STRONG ARM TACTICS

           Yang Jieyu in her quarters Xiaoyang walked in.

           "Ma'am, Marquis Yang is here to see you." She said to her.

           "Let him in." As usual she acquiesced and the old man walking in he stopped in front of her and bowed his head.

           "Ma'am." He Said.

           "I was hoping that you would turn up sooner or later." Yang Jieyu muttered. 

           "And seeing that I have come here I am certain that you must know what I am here to talk about." Yang Cishan asserted.

           "Please have a seat." She said gracefully and the latter complied.

            "I have been thinking about your offer and after much deliberation, I agree, I shall become your long lost brother and you Ma'am my long lost sister." He Said.

            "That's good enough." Yang Jieyu said, "you must have heard the good news that I sent over you shall have to forgive me for being a bit too excited myself but I couldn't wait any longer." She said.

            "Surely." He replied.

            "I didn't have the chance to personally congratulate you upon being a First Rank Marquis and ultimately the Minister of War but at least seeing that you are rather happy my heart feels easy." She said.

            "There's no need Ma'am, you of all people know why I made this choice." He said.

            "You might be unwilling but I can open my heart to you it's good to at least have someone in the world that I could share with something in common for example an enemy." She said.

            "You have manipulated His Majesty well enough Ma'am I doubt that there shall be a day he'll see through you but I swear that as you have confined me to this power and set for me a table amongst my enemies if harm is to befall the young clan in any way then I shall mangle your neck with my two hands." He Said.

            "Hopefully we shall never see that day as long as we live but putting everything behind us your sister raised me that I am now feeling obliged to finally belong to her heritage I was merely grateful that such had to be my good fate." She remarked.

            "Is that it?" He asked.

            "His Majesty a couple of days ago passed an oral decree that he'd pardon the descendants of the traitors and recall them into service in the government and strangely enough Han Touzhou and his faction because of excitement over the Empress Mother's return to the Palace agreed they will be shocked but shall do nothing when it gets back at them, all I am going to ask you to do is to be a loyal citizen and you shall live well." Yang Jieyu replied.

           "Alright." Yang Cishan said.

           "Don't worry, in a couple of days you will get the welcome of an Imperial relative that you deserve and I assure you that day you'll worship and thank me." Yang Jieyu said and smiling at him she picked the cup of tea in front of her and giving him a toast he didn't return she sipped at it before she placed it back onto the table.

           Cao Jieyu patiently seated in her room Linxiang walked in.

           "Ma'am?" She said bowing her head.

           "What happened?" She inquired.

           "There's a rumour going on in the Inner Court." She replied.

           "And what does it say?" Cao Jieyu asked.

           "His Majesty apparently issued an Imperial Decree recalling Yang Cishan into the government as a Minister of War and additionally declaring him a First Rank Marquis." Linxiang replied, "it must have something to do with Yang Jieyu." She asserted while the other thinking about it she smiled.

           "The Cao family and the Yang family." She muttered, "it seems that we are so much alike in our thoughts after all." She claimed.

          "How come Ma'am?" Linxiang asked.

          "Since the founding of the dynasty Emperors have always taken Empresses from Generals' families and first it was to initially weaken their Military influence even though consequently it became a way to pacify them into offering their allegiance." She replied.

          "You mean to say.....?" Linxiang asked.

          "Sooner or later the Ministers might as well learn that she's indirectly making a formal declaration that she plans to contest for the Empress' throne." She replied.

           "How come when the Empress is still alive?" She asked.

           "She's only an Empress as long as the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun is designated as the heir apparent, once that happens she won't even be in the position to guard her crown naturally she shall only be waiting for death." Cao Jieyu replied.

           "Ma'am, we'd better identify our stand as well, sooner or later I think it wise for us to make Lady Yin the official wife of His Excellency." She muttered.

           "We can't just possibly make that happen like the Empress she should first perish." Cao Jieyu said.

           "Ma'am, I trust that by now we should have gained experience in doing that." She muttered.

           "If we are hasty then I fear that we'll be figured out soon it is therefore important that in our best efforts we make her take her own life." Cao Jieyu muttered as she smiled at herself.

           "Yes Ma'am." Linxiang agreed.

           Yang Jieyu having returned to the Palace for a moment walking through the harem she halted when she gazed at the pavilion and noticed that the Imperial Prince and the Empress Mother were seated and taking lessons together.

          "Ma'am?" Manyin called as she seemed rather surprised.

          "The Empress Mother and the Imperial Prince take lessons together?" She asked.

          "That's not all." Manyin replied, "he seems to be more calm around her these days even in everything that he does Ma'am that they have grown so close ever since she returned to the Palace." She replied.

           "Really?" Yang Jieyu inquired.

           "Yes Ma'am." She confirmed and hearing this Yang Jieyu walking up to the pavilion where the two were seated and recognizing her presence they turned their attention to her.

           "Your Highness." She greeted the Empress Mother.

           "Yang Jieyu?" She said rather surprised while the young woman turned to the little boy and drew closer to him.

