Lady Yang walking through the doors of her Chambers she was accompanied by Manyin and Xiaoyang joyously she moved around her table and she sat down leaning against her left hand as she smiled at herself.
"Congratulations Ma'am." Manyin said to her as she bowed her head.
"It's a little bit too early." Lady Yang replied.
"How so Ma'am?" Manyin asked.
"The Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Palace is dissolved and it's necessary that it is replaced, surely the Empress would need formidable talents to fill the vacuum that's been left behind it's now time for us to make our next move." Lady Yang replied.
"Don't worry Ma'am, Bao Langya and the others have assured me that everything is ready." Manyin remarked.
"You can now bring back the Grand Empress Dowager from the jaws of death." Lady Yang replied.
"Yes Ma'am." Manyin replied.
"I also need to make a trip tomorrow." Lady Yang added.
"Don't worry, I have already prepared all the gifts as per your requirements Ma'am." Xiaoyang replied.
"Great." Lady Yang remarked as she smiled at herself ghastly.
Emperor Ningzong silently he watched the blue sky from where he stood and with his retinue a couple of feet away, Lan He walked up to his left side.
"What transpired?" He asked.
"Noble Lady Yang let the Lady Investigators keep their lives." Lan He replied as the young man sighed in relief that the latter seemed shocked.
"Your Majesty?" He called.
"Has she really changed as much?" He asked.
"I don't know Sire." Lan He replied, "though why do you ask? Are you really relieved to hear this?" He asked.
"I thought she would act up coldly, I am as surprised she proved benevolent, she was nearly harmed and only heaven knows what would have befallen her, yet she could reserve her fury and chose to act up rightly I am in deed marvelled." He replied.
"Do you still suspect her?" Lan He asked.
"Apart from you is there another I can trust?" Emperor Ningzong asked, "is there another that has never left my side?" He insisted.
"No." Lan He replied.
"That's the reality of bearing the crown, it is so hard for me to trust with all my heart every step is a gamble, a man I die all the same I am a god that can hardly rely on men or hope in them." Emperor Ningzong muttered.
"What about the Empress now Your Majesty?" Lan He asked.
"She'll certainly feel infuriated but understand this as a much better way of facing things, as long as it would keep the Imperial Court and the people quiet for a moment's worth certainly she'd embrace it and equally Lady Yang has prevailed in favour of both houses I'd suppose." Emperor Ningzong replied.
"I fear the Empress shall attack her more often." Lan He asked.
"All along I hope she matures enough to realise that there are eyes watching her." Emperor Ningzong replied.
Wan Mei and Wan'er still watching the unconscious Grand Empress Dowager, she slowly opened her eyes to their surprise they each drew closer to her bedside.
"Your Highness?" Wan'er called aloud while she gasped for some air and Wan Mei drawing closer she fed her a small cup of water after she sat up in her bed she seemed healthier her white hair falling over her shoulders.
"Her Highness has regained consciousness, go and inform His Majesty." Wan'er ordered one of the nearby Ladies in waiting as she complied immediately in a short while she dashed out through the doors of the Grand Empress Dowager's quarters leaving her with her two most trusted servants.
"What happened?" The old woman asked.
"Pardon me Your Highness." They each said in unison.
"What is there for me to hold you accountable I seem to have heard a very long sleep?" She asked.
The two looking at each other were hesitant to even utter a word or two on the events that had transpired and Wan'er smiling a little bit she siezed the opportunity to conjure a lie.
"Your Highness fell ill and we were so worried." She asserted confidently but the older woman appeared content in her own thoughts that they hardly meant each word they uttered.
"Can I really not tell when you are lying to me?" She asked.
"What does Your Highness mean to say?" Wan Mei asked.
"I have reared you in this Palace and you have served me since you were too little that I might be victim to senility but I couldn't possibly forget how it was that I have seen you throughout all those years." Grand Empress Dowager Wu replied.
"Pardon us Your Highness but the Empress had the Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Palace sneak in aconite within the palace and bury it they added it to your soup we were only lucky that they were mung beans otherwise you would have been dead." Wan Mei replied.
"Why?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"To frame the Noble Lady Yang of the Pingle Commandery." Wan Mei replied and the Empress offering her hand to Wan'er she moved her legs from the blanket and sat upright.
"There's something I didn't get though, did you say to frame the Noble Lady Yang?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Wan Mei replied, "in fact I even heard that the Empress had asked the Lady Zhang to use this opportunity to kill her during the Investigation torture it was alarming but so it seems that the Empress Han is very much afraid of her." She added.
"So she would be as daring?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Without a doubt." Wan'er also agreed.
"How old will I be this year?" Grand Empress Dowager Wu asked.
"Eighty years of age Your Highness." Wan Mei replied.
"I seem to recall my birthday isn't so far away and I intend to make a couple of preparations, I want you to help me invite the members of the Wu clan together as well and help me inform His Majesty that Han Touzhou and his family are invited as well." She said.
