a family, all these years have passed, you still tell me, have your feelings remained the same?" He inquired.

              "I could marry as many women in the world if it is necessary, I could give that much of myself up, the Empress will still remain the only person, the only woman I'll cherish more than anything else and I'll do whatever it takes, whatever is in my power to protect her." Shi Miyuan responded as he looked at the Emperor.

            "Your son and your wife miss you so much Your Majesty, quickly, would you please get up?" He whispered before he turned around and walked out of the room.

             The Empress seated in the General's office, she had immersed herself in her own thoughts as she studied the map in front of her.

             The darkness that had once filled the sky started to wane and the brilliant beams of sunlight scattering across the firmament her shadow was cast onto the wall on her right.

              Beiyuan walking in he stood in front of her and studied her earnestly, himself hesitant in his speech he still mastered the courage to speak up.

             "It is time." He informed her.

             "Tell me something." She mentioned.

             "What is it?" He inquired.

             "Between me and you, what do you think the generations to come will say?" She asked.

             "Why have we to care, the people can be shallow-minded, no one knows what tomorrow holds, I believe what Your Highness should be asking me right now is what will the people of our Great Heavenly Empire think right now." Beiyuan responded as she readied her attire and stood up from where she was seated.

             The soldiers of Xiangyang gathered outside her temporary residence, Beiyuan announced her presence and throwing the doors open, the Empress appeared clad in her own armour stepped out and the soldiers clearing the path for her they bowed their heads while she approached the platform in their midst.

             The common people had gathered as well, while she seemed more fearless than she had ever been before.

             She turned around and looked at the masses that had their eyes fixed on her and while the murmurs died down and silence prevailed, having captured the audience she needed she spoke up.

            "WE ARE TREADING FORWARD THIS VERY DAY, THOSE THAT THOUGHT THEMSELVES MORE INVINCIBLE THAN US SHALL NEVER BE IN THE POSITION TO DO SO AGAIN, OUR SWORDS ARE BRANDISHED AGAINST THE RAYS OF THE NEW DAWN, AN ERA WHOSE ADVENT SHALL CHANGE THE COURSE OF OUR LONG, PROFOUND AND MOST REMARKABLE HISTORY.

            WE HAVE BEEN WHERE MANY MEN INCLUDING OUR BROTHERS HAVE BEEN, WE HAVE PREVAILED IN BATTLE AND OUR ENEMIES ARE NOT AS SUPERNATURAL AS THEY DID SEEM, BUT WE STAND HERE FOR WHAT, WHAT IS OUR CAUSE, OUR MOTIVATION AND DIRECTION OR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE CHOOSE TO DIE TODAY, YOU ASK ME NOW, I SHALL CERTAINLY TELL YOU AS I HAVE SEEN, AS I HAVE WITNESSED, AS I HAVE STOOD TO KNOW.

            NONE OF YOU ARE MEN ANYMORE, NONE OF YOU ARE JUST WARRIORS, YOU ARE ALL NOT PEOPLE OF A COMMON CASTE BUT HEROES IN OUR FINEST HOUR AND THE GRATITUDE THAT IS ACCORDED BY EVERY HOME ON OUR SOIL, OUR EMPIRE AND THE WORLD EXCEPT THE ABODES OF THE SINFUL BESTOWED UPON US MAKES US THE PILLARS OF THIS NATION.

            EVEN IF MANY OF OUR FORMER TERRITORIES, MOST OF OUR MOST FAMOUS CITIES MAY HAVE SUCCUMBED TO THE CAPTIVITY AND THIS TYRANNY OF THE ODIOUS JURCHEN RULE, WE SHALL NOT FLAG AND NEITHER SHALL WE FAIL BUT WE WILL STAND AND FIGHT TODAY, WE SHALL GO ON WITH EVERY EFFORT AND EVERY BREATH UNTIL THE VERY END.

            WE SHALL FIGHT IN XIANGYANG, WE SHALL FIGHT IN EVERY BOUNDLESS SEA AND OCEAN WITH GROWING CONFIDENCE AND GOING STRAIGHT IN THE AIR WE SHALL NEVER CEASE, WE SHALL NEVER HESITATE, WE SHALL NEVER FORSAKE TO WAGE WAR ON ALL OUR ENEMIES.

