Pov: Liu Xie (Lord of the crannies)
Location: The imperial palace- Niang district distribution center.
Time: Mid afternoon
After you gave the message to Shang to deliver to Xu Chu, you found yourself in your room trying all sorts of clothes at Su Min's insistence.
"Is this really necessary?" You asked while struggling to keep the fatigue from your voice.
"Of course it is." She replied coldly
"If your plan works you will be standing before thousands. Do you want them to laugh at you due to your clothes?"
She threw another cotton robe on you.
You could clearly tell that was not the only reason (as her voice sounded a bit off), but you decide not to pursue it.
"Have your scorpion reported back yet?" You asked Su Min
"Yes my prince." She replied in a heated voice
"All the pieces are in place and the game is about to start. Though I for one simply wish that they would speed up for once."
"You know how far the distance they have to cover don't you?" You asked patiently
"Give them some more time."
"It is midday already my lord." She complains
"What in the heavens could be...."
She did not have time to finish those words as a servant rushed inside without knocking.
"How dare you barge into this room without knocking?" Su Min yelled at the servant
"Do you not know where you are standing?"
"Forgive palace lady Su." The servant said with a bow
"But the emperor has demanded Prince chenliu's presence in the courtyard immediately."
"Can't it be delayed?" Su Min asked with a hidden smile
"The emperor makes it clear that if you stay one more heartbeat in this room, he would send the imperial guards to drag you out."
Seeing that the emperor was not joking, you both gathered whatever it was you could get your hands on and fled to the courtyard.
.....
In the imperial courtyard, you were surprised to see general Hanfu song rallying a large group of imperial guards and mounting them on horseback.
"Are under attack by an enemy, general Hanfu?" You asked
One look at you and you could see the disgust written on his face.
"Why don't you ask the emperor?" He sneered
"I am sure he will explain things better."
Seeing no need talking to him, You approached the emperor who was getting dressed into his armor by three of his enuches and bowed low with your head to the ground.
"This lowly one ..."
"I have no use for such formalities Bohi." The emperor barked
"That is not why I have called you here."
"Apologise my emperor." You say as you stood to your feet
"May I humbly enquire as to what the matter is?"
"Your peasants have gone too far this time."
Liu Bian cried
"First they dragged their muddy feet into this sacred halls, then they insulted a court official before the face of the emperor and now they have grown brazing enough to attack a distribution center."
"Is that so?" You asked calmly
"That is troubling indeed."
"Troubling?" The emperor echoed in shock
"You caused all this due to your high handed treatment of commoners and all you can say is that it is troubling?"
"I apologise if I have caused my emperor any inconvenience." You said with a small bow and then looked around
"Is that the guards are gathered? You wish to send them against the rioters?"
"Only a foolish parent will fail to discipline a child when the child misbehaves." Liu Bian said
"No brother." You counter
"Only a foolish parent will kill a hungry child when he cries for a bowl of rice."
"You dare to call the emperor foolish?" Zhang Rang cried out with all outrage he could muster.
"I dare to question the use of an eunuch who cannot see farther than a ten year old boy."
"How dare you?!!!"
"Enough Zhang Rang!!" The emperor boomed
"Have you forgotten that you speak to an imperial prince?"
The eunuch hung his head in shame and the emperor turned to you
"The reason you are here is because I want you both to see the hard truth of ruling and I will tolerate no second guesses as to my decisions."
"I understand perfectly my emperor." You said
"And that is why I hope you will forgive this."
Without warning, you swiftly leaped onto a waiting horse and sent it galloping out of the palace grounds.
As soon as the palace was out of sight, you watched with the utmost satisfaction as Su Min and a group of children little older than yourself maneuvered their fast horses to join you in your mad dash to the Niang district distribution center.
....
