THE EMPRESS' GAMBIT

              The Palace amidst jubilation the Courtiers from many corners of the Empire along with lesser officials started to gather around for the farewell feast dressed in their official robes.

              The Emperor Ningzong in his Chambers was being prepared by Eunuch Deng and a couple of ladies in waiting and fastening the Jade belt of his Imperial Dragon robes around his waist, the latter sighed in relief.

               "Have the Courtiers gathered?" The Emperor asked.

               "Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied.

               "What about the Empress?" He asked.

               "The Central Palace is preparing adequately, Her Highness will surely turn up for the feast." Eunuch Deng responded.

                "Alright." Emperor Ningzong said and finalising with him, they stepped aside for him to look at himself in the mirror.

                "My Crown?" He asked and Eunuch Deng carrying the beaded Headdress he fixed it in its position.

                The Empress in her own Chambers was dressed in her own dragon and Phoenix robes while a Her Crown was mounted on her brow.

                "You look splendid Your Highness." Manyin remarked.

                "Immortal is better." Xiaoyang asserted.

                "Is everything prepared?" She asked.

                "We received word from Peng Zishou and Shi Miyuan, those retired Courtiers have also been monitored quite closely and they will surely agree to anything that is forwarded." Xiaoyang responded.

                "Very well." The Empress remarked as she smiled at her reflection in the mirror.

                The musicians entertaining the Courtiers, the Emperor and the Empress along with their retinues met outside the gates of the Grand Palace's courtyard.

                "Your Majesty." She said bowing her head to him.

                "You look splendid my Empress." Emperor Ningzong replied as he offered his hand to her and she rested her palm in his.

                "The Grand Empress Dowager is already present and everyone else is, I hope that I don't disappoint you with the way the feast was prepared." The Empress remarked.

                "I already have you my Empress to thank that I can finally get together with my Courtiers and officials and we share a meal together, when I think about it, I barely recall having done so." He said to her while she confidently faced the doors with him.

               "Her Highness the Empress and His Majesty the Emperor." Eunuch Deng announced and the trumpets being sounded along with the drums being pounded aloud, those plucking the Guqin strings joining in the melody the doors were opened at once.

               A procession led by Eunuchs carrying very tall fans and later some soldiers bearing the Imperial standards made its way through first as they dispersed about the yard while the Emperor holding the hand of his Empress followed as the Courtiers standing bowed their heads wherever they passed.

             Maintaining their composure while the Grand Chancellor Chen Ziqiang and the Left Chancellor Han Touzhou stared at each other, the Imperial Couple mounted the stairs that led to the Imperial Dragon throne and kowtowing to each other, they eventually settled down in their seat next to the Grand Empress Dowager while the officials faced them.

            "Long Live Your Highness the Empress, Long Live Your Majesty the Emperor." They said in unison while kowtowing to them.

             "At ease." Emperor Ningzong said and at once they all fell back into their order and sat down as the Emperor looked at Eunuch Deng who clapped his hands.

              The gates being opened yet again the staff from the Imperial kitchen made its way through bearing in their hands a variety of dishes which they placed at the tables in front of each of the officials that had been gathered.

              The Empress turning to the Emperor patted his thigh and the latter swift to interpret the signal poured himself a cup of liquor and stood up as everyone fell silent

              "I am very grateful for your presence on this very special occasion and in a more special way I am more thankful to the Empress whose idea this was, we are gathered here today to celebrate your meritorious service to this nation, to its Government and I wish that this tradition is carried on.

            I understand that amongst all of you that were relieved of your duties you were some of our finest statesmen that served my predecessors, some of you are those heroes of conflict and war against the Jurchens that dared to strive to steal our home for us, I pray to the gods every day in sincere faith and with my heart humble that we may Unite my people, that we might love and cherish one another and that we could build a glorious age for this our heavenly kingdom and Empire." The Emperor said while everyone seemed touched to hear from him.

              "Our soldiers in the North watch over the red Cannon and the fire lances, they stand on the battlements and weather the storms, the scorching sun and the freezing snow in the name of our safety, in the name of our people, in the name of our families which we forever hold dear, which we live for and our children that as I am forced to reflect on your service to me and to this nation in particular I wish to remember their efforts as well." The Emperor said as he looked at all of them while the Empress quiet she looked at the former Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi and nodded to him.

             "To all of you my brave statesmen and heroes of this country, the people that have worked with me tirelessly and tolerated me to build this not-so-perfect but considerably great Nation for our people." He said as he took the first sip and threw down his cup while the others following his example they did the same.

              The people resumed the celebration and the Courtiers continued to feast and drink while the Empress started the situation.

               She lifted her right leg and moved it forward from behind her table as Zhao Zizhi watched and he took a sip of his wine before standing up.

               "If I may Your Majesty?" He spoke up and bowing his head to the Emperor everyone including the Grand Chancellor Chen Ziqiang turned around and looked at him.

               "Is there something you wish to say?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

                "Yes Your Majesty." Zhao Zizhi responded confidently that Shi Miyuan and Yang Cishan looking at him assuringly they seemed to inspire more confidence in him.

