96
HEAVENLY HALL
The huge double doors of The entrance was close, all the ministers along with their families were there, accompanied by Emperor Sunwoo, Empress Kana, Former Emperor Jong, Empress Dowager and their subordinates.
Behind the door, the soldiers of the third prince keep on banging it to forcefully enter, each sound it makes, the people inside will tremble in fear.
After a massive push, the huge double door is wrecked open and Third Prince Tong walk in, drawing his sword.
"Old third, You really has guts." Former Emperor Jong snorted in disgust.
Third Prince Tong halted after seeing his father, "Imperial Father? You're alive?"
"I'm alive and well," Former Emperor Jong snorted.
Third Prince's face darkened, "Your scheme of playing fake death killed my mother, what kind of a father are you?"
"You're making me laugh, I don't know if you are just playing dumb or you're having an amnesia. It's your mother who tried to poison me so you can have the throne, she even sent assassins to killed Sunwoo, and let me tell you this, I am not your father, I guess until now you're still living in the dark?" Former Emperor Jong chuckled.
Third Prince Tong was baffled, "What do you mean?"
Emperor Sunwoo step in, "It's funny that you wanted to seized the throne which does not belong to you from the very beginning. You're not even half a royalty and yet you're so ambitious, Old third, you really disgust this Emperor." Emperor Sunwoo lost his usual calm face, his sword was thrust forward, and the tip was on the Third Prince's neck, piercing the skin, drawing fresh blood.
Third Prince Tong didn't move, the truth shocked him, his sword has been dropped on the floor, his soldiers stop on their tracks as well watching and waiting for his next move.
Kana stepped in as well, "Those attackers, if you wanted to fight, then fight, but let me warn you that once you draw your sword against any of us this instant, all of your families will die along with you, don't blame This Empress for being merciless!" His fierce eyes darted at the soldiers, making them tremble in fear, their swords fell on the floor and all of them kneeled.
This scene was caught in Lady Pleng's eyes the moment she entered Heavenly Hall.
"My son! Your Majesty please don't kill my son! He's all this old woman had! Prince Haii was already dead please don't take my other son away from me!"
The onlookers was baffled after hearing that.
"Prince Haii was also Lady Pleng's son?"
"And how the hell that woman is alive?"
"Eh? You are wondering why she's alive while you are looking at the Former Emperor standing there, alive as well."
"I can't believe it, who is the father of The second and third prince then?"
The same questions filled Third Prince's mind, he look at Lady Pleng with begging eyes, his usual fierce aura was gone, his list to usurp the throne was gone as well, the thirst of revenge gradually disappeared, all remained was wondering, confusion and questions.
"Prime Minister Park is your father, back then, I was eager to get pregnant but the Emperor rarely visits me. Prime Minister Park offered help and we became an ally, so I used him to help me get pregnant, then I found out that I was carrying twins which is bad omen for the Empire, Consort Mia negotiated with me that if I ended up getting twin boys, she will get the other child, Consort Mia was an ally too because she has deeper relationship with Prime Minister Park, she's pregnant as well using the same method but she used a random guard. I had no choice but give Prince Haii to her, she ended up giving birth to a girl which is the Former Empress Park." Lady Pleng explained, her tears flowed nonstop and her voice turns raspy.
"Shameless woman!"
"They let the Former Emperor wear a green hat."
"So we were just objects to you to remain in power?" Third Prince Tong was totally in despair.
"My son, please forgive me." Lady Pleng muttered, while she slump on the floor.
"Don't call me that! I am not your son!" Third Prince Haii hold the sword of Emperor Sunwoo on his neck and push it forward, piercing his own neck.
Emperor Sunwoo tried to pull the sword but the hold of the third prince was strong.
Blood flowed from his neck, making Lady Pleng shout in fear.
"Tong! My son!" She run on Third Prince side, crying her heart out, unknowning where to hold him.
Half of the sword pierced through his neck, ending his life in no time.
