POWER

        "You are supposed to be reporting to the Grand Hall as one of our emissaries that returned to Zhongdu, the Daily Assembly will commence soon I can't help but wonder what brings you here." Empress Yang mentioned as she keenly looked at the youthful man.

          "I felt that it is urgent to inform Your Highness beforehand, the news that will emerge from the Grand Hall might not be that pleasant to hear." Xue I responded as the Empress halted and placing the brush down she gave him her full attention.

          "I thought the diplomatic visit was a success." She pointed out.

          "Wang Nan might be my senior, even much older than I am, but even when a politician commits a crime especially if it is against the state they must be censured." Xue I responded.

          "What did he do?" The Empress curiously asked.

         "The Jurchens did agree to terms which should be reasonable that is an increment in the annual tribute of silver ounces and bolts of silk of fifty thousand, our States retaining their equal diplomatic status, withdrawing their territorial demands......" He hesitated.

          "But?" Empress Yang asked.

          "In return, we must offer them the heads of Han Touzhou and Su Shidan for initiating the war." He mentioned as she suddenly froze where she was seated unable to believe the words that the young man had said.

        "What!" She exclaimed.

       "It is as I have told you, your Highness." Xue I responded when the Empress loudly smacked her table in fury that the young man fell onto his knees immediately.

         "You are telling me that our Chief Emissary agreed to such an absurd demand?" She inquired.

         "I asked him and he said that it was the Grand Chancellor's idea, as long as there must be peace to prevail between our two countries." Xue I reported.

          "The Grand Chancellor's idea?" She asked.

          "Yes, Your Highness." Xue I responded as the Empress furiously clenched her fists.

          "You may leave." Empress Yang said and the young man standing up, he bowed his head as he slowly withdrew from the room immediately leaving her alone with Manyin.

          "Your Highness." She said when she noticed the fury that was radiating all over her mistress.

          "Call the Grand Chancellor over immediately before the Daily Assembly begins." She ordered.

          "Yes, Your Highness." Manyin responded as she got out of the room as well.

          Qian Xiangzu getting ready in his robes, his retainer walked in as he looked at himself in the mirror.

      "How do I look?" He asked him.

      "Elegant, Your Excellency." He responded while kowtowing to him.

       "It's almost time for the Daily Assembly." He said.

       "And the emissaries have arrived in the Capital." The retainer responded while the Grand Chancellor holding onto his ceremonial Jade tablet faced the young man.

       "Then what are we waiting for?" He asked, "let's go now." He mentioned as the latter stepped aside while he made his way out.

        The Empress still infuriated couldn't help but keep hearing Xue I's words replaying at the back of her mind.

        "No." She said to herself as he angrily clenched her fists. 

          The Courtiers gathered in the Grand Hall, the doors were opened and Wang Nan, the Chief Emissary walked in with his subordinates.

          "Greetings Your Majesty." They said bowing their heads as they offered their respects to the Emperor.

          "At ease, at last you have returned." He said.

          "Yes Your Majesty." Wang Nan replied bowing his head, "His Majesty the Emperor of Jin sends you his deepest regards as well and along with me, I have returned with five hundred bolts of silk and five thousand taels of gold." He reported.

          "I am pleased to know that he treats this fellow Sovereign generously." Emperor Ningzong said and Wang Nan sneaking a glance at Qian Xiangzu he nodded his head in approval.

          "How did the diplomatic visit go?" He inquired.

          "The Jurchen-led Government agreed to negotiate peace with us if His Majesty's Government offers an increment on the annual tribute of silver ounces and bolts of silk of fifty thousand, our States retain their equal diplomatic status and promised their withdrawal of territorial demands if we offer them the heads of Han Touzhou and Su Shidan who initiated the war." Wang Nan responded and violent murmurs exploding through the hall amongst the officials, Qian Xiangzu stepped forward.

          "If I may Your Majesty?" He requested, "I think the offer is reasonable enough." He asserted.

          "No." Shi Miyuan outrightly protested as he stepped forward as well, "we can not do that." He demanded.

          "There's no better option if it is peace that we require between our two nations." Qian Xiangzu muttered.

          "Han Touzhou and Su. Shidan might have been traitors to our Great Heavenly Empire but if we must yield to this demand of the Jurchen Court then it would be a humiliation to our Government." Shi Miyuan said.

           "The peace negotiations represent an important matter which awaits only this to be resolved so that our generation may enjoy peace and prosperity. Why should the soon to be putrefied heads of treacherous traitors merit our sincerest concern?" Lou Yue inquired the Minister of Personnel inquired.

          "With Your Majesty's permission please have the bodies of those two exhumed and spike their heads and show them to the world, a traitor doesn't deserve any peace even in death and only through thoroughly repudiating them at home would we presumably diminish their symbolic impact of sending their remains to Zhongdu." The Grand Chancellor Qian Xiangzu remarked.

           "The traitor's head may not command our concern but the status of the Empire does." Shi Miyuan pointed out.

           "Only His Majesty gives status in this country, a sinful man like Han Touzhou lost that the moment he attempted to supplant him and put another on the Imperial Dragon throne." Qian Xiangzu responded.

           "As it is that the peace of our nation is our top priority as the Government of the people of our Great Heavenly Empire, this issue requires further deliberation, as it is that both sides are still weighing each other's options, we shall give it some more time." Emperor Ningzong said and the Assembly being dismissed, he strode out of the hall while the Courtiers bowed their heads to pay him their respects.

