Bk 2: Chapter Six (4)

The carriage rolled into palace grounds not long after. The elaborately decorated grounds were covered in splashes of blood all over. Servants moved quickly, picking up the dead and cleaning the grounds. Even a sound of fighting could not be heard, as though it never happened.

"He moves fast. I wonder what he is going to do with this son," Young Master Ru said.

"It matters not," she said as the carriage doors opened and Young Master Ru stepped down first then helped her down. The servant working hurriedly knelt at her arrival and eunuchs at the entrance directing the clean-up hurried over to welcome them.

"Your Majesty. Your Highness," the most senior eunuch stepped forward and greeted.

"Tell, that grandson of mine I am coming. He should have all of my blood waiting for me in the great hall," she said and started leaving with Young Master Ru. The two were slow, as though on a stroll. They took the path through the gardens, where the battles did not reach to enter the palace.

"You know he will send for Aunt Vion and her family by saying this," he said.

"Your Aunt Vion's family never answered to the King since Vion took power over the valley. It matters not if they call,"

"She already knows what you wish to say then," he said offhandedly.

"She does not care," she answered to his amusement.

"Yes, it is her way," he said.

They made small talk till they stood before large doors. The doors opened to the great hall. At this time, only the emperor was seated. The great hall was as such, great. It was a large room with pillars painted gold to reflect sunlight. The hall was arranged for feasts. Sitting was arranged on either side facing a path in its middle leading to an elevated platform where the emperor's throne sat with other thrones beside his.

"Grandmother," he stood to welcome her, then his eyes paused at the person helping her in.

"Prince Ru," he said much solemnly.

"Your Majesty," Young Master Ru answered casually. The emperor still noticed that he did not bow or kneel. This angered him, but he could not protest in the presence of the grand empress dowager.

She looked round at the empty room and back at the emperor. Just that look was all it took for fear to settle in his heart.

"Grandmother, because of the recent event, it is taking much longer for them to arrive," he said as she took her seat which was right beside his throne. Young Master Ru stepped down and sat without being asked on one of the seats. His actions that showed no regard for the emperor angered him much more. This nephew of his has always had the protection of the grand dowager empress and Lady Vion. As such, he had never held any regard for him. The grand dowager empress did not think that the entire royal family could gather at the time it took her to reach the palace without prior notice. Still, she had always thought they were masters of pleasing her. The lengths they went to please her, always seemed to amaze her every time. She had wondered if they would be able to appear here so fast.

"What have you done with the first prince?" she asked the emperor.

"I have not raised him well and let you see such embarrassment, Grandmother," the emperor bowed and accepted fault.

"You never raised them," she answered and he almost choked on his saliva.

"Matters of the empire-" he started to say.

"-Is matters of the empire. You are the one who decided to have many wives. Your father did not, your grandfather did not. They had already learned that one woman was enough trouble to be cursed with too many. Yet you gave into your lust,"

"Grandmother…." the emperor started to protest. He did not like being reprimanded in the presence of his nephew.

"None of your brothers or uncles have more than one wife, only you could not repress your lust. You are busy with the matters of state, yet when you are done, you are busy handling the issues of your harem and the troubles of your many wives. How will you have time to raise your children?" she asked and he swallowed his words. True enough he was the only one that had a harem in the royal family. But he did not believe it was because he was the only one who wanted one. It was because he was the only one who did not join the trend of pleasing his grandmother. When she was empress, she ruled the little country with her emperor till it rose to become an empire of this size. She may have only been empress, but to this day, many know that she was the true person on the throne. His grandfather was said to be quite indulging and did not mind his wife pulling strings around as she liked, but he did not believe it for one bit. If his empress was just as powerful as his grandmother, he would not dare raise his voice. He believed that is the reason why his grandfather only married his grandmother. Since the royal family now only married one wife, the trend followed everywhere.

Taking more than one wife was seen as being lustful. His father only married his mother and his siblings only married one spouse. He on the other hand found the ways of old much more appealing; holding onto the power of a family through marriage. He made connections throughout his cabinet and other kingdoms by marrying their daughters into his harem. And of course, to bow to the ways of old, brought problems of old; he had too many wives and very few male heirs and the fight in the harem was hot. It caused him to lose face so many times before the people. He could tell, his family issues were the spectacle of the entire kingdom. Many watched the drama of his harem with rapt attention, enjoying every single development like the latest story. This was his greatest shame. Still, this was the first time his grandmother had commented on it.