DIVIDE AND RULE

             The Emperor Ningzong Majestically walked towards the Grand Hall while he was accompanied by his retinue and themselves negotiating the corner that led to its Grand Entrance He appeared and darkened it which won him the attention of the Courtiers.

             To his surprise, the hall which was usually a full one was nearly halfway empty and the only officials present were those allies of the Grand Chancellor who unbeknownst to him were his Empress' pawns.

             "I am supposed to be the last person to appear in this Hall." The Emperor Ningzong remarked.

              "Forgive me, Your Majesty, maybe something happened to the others." Eunuch Deng muttered.

              "It is unlike the Left Chancellor." Emperor Ningzong remarked and confidently making his way down the aisle, he mounted the stairs that led to his throne and sat down on it while the Courtiers present kowtowed to him.

              "Your Majesty?" He heard someone call aloud to him and turning his eyes met Lan He, the New Commander of the Imperial Guard Commandery who rushed into the hall and halting amid everyone else, he bowed his head to him.

              "What is it Commander Lan?" He inquired.

              "Forgive me Your Majesty, it's the officials of the Left Faction." He responded.

              "What about them?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.

              "His Excellency the Left Chancellor and the rest of his colleagues speak in protest and outrightly refuse to attend the Daily Assembly or report to your Majesty until the question of the abolition of half the governmental positions is expelled." Lan He replied.

               "What?" The Emperor shouted while smacking the arm of his throne while at that moment Shi Miyuan, Yang Cishan and the Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi looked at themselves and smiled ghastly whereas their supporters behind murmured amongst themselves.

                "Your Majesty?" Shi Miyuan said as he stepped out from the congregation and bowed his head to the Emperor.

                 "What have you to tell me?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.

                 "Set your mind at ease and do not burden yourself with such a trifling matter." He remarked.

                "How is the division of the Imperial Court a trifling matter?" Yang Cishan asked.

                "Our service is to this Country and wherever the Courtiers disagree it is up to us along with Your Majesty to reason, however, the same can not be said for the Left Chancellor and his clique, their reaction is a bit too aggressive and is unethical when considering how respectable they are." Shi Miyuan reprimanded.

               "But they are my Courtiers." Emperor Ningzong spoke up as though in their defense.

               "But they do not seem to act that part well, in fact, they don't seem to understand it equally." The Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi spoke up.

               "Then what is it that you suggest?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.

               "To reduce the ministerial positions is for the good of this country and will ensure that the people have the power, too many positions have been exploited by some high ranking officials and even sold while the authorities have seemed more and more negligent the old man is offended because his pride, ego and power is being damaged." Shi Miyuan reacted aggressively.

              "I understand your stand but I am the Emperor of this country and they are all my people." Emperor Ningzong remarked.

               "Your Majesty, nothing in the nation is good if it does not begin with complete devotion to the Emperor and their actions show nothing but disrespect and disdain for you Sire, for the Crown and the Monarchy you represent." Zhao Zizhi seconded.

                "If word of this gets to the people Your Majesty, your lenience will become something that they shall exploit to make you lose face you can not act with sympathy if you expect them to change their ways." Yang Cishan asserted.

                "What do you all say is right?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

                 "The Western faction rebels and acts this way because their mentality deceives them into believing that their presence at Court is a necessity which can not be foregone." Shi Miyuan spoke up, "it is our duty Your Majesty to prove them otherwise." He assured the young man.

                "And you suggest that they shall come back crawling on their knees for my mercy?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.

               "The Courtiers may present advice to the Crown but the Crown takes precedence, Your Majesty, the only way to overcome the confidence of people that intend to rebel is to make them afraid to do so." The Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi replied.

                "Let's try to reason." Emperor Ningzong said.

                "This is the best way to reason Your Majesty." The Grand Chancellor insisted passionately and the Emperor hesitant at the moment they all bowed to him and paid their respects.

             The Empress in her Chambers Manyin walked in through the doors along with Eunuch Beiyuan and appearing before her they bowed their heads and offered their respects.

               "At ease." The Empress remarked and they immediately complied.

                "Han Touzhou and his supporters didn't turn up for the Daily Assembly, we hoped that they would outrightly protest in their words but their actions equally speak resistance against the petition," Beiyuan muttered.

                 "Han Touzhou and the rest of his kind are very predictable." The Empress remarked.

                  "The Grand Chancellor put it into action, however, the Emperor's confidence seems to be wavering and he isn't entirely determined," Beiyuan reported.

                 "When one's popularity surpasses a King's then a King's confidence and trust turn into fear, His Majesty is human and Han Touzhou is desperate to put on a show of his immense power not merely to the world but to His Majesty." The Empress Yang remarked.

                "Then what will happen Your Highness?" Beiyuan asked.

                "The inevitable." Empress Yang replied, "my intentions for this are numerous, perhaps even grander than any of you might think but all in all there's a soft spot for every person and Han Touzhou will reveal his weakness to us." She asserted.

                 "I don't think I understand Your Highness." Manyin mentioned.

                 "Han Touzhou has a reason to rebel but he lacks in the confidence to do so, his strength is in the support that he has amassed over the years but that support is conditional, if we crumble it now then as long as he can not amass the confidence his supporters need to see in him then I assure you all, that day he'll cease to lead them any longer." Empress Yang replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.

                The Emperor Ningzong seated in his study, Eunuch Deng beside him arranging a cup of tea seemed to notice that he was lost in his thoughts.