               "Please proceed." The Emperor said.

               "I am very grateful Your Majesty that you have been kind and generous to all of us present here and even though I am too old for office as it is I speak out of concern for the safety of this nation and the stability of the Government." He professed.

               "I am listening." The Emperor muttered.

               "Your Majesty, very many of the people present here with me do think that the East Palace has been vacant for a while now." Zhao Zizhi mentioned.

              "The East Palace?" Emperor Ningzong asked as though hinting on what they had said.

              "Please choose a Crown Prince for the stability of the nation Your Majesty." Zhao Zizhi mentioned as the Emperor fell silent.

               "That is preposterous." The Grand Chancellor Chen Ziqiang remarked.

                "I think that it is only right Your Majesty." The Left Chancellor Han Touzhou spoke up all of a sudden that everyone seemed surprised while the Empress smiling at him he recalled the conversation that he had secretly had with her.

                "I can protect all your supporters and I can similarly destroy them, you can command their confidence even when they might seem hesitant at that." She'd said to him.

                "What do you want now?" Han Touzhou had inquired from her.

                "This is purely from bad blood but don't forget that you are still the Left Chancellor because I want it and even if you refused what power do you have, even if you joined forces with the Grand Chancellor what makes you sure you won't remain another hunting dog with a leash?" Empress Yang had whispered to her.

               "I can think about anything in the world but there is certainly no way that I am going to let myself play second fiddle especially to you." He'd lashed out.

               "Sure." The Empress remarked as she pulled out an Imperial Edict and placed it on the table in front of him.

               "What is this?" Han Touzhou had asked.

               "There was a rumour that His Late Majesty the Xiaozong Emperor had left behind a posthumous edict ordering for your execution along with the rest of your clan and to be honest, I came back to the Palace to seek it out you wouldn't be curious enough to know where on earth I unearthed it?" She asked still holding onto it.

              "Your Highness.....?" Han Touzhou started trembling.

               "You do not have the power to resist this Edict in my hands and even if His Majesty doesn't will it I have all the power to move the Courtiers and the people of this country without even lifting a finger." The Empress threatened her, "of course you'd be surprised His Late Majesty was wise to keep it at the Imperial mausoleum but I am heartless this I can assure you I won't think twice before making this Edict public." She said.

               "You can get rid of me that easily, so why choose to keep me alive?" Han Touzhou asked.

               "You already know that your life is in my hands and as such when you live or die will be up to me, I want you in particular to take down the Grand Chancellor so yes, that is why I choose to keep you alive now." Empress Yang replied as she withdrew the Edict from the table and placed it back into her sleeve.

               "This is not all you want." Han Touzhou had mentioned.

               "We are all anxious for the farewell feast, you must all be present, my people will propose a fundamental resolution, that is why I am hoping that you'll give your full support along with all the outgoing officials that once served under you." Empress Yang replied with a smile on her face while Han Touzhou kept quiet.

              "You are now my hunting dog so don't forget who is holding your leash." She had said to him.

              "A Crown Prince?" Emperor Ningzong muttered again in disbelief while the Empress remained silent.

              "The Palace has just gone through the devastating loss of two Princes Your Majesty, to choose another Crown Prince right now I feel it's too hasty." The New Grand Chancellor Chen Ziqiang remarked.

              "Your Majesty, this is for the safety of the Empire and it's certainly because of that I think the outgoing Grand Chancellor is right in his proposal to invest a Crown Prince, it's been a while since the East Palace was empty and lacked a master and even in these dark days it is up to us to make the world more cheerful and the Government proactive someone must prepare to inherit the Imperial Dragon throne." Han Touzhou said.

             "Please Hear us Your Majesty." The rest of the Courtiers said in unison while Yang Cishan, Peng Zishou and Shi Miyuan remained silent.

             "I object Your Majesty." The Grand Chancellor Chen Ziqiang muttered and the Emperor raising his hand he immediately fell silent.

             "And who do you suggest I make the Crown Prince?" Emperor Ningzong asked as he looked at Han Touzhou who bowed his head

              "Your Majesty, the Princes Zhao Jiong and Zhao Zeng might be deceased but Your Majesty still has a son left." Han Touzhou mentioned.

             "The Imperial Prince Zhao Xun?" The Emperor asked.

             "He is a legitimate issue of both Your Majesty and Her Highness the Empress and not to mention he is a prodigy so he is smart enough to stir this country into its right direction, he is forthright and filial and a direct descendant of the Taizu Emperor which makes him part of the Imperial Genealogy." Han Touzhou mentioned that the Emperor seemed surprised to hear it coming from his mouth.

             "His Excellency the Left Chancellor is right Your Majesty, when evaluating the most suitable candidate for this position then the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun is the best." Zhao Zizhi equally agreed.

              "His Majesty is still young and healthy and besides who is to decide that he can't have any more children, suppose he sired other Princes, supposed he sired other Imperial sons, their claim to the dragon throne would be greater." Chen Ziqiang said.

