BEHIND THE SCENES

     Empress Li sat down in the dungeons when the Empress Dowager led by a couple of Imperial guards and her ladies in waiting descended down where she was.

      Slowly she approached the iron bars and looking at the others they excused themselves from her presence as she faced her grand daughter in law.

       "This must be pleasant a sight for you to see." Empress Li said.

       "It was only easy for me since your temper with Consort Huang got out of hand." Empress Dowager Wu replied and the latter imprisoned she smiled.

       "Really?" She asked.

       "All we needed was a little spark that would aggress the war but who would have thought the beginning of that spark would be the end of Consort Huang's life and now that you have committed treason against the state and both the masses and even the ghosts persecute you is there a way through this?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.

        "Are you not the most frightening person in the Palace that I know, smiling in front of me and then at the same time being the same person that's always stubbing me in the back?" Empress Li asked.

       "Sadly I won't be one of your worst nightmares anytime soon." Empress Dowager Wu remarked.

        The Empress sighed.

        "If I survive this.....?" Empress Li asked.

        "What are you going to do with me?" Empress Dowager Wu asked, "Even if you wanted all the power in the world you and your whole lot of Courtiers could do nothing but bear with my presence." She added.

        "I'd pray for your long life." Empress Li said.

        "Suppose you did, to rely on time alone your dream must be so innocent and fickle but from the thousands of enemies that you made overnight I have made thousands of allies and even if you did survive that is perhaps out of luck with the Huang Clan behind me what would your position be?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.

        The Empress kept quiet.

        "As I had thought." The Empress Dowager muttered as she turned around to walk out of the dungeons.

        "Watch your step Your Highness." Empress Li spoke up, "beyond this point sparing no effort, I am bringing war to your doors." She added.

        "Be sure to do so Your Highness, as a deposed Empress that is." Empress Dowager Wu replied.

       "Empress or not, you won't survive my wrath anytime soon." Empress Li said.

       "I'll look forward to it." Empress Dowager Wu replied as she marched out of the dungeons leaving the Empress behind on her own.

       The Imperial prisoner pulling out her hands from her sleeves she looked at a small sachet.

       "It's not yet over, until I say it is." She promised herself.

        "What?" Li San said.

        "Right now it's hard for any ship to sail without a sail and the Empress has been detained to await sentence by the Empress Dowager, it's now a crime that's too big and to show our support in this most turbulent time we would be helping the Dowager Empress to label us as rebels to the state." Han Touzhou replied.

       "You are very smart and you have served three Emperor's, out of the people that my sister trusts only you can call the shots." Li San said.

        "Are you any denser than this?" Han Touzhou asked.

        "I'm not a coward to believe that there's no other way." Li San replied.

        "This time your sister didn't just kill one of the Emperor's favourites like she did in the past, rather she harmed an Imperial child with the Emperor's blood running through it's veins which is treason.

        A charge like this one tied to the Inner Court is hard to get over with and defend especially when we are Courtiers because we aren't Royal women it'll be acting out of line of duty unless you are willing to risk the number of heads that your people still have left." Han Touzhou replied.

        "You expect me to just sit here and watch my sister losing her Crown?" Li San asked.

        "She brought it upon herself and became a fool of the Empress Dowager, the mere fact that she was tricked as such makes it none of our business." Han Touzhou replied.

        "Need I remind you that you saw your loyalties to her?" Li San asked.

        "And my loyalty still stands but my life and the lives of my people can not be put on the line because of her one foolish mistake." Han Touzhou replied, "let her survive this somehow even though unspoken she'll prove herself worthy to lead us but if she doesn't then I am afraid our loyalties must shift as well." He added.

        "But you forget that if she's in the cell your daughter would never be the Crown Princess." Li San said.

        "Zhuge Liang didn't need a Crown Princess or an Empress to hold the world in his hands, Sima Guang didn't need as much, Wang Anshi you can name them all otherwise if a wheel can no longer be useful to a carriage then it must be replaced." Han Touzhou replied while he leaned over and looked at Li San.

        "That's the essence of conflict, survive and show the world that you are stronger, fail and lose everything." Han Touzhou added while he withdrew his head and standing up he walked out of the room while Li San smacked the table.

        "There has to be something that I must do, I can't let the Empress Dowager have her way." Li San promised himself.

        "Such a doomed fate!" Lin Xue exclaimed.

        "It's a pity though, I never thought that things could come this far." Han Touzhou replied.

        "Without the Empress the Empress Dowager would only become very powerful." Lin Xue said.

        "And what of the other Courtiers?" Han Touzhou asked.

        "The Shi household has become very wealthy of late, the same goes for the Wu's and the Bao's, yet I have looked into a number of their activities and they run normal business it's much likelier that they are surviving on the Empress Dowager's favour which we could use against her and charge her for creating a faction in Court." Lin Xue said.

         "Even if you did it's all an assumption and learning from the Empress' example now would not be the time to mess with the Tiger's whiskers." Han Touzhou replied.