           "My Prince......." She was saying as she carried her hand to try and caress his head but he immediately showed his protest by turning away and withdrawing from close proximity to her.

           "You shall have to pardon him, we are still getting over a couple of things." The Empress Mother remarked.

           "I see Your Highness." She replied.

           "However I am more surprised that you're here." Empress Li said.

          "I happened to be passing by Your Highness and I noticed the both of you, the palace could get lonely and boring at times but etiquette is etiquette I thought it could only be right if I offered you as my mother in law and the matriarch of the family a formal salutation." She replied.

          "No worries, there was already the daily greeting." The Empress replied.

          "And seeing that both Your Highness and the Prince are fine I shall not bother you any longer." She said as she bowed her head to take her leave when the Empress ceased the Crown Prince who was already infuriated but was struggling so hard not to show it.

           "Patience Your Highness." The Empress said, "you must become strong." She muttered.

           "Yes Your Highness." He replied.

           "Until the day you are strong enough to gain justice for your mother you must persevere, understood." She muttered while he fell silent.

           "Understood?" She demanded his response again.

           "Yes Your Highness." He succumbed.

           Yang Jieyu having negotiated a corner she immediately halted in her footsteps.

           "Summon Beiyuan to my Chambers." She said to Manyin and the latter breaking from her Retinue she went her way.

           Seated in her Chambers Beiyuan walked into her presence and sat down in front of her.

            "You called for me Ma'am?" He inquired.

            "How far with the search for a suitable Prince?" She asked.

            "So far so good, the search has led us to a couple of people." He said as he laid in front of her three profiles.

            "These are the best you deem fit?" She asked.

            "Zhao Yuan is a Prince who is about eight years, he is morally cultivated but he is somewhat proud by nature and he is quite good when it comes to poetry but other subjects like History he is not well versed, Zhao Jing is a fast learner and he is humble in nature but he is only mature in his conduct yet not so intelligent and then there's the youngest of them, Zhao Xun." He said.

           "What about him?" She asked.

           "He lost his mother and was raised by his father alone." He replied.

            "Zhao Xun, how interesting!" Yang Jieyu muttered.

             "He's the best of the three candidates and the most remarkable student in his class as well as the youngest. All his teachers love him dearly, he is well versed with Confucian teachings and he is beloved by a number of people, he is very gentle and humble and he never boasts despite being an Imperial Child but what's most amazing was that he is rumoured to have grasped well enough the ART OF WAR." Beiyuan muttered.

             "Really!" She exclaimed, "At his age?" She wondered.

             "He is a prodigy and allegedly his father married a lowly woman to distance himself from any political disputes however if you adopt him Ma'am then I am certain that it shall spark off a lot of opposition." Beiyuan replied.

             "He's lowly and that's good enough to silence those Courtiers and let alone with the people that we have behind us Han Touzhou would realise sooner or later that he can't stand a chance against us." Yang Jieyu replied.

              "If you're determined Ma'am then I won't stop you." Beiyuan said.

             "We need to rile up the Court especially the Empress Mother." She said.

             "I see." Beiyuan replied.

             "Today I noticed with my own eyes that the Empress Mother is taking classes with him and he has in deed grown fond of her he was resentful when I extended my gratitude which by nature could only mean that she's starting to exert her influence over him." Yang Jieyu said.

            "That said Ma'am, it is necessary that we become very cautious because it is rather hard to tell what they shall be capable to doing." Beiyuan said.

            "That's why I called you here." Yang Jieyu replied, "Manyin and Xiaoyang can handle everything within the palace I want you to help me mobilize Master Bao and all the others to keep a close eye on those of her previous supporters and inform me if there's anything amiss." She said.

            "Yes Ma'am." Beiyuan replied as he exited the room.

            In the middle of the night Empress Li fleeing the palace secretly, she met up with her men in a rather small cottage where they were waiting for her.

            "Your Highness." They greeted her.

            "Did you do what I had asked?" She inquired.

            "We sold as much to be in the position to raise one million golden taels." Minister Cao replied.

            "Well done." She said as she looked at Liu Zhan who placed on the table around which they were seated an envelope.

            "This was the private property that was owned by my parents and being their last surviving descendant of my generation it is land that is extensive enough on the outskirts and hidden within the mountains along with some villas within the capital, I trust that you shall use it to train our own personal troops until the time is right." She said.

           "Yes Your Highness." They replied in unison.

           "Yang Jieyu's power has significantly grown in the Imperial Court it's high time that we rooted out her influence once and for all." She said.

           "Han Touzhou seems to be working on it Your Highness." Minister Xue said.

            "Keep me updated on everything and remember this stays between us." The Empress said.

            "Yes Your Highness." They all replied in unison while the Empress mother smiled at herself.

            Linxiang in the mean time sneaking someone into the palace she moved up to Cao Jieyu's room.

            "Lady Yin is here to see you Ma'am." She announced.

            "Let her in." Cao Jieyu said as she prepared herself adequately to receive the old woman who moving up to her beheld her once and bowed her head to show her respects.

