The night was dark and moonlight barely passed through the tall arched windows of the imperial study room. The Emperor's desk was covered with bunch of scrolls and memorials and the red-wax seals glared in the light of the the candles.
As he finished signing a decree, the Emperor of the Azure Empire rubbed the temples of his pained forehead. Streaks of white interspersed his once glossy black hair, and the responsibilities of both the Empire and his lineage bore heavily on his shoulders.
The carved doors creaked open.
"Your Majesty," a soft but sharp voice came.
The Empress stepped into the room, her silk robe was decorated with a pattern of phoenixes, sparkle in the candlelight. She floating in with grace yet her frigid eyes betrayed the level of power that comes from beinge a descendant of one of the empire's Give great families(clans)
The Emperor looked up. "You shouldn't be here so late."
She ignored somehow the warning. After slightly bow her head, she started "I offer my respect to Your Majesty." Her eyes sharpened and the politeness fell away. "What causes you to go back your words?"
The Emperor leaned back in his chair, frowning. "…You mean Shen Yun."
Her voice dropped in temperature, her tone sounding like steel in silk. "Yes. You made a promise that my son would be Crown Prince. Now you have lost your nerve, and before your ministers, you tell me that he cannot. Do you forget who I am? Have you forgotten that I am from one of the Five Great Families of the Azure Empire?"
The Emperor's face became serious. Each sound echoing loudly throughout the room as he tapping his fingers on the desk. I haven't forgotten, of course. Without your family, my throne would not be as steady as it is today. But…" He exhaled deeply, his gaze heavy. "The court council ministers are restless. They pressured me relentlessly. They believe Shen Yun's… nature… is too dangerous. If I force him into the position, I risk splitting the court into factions."
The Empress's eyes flickered with rage. "Are you yielding to pressure? You're making yourself weak for grub worms in robes? You know that Shen Yun is qualified to be emperor better than anyone. When necessary, he is ruthless, intelligent, and tough. That's what empire need."
The Emperor's expression softened just a brief moment. "He is my son. No one knows better than I what he can do."
She moved her body closer to the Emperor, her voice low but distinctly sharp. "Then what do you intend to do? If you decide to forsake him now, you will lose me, my clan, and Shen Yun."
The Emperor leaned closer, looking directly into her eyes, without shifting his facial gestures. Though his tone was calm, each word dangled with the symbolic royal power of the throne.
"Shen Yun does not need me to usurp the throne. He knows what needs to be done. If he wants to rule after me, then he will need to get it himself."
The Empress squinted. "What are you suggesting?"
The Emperor smirked, wearied. "If Shen Yun is to be Emperor it must be his own choice. He has the option to either pursue his brothers as friends... or murder them. That is how it works for the throne. That is how it functions for the Azure Empire."
The Empress was stunned. Her breath had stopped in her throat.
The Emperor returned to his scrolls and took his brush, dipping it in ink. He did not look at her to finish, "The boy is my son. If he can't comprehend this... the boy doesn't deserve the crown."