“Her holiness the priestess has arrived! His highness the crown prince has arrived!” The call of the eunuch announced their presence at the doors and Guangfeng walked through with Byakko carrying Yuelan right beside him. Everyone in the hall stood and bowed themselves to the ground except the emperor, who only stood and bowed from the waist in Yuelan’s direction.

When they reached the dais, Guangfeng helped Yuelan come down off Byakko’s back and the large, white tiger shifted into his human form: a tall, pale skinned, black haired man with golden eyes. The members of the court struggled not to gasp in amazement. Some of them failed and the soft sounds filled the throne room.

Byakko and Guangfeng each took one of Yuelan’s hands and helped her to sit in a seat right beside the emperor’s that had obviously been prepared for her. It was made of silver and done in the shape of a coiled dragon, head high and one five-toed claw lifted up in a defensive manner around one side of where Yuelan sat. The white tiger then moved to stand just behind the chair and Guangfeng stepped off the dais.

“You may all rise,” Yuelan said calmly as she placed her hands in her lap.

The shuffling noise of people getting to their feet was quickly replaced with silence that lingered for a couple of minutes before the emperor spoke. “Bring them in.”

There was no announcement this time as the first prince and his mother’s family, the Lin family, were brought in. Chains bound their hands together and connected their feet with only enough length between them for the prisoners to walk. The emperor turned to look at Guangfeng and Yuelan.

Guangfeng stepped forward and bowed low. “Father emperor, this son begs you to seek justice for my mother, the first empress, and for my fiance, the dragon priestess, for myself, and for your royal person.”

The emperor looked to Yuelan. “Your Holiness?”

“I have allowed Guangfeng to speak for me for the moment,” Yuelan replied. “I have not recovered from the shock caused by yesterday’s events. If my testimony is required, I will give it, but for now I have asked Guangfeng to handle things.”

The emperor nodded and turned back to Guangfeng. “Speak. What evidence do you have and what charges do you wish to place?”

“The former empress, Li Fenju of the Li family, was a vicious woman. She conspired against my brothers, save for her own son, poisoned my mother the first empress, and caused the deaths of my mother, various concubines, and many unborn royal children. She also ordered the abduction of the dragon priestess, attempted to force the priestess into marrying the first prince, and attempted the murder of the emperor, myself, and the priestess. I have gathered the evidence and information here.” Guangfeng stepped forward and the servant carrying a thick book stepped forward, raising the book and bowing, as the crown prince gestured toward him.

A eunuch stepped forward at the emperor’s signal and received the book then delivered it to the emperor.

Everyone in the hall waited as the emperor looked through the pages one by one. “Make copies and have them distributed to my senior officials. We demand a thorough investigation into the crimes of Li Fenju and her family starting with determining the authenticity of this evidence.”

Guangfeng gestured to his servant again. “Son has already arranged for these copies, Your Majesty. With your permission, they can be delivered immediately.”

The emperor nodded in satisfaction. “Our son, the crown prince, is intelligent and efficient, helping with our burden. We will reward him with one hundred thousand taels.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for this grace.” Guangfeng bowed to his father then signaled for his servant to go and collect the copies to distribute with the help of the palace eunuchs.

As the copies were being passed around, a eunuch suddenly rushed up to the emperor and whispered in his ear. The emperor’s expression turned more and more serious. “Let them in.”

The doors to the throne room opened and three men walked toward the throne. Long He was one. The other was a tall, beautiful man with light blue hair and azure eyes. He had a proud bearing and an angry expression on his face.

The third was someone Yuelan recognized immediately. He was of average height with short, dark hair parted on one side. Instead of robes, he wore a black suit, white dress shirt, silver cufflinks, and a purple tie.

“Daddy!” Yuelan ignored all formality and rushed toward Long Ansheng. When she was close enough she jumped at him and he caught her up in his arms to hug her.