             WE  SHALL TAKE THE FIGHT TO EVERY MOUNTAIN AND DESCEND IN EVERY DARK VALLEY, WE SHALL STAND ATOP THE FIELDS AND WEATHER THE SCORCHING SUN AND THE HEAVY RAIN, WE SHALL FIGHT ON EVERY BEACH AND WITHIN EVERY FORTRESS AND WITH THE WRATH AND THE THUNDER OF THE RED CANNON WE SHALL ROAR ACROSS THE LANDS AND DEFEND OUR GREATEST FATHERLAND WHATEVER THE COST MAY BE, NOT NOW, NOT TODAY AND NEVER IN THE ANNALS OF OUR HISTORY SHALL WE STRONG NOBLE AND PROUD SURRENDER FOR OUR HEAVENLY EMPIRE, ARMED AND GUARDED BY OUR NOBLE PEOPLE, WILL CARRY ON THIS STRUGGLE IN OUR NAMES EVEN WHEN WE FALL, UNTIL IN THE GREAT GOD'S GOOD TIME WE SHALL RETURN GLORY, PEACE AND HONOUR TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR NATION IN THIS ITS DARKEST TIME, UNTIL WE BRING HOME OUR VICTORY." She shouted at the top of her voice as she unsheathed her sword and raised it to the sky and the soldiers raising their voices they struck the ground with their spears and the shields with their swords.

            The Empress despite her old age seemed youthful and energetic and mounting her horse, she held the Imperial Standard of the Dynasty and charging forward amidst the cheers of the common people she led the march outside the Fortress' gates where they stationed themselves while facing the East.

             The hours flying by slowly while the Southern Song Dynasty's troops still standing attentive, the guards at the battlements keeping a keen eye out over the horizon a large group of Jurchen banners emerged.

             "The Princess Imperial Zhangguo ahead of the Jurchen forces numbering to seventy thousand troops could easily recognize the thin lines that had been created by their enemies.

              The War trumpets were sounded and the Han people responded by striking the ear drums which warned the people that were still caught up within the walls.

               In every household and temple, along the streets and the narrow alleys, the people coming together earnestly prayed while the Empress tighter than before she ceased the mast of the flag firmly.

               The Jurchens halted their advance while the Commander Wei Yuanzhang with the cannons lined up waited patiently while the Jurchen army ceased their advance.

               "What are we going to do Your Highness?" Chuchu asked.

               "Remember to stick according to the plan." She responded and the latter nodding his head in approval, she raised her right hand and lowered it.

                "Charge." Chuchu shouted and the first three lines of Jurchen guards moved forward to close up the distance.

                Empress Yang and her soldiers waited as the Jurchens got closer.

               "Archers ready." She ordered and themselves stepping in front of the Cannon guards on the walls they fired three consecutive rounds.

                The arrows flying towards the Jurchen soldiers, they halted moving forward and piling their shields up immediately they guarded against the attack and were hardly armed.

               Wei Yuanzhang seemed surprised by their reaction but the Empress still holding onto the banner looked unmoved while the Princess Imperial smiled at at herself.

               The next five hundred soldiers charging forward with twenty of their catapults the Empress didn't react until they were in a close range.

               Igniting the boulders that had been soaked in crude oil they fired them first into the sky and the rocks making their ascent, the Han Chinese fired their cannons as well aiming at the balls.

              Only managing to out a couple of them, the rocks turned into a very dark powder which darkened the scene.

               Almost unbelievably the Empress could no longer see her advancing enemies as the dust settled down in their midst.

               The archers unable to perceive their invaders clearly, suddenly, the Empress trying to strain her sight to at least recognize something life-threatening she was able to hear the sound of bowstrings.

               "Form a shield wall." She shouted and the soldiers immediately responding they were surprised when arrows flying over their heads went for the soldiers on the battlements and those that were watching the cannons.