         "Li San is desperate, what if the Empress survives?" Lin Xue asked.

         "I've looked through the plan and it lacks loopholes, where faults of weakness would have been figured there's concrete evidence against her and now running with the Crowd survival for Her Highness will be close to a miracle." Han Touzhou replied.

         "To plan with such accuracy and hold the Empress prisoner of the Law, I am just as frightened as I am amazed." Lin Xue said. 

        "Right now it's important to find out who the real puppeteer of this charade pulling all the strings is." Han Touzhou replied.

        Yang Meizi knelt down in front of the three memorial tablets and burning incense sticks in front of them she bowed her head while she looked back up at them.

        "Mother, uncle?" She called, "I pray that you give me the strength." She added, "Now that my vengeance has began I can't dare to grow weak, refrain or take to heart those petty feelings of mercy to spare your enemies." She said and went silent while Nuwa standing behind her she closely monitored her actions.

        "Today it's the Empress' Crown, tomorrow it's everything that she has and holds dear." Yang Meizi said, "this I promise." She swore with tears running out of her bloodshot eyes and her veins appearing over her face while she tightly gritted her teeth feeling the aching of her heart and trying to convince herself that she was happy at the time.

       One of the Imperial guards walked up to the front of the Empress' cell while she raised her eyes and looked at him.

       "What are you doing here?" The Empress asked.

       "Looking at Your Highness." The guard replied.

       "Is this a beautiful view of your once great Empress?" She asked.

        "Your Highness was not yet great." The guard replied.

        "Then in whose name do you come?" She asked.

        "Minister Li." The guard replied.

        The Empress smiled.

        "Many can claim so." She remarked.

        "But how many could possess this?" The guard asked as he pulled out a small token which he showed to the Empress.

        Even in a distance she could recognize it well enough.

        "What's power if you can't rid yourself of any barrier?" Empress Li asked.

        "Bringing your enemies onto their knees Your Highness." The guard replied.

        "I want the Emperor." Empress Li ordered.

        "He is for the Empress Dowager." The guard replied.

       "Then make him ours." Empress Li ordered as she stretched out her hand with the sachet inside it and the guard opening the doors he quickly walked in and took it from the Empress.

       "When?" He asked.

       "Tonight." Empress Li replied.

       "Yes Your Highness." The guard replied and withdrawing from the Chambers the Empress smiled at herself ghastly.

       The doors of the Prince Zhao Kuo's room were opened and Yang Meizi with a couple of ladies in waiting walked in with the Prince's food.

       "It's lunch time Your Highness." She said but the Prince looking the other side she looked at her subordinates who took it as an order to place the dishes on the table.

        She bowed one more time and turned to walk away.

        "What did my mother do to you?" He asked.

        "I thought I was clear Your Highness when I told you that my life isn't your business." Yang Meizi replied.

        "Why do you hate her so much?" He persistently asked.

        "You are her son so it's natural to feel protective of her, blood is thicker than water this I am aware you already know so why bother trying to feel the pain of those victims when you are already feeling remorseful for your mother?" Yang Meizi asked.

       "I am her son, she will listen to me if I ask her to stop." Prince Zhao Kuo said and hearing those words Yang Meizi turned around and looked at him fighting to keep her composure.

       "Ask her to stop?" She asked as the Prince seemed confused by what he had said himself.

       "Why?" Yang Meizi asked, "you really think that your mother herself has boundaries you can just customize to suit your demands?" She added.

       "I can't give up on my mother." Prince Zhao Kuo said.

       "Then you'll have to give up on your Great Grandmother." Yang Meizi replied, "Empress or not every one is under the law and she must pay for it as well because if she doesn't then you're under a curse from heaven to suffer for her misdemeanors." She added.

       "I want to believe that she is still human." Prince Zhao Kuo said, "at least one good charitable deed that she has done, at least one little fault that for her I can rectify, at least to ease your resentment towards both her and me." He pleaded.

       "If she can still manage to tear a concubine to pieces and dump them in a box then you tell me in your own sense if you still think that she is human and that alone....." Yang Meizi said, "that alone will also define for me the type of person you really are." Yang Meizi said as she walked out of the building leaving the Prince himself alone and in tears.

        Reaching outside she felt her heart beating faster that she placed her hand on her chest and herself still confused she looked around and saw Shi Miyuan standing in front of her.

       He was smiling happily that she gave him the most sincere smile that she could find and the two starting off in the direction of the Palace gardens they slowly walked side by side.

        "I heard about the Empress." Shi Miyuan said.

        "You weren't in the Capital?" Yang Meizi asked.

        "I had to visit my grandfather's village for a while." Shi Miyuan replied.

        "How is he doing?" Yang Meizi asked.

        "He is fine." Shi Miyuan replied.

        "But that's not what you really want to talk to me about?" Yang Meizi said.

        "I was thinking." Shi Miyuan replied.

