AMBITION AND VIRTUE

             Yang Wanyi was seated with the ladies in the village and the Emperor Ningzong seated on top of a pavilion nearby he watched her from a distance in the presence of the Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi.

            "Your Majesty seems rather distracted." He said.

            "It's one of the very few times that I have seen her smile so innocently of recently." He muttered.

            "Yang Wanyi?" He asked.

            "I loved looking at her so much that it made me realize one thing." He mentioned.

            "What is it?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

            "If my people had such an Empress who would treat them kindly and think for them, who would protect them and give me guidance and counsel, support me and believe in me even if the world stands against me." He said.

             "Is Your Majesty remorseful?" He asked, "perhaps its to do with the Empress Han?" He muttered.

             "I feel partly responsible for her ending that way." He muttered, "ours was a marriage of political convenience, my affections towards Yang Wanyi must have threatened her to act as the mother of the eldest Prince which is why I had to install the Imperial Prince Zhao Jun as the heir apparent to give her some peace of mind." Emperor Ningzong replied.

            "Any man would understand Your position Your Majesty." He said.

            "Would they?" He asked.

            "Has there been no Emperor that has failed to achieve all that you have achieved Your Majesty?" Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi muttered.

            "Perhaps." He replied, "I came to realise that Yang Wanyi made me feel both humane and godly, even heaven on her side would listen to her humblest plea and send rain it is a miracle." he muttered.

             "But.......?" The old man asked.

             "I am more cautious for her sake, the enemies she'd make of the Empress' supporters even when she quietly keeps every hardship to herself and pretend that it is nothing, no one wails and grieves more than her in the Palace walls the world may say that I am too cruel to the Crown Prince by banishing his mother from the Palace but for once I want to be selfish and protect her." He said.

             "Your Majesty, the harem isn't my personal affair but yours Your Majesty, however if my counsel is welcome Sire, Yang Wanyi makes you see the things that not even us Courtiers see, she helps the people love and cherish the throne as much as they love her and she's a motherly figure to the nation that you need by your side." Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi muttered.

              "That's strange coming from you Courtiers." He mentioned.

              "And Your Majesty knows me well enough to tell that I am unlike the others and just as the Taizong Emperor of the Tang Dynasty had his beautiful mirror the Empress Weizheng, wouldn't you Your Majesty have yours as well?" He asked as the young man still looking at Yang Wanyi was enamored by her.

              Han Touzhou and Officer Jiang along with Minister Xie walking into one of the small rooms they sat down at a small round table.

              "This is catastrophic to our side Your Excellency." They mentioned.

              "She just knelt under a clear blue sky and there was rain?" Officer Jiang muttered.

              "They call her a goddess and others a Bodhisattva." Minister Xie said.

              "But I still don't understand why she brought His Majesty here of all places when she would have preferably done it in the capital?" Officer Jiang inquired.

               "It was perfect." He replied.

               "What is it Your Excellency?" Minister Xie asked.

               "She wasn't after us all this time." Han Touzhou replied as he looked at the two, "we were so backward in our own thoughts none of us could have perceived the true intentions she had." He pointed out.

               "What does that mean Your Excellency?" Officer Jiang asked.

               "She didn't come here for prayers but she intended to win the hearts of the people if this news spreads she'll only grow more popular with each and everyday." Han Touzhou replied as he recalled the words that his brother in law had said to him.

               "You feared one time that your fate shall be sealed but Your Excellency has raised a storm you shall never calm, your Excellency has raised an enemy you shall never defeat, your Excellency has raised a female Emperor that shall eventually annihilate you." Su Yitian had warned him.

              "What should we do Your Excellency?" They asked him.

              "We must secure the position of the Crown Prince, that's all that matters first." He replied.

              "Yes Your Excellency." Officer Jiang replied.

              Emperor Ningzong standing on the balcony he stared at the moon in a distance, its glow upon his face, Yang Wanyi caught sight of him and walked closer.

              "Your Majesty?" She said while he turned to her.

              "You shouldn't be outside at this hour, as it is already cold I was hoping that you would be in your chambers for the night for it isn't good for your condition." He said.

               "I understand your worry for me Your Majesty." She replied, "however, I am fine." She asserted as she stood beside him and they stared at the small buildings rising in a distance along with the dim lights, the silence and calm whisper of the wind, they were at that point most comfortable in each other's presence.

               "Thank you." Emperor Ningzong said.

               "What for Your Majesty?" She asked.

               "You have been there for me." He replied.

               "As a wife Your Majesty, it's my duty." She replied.

              "You have been through so much because of me." Emperor Ningzong said as he turned and looked at her.

             "Your Majest........" She was saying when he placed his finger on her lips and at that very moment she fell quiet.

              "I have never felt more at ease I consider myself the luckiest of Emperors, in my weakness you have given me more strength than anyone in my life ever did." He mentioned to her, "even heaven could testify to your magnificence, in awe I cherished spring not because it was beautiful but because I watched it with you by my side, I promised myself to be a strong and great Emperor to protect you my dear, to protect our children." He mentioned.

              "Your Majesty's grace is unsurpassable, but as your humble servant I have kept secrets from you yet you love me still." She said.

              "If there's a moment that I can not have your love, should there be a time that your affections towards me ceased, it is to me a pain much worse than death, it is to me a world without life." He muttered as he held her closer to his chest and he embraced her.

