Luoyang Capital
Imperial Palace
Lotus Garden Tea Room

It was evening and the mockingbirds sang in with the rays of the Blond. There were three people sitting on a small bronze lined wooden table on which an ivory tea set of three cups rested, two of them already emptied while the other one rested untouched. The Empress Dowager looked at it and then at her uneasy child. Emperor Ai never liked to be around Lord Quanzong, especially when he expelled a dark aura that established his discontent for things in life.

Noticing that the kid was staring at him, Lord Quanzong glared at him, sending him into a fit of tremors. Looking at the kid's reaction he chuckled and returned to his scoffed state taking the Emperor's tea cup unto his mouth and gulping down, the already cold tea, placing it back from where he had picked it up, rather harshly. The violent move made the table shake and a cracking sound followed.

Emperor Ai tightened his grip on his mother's folded hands and leaned behind her, apparently thinking that his mother's figure could hide him in some way or another. The Empress caressed his hand and soothed him with words that were either imperceptible for Quanzhong's ears or were ignored by the same.

The Empress served herself some more tea and while holding the cup and blowing the steam that build on top of it, she directed herself to the Lord.

- I see you are not in the best of your states. Care to speak about it my Lord?

Quanzong glanced at her when she used a sarcastic tone when mentioning the last inquiry. The woman knew her place and that she as the mother of the children of the last Emperor had more authority than him in some matters, but he wasn't obliged to follow her orders, since he himself was the one that maintained the empire on its full power and she and the little Emperor were nothing more than public figure decorations.

- It is nothing her Majesty needs to be bothered about.

The Empress took a sip from her tea and commented.

- Is that so... Then tell me my Lord, how may I not be bothered by your matters if they make you have such an awful attitude that ruins my tea and kills my lotus flowers?

He smiled and served himself more tea and to her shock he gulped it down in one go, without minding how hot it was.

- I feel no different than any other day. You are just finally opening up those eyes that you always have closed instead of looking at the real world that surrounds you.

The Empress was about to speak when suddenly, General Lu came marching into the room and bowed.

- I am sorry to interrupt your Royal Highnesses, but Lord Quanzong is needed at the main Palace Hall. Some information regarding the nearby Kingdom's movements.

Lord Quanzong stretched himself and said while sighing.

- If your Majesty can excuse me, I have some important matter to attend to.

Once they both left the room, Emperor Ai spoke to his mother.

- Mother, why do you put up with him...? He is a mean man.

The Empress sighed and with her eyes closed she turned towards her son.

- What do you mean by that? He hasn't done anything to you.

The Emperor pouted and folded his arms.

- But he has to mother... He thinks he can do whatever he pleases and trample mother when he wants to. I don't like that...

She smiled and turned the cup on her hands.

- And what can you do about that Ai. What can you do when you tremble such when he is near. You're a big boy Ai, yet you still fear the dark and run to my room because of nightmares that aren't even yours.

The boy lowered his head as he listened to his mother spill the truth on his face. It wasn't his fault he wasn't a good Emperor; he didn't expect to end up on the throne at his eleven years of life; never expected that his father would die without notice. His mother was at his side and his nine older brothers, but he also had Zhu keeping a hawk's eye over him. The boy feared the man, not because he was older, bigger or tougher looking, but because being near Zhu he could tell, that the man wasn't human. Ai could tell the man was something evil; something that would slowly but evidently eat their souls if any of them let their guards down. The boy feared not death, but that his soul never reached the Heavens and be tormented by the monster Zhu was. He just wished, that someone would end Zhu's oppression; anyone would do.

He stood up from where he sat, surprising his mother at the sudden action. He bowed to her his farewells and turned around to leave. His mother inquired in a neutral tone,

- Where are you going Ai? You never leave on your own like this.

Ai's expression became shadowed by something his mother never saw him express. Normally, he would have a worried, concerned and scared expression on his face, but some determination which source she had no knowledge of us sparked on his eyes.

Ai smiled and turning again he answered,

- There's something I need to do mother. Something important...

The Empress nodded for no one to see. She blew on her cup and raised the cup to her lips, only to feel, that no liquid flowed down her throat. She slightly opened her eyes and hmphed.

- No more tea...

Imperial Palace Meeting Hall

General Lu, Hu Tong and Dan Xiao were at a corner of the hall, where their presence could be ignored. Sitting one across the other, on a wooden, gold lined table, that was more made for sitting about thirteen people but only the two of them sat, Lord Quanzong awaited for chancellor Liu Can to give him the information he meant to really give him. The War was a plausible excuse to use for escaping any unwanted conversations with the Empress and her son; not that it wasn't an issue for any country with power, but it wasn't the reason why the chancellor called for him.

Liu Can rested on his seat, with back straight and an expressionless pokerface.

- My Lord, I wish to speak with you about the senior aristocrats and their plot to rebel against you and your control over the Royal Throne.

Zhu already knew about the conspiracy against him, led by the senior aristocrats, but listening to someone tell him about an under the table matter mede him pleased for himself having close such associate as Liu Can.

Not everyone in this damn palace is an idiot as I thought they would be.

Liu Can continued.

- We must act diligently fast, if my Lord wishes to own the complete rule of this country!

Zhu chuckled and smirked.

- Would the chancellor have the honor to say what he thinks would be a good way to attend the issue~

There was a shadow that casted over Liu Can's face while he, without any hesitance, stated,

- Elimination.

General Lu's eyes opened in shock and he immediately tried to intervene the conversation, only to be stopped by a raised hand. His objection got stuck in his throat and he refrained from uttering another word.

Zhu Quanzong, tilted his head to the side and leaned himself back on his seat, with arms folded.

- Enlighten me with your wise words dear chancellor~

Liu Can's hands trembled under his robes hems; not because of fear or of being insecure, but because he had been waiting for this chance since the late Emperor Zhaozong gave him the title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi but still was referred as You Jianyi Daifu by his seniors and looked down by the royal family members because of his lack of seniority.

It's time for them to pay for what they've done to me.

Liu Can spoke out.

- My Lord should inquire the thirty senior royal chancellors to gather at Baima Station and ordered to commit suicide, following the orders given by his young majesty Emperor Ai. Even if they suspect at first why being called out to a far away of a place, their title would get the best of them and they would do what it needs to be done. Since they'll die anyways, there would be no-one to tell what happens.

Hu Tong and Dan Xiao could not believe what they were listening to. When they signed up for the job, they didn't plan on being part of a massacre. They could trick and even fight, but have evaded to kill innocent people all this while. They could feel sweat drops start to form on their foreheads and their grips on their clothes intensified. They awaited for their Lord to speak his thoughts about such a heartless and dangerous plan.

Lord Quanzong,

- Hmmmm... Sounds good, but... how would you cover up their disapearance?

Liu Can smiled.

- The royal family won't miss them. Since the death of Emperor Zhaozong, everyone in the palace have been more preoccupied to serving my Lord that they've forgotten the old farts ever even existed. I assure you, that once we despose of their bodies, no-one will dare look for them. Not even their families.

If Zhu understood correctly, the matter was more a personal mission of Liu Can, than a strategic one for him to rise to the throne. He knew Liu Can carried a grudge against the royals and that what he wanted was more to take revenge on those who made his life miserable. He knew the nature of everyone around him, especially Liu Can's. Zhu Quanzong wasn't called the King of Hell for nothing. He grinned at the chancellor and walked over to him, extending his hand to shake for agreement. The three people in the corner didn't know what to say but remained shocked by what had just taken place.

Liu Can stretched out the Lord's hand.

-Deal!