The palace

Chapter 32-Part 2

Sungnyang finished writing and folded the paper neatly, the put it inside and envelope. She hugged it to her chest tightly and no matter how she tried, she couldn't stop her tears from falling.

The door opened and Myo Mi walked in. She saw her miatress in tears and gently sat down beside her.

"Your highness, you have to eat something. You skipped lunch, dinner, breakfast and now you're not eating again. If you fall sick, how shall I explain to his majesty"

Nyang smiled bitterly at the mention of the emperor.

How you will explain to him? Surely I believe he must be despising me right now.

She inhaled and wiped her face, her swollen red face. She handed the envelope to Myo mi.

"This must be delivered to the emperor. You must make sure he receives it. It seems like my fate is unavoidable, no matter how I try to run from it."

Myo mi bowed and stood up to leave. She had set a foot outside the door when Nyang's voice halted her again.

"You must return early. Tell the others to change to white color. Also, tell them that guards will be here sometime today, they must not put up a fight"

Myo mi nodded but opened her mouth to speak and Nyang, on sensing that hastily stood up too. She didn't want Myo mi making things more difficult for her than they already were.

She stood outside and watched everything with an aching heart. The servants were puzzled at the orders given to them, it wasn't like someone had died or something so why wear black all of a sudden? But of course, no one could dare voice it out. She licked her dry lips and inhaled a deep full of the cold chilly air.

The clouds were gathering and the sun was setting, yet Nyang felt it in her not to return back to her room so she went back in and returned with a flute. She could hear faint zither sounds and she smiled at herself. But it was an empty smile.

She played slowly, a sad, sad tune. Her hair was loose and floating in the air, her eyes vomiting but no, she wasn't crying.
Myo mi returned, stood for sometime before walking over to her, also dressed in white.

"Your highness, it has been delivered to the emperor's desk. He will see it by the morning once he returns from the empress' s palace"

Nyang nodded, even though her heart ached. It is good for him to start letting go, making it easier for her to let go too. As she played, she couldn't help but to question her fate. How is it that all of the men she has felt different towards, at the end she still has to let them go?

The door was roughly pushed open and the guards were a bit stunned in seeing everyone dressed in white before regaining their composure.

"Lady Ki is under arrest for high treason. Arrest her immediately"

She stood up and walked without a fight.

It is time...

__________________________

The empress dowager stood silently in front of the dragon throne. She was alone in the court room, but in her head, she was not alone. Memories, faces and words that took place there, exactly 16 years ago kept flashing through her mind.

She could still see her husband, no the former emperor seated on the throne and telling her boldly.

"I intend to abdicate the throne to and name my brother as successor"

She looked at him, trying to read the expression on his face but there was none. Instead, his eyes only looked brighter and he seemed excited by his plan.