1 Chapter 1 Disposing the Empress

During the early summer when evening falls, there will be a sudden torential rain.

The skies were overcast and the dark clouds were supressing over the dignified atmosphere of the Palace. The formally magnificent palace hall was shrouded by the dark clouds as if it was a huge cage, trapping the people inside firmly.

In the large chambers, the curtains seemed old as it was covered with a thick layer of dust. It was originally a hot weather but one actually felt a little cold. Clothes and jewelry were scattered all over the floor as if a calamity had iust went by.

The female was kneeling on the floor, looking at the person in front of her.

This female was only on her mid thirties but her face was like an old women. There was a deep hostility between her brows, her eyes were as dead as stagnant water and they have seemingly unable to tear like a like a long dried well but filled with a bottomless hatred.

"Your Ladyship, please." The eunuch beside had a bolt of silk in his hands and his tone could not hide the impatience, " This servant still needs to report to his majesty on the completion."

Gu Fengyi's eye landed on the eunuch and she remain silent for a long time before slowly speaking with a hoarse voice, "Xiao Lee, when Bengong promoted you at that time, you were still a dog beside An Gonggong."

The eunuch slightly raised his head arrogantly, " Your Ladyship, the present is different from the past."

"The present is different from the past..." Gu Fengyi muttered before suddenly raising her head for a laugh, "What a good, 'the present is differeny from the past' !"

Because of a sentence, 'the present is different from the past' , all the servantd and courtiers who previously see her would be respectful and let her order them around. Because of 'the present is different from the past' she ended up on end her life. The past was what kind of past and when did the present became the present? Was it starting from when Hong Furen entered the palace, when the Crown Prince abolished from his throne or when the Princess died tragically on her way to a long distance marriage? Or was it when she came back to the palace from being a Qingdao hostage five years ago?

From the 'past' to the 'present', from an Empress to a disposed Empress, it was all because of Feng Zhou's one word! This entire court of officials would then change their looks, this Mengxi country would reverse black and white! What a good 'the present is different from the past'!

The doors of the hall squeaked open and a pair of dragon embroidered boots stopped in front of Gu Fengyi. Looking up, it was a bright yellow robe.

"Seeing that you followed Zhen for twenty years, I will grant you with an intact corpse. Thank this kindness." The Emperor said.

Gu Fengyi slowly raised her head and look at the man in front of her that was high up above. Time did not leave any imprint on his face as handsome as he was in the beginning. He was the wise sovereign and justfiably Son of the Heaven. He was the man that she foolishly love for twenty years and the husband that she helped in humble circumstances over the years. Now he said to her, "Zhen will grant you with an intact corpse. Thank this kindness."

"Why?" Gu Fengyi asked difficultly.

He did not reply.

"Why the need to seize the entire Shen family?" She asked.

Prince Zhou, Feng Zilong was one of the nine sons of the late Emperor, each of the nine sons have their own merits but the Crown Prince was sickly and the Empress was not willing to alter the title of the Crown Prince thus the Princes took the turmoil as an opportunity. She had long fell for Prince Zhou's peerless talent and regardless of her family's persuasion, she finally got what she wanted but also firmly tied the entire Shen family to Prince Zhou together.

Because of that, she dedicated of herself to assist to Prince Zhou changing from a pampered daughter who did not know anything to a Prince Consort who can participate in the court, to come out with plans and give advice to stablishing the country. On the day that Feng Zilong ascended the throne, he established her as the Empress, the mother to the world which was the grandest.

She thought that she was the grandest Empress. When the prince rebellion was quelled, Bing attacked putting the neighboring countries to risk, in order to borrow troops, Gu Fengyi voluntarily went to Qingdong country as a hostage and when she left, her children was not even a full month when Feng Zilong said, "Zhen will personally bring you back."

Five years later, she finally could return back to Mengxi country but was an additional beautiful and talented Hong Furen in the Inner Palace.

Hong Furen was an official's daughter that Feng Zilong met when his expedition to the East. He like her intelligence and sensibility and brought her back to the Palace. Hong Furen gave birth to Prince Feng Chengmin which was much favored. In contrary, Gu Fengyi's son the Crown Prince Feng Linmao was not favoured at all.

Feng Zilong once said in the presence of the entire court, "Feng Linmao character is too soft, Feng Chengmin is still the one who resembles me the most." His words clearly indicated his intentions to change the title of the Crown Prince.

Hong Furen made Gu Fengyi felt a sense of crisis and thus in the palace, Gu Fengyi and Hong Furen had fought for ten years. Hong Furen gotten the upper hand that she even urged Feng Zilong to marry her daughter, Princess Taoshi, to the Bing as marriage alliance. The Bing people were very aggresive and Princess Taoshi died from an illness on the way to the marriage and was immediately cremated. Everyone knew the matter was strange but as a mother, Gu Fengyi has no alternatives.

At the end she walked to where she was today.

Feng Zilong one decree of Gu family revolted, the Crown Prince will be disposed and he committed suicide to atone for his offenses. She as an Empress also be disposed and hang will a white silk.

She only wanted to ask one question, "Why?"

Gu Fengyi reasoned, " Feng Zilong, have you got no conscience? You and I have been a husband and wife for more than twenty years and I did not do anything to let you down. When you first ascended to the throne, it was my Gu family who helped you. When you go into battle and the Bing country came to invade, it was me who help you to write the letter of surrender. When you wanted to draw the high ranking officials to your side, itbwas me who go on my kness to beg them to assists you. I went to Qingdong country as a hostage and suffered torture and pain and what did you reciprocate in return? Hong Furen let Taoshi get married, you draft the Imperial decree and Taoshi was only sixteen when she died. You favoured Feng Chengmin and neglected Feng Linmao and the entire court was aware of it. Now you exterminate my entire clan and now that death is near at hand, I will ask you one question. Why?"