            Stepping outside the Grand Hall, Manyin approached the Imperial Grand Chancellor.

          "Your Excellency." She said bowing her head while he lent her his attention.

          "How may I help you?" He asked.

          "Her Highness requests to have a word with you, urgently." She responded and the latter turning to his colleagues Ye Shi and Lou Yue, he nodded his head in approval.

         The Empress seated in her Chambers the two approached her doors.

          "Your Highness it is I." Manyin announced.

          "Come in." She responded and the doors being opened, the Grand Chancellor walked in gracefully into her presence and bowed his head.

          "Your Highness." He said, "you wished to have a word with me?" He asked.

          "I have heard something preposterous, care to offer me some clarity?" She mentioned.

          "What is it Your Highness?" He inquired.

          "Take a seat first." the Empress said and the latter sitting on the stool in front of him the Empress quietly studied him.

         "Is there something wrong?" He asked.

         "You talked to Wang Nan our Chief Emissary before he departed for Zhongdu, would you mind sharing with me what you said to him?" She asked kindly.

          "He had to bring back peace with him by whatever means necessary." He responded.

          "Even if it meant pacifying the Jurchens?" She asked.

          "As long as it meant that they weren't to see us as a threat." He responded.

          "So we'd have to bow our heads in return, we'd have to offer them our own prestige and pride to remain calm to their heart's content?" She inquired.

          "Why would you care for the heads of those traitors?" Qian Xiangzu muttered.

          "However pathetic they were but agreeing to fulfil this one condition isn't just fatal, it injures our pride, turns our Great Heavenly Empire into a joke among nations." Empress Yang professed.

          "I am only seeking reason." Qian Xiangzu protested.

          "You can not reason with a tiger with your head in its mouth." She lashed out smacking the table.

          "But that isn't up to you to decide Your Highness." He finally spoke up.

          "What?" She muttered surprised.

          "Your policies are bound to cause conflagration between our two societies." Qian Xiangzu remarked.

          "You are crossing the line Grand Chancellor." She cautioned him.

          "You are crossing the line my Empress." He responded much louder than her, "you are the head of the harem and the Inner Court, not the government or this state." He rubbed it in.

          "How dare you?" She asked.

          "The Jurchens will send their emissary over by then Han Touzhou and Su Shidan's corpses would have already been exhumed and their heads out on display, the Jurchens will collect their degraded remnants, it will save our Dynasty some face." Qian Xiangzu said as he bowed his head and immediately stood up to walk out of the room.

          "Your Excellency," she said as he halted, "you may be Sovereign in the Government but I am the Empress of our Great Heavenly Empire, my enemies are your enemies." She remarked.

          Qian Xiangzu only looking over his shoulder remained silent before he faced the doors and saw himself out of the room while Xiaoyang walked in.

        "Your Highness." She said noticing how angry she looked.

        "We have a big problem." Empress Yang replied as she raised her head and looked at her, "I need to talk to Shi Miyuan right now." She said.

        "I'll send for him right away." She responded.

        "No." Empress Yang suddenly stopped her.

        "Have you had a change of heart Your Highness?" Xiaoyang asked.

        "No," she responded, "I should go and see him instead." She concluded.

        "In broad daylight Your Highness, that is very risky." Xiaoyang remarked.

         "And it's because it is risky that I have to do it." Empress Yang responded.

         "Yes Your Highness." Xiaoyang reluctantly agreed, "I'll make all the necessary preparations." She assured her as she slowly withdrew from the room.

      Consort Cao walking into the Imperial Prince Zhao Ji's room the young boy immediately rushed to her side.

       "Mama." He said as he hugged her while the embraced him.

       "What were you doing?" She asked.

       "I was reading the a thousand classics." He responded while Consort Cao turned to Linxiang.

       "He didn't have the best elementary education outside the Palace, I tried my level best." She said.

       "It's alright." Consort Cao said as she held into her sleeve and pulled out a maroon book.

       "With effect from today I wanted you to learn the Changes of Zhou." She said as she handed it over to the young boy who took it into his hands and looked at it.

        "Yes mother." The young boy replied as she turned to Linxiang who bowed her head right when the doors of the room were flung open and one of her ladies in waiting rushed into her presence.

        "Your Grace," she said, "the Assembly was adjourned." She reported.

         "Is that so?" Consort Cao inquired.

         "The Jurchens agreed to negotiate peace with our Government and honour the terms of a truce only if we offered them the heads of Han Touzhou and Su Shidan whom they consider the major instigators of the conflict." She said.

         "What do the Courtiers think?" She inquired.

         "I heard that only the Grand Chancellor and a few more are willing to yield to this demand, the majority are in opposition and the Emperor decided that he'll need to think about it more." She responded.

         "What is she talking about mother?" The Imperial Prince Zhao Ji asked as she turned to him and bending down looked him in the eyes.

         "It's politics, it's complicated, it's for grown people and you'll only learn with time when you have grown up." She responded.

         "Sure mother." The young Prince replied as Consort Cao turned around and looked at Linxiang.

        "Her Highness must be losing it as we speak." She said.

        "Certainly." Consort Cao responded as she smiled at herself ghastly.

