PRICKING CONSCIENCE

   

          Lady Yang walked into her Chambers while she was accomplish by Manyin and gently she sat down behind her table and she sighed in relief. 

          "Ma'am, I heard that His Majesty asked Consort Han to prepare to spend the night with him." She muttered.  

           "Great." Lady Yang replied.

            "But given the fact that His Majesty considered it, it's going to be a little bit strange especially for the Empress." She added.

            "What was it that I hoped for to you?" Lady Yang inquired.

            "Wasn't Lady Cao the one between His Majesty and you Ma'am?" Manyin inquired.

             "What do you know?" Lady Yang replied, "ever since I set foot in this Palace he has never called me out to spend a night with him, however much he could claim to habour some affections towards me I am of a lowly rank on the Concubine food chain but that's not the worst part of it, it's merely the fact that His Majesty's heart still remains reluctant to embracing me wholeheartedly." Lady Yang replied.

            "I see." Manyin muttered.

             "To survive this harem I have many eyes and ears all ready to look at my every move and listen to all the words that come out of my mouth to make one simple mistake good enough an excuse to rid this world of me." Lady Yang confessed.

            "Can you not love His Majesty?" Manyin inquired.

             "If I cared that much about love or these feelings I wouldn't have set foot in this Palace again, everything that those Hans stole from me is my most awful memory and thought I am challenged by that gruesome past there's no way I'd turn a blind eye to their misdemeanors and a deaf ear to those poisonous words they say." Lady Yang replied.

            "I see." Manyin said.

            "This one move of His Majesty to us is a most sufficient spark that will make worse the sister relationship that's already starting to turn bitter." She muttered as she smiled at herself ghastly .

             "What?" Empress Han asked Qing Yi.

              "You Heard me Your Highness, His Majesty chose Consort Han to serve him in her Palace tonight." The young woman replied bowing her head to her and the Empress in disbelief looked immediately distraught and for a moment she was absent minded while Qing Yi seemed to notice.

               "Your Highness...?" She called.

               "This is very much unlike His Majesty." The Empress muttered knowing her husband very well.

              "Even I thought myself to have heard it badly Your Highness but there's way too many Ladies in waiting that are convinced that it's the truth." Qing Yi muttered.

              "What about Consort Han?" Empress Han asked.

              "I don't know." Qing Yi replied, "but reliably I happened to hear that she seemed quite pleased with the choice." She added and The Empress' mind drifted away to a number of thoughts which she'd least expected.

              "I only wish it wasn't this hard on you Your Highness, but it's been roughly a year since you became the Empress of the Great Song and His Majesty taking into consideration other Concubines there's rumours that Consort Han has been a little bit too lax and in longing she disrespects you seeing you only as a sister they fear that decorum may fail her." Madam Jing had warned her.

             "As long as you have the phoenix crown it is hard earned Milady hence you should know that as it is given so it can be taken away and given to another." Wang Liuan had warned her,"if Your Highness insists to surround yourself with enemies then I pray that the heavens be with you in these soon to be most chaotic times because you must devote your all to vanquish someone that has devoted their all to vanquish you." He'd added that memory alone seemed uneasy.

            "Why am I thinking about it now?" Empress Han asked herself inwardly before she turned to look at Qing Yi who was bothered herself by her mistress' expression.

           "What should I do for you Your Highness?" Qing Yi inquired.

           "Just keep me updated on everything that goes on in the Pure Consort's palace." Endless Han replied.

           "Aye." Qing Yi replied as she withdrew from her Mistress' presence.

           Consort Han stood facing the door while the Emperor Ningzong accompanied by Eunuch Deng mounted the stairs that led to her Palace and walked in.

            "Greetings." The young woman said as she bowed her head to him humbly and the latter taking hold of her hand she showed him to his seat towards the table that had been filled with a number of dishes.

             "Sorry to have kept you waiting." He said.

              "I heard that the memorials were quite many there's no way that you could possibly forego your duty as Emperor of this country for me." Consort Han replied.

             "I'll make it up to you." Emperor Ningzong said.

             "Don't worry Your Majesty, your mere presence is enough for me." Consort Han muttered softly while she stood up and taking the same jade jar on the table, she poured him some liquor while the latter took it.

              Shortly after the doors of the hall were shut down and before long, the sun rose and Lady Yang still asleep Manyin rushed into her Chambers.

             "Ma'am?" She cried aloud with excitement that the latter woke up from her very deep slumber she sat up behind the curtain and looked through to see the young girl standing right in front of her bed while bowing her head.

           "What is the matter?" Lady Yang inquired.

           "His Majesty spent the night over at Consort Han's Palace." Manyin replied and hearing this Lady Yang threw the silk curtain open.

            "What time is it?" She inquired.

            "It's only a half past seven." Manyin replied.

            "Only thirty minutes left before we can offer the daily salutation to the Empress." Lady Yang muttered.

            "Yes." Manyin replied.

            "Perfect." Lady Yang said, "prepare me." She added.

            "Yes." Manyin replied as the latter smiled at herself ghastly.

