Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

Tragic

(EMPEROR SHEN)

I followed my Empress to her quarters. When XiaoTong entered her chamber, I followed her there to her attendants' surprise.

"I think you entered the wrong room, your Majesty." XiaoTong said coldly.

I ignored her tone and look at her attendants, "You are all dismissed for the night. I will attend to my wife..."

The attendants look at me like I asked them all enter the Royal Treasury to get gold for themselves. They find it hard to believe that their Emperor knows how to attend their Empress.

When we are alone, XiaoTong sneered delicately, "I doubt that you know how to unlace ladies' clothes properly." She said before sitting in front of her vanity mirror. She took a piece of cloth and started wiping the powder on her cheeks that gave her face an artificial color.

"And I also doubt that you will ever push me to another woman's arms but you just told Jin that I can marry another again? Will you really push me this way, XiaoTong...?" I fisted my hand. Controlling myself and the rage I feel inside. XiaoTong is putting our family in dangerous grounds because of her vindictiveness. She is putting our children in peril with her actions and words.

I expected her stubbornness to clash against mine but instead, XiaoTong sighed and look at me through the reflection of the mirror. "I am tired tonight, your Majesty. Can't we have this conversation another time?" She replied calmly. "I am truly tired."

"Because you won't stop thinking," I said. Gently this time. "I can see that you are tired. Did you visit your father in the dungeon? That's a dangerous move, my Empress."

"It will never happen again," she said. "That will be the last time I will get near that man." She added forlornly.

I sighed. I understand her, like me, XiaoTong had spent her life trying to please her father. To uphold her families values and to add prestige to their name. She was thrown to this chaotic Royal life and made mistakes along the way. But for now, those mistakes are not the important part. I just announced my heir, we have to work together to pass a strong legacy to Han, our son.

"Then let me just said my piece and I will let you rest." I said to my Empress. "There will be no dissolution of our union. You are the mother of the Crown Prince. You will remain at our side and help us reign. I will not let you cut this family or disgrace us all. For once, XiaoTong, choose me and our children and not your father and his name. The First Minister's usefulness has exhausted itself. I don't need a man who will put my children in danger inside my Palace."

She nodded, "I agree. That is why I want to leave this place. I can put your children in danger."

"XiaoTong!" She is still fighting about this.

She sighed, "We cannot deny it, your Majesty. My usefulness in this Palace has also exhausted. It will be advantageous to all of us if I will leave my position."

"How can it be advantageous when it will put Han in danger?" I argued. "XiaoTong, do you think that your father is our only enemy? I have half siblings, with Royal blood as well. I have cousins, all waiting in the shadow for me and my sons to fail. Keeping this throne is a constant battle, my Empress. You know that..."

"I know..." she said. "That is why you don't need a traitor's daughter as an Empress. Your Majesty, my presence beside you and our sons will only be a burden. Let me go..."

I stared at her, "Is that what you really think? That you will be a burden to us or is that an excuse because you cannot abide to live with me anymore? To see my face."