        "About what?" She asked.

        "Marriage." Shi Miyuan replied.

        "That soon?" Yang Meizi asked.

        "Father keeps on pushing me and going back to the village it only got worse." Shi Miyuan replied.

        "It must have been seeing that you have lost so much weight." Yang Meizi said.

        "And thinking about it I am unwilling to take any other woman for a bride other than you." Shi Miyuan said as he halted and slowly he turned and faced her.

       "But you know what I am doing, you know better than anyone else that there's still something more that I must fulfill." Yang Meizi said.

        "That's why I am willing to wait." Shi Miyuan said. "Please allow me to keep waiting as well." He added while Yang Meizi shyly looked away

       "You don't need to ask at all." She muttered, "until now I have not been willing to give my heart to anyone else other than you." She added.

       "I know." Shi Miyuan said as he took from his cloak a small jade pendant which he rested with both his hands in Yang Meizi's.

       "Keep this close to you for my sake." He said.

       Frozen she could hardly believe what was happening in front of her she only nodded in approval while Shi Miyuan smiled.

       "I'm sure it's only a while that you can endure it deep down, until then when we have vanquished all our enemies, I'll protect you and wait for the day when I can officially make you my wife." He said.

       "Yes." Yang Meizi calmly replied.

       Emperor Guangzong stared at the Edict right in front of him when Eunuch Qin walked into the room while he looked at the characters that he had written in his own hand.

       "Does Your Majesty luck the strength?" He asked.

       "Not really." Emperor Guangzong asked as he lifted up the heavy large Jade seal and putting it in the thick red ink he slowly raised it with his two hands and rested it on the left lower corner.

       "It is done." He muttered.

       "Don't feel so guilty, the Empress brought it upon herself." Eunuch Qin said.

      "And my son?" Emperor Guangzong asked.

      "His Majesty the Retired Emperor is taking very good care of him." Eunuch Qin replied.

      "It eases my heart but to see the Huang Clan shedding blood in their capital and myself having quietly let down the Guifei by having the Empress have her own way it's the very least that I can do while hoping that her soul might find peace in the afterlife." Emperor Guangzong said.

       "I understand Your Majesty, it's time for your medication." Eunuch Qin said and the Emperor folding the scroll and binding it, he took the bowl of mung bean soup that had been put in front of him and slowly he started drinking it while Eunuch Qin watched with contentment until the bowl was emptied.

       "Thank you." The Emperor Said.

       "No need Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin said.

       "Go tell..." The Emperor was saying when he started coughing loudly and ceasing his chest.

        "What?" Eunuch Qin asked as the Emperor continued to recline in his seat suffocating.

        "Your Majesty." Eunuch Qin cried out while his eyes were being closed.

       "Someone help and call the doctor." He shouted and a couple of Imperial guards rushing in with some Eunuchs they carried the Emperor out of the building.

       Emperor Xiaozong was sleeping in his Chambers with Retired Empress Xie when the doors were flung open and through them another Eunuch rushed in.

       "Your Majesty." He cried falling down onto his knees in front of the silk curtain that separated the Retired Emperor from him while the latter opening his eyes he sat up in his bed immediately.

       The Empress waking after her husband they both faced the young man.

       "What's with this fuss very late in the night?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.

       "His Majesty the Emperor." The Eunuch replied.

       "What happened to him?" Empress Xie asked.

       "His Majesty was poisoned." The Eunuch replied and the Emperor furious he thrust the silk veil away.

       "Poisoned you say?" The Emperor asked.

       "Yes Your Majesty." the man replied.

       "And who tasted his food?" The Retired Emperor asked.

       "No one." The Eunuch replied and feeling shattered inwardly he stumbled while his wife held him up.

       "Be careful Your Majesty." She said as he started coughing violently as well and covering his mouth with a hanker chief when he was done, he pulled it away and stared at the thick red blood patch on it.

       "Your Majesty." The Empress cried as he lost consciousness shortly falling down onto the ground.

       "Someone call the Imperial physicians." Empress Xie said when a number of the other Eunuchs and guards rushed into her Chambers.

        Yang Meizi was seated in her tub showering and recalling the words that Shi Miyuan had mentioned to her she slowly poured the water around her neck and gracefully moved her fingers.

       The doors to her bathroom were flung open and Nuwa rushed in herself breathing intensely and sweating profusely, her eyes widened were bloodshot and her eye brows were raised.

       It was as though she was looking at a ghost as it seemed that she was finding a hard time trying to say a word Yang Meizi got out and covered herself as she slowly approached her.

       "What's the matter with you why do you look frightened?" She asked.

       "The Emperor....." Nuwa stuttered in reply.

       "What's wrong?" Yang Meizi persisted.

       "The Retired Emperor and the Guangzong Emperor." Nuwa replied.

       "Tell me what's happened to the both of them?" Yang Meizi pestered her.

        "They have been poisoned." Nuwa replied and Yang Meizi surprised to hear that she shook her.