              "There is no doubt that Your Majesty is young and able but who would have thought that the Imperial Princes Zhao Zeng and Zhao Jiong would not surpass childhood?" Han Touzhou mentioned.

               "You speak as though you'd kill His Majesty's children." Chen Ziqiang lashed out.

               "I speak saying that both you and I do not know what the future holds." Han Touzhou professed, "I recall the Renzong Emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty did the very same." He added.

                "Please Your Majesty, you can not make the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun the heir apparent to the Imperial Dragon throne." Chen Ziqiang opposed.

                "This Empire needs an insurance and we can't keep the Crown Prince's position vacant any longer, please hear us out Your Majesty and appoint the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun as the Crown Prince." Han Touzhou said with the rest of the people backing him.

                 "I am cautious of what the Grand Chancellor is saying but many of you seem to favour the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun, I do agree with you that he is competent and has what it takes to become the Crown Prince, besides, I would be in favour of the motion, but as this is a feast I do not wish to discuss the politics of this nation now, I will further deliberate on this issue." The Emperor mentioned.

                "Yes Your Majesty." Everyone said in unison and the Empress through the corner of her eye she stared at the Grand Chancellor Chen Ziqiang who was furiously cursing at her inwardly before she picked up her cup of tea and took a sip before she lowered it back onto the table.

              "That's unbelievable." Cao Zhaoyi mentioned.

              "I heard it with my own ears and everyone seems shocked as well, Han Touzhou of all people supported the former Grand Chancellor's appeal for a Crown Prince to be invested." Linxiang reported.

              "And it has to be Zhao Xun?" Cao Zhaoyi asked at the top of her voice.

               "The Empress' supporters were all in favour." Linxiang remarked.

               "I understand." Cao Zhaoyi mentioned, "bit he isn't even the Emperor's blood." She protested.

               "Legitimately he is and what's even better for the Empress is the fact that he has Imperial blood flowing through his veins, the Empress has advanced a reliable cause for his investiture as the Crown Prince and he's smart, diligent and competent to make it as well." Linxiang muttered.

              "I thought all that I needed to do was to take care of two Princes but now it seems to me that the third has become a much bigger problem." Cao Zhaoyi mentioned.

              "We could get rid of him as we did with the Imperial Princes Zhao Zeng and Zhao Jiong." Linxiang asserted.

              "Perhaps but after the Empress has lost two sons and now more than ever I expect her to be cautious, it's the best move but the chances of success are very low and the gamble is too big I trust that the Empress would be more than prepared this time around." Cao Zhaoyi responded.

               "Then what can we do Your Highness, once the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun becomes the Crown Prince then we won't be in the position to take it back and it'll be much harder to make the child you're expecting the heir apparent to the dragon throne." Linxiang remarked.

               "Given the unison of all the officials if the Empress convinces the Emperor she will have succeeded in exercising her influence over him and that would be her one good move in consolidating her position." Cao Zhaoyi muttered.

              "But unlike all the other officials the Grand Chancellor seemed firm in opposing." Linxiang said.

              "Then perhaps his resistance might be useful to us." Cao Zhaoyi mentioned.

               "How sure can you be Ma'am?" Linxiang asked.

               "Even Han Touzhou has held the Empress' hand for survival, he has no one left then, besides if we give him a reason to support us and win him over to our side then we'd undoubtedly have the most powerful piece in the game under our control." Cao Zhaoyi replied.

             "Do you intend to reveal your pregnancy to him Ma'am?" Linxiang asked.

             "It's not like we have a better option." Cao Zhaoyi responded.

              "And what's the guarantee that he'll keep quiet?" Linxiang inquired, "how sure can we be that he won't jeopardize the lives of both you and your unborn child?" She demanded.

              "A man like him in whom His Majesty believes to have the best interests of the Monarchy would do what's best for the Crown and it's because of his willingness to do so that he'll find us quite useful to him." Cao Zhaoyi replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.

             Unbeknownst to them, just outside the doors one of the maids eavesdropping on their conversation immediately covered her mouth and rushed away.

             "Did you say Cao Zhaoyi is pregnant?" Empress Yang asked her while she had appeared in front of her on her knees.

              "Yes Your Highness." She replied, "Cao Zhaoyi also knows that the Grand Chancellor is opposed to the investiture of the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun as the Crown Prince that she plans to use her pregnancy to convince him to hold hands with her." She reported.

              "So that they become allies?" Empress Yang asked as she took one incense sticks and burnt it in the incense burner right in front of her.

              "Yes." The young woman replied.

              "Of course, the fact that the issue was raised and naturally the Grand Chancellor is opposed to it now more than ever would be the best opportunity at hand to win him to her side." The Empress said, "she must have been so confident that in killing my children I would let her bastard son ascend the Imperial Dragon throne." She spoke in a frightening way.

              "That's all I heard Your Highness." The young woman said.

              "You have done your job very well and I am very sure that even your family would be pleased." The Empress remarked.

              "I am only returning the favor Your Highness." The young girl replied.