          The Grand Chancellor Qian Xiangzu arriving in his office at the Chancellory, Ye Shi had gathered with a couple of his colleagues.

        "Your Excellency." They said to him bowing their heads as he took his seat.

        "I suppose all of you that are gathered here do agree with me?" He asked.

        "All we have ever wanted is peace, the Empress seems more concerned about our national pride, besides Your Excellency's resolve is reasonable, there's no way in the world we are willing to throw a golden opportunity like this through the window." Ye Shi said.

         "The Jurchens have offered us such an easy way out, we might not have to show our desperation but if millions of lives can be saved because of this then we shall certainly stand with you Your Excellency." Wang Nan said.

         "Very well then, all we have to do is to move His Majesty." The Grand Chancellor pointed out.

         "But it might be hard, he said that he required some time to think about it, if my suspicions are right, he is probably referring to the public opinion, it's most likely what he is waiting for to make his move." Ye Shi said.

         "And the Empress of all people can not use this public opinion to her advantage considering the crimes that Han Touzhou committed, our best chance to win over His Majesty and suppress resistance from both the Empress and her supporters is by reviving their aggression." Qian Xiangzu concluded.

       "How do you intend on doing that Your Excellency?" Luo Yue asked.

       "We are going to make Han Touzhou and Su Shidan's posthumous deposition public." He responded.

       Shi Miyuan seated in his study, Dong Hua standing outside was caught off guard when he saw the Empress mounting the stairs and approaching him.

       "Your Highness." He said while bowing his head to offer his respects.

       "I need to have a word with the Minister of Rites." Empress Yang mentioned.

       "Surely, I'll announce your presence." Dong Hua immediately said as he turned and faced the doors.

       "Your Excellency, you have a guest." Dong Hua announced.

       "Who is it?" Shi Miyuan inquired when the doors slid open, he noticed a familiar scent that caused him to raise his head.

       "Your Highness!" He exclaimed.

       "Yes." She responded and Shi Miyuan standing up from where he was seated, he moved aside while she took his seat instead.

         "What is it you are doing here Your Highness, in broad daylight, I fear that you will only put yourself at risk." He said.

         "I am desperate, I heard that things at the Assembly today were heated up, I happened to have a conversation with the Grand Chancellor after the Daily Assembly and things didn't go any better between us." She professed.

         "What happened?" Shi Miyuan inquired.

         "I had a word with one of Wang Nan's subordinates, he confessed that the only reason he agreed to such a preposterous demand was because the Grand Chancellor had compelled him, I chose to confront the Grand Chancellor and he admitted, he believes that my actions are ruining the monarchy." She responded.

         "That scoundrel crossed the line." Shi Miyuan said.

         "His actions have strained our relationship that I am starting to regret, ever placing my confidence in him." The Empress remarked as she looked at Shi Miyuan.

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

         "In supporting his ascension to the Grand Chancellory I realised that I might have backed the wrong horse, and now that he has turned on me at such a crucial time, there's no guarantee that we'll get along well in the near future," Empress Yang responded as she looked Shi Miyuan in the eye, "before it is too late I want to make immediate preparations to secure our power, to strengthen our wavering influence." She spoke enticingly.

         "We can still oppose him." Shi Miyuan mentioned.

         "But we gave him a position that commands great power as well, if he remains where we set him then he might induce the rest of our followers to rebel." Empress Yang said, "a dog that can no longer serve its master must be dealt with that is why I have taken it upon myself, I am going to drag down the Grand Chancellor with my very own hands and I intend to make you his replacement." She stated her resolve while Shi Miyuan fell awfully silent.

        She reached out for his right hand and held it in her own.

        "Ever since I became the Empress of our Great Heavenly Empire, it hasn't been easy to protect my Crown from those that desire it, every moment of strife we have lost ourselves in this endless bitter conflict, killed our most humane parts and yet while I was surrounded by traitors and men whose service is only with expectation, you amongst them all are the only one that has never gotten tired of giving me even up to now." She heartily spoke, "if I can not give you the ultimate power in the world then I might end up losing you to it and I know that deep down you also wouldn't forgive yourself if you failed to protect me." She said to him.

         "You know my heart Your Highness, you know my devotion, I promise you that I will set the whole world before your feet, I will shatter and burn everyone that dares to rise against you, I will slay hundreds and thousands even bring down Empires, your enemies are my enemies." Shi Miyuan professed.

         "Yes," Empress Yang said, "for me you will do exactly that." She added.

          Emperor Ningzong seated in his bed Chamber was staring at the chest with the Xiaozong Emperor's Posthumous Edict while trying to compare the Yang Meizi he was very used to.

        "What is it Mei'er, what is it that my grandfather feared about you?" He asked himself when Eunuch Deng throwing the doors open, he quickly struggled and hid the chest immediately.

         The latter negotiating a corner and approaching him, he seemed to be reading a memorial when he captured his attention.

         "We have trouble Your Majesty." He said sweating profusely as he took deep breaths gasping for air.

          "What is it?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

          "The people in the Capital......" He responded, "they are demanding that Han Touzhou and Su Shidan's corpses be exhumed and mutilated." He reported.

          "What?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

          "But that's not all Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng said, "they are aware somehow that the Jurchen Government will be sending over a group of emissaries in the next couple of days." He asserted.

            "It hasn't even been a day, how could the entire capital have ended up engulfed in all that chaos?" He asked.