       "How's that even possible?" She asked.

       "I don't know." Nuwa replied.

       "I have to see His Majesty." Yang Meizi said as she rushed out.

       With her retinue having fully dressed her uniform she strode through the cold dark hallways which were mildly illuminated by a set of red and yellow lanterns across the Palace and as she negotiated a corner and arrived at the Retired Empress' Palace she walked through the doors and found her seated by the bed side tending to her husband.

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

       "At ease." Empress Xie replied while she took a spoonful of the medicine which she put in the Retired Emperor's mouth.

       "I have just heard that His Majesty was poisoned." Yang Meizi said.

       "Even his son." Empress Xie replied as she turned to her.

        "How?" Yang Meizi asked.

        "For the Emperor it was mung bean soup and we haven't heard much from him because His Majesty hearing the news of what happened to his son it triggered the poison that was already inside him." Empress Xie replied.

       "Rest assured Your Highness, I'll make sure the Royal inspectors get down to the bottom of this." Yang Meizi said.

        "I'd in deed be very grateful if they did." Empress Xie said as the young girl bowed her head while she turned to the Imperial physician.

        Slowly she led him out of the hall.

        "What's the Emperor's condition ?" She asked.

        "He's out of danger currently that's all I can tell you." The Imperial physician replied.

        "What poison is in His Majesty's system?" Yang Meizi asked.

        "It's hard to tell but it's not that fatal, it's only intended for temporary incapacitation." The Imperial physician replied and Yang Meizi surprised she halted in her footsteps.

        "You mean to say that whoever poisoned the Emperor wasn't intending to murder him?" Yang Meizi asked.

        "That's inconclusive because firstly we don't know the intended dosage for the poison it would have been lethal to him had it been consumed in very large quantities and judging from his situation I am forced to believe that it's about three days of bed rest that will be needed for him." The Imperial physician replied.

       "What about the condition of the Reigning Emperor?" Yang Meizi asked.

       "I haven't been reliably informed but I heard it's about the same." The Imperial physician replied.

        "But how is that possible?" Yang Meizi asked as she thought about it deeply.

        "No." She muttered something else having come to her mind she quickly turned and rushed away.

        The doors of Emperor Guangzong's Chambers were opened and Empress Dowager Wu rushed in with her retinue until they stopped in front of Eunuch Qin and the bedridden Emperor.

       "What's this?" She asked, "I heard that His Majesty was poisoned." She added.

       "Yes Your Highness." Eunuch Qin replied while bowing his head.

       "What's the situation?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.

        "He's out of danger." Eunuch Qin replied and the old woman sighed in relief when Yang Meizi rushed through the doors of the room.

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

        "What is it now?" Empress Dowager Wu asked and Yang Meizi looking at her and the other people around, the Empress chased them away leaving her and Eunuch Qin inside.

        "You're in danger." Yang Meizi replied and the Empress Dowager surprised to hear her saying this she seemed curious.

        "What makes you think so?" She asked.

        "The two Emperor's were poisoned but from the results they weren't supposed to be murdered." Yang Meizi replied.

       "And so?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.

       "The Mung beans came from Cifu Palace and the Tonic for the Retired Emperor, the Eunuchs didn't taste them both for poison which implicates their entire department." Yang Meizi replied, "the worst bit of it is that if there is someone to be held responsible it's going to be..." Yang Meizi was still saying when Eunuch Qin completed.

       "Your Highness." he said.

       "Yes." Yang Meizi confirmed.

       "Could it be..?" Empress Dowager Wu asked herself as she recalled the words that the Empress had mentioned to her.

        "Was this Your comeback?" The Empress Dowager asked herself inwardly.

        "At this point if Your Highness doesn't do something you won't be able to escape the criticism of the world." Eunuch Qin said.

        "Only one person would benefit from the incapacitation of both Emperors and the Empress being held behind bars she can't be held a suspect at the time, all eyes would turn to me the sooner that this rumour spreads and before long a majority of the Courtiers would be up in arms." Empress Dowager Wu said.

       "The Retired Empress can not do this investigation as many believe her to be manipulable and for the stability of the Imperial house and the security of the kingdom a regency must be established." Yang Meizi said.

        "I am the most Senior member of the Imperial family." Empress Dowager Wu remarked.

        "But a suspect for the time being." Yang Meizi replied.

        "Send out my orders." Empress Dowager Wu said.

        "Yes Your Highness." Eunuch Qin replied.

        "With effect from today I shall hold the Imperial seal until their Majesties have fully recuperated." She muttered and the two looked frightened.

        "You can't Your Highness." Yang Meizi said.

        "I can do anything in the world even let the Empress rule it but she can never hold my Court in her hands and she needs to know that she is beneath me." Empress Dowager Wu remarked.

       "In doing this Your Highness you are going to force a majority of the Courtiers to petition her release and as the reigning Emperor's wife and mother of the soon to be Crown Prince she's going to return to the Palace." Eunuch Qin said.

