Their love reminded me of another. The new Emperor and his Crown Princess back then. Only this union was stronger, the bonds already forming, bonds that will only get stronger with time.
It was because of that bond, that what must be done would be made possible. Though they were destined to be apart for a number of years, what comes after would hopefully more than make up for it.
I had to satisfy myself with those thoughts, had to look beyond what was right around the corner to those latter years, when things would once again fall into their rightful place and the dark veil would be lifted once and for all.
I closed my eyes and looked away, back into the dark. Time seemed to be flying these days and I must prepare. I hoped that the next few weeks would only help to strengthen the bond between the two for the days to come.
NARRATOR
As the two lovers stood under the moon and stars and the old seer went about her last minute preparations, the old Empress and her son Prince Loren were busy at work with their plots and schemes.
No longer satisfied with just removing the Crown Princess and waiting years for the throne, the Empress now set her eyes on the throne itself, removing her stepson as Emperor and elevating his son.
Her husband’s death had given her even more power. As the Empress dowager, the elder lady of the court, she could even go above the current Empress if she saw fit. It was tradition after all, to show respect to one’s elders. It would only take a few words of manipulation to get the new soft hearted Empress to do her bidding.
“Everything has been set in place. Just a few more weeks and the girl will be gone. Now we must turn our minds to the other. Your brother, the usurper. You and I both know that the throne should’ve been yours, just as it should’ve been mine long ago.”
The Empress dowager still held a grudge against her late husband for choosing someone else above her. She felt no remorse for taking his life and the Empress’ before him. As far as she was concerned it’s what they deserved for daring to stand in her way.
She’d always known she was meant for greatness, and what greater thing was there than as mother of the whole nation? He’d shamed her by making her a mere concubine after his wife couldn’t birth a son, and then only because the ministers had forced his hand.
She’d endured the embarrassment all those years, but now, she was the one in power. It secretly bothered her that no matter how she tries she would never truly be of royal blood though.
That it was only through her son and now her granddaughter that she could attain that status. Even her reign as Empress was tainted, as she’d had to commit murder to achieve it.
Even that hated boy, Crown Prince Jai, who she hated more than she hated the father, or the grandfather before him, was of royal blood. She hated his assuredness more than theirs. That air he had about him as if he too were looking down on her.
She pulled her mind back from such depressing thoughts and focused instead on what laid before her. What was finally within her reach. She’d grasp the power that should’ve been hers from the beginning and dare anyone to stand in her way again.
“Princess Rowena has been very put out by all this. We did promise her that she would be chosen…”
“I know, my granddaughter is very much like me, but this is the way things had to be done.”
“Was I not once second choice? Now look at me, I am the most powerful woman in the kingdom. Tell her that her grandmother has taken care of everything and she will get all that her heart desires.”
“Now our clan can take back the power that has been taken from us all those centuries ago. Has the girl been taking her lessons?”
“Yes, the ladies of the court that you sent over have been doing a very good job. She knows that she might have to work hard to gain his affections in the beginning, but she’s ready.”
“Good, that’s good. No matter about his affections, the thing is to get with child, to bear a son as soon as possible. If he proves difficult there are ways to get around that. We must not fail no matter what.”
“I understand mother, Princess Rowena is more than ready for the job. After the selection she took to her bed for three days, but now that she knows he’s once again within her grasp, she’s committed herself to the task.”
“Good, that’s good. You should be getting back now. Stay away from here for the next little while. We don’t want anyone growing suspicious of our plans.”
Prince Loren bowed to his mother before taking his leave and rushing home to share the news with his wife. All their dreams were within reach, all their years of suffering in the shadow of his brother were almost at an end.
Princess Rowena listened in at the door, her glee growing with every word. It didn’t bother her that the Crown Princess would be killed to make way for her. It’s no more than she deserved.
Had it not been for her, Princess Rowena thought, she wouldn’t have been made a laughingstock among the servants and the rest of the nobility who now looked on her with pity.
Her hate for Crown Princess Mia had only grown stronger with time. Especially when she recalled how she’d had to kneel before the other girl like nothing more than a servant.
Thoughts of Crown Prince Jai were only secondary. She was put out with him as well for his part in her shame. Though her heart still longed for him.
Now she snuck back to her room to stand before the bronze mirror, taking in her reflection. Her beauty was no less than Mia’s she assured herself and there was no reason, once the other girl was gone, removed for good by her grandmother, that she couldn’t win Crown Prince Jai’s heart.
She went to sleep that night feeling better than she had in days. She should never have doubted her grandmother, hadn’t the old woman always got her what she wanted?
Her dreams that night were of a life of splendor and lust. The two were mingled together for as much as she wanted the throne, the true prize was Crown Prince Jai’s heart. He’d given it to Mia, but she wanted it, will have it, come what may.
