THE RED GOLD

      Bo An placed the letter on the table in front of Yang Meizi.

        "It's another order for Two hundred Thousand Kilograms of grain from the Empress herself." Bo An said and Yang Meizi looking at the paper she smiled.

       "What's her price?" She asked.

       "One million and eight hundred thousand taels of gold." Bo An replied.

       "Its good enough." Yang Meizi said.

       "I thought that it was Han Touzhou that we wanted to buy the grain." Bao Langya said.

       "A farmer doesn't sow seeds in one place, I merely tipped off the Empress about Han Touzhou's plan and I couldn't have expected such an immediate response." Yang Meizi replied.

       "So they are all going to pay?" Bo An asked.

       "Whatever comes their way, yes." Yang Meizi replied when the doors of the room were flung open and Dong Hua walked in while bowing his head to her.

       "The carriages are ready." He said.

       "Tell His Excellency that I convey my thanks." Yang Meizi said.

       "Yes." Dong Hua replied as he withdrew from the room while the other two remained looking at the young woman.

       "What are the carriages for?" Bao Langya asked.

       "The grains won't carry themselves." Yang Meizi replied.

       "Sure." Bo An replied.

       "For purposes of cautiousness there are some things that I'll tell you later, all you have to do is to trust me." Yang Meizi said.

       "Yes." The two replied in unison.

       "We make our move tonight." She ordered them both and bowing their heads they withdrew from the room.

       It was dark and the carts parading through the streets were led by Bo An to the courtyard of the warehouse where Lin Xue was found waiting.

        "I thought that you wouldn't make it." Lin Xue said recognizing him beforehand.

        "Perhaps I did not tell you but I am a man of my word." Bo An said as he looked at his men who brought the cart's closer to Lin Xue who took out his blade and cutting one of the sacks open the rice poured out and fell onto the ground as he examined it.

        "Certainly the best quality." He said.

        "I wouldn't let you down." Bo An replied and Lin Xue moving aside, his men rode into the building and slowly they started offloading everything and putting it inside while the guards their watched.

       The wagons emptied and Lin Xue satisfied they brought over the four chests and opening them, Bo An inspected the taels and confirmed them to be genuine.

       "It was nice doing business with you." He said and the two shaking hands they loaded the carts with their money and moved out of the Courtyard.

       Bao Langya on the other hand had just concluded a similar deal with Li San as the goods having been put inside the stores his men were loading their money.

        "It was a job well done." Li San said.

        "Surely Milord, I won't forget your kindness." Bao Langya said as he kowtowed to him and along with his people they got up and left the compound as well.

        Yang Meizi, Shi Miyuan, Master Bao and Nuwa were seated in a small room do quietly looking at the candle that was glowing in their midst anticipating some kind of news.

        The doors were flung open and Bao Langya, Dong Hua and Bo An all rushed in simultaneously with smiles all over their faces.

       "We did it." They said and Yang Meizi and her party shot up from where they were seated.

       "Surely?" She asked.

       "Yes." Bao Langya confirmed and the latter smiled.

       "Hopefully that hurdle has been foregone." Yang Meizi said and Bo An and Bao Langya looking at Dong Hua were surprised to see him.

       "What did you do?" Bo An asked.

       "I sold the grain." Dong Hua replied and the other two along with everyone else in the room seemed surprised that they turned to Yang Meizi.

        "What does he mean?" Master Bao asked, "to how many more people did you sell the grain?" He insisted.

       "All the Nobles that I could find." Yang Meizi replied with a ghastly smile.

       "That's a big risk." Master Bao said.

       "How come?" Bao Langya asked.

       "I didn't just tip off the Empress on Han Touzhou's true intentions, I tipped off every one of those nobles about the same thing." Yang Meizi replied, "to put it simply, every one got ahead of themselves willing to keep the transaction a secret and each pledging and offering a higher price in a single sweep I have taken from them close to a billion taels." She added.

       "You realise that the value of money is going to increase?" Master Bao said, "so much money could bring about so much suspicion." He added.

       "Not necessarily." Yang Meizi replied.

       "What do you mean not necessarily?" Bo An asked.

       "I am sure that you are all as surprised but my intention isn't to keep this money." Yang Meizi said.

       "Are you going to simply give it back to the people?" Bao Langya asked.

       "The commons still have incomes to sustain them but the entire nobility is close to bankruptcy, since I have the money in my hands naturally a number of them will need loans to finance their activities but of course to acquire those loans they are going to have to give in a guarantee, both land titles and buildings perhaps even personal possessions." Yang Meizi replied.

