Chapter 11

Bai Shen Hong
Emperor Huizhong
The Palace

A scholar ran to the grand table and bowed, placing a scroll with the next topic of discussion. The Military Minister went on his knees and started his case at the same time.

"Your Majesty, it has proven difficult to locate your heart bearer but serious search is still being conducted." Oren could be impudent at times, where was he? "The matter of the day is the Grand General position. Many petitions have been gathered from the scholars requesting the Dragon to please step down from the position."

Shen Hong threw the scroll without opening it. "You and your followers can protest, kneel in the sun, strike. Let's see if I will care. Next!"

Another minister stepped forward from the standing crowd of the court. "Your Majesty, as the philosophy of Wu Ti states, we must aim to have a body that is whole since a body cannot function well if incomplete. Therefore, our empire rests on uncertainty as long as the Phoenix palace is empty. His Majesty is in his third year of reign, nearing his fourth, and has acquired a considerable amount of power. This subject finds it only right that he makes his consort... empress."

How long was he to hear this proposal over and over again? "Denied."

"Your Majesty! The empire is in dire need of a legitimate heir, especially after the empire almost lost its liege in the assassination."

"We don't need a legitimate heir, am I a legitimate heir? I, the son of a concubine?" He was irritable. If he was not a legitimate heir but could be emperor why should his children have the need to be legitimate? Respecting all these rules was tiring.

"His Majesty is the adopted son of Dowager Empress Wang." Yes, that is why he could sit on the throne. A son of a concubine couldn't. Meaning only Consort Wang could bear the future emperor currently. Power to the North wing.

"Alright, I will spend my nights with my harem. Expect an heir soon that Consort Wang can adopt. Next!" He didn't want Consort Wang having more children of his. Her time came and passed.

The North wing was clever. They didn't dare mention on behalf of the Dowager Empress, their disapproval toward his plans to lock her in the Frost palace after his mother's banquet, the day Yang Liu would start presenting herself as a princess. What a pity. He wanted the North Wing to annoy him, so he would have an excuse to strip the Dowager Empress of her title in the process of locking her up. Lying, vicious woman.

After the morning meeting was the session of educating the scholars, then a strategy meeting with his generals. Of course, Court Lady Nam didn't take a liking to him working hard like it was any normal day. She wanted him to sleep all day, resting.

That was not him. Besides, he was almost healed completely. He just battled with the aching pain from the stitches sewn to knit his skin together.

He commissioned another general to go to the borders, offering aid to General Shen who he already sent months ago. They had to control the situation with Gurio. But at this point they were just buying time until he was recovered. Gurio had fired into Nevoria's small town when he was bed bound.

This was war. The fly needed reminding who was the lion herding the jungle.

Li Jie and Li Jun were there to interrupt his afternoon lunch.

"Your Majesty, have you thought about what we talked about the last time?" Li Jie groaned, putting his head in his hands.

Bai Shen Hong stuffed his mouth with stewed spicy chicken. "What did we talk about?"

"Your Majesty!" Li Jie was vexed by his uncaring attitude. "We need to think of a way to get your memory back. It is important that you remember who stabbed you. Right Li Jun?"

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty. That person must die."

They offered him their findings on how people can regain their memory the previous day, which was unnecessary. Bai Shen Hong had all his memories in order, but he wouldn't state that to anyone. He kept up with his lie, saying, he didn't remember who stabbed him.

The person must die, they said?

He didn't know when, how and what kind of death, because he chose not to think of the person.

In the middle of the night, he kept his mind occupied with war strategies, principles and plans. During the day he worked hard. Bai Shen Hong's feelings toward her were complex and he thought it better to ignore all things concerning her.

Such as, what did she feed him that helped him feel better within minutes? What was more to her that he still did not know? How did she get into the Wellness Chambers? Why did she free the Furians?

She said she liked him, like she was doing him a favor. Well, he in comparison to her, had loved her. Liking him was crumbs of bread she was giving as if he was a starving dog. He would be damned to accept that.

He changed the subject, "What was it that I heard about my scribe missing?"

"Very weird, Your Majesty. He disappeared when you were sick and when you recovered he was set free." Li Jie liked to discuss conspiracies.

His twin supported his case, "And the kidnappers did not let him see them."

Li Lian. Why did this matter smell of Li Lian all over it? That woman.

He despised her when she was not around, yet when he saw her he questioned whether his hatred for her was actually true. His actions didn't testify his negative feelings toward her. If any other woman acted like Li Lian, she would be rotting away in the grave by now.

Luo Meng entered his dining chamber, interrupting his train of thought. His shadow guard fisted his hand above his head in salutation. "May this servant have the audience of His Majesty?" He looked between the twins, "Privately."

Luo Meng did not like talking. Never had he asked to talk, because all he normally did was come with reports.

"On your feet, I'm tired of hearing you two conspire." Bai Shen Hong chased Li Jie and Li Jun out.

After Luo Meng was settled across the huge dining table, he was offered. "Would you like wine? Drop the formalities. We are friends."

"His Majesty is too gracious but I rather not."

The emperor nodded, permission that he begin presenting his matter.

"Your Majesty, Luo Meng seeks that you grant him a favor."

"You avoid asking me for anything at most times."

Luo Meng blushed, "I dare not take advantage."

Luo Meng just blushed? What was the world coming to after his near death experience?

"Who thought I would see this day. Is this to do with a woman?"

"How... how did His Majesty know?"

Bai Shen Hong sipped on his wine. "Wild guesses." He leered. "Who is she?"

"His Majesty does not know her." It was a shy response.

"How did you meet?"

"She is a courtesan, Your Majesty."

"From a brothel?"

"It is a respectful manor. She became a friend. The first person I have not minded, touching me... I actually desire it."

Lucky man. "Spare me the bedroom details." In truth, Shen Hong was jealous. "What do you need?"

"In the future, would you have any qualms granting her a ladyship title? I wouldn't like her for a concubine. She is not just any woman."

Courtesans couldn't be a wife to a noble man because of their low status, unless they gained a ladyship title. Only the emperor could grant titles, the elevation of statuses.

"That wouldn't be a problem. What is her name?"

"Dao."

The name sounded familiar. "When did you meet?"

"About three weeks ago."

"Good for you. While I was almost dead, you had your eyes elsewhere."

Luo Meng went crimson. This was fun to watch but pitiful too. Because of love, cold Luo Meng was all mushy.

"About your request, I think it is too early to think that far Luo Meng. Wait it out. You do not know her enough as of yet." He was willing to commit to Elora after knowing her for less than a month in the forest. Look where that got him.

"When we are together, we are inseparable. But because of her job, she barely comes to visit me at my manor. And when I go seek her out at the Lady Queens, at most times she is not there. I cannot bear that other men get to look at her lustfully."

Poor man. He was in for a rocky ride up the mountain and back. Love was cruel. And Shen Hong had both the emotional and physical wound to prove it.

"Your Majesty, before I forget. I must mention this to you." Luo Meng stood to leave.

"Speak."

"Did you know Li Lian is back in the palace?"

Author's Note

Fun fact. Emperor and I had an average of 900 to 1.2k words per chapter. His Majesty and I's average is 1.5k to 1.8k words. Who noticed on this book the chapters are longer? I think it's because I understand the characters a lot more now and the story has a lot more depth to it than in the first book. Plus, I write faster and better than before.

To aspiring authors, practice makes perfect. I used to struggle to write fast, and would take a long time to write a chapter. My uploads were once a week. But the more I wrote, the more it became easier. Now uploads are 2 to 3 times a week.

S.V