            The Empress Han in the Grand Hall of her Palace, the Concubines and Imperial Consorts of the Emperor from all parts of the forbidden city made their way to the entrance and Lady Yang in the Retinue along with Xie Cairen, they mounted the stairs and walked in ahead of everyone else before stopping in front of the young woman.

           "Greetings Your Highness." They said in unison, "may heaven grant you a long life our Empress." They added as they kowtowed to her and she on the other hand signalled for them to stand up which they did.

             Lady Yang's eyes shifting towards the seat that Consort Han usually took she noticed that it was empty and seemed content.

            "You may take your seats." Empress Han said and the ladies each moving to the seats that were arranged for them, the ladies in waiting walked into the hall bearing with themselves a tray each and walking up to the Empress they bowed their heads to her before they eventually turned and faced the Concubines whom they approached, moved around and halted onto their right before serving them each a porcelain cup and pouring them some tea.

            The Ladies taking the tea cups into their hands following the Empress' example they prepared to sip it and Yang Meizi staring at her anxiously, she brought the cup to her lips when Eunuch Deng spoke up.

            "Her Highness Consort Han." He announced and the eyes of all the concubines turned from the Empress to the doorway where Consort Han walked in gracefully her head held high she wore a beautiful crimson robe that was embroidered from fine silk and around her neck was a most beautiful pearl necklace and her earrings in the shapes of orchids, she wore an expensive golden headdress and the middle of her robe was adorned with an elaborate winged phoenix.

           The Ladies each stood  up and greeted her while she offered her salutations to the Empress.

           "Pardon me." Lady Cao muttered, "Your Highness is late for the daily salutation to the Empress." She added and Consort Han looking at her she proudly smiled at herself.

           "Forgive me Your Highness, I overslept as His Majesty ordered the ladies in waiting not too awaken me, the night was a very long and exhausting one but I tried my level best to be hear on time." Consort Han replied.

             "We are all His Majesty's women, it's ours a duty to see to his greatest service." Empress Han muttered.

             "I thank Your Highness for being most benevolent and considerate." Consort Han praised her and the Empress analysing what she was wearing for a moment Consort Han seemed to notice.

             "But to make up for my misbehavior I decided to bring Your Highness a gift." Consort Han said and immediately Liaoren stepped in from behind her bearing something in her hands as she moved towards Qing Yi whom she offered the wooden tray.

             The latter taking it she brought it to the Empress who unveiled it and looking she noticed that the material of the fabric looked similar and hers was a dress that was velveteen.

              "Thank you for your consideration." Empress Han said and Qing Yi withdrew it from the Empress and handed it over to one of the nearby Ladies in waiting while Consort Han moved over to her seat and with the help of Liaoren, she sat down and took her cup of tea while the Empress resumed the ceremony.

            Lady Yang looking at the two she smiled as she took a sip of her tea.

             The salutation ending she was walking across the compound towards her Chambers.

             "How come the Empress seemed calm." Manyin inquired.

              "Do you really think she was?" Lady Yang asked.

              "Enlighten me please Ma'am." Manyin requested.

              "Consort Han turned up and flaunted herself dressed in scarlet and moreover bearing a phoenix, the Empress' emblem." Lady Yang replied.

              "Was she challenging the Empress?" Manyin asked.

              "The Empress is a title, Consort Han received His Majesty's grace and furthermore she was late for the morning worship yet she tried to act a little bit composed it was surprisingly provoking I must thank her actions." Lady Yang replied.

            "The Empress isn't too foolish to have noticed, at this rate a good rumour can spark off the biggest flame that could sweep the whole harem and the inner Court." Manyin muttered.

             "Poor Empress." Lady Yang said as she halted in her footsteps, "her head must be spinning so much by now she should be starting to lose her mind." She proudly said as she smiled at herself.

             Empress Han very furious after everyone had left the hall she faced the young woman that was bearing the gift from her sister.

             "Bring it closer." She ordered and the young lady complied swiftly she set the fabric in front of the Empress who slowly raised her hand and she touched it.

             "Qing Yi?" She summoned.

             "Yes Your Highness." Qing Yi replied

             "How special is a night with His Majesty?" Empress Han asked.

             "Don't take it to heart Your Highness." Qing Yi replied.

             "Don't take it to heart?" Empress Han asked.

             "Perhaps Consort Han....." Qing Yi was still saying was interrupted by her mistress.

             "I am the mother of His Majesty's eldest Prince, I am the Empress of the Great Song, surely there couldn't be a thing for me in the world to fear, but what Madam Jing mentioned to me some time back and what Wang Liuan said as well keeps coming back to me." She said.

            "Does it bother Your Highness so much?" Qing Yi inquired.

            "Shouldn't it?" Empress Han spoke up, "dressing up the red color and adorning herself with the phoenix which is my emblem and my seal I am quiet and I am trying to doubt everything that Madam Jing said but I can't." Empress Han said and Qing Yi looking at the girl bearing the fabric, she took it immediately as her sign for her retreat and she stepped away from the Empress who seemed absent minded.

             Silence prevailing throughout the room it was broken when a Lady in waiting rushed in.

