"Empress Dowager, what took you so long?"
The grand empress dowager asks annoyingly the moment the empress dowager managed to break into her hall. She really used the main door and just walks in like nothing. The empress dowager is even carrying a tray with a teapot and a teacup on it. The old empress doesn't know how did she pass through the guards outside her hall but not that it matters to her.
"Forget it, it's not important. Quick, do something. We cannot remain like this while they're enjoying their reign. Where's the head eunuch?"
The empress dowager gracefully walks closer to the grand empress dowager and puts the tray on the nearby tea table.
"I apologize for my late arrival, Grand Empress Dowager. Your hall is highly guarded day and night. It's hard for me to come in without anyone noticing." The smile on the empress dowager hides her annoyance.
She's thinking that this old woman thinks too highly of herself when she doesn't possess the authority anymore. But the empress dowager still needs one more thing that's in possession of the grand empress dowager so she needs to be patient enough until she got a hold of that.
"Unfortunately, it would be hard for me to let the head eunuch come here. And personally, your highness, I don't think he's any of help. His plans failed."
That head eunuch is just getting on the empress dowager's way. She would not allow him to obstruct her plans and delay her vengeance any further.
A little hysterical, the grand empress dowager impatiently asks the other. "What are we going to do now?"
The empress dowager just gave her a sweet smile like usual. Her intentions may be against her this time but it's well hidden underneath her mask. "Worry not, Grand Empress Dowager. Have you forgotten that you still have that one last trump card under your sleeves?"
The grand empress dowager massages her temple. Seeing her like this, it isn't too hard to sense that she's getting too much stress. "That didn't slip from my mind but how will I use it if I cannot get out of here?"
"There is no need for you to go out, Grand Empress Dowager. I will do it for you." Tea is poured in the cup by the empress dowager and offered the drink to the old empress with a sweet smile. She then handed the tea to the other. And with a soothing voice, she speaks, "Please entrust me that talisman."
The grand empress dowager took the teacup and took a sip. She thinks about it for a while as she indulges the drink. The warmth of the green tea soothes her throat, somehow calming her troubled mind.
After finishing a cup, she made up her mind. There's nothing much she can do for now so all she can do is rely on others for assistance.
The grand empress dowager took something from her wide sleeves, it's the talisman that the empress dowager is talking about. At first, it looks like a normal talisman but if observed closely, the characters on it are written by blood.
"Alright." She handed the talisman to the empress dowager. "Make sure you won't mess up. We don't have anything left aside from this."
"Of course, your highness. Leave everything to me." The empress dowager took it from her willingly and immediately keeps it underneath her sleeves.
Seeing the grand empress dowager's cup is empty, she poured tea on it again. This time, a tiny white ball as small as a pea, went in the cup from the teapot. This made the empress dowager feel a little anxious but she played it well and acted as if nothing bothers her. Fortunately for her, the tiny ball sinks at the bottom of the cup, and the grand empress dowager didn't notice it.
After pouring the cup full, the empress dowager clears her throat. "Serious matters aside, what do you think about this tea I personally prepared? I heard they're not treating you here well at all so I thought, you might have missed your favorite green tea."
Annoyance is evident in her face when the empress dowager reminded her of how "terrible" they are treating her. "They still serve me tea but I don't like how it tastes." She lifted the teacup and brought it to her lips, and took a sip or two.
"That's truly a shame." The empress dowager made it sound like she's sympathizing with this old woman. But behind her sympathetic face hides an evil grin. "Good thing I know what your taste buds like."
As she's drinking the tea, the grand empress dowager finally noticed the strange thing that isn't supposed to be there. She instantly took the cup away from her lips and stares at the small white ball in her cup.
This time, it's a little smaller than a pea, like it already melted and mixed with the tea. At first, she didn't know what exactly this thing is until she turns her head to the empress dowager.
The mask has finally fallen and revealed the real expression on the other's face. The empress dowager is grinning wickedly as she's looking at the confused grand empress dowager.
"This..." A terrified look appeared on the grand empress dowager's face.
How could she not be terrified with this thing? She, herself, used this to end the lives of the people that got in her way.
