SEEDS AND SOWERS

           The sun rising, Lady Yang opened her eyes having rested her head on the Emperor's chest she sat up in the bed and stole a glance of the young man who appeared to her tired and lovely.

            Slowly she stared at his facial features though not saying a thing she understood better than anyone else that deep within her heart, she felt nothing.

           Suddenly there was a knock on the door which captured her attention.

            "Come on in." She said and immediately Eunuch Deng turned up and stood behind the silk curtain.

            "It's dawn." He muttered.

            "His Majesty is tired." Lady Yang replied.

            "The Daily Assembly is only an hour and a half away." Eunuch Deng replied.

            "Let him rest for a while." Lady Yang muttered as she turned to look at him while Eunuch Deng without protesting he walked out of the room and the young woman stepped out of the bed and wore her clothes.

            Empress Han in her dressing mirror she was being tended to by her ladies in waiting happily before Shaanxi moved in and looked at all the others around they immediately withdrew.

            "Did something happen?" Empress Han inquired while she picked up her earrings and slowly started dressing herself.

           "His Majesty....." Shaanxi replied hesitantly.

           "Don't worry about me." Empress Han said as she smiled at her reflection.

           "Lady Yang and His Majesty consummated their marriage." Shaanxi replied and the Empress hearing this for a moment she went silent.

            "How many men in the world are faithful?" She asked.

            "Pardon me Your Highness." Shaanxi replied.

            "There's nothing for you to blame yourself about." Empress Han replied, "it's the danger of ruling the harem, a flower so fair in the eyes of His Majesty is a poisonous rose and thorn in our side." She added as she stood up from where she was seated and slowly she approached the open window where she stood while Shaanxi positioned herself behind her.

            "The Cifu Palace since the founding of the Southern Dynasty has always been the most powerful." She muttered.

            "But that power won't last forever Your Highness." Shaanxi assured her.

            "We shall channel it to this very abode." Empress Han said as she took a deep breath and she sighed at herself.

             Lady Cao in the monastery Linxiang sat down before her as she handed over a letter which the young woman took into her hands and opened to read.

             "It just arrived from the capital." She said.

             "Things must be a bit uneasy." Lady Cao said as her eyes perused through it's contents that once she was done reading it all she smiled.

             "Perhaps it is a thing most wonderful." Linxiang affirmed.

             "The surveillance is good enough, the better news however is that there's a rather formidable ally we could use." Lady Cao replied.

            "Who could that be?" Linxiang asked.

            "The Eldest Imperial Princess seems to have a rather deep dislike for Lady Yang and it's not so hard to tell what the reason is as it's been years since she's married to the Prince Consort Shi and there's no news of a child." Lady Cao muttered.

           "He's never opened up his heart to her?" Linxiang inquired.

           "He once loved the Lady Yang and their marriage being merely arranged he knows it that in his heart he is still loyal to his affections for her." Lady Cao replied.

           "Interesting." Linxiang muttered.

           "Heaven is working on our side, we have just found our one way ticket to the Palace." Lady Cao remarked.

            "How so?" Linxiang asked.

            "Organise for a meeting with the Eldest Princess." Lady Cao replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.

            Lady Yang getting into her Chambers she sat down while Manyin and Xiaoyang stared at her happily.

           "What is it?" She asked them.

            "How was the night Ma'am?" They asked her while she smiled at them.

            "Do you really want to know?" She asked.

            "Is it so wrong for us Ma'am?" They said to her and smiling at them she sighed.

            "Remarkable." She uttered.

            "Ma'am is lucky." Manyin said, "after yesterday he'll soon enough get drunk with you Ma'am and soon enough the Empress won't be a threat." She added.

            "And that's why I am back." Lady Yang replied, "to make the Empress collapse." She added.

            "Ma'am seems to be having something in mind." Xiaoyang remarked.

           "Yes." Lady Yang replied, "I need an audience with Eunuch Gong." She added as she smiled at them ghastly.

           "Leave it to me." Xiaoyang said to her and bowing her head to her she immediately withdrew from the room.

           "I need to see the Grand Empress Dowager." Lady Yang said to Manyin as she got up and sashayed out of the room while the young girl followed slowly behind her.

              Emperor Ningzong opening his eyes he stared at the spot that was right next to him where Yang Meizi had been lying and sitting up in the bed he noticed that he was all alone in the room.

            "Anyone?" He called and Eunuch Deng made his way inside and stood behind the silk curtain.

           "You called me Your Majesty?" He inquired.

           "Where's Lady Yang?" He asked.

           "She saw that you were tired and she was happy she didn't want to wake up Your Majesty, she's hurried to the Cifu Palace to offer her greetings to the Grand Empress Dowager and then from there she'll greet the Empress Dowager and then the Empress." He replied.

           "I see." Emperor Ningzong muttered and lost in his thoughts for a while he smiled.

            "Your Majesty, it's an hour to the daily assembly." He reminded him.

