Chapter 2: The Dream

That night the Emperor was in his study room looking at scrolls from the assembly. He started to doze off while reading. The wind blew from the side window, the Emperor felt the chills throughout his body . He slowly opened his eyes, and from the left corner of the room he could see a tall figure entering. The Emperor mumbled some words “ get me more tea”, thinking it was his personal eunuch. But there was no answer , he tried to stay awake but he felt like he was drugged and became dizzy. The tall figure began to approach the Emperor, as it got closer the Emperor saw a woman figure wearing a long red robe with a gold Phoenix on both side of the robe. He gasp for help but no words can came out . As he tried to stand up and run, his body became paralyzed. He sat there disabled. The woman figure came closer to the Emperor, her arms reached out and touched the Emperors face using the back of her hands and caressing his face and a sweet little voice spoke softly, “ Why are you frightened? It is me, dad , it’s Xiao Hong Xing .” (Means little red star in Chinese ) . The Emperor tried to shout for help again but nothing could be said . The woman laughed , “You look so pity , even my mother can’t save you this time .You think you can get away with your sins? You really think you lived an innocent life , when your hands are covered in blood.” The Emperor looked down and saw that his hands were tainted in blood. He started shaking his head, trying to call for help once more but only noises were made. The woman than grabbed the Emperor by his neck and choked him. “ this is for all the innocent lives you took, you deserve death and today I’m going to kill you.” The Emperor struggling to breath, trying to free his paralyzed body, but could not break through. The woman began to laugh hysterically. “ you killed my mother! You should Die ! Die ! Die !” Blood started to come out of his eyes, nose and ears, the Emperor took a deep breath and died.

“Wake up ! Wake up ! Wake up ! Someone get the Royal physician! The Emperor is having a seizure.” cried the Empress. Heavy footsteps running all over the palace in the middle of the night. All the consorts and concubines got dressed and quickly came to the Emperor’s room. But no one was allowed to enter besides the empress. The royal physician came as quickly as they could and try to surpress the seizure. Maids were in and out of the Emperor’s room bringing in basin of water , medicine and anything that could use to save the Emperor. Outside the Emperor room there were sounds of weeping. All the consort and concubines were on their knees praying for the Emperor to be safe. The empress came out of the room, “ stop crying , it’s against the palace rule to cry when his majesty is still alive, do you all want to be dead ? Stop the weeping and start praying hard to the gods. If his majesty hears about this you’ll be punished.” One of the concubine cried out , “ Empress , what happened to his majesty ? Please fill us in sister , we’re really worry.” The empress hesitate, I don’t know, his body just started to shake while he was asleep, and that’s all I know . So stop be so nosy, if there are any rumors, you’ll be the first one dead.” The concubine got on her knees and apologized to the empress for offending her. The empress turned back and the royal physician came running out , “ your majesty, the Emperor is safe. He just needs more rest.” With a huge sigh of relieve from the empress , she turned around , “ sisters , his majesty is safe, you can all return to your rooms and I’ll update you all tomorrow . I’ll be here tonight taking care of his majesty .” All the consorts and concubines bowed and thanked the empress for her care.

The next morning, the Emperor woke up . “I’m not dead, it was just a dream, it was just a dream. With a little excitement he stood up from his bed but felt a sharp pain in his chest . “What happened to me, why are there so many medicine next to me and where is the empress she was sleeping next to me.” The empress walked in, “ greetings your majesty, your awaken, how do you feel ? I just heated your medicine , it’s time to drink it.” The Emperor looked confused , “ did something happened to me? I’m unaware of the situation.” The empress handed the medicine to the Emperor. “ while you were sleeping, you had a seizure. I tried to wake you up but that didn’t stop you from twitching so I got the royal physician to treat you last night.” The Emperor had a weird confusion look. “ I had a dream that someone tried to kill me , I couldn’t talk or move , I was choked to dead by someone woman and she kept blaming me for killing her mother . I better ask Li Zheng the meaning of this dream.” He took his cup of medicine and goggled it down. “ I have morning assembly, I won’t eat breakfast.” He grabbed his robe , got ready and quickly left.

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