73.Strange cooperation

''So you say she broke all contact with him?''

''Yes. Can we use that?''

''Of course. Good that you contacted me. How did you leave the palace actually?''

''I have my ways. I just came for one more reason.''

''I understand, don't speak of it. If I become Empress you can keep your title. And I will see that he comes to you at least a few times until you can get a child. But I can give you only one child. No matter female or male. After that, you must drink the potion.''

''I understand Your Highness. Thank you for giving me a chance.''

''As long you don't do something that might harm my own side, I will never move against you.''

Lei Li went to knees and officially bowed to her three times. ''I will do as your Highness says.''

When she left a man came from the side door and furrowed his eyebrows.''Do you plan to really let her keep the child.''

''Only if its girl. Fighting for power with someone like this is not something I plan to do. We need to do everything to connect the two countries. Later when I become Empress I will make it sure that I become a young widow. After all, his family is signed withs o many sicknesses and deaths, it wouldn't be even a wonder.'' She turned her head towards the strange plant with purple leaves.

''Lihua, you are my only sister. I am sorry, really sorry for sending you this far.'' The young man sat in front of her.

''Ge, I know. But marrying a simple man was never my destiny. I am not willing to live like nothing less. I heard that the Emperor is a young man that has good visuals. Marrying him would not be so bad. Think about what our father almost did. I almost married the second General Koh of Silver army. Nasty...''

Actually, the second General Koh of the Silver Army was not ugly, but quite tall and burly. She loved men that had a smaller and elegant frame. Her brother sighed. He knew her preference so he never told her everything about the Emperor.

''Is everything ready?''

''Yes, the rumours are now spread all over the country. Even if he wants he can't back out this relationship.''

''Good. Luckily we found out about rain on time so our arrival was perfect. If we cam just a day or two too late, this would have been a disaster.''

''What will you do with that woman in Forgotten Sun Palace? Should I send few people...''

She rose her hand and stopped him talking. ''Do you think he has no guards. If we move against that woman we might as well drive right back home.''

''So what do you plan doing with her?''

''Why doing? I will let her live inside that palace for the rest of her life. After all, its Forgotten Sun Palace. Hearing my reports, I od not think she will ever come out.''

''But if she keeps being alive...''

''Then old Nobles or Ministers wouldn't have anything to say against me. They would maybe even support me if I show partial care to her. As long she is there and I am in Empress, I always have a pawn in my hand against those bothersome people. She must stay alive if I want to be permanently Empress.''

Seeing that she had her own ideas the young man gave up persuading her. He actually would have prefered her with the Second General Koh, but he knew her stubborn character. Once she set her mind to do something, she doesn't give up on it. All he could do is just to help her a bit from the side and push her deeper into that mud.

In the Great Hall a bunch of pleaders could be seen on the side. ''Please your majesty. Her Highness the Princess is here and brought to the people rain. You can't deny that.'' They even went on their knees and knocked their heads while Emperor calmly looked at them.

Looking at him being silent they started pleading even stronger but no matter how long they begged, cried or plead he just sat there and stared at them silently, not even saying one word.

After a long time, Minister of Lei Tengfei stopped crying and rose slowly his head t meet completely empty eyes of the Emperor. No, not that expression again. Last time when he saw that expression...

''Are you done?'' Emperors hollow voice resonated trough the hallway making everyone shut up and get silent. ''Your idea is to marry the foreign princess, appoint her as Empress of the country and even maybe let her become the main ruler. Yes, we will do that. What is the point of me being Emperor if you want another country to rule over you.''

His words very completely void of any emotion while he spoke and the old nobles suddenly stood up and looked at him while shaking. ''Emperor, no, no... no Emperor...'' They could feel incoming doom. No matter how much the Ministers looked they didn't understand what was going on. Except for the few great ministers, including Minister Lei and Minister He. Their backs became cold.

''Tonight... Call her to the palace. I will let you know about my decision tonight. I think you all will love the decision, given your wish to become someone else people. You will love it...'' He slowly stood up and with shaky legs walked towards his palace.

Looking at the bedding on his bed that was untouched since she left he sat down on a chair and just stared at the pillow, remembering the mass of hair that was flowing down like a dark waterfall. That one morning he was sitting there and looking at her cute expressions as she probably dreamed about food. She pouted and smacked her lips like she was eating something delicious.

