Chapter Ten: The princes of Shu(Edited)
Two princes sat across each other playing chess, the fight looked intense as both of them disassociates themselves from losing.
"Older brother, l won again", the youngest beamed with victory.
"Err... this brat! luck is sure on your side today, how could you win consecutively in 5 matches, should we play 6 more times so that I can win them all?".
" Go play with my eunuchs, it's time for my imperial lessons and royal mother will fill my ears with lectures if I miss today's lesson", he pouted as he got up for his lessons.
Prince Song and Prince Soon are the two imperial sons of the present emperor of the SHU dynasty, though born from different mothers are still living harmoniously.
Prince Song's mother is the royal consort while Prince Soon's mother is the empress.
When royal consort Ki gave birth to her son, the empress almost bath the whole palace with blood.
She can accept that she doesn't have the favour of the emperor, but she can't and won't accept that while she, the legal wife is yet to receive favour from the emperor, an imperial concubine received it and even gave birth to the first born son of the imperial family.
That night ,the whole palace was ridden with chaos.The empress's family soldiers was mobilized. The emperor who stood unshakeable stirred when he received the news of their assassins call to base. An order signifying they had received an order .
The emperor was visibly agitated, he already presumed that such would happen but didn't know it would have such gravity.
He had hoped his beloved concubine would give birth to a royal princess to symbolize their love, who knew such happy-sad event would happen to them.
His royal power was based on the empress family's power as they helped in stabilizing his throne.
He knew he would never love the girl when they talked about making their daughter his empress, yet he didn't dissuade them. Marriages of political convenience is rampant in their era so he didn't mind much.
As for the the empress, just like every other girl would love a happy ending, she also came to the palace with so much love filled in her heart, but on her wedding night, he left her alone with a letter stating he already loved someone else and wouldn't bear to hurt the lady.
She had succumbed to the throes of tears as she mourned her unrequited love but didn't break down. That night, she swore to work on his heart.
Alas, fate was too cruel as the emperor brought in the royal concubine shattering her last piece of hope .
The emperor that never ran in his life was seen sprinting towards the empress's palace. He has to make her stop or the consequences will be dire.
He knew his the empress was being starved of his love but he couldn't do anything about it, he always pitied the beautiful lady whom he had disappointed.
Immediately he arrived , he met her pacing around her corridor.
"My empress, can we go inside and talk?", he persuaded carefully.
" Almighty emperor, what is there to talk about between us? You must be happy to have met your long awaited son while I'm yet to meet mine, well you won't see him for long so I suggest you go to the bastard's chamber and be with him because his days are short-lived". She broke into a wicked laughter sending cold down his spine.
The emperor dragged her roughly into one of her rooms. Panting, he did something that sent cold shivers down her own spines.
"Your Majesty, wha... what are you doing?", she trembled slightly.
" l Kang min has never knelt down except before heavens and my parents,but I am doing it now because I'm desperate".
"Your... your Majesty" The empress stammered, she can't seem to register what's happening before her, a man she saw as a sky has knelt before her. This is like the saying( The sky has fallen before you).
The emperor continued.
"Let's make a deal , you spare the Prince and I shall fulfill your wishes", he begged earnestly.
Her heart fell into a tumultuous rhythm, "Then your Majesty should we seal this deal with a kiss?", she smiled proudly as she sized up the emperor.