The Emperor's Tea
The Emperor sighs on his throne
-Father... Why postpone those reports?- asks the 5th Prince -If they are so important as you said...- The young man moves closer and takes one of the letters with a very particular name written on it -Ying... ChangLai... Her- growls deep in his throat the Prince letting the letter falls back with the others -Reports about that Woman's doings... You are not avoiding to punish her only because she helped you once, right father?-
The Emperor rises his head -Is it your sense of Justice as a Prince or the fact that your Mother is the sister of the Empress talking?-
-Father... If you think that I'm mad at that woman for discovering the wrong doings of my brother and cousin, you're highly mistaken... I just mean that, if Justice have to be done for your own son, even more should be done for a common soldier-
-Even more? Princes really are spoiled kids...- he sighs before reaching for the letter -If you will ever be taking my place... Remember that everyone, farmer or King, should be treated and judged the same way- He swing the letter a couple of times -I'm just too tired now for such heavy topics...- he stands up and pass over the young man, resting an hand on his shoulder for a moment -I'll go get some rest, and you should too my son-
The Prince cleanches his fists -Sure, father-
...
The Emperor pours himself some more tea and leans back on his chair, sipping bit by bit with his eyes locked on the blooming petals of the Plums -Young man... I'm sure you know why I requested for you to be my guard today- whispers the man with the cup on his lips.
PeiZhi turns around from his spot -Your Majesty...-
-Talk freely-
-What happened to my sister?-
-Ah... Actually nothing, she's just proving to be worthy of owning my whole Army, but she's bothering some peoples and they won't let that go unpunished... I really hope for this war to end soon, she could then go by her path and be the Master of her own Sect...- he sighs
-Punished...?-
-Maids! Bring some wine! Come seat down and drink with me young man, as I did with your father when I was just a silly Prince-
PeiZhi widen his eyes shocked
-Haha of course you don't know, it's alright... I asked him not to tell anyone afterall. That's an old story, I could even tell you now... It's not like I have much time left anyway...- he smiles playing with the almost empty cup tea before gulping down -You know that I was the second Prince-
PeiZhi nods
-That's not the truth, I was the 3rd one... My father, the previous Emperor, was a failure of a Monarch... Not a bad man but a weak one. The first and 2nd Princes were sons of the Empress, she always used her charm as her weapon but after my father married my mother... He did not favour the Empress anymore so her charm, and her bed, lost all the power they once had.
She understood that her only weapons now were the Princes... Since they were young kids, she whispered poison in their ears and used them as a way to control the Palace, and later the country... Once old enough, the 1st Prince started opening his eyes and fought with the 2nd, wanting him to redeem himself too... But it was useless.
The 2nd Prince, along with the Empress, fearing the menace of his brother created a plan in which the 1st Prince looked like a rebel. They drove him to madness to the point where the 1st one actually did became a "rebel", marching against the 2st Prince domain... But of course, they played their cards well and looked completely innocent in all that happened... So my 1st brother got killed for "justice", making the 2nd one Crown Prince... Everyone thought he had to bring justice over his brother, that he was extremely impartial and dedicated to the peoples.
At that time I was very close with your father, he was General in my Family and a Noble in my domain... We made many plans and discovered a lot of things together, so we joined forces and created a plan... To everyone it was a simple story. The 3rd Prince, seeing a quick way to the throne, marched over the 2nd's domain to kill him and conquer his land... But failed and got killed by the 2nd Prince.
The truth is...
Me, using your father's men, slaughtered the 2nd Prince whole home and killed both him and The Empress... But I took his place after that night. His body was disfigured, and with some makeup I faked being him untill full adulthood. We are brothers afterall, so with a bit of beard none could tell the difference. Your father's name got never dirtied as the 3rd Prince "stole the army without the General knowing and threatened them to serve him".
The throne is the bloodiest chair of them all...-
PeiZhi holds tight on the cup of wine he's drinking -I... My father...-
-No need to say anything-
-You cannot expose your old friendship with my father or your facade would fall, since he was friend of the 3rd rebellious Prince... Now I understand why you have always been so nice with me and my sister-
-I did not tell you this because I wanted you to acknowledge my care for you, nor to simply lift a burden on my heart- The Emperor finally faces the young man -I've done my own dirty tricks for that so called Justice... Who am I to blame your sister? Who is not even capable to do something wrong unlike me? That's what I want you to know, never would I punish her or blame her but... I'm not everyone. Nevermind now, I'm sure she won't let anyone stop her- he looks away again, saddened -All the blood I saw with my own eyes... For something as burdensome ae a Throne. I tried my best to teach my sons but apparently I failed miserably...- he pours himself more tea, sighing even more loudly before gulping down
-Your Highness... You should not blame yourself for what the Crown Prince did, just look at your other sons... XianLen for example helped us in...-
The Emperor interrupts him -Call me Uncle... Your father is a brother to me. XianLen... That young man haha! I really wish to see him on the throne one day. He's the only worthy one,
I might have a very high requests but... I wish for your sister to save my Nation and to put XianLen on the throne-
-Your Majesty, why are you asking... Her?- PeiZhi eyes falls on the teacup in the Emperor's hand, looking heavier than anything else in the world
-You're a cleaver one... This cup...- he rise his arm it and those the cup, smashing it to the ground -But whoever did it was more cleaver... They've been poisoning me for quite some time with this weird mixture, everyone will think it's an illness that took me away-
-If you knew... Why you kept drinking it?-
-I didn't want, whoever did this, to end up creating bigger plans and alliances that could hurt more than one sinful soul... I might not be old enough, but my time had come since a while. I see this... As me paying for my crimes- a cough shaken him
-Your Majesty... We...!- he rises up quickly as tears build up in his eyes
-No, don't do anything... Let your sister know once the war is over, she will handle everything perfectly. Don't get yourself involved, young man... You even have someone waiting for you at home-
-I...!- he widen his eyes
-It's not so bad to die knowing the world is in safe hands... Mmhn...- sighs the old man
-Sir...- PeiZhi moves closer, looking only like a blurry shadow in the Emperor's eyes -Guards! Call a Doctor!- he bends down beside the older man, feeling his wrist's pulsations under the fingers
-Promise me... You will stay hidden and protect... XianLen... Until your sister... Clean the corruption-
-I promise- tries to say the young man but his breath gets stuck
-Good... Very good...- smiles The Emperor, and his one last breath leave his lungs...
-Your Highness! Your Majesty! Emperor...! Uncle...- he falls on his knees with teary eyes as the guards runs all around him -He... My father...- and with one last broken setende he storms out of the garden.