           "I'll be ready." The Emperor responded and Eunuch Deng bowing his head he withdrew from the room at once.

            Lady Yang and her small Retinue making their way through the gates of the Cifu Palace they moved up to the stairs that led to the hall and they mounted them.

            "Ma'am." She was greeted by Wan Mei and Wan'er.

            "It's been a long while." Lady Yang responded as they smiled at her.

           "You once were a young lady in waiting and a most remarkable musician, here you are now as a graceful Lady of His Majesty." Wan Mei said.

            "By God's grace we shall become so much more than that." Lady Yang remarked.

            "It's only a matter of time and we shall wait for the good news." Wan Mei muttered.

            "Godwilling Lady Wan, Godwilling Milady." She said and smiling at them for a while Wan'er interfered.

            "You're here to see Her Highness?" She inquired.

            "It's been a while." Lady Yang replied, "the Empress made things a bit difficult at the moment I doubt that she'll touch me." She added.

            "We'll inform her beforehand." Wan Mei said as she turned around and faced the door.

            "Your Highness, it's Lady Yang." She said initially.

             There was only silence.

            "Your Highness?" She called again but there was no response at all.

             "Your Highness?" She called a third time that Lady Yang was rather worried.

            "Open the doors." She said and they complied while the young woman making her way in she looked to the side and saw the Empress having collapsed in her seat.

           "Your Highness?" She cried as she rushed over to her side and shaking her violently the old woman gave no response at all she touched her forehead and suddenly froze.

            "What's wrong Ma'am?" Wan'er asked.

            "Her Highness' temperature is very high." She replied, "call the Imperial physician immediately, someone inform His Majesty please." She said as she wept at the little old woman's nearly lifeless body.

           "Your Highness?" She called on top of her voice her cries going through the roof the sound escaped the thin walls and could be heard from outside.

            Shaanxi made her way towards the Empress and bowing her head before her she had a smile on her face.

           "Congratulations Your Highness." She said.

           "Tell me." Empress Han demanded.

           "The Grand Empress Dowager is acting up." Shaanxi replied and the Empress sighing she smiled.

           "And the Lady Yang?" She asked.

            "Riled up, grieving." Shaanxi responded and Empress Han turning around she looked at herself in the mirror.

            "We'll intensify the situation." She said.

             "Your Highness?" Shaanxi asked surprised.

             "Don't worry so much." She muttered.

             "If anything happens to the Grand Empress Dowager His Majesty trusts the Lady Yang he wouldn't hold anyone else accountable but you." Shaanxi replied.

            "What if we had the Imperial physicians on our side?" Empress Han asked as she picked from under her table a small trunk which she placed on top of the table.

            "What is this Your Highness?" Shaanxi asked.

            "A small gift for an all time rival." Empress Han replied, "you shall have it delivered to Lady Yang's residence at once." She ordered and Shaanxi hesitantly taking it up in her arms, she immediately walked out of the room and left the young woman smiling at herself.

            Emperor Ningzong getting dressed by his ladies in waiting Eunuch Deng rushed into the room.

           "Your Majesty?" He cried aloud as he halted in front of the young man and went on his knees, his breathing uneasy and his eyes burning up, he sweated profusely while his heart beat faster than normal the Emperor could tell from a glimpse that something had gone awfully wrong to begin with.

           "What's wrong Eunuch Deng?" He inquired from him.

           "Terrible news Sire." He replied.

           "Get straight to the point." He demanded.

           "The Grand Empress Dowager......." He replied hesitantly.

          "What's wrong with her?" He asked.

          "She's in a dire situation." He replied, "her health has greatly declined." He uttered the young man taken aback he warded off the ladies tending to him.

           "Suspend the assembly." He demanded, "I'll need to see the Grand Empress Dowager first." He informed him as he strode out of the hall immediately unable to contain his shock Eunuch Deng quickly made his way out.

           The Palace in turmoil Princess Qi'an in her residence she was thinking about the words that Lady Yang had told her the previous day.

                  "Your Highness wishes for me to take my sole love that is buried deep inside my heart, rip it open and hand it over to you?" She'd asked her, " no, never." She'd continued in protest.

               "But you are the Emperor's woman." Princess Qi'an had remarked continuously.

               "And I am not to blame Your Highness for everything that you brazenly stole from me, if Shi Miyuan's heart is to belong to anyone then it must solely be mine should it be an ounce to strong or a single string of affection there's not a thing in this world I won't do to protect it." Lady Yang had furiously responded.

               "You'll only put him in trouble." Princess Qi'an said to the young woman but not phased by her threats she'd continued to show a repulsive stand to the idea the young lady's head aching from the memories she took a deep breath.

             "Shall you really insist?" She asked herself when Lanhui announced herself and consenting to her presence she appeared before her.

            "What is it?" She asked her.

            "Someone strange is here to see you Your Highness." She muttered.

            "Tell her I don't wish to see anyone." Princess Qi'an replied.