                "Is Your Majesty thinking about what transpired at the Assembly this morning?" He asked.

                "What do you think?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

                "I am not the best at judging the State of affairs of deciding what's best for the country but the Grand Chancellor and Shi Miyuan are both right to me." He replied.

                "Is it so?" The Emperor sought his confirmation.

                "Certainly." He firmly replied.

                "You must have a reason." Emperor Ningzong asserted.

                "Han Touzhou has been influential in the Court ever since your ascension to the throne, the blessing of the Empress Gongshu came from his house, he'd nurtured her and used her position to gain significant support he'd even supported Cao Zhaoyi to become the Empress because perhaps he thought that he was more manipulable." Eunuch Deng replied while the Emperor was silent.

                "The Grand Chancellor has never been passionate about belonging to any political faction he rather preferred to uphold his undivided service to the Crown, Han Touzhou on the other hand relies on these cadet official positions to control the government and arbitrate bureaucratic disputes if they are to be abolished then Your Majesty shall have diminished his influence and to diminish his influence is to contain his power." Eunuch Deng asserted.

                "So the Grand Chancellor and the others succeeding would be because they will have checked the power of Han Touzhou that they dread so much?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.

                 "Shi Miyuan wants to protect the Empress while Yang Cishan to protect his sister must protect you in the political arena, Han Touzhou doesn't turn up for the Assembly with many others he trusts his talents and influence so well directly it may seem that he's trying to preserve and protect both tradition and his power but indirectly aside from the latter he is challenging the power of the Crown.

                The moment that Your Majesty for once refuses to succumb to the opposition and grant him reason, he will have won by not only safeguarding his power but by indirectly proving to his supporters and the rest of the world that the Crown regardless of whatever the circumstances might be is not confident against him." Eunuch Deng replied.

               "You are very observant and speak much like a politician yourself." Emperor Ningzong remarked.

               "I have to be helpful to Your Majesty and besides it's hard to not listen every time the Courtiers are trying to present their cases in the Grand Hall I try to keep up." Eunuch Deng replied.

               "It has in dindeedped you so much." Emperor Ningzong replied.

               "I am proud that Your Majesty thinks so highly of me " Eunuch Deng asserted as he smiled sincerely at the Emperor.

               Cao Zhaoyi in her Chambers with Linxiang ahead of her her eyes perused through the contents of the letter that she was reading and folding it she sighed.

                 "What does it say, Ma'am?" Linxiang inquired.

                 "The old man's pride has been hurt, we must put in a word for him as a neutral party into the Emperor's ear." She replied.

                 "Seemingly he is worried for the Empress' influence, he's certain that whether directly or indirectly her whisper is doing its work in the King's ears." Linxiang asserted.

                  "The Empress has every effort of hers concerted on the issue of the Ministerial positions in the parliament and I heard that His Majesty didn't seem confident about their stand, she's even more cautious of anyone that doesn't make us an exception." Cao Zhaoyi muttered.

                 "So you won't help Han Touzhou?" Linxiang inquired.

                 "I am only helping myself and my child." Cao Zhaoyi responded, "I heard that there's a village in the South and there appears to be a serious plague there." She said.

                 "How does that concern you Ma'am?" Linxiang asked.

                 "I need a cloth from someone who died, severely." Cao Zhaoyi replied.

                 "But Ma'am, your life could be put on the line." Linxiang protested.

                 "The day I chose to go up against the Empress my dear I was more than ready to die even in the face of resistance." Cao Zhaoyi remarked.

                  "I'll do my best Ma'am." Linxiang said.

                  "Make sure that whoever you choose doesn't fail me." Cao Zhaoyi threatened.

                 "Yes Ma'am." Linxiang replied as she withdrew from the room slowly.

                  Eunuch Deng in the dead of night stealthily made his way into the Central Palace while the Empress Yang seated she was perusing a book.

                 The doors being slid open he moved up to her presence and halting before her he bowed his head.

                 "Your Highness." He spoke calmly.

                 "There was but one job I asked you to do, one request I made to you back then." She muttered.

                "I'll protect His Majesty Your Highness, at the very least." He responded.

                "He is a very good monarch, just as he was a very good person, you are not as dense as your silence might suggest, you know him well enough, his capabilities in that room, you of all people could I trust." Empress Yang muttered.

                 "I have kept my word Your Highness, I also spoke as you had instructed me, surely he seemed to understand." Eunuch Deng remarked.

                 "It's good to know that, he must be fearful of Han Touzhou's power, certainly a part of him will be willing to abolish half the seats in the Parliament." The Empress spoke comfortably.

                "But what about Han Touzhou Your Highness, are you sure he will retaliate?" Eunuch Deng inquired.

                 "Even a calm tiger becomes very aggressive when you mess with its whiskers, Han Touzhou's power is his most sensitive spot and if we mess with it he'll not even decide, his resistance will be his reflex, largely inevitable." The Empress replied.

                  "What more can I do Your Highness?" Eunuch Deng inquired.

                  "Let's first watch, after all, this game has merely just begun." The Empress replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.

                 Beiyuan walking around the Palace very early in the morning caught sight of a couple of ladies in waiting gossiping amongst themselves.

                "Did you hear what happened to one of the Imperial physicians?" One asked.

                "What happened?" Another responded with curiosity.

                "He hasn't been in the Palace the past couple of days I heard from members of his family that he was murdered a couple of nights back in the middle of the street at night and his funeral will be held soon." The latter narrated.