              "And as it is that my soul is pleased with your service there's something more that I wish you would do for me, to be clear, someone else that I wish you would tell this splendid news to." The Empress said.

             "I am at your service." The young woman replied and looking at her the Empress smiled at herself ghastly.

             Consort Han in her Chambers she was quietly lost in her thoughts while Mi Yue was standing by her side.

             "Is there anything wrong Your Grace?" She asked.

             "Save for the Grand Chancellor, my Uncle and all the other Courtiers were in remarkable unison while appealing to his Majesty to have the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun invested as the Crown Prince." She said.

             "Yes Your Grace." Mi Yue replied.

             "My Uncle agreeing with the Empress is quite unusual don't you think?" She asked.

              "Yes Your Grace." Mi Yue agreed while the latter seemed to be temporarily letting go of the issue.

              "How is that milestone coming up?" She asked her.

              "It will soon be finished." Mi Yue responded when one of the other Court Ladies spoke up outside the door.

              "Your Grace, someone is here requesting to have an audience with you." She announced.

               "Let her in." Consort Han mentioned and the doors being flung open the Court Lady that had been in the Empress' chambers walked up to her presence and she bowed her head.

               "Greetings Ma'am." She said.

               "How is it that I may be of help to you?" Consort Han asked.

                "There's something that I wish to discuss with Your Grace in private." She spoke confidently and Consort Han looking at Mi Yue, she smiled hesitantly as she withdrew leaving the two women all alone in the room.

              "What is it?" Consort Han asked as the young woman got closer.

              "Please help me Your Grace." She said falling onto her knees and bowing her head.

              "Me, help you?" Consort Han asked.

              "Yes Your Grace." The young girl replied as she kept her face down.

               "If it's trouble in the harem there's Cao Zhaoyi and the Empress to help you, why would you run to me who is new and hasn't even spent more than a week in this Palace?" Consort Han asked.

              "Because this is against Cao Zhaoyi who I work for and because the Empress wouldn't care seeing that I was once a servant of Her Highness the Late Empress Gongshu and later the deceased Crown Princess Zhao Jun." She responded that Consort Han looked at her quite surprised.

              "You once served my sister?" Consort Han asked.

              "I was a servant in the Central Palace and when the Late Empress moved out and the current Empress moved in, she couldn't trust any of us so she dismissed us to work elsewhere in the Palace, Cao Zhaoyi on the other hand took us in because she felt that we might be valuable after the Crown Prince's passing and because she too couldn't trust anyone else we were her best option." The young girl replied.

            "You have lived a quiet life so why is it that you decide to come to me when it could endanger you?" Consort Han asked.

             "You were Her Late Highness the Empress' sister and Cao Zhaoyi harbours many poisonous secrets that could get us all killed, myself inclusive as far as I am concerned." She responded.

             "Did you say a secret?" Consort Han asked as she craned her neck.

             "Yes." The girl replied, "if you will it Your Grace I could even testify in front of everyone." She asserted confidently.

             "Seeing that you are very confident it must be very interesting." Consort Han said.

             "Yes Your Grace." The young girl responded.

             "What is it?" Consort Han asked.

             "The deaths of the Imperial Princes Zhao Zeng and Zhao Jiong might seem natural but they were all Cao Zhaoyi's handiwork, she had her right hand Court Lady bring in objects from the South where the people had died of small pox and put them in the Imperial Prince Zhao Jiong's Chambers and equally she had the young Prince Zhao Zeng drugged and thrown into the Imperial pond." She responded.  

             "You are telling me Cao Zhaoyi killed the Imperial Princes?" Consort Han asked.

             "Yes." The girl assured her, "it is very interesting why she seemed to be very anxious to get rid of them until I overheard her confess and even Linxiang her Court Lady seems to be aware she might be above childbearing age but she is pregnant." She reported.

            "Pregnant?" Consort Han muttered.

            "If Your Grace doesn't trust me you can feel free to investigate it but what's more interesting that you should know is that the child that Cao Zhaoyi is carrying in her womb isn't even an Imperial seed." The young maid reported and Consort Han's eyes widening as though with surprise she nodded her head.

             "It's wonderful news in deed." She muttered.

              "This is all that I could find Your Grace." The young woman mentioned while bowing her head.

              "You have done me a great job and there's no one that finds this information more valuable than me." Consort Han muttered.

              "I am glad that Your Grace thinks this much of me." She spoke with a smile on her face.

               "There aren't too many people in the Palace that I can trust but it seems that it is my good fate,, after all to come across someone like you I wish you would do something for me." Consort Han said.

             "Whatever it is Your Grace, your wish is my command." the young girl said while bowing her head.

             "Go back to Cao Zhaoyi's residence and keep an eye out for me and your ears as well, inform me about everything that you hear even in her privacy but don't come out to me until I have summoned you through a small letter within the Imperial meals." Consort Han said.

              "Yes Your Grace." The young girl replied and getting up, she bowed her head before she got out of the room when Mi Yue walked in shortly after.

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

              "I want you to do something for me Court Lady Mi." Consort Han replied.

               "Whatever it is Your Grace." Mi Yue assured her.

