TIANSHI, THE WARRIOR EMPRESS

DUTY ENDURES

"My son, never have i lacked in providing for you and neither did your father throughout his entire life." The Empress mother said.

"What is the problem mother?" The Emperor asked trying to be sure.

"Your decision my son, that is the problem, there shall be no such marriage." The Empress mother replied.

"And why is that mother tell me?" The Emperor asked.

"Because it cannot happen, she reigns as a Empress in her own right, what more tricks did she use to charm you after she held you in captivity?" The Empress mother asked.

"She did not capture me, I willingly stood by her side and help her reclaim her crown from her cousin." The Emperor replied.

"That is no excuse, a woman who makes you forget your own people, remember, you have a duty to fulfill as Emperor.

Women like her that indulge into power and war are not easy to trust, from experience I can tell you, women could be quite deceitful." The Empress mother said.

"She is not like the others, she is who she is." The Emperor said.

"She could not defend her own throne and what gives me the assurance that she will defend you.

You were born at a time of war and rivalry for territories still continues to this very day.

You endanger the lives of the people by marrying off an enemy, in what world is that going to happen.

Wake up from this fantasy my son, she is not the bride fit for you." The Empress mother said.

"And how can you decide that mother, you have not seen her for yourself, her beauty and her bravery.

She had a right to her throne and the fact that she stood and reclaimed it is enough to show how strong she is mother." The Emperor said.

"I have never disagreed with you at anyone point in all my life Lao, why does it have to be now?" The Empress mother asked.

"I have also never disagreed with you at anyone point in all my life mother, because I knew that you only knew what was best for me." The Emperor said.

"I still do know what is best for you." The Empress mother said as she stopped and faced her son.

"Then you would consider my decision, would I ever marry a woman who can enslave my people?" The Emperor asked.

"Just because you won't it does not mean that you cannot, you too know that very well, the wits of every woman could bring downfall.

Any of our ancestors would have married from the house of Tian but have you not asked yourself why they simply did not?" The Empress mother asked.

"Because they feared, you taught me, father taught me that great Emperors, leaders are not those to fear." The Emperor replied.

"Then we also told you that pride goes before a fall, you too know that very well, your duty is to protect your people." The Empress mother said.

"And my duty is to ensure that they stand united, this marriage shall restore the allegiance that was broken by our forefathers." The Emperor said.

"That allegiance was broken for our own good, for equality, what will this allegiance bring us now, slavery of your people." The Empress mother said.

"This allegiance shall reunite us both, never shall we live in fear and at war with one another but in harmony." The Emperor said.

"But that allegiance brought this division, rivalry amongst princes, this division has maintained the peace that the united dynasty could not." The Empress mother said.