               "Fire at the smoke." Wei Yuanzhang ordered and the remaining survivors ceaselessly released their heavy fire power consecutively at their advancing goes.

               The Empress noticed that they were only making the smoke thicker and striking the ground with her mast she gave the last order that they had expected.

                "Attack." She said as she charged into the smoke and Wei Yuanzhang raising his hand had to halt the cannons in fear that the Empress could be harmed.

                "What are you waiting for, protect Her Highness." Bao Langya shouted as she charged ahead after her with the rest of their cavalry.

                The Empress could at last see something as the smoke appeared to cease and the Jurchen men who looked gigantic in nature ahead aiming through their shields saw her making her advance.

               Some of their arrows turning to her they  fired and her horse getting hit fell onto the ground while she positioned herself behind it planting the banner within the soil.

               The Southern Song troops bad reached her with their shields as well and launching forward while she took her stance behind them again, their spears penetrating through the Jurchens' shield wall they shattered it immediately.

              They broke into combat as the smoke eventually cleared, the Princess Imperial Zhangguo charged with her army as well and they joined the scene while those on the walls were slowly being cleared.

               Empress Yang ceasing a Jurchen spear in her hand, she saw the Princess Imperial charging towards her, gathering all the might that she could find she held onto it tightly before she released it flying towards her advancing adversary.

              The Princess Imperial leaping forward from her horse she flew into the air and descended upon her with all her wrath.

              Empress Yang swinging herself sideways she dodged and dragging her sword out of its sabre she pointed it straight at the young woman's neck.

              Moving backward the Empress swinging her blade again she struck the hat that was on her head and revealed her long hair only to seem surprised.

              "You're a woman!" She exclaimed.

              "I have heard a lot about you Your Highness, you are not the only Imperial Commandress in Chief in this battle." She assured her as she brought her blade closer to slit her throat.

               The Empress guarded with her own sword and pushed Princess Zhangguo forward as she somersaulted and slid beside to make her landing behind.

              Princess Zhangguo turning around she saw the Empress advancing towards her and sliding backwards herself, the latter persistently flew towards her.

              Bao Langya furiously slaying the Jurchens finally came across Chuchu who was equally slaying his people.

              The two looking at each other they tightened their grip on their swords and charged towards each other.

              Swinging clockwise their swords clashed vigorously and shook while they stared each other in the eye.

              Chuchu overpowering Bao Langya was trying so hard to get him onto his knees when Bao Langya gathering his strength he retaliated and turned on Chuchu as well.

              The Jurchens advancing from Bao Langya's back he heard them and pushing Chuchu down onto the ground he somersaulted and landed behind them slitting their throats while they fell onto the ground.

               A couple of Jurchens penetrating the Southern Song troops' defense they approached the wall of the Fortress and Wu Sanxiang standing on the highest pavilion raised his hands.

              "Fire the Fire lances." He ordered and heading his order, they fired at the ground that was close by.

              The Gun powder hidden in small earthed pots was ignited and setting of an explosion it spread around the entire Eastern line in front of the Fortress killing nearly a thousand men at once.

              Princess Zhangguo seeing this she turned to Chuchu who fired an arrow into the sky which set off what appeared to be a blue smoke signal.

              Perceived by Wanyan Guang, with all his full force, he advanced towards the West side of the wall which seemed barely defended taking down the soldiers on watch and those next to the warning bell that they could see.

              "Charge." He ordered and making their advance as well a couple of archers secretly hiding behind the battlements and lying in wait for them were silently waiting for the opportune moment.

              After counting nearly two minutes they stood up and facing the advancing Jurchens who seemed surprised seeing all of them lining the wall, they fired lances at them which breaking their formation through them into disorganization tryna to prevent them from reaching the gates.

              The people within the walls painfully holding onto their ears hoped for silence which seemed rather hard to acquire.

             The fight persistent Princess Zhangguo noticed that most of her people were being brutally slaughtered and holding herself together, Empress Yang saw her as she smiled at herself ghastly.

              The trumpet being sounded in the South, the Southern Song Dynasty's troops  were surprised when they saw another battalion emerging from the back of the Southern hills.