"Take Lady Pleng away!" Former Emperor Jong ordered.
"All the soldiers of the Third Prince involved in this coup, report to Commander V for your punishment, then you will be able to joined the Imperial Guards if you will turn into a new leaf, if not, death is the only solution, not just for you but also your families, think about it carefully."Emperor Sunwoo ordered, making the soldiers kowtow to him.
"We thank His Majesty for his benevolence!"
"Everyone, please disperse."
This day is very tiring but Kana still has business to take care of, firstly... She will start with Lili and then, Consort Lin Then, Noble Consort Song.
***
In The Dungeon
"I can't believe that we will see each other here," Consort Lin mocked the disheveled Lili who sat on the opposite cell prison of him.
"Why are you so cocky? Aren't you getting killed soon as well?" Lili mocked him back.
"You're not sure about that, we'll see."
Consorts Lin gave her a taunting smile making Lili so mad that she wanted to tear his face into hundred pieces.
"THE EMPRESS HAS ARRIVED." The guard announces, and the remaining guards inside the dungeon bows in greetings.
"Long Live her Majesty, may you live thousands of thousands of years!"
"All rise," Kana motion his hand, following him was Sheen and Xiao Yue.
Xiao Mei who was locked together with Lili saw Empress Han, she shivered in fear and almost stuck herself in the corner.
"Sheen, let them see what we have here," Kana ordered Sheen then he called the nearest guard, "Open the cell of Imperial Concubine Lili and hold her for This Empress."
"Yes!" The guard assented.
"What are you planning to do?" Lili was frightened.
"Don't panic, your mother is probably preparing a space in hell for you. You will have a grand reunion there, now choose on these items well." Kana showed her what Sheen has been carrying in a tray.
A bowl of black liquid, it's a wine mix with potent poison, a sharp dagger, and a silk cloth.
This are the things to be used in punishing a member of the royal family who committed crimes except from adultery which needed to be punish via drowning.
Lili trembled, unable to choose so Kana help her fix her mind, "The Emperor is really mad at you, if you refuse this things, he will order someone to flog you using a hard wood thousand times or even cut you half or death by a thousand cuts, I am here giving you alternatives, you should choose well."
Kana didn't feel any ounce of pity, Lili brought this to herself.
"You really disappointed me, if only you stay calm and didn't scheme against me, great fortune will land on you sooner, I am pregnant and the physician said I am carrying twins, I plan on giving you the other one to raise to keep your position steady in the harem, but what did you do? You stabbed me in the back, you even hired someone from my brothel to investigate! You and your mother tried to kill me! Then don't blame me if I will be merciless. Now choose! Or I will force you to death!"
Lili felt like she was struck by a raging lightning, she felt regretful, but it was all done, she can't pull back the time to make up on her deeds.
She calmly grab the poisoned wine as she look at Kana in her lifeless eyes," Thank you for treating me well as a sister, I was happy to lived in the palace, I was happy even just seeing his Majesty. That was an unforgettable experience, even in my death, I will treasure such memories."
Kana look at her, and his heart hurt a bit,"If you will have a chance to be reincarnated, live well freely without jealousy." Then he turn his back the moment he saw Lili drank the bowl of poisoned wine.
Kana heard the bowl fell on the floor and he turn his back again, facing Lili who's lying now on the dirty floor.
He look away,"Take Xiao Mei out and flogged her to death."
Xiao Mei heard it and she began screaming.
"Your Majesty! Please have mercy! Just kill me quickly! Please I beg you."
"Then make it extra strong each strike and kill her quickly." Kana said again and left the dungeon.
The guards take Xiao Mei out, wrapped her with a straw mat and started to beat her.
That day, Imperial Concubine Lili died, along with The traitor member of The Special Female Force, named Xiao Mei.
Kana went back to his Palace, the entire event this day made him exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally.
He pressed his stomach when he felt a subtle pain along with a strong wave of headache.
Sheen shouts to the eunuchs to call the physician was the last thing Kana heard before everything went black.