On getting to the distribution center, the scene there can only be described by one word which is chaotic. The center was being torn apart by the mob, the majority of guards had all fled and the few who remained were having their teeth knocked out by the mob who seem to be frustrated by something."Are there no food in the center?" You asked with genuine surprise"Where did take the food that was supposed to be here?" One of the rioters cried "Tell us."He then tried to rush towards you but a crossbow bolt between his legs put a stop to his efforts."I would be careful doing that if I were you." You calmly retorted "I have archers lining the entire area."The crowd was doubtful at first but as soon as the Lin kwei scorpions showed themselves this cowed the rioters sufficiently enough for a great silence to fall on them."Now let me ask every one of you." You continue"What was it that made you so bold so as to have the audacity to attack one of the emperor's distribution centers? Don't you know that is treason?""And what will be the punishment? death?" A woman counters "I watch my three children die everyday due to hunger, I lost my home due to taxes and my husband left me because he could not find any decent work in this rotten city. Do you still think I should fear death?""And what about your children?" You quickly asked"Do you think they would be proud to see you doing what you are doing now?""My children would want to eat." Another farmer barked"My children would want to live.""Yes." The others agreed"At the prince of their father's life?" You countered"You all know full well that if it was any other official that filled this place with archers he would shoot at you without any hesitation. Is that what you prefer?""I will not go back to my wife empty handed."Another declared"Well then you will go back to her as a corpse!!!" You spat"The emperor and his guards are only three li away. Do you think he would show mercy if he comes and sees you like this?"No one raised a word in reply and you knew you had them"And if you end up dead here what would happen to your families?" You pushed"I will tell you. Your old mothers and fathers would die of depression, your children would be forced to beg on the street and your beautiful wife would have to sell herself just to make ends meet. Is that what you want?""So then we just return to our homes with nothing?" The rioter's voice sounded desperate.You climbed up a tall platform where you were sure all could see you, took out your dagger and cut your palm open to let the blood flow."I Liu Xie, a son of the Han dynasty, grandson of Han dynasty, do solemnly swear by the heavens, the earth and my ancestors that I will not eat, I will not sleep and I will not pray until I end this famine for good."This brought a scattered cheer from the crowd that was interrupted when an infantryman from the crannies ran up to you. "My prince we just apprehended two corrupt officials who were trying to run away with three wagons of rice." He said"What should we do with them my prince?""Empty all the grain from the wagons and lock them in there until the imperial guards come. As for the rice, bring every single grain here. It is time to distribute them the way they are supposed to be."Unexpectedly, this sent the crowd in a roaring cheer and within seconds, you had them all standing patiently in a straight file. Just like that you became so engrossed in distributing the rice according to the numbers of family members that you barely noticed Hanfu Song and the imperial guards approach. Luckily they had the patience and presence of mind to see that the matter was well in hand so they did little other than take the men imprisoned in empty wagons. "Was this the way you wanted the emperor to handle the matter?" Hanfu Song asked with an undisguised relief as he approached you."A man who deprives children of food has no right to feed himself general." You answer"Are you displeased with my leniency in this matter?""Quite to the contrary, so long as I have no need to murder innocents, I have no objections whatsoever."He replies "Though I must admit, I do not think the emperor will be too pleased with the public shaming of his officials.""And is that a problem general?""Of course not my lord." He said with a small bow"At least not for me. I take my leave."As Hanfu Song turned his back to leave with the soldiers, the frown you had been stifling came out in full bloom."I take it you are well aware of the consequences of this act?" You turn to see Su Min standing beside you'Yes' You think to yourself 'And I won't like it.'So saying you went back to distributing rice with a smile....By the time you finished distributing rice for the day, it was already dark and you were tired and ready to turn in for the night but fate had another plan."My prince, the emperor demands your presence." A servant called"Lead the way." You said with a small sighThe eunuch then led you through the courtyard, past the Royal bedrooms and stopped in front of a small study that you were sure the emperor rarely used. The eunuch then clapped his hand gently to alert the emperor and the emperor simply summoned you in with a wave.While this was not your first time standing before the emperor, you could not shake off the feeling that he looked far more regal sitting here than he did at the throne room a few days ago. His muscular body body seemed to fill out the small table with precision, His face seemed to be even more defined by candle light and the look in his eyes seemed to shine a bit brighter than it did at court. All these combined seemed to give him something of a refined yet slightly intimidating air."This lowly one greets the emperor." You say with a very deep bow."Sit down." He beckonedYou obeyed"Eunuch Zhang Rang has written me a petition urging the court to call into question what he terms as the abusive treatment of a loyal imperial official." He informs"Did you have anything to do with that?"While you were not all that surprised, you did not expect this to happen so soon.'Would the son of heaven believe me if I said no?" You askHe just looked at you intently for a while as though trying to read your mind before he shook his head."Be that as it may, it does not change the fact that the court differs with regards to its view on your actions today." He clarifies"Some perceive it to be a blatant disregard for the imperial authority, others view it as a courageous and intelligent intervention in a troubling issue while a small but powerful group believes it to be a ploy orchestrated by you to gain power.""And what do you think o son of heaven?" You ask as that was the only opinion you cared about"Do you believe your lowly servant capable of such mischief?"The emperor looked at you for a while and then said"If it was ploy," he said as hands you a small parchment book."then it was a well acted ploy." You looked at the cover of the book and the well drawn symbols at the top of it was 'Hidden dragon first form'."The secret technique of the imperial house?" You asked calmly despite the excitement rushing within you."Should this not only be practiced by the crown prince and heir to the throne?""The first prince has already mastered all six forms Liu Xie" He said casually"I do no believe it will cause much rancour should you master only the first.""In that case, I thank you for your generosity." You say with genuine sincerity" Long live the son of heaven." You bowed lightly and turned to leave"Bohi" He called and you turned back "I have given you a gift, are you prepared to give one in return?""What is it you desire o son of heaven?"He just smiled and said "in due time my boy. In due time."