       "Han Touzhou and the others would be just as pleased." Yang Meizi said.

        "Can my innocence be proven?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.

        "With the help of scapegoats yes." Eunuch Qin replied.

        "But what matters is the way that the world will see it." Empress Dowager Wu said.

        "Then there's only one more way that I can think of Your Highness to clear your name." Yang Meizi said.

        "And which is it?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.

        "Let death pass." Yang Meizi replied.

        "Let death pass?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.

        "If senior members of the Royal family are affected then certainly to divert the attention you need to play the victim." Yang Meizi replied.

        "And how am I going to do that?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.

        "Each of the Emperor's was poisoned following a meal and now that the culprit has not been found its natural for you to feel a bit lax having survived the night." Yang Meizi replied.

       "Brilliant." Empress Dowager Wu remarked, "if that's how the Empress wants it then I am going to play along as well." She added as she smiled ghastly.

        Empress Li was seated in her dungeon when the guard from earlier rushed in panickingly.

        "I could hear the noises and the guards talking amongst themselves, seeing you it must be true that the Emperor's by now are in a poor but stable health condition." Empress Li said.

        "Everything yesterday night went according to plan but very early in the morning today in the Cifu Palace." The guard replied.

        "What happened?" The Empress asked.

        "Her Highness the Empress Dowager." The guard replied.

        "What did she do this time?" Empress Li asked.

        "She is bedridden with the same symptoms as the two Emperor's." The guard replied and the Empress infuriated she clenched her fists as she smiled lightly.

        "If it's the same symptoms you say then it means that she will have some time asleep." The Empress remarked.

        "Compared to the other two the threat was detected earlier and she managed to spit out some of the poison only galloping faint traces of if, her condition couldn't be serious but as she needs a day to recuperate she must be well tended to." The guard replied.

        "She might no longer need a suspect but the state has to be run by someone and without a Crown Prince it's only a matter of time before we can receive the order." Empress Li said.  

       "It's only two hours to the morning Assembly and I heard that the Ministers were informed beforehand not to turn up." The guard said.

       "Whether they turn up or not I don't really mind." Empress Li said, "what matters is that Empress Xie who is soft must make an attempt to meet the demands of the proposals that the Courtiers are making and even if the Empress Dowager sees it or not, she must consent to some demands so that she doesn't aggress the majority of the Courtiers." She added.

       "Well said Your Highness." The guard replied.

       "When the memorials come in, it'll be too late." Empress Li muttered as she smiled ghastly.

       The Empress Dowager looked through one of the appeals with Wan Mei and Wan'er beside her and furious at its contents she threw it down onto the ground.

       "Your Highness." They said concerned.

       "She's already a traitor and a rebel and being the healthiest they are asking me to grant her a pardon and restore her to her status." Empress Dowager Wu replied.

       "How faithful they must be!" Wan Mei said.

       "Given everything that has happened right now there's not another competent person in the Palace that can run it during the illness of all the Senior members of the Imperial family." Wan'er supplemented.

       "Nonetheless, there has to be something that we can do at least." Wan Mei said.

       "If I don't grant Her Highness a pardon they'll say that I have doomed the state and further more I must make it believable that I am as ill as everyone claims me to be." Empress Dowager Wu remarked.

        "May I suggest Your Highness." Wan'er asked.

        "Tell me." The Empress Dowager agreed.

        "The Empress might hold all the power in the world but you can hold the consent of the throne." Wan'er replied.

        "It'll be harder to keep the seal the moment that she is named the Regent." Empress Dowager Wu remarked.

        "Then name Yourself the Regent." Wan'er replied and the latter widened her eyes, "after all what could be more powerful than a nominal ruler if not a formal Regent?" She added.

        "To balance all the factions in the Court the Empress doesn't have to be more powerful." Empress Dowager Wu said.

        "Because as always, with every Royal prerogative put into consideration, the final say will rest with Your Highness alone and so will the Imperial seal since you are generous enough to restore her tattered Crown and the people might tolerate a murderous woman like her pulling the strings but they could never tolerate the thought of her bearing the seal of the son of heaven." Wan Mei said.

        "Prepare the sedan." Empress Dowager Wu said, "I'll see to her warm welcome back into the Palace." She added.

        "Yes Your Highness." The two replied in unison.

        The Sedan carrying Empress Li was led through the Palace gates and in Grand procession her retinue restored they marched all around it as she arrived right outside her residence where she found the Empress Dowager and the rest of the Palace attendants standing and waiting for her.

         Lowering the sedan chair, General Li offered his sister his hand and taking it she slowly stepped out and everyone bowing their heads to her she marched up to the Dowager Empress and bowed her head.

        "You must be so happy returning to the Palace after barely a couple of days in the Imperial dungeons." Empress Dowager Wu said.

       "Seeing that there is a grand celebration Your Highness must also seem happy about my return." Empress Li remarked.

        "Did I not promise you that I would look forward to it?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.

