Chapter 6

I watch as she places her final black piece onto the board, fully surrounding my army of white pieces. "Hmm…Zhen'er, you really don't give me any face when playing Go," I sighed.

A small laugh escapes from her lips. "When was the last time an enemy gave you face, Shou Yi?" I look up at her and raise my brow.

"Are we enemies?" I asked.

She takes a sip of her tea with a smirk still on the corners of her lips. "No, but we should always prepare ourselves when we do meet an enemy. Perhaps by studying my strategy you could use it to your advantage when you need it."

One of the eunuchs from outside the door suddenly steps over and bows his head. "Your highness, the guards say the Empress is on her way here," he reported. I nod my head and signal him to retreat.

"Still avoiding the Empress?" Zhen'er laughed. "Even in camp the soldiers seem to be worrying about you since you've not yet have a child. They worry about how the country would preserve when the Emperor doesn't seem to even want an heir."

I give Zhen'er an annoyed look for her distasteful joke. She was well aware that I've never entered the Empress's courters since we've been married. The concubines that I do have also don't have the opportunity to see my shadow. However, part of that has to do with the Empress since she doesn't want me near them. Yet, it's really her that I don't want to be near. The Empress thinks that she is clever, but I have known for a long that she suspects my relationship with Zhen'er. Even today she sent over a spy, a palace maid, to observe over us two. Thus, I purposely had my guards frame the maid for something she didn't do and then took her to the laundry department as punishment.

My mind is still set on having Zhen'er join me in the palace permanently. Her grandfather has already passed away, but I've not brought the subject up since then. But if she accepts, I intend to have her fake her death and put an end to her title as General Zhao. She will come with me with a different background and a different name. I only need to ask again…

Commotion was suddenly heard outside. "What do you mean the Emperor does not want to see me? How dare you servants block my way? I am the Empress!" yelled a brash voice outside. Obviously it was no one else but that woman here to ruin my time with Zhen'er again as she always does. This time I did not want to go outside to yell at her while Zhen'er is present with me.

"The Empress does not know her place and is not being a good model for the country. Make her return and put her under house arrest. Without my permission she may not come out. She needs time to repent for her actions," I calmly said to my guard. He nods his head and steps out to the courtyard. The Empress continues to whine as she is forced away, but slowly her voice becomes lighter and lighter.

Throwing the black and white pieces back into the jar, Zhen'er shakes her head at the scene. "House arrest this time? Don't you think making her write scriptures last time for a full month was not hard enough?" Zhen'er asked. "She's actually quite pitiful if you think about it. I don't think it would be a bad idea to at least give her some attention."

"You know that's not what I want," I quickly interjected. My eyes turn soft as I stared deeper into hers. "Zhen'er…your grandfather has been gone for some time now already. How much longer do you intend to play this game?"

Her eyes lightly gleamed as she lets out a small sigh. I know it must be a hard decision for her to suddenly switch over, but it's something that she should do. Why continue to lie when you no longer have to? "Shou Yi, this is not a game that I am playing, it never was. At first I didn't think much about it, but after grandfather's death I saw that my position is much more important than I expected. In the end I found that I was not doing this just for him. There's the nation, my own household, Xin Yi, and also you. How can I continue to help if I was to give up my current identity?"

My heart ached at her explanation. It's true that with her being General Zhao, I am able to get a better insight about what happens outside the palace walls. I know the people in her household relies on her as well. Even if I offer any assistance, it would not be the same as her being there for them. Before I could speak the eunuch comes running over again.

"Your highness, the Empress Dowager requests to see you," he said.

This was one guest that I could not refuse. I allowed the eunuch to welcome her in as Zhen'er and I stood up from our seats. I knew why Imperial Mother was here, but normally she would not confront me until Zhen'er has left.

Upon seeing Imperial Mother enter my chamber with her group of servants behind her, Zhen'er immediately lowers her head. "Meng Yu Zhen pays respect to the Empress Dowager," Zhen'er greeted. I lightly nod my head to acknowledge Imperial Mother's presence.

"Rise," Imperial Mother said. Zhen'er raised her head and thanked Imperial Mother. "General Meng is spending time here again I see. So much that the Emperor is even refusing to see the Empress," Imperial Mother teased. Even though her words sounded harmless, she was really hinting at something else.

"Empress Dowager is thinking too much. The Emperor was merely in a bad mood after losing to me in a match of Go. He probably just didn't want the Empress to see that he has lost and so he sent her away," Zhen'er replied. As always, she would openly tell my flaws to just about anybody even if I was in front of her. But I can no longer get mad at her for such actions.

"Your highness, Empress Dowager," Zhen'er lowers her head. "Much time has definitely passed already. I will return back home and let the two of you rest. I bid you two farewell." Imperial Mother nods her head as Zhen'er lightly bows and showed herself out. I watched as her figure slowly became smaller and smaller, until she was no longer there.