            "I don't know Your Majesty, I presume that someone deliberately intends to have Han Touzhou and Su Shidan's corpses exhumed." He reported.

            "Who could it be?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

           "The Grand Chancellor amongst all the Court Officials was most eager for this resolve, he strongly advocated for it." Eunuch Deng responded.

          " Have you any proof?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

          "No," Eunuch Deng replied, "but of course something must be done because if the people lose control then certainly we wouldn't like that." He remarked.

           Empress Yang had just settled in her Chambers when Manyin rushed in.

          "Your Highness." She cried as she halted in her presence, "we have got very big trouble." She asserted while bowing her head.

          "What's with all that noise?" Empress Yang inquired.

          "The masses are demanding the exhumation of Han Touzhou and Su Shidan's corpses to be mutilated, they seem to be aware that the Jurchen Government will be sending a group of emissaries over to negotiate peace with us in the next three days." She reported.

          "It seems that the Grand Chancellor has finally acted up." Empress Yang remarked.

          "There are too many people Your Highness, what are we going to do, we can't possibly remain silent over this issue now but again if our people speak up in protest....." She hesitated.

         "The public opinion might isolate them." She concluded, "they would become enemies of the General public." She added when Xiaoyang barged through the doors abruptly.

        "Your Highness." She said, "we have another problem." She added.

        "What's it now?" The Empress inquired. 

        "The Grand Chancellor......." She hesitated.

        "What is he doing?" The Empress asked.

        "Himself, the Minister of Personnel and the Left Chancellor along with a few other officials have gathered in the Grand Square to petition to His Majesty the exhumation of Han Touzhou and Su Shidan's remnants." She responded.

         "What!" Yang Cishan exclaimed.

         "I never expected that the Grand Chancellor and his people would act immediately, what's worse is that I didn't anticipate them to go this far in their yearning for peace with the Jurchens." Jinglan reported.

          "What about Her Highness?" Yang Cishan inquired.

          "It's hard for her to move now let alone act against the General public, further more if we do not stand with the people on this then they shall only turn on us." Jinglan responded.

          "What are we going to do?" Yang Cishan inquired.

          "What would Her Highness want us to do?" Jinglan rephrased the question.

          "We can't stop the exhumation." Yang Cishan said.

          "Let's join in." Jinglan proposed as he looked at his master, "combine our forces with the Grand Chancellor's." He resolved.

          "And abandon Her Highness?" Yang Cishan inquired.

          "We aren't abandoning Her Highness but the more I think about it, if we don't side with the Grand Chancellor then we shall only be putting Her Highness' position in danger as her paternal relatives." Jinglan responded, "we should act up now or never." He asserted.

         "Then inform all the others, we join the Grand Chancellor in his appeal." Yang Cishan concluded and Jinglan standing up he withdrew from the room immediately.

         The Emperor quietly seated in the Grand Hall, Eunuch Deng appeared before him.

         "Your Majesty." He said, "the Grand Chancellor is requesting to have an audience with you." He said.

         "Let him in." Emperor Ningzong acquiesced reluctantly and Eunuch Deng withdrawing instantly,  the doors of the hall were flung open and the old man walked in before the Emperor.

          "Your Majesty." He said while bowing his head to me.

         "You call me Your Majesty and yet you rally the majority against me, is this how you treat your Emperor, how you treat the Sovereign Ruler of Your Great Heavenly Empire?" He asked.

          "Pardon me Your Majesty." Qian Xiangzu said, "you appointed me as the Grand Chancellor of this Great Heavenly Empire so that I can fulfill my duty which is my service to our Great Nation,  my service to all its people." He responded, "if I have defected from that promise one way or another then feel free to strip me of those titles Your Majesty." Qian Xiangzu mentioned.

         "Do you really want the heads of those men that much?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.

         "For peace to prevail between our two realms I am ready to sacrifice anything Your Majesty, how is it that I could defend those traitors of this Monarchy even in the afterlife, never, I would rather die." He suggested while the Emperor furiously clenched his fists.

         "What do you plan on doing?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

          "The Jurchen emissaries will land in the capital very soon, I'll offer them those heads as a sign of our sincerity but only if I have diminished their value to nothingness shall I be able to safeguard the prestige and the pride of our Empire." Qian Xiangzu mentioned.

         "What guarantee have you that the Jurchens will be true to their word, that they shall spare us war and that they shall honour the sanctity of our truce if they have violated many more truces before?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

         "Because they don't have what it takes to fight another war against us, the Empress made sure of that, they are far broken to the core and at a time like this when their northern borders face the threat of the nomadic Mongol people, they have but no choice to seek out a brother, a friend and an ally rather than an enemy, a contender." He responded.

          "Is this your choice?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

          "Please give me your blessing Your Majesty, let me secure the rights and freedoms of our people, please allow me to bring peace to our Great nation in it's hour of darkness and oblivion." He pleaded as he went onto his knees with his ceremonial tablet at hand and he bowed his head.

          "Please have the treacherous bodies of those traitors exhumed Your Majesty." The other officials shouted in unison that their outcry reached out to the Emperor who was seated on his throne.

          "So this is it?" He asked while the Grand Chancellor raised his head and looked him in the eye, "this is your final resolve?" He muttered.