              "I want you to investigate on that maid that came before me just now." She ordered.

              "Right away Your Grace." Mi Yue responded as she also withdrew from the room immediately.

              "It seems to me that you're a very interesting person Cao Zhaoyi." Consort Han whispered to herself as she smiled ghastly.

               It was very dark and the Grand Chancellor in his Chambers his retainer walked up to him.

               "Your Excellency, someone is here to see you." He said.

               "I am in no moods to see anyone, I am not expecting anyone Mo Yuan." He said to him.

               "It's Cao Zhaoyi from last time Your Excellency." Mo Yuan informed him.

               "All the more I am convinced that her presence is of any significance to me." Chen Ziqiang insisted.

               "She insists that if it's against the investiture of the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun you will certainly need to hear her out." Mo Yuan pleaded and for a moment Chen Ziqiang hesitant he watched him with anxiety in his eyes.

              "Let her in." He unwillingly said and making his way out of the room a short while later Cao Zhaoyi made her entrance and bowed her head to him.

             "Your Excellency." She spoke gracefully.

             "It's not that I am pleased to see you Ma'am, what information have you to convince me to listen to you this time?" He inquired from her.

              "I was very much worried that you might not be feeling well after everything that transpired at the farewell feast, now perhaps it's very clear the extent to which the Empress' influence is felt in the whole Empire and in the Inner Court." Cao Zhaoyi mentioned as she lowered herself into her seat.

              "You aren't here to tell me this." The Grand Chancellor Chen Ziqiang insisted.

              "I am against the investiture of the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun but my resistance will be meaningless and so will yours if we do not seek a mutual alliance between ourselves." Cao Zhaoyi remarked.

              "You are very brazen in deed, I presume this is another attempt to get me close to you but I wish to inform you beforehand, if you can not find a good reason to convince me to become your political ally then you shall certainly turn around and walk through the doors that led you in." Chen Ziqiang muttered.

              "What if I told Your Excellency that I am carrying the Emperor's seed in my womb?" Cao Zhaoyi inquired and hearing this Chen Ziqiang seemed surprised while she confidently smiled at him.

             "You?" He muttered, "carrying the Emperor's seed?" He seemed to wonder.

             "In a couple of weeks' time, I'll be three weeks pregnant with the Emperor's child which means that my son has an even greater claim to that throne than the Empress' foster issue." She insisted.

              "How certain are you that the child you are carrying in your womb is even male?" Chen Ziqiang asked.

             "The moment is very crucial that I have decided to take a gamble at this time, however I am confident that it can't be otherwise." Cao Zhaoyi responded.

              "Then how come you are telling me this, there seems to be no news from the Palace at least that I have heard announcing the expectation of any of the Emperor's women." Chen Ziqiang muttered.

               "Because for the safety of me and my child I don't think it worth the risk and besides both Your Excellency and myself are well aware, the Empress has just lost two sons and if she's aiming to push her son Zhao Xun to the Dragon throne then she'd do everything in her power to ensure that this child is not born." Cao Zhaoyi replied.

             "What makes you think that you can trust me with such important information Ma'am, aren't you being overly confident in me?" Chen Ziqiang asked.

             "You and I have a common enemy Your Excellency and the more that I think about it our interests could be very similar, I merely want to take the Empress' place and you believe that her involvement in the affairs of State is very fatal to the welfare and the stability of this country at least if it isn't out of our personal liking our mutual alliance could make us invincible enough to contend with the Empress." Cao Zhaoyi replied.

             "Why should I take your word for it?" Chen Ziqiang asked.

              "Perhaps the Empress has taken Han Touzhou's hand he even agrees with her it means that he has abandoned me, you may have the highest position but that doesn't mean that your power and influence is superior to hers or even her people, and now that Consort Han is back in the Palace how certain can you be that the safety of your position is guaranteed because with the looks of it if Han Touzhou can stand up against you then he has what it takes to claim your place for himself." Cao Zhaoyi replied.

                "You Ma'am seem to have too many answers, but how is it that you intend to stop the Imperial Prince from being invested as the Crown Prince when you are unwilling to reveal your pregnancy?" Chen Ziqiang asked.

               "It is hopeless at least you must have realised that by now, even if we want to we can not stop the investiture of the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun." Cao Zhaoyi responded.

               "So you are telling me to give up?" The Grand Chancellor asked.

                "We might be unable to stop the Imperial Prince from being invested as the Crown Prince but at least we can stop him from ascending the Dragon throne." Cao Zhaoyi responded as she smiled at him.

              Cao Zhaoyi stealthily making her way out with Linxiang from the Grand Chancellor's residence Lin Xue watched them closely before he hurriedly made his way toward Han Touzhou's residence.

              "You saw the Grand Chancellor meet up with Cao Zhaoyi?" He asked him.

              "Yes Your Excellency." He replied while bowing his head.

              "It seems that Her Grace was in deed right." Han Touzhou muttered under his breath.

             "Perhaps." Lin Xue responded.

