The Guzheng of The Moon

X

Yue played a song according to the Emperor's request. Under the moonlight they just both enjoyed the song. The Emperor's servants stood not far across the bridge.

The reflection of the moonlight above the pool made Yue even more nervous. He still felt guilty about Princess Xiaoli. Leaving behind the party frenzy, even more so the Emperor dragged him into his pavilion.

"I ... I am not the right girl to be empress," Yue said suddenly. He also dared to look at the Emperor.

The Emperor responded flatly to Yue's words. "It's not you who decides whether you deserve to be empress. But I'm."

Yue had offended the Emperor. The face that had looked friendly had now turned violent.

"Not the Queen Mother, either" the man added.

Yue was silent for a moment. Yue only said what he felt. Before embarrassing himself and who would definitely lose to Princess Xiaoli, he ventured to say that.

The Emperor stood up from where he sat. The man even slammed his teacup before standing up. "I'll just choose you, not the others."

That was all Gu Zheng said from over his shoulder before leaving the pavilion. Yue who was afraid of the Emperor's anger, also stood up quickly and tailed behind Gu Zheng.

"All right!" yue shouted, "i will become the greatest empress in the history of the Yuhan kingdom. I will also bring you to your knees before me."

Gu Zheng stopped his steps. He turned and walked towards Yue. Spontaneous Yue walked backwards, afraid Gu Zheng would do anything. The man grabbed Yue's arm violently and pushed him to hit the fence of the bridge connecting the pavilion with the palace. Gu Zheng trapped Yue with both arms.

"Why are you like this?" asked Yue while trembling.

"I can't wait for that day to arrive" Gu Zheng said with a smile. He took both of his hands off the bridge. Just leaving Yue Yang who fell down because he was so afraid.

After the Emperor was not seen again, a lady-in-waiting immediately approached Yue who was still sitting on the bridge.

"Yue. You're right Yue, right?" ask the lady.

Yue looked at the girl. "Ah May?"

"It's true you. I. .. I heard the Emperor took the empress candidate from among the common people. I didn't expect it to be you, Yue."

Yue immediately hugged his playmate tightly. It was great to see the person he knew inside the desolate palace.

After Ah Mei became a palace lady, Yue rarely met the girl. They can only meet when Ah Mei gets a day off.

"I'm so happy to see you," Yue said enthusiastically.

"Let's talk in your room, we can freeze if we stay here too long. Anyway, now you're the empress candidate. You must not be sick," said Ah Mei who helped Yue stand up.

*****

"You saw for yourself, didn't you? He did as he pleased," Yue said annoyedly.

"He's the Emperor," Ah Mei replied casually.

Yue sighed and went back to drinking the tea made by Ah Mei. It seemed like he had to give up on fighting the Emperor. All of this has become a sign of destiny.

"But, really. What Uncle Liu said came true," Ah Mei said.

Yue did not even remember the day where he obtained that prophecy from Uncle Liu. Moreover, he never took seriously the words in every prophecy of the middle-aged man. Because he only listened to it in passing. Yue had absolutely no faith in the prophecies and myths that always accompanied him.

"I ... forgot," Yue said with an innocent smile.

"That's why you're always unlucky. You never listen to such things" Ah Mei said.

Who would listen to a middle-aged man who was crazy? It was not that Yue meant to be disrespectful. It was just that he thought Uncle Liu was half crazy. The middle-aged man continued to talk about Nian and Phoenix. And things that he did not understand at all.

"Just a coincidence" Yue argued.

Ah Mei poked her lips and then got up from her place. "You should go to bed soon. I heard that tomorrow your training will begin, you must be in top shape."

Ah Mei arranged Yue's bed in such a way. "You don't have to do that, we're still friends."

"really. But now you're the future empress. So, I should treat you as best I can, Miss Yue," Ah Mei said.

"Don't! Never call me that, ever," Yue threatened as she brandished her finger. He doesn't want to be considered special by his best friend. He was still the same Yue, the playmate of Ah Mei.

"alright. I will do it when there is no one else" Ah Mei replied.

*****

"I heard, Your Majesty just left the celebration party, just like that" Empress Dowager Han said.

"I just took a walk to get some fresh air" Gu Zheng replied.

"By dragging Yue. You must be very angry," chirped Empress Dowager Jia who was none other than Grandma Gu Zheng.

Gu Zheng chose silence. He didn't like it much when his mother and grandmother interfered in his problems. They were the ones who invited Xiaoli even though they knew that Gu Zheng would only propose to Yue, not the Princess of An kingdom.

"You have to be fair. All eyes are looking at you," Empress Dowager Jia said. "The opposition faction is ready to take you down by exploiting the slightest gap."

"Grandmother and Mother need not worry," Gu Zheng said with all his formalities removed.

Gu Zheng was ten steps ahead of those who wanted to take him down. He has prepared everything if the opposition factions act. His throne was a legacy from his grandfather to his father. And after his father died the throne was passed on to Gu Zheng. And so it will be next.

"We just want you to be careful. We don't mind you asking the girl. But shouldn't she just be a concubine?"

Gu Zheng had absolutely no idea of Yue who would only be a concubine instead of an empress. "I can handle everything."

With complete confidence and all due respect, Gu Zheng reassured his mother and grandmother. She did not want Yue to be a concubine. The decision is certain.

"You are as stubborn as your father, indeed" said Empress Dowager Han.

Gu Zheng smiled wryly. Unfortunately, he did not want to be like the previous Emperor. Because it was not only the throne of Yuhan that man left behind. But also a line of concubines and princes who were ready to seize and replace Gu Zheng's current position.

"I'll only have one wife, which is Yue."

Tbc...