             "I shall protect Your Majesty." She said to him, "serve you with all my life." She whispered as he held on much tighter, "I shall allow you to see a beautiful world." She promised.

            Very early in the morning, Minister Cao in the capital stopped by a restaurant where a group of men were gathered when a waiter came up to him.

             "Greetings Milord." He said with a smile while the old man sat down.

             "What's with all the commotion?" He asked as he pointed at the men in the opposite corner that were seemingly discussing something interesting.

             "They are just excited over a rumour." The man replied.

             "What about the rumour?" Minister Cao asked.

             "Does Your Excellency really not know?" The waiter asked.

             "Then I wouldn't have inquired from you." He replied.

             "How to say this Your Excellency, the Emperor departed with Yang Wanyi from the capital about three days ago and they went to Jinghu South with most of the high ranking officials in the Imperial Court, suddenly, when they happened to have the afternoon prayers, I heard she joined the women at the temple and as she knelt on the ground and raised her hands towards heaven, the skies that had been tied for nearly a year were opened and heaven responded by sending rain." The waiter replied, "what's even more alarming is that she gave the Emperor wise counsel to punish the corrupt officials of Jinghu South that had caused the people to suffer it's only made her popular amongst the people." He remarked.

             "Really?" Minister Cao asked.

             "The Merchants from the South have been spreading this tail it's like a most popular folklore at the time." The waiter said and Minister Cao paying keen attention to the men one stood on top of the table.

             "Let me tell you as I was there?" He told the others and they quietened down and lent him their ears.

              "She stood firm before the Courtiers and asked His Majesty to pass his judgement on those corrupt ones that had committed numerous crimes against the people." He mentioned.

              "For real?" One asked.

              "And that's not all, it had become the habit of the people to gather at noon and pray to the heavens while Yang Wanyi, Her Grace volunteered to His Imperial Majesty to be part of the prayer she stepped out of the temple barefoot and dressed in white like an angel, she knelt before the altar and raised her arms towards heaven in silence and in a matter of minutes, rain fell and it offset the drought that had struck the region." He muttered.

              "Her Grace is truly Sagacious." One man said.

              "She should be called Her Imperial Holiness." The man asserted.

              "Even the priests failed to summon water from the sky and proclaim rain onto the dry land." Another remarked.

              "What more could she be if not a goddess?" The narrator asked.

              "Surely, she must be one." Another agreed.

              "The Empress Han could not be the mother of the Nation in five years and neither could the Empress Li, it's remarkable that such a simple and lovely woman could be more dear and generous to the people than those that preceeded her." The author said.

              "Even then it's a pity that at the time a woman as good as she is can't be our Empress." One mentioned and Minister Cao immediately felt uneasy clenching his fists.

             "Until that day my brethren, we can only hope to support her in future." They came to an agreement and Minister Cao unable to hear anymore about it, he strode out of the building and stopped in the middle of the street as he recalled the words that they had mentioned.

            "The Empress Han could not be the mother of the Nation in five years and neither could the Empress Li, it's remarkable that such a simple and lovely woman could be more dear and generous to the people than those that preceeded her." That statement still tortured him.

              Cao Zhaoyi sitting down in her Chambers Linxiang settled in front of her.

              "What?" She asked.

              "His Excellency your father has sent me a message and asked me to inquire if you are aware of what's going on in the streets." Linxiang replied.

              "What do they say?" Cao Zhaoyi inquired.

              "Yang Wanyi apparently prayed to the heavens in front of the people of Jinghu South and it rained heavier than ever rumour has it that it's a sign that she has been commissioned by heaven for greatness." She replied.

             "Commissioned by heaven for greatness?" Cao Zhaoyi inquired.

             "Yes Ma'am." Linxiang asserted, "everyone in the palace has been made aware of this Ma'am and each of the people are marvelled, Yang Wanyi seems to have become more popular as she has given the harem face and a majority are rather pleased by her conduct, in fact some people are comparing her to the Empresses Li and Han I heard that they wished she would become the Empress." She said.

             "Never." Cao Zhaoyi replied, "over my dead body." She added.

             "It's only a matter of time for them to arrive in the capital and when His Majesty and Yang Wanyi turn up in the midst of the people the welcome shall be rather Grand." Linxiang said.

             Cao Zhaoyi kept quiet.

             "Perhaps we should cease this opportunity to get rid of Yang Wanyi." Linxiang pointed out.

             "No." Cao Zhaoyi refused, "we won't vote for such a big risk and besides, I don't think we are in the position to compromise ourselves before the Hundred Days Banquet." She added.

             "But Ma'am, if you don't act now I fear that it shall be too late in the near future." She mentioned.

             "The Emperor is part of the convoy so security is already very tight, but what's worse is that she won't be harmed in one way or another what if our men are caught do you understand what that would mean?" She said.

             "Pardon me Ma'am, I didn't think that far." She immediately apologized.

             "I don't hold you accountable for anything but it's important that you know, Yang Wanyi seems to have a way with attacks not because she's invincible but she's cautious knowing that she has too many enemies." Cao Zhaoyi muttered, "we can not afford to be as foolish as all the others that have lost to her in the first place lest we shall lose ourselves as well." She mentioned.

               "Yes Ma'am." Linxiang replied.

               "What matters now is that we secure the position of the Crown Prince in our favour." She muttered.

              "Yes Ma'am." Linxiang agreed.

