When Zhao Ling Xian showed up at her door a few days later, abruptly announcing that she was to be escorted to the palace, she noticed that he looked thinner again. Barely looking at her, he handed her into the carriage, and didn't speak to her once for the entire ride there.

Suffering from a buildup of resentment, she was already mentally exhausted when An He finally ushered her into the presence of the emperor. However, she shoved her feelings to the back of her mind as soon as she saw the strangely blank look on the emperor's face.

"Ah...it is the little bird!" he said absently as if he had forgotten why he had summoned her. "Oh, never mind that...dispense with the formalities" exclaimed the emperor kindly as she moved to kneel. "Come closer."

He waved at An He, who very carefully helped him to sit up in the luxurious bed.

"Your Majesty," An He said in a voice tinged with pleading.

The emperor chuckled, waving him away as if he was some overbearing hen.

"Tea! Give the girl some tea."

"Your Majesty," she greeted, dipping gracefully.

Cui Xi kept her face neutral, but her hands were sweating. Women entered into the bedchamber of the emperor for only one reason....and even his sons could not enter to attend at his sick bed without his permission. She had also not forgotten what had happened the last time she'd been completely alone with him.

"Ah yes...not only did you become Xian'er's princess consort, you are now a most precious princess of Xiyu. Quite a feat, my dear. It has been a good show! Come!" he patted the bed, beside him.

Cui Xi looked into his eyes, lowered them, and then approached the bed, gingerly sitting down next to him.

"Ah! That's better! Zhen can see that pretty face of yours now," the emperor smiled.

"Are you feeling any better Father Emperor?" she asked.

"Hah! I'm fine! Look at Zhen," he chuckled, but the raspy laugh turned into a small coughing fit. She stood up and patted his back.

"Impudence!!" An He hissed, but he made no move to stop her.

While the emperor was a little startled, as he had not given permission for her to touch him, he did not say anything. When the coughing subsided, she sat back down, allowing him to grasp her hand.

"You're such a good child," he said patting her fingers.

"Father Emperor, you have something to say to me?" she asked cautiously.

"Ah, that's right...Zhen does, little bird!" he smirked a little at her tone. "Don't be afraid," he added.

"Yes, Father Emperor." What do you want, you crazy old pervert?

"It's not important if Zhen tells you now...though you have been more troublesome than I thought..."

Cui Xi stiffened and tried to jerk her hand away, but he held her fast in a suddenly iron grip.

Something unpleasant flashed through his eyes, a viciousness that every single one of his sons had inherited, but as soon as it came it was once again concealed by an easy, almost kindly smile.

"Do you think I am a cruel, unfeeling father?" he asked softly, releasing his hold on her.

He had actually completely dropped formal address and referred to himself as "I".

"You are the emperor of Tiansheng," she said bitterly, also dropping any pretence. "I'm not naïve enough to believe you wouldn't move against your own children if you thought it would benefit you..."

"Hah! How does Xian'er endure your sharp tongue? Yes, I am a vicious emperor and it is good you know it!" he responded angrily, his voice lashing like a whip.

She stood up with her hands fisted in front of her, glaring at him with something akin to hatred.

"Your Majesty!" An He cried in agitation.

"An He, be quiet!" the emperor said calmly, watching her.

She lifted her chin.

"It's alright. I won't punish you, so you may speak plainly," he continued in a leisurely tone.

"There was a time when I believed that I could rule justly and uprightly without the need for plots and subterfuge, that I could happily love my wife and children, and be kind and generous to my subjects, but I was wrong. That mistake cost me a most beloved Crown Prince."

"He lived! He still lives...and yet you abandoned him and his mother! He could have been cured," she said, her voice cold. "In fact, he has been cured."

"He was turned into useless garbage! Even now, do you know that he is sterile?"

At his words, Cui Xi felt like she couldn't breathe. She had no idea that her beautiful proud master couldn't have children. She turned slightly, looking away, feeling her heart clench. Although she tried to hide her expression, she could not help the angry tears that stood out on her lashes as she stared at him with loathing.

Master! How could your father have been so heartless to you!

"I am sure you knew of the plot and yet you allowed it to happen," she pointed out with bitterness. "You installed that poisonous bitch as the empress of your kingdom!"

"Of course, I allowed it to happen! The imperial struggle is unavoidable amongst royal sons. Even amongst infants. How do you think the fourth and sixth princes died? Why do you think an emperor must keep a harem of three thousand concubines?" he snorted.

She shrieked as he jerked her down onto his lap.

"Why do you think a king must sire so many sons? In the end, only one can rise to this position. And that is why the competition amongst the women of the harem is fierce and it is deadly amongst the royal sons. This entire process is a crucible to hone the best candidate for the throne so that they and the kingdom will survive. Every single one of them is groomed for this unchanging truth, and without competition, without the plots and schemes, how can they possibly learn to rule? It has always been this way and will always be this way!"