Remembering her being next to him, her warm body and even her scent. The pain he felt was excruciating. He knew if he tries to enter that place she will hide into that room and secretly escape this place. No one would be able to find her.

The only thing keeping her still at that Palace is probably her worry about her brother. If something happens to Liu Sheng... His face paled as he remembered sending him to the next north and oversee the building of the bridge.

In the south of the country, there was rain but northern regions still were dry so the building was supposed to go fast forward. He just had to go and check what is going on and then come back right away.

''Send a message to all the garrisons he will pass on his way to the north. They must keep him alive. If something happens to him, this country will be really doomed.'' He was tired. And angry. And lonely. So lonely.

No matter what he wanted to see her but if he pushed her too much...

''He is not eating?''

''No. They said he didn't eat anything for a long time and only drinks tea and stares at the undone bed.''

''Hm?'' Liu mei was surprised when she had that. ''What is the story about the undone bed?''

''It seems he didn't let anyone touch the bed since you went home. At first, he just wanted to smell your scent, but now whoever gets even close to that bed he wants to kill.''

''How unreasonable. His servants are not a failure. Why does he want to kill them for doing their duties?''

''He is being called unreasonable Emporio until you came to the palace. Now since you deny even looking at him... I fear something big might happen to him at the ceremony.''

Liu Mei scrunched her eyebrows. Even tho she felt angry and at the same time disappointed, she still didn't want anything to happen to him. Even if he is unreasonable...

''It seems ministers are pushing him to marry that foreign princess and pull her up to Empress position.''

She stood up and started walking here and there until one of the servants from the gate rushed in and bowed in front fo her. ''Miss, Noble Consorts He is here. Both fo them. They are begging to see you. they say it's important. Life and death.''

Liu Mei could feel strange foreboding feeling creeping up from her fets. ''If they are willingly coming to me, there must be an even greater story behind. Go bring them in.''

She sat down by the table in the pavilion. ''Bring warm cushions for them and tea. Hurry.''

As soon the two young women got closer to her they kneeled in front fo her flabbergasted face and started bowing deeply while knocking their heads. ''Please, please do not leave Palace or our country might get doomed for real.''

She snapped out the daze moment later and waved her hand. ''What are you doing? Help them up and bring the chairs to sit down. Hurry.''

She was the two women standing up and with the help of servants sitting on comfortable chairs with cushion. Looking at the warm tea that was right away served in front of them they were surprised and looked at her questioningly.

''Stop staring at me and explain. What is going on?''

''The princess of Bai, Lihua is in town and er people are pushing it strong, sending rumours here and there that she is the one that brought rain and stopped the drought. Now those fools are pushing Emperor...''

''I understood that much. Listen, my appointing to his consort is actually ridiculous in the first place. Me and him, we don't have fate to be together. Why did yous ay my leaving will make country getting destruct?''

''Yes, we all actually adore High Highness, the Emperor. He is good looking, righteous and when he smiles... But we met him as well when he was cold and ruthless. Please, we know his heart belongs to you, that is the reason he changed. But if you leave, he might give it all up.''

''Give up? What give up?'' She blinked at them in confusion.

''The country... He actually was trying or many years to find someone else to rule the country but whoever he found they were not worthy, not his cousins or his uncles... They all were greedy and just wanted to enjoy the positive sides of being Emperor. Since he became our ruler, people started breathing calmly, finally.''

''But, if he gives up...'' Liu Mai face became pale. Inner wars, fights between kings and his royal family members would be unavoidable. Then the other countries could finally roll over it and the country will cease to exist. She shook her head. ''He wouldn't do that. He loves the country. Really.''

He Jiao nodded. ''He might love it, but he is tired. Since he was a child he fought to stabilise this place and now they want to blackmail him to marry someone he would not even let enter his palace in normal days. Those people tried so many times to destroy our country, now they are bringing their princess just like that. You think their idea is to be just connected through the marriage?''

Liu Mei furrowed her eyebrows. ''But what does that all have to do with me?''

He Ying rolled her eyes. ''You are the only one that can stop him giving up. If you arrive at a ceremony on time, maybe we all will live...''

They started explaining their idea while Xiao Lan and Hua Roulan just stood there with an open mouth at the size of their preparation...