        "And seeing you here I must admit that you have lived up to your promise." Empress Li replied.

        "As you must have heard about the unfortunate." Empress Dowager Wu said.

        "And that you were a victim?" Empress Li asked.

        "Surviving narrowly, it's at a time like this that real strength must be proven after all it wasn't the first time that someone wanted me dead but here I am already old and losing my hair is it not safe to say that heaven is on my side?" Empress Dowager Wu replied.

        "Perhaps it is Your Highness." Empress Li replied.

        "I wouldn't wish to keep you waiting, there are things that you must tend to." Empress Dowager Wu Said.

        "Don't worry Your Highness, now more than ever I understand what it is that must be done." Empress Li remarked.

        "The same goes for me." Empress Dowager Wu replied with a smile on her face as she turned around while the Empress closely watched her back.

        "I am here to stay Your Highness." She muttered.

        "Time will tell." Empress Dowager Wu assured her.

Empress Li sat down in her Chambers while her brother sat down right in front of him.

      "It's good to see you back on your feet once again." General Li San said.

      "I wouldn't have done it without you my little brother." Empress Li replied.

      "It's only a matter of time before all the Courtiers can rush to our side Your Highness." General Li said.

      "I would like to think that it's otherwise." Empress Li replied.

       "I don't understand." Li San said.

       "Under all formalities the Empress Dowager designated herself as regent I can only rule nominally because regardless of whatever effort I put in, she holds the Imperial seal and rge the final say." Empress Li replied.

       "But judging from Your Highness it's not impossible to reclaim it from her." Li San encouraged.

        "Trust me, those days I spent in my confinement taught me so much about my past mistakes and I have learnt what it is that I must do." Empress Li replied as she smiled ghastly.

        "The Empress is now before us again." Yang Meizi spoke to Nuwa, Bao Langya and Bo An.

        "How is that even possible?" Nuwa asked.

        "The two Emperors are still unconscious and someone needs to tend to the affairs of State in the mean time, there are two powerful women in the Inner Court so it's natural that they'd vy power and the Empress Dowager herself having turned into a victim of the poisoning for her self defense she needs to give the world the impression that she sincerely is." Yang Meizi replied.

       "But as long as the Empress doesn't hold the seal, it'll be for our own good." Bao Langya said.

       "We need to get a hold of many more of the Li Household's assets." Yang Meizi said.

       "How are we going to do that?" Bo An asked.

       "We'll loan them a large amount of money." Yang Meizi replied.

       "About how much?" Bao Langya asked.

       "Five million golden taels." Yang Meizi replied as she smiled ghastly.

       "With a high interest?" Bo An asked.

       "She has gotten much more wealth and power and if we must mislead her then she'll have to exploit the throne." Yang Meizi replied.

       "But that's a very big risk." Nuwa said.

       "You all know as much as I do, if we wish to gain possesion of this country then we must have so much wealth, if we can bring down those Aristocrats to their knees and turn them poor while aiding their survival, they'll only last as long as we do." Yang Meizi replied.

       The Courtiers mounted the stairs that led to the throne room and it's doors being opened for them they walked in up to the front where they happened to see another silhouette that was seated on a throne behind the silk screen.

        "You are all most welcome." A voice many of them knew as too familiar emerged from behind and a number seemingly surprised General Wu stepped out.

        "Your Highness." He offered his salutation.

        "I understand that you might as well be shocked but with effect from today I shall take charge of the affairs of state." Empress Li spoke up and Han Touzhou with his lot quiet Minister Xie came forward.

        "Pardon me if I may ask but the regency was passed to Her Highness the Empress Dowager by the Retired Emperor that he may assist the reigning Emperor in his duties." He said.

        "Yes Your Highness." Other officials agreed.

        "Do you mean to disobey my orders?" Empress Li asked.

       "Please be considerate Your Highness, that seat....." General Wu was saying.

       "....is for the Empress Dowager?" Empress Li asked while he kept quiet and lowered his head and even from the back of her screen her smile could appear visible to the eyes of everyone else.

       "Alright." She spoke up, "but what if I don't move?" She said, "will you and your men move me out?" She asked and the two looking at one another they lowered their heads.

       "The State needs to be stable, at a time like this that the Emperor's are unwell not only the most senior member of the Imperial family but also the healthiest should take charge and safeguard the Dynasty unless perhaps you wish to rebel." Empress Li spoke up.

        "Does Your Excellency wish to rebel?" Li San asked.

        "I dare not Your Highness." General Wu replied.

        "Now present your issues to me." Empress Li ordered and all the other Courtiers looking at one another Han Touzhou turned to Li San.

       "Did you not hear Her Highness?" Li San asked the Courtiers.

       "At your service Your Highness." The Courtiers said in unison while bowing their heads.

       "Well done." Empress Li said, "I hope that now as it seems to me that we have come to a more formal understanding we could do great things in the future and we could all contribute actively to the welfare of the state." She added.