        "And in case they do so they'll have to meet the interest and even if they don't legally you will own a large number of what they have." Shi Miyuan said.

        "To put it simply, yes." Yang Meizi replied.

        "About how many buildings did you ask to buy?" Master Bao asked.

       "Ten." Yang Meizi replied, "if I could be more precise, ten Financial houses." She added and Shi Miyuan surprised he quickly sat down in his seat.

       "Are you that shocked?" Yang Meizi asked.

       "I can't believe it." Shi Miyuan replied.

       "Even so you might have taken a large number of their money but what about the grains that they have in their possesion, those are close to enough to get them to drain the peasants." Master Bao said and Yang Meizi looking at Bo An and Bao Langya she chuckled.

       "What's funny?" Master Bao asked.

       "Until now have you not wondered where I got close to hundreds of Billions of grains when that alone is more than the actual amount the state granaries could hold?" Yang Meizi replied and the old man widened his eyes.

        "Yes." Yang Meizi replied, "if you are thinking right then all their grains are also with me." She added.

       "How's that even possible?" Master Bao asked.

       "I don't want to tell you much more than you can handle, rather I can comfort you by telling you when the time is right because aside from me and perhaps the very few in here, the Great Buddha alone knows." Yang Meizi replied as she smiled at herself ghastly

     Empress Li was seated in her quarters when Li San barged through the doors to her presence.

      "Your Highness?" He called and herself startled she stood up.

      "Why do you look so pale as though you have seen a ghost?" Empress Li asked.

      "Our State granaries." Li San replied. 

      "What's wrong with them?" Empress Li asked.

      "They have been robbed." General Li replied.

      "What do you mean robbed?" Empress Li asked when her brother looked down.

      "Perhaps you should see for yourself." Li San replied and the Empress without waiting she quickly charged out of her Chambers and joined by Liu Zhan and Chiyun Ling along with other ladies in waiting she rushed onto the balcony and descended the stairs in the direction of the nearest granaries while Nuwa hiding behind a pole she watched them go.

      Having vanished from her sight she quickly turned around and returned to Yang Meizi's chamber where she found her mistress seated in a chair and sipping at her cup of tea.

      "General Li is in the Palace." Nuwa said and Yang Meizi smiling she lowered the tea cup on the table beside her.

       "It seems like she must have found out." Yang Meizi said.

       "Isn't it too soon?" Nuwa asked.

       "Soon enough or not there is not a thing that she can do anymore, most of the grain that I have acquired from those nobles thanks to them has already become scarce on the market." Yang Meizi replied and Nuwa sighed.

       "Right now it's not them or heaven regulating how much is there to sell but it's me and even if they were to attempt to buy in bulk I am so much afraid that a number of them have already spent too much of a fortune, besides, there isn't enough grain to be bought in bulk as well." Yang Meizi said.

       "By now they should have realised the breaches in their reserves." Nuwa said.

       "The night is still young but who can tell, it's likely that tomorrow will not only be a busy day, it'll also be a very long one at that." Yang Meizi said as she got a piece of paper from her sleeve and she handed it over to Nuwa.

       "What's this Milady?" Nuwa asked.

       "These are the names of the Money houses that we are going to open." Yang Meizi replied.

       "And an Operational license?" Nuwa asked.

       "Rest assured, the Empress Dowager has long taken care of that all that is left is for us to play our part." Yang Meizi replied.

       "I see." Nuwa remarked.

       "Send this list to Master Bao and the others and they'll know what to do." Yang Meizi ordered.

       "Yes." Nuwa replied.

       "That's not enough." Yang Meizi said.

       "Is there anything else that I should do?" Nuwa asked.

       "Tell them that in case anyone asks who the honour of the houses is each of them is to reply that it's KHAN TALHA." Yang Meizi said.

       "But who is this Khan Talha?" Bao Langya asked.

       "It's better that I don't tell you now but just do as I ask." Yang Meizi replied.

       "Yes." Nuwa replied as she withdrew from the room leaving her mistress smiling at herself.

       "Han Touzhou and your kind, now begins your doom." She thought to herself inwardly as she took up her cup of tea and sipped at it once again.

       Empress Li running her hand through the grains the sand poured out instead.

       "So you are telling me that when you told me that you were going to acquire two hundred thousand kilograms of fine grain you purchased sand?" She asked her brother.