                 "How unfortunate, he was a very honest young man and he was newly married, not to mention he even had a good wife." One pitied him.

                "The capital is unruly these days it seems and the outside isn't safe either." One remarked as Beiyuan got closer and clearing his throat the girls turned around to look at him.

                 "Forgive us Superintendent Beiyuan." They said in unison as they rushed to scatter until he personally stopped one of them.

                 Hesitantly the girl tried to ignore his gaze.

                "You were narrating to all the others confidently, how come you are acting very quiet in front of me." He asked.

                 "Spare me, Sir." The young woman pleaded.

                 "Tell me what you were saying about the physician clearly." He demanded.

                 "A new physician passed on, he was murdered in the streets outside the Palace about two days ago and his family is mourning." She replied.

                 "Is the Health Bureau of the Palace aware?" He inquired.

                 "Someone who is not me overheard them talking about it yesterday, it is rather saddening because he was a handsome young man with a soft spot that several ladies in the Palace adored him despite the fact that he was a married man." The woman replied.

                "Alright, you may leave." Beiyuan said.

                "If you have more questions then you should perhaps go to the Bureau." The lady suggested before bowing her head and walking away leaving the latter lost in his own thoughts for a moment before he continued his own way.

               The Daily Assembly convened in the Grand Hall and the Emperor Ningzong silent he looked on as the Grand Chancellor and the rest stared at the other half of the hall that was empty.

                 Lan He made his way through the doors up to his presence and seeing him the Emperor stood up from where he was seated.

                 "Are they on their way?" The Emperor asked.

                "Forgive me Your Majesty, the Courtiers are still unwilling to present themselves before you unless the Appeal is dismissed." Lan He replied.

                "Your Majesty, the Left Chancellor has overstepped his boundaries." Yang Cishan spoke up.

               "Is this his resolve?" The Emperor inquired.

               "Forgive me when I say this Your Majesty, yes." Lan He responded.

               "Prepare my carriage." Emperor Ningzong mentioned.

               "What....?" Eunuch Deng muttered.

               "I'll go and see the Left Chancellor myself." He firmly asserted.

                "Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied as the young man descended the stairs and walked out of the hall leaving the rest of the Courtiers startled.

                "We should see the Empress." Yang Cishan whispered to the Grand Chancellor who nodded his head in approval as the Emperor vanished from their sight.

                  The two men walking through the doors to the Courtyard of the Empress' residence they caught sight of her standing next to a bad cage and feeding the peacock that was held inside.

                   Hurrying up to her side while standing with Manyin and Xiaoyang she seemed to immediately notice their presence and she smiled.

                  "Leave us." She ordered her attendants and they withdrew immediately while the two men got close to her.

                  "It's a bit too early in the morning and the Daily Assembly is supposed to be in session, however seeing how you are both stationed here instead of being at the Grand Hall then it must be that something greatly worries you." She remarked.

                "Han Touzhou and the rest of his clique didn't turn up at the Assembly that His Majesty decided to arrange to go see him at his residence on his own." Yang Cishan said.

                 "Does it really worry you that much?" Empress Yang inquired.

                 "Of Course Your Highness, there's not knowing what would happen, it is even possible that Han Touzhou might convince the Emperor to suspend the appeal." Yang Cishan responded.

                 "I see." Empress Yang replied, "His Majesty is very predictable." She remarked while she turned around and faced them.

                "Unless he is a fool." She said.

                "Your Highness seems confident." The Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi pointed out.

                "Word of the appeal is already circulating amongst the people and they are aware of what it means to them, they care less about the emotions of Han Touzhou and his clique, they are more concerned about the response of His Majesty and we tried to present our concern so we couldn't be on bad terms with them." Empress Yang replied.

               "So His Majesty can't give in to the demands of Han Touzhou and his supporters to withdraw the petition because that would make him unpopular amongst the people." Yang Cishan mentioned.

              "Before the tiger can attack it must first study its opponents, part of its reason to become aggressive is its fear, that fear of simply being in danger of being harmed by someone or something else." The Empress remarked.

              "His Majesty sincerely wishes to reason with Han Touzhou that he might compel him to at least agree." The Grand Chancellor mentioned.

               "Yes." Empress Yang replied.

               "Suppose he doesn't?" Yang Cishan inquired.

               "He won't." Empress Yang replied.

               "That means that the rift that already exists between both the Emperor and his former Uncle in Law will widen." The Grand Chancellor remarked.

               "Han Touzhou had expected the Emperor to become his puppet with the presence of the Empress Han but she's no less a ghost whose spirit is trapped within these walls right now, I assure you, from this visit, His Majesty shall learn to dread his influence instead much more than he ever appreciated it." Empress Yang said as she smiled at herself ghastly.

               "Your Excellency, will you still not go for the Daily Assembly?" Mrs. Han asked.

               "I stand by my word and you worry unnecessarily." He responded.

               "Your Excellency, the masses are furious and they are in support of the other Courtiers to have the Ministerial positions in the government cut down by half." Mrs. Han reported.

               "They are nothing more than ignorant buffoons, what is it that they understand about power and Governance, State and Stability or doctrine, tradition, culture and heritage, each of those violent elements of our society, of this institution, of the Crown?" Han Touzhou rhetorically asked.

              "I am worried that His Majesty might find your actions a bit offensive." Mrs. Han cautioned.