"Yes Your Highness." Wan Mei replied.
"After all one wants the aunt dead and the other would prefer me to cease from hindering her hand in the harem surely I must return to them the favour of thinking so highly of me." Grand Empress Dowager Wu replied.
Lady Cao still quietly seated she was lost in thought, recalling the scenes at the Investigations office her head aching she chose to massage her temples with her left hand when she felt a knock on her door.
"Come in." She said and sliding the doors open Linxiang walked in and bowed her head to her.
"Tell me something." She demanded.
"I have just received word that Her Highness the Grand Empress Dowager has just regained consciousness." The latter replied while she temporarily halted in her actions and smiling lightly she seemed to ignore what the other had spoken.
"It's alright." She muttered under her breath.
"Also Lady Yang was inquiring if you have time she wanted to meet up with you at the yingliang pavilion in the gardens." Linxiang spoke very much afraid of her mistress' reaction to which she responded with silence.
"I'll turn down the offer." She said.
"No." Lady Cao replied as she finally let go of her head and facing the side she turned and looked in front of herself where Linxiang was standing, "you can as well tell her I agree, it wouldn't be so bad to have a talk with her." She added.
"But Ma'am....." Linxiang still speaking was halted when the latter raised her hand.
"I am not one to take orders from my subordinates but if I don't turn up what is it that she'll think of me and herself?" Lady Cao asked.
"Pardon me Ma'am, I didn't think that far." Linxiang apologized.
"Don't take it to heart and I am not so angry with you, but at least I am certain, it will be lovely to see her as well." Lady Cao remarked.
Lady Yang coming from her end of the quarters with her retinue she crossed paths with Lady Cao and gracefully the two bowed to each other as they stood under the she'd.
"I was so gladly hoping that you'd turn up and I am Happy that I haven't been disappointed." Lady Yang said.
"Do you really cherish my presence that much?" Lady Cao asked.
"I only heard that during my apprehension you had a very wonderful conversation with the Empress it made me all the more curious to know what it is that you must have whispered in her ears about me." Lady Yang replied.
Lady Cao kept quiet and looked at her intensely staring in her eyes there was a moment of silence Yang Meizi where she was standing she ceased her hanfu and walking up to Lady Cao she ceased her right arm while the latter didn't seem to hesitate.
"I see why." She said, "you know that even I don't understand who it is that I have become these days though one thing is certain I have many enemies and as much as it's hard for you to believe it, I feel comfortable having someone at my back because it's such a cruel world we're in today." She added.
Lady Cao hearing these words she pulled her hand free from her grip and standing upright she raised her head.
"Your every scheme and ruse, whatever it is that you have against me and let it be your power and position, you are not one of those things that I am ready to consider equivalent to my gears." She muttered.
"If it is so then why did you draw your knife through my abdomen?" Lady Yang asked while she kept quiet.
"Even your own words betray you so much you are used to thinking that you are now strong enough to contend with my might you sadly remain no different from how you looked like since we were children, existing as my shadow there's no hope for you to ever break free." She remarked.
"You so wish to test my patience?" Lady Cao asked.
"What's the very worst that you could possibly do to me?" Lady Yang asked.
"You scoundrel." She cursed.
"You bitch." Lady Yang raised her voice fairly with a smile on her face, "a lowborn like yourself and traitor for a moment I was disappointed to think that you would do well to understand the type of person I am but it is saddening that I overestimated you so much as even you could fall for a ruse as easy as that one." Lady Yang said as she stepped to the side and prepared to walk away from Lady Cao.
"I'll make you swallow every last word you just said to me." The latter furious she spoke up and Yang Meizi tilting her head she stared over the shoulder.
"Let us see." Lady Yang muttered, "I'm ready to watch you drain the seas and make the skies burn." She added as she continued her own way and Lady Cao furious she clenched her fists and sashayed away.
Arriving at the entrance of her room Linxiang strode after her.
"Ma'am?" She cried aloud while the latter flung the doors open and moving around her table she sat down and smacked the table the young Lady fell down to her knees.
"Ma'am." She muttered.
"Disappointed She said?" Lady Cao muttered as she evilly chuckled on top of her voice Linxiang only seemed more frightened than she'd ever been.
"She was just toying with you Ma'am." She consoled.
"You think that I don't know that?" Lady Cao asked.
"If you do this she's probably feeling content wherever she is." Linxiang counselled.
"And you also think that I don't know that, you think that I am just as crazy?" Lady Cao asked.
"No Ma'am." Linxiang replied.
"I want to tear her to pieces so badly but now that she really wants to know what it is that I am very capable of don't worry." Lady Cao replied.
"Have you any idea Ma'am?" Linxiang asked.
"We've played so much with poison don't you think?" Lady Cao asked as she smiled at herself, "I wish to make her see me drain the seas and burn down the skies." She swore.
"You should have seen the look on her face Ma'am." Manyin remarked while Yang Meizi quietly she smiled.