              The Emperor's procession returning to the capital through the city gates met the warm welcome of the people and the cheering of crowds, the women were each hoping to have a glimpse of Yang Wanyi whose carriage was making it's way slightly after the Emperor's.

               "Ma'am, those are the people cheering for you." Xiaoyang said.

               "Tell the others it's time." She replied and Manyin nodding her head in approval she lifted part of the curtain that hid them from sight and looking at one of the guards outside, he put his spear in the wheel of the carriage and Yang Wanyi tightly holding onto something herself.

               The carriage steel moving forward the spear broke the wheel which caused it to immediately halt as part of the carriage collapsed and the Emperor Ningzong hearing the sound behind as well he ordered Eunuch Deng to command the procession to halt which he did.

             "Go and find out what has happened behind." He said to the latter and he moved a couple of steps behind to inspect Yang Wanyi's carriage only to see that it's second wheel had shattered and the people were each struggling to have a look at her while the Imperial guards tried so hard to put them at ease.

              He returned to the Emperor who was rather anxious.

              "What is it?" He asked the old man.

              "There seems to have been a small accident and Yang Wanyi's carriage is out of service Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied.

              "Is it too serious?" He asked.

              "Yang Wanyi is unharmed yet the people are disorderly, I suggest that Your Majesty travels ahead to the Palace and you can leave the rest to us." Eunuch Deng replied.

             "No." The Emperor replied.

             "Your Majesty, your return can not be delayed." Eunuch Deng said.

             "Yang Wanyi is with an Imperial child in her womb I tell you and more so the people are disorderly, it is safer that she rides with me in my carriage to the palace." The Emperor said.

              "If Your Majesty insists." Eunuch Deng replied and returning over to Yang Wanyi's carriage, he stood outside and nodded his head to Manyin who immediately got to Yang Wanyi.

               "You can move to the Emperor's carriage Ma'am." She told her and an excited Yang Wanyi trying so hard to contain her emotions she stepped out of the slanting carriage into the sight of the common people who couldn't help it but fall for her flawless beauty.

             She was as graceful as they had heard and angelic in the beautiful white and turquoise hanfu that was adorned with beautiful golden thread and a wonderful silver headdress with hairpins supported her hair.

              Manyin and Xiaoyang holding each one of her two hands, the people tossed their clothes and flowers ahead of her while she treaded carefully on them until she arrived at the Emperor's carriage.

              "Your Majesty." She said as she bowed her head to him and Eunuch Deng signalling for him to get in, she slowly mounted the small footstool and got in where she saw the Emperor seated.

              "Are you alright?" He asked.

              "Yes Your Majesty." She replied.

              "Let's continue to the Palace." Emperor Ningzong said.

              "Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng said as the procession resumed.

               The Courtiers having arrived at the palace they lined the path to the Grand Hall where the carriage halted and bowing their heads, the Emperor Ningzong stepped out first while they offered their salutations.

               "Welcome back Your Majesty." They muttered and he smiled at them as he offered his hand to Yang Wanyi who to their surprise stepped out of the Emperor's carriage.

              Han Touzhou watching quietly with the others Yang Wanyi looked at him and quietly as though she had not seen them, the Emperor moving forward she slowly followed behind him as she bypassed their discontented faces.

              Cao Zhaoyi in her Chambers Linxiang walked in.

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

              "What?" She inquired, "Cao Zhaoyi?" She mentioned hardly believing her ears.

              "Yes Ma'am." Linxiang replied.

              "Let her in." She mentioned and before Linxiang retreated the latter flung the doors open herself and she walked in before her with a smile on her face.

              "Wanyi?" Cao Zhaoyi said.

              "Greetings Ma'am." Yang Wanyi replied as she bowed her head to her.

              "Leave us." Cao Zhaoyi mentioned and Linxiang withdrawing from the two Yang Wanyi moved up to the chair in front of her and sat down.

              "You must have missed me Ma'am, that's why I came here as fast as I could immediately I returned to the palace." She mentioned.

              "I have heard about your remarkable adventure in the South, the capital seems to be on fire with it in a less than a day, surely, I can't help but wonder what it is that requires you to have all those people screaming in excitement behind your back." Cao Zhaoyi muttered.

              "Really?" Yang Wanyi inquired.

              "Could I lie?" She asked.

              "Who knows?" Yang Wanyi replied, "but nonetheless you are curious I won't keep my intentions hidden from you any longer." She said.

              "I'm listening." Cao Zhaoyi said.

              "I am going to give birth to a Prince and I shall become the Empress." She mentioned while Cao Zhaoyi exploded into laughter.

              "Really?" She asked.

              "What's funny?" Yang Wanyi inquired.

              "The Empress might be banished from the Palace and she could be wearing nothing more than a titular role, nonetheless Ma'am I feel you must have lost it, she remains an Empress and that doesn't change, the harem can not be ruled by two Queens and the nation can not have two mothers." She asserted.

              "Do you really believe so?" She asked.

              "Yes Ma'am." Cao Zhaoyi replied.

              "I won't be Empress you say?" She asked.

              "Aren't I right?" She replied.

              "You are a two faced serpent, this I understand knowing that you can not be that dense to understand what my words mean, however I shall let you in on a small secret and I trust that it shall remain between us." Yang Wanyi said and placing her hands on the table, she leaned over and looked Cao Zhaoyi fiercely in the eye.