            "There's no need for formalities Ma'am, tell me what you have found out?" She inquired and the latter sitting in front of her for a moment she seemed hesitant she eventually mastered the courage to speak up.

             "Pardon me Ma'am, now that I see Master Cao is in deed quite suspicious he loves home in the wee hours of the morning or very late at night and he does so secretly however I can't seem to follow him." She replied.

            "Really?" Cao Jieyu inquired.

            "Recently he sold nearly half of his own property and I don't know what he is bound to use the money for but seeing that he seemed desperate to have the money in three days surely it must be important." Lady Yin replied.

           "Surely, that's very much like him." She said.

           "What should we do Ma'am?" Linxiang asked.

           "Just keep watching him." Cao Jieyu said to her mother.

            "Yes Ma'am." She replied as she stood up and bowed her head withdrawing from the room it so happened that Linxiang got closer.

            "Our men are keeping a close eye out for Minister Cao." She whispered.

            "Tell them to report everything he does in detail." She ordered.

            "Yes Ma'am." She replied.

             Emperor Ningzong in his study Eunuch Deng walked in.

            "Your Majesty, Yang Jieyu is here requesting to have an audience with you." He said.

             "Let her in." He said and the latter turned up in front of him smartly dressed that for a moment he couldn't keep his eyes off her.

             "Mei'er...." He stuttered while she got closer.

             "Your Majesty." She responded as she offered her salutations.

             "What are you doing here?" he asked.

            "I heard that Your Majesty hasn't had his meals and that you have been busy since morning that I had to stop by." She said.

             "It's nothing that much." He said.

              "I won't feel at ease because Your Majesty tells me." She said as she got closer to him and putting down the brush he closed the memorial in front of himself and he looked at her.

             "But now that you are here I do not feel so Lonely." He said.

             "I heard that Your Majesty summoned the Grand Secretary." She said.

             "Tomorrow I trust Yang Cishan shall receive the Imperial Decree." He said.

             "I know that Your Majesty but I wasn't here on that issue in particular." She said as she looked him in the eye while he on the other hand wondered what it was that she was talking about.

             "What is it?" The Emperor asked.

             "About the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun." She replied and the Emperor's face went a bit pale.

             "Is it so?" He inquired.

             "I understand that the Empress had her faults but I am sure that without a sight of you as his father he might be lonely and I worry for her Highness the Empress Mother so much that she is always burdened looking after him." She replied.

             "You have such a warm heart." He remarked.

             "He is Your Majesty's eldest son therefore he is equally another son to me as well, I can't blame him for the transgressions of his mother my heart bleeds with so much concern." Yang Jieyu replied.

             "I'll see him." The Emperor promised.

             "I also have another request Your Majesty." She said.

             "What is it?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

             "Taking classes by himself the Imperial Prince must be quite lonely that I am equally concerned, he needs a playmate and a classmate as well, I thought that I should if Your Majesty permits adopt a Prince as an Imperial son from the Imperial Clan." She replied.

             "Really?" The Emperor asked.

             "I particularly had that there's an Imperial Prince who is orphaned and his father married from a lower class of people to prevent disputes for the throne he won't be considered by the Courtiers a political threat and what's even better is that he is a prodigy at merely six years Your Majesty I wouldn't wish for him to waste his talents.

            When I think about it, someone as intelligent as he is could motivate the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun in his Imperial studies and at the very least he will even be closer to him where I might fail." Yang Jieyu said and the Emperor letting go of her hand thought it through.

            "But if Your Majesty thinks that it's rather impulsive of me and unwise then even if you decline I won't have a problem." She said.

            "Why are you always like this?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

            "What does Your Majesty mean?" Yang Jieyu inquired.

            "You are always looking out for others and I love this about you." He replied.

            "It's nothing Your Majesty." She said but the latter only more enamored by her he pulled her closer while she hugged him tightly.

            "As long as I can see Your Majesty smile everyday then my heart shall always be content, that way I can also be happy deep down in me heart and I can long for and ask for nothing." She claimed.

             "I don't know what I could possibly do without you Mei'er." He muttered.

             "I shall see the Prince Zhao Xun tomorrow and I shall report back to you, who knows, you might like him as well." She said.

             "Do that." The Emperor muttered while she smiled at herself ghastly.

            Stepping outside the hall, she came across the Empress Mother who happened to be on her way to the Emperor.

           "Your Highness." She greeted her.

           "You seem rather." excited she said.

           "Who knows better than myself to smile in this Palace Your Highness and seeing that we have met so much since morning we seem to think alike." She remarked.

            "Is that so?" The Empress Li asked.

            "I see the Imperial Prince is so close to you these days as though you were his mother, he must surely resent me." Yang Jieyu whispered.

            "Don't overthink it." The Empress Li said.

            "If Your Highness insists after all I know that of all people in the world it is your word that I can trust the most." She said.

            "You can count on that." She replied.

            "His Majesty is in a very good mood today even if he is exhausted, Your Highness can either make him feel better or you could make him feel worse." Yang Jieyu said and bowing her head she walked past the Empress who shrugged and she also continued her own way.

