Flower In The Palace Read online

  In the end, the old emperor had pulled through and had stayed alive these past fifteen years. But here of late, there had been a change.

  The crown prince had been co-governing the nation for the past couple of years, putting into effect all those things his enemies were afraid of.

  For the Morgana family, there were also changes ahead. A missive had just arrived calling them back to court for an audience with the old emperor.

  The wording had been such that Dunal had great hopes that this was the time he had been waiting for. That finally he would be given the chance to clear his name and bring to light the truth.

  He looked out at his child as she strolled in the garden. One of the few times she wasn’t on the training grounds practicing. Her mother must’ve gotten after her again he thought.

  He had only one moment of doubt since reading the letter from the palace. His daughter would be accompanying him on the trip to the capital as well as his eldest son. It was because he wasn’t sure of what awaited him that he felt a slight hesitance.

  However, they had called for his son and it was his choice not to leave his only daughter behind. The other problem bothering him was what to do with Des.

  He knew without asking that the boy wouldn’t let Mia out of his sight, so he would have to take him along as part of his retinue. Hopefully, he would stay put when they visited the palace.

  Dunal went in search of his fourth wife to give her the news that they would be leaving for the capital in a few days. It was bound to be a bittersweet journey for both of them due to all that had passed.

  As he thought of his youngest child once again, he had another worry on his mind. Vengeance! He had long known that the girl had a fire burning inside her to right the wrongs that had befallen her beloved father all those many years ago.

  Now he wished that maybe he hadn’t been so free in the telling when he’d retold the story over the years. But the inquisitive and bright child had always sought him out to hear the tale time and again.

  It was only as she’d grown older that he understood the significance of her interest. He should’ve known that this child of his felt just as deeply as her brothers for the plight of their father.

  There was nothing to be done about it now. Her head was already filled with her own ideas and he well knew there was no use trying to talk her around.

  He’d just have to caution her on the two-day journey to the capital city. For the first time, he was grateful for her mother’s teachings.

  At least his Mia could hold her own with the other noblewomen and dignitaries when it came to court etiquette. And if all goes well she won’t draw her sword on anyone in the time they were there.

  Oh hell! He could try talking her into leaving her weapon at home but knew it would be a wasted effort. She’d just give him one of her looks and do as she pleased anyway.

  While he, softhearted as he is when it comes to his little imp, would laugh and let her have her way anyway. He smiled now as the love he bore the girl welled up inside him.

  If nothing else, he hoped this trip was a good omen. That finally their time of darkness was at an end and he could find a good match for his beautiful child.

  It had long bothered him that because of his fate, the girl would be wasted on someone less worthy of her charms. She was indeed in his eyes, a rare gem.

  All fathers, of course, thought this of their offspring. But in this case, it was truly warranted. For Mia was one of those rarest of beings. That bright shining star that came along only once in a lifetime.

  Blessed not only with immense beauty, she also imbued all the virtues of heart found lacking in many. Her fierce spirit and love of truth and all things fair, made her a rarity indeed among all.

  It had ever been his fervent hope, that he could give his only daughter more than he was now capable of. It’s something he’d carried around in his heart even as he’d cursed those who’d brought about his fate.

  He thought of her birthmark. Not many would know, but the Phoenix was the sign of an empress, a ruler. And though his thoughts did not reach such heights, at least a Lord of the realm would take the girl to wife.

  He’d not let himself think these things in the past. No one with any standing would even look in his family’s direction, let alone give one of their sons to the daughter of a family of such disgrace.

  But maybe now, this little glimmer of hope after so many years of silence from the palace meant that their luck was finally about to change. Maybe now he could find a way to make his daughter’s future much brighter than her past.

  It showed his great love for the girl that his mind was filled only with thoughts of her future. His sons he’d never worried about, they were men after all and could take as many to wife as they pleased.

  But his little girl could have only one husband, and he wanted for her the best the land had to offer. It’s what she deserved after all. This special child of his.

  And though it would break his heart when the time comes for her to marry, he couldn’t bear to part with her for anything less than the best of men.

  He didn’t dare get ahead of himself though. But looking at the missive he still held in his hand once more as he searched out his wife, he couldn’t help but be hopeful.

  The Beginning

  PRINCE JAI

  ZIHAN 756 AD

  “Your Highness!”

  “Your Highness!”

  “Prince Jai!”

  “Again?” The serving maid entered the bedchamber in the midst of the search.

  “Yes, and we’re only now getting over the embarrassment of his last escapade. Young Prince Jai where are you?” The head eunuch called out once more.

  “Search his quarters again. The banquet will soon begin and his royal highness will head to the dais. How can we tell him we’ve lost the prince again?”

  I watched my attendants led by my head eunuch as they searched around my private chamber from my hiding place high above them.