"She sure is angry she'll need to find a way to get back at me." Lady Yang replied.
"But how this is supposed to be to our advantage Ma'am, I still don't understand." Manyin said.
"There's not much that you could possibly know but it's already bothering me that the Empress would see her for an ally I am certain that by now she's much opposed to her every idea because it's only brought her misery." Lady Yang replied.
"What's the worst that Lady Cao could do?" Manyin asked.
"There is a tradition of the Empress a couple of months away, surely the harem has for long fallen under the control of the Han Clan it wouldn't really hurt for it to change over time because of those two Han sisters." Lady Yang replied.
Han Touzhou was seated in front of his table reading through a couple of books next to a brazier while he cuddled a thick fur coat for warmth in addition he seemed zoned out for a while before the door opened and Lin Xue walked.
"Your Excellency." He said bowing his head to him.
"There's too many questions in my head that are still unanswered and I was wondering if you'd soothe my thirst for each one of them." He muttered.
"Yes Milord." Lin Xue replied.
"I haven't heard from the Palace that much and neither have I been in touch with the borders, the rumours about the Grand Empress Dowager's attempted murder are still circulating but as the atmosphere seems to have become a bit easy I also happened to hear that the Court Ladies that were expelled from the Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Palace committed suicide each by a different means it's strange that the news is still unheard of." Han Touzhou said.
"I believe so too Your Majesty but it's a possibility that it was the Empress." Lin Xue defended.
"Suppose it was, suppose it wasn't, all those are possibilities that I don't want to care so much about I am more curious that it gave her a grip of the harem but surprisingly, peacefully as it may have seemed she lost it entirely and at the hands of a mere woman." Han Touzhou remarked.
"I heard that she was a very close Court Lady to the Late Retired Xiaozong Emperor and the Emperor and her had an affair at the time within the Palace of which it had provoked a number of rumours and now he may seem impartial but is enamored by her while others most likely assert that he's merely trying to protect her." Lin Xue replied.
"Yet I am sure that nonetheless the Grand Empress Dowager must be happy since she happened to be one of her favourites and proteges she could as well have mastered her disastrous and cunning designs." Han Touzhou said.
"You overestimate her Your Excellency." Lin Xue asserted.
"You underestimate her." Han Touzhou assured him.
"If it is herself that you suspect so badly then why don't you give me the order to investigate her background and I shall get as much information on her as possible?" Lin Xue asked.
"Do it." Han Touzhou said.
"Yes Your Excellency." Lin Xue replied as he withdrew from the room immediately.
A small carriage stopped by an inn and Linxiang hurrying to the side she offered her hand over to her mistress who took it and descending from within wearing on her head a hat with a black veil she mounted the stairs that led her inside.
Climbing through the gates a couple of attendants immediately rushed over to her side and then bearing her hat and pulling it away another of them arranging her clothes, she held up her hanfu and moved up towards one of the nearby compartments where she found a couple of guards.
Beholding her presence they each bowed their heads to her and pulling the doors and sliding them open for her, she walked in with a smile on her face where she first saw a fairly beautiful woman who was slightly older than she was, dressed in green robes and wearing a beautiful Jade ring on her right hand, she seemed composed her eyes were small and frighteningly dark while her face was slightly round and chubby, her nose small and pointed she had a couple of cherry red lips that were very small and tiny.
"Ma'am." Lady Cao said as she kowtowed to her.
"I was reliably informed that you wished to speak to me." The woman said.
"The hour however late it allows us enough time with one another, I was hoping that the both of us could reason well enough and cherish one another as good allies such as the ones we are going to make aren't so hard to find." Lady Cao remarked.
The old woman exploded into laughter.
Lady Cao didn't seem shocked.
"How sweet it is that you already consider us allies!" She muttered.
"Was I wrong Milady?" Lady Cao asked.
"I was merely concerned about how confident you really are." Madam Cao replied and Lady Cao smiling gracefully rather than sit she knelt in front of her and bowed her head.
"Every man is born equal under the sun I don't believe that, fate is in favour of those that are privileged I am not still the same time to believe that, good things shall come to the kind alone, I am afraid each of these is so far below my understanding." Lady Cao muttered.
"Really?" Madam Cao asked.
"My ambitions are great enough to drive a sane man mad but to reach them I need to become the daughter of a legitimate wife and not a concubine." Lady Cao replied and the woman shocked she sighed so disappointed.
"So you wouldn't accept this concubine as a mother?" She asked.
"You misunderstood me Ma'am as my intentions are contrary, otherwise between both me and you we are the same, my good way to show you my allegiance is by making you a legitimate wife." Lady Cao replied as she smiled at the woman ghastly.
She chuckled aloud in disbelief while Lady Cao still retained her composure and seemed unmoved.
"You my dear daughter could turn this foster mother of yours into a most legitimate wife?" Madam Cao asked.