            Empress Li walking into the room she came face to face with her son that was seated and lost in his thoughts.

            "Mother!" He said quite surprised by her presence.

            "I happened to come across Yang Jieyu on my way here." She muttered.

            "She was merely concerned about the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun." Emperor Ningzong replied, "she was only talking to me to see him a bit more often and she pleaded that she adopt a child from the Imperial Clan to act as his playmate." He said.

            "Really...?" The Empress asked.

            "Any other woman in her place would think barely of the little young boy but the fact that she puts him at heart she really is remarkable." The Emperor commented.

           "She certainly has a big heart." Empress Li said.

           "I heard that you are very close with the Prince these days I can't help but wonder how he is doing." The Emperor muttered.

           "He is fine." Empress Li replied.

           "Officer Jiang in his office his subordinate rushed in holding a piece of paper in his hand which he laid on the table.

            "What's this?" The young man inquired.

            "It's an emergency message." He replied while the latter taking up the envelope he keenly studied it for a moment before opening it and pulling out the letter to read it's contents.

            In a short while he furiously smacked it onto the table.

           "What's this?" He asked.

           "Please calm down Your Excellency." They told him.

           "Muster our men." He ordered, "go out and search the White Deer Grotto Academy." He said.

           "Yes." The latter replied as he got out of the room and walking up to the heart of the State Tribunal where it's Imperial troops were gathered, he mounted the stairs that led to the raised platform.

            "Here this you loyal soldiers of the Nation." He muttered, "search the White Deer Grotto Academy in Lushan and leave no stone unturned." He ordered.

            "Yes Sir." They replied in unison and at that very moment in their formations they moved out of the gates while the others rode through.

            Han Touzhou in his study Lin Xue walked in a short while later.

           "Your Excellency." He spoke to the latter that was eager to know what was transpiring beyond gis walls.

           "Tell me." He demanded.

           "The Officers of the State Tribunal are already on the move as we speak." He replied.

           "Let's see how that old fox will get out of this one." Han Touzhou muttered under his breath as he smiled at himself ghastly.

           The Imperial troops arriving outside the White Deer Grotto Academy they surrounded it entirely and barging through its gates they scattered across the Courtyard as they made their way into the Inner Most building.

            At the time Master Wengong hearing the fuss outside with a couple of his colleagues and fellow scholars they flung the doors open and they immediately marched out as they came face to face with the officer in Charge.

           "What's with all this commotion." Minister Wengong replied.

           "Pardon us Sir but we have been given a search warrant to search this entire area." The officer replied and immediately he had spoken the guards behind him charged ahead into the interior of the building while the latter was still rather confused.

             Moments later one of the soldiers returned with his friends.

             "We have discovered something Your Excellency." He reported and Master Wengong following them, they were led to the back of the main building where the soil had been dug to reveal a large number of boxes.

            "Open them." The officer in charge demanded and the moment they broke the seals and the padlocks, they saw a number of blunderbusses and other weapons.

            "What's this?" The officer asked as he turned to Master Wengong.

            "I have no idea......." The old man still in denial a couple of other guards moved onto the scene bearing in their possession a collection of books.

            "Your Excellency?" They called the officer in charge as they handed them over to him.

            "Ledgers and promissory notes, secret letters and all these weapons?" The man mentioned as he furiously looked at Master Wengong.

            "Cease him." He ordered but the latter's disciples in protest blocked the path of the soldiers who in turn stabbed them and speared them out of their way that blood spilled all over the place it was sufficient to set the other resistors in line.

             "Minister Zhu Xi you are hereby under arrest on charges of Conspiring against the throne and mobilising an underground resistance towards His Sovereign Majesty and the government." He announced while the old man hardly resisting allowed himself to be bound with strong red nylon ropes as he was dragged out of the school with some of his students.

             Emperor Ningzong who was reviewing his memorials was surprised when Eunuch Deng barged into the room all of a sudden disrupting the silence and his concentration that he turned his attention to him.

           "What's the matter with you?" He inquired from the fairly old man.

           "The Imperial Tutor Zhu Xi." He replied.

           "What about him?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

           "He has been taken in for Interrogation by the Imperial State Tribunal on the Charges of Treason as he conspired against the throne and mobilised an underground resistance towards His Sovereign Majesty and the government." He responded that the Emperor surprised he smacked the table and stood up.

           "How's that even possible?" He inquired.

           "I don't know." Eunuch Deng replied.

           "We're heading out to the State Tribunal now." He demanded and immediately walking out of the room, he was accompanied by his retinue.

           The Rest of the Imperial Palace up in arms the young Emperor made his way towards the Imperial State Tribunal and Officer Jiang alerted beforehand of his arrival he immediately rushed out of his office to greet the Emperor.

            "Your Majesty." He said.

            "Let's talk inside." Emperor Ningzong replied and leading the way the latter followed him while they settled in a room and from the Emperor's gaze, the young man could tell that his Sire was not pleased.

            "Your.........." He was saying when the latter halted him.

            "I am displeased for reasons that you should clearly know." He said.

            "Forgive me Your Majesty." Officer Jiang replied.