          "Forgive me Your Majesty." The Grand Chancellor pleaded as the Emperor turned to Eunuch Deng who was standing beside him.

          "Call in the Grand Secretary, I shall issue my official Edict." The Emperor said and the latter bowing his head he immediately stepped out of the hall.

           Yang Cishan, Peng Zishou and the rest of the lot of the Empress' supporters and kin happened to march into the square when they captured the attention of Qian Xiangzu's followers.

           Eunuch Deng descending the stairs of the Grand Hall immediately rushed to Peng Zishou.

          "Please come in Your Excellency, His Majesty summons you inside to draft his Imperial Edict." He reported as the latter looked at Yang Cishan who turned his attention to Shi Miyuan.

          "It can not be." He said.

          "It appears that His Majesty has finally made up his mind." Eunuch Deng replied and Peng Zishou leading the way they walked into the Grand Hall where they found the Emperor with the Grand Chancellor.

           "Your Majesty." He said.

           "Take the scroll and write down my words." Emperor Ningzong ordered and the latter moving forward to the table that had been prepared while the Imperial Jade Seal was put right in front of the Emperor, he started to write his words.

           Empress Yang pacing around in her room was unsettled when Manyin swiftly entered the room.

       "Your Highness." She said, "His Majesty appears to have made up his mind." She reported.

        "Already?" Empress Yang asked.

        "The pressure must have been overwhelming and I heard that he had a word with the Grand Chancellor who must have convinced him, he is preparing to issue an Imperial Edict to decide the issue." Manyin responded.

          "Let's go to the Grand Hall." Empress Yang mentioned as she quickly sashayed out of the room while Manyin followed her closely from behind.

           Arriving outside she was joined by her retinue and they instantly set off in the direction of the Grand Palace.

          Peng Zishou done with the Imperial Edict he offered it to the Eunuch Deng who carried it towards the Emperor, His eyes perusing through its contents he finally held up the Imperial Jade Seal and stamped it to officiate the document while everyone was watching.

         "Thank you, Your Majesty." The Grand Chancellor said and the Emperor looking at Eunuch Deng he took the Edict and handed it over to Qian Xiangzu who took it firmly into his grip.

         The Empress arriving at a distance, everyone anxiously waiting the doors of the Grand Hall were opened to them.

          Raising their eyes at the top of the staircase they watched the Grand Chancellor stepping forward into their view.

        "His Majesty's Imperial Edict." He announced as he unfolded the scroll that was within his hands.

         "THE TRAITORS HAN TOUZHOU AND SU SHIDAN BRING DISGRACE TO OUR GREAT HEAVENLY EMPIRE, WRECK HAVOC AMONGST ITS PEACEFUL PEOPLE AND THEY ABUSE AND MISUSE THEIR POWER BY ATTEMPTING TO USURP THE THRONE, BRING DEATH TO MILLIONS OF OUR PEOPLE AND CHILDREN THAT OUR FOREFATHERS CAN NOT FORGIVE US IF WE ALLOW THEM TO REST IN PEACE, BY THE IMPERIAL ORDER OF MY HAND THEY SHALL BE EXHUMED IMMEDIATELY AND MUTILATED, THEIR CORPSES SHALL BE PARADED THROUGH THE STREETS WITH THEIR HEADS ON SPIKES AND EVEN THEIR POSTHUMOUS HONOURS ARE STRIPPED FROM THEM, THIS IS MY WILL." He said and folding the scroll the rest of the Courtiers present bowed their heads.

          "Long Live Your Majesty, long live our Emperor." They said in unison as Qian Xiangzu noticing the Empress' presence looked down on her while she stared at him furiously.

         Continuing towards the old man he bowed his head.

          "Your Highness," he said, "even you couldn't stop me." he whispered to her.

          "It hasn't been a year ever since Your Excellency became the Grand Chancellor, not, not even three months," she mentioned as she also got closer, "with me around how much longer do you think you have?" She inquired.

          "It must be your expertise to drag down a Grand Chancellor and set another in his place." Qian Xiangzu responded.

         "Yes," Empress Yang openly admitted, "seeing that I have done so before who's to say that I certainly can't do so again?" She remarked as she moved back a couple of steps and bowing her head, she smiled at him before she continued into the Grand Hall leaving him uneasy.

         "Her Highness the Empress." Beiyuan announced her presence and the Emperor Ningzong still seated in the throne room she approached him.

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

         "My Empress." He responded surprised.

         "Yes." She muttered.

         "What are you doing here?" He asked.

         "I heard that the Grand Chancellor and a couple of other officials were gathered outside the hall pleading with Your Majesty to have Han Touzhou and Shi Miyuan's bodies exhumed that I couldn't help it but worry endlessly for your well-being." She responded.

         "There's no need to worry, it's already been done." Emperor Ningzong said.

         "I can't help but think that it's my fault that Your Majesty had to be put through this, had I not yielded to their pressure, had I not put the blade to annihilate Han Touzhou in the hands of those Courtiers maybe none of this would have happened." The Empress professed.

          "It isn't your fault my Empress." Emperor Ningzong said.

          "But how come there is a bitter aching in my heart, I see you broken and I bleed?" She asked as the Emperor studied her while she kept her head bowed down ashamed.

          "I'm sorry my Empress for getting you worried." He said feeling very sorry for her.

