Bk 2: Chapter Six (5)

"Grandmother…" he started to say.

"You seem to think the old ways are better. You learn from them, but not their flaws. Your grandfather may be dead, but your father still lives. He got tired and left the throne to you. It is rare for the old king to still live while a new one reigns. Since you learn from the old ways, it is good that I tell you. Old kings always died early leaving their wives behind. A king would have a dowager queen and even the grand dowager queen still alive but their fathers would be long dead. The way you are going, that will be your end," she said and he paled.

"Grandmother should not curse her grandson," the emperor said.

"Yes, she should warn you of your short-sightedness. Old kings die and all their wives live. If anything it should teach you that one woman is dangerous enough, yet you decide to keep this many. Your end will be the same," she said and the grand doors opened to let in an array of women.

"Your harem arrives, Your Majesty," Young Master Ru said as the woman gave their salute and moved to take their seats. Seeing how many came in and how many kept coming through the door, the emperor turned red.

"Hurry up and sit already!" he scolded the women who paused in their graceful steps and looked up at him in confusion.

"Are you waiting to be invited to sit? Hurry up to your seat or get out!" the emperor's anger only doubled at their pause. They hurried to their seats as gracefully as they could.

"Get rid of these women, little Long," the grand empress dowager said just as two women walked in. The ladies were too shocked to even bow to the ones who just walked in. They stared in horror at the grand empress dowager. She wished that the emperor get rid of them? What would happen to them after that?

"Mother," the older of the two ladies who walked in bowed to the grand empress dowager with the other mirroring her actions.

"Grandmother" she too greeted.

"Sit," the grand empress dowager waved them away without looking away from the emperor.

"I dare to ask, what have these concubines done to offend Mother?" the empress dowager asked not getting up. The empress only glanced at her kneeling form and got up to take her seat. She did not mind the grand empress dowager's words. In fact, she wished for it. While others had their small family, she had to share her husband with these bickering women. It would be good if the grand empress dowager got rid of all of them at once. Many saw that the empress had left the empress dowager kneeling to take her seat and could tell by her actions where she stood about this topic.

"Grandmother," The emperor paled.

"You have no ability to rule so you make connections through marriage. Is this not a shame on yourself? If you cannot rule, step down for your brothers," she said and the empress dowager tried hard not to frown. Even though they were all her sons, she did not wish to see her first son shamed by having his crown taken from him.

"Since you wish to kneel, then do so," the grand empress dowager said to the kneeling daughter in law, "Your husband is on a holiday away and you are here unable to give up your power. You should feel shame," she said and the empress dowager paled. What was happening right now? This old woman had never cared to correct them as she and that little girl in Lir always seemed to be in their own world. Why was she commenting on everything?

"Mother," the empress dowager started to say.

"What is going on?" a voice came from the doorway. The empress saw her daughter walk in and smiled.

"Yun'er, hurry and greet great grandmother," she said the young girl no older than fourteen bowed in greeting, "Great Grandmother," she said and the grand Empress dowager looked away from the emperor to the now full room. Everyone was here except Lady Vion's family. She saw even the prince who had just rebelled.

"Boy, what caused you to do something that foolish? Your father is not dependable and is a horrible emperor, but you should have moved with more tact," the grand empress dowager said.

"Mother!"

"Grandmother!"

The grand Empress dowager looked round at all who had called her and back at the boy who had just knelt.

"All of you sit. Anyone still kneeling will be thrown out," she said and the empress dowager had no choice but to take her seat.

"I will be leaving with Vion soon to never return," she said and the entire hall stilled.