            "It's preposterous what I am hearing and knowing Minister Zhu Xi there's no way on earth and in Heaven he would do that." The Emperor said.

            "Does Your Majesty think so?" Officer Jiang inquired.

            "I know it well enough." Emperor Ningzong replied.

            "I wish that I had that much faith in people especially him as Your Majesty does, I wish that even the people outside there had that much faith in him, the Courtiers and the other lowly scholars from other academies and schools of thought." He muttered.

             "You shall release him this instant." He insisted.

            "I wish it was that simple Your Majesty." Officer Jiang replied and calling the others outside they carried a whole trunk and a couple of books with them along with other documents which they laid before the Emperor.

            "What's this you put before me?" He asked.

            "Your Majesty, in the backyard of the White Deer Grotto Academy we unearthed twenty trunks bearing two thousand blunderbusses and in his building we got these ledgers showing how the money was recorded and allocated to purchasing both these guns and the other weapons, the promissory notes and the letters between the rebels themselves Sire." Officer Jiang replied.

             The Emperor was dumbfounded.

            "I don't believe my eyes but this is concrete evidence and once the State Tribunal manages to interrogate those involved we shall surely have our answers but until then I ask that Your Majesty doesn't disdain me for as it is my duty I must protect you from rebels even against your will." Officer Jiang replied.

            After a while with Eunuch Deng and the others eagerly waiting for the Emperor outside he returned a short while later.

            "Your Majesty." The latter spoke with concern.

            "Let's return to the Grand Palace." He demanded.

            "Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied and with his Retinue, they departed from the place.

           "You can't be serious." Yang Jieyu said to Manyin.

            "I wish I wasn't Ma'am but it seems to be the truth." Manyin replied.

            "Treason, that's a preposterous accusation." She Said.

            "Apparently the Imperial soldiers of the Imperial State Tribunal through their intelligence they received news that the Neo-confucianists were plotting a revolt in secret and they moved up to the White Deer Grotto Academy, when they searched the place they found them in possession of two thousand up to date blunderbusses and other arrows, swords and Spears which is irrefutable proof." Manyin replied.

             "We were caught off guard." Yang Jieyu said.

             "I fear that you might be implicated Ma'am." Manyin said.

             "Han Touzhou wouldn't be that foolish after what transpired in the Palace against the Empress, he'd face public criticism as they might accuse him for trying to frame me to get even with the Empress' banishment and he knows His Majesty well enough to understand that an attack on me won't be something that he would believe it would only poison his delicate relationship with the Emperor." Yang Jieyu replied.

             "Then you mean to say that his target was solely the Neo-confucianists?" She inquired.

             "Master Wengong is very influential in society and our greatest aide in the Imperial Court, if he collapses then we shall crumble as well, knowing Han Touzhou well enough he intends to cut off my power in the Imperial Court." Yang Jieyu replied.

            "What shall we do Ma'am, there's lots of fingers pointed at the Neo-confucianists, Han Touzhou wouldn't probably want to end it with their execution." Manyin replied.

            "That is certain." Yang Jieyu replied as she appeared to think things through when Xiaoyang rushed into the room.

            "Ma'am?" She cried as she halted into her presence.

            "What's with that expression." Yang Jieyu replied.

            "Han Touzhou's faction...." She replied.

            "What about them?" Yang Jieyu inquired.

            "They are pleading in front of the Grand Hall to His Majesty to issue a ban on Confucianism." She replied.

            "What?" Yang Jieyu inquired as she shot up from where she was seated.

            "Yes Ma'am." Xiaoyang replied.

            "A ban, that can not be." She said in disbelief.

            "Please hear our plea Your Majesty for Zhu Xi us a sinner against the Dynasty and the state, he poisons the minds of young scholars with Neo-confucianist ideologies and turns your loyal citizens into rebels, please guard the state against Neo-confucianism and ban it." Minister Xia said.

            "Please hear us Your Majesty." The others behind him said in unison as they knelt in front of the Grand Palace.

            Emperor Ningzong in his study Eunuch Deng reported the situation to him.

            "Really?" He asked.

            "The Courtiers are outside pleading Your Majesty that Neo-confucianism is the root cause of all this and they are demanding that it be banned." Eunuch Deng replied.

            "What a lame excuse from such mature men." He remarked.

            "What matters is that the world witnessed everything before their own eyes Your Majesty and they aren't to leave without you hearing out their resolution." He said.

            "I don't want to see anyone." Emperor Ningzong replied.

            "Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied as he withdrew from the room.

            "The Empress Li walking along the balcony in the direction of the Grand Palace she halted to see the situation for herself.

            "What's this?" She inquired from Liu Zhan.

            "Han Touzhou and His faction are appealing to His Majesty the Emperor to issue a ban on Neo-confucianism." She replied.

            "It's only been hours since Master Wengong and his men were taken into the custody of the Imperial State Tribunal and they are already appealing for a ban?" The Empress muttered.