          "It doesn't matter if you lose today Your Majesty but you must persevere, you must remain strong, you must keep fighting, that's how you shall win." She motivated him while he smiled.

          "Thanks my Empress, hearing that now I can't help it but feel reassured." He said while she bowed her head to him before she slowly withdrew from the hall.

           Returning to her Chambers she flung the doors open to see her brother, Shi Miyuan and Peng Zishou seated there already.

           "Your Highness." They said to her bowing their heads while she walked past them and took her usual seat in front of them.

          "You turned up outside the Grand Hall." She mentioned.

          "We were only worried that our absence would raise public resentment, in one way we didn't want our absence to jeopardize Your Highness' position." Yang Cishan responded.

          "Is that so?" She asked.

          "Yes Your Highness." They confidently replied.

          "If only all men in the world were as loyal as you all are." Empress Yang remarked.

          "After what transpired outside the Grand Hall, many of our followers are worried, it seems that their perception leads them to realise that Your Highness and the Grand Chancellor are at odds, our power and political influence is in danger of being halved into two equally powerful antagonistic factions." Shi Miyuan mentioned.

          "After further deliberation therefore I have decided to come up with an ultimate resolution." Empress Yang said, "for that to happen I need you to gather our people." She muttered.

         "What are you going to do Your Highness?" Peng Zishou inquired.

         "I intend to depose the Grand Chancellor." Empress Yang confidently responded while Yang Cishan and Peng Zishou looked surprised.

         The Grand Chancellor seated in his study was lost in his thoughts while recalling the words that the Empress had said to him.

         Ye Shi making his way in he found the latter dismayed.

          "You look troubled." He pointed out as he sat down in front of him.

          "Has the Imperial Edict been carried out?" Qian Xiangzu inquired.

          "Han Touzhou and Su Shidan's corpses have been exhumed and publicly mutilated, they are being paraded through the Capital as we speak with their heads on pikes." Ye Shi reported.

          "I see." Qian Xiangzu muttered in a low tone.

          "But this isn't what concerns you most at this time." Ye Shi mentioned as he noticed the latter's strange expression.

         "It's the Empress." He professed, "she concerns me." Qian Xiangzu alleged.

         "Is it something that she said to you earlier?" Ye Shi inquired.

         "Her Highness reminded me that she brought down Han Touzhou with her bare hands, it's clear that this has estranged us much more than I had expected." Qian Xiangzu responded.

         "I cautioned you but now that there's a rift between the both of you, can't you live independent of her?" Ye Shi inquired.

          "Don't you understand to the Empress what it means to be an enemy?" Qian Xiangzu inquired, "she'll openly confront me with her might regardless of what it takes." He concluded.

          "Then seek for Her Highness' forgiveness, don't let this come between the both of you." Ye Shi advised.

          "It's too late," Qian Xiangzu remarked, "we need to act fast and take care of the Empress, if a conflict erupts in the Imperial Court because of her then it shall disrupt our Great Heavenly Empire." He said.

          "What do you intend on doing to ensure that, I hope it isn't something regrettable?" Ye Shi inquired hesitantly.

           "We should have the Empress deposed." Qian Xiangzu confessed.

          "What?" Ye Shi said surprised.

          "Yes," Qian Xiangzu affirmed, "this is my resolve." He confidently professed.

          Consort Cao in her Chambers she was quietly seated when Linxiang walked up to her.

          "Your Grace." She said bowing her head.

          "His Majesty finally acquiesced to have Han Touzhou and Su Shidan's corpses exhumed and mutilated, they will be paraded around the Capital for three days and I heard that the Jurchen emissaries have already embarked on their journey." She responded.

          "What about the Empress and the Grand Chancellor?" She inquired.

          "They had a talk outside the Grand Hall but no one knows the details, however, it now seems that the relationship between the both of them as you had anticipated is now strained." She reported.

          "I see." Consort Cao mentioned, "it's not enough though, how is it that we could probably trust their actions?" She asked while Linxiang kept quiet.

         "As I had hoped, we can't rely on their own differences with this humble beginning and this little smouldering we should fan a huge flame that will make the two irreconcilable." Consort Cao said.

         "Give me the order Your Grace?" Linxiang confidently spoke.

         "The Grand Chancellor is a man without flaws, the people do love and cherish him as they accord him their respect which is why we are going to create flaws ourselves." Consort Cao mentioned as she held into her cloak and she slid an envelope across the table which Linxiang took into her hands.

          "Have this delivered into his household." She ordered.

          "Yes, Your Grace." Linxiang responded as she immediately withdrew from the room leaving her mistress smiling at herself ghastly.

          Bao Langya walking through the streets he halted at a small restaurant where he saw a group of men gathered at a table.

          "Did you hear the rumours going around about the Grand Chancellor?" One asked the rest which captured his attention.

          "What did you hear?" One of the listeners inquired.

          "He's been sending gifts to some lesser officials in the Imperial Court and they were expensive, it appears that he intends to curry favour with their Clans and families." The other responded.

         "Is that so?" Another inquired.

         "My Cousin received a pair of precious turtle Jades that cost around one hundred golden taels, he went to a shaman who interpreted them as longevity and he said that he is destined to occupy higher places in the corridors of power." The other responded.

         "Careful, what if someone hears you, it would be considered taking bribes." One of his colleagues cautioned.