             "Inform Her Grace at once." Han Touzhou ordered and Lin Xue withdrawing from the room immediately after he left for the Palace.

             "Cao Zhaoyi met with the Grand Chancellor again?" Empress Yang asked Bao Langya.

             "I have just been reliably informed by the people that we put around to monitor the movements of the Grand Chancellor." He responded.

              "How remarkable, Cao Zhaoyi just doesn't seem to remember that she needs to be careful with her child?" The Empress remarked.

              "She must be more desperate having heard about the investiture of the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun." Bao Langya asserted.

               "But what can she do to stop it?" The Empress asked when Manyin flung the doors of her Chambers open and immediately she rushed in.

               "Your Highness?" She said while bowing her head, "I have got terrible news." She reported to her.

               "What's the matter?" Bao Langya asked.

               "His Highness the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun." She responded.

               "What's wrong with the Imperial Prince?" She asked.

               "One of the Imperial Prince's ladies in waiting has been apprehended by the Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Palace, she attempted to take the life of the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun by suffocating him with his pillow." Manyin responded and the Empress immediately getting out of her seat she charged through the doors swiftly while she was accompanied by her retinue.

             Cao Zhaoyi getting inside the Palace one of her ladies in waiting approached her.

              "Ma'am?" She said bowing her head.

              "What is it?" She asked.

              "A Court Lady attempted to take the life of the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun." She reported.

              "What?" Cao Zhaoyi asked herself as she thought about it for a moment and seemed to think about one person that would be capable of doing so.

              "That's not good." She muttered as she got into her Chambers while the spy that Consort Han had set was watching everything.

              The Lady Investigators standing outside the bureau, it's doors being opened the Empress walked through and mounting the stairs that led to them they all bowed their heads.

              "How is the Imperial Prince?" She asked them.

               "Luckily, His Highness is unharmed." Lady Mo responded and the Empress retaining her composure she looked at the doors in front of her.

              "Where's that wench?" She asked.

              "Inside." They responded.

              "Very well." Empress Yang remarked, "summon all the ladies of the harem and the Inner Court." She said to Manyin and Xiaoyang.

               "Your Highness?" They muttered surprised by her reaction.

               "I said convene all the ladies of the harem and the Inner Court." The Empress ordered keeping her voice under control but seemingly serious from the tone that escaped her mouth that they immediately dispersed.

               Consort Han in her Chambers she was about to sip at her cup of tea when Mi Yue walked in.

              "Your Grace, something horrible has happened." She said.

              "What is it?" Consort Han asked.

               "A Court Lady attempted to take the life of the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun, Her Highness has ordered all the ladies of the harem and the Inner Court to converge at the Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Palace." She reported.

              "Is that so?" Consort Han asked.

               "It seems that the Empress is up to something." Mi Yue said.

              "A Court Lady attempting to take the life of the Imperial Prince is a bit unusual, surely I tell you , an ordinary servant can not possibly act on her own there must be someone influential behind her." Consort Han muttered. 

              "Who do you think is responsible Your Grace?" Mi Yue inquired.

              "Come to think about it, the other young girl that came to report to me told me that Cao Zhaoyi was behind the murder of the two Imperial Princes Zhao Zeng and Zhao Jiong, if she's pregnant with the Emperor's child it could have only further justified her actions because at the farewell feast the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun's name was forwarded to the Emperor to be invested as his heir apparent." Consort Han responded.

            "Then in Your Grace's opinion..." Mi Yue hesitated.

            "The Death of the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun benefits one person the most in this Palace and that is Cao Zhaoyi, the more that I think about it, she would even use that against me." Consort Han responded.

            "Why Your Grace?" Mi Yue asked.

            "I have just returned to the harem and the Inner Court, Her Highness and myself have an interesting history that binds us and would be the most remarkable catalyst, Cao Zhaoyi would rid herself of two of her greatest obstacles with a single stone." Consort Han responded.

            "I see." Mi Yue concluded.

            "Let's go." Consort Han said as she stood up from where she was seated.

            "I am worried Your Grace." Mi Yue mentioned, "what if you are implicated?" She asked.

            "Nothing remains hidden forever and we can not keep the Empress waiting." She responded as she led the way out of the room and being joined by her retinue she moved into the direction of the Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Palace.

             Cao Zhaoyi unsettled in her Chambers and lost in her thoughts Linxiang appeared before her.

              "Ma'am, Her Highness the Empress has summoned all the ladies of the harem and the Inner Court to the Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Palace." She reported.

              "Already?" Cao Zhaoyi asked.

              "It seems that she's up to something after all she wouldn't summon everyone abruptly at this ungodly hour." Linxiang said.

              "Let's go at once." Cao Zhaoyi mentioned.

              "Ma'am, aren't you suspicious who could have dared to inflict harm upon the Imperial Prince?" Linxiang asked.

              "Whoever we think is responsible doesn't matter, what's more important is the way the Empress is going to react to it because once we are able to figure that out then to find the real mastermind behind won't be a problem." Cao Zhaoyi responded as she stood up and perfected her attire before she marched out of the room.