       "Yes Your Highness." The Courtiers all replied in unison while Han Touzhou raising his head he looked up at her through the silk screen.

       "You should have seen the look on her face sister." General Wu complained to the Empress Dowager.

       "I heard that she put on quite a show." Empress Dowager Wu remarked.

       "A number of the Courtiers were infuriated about how she could make an appearance in your position when she is just a nominal Regent which deprives her of the Royal prerogatives of attending Court behind a lowered screen." General Wu said.

        "Let her be." Empress Dowager Wu said.

        "How?" General Wu replied, "why did you not turn up into the throne room because your mere presence would have shown her her real place and it would be just as much as a blow to her own ego." He added.

       "I knew how arrogant she would be but I was in favour of her attending the Court." Empress Dowager Wu replied.

       "What?" General Wu asked.

       "You heard me, if she couldn't make an appearance in Court it wouldn't have been any better for me." Empress Dowager Wu replied.

       "I don't understand." General Wu said.

       "You men prefer to fight your wars with swords and spears, on the other hand we women don't." Empress Dowager Wu replied.

       "Enlighten me Your Highness." General Wu said.

       "She could preside over the state affairs but with the Imperial seal in my hand I hold all the Imperial power in the kingdom that means that however much she goes through those memorials to build for herself an image of worship or fear, with myself having the final say a decline won't be so difficult to remind her who the true power behind the throne is as it may seem she'll only be making fun of herself." Empress Dowager Wu replied.

       "I see." General Wu said.

       "An appeal is an appeal, a consent a consent and a decree a decree, certainly, if you can distinguish between these then by the world she'll be reminded of her place." Empress Dowager Wu said as she smiled ghastly.

       Empress Li was seated in her study when Chiyun Ling carried in her presence a large pile of books but halted at a distance in front of her mistress.

       "Won't you come closer?" Empress Li asked.

       "I am afraid that Her Highness the Empress Dowager has sent over a set of books for Your Highness." Chiyun Ling replied.

       "She's a tough character but what could a couple of books do to me?" Empress Li asked and Chiyun Ling clearing her throat she walked up to the table and placed them down in front of the Empress.

       They had been divided into two piles and moving on to the first pile she picked out the one on top and looked at its title.

       "Empress Lü Zhi of Han?" She said and putting it aside she saw the other one.

       "Empress Dowager Jia?" She read aloud and throwing it she looked through all the other titles.

       "Empress Dowager Ling, Wu Hao, Empress Liu, Who is she kidding giving me these books?" Empress Li asked as she picked them up altogether and she moved to the second pile.

       "Zhangsun, Empress Dowager Zheng." She muttered and at the sight of these she smiled.

       "She's rubbing it in my face?" She spoke rhetorically.

       "I don't understand." Liu Zhan said.

       "The worst examples of the Female Empress Regents and the best Examples of non meddling women in our rich History, the Empress Dowager means to say that Your Highness should take caution not to be a meddling woman and at the same time that she should play the role of a very good wife." Chiyun Ling replied.

       "She could be so brazen?" Liu Zhan asked.

       "Throw them all into the brazier." Empress Li ordered.

       "Yes Your Highness." The two replied in unison.

       "And after that get me a book and grind me the finest ink." Empress Li said.

       "Yes Your Highness." They said as they picked up the copies in front of her and they threw them inside the fire while she watched contently as they burned down to nothingness.

       "If that's how she's going to play it then I won't mind playing along." She said go herself.

       "I heard that the Empress was infuriated and she burned all the books that had been sent over by the Empress Dowager as you had suggested." Nuwa said.

       "And I was wrong to think that she was over that temper of hers because now it seems to me that some things never change." Yang Meizi said as she looked through the account books in front of her.

       "If she's not over her temper then who knows she night as well fall victim to us once again?" Nuwa remarked.

       "It's not that easy but right now we can hope that the Retired Emperor recovers ahead of time, it's natural that her husband being so sickly we can't hope so much from him but her father in law that will certainly do us well." Yang Meizi said.

       "What about the Imperial grandson?" Nuwa asked.

       "Which reminds me." Yang Meizi said as she put down the account books immediately.

      "What's the matter?" Nuwa asked.

      "Her Highness is about to receive the petitions." Yang Meizi replied.

      "But you look worried." Nuwa said.

      "If the Emperor couldn't secure the position of her son then now that he is unable to attend to Court affairs she can make that one move." Yang Meizi replied as she quickly rushed out of her room.

       Empress Dowager Wu picking up the memorials she slowly looked through the first and reaching for the second and opening it her hands shivered and Wan'er who was nearby noticed her tension.

       "What's the problem Your Highness?" She asked but the Empress Dowager speechless she smacked the memorial on the table while Wan'er craned her neck to read through it's contents.

       "Naming the Crown Prince?" She asked.

       "She seems to have grown fond of overestimating herself." Empress Dowager Wu said.