         "I trust you guys, you won't probably mention any of this to anyone." The narrator remarked.

         "What did you say?" Empress Yang asked.

         "It appears as though the Grand Chancellor intended to rebel against you initially, he has been giving out gifts to lesser officials, they were awfully expensive it is clear that he intends to curry favour with them." Bao Langya reported.

         "Of course, it is the lesser officials that are easier to manipulate and move and additionally, they are much closer to the people, what a smart move!" Empress Yang exclaimed as she lightly chuckled.

        "What's amusing Your Highness?" Bao Langya inquired.

        "What proof have we?" She inquired.

        "I don't know, I overheard some people talking amongst themselves." He responded.

        "It is likely that it could be a trap because rumours can be baseless and they can not be used to suppress the Grand Chancellor alone." She said.

         "So Your Highness thinks it's a ruse?" He asked.

         "I didn't say that." Empress Yang replied, "it is only a possibility." She asserted falling silent for a moment, "but it's a good thing seeing that Qian Xiangzu is preparing for a conflict." She said.

         "What are you going to do Your Highness?" Bao Langya asked.

         "We'll give him what he wants." Empress Yang responded.

         Xiaoyang and Manyin secretly walking around the Palace they exchanged letters amongst some Court Ladies, Eunuchs and Imperial guards, the latter getting outside the Palace started dropping them off one by one to fifteen residences as they were being watched.

         One of the Court Ladies making her way through the streets she stumbled upon a drunkard who bumped into her.

          "I'm sorry Sir." The Court Lady replied as the man ignoring her simply continued his way staggering.

          She'd moved a distance forward and searching her body again for the letter she couldn't find it.

         The drunkard delivered the envelope to one of Qian Xiangzu's men and taking it in his hands he quickly set out for his residence.

        "Your Excellency." Qian Xiangzu's retainer said bowing his head as he offered him an envelope.

        "What's this?" He inquired.

        "We intercepted a letter from the Central Palace on its way to the Minister of Rites' residence." The young man responded and Qian Xiangzu unfolding it read through its contents.

        "What does it say?" Luo Yue inquired.

        "As I had expected." The Grand Chancellor mentioned, "the Empress and the others shall convene a secret conference." He said.

        "Then what better chance have we than this to expose the Empress without being unscathed?" Luo Yue asked.

         "It's not that obvious." The Grand Chancellor mentioned, if the Empress were to convene a conference she'd beware that given my knowledge of things, she can't risk meeting at Lanling Court." Qian Xiangzu asserted.

          "So you are saying that the venue would change?" Ye Shi asked.

          "Not just the venue but also the time." Qian Xiangzu said.

          "But where would we start, Her Highness would surely seek out a more discreet location." Luo Yue said.

          "That's why we shouldn't watch the place nor can we watch the many people she's going to meet." Qian Xiangzu said.

          "Do you have a much better idea Your Excellency?" Ye Shi inquired.

          "We should watch the Empress, she'll lead us to the rest." He responded.

          "As expected Your Highness, the letter was intercepted by the Grand Chancellor." Bao Langya reported while she took the small ladle in her hands and dipped it in oil in front of her as she slowly added it to the brazier that momentarily burnt brighter in front of her.

          "Tell the others to gather at the Lanling Court." She said.

           "But Your Highness....." Bao Langya about to speak in protest she struck the Jade pot with the ladle that he instantly went silent.

          "Do you trust me?" She asked.

          "Yes." He responded.

          "The Grand Chancellor is human if he attempted to expose me what more could he do, considering how long you have known people, you must have noticed that it is much easier to cheat than to play by the rules." Empress Yang muttered.

         "Yes Your Highness." Bao Langya mentioned as he exited from the room leaving the Empress looking at the coal that was burning in the brazier in front of her.

          The messages spreading amongst the officials in league with her, Shi Miyuan and Yang Cishan got the communication.

          The Grand Chancellor quietly seated in his office was immersed in his thoughts as time flew by and the days moved on.

          The Empress within her bed Chambers she was approached by Manyin and Xiaoyang.

          "It is time, Your Highness." The said to her as she stood up from where she was seated immediately.

          "Let's go." She said and leading the way out of the hall, she was joined by her retinue as they travelled in the direction of the East Palace under surveillance.

          The Grand Chancellor seated in the darkness in his Imperial robes his retainer walked in.

          "Your Excellency, we have observed movements from the residences of the Minister of Rites and the Grand Secretary." He reported.

          "What about the Central Palace?" He inquired.

          "The Empress moved to the East Palace." He responded as the Grand Chancellor opening his drawer he pulled out a piece of paper.

          "Have a couple of Imperial soldiers dispatched to surround the residences of all the Ministers on that list, when the time is right, you'll barge in and search for them." He ordered.

          "Yes Your Excellency." Qian Xiangzu muttered as he stood up from where he was seated.

         "Where are you off to?" His retainer inquired.

         "I'll see His Majesty." He responded.

         The Empress seated with the Crown Prince she slowly watched him eat.

         "Be careful Your Highness, I prepared your favourite snacks and was worried that you might be tired after having a very long and busy day." She said.

         "Thank you, mother." The Crown Prince replied, "but it's already dark." He seemed to remind her.

          "Allow me to stay a while longer." Empress Yang requested while the young man nodded his head in approval as he took the lotus root soup.