"However great my ambition may be, I can't possibly see them to fulfillment if I can't have you, if there is an honour I can give you and as well expect so much in return, I could turn you into a most legal wife and after that I assure you, you shall live a long happy life." Lady Cao replied as she smiled at herself for a while the latter seemed to be convinced and Linxiang standing not so far away smiled to make the atmosphere between the two livelier.
The doors to Lady Yang's room were opened and Manyin walked in front of her where she halted and bowed her head.
"Ma'am." She said to her.
"Is everything ready?" Lady Yang asked.
"All the preparations have been made and the gifts have arrived here." Manyin replied and at that moment a couple of other Ladies in waiting walked in bearing in their possession a couple of ornaments in their hands along with cloth in a variety of colour, shoes alike which were most remarkable and the maids laying them in front of her she used her hand and picked up a Jade pendant that was beautiful.
"Such a wonderful eye of the goddess of Mercy!" She exclaimed.
"Yes Ma'am." Manyin replied.
"But what are we going to do with these?" Xiaoyang asked.
"You can leave that to me." Lady Yang replied.
It was very early in the morning and Empress Han along with her sister amongst the other ladies in the harem had gathered at the main hall of the Central Palace.
"Greetings Your Highness." The Ladies in waiting greeted her.
"At ease." Empress Han replied and her eyes searching about the place, smiling on top she was inwardly unsettled she signalled for Qing Yi to come over and the latter leaned her ear towards the Empress.
"Where is Lady Cao?" Empress Han whispered.
"I wish I knew Your Highness but as she seems absent and has failed to pay her respects to you the Empress surely Your Highness can get back at her sooner or later." Qing Yi replied.
"Let her be." Empress Han replied as she turned to the young women.
"You may all have your seats." She said and bowing their heads they each moved to either side of the hall where the Eunuchs and Ladies in Waiting helped them settle onto a couple of chairs.
"I am very grateful that you have turned up." Empress Han said.
"It's our duty to support Your Highness in running the harem, that way we can each serve His Sovereign Majesty most diligently." Zhong Furen remarked.
At that moment one of the Eunuchs Eunuch Gong rushed into the centre of the room.
"Your Highness." He said going onto his knees.
"What is it?" Empress Han asked.
"Lady Yang is requesting to come in." Eunuch Gong replied.
"She is already late for the morning greeting towards the Empress." Qing Yi said.
"The Lady Cao hopes that she could explain herself to Your Highness and seek your forgiveness." Eunuch Gong said and the Empress quietly listening she smiled and looking at Qing Yi she took her mistress' expression as a move to refrain from her anger.
"Let her in." Empress Han ordered and Eunuch Gong bowing his head to her he immediately withdrew from the place finally returning a while later while Lady Yang walked into the hall being accompanied by her retinue of attendants that were each bearing in their hands the gifts she had inspected the night before while Lady Cao watched her from where she was seated.
"Lady Cao?" Empress Han asked.
"Pardon me Your Highness." Lady Yang replied, "I was late for the morning greetings because something came up, until now I had formally failed to be grateful for your Providence and granting me the right to become a part of this harem I have decided to offer something that might not be too much to show you my gratitude." She added.
"Really?" Empress Yang replied and Qing Yi moving closer she unveiled them one by one and everyone looking at these gifts they were marvelled the Empress herself looked shocked while Lady Yang looking at Lady Cao, the latter had found her actions to be suspicious.
Empress Han smiled and waving her hand to the young woman she bowed her head in respect.
"You have such a grateful heart and I am so moved by it, I have to feel sorry that you were wronged by the Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Palace but it's good that they were dealt with accordingly I so wish that as I might have failed to have so elite a force within these walls to promote peace and security I was hoping to leave the choices of their successors to you." Empress Han said.
Her sister Consort Han and all the others present in the room seemed shocked by her reaction and Yang Meizi had to act up in refusal as she sensed the threat as soon as possible.
"I'm so sorry." Lady Yang said, "but Your Highness is the ruler of the six Palaces." She added.
"As well as the final say in the harem and this inner Court but we achieve nothing unless we work together how I so wish that with the Sericultural Ceremony going on, I can leave this affair to you as I trust you shall do it most diligently." Empress Han said gracefully.
"Your Highness..." Lady Yang speaking was interrupted.
"As you so much consider me your Empress I hope you won't mean to refuse my offer." She insisted and Lady Yang looking at the Lady Cao who smiled ghastly at her she eventually bowed her head.
"I'd be more than happy Your Highness." Lady Yang remarked and the Empress pleased she smiled as she stared down at the young woman while the Consorts Han, Zhong Furen and Xie Cairen found the Empress to be most suspicious.
"What?" Emperor Ningzong asked.
"Yes Your Majesty, I learnt that the Empress gave Lady Yang charge over appointing the new Lady Investigators this morning while she on the other hand seemed reluctant she had acted up first by offering to the Empress a series of gifts during the morning greeting." Eunuch Deng replied.