              "Outrightly they are and I so admit it, but I was equally responsible along with the Late Grand Empress Dowager for placing him on that throne he magnificently Grace's every day at the very least I expect him to be thankful, not trying to tackle my influence." Han Touzhou lashed out.

              "The Empress wants to drive a wedge between His Majesty and you and if your actions are assisting her in accelerating it then I am very sorry Your Excellency but she is winning." Mrs. Han remarked.

                "Have you a better suggestion of protecting my power from going through my own hands." Han Touzhou inquired.

               "His Majesty's confidence in you should be Paramount and regardless of anything that happens it should be what you should protect the most, if you suffocate its very existence then it'll be diverted to the Empress' own benefit Your Excellency please hear me out and hold it together at least, I am begging you." Mrs. Han mentioned when at that moment a knock on the door interrupting their conversation, Han Touzhou who was already tired was more than willing to hear.

              "Come in." He said and Lin Xue appearing in their midst he bowed before them.

                "Your Excellency, Madam." He gracefully said.

                "Is there something urgent you wish to inform me about?" He asked.

                "Yes Your Excellency." Lin Xue responded bowing his head.

                "What is it?" Han Touzhou asked.

                "It's His Majesty the Emperor." Lin Xue replied.

                "What about him now?" Han Touzhou asked.

                "He is here to see you." Lin Xue replied and hearing this Mrs. Han turned around and looked at her husband in the eye.

                 "Excuse us please." She said to him while she turned to Lin Xue, "Show him in." He ordered the latter who bowing his head withdrew from sight immediately and a short while later the door being opened while his wife vanished from his sight the Emperor made an entrance that he bowed his head to him.

                 "Your Majesty." He said.

                 "You couldn't turn up for the Assembly certainly I thought that I should be the one to come to you personally." Emperor Ningzong said.

                "You needn't have Your Majesty." Han Touzhou muttered.

                "At least I wish to assume that you still honour me like your king, where is it in the whole world where I will ever find a loyal servant?" He asked.

                "You flatter me Your Majesty, please have a seat first and we can discuss this with a  cup of tea." He said as he pointed for him to take the seat that was right in front of him and the young man without any hesitation at that moment complied.

                Gracefully, he poured him a cup of tea and in good faith, the young Emperor embraced it and took a sip.

               Gently, he lowered his cup onto the saucer and Han Touzhou did the same for a brief moment exchanging glances before Han Touzhou broke the silence.

                "I am aware why Your Majesty graces me with your presence." He said.

                "When was the last time that I came to the Han Manor, when was the last time we shared a cup of tea and a private conversation while appreciating the rich smell of incense in this room?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.

                "Quite a long time Your Majesty." Han Touzhou replied.

                 "I hadn't even made the Late Empress Han my Consort, by then I was a young man without dreams, carefree, not too worried to hold the country in my own two hands or bear its weight on my shoulders." Emperor Ningzong asserted.

               "Infancy is innocence, innocence without excessive worries." Han Touzhou remarked.

               "Surely, I honoured you, I respected you like a fatherly figure, not forgetting your contributions in placing me on the throne, even if it was against my will, I recall the Grand Empress Dowager's words, for a moment I hated that I was a bit too little to feel that burden." Emperor Ningzong said.

               "But at last Your Majesty has grown." Han Touzhou muttered.

                "I treat you like an elder but I must be the Emperor of my people and being the Emperor of my people demands that even if against your will, the extravagance of the Court is a bit too excessive and what I need is an efficient Council of Ministers and not a luxurious one." Emperor Ningzong pleaded.

                  "Your Majesty already knows my stance." Han Touzhou said.

                "I want to change it." He responded, "I want you to stand with me on this and allow the Grand Chancellor and the others to pursue this policy." He asserted.

                "Courtiers exist to provide guidance and advice to the Crown, the Crown and the Government must coexist for the prosperity of the nation and to coexist there must be mutuality, trust, hope, reason and common ground." Han Touzhou said.

                "Many of those Courtiers harbour privileged positions and mistreat the people, a large number are idle and the rest aren't exemplary, yet the dynasty flourished during the reigns of the Gaozong and Xiaozong Emperors the people seem to think much like the officials that forwarded that appeal to me." Emperor Ningzong insisted.

                "The people never know what's good for them, it's the reason that not every man is born a Prince, the same reason that every man can not become an Emperor, there are people who are meant to lead and those meant to be led, Your Majesty can not force leaders into followers and make followers leaders, chaos, unspoken and unseen will mount over this country and blood will rain on its woulworldat's worse is that future generations will call you a foolish monarch and myself a disloyal servant." Han Touzhou said.

              "Can you not listen to me?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

              "Are you listening to me Your Majesty?" Han Touzhou asked.

              "I believe in a world where people are protected from the authorities, a world where power is in their hands and I am going to make sure that appeal pushes through, because as always I reserve the final say on every matter." Emperor Ningzong responded.

                "Then so be it Your Majesty." Han Touzhou remarked, "on this we shall forever disagree because at the end of it all for this country to survive the bureaucracy must remain and your actions Your Majesty, they are suffocating its entire existence." He insisted while bowing his head.

               "You understand that your response is an open confrontation." Emperor Ningzong said.

               "Even if I must force Your Majesty onto the path of righteousness, I'll do so even if it kills me." Han Touzhou firmly replied.