             "The whole Fortress has been surrounded." Wei Yuanzhang mentioned and the soldiers on the Southern Wall sounded the warning bell.

             Empress Yang turned back and looked at Princess Zhangguo.

             "Let's end this war Your Highness." She said as she charged towards her and the Empress without hesitating she made her attack as well.

              The Catapults ready with their aim at the South wall they fired and themselves bearing a group of Southern Song Dynasty cannons that they had raided in the territories that they had occupied they made their advance.

              "Fire." The Guardians of Guanghua ordered as well and their cannons perhaps more efficient and more able to shoot longer ranges they roared against the wind.

               Daiyu walking into the Grand Empress Dowager's chambers she found her lying in bad.

              "It is already past time Your Grand Highness, please get up." She requested but the old woman not responding she got closer and looking at her behind the silk curtain she noticed red spots all over her skin.

              "Your Grand Highness?" She cried throwing down the things she was holding in her hands.

              Eunuch Deng standing outside Emperor Ningzong's room one of the Court Ladies rushed over to him and whispered something to him.

              He hurriedly made his way over to the Cifu Palace and arriving outside the Empress' Chambers, he was greeted by Daiyu.

              "What am I hearing?" He inquired.

              "Her Highness, and the Crown Prince along with Majority of the servants of the Cifu Palace apart from me are sick and judging from their signs and symptoms they are down with small pox." She reported and the latter entering inside he found the Grand Empress Dowager lying down in her bed while the Imperial physician was tending to her.

             "How is she?" He inquired.

             "It is serious." He reported, "I am afraid that the Grand Empress Dowager can no longer exercise her duties and see them to fulfillment in such a state." The physician reported.

            "Is it small pox?" Eunuch Deng asked.

            "Very much like it." The Imperial physician responded, "seeing that the Cifu Palace is down with it all those in contact and those within need to be quarantined to ensure that the infection does not spread to all the other Palaces." He mentioned.

            Consort Han gracefully seated inside her Chambers, she took a small cup of tea and sipped at it while she placed it back onto the table in front of her.

            "Your Grace it is I." Court Lady Liu announced her presence.

            "Come in." She responded and the latter walked in with a smile on her face.

             "The Palace must be rowdy." She remarked.

             "Most of the servants within the Cifu Palace have contracted small pox including the Grand Empress Dowager." She reported.

              "What do the Imperial physicians say?" She inquired.

              "The Grand Empress Dowager's condition is critical and she can't possibly carry out her daily routine." She responded.

              "But the harem and the Inner Court, the government, all of these someone has to be in charge." Consort Han mentioned.

              "Naturally it would be the Empress but she is fighting in the North West, apart from her, Consort Cao who would have managed the situation was deposed and outside the Palace which leaves only one able person, Your Grace as the most Senior member of His Majesty's harem." Court Lady Liu responded.

            "It's nearly time for the Daily Assembly which is tragic, call for my Uncle before he goes to the Grand Hall." Consort Han ordered.

             "Yes Your Grace." Court Lady Liu responded and bowing her head she withdrew from the hall immediately.

             "What!" Shi Miyuan exclaimed.

             "The Grand Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince along with all the staff of the Cifu Palace have contracted small pox." His spy reported to him.

             "They just happened to be alright overnight." Shi Miyuan muttered.

             "There is something strange though that happened in Consort Han's residence, I was keeping a close eye on her and Court Lady Liu stealthily leaving while it approached supper time I followed her secretly until she arrived in the kitchen, I saw her putting something in the meals for those in Cifu Palace and thought it to be poison yet surprisingly, it turns out that they are ill I am certain that it has something to do with this." The girl reported.

              "Wait, if the Grand Empress Dowager, the Emperor and the Crown Prince are all unconscious, without the Empress in the Palace that means that there is no one to act as a Regent." Shi Miyuan muttered to himself and seemingly realising the dilemma he got a piece of paper and scribbled something down.

             "What is this Sir?" She inquired.