            "They are as good as guilty of treason with irrefutable evidence and I hear that some confessions have reached His Majesty concerning the plot, at this rate it seems that they have been using Neo-confucianism as their Umbrella and the Ministers propose that the best resolution to a crime this big is to get rid of Neo-confucianism and demolish any reason to bring them together again." Liu Zhan replied.

            "Han Touzhou that old sly fox has pulled off this ruse very well." The Empress Li muttered.

            "So it seems I heard that Wengong was a staunch supporter of Yang Jieyu he has cracked down her foundation in a matter of time it shall be crumbling entirely." Liu Zhan remarked.

             "It's reasonable for us." Empress Li said.

             "That bitch shall finally get what she deserves." Liu Zhan said.

             "Today it's her tomorrow it could be us as well." The Empress said as she turned and looked at Liu Zhan, "I hope the others still remember what they must do." She said to her.

            "They are at it Your Highness and all the necessary preparations to train the private army have commenced." She replied.

            "It's good enough." The Empress muttered as she smiled at herself contented.

          "Your Majesty, please hear our plea." The Courtiers cried aloud while dusk happened to fall over the Capital.

            "Are they still outside?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

            "They haven't moved Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied, "they seem rather determined to me." He concluded.

            "There's all this evidence before me and I am certain that it's a ploy against Zhu Xi there's no way that he would probably do any of this, mastermind a revolt against my government." Emperor Ningzong said.

           "Even if he couldn't Your Majesty, the world sees another different picture and according to protocol in absence of strong evidence to support his innocence he must fall subject to punishment." Eunuch Deng replied.

            "You are asking me to sacrifice him?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

           "It's not like there's anything that we can do Your Majesty and all this started the moment he threatened to expose all those corrupt officials in the Court even if I am deficient of proof to support my claims they got here immediately to demand that Neo-confucianism is outlawed it must be that they felt threatened who better than themselves to have orchestrated this plot?" Eunuch Deng replied.

            "They won't stop you say?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

            "Sadly Your Majesty." He replied.

            "Until now the innocent suffer for the sins of the guilty and I can't do anything at this point what good am I as monarch and the ruler of this country?" He asked.

              "Your Majesty, Yang Jieyu requests to have an audience with Your Majesty." His Head Lady announced.

              "Let her in." The Emperor said exhausted as he leaned his left hand onto the table and started massaging his temples.

             The young Lady making it in looked at Eunuch Deng who withdrew from the room at once and left the two.

             "You wished to see me I am rather sad to inform you that this isn't a good time." He said.

             "I understand that Your Majesty is burdened and I have happened to hear it all." Yang Jieyu said as she sat right in front of him.

             "Master Wengong couldn't have possibly instigated scholars to mobilize an underground resistance against the Imperial house but even now that I lack the evidence to prove him innocent it's close to impossible." He asserted.

            "And why are these Courtiers gathered outside?" She asked.

             "They want a ban on Neo-confucianism to be instituted." Emperor Ningzong replied.

             "Then give them what they want." Yang Jieyu concluded.

             "What?" He inquired. 

             "I may sound out of line Your Majesty but pardon me for what I might say but if it's their heart's desire that Neo-confucianism be banned then give them what their heart desires." Yang Jieyu replied.

             "Are you siding with them?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

              "Zhu Xi is already old as it is he's past the age of retirement and what's better is that I understand why Your Majesty is worried but if to them Neo-confucianism is the source of all this political disorder you can as well eliminate they better be careful about what they have demanded, it's the containment of Confucianism and not Master Zhu Xi's life." Yang Jieyu replied and he seemed to figure out her rationale.

             "I can sacrifice Neo-confucianism?" He asked.

             "Your Majesty is rather worried that Master Zhu Xi having been implicated for treason against the state those involved with him will be implicated and as a result many lives shall be lost in the process, yet they ask Your Majesty to guard the state against Neo-confucianism then it is the biggest enemy a crime that can grant pardon to the lives of all those involved with Master Zhu Xi can be enforced and it would be a win win situation as both you and the Courtiers would get what you want." Yang Jieyu replied.

              "You really are remarkable." The Emperor said.

              "I only regret that I couldn't inform Your Majesty earlier but seeing that you are relieved my heart is set at ease and I know that this way the burden on your heart shall be lighter." Yang Jieyu said as she smiled at him.

             "I'll do just that." The Emperor muttered.

             Han Touzhou in his Chambers Lin Xue walked in and found him dressed in his official robes in the dead of night.

             "Where are You going Your Excellency?" He inquired.

            "To the Palace." The old man replied.

            "Is it about Zhu Xi?" He inquired.

            "There's someone that I must see." Han Touzhou replied as he smiled at himself.

             Yang Jieyu settling in her Chambers Xiaoyang walked in.

             "Ma'am, Han Touzhou is here requesting an audience with you." She reported.

             "Han Touzhou!" She exclaimed surprised.

             "Yes." She confirmed while the young woman seemingly hesitant she thought about it for a moment.

             "Let him in." She said and the latter complying he walked in dressed in his Official robes.

            "Ma'am?" He said to her as he bowed his head humbly.

            "To what do I owe the pleasure Your Excellency?" She asked.