"Gu Fengyi," Feng Zilong frowned but there was not the slightest change in expression as if he was a cold statue, "When Imperial Father was around, he had already wanted to deal with several big families. Gu family had accomplishments that could cover the masters so they cannot stay for long. It was Zhen who persuaded Imperial Father. Zhen let the Gu family survive for twenty years and it is already the biggest bestowment to the Gu family!"

Already the biggest bestowment to the Gu family! The entire body of Gu Fengyi shook. These days she had cried so much that her tears no longer flow out. She faced Feng Zilong and said word for word, "Why keep the Gu family ? It was not because of your kindness and not because of your bestowment. You only wanted to make use of the Gu family military power to fight with your brothers. After the cunning hare dies, the hounds are boiled. Now that the country is settled, you destroy the bridge after crossing the river. Feng Zilong, you are so heartless!"

"Gu Fengyi!" Feng Zilong shouted angrily as if was stabbed at his sore spot. He then coldly scoffed, "Make the best of it then." Finishing his words, he walked out.

She spit out a mouthful of fresh blood out.

"Older sister, what is this? It looks awful." A sweet voice sounded.

The female wore a light yellow robe with a hibiscus sown in front and a willow waist like a fairy from Heavens. Her actions were also very graceful and moving as she approached.

This was Hong Furen, who had the winning hand and fought with Gu Fengyi in her entire life.

Behind Hong Furen, there stood two female dressed in the palace's robes, Gu Fengyi was surprised for a moment. "Gu Lingdong, Gu Yue!"

This was the second and third household, Second Uncle's and Third Uncle's daughters, her two older (female) cousins. Why are they in the Place?

"His Majesty summoned us sisters into the Palace." Gu Yue covered her lips as she smiled, "Fifth Younger Sister need not be shocked, in the previous years, Fifth Younger Sister love to help us sister to match make, now it would no longer be needed. His Majesty treats us sisters really well."

"You..." Gu Fengyi's heart was like overturning seas and river as in a lightning speed she seemed to have understood something that she had never thought clearly about. Her voice sounded incredible as she said, "You. You all hvae been delaying your marriage all for this day?"

"That is exactly the way it is." Gu Lingdong took a step forward, "At the beginning, His Majesty had reached am agreement with my father and Third Uncle, as long as they are able to make you marry His Majesty, in time to come, we both sisters would also have the same place to go to."

In the beginning when Gu Fengyi was able to marry Feng Zilong, the second and third household also put in a lot of effort. Now thinking back, initially when she fell in love with Feng Zilong, it was Second and Third Aunts who kept mentioning that Prince Zhou was a talented youth which made her feelings sprouted. So it was actually was an agreement that was set up way earlier? So it was actually second and third households that hidden their evil heart and waited fro everything to occur today?

Gu Lingdong was afraid that Gu Fengyi did not understand and continued, "His Majesty is so capable and handsome and we sisters have long admired him. Unfortunately only First Uncle had power his in hands and could force Fifth Younger sister to climb up first. Fifth Younger sister had lived the fortunate life for many years before, now our hour has come."

"Gu Lingdong!" Gu Fengyi suddenly straighten herself up and voiced out, "His Majesty seize the entire Gu family but let both of you enter the Palace. How is the second and third household safe and sound?"

"Ofcourse the second and third household would be safe and sound." Gu Yue covered her mouth as she laughed, "Because we have done a great service. The evidences of Eldest Uncle's rebellion were presented by our household as to place righteousness before family. Fifth Younger sister, His Majesty bestowed high ranking titles to our two households."

Gu Fengyi looked at her own (female) cousin in shock and said, "Are you all crazy? When the nest overturn will any eggs remain intact? The Gu family is one big fa,ily, Feng Zilong wants to deal with the Gu family but you all actually frame our own family members..."

"Family members. Fifth younger sister, we did not acknowledge what the first household is our own family member." Gu Lingdong laughed coldly, "Moreover you have enjoyed too much already. Now that the Crown Prince has died, the princess is no longer here and the Gu family is destroyed, you should go earlier to the underworld and reunite with them."

Hong Furen leisurely came forward and smiled brightly, "Older sister, the country is stabilized and you should retire."

After fighting for ten years, Gu Fengyi at the end lost till a complete shambles, lost too tragically. Lost till her clan had perished and she needs to mourn for her children. Lost till she become a laughing stock to the world!

Daughter had met with a violent death and the Crown Prince waas disposed. Gu family who had sacrificed themselves for the country, not one of them was lucky to escape. In one dynasty everything was overturn!

She bitterly said, "Bengong will not die as after all one is still a Consort!"

"Chen Gonggong, start now." Hong Furen gave a look to the eunuch.

The plump eunuch immediately took a few steps forward and used one hand to grasp tightly Gu Fengyi's neck. When a forceful pull, the white silk tore into the flesh and bone, making a crisp sound from the bones.

The female struggling on the floor stared with her large eyes, laying a poisomous vow in her heart.

Her son, her daughter, her parents, brothers, sisters, servants. Everyone in the Gu family were all harmed.

Feng Zilong, Hong Furen, Gu Lingdong, Gu Yue, all the people to harmed her and harmed her loved ones. If there is an afterlife, a debt of blood must be paid in blood!

It's the time to mourn as everything between you and me are dead!