"That's very much unlike the Empress Han that I know." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"I believe so too Your Majesty but it so seems to me that she wouldn't have done any of this without any ulterior motive." Eunuch Deng replied.
"Perhaps Shi Miyuan was right, they really wouldn't let her off so easily every moment like this would be their devotion to annihilate her." Emperor Ningzong muttered.
"She is as weak Sire?" Eunuch Deng asked.
"About how humble she is, I made her this way." Emperor Ningzong remarked.
"It couldn't possibly be Your Majesty." Eunuch Deng protested but the latter remained silent.
Lady Yang walking into her room she was accompanied by Manyin and Xiaoyang as she sat down in front of the both of them.
"So these are your true colors Your Highness?" She asked aloud.
"I still don't understand." Manyin said.
"Even I am curious about how Her Highness could conjure up such a thought, I am all the more surprised that she'd surrender her power to you this easily." Xiaoyang added.
"She wouldn't." Lady Yang replied.
"Then what could possibly explain what happened at the morning greeting ceremony in the Central Palace?" Manyin asked.
"Her Highness might be much smarter than I thought and in deed that she has become most cautious after all there's three likely explanations, the first being that Lady Cao is most likely involved, the second her trying to act up well in front of His Majesty and the last being that she intends to make me make her same mistake." Lady Yang replied.
"It's only logical this is a way of getting back at you, the mere fact that the Lady Investigators could commit themselves to making another remarkably big blunder Ma'am shall be held responsible and dealt with accordingly in a manner that isn't intended to give you His Majesty's protection." Xiaoyang said.
"She is a good learner after all but she's already made one blunder that's bigger than the previous." Lady Yang remarked as she smiled at them.
"Enlighten us Ma'am." Manyin pleaded.
"You didn't expect me to give this privilege of service to strangers did you?" Lady Yang asked and the two seemed to realise what it was that their mistress hinted onto.
"Ma'am....?" Manyin called.
"One way or another the Empress is interested in maintaining her grip I was so prepared for a shot this big." Lady Yang replied as she bent her hands under her table and she pulled out a trunk which she placed on top in front of the both of them.
"The Empress wouldn't hurt her own people and at that very least there's an opportunity for us to give her a group of faithful servants." Lady Yang muttered, "we shall proceed with the preparations of the Sericultural Ceremony as intended initially." She swore and smiling at herself ghastly, the two women looked at one another contentedly.
Empress Han walking into her hall she was met by a group of three women each of whom bowed their heads to her.
"Your Highness." They said in unison.
"I heard that you wished to talk to me." Empress Han replied as she humbled herself and sat down before the three of them.
"This is Lady Jing, Lady Mo and Lady Rui at your service." The three said yet again the Empress smiling she looked over to one of her Ladies in Waiting and they each bowed their heads while the one amidst that was carrying a white husky rushed over and delivered it to the Empress' hands.
"You were recommended by Lady Cao?" Empress Han asked and Qing Yi looking at the Empress she smiled.
"Yes." The Ladies replied in unison.
"Isn't it that we are so lucky Your Highness?" Qing Yi asked.
"Why?" Empress Han inquired.
"Won't Your Highness take a closer look?" Qing Yi asked and the Empress staring at the young women intensely they each seemed familiar.
"We are grateful to serve Your Highness." They said she seemed surprised that she sighed deeply.
"You?" She remarked.
"In the service of Your Highness we worked with the Laundry department and it is from there I remember we received your benevolence." The Ladies said.
"These were the masterminds that were behind the Retired Empress, they were our eyes and ears in the Central Palace back then." Qing Yi replied.
"Really?" Empress Han asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Qing Yi replied and the Empress looking at the three women she didn't expose her thoughts and rather hid them behind her expression.
"It's good." She remarked, "I trust that you won't betray your loyalties." She added.
"Yes Your Highness." The women replied in unison and the Empress raising her hand she waved them away while they withdrew from the room at once and Qing Yi turned to her.
"Your Highness has had a very long day but who would have thought that the Lady Cao would be this foolish?" She asked.
"I fear that she is more cautious." Empress Han replied.
"Why is that?" Qing Yi asked.
"I have a title, I have a crown to protect from many enemies known and unknown, both seen and unseen you'd realise in my place how many thorns grace this seat on which I have rested and how many nails burden my brow." Empress Han replied.
"You mean to say that she'd initially forsake her chance and rather than stir your suspicions Your Highness?" Qing Yi inquired.
"Isn't it good that we have our hands over the Ladies' Investigations Bureau of the Palace once again, however all that's left to do is to prove where it is that their loyalty lies?" Empress Han asked.
"Your Highness doesn't trust the Ladies?" Qing Yi asked.
"A domesticated dog can turn wild again in the wild, we can't be too sure of loyalties the longer our subjects spend outside the shelter of our roofs." Empress Han replied.
"How so does Your Highness which to prove that?" Qing Yi asked.