       "Pardon me sister." Li San said, "but I had checked the grain with my own hands and now surprisingly not a single bag of grain is inside here, further more, there's a breach at the back of the room so it's likely that someone sneaked it out of the store but how they did it silently until now I am very much surprised." Li San said.

      "This is practically a part of the Palace so pulling off such a robbery the perpetrator must be very brazen." Empress Li replied.

       "Could it be Han Touzhou?" Li San asked, "after all when I come to think of it very well who else would know this place, besides yourself buying the grain was so that you would be able to contend with his commercial might and restrain it." He added.

      The Empress kept quiet.

      "It's likely that you are right, after all, Han Touzhou might have lost a number of informants in the Palace but who would have thought, perhaps there's still one or two under my nose and I can't see.' Empress Li said.

       "It's only logical that someone around you might have tipped him off about your intentions and he did this out of retaliation." Li San said.

       "If it is him we as well don't have concrete evidence to charge him because a large number of people have purchased grain in the capital any of them could as well be taken as culprits and if word of this theft goes out then the whole world might take me to be a joke." Empress Li said.

      "What are we going to do?" Li San asked, "we already put too much into this and a loss of one million and eight hundred thousand taels isn't something so small." Li San said.

       "We can't just sit idly and if Han Touzhou has shown us his true colours then it's also possible for us to return him a similar favour." Empress Li replied.

       "Does Your Highness mean that we should.....?" Li San asked.

        "Yes." Empress Li replied, "we are going to steal back all our grain." She added confidently.

       "I'll see to it." Li San said as the Empress smiled ghastly.

       "If that's how you want it then there'll be no harm in me fighting fire with fire." She promised herself.

       Shi Miyuan was standing in his Chambers when Dong Hua rushed in with excitement in his eyes.

       "Congratulations Your Excellency." He said.

       "Tell me." Shi Miyuan said as he turned around to look at him.

       "Head Lady Yang has said that it is time." Dong Hua said and Shi Miyuan smiling he charged out of his room into the study of his father who was looking through a series of books.

       "You have taken a while compiling that book father." He said bowing his head.

       "What is it?" Shi Hao asked.

       "I'm starting a money lending business." Shi Miyuan replied.

       "And where are you going to get all that money?" Chancellor Shi Hao asked while Shi Miyuan smiled at his men who carried the heavy trunks and put them down in front of his father.

       Opening them, his eyes widened at the sight of all the golden taels that were stuffed inside.

       "What did you do?" Chancellor Shi Hao asked, "where did you get all that money?" He added.

        "I'll tell you father but take it today that perhaps I am a good soon I fear that a number of people will feel rather suspicious, it's important to know that you work with a wealthy Monghol Trader Khan Talha and he simply asks you to support the Empress Dowager in protecting his business and you can profit from this quite handsomely." Shi Miyuan replied.

       "Who is this Khan Talha?" Chancellor Shi Hao asked.

       "He isn't the type to rather show himself to the world but since he is affiliated to the Empress Dowager I don't think that it's that bad to trust him." Shi Miyuan replied with a sincere smile on his face.

       "You will get us killed young man." Chancellor Shi Hao said.

       "Trust me father." Shi Miyuan replied, "trust me as much as you would trust the Empress Dowager with an issue like this." He added.

       Lin Xue rushed into Han Touzhou's Chambers as he was putting on his robes to attend the Morning Assembly.

       Being tended to by a couple of his valets he looked confident staring at his reflection in the mirror and seeing the worry on Lin Xue's face he waved his hand and signalled for them to move away.

       "Won't you help me prepare?" He asked.

       "Yes Your Excellency." Lin Xue replied as he walked up to Han Touzhou and ceasing his belt he tied it around his waist.

       "You seem to be distracted." Han Touzhou said.

       "Is this about the issue of naming the Crown Prince?" Lin Xue asked.

       "Since the Empress feels secure in her position I should as well give my brother some peace of mind by securing my niece's position as the Crown Princess." Han Touzhou replied.

       "I see." Lin Xue muttered.

       "But I know you well enough to see that it isn't about that." Han Touzhou said.

       "Our men reported that there was an attempt to rob our warehouse." Lin Xue replied.

        "And?" Han Touzhou asked.

        "As I said it was an attempt so however small it might have seemed even unsuccessful I felt that Your Excellency should know." Lin Xue replied.

