Father was ill. He had been, for the past
six months. Anyone who saw him could tell that he was not getting better,
despite the team of imperial physicians that slaved day and night for a cure.
No one quite knew what he was down with.
His face had lost its radiant glow within
the first few days, darkening with some epidermal pigment that turned him
hideous. He had also lost pounds in muscle mass, leaving his once-muscled torso
and arms weak - he could barely support his own body, and had to be propped up
with pillows.
At first, his gaunt look did not affect his
fiery vigour in the search for a cure. He needed to get back on his feet so
that he could quell the uprisings, appease the townsfolk, and govern the nation
well. After all, his grandfather and father before him had done a marvellous
job in conquering rival states and unified them under their control – what would
they think if he let it fall back to ruin?
However, as the sands of time flowed by,
the disease took its toll upon Father, and he had the greatest of difficulties
carrying out the smallest of tasks, like sitting up to eat. We knew his time
was nigh, but no one dared to say it to his face. After all, he could still
order our painful execution with a casual flick of his finger.
Behind his back, the various factions in
the palace had already begun to move. Generals indirectly pushed their champion
as the next king. As did the queen dowager, the ministers, and anyone who
belonged to a clan which had some influence over palace matters. Each sought discreetly
to extend that sphere of influence, to puppeteer the next king.
The favourite was of course, my elder
brother Yi Lang. He was well-decorated with military honours, tall, handsome,
charismatic, and not too bright. Perfect for manipulating.
Next was the queen dowager’s nephew Wen Jun.
He was technically still part of the royal family, and therefore a possibility.
He was another figurehead, somebody for the queen’s clan to work behind.
I was third. I was too young to participate
in the war when Father suppressed the smaller hill tribes and subjected them to
his will, and therefore was relatively unknown compared to the aforementioned
duo. However, I was intelligent and wily. I had a knack of reading people’s
body language. I always knew when Father would slam his hand on the table,
flying into one of his rages.
Being relatively unknown, I had to gather
my own support from the various factions. I targeted the smaller, stray clans
who were constantly neglected and overlooked. I promised them my favour upon
ascending the throne if they pledged their allegiance to me.
While my elder brother and Wen Jun clashed
head on, I snuck behind the scenes, gently tugging on strings and currying
favour from the ministers. The queen dowager and the military generals collided
in sparks, all unbeknownst to dear Father.
During the period of mourning for Father’s
death, I went about sowing discord within the queen dowager’s factions and the
military faction, making the opposing party seem guilty. My plan was to let
each clan collapse, then blame the other for that collapse, burn themselves
out, and I would inherit the throne.
Right after the stipulated days of
mourning, the various factions prepared for the final attack, but true to my
plan, both rival clans tumbled splendidly. Fingers pointed and accusations flew
– there was even a high-profile murder of the minister of the treasury, the
queen’s second nephew by marriage.
This was all working to plan, I thought
gleefully. With the backing I secured clan by clan, I emerged onto the scene,
shocking both the queen dowager and the military general’s factions. No one had
even considered me a potential, potential threat, that is. I easily crushed
both factions and mysteriously got rid of my brother and Wen Jun, ascending the
throne within a week of Father’s untimely demise.
Monarch at last.
-Odysseus
a friend gave me this topic..I don't like it heh. but well, here it is.
a break from Hal and Jerry. I'll get back to them asap :)