This little white ball that seems to be harmless is one of their experiments. It's the drug they put on consumables. It's tasteless, odorless, and blends in any food or drink. She didn't recognize it at first because the drug they developed is in a powder state, and this one is solid.
"This is similar to how you killed Ye Feng, right?" The empress dowager laughs softly. "Grand Empress Dowager, you're this old already. You need not involve yourself in political matters. You should take a rest now, and never wake up."
The grand empress dowager is too shocked that she got speechless. This only made the empress dowager feel more pleased.
"Perhaps you're wondering why it's in a solid-state. It's because the powder one doesn't mix well with tea. It gives a sand texture to it so I thought of another way. If I form it into a tiny sphere and let it melt slowly, it's less obvious, right? And besides, its effects are not different so it doesn't really put me at a disadvantage."
"You... You're a---!" The grand empress dowager didn't manage to finish what she's about to say.
The empress dowager moves swiftly. Took a sharp dagger from her sleeves, pulled the grand empress dowager's tongue out, and cut it.
Blood drips from her dagger's blade and the severed tongue on her hand. But more blood gushed out from the grand empress dowager's mouth, staining her high-quality robes with red.
The old empress is in tears because of the unbearable pain yet the empress dowager doesn't pity her. She drops the dagger and the severed tongue on the wooden floor. Took a silk cloth put it inside the grand empress dowager's mouth to keep her from making unnecessary noises. And not just that, she took a rope and tied the grand empress dowager's hand and feet. After doing so, she grabs the old empress' hair and drags her to the secret chamber of her hall.
It's painful but she can't make any noise to ask for help from the guards outside. She can't fight back either. This really caught her off-guard.
"Indulge the same path he went through." The empress dowager said with a pair of cold eyes before she closes the door.
Since it's a secret room, the empress dowager doesn't think anyone will find her any time soon. If someone even manages to find her, she'll be a cold corpse by then, if not a skeleton.
The empress dowager made sure that she cleans everything before she leaves the hall. After doing so, she casually made her way back to her hall.
She opens the hidden trap door on her hall's floor. Like the ones in the Lotus Hall, Emperor's Hall, or any other hall in the palace, the empress dowager's hall also has a secret door leading to an escape route if the enemy invades the imperial palace.
However, the empress dowager used this with a different purpose.
"You can come out now." She said looking at the poor woman hiding in the dark for some time already.
It's no other than the current empress, Empress Xue Chi.
The truth is, the grand empress dowager doesn't think she'll be of any help to them anymore, plus the old woman accused her of spilling their plans to his highness the first prince. And so, she ordered the empress dowager to dispose of her to cover up the mess she caused.
For some reasons that even the empress dowager doesn't know, she finds herself hiding where the grand empress dowager can't find her. She doesn't know why did she end up protecting her. Perhaps she doesn't want her to end up like her? It's too late though.
"It's too bright..." Empress Xue Chi said as she's trying to adopt the natural light that's blinding her.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the imperial palace...
The door of the Emperor's Hall slides open. The barrier is still there but the newly arrived person passes through it without difficulty. It's his majesty, Emperor Yin Wenyan. He looks so majestic in his black and gold robes, and even wearing his mian hat which added to his overall noble charisma.
Despite this mighty appearance, his hands hold a wooden tray with several kinds of dishes he personally cooked in the imperial kitchen.
"Eunuch Xu." He calls out when Xu Zhengming didn't bother to come and see who came for him.
He's just silently crouching in one corner. Like a bird in a cage that refuses to sing, or a peacock that declines to show off its beautiful feathers. But the longer one stares at him, that one will realize that he just simply look like a child sulking... or rather a helpless child that is defending himself.
The 'new' emperor sighs when he got nothing as a response from the other.
Unlike earlier, he's calmer now. In fact, he felt guilty for being angry at this little eunuch. Of course, he doesn't know that there are two emperors in the first place so it's normal for him to get confused.
He put the tray on the tea table and walks closer to Xu Zhengming.
Emperor Yin Wenyan crouches before Eunuch Xu. "I'm sorry. Are you still mad at me?" His sincerity is evident in his low voice. He really felt sorry for dragging him forcefully and even yelling at him.
Eunuch Xu slowly raises his head. His eyes were red, as well as the tip of his nose. It seems he just finished crying. "I thought you're the one who's mad at me."