       "We have stored so much grain for a while and of a very high quality, soon enough I suppose it's about to run out on the market and our chance to make great use of it shall have come at hand." Han Touzhou said as he turned around and walked up to the centre of his room and then putting on his shoes he faced the door.

       "It's about time." He said.

       "Watch your step Your Excellency." Lin Xue said and as he was about to walk out another of his servants charged in falling down onto his knees.

       "Bad News Your Excellency." He cried.

       "At this time?" Han Touzhou asked.

       "The warehouse." the guard replied.

       "What's wrong with it?" Han Touzhou asked.

       "After the attempted theft of the grains yesterday night, today morning we decided to do a double check and one of the sacks was out of place so we decided to move it however...." The man halted as she bowed his head feeling less confident in what he was about to say.

      "I have a morning Assembly so you shouldn't be wasting my time." Han Touzhou argued.

       "Sand fell out." the man replied and Han Touzhou surprised he widened his eyes.

       "What?" Lin Xue asked.

       "The sacks in the warehouse are not filled with grain at all, only sand." The man confirmed and Han Touzhou losing all his strength he staggered as Lin Xue held him up.

       "Who is doing this to me?" He asked.

       "Could it be those traders?" Lin Xue cursed.

       "But we saw the sample and you confirmed with your own eyes when the grain was being brought in, how could it have turned into sand in less than three nights?" Han Touzhou asked as he looked at Lin Xue.

       "We were a bit too lax Your Excellency as there was a hole within the warehouse, my guess is that it's likely the attack was a diversion and a perfect opportunity for the thieves to sneak in and take away the grains." the servant said.

       "What do I pay you idiots for?" Han Touzhou said as he looked at the nearby table and picking up the jug he was ready to throw it at the young man when Lin Xue halted him while grabbing his hand.

       "Please don't Your Excellency, he is one of your people." He said and Han Touzhou quietly he lowered his hand and letting go of the jug it shattered into pieces on the ground.

       "Have my men send out word." Han Touzhou said, "inform the Palace that I am very ill and I won't make it for today's morning Assembly." He muttered under his breath.

       "Yes Your Excellency." The man replied and standing up he walked out of the room leaving Han Touzhou and Lin Xue alone.

       "I know that I don't need to ask if you're alright, but I promise you that I'll track down whoever was responsible for this and bring them to you." Lin Xue said.

        "Don't." Han Touzhou said, "How many of them will you pay, how many of them will you convince, if this word goes out people will see me as a joke and we have lost so much more that we can't afford to spend the little we have."  He added.

       "Your Excellency...?" Lin Xue was calling but Han Touzhou stopped him with his hand.

       "I know that you have my best interests at heart so please say no more, what I need right now is some time to think and some time to be alone." He said.

       "Yes Your Excellency." Lin Xue replied as he turned around and sadly walked out of the room.

       Eunuch Qin stood at the side of the throne and the doors of the room being flung open the New Emperor Guangzong walked in in all his splendour wearing the dragon robes and the black headdress on his head.

        Slowly he mounted the stairs that led to the dragon throne and turning around to face everyone he gracefully settled on it.

        "Long Live Your Majesty." The Courtiers hailed him in unison while he raised up his hand to them and they stood upright.

         Li San's eyes looked all over the place for a sight of Han Touzhou but he couldn't see him anywhere that he seemed to get concerned.

         "It's a pity today that we won't be joined by Minister Han Touzhou because of his ill health but regardless of the matter we shall go ahead with the assembly." Emperor Guangzong said.

        "Yes Your Majesty." Everyone replied in unison.

        "Han Touzhou did not attend the morning Assembly because of illness?" The Retired Emperor Xiaozong asked.

        "Yes Your Majesty." Yang Meizi replied while grinding for him some ink.

        "Eunuch Qin has to tend to His Majesty the New Emperor, you'll have to pardon me for bothering you so much more these days." the Retired Emperor said.

        "No worries Your Majesty, I am as well lucky to be in your service that I wouldn't be bothered." Yang Meizi replied.

        "You all Court Ladies are honey lipped, surely, you couldn't possibly say anything bad about me or reprimand me." Retired Emperor Xiaozong said.

        "Perhaps Your Majesty but can I have that liberty?" Yang Meizi asked.

        The Emperor kept quiet.

        "Certain freedoms come to very special people which is why perhaps I dare to ask if there is anybody that you have ever granted such a favour." Yang Meizi said.

        "To tell you frankly there was my first wife." Emperor Xiaozong replied.