CROWN PRINCESS MIA
It had been a very long day, and now that we were at the end of it I felt the tiredness I’d been staving off all day. We were still standing under the stars enjoying the light of the moon.
“You’re tired.” I felt his gaze on my face in the moonlight and smiled. As tired as I was, I didn’t want the night to end. “Let’s go back, you’ve had a long day, I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“No, not yet. Stay with me a little while longer.” I was pleasantly surprised when I felt the coolness of his lips against my forehead. I lifted my head from where it had been resting on his shoulder and blushed.
He pushed my head back there and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. My whole body became tense as I knew the others were watching. “Do not worry, they’re not looking at us. They’re not allowed to.”
Well that’s one rule I didn’t learn. Maybe because this casual touching wasn’t something that was done. I can’t say that I hated it.
My own parents after all were prone to handholding, though they usually did it when they thought no one else was watching or about.
“Okay we’ll stay a while longer but then it’s off to bed with you.” I ended up almost falling asleep where I stood until he insisted on taking me back.
He walked me to my palace, which was in the same complex as his but separated by a few corridors. I felt the loneliness almost as soon as he said goodnight and turned to leave.
“Do you want me to stay until you fall asleep?” His back was turned when he asked and I felt silly. Like I was being childish on my wedding night no less. He turned when I took too long to answer and I was too embarrassed to answer.
Now that the festivities were over and the night was drawing to an end, the reality was finally setting in. I felt tears behind my eyes as I thought of my family and the fact that I didn’t know when next I would see them.
He didn’t ask again, just turned and led me into the room. He waited in the outer chamber
while the court ladies undressed me and got me ready for bed. Then he came and sat beside me, my hand held fast in his.
“Do you miss your mother?” His voice was softly reassuring in the quiet of the room. I nodded my head, suddenly too choked up to answer.
“I will invite her here tomorrow.”
I sat up immediately. “No Jai, I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
“It’s no trouble. You’re my wife, it’s my duty to make you happy, now go to sleep. I’ll send a palanquin to bring her here tomorrow.”
His words offered such comfort that I was indeed able to close my eyes and before I knew it, it was morning. I opened my eyes on the new day, full of excitement and joy.
The wedding night I’d secretly dreaded never materialized and I knew I was lucky to have such an understanding groom. It’s not unheard of for women no matter what class, being forced on their wedding night.
It was a nice start to our marriage and so was his appearance first thing in the morning to have breakfast with me. Of course I knew that most of these things were unheard of here in the palace.
In fact none of what he’d done so far was in line with what I’d been taught to expect and it was made more obvious by the flustered and flurried reaction of the court ladies that they hadn’t expected him to show up here either.
He dismissed them as soon as they removed the lids from the serving platters and waited for them to leave before taking my hand. “Did you sleep well Princess?”
“I did, and you?”
“I didn’t no. There was this pesky female who kept me up all night.” He barked out a laugh at my look of outrage. And then I understood that he meant me.
“That wasn’t very nice Jai.”
“I’m sorry love, I couldn’t resist. Here this is for you, maybe this will buy me your forgiveness.” He removed a gaily-wrapped package from beneath his outer jacket and passed it to me.
“What’s this now?” I tore into the paper even as I asked.
“Oh!” It was the poems he’d written while I was away. I read through the first few lines of the first one before tears blinded me.
“Do you mean this?” My words were barely above a whisper, my lungs too filled with emotion. I looked at him to find him watching me closely.
“Every word.”
He brushed his finger down my cheek and I leaned into his palm feeling more cherished than I expected. Could this all truly be real? Could my life truly have become this fairytale?
Prince Jai
Our days followed the same pattern. Every morning I’d meet her in her palace for breakfast and at night I’d have her brought to mine to have the evening meal.
It was the talk of the whole palace and even the Empress dowager made her displeasure known. I didn’t care. We spent most of every day together and even when I went to the training fields, I found a way for eunuch Van to sneak her there too.
Each morning we went together to greet my parents and receive their blessing and though I did it grudgingly, I took her before the Empress dowager to do the same.
“Why don’t you like her?” We were on our way back from one such meeting when she dared to ask. I should’ve known she’d pick up on my disdain for the older woman.
“It’s nothing for you to worry about. Her and I just don’t agree on what’s right for the kingdom is all.” I didn’t think it right to embroil her in family discord this early in our marriage. She was just getting used to being apart from her own family. And besides, it was my job to make sure she was always happy.
“Let’s go get Prince and take him for his morning walk then I have to leave you for the rest of the afternoon. Father has decided that it’s time for me to sit in on the court sessions.”
We picked up her dog and headed for the imperial garden, which had fast become one of her favorite places next to the Orchid Palace.
It was here amidst the summer foliage and well-kept garden plots that we had out best conversations away from prying eyes and ears. Here that I learned just how fearless she really was. And here that I fell deeper and deeper in love.