"Did you just cry?!" Emperor Yin Wenyan slightly panicked. He cupped Xu Zhengming's cheeks, wiping the still wet long lashes with his thumbs. "I'm so sorry. I'm not mad at you."
"Maybe I'm better off dead." Xu Zhengming took his majesty's warm hands off his cheeks and leans his forehead on his knees. "You're threatened that I'll go berserk again, right? That's why you brought me here. I think it's for the best if I'd just die. If I'm dead, you won't be wary anymore."
He got the wrong idea.
Even though he's completely clueless as to why his majesty suddenly got angry with him just earlier, Xu Zhengming still tries to figure it out. He made his majesty a good reason why he's acting like that, he makes excuses for him, trying to find the right intention in the midst of his terrifying mood. He's doing it without even realizing it himself.
The right words to say can't be found by his majesty. This isn't his reason at all. however, it will only complicate things if he says the truth. And so, he decided to just go with the flow of the moment's current.
"That's correct. I am worried that it may trigger anytime. But do not think that you're better off dead. I want you to live. I will find a cure for you. Please hang on until then."
Still, Eunuch Xu is down. "What if it's not curable? I think I used up all the spirit herb's spiritual powers. It's not giving off a faint glow anymore and it starts to wither."
Actually, he's not worried there will be someone who'll be devastated if he dies. His parents are dead, and there are no relatives that care for them since his earliest memories. He doesn't mind if he dies. By then, no one will be victimized by him. He would not bother his majesty any further too.
Listening to his words, Emperor Yin Wenyan can't help but feel pained with this helplessness that is slowly drowning Xu Zhengming.
In a low and soothing voice, he asked the other for attention. "Eunuch Xu, lift your head. Look at me." And so the eunuch did as he says. He lifted his head and their gazes met. Emperor Yin Wenyan then gives the other his signature smile. "Don't lose hope. I promise I'll do everything I could to help you. Don't think about taking your own life again."
Like a child, he asks the emperor with hopeful eyes. "And I won't have to be isolated here anymore?"
"That's right." The emperor smiles sweetly. Finally, this little eunuch ignited a new spark of hope. "We'll go everywhere you want to go when you're fully treated. So stay here. Stay with me. Don't go elsewhere, okay?"
"Alright." At last, Xu Zhengming smiles a little and his eyes shine a little brighter.
Looking at this beau, Emperor Yin Wenyan can't help but get lost. This person is his sunshine. He can't afford to lose him again. He won't allow anything to happen that may cause their separation.
Back then, Emperor Yin Wenyan is like a puppet that follows every order from the Grand Empress Dowager. She wanted him to be a perfect emperor for the dynasty, even though the one who'll get the glory and honor is his brother, Yin Renshu. She trained him day and night, making up for the lost years, not allowing him to go out and meet the young Xu Zhengming by the lake. And that's why they stopped seeing each other.
After the coronation and onwards, Prince Wenyan had a little free time by the night when his brother retires in his hall. Even though he learned that Xu Zhengming is not studying in the imperial academy anymore, Prince Yin Wenyan still goes to the imperial garden.
Out of nowhere, Emperor Yin Wenyan took his mian hat off and put it on Xu Zhengming's head.
While Xu Zhengming is dumbfounded, Emperor Yin Wenyan beams with a wide smile. He looks like he saw the most pleasant thing in the eyes. "It suits you very well."
"..." Xu Zhengming doesn't know what to say.
He literally doesn't have an idea what's going on in this temperamental emperor.
Isn't this act punishable by their own law? No one, except for the emperor himself, should wear this nine-stringed mian hat, with each string having 12 beads!
His phoenix eyes look straight at the eunuch's pair of beautiful almond eyes. Gentleness is still evident in his face but the seriousness still dominates.
"Eunuch Xu... No, Xu Zhengming." His majesty took a deep breath, trying to calm his abnormal heart rate before he speaks again.  "Xu Zhengming, marry me."
Xu Zhengming blinks twice. "What?!"
Did he hear it right? He's sure that he heard the word "marry" but why does it sound so unbelievable? Wait... everything about it is unbelievable in the first place!
Emperor Yin Wenyan repeats, this time louder.
"Marry me."