The Empress and Her Men

Fast Death of the Empress

While An Rin was lost in her raging thoughts, at the other side of the desolate place lay the 'lively' palace of the Empress.

"Zhen, is zhen's daughters really dead?" The Empress solemnly spoke. Her old, pale, and weak body leaned at the aged male consort while sitting on the dragon throne of gold. The courtiers below remained silent as the deafening silence enveloped the whole court.

"Explain." The old and hoarse voice of the Empress sounded demanding. How can one fight for the throne ended the life of her heirs? 

"Crown princess An Li fought with Third Princess An Rue, the fight ended them up exhausted and injured, the fight then resulted to a draw. But then F-fifth princess An Wei decided to manipulate your majesty's second, fourth, and sixth daughters to ambush them. The fight was fierce and Crown Princess decided to drag them all down with her poison gu..." Maid Li Ning stayed silent then.

Who would know that a single fight ended up dragging six heirs of her majesty to their own deaths? 

"Preposterous! In this life, Zhen only had few daughters and a lot of sons! And now all of you are saying none of my daughters survive?!" The Empress rage as her breathing started to speed up, her heartbeat started to become more and more erratic.

The Empress didn't stop her daughters from fighting each other for the throne for she knew they have moderation and will save their own lives, who would have known they self-destruct after one such silly fight?! 

She only has seven daughters! Six are now dead! Her heir...is her dynasty gonna fall down just like that?

She might have been indulgent in men and pleasure but she had never mistreated her courtiers or her people why is heaven so unfair...wait.

She still has one daughter left! 

"Someone come and call the physicians! The empress has trouble breathing!" The male consort found out the Empress troubled breathing and hug her big frame while anxiously yelling at the courtiers. The courtiers, who were silent as ants erupted in a single moment.

"Call the physicians!"

"The Empress needs the physicians!"

"Sev-th dau-ter" The empress mumbled silently whilst watching the chaos below.

"Your majesty?" The male consort leaned his ears to the mumbling woman.

"My seventh daughter." The empress spoke once again before closing her eyes.

"The empress has closed her eyes!" Male Consort Xiu mournfully cried out loud, hurried steps came from outside and a stumbling row of physicians enter the court at the urging of the courtiers.

Main Physician Tan held the hand of the Empress for a pulse, after the silent waiting of the anxious courtiers and eyes of the surrounding people, Physician Tan sighed and shake her head. Her voice resounding through the anxiety-filled court.

"The Empress died of a stroke and because of her intense grief that initiates it." 

"Empress!" all of the people inside the court kneeled and weep in loud voices.

"The Empress has died! The An dynasty was left with no heirs!" a lot of people exclaimed and mourned, another fight will ensue between the powerful families for contending for the seat of power, another disaster will happen, the past disaster just happened and now another one will? What will happen to their foundation? 

"The empress has called a name." Male consort Xiu loudly claims. The loud sobs have been successfully pressed down, waiting for the consort's next words.

"The Empress has called for the seventh imperial princess."

"Right! There was still one princess left for the throne!" 

"Bring the seventh imperial princess here, hurry!"