            "Your Highness?" She cried that everyone turned their attention to her.

            "What's wrong with you?" Qing Yi asked.

            "His Majesty the first Prince." The young woman replied and the Empress shot up from where she was seated.

            "What?" She asked.

            "What's wrong with the Prince?" Qing Yi demanded to know.

            "The Prince is suddenly unwell." The young woman replied and the Empress moving up to her she slapped her across the face.

             "And you're telling me this just now?" Empress Han scolded while she rushed out of her Palace to meet her child.

            Emperor Ningzong seated in his study Eunuch Deng rushed in immediately and stood in front of his table sweating profusely.

            "You seem to be frightened." Emperor Ningzong remarked.

            "Forgive me Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied, "it's His Highness the first Prince." He added.

             "What about him?" Emperor Ningzong inquired and Eunuch Deng falling silent he found it suspicious, "what happened to Zhao Jun?" He demanded.

              "His Highness is suddenly unwell." Eunuch Deng replied and before he'd say another word, the Emperor had rushed through the doors.

             Empress Han flung the doors of Prince Zhao Jun's room open and she walked in to an unconscious pale looking young boy that was being tended to by a number of maids and Eunuchs and next to him there was an Imperial physician.

             Noticing her presence he stood up and bowed his head.

            "How is he?" Empress Han asked.

             The Doctor for a moment keeping silent he seemed to compose himself and soon enough he was ready to reply.

             "It seems to me that the Young Prince has been poisoned." The Imperial physician replied.

              "Poisoned?" Empress Han inquired.

              "Yes." The Imperial physician replied.

              "First it was the Grand Empress Dowager and now it is the Prince?" Empress Han muttered when something occurred to her and all of a sudden she curiously rushed to her son's side.

              "Don't tell me....?" She muttered.

              "Aconite, yes." The Imperial physician replied and the Empress immediately turned to the ladies in waiting of the young Prince.

              "Each of you was assigned to taste His Highness' meals but under your gaze he gets poison I don't see the reason that you are still keeping your heads." Empress Han muttered.

              "Please forgive us Your Highness." The whole Palace said as they went down onto their knees and they bowed their heads.

              "How did you let my son end up this way?" Empress Han asked.

             They each kept quiet all of a sudden and looked unwilling to give her a reply sooner or later.

             "Anyone?" Empress Han called and shivering in fear one quickly groveled towards the Empress' feet and she ceased her hanfu.

             "Please forgive us Your Highness..." She said.

              "My son was nearly killed because you are too lax with  your duty you aren't implying that there's another cause to this problem unless he ingested the aconite somehow." Empress Han said.

             "We tasted everything that His Highness had to eat yesterday." The lady said but the Empress holding her hand she threw her away from her son's bed and the young woman falling down she got up again and grovelled on her feet.

            "There's one more thing that His Highness had yesterday." The young lady shouted abruptly and hearing this the Empress gave her the attention she needed while Qing Yi looked at the woman who seemed so desperate and her eyes were red.

           They Empress bending over she looked her I the eye.

           "What was it?" Empress Han asked.

           "Apart from his daily meals the other thing that the Imperial Prince eats are the snacks that are offered to him by the Pure Consort." The young woman replied and hearing this the Empress Han seemed startled at that time the doors of the Crown Prince's Chambers were flung open and the Emperor rushed in while everyone including the Empress moved to the side.

             "What happened to the Imperial Prince?" He inquired furiously but a silence prevailing solely in the room he slowly walked up to the young boy's bedside and noticed the bags that were hanging under his eyes, his skin had turned pale and his lips were purple and dry.

            "Pardon me Your Highness but it seems to me that the Imperial Prince......" He was saying when the Empress Han concluded his statement.

            "....was poisoned with aconite." She spoke for him and having heard this the young Emperor at a total loss of strength he sat down beside his son and then caressed his cheeks with his hand.

            "So it was first the Grand Empress Dowager and now it is the Imperial Prince." Emperor Ningzong muttered.

            "We shall leave this to the Ladies'Investigations Bureau of the Palace." Empress Han said.

             "No." The Emperor disagreed.

             "Why Your Majesty." Empress Han asked.

              "This crime is unforgivable, to touch the Imperial seed and cause harm to it whatsoever is treason and the standard of that shall be upheld." Emperor Ningzong replied as he turned and looked up at his Empress, "as his mother I am sure you'd wish for the same, that's why this case has ceased to be merely a personal affair of the Imperial family I shall refer it to the Imperial State Tribunal." He added.

              "Your Majesty..... " Empress Han seemed to protest.

              "Your Highness shouldn't worry and you can not blame me, I am going to seek out whoever did such an atrocity and I shall skin them alive if I have to but they are going to pay for causing harm to the Imperial Prince." Emperor Ningzong insisted, "that's my order." He asserted and the Empress quietly she bowed her head, discontented herself she turned around to walk away right when Consort Cao appeared through the doors of the room and greeted the two.

               "Your Highness, Your Majesty." She said as she kowtowed to them.

               "No red tape." Emperor Ningzong said and she got close enough to inspect the young Prince while the Empress only studied her expression.