"The harem isn't any peaceful these days, sooner or later I am convinced that the chance for them to do so shall knock at our door." Empress Han replied as she patted her husky softly on its head.
Lady Yang walked into the Court house and there the doors being opened for her she entered a room where she found Beiyuan, Master Bao, Bao Langya and Bo An waiting they each received her kindly as she sat down amongst them.
"You called us Ma'am?" Beiyuan asked.
"Yes." Lady Yang replied.
"That's great." Bao Langya said.
"We have gained control of the the Ladies'Investigations Bureau of the Palace as intended and the Empress I am sure if she's to take all necessary precautions we can't also be too sure we should create an atmosphere for her to cease any hint of suspect." Lady Yang replied.
"Upon your return to the Palace and her every attempt to get rid of you she'd be worried, having still entrusted this decision to you she'd be all the more wary to make her suspicions cease will be ordurous." Master Bao remarked.
"That's why there's an opportunity for us to get rid of Lady Cao and at the same time draw the Empress and her sister Consort Han at odds, as it is that the two might seem to have a very easy relationship it's the best that we could take advantage of with the law of suspect." Lady Yang replied.
"Relay Your orders Ma'am, and we'll do our very best to fulfill them." Beiyuan said.
"In a couple of months the Empress shall be celebrating a year ever since her ascension to the phoenix throne and as such to gain favour with the Court and the people of the Nation she'll have to host the Sericultural Ceremony outside the Palace, something that we can't allow to be flawless." Lady Yang replied and everyone stared at each other puzzled they took to being suspicious about what it was that was going on through the young woman's mind.
"Ma'am, it won't be as easy getting into the Empress' inner circle to jeopardize the occasion." Master Bao said.
"That's why it's necessary if we wish to divide the Hans in the harem." Lady Yang replied, "you don't need to trouble yourself so much as I shall deal with everything else within the palace, your role is simply to conjure for me another series of signs that I have written below." She added as she slid an envelope onto the table right into the hands of Master Bao, "I hope that you'll support me." She convinced them with a ghastly smile on her face.
Lady Cao walked through the doors and at that very moment accompanied by Linxiang she halted in front of her foster father Master Cao.
"Greetings." She said to him kowtowing.
"You wished to see me?" Master Cao asked.
"I need your earnest help." Lady Cao replied.
"How so?" Master Cao asked.
"It must be resentment that you feel towards the Empress Han given everything that was done wrong to the Retired Empress and the world is aware that a couple of months away the Sericultural Ceremony shall be held, given the state of affairs within the harem you are aware that not many of us favourites of the Emperor have yet had a night with him and recently Lady Yang has fallen in deep favour with him given the previous incident of the Grand Empress Dowager, furthermore, her allies are infuriated and she too couldn't be at ease I think it best that with your aid we use this as an opportunity to oust the Lady Yang from the Palace before she becomes a big problem to us all." Lady Cao replied and her father listening he leaned over the table and looked her in the eye while standing in his presence she remained unmoved.
"Seeing how confident you are you seem to have something in mind." He remarked at the young woman who smiled at him ghastly while he returned her favour with immense excitement she was in the very least convinced she'd to some degree trust him.
A while later she walked out of the building while Xiaoyang was watching and the latter noticing the two vanish from sight she quickly negotiated her way around the streets and made it to the palace where she found Lady Yang seated in her Chambers and waiting for her.
"Ma'am." She said.
"Report to me." Lady Yang demanded.
"The Lady Cao met with the Minister surely she must be up to something." Xiaoyang replied.
"As I had thought." Lady Yang muttered, "at the very least we should know what she is up to." She added.
"I'm listening." Xiaoyang said.
It was very early in the morning and a large number of the people gathered outside watched with splendor as the Imperial procession began in front of the Liuhe Pagoda.
Empress Han supported by Qing Yi and another of her Court Ladies she showed up dressed in her pheasant robes while she was accompanied by the rest of the concubines and Consorts of the Imperial harem.
The people lining up on either side of the aisle which had been laid out bowed their heads and the Empress proud she faced the world having risen to a platform while the music started to play slowly.
She walked around towards the mulberry trees and their with a golden hook in her hands slowly by slowly she cut down three mulberry leaves which she rested in the sisal basket in front of her as she proceeded towards the altar of the silk worm goddess where a large number of the silkworms had been laid slowly by slowly she fed them the mulberry leaves and moved to the side where she got seated next was the turn of the Consorts.
Bearing with themselves silver hooks, they two followed her example dressed in their Imperial robes and they each harvested a set of mulberry leaves which they too had carried towards the silk worms and feeding them, they stepped aside.
The Noble Ladies and the Concubines followed a short while later and with bronze hooks they too harvested the mulberry leaves and carried them towards the altar while Lady Yang and Cao walked side by side heading the third group, they halted at once and had the leaves placed where the silk worms were before they turned to face each other and each withdrew from the red carpet they stood on either side to give way to all the other Concubines.