              "What is it?" She asked.

              "How long do you think the Empress will live?" She asked and Cao Zhaoyi falling silent she couldn't help it but seem surprised by the mild devilish laughter that escaped the latter's lips.

             Linxiang standing outside with Xiaoyang and Manyin looking at her, she kept her chin high when Yang Wanyi flung the doors open with her two hands.

             "Let us go." She told her attendants as she descended the stairs and walked into the direction of her Palace while Linxiang rushed inside to her mistress.

             "Ma'am?" She cried somewhat frightened for a moment until she found the young woman already composed and seated with a smile on her face.

              "What's with that expression?" She asked, "I haven't attempted to commit suicide." She added while Linxiang got closer.

              "I was merely worried Ma'am, the look of Yang Wanyi's face, it was rather frightening." She mentioned.

              "Everything is now going to come to a wholesome state, every man for themselves and God shall prevail for us all." Cao Zhaoyi muttered.

              "What do you mean Ma'am?" Linxiang inquired from her curious herself.

              "Yang Wanyi shall topple the Empress Han that means she intends to make herself the Empress of this nation, tell me Linxiang, what better opportunity to win over both the Crown Prince and the opposition than this?" She asked.

              "I see Ma'am." Linxiang replied.

              "Yang Wanyi is too eager to become the Empress we shall see, she will make me the Great Empress who rules the world." Cao Zhaoyi said to herself as she continued to smile ghastly.

              Yang Wanyi arriving in her quarters she immediately sat down while Beiyuan approached her along with Manyin and Xiaoyang and standing before her they bowed their heads.

              "Ma'am." They said in unison.

              "What has Cao Zhaoyi been up to in my absentia?" She asked.

              "I learnt through our intelligence, she went to see Cao Deshi in his manor and reliably we had learnt that she was looking at all young girls from prominent families not more than three years older than the Crown Prince." Beiyuan replied, "my assumption is that she was searching for someone to make a prospective Crown Princess." He said.

             "How many daughters does this Cao Deshi have?" Yang Wanyi asked.

             "Two." Beiyuan replied, "however, the youngest of his four children is a beautiful well mannered and literate girl called Cao Xuan." He said.

             "It definitely had to be from the Cao family, how remarkable!" Yang Wanyi exclaimed.

             "But Ma'am, it's the duty of the Eldest woman in the Palace to arrange an Imperial marriage and because of the absence of the Empress in the harem and in the Imperial Court, that prerogative remains to be exercised by the Empress Dowager Xie." Beiyuan replied.

             "Even if we opposed that the Empress Dowager has been quiet about Palace and State affairs for nearly all her life what's the guarantee that she shall speak up now, above all it's important that we note that Cao Zhaoyi has the support of Han Touzhou and his clique and even the Princess Qi'an likely our open and outright opposition might raise many suspicions which could be most fatal to us." She replied.

            "What do we do Ma'am?" Manyin inquired.

            "We might not stop them from making a member of the Cao Clan the Crown Princess but we can stop the Crown Prince from rising to the dragon throne therefore we shall proceed with all the necessary preparations concerning the Hundred Days Banquet." Yang Wanyi replied, "The Late Empress Mother shall be given a posthumous name and we'll have to cease that moment.

            "Yes Ma'am." They all said in unison as they bowed their heads to her.

            The Empress Han seated in her small cottage, she was dressed in a thick white cotton hanfu, she had grown pale over the past year and her hair was unkempt, she had lost so much weight and very thick bags had developed under her eyes when Shaanxi walked in.

              "Your Highness." She said.

              "How's the medicine coming up?" She asked.

              "It's almost ready Ma'am." She replied as she assured her while the Empress smiled sadly she later got out and then moved to the compound where Han Touzhou was standing.

             "Why don't you see her Your Excellency?" He asked.

             "How to face her I really don't know." He mentioned.

             "But Your Excellency......?" Shaanxi asked.

             "Yang Wanyi is growing more popular amongst the people and more powerful in the Imperial Court, we are trying our level best with a reliable aide in the Palace the Crown Prince is safe, I only ask that you look after Her Highness and she endures a bit more but she does not break, surely I tell you, she'll return to the Palace soon." He mentioned.

             "I certainly shall do my very best." Shaanxi replied.

             The Day approached and the Emperor Ningzong along with all the other officials on one side and on the others the ladies of the Inner Court and the harem gathered, they stood right in front of the Empress Li's mausoleum which had been erected.

              The Emperor at the forefront while dressed in his Imperial Dragon Robes he held the ceremonial Jade tablet and kowtowed to honour his mother with a sombre and quiet mood prevailing all over the area.

              At the time looking up at the stele that had been erected, Eunuch Deng and Beiyuan led a group of Eunuchs who held in their possession a plaque which they halted behind behind the Emperor in front of the whole world, it was covered in a white fabric and the Emperor pulling off the linen cloth, he revealed the characters to the world that read out "THE WISE EMPRESS CIYI."

              "Long Live Your Majesty." Everyone said as they went onto their knees, "Long Live Our Emperor." They chorused yet again while Yang Wanyi and Cao Zhaoyi side by side, they each stared at each other fiercely.

               The moment the worship was over, the Emperor Ningzong with the Empress Dowager Xie close to him, his two favourites Call Zhaoyi and Yang Wanyi on either side and the Courtiers beneath admiring them from a distance, the banquet began with very many celebrations.