               "I just heard about what happened to His Highness, I couldn't just sit there and do nothing but I had to make haste to see my nephew." Consort Han claimed.

               "As you see His Highness is in a very dire condition and who would have thought that there are enemies amongst us that would dare to threaten the life of the Imperial Prince?" Empress Han said.

              "His Highness needs some rest." The Imperial physician interrupted.

              "Then allow me to retire to my Palace." Consort Han said.

             "But Your Highness just happened to get here and you are leaving already?" Empress Han asked.

              "My Empress, you heard the Imperial physician, we can only pray that whoever did this is brought to justice and that the heavens see the Imperial Prince's pure heart that they may deliver him from the jaws of the Netherworld that are clutching at his feet." Consort Han replied and bowing her head she turned around and walked out while the Empress stared at her furiously she clenched her fists and the Emperor not minding about them kept his gaze fixed onto his son.

             "What?" Lady Yang inquired.

             "His Majesty was so heartbroken having heard about the ill health of the Imperial Prince that he rushed to his Palace." Xiaoyang replied and Lady Yang smiled.

            "So he does cherish the young one dearly?" She remarked.

            "It so seems." Xiaoyang said, "in fury having learnt that the Imperial Prince has been a victim of poisoning by aconite, he has decided that the case shall be handled by the Imperial State Tribunal." Xiaoyang spoke worriedly.

             "Isn't this a good chance." Lady Yang inquired.

             "Why?" Xiaoyang inquired.

             "Given all the recent events that have transpired in the Palace by all means possible the Court couldn't be easy and the relationship between the Empress and Consort Han could have only gotten worse because at this point Her Highness should have just enough doubt that is needed to suspect her dear sister." Lady Yang replied as she leaned over, "we all know the State Tribunal is governed by Han Touzhou's men and in the very least they shall be partial in learning the truth I they'll have only two fatal choices to make the first being either covering Consort Han's crimes or abandoning her." She added.

            "How sure can we be that Consort Han was responsible for this?" Xiaoyang asked.

            "You wouldn't think that all this was to make her innocent." Lady Yang replied, "one of those women has to leave this Palace either as a corpse or not." She swore as she smiled at herself ghastly.

            "Your Highness." Qing Yi said to Empress Han who happened to settle down in her seat.

             "Could it be?" She asked herself.

             "Your Highness couldn't possibly be thinking about it." Qing Yi muttered.

              "Apart from what the Ladies in waiting that serve the Imperial Prince only Consort Han gives him snacks and because we trusted their close no one dares to question what Her Highness has offered what's even worse is the fact that there's nothing like a hint of suspicion if the Imperial Prince were harmed we wouldn't have seen her as responsible." Empress Han replied, "you don't realise it just yet that everything that has transpired could have only been orchestrated by someone who is close and knows us well." She said.

             Qing Yi kept quiet.

             "But why would Consort Han do this, it's not like she'd benefit and this is her only nephew for the time being so certainly why would she harm him knowing that she's barren." Qing Yi inquired.

              "His Majesty's favour." Empress Han replied.

              "It couldn't be." Qing Yi defended.

               "His Majesty hardly called on her in years, a single night with him has changed her the way she conducted herself at the morning salutation rubbing it in my face I am only thankful that this case can't rest in my own hands I would also support His Majesty to have it forwarded to the State Tribunal." Empress Han said.

             "Your Highness......" Qing Yi protested.

             "I only hope that Her Highness doesn't let me down, I hope that she doesn't forsake whatsoever little hope I have in her." Empress Han said, "only this way can I be so comfortable to ease the doubt that's stirring within my soul." She confirmed confidently and Qing Yi bowing her head she withdrew from the room leaving the Empress alone.

           Lady Cao already at the Xuanmiao Temple she stood there at the top and in a distance she gazed at the beautiful scenery in her saffron and scarlet robes.

             A man approached her all of a sudden bearing a hat on his head that kept his face hidden and sighing she seemed to notice his presence.

             "What is it?" She inquired.

             "Can I not see you Ma'am?" The man replied and turning around to see who it was she recognized the man in front of her as her foster father.

            "You finally considered my kind invitation." Lady Cao muttered.

            "I never thought that you'd be ousted out of the palace, you seemed confident a short while ago." Minister Cao replied.

            "But you aren't here to tell me this simply." Lady Cao said.

            "Let's get in first." Minister Cao muttered and Lady Cao listening the two of them got into a room and they sat down.

           "Tell me." Lady Cao demanded.

           "There's a scandal in the Palace, I heard that the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun was poisoned." Minister Cao replied.

            "Is it so?" Lady Cao inquired.

            "Apparently His Majesty was furious and he forwarded this case to the State Tribunal to be investigated." Minister Cao replied.

            "Yet they won't get the real culprit." Lady Cao said.

            "How sure can you be?" Minister Cao inquired.

            "None of them know Lady Yang like I do, yet the mere fact that I ended up here I am living testimony to that but don't halt any of our plans." Lady Cao replied.

            "How can we proceed with you out of the Palace?" Minister Cao inquired.