            "It's about the Lady Yang she claimed to me and she said that Your Highness would surely love a word with her." Lanhui insisted and the Empress reconsidering her thoughts she responded with silence.

            "Your Highness?" Lanhui called to her.

            "If you insist, then I shall listen to her." Princess Qi'an replied and the young woman turning to face the door she called for the guest who made her way inside and bowed her head before her.

             "Your Imperial Highness?" She muttered softly.

             "I don't seem to know you from anywhere." Princess Qi'an asserted.

            "You wouldn't." The young woman replied, "I am a lady in waiting from the palace and there's interesting people that would wish to have an audience with you." She asserted.

           "You are here on behalf of someone?" Princess Qi'an inquired.

           "Don't seem surprised Your Highness, my mistress is far and we have learnt that the Lady Yang is a big hamper to you as she is to us, for a rather common mutual benefit, we hope that an alliance would be best but as it is I am an informant we needed a formal meeting to consolidate our relationship." The lady said.

             "Then what would be the terms?" Princess Qi'an asked.

            "That we shall decide collectively but if your Highness is interested then we shall meet three days from now at the hour of noon in the Yanggui kiosk." The lady said immediately the young Princess fell silent.

             "If it's three days then I'll think about it." Princess Qi'an said.

             "We hope that you'll consider, I assure you there's a good person behind us that even you yourself would like to meet." The Lady replied as she stood up and bowing her head she walked out of the room and left the two rather surprised.

            "Lady Yang?" Princess Qi'an wondered.

            "If they are an enemy to her then heaven surely is on our side Your Highness." Lanhui said.

            "We can't be too reckless it's hard to tell which is sincerity and which is falsehood especially when the Lady Yang can be too cunning as I have heard what is the guarantee that they weren't sent by her?" Princess Qi'an asked as her servant remained silent for a while.

            "Pardon me Your Highness, I didn't think it through." She confessed.

            "It isn't your problem." Princess Qi'an replied, "have someone watch her closely and you mustn't let them know." She ordered.

             "Yes Your Highness." She replied as she walked out of the room and left the young Princess lost in thought as she recalled the words her guest had said.

              Lady Yang waiting beside Grand Empress Dowager Wu's bed the Emperor walked into the room that she was forced to stand up and face him.

             "Your Majesty." She greeted him.

             "How is she?" Emperor Ningzong asked the Imperial physician that was tending to her and reading her pulse he sulked instantly.

             "Her Majesty has aged I fear she's been stressed all her life." The physician replied, "her pulse is already too weak and hard to detect, her heart is slow as it is, she's exhausted that to survive will be close to a miracle." He added.

             "Can she get back onto her feet?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.

            "It's already hard to determine if she'll regain consciousness let alone standing on her two legs, if I may Sire, with my abilities I can only ask you to prepare for the worst." He confessed.

              "You are among the best Imperial physicians in the country, is there really no hope for her at all?" Lady Yang persisted tearily.

              "I dare not lie to the both of you much as I shall see to it that a couple of herbs are prescribed for her." The Imperial physician replied as he stood up and bowing his head he walked out of the room the Emperor watching his Great Grandmother he slowly moved up to her right side and kneeling down he ceased her hands and caressed them as he tightened his grip around them.

             "Oh my dear Grandmother how thin you have become!" He whispered in agony, "I did not notice that the crimson walls of this Palace for you were so lonely." He asserted as the Lady Yang touched his shoulder.

             "I know that Her Highness is a very strong woman and she shall not succumb to death that easily." She comforted him, "tomorrow she'll get up and smile at us again." She continued to say.

             "Why?" He asked as he turned to her.

             "Because she loves you as much as I do." Lady Yang replied as she held his hand and looked at her as well.

             Empress Han walking in the gardens on her way to the Cifu Palace Lady Yang and her retinue emerged from the opposite direction and they offered her their respects.

              "Your Highness." She greeted.

              "What's with the gloom on your face?" The Empress asked.

             "Your Highness must have heard, the Grand Empress Dowager is in a rather awful state and His Majesty is dismayed by the issue it leaves my heart unsettled as well." She responded.

             "I happened to hear that it is so and I am on my way to see for myself." Empress Han Said.

            "It isn't so serious." Lady Yang tempted her.

            "Old age and senility welcome delicacy, surely our Empire has had her Grand Highness in service for nearly forty years it is natural that she must be emotionally and physically weary." Empress Han remarked.

             "Then I won't contain you Your Highness." Lady Yang said.

             "Don't worry too much." Empress Han muttered and moving closer to the young woman's left ear she leaned forward and embraced her as though in a hug, "I left you a present." She informed her before she withdrew and continued her way Lady Yang surprised she watched her as she vanished from sight.

             "What did the Empress say Ma'am?" Manyin asked her.

             "Let's get to my quarters." Lady Yang ordered as she immediately rushed across the place into the direction of her small and tiny palace.

              Emperor Ningzong still watching the Grand Empress Dowager Eunuch Deng announced the Empress who made her way into the hall and caught sight of the two together.