              The musicians danced all over the place and Yang Wanyi looking at Cao Zhaoyi who was seated face to face with her, once in a while both women smiled at each other as they sipped at their cups of tea.

             When the dancers halted at the stage, the Emperor trying to keep a casual and lively expression would smile Everytime that he looked at Yang Wanyi and returning his sincere smile she blushed a little bit at him while Shi Miyuan amongst the Courtiers watched the two painfully and The Imperial Princess Qi'an watched him sharing the same expression.

              "Aren't you staring hard enough?" The Grand Chancellor Zhao Zizhi whispered to him.

              "It's nothing." The young man replied.

              "I understand that age much better Your Excellency, after all aren't we all human?" He asked.

              "What are you trying to say Your Excellency?" Shi Miyuan inquired.

              "Yang Wanyi is the Emperor's woman now, Godwilling, she shall as well one day become the Empress of this great Nation of ours." He muttered, "until then try not to lose yourself my dear because there's no more love involved in her life." He mentioned, "the last thing that remains I tell you is the bid to gain power." He cautioned as he picked up his cup and then sipped at some of the liquor.

               At that moment the dancers in their midst dressed in scarlet and black, blue and green, they wore on their faces masks that took on the likeness of a peacock and everyone enjoying the ceremony they formed a circle and started spinning when at that moment the one in the middle of the eight jumped and Yang Wanyi noticing something strange she screamed.

              "Your Majesty?" She said as she ran up to him and the dancer throwing a small flying dagger towards the huge plaque hanging over on a simple rope it immediately descended upon the two while Yang Wanyi tightly held onto the Emperor.

              It smacked her so hard on her back and she coughed out blood onto the Emperor's clothes.

              "Your Majesty." She said.

              "Mei'er?" He shouted while the rest of the Courtiers in panicking a group of Imperial guards headed by the Lan He made their way up to the Emperor and surrounded him while he looked at Yang Meizi whose eyes had closed and she'd seemed to collapse on him.

             "Yyyouur Hhhighhh........." she stuttered until she closed her eyes and fainted and the Emperor trying to get up Manyin and Xiaoyang rushed up towards him.

             "Ma'am?" They cried while the Emperor held her in his hands.

             "No, Mei'er....?" He called her but herself not responding Cao Zhaoyi was still puzzled about everything that was happening and Shi Miyuan and the Princess Qi'an having already stood up the people rushing about the place caused them to tightly squeeze against each other while the guards fighting to subdue the assassins they dropped a white fabric on the ground.

             Emperor Ningzong not wasting any time at all he immediately bore Yang Wanyi in his hands and carried her away from the scene while he was being escorted to his Palace by nearly five hundred Imperial guards at that moment with his retinue close by they mounted the stairs that led to his personal room and himself walking inside, he placed the young woman on his bed.

            "Your Majesty?" Eunuch Deng tried talking to him.

            "I don't care if you kill all those assassins but whatever it takes find the Imperial physician and lead him here immediately." He ordered.

             "Yes Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng replied as he immediately withdrew from the room and at that very moment marching out of the building, the young man ran about the place.

             Lin Xue and the others still fighting off the assassins they were pursued out of the palace when one of his fellow guards approached him holding in his hand the white sheet that had fallen on the ground.

              "What's this?" He asked.

              "It fell off the Assassin." The young man replied as he took it from his hands and immediately unfolding it, he looked through its contents, he was very shocked that he immediately folded it at once.

               "What does it say Your Excellency?" They asked him.

               "I'll need to see His Majesty." Lan He replied as he immediately rushed into the direction of the Grand Palace.

               Emperor Ningzong impatiently waiting in his room with Manyin and Linxiang looking at the unconscious Yang Wanyi, the Imperial physician made his way in led by Eunuch Deng and arriving inside, the old man rushed to the side of Yang Wanyi while the Emperor was watching.

               He took her hand and started to diagnose her pulse while he seemed somewhat surprised he eventually went silent for a moment.

               "Your Majesty?" He said.

               "How is she, how is the baby?" He asked.

               "Her injuries aren't serious and I must say that the foetus is alright as well, she might have fainted from shock concerning the incident." The physician replied.

              "Is that so?" He asked.

              "Yes." The latter confirmed when Beiyuan walked into the room on the conversation of the two.

              "Your Majesty?" He interrupted.

              "What is it?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

              "His Excellency the Commander in Chief of the Imperial Guard Lan He us requesting to have a private audience with Your Majesty." He replied.

               "If Your Majesty shall excuse me, I shall have some medicines prescribed for Yang Wanyi." He said.

               "Sure." The Emperor agreed as he walked out of the room and the Imperial physician glancing at Yang Wanyi a bit longer, Beiyuan noticed that his gaze was rather intense.

               "Aren't you coming Sir?" He asked.

               "Yes." The man replied as he got out of the room at once.

               Yang Wanyi sitting up in the bed, she removed out of her sleeves a small handkerchief and immediately, she spat in it a small pigeon's heart which she folded on the inside.

                Manyin opening the doors and walking in she found her seated quietly and halted in front of her to bow her head.

               "How is everything?" She asked.

               "His Majesty is on His way to the Imperial study, I trust that more than anything he will surely be angry about what he's going to find out." She said.

               "I want you to do something for me." Yang Wanyi said.