            "This could perhaps be a blessing to us in disguise, after all Lady Yang might devote her all to contend with the Empress and her sister in our own absence but on the bright side, she'll be clearing the palace of some of our greatest foes." Lady Cao replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.

            "But what will that make her?" Minister Cao inquired.

            "We aren't as strong this ample time will make us but fate has it that the ultimate battle of her life isn't between herself and the Empress but with me." Lady Cao replied.

            "The Imperial Prince was poisoned?" Han Touzhou inquired.

            "It so seems." Lin Xue replied.

             "I find it so strange." Han Touzhou muttered.

             "How come?" Lin Xue inquired.

             "Strangely enough the same thing that happened to the Grand Empress Dowager happened to the Imperial Prince and most likely the heir of the Dynasty it's a little bit awkward." Han Touzhou muttered.

            "But the previous Lady Investigators were held accountable and the person that was saved from that awful encounter was the Lady Yang, as it is rumoured she might be the Emperor's favourite but he's hardly spent a night with her henceforth they haven't until now consummated their marriage." Lin Xue said.

              "Is it so?" Han Touzhou inquired.

               "I was reliably informed." Lin Xue replied, "just yesterday His Majesty spent the night with Consort Han, the Empress didn't seem happy it might be that the Empress feels slightly uneasy about her sister." She added.

             "I see." Han Touzhou muttered.

              "What should we do?" Lin Xue inquired, "I heard that this case was transferred to the Imperial State Tribunal and it involves our people." He added.

            "They'd do well to listen to the Empress." Han Touzhou muttered.

            "Why Your Excellency?" Lin Xue asked.

            "My nieces barely tell me anything else these days and on the other hand recently it might seem that Zhao Ruyu has become too big of a thorn in our flesh." Han Touzhou replied, "get our people ready." He ordered.

            "Yes." Lin Xue replied and bowing his head he withdrew from the room.

           The officers of the Imperial State Tribunal gathered in a room and about five in number they each sat down at the same table with an officer at the forefront chairing the meeting.

            "We just received an Imperial command from the Grand Secretariat from the Emperor." He said.

             "What is it Officer Jiang Chen?" One asked.

             "You have all heard that the Imperial Prince was poisoned by equally the same people that poisoned the Grand Empress Dowager and His Majesty feels that the force of the Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Palace is insufficient and this is a capital threat to the Imperial Dynasty we are to be granted the permission to go into the harem and carry out our Investigations." Officer Jiang replied.

            "What is it that we are going to do?" One asked.

            "As long as it happened in the harem the victim has to be a concubine or a Eunuch, a Lady in waiting or a cook within the kitchens we are to investigate all the people that moved out to purchase edibles, fruits and vegetables including all those suppliers that were involved and the entire Palace is to be excommunicated from the outside world." The Officer Jiang replied.

            "Yes Sir." Everyone replied in unison as they stood up.

            "Officer Lan you'll handle the suppliers, Officer Wen you'll handle the kitchen staff, Officer Rui you'll handle the Eunuchs, Officer Liang you'll handle the Ladies in waiting and I shall personally handle the Concubines and Consorts." Officer Jiang ordered and at once they each bowed their heads to him and got out while he remained inside with his subordinate.

            They walked out a short while later and in the Courtyard a force of Imperial guards had gathered.

            "We have to prevent  anyone from leaving the Palace in our every endeavours." The Officer in charge said.

            "Don't worry about a thing Your Excellency." His subordinate Xiang Mu replied as he turned around and faced the rest of the Imperial guards.

           "You are all to surround the harem and ensure that no one gets out." He ordered  and in every possible formation they scattered each as they charged towards the palace while Officer Jiang accompanied by Xiang Mu descended the stairs that led to the exit.

          Qing Yi rushed into the Empress' chambers.

         "The Imperial guards have surrounded the harem and the tribunal officers have been granted the Emperor's permission to infiltrate the Inner Palace." She muttered.

          "Those that attempted to kill the Grand Empress Dowager were never caught and Lady Yang could ultimately hate framed yet again.

          "Wouldn't that be very good Your Highness?" Qing Yi inquired.

          "I might be selfish to use it as a way to get rid of my foes because I would be risking the life of my child if my dear Prince's murderer isn't caught." Empress Han replied. 

          "Your Highness means to protect her?" Qing Yi inquired.

        "It's not like I trust her as well but if I must then yes." Empress Han replied.

          Manyin standing outside the gates of Lady Yang's palace were flung open and the Imperial guards immediately rushed in and surrounded the whole small compound.

            "What are you doing here?" Manyin asked and raising the seal that had been granted to them, she bowed her head.

            "We are here on an Imperial order, all entrances and exits in and out of the harem shall be monitored from now on by us." The man replied.

             "Pardon me." Manyin said as she apologised sincerely.

             "If you did nothing wrong, there's no reason for you to fear as we are here to maintain law and order and that is by protecting each one of you against the evil ploys and machinations of another." The man muttered.

             Lady Yang seated inside Xiaoyang rushed in.