                Lan He and Lin Xue earnestly waiting outside the doors of the room were instantly flung open and the Emperor appeared before them unhappier than he had walked in.

                Lan He rushing to his side he bowed his head.

                "Did he agree Your Majesty?" He asked.

                "He has chosen to stand against me." Emperor Ningzong replied.

                "What are you going to do Your Majesty?" He asked.

               "Summon the Grand Chancellor, the Ministry of Internal affairs and the Grand Secretariat's Chief officials remaining, I'll have an audience with them in the Imperial Hall." He responded.

                "Yes Your Majesty." Lin Xue replied as he bowed his head to him and the two left immediately.

                Lin Xue walking into the room where his master was seated found him lost in his thoughts.

                "What's His Majesty thinking?" He asked.

                "He's made up his mind and in the end I am remorseful." Han Touzhou responded.

                "Your Excellency...." Lin Xue muttered.

                "There's no telling what His Majesty will do but we must be firm in our resistance, he must realise the gravity of the situation sooner or later and that is in our favour." Han Touzhou asserted.

                Linxiang moving outside the Palace she moved into an alley that was near the Magistrate's office and there she met a strange man that was veiled in thick grey robes.

                 "Did you get it?" She inquired and the latter stretching his hand into his garment he pulled out a small box which he opened to reveal a handkerchief and a small wooden dagger that was wrapped in it.

                "The victim was an eight year old boy and he died of small pox, it was very severe that within three days his body was covered with dark spots that burst into open wounds." The man said.

                "Thank you." Linxiang said, "you have done a great job for my Madam." She added as she placed in his hands a small maroon pouch which he opened to see a heap of golden taels within before continuing his way.

                Cao Zhaoyi opening the box again and looking at it she smiled as she moved her way towards the Palace.

                Inside the Palace, she placed the small box in front of Cao Zhaoyi and opening it she revealed its contents to her eyes.

               "This is it?" She inquired.

               "The wooden dagger and the fabric around it belonged to an eight year old boy in the village who happened to die a couple of days ago, his small pox was so severe that within three days black spots were all over his body and they burst into open wounds." Linxiang reported.

              "Is that so?" Cao Zhaoyi asked.

              "Yes Ma'am, the man I sent is quite reliable." Linxiang replied.

              "The youngest Prince Zhao Jiong is still in his infancy which makes him the most fragile candidate, at the very least if it's recovery I won't worry unnecessarily about him getting well." Cao Zhaoyi said.

              "Yes Ma'am?" Linxiang replied as the two of them smiled at each other ghastly.

              The Empress seated in her room Manyin rushed in excited.

              "Your Highness." She said bowing her head to her.

              "You are in remarkably high spirits." She remarked.

               "His Majesty has returned from Han Touzhou's residence and with the looks on his face he certainly is furious." She replied.

                "As I had expected, Han Touzhou did not yield." She muttered under her breath.

                "He personally asked for the Grand Chancellor, the Grand Secretariat and the Head officials present in the Ministry of Internal Affairs to see him in the Grand Hall." Manyin reported.

                "It has started." Empress Yang muttered.

                "What do you think His Majesty intends on doing in there?" Manyin inquired.

                "Han Touzhou declared war, resistance is His Majesty's resolve, furthermore the people are with His Majesty, we could end Han Touzhou's career with this." The Empress muttered.

               "You don't seem excited Your Highness." Linxiang remarked.

               "Perhaps I am too excited, I can't get ahead of myself as of yet, it's still too early to tell anything apart and besides to get the upper hand with such ease is unbelievable we have to remain alert." Empress Yang replied.

              "What are you going to do Your Highness?" Manyin asked.    

                "If His Majesty heeds the advice of Eunuch Deng then our enemies shall have helped him to eliminate our opposition with ease as their actions forced the necessary vacancy within the Government we are blameless before the masses while they are guilty." She replied.

                The Ministers gathered in the Grand Hall and were murmuring amongst themselves.

               "It hasn't even been six hours." Yang Cishan said.

               "I heard that His Majesty looked strange after he visited Han Touzhou's residence." Peng Zishou said.

               "Perhaps the Empress saw this coming." The Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi remarked, "who better than her seems to understand how the Emperor acts and moves?" He confidently muttered as the rest nodded their heads right when Eunuch Deng appeared at the entrance of the Hall.

                 "His Majesty deigns you all with his presence." He announced and bowing their heads while falling into order the young man still looking very energetic strode through the aisle as he mounted the stairs that led to his throne.

                  Facing them they faced him while he gracefully sat on his throne.

                 "Greetings Your Majesty." They said in unison and raising his right hand he signalled for them to be at ease as they complied.

                "You summoned us here Your Majesty." The Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi said.

                 "As it is only a handful of you will do for now, I have a very brief but important communication to put across." Emperor Ningzong said and silence following for a moment he studied them to see if they were alert.

                 "Speak Your Majesty, your servants are listening." Peng Zishou convinced them.

                 "All of you that are present petitioned to me that the Ministerial positions in the government be cut by half and some responsibilities merged while the dormant posts abolished, How is it that I could have slept or eaten properly the past couple of days thinking about all those that are my people but have lacked the privileges that I live and my Courtiers have wasted." He spoke so intimately.

                  "Our fault can be made right Your Majesty." Zhao Zizhi muttered.

                  "You all bore me witness, the people equally bear me witness, I was patient and I accorded those Courtiers my benevolence, gave them my ears and sought for their reason I longed for nothing more than peace and even the heavens sincerely know this is from the bottom of my heart." Emperor Ningzong said.

