"He has already left the palace years ago, how is he a threat?" The sixth prince asked with a confused look on his face.

When he was young, he used to try to get close to the fourth prince but the fourth prince always remains indifferent to him, to everyone else.

​​

The fourth prince has been the brother he always wanted and he wished he had been close to him, at least before he left the palace.

"Are you really stupid, your father favours the fourth prince amongst all his children, he must surely plan to make him the crown prince, why else do you think he is trying to find him,"

"Fourth prince has left the palace for so many years, it is only right that father searches for him and even if he makes him the crown prince then it can only mean he deserves it," The sixth prince remarked in support of the fourth prince.

"Shut up, what do you know," the third prince yelled in irritation, the imperial noble consort slammed the teacup on the table in annoyance.

"Why are you so stupid, all you care about is playing chess and reading stupid books, when you are supposed to be supporting your brothers," she scolded with her voice raised even though all her words were entering one of his ears and leaving through the other.

"He is just too naive, I am sure he will change soon," the fifth prince interceded on his behalf.

"Concerning the fourth prince, I don't think we have to worry, even when father took in more concubines and celebrated his birthday these last years, he has never returned to the capital so we don't have to worry," he assured with a reassuring smile.

She sipped her tea as she thought about his words, it indeed reassured her.

Meanwhile, the emperor was discussing the same topic with the regional commander after the minister of rite discussed the people and other countries that were being invited to the celebration, it pained him to know that the fourth prince might not attend his birthday this year again.

"Your majesty, I have stationed soldiers at the city gate so you can be rest assured that if the fourth prince comes into the city then we will surely find out,"

"I am glad you know my thoughts even though it might be futile this time too, as a father, I am saddened by my son's indifference that he wouldn't even visit his father and as the emperor, I can not continue to let a prince break free from his royal status,"

Back when the fourth prince left the palace using the excuse that he wants to see what the outside world is like, the emperor sent many soldiers to protect him in secret but the fourth prince slipped away from their sight and that was how they lost him.

The emperor thinking something bad has happened to his son, detained the soldiers and sentenced them to behead but as soon as the fourth prince heard this in blossom valley, he decided to return to the palace so the innocent men will not die because of him but that was when he saved Feng Shui, he shared his burden with him and received his advice which made him make up his mind not to return but to focus on his goals.

He sent Feng Shui to the palace with his letters for the imperial consort and the emperor, he pretended to be a soldier then he gave the letter under the pretence of an emergency military letter and just like a ghost, he disappeared from the palace even after combing the whole palace to search for him only for him to sneak into the palace at night to deliver the letter to the imperial noble consort which implored her not to tell the emperor of his whereabouts.

Since then, a void has been created in the emperor's heart out of a yearning for his most beloved son.

Just then, the empress entered the palace after hearing from the attendants that the emperor is with the regional commander so she ordered them not to announce her presence.

"Your majesty," the regional commander greeted as she approached them.

"What is the empress doing here?" The emperor questioned with his usual coldness but nonetheless, she still put on a smile on her face.

"I heard from the imperial doctor that your majesty has been having headaches so I decided to visit you," she answered with her voice filled with concern that even the regional commander could tell that she is deeply worried.

He actually pities the empress, she betrayed her own father to help him and she deeply loves him but he discards her after using her, every woman in her position will sooner or later turn into his enemy or worse.

He once told the emperor his sincere thought in this but he was rebuked.

He took a few steps back then cupped his hands with a bow.

"Since her majesty is here then I will take my leave," after the emperor waved his hand, he turned around to leave while the empress climbed the short stairs to his seat.

"I have asked the imperial kitchen to brew you tonic and chicken soup to nourish your health,"

She informed as she took her seat beside him while he made sure to look away from her.

"It seems like the empress has a lot of time on her hand,"

"As long as my time is spent on your majesty, it is worth it," she cleverly answered from experience.

The maids bringing in the tonic and soup entered the room with the head eunuch following behind them.

A taster took a spoon of each then it was carried up to the empress.

She took the bowl from the attendant then scooped the tonic in the spoon to feed him but he merely glared at her with irritation, she immediately understood what he meant so she handed the bowl over to him and signalled the servant to place the bowl of chicken soup on the table.

He drank the entire tonic then half of the chicken soup before dismissing the attendants.

She decided it is the best time to bring up a discussion.

"Your majesty, there is something I want to discuss with you but I don't know if you would like to listen,"

"If you brought it up then it must mean you plan to speak whether or not I permit you,"

"When do you plan to appoint a crown prince?"

She bluntly questioned knowing the impact of her question, the emperor slowly turned his head to her with his eyes squinted, anger clearly evident in his eyes.

She knew immediately to stand up.

"The princes are already old enough for you to make a decision as this concerns the stability of the nation and the royal family," She boldly continued.

"I must have been too lenient with you seeing as you no longer know your boundary,"

"It is within my boundary to discuss this issue with you as the empress, is your majesty really waiting for the fourth prince to return so you can crown him the crown prince,"

He slammed the table furiously then stood up to face her with his eyes bulged and his chest heaving up and down.

"Empress!" He yelled but she wasn't intimidated.

"What! I am the empress of this nation and yet you treat me like a lowly consort, the princes are already old enough to participate in politics and assist in the governance but you have made them lazy and pompous in the eyes of your people, they are too ashamed to show their faces to the princes of other nations," she retorted angrily, she has been holding it in and now she must ensure this gets settled on his birthday.

"It is not your place to tell me who and when to chose the crown prince," he warned as he moved steps closer to her while she raised her chin to show him that he cannot intimidate her.

She merely smirked then moved closer to him.

"Your majesty, I have loved and yearned for you all these years despite your coldness but if you keep disregarding me and the princes then...I will have no choice but to turn my love into hatred and gather my supporters in the court," she threatened.

"Right now, are you threatening to turn my courtiers against me?" He clenched his fist in anger at her audacity but he knew that the only reason why she now has the guts to confront him is that she now has the backing of her father.

"You may interpret it however you want but from now on, I will no longer sit still," with that, she smiled widely then bowed her head before turning to leave while he watched her until she passed through the door.

He clenched his fist tighter before screaming his lungs out and throwing the things on the table to the ground.

"That impudent woman, how dare she," he yelled, throwing a fit once again.