            "Ma'am it is I." She announced herself as she made her way closer to Lady Yang's presence who was quietly staring at the table before her.

             "What's with all that noise?" She inquired.

             "Imperial guards from the State Tribunal are here to conduct an inspection, in the mean time all residences within the Palace shall be monitored and movements across restricted." Xiaoyang replied.

             "It has already started." Lady Yang muttered.

             "What has?" Xiaoyang asked.

             "The hour is nigh." Lady Yang replied.

             "Will Consort Han be held responsible?" Xiaoyang inquired.

             "Even if they turned the Palace upside down they wouldn't possibly find a thing after all, she was successful in poisoning the Grand Empress Dowager and she got away with it cleanly to get her easily this time will be very doubtful a simple piece of evidence could only save her the doom we have laid ahead." Lady Yang replied.

             "But only evidence can send Consort Han to the depths of hell." Xiaoyang said.

             "Don't be too afraid, the most devious of schemes will be much more sufficient to shatter the relationship between the Empress and Her, it is only then that the Her Highness will have no choice but to fear her own sister." Lady Yang replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.

             "What?" Consort Han asked, "Imperial guards of the State Tribunal?" She inquired.

             "Yes." Liaoren replied.

             "It must be a matter related to the Imperial Prince's illness, the way that the Empress spoke to me earlier when we saw the Prince, it gave me the feeling that perhaps she suspects me to be responsible." Consort Han muttered.

             "Nonetheless Your Highness, you didn't do any such thing so probably, you shouldn't feel so worried, I heard that the security is just as tight amongst all the other Consorts and Concubines." Liaoren replied.

             "I wish it was that easy." Consort Han muttered, "you know my sister too little." She added.

             "You mean to say that Her Highness would harm her own son to get at you?" Liaoren asked.

            "I hope it doesn't get to that." Consort Han replied.

            Empress Han still impatiently waiting the doors of her Chambers were flung open and Officer Jiang walked in and bowed his head to her.

            "You dare to walk in." Qing Yi scolded.

            "Pardon me Your Highness but I am here on an Imperial command." Officer Jiang replied.

             "So in cutting off the harem you mean to also investigate me?" Empress Han asked.

             "It might sound offensive but for the sake of the Imperial family and so as to extinguish any form of rumour mongering that could turn the palace upside down I am obliged as a way of protecting Your Highness as well." Officer Jiang replied, "in any case as the State Tribunal to us everyone including the victim are subject to the law of suspect and for that case even the Imperial Prince's residence itself shall have to be carefully investigated." He confirmed.

            "You..." Qing Yi infuriated and about to scold him she was halted by the Empress.

            "Do whatever it takes, I don't care if you have to turn this Palace upside down to leave no stone unturned but you must find out something concerning my son's I'll health." She allowed them and at once the officers rushed in and they started inspecting everything inside.

             The residences were checked thoroughly and clothes but with hardly a single trace of aconite in them, the gathered outside and they reported to the officers.

             Officer Jiang set his table outside in the Courtyard and every department reporting to him they found nothing while he recorded everything down keenly.

            "We've searched high and low Your Excellency, but there's nothing in the Palace." Xiang Mu remarked.

            "Of course theirs nothing." Officer Jiang replied.

             "Then what should we do?" Xiang Mu inquired.

             "Keep a close eye on each of the Concubines and Consorts and don't make it known to them that they are being watched, we shall now interrogate the members of the kitchen." Officer Jiang replied and Xiang Mu bowing his head he moved out of the tent leaving the young man alone and puzzled.

             "What?" Princess Qi'an asked, "poison in the Palace?" She inquired.

             "The Imperial Prince Zhao Jun hasn't regained consciousness until now yet there's a rigorous search that's going on in there." Lanhui replied aloud while Shi Miyuan who was seated at a distance overheard the two.

            "Such a poor innocent young boy, who would be so cruel?" Princess Qi'an muttered as she turned to her husband.

             "The harem and what goes on isn't any of our business of course but the Emperor's." Shi Miyuan replied, "it's worse if we outsiders interfere." He cautioned.

             "But you are now a Marquis and aside from that a part of the Dynasty moreso a Minister of Rites." Princess Qi'an Said.

             "And what assurance is there that to His Majesty any of my suggestions is welcome?" Shi Miyuan inquires and the Princess kept quiet hearing this coming from his mouth.

              "It's safer this way Your Highness as you are no longer Zhao but Shi which I am so sure you know by now, as long as all the concerned parties are involved we shall keep our own distance and I shall only interfere if it concerns His Majesty's safety and nothing else." Shi Miyuan assured her while she seemed to understand from his tone how serious he was.

           Emperor Ningzong seated in his study Eunuch Deng walked in bearing a tray in his hands.

          "Your Majesty, please have something to eat." He said.

          "What has the Tribunal found out?" Emperor Ningzong inquired.

          "Nothing." Eunuch Deng replied, "the officers are still carrying out their Investigations and any time soon I believe that the culprit shall come to justice." He added.

          "No." Emperor Ningzong replied, "who in the world could have done this?" He asked himself and leaning against his table he massaged his temples.