        "I have heard about the Empress Chengmu who was a low to earth woman despite having never been an Empress in her life." Yang Meizi said.

       "I loved her dearly and perhaps she would reprimand me as I was a Royal without a title but nonetheless with her I felt more like a living man." The retired Emperor replied.

       "I see." Yang Meizi muttered as she concluded grinding the ink and then moved around the table where she put away the memorial he was done with and replaced it with another.

       "Wouldn't you care to know what it feels like to love someone?" Emperor Xiaozong asked, "after all you are in that youthful age I see and palace walls are hard enough but can't come in between you or anyone you'd choose." He added.

       "I was hoping that after serving Your Majesty I would perhaps become free, but what is love to me when I have seen people suffer for it?" Yang Meizi asked.

       "How so?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.

       "Pardon me if I might sound offensive to Your Majesty but Her Highness the retired Emperor prepares numerous dishes a day each hoping that you might pay her a visit but in the end she is rather caught up in her own solitude lying within the walls of the cold palace.

       Princess Consort Han is no different demanding for the attention of the Imperial grandson but where does that leave her in the end when the latter only feels obligated to marry her for Political reasons it is funny that she clings on to the thought of still loving him." Yang Meizi replied.

      "Seeing these two you think you have a right to judge?" The Retired Emperor asked.

      "Perhaps if may be unpleasant to Your Majesty's ears but take a closer look at me yourself, if I too could cling on someone as much then what would be the need for me to reciprocate my affectations or expect the same from another?" Yang Meizi asked.

      The Emperor kept quiet.

      "I don't expect Your Majesty to answer and perhaps I am as brazen, learning from those that I have seen rather than embrace eternal sadness I'd rather not give myself so much hope and in the end forget to consider that the higher you climb the harder you fall." She said.

      "Perhaps you are right." Emperor Xiaozong said.

      "If for Her Highness love is worth it then she is comfortable seeing you even from a distance, and perhaps since you cared so much when an attempt was made on her life, that single act can sustain her for more and more of her years in this life." Yang Meizi said.

      "Get Out." The Retired Emperor Xiaozong ordered and Yang Meizi without any objection she withdrew from his presence while he clenched his fist.

      Yang Meizi walked out of the Hall was joined by Nuwa.

       "It's likely that Han Touzhou is not doing well because he found out about the grains." She said.

       "Do you blame him?" Yang Meizi asked.

       "To be frank, my heart is discontent yet I am somewhat pleased to see that his ruin has come a little bit too swiftly than I expected." Nuwa replied.

       "Sadly not." Yang Meizi replied.

       "Why not Milady?" Nuwa asked.

       "Our fight isn't with Han Touzhou alone but also with the whole of his kin." Yang Meizi replied.

       "What could the majority of them do?" Nuwa asked.

       "What do you think war is about?" Yang Meizi asked.

      "Defeating the enemy." Nuwa replied.

      "Defeating the enemy is not enough." Yang Meizi replied as she approached a couple of Ladies in waiting and seeing her headed their way they moved aside and bowed their heads  as she passed.

       "War is about devouring the enemy and taking for yourself each and everything that they own without sparing nothing, surely, I can not be that merciful with Han Touzhou because until I can have his life along with everything that he has left in the world to call so dear to himself, to me this war is far from over." Yang Meizi added.

      "Yes." Nuwa replied.

      The Morning Assembly having ended Li San walked into his older sister's Chambers.

       "Your Highness." He said bowing his head to her.

       "Was the attempt successful?" Empress Li asked.

       "We couldn't." Li San replied while the Empress angry she clenched her fist.

       "But surprisingly you could have perhaps heard that Han Touzhou didn't attend the Assembly and called in for a sick leave." Li San said.

       "Is that true?" Empress Li asked.

       "True or not but the mere fact that Han Touzhou did not turn up makes it all the more suspicious." Li San replied.

       "In deed." Empress Li remarked caught up in wonder herself.

        "But no worries, I'll have some men investigate and perhaps if he was cautious after the first attack I'll deploy more people to watch the warehouse in case he is considering moving the grains to another location." Li San said.

       "Do that exactly." Empress Li acquisced and Li San bowing his head he walked out of the room.

       "Han Touzhou, what is it that you are up to?" She asked herself as she thought about it so deeply but seemed unable to succeed at figuring it out.

       Yang Meizi walked into the room where all the others including master Bao had gathered.