             All the ladies of the harem and the Inner Court arriving in the Courtyard seats had been prepared for the Imperial Concubines and Consorts while the Empress' seat was stationed at the forefront above those of the Lady Investigators.

             Taking their places, Beiyuan announced the presence of the Empress who appeared from the sides and walking up to her throne while everyone stood up, they bowed their heads to her and offered their salutations in unison while she sat down before them.

             They settled down after her amidst their muttering and Lady Mo stepping forward she looked at the Imperial guards close by.

             "Bring in the criminal." She demanded and at once the gates being opened at that very moment, the Court Lady unscathed was dragged up to a small torture chair that was stationed in their midst and put down.

             "Here she is Your Highness." Lady Mo said turning towards the Empress and bowing her head while the latter looked at the prisoner and studied her.

             "Who sent you?" The Empress suddenly asked as they untied the woman's mouth and to let her speak but the latter remained silent while everyone else including Cao Zhaoyi and Consort Han watched.

             "Did you not hear my question?" The Empress asked at the top of her voice a second time but the Court Lady quiet she looked down instead that the Empress smiling she patted her third twice.

             Offering her hand to Manyin, she took it and helped her onto her feet while the Empress without any hesitation pulled a hairpin from her hair and walked down the stairs while everyone was watching as the Court Lady seemed frightened at the sight.

             She stopped in front of her son's attempted murderer and looked down on her without the slightest hint of pity in her eyes.

             "Who is behind you?" She asked in a very frightening tone.

             "Forgive me Your Highness I was just doing as I was told." She confessed.

             "Who sent you?" Empress Yang asked her.

             "I can not tell you that Your Highness because if I tell you my family will be in danger of being killed." The woman said as the Empress placed her hands on the arms of the seat and leaning over looked the Court Lady in the eye.

             "Then I want you to know that if you don't tell me I will hunt down every one who is a member of your family and is affiliated to you either by blood or not, not even the devil himself shall keep them safe from me." The Empress said.

              "Your Highness, the people that sent me are more formidable than you." She said.

               "It's very good to hear that." The Empress said and holding her hairpin tightly she placed it above her left hand and started to push it slowly through her hand while the Court Lady screamed in agony.

              "Whoever touches my son in an attempt to harm him is as good as a sinner, I can learn all your movements and contacts in the past without even lifting a finger." She assured her while further pushing the hairpin in her hand as the maid groaned while the Concubines and Consorts seemed frightened while Consort Han maintained her composure.

             "The Imperial guards are very good at skinning people so I am curious how well they'll feel skinning you, after that we can dismember your body and there won't even be a single remnant to remind us of your existence, perhaps you were generous in trying to grant my son a quick death but I the Empress of this country are not that merciful." She said as she finally let got of the hairpin that she had pinned in her hand while the Court Lady cried.

              "Forgive me Your Highness." She said, "please don't hurt my family." She pleaded.

             "You had four chances to tell me who was behind you and now it doesn't matter even if you keep your mouth shut I'll still find out, just pray before you close your eyes in death that your family members wash their necks clean because I'll send them to the Netherworld to reunite with you there." The Empress said as she turned around and raising her hand she signalled for the Imperial guards present to drag her out and they complied.

              "Your Highness?" She cried while the hairpin that had been in her hand fell down the uneasy Consorts including Cao Zhaoyi immediately showed signs of wanting to throw up while the Empress majestically mounted the stairs leading to her throne and she sat down.

             "Hear me all of you." She said and everyone turned their attention to her immediately.

             "All of you that are present here will be investigated as well as the Palace staff that has been in contact with this Court Lady before, for attempting to harm the life of the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun all those involved will be equally guilty of treason and themselves along with nine generations of their families they shall be annihilated." She informed them while Consort Han looked calm the most.

             "As it is we are still in mourning and I have already lost one son, take this as an example and also a vivid warning from me that I will bury everyone who is involved in trying to harm my one and only son Zhao Xun." The Empress said.

             "Yes Your Highness." Everyone said in unison bowing their heads to her and Consort Han looking at her she smirked at herself while the Empress held her head high.

              Cao Zhaoyi returning to her Chambers she sat down behind her table.

              "You should have seen the look on her face." Linxiang remarked, "she seemed confident." She added.

              "My child didn't take it well." Cao Zhaoyi asserted.

              "Literally every one of the Imperial Consorts and Concubines seemed frightened." Linxiang remarked.

              "The Empress has finally lost it, she's not over the death of her sons at least that is clear, besides it was an opportunity for her to advertise her power, position and influence." Cao Zhaoyi muttered.

              "She sure is a savage." Linxiang said.

              "Any mother in her position would do the same thing and now that this has happened when word gets out it'll be clear that someone doesn't want the Imperial Prince to be invested as the Crown Prince." Cao Zhaoyi mentioned.

              "Will his Majesty consent?" Linxiang inquired.

              "The Empress now has a reason to convince him to do so and the Courtiers supporting the Empress shall push for it more vigorously that the Imperial Prince's investiture as the Crown Prince will no longer be just inevitable but also immediate." Cao Zhaoyi responded.