               "What is it Ma'am?" She asked.

               "It's High time His Majesty learnt of His Mother's true intentions." She replied.

               "Ma'am, I thought...........?" Manyin whispered surprised when she interrupted.

              "The Empress Mother was sinful to the Dynasty and I never intended to keep it from him for good, all we needed was the right time to act and I believe that it is now." Yang Wanyi replied as she smiled at herself ghastly.

              Emperor Ningzong seated in his study he read the contents of the letter that was written on the white piece of cloth.

              "HIS MAJESTY HAS BEEN BEWITCHED AND THE THRONE BELONGS TO THE CROWN PRINCE ZHAO JUN, WE WELCOME THE EMPRESS HAN BACK TO THE PALACE." It said that himself infuriated he crampled it up in his hands.

              "Your Majesty, I don't think........" Lan He was about to say something when the Emperor concluded.

              "It couldn't be the Empress Han?" He said.

              "Yes." Lan He replied.

              "Can the same be said for those that support her and think that it was wrong to have her banished from the Palace?" He inquired.

              "No Your Majesty." Lan He replied.

              "So they wish to implicate the Crown Prince and install him on the dragon throne he will for them be a manipulable Emperor, he'll need an Imperial Regent they shall call the Empress Mother such highly skilled assassins couldn't be hired by just anyone." Emperor Ningzong said.

                "Your Majesty means to say that you suspect one of the officials is behind the attack?" Lan He asked him.

              "It couldn't be more obvious as much as they tried so hard to hide it because access to the Palace and how to get in they must have been aware of the programme from the very beginning and as I had suspected it isn't ambiguous but only right when I say someone powerful was behind them.

              "I see Your Majesty." Lan He replied.

              The Imperial physician sneaking in the darkness he moved up to a small isolated nearby building where a man stood showing him his back while facing the window.

              "Your Excellency?" He called when the latter turned around and revealed himself to him it turned out to be Han Touzhou.

              "What is wrong with Yang Wanyi?" He asked.

              "She is safe." The physician replied, "she sustained minor injuries from the accident but that's not all, the foetus is also safe." He added.

              "Is it so?" He asked.

              "Yes." The Imperial physician confirmed while the latter still quite uncomfortable the physician seemed to notice from his expression that he was feeling uneasy.

              "However I thought that should let Your Excellency know something in advance." He said.

              "Just get straight to the point." Han Touzhou ordered.

              "I can swear that I could feel two distinct pulses from Her Grace's womb." He said, "normally any physician would clearly interpret that as a sign that Yang Wanyi must be expecting twins." He concluded and Han Touzhou hearing this immediately he smiled.

             "Did you say twins?" He asked.

             "Yes Your Excellency." The Imperial physician replied and the latter excited he smiled at himself.

              "Is there anyone else who knows this apart from you?" He asked the old man.

              "No." He replied.

              "Very well." Han Touzhou said, keep in between us." He said to him.

              "Yes Your Excellency." The Imperial physician replied.

              "Ma'am?" Manyin said to Yang Wanyi when she noticed that her expression was rather strange while she seemed suspicious of the Imperial physician that had been working on her.

             "Something isn't right about that man." She said.

              "How so Ma'am?" Xiaoyang asked.

              "When he took my pulse there was a strange expression on his face." Yang Wanyi replied.

             "What could be wrong Ma'am?" Manyin asked.

              "Master Bao and Jinglan understand this better I trust that there's something they could tell me, Eunuch Deng was also once a trainee who wanted to become an Imperial physician so call him in." Yang Wanyi said.

             "Yes Ma'am." Manyin replied as she withdrew from the room.

              Emperor Ningzong still lost in his thoughts Eunuch Deng walked in.

             "Your Majesty, Cao Zhaoyi seeks an audience with Your Majesty." He mentioned.

             "Let her in." The Emperor Ningzong said and the latter complying, the young woman appeared graceful before him and bowed her head before him.

              "I greet Your Majesty." She said.

              "What bothers you?" He inquired.

              "I was reconsidering what happened at the banquet earlier." She replied.

              "About Yang Wanyi you must have been concerned I am sorry to have not informed you, but you can be at ease though, she is stable and her condition was not so serious." He mentioned.

              "It's clear that even when she got in the way and saved Your Majesty, you were the target of those people that came into the Palace tonight and the more I think about what they could do, it's unimaginable." Cao Zhaoyi remarked.

              "We shall bring them to justice, you don't have to worry." Emperor Ningzong assured her.

              "But how can your Majesty assure the people, I for one trusts Your Majesty entirely but what about the people Sire, their curiosity drives a number of events in this nation once rumours crop up then I fear it shall be our misfortune." She said.

              "Did you think about anything?" Emperor Ningzong asked.

               "Your Majesty must have read my mind and I shall trust that I have read yours as well, if I may Your Majesty, it could be that people worry about the stability of the Crown Prince and with the absence of an Empress the stability of the Inner Court, if Your Majesty may grant me the chance then I wish to arrange a betrothal ceremony for the Crown Prince as he can already be considered to have reached the marriageable age." She responded.

              "A marriage?" He asked.

              "The Eastern Palace needs a Crown Princess Your Majesty and for the welfare of both your Majesty and the Crown Prince, power in the Imperial Court has always been exploited outrightly by those evil Courtiers and maternal relatives of Emperors it's much likely that Han Touzhou will want to consolidate himself in power by having the Crown Prince marry a powerful family." Cao Zhaoyi replied.