                 "Don't burden yourself Your Majesty, you can not possibly expect it to be an easy task trying to teach an old dog new tricks and expecting it to grasp them immediately or even perfectly." Shi Miyuan resorted.

                  "This resolution is the best solution to some of the pain that our people are going through." Yang Cishan remarked.

                "You all are surely reasonable and the whole lot of you selfless, passionate and foresighted apart from being my strength and good counsel in trying times." Emperor Ningzong praised.

                 "Your Majesty, just go ahead and say what it is that you wish to say to me." The Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi insisted. 

                 "I love this country and I have always loved it, I don't care what the generations to come will call you or what those traitors will say when they mention your names, my deliberation has led me to this decision which I trust will please not only you people but also those many out there that are with you." Emperor Ningzong said as he looked at Eunuch Deng who turned and faced the doors.

                "Come in." He announced when the doors were flung open at that moment and everyone turning to see who had been invited they seemed surprised to see an old man that they  could hardly recognize dressed in Imperial robes that looked very old while he bore in his possession a ceremonial tablet.

              "Your Majesty." He said as he bowed to the young Emperor.

               "Impossible." Zhao Zizhi muttered along with Yang Cishan who seemed to recognize him much better than the others.

                "What's this Your Majesty?" Shi Miyuan asked.

                "I want all of you to meet  Chen Ziqiang, he was a very influential Neo-Confucian Courtier during the reign of the Gaozong Emperor in 1162 with a lot of meritorious achievements, as of today all Ministerial selections shall be overseen by him and he shall grant me Counsel on all affairs of the State, all Courtiers that refused to turn up for the daily assemblies shall be dismissed with immediate effect and sent into retirement while the Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi along with him shall discuss the appointments of new eligible candidates to take up office, institutions that need to be merged and together and positions that shall be abolished before he is relieved of his duties as well." Emperor Ningzong announced to everyone that they all seemed startled at that very moment.

               "Your Majesty......" Shi Miyuan about to speak up Zhao Zizhi interrupted immediately as he bowed his head.

                "Yes Your Majesty." He spoke up and eclipsed the other voices of discontentment while a majority were equally stunned by his reaction.

                The Courtiers stepping outside the building could hardly believe what had happened inside.

               "Could it be that Han Touzhou convinced His Majesty to invite him?" Yang Cishan inquired.

               "No." Zhao Zizhi replied himself awkwardly calmer than usual as they descended the stairs that led from the Grand Hall.

               "How can you be at ease Your Excellency?" Yang Cishan asked.

               "It is part of life and it's the will of heaven, my days as the Grand Chancellor are over that I am glad I can finally sleep peacefully." He responded.

               "None of this makes sense, His Majesty of all people had no reason to dismiss you and you aren't too old for office either." Shi Miyuan protested.

                "Whatever it is that His Majesty decided I am very sure that he has his own reasons for it." The Grand Chancellor replied continuing his way leaving both Yang Cishan and Shi Miyuan along with Peng Zishou startled.

                "Your Highness it is I." Xiaoyang announced outside the Empress' doors and granting her permission, she walked in swiftly and halted before her with worry painted all over her face.

                "What's the matter?" She inquired.

                "I have very bad news Your Highness." Xiaoyang replied.

                "Did His Majesty refuse to half the ministerial positions in the government?" Empress Yang asked.

                  "His Majesty ordered the Grand Secretariat to draft Imperial Edicts dismissing all the Courtiers that refused to present themselves for the Daily Assembly and he'll have them sent into retirement, he also arranged for the government positions to be discussed and merged where necessary while others abolished after which he declared his appointment of a new Grand Chancellor, some old man called Chen Ziqiang." Xiaoyang replied.

                 "His Majesty, replacing the Grand Chancellor?" Empress Yang inquired.

                "Yes Your Highness." She confirmed.

                "Something isn't right." The Empress remarked.

                "May be Han Touzhou said something to His Majesty." Xiaoyang asserted.

               "What if he did?" The Empress asked.

               "Your Highness......" Xiaoyang became speechless.

               "Send for the Grand Chancellor." Empress Yang ordered.

               "Yes Your Highness." Xiaoyang replied and bowing her head she withdrew from the hall leaving the latter perplexed.

               "No Your Majesty, what is it that you are thinking about?" She asked herself curiosly.

               Manyin standing outside the residence of the Imperial Prince Zhao Jiong who was together with his brothers there was a knock at the door.

               "Who is it?" She inquired when a young lady in waiting walked in and bowed her head to her.

                "It's time for the Princes' meals." She said and moving aside, the three boys were served by a couple of other maids.

                "Did you hear the news?" One of the ladies in waiting outside spoke.

                "What happened?" The latter inquired.

                "His Majesty is going to appoint a new Grand Chancellor." She replied and Manyin eavesdropping their conversation was very shocked that she moved out immediately leaving the Princes with the maids.

                 One of them looking around and careful that no one was watching she placed the trunk next to the nearly three year old boy's bed.

                Beiyuan at the Health Bureau he was spotted by one of the Imperial physicians who immediately rushed towards him and greeted him.

                "To what do I owe your visit my friend?" He asked.

                "I have taken long without coming by to visit." He responded.

                "Is something wrong with Her Highness?" He inquired.