            "You must have heard." He replied.

            "About the Neo-confucianists, surely, Master Wengong, yes." She added.

            "So they sought to pick up a fight with me how unfortunate!" He exclaimed.

            "And I am not as surprised." She assured him.

            "You were just born yesterday what is there for you to know about politics, as a hussy of course you can only swing your skirts around with those petty schemes of yours in the harem and yes like yourself I am not one that expects to live a long life either." He muttered.

            "So you sought me out to tell me this?" Shs asked.

            "Very many people have contended with my might Ma'am I have got so high and I am three feet from heaven they still try as hard but you see that is their fate and it always has been the same." Han Touzhou replied.

            "Honestly, I expected you of all people to understand me the most but I am disappointed." Yang Jieyu remarked.

            "How so Ma'am?" He asked.

            "By now from my actions you should understand my intentions and by now you should tell that in the very least I have set my eyes upon becoming the Empress of this nation." She said.

            "And I shall make sure that it shall remain your most innocent dream." He said.

            "Surely it's saddening that you Your Excellency shall hasten that dream for me." She muttered.

             "I don't seem to catch on with you Ma'am." Han Touzhou said.

             "There's hope for a tree that has been cut and as long as there are roots the shoots shall blossom once again and grow taller, they shall fluorish and take on the very likeness that was altered." She replied.

            "And who could your roots be Ma'am if not Master Wengong and those Neo-confucianists?" He asked.

           "The Scholars and bureaucrats have guarded this nation for generations but our government has only one flaw and that's the fact that consequently it has drained the powers of the throne and designated them to the people which has curtailed even the influence of the bureaucracy." Yang Jieyu muttered while Han Touzhou remained silent that she was forced to smile at him.

            "Tell me Your Excellency, until now what do you think Politics is to you?" She inquired.

            "Certainly not a game that a husky like you could understand, not you, not the Late Grand Empress Dowager nor the Empress Mother herself." He replied.

           "Then perhaps you are implying that the Empress Han understood the concept much better than I did and we can all see where that got her." She said.

           "You surely have a sharp tongue." Han Touzhou asserted.

           "Politics Your Excellency is people, the very people that you have given power you have given a voice and the very voice that you have given them is the most absolute power they yield by now you should have realised that." Yang Jieyu said while he kept quiet.

           "All you did now was make friends of the bureaucracy and enemies of the people you must have forgotten that not the scholars or the monarch, the chancellors or the Secretaries and the ministers as well as their deputies own this country but the people themselves that all I have strived to do until now is create allies from those very foes that you have accumulated with time." She said.

            "Is this politics to you?" Han Touzhou asked.

            "You tell me Your Excellency, the more you break and crush them, suppress them and aggress them as long as you deprive them of every meaning in life they turn to me and come to my arms to seek out comfort and refuge and when I heal them they cherish me Your Excellency it is not because I don't make enemies but because I make loyalties for life." She said to him.

            "So the people have the power let us surely see?" Han Touzhou said.

            "If it is Your Excellency's earnest wish, surely, the people shall speak for themselves and I assure you, you have made me therefore the greatest voice for these people." She said and the latter standing up and bowing his head to her he withdrew from the room.

            The moment that he had gotten outside he recalled the words that she'd said to him.

            "All I have strived to do until now is create allies from those very foes that you have accumulated with time." She'd asserted and thus coming to mind he turned around and looked back at her small residence.

            "Are you alright Your Excellency?" Lin Xue asked.

            "No." The latter replied as he continued his way while Manyin walked into Yang Jieyu's Chambers.

            "Ma'am." She said.

            "Prepare for a feast." She said.

            "All of a sudden?" She inquired.

            "His Majesty had given me his approval, now the time is right to strike." She replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.

            It was very early in the morning and the Courtiers having gathered in the Grand Hall for the daily assembly, the Emperor mounted the stairs that led to his Dragon throne on which he settled.

            "Your Majesty." They said in unison as they bowed their heads to him.

            "Deliver my Edict." Emperor Ningzong said as he looked at Eunuch Deng who opened the golden scroll up in front of the world while the Courtiers were anxiously waiting for his response on the issues at hand.

            "MINISTER ZHU XI AS THE IMPERIAL TUTOR AND MASTER OF THE WHITE DEER GROTTO ACADEMY HAS BREACHED IMPERIAL LAW AND USED HIS INFLUENCE OF NEO-CONFUCIANISM TO POISON MY MOST LOYAL AND YOUNG SUBJECTS TO TURN THEM INTO REBELS, AS THE SON OF HEAVEN AND THE GUARDIAN OF THE DYNASTY I AM HEREBY COMPELLED BY IMPERIAL PREROGATIVE TO GUARD THE STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT FROM INTERNAL DISUNITY AND DISINTEGRATION FROM THIS DAY ONWARD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, NEO-CONFUCIANISM IS BANNED FROM PRACTICE, ALL ACADEMIES ASSOCIATED SHALL BE SHUT DOWN AND ALL THOSE PRACTITIONERS FOUND INVOLVED SHALL BE EXILED AND EXECUTED BY IMPERIAL LAW, AS I AM BENEVOLENT IN RECOGNITION OF MASTER ZHU XI'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE, I SHALL HEREBY PARDON HIM FOR DEATH AND SEND HIM INTO EXILE, THIS IS MY WILL." He read.

