72 A Letter

The Emperor had just returned from court, he could still hear the whispers that the courtiers said when they thought he couldn't hear anymore "He has lost it."

The one man that was normally on his side, the left minister had even disagreed with him today. The Emperor hand tightened so hard around his teacup that it almost shattered in his hand.

"This is all Han Bings fault! He took the most important thing from me … I will take the most important thing from him, he defied me for that woman." The Emperor was thinking to himself as he couldn't contain a sinister laugh from escaping his lips.

"Zhen. Get me Fang Feng, I have one last job for him before I will release his sister."

"As you command" Zhen the old eunuch replied before bowing low.

"I almost forgot I was able to acquire a letter that you mother had wrote for you before she passed Han Bing. She knew her time was coming and tried to prepare as best as possible" Fourteen said while continuing on about how Han Bings mother had been one of the sweetest and naïve people in the palace.

Mai glanced at Han Bing who seemed frozen in place. He had just discovered that his mother had been alive this whole time never mind that she didn't forget about him. Mai reassuringly placed her hand on Han Bing shoulder giving him a little tug to bring him back to reality.

"Where is it?" Han Bing whispered his hand shaking.

"In my inner robe on the left side" Fourteen replied in a solemn tone.

Mai saw the elegant calligraphy on the letter the must have been Han Bings name since he traced his index finger over the ink before opening the letter. Han Bing stood there staring at the letter for minutes before his body shuddered and slightly collapsed into itself.

"What does it say?" Mai asked curious what could have affected Han Bing so.

"My dearest son if you are reading this it means that I have departed this world. Do not mourn me for ill be going to a better place. I prayed every night for your safety and hoped that my continued appeasement of the Emperor would be enough to keep you safe. I fear that it was not enough.

I do not know how I could possibly make this up to you my dearest son for you are paying for my foolish mistakes. When you were just a day old, I held you close to my bosom and whispered I would never let you go. You had already taken my heart in your tiny hands as you wrapped them around my finger. Atlas those precious moments could not last as you were ripped away from me to never be seen again.

I drowned myself in sorrows wondering if I would ever see you again … If I could see that man, you were becoming and be proud. Yet on the horizon I heard whispers of your great deeds, your compassion. Unlike my fears you had turned nothing into the man that had stolen you from me.

You still own my heart no matter how far apart we will be my little Han Bing

Love, Meng Lifen"

Han Bings voice had broken a little to the end of reading the letter. This had been the most emotion that Mai had ever seen from him. Grasping his hand in hers "at least you know how she felt. She was always looking out for you." Mai said quietly.

Mai's heart hurt for Han Bing, imagine going through the type of childhood he must have had growing up in such a world. No mother to watch over him as he took his first few steps. Not one for to be excited when he said his first words. Mai's family had videos of when she was little that they would re-watch when they were feeling reminisce. Most of the time they were rather embarrassing things but imagine having none of those small comforts of home.

Mai wrapped her arms around Han Bing back and held him close to her. It was amazing that such a man had such a gentle soul with all he had experienced, especially with her.

"Indeed" Han Bing said with steel in his voice, looking towards Fourteen "It is time to remove that murderer from the throne."

A small smile was on Fourteens face as he nodded "good, well wont have much time to prepare."

"let's rest and discover our options at first light" Han Bing had said tugging Mai with him to there sleeping quarters.

"Is there anything wrong dear husband?" Mai asked Han Bing.

"Yes, Zhi Rou said that my mother's name was Han Aki… so who is Meng Lifen?" Han Bing replied his hand tightening over the letter.