                "Not at all Mr. Lu." Beiyuan replied calmly, "I just happened to learn that one of your people passed on." He pointed out.

                "It's very tragic, he was such a young man with a very lovable family." The physician Lu remarked.

                "I see, is there anything strange that had happened to him before?" Beiyuan asked.

                 "He was unsettled but I heard that perhaps he was not feeling well, one night he was attacked by bandits and murdered while resisting." The physician replied.

                "Who would want to kill a physician?" Beiyuan asked.

                "I don't know, for what it's worth the last person that he had worked on was Cao Zhaoyi and as far as I have known her she is but a harmless person, it was just unfortunate that he was out walking in the dead of night." The physician Lu said when he was called over by a couple of his colleagues and he rushed over.

               "Your Highness it is I." Xiaoyang announced and the Empress raising her head to look at the entrance she permitted her to come in while she was accompanied by the Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi.

               "You called for me Your Highness?" He inquired while bowing his head.

               "Yes." She confirmed, "I have heard something troubling." She remarked and Xiaoyang withdrawing from the room to leave the two some privacy, the fairly old man immediately sat down in the seat that was right in front of the Empress.

               "Do not be frightened Your Highness." He tried to console her.

                "I have known you well enough." Empress Yang remarked, "I can say that most things have fallen in my scheme of things I just can't seem to understand what His Majesty is thinking, however the fact that he was considered to take up your position, there must be a thing or two that you know about this Chen Ziqiang." She asserted.

               "You worry for no reason Your Highness." Zhao Zizhi remarked.

                "I don't think so." Empress Yang remarked as she looked away discontent.

               "Chen Ziqiang was a very powerful and influential Minister in the Imperial Court especially during the reigns of the Gaozong Emperor and the Emperor Xiaozong, by then Han Touzhou was starting to just bolster his political career and Chen Ziqiang was what you would have called the true genius at Court." The Grand Chancellor responded.

                "Someone His age must be conservative in his ideologies." The Empress remarked.

                "Unlike many statesmen, he feared progressive ideas in the society, very much hated the cultural influences of Wang Anshi and was later one of the biggest critics to his theories, he is a Staunch Confucian that believes that for peace to reign in the country the power of the throne must be absolute." Zhao Zizhi muttered.

                "So if His Majesty appoints him into power then his intention is to strengthen the position of the throne." Empress Yang suggested.

                "He is a man that can capably challenge Han Touzhou's power and moreso he represents the interests of the throne above all else in my own understanding which I am to fear His Majesty seems to be someone we should dread much more than we could ignore or move easily." Zhao Zizhi remarked.

                "We are on the wrong side of the game." Empress Yang replied.

                "Shi Miyuan and Your Highness' brothers are already occupying powerful positions in the Imperial Court, now it is your nephews and the Wu Clan for a moment it's possible that the Emperor might be wary of the fact that a political faction will form around you." The Grand Chancellor remarked.

                "Or perhaps he seems to already be aware that it is so." The Empress spoke curiously while some relative silence prevailed.

                "I have been useful to Your Highness for a while and I have done what I could, I can not complain to depart from service this way but I understand that Chen Ziqiang's character isn't one that you would easily understand and his presence at the Imperial Court will only stir turbulence for you." The Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi warned.

                 "Don't worry Your Highness, I'll see to it that I handle him before he becomes more toxic to our cause." The Empress promised and the old man standing up and bowing his head, he withdrew from her presence while Xiaoyang walked in.

                  "Your Highness." She said bowing her head noticing that her mistress was seemingly lost in her own thoughts.

                  "Arrange a meeting between His Excellency the minister Chen Ziqiang and me." She ordered.

                  "Yes Your Highness." Xiaoyang replied as she excused herself and departed from the room as well leaving the Empress alone.

                 Han Touzhou in his study furious he smacked the table.

                 "Please appease your anger Your Excellency." Lin Xue said.

                  "It turns out that this is His Majesty's resolve after all." He remarked somberly.

                  "The Grand Secretariat is already preparing the Edicts to dismiss those officials that refused to turn up for the Assemblies, on top of that there are arrangements to reward the elderly Courtiers for their service and send them into retirement.

                   Our men are in protest and they personally hold you responsible many seem to worry that the extent to which His Majesty is exercising power is a bit excessive." Lin Xue reported.

                   "Surely the Empress wanted this." Han Touzhou remarked.

                  "I can't say so Your Excellency, after all, His Majesty decided to replace the Empress' biggest piece in the Imperial Court, the Grand Chancellor with the old Chen Ziqiang." Lin Xue asserted.

                  "That sly old fox." Han Touzhou muttered, "at last his teeth seem to still be healthy enough for him to bite." He said.

                  "The Empress must be more disappointed than we are Your Excellency." Lin Xue consoled him.

                 "She couldn't cultivate the Grand Chancellor that he wanted and trusted as her scheme to bring me down has back fired, it seems that until now she was holding a double edged sword and she's come to realize it now." Han Touzhou mentioned.  

                 "Then there's still a chance for us Your Excellency." Lin Xue muttered.

                "You can not be too certain." Han Touzhou remarked.

                "Is there anything else Your Excellency?" Lin Xue inquired.

                "Our biggest problem was always the Empress and because it was her she was our greatest enemy, however it seems that His Majesty is busy growing his own fangs and is equally eager to suffocate our influence and strengthen his position on the throne he's now a much bigger problem." Han Touzhou said, "should the worst come to the worst, the Imperial Clan will become more invincible." He insisted.