       "I am so sorry to have kept you waiting as I had to strike some nerves before the Emperor can call on me again." Yang Meizi said as she sat down.

       "Everything is ready." Bao Langya said.

       "It seems that the news has broken out much sooner than I expected which calls for an immediate response." Yang Meizi said.

       "Most of the Nobles have discovered it right now that they have been robbed." Bo An said.

       "How was that even possible?" Master Bao asked and Yang Meizi turning to him she smiled.

       "I suppose it isn't too soon for you to know but if you each had doubts let me clear them right now.

       Firstly none of them would have checked all the bags to confirm that they weren't filled with grain and secondly, all the transactions that were held were with the intention of helping us learn about the whereabouts of the food reserves.

       Knowing where they kept them was all that we needed to act a steal them back but of course we didn't need to go through the main door to steal them as breaches were put in place and hidden during the time of the delivery." Yang Meizi replied.

      Master Bao frowned in disappoint.

      "If something were to go wrong you would get every one killed." He scolded.

      "Master Bao, do I look like I am afraid of death?" Yang Meizi asked.

       "You are just like your mother." Master Bao replied.

       "Putting all that aside Han Touzhou is perhaps the one who has suffered the most." Yang Meizi said.

       "This was the final blow certainly, after everything that has happened to him from the mine and then his caravan, he could never recover from such an economic crisis." Bao Langya said.

       "If I were content with this then we wouldn't be gathered here." Yang Meizi said.

       "What more do you want, is this not enough revenge for you?" Master Bao asked.

       "If I stop right now then what about all those brothers and sisters of ours that died all those years ago, what about those of us that remains orphans widows and widowers.

       There were Innocents that were laid to rest without having even had a proper burial so if I am to become sympathetic right now where is peace for their tattered bodies?" Yang Meizi replied.

        "I am so sorry." Master Bao said.

        "I should be the one who is very sorry." Yang Meizi said as she turned to the others, "right now that Han Touzhou has fallen I am going to get him back onto his feet." She added and the others surprised even Shi Miyuan they turned their eyes to her.

       "Are you out of your mind?" Bo An asked.

       "Now that Han Touzhou is a loser all that he has to boast for wealth are his lands and some buildings and if he can still lie under a shelter when it rains or sleep in a bed I can't leave some peace for him." Yang Meizi said.

       "Unless you are going to force him to mortgage his properties?" Bao Langya remarked.

       "Not everyone is gracious enough to loan without a guarantee so you can only imagine each and every one of those noblemen not having enough money to sustain them or a single trace leading them to us they'll be very desperate.

       I'll use that to their advantage but there isn't valuable jewelry for them to offer me because that's not how well I operate my things the only thing that they would have to offer for my assistance would be...?" Yang Meizi asked.

       "To surrender their lands." Bao Langya replied.

       "They wouldn't attempt to take anything back after all with the protection of the Dowager Empress your operation is unrestrained." Bo An said.

        "Yes." Yang Meizi replied.

       "I must say that I am in deed impressed." Shi Miyuan remarked.

       "I wouldn't have done it without your support and now that we have realised our first victory it's only important that we turn our eyes to the future." Yang Meizi said.

       "Everything is ready and we shall commence operation as soon as you ask us to." Bo An said.

       "After three days, we are going to open up our commercial houses." Yang Meizi ordered happily.

       Empress Xie was kneeling down in her room and praying to the statue of Buddha when the doors were flung open and in an instant Daiyu rushed in immediately falling on her knees behind her.

      "Congratulations Your Highness." She said her eyes in tears that the latter not turning around she remained silent for a while chanting her prayers and then concluding them.

      "What is it?" Empress Xie asked.

      "His Majesty the Retired Emperor is coming over to your Chambers tonight." Daiyu replied and the Empress startled she let go of the prayer beads in her hands and immediately stood up to face Daiyu.

      "Are you serious?" She asked.

      "How dare I lie and of all people to Your Highness?" Daiyu replied in tears.

      "How is that even possible, I have been inside the Palace for close to twenty years, what would cause His Majesty to call on me?" Empress Xie asked in tears.

      "I only heard that Yang Meizi was with him earlier in the day and angrily he dismissed her, she saved you from an arrow last time that when I think of it perhaps she is the one who put in a good word for you." Daiyu replied.

      "That girl?" Empress Xie wondered.

      "It's only three hours until dusk Your Highness, you should prepare yourself." Daiyu said.

