How worse can it be?

While other nations were immersed in festivities huajin was still mourning. Shiyou though yet to hold the ceremony was long acknowledged as the new emperor of huajin. He made sure to utilize this period to gain sympathy and good impression on people.

He pardoned many prisoners with petty crimes to be released also held back from executing any criminals for three months. He made sure the monks kept on praying for both his father and the one who went to endless cliff forest.

He also opened the states grainery and treasury to donate. Even beggars were not excluded making all the people feel touched and praise for his assistance in this cold winter.

He declared to abstain from eating meat and wearing bright clothes for the next three months. His coronation was also pushed behind three months later gaining praises from the entire nation as a filial and devoted son.

Due to passing of the emperor he had halted the physician to proceed with the plan and only on the eight day did the physician entered in his residence. As they were consorts and concubines they were not allowed to enter the palace yet and had to wait for the month to pass by.

The physician acted his given role perfectly with the long mourining and crying all day all the consorts and concubines were pale and weak. Giving him the chance to check on their pulse, it was then he informs of their infertility leading to fainting and wailing of the women's in the residence.

He hurries to the palace and interrupts the court by his sudden appearance. All the consuls were about to rebuke for his behaviour but they were shaken by the news first.

"Emperor...this one asks mercy to have acted so disorderly but the matter is of urgent..."speaks the nervous and trembling old man who was kneeling.

Shiyou though being the one to arrange this drama acts solemn "at ease..what is it beloved physician..for you to be so nervous and worried.."

The physician still with his head pressed on the ground answers "with respect to emperor...this one had entered to check on your consorts and concubines for they weren't feeling well...while checking on the their pulses discovered that...that all of them were long poisoned with infertility herb..."

The court was is death silence from the news, not one but to have all the women become infertile....

Some ministers who were father of the side consorts nearly fainted from the news as their dream of raising high was utterly crushed.

Shiyou acts angry "how can that be...isn't it that you misdiagnosed...how come all of them are infertile..if found mistaken then your head shall be off for jinxing Zhen.."

The physician trembles upon the threat but answers gathering his courage "emperor...this one isn't mistaken...only after checking thrice did this one confirmed...even if other physician were to take their pulse the results would be same...

All your consorts and concubines have indeed been infertile for a long time..this one though doesn't know of whose vile work it was but one thing is certain that these herbs are very malicious and once absorbed cannot be treated.."

The court didn't doubt the man as he was the head of the imperial physicians who had served two emperors excluding Shiyou. The news came in worse time possible with Shiyou just managing to gain foothold in the court and public's eye.

Shiyou bangs the table surprising all the consuls and with a dark face and voice "investigate..must find the person who was behind it...to dare lay hand on Zhen's houyuan must have eaten god heart...Zhen decrees for the royal shadow to find the person behind.."

As the emperor was too angry everyone knelt and prayed him to calm down. The neutral faction though wanted still held back the topic of selecting empress and consorts. The situation turned more grave when the royal watcher enters in hurry to pass the freshly delivered message.

"Emperor..to ease your worries we entered to find eldest prince and entrouge to bring them back...though ashamed but the truth of the matter is all of them seemed to vanished...

with so many poisonous plants, creatures and beasts lurking all around it difficult to say whether they are alive or left the mortal realm...even searching high and low we weren't able to find any hints...respectfully waiting for your further instructions"

This time beside Shiyou's faction everyone felt being hit by another great shake. For the well known and capable captain of the royal guard to send such message hinted towards another tragedy. They dare not even breathe loudly as the emperor seemed to flip at any moment from anger.

All the consuls of neutral faction couldn't help but feel this was the worst day in their entire life. While still in mourning period they were hit by such bad news. They even wondered how worse can it be?