             "Your Majesty." She greeted him while he ignored she didn't take it too personal that she chose to mount the small staircase that led to the old woman's bed and staring at her pale self, overwhelmed with shock yet inwardly rejoicing she couldn't cease to display her sincerest sympathies the Emperor himself was moved.

             "I heard that Her Highness' condition wasn't good and Lady Yang along the way informed me that the physician said that it is senility." She remarked.

             "I remember that she raised me much better than my father and mother ever did and as she loved me with all her heart I was pampered once I cried when I was but a very little baby she took me in her arms and breastfed me." He said.

            "May heaven see her good will." Empress Han consoled.

            "She made me the Emperor that I am today." He said.

           "It feels so recent to me as well." Empress Han remarked and the Emperor looking at her she kept quiet and her eyes teary she stared at the Lady in front of her.

           "I didn't know that you loved her so much." He said to her.

            "She made me a member of the dynasty, gave me a husband and a family." Empress Han replied, "tell me Sire, for all that I hold dear, who couldn't possibly be thankful?" She asked and once more the man pretending that he'd not heard he tended to his grandmother while the Empress did notice how tense the situation had become itself.     

          Lady Yang arriving at the entrance if her quarters she flung the doors of her room open and walked in to see see a small box laid on top of her table.

          Approaching it, she picked it up and opened to see a plain white cotton attire.

          "Ma'am?" Xiaoyang called having noticed the expression on her mistress' face turning into fury.

          "How dare she?" She asked.

          "Does that mean the one behind the Grand Empress Dowager's ill health is the Empress?" Manyin asked.

          "Why didn't I think about it?" Lady Yang muttered to herself, "she'd profit the most." She concluded as she fell down before the table and her heart heavy she looked at the cloth.

          "We can't let it happen." She said.

          "You heard the physician Ma'am." Xiaoyang said to her, "suppose we willed it the Empress could hardly survive this." She added.

         "I won't sit idly." Lady Yang responded, "I asked you to arrange for me a meeting with Eunuch Gong." She said.

         "He isn't the submissive type Ma'am, given everything that's happening I have every reason to believe that he shall be avoiding you more than ever." Xiaoyang responded.

        "Tell him that if he doesn't come then perhaps we shall go to him." Lady Yang said.

         "What if Her Highness opposes?" Manyin inquired.

        "There's not much she can do to me." Lady Yang replied, "now that she has gifted me this attire I shall save it to return the favor." She swore as she clenched her fists furiously.

          Princess Qi'an seated in her room and still lost in her thoughts for a moment Shi Miyuan walked inside that she quickly stood up from where she was seated and bowed her head to him.

         "Husband?" She called him.

         "You must have not heard but I think you should go to the Palace." Shi Miyuan replied.

         "What happened at the Palace?" The Princess asked.

         "News has spread about, the Grand Empress Dowager isn't doing particularly well and perhaps if heaven isn't on her side the chances of her waking up and gaining full consciousness are very low it shall take a miracle." Shi Miyuan replied while she smiled.

         "Why are you telling me this?" She asked

         "Nothing." He responded.

         "You want me to believe that deep down at the bottom of your heart there isn't even a single moment you think about me and not even a second that you consider a deep feeling towards me?" She asked.

         "Your Highness loved this marriage, the Imperial family wanted it, I needed it to save my neck but can you bear the truth?" He asked.

         "I am uncomfortable with your lies I need to hear it from you even if it has to be a hundred more times to remind me everyday that you wouldn't possibly change your mind." Princess Qi'an replied.

         "Truthfully I am suffocated, truthfully it's unbearable for me, you must be willing to accept this hard heart of mine Your Highness or better order your brother to kill me than to let me leave this miserable life." Shi Miyuan said to her while she fell quiet and he ceased her by the shoulders, "my heart turned to stone all I am longing to embrace is bitterness and avenge the wrong those Courtiers did to my father I don't even have a second to think about your feelings for me let alone reflect on them I am more than willing to bury any sense that can allow me to come close to trying to understand the pain you go through because all I have to pay you for the pain you gave me is pain, absolute and everlasting pain." He assured her as he let go.

          "Must you hate me that much?" Princess Qi'an asked.

         "It's better this way." Shi Miyuan replied, "because looking at you, I am reminded of the very cruel and greedy world we live in that I am willing to be the cruellest and greediest of people in it." He added as he walked away and leaving the Princess alone she collapsed to the ground that flinging the doors open, he walked passed Lanhui who immediately rushed in to her mistress' aid.

         "Your Highness." She cried as she helped her up to her feet.

         "I will meet her." She said.

         "Your Highness..." She showed some hint of protest.

         "I shall meet her at the Yanggui kiosk." The Princess made up her mind as she stared at the doorway through which her husband had walked bitterly.

         The night passed, the morning came and the young Emperor still seated beside his Grandmother's bed he watched her until he felt weary that Wan Mei and Wan'er approached him.