             "Have this delivered to Marquis Yang, the Empress' brother." He ordered as he handed it over to her, "do it before the Daily Assembly begins." He cautioned her as she immediately rushed away while Shi Miyuan feeling tense he furiously clenched his fists.

             Han Touzhou walking into Consort Han's Chambers he bowed his head to her.

             "You called for me Your Grace." He mentioned.

             "Yes." She responded, "it'll be time for the Daily Assembly in an hour, I have something urgent and intriguing that I would wish to discuss with you." She mentioned and Court Lady Liu bowing her head she left the two of them together in the room while Han Touzhou sat down in front of her.

            "You called me over in a rush, it must be something very urgent." He muttered.

            "Let's not discuss urgency, but relevancy." Consort Han mentioned, "The Grand Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince are both down with something like small pox." She informed him and the latter surprised he widened his eyes.

             "What!" He exclaimed in disbelief while she smiled ghastly.

            "The heavens seem to be working for our own good as it so happens that the Emperor and our greatest foes are incapacitated, what's even worse is that the Empress isn't in the capital." Consort Han mentioned.

             "Someone must be in charge of the harem and the Inner Court, but the throne also needs a representative." Han Touzhou mentioned.

             "My thoughts exactly." Consort Han mentioned.

             "Perhaps it's the opportunity that we need but there isn't a guarantee that it will succeed, the Courtiers in particular the Empress' people will revolt against us and they have not only the positions but also the power to confront us." Han Touzhou mentioned.

             "What if we were to move for a Consort to be designated as a Regent?" She inquired.

             "There is no dynastic precedent and even if you were to effectively manage the Palace as long as the Empress is still alive you can not be elevated to that position, besides, we can't even depose her." Han Touzhou pointed out.

             "I seemed to consider the possibility of us having to shoulder such immense resistance and now even the Crown Prince's position is at stake yet it should be strengthened at the very least if we are to ensure the stability of the succession, the Dynasty and our heavenly Empire." Consort Han remarked.

            "What are you thinking?" He inquired as though already hinting at what she was attempting to say.

             "The Imperial Prince Zhao Shen is the Emperor's blood after all, his only impediment is that he is a child of a lowborn mother which of course we can discard to our own advantage." Consort Han responded as she leaned over the table, "I wish to formally adopt him as my son, to grant him the status that his birth deprives him." Consort Han mentioned.

            "It is not legal unless it's officiated by the Jade Seal of the Dynasty." Han Touzhou muttered, "you can live everything to me, if we can not depose the Empress to create space for ourselves why not elevate her." Consort Han muttered.

            Yang Cishan meeting the Court Lady from Shi Miyuan on his way to the Grand Hall she handed over the piece of paper which he took in his hands, looking through his contents he was overwhelmed and infuriated she clenched his fists crumpling the paper within them.

            "What's the problem Your Excellency?" Jinglan asked him.

             "I want you to gather all the Seigniors and our supporters, I'll meet them after the Daily Assembly." He ordered.

             "Yes Your Excellency." Jinglan remarked as he immediately rushed away while Yang Cishan continued in his footsteps.

             Master Bao stepping outside his study he was surprised to see someone veiled standing in his Courtyard and facing the other side.

             "What are you doing here?" He asked and the stranger turning around revealed himself to him as Shi Miyuan.

              "Your Excellency!" He exclaimed surprised by what he was seeing.

              "I wish to discuss something urgent with you." He informed him while bowing his head and the two of them getting inside they sat at a table beside which a brazier was burning.

             "It's already too early for a brazier, we haven't yet reached the Winter season." Shi Miyuan pointed out.

            "I am failing in health as it is that I am approaching eighty years of my adulthood, but last I heard you were exiled to Meizhou and your boat exploded and capsized on the way, how are you seated in front of me?" Master Bao inquired.

            "Our enemies are not the only people in the world that are good at acting, besides I am to believe that my hour isn't nigh that's why I hoped that some secrecy would do to help." He responded.

              "So what brings you to me?" Master Bao inquired.

