Death Wish

3.Palace

Crown Prince Jian hated having to see his people suffer. He was touring the city and villages and the place was a mess,food was scarce and the people were hungry. Jian's heart broke when he seen a child about five crying next to his dead mother. Homes were destroyed due to raids from the Turks. What hurt Jian the most was there was nothing he could do about the situation.

He knew he couldn't sit back and watch, he has pleaded to his Father countless of times to help the people but was ignored or dismissed. He blamed his useless Father for the troubles the country was facing. All his Father cared about was women, and money. His Father was spending money on lavish things and spoiling his Consorts and Concubines instead of things that really mattered.

Jian knew if is Father didn't stop the Turks will eventually take over the country.
After his visit of the city Jian returned to the Palace. There was crowds of people begging for food surrounding the large black and gold gates of the palace, but their pleads were ignored. Jian watched some beggars being killed by the guards. A tear rolled down Jians cheeks, he was upset to see people in such a condition.
When the guards seen Jian they quickly rushed to his side.

"Your higness you will have to use the East Gate to enter", said one of the guards.

"Why are you ignoring and killing these people?" Asked Jian.

"It was an order from the Emperor", the guards replied.

Jian headed for the East Gate, he was now planning on having a serious word with his Father. He quickly headed for his Fathers large Palace, he barged in to palace and headed for his Fathers room, the servants bowed their heads when they seen the Prince but he couldn't care less. When he finally reached his Fathers door he barged in without knocking at this point he couldn't care if he was being disrespectful.
Jian was fuming with anger and couldn't keep it in anymore. He was ready to knock some sense in to his Father.

Jian found his Father on a large couch laughing whilst Consort Mu and Consort Hui were kissing his neck. Jian had look of disgust when he witnessed the scene. Consort Hui was old enough to be his daughter and was behaving in such a manner he thought.

"Ah, Jian my son why the rush?" Said the old Emperor stroking his beard.

"Father, can you please ask the Consorts to excuse us so I can talk to you in private about a serious matter?" Jian asked bowing his head.

The two Consorts rolled their eyes and got up to leave and the Emperor grabbed Consorts Hui's ass teasingly, she let out a loud laugh and winked at him when she left the room. Jian's frustation got worse but this was nothing new.

"So what is it that's so important that my ladies had to leave?" Asked the old Emperor pouring himself a glass of wine.

"The people are suffering greatly due to the war, I was hoping you'd maybe offer a peace treaty to the Turks or at least give some of the palace funds to the people in need, and Father i'm not asking, you need to, for our Empire its collapsing", pleaded Jian falling on his knees.

His father let out a deep laugh and stroked his beard.

"A peace treaty won't work, I won't allow the Turks to have control of the silk road and, no way am I giving any of the funds away, I have needs", the Emperor replied coldly.

"Father please the people need us the Empire is slowly collapsing".

"Jian your a weak fool I dont know why you care for lowly peasants, and if there was a problem my ministers would tell me not you".

"The ministers are corrupt, they like the way things are so they can benefit from harsh taxes put on the commoners".

"Do you have proof of your accusations?"

"Father trust in me as I am your blood".

The Emperor yawned with a look of boredom and impatience. He let loose his long grey silky hair from the small gold pins holding it and removed his heavy gold cloaks only leaving one cloak. He pretended Jian wasn't in the room as a sign for him to leave but Jian was not giving up.

"Is there anyone out there?" The Emperor called for a servant.

Two maids quickly entered with a eunuch bowing their heads. The Emperor gestured for the eunuch to come closer and whispered something in his ear, the eunuch listened attently and left the room taking the two maids with him.

"Jian are you going to leave?"

"Not until Father listens to me".

"Just stop this game of yours, why don't you go to do something better and useful like... I don't know just leave, i've sent for Consort Kang I don't want you here when she arrives".

Jian lost all the hope, he got up and gave his father a death stare before leaving the room, he hopes to never become like his Father in any way. He walked down the hallways and heard a group of maids giggling and gossiping.

"Did you hear the Crown Prince cried over a peasant dying in the streets? L
He is so weak what kind of Emperor will he become?" Giggled on of the maids without relisation that the Prince could hear every single word.

Jian walked past them and they went on their knees in shock and embarrassment but he simply ignored them and headed for his palace. When he got there he ordered his servants to fetch him wine to drown his feelings of hopelessness away. He drank 5 bottles and was going on his 6th. He was so drunk that he could barely move. Jian doesn't know what will happen when he becomes Emperor, he doesn't want to be a weak and neglectful one. The prince is not even sure if he still wants to be Emperor anymore, but he has no choice his mother has always told him his role in this world is to be become Emperor nothing else. He took one last swig of wine before closing his eyes.

A beautiful young woman in a silk pink dress decorated with flowers, wearing heavy gold,silver and jade jewelry entered the room with pride while servants helped her move to relief the heaviness of the expensive cloths she was wearing. When she seen the Crown Prince lying on the floor wine spilled all over his body she rushed to his side.

"Crown Prince!" She shouted.