         "Your Majesty?" They called to him.

         "Her hands have been cold." He responded as he tightly held them, "she hasn't opened her eyes even once to see me." He remarked when Lady Yang happened to walk into the he room at that moment and the two women looking at her she nodded her head and they immediately withdrew from the place while she got closer to him to touch his shoulder.

         "All will be well." She said to to him.

         "She hasn't even shaken her fingers." The Emperor insisted.

         "But I am sure that she's listening to you." Lady Yang said as he pulled the young man into a hug.

         "I don't know how to feel anymore, she's all that I had left with my mother and father away, I have cherished her so much with all my heart Mei'er, bit the curse is vast for my sins must have been too great to cause her to see nothing but darkness." He confessed.

         "I so wish that you knew how much you mean to me Your Majesty, perhaps you wouldn't feel alone." She remarked when Eunuch Deng walked into the room at that moment.

          "Your Majesty?" He called to him.

          "I wish to be alone." The Emperor insisted.

          "It's a matter of urgency Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied.

          "The Grand Empress Dowager of this nation is busy fighting for her life, what could be more important than this?" The Emperor lashed out aloud at him while he bowed his head.

          "Pardon me Your Majesty but it's a rather National issue." Eunuch Deng responded, "the Seigniorage is petitioning to Your Majesty and it seems to be concerning the Southern lands." He added while the Emperor went silent.

          "You can leave the Grand Empress Dowager to me." Lady Yang said, "I shall look after her well Your Majesty." She assured him and the young man reluctant could trust her rather simple words he nodded his head with approval he slowly got up and walked away leaving the two women alone together.

         Lady Yang walked up to her mentor and she sat down beside her as she ceased her hand in her own and put it on her cheek.

         "Hold on Your Highness." She whispered to her.

         "Please persevere." She requested her.

         Empress Han seated in her Chambers Shaanxi walked up to her.

         "Your Highness, Lady Yang is just as occupied with the Grand Empress Dowager, at this point in time I trust that she'd certainly not suspect a single thing.

         "How remarkable!" The Empress exclaimed

         "I am only awaiting your order." Shaanxi remarked.

         "She must need a comforter so have the letters delivered to her quarters." Empress Han muttered.

         "Yes Your Highness." Shaanxi responded.

         "Let's see how much His Majesty trusts her." She said to herself as she smiled at herself ghastly.

         "What's this?" Emperor Ningzong inquired as he tossed the memorial aside.

        "The Seigniorage Your Majesty is dissatisfied." Han Touzhou replied, "recently it seems that someone has been importing salt from Goryeo and selling it to them expensively yet salt isn't so scare." Han Touzhou replied.

         "How's that my problem?" He asked.

         "The Landowners are revolting that their estates have become less productive as more of the people are being recruited in the salt trade they were hoping to have it licensed so that the number of traders is regulated in the market because it threatens the merchant clans and if they withdraw from the market it could be economically disastrous to the state." Han Touzhou replied.

          "My people that are salt traders regardless of the fact that they are licensed or not find it to be a source of their daily earning and the seigniours mistreat them on their plantations and lands, why would I support them?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

         "The Seigniours are very selfish people that I shall agree with Your Majesty but they are an economic pillar in our country they are people that could support anyone else with their wealth and that could distabilize the Monarchy, yet if we issue the licenses we could reduce duplication of such activities and control the market as well, we shall keep the Seigniours at Bay and it shall be a more legitimate way to contain them because they shall not be in the position of rebelling as it is it's just the licensing that they demanded and not the expulsion of the ordinary people from the industry." Han Touzhou said as he bowed his head to him.

          "I see." Emperor Ningzong muttered, "I shall leave this matter to you." He added and smiling the old man withdrew from his presence while the Emperor unsettled he turned to Eunuch Deng.

          "I shall go through the memorials from yesterday and after that we shall return to the Cifu Palace." He assured her.

         "Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied.

         Princess Qi'an travelling towards the Yanggui kiosk she made her way in secretly through the back where she was led with Lanhui to an empty room by a young man.

         "Please wait here Your Highness." He said to her and nodding in approval, the man departed as the Princess looked all over while she sat down at the table in front of her.

          A short while later the doors were flung open and a veiled woman walked in and halted in front of her bowing her head that the Princes inspecting her she tried so hard to look through that the latter understanding her intention she removed the hat and revealed herself.

           "Lady Cao?" The Princess said surprised.

           "Yes Your Highness." Lady Cao replied with a smile on her face and signalling for her to sit the two of them faced one another.

          "Seeing that you are here you must have received my message." She said.

         "Your Highness must have agreed to our cause as well." Lady Cao muttered as she turned and looked at Lanhui.

          "I trust her." The Princess said.

          "I understand that you do Your Highness but I am merely consider that I don't wish for her to be harmed as you know the enemy to get to us always relies on someone close." Lady Cao responded and Lanhui receiving the Empress' approval she withdrew from the room.

