The Palace (1)

The young emperor's father had passed away a month ago, he was devastated but saw that he needed to learn to control the officials, he would no longer let them control the emperor but let the emperor control them. He was now on the throne watching at all the officials. His mother was dethroned for being known as a jealous woman. She had poisoned other women who would try to get close to the previous emperor.

Once the previous emperor had found that out, he ordered her to be dethroned and take poison as her death way out. Anyone who received a letter from the dethroned empress in the past or worked with her would have been executed immediately. The emperor was looking over his duties, he had recently done a small banquet when it was a mourning period for his father. He hadn't done so, the officials all had some disagreement about the banquet that wasn't to be held in a mourning period.

It angered him, he had hoped that the officials would listen or else he would just easily get rid of them. "Eunuch Lin, aren't I doing my duties as emperor of this nation? Why must they hold such a thing against me whose done a banquet to my father's funeral." He told his eunuch.

"You are correct, your highness. What you do is your choice as you are the emperor of this nation." He told him as the emperor was just happy for his trustworthy servant.

The emperor had no concubines or any lovers as he saw no need to keep any. He only had a empress that his mother arranged him to marry but he never loved her, they have a son together for the sake of her future. He saw that power was all they needed. Entering a large room with musicians he sat down. All of the girls looked to him as the dancers rose up, musicians sat down to play. Listening to them he enjoyed the soothing music.

"Your highness, Chief Jun Jie would like to meet you." His eunuch said as he stopped the girls. He nodded to allow Hua Jun Jie in. Entering Hua Jun Jie entered inside he bowed before the king.

"Jun Jie, it's been a long time. How is my childhood friend?" The emperor said to him as both greeted each other.

"It's been a long time my friend." They held hands for a bit then the emperor and him walked around the palace.

"What has my friend been doing all these years?" The emperor then asked.

"I've been better. Just dealing with my town for the most part." He replied back.

"I heard that you have a wife and a concubine. Your wife is with child I know that for a fact." The emperor mentioned.

"Yes, my wife is with child. She will be due in a few months. Does the emperor wish to see her?" He questioned.

"I don't see any problem to not. Bring her over soon." The emperor and Hua Jun Jie had been friends since childhood.

They both had known each other for a long time, they had met once when Hua Jun Jie visited the palace with his father with a fine jewelry made for the dethroned empress.

He knew not to mention of the dethroned empress, the emperor would be in anger and rid of him. Both had walked around as they then heard yelling.

"You all are such imbeciles! Not a single one of you can make the emperor suffice with music!" Yelling at all the girls was the lead. She was elderly but looked to all the girls who had their heads down.

"Since none of you could make the emperor proud then you shall all wake up early and do the chores around for the time." She told them as they obeyed.

"Your highness, have you been favoring any of them?" Hua Jun Jie asked him looking to all of the girls leaving.

"No, I don't need someone. They are merely just needed for the heir of the throne but so far it's not to that point yet." The emperor looked to the girls walking ahead off.

Following behind the emperor and Hua Jun Jie were the officials and his guards. Hua Jun Jie could see that it was quite troublesome to have guards follow them around as they would listen along.

While they were walking, they then stumbled upon a servant girl picking up shattered glass. "I'm sorry! Please spare me!" She was pleading to the head maid as she was looking at the maid in anger.

"Do you know that cup was given to the dethroned queen? She cherished it very much but now it has shattered. What will you do?" The maid remained bowed as she was afraid but looked up to the head maid.

"I cannot repay it back or make a new one. The only thing I can give is my life." She was about to stab herself. The knife was then held from stabbing her.

Everyone gasped seeing it was the emperor. He held the knife in his palm with blood seeking out.

"Your highness!" They all bowed as he was bleeding. The maid gasped releasing the knife. The emperor dropped the knife. She bowed, crying but not wanting to look up to him.

"I'm sorry your highness!" The maid was bowing down as he looked to her and held her chin with his hand that wasn't bleeding.

"I would like to see you in my bedchamber. You must repay for what you've done." He said. The physician was called to look at his hand. The maid was shaking now, she was taken by the head maid.

Taken to the emperor's bedchamber, she was shaking a little. Walking slowly, she was looking around, she looked to see the emperor was in his bed.

"Do you know why I've asked you here?" He asked her as she looked to him.

"I have broken the cup but also wounded your highness."