EMPEROR AND I

BAI SHEN HONG

THE DRAGON COURT

"His majesty, the emperor arrives!" a dragon court attendant announced from the huge dragon court entrance.

The room that was flaring with discussions and debates silenced in shock.

"His majesty?"

"What is he doing here?"

"He is back!"

The officials threw themselves to the floor, shaking violently. No one dared to raise their head as he stormed in with an intense gait.

He was not dressed in his black and red formal robes that were meant for court meetings. Instead, he had an all black fighting dress uniform meant for his practices. Metal was strapped to his wrists while a leather breastplate hugged his chest as a perfect fit.

His unsheathed dragon sword made a loud clanging sound as he walked by dragging it carelessly. He then took two of the stairs that led to his throne platform before turning around.

Looking across the room, he saw Grand Dowager Empress and Dowager Empress w.a.n.g seated on two grandiose seats in front of the officials.

"Luo Meng!" he spoke coolly.

"Here," Luo Meng stepped forward. The shadowing bodyguard also wore identical clothes to his master though plain from leather.

As soon as Shen Hong had walked out of the room in which the ablution palace maid had rested, he had instructed Luo Meng that they would take leave for the palace. Fueled by angst that he would not be able to sleep through, he had the two of them ride their horses to the palace through the night and thus arrived at midnight. Huizhong had directly intended to visit the prince straightway before hearing about there being a meeting in his dragon court.

"Bring to me the court lady that is responsible for the palace maids. She must receive her punishment for irresponsibility."

The room broke with silent protests but n.o.body had the courage to voice their concerns and opinions, not when he was charged with vexation.

"Does his Majesty mean the Senior Court Lady?" Luo Meng sought confirmation.

"Also bring along the whole kitchen staff that served the prince on the day of the poisoning."

"Your majesty!" the Grand Dowager Empress admonished.

"Luo Meng, what are you still waiting for?" the emperor growled. This was the second commission on the same day for the skilled fighter. Luo Meng fisted his hand above his head in salutation, his shoulder length hair falling freely on his face. Earlier, the emperor had also a.s.signed him to guard the sleeping chambers in case "Little Fox" tried any games.

"Emperor Huizhong," Grand Dowager Empress rebuked, "killing people is not always the answer."

Shen Hong spun around to have his back to the Grand Dowager Empress while he faced his grand throne. He ignored the older woman, refusing to let his decisions be influenced by her. He was not only her grandson but also the emperor now, and he would not let her opinions sway him like before.

"Your Majesty, please have this matter investigated before taking action," she probed further.

"If investigating is the answer then where is the justice for the previous emperor?" He looked around at the officials who were still plunging on the floor, in disgust. "And why is there a dragon court meeting in my absence?" Was it a case of rebelling against him? Because it was unheard of to gather the court in the emperor"s absence except when dire circ.u.mstances arose.

"Answering to his Majesty," Dowager Empress w.a.n.g stood up, "we found the situation to be out of order and saw it fit to try to settle things down by having this meeting."

"Right, since when do women involve themselves with matters of the state?"

"Your Majesty―"

"I thought your place was to lead the inner court, or did you get tired of the little you have and wish to rule this country now?"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" the officials cried.

Wailing and weeping filled the room as the summoned people were dragged into the dragon court. They fought against the palace guards and rolled all over the ground in fear.

"Your Majesty, it wasn"t me!"

"We are innocent your Majesty!"

"Please have mercy!"

They were pushed to the front and forced to kneel in a row before the stairs.

The emperor looked down at them with deep contempt. His eyes were distant, cold and filled with darkness. To him, their cries felt like a louder cry than his own turmoil and sadness. The more they wept, the more they drowned his sorrow with theirs, numbing his pain into nothingness.

And so he liked it, enjoyed it and craved it. It was like a lullaby to his broken heart, there to ease his pain.

"Where is the Senior Court Lady?" he looked down, hunting for his victim.

"Your Majesty is gracious…" she sobbed, hurling herself on the stairs.

"Hăo. Take this sword and kill all these traitors or choose to die for them instead," his raucous voice was enough substantiation that he meant every word.

"Your Majesty," she cried even louder. She was only in her mid-years so how could she choose to die? On the other hand, killing all the innocent souls would haunt her for the rest of her life; the greatest punishment.

She shakily took the dragon sword and the crowd wailed even louder, begging for her to reconsider. Pitifully, she cried along with them, crying for them and for herself.

"Everyone rise up and witness this," the emperor commanded, "for this shall serve as a warning to you all that the next time such disgraceful behavior takes place, I will not spare any life." The officials stood up with terrified gazes; surely being an official was not for the weak. Reluctantly, Grand Dowager Empress and Dowager Empress were also helped to their feet by their ladies-in-waiting.

"Begin," Huizhong sneered, then marched out.

Behind him followed shrieks of pain and blood splattering as one slaughter after the other, the Senior Court Lady sacrificed to save herself.

S.V