          "You said that it was about Lady Yang." The Princess said.

         "We do have a common enemy Your Highness." Lady Cao confessed.

         "As far as I could recall Lady Cao, you were so close to the Lady Yang so what's the guarantee that you aren't her aid?" Princess Qi'an inquired.

         "We must look so friendly to the world and perhaps even lovelier than sisters it may seem." Lady Cao said.

         "The whole world sees it." Princess Qi'an confirmed.

        "Believe it or not I am out of the Palace because of Lady Yang Your Highness but what's funny is that I understand that you'd worry for your brother as you'd worry for your husband the only reason that me and Lady Yang can not be friends let alone allies is that we want different things and each of them requires His Majesty that we can not share." Lady Cao assured her.

           "Really!" Princess Qi'an asked.

           "Lady Yang doesn't love the Emperor you must have noticed she's merely after power she'd exploit his infatuation no one knows what she wouldn't do to him for that while I love His Majesty sincerely with all my heart that I am willing to protect him from her if I must die trying." Lady Cao replied.

          "You hope my brother would reciprocate his feelings for her and give his heart to you?" The Princess inquired.

          "Time is a most relevant healer to all ailing Your Highness besides a man's heart is one of the hardest things to trust, however I understand you have a mother in the cold Palace and seeing that I know Lady Yang much better than anyone else she understands that I am not one she can easily get rid of." Lady Cao assured her.

           "Aren't you rather too confident that you wouldn't be here clearly had that been the case?" Princess Qi'an asked.

          "She has support in the Court I was merely a Court Lady, your mother's supporters would rally behind me but they are devoid of power and others scattered to the ends of the world while the Empress Mother must be losing her mind from all the darkness at this time it's u likely for The Grand Empress to survive the Palace shall most certainly need an experienced governor because the Empress' uncle knowing your mother very well do you think they'd support her to return to the harem?" Lady Cao spoke and the latter first went into silence.

          "What do you want me to do?" Princess Qi'an asked.

         "I could help you get rid of Lady Yang and have Her Highness returned to the harem as well but for that to happen I must first return to the Palace Your Highness." Lady Cao replied.

         "I don't have that power." Princess Qi'an said.

         "You just need to get His Majesty to come to Xuanmiao and you can leave the rest to me." Lady Cao said as she picked up the small kettle and pouring for the young woman tea in her cup and also in her own, she smiled as she picked hers and  took a sip while the Princess followed her example.  

         "I shall see what I can do." She said.

         "I trust that Your Highness shall be more than capable." Lady Cao replied.

         Lady Yang still seated beside the Empress' bed she had started dozing when she felt someone holding her she opened her eyes to see the Empress looking at her and sweating profusely.

        "Your Highness?" She cried while the old woman was gasping for air that the Emperor walking in the Courtyard heard her yell.

         "You must persevere." Grand Empress Dowager Wu said to her.

         "Save your strength Your Highness." She said as she turned around to scream for others.

         "I am too old you must promise me this that you shall look after Kuo'er for me." She said and the Emperor reaching the door he halted.

          "His Majesty needs you Your Highness, I need you too, we need you with the Palace and the Great Song......" She was still saying when the Empress stopped her.

          "You shall make a good Empress but for this you must forgive me." Grand Empress Dowager Wu said.

          "No." Lady Yang refused.

          "Forgive me for your mother, your childhood, forgive me my dear." She said and a dismayed Lady Yang she couldn't believe her ears.

          "You must stand Your Highness." She said but at that moment the old woman having a siezure, her eyes were bloodshsot and turning purple the Emperor getting the courage he needed throwing the doors open he walked through and caught sight of Lady Yang and the Grand Empress Dowager that he rushed over to her side.

           "Your Highness?" He cried as he ceased her.

          "I love you my dear." The Grand Empress said as she raised her hand and touched his right cheek, "but your Great Grandfather has been so lonely on the other side and he is waiting for me.' she said and falling silent like that she took a deep breath.

           "Your Highness?" Lady Yang called in tears and just like that she breathed her last as her hand collapsed the two silently looking on could tell immediately that the small old woman was no more.

          "Your Highness?" The Emperor exploded in tears that Wan Mei and Wan'er rushing into the room they saw her and fell onto their knees disappointed and in tears a loud cry escaped them as well.

           The Empress Han in her Palace she heard the loud sound of the mourning drum and like that she could tell after a strong gust of wind rushed through her window that the Grand Empress Dowager Wu was fallen.

           "Your Highness?" Lady Yang still crying beside the Emperor couldn't contain the pressure from exhaustion she immediately collapsed on the same bed that the Emperor turned to her and Manyin and Xiaoyang noticing they immediately rushed towards her.

          "Farewell Your Highness." The Empress Han said to herself in her Chambers, "alas, I shall now take your place." She muttered as she smiled devilishly the Emperor rushed through the hallway to the side Chamber carrying the Lady Yang in his hands he halted in front of the Imperial physician that he laid her on the bed in front of him.

