Chapter 35 - Strategy and Sibling Rivalry

                                    

                                          
A/N:  Idiom 一丘之貉 yi qiū zhī hé  Raccoons of the same mound. Meaning, people of the same bad character. Referring to people of similar ill repute who tend to behave the same way.  Roughly equivalent to: Birds of a feather flock together.
Chapter 35
Ouyang Zizhen entered into the emperor's bedchamber to see Concubine Wuxian sitting next to the emperor's bed.  The concubine was wiping the brow of the unconscious emperor and speaking to him in a quiet voice.
            "Any changes?" Ouyang Zizhen asked.
            Wei Wuxian shook his head.  "Wen Qing said his meridians are closed and keeping him from being able to rid himself of the poison.  And unless they can create an antidote in time..."
            "Wen Qing and Chang Ping will be able to do it," he assured.
            "They don't even know what poison was used." Wei Wuxian sounded desolate and tired.
            "Wei Wuxian, why don't you rest now," Ouyang Zizhen suggested.  "You've been by his majesty's side for this whole time." 
            The concubine shook his head. "No, I'm ..."
            "I demand to see the emperor!" a voice sounded just outside the chambers.
            "Nobleman Xuanyu, you do not have permission to enter," Eunuch Nie stated.
            "Permission from who?  The emperor is still unconscious.  How dare you stop me from seeing the emperor?" shouted the omega.
            Irritation set in at the sound of the nobleman's voice and Ouyang Zizhen found himself marching out of the emperor's bedchambers into the sitting room.  He could see Mo Xuanyu trying to push past the head eunuch and servants.  The air was putrid with the scent of burning lilies.  
            "Who has given you these orders!" the nobleman demanded to know.
            "I have," Zizhen said, sternly.    
"Consort Zizhen," Eunuch Nie and the servants greeted him.
The nobleman seeing his chance pushed by them and entered further into the room.  Ouyang Zizhen quickly blocked his path to the bedchamber.  He lifted his chin and looked down his nose at the nobleman when the omega didn't bow and greet him.
            "I want to see the emperor," Mo Xuanyu demanded.
            "Nie gong gong, I don't recall hearing a proper greeting, did you?" he asked, ignoring what the nobleman said.
            "Consort Zizhen, I'm afraid I did not hear one either," the head eunuch replied while bowing.
            "And what is the punishment for not properly greeting one of a higher status in Gusu?" Again Ouyang Zizhen directed his question to Eunuch Nie.
            "It depends on how gracious the offended party is feeling, but it can range from kneeling for two sichens or it can be up to ten lashings," responded the head eunuch.
            "Hmm, am I feeling gracious?" his eyes narrowed when he spoke.
            With his face completely flushed in either anger or embarrassment, Mo Xuanyu raised his hands up to his forehead and completed a formal bow.  "Consort Zizhen," he greeted, begrudgingly.
            Zizhen nodded his acknowledgement at the nobleman's greeting.  "Nobleman Xuanyu, the emperor is resting."
            "Why can't I see him?  I heard Concubine Wuxian is with him," the nobleman accused.