The Eunuch.

The sun stood high in the sky overlooking a large castle. There were white brick roads crossing the over hundred and eighty acre palace. A large marble palace stood at the centermost point, with light green ceramic tiles as the flooring. The marble palace had twenty pillars holding up a large ceiling with coiling edges. Inside the marble palace was a room made of coiling jade pillars and jade art. Inside that room over a hundred ministers and other officals sat on their knees and there stood a throne. The throne seemed to posses a majesty to it and stood at leverage above the ground.

On the throne wearing a black Imperial robe Im Tae sat. His hair had been combed into a top knot with a Oriental styled hair piece turning like the tongues of fire.

He looked down with his emerald eyes. Those who he could recognize he felt an unease build up in him, and in those he couldn't recognize he felt a little less, but still a deep discomfort.

He took a deep breath and said in a loud and prominent voice, "Sit."

The officials stood from their knees and sat down on pillows. They all remained smiling and expressionless.

Im Tae continued, "Inform me of what needs urgent handling. Leave me the requests of the people to go through, I will see them all today so inform the records department."

An official wearing a red robe with peacocks embroidered stood up and said, "Your majesty first we need to discuss the matter of your eunuch. Then your marriage, this matter is important you are of age and the kingdom needs it's queen. Third your majesty we need to discuss about the crown prince."

Im Tae nodded and said loudly, "Premier Sun, are these matters what you call urgent?"

The official was Premier Sun the family of the former Queen. He held great sway in the palace and even the military with his father having been a great general who rode across the east and made great contributions to the countries military and economy with his many raids of foreign lands.

Im Tae felt a great deal of pressure from this seemingly fragile man.

Im Tae thought, "This isn't the Martial society where strength held great power. Here the pen was more deadly than the sword. If I go too far against him he will spoil my name by spreading false information, and eventually cause an insurrection. Yet I also cannot allow him to manipulate the court too much, otherwise the time I am King will be horrible."

Premier Sun said, "Your majesty these affairs are indeed urgent. You are the king and unless these matters are handled the entire country is in jeopardy. I hope the King will accommodate this one's request."

Im Tae replied, "These matter's can be handled later. What is needed urgently to be done are the fears of the people and tension over the shift in power. The public needs to be comforted and we need there support to do anything substantial in the palace. If we are to worry about my needs only in these strange times, the future will be unpredictable. This matter needs no more discussion. We shall now continue on the way we can comfort the public and show them the royal family is still present for the peoples needs."

Some of the officials were stunned and impressed, others were frowning slightly. Premier Sun smiled and bowed deeply, "As you wish my king."

Premier Sun thought, "Hm. You are trying to retain control for now and at the same time gain public support so you prevent rebellions. Not only will you not lose power, you will gain power. Indeed compared to that previous fool, you are smart your highness. Yet realize this game was never made for you to win, only lose."

The day's next various thing's such as relief for the poor and construction of housing for people were issued by the palace. Furthermore any prevailing criminal dens were squashed. Farmer's were issued a great deal of money to send a set quantity of products from meat to vegetables to the Royal food bank. Taxes were reduced. This caused great joy for the people. Many people near death, with bones poking out their dirty skin, their skin's covered in a skin disease looked almost decayed knelt before the palace and thanked the king.

Im Tae sat in his personal quarters. He was reading from a yellow and old book. On the front it said, "The yellow road of heaven, the blue sea of Hell."

Im Tae exclaimed, "Wow, such a detailed and amazing story. This story really captures the insignificance of hatred and the pain of Immortality."

Setting the book down Im Tae reclined and looked at the ceiling.

Tapping his hands without rhythm he said, "How sad humans must be. We are welcomed by these boorish designs rather than the beauty of nature. I wish I was like a bear using the earth as my bed and the heavens above as my blanket. The stars my candle's."

He yawned with his mouth open, and stretched his four limbs.

His green eyes gently beating slightly.

Slowly he fell asleep.

In the morning a notice was stuck all over the city.

[The King is choosing a Queen. All families must send the documents of girls older than fourteen and younger than eighteen.]

The city went into a great celebration. Many people sent their daughters information to the palace hoping for their daughters to be Pheonixs in one great leap.

Inside the marble palace Im Tae loudly exclaimed, "I still have not given my permission to begin the Queen selection!"

Premier Sun said, "Your majesty this matter cannot be delayed any further and thus we your humble servants have taken matters into our own hands. A Kingdom without a Queen is like the Sun without the Moon. Furthermore your majesty we have obeyed your orders and done as you wished. The publics unrest has now been quelled and there is great support for your presence."

Im Tae opened his mouth to continue yet he couldn't. He slowly calmed down.

Im Tae screamed in his head, "Damn it. I tried to make a power play and now they are using that very move to steal my power. Yet atleast I can see that my life will have some safety for now. If Premier Sun's daughter becomes the Queen his actions against me will be more restrained. Furthermore he will quell the Queen Dowager such that her son and his party can't make too many moves against me."

Sighing I reply, "Very well. The matter has already happened and you have shown great support towards the king. Let us finish for today."

Premier Sun exclaimed, "Not yet your highness."

Im Tae frowned and said, "You dare command your king?"

Premier Sun knelt, "Your majesty you misunderstand me. I simply meant that we have more affairs that need your consent, forgive this servant if his tone and bearing were unpleasant."

Im Tae's lips twitched and eventually he said, "What matters."

Premier Sun said, "Your Eunuch. Your majesty needs a confidante and guardian."

Im Tae showed anger. He thought, "You mean the spy you wish to plant."

Yet suddenly Yu Yun the minister of the military stood up. He bowed towards the king and said, "Your majesty. I have a Eunuch to recommend."

Im Tae's anger quickly dispelled with his uncle present.

Premier Sun shouted, "Audacious Minister of Military! You dare recommend an Eunuch to the king! The king's Eunuch must be the best and must go through procedure."

Yu Yun said, "Premier the Eunuch need not be the best, but suiting to his majesties comfort. If I dare say I doubt his majesty would be able to talk easily with any new Eunuch given to him."

Premier Sun didn't deny but said, "That is because his majesty was not the crown prince prior to this and did not have an Eunuch. So who do you dare recommend?"

Yu Yun smiled and said, "Let his majesty see and decide."

The doors to the jade room opened and a Eunuch wearing a Cyan robe entered.

Im Tae's eyes widened and his mouth hung loose. His brows locked tightly together.

A slightly smiling Eunuch kneeled and said, "Eunuch Yu Gu present to see his majesty."