         "Mei'er, don't leave me." He grieved while Manyin and Xiaoyang by her side the Imperial physician rushed over to her right and holding her hand he checked her pulse while the Emperor already shocked had humbled his hands together in front of him and was trying to calm himself down.

           "What's wrong with her?" Manyin inquired that the physician falling silent he turned and looked up to the Emperor so surprised.

        "What is it?" He asked him.

        "Forgive me Your Majesty." The physician replied, "The Noble Lady Yang, she's with child." The man responded and hearing this the Emperor's eyes widened.

         "What?" He inquired, did you say child?" He asked.

        "I dare not lie to Your Majesty." He responded while the Emperor hearing this he moved up to her.

         "Mei'er?" He called her with tears of joy springing from his eyes as he held her up and though unconscious, he hugged her tightly.

          Lady Cao arriving in her small room Linxiang walked behind her until she sat down when the latter positioned herself in front of her.

         "So the Grand Empress Dowager has passed?" She asked.

         "It so seems." Linxiang replied.

         "She was Lady Yang's support in the Inner Court it must be heavily worrying at this point on her side, the Empress Dowager Xie is detached it's clearly the one person that is going to replace her." Lady Cao muttered.

        "But shall the Princess be in the position to convince his Majesty to travel up to here?" Linxiang inquired.

        "It's not certain that is why for us it is merely a gamble on which we have staked our lives." Lady Cao muttered, "now that he is broken and the Grand Empress Dowager is dead we could offer her an idea." She said.

         "I am out of ideas Ma'am, you however seem to be well informed." Linxiang remarked.

         "You'll help me deliver a message to my father." Lady Cao said as she smiled at herself.

         "What, pregnant?" Empress Han asked as she shot up from where she was seated.

         I overheard the other servants talking about it, Lady Yang was grief stricken in mourning the deceased Grand Empress and she fainted from the exhaustion, thank heavens she's only a couple of days old otherwise it would have been worse for the child they said." Shaanxi confirmed and the Empress at a loss of strength she fell back into her seat.

         "We can't act now?" She said.

         "Why is it Your Highness?" Shaanxi inquired.

         "She's been out of her Palace for too long and now that she's with child an allegation could make me seem to the world jealous and there isn't another person in the harem that His Majesty would think of but me." She replied.

         "So what shall we do with the letters?" Shaanxi asked.

         "Await my orders." Empress Han replied, "you shall listen to what I have to say and when the time is right we shall surface the issue." Empress Han responded.

         "Yes Your Highness." Shaanxi agreed.

         Princess Qi'an seated in her Chambers she thought about the conversation that she had had with Lady Cao and the doors being slid open, Lanhui walked in holding in her hands an envelope which she laid on the table before she offered her salutations.

         "It's an invitation from the Palace Your Highness, the Grand Empress Dowager couldn't make it through the night and the Ministry of Rites is overseeing her funeral, His Majesty wishes to invite his in laws to attend the vigil." Lanhui said.

         "I see." Princess Qi'an replied.

         "Your Highness seems to be already preoccupied by something." Lanhui pointed out.

         "I am still wondering what I should do to make His Majesty go to Xuanmiao." Princess Qi'an responded.

         "Can we trust Lady Cao?" Lanhui asked.

         "When I think of it we each have a common enemy and even if I don't trust her Lady Yang won't but she alone could help me free mother for her own safety in the harem if she returns because her presence alone is sufficient to counter the might of the Empress Han and Lady Yang alike." Princess Qi'an replied.

         "What if His Highness the Prince Consort learns of this Your Highness, you shall be in much bigger trouble." Lanhui remarked.

         "That's why even if it takes us to the grave we must keep this secret between us." Princess Qi'an ordered her.

         Lady Yang slowly regaining consciousness she could recall the events from the previous night and opening her eyes and calling the Grand Empress Dowager, she sat up and calmed down for a moment when she noticed that she wasn't in her room.

          Manyin and Xiaoyang rushing inside they positioned themselves ahead of her and greeted her.

         "What happened?" She asked them but silent, the door was opened and the Emperor made his way in and before saying anything else he gave her a very deep hug the latter confused could hardly understand anything that was going on.

        "Your Majesty?" She called him.

        "Allow me to hold you a little bit longer." The Emperor insisted and she agreed before he eventually pulled away and looked her in the eye, patting her forehead he caressed her cheek while she played along to prevent him from being suspicious.

         "I can only recall tears I must have had a bad dream, but seeing that Your Majesty is here and smiling at me while full of so much warmth my heart uneasy and my soul rather thirsty can't help to wonder what it is that your faithful subject has done to receive this great honour of your presence?" She inquired.

         "Once upon a time my night was full of darkness but advent then became my brightest light and most eternal salvation." Emperor Ningzong replied as Eunuch Deng and a couple of new Ladies in waiting walked in holding her clothes in their hands that she smiled heartily at them.