She was everything I’d hoped she would be and so much more. And I couldn’t wait. Couldn’t wait for the day that I could truly make her mine in all ways.
I watched her now as she ran after the dog, his yips and her laughter filling the air. It had been a long time since such sounds were heard in this garden. Not since I was a very young boy in fact. I could sit and watch her play all day, but I had to get back. The ministers were being their usual selves, stirring up trouble where none was needed.
Since the passing of grandfather they have grown even greedier in their grab for more power and father was feeling the strain. And it was starting to show.
My job starting today was to sit in and listen without offering an opinion one way or another. But it was a good opportunity for me to learn the ins and outs of daily life in the court.
“Princess, let me take you back I have to leave.” I love the way she pouts at me whenever it’s time to part. It means she doesn’t want to part any more than I do.
“I will come and get you first thing after I’m done I promise.” She picked up the dog, who nipped at me when I reached for her hand. “Watch it or I’ll have you skinned and turned into a muff.”
“Jai, don’t say that to him, you’ll scare him. He did not mean it Prince settle down.” She kissed his little nose and I grumbled. “He gets more kisses than I do.” That made her laugh which is what I wanted. It’s the only way I can leave her and not worry about her while I’m gone.
For the next few weeks, things were a bit unsettled in the court, but I still found time for her every day. I was ever mindful that she was relatively alone in the palace, her mother having visited only once.
I was so in tuned with her every mood by now that I noticed her sluggishness the moment it appeared. “What’s the matter Princess, are you ill?” Her usually bright eyes looked tired and she didn’t seem as lively as usual.
“I think I may have caught a summer cold that’s all. No need to worry.”
“Maybe we should stay in today then.” When she didn’t argue to go outside I started to worry. She loves our walks in the garden or going over to the Orchid Palace.
I stayed with her until it was time to leave but by the time I returned she was worst than that morning when I left her.
In a panic I almost razed the palace to the ground until the healer was called.
I’d never seen the old woman before but the court ladies seemed to know and vouched for her. I was too worried about Princess to listen to their stories of the healer’s past deeds in the palace before she retired. But it was rumored that she was the best in the kingdom.
It was obvious that my Princess wasn’t suffering from a cold, but the imperial doctors could not find the reason for her rapid deterioration. So I had no choice but to trust the old woman.
Three days later my world came to an abrupt end. I’d left my palace full of worry for her in the early morning. I wanted to forego the court sessions but both father and the advisors insisted, though I was afforded some leeway to take care of her during the afternoons.
I heard the weeping before I reached her door and my heart stopped. I ran forward, my limbs feeling heavy and a dull ringing in my ear. Eunuch Van flung the door open and barked out questions.
And then the dreaded word. ‘Dead!’ My Princess was dead. It didn’t seem real. How could it be real? Just a few short days ago she was happy, smiling, laughing.
No there had to be a mistake. “How, when?” They were the only words I could get past suddenly dry lips. Eunuch Van rushed to my side when my knees started to buckle.
“She drew her last breath not fifteen minutes ago Your Highness.”
I moved to go to her and was held back from approaching her body. “I have to see her, let me go.”
“No Your Highness, you know you can’t.” I wasn’t allowed to see her. I’m the Crown Prince after all, cannot let my body
be tainted by death. In that moment I hated everything about my life.
I fought their hold but was restrained once again. Words were spoken I heard the tears of the women, but it all seemed to be coming from elsewhere. Nothing in this world seemed real. It was a dream, a nightmare, had to be.
But it wasn’t. It was real and my heart felt as if it had been dragged from my chest with force. So this is what true grief and sorrow feels like. This is what is meant by eternal hell.
I stumbled from her chambers out into the warm morning breeze. My thoughts were fragmented and dark, the place where my heart once was now felt empty, desolate, alone.
My world went blank, and darkness fell. Someone screamed, an inhuman sound. The pain in my heart was too much to bear.
NARRATOR
The cry the young prince made that day was heard throughout the whole palace. It was said to have sent shivers down the spines of all who heard it.
Later that night under cover of darkness, a young girl was dug from her early grave still in the throes of death as she’d awakened too soon from the potion only to find herself buried.
The fear and shock was such that her mind splintered and who she had been was no more. She had no memory of life or what it meant. Like a newborn babe, coming into the world for the first time.
Unbeknownst to the old seer, there was someone else at the burial site that night. Des, the brother who couldn’t believe his little sister was gone, had come to sit with her, her first night in the cold ground.
He’d been angry and disillusioned since news of her death reached her father’s home. This was not Mia’s end. Not the little sister he’d watch grow up. That bright, vibrant star that outshone all the others.
Then the news came that she’d perished from some unknown illness, something they were afraid would spread, so she wasn’t allowed to be buried in the royal tomb.
Flower In The Palace Page 14