              "What are you going to do Your Excellency?" Lin Xue asked.

              "His Majesty and the Empress may trample our political power but we still have our economic power intact." Han Touzhou responded, "he relies on populism amongst the people to push his policy, let's show him how fatal the resistance of the most privileged castes can be." He said as he smiled at himself ghastly.

               "Yes Your Excellency." Lin Xue agreed with him as he bowed his head ghastly.

                "It appears that things aren't equally going well for the Empress." Cao Zhaoyi remarked as she folded a letter in her possession and tossed it  into the brazier ahead of her.

                "His Majesty surprised all the Courtiers with his decision to replace the Grand Chancellor with a respectable conservative that served in the precious glorious dynasties." Linxiang said.

                "His actions probably speak much of how he must have lost his confidence in the Grand Chancellor the Palace seems vibrant with the idea that His Majesty intends to bolster the power of the throne." Cao Zhaoyi remarked confidently.

                "Such a remarkable resolve." Linxiang said.

                "Only terrible." Cao Zhaoyi mentioned, "it may seem that at first the Empress was His Majesty's political protectress and now I fear that she could become his political enemy." She asserted.

                 "But her concern was Han Touzhou and his glorious days seem to be over." Linxiang reported.

                  "There's nothing more poisonous than power especially when the Empress trusts it was all in the name of her very own survival, as though without noticing it His Majesty has harmed her political influence and unknowingly he might find himself hurt in case she retaliates." Cao Zhaoyi muttered.

                   "So His Majesty is in a worse position?" Linxiang inquired.

                   "The Empress might have lost the Grand Chancellor but diminishing Han Touzhou's influence her people are going to take up the highest positions especially after the Parliament is reshuffled, we must weaken the Empress internally before he has a chance to lose to her." Cao Zhaoyi responded.

                  "Fear not Ma'am, the package was delivered to the Imperial Prince Zhao Jiong's residence and all that's left for us to do is to await the good news." Linxiang said.

                  "The Empress without realizing it soon enough will find herself in her most ordurous storm." Cao Zhaoyi muttered contentedly under her breath.

                 The Emperor Ningzong in his study was looking through a memorial when Eunuch Deng walked in with a tray bearing in his hands a small tea set which he rested on the table in front of the Emperor.

                "You're curious, aren't you?" The Emperor asked.

                "Was this Han Touzhou's suggestion Your Majesty?" He inquired.

                "No." The Emperor replied.

                "Are you no more confident in the talents of the Grand Chancellor?" He asked.

                "He is a Great Man." Emperor Ningzong replied, "it's just because of the fact that as I have seen he is neutral that it makes him dangerous, he speaks in the name of the good will of the people it seems that he hardly cares if the monarchy is at stake." Emperor Ningzong replied.

               "I see." Eunuch Deng remarked.

               "Chen Ziqiang like myself believes that everything which is good for the state should begin with complete devotion to the Emperor, I have given the Empress enough power to protect herself, Han Touzhou can no longer monopolize the offices of the Imperial Government so to put it simply, I have established a balance of power through the division of my enemies in the Court." Emperor Ningzong asserted.

              "Your Majesty is truly sagacious but can this Chen Ziqiang be trusted?" Eunuch Deng asked.

              "He was a competent official and besides he is old, prestige and wealth are not to his liking entirely and his loyalty like that of Han Touzhou is undivided." Emperor Ningzong replied.

               "What about Han Touzhou?" Eunuch Deng inquired.

               "He is aggressive but his presence in the government is necessary, hopefully he'll understand that he needs to put aside his pride especially when dealing with me." Emperor Ningzong replied.

               Manyin walking into her Chambers she found her brother Beiyuan waiting for her.

               "What are you doing here?" She asked, "I have hardly seen you around these past couple of days." She pointed out.

               "It's about Her Highness." He replied.

               "What is it?" Manyin asked.

               "One of the Imperial physicians died of recent and I found it to be rather suspicious, however when I inquired from the Health Bureau I learnt that before his passing he had come in contact with Cao Zhaoyi." Beiyuan replied.

              "She'd fainted a while ago but the physician had reported in writing that there was nothing serious." Manyin mentioned.

               "No one seems suspicious of her because they all somewhat perceive a different side of her that is controversial to the one we know I am worried that the physician's death was no coincidence it's possible that Cao Zhaoyi was involved." Beiyuan asserted.

                "Why would she kill an Imperial physician unless perhaps there's something that he knew or heard?" Manyin remarked.

               "Her Highness was too concerned with Han Touzhou's influence in the Imperial Court while of recent Cao Zhaoyi on the other hand has been silent in the harem with this happening I am forced to believe that she is acting up again." Beiyuan said.

             "So what should we do?" Manyin asked, "telling this to me in private perhaps you don't intend to let Her Highness know." She said.

             "She is bothered as it is and this being confidential then I am certain that Cao Zhaoyi wants to keep something a secret, only if we can figure out what that secret is without alerting her to be wary can we possibly help Her Highness." Beiyuan remarked confidently his face overwhelmed with worry.

              The Imperial Prince Zhao Jiong seated on his bed he saw the small trunk close by and slowly opening it inside he found the small wooden dagger and the small piece of cloth next to it that he held them up and studied them with his eyes.

               Marvelled with the wooden toy he played with it in the very long and dark night excited with infant fatuity hardly did he know that it would be the beginning of the end.