            "It's hard to tell." Eunuch Deng replied.

            "Perhaps they would be intending to frame Lady Yang as they did before but the Empress I trust wouldn't harm her own son, no mother in the world would, there's certainly someone benefiting from this commotion but it's very hard to tell who they could definitely be." Emperor Ningzong said.

            "Don't think too much about it Your Majesty, what matters is that the Imperial Prince is safe at the moment and out of danger." Eunuch Deng remarked, "though I heard that the Palace is in arms ever since you spent the night with Consort Han it likely this is merely a rumour intended to increase the excitement within the harem." He added.

            "Just tell the officers to keep me updated." Emperor Ningzong said.

            "But can we trust them Your Majesty?" Eunuch Deng asked.

            "It's a child of Han Touzhou that was involved so clearly they have to be his allies, all the more they shall be determined to bring the culprit to justice." Emperor Ningzong replied.

            "But the Imperial Prince didn't die it's something to be cautious about after all, if all the parties involved belong to one loyalty this could equally be a move that could innocently disadvantage another party." Eunuch Deng replied.

             "Then we'll keep a very close eye on them." Emperor Ningzong said.

            "As you wish Sire." Eunuch Deng replied.

             Officer Jiang still seated in his tent all of a sudden Xiang Mu approached him.

             "Did you find anything?" He inquired.

             "It so seems." Xiang Mu replied.

             "What did you learn of?" Officer Jiang asked.

             "Come this way with me Your Excellency." Xiang Mu replied and the young man followed him while he was led to the household department and mounting the stairs they walked into a room that was filled with records which had been piled onto a table.

            "What's this?" Officer Jiang inquired.

            "We might be a little bit late." Xiang Mu replied, "looking at these records I learnt that there's something odd and none of them match the records of purchase at any of the shops in the capital and the Palace suppliers including other things outside the edible being both clothes and ornaments alongside the cosmetics." He added.

            "Perhaps they are tampered with by the record keepers." Officer Jiang said.

             "Maybe." Xiang Mu muttered.

             "Yet it wouldn't seem to me as the sole explanation." Officer Jiang said, "what about the people that are in charge of bringing in these supplies?" He inquired.

            "Most of these just collect what was ordered ahead of time they wouldn't know what they are bringing into the Palace much as we are Interrogating a majority including the Eunuchs however there's one person that is known within the palace as an ordinary water maid but surprisingly we couldn't find their name anywhere in the Palace staff registrar." Xiang Mu replied.

            "How come?" Officer Jiang inquired.

             "A number of people seem to point out that she was close and worked with the Consort Han though in the past couple of days they have hardly seen her around the harem moreso anywhere in the Palace it's as though she vanished out of the blue yet the Pure Consort doesn't seem concerned at all." Xiang Mu replied.

           "Where was she last seen?" Officer Jiang asked.

            "One of the palace maids claims that it wasn't so far from the Imperial Prince's residence but if the Prince was poisoned yesterday, her prior disappearance and the time of the incident don't seem to add up." Xiang Mu muttered.

            "Says who?" Officer Jiang inquired while he seemed to realise something that he immediately rushed out of the building.

            "Your Excellency?" Xiang Mu shouted as he rushed after him but the latter having reached outside there were a couple of guards that were waiting for him.

            "All units." He said and they came together.

            "Yes Sir." They shouted in unison.

            "Surround the main Palace." He ordered and at once marching out they heed his command while Lady Yang still seated in her room was feeling uneasy she clenched her fists.

            "Will you understand this Officer Jiang?" She asked herself and in that silent a mild darkness within the room the force had arrived at the main Palace and Emperor Ningzong caught off guard the man stood in front of the doors where he was halted by Lan He.

            "I am here to report to His Majesty." He said.

             "With Imperial guards is it perhaps your intention to rebel?" He inquired.

             "It's very important and I promise you it isn't so." Officer Jiang replied and Lan He looking at him he asked him to wait for a while as he rushed in ahead of him.

           "What's with all that fuss?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

             "Officer Jiang Your Majesty, he wishes to report something to you." Lan He replied.

            "Let him in." Emperor Ningzong agreed and marching out a short while later Officer Jiang rushed in front of him and he bowed his head to him.

            "You wished to see me." Emperor Ningzong said.

            "We have exhausted every effort and looked in every nook and cranny within the harem but the real culprit behind the Imperial Prince's attempted murder isn't there there's only one place they could hide within this Palace." Officer Jiang replied.

            "Is their such a safe place?" Emperor Ningzong acquired.

            "Camouflage is what best saves an animal in danger our most likely suspect isn't included on the registrar of the Palace staff but the mere fact that the Grand Empress was a victim to a similar accident and now the Crown Prince, both Palaces were searched high and low we failed nonetheless not because we were incompetent but this such criminal doesn't exist everywhere we have looked." Officer Jiang replied.

            "So where is it that they could be?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

            "The last place we'd suspect them to be Your Majesty, the only safe place within the Palace is it's heart Sire, your main Palace." Officer Jiang replied.