       "But you can decline this Your Highness." Wan'er said.

       "What do you understand about politics?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.

       "Not to much but the power is now in your hands." Wan'er said.

       "Holding immense power is different from using it and in this appeal the state is reminded that there is still an Imperial young male that's of age and in line of the succession, if I do not consent to naming the Crown Prince to the world I'll look like a woman that's deliberately trying to do whatever I can to centralise all the Imperial power to myself.

       Additionally, if I were to consent and Prince Zhao Kuo was named the Crown Prince the Empress would secure her position and even if the Retired Emperor gained consciousness to break my amendment as a regent would be universal disregard of my capabilities and distrust to my policies." Empress Dowager Wu said.

      "Then we can delay the announcement." Wan'er said.

      "It's uncertain how long the Retired Emperor will be unconscious and suppose it is a year or even a month, pending this issue would create so much upheaval and unpopularise us amongst the people." Empress Dowager Wu said while Wan'er sulked as the doors of her Chambers were flung open and Yang Meizi rushed in.

        "Your Highness." She said bowing her head.

        "What is it?" Empress Dowager Wu asked.

        "If the Current Emperor was yours as the Crown Prince then this Crown Prince can be yours as well." Yang Meizi replied.

  "Tell me more." The Empress Dowager said closing the memorial.

        "The people aren't yet over the issue of Consort Huang and as it may seem some even believe that the Empress is mentally unstable, rumours as these can be politically fatal because upon such a background regardless of the fact that the Imperial grandson is her son, she can't possibly be in the position to retain her legal guardianship over him because the worst case scenario is her already tarnished reputation implicating her son's." Yang Meizi said and the Empress Dowager looking at her she smiled ghastly.

        "There's no problem then." She said.

        "I trust that she might have spoken too soon she forgot that some things don't change overnight." Yang Meizi remarked.

       "Well said my dear, well said in deed." Empress Dowager Wu muttered.

        Yang Meizi walking out of the Empress Dowager's Chambers she met with Prince Zhao Kuo on the small bridge that was stationed above the Imperial pond.   

       The two exchanged a gaze for a while and Yang Meizi gathering whatever courage she had she approached him while he did the same.

       "Your Highness." She greeted him bowing her head.

       "Look at me." Prince Zhao Kuo ordered and she complied without any hesitation.

       He could not read the feeling inside them clearly but one thing that he was certain about was that whatever it was it bore a degree of resentment towards him.

      "It's barely been half the day." He said.

      "Your mother is back into the Palace, congratulations." Yang Meizi said.

      "It sounds otherwise." Prince Zhao Kuo remarked.

      "Is it not said that he who is powerful shall rule over all creation for generations to come?" Yang Meizi asked.

      "And my mother was very powerful that the cell could not hold her longer?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.

      "No." Yang Meizi replied, "not at all." She persisted.

      "Then what?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.

      "She's only cunning." Yang Meizi replied, "she's only too smart but she lacks people and that alone makes it temporary." She added.

      "You look forward to her demise?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.

      "You are the son of the dragon and should heaven will it one day you'll become the dragon itself, regardless of how you see it today that she might be your Political ally a time will come when your own flesh and blood will become your Political enemy." Yang Meizi replied.

      "You have spoken out of turn." Prince Zhao Kuo said.

      "Time Will tell the astute wielder of power your mother is and as the years go by the Empress Dowager might not be there then to protect you, learn from Lü Zhi of Han and Zetian of Tang, compare with the woman that turned another into a swine and the other that turned the Consort Xiao into a sorceress the one who chopped the parts of another palace woman and put them in a casket." Yang Meizi said as she walked closer to his ear and whispered, "I hope that you aren't as blind to not see or deaf to not hear me." She said.

      The Prince Withdrew a couple of feet backwards.

      "You look as malicious." He said.

      "Where this expression and the world will fear you but what more can an innocent lady of the Palace like myself do when factions within the inner Court are vying for power and moreso when the Empress is too cruel?" Yang Meizi asked and her eyes appearing somewhat teary the Prince's heart melting under her gaze she knew that she had struck the right note deep down in his soul.

      "We must pretend to be cruel and neutral to survive because when we die who would care so much about seeking justice for us, who is it that would erect for us a memorial tablet and who is it that would mourn us while burning incense sticks and talismans?" She asked and the young Prince quiet she slowly walked past him while he tightly held onto his chest feeling his heart beating faster as she negotiated one of the corners of the gardens and with her retinue she vanished from sight.

      The Prince leaned on the balcony of the bridge as he looked at his reflection down in the water.

      "Be careful Your Highness." Lan He said.

      "Get some men that you trust." Prince Zhao Kuo said.

      "Your Highness?" Lan He asked.

      "I want you to secretly investigate the relationship between my mother and Head Lady Yang." He said.

      "Yes Your Highness." Lan He replied.

"Head Lady Yang, just exactly what are you?" he whispered to himself as he stared intensely in the very direction she had vanished.