           Looking at Xiaoyang, Manyin walked into the room shortly after and whispered something to her.

          Xiaoyang approaching the Empress she reported and the Empress quietly looking at her son she stood up from where she was seated.

         "Excuse me Your Highness." She said.

         "Are you leaving already?" Zhao Xun inquired.

         "I need to return to the Central Palace as it seems that there is something that I need to do, in the meantime Superintendent Beiyuan will keep you company that is if you don't mind of course." She said.

         "You don't have to worry about it too much Mother, I'll be fine." The Crown Prince said as the Empress smiling at him she withdrew from the room at once.

         Stepping outside the hall, herself being accompanied by her retinue she negotiated a corner and halted within her footsteps.

         Another young woman that was dressed in the same clothes she was wearing took her place while their ladies in waiting got jumbled up that they dispersed into two different groups one travelling South of the Palace and the other returning to the Empress' Palace.

         At a distance a couple of Imperial guards that had been following the split into two and followed them into their respective directions.

         Ye Shi in his office the Grand Chancellor's retainer walked in before him and bowed his head.

         "Your Excellency." He said while handing over the paper that his master had given to him.

          The latter opening it he looked through its contents and his eyes suddenly beamed with curiosity.

         "This......" He was hesitant to say.

         "His Excellency has ordered that you dispatch soldiers to surround all these residences." He mentioned.

         "But these are all homes of High ranking officials." Ye Shi protested.

         "Yes," the young man replied, "they are also homes for the traitors of this our Heavenly Empire." He confidently alleged.

         "Alright." Ye Shi replied as he took his personal seal and stamped the document.

         The Imperial soldiers rushing through the streets of the Capital they approached the Yang, Shi, Peng, Xia, Chen, Sima, Wu, Zhang and Wei Manors and surrounded them.

          The Grand Chancellor Qian Xiangzu arriving at the Palace gates the doors were opened to him that he confidently walked in towards the Grand Palace.

          The other guards following the Empress she approached a brothel and secretly made her way in accompanied by two ladies in waiting while outside, the clouds gathering they darkened the sky and lightning streaking across the firmament thunder roared and shook the place.

          The Emperor unable to sleep was looking at the chest with Emperor Xiaozong's Posthumous Edict when Eunuch Deng throwing the doors open he hurriedly pushed it under his table.

          "Your Majesty." He cried bowing his head as the Emperor looked at him.

          "What's the matter?" He asked.

          "The Grand Chancellor is in the Palace and he claims that there is a crime that he is here to report." Eunuch Deng responded.

          "What crime could it be that he wishes to see me at such an hour?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.

          "I do not know Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng responded.

          "Bring him in." Emperor Ningzong ordered and Eunuch Deng complying the Emperor seized that opportunity to further hide the Posthumous Edict.

          Returning a short while later, the Emperor studied the Grand Chancellor who was fully dressed in his official robes.

          "Your Majesty." He said bowing his head to the Emperor.

          "I am told that you are here to report a Crime." Emperor Ningzong said.

          "If it pleases Your Majesty, please have the entire Palace shut down so that no one goes out and no one comes in." Qian Xiangzu said.

          "What?" Emperor Ningzong muttered surprised.

          "If you can do this for me Your Majesty then I shall bring the criminals to justice and their mastermind without question." Qian Xiangzu responded.

         "It is almost the curfew hour Your Majesty and I believe the Grand Chancellor wouldn't have proposed this without a valid reason, I want to put my faith in his talents and capabilities and I agree that if someone has committed a crime they must be brought before the law." Eunuch Deng supported this.

         "Very well then, if you insist." Emperor Ningzong responded as he turned to Eunuch Deng, "Tell Lan He to have all entrances and exits of the Palace closed, no one is to come in and go out." He ordered

         "Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied as he immediately withdrew from the room leaving the two staring at each other intensely while Qian Xiangzu seemed very confident in himself, the Emperor felt him to be suspicious.

         The Imperial guards on alert all Palace gates were shut down including those of the harem, the Eunuchs in teams led the guards through all the corridors and manned the different residences within.

          A group of Imperial soldiers had surrounded the brothel and the residences of the high-ranking officials under surveillance the Grand Chancellor quiet he seemed to be waiting for something.

          His retainer watching a sundial under the moonlight it clocked 7:30pm that he sounded a trumpet loudly.

          It was followed by drumbeats and then clanging bells which moved up to the Grand Hall where the Grand Chancellor was seated.

          "What is that sound?" The Emperor inquired.

          "It is time." Qian Xiangzu responded when the military divisions leapt from the shadows and launched themselves towards the targeted residences and broke through them.

         The other units surrounding the brothel they moved in while another approaching the Lanling Court they barged in through its locked doors to search the premises.

         "It is time for what?" Emperor Ningzong inquired curiosly.

          "It is time for me to reveal the criminal Your Majesty." Qian Xiangzu mentioned.

          "Who is it, what have they done wrong?" Emperor Ningzong desperately questioned him.

          "The Criminal that I wish to expose to Your Majesty tonight is the Empress." Qian Xiangzu said and the Emperor's mouth falling with surprise Qian Xiangzu confident in himself bowed his head.

         "What!" He exclaimed.

         "Yes, Your Majesty." Qian Xiangzu affirmed, "the Empress is the biggest sinner in this Dynasty." He confidently alleged.