              "What's your opinion on the Crown Prince's ideal spouse?" The Emperor asked.

              "A humble spouse shall surely do Your Majesty, one that can conduct themselves as the mother of this nation and a real Empress in my opinion your Majesty, we can pick from a respectable aristocratic family but not an entirely powerful one." Cao Zhaoyi replied.

              "But you realise when it comes to the affairs of the Imperial marriages even a High Ranking Consort has boundaries and that power if not exercised by an Empress or an Empress Dowager it can be exercised by me." He mentioned.

              "That's why I come to Your Majesty because as you reserve that power and the final say on the issue to be helpful I had come up with some choices." She said as she put it onto the table and the Emperor picking it up he looked through its contents while she tried to keep calm, "of all these I was most amused by Cao Deshi's youngest daughter Cao Xuan " she continued to bias him.

               "I shall think it through a bit deeply and I thank you for your concern, otherwise, you are free to meet Yang Wanyi whenever you want." He mentioned.

               "Thank you Your Majesty." She said as she bowed her head and standing up, she withdrew from the room and stepping outside she looked back at the doors while she smiled at herself before continuing her way.

               Eunuch Deng getting back into the room he found the Emperor quietly seated inside and lost in his thoughts.

              "Your Majesty?" He said.

              "I need to see Yang Wanyi." He said.

              "Yes Your Majesty." He replied hesitantly.

             Yang Wanyi in the room Beiyuan inspected her pulse quietly while Manyin, Xiaoyang and Master Bao watched.

             "I don't know how to say this Ma'am." He mentioned.

             "What is it with you?" Master Bao asked as he took her hand from his and inspecting the pulse himself for a moment he was startled that he didn't dare to say a word.

             "What is wrong with you?" She asked.

             "Ma'am, I don't know how to say this but there's a double pulse coming from your womb." He mentioned.

             "What, a double pulse?" Yang Wanyi asked.

             "Yes Ma'am." Beiyuan confirmed.

             "I knew it that there was something wrong with the way that physician looked at you Ma'am." He mentioned.

              "He must be a spy." Yang Wanyi asserted.

              "Whose Ma'am?" Beiyuan asked.

              "There's two people I could think of at the moment, Cao Zhaoyi and Han Touzhou." She replied.

              "They are the most likely suspects." Master Bao said, "Ma'am, this is a very big secret but the truth could get us killed, if we silence the physician we'll only alarm our enemies and those involved, Ma'am, is there for us a more troubling hour than this?" He asked.

             "His Majesty shouldn't know." Yang Wanyi said.

             "Ma'am, what's wrong?" Manyin asked all the more confused.

             "The Taizu Emperor who conquered the land and established the dynasty centuries ago in the year 960AD, once ascended the mountain Tai to seek the confirmation of heaven for the mandate it had rested in his hands and heaven gave him three treasures." Yang Wanyi said.

             "These were a sacred bow and arrow that would make him victorious in battle, the second was an iron spear to crush the skulls of his enemies and the third was an iron shield on which he received the first law." Master Bao said.

              "What was this law Ma'am?" Manyin asked.   

              "YĪNYÁNG SHĒNG ZHÀO LUÒ." Yang Wanyi replied.

              "YĪNYÁNG SHĒNG ZHÀO LUÒ?" Xiaoyang inquired.

              "It means that THE BIRTH OF TWINS WILL SINK THE NATION and the only remedy to this curse that was if it was meant to be averted, in this Dynasty as long as any Member of the Imperial Clan delivered twins, both children and their mother are supposed to be killed to prevent the Empire from sliding into unrest." Yang Wanyi said.

             "Really?" Manyin inquired.

             "Zhao Kuangyin used the shield in battle in his strife to claim the lands in the North and in the East as well, however he fought so hard in battle that the shield at one point was shattered by his enemies and after he died, the last half that was saved possessed this last simple order." Yang Wanyi said.

             "If word of Her Highness' twin pregnancy spread then it will surely be the end of us." Beiyuan said.

            "We need to watch the Imperial physician more from now on, however we must be cautious not to raise any suspicions whatsoever." Yang Wanyi said.

            "Yes Ma'am." Everyone replied in unison as they each stood up to go when all of a sudden one of her Ladies in waiting made her way inside.

             "Ma'am, His Majesty is on his way here." She announced.

             "What?" She said.

             "What do we do Ma'am?" Manyin asked.

             "Do as we agreed and you can leave the rest to me." Yang Wanyi replied.

               The Emperor Ningzong mounting the stairs that led to his Chambers, the doors were opened and he walked in and caught sight of Manyin who was kneeling on the floor right in front of her mistress.

                "Why don't you just tell His Majesty Ma'am?" She was saying to the unconscious woman, "why do you have to bear this burden?" She said in tears.

               "Why is it that you are protecting the Late Empress Mother?" She spoke aloud and the Emperor walking closer to her he halted right behind.

               "What did you say?" He asked as the young woman immediately stood up and moved to the side wiping away her tears.

               "Nothing Your Majesty." He replied.

               "I heard everything." He mentioned.

               "What did you hear Your Majesty?" She asked.

               "What is it that Mei'er can't tell me, what did my mother do wrong?" He inquired.