      "Tell the Imperial kitchen..., No I'll prepare the food myself." Empress Xie said as she bent and picked up the prayer beads before turning back to the Buddha's statue in front of herself and bowing her head to it.

      "At last the Great Buddha has heard my plea." Empress Xie said before she withdrew from the hall.

     The Retired Emperor's Sedan chair lifted from the Palace of Virtue and Longevity was carried across the compound to the West Palace and while he arrived under the saffron sky he found the Retired Empress standing with her Ladies in Waiting in front of her Chambers.

      "Your Majesty." They all said in unison bowing their heads and the Retired Emperor smiling he walked over to her and ceased her hand helping her up to her feet.

      "It's almost getting dark Your Majesty and it'll soon become very cold, we'd better hurry inside that is if you don't mind." Empress Xie said.

      "Such a beautiful evening and there's a saffron firmament hanging above our heads, I heard that you have a very beautiful flower garden and I was hoping that we could first have a stroll there." The Retired Emperor Xiaozong said.

      "No problem with me Your Majesty." Empress Xie said while bowing her head and the Retired Emperor looking at her she smiled back at him so sincerely.

      The two started walking slowly by slowly while the Emperor looked around admiring the blossoms and the butterflies around.

       "It's been a long while since I last beheld such a lively and natural view." he said.

       "I understand how tiresome it must be dealing with all those Courtiers." Empress Xie remarked.

       "Nonetheless even as Retired Emperor I fear to let go too soon." Emperor Xiaozong said.

       "Because you fear that the current Emperor isn't ready yet?" Empress Xie asked.

       "Maybe you do understand." Emperor Xiaozong said.

       "Every parent loves their children so much just like the Empress Dowager herself cherishes you, I understand that at times it's very difficult to cope with the world but we are all humans to be weak." Empress Xie said.

      "Is an Emperor supposed to be weak?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.

      "Every human must be weak." Empress Xie replied, "at times weakness helps you discover strength and comfort in those around you." She added.

      "Allow me to ask you but promise me that you won't lie?" Emperor Xiaozong said.

      "I dare not lie to Your Majesty." Empress Xie replied.

      "All these years how do you live in the Palace when I rarely see you?" Emperor Xiaozong asked and the Empress sighed.

       "As always I know it deep down that I must understand, not all the Emperor's wives even his favourites take the first position in his heart." Empress Xie replied.

       "Is that what you think of yourself?" Emperor Xiaozong asked.

       "An Empress is a mother of the people and it is an Empress that causes the Emperor to govern, to give the first position in your heart to the Country it's my duty to support you, that way I have made you a very good Emperor and a filial child." Empress Xie replied.

      "The Palace is much too chaotic, it's been a long while since I visited you after that attempt on your life." Emperor Xiaozong said.

      "There's no need to feel guilty Your Majesty." Empress Xie replied.

      "I never knew how lonely you were in your silence." the Emperor said.

       "But I never blame you for any of that." Empress Xie replied, "to give when I have to expect nothing in return, tolerate anything that comes my way Your Majesty, that is my love." Empress Xie said.

      "Thank you Empress." Emperor Xiaozong said and there for the first time putting his arm around her neck pulled her head to his chest in a sweet embrace and Daiyu where she was standing at a distance beholding the sight she smiled while tears rolled down her cheeks.

      Yang Meizi and her Ladies in Waiting roaming the Palace she halted when the Imperial grandson and his attendants stood in front of her.

      The two looking at each other for a while she reacted immediately by offering her salutations with her ladies that the young Prince smiled.

      "You treat me with so much respect." He said.

      "You are the Emperor's son after all ." Yang Meizi replied bowing her head the second time.

      "There's no red tape." Prince Zhao Kuo said.

      "Since a young age I was cultivated by Her Highness the Dowager Empress to master all the rules of the inner Court and the Palace, above all of them Hierarchy matters so don't put me in a tough position please Your Highness." Yang Meizi replied while bowing her head.

       "Your Highness, Your Highness, is that all that you see me as?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.

       "Your Highness, I love to keep my head and I do not wish to implicate my people." Yang Meizi replied and the Prince furious he clenched his fists at about the same time when the Princess Consort Han and her Ladies in waiting emerged from a nearby pavilion and they stopped beside the two parties.

      "Greetings Your Highness." Yang Meizi offered her salutations to her and the Crown Prince only nodded his head while looking the other side.

      "Why does the atmosphere here feel so tense?" Princess Consort Han asked.