  I held my body still and didn’t make a sound as they looked beneath the bed and in every corner, muttering their grievances beneath their breath when their search proved fruitless.

  Luckily I am old enough to have learned how to control my laughter or I would’ve given myself away. As it is I was barely keeping myself contained.

  I waited until they left, calling out for me as they went, before climbing down from my hiding place and hurriedly continued getting dressed.

  Instead of the coronet crown, I donned a nobleman’s scarf on my head and changed my long princely robes of royal blue, to the short colorful sapphire blue robe and pale pink braes worn by the young sons of the nobility.

  It was thanks to my brother that I’d procured these items in secret. I have to remember to thank him later if all goes well. Because of him, I have to be extra careful as well. He’s already in enough trouble without this added on.

  As my older brother by four years, he should’ve been the one in line for the throne. But because his mother was a concubine and I am the only son of the Crown Princess Consort, the law dictates that I must be the heir as the only legitimate son.

  I love my brother more than my own life, but ever since I came of age, the political factions in the imperial court have been fighting to oust him from the palace, under the claim that he is a threat to me.

  Prince Javan, my beloved. The one who has watched over me for as long as I can remember was now supposed to be treated as an enemy.

  I can’t and won’t do it. So these men who only think of power and had no care for the love between two brothers, sought daily to tear us apart.

  So as excited as I am to set out on my adventure, I have to be sure not to get caught for his sake. Lately, my every mistake has been blamed on Prince Javan whether he was at fault or not.

  Maybe it was because of the closeness we shared. That and the fact that he was allowed more freedom than I. Not only because of his age but because as the heir my movements were greatly restricted.

>   I long for the days when things had been simpler. When I could slip by without much notice. It was mostly due to my grandfather’s failing health that things had become so dire of late.

  With my grandfather ailing, all eyes were on my father who was set to ascend the throne upon his death. That left me as his only true heir in the position I now find myself in.

  But after years of enjoying relative freedom at the heels of my brother who taught me all I know about life, it was hard to curtail my actions to please the stuffy old men of the court.

  Almost overnight Prince Javan had been sent out of the palace to live in one of the imperial palaces in town, effectively separating us and removing his influence.

  Instead of days spent following my brother around I was now stuck in the classroom with my tutors or on the training field learning to wield a sword at my father’s behest.

  Not that I hadn’t done that before, but at least I had the comfort of my brother’s presence to break up the monotony of my everyday life.

  In that respect, my brother certainly had it easier than I. No one bothered overly much about how he wiled away his days. In fact, he was treated little better than a servant once I came of age. Something I’ve long resented my father for.

  But it was my brother who had explained that father had to distance himself from him in order to keep him safe.

  That if he dared show any kind of favor for his own flesh and blood, those same men would stop at nothing to destroy the boy. It was my first harsh lesson in the politics of the palace.

  Even as the future ruler of our nation, my father was not free to love his firstborn son as he would his heir, for by doing so, he could cause a rift between the leading factions and those men who would seek to pit one of us against the other.

  The story of just such a thing taking place between my father and uncle was still new though it had happened years ago. And not many had forgotten the unrest that had occurred following that catastrophe.

  Though it was obvious that those two never shared the love and closeness that Prince Javan and I do, it made no difference to those who would seek any advantage to cause strife and usurp the throne.

  My poor brother was paying the price for their greed. He was being made to pay for the circumstances of his birth which were no fault of his own. Something I promised myself to rectify the first chance I get.

  But it was looking more and more like that chance won’t come until I take the throne, which hopefully was many years to come yet. I was in no hurry to see my father and grandfather die so that I could reign.

  Thinking of Prince Javan always leaves me with a touch of sadness these days because I was powerless to do anything to change his fate. All that I had gained from this experience was a new dislike for the ministers and their cunning.

  No matter, I still had to be wary of them at least for the next few years. Unbeknownst to them, I’ve started keeping tabs on those I would eliminate from service as soon as I take the throne. Them, or their children, whomever is in that seat when I start my reign.

  I’ve secretly, along with my head eunuch, been gathering damaging information to strike at the most opportune time, no matter how far in the future that day might be.

  I refuse to be tied down the way my father and grandfather have been. Though it was rumored that my father when he does take the throne would be a more effective monarch than his sire. It is my goal when the time comes to surpass both of them.

  It was Prince Javan who had taught me to keep my head down and never show my hand. Father too had cautioned me as his heir to be more circumspect in my behavior.

  Still, I can’t help being who I am. At seventeen, with the weight of the throne resting heavily on my shoulders, those days were a good distance ahead. I still had a bit of the child in me, and that’s where my adventurous spirit comes in.

  Because I’m so closely watched, it’s been next to impossible to get away with anything though. The last time I got caught trying to sneak out of the palace father had yelled until his face became flushed.