              "But what about Her Highness?" Linxiang asked, "who does she think was responsible?" She asked while Cao Zhaoyi falling silent for a moment she was lost in her thoughts as well.

              The Empress in her Chambers she was seated in the darkness with Beiyuan, Manyin, Yang Cishan and Xiaoyang in front of her.

              "I heard that someone made an attempt on the Imperial Prince's life Your Highness." Yang Cishan mentioned.

              "Our enemies are certainly more aggressive and at dawn His Majesty shall come to learn of it too." The Empress replied.

              "What do you want me to do Your Highness?" He asked.

               "At first I wanted to keep it formal and I was hoping that we'd have part of the public opinion to push us forward yet it seems that our enemies are rather swift and desperate by all means necessary I can't have His Majesty stall the investiture of the Imperial Prince any longer." Empress Yang replied.

             "We'll move if you tell us Your Highness, the Courtiers will try to convince His Majesty..." Yang Cishan mentioned when the Empress put her finger on her lip and signalled for him to remain quiet.

               "If I wanted you to convince His Majesty then I wouldn't have called for you immediately." The Empress muttered.

               "Then Your Highness....." Yang Cishan hesitated.

               "His Majesty is affectionate towards His Children, he'll have a part of his heart inclined to seeing through our cause, meanwhile, you will use that to your advantage and will move His Majesty to formalize and agree to invest the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun as the heir apparent." The Empress muttered.

             "Yes Your Highness." Yang Cishan said as he stood up and bowing his head to his sister he immediately withdrew from her Chambers while herself silent, she looked at the brazier in front of her.

             "Your Highness, it is I." Someone mentioned.

             "Come in." The Empress muttered and the doors of the room being opened Mi Yue appeared before her and bowed her head.

               "How is it?" She asked as she looked up at her, "was Consort Han responsible for the incident?" She inquired.

               "She seemed composed and when she heard the news from me at first she was surprised, I tried to get to her, I can conclude from having listened well enough, it couldn't have been her." Mi Yue responded.

              "She trusted you in this Palace?" The Empress asked.

              "It seems to be so Your Highness." Mi Yue responded.

               "She already knows that you are a mole, I bet she's aware that you are here having this conversation with me, Consort Han isn't that foolish and I can tell from her eyes, she's an even bigger devil than we would have thought." The Empress remarked.

              "Are you sure Your Highness?" Manyin asked.

              "There's one more thing you can do for us at the very least." Empress Yang said to her.

              "What is it Your Highness?" Mi Yue asked.

              "Tell her that the girl who reported to her about everything she had heard from Cao Zhaoyi's residence lied about her past and she has never worked for the Empress Han and you couldn't find any record to justify her claims." She responded.

              "But Your Highness, that would be suicidal." Mi Yue said.

              "Consort Han wants to beat me at my own game so we'll let her." The Empress replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.

             In the the darkness and comfort of her room, Consort Han was seated with her eyes perusing through a small book.

             Quietly aided by the faint candlelight which tried to illuminate things before her, someone slowly slid the doors open and stealthily they made their way in.

             She heard the movements but didn't seem threatened by them that on the other hand she took a deep sigh before she raised her eyes to see the stranger that was standing in front of her.

              "Your Grace." He spoke in an all too familiar voice.

              "Lin Xue?" She responded and tgd the latter removing the veil that was hanging over his face he bowed to her.

              "What does my Uncle say?" She inquired.

              "Patience." Lin Xue responded, "he needs the Empress." He added.

              "I see." Consort Han remarked as she closed the book in front of her and raising her eyes to him she studied him.

              "Tonight someone attempted to take the life of the Imperial Prince Zhao Xun and Her Highness didn't take it very well, the Empress will pursue his investiture as the Crown Prince more vigorously and it seems that everyone is now aware of that." Consort Han remarked.

               "Someone attempted to harm the Imperial Prince?" Lin Xue sounded surprised.

               "I ordered everything and I am certain that Her Highness will get to the bottom of this." Consort Han confessed.

               "But that could put your life in jeopardy Your Grace." Lin Xue cautioned her.

               "That's a likely outcome but I am more interested in another target." Consort Han responded as she lowered her head while Lin Xue equally looked down.

               "What is it?" He asked.

               "Reliably I was informed that Cao Zhaoyi was the one that orchestrated the deaths of the two Imperial Princes Zhao Zeng and Zhao Jiong, and seeing that she's succeeded before who is to say that she won't do so again?" Consort Han responded.

              "Your Grace...?" Lin Xue seemed hesitant to speak to her.

              "The Empress is investigating this and there isn't a doubt very many people must be implicated, as it as that amongst these Cao Zhaoyi should appear, we can not forego the chance to expel her from the harem and the Inner Court." Consort Han replied.

              "But it doesn't solely depend on evidence Your Grace, Her Highness must equally be willing to bring the murderers of her children to justice." Lin Xue mentioned.

              "Leave that to me." Consort Han said, "after all, the Empress is just another mother that would do anything to protect her children." She asserted so confidently.