"No," she said, softly. "No...there will be a time when despotic autocracy ceases to exist. You just won't live to see it."

"Perhaps you have seen that in your own reality, but that will never come to pass in Tiansheng."

Cui Xi froze, staring into his smiling face. His lips were curved mockingly.

"What...did you say?" she faltered.

The emperor had not used the word for 'kingdom'...he had very distinctly used the word for 'universe or reality'. Her heart thumped frantically.

"My little bird...you have been my most important and precious pawn on the board...a special person from that other place. Do you think that you have been the only one?"

The emperor of Tiansheng smiled wolfishly at her.

Cui Xi felt like the entire world was turning upside down...a roaring sound was suddenly growing in her ears. Even though she was standing still, it felt like she had been sucked under a river and was once again being churned around in its dark depths.

"You- you!" she cried, a jumble of confused thoughts stuttering through her brain.

He smiled serenely at her, but his eyes suddenly looked very old and very brittle.

"All these years I have endured for this moment," he said softly. "At long last, I will get my revenge on that woman and the most capable of my sons will succeed to the position of emperor. And you, my little bird, are here to play your part in this magnificent game of Go."

Cui Xi was appalled.

There was a slight knock at the door and An He rushed over. A short conversation ensued at the door, and then he announced the Seventh Prince.

"Let him come in," the emperor nodded, pushing her off him. However, as he did so, he thrust something into her hand and said into her ear: "I entrust this to you...guard it properly...my dearest little bird."

She nearly slid off onto the floor in shock, but grabbed the post of the bed, steadying herself. Without looking at it, she stuffed it into her sleeve, trying not to feel faint. The thought had instantly crossed her mind that it was the imperial will for succession and her father-in-law had just complicated her life one hundred-fold.

Why would you pass this to me?! I have to get out of here...Now! If someone finds this on me, all hell will break loose...

Although she felt that her soul and her body were still in separate places, she automatically smoothed her hair and stood off the side of the bed, staring at the floor as her husband came in.

"Father Emperor," the Seventh Prince greeted. "Did you have a good chat with my princess consort...?"

"Eh...? Ah yes, Xian'er...your Father Emperor has tired out your good princess consort. Take her to rest," the emperor commanded. His tone indicated that the audience was over.

A frown flitted across the face of the Seventh Prince, but he did not comment on it. The less he showed his concern, the less people would gossip, and the better he'd be able to protect her, but something about his father's manner made his heart feel like it was encased in ice.

"Yes, Father Emperor," he said bowing. "We'll withdraw then."

Zhao Ling Xian held out his hand to her and she moved as swiftly as she could without running.

Although his face was calm, he noticed that her colour was bad and the hand she placed in his was icy cold and the palm wet with sweat. He took her, putting an arm around her, and quickly guided her outside.

"Xi'er?" he asked very softly when they reached the outer corridor, unable to keep quiet any longer.

She shook her head, urging him silently with a press of her fingers. His expression changed.

She barely noticed when he picked her up and immediately hurried to the carriage.

"Hurry back to the manor, the princess consort is unwell," he said to the driver. Giving up on any further pretence, he held her in his arms, looking worried.

The carriage clattered back toward the city, but as soon as they were far enough away from the palace, she tugged on him.

"I-I need to get out!" she cried hoarsely.

Zhao Ling Xian shouted for the carriage to halt, helped her down and then sped after her as she ran into an alley. No longer able to hold back, she emptied the contents of her stomach against the wall of the building. Retching, Cui Xi barely heard his exclamation, only vaguely noticing that he was holding her hair and rubbing her back soothingly.

Hidden from her downcast eyes, his expression became angry. His father had obviously done something to her. He would not have physically harmed her, but everything else was possible. That damned old man!

Even though there was nothing left in her, Cui Xi continued to dry heave. Panting, she wiped her mouth against her sleeve, and closed her eyes, leaning shakily against the building.

"A'Xian," she whispered without opening her eyes. "Please take me home."

He complied, picking her up in his arms again and slowly carrying her back into the carriage. When he went to lay her down, she struggled.

"No! Just hold me...please," she begged wretchedly. "I'm afraid!"

"It's alright, I'm here now," he whispered, feeling terribly guilty.

She's suffered so much these last few days...the peaceful time that we had...where did it go?

Sighing, he patiently held her across his lap with her head against his chest. Seeing her head begin to nod slightly with the motion of the carriage, he gently stroked her hair still wondering what the hell had happened.

Finally, in the safety of his arms, Cui Xi silently cried her heart out and then allowed herself to pass into oblivion.

When the sun rose the next day, the cry was heard all over the city that the emperor of Tiansheng had died...and with his passing, he had thrown the country into immediate disarray, having, on his death bed, repudiated his Crown Prince in favour of the Fifth Prince Zhao Ling Fei.