Some discontent silently prevailed between the two and in the procession choir their was an outburst that distorted the musical melody and drew a considerable amount of concern from every one.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhh." Xie Cairen screamed as her attendants accidentally dropped their mulberry leaves and the Courtiers and all the people that had gathered wondering what had happened, to satisfy the curiosity of the Empress Qing Yi quickly rushed over to assess the situation.
Her eyes only widening Lady Yang couldn't help but smile at Lady Cao while Qing Yi losing her stamina she fell down onto her knees.
"Your Highness." She cried.
"What's going on?" Empress Han asked.
"The silk worms have died." Xie Cairen replied immediately the Courtiers shocked a majority of the commons gasped in fear while the Empress stood up from where she was seated.
"What?" She asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Qing Yi replied, "the silk worms have died." She added and at that moment another of the ladies in waiting quickly rushed over to the procession and shouting in a distance everyone paved way for her until she reached in front of the Empress and she fell on her knees.
"What is it?" Empress Han asked.
"The birds..." The lady in waiting replied, "they have all died and fallen onto your carriage." She added and immediately rumours started to spread out amongst all the people that had been gathered in the place and the Empress infuriated she clenched her fists.
Lady Yang pushing the doors of her Chambers open with a smile on her face she sat down onto her stool behind the table and chuckled evilly at herself.
"You should have seen the look on that bitch's face." She remarked.
"Congratulations Ma'am." Xiaoyang praised.
"Not so so." Lady Yang replied and relaxing her laughter she looked at the young woman in front her.
"Why?" She inquired and Lady Yang sighed.
"For the Empress this was supposed to be a Grand event but now even heaven itself hasn't spared her the bad luck rumours have sprouted about the place soon enough everyone believes that her regime is cursed we can't let go of this opportunity." She replied and leaning closer Xiaoyang turned her ear, "spread talebearing that the Heavens aren't pleased with Her Highness." She added as she sat upright.
"Yes Ma'am." Xiaoyang said.
"Fire dies from lack of wood, without whispering gossip is bound to cease." She muttered.
Empress Han furiously walked into her room and accompanied by Qing Yi and her sister she sat down.
"Please appease your anger Your Highness." Qing Yi pleaded.
"Appease my anger you say?" Empress Han demanded and Qing Yi kept quiet.
"What good could it possibly do you Your Highness as it is clear that they were targeting you when they released this arrow from the bow at the very least the masses outside think that Heaven has deserted you and this alone in front of the whole world is enough to spark off the most poisonous words against you." Consort Han said.
"At this rate it might even be very hard to establish the real culprit because given the mere fact that the silkworms died if it's hard for a fellow human it isn't like we can carry out a post mortem and know the cause of their death." Qing Yi said.
"There has to be a way." Empress Han said when all of a sudden there was a knock on her door.
"What is it?" Empress Han lashed out.
"Lady Investigator Jing is requesting an audience with Your Highness." Eunuch Gong replied as Empress Han looked at Qing Yi and after a short while of thought she nodded her head with approval.
"See her in." Qing Yi muttered and the doors being opened the old woman walked into their presence and bowed her head to the Consort and the Empress.
"Greetings Your Highness." Lady Jing said.
"What brings you here." Empress Han asked.
"We heard everything that happened at the Sericultural Ceremony but Your Highness shall forgive me for being a bit too lax and failing in my job I temporarily ceased to take caution and brought Your Highness dire consequences." Investigator Lady Jing replied.
"Is it so?" Empress Han asked.
"Investigator Lady Mo and Lady Rui are already on their way to Lady Cao's house." Investigator Lady Jing replied.
"Why?" Empress Han asked.
"The Ladies'Investigations Bureau of the Palace was put in place to make work for Your Highness in the harem easier that is to say to get rid of your foes as well and those that courageously posses ill intent, at the very least it is proof that Your Highness desires to offset this crisis and irrefutable proof is what we present to the hands of Your Highness." Lady Jing replied.
"Can you prove it?" Empress Han asked.
"Please await the good news Your Highness." Lady Jing replied as she smiled at the young lady ghastly.
Lady Cao chuckling aloud was seated with Linxiang.
"How fortunate it is for us, first there's the dead birds and even the silk worms surely Lady Yang is the curse that's lingering above the six Palaces." Linxiang said.
"Soon enough when they consult the astronomers concerning the stroke of this bad luck it's going to get at her real hard she'll soon find herself on the way to the Temple." Lady Cao muttered.
"Congratulations Ma'am, at last Lady Yang shall be sent out of the Palace." Linxiang said.
"Is it not as they say that a person doesn't seek luck but it's luck that seeks out a person?" Lady Cao asked.
"And so it is that Ma'am is so lucky today." Linxiang remarked.
"Surely." Lady Cao replied happily when the doors of the room were flung open and the two Lady Investigators Madam Mo and Madam Rui walked in accompanied by another few lady Investigators.