              "The Grand Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince happened to contract small pox overnight, my sources suggest that there was something that they ate and you were the best person that I know when it comes to medicine, I need your help to find out something that can enable me save their lives along with something that they ate, whatever it was." Shi Miyuan pointed out.

            "I can put my effort into it, but I do not think that is the biggest problem at hand." Master Bao mentioned, "someone must represent the Crown in the affairs of State, with the Empress away, I am certain that Han Touzhou and Consort Han are up to something." He asserted.

            "We are mobilizing our resources, I have already made sure that word reaches the Empress in the North, but it certainly won't end I tell you this, our resistance will be short lived and the best guarantee that we have is the Grand Empress Dowager or the Crown Prince recovering first." Shi Miyuan responded.

             "In the mean time what is it that you are going to do?" Master Bao asked.

             "Now more than ever His Majesty needs my protection, the Grand Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince are undoubtedly pawns in this scheme, aside from the Empress, he is the most important piece." Shi Miyuan responded.

             The Courtiers gathered in the Grand Hall murmuring amongst themselves the doors were flung open and Han Touzhou as the Grand Chancellor walked in as he made his way forward to his usual place.

              "It is already thirty minutes past, where is the Grand Empress Dowager?" The Left Chancellor inquired.

              "I regret to inform you all that because if certain unpleasant occurrences that are beyond our control, Her Grand Highness will not be in the position handle the affairs of State anymore and as such her nominal regency will end immediately." Han Touzhou mentioned.

             "Forgive me Your Excellency but what could be the problem?" One of the Courtiers asked.

              "It appears that the Grand Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince are down with small pox and their condition is critical, the Palace is being mobilized to have the whole of the Cifu Palace quarantined but in the mean time someone must represent the Crown and equally it has been decided that Consort Han being the most Senior member of His Majesty's harem she'll be in charge of the harem during the absentia of our Empress." Han Touzhou proposed.

             "Then who does Your Excellency suggest will be an effective representative of the Imperial Crown?" Yang Cishan asked.

             "In such a situation where the Crown Prince's safety is compromised as the Grand Chancellor and the Commander of the Imperial Court it is my duty to ensure the stability of the Dynasty and the succession that is why the Imperial Prince Zhao Shen being both His Majesty's flesh and blood, I move that he'd be appointed as the Imperial Guardian of the throne." Han Touzhou mentioned and murmurs exploding amongst all those that had gathered.

             "Forgive me Your Excellency but the Imperial Prince is of low birth and on top of that he is too young to take on the guardianship of the Imperial Dragon throne." Peng Zishou pointed out.

              "With all due respect, Her Grace has decided to adopt the Imperial Prince Zhao Shen as her own son and being well versed with the Affairs of State, the Governance shall be decided by the three High Offices of the Chancellory and the heads of the rest of the Five ministries." Han Touzhou informed them all while the murmurs of discontentment only got louder and louder.

             "With this said, the Assembly is dismissed." He announced to them and without waiting any further discussion, the Ministers stepped out of the building in their cliques.

             Yang Cishan with his supporters watched Han Touzhou and the rest of his clique vanishing from sight seemingly discontented.

              Meeting at Lanling Court in their usual room he sat in his sister's seat while the entire place was filled with both the Empress' supporters and the leaders of the Seigniors.

              "You called for us Your Excellency." Peng Zishou mentioned.

             "During the Grand Empress Dowager's incapacitation and the Crown Prince's as well we can not allow the Imperial Prince Zhao Shen to become the Imperial Guardian of the the Dragon throne." He mentioned.

              "We are out of options Your Excellency, our sole refuge would have been Consort Han but she was deposed, on top of that her son the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji was demoted to the rank of Commoner, Consort Cao attempted to take the life of the Crown Prince before so our alliance with her will make us traitors in the eyes of the people." Ye Shi pointed out.

              "Either the Grand Empress Dowager recovers or the Empress returns to the capital." Peng Zishou mentioned.

               Stepping outside the Lanling Court barely having reached a conclusion, Yang Cishan was greeted by Han Touzhou's presence.

               "Your Excellency, a cup of tea with me if you may please.?" He asked as he smiled ghastly at him.