            "What do you need?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

            "Your permission Sire." Officer Jiang replied, "grant us your blessing to search and interrogate your staff, Eunuch Deng inclusive." He added as he looked at him.

            "So be it." Emperor Ningzong replied and officer Jiang bowing his head they immediately got out of the room and started rounding up all the Eunuchs and Ladies in waiting.

             Officer Jiang pulled Xiang Mu to the side.

            "I need a portrait of what this missing Court Lady looks like." He whispered to him.

            "I'll have it arranged right away." Xiang Mu replied as he quickly rushed to it and left his master mobilizing the others to be checked.

Everyone had gathered and with the posters that had been drawn they slowly started to inspect the entire staff.

Officer Jiang walked into the narrow hallway of the Palace where a large number of Eunuchs had been lined up each of them looking at him upright while he walked past still discontent he chased that group away and waited for another.

"You are looking for a woman, why do you need to inspect the Eunuchs as well?" Eunuch Deng inquired.

"A man could be a woman a woman could be a man, what matters is that for one to exist it's possible that the latter has to vanish or the vice versa but whichever the case is the one thing they couldn't possibly do in the whole world is to lie to me." Officer Jiang replied and the next group having settled in a single file he started to tread in front of them one by one.

"One of you belongs to the harem and isn't supposed to exist here." He said aloud, "one of you has blood attached to their hands." He added furiously the young Eunuchs seemed startled as he stopped in his footsteps, "one of you is the biggest sinner in the Dynasty." He remarked and turning around he looked at a young boy who seemed frightened that he kept his head low.

"Who are you young man?" He inquired but the latter with his hands tucked tightly within his sleeves he tried to refrain himself from saying a thing while Eunuch Deng inspecting one of the portraits he found the eyes to be closely familiar to the young man who suddenly started to bleed from the mouth and everyone watching including Officer Jiang they saw him falling to the ground and with his hands around his own neck, everyone was driven into a panic that Xiang Mu hurried over.

"Your Excellency?" He called to Officer Jiang who knelt down to take his pulse and realising it at that moment he clenched his fists and punched the nearby pillar with his right hand.

"He deliberately did it and had the poison hidden behind his teeth." Officer Jiang said as he stood up.

"Who knew?" Eunuch Deng remarked.

"We shall report this to His Majesty." Xiang Mu replied.

"No." Officer Jiang replied as he stood up.

"There's nothing more that we can do, he was the last clue that we had." Xiang Mu muttered.

"Search his room." Officer Jiang muttered and at once the guards scattered they rushed towards the Eunuch's Chambers and arriving at the entrance of a very small room, they kicked down the doors open and led by Officer Jiang they charged inside.

"Though crumped up the place seemed tidy but the furious men in search for evidence they totally destroyed everything one by one they turned the whole place upside down ripping the curtains and breaking the drawers they looked for all papers that they could find and shuffled through the clothes of the deceased wrecking havoc and throwing down lamp stands until eventually checking under the small bed with his hand Xiang Mu seemed to notice something.

"I have found something Sir." He informed officer Jiang who rushed over with a couple of more Imperial guards and pushing away the bed they noticed that there was a small carpet underneath it which they stared at intensely.

"What is a carpet doing underneath the bed?" Xiang Mu asked.

"Remove it." Officer Jiang replied and at once the guards behind him lifting the crimson carpet from the ground they revealed a set of wooden tiles which the officer knelt down and started knocking one by one with the help of the others until he finally felt one of them to be strange that he stopped.

"What happened Your Excellency?" Xiang Mu inquired.

"It's hollow." Officer Jiang replied as he held it and lifting it from the ground there was a small compartment which had a small casket within.

Xiang Mu and another officer helped him pull out the casket and studying it intensely, it had a padlock that was attached to it.

"Bring it out." Officer Jiang ordered and at once bearing the casket in their hands, his officers took it outside where all the others including Eunuch Deng had been situated and one of the guards bearing a hammer in his possession he struck the padlock which fell off and the young men opening it there were a couple of objects and jars each containing aconite while additionally in that same trunk there happened to be a cream piece of paper.

"What's this?" Xiang Mu asked and slowly officer Jiang opened the paper and with his eyes he perused through it's contents and seemed rather unable to contain his shock.

"What happened?" Xiang Mu asked.

"Have all units on standby." Officer Jiang replied, "prepare to bring Consort Han's staff into questioning." He said.

"Pure Consort Han?" Eunuch Deng inquired.

"Yes." Officer Jiang replied as he clenched his fists and marched away from the scene.

"Ma'am it is I." Xiaoyang muttered as she made her way into Lady Yang's Chambers.

"Come in closer." Lady Yang said to her while she seemed rather excited.

"Pardon me but there's something urgent." Xiaoyang muttered.

"What is it?" Lady Yang inquired.

"Consort Han's Palace staff, they have all been ceased." Xiaoyang replied and hearing this the latter seemed pleased.

"God willing, I hope so," Lady Yang said as she stood up from where she was seated, "today, the harem will go through the mill, but I am hereby to decide who burns and who doesn't." She added as she smiled at herself ghastly.