Chapter 26
26 - Weeping Phoenix
Prince Sunwoo came inside the Imperial Hall where all the ministers line up. He sat on the Dragon throne still wearing his armoured war outfit, his face is dark and grim.
His father is currently lying in his deathbed inside the royal chamber, while his mother the Empress is confine inside the dungeon, his brothers are all inside the Royal infirmary, while his brother in law was in critical condition and they are facing war against the Yuan Empire.
"What the hell happened while I am away?!" he snapped causing the officials to squirm.
The Minister of Investigation, Minister Chun step in front and bowed. He is highly known as efficient and reliable by the late Empress Dowager.
"Your Highness, allow this servant to say the outcome of our quick and thorough investigation."
Prince Sunwoo motion his hand.
"Talk."
Minister Chun straightened his back.
"We found out the reason why The late Emperor fell sick and that cause his death, he was slowly poisoned day by day, and the empty vials of that poisoned Medicine was found buried at the back of the Sunflower Palace."
Prince Sunwoo stood up, he is mad!
"Nonsense! Just because the evidence was found in the Palace of the Empress that already means that she did it herself! Do you think the mother of our nation is dumb? Our Empress is highly regarded as a genius woman! Now tell me Minister Chun, if I will kill you with a rope in your neck without anyone knowing, should I bury the rope inside my backyard knowing that I might be a suspect after the investigation?!"
No one dared to talk back. The Prince said does makes sense.
Who in their right mind hides the evidence in their own yard, only the dumb people.
Other ministers agreed as well.
" Surely the real criminal wanted to put all the blame towards the Empress!" They whispered.
Minister Chun was stunned. He felt like he failed the late Empress Dowager in his duties.
"Base on your investigations, aside from my mother, who else's has the motive to kill the Emperor for their own benefits?" Prince Sunwoo said, trying to be civilized despite his anger.
"The said toxin that was used came from the Imperial Academy of Medicine, Your Highness." Minister Chun handed him a book.
Prince Sunwoo look at it quickly and he grimace.
"Explain yourself Minister Hyun." Prince Sunwoo asked the Minister who immediately kneeled.
"My daughter was wronged Your Highness. She will explain everything."
"Call the Consort of the fifth Rank."
Consort Hyun was called, and she kneeled helplessly.
"Your Highness."
"Explain yourself."
"I only get three vials of the toxins that was used on the crime Your Highness. The physician of the late Emperor can testify that, he has been poisoned for a long time already."
She is kneeling and looking down.
"I don't care about how many vials of deadly toxins you got, all I wanted to know Is who made you do this?!" Prince Sunwoo didn't hide his irritation.
"The Second Imperial Consort Pleng." She said while her tears fell like water falls.
"She said it will be use in the Armory troops.. And.. And it will make you happy to know that I help you, Your Highness.. I apologize.. I.. I didn't thought about things, I wasn't thinking right."
Prince Sunwoo raise his hand, silencing her.
"Enough! On that matter no one should interfere on the other Consort's job, Consort Han is the one assign to the Armory.. You should've think that Consort Pleng will just use you for her plans. I can't believe that my Consort who win because she has upstanding wisdom was fooled by someone, how embarrassing. I am disappointed Consort Hyun."
"Pardon me Your Highness." She rubbed her palm altogether, tears falling.
"Escort the Consort Back in her pavilion. I will think about her punishment." He ordered.
Prince Sunwoo ordered his Special Task Force.
"Arrest Consort Pleng and take her to the interrogation room together with the bandit that we captured."
Then he look at the Officials.
"Minister Hyun is temporarily relieved as the Minister of Imperial Academy. Everyone should follow my rules and how I will run my Empire. If any of you committed grave offense and sin no matter how much of an upstanding person you are.. You will be beheaded! Dismiss!"
He shouted and left the hall.
He still have a burial ceremony to do.
***
"V?! Why are you bloody?!" Kana asked him and look at his sad and gloomy eyes.
But V didn't answer. He just get the General's seal and signet ring in his sleeves and handed them to the waiting Consort Han.
"W-whats the meaning of this?!"
"The General is heavily wounded, before I left.. He's dying.. And.. And.." V cannot talk straight his voice is shaking.
"And what?!" Kana frantically scream.
"Maybe he won't make it."
Kana step back.. Absorbing all the information of what happened today.
He's blaming himself. If he didn't pursue to be a Consort, will all of this happen?
He look at his shadow guards, they look sad, tired and helpless.. If not without them, Kana can't make it alone.. He realizes that he has been relying on his shadow guards and not on himself.
Kana felt his knees wobbles.
His tears fell, and his voice quivered when loud sobs goes out of his mouth nonstop.
The whole Jade Pavilion was filled by the sound, of the Weeping Phoenix.
***
An: what do you think of RM to be the next MINISTER OF THE IMPERIAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE? Sounds good yeah?