               "I don't know what you are talking about Your Majesty, please." She said.

               "Do you know the price of lying to me?" He asked while she immediately fell onto her knees before him.

               "Pardon me Your Majesty." She cried, "Ma'am told us not to tell you anything." She mentioned as an excuse.

               "Is that the best that you can tell me?" He muttered.

               "Forgive me Your Majesty but the one thing that Ma'am can't tell you is the fact that Her Highness the Empress Mother attempted to overthrow you and replace you with the Crown Prince Zhao Jun." She confessed and the Emperor taken aback could hardly believe what she had said.

               "What?" He asked.

               "Ma'am found out about the attempted coup and confronted the Endless Mother and using her brother Yang Cishan she suppressed the rebels Your Majesty, but she told us to tell no one until the day we die and go to the grave because she feared that if you learnt the truth, you would be heartbroken and you would never recover from that betrayal." She mentioned the Emperor in turn looking at Yang Wanyi he seemed to recall the words that she'd always said to him.

             "Please don't press me Your Majesty, if I told you even one of two or more of those words Your Majesty, it would even hurt and kill you that I choose to bear this pain on your behalf along with the scrutiny of the world, heaven shall see my greatest absolution for my past transgressions and God shall save me from falling into a very dark and unwise world." She'd cautioned him.

            "So this was it after all." He mentioned, "it was this that you couldn't tell me." He said as he got closer to her side and then holding her hand at that moment she spoke up weakly.

             "Your Majesty." She said as she slowly opened her eyes and looked at him while he lifted her from where she was lying and he pulled her into a very tight hug.

             "My Wanyi?" He said to her as he embraced her, "my Mei'er." He spoke under his breath while she was still rather puzzled.

             "Why is Your Majesty in tears?" She asked as she cleared her head at least it seemed.

             "I have been selfish all my life and only saw what I have sacrificed I forgot to see what you have been through and ignored the pain and anguish that was weighing on your shoulders." He replied.

             "What's all this about Your Majesty?" She asked.

              "I am a witness before the heavens that you care deeply for me, I have come to realise that there is not a single person in the world that can love me much more than you have." He mentioned.

             "Your Majesty?" She continued to press for an answer while Manyin standing behind her she nodded her head while the latter smiled at her lightly the Emperor pulling apart she wore her sombre and weak expression again.

              "Your Majesty, I don't understand." She said to him while he held her hands tightly in his.

              "In your delicate state I am glad you thought about me my dear and you have blessed this dynasty above all things finally I understand your intentions I have decided that from this point onwards you shall move into the Secondary Palace of YUXIANGLING." Emperor Ningzong said.

              "Has Your Majesty forgotten, I am merely a low ranking Concubine, to move into such a big Palace will only cause havoc." She said.

             "There won't be a need for that." Emperor Ningzong said.

             "Sire?" She asked.

             "My dear, the woman that I have loved I shall protect, and as it is there isn't an Empress in the palace it is important therefore that a Senior Consort is chosen therefore from this moment onwards, you shall be referred to as GUIFEI (IMPERIAL NOBLE CONSORT).

             "You Majesty.........?" She voiced out her protest but he didn't allow her to conclude.

              "I have made up my mind and on this I do not expect you to disagree with me, there's only you that I can trust to put the Palace in order." He said.

              "It is Your Majesty's doing, it remains marvellous in my sight." She said as she bowed her head to him.

              Very early in the morning the sun rising over the Palace, the ladies of the Palace had gathered right outside the Imperial Palace of Yuxiangling and the Empress Yang being supported by Manyin and Xiaoyang who held her hands, all the other Concubines watching, she moved up to the Empress Dowager Xie who had the Imperial Edict through Daiyu delivered to Beiyuan who took it into his hands.

             "YANG WANYI IS BENEVOLENT AND TALENTED, COURAGEOUS AND SELFLESS BUT ABOVE ALL GRACEFUL IN HER CONDUCT SHE IS AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL THE LADIES IN THE PALACE I ENTRUST THE INNER COURT TO HER SERVICE THAT SHE MIGHT ASSIST HER HIGHNESS THE EMPRESS DOWAGER IN HER DUTIES, FROM THIS DAY FORTH, SHE IS HEREBY CREATED IMPERIAL NOBLE CONSORT OF THE FIRST RANK (GUIFEI)." He read.

            "Yang Guifei thanks His Majesty." She said.

            "Long Live His Majesty." All the Ladies said as they bowed their heads and Manyin and Xiaoyang helping Yang Guifei up onto her feet, she moved up to the seat that had been arranged for her and slowly she sat down in it, taking a deep breath and exhaling, she was close to the top at last.

             "Long Live Her Grace." They chanted her worship and Cao Wanyi in her Chambers furious she was breathing heavily when Linxiang walked in in front of her.

            "Ma'am, Yang Guifei has been invested." She said.

             "So His Majesty has decided." She replied.

             "How come Ma'am?" Linxiang asked.

             "The harem has earned a leader which is what it needed, in the Inner Court she is second to only the Empress Dowager who is merely another empty title he has made clear to the world now more than ever, once the Empress falls Yang Guifei shall take her place." She mentioned.

               "What are we going to do Ma'am?" Linxiang asked.

               "Whatever it takes." Cao Zhaoyi replied, "I won't let her rise to the Empress' throne, over my dead body." She remarked furiously as she smacked the table.