  Mother had cried in fear of every vice known to man befalling me and showered me in guilt. I’d been made to study a few extra hours each day for a week and that was the extent of my punishment.

  My attendants hadn’t gotten off as easy. And because I’d been going in search of my brother, he too had felt the sharp edge of our father’s tongue although he hadn’t been the one to instigate my attempted escape.

  If I get caught this time there is no telling what father would do to me, or more to the point my attendants, let alone my dear brother. The thought did give me pause, but I felt an unexplainable need to try just one more time.

  I’d woken up this morning full of excitement. The feeling was almost as intense as the one I get on my birthday when I know there’s going to be gifts and the huge celebration my parents always plan for me.

  Though today isn’t as auspicious, it was the first day of spring. The palace servants had been bustling with activity for the past few days in preparation for the grand festival planned at the palace.

  I had no real interest in the banquet other than hoping my parents didn’t miss me on the dais and send out a search party. I’m hoping they’d be too preoccupied to notice.

  If all goes as planned I can sneak away for a little while and return before anyone notices that I’m gone. I had no fear of my attendants sounding the alarm since they would be in more trouble than I if my absence was noted.

  After the long cold winter, it was finally warm enough outside for me to take up my favorite pursuits. Things that were all forbidden to the future heir to the throne.

  Like climbing the persimmon trees in the imperial garden. Or trying to get over the wall to the city. Most of all I’d missed the smell and feel of early spring and collecting plum blossoms for mother to keep in her favorite jade vase next to her bed.

  I made sure the coast was clear before grabbing the bag of snacks I’d filched earlier and snuck down the corridor. There were so many twists and turns in the palace that it was easy to get lost; if you were anyone else but I that is.

  I knew every nook and cranny, every secret chamber; well in my palace anyway. I still hadn’t found all the ones in my father’s, or grandfather’s palace as yet, which was another one of my favorite pastimes.

  I could hear in the distance the sound of the musicians tuning up their instruments and the excited chatter of the many servants that carried on the wind.

  I didn’t hold much interest in the festivities, but they were a good cover for what I had planned for today. This time I was hoping to make it off the palace grounds without being caught.

  Outside the day was sunny and bright, with a clear blue sky with no hint of clouds. I heard voices headed in my direction and ducked behind a balustrade until the maids passed.

  I hadn’t taken into consideration how busy this side of the palace would be due to the preparations for the feast, but that too worked in my favor.

  Since everyone was so busy trying to get things set up just right, and they wouldn’t recognize my clothing, they just might think I was one of the other guests if they happened to catch a glimpse of me.

  I grinned once I cleared my own private garden and made my way towards Orchid palace. For some reason, this has always been my favorite residence.

  Maybe because my father had built it for my mother when she first came here as his crown princess many years ago. He was one of the lucky few among the royal family who actually got to marry the one he loved.

  The palace he’d had built showed his affection for the young girl mother had been back then when they first met. The gardens were among the most beautiful on the palace grounds because mother is a lover of nature, like me.

  I was able to relax now that I had reached this place. It has been long unoccupied and no one else dares trespass here, which meant I had the place to myself.

  I didn’t stop to explore as I usually do though. Today I had another purpose for choosing the Orch
id Palace. Its close proximity to the farthest wall from the gathering crowd.

  Prince Jai

  Excitement built the closer I got to the wall. I could no longer hear my chief eunuch calling out for me and was no longer in danger of being caught as I so often am.

  At seventeen I had no fear of being outside the safety of the palace walls on my own. I’ve listened carefully to the stories told by my brother and the children of other noblemen who paid visits to the palace and knew that life beyond these walls wasn’t the nightmare my step-grandmother had made it out to be.

  Now I’ve come to believe that maybe she has other reasons for wanting me to believe that life beyond the palace walls are a danger to me.

  I felt a shudder run down my spine at the thought of Empress Valeria. Though she had taken the place of my father’s mother, the two women from what little I remember of my grandmother were vastly different in every way.

  The grandmother I remembered was the kindly sort who always kept my favorite sweets handy for my daily visits. Her smile never wavered, and there was never a harsh word spoken.

  Empress Valeria, on the other hand, was a stern, cold-faced woman who only showed kindness when others were around. I have an instinctual dislike of her, and not just because of the whispers pertaining to her part in my grandmother’s passing.

  I shook off thoughts of her lest they spoil my day and went to the secret place where I’d hidden the things I would need for this day’s adventure a few weeks ago, while it was still cold out and no one was about.

  I breathed a sigh of relief when I found them still there where I’d hid them, and hefted the bag of snacks higher on my shoulder with a cautious look around.

  I grabbed the hidden bamboo ladder and looking around once more to make sure I was truly in the clear, propped it up well against the wall.

  I’d never gotten this far before and was afraid that it had been too easy this time. I looked around furtively, making sure that indeed no one was coming. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten this far without being caught.