      "Not at all." Yang Meizi replied, "it seems to me that His Highness is rather overworked." Yang Meizi replied.

      "Is that so?" Princess Consort Han asked.

      "Yes." Prince Zhao Kuo replied hesitantly and the Princess Consort smiling she moved over to her husband.

      "My Palace isn't very far, if you don't mind perhaps you could come over." She said.

      "Alright." Prince Zhao Kuo replied and looking at Yang Meizi he was led away while she still held her head high until they vanished as Nuwa moved to the side of her ear.

      "Judging by the look on her face she doesn't seem to be aware of her uncle's situation." She whispered.

      "It doesn't matter at all." Yang Meizi said, "Sooner or later they'll all be wrapped around my finger and sadly enough for them, they won't see it coming or even know." She added as she smiled at herself ghastly.

      "It's almost dark." Nuwa said, "you shouldn't stay out in the cold too long." She added.

       "I'm counting on these three days." Yang Meizi muttered as she confidently walked off in the direction of her Chambers.

Princess Consort Han and Zhao Kuo entered her Chambers and the two sitting down onto her bed she waved all her other servants away.

     "I see that you don't look well of recent and you have lost so much weight." Princess Consort Han said.

      "That's funny." Prince Zhao Kuo remarked.

      "Do you think it is Your Highness?" Princess Consort Han asked.

      "The Empress Dowager and Lan He tell me otherwise." He replied and the latter kept quiet.

      "Do you really know me?" He asked.

      "Why are you now asking me Your Highness?" Princess Consort Han asked, "do you know any better than I do about myself as well?" She added.

      The Prince first kept quiet.

      "With all due respect...." He was about to say when his wife halted him.

       "Enough." She muttered.

       "Why?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked, "if I don't behave myself you will report me to your daddy?" He said.

       The Princess Consort stood up and walked in front of me.

       "Look at me." She demanded and he complied unwillingly.

       "I don't care, you think that I am merely too demanding on one hand and on the other I think you are more heartless and cruel." Princess Consort Han said.

       "I didn't ask you to marry me." Prince Zhao Kuo said.

       "And neither did I." Princess Consort Han replied her eyes close to teary and her expression as cold as ever.

       "To what did we owe this pleasure?" Prince Zhao Kuo asked.

      "A thousand years of tradition, centuries of the dynasties, we vowed in front of our families and our ancestors but you perhaps on your side take it all lightly." Princess Consort Han replied.

      "You married for power, fame and honour, not love." Prince Zhao Kuo said.

      "You are not in the position to lecture me about love." Princess Consort Han said, when months ago we perhaps had the sweetest moment but even that one was taken away from us afterwards it flew forgotten as a dream." She added.

      "Don't make this any harder and more complicated than it already is." Prince Zhao Kuo said.

       "Because you can not bear to listen to the truth?" Princess Consort Han asked.

       He kept quiet while she sighed and smiled.

       "What a good husband you have, what a good wife I have been to tolerate it all, I stared at you looking at the other women but I always tell myself that I don't mind.

       I always look at you hoping that one day you would not only notice me alone but also accept my wife even when the wait for that moment seems to be in vain I tell myself otherwise." Princess Consort Han said, "you and I are in deed different Your Highness but I don't expect you to understand my pain because you are not a woman and you don't wish to." she added.

      "Until now, I do not feel at ease looking at you." Prince Zhao Kuo said.

       "I don't care as much Your Highness, but whatever happens in the near future you can't blame me for it." She muttered and the Prince furious he stood up while she put her hand in front of him.

       "Are you stopping me?" The Prince asked.

       "I'm not done talking." Princess Consort Han replied.

       "There's not a thing that I want to hear." Prince Zhao Kuo said and ceasing her hand he lowered it forcing her to the side as he walked out.

       "Your Highness?" She shouted but the doors being flung open Qing Yi rushed in over to her Mistress' side while she watched her husband vanish through the doors.

      Overwhelmed by a headache, she ceased her forehead and herself feeling dizzier slowly by slowly with Qing Yi holding her she collapsed onto the ground.

       "Your Highness?" Qing Yi cried while all the other ladies in waiting rushed over to her shaking her but she wasn't responding.

       "What are you doing here?" Qing Yi asked some of them, "call the Imperial physician right now." She shouted and a small group of the young women rushed out of the Chambers while the Prince already far away seemed absent minded that he didn't budge on hearing the faint sounds of sobbing in a distance where he had come from.