"How dare you walk in here without my permission?" Lady Cao asked as she stood up.
"We are here with an arrest warrant from Her Highness the Empress." Lady Mo replied and Linxiang hearing this she quickly rushed in front of the both of them.
"An arrest warrant, from the Empress, there must surely be some misunderstanding." She asserted.
"I only wish that it was so." Lady Mo said, "but Her Highness asks me that peacefully comply and come into our custody as we have your ladies in waiting interrogated." She added.
"On what grounds is this happening, what for?" Lady Cao asked.
"I should be the one asking that." Madam Rui said, "you dare to slander the Empress in front of the world and conjure up such a poisoning scheme to make her lose face as the head of the harem during the Sericultural Ceremony, such is unforgivable." She added.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Lady Cao insisted.
"That's up to us to decide." Madam Mo replied and looking at the Lady Investigators behind them, the young women quickly rushed over and they ceased Lady Cao while she barely seemed to resist they dragged her out of the room and Linxiang followed as well while the whole of her residence was in a very loud tantrum.
The sooner they descended the stairs outside the building Lady Yang in a distance with her retinue halted and Lady Cao as though noticing her presence she turn her eyes into her direction and watched the dissatisfied young woman who nearly exploded with joy.
"Congratulations Ma'am." Manyin said.
"Did you deal with the astronomers?" Lady Yang asked Manyin.
"Brother Beiyuan saw to it and so did I with both my eyes, dead men tell no tales, at least it's the price he is to pay for choosing a very wrong side to begin with." Manyin replied.
"We must now see the Emperor." Lady Yang said.
"What?" Xiaoyang asked.
"Why is it so Ma'am?" Manyin asked.
"Lady Cao is graceful and she looks innocent and at a time like this more than anyone else I should believe in her as I must fend for my own and it is what His Majesty would wish for from me." Lady Yang replied and smiling ghastly she turned around and with her retinue and they headed to the direction of the Grand Palace.
Lady Cao was cast into the Interrogation square and tied to a seat with her Ladies in Waiting behind her, at the top of the stage which was a raised wooden veranda the three Lady Investigators turned up and Lady Jing in their midst she sat down on a chair while a couple of ladies in waiting guarded her.
"What are you doing?" Lady Cao asked.
"Amongst us we have witnesses." Lady Jing said and Lady Cao looking around at all the ladies in waiting in her service two were carried from their seats and brought into everyone's presence while the Empress Han, her sister and Zhong Furen along with their attendants watched from the top of the side pavilion.
"What's she up to?" Consort Han asked.
"Even I didn't know." Empress Han said as she turned to her sister, "let's just patiently watch because even I am curious." She added.
"You?" Linxiang screamed at the two girls, "what's the meaning of this?" She inquired.
"I'll put it simply." Lady Jing said and looking to the side a group of three Lady Investigators carrying with themselves trays which bore the mulberry leaves at the bottom of the staircase stood in front of Lady Cao and they bowed their heads.
"I understand that you know as well as I do, the reason the silkworms died and the Sericultural process had to come to a standstill was because the mulberry leaves had pesticide on them and furthermore it was this very type of pesticide that we learnt you came to purchase." Lady Jing said and Lady Cao seemed surprised from the look on her face.
"No." She said brazenly.
"Any of those birds and silkworms wouldn't die a natural or supernatural death don't you think at the very least it isn't like we could perform a post mortem yet someone happened to sight your Lady in waiting spreading the corpses of the birds in the sky before they landed in the street early this morning." Madam Rui asserted and Lady Cao was immediately silenced.
"No." She continued to plead while her ladies in waiting stepped out.
"We saw with both our eyes, Ma'am, she really purchased the pesticide and even ordered Linxiang and her fellows to throw the dead birds in the streets." One of the girls said and Lady Cao unyielding she still refused to plead her guilt.
"I have been wronged." She said.
"You still refuse to confess to your sins?" Lady Mo asked.
"I did nothing." Lady Cao said and looking at one another Lady Jing stood up.
"Just as I thought." She muttered, "anyone there?" She inquired and at that very moment another set of guards walked into the torture square while Lady Cao looked around frightened.
"You won't get away with this." She said.
"We'll see about that." Lady Jing said, "torture them all until they have confessed to their crimes." She ordered.
"Yes Milady." The young women replied in unison and Lady Jing raising her head to the side pavilion she looked at the Empress and smiled at her ghastly while the Empress returned her smile with a sincere one before she turned around and walked away while she was followed by her sister Lady Cao infuriated she looked at the young woman in front of her and bit her teeth under the malevolent smile she received from the latter.
YOU ARE READING
ROSES OF BLOOD
Ficción históricaThe Empress Wu fostered a daughter within the Crimson walls of the Cifu Palace who with altered and faint origins she became the sister of a Marquis. Bound to her filial piety and the path of hardship, a "seductress" is what she must become poisonou...