             "Long Live Your Majesty." The Courtiers said in unison while Han Touzhou contented in himself he smiled.

            "Alas, you should have seen the looks on their faces." He mentioned as he sat down in the comfort of his Chambers.

            "Your Excellency, Master Zhu Xi wasn't executed." Lin Xue muttered.

            "What matters is that for the time being he is another powerless criminal that has to wait his death, I didn't mention anything about him surviving it one way or the other." Han Touzhou replied.

            "Could it be because Yang Jieyu intervened?" Lin Xue inquired.

           "She's merely one intelligent husky we need to be cautious, as it may seem her support in the Imperial Court must have crumbled by now it's time that we take an attack through the harem." Han Touzhou replied.

             "And how are we going to do that Your Excellency, by now I trust that Yang Jieyu shall be more cautious." He said.

             "Surely......" Han Touzhou still saying there was a knock on the door.

             "Who is there?" He inquired.

             "Your Excellency, something seems to have happened." A young male voice outside replied.

             "Come in." Han Touzhou demanded and the latter complying he halted in front of the old man.

             "What are you saying?" He asked.

             "His Majesty has delivered the Edict to the Yang Manor inviting Yang Cishan to the government as the Minister of War and a Marquis of the first rank to commence his duties with immediate effect." The young man replied.

             "Is that all?" He inquired.

             "His Majesty also acknowledges that with irrefutable proof, Yang Cishan is the older brother to Yang Jieyu." He replied that Han Touzhou's eyes widened with surprise.

             "Impossible." He muttered.

             "An Imperial feast shall be held in the Palace in honour of Yang Jieyu tonight." The man said and immediately Han Touzhou couldn't help but recall the words that Yang Jieyu had mentioned to him.

           "You tell me Your Excellency, the more you break and crush them, suppress them and aggress them as long as you deprive them of every meaning in life they turn to me and come to my arms to seek out comfort and refuge and when I heal them they cherish me Your Excellency it is not because I don't make enemies but because I make loyalties for life." She had assured him for a moment he could hardly believe what he was hearing.

             "Yang Cishan, Yang Meizi, this is what she meant." He muttered under his breath.

             "Your Excellency, from an Imperial Tutor to A Minister of War!" Lin Xue exclaimed, "at this rate we have only given her wings to fly higher but most importantly why would his Majesty make such an outrageous promotion?" He asked while Han Touzhou recalled the events that had transpired in the past.

            "My reign is rebirth and thinking back to all the victims of the Jin Song wars and those unfortunate citizens from the reigns of the Gaozong, Xiaozong and Guangzong Emperor's I have decided that those that were charged with crimes which were merely implications of their ancestors shall be pardoned and allowed to return into government positions and participate in it's affairs that's if they prove more than worthy of my grace." Emperor Ningzong had muttered in the Imperial Court.

            "That's why." He said, "that's what His Majesty meant." He whispered but Lin Xue unable to catch on anything didn't wish to pursue the matter any further.

             At that point one of his servants walked in.

             "Your Excellency, there's a message from the Palace." He said as he carried over the red envelope and placed it on the table.

             "What's this?" Lin Xue asked.

             "An invite from Yang Jieyu to attend her reunion feast with the Emperor." He replied.

             "Take it out." Han Touzhou spoke up.

             "Your Excell........" Lin Xue speaking he smacked the table loud enough for him to halt half way.

            "Don't make me repeat myself." He muttered.

            "Yes." Lin Xue replied as he ceased the envelope and got it out of sight leaving the latter infuriated.

            "Let your footing be so Ma'am, we shall see." He said to himself.

             Night having fallen there was a lot of celebration in the Palace and Emperor Ningzong seated with the Empress Dowager Xie and the Empress Mother Li on two opposite tables, Yang Jieyu and Cao Jieyu sat while close to Cao Jieyu was Yang Cishan who seemed to try hard enough to enjoy the ceremony.

            For a moment the Emperor stood up holding a small jade cup he raised it as a toast to Yang Cishan while the Empress Mother and a couple of guests were watching including Han Touzhou in a distance.

            "Until now the country can not forget the service that Your Excellency gave us in the early years of your youth, but as it is that I your Site are fortunate enough to have you for a brother in law, I hope that you shall serve the Imperial Clan and the Country wisely and wholly." He said.

             "I promise Your Majesty that with my whole life whether it'll be long or short shall be entirely devoted to your service and to the service of the Imperial family, the Imperial House and the State." Yang Cishan muttered as he took a toast and Yang Jieyu raising her cup as well and smiling ghastly at Han Touzhou, she had her drink.

             "Yes Han Touzhou, "she thought to herself, "I am victorious." She inwardly remarked while he stared back angrily at her, his eyes bloodshot his head spinning it wasn't too much to say that the man was mad.