Who is she?

The empress turned to stare at the trio who had just arrived. She calmly placed the teacup on the table as she stared intently at Tie Hongchen. Tie Hongchen felt uncomfortable under her gaze. The trio had bowed as it was the custom." Greetings grandmother," the trio greeted in unison." Arise. Ning'er come take a seat besides me," empress Dowager said as she stared at Dong Ning with a gentle smile on her face. Dong Ning nodded her head and then made her way next to the empress. The empress was satisfied by Dong Ning's obedience and couldn't help but cast a glance at Tai Jian. Tai Jian pretended not to see her. The courtyard only had three seats and empress Dowager had seated on one, Dong Ning on the other so one person would lack a seat. "Tai Jian, take a seat," empress Dowager ordered with a cold smile on her face. The servants in the courtyard stared at Tie Hongchen with gloating expressions. Since the empress had given the order Tai Jian could only obey. He took Tie Hongchen's hands and brought her next to his seat. He sat down under the watchful gazes of the servants and the empress. Tie Hongchen wanted to take the opportunity and excuse herself but Tai Jian refused to let go of her hand so she had no choice but to stay by his side." Grandmother, Hongchen is my wife. How can I sit down while she is standing?" Tai Jian calmly asked." She can excuse herself after all I only invited you and Ning'er. I didn't think you would bring a third party to a private family meeting," the empress coldly replied not giving Tai Jian any face." Is that so?" Tai Jian asked." Are you questioning me?" Empress Dowager asked coldly. "I dare not. It's just that for me Hongchen is my wife which makes her my family and as husband and wife we must always stay together so how can I leave her behind?" Tai Jian asked." Oh! Unfortunately there are no more seats in my mansion. I guess you can only make this old woman feel aggrieved by leaving early," the empress said coldly. Tai Jian could definitely interpret the meaning behind her words. If Tai Jian decided to leave then it would mean that he was not giving her any face. Empress Dowager still has a lot of power in the empire so Tai Jian did not dare to offend her yet." I can leave," Tie Hongchen whispered. "Atleast you are sensible," empress Dowager said." Your majesty, since we are already here we will just share the seat after all we are married. We share the same bed so I guess it won't matter if we share the seat," Tai Jian said trying to sound aggrieved. This was his bottom line and the empress knew that if she pushed him any further then he would just risk it all and leave. Tai Jian was like his father and was hot blooded as his father so the empress knew better than to challenge his bottom line. They might seem dignified on the surface but inwardly they were beasts especially on the battlefield. Only those who had experienced their might on the battlefield knew of the true nature of the father and son. The empress had nurtured the both of them so she knew better than to annoy Tai Jian. She just smiled at this and forced herself to calmly accept such an outcome." You can just sit with her but her opinions are unnecessary in this meeting," empress Dowager said. Tai Jian knew this would happen so he only kept quiet about it. Instead of sitting together Tai Jian made Tie Hongchen to sit on his laps. The empress coldly harrumphed at this. The room returned to its previous calmness. No one was willing to break the silence. Empress Dowager only conversed with Dong Ning while casting glances at Tai Jian and Tie Hongchen. Tai Jian took this chance to flirt with Tie Hongchen making her feel uncomfortable but seeing both the empress and Dong Ning immersed in their own conversation no longer resisted him. It was only after a few minutes that Tai Jian broke the silence." Your majesty, I guess you did not invite us to your place so as to enjoy the scenery,right?" Tai Jian asked with a smile on his handsome face." So what if I did? Isn't the scenery in my courtyard beautiful?" Empress Dowager asked as she stared at Tai Jian. Tie Hongchen also turned to stare at the empress the moment Tai Jian asked the question. Even Dong Ning did the same. They were all curious as to why they were summoned by the empress." If it is so then I am afraid I'll have to disappoint her majesty," Tai Jian said as he stood up and prepared to leave. At first he used to address empress Dowager as grandmother but he later changed the form of address to your majesty. With this it could be seen that he had decided break off the relationship between them so he no longer cared about offending her." We are only waiting for someone so just be patient," empress Dowager said coldly. The trio were shocked as they didn't know that the empress had invited another person to the meeting. Tai Jian was quite curious about who the person was so he decided to stay a little longer. After about two hours of waiting a man dressed in black armour that had a phoenix emblem appeared." Your majesty," the man greeted. Seeing the armour and the emblem made Tai Jian's expression to become grim." Dark phoenix emissary!" Tai Jian said. He instantly recognised the man after seeing the emblem and the armour. Tai Jian was also familiar with the shadow organisation and knew their high ranking members and had mastered their aura. The dark phoenix emissary also known as the announcer of death was ranked tenth in terms of strength in the whole of the shadow guild. With him present Tai Jian instantly knew that something was off." I have not interfered with the interests of the shadows so why did they send you to invite me to this place?" Tai Jian asked. He did not even stare at his grandmother while asking the question rather his eyes were fixed on the dark phoenix emissary." You indeed have been obedient as of late but someone feels threatened by you so we have to deal with you. It's nothing personal you should be familiar with the laws of the world. Only the strong are qualified to live in this and besides two tigers cannot share the same mountain," the dark phoenix emissary said." Since you have said so much then it means you have a way out after all the dark phoenix doesn't always speak that much. It is not your style," Tai Jian said." You indeed know me well. It's a pity that you martial arts was abolished. Marry her and we will let you live," the dark phoenix emissary said." Hahaha. Who is she?" Tai Jian asked. He had already made some guesses but he never thought that the shadow organisation had even managed to join forces with the Dong family. With this Tai Jian was now forced to reveal himself earlier than planned. The Dong family was a prominent family in the capital and had years of heritage so with them supporting the shadows there was no hope." Don't ask what you shouldn't ask," the dark phoenix emissary said.