The Guzheng of The Moon

XXXV

Empress Dowager Jia was aghast at her place. It was unexpected that Gu Zheng would say such a thing. His mother, however, smiled only faintly. As expected that Gu Zheng would do it sooner or later.

"I didn't know that you had another woman, Your Majesty," Empress Dowager Jia said. "But ..if that's what you want, it's your right as an emperor."

"So who's this girl?" ask Suri Han to make sure.

"The youngest daughter of the Sichuan Kingdom."

With a slow step, Ah Mei approached and stood beside Gu Zheng. "So you want to raise a concubine, Your Majesty?"

"Ah, you happen to be here. What do you think, Empress?" ask Suri Han's mother.

"Mom knows that I don't care about your opinion. Agree or not, I'll keep pestering the girl. As Grandma said, it is my right as Emperor."

"If that's what you want, I won't mind it," said Ah Mei who was downcast and trying to hide her pale face.

"You've taken the girl's chastity, especially she's a princess. Good intentions should be implemented immediately. Ah, did His Majesty also say that the girl was pregnant with my children? I didn't hear wrong, did I?"

"so. Because of one thing she lost our baby."

"Oh God, what a pity. The poor girl. You'll have to take more responsibility, Your Majesty. What's the girl's name?"

"Yuan Yue Bi's. You know her, the girl who became one of the future concubines of the Yuhan Kingdom."

Suri Jia's mother almost dropped her cup upon hearing Gu Zheng's words. "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

"As Grandma heard," Gu Zheng said.

"But ... but the girl ...." Suri Jia's mother held her temple. Almost the old woman fell out of her chair.

"Are you sure?" ask Empress Dowager Han once again.

"She's a princess?" mother Suri Jia also asked. "Wait .. doesn't that mean .. you, you have to explain this."

As Gu Zheng expected, his mother quickly responded with her intent and purpose. He did not want to make his grandmother too burdened with this problem. Thus subtly and slowly, he revealed who Yue really was. By knowing that Yue was a princess, it meant that the truth was gradually revealed.

Like criminals, Gu Zheng and Ah Mei were tried in front of the two housewives. It seemed that Empress Dowager Han already knew the outline of the matter. So, the woman did not seem surprised by Gu Zheng's explanation.

Starting from Yue rescue from the bandit attack. By reducing the explanation that he was the one who ordered the bandits. It went on that the bodyguard mistakenly brought a girl because of a hairpin. He also mispronounced the engagement oath at that time.

"But the one who is engaged to you ...," said her grandmother as she looked at Ah Mei, "she?"

"After taking the oath, I only realized that the girl that the bodyguard was carrying was the other girl when I saw her" Gu Zheng explained.

"S-I'm not lying, Your Majesty! That oath is for me" Ah Mei said.

"You're right. The vow with the late Emperor cannot be easily changed" Empress Dowager Jia said listlessly.

The old woman who was compassionate on Ah Mei. Now his gaze changed. There was no need for any further explanation to pull the thread of truth from what Gu Zheng revealed.

Gu Zheng also stopped his explanation from quite getting there. No less and no more. That's enough for today, her heart.

The rest will give it all to Yue. Gu Zheng would not deny that he was guilty of the girl. Let the girl decide what punishment she deserves.

"Why now?" ask Suri Jia's Mother. "Why are you saying everything now?"

Yes, the secret that started everything, both her mother and Gu Zheng had kept her close for the past thirteen years. A secret that would tarnish the name of the Yuhan Royal family if revealed.

Gu Zheng intended to endure the disgrace himself and take him to the grave. He could not imagine if his grandmother knew about the secret. Quite his mother is devastated after knowing the truth behind Gu Hwa Nai's death.

"I want you to go to your residence, Empress," Empress Dowager Jia said. "I want to talk to Your Majesty."

With a heavy heart, Ah Mei walked out of Empress Dowager Jia's residence without refuting. Leaving those three who were still putting on serious faces.

After the door closed, Empress Dowager Jia extended her hand and clasped Gu Zheng's hand. "I don't know what makes you do this, marriage isn't something to be played with."

"Are you aware that this act could trigger a war between Yuhan and Sichuan and An? That girl you want, she's already tied up with An."

"I know, but I can't stop loving that girl either. Unknowingly he has already filled the corner of your grandson's heart," Gu Zheng said.

"Do you know this too?" mother Suri Jia asked Empress Dowager Han. "Therefore you've been quiet all this time? Letting your son do something out of bounds?"

"As long as he can straighten things out for what he's done, I can only support him, Mother."

"Well, what has made you do such a shameful thing? Still won't tell?"

Gu Zheng was speechless at the question, as was his mother.

"You also know the girl will remain empress according to the will of the previous Emperor. You or I won't be able to change it, unless she gives up her throne" Empress Dowager Jia said.

The old woman seemed to be thinking hard. The increasing wrinkles filled his old face.

"Do what you have to do. If only you hadn't taken the girl's chastity, I wouldn't have given you permission. Since this concerns the good name of our Kingdom, I will support you. But I doubt that girl will forgive us, do you understand what your grandmother meant, right?"

"Thank you, Grandma."

******

Ah Mei slammed the door when she entered her room. His face was pale. Worrying about whatever the old woman wanted to talk to Gu Zheng.

"Therefore I say you are stupid" said the voice from Ah Mei's bed. "I want to help you but you're rejecting it outright."

"Do you want to lose your head?" ask Ah Mei who didn't see who she was talking to.

Ah Mei knows who that person is. And only that person dared to enter his residence unbeknownst to others. Ah Mei knew him well even when she was a ladyboy.

"I was planning on making you empress, wasn't I so good? But your refusal hurt me."

"really?" ask Ah Mei cynically. "So what are you going to do to make me empress?"

"Not much. Maybe we can start from this," said the man who immediately smothered Ah Mei's mouth with a demanding and rude kiss.

"So, how?" whispered the man on Ah Mei's lips. "But I want to take my rewards first."

Ah Mei looked at the man in front of her. If only this man was Gu Zheng, his inner self.

"Well, just so you made me empress."

Tbc....