         "Is there something that Your Majesty isn't telling me?" She inquired.

         "You are above all women and you are kind and virtuous, my heart overflows with compassion  you are undeserving to serve as a mere lady from this day I shall make known to the world that you shall serve me in the harem as a Jieyu." Emperor Ningzong replied.

         "I have done nothing to deserve this Your Majesty." Lady Yang said.

         "You are going to make me a father." Emperor Ningzong said to her and hearing these words the young woman froze unable to believe the words that he had spoken from his mouth.

          "What?" She asked.

          "You heard me right." Emperor Ningzong replied, "I am going to be a father and you a mother soon." He emphasized and Lady Yang smiling she touched her abdomen and looked at Manyin and Xiaoyang who were equally happy for her.

            Empress Han seated she recalled the words that Lady Yang had mentioned to her.

            "As if I won't Your Highness, even if I must burn the whole world to the ground, until the day I am seated in that very seat of yours, I shall always live a twisted life." She'd threatened her.

        "Are these really your intentions now?" The Empress asked herself when Shaanxi announced her uncle.

         "Come in." She responded and Han Touzhou walking up to her her bowed his head.

         "Please have a seat." She said and he complied.

          "I heard of the Grand Empress Dowager's passing." He said.

          "The whole world must be knowing." Empress Han replied.

          "However on the other hand on my way here I heard another piece of absurd news." Han Touzhou pointed out.

          "Lady Yang is pregnant?" The Empress muttered.

          "Is it true?" Han Touzhou asked.

          "She passed out in the event of grieving for the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor was around when the news was delivered and now that she's with an Imperial seed the Emperor is excited he's going to bestow upon her the honorary title of Jieyu and this will bring her higher in the Concubine hierarchy." Empress Han replied.

          "She is a very big hamper to us it may seem if not sooner later, but Your Highness must stop her appointment." Han Touzhou muttered.

          "No Uncle." Empress Han responded.

          "Your Highness, because of you His Majesty is unwilling to let the Imperial Court meddle with the affairs of the harem but your position in the Inner Court is surely higher than his your say is much greater than hers if it is so that you wish it then it can't happen because since the founding of the Dynasty before an Imperial child is born, the Emperor can not raise the rank of his concubine because she's merely concieved." Han Touzhou pointed out.

         "We are in an already tough position Uncle and His Majesty's affections however little can not be misplaced over this issue, if I do not consent to Lady Yang's appointment as Jieyu I would instead portray myself as an aggressor it would make my position a liability." Empress Han said.

         "You must uproot a tree because if you focus on cutting it's shoots then it shall only keep growing again until it has become a forest." Han Touzhou remarked.

          "Any hasty attack on Lady Yang Uncle could reflect badly on us if we are not careful, I'll think about something here in the mean time you have the Grand Empress Dowager to concern yourself with." Empress Han replied.

          "What could a dead woman do to us?" Han Touzhou asked.

          "Sooner or later she must have expected to die and knowing that Lady Yang perhaps wasn't ready she must have kept a lot in stock, her power in the Imperial Court and in the harem as well as the country didn't fall from heaven therefore whatever secrets could have been left behind we must find them before the Lady Yang does." Empress Han replied.

           "Alright Your Highness." Han Touzhou replied as he stood up from where he was seated and bowing his head he withdrew from the room.

          Lady Yang feeling fine she stood up from where she was lying.

        "You aren't yet fine Ma'am." Manyin pointed out to her.

        "Did you bring the mourning attire that the Empress gifted me?" Lady Yang asked.

        "Yes." Xiaoyang replied.

        "Give it to me." Lady Yang demanded.

        "Ma'am, you can postpone your greetings..." Manyin still objecting she interfered.

        "The Grand Empress Dowager died before my own eyes and in these very hands of mine the Empress certainly knew that this was supposed to be her end because she planned it all from the very beginning and thinking that I had her at bay I was lax I can not settle anymore." She said.

          "What if you aggravate your health Ma'am, you should care for the child that is in your womb." Xiaoyang pointed out.

          "I am not forcing anyone so you either come with me or you stay here but none of you is forcing me to stay as I am leaving." Lady Yang said as she strode out through the doors.

          Empress Han still in the comfort of her own room Shaanxi broke in a short while later.

          "Your Highness, Lady Yang is here to see you." She informed her.

          "Let her in." The Empress said and the young woman bearing the trunk in her hand she swiftly approached the Empress and stood in front of her.

          "You've come to see me?" She asked.

          "Why else would I be in the Central Palace Your Highness?" Lady Yang replied with a smile on her face as she bowed her head.

          "I see you are carrying the trunk, did you love my gift?" The Empress asked.

          "You must have heard the good news as well Your Highness both about the Grand Empress Dowager and then me but I am here to return this attire to Your Highness and I ask you to save it because the one person that shall be wearing it soon will be me but not for the Grand Empress Dowager's funeral but yours Your Highness." Lady Yang brazenly asserted and the Empress responded with a smile.