Candlelight fills the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. The Empress Dowager reclines on cushions. You sit by her side, recounting stories from your childhood.
Empress Dowager: Aah, you have a beautiful voice my dear. It smoothes and old lady's worried heart.
Xiu Ying: I heard the Old Matron saying you cough a lot these days, but you refuse to see a doctor. You must! Otherwise you will get very ill when winter comes.
Empress Dowager: I'm fine! No need to fuss! You're more naggy than the Old Matron.
Old Matron: She is just concerned for you, Your Majesty.
Empress Dowager: I know she is concerned for me! But it's just a little cough. I'm not so fragile.
Just then the main door to the hall swings open, and an Old Eunuch enters.
Old Eunuch: Your Majesty, the 6th Prince broke into the Hall of Mental Cultivation tonight. We caught him red-handed.
Empress Dowager: Just like his mother... 6th Prince is not shy of trouble. Help me would you, Yongqing ''[Editor's note: Yongqing is the title bestowed to Xiu Ying by the Emperor]''? I'd like to go and take a look.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation is bathed in light. You help the Empress Dowager step over the threshold and into the hall. The 6th Prince is kneeling on the floor, crying like a naughty child. The Emperor is sitting on his throne.
Xiu Ying: (Did the Emperor really go hunting? It looks like the Emperor set a trap... and 6th Prince fell into it.)
As the Dowager enters, the Emperor stands up formally to greet her.
Emperor: Mother, it is very late. What are you doing here?
Empress Dowager: I couldn't sleep... and I don't want to miss out on all the fun!
Emperor: [Helping the Dowager take her seat] Behold, this unfilial dog broke into the Hall of Mental Cultivation tonight. I set some men to watch and they caught him in the act. There's no denying it.
Empress Dowager: But why would he want to break into the Hall of Mental Cultivation? What's going on? Yongqing, come and sit beside me.
You obediently approach and sit down next to her. The Emperor looks across at you, his eyes unreadable. He looks back at 6th Prince, without saying anything.
Emperor: [Magisterially] Come now, 6th prince. It would be a shame not to open up the thing you risked so much to obtain.
You finally notice the red letter lying on the ground in front of the prince. You recognize the bright red color. How could you ever forget it? It is something precious to the crown prince. He asked you to get it. Ji Yun forged it for you, and nobody ever questioned it.
Xiu Ying: (How could the 6th Prince have been so stupid? Stealing something with his own hands rather than sending someone to do it... Perhaps the Emperor's absence made him bolder?)
You feel like mocking him, but you seriously doubt he'd be so foolish. So what's going on?
6th Prince: [Staring wide-eyed at the red letter] No, no... I dare not.
Emperor: [Laughing mirthlessly] Your courage suddenly failed you, 6th Prince? OPEN IT!!!
6th Prince quakes at the Emperor's command. He reaches forward a trembling hand, and slowly opens the letter. The Dowager grabs you hand and asks you in a low but audible voice.
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Empress Dowager: Tell me Yongqing, what do you think is inside the letter?
Xiu Ying: I would say, nothing at all.
Just as you predicted, the letter contains a blank piece of paper. 6th Prince looks like he's seen a ghost.
6th Prince: [Deadened eyes] You sent this trap for us many years ago, didn't you Your Majesty, as a test?
Emperor: Correct! And you're the only one who fell for it. How does it feel?
6th Prince: [Bowing deeply] I have nothing to say. I await your punishment.
His reaction is as good as admission of guilt. By the Emperor's arrangement, only a prince who coveted the throne would be curious enough to open the letter and read its contents. By stealing the letter, he had walked into the trap. The throne would never go to him now. That being the case, it was best he withdraw his claim as gracefully as possible.
Queen Rong: Outrageous! I will see the Emperor! You dare to block my path?!
The Empress can he heard raging outside the hall, but the guards have obviously been given their orders to not let her pass.
Emperor: [Looking at you] My Lady, please tell the Empress that she is not needed here.
It is certainly not your place to tell the Empress she is not needed, but the Dowager has brought you here and you must obey her. You get up and leave the hall.
Queen Rong: Go and announce my arrival to the Emperor at once! What is the meaning of this?
Empress Rong hurries over to you, obviously anxious and angry, but as majestic as ever. Regal and motherly, you cannot help admiring her. No wonder the Emperor picked her.
Xiu Ying: Your Majesty, the Emperor is busy and will not see you.
Queen Rong: Lady Yongqing? You're here... How is the 6th Prince?
Xiu Ying: Please try to calm down, Your Majesty. Consider the situation.
Queen Rong: What do you mean?
Xiu Ying: The Emperor is in a rage. It would be better to stay out of it, to avoid being implicated in the 6th Prince crime...
Your gentle tone succeeds in calming her somewhat. She is just about to ask you another question when a eunuch announces the arrival of the Noble Consort.
Queen Rong: [Frowning] What is SHE doing here?
The Noble Consort approaches, greets the Empress in a very perfunctory fashion, then orders the guards to let her pass. The guards had received orders to keep the Empress out, but not the Noble Consort. One of them runs inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation to inform the Emperor.
Queen Rong: Noble Consort, what brings you here?
Noble Consort: A matter of urgency... which I must convey to the Emperor directly. [Turning to face you] With your cleverness, you will definitely know why I am here.
The guard quickly returns and asks the Noble Consort inside. Empress Rong watched the Noble Consort walk through, her jaws tightly clenched. Surprise at the Noble Consort's comment shows on your face.
Queen Rong: My Lady, can you guess why she's here?
Xiu Ying: [Reluctantly] 7th Prince has been seriously hurt. The Noble Consort has been very worried about him... I suspect its about that.
Queen Rong: [Gasping] The Noble Consort thinks 6th Prince has something to do with the attack at Mount Tianchi?
