Beyond the Yellow Springs

Chapter 1: As the years past

"Fei-ah," Suzu's voice trembled as she stared at the man who she had followed for half of her life. "Let her go." She enunciated each word and syllable. "Do you think just because Eric hasn't done anything to you that he won't?"

"Su-er," Feiyan replied softly as he gazed towards a quiet courtyard off in the distance. From his vantage point, high above the rest of the city, he can see the servants scurrying around like ants. "I have only wanted one thing my entire life. My brothers fought and struggled for the throne. My uncles fought for land at the outskirts of the kingdom. Heaven only knows what Eric wants. Me? I have only ever wanted her. Everything I have done. Every thought I have had. Every word spoken. Step by step, it was all for her."

The words were like a vise around Suzu's heart, tightening and tightening. It was unbearable. How could he say that? Step by step? Hadn't she been with him this entire time? Hadn't she sacrificed her entire clan so that he can sit on that golden chair far above others? Hadn't she execute her best friend and probably the only man who loved her so that his rule can be smooth? What is he saying?! His lawfully wedded wife is standing right here!

"Fei—"

"We need to move her into the Hall of Purity and Longevity tonight." Feiyan's voice took on a hard edge. His gaze sharpened as he stared unblinkingly at the little courtyard within his palace. "None of the spies sent out have returned. There have been no messages. With Eric's influence he should be in the capital within the next 2 days."

Suzu will not let Feiyan's delusions harm their children. Their little prince was only 6 years old; their princess younger still! "Fei, it doesn't matter where she is!" How can she get through to him? She had thought she knew this man. She had known him for the better part of 15 years, married to him for 10! "Eric will find her wherever she is. You are only inciting his anger! He will take it out on this country! Your country! Your people!"

"We are the Emperor!" Feiyan's enraged voice startled the servants. They all dropped to their knees, plastering their bodies to the ground. Only Suzu stood with her back straight and eyes blazing. "Are you saying that one little lord from some unknown mountain is higher than Us!"

"If you honestly think that, then Eric was right about you!"

"How dare you speak to Us that way! You might be Our Empress, but We are still the Emperor! It would seem like We have spoiled you!"

"Spoiled me?" Suzu's heart shook as she stared at the man who was supposed to accompany her until her hair turned white. She can still remember when he promised her that he wouldn't take any concubines like his brothers. The result? He had taken three, but she believed him when he said it was for the country. He didn't want these women. He needed an alliance. "Why exactly do you think Zhu-ah stepped down that year?"

Suzu didn't believe him anymore. In her eyes, she could now clearly see why he took those women. They looked like her! 'The only thing he had ever wanted!'

"Empress would know better than Us!" Feiyan's voice was heavy and insinuating. Who in the empire didn't know?

Suzu smiled helplessly at the love of her life. "You don't know anything. You are selfish and self-indulgent!" She stared wildly around her. The throne room was at her back, cold and silent.

The servants were kneeling; their face plastered to the floor. She could see some of them shaking. These arguments between the Empress and Emperor were getting worst and worst as each day passed that that Lady was still in that courtyard.

"Zhu-ah should've been Emperor..." The words softly left her lips. It permeated the air and clung to the walls. The servants began to sweat and tremble.

"Impudent!" Feiyan's booming voice broke through the tense atmosphere. His rage made the servants shake even harder. Suzu still stood tall. Her eyes watered and stared at him with an intense longing and helplessness. "Do you want Us to kill you?! Will you happy then?"

"If it wasn't for the fact that you brought Lin-er here, why would Zhu-ah have traded his Crown Prince position?"

"Insolent!"

"But what good did that do?" Suzu couldn't be stopped. The rush of sadness that came with the thought of Ailin pushed her beyond caring. "In the end, you killed her! An innocent girl! If it weren't for Eric and I, do you think Zhu-ah would've let you live?!"

Feiyan didn't want to hear it! His eyes burned. "Guards! Guards! The Empress is tired." As the four guards rushed onto the balcony, they lamented about their poor fate. What were they supposed to do if the Empress didn't corporate? Put their hands on her? "Take her back to the Hall of Prosperity! No one is to step in or out less they disturb Her Majesty's rest!"

"Yes!" The four guards saluted and awkwardly looked at each other.

They eventually trained their eyes on the Empress. She stood motionless, staring at the Emperor with loathing. It startled the guards who had never seen this side of her before. Since she didn't move, they had no choice but to apprehend her.

"Enough!" She flung their arms off. "This Empress can walk on her own!"

The road back to her own courtyard was especially long this time. Feiyan had moved her from the one right next to his, the rightful home of the Empress, to one behind the gardens with the rest of the concubines. Originally, it was because the courtyard was being renovated. She didn't realize that the renovations were for her.

The gardens that Suzu usually favored didn't hold their appeal anymore. As she walked through the cherry blossom forest in full bloom each tree imported and placed personally by Feiyan, she noticed on one of the trees hung a piece of smooth jade. It was shaped into a swallow. Right next to it were more jades ranging from white to red in a myriad of shapes: a tiger, bear, dragon, orchid, and nine-tailed fox. Those jades were a promise between Feiyan, Eric and friends to always remember their friendship. Suzu and Sia had hung them all up. They had drunk sweet wine, played instruments, and composed poetry afterwards under the stars with the smell of blossoms to keep them company.

What a joke! He lied to them from the beginning! Her hands clenched. Her long nails drawing blood from her palms.

She had thought he brought those trees back to reminiscence about that time. She can see it now. He brought it back because Sia loved cherry blossoms. He brought it back because he didn't want Eric to have them.

'Honestly Zu-er, do you know him at all?' Eric said it and she didn't believe. YuZhu urged her and she didn't listen. Sia...beautiful and gentle Sia...

"Your Majesty—" One of the guards timidly spoke from behind her.

Determination shone in her eyes as Suzu made her way to her courtyard. It was her fault that Sia was stuck here. Sia had came at her behest. Suzu didn't realize when Feiyan made the request it would be this! She couldn't save Lin-er, but she could still save Sia!