The Empress

Chapter 4: She is coming? This Emperor will come too

During the morning assembly, the Prime Minister reported that one of his informant had found out that Madame Red will be personally attending the wedding invitation together with her children and entourage.

The Emperor cynically smile when he heard this, "Is it? If so, this Emperor will do just that. Tell everyone to prepare for the royal wedding. The whole family will come along. We will see how formidable is that hateful woman of Xi."

The Prime Minister further adds, "Madame Red is currently a 35-year old and without any husband ever since she has found the Kingdom of Xi. Though she does have two children, one is a 15-year old girl and the other one is an 11-year old boy. She also has 2 main Chancellors, one is of her own people and the other one is representing the united tribes. Both will also be attending the royal wedding as well. Chancellor Hong1 is one of her people while Chancellor Yelu2 Dadan3 represents the united tribes. There is another person who will be following them, and rumour has it that he is the future husband of her daughter."

The Emperor look at his Prime Minister, "There is no husband? Or, any man beside her? Don't people talk?"

The Prime Minister smile and reply, "In Kingdom of Xi, women are treated with respect. There is a law that every women and girl must go to school. Almost nothing is restricted for women. They are even allowed to take the annual exam, if they pass, they will be offered a suitable post. The marriage will be decided by both the women as well. There is no such thing as arranged marriage no more. Social class has been abolished as well. Even if she is the current ruler, the next ruler will be decided by the people. What is it called? Voting system… Each candidate will be decided by votes."

All the ministers turn their heads to look at the Prime Minister. They are amazed that Madame Red had managed to rule her kingdom efficiently despite being a woman. What is more shocking to them that the next ruler of the Kingdom of Xi will be chosen the people and not one of her 2 children. It seems to them that she does not like the concept of a royal family where the throne will be inherited from one generation to another generation of the same family. A revered woman they thought in agreement.

Somehow, she reminded them of the missing Empress. The Empress is a wise woman too but too bad she met the Emperor as her husband. He caused their kingdom to lose a loyal and well-respected family together with their beloved Empress as well. If the Xue family and the Empress are still here, their kingdom will be on the same par as the other 2 Kingdoms. With the rise of a new sect which seems to be cooperating with the Kingdom of Long, their kingdom is at the bottom of the power pyramid now.

"A well-respected woman should be a woman serving her husband and take care of her children. Not ruling over a kingdom. Having children without a husband? What kind of a loose woman that the Kingdom of Xi has chosen as its ruler? Such a big shame." The Emperor said with disgust written on his face.

The Prime Minister look at the Emperor and truthfully, he disagreed with him. And, most ministers disagreed too. Seeing how the Kingdom of Xi has risen steadily in the last 10 years, their power overshadowed the Kingdom of Leng, a kingdom that has been found for nearly 300 years, they thought to themselves that she must have been something right to achieve all that. Equality between men and women made the new kingdom flourish. Men treated women with respect and the women contributed to the development of the kingdom whether in the government and private businesses as well. With the abolishment of the social class, all have equal rights to learn and to work with the government as well. The Kingdom of Xi is full of capable people regardless of their genders and/or race. This happens because of her vision. Without her, there will be no 3 Kingdoms. She has united all the tribes to enable the third kingdom to be formed by her. She is not someone the Emperor can belittle. Being a woman, she has done more than any men had ever done. With her calibre, the Emperor is beneath her.

One of the eunuchs is hearing every word and intends to report every single of it to his mistress. His main job is to spy on the Emperor every single move. That is the main reason why he was transferred 15 years ago.

>Flashback<

Noble Consort Wan looked at the frail baby inside the cradle. He is smaller than his sister but is the rightful first borne and always will be. She smiles and kisses his forehead before checking on her sleeping daughter too.

She then sits on her bed and says, "You will be serving the Emperor from this day onwards. Remember to lay low but opens your eyes and ears for every single information to be reported to me."

He kneels before giving her a respectful bow, "This servant will do as instructed."

***

He further smiles with his head bowed, she has come back he happily thought to himself. Back with a vengeance. The Emperor and those responsible for what had happened 15 years ago will pay for his mistake dearly. His mistress will be happy to hear this new information. Alas, the time has come for them to meet again.

***

1. * Red

2. ** Black-crowned night heron

3. ** Courageous