1549-1556, Youxue falls in and out of favour
4 February 1549
I am outraged, I caught Astarte spying on me while I was practicing a new dance routine with the peacocks
[H – well just what do you expect from her?]
[A – I was just popping by for a chat]
[H – dressed as a peacock?]
2 March 1549
No more Empress-nice-girl for me, Asia will tremble
[H – yep everytime you go dancing]
27 August 1549
I have instructed Youxue as to exactly what he has to
[H – so have I, fortunately he listens to me]
1 November 1549
I don't know why Youxue is so obsessed with trivia, he should just get on with it, my lost dignity must be avenged
[H – I'm not sure there is a 'lost dignity when seen playing air guitar through the window' CB?]
4 January 1550
Quite right too, they were so rude about me sunbathing outside the beach hut.
29 September 1550
good that stops them being able to overlook my modest holiday home
17 October 1551
Hah, this is so much more fun than being nice and sedate
[H – remind me, when did you try that?]
28 September 1552
Youjian is such a nice young man, we are going to get on so well together. He agreed with all my opinions, unlike his less gracious father.
6 January 1554
Yes, Youxue, has listened to me, we will now conquer Tibet and my Palace will be near to China. All my clever schemes have paid off.
18 February 1555
Yes, well all very interesting but its not really what this war is for ...
[H – I'll try and explain later]
[A – yes, Harold, I'd like to hear your explanation for all these wars too]
[H – nothing to do with you]
...
[H – yet]
[A – I heard that]
29 June 1555
I had to go and see Youxue today, I was sure this was a simple, but very bad mistake. It seems as if it was what he wanted to do ...
2 December 1555
Pah, an old Pagoda, who cares about such things, what about my Palace, abandoned ... no one cares about me in my old age ... this is so hurtful
23 February 1556
I don't care any more ...
It is quite right that everyone has is it in for Youxue, I too am rightly aggrieved
13 March 1556
outrage, I am outraged, Youxue has betrayed me
[H – oh, she does seem a mildly bit annoyed at the moment]
20 April 1556
Oh well, maybe it is all for the best, I will send Youxue my nicest tea. Even better I'll deliver it to him in person
[H – ah thats a relief, she's calmed down]
14 May 1556
Had a nice Empress-Emperor chat with Youxue. He agreed that his actions in Tibet could be seen as hurtful and I explained that it really didn't matter as we were such good friends. In any case there would always be another chance.
It was such a shock when he choked to death on a tea leaf, such a poor fragile man. Oh well, Youjian seems much more my type.
[H – let me double check. Yes he died choking on a tealeaf. But only because you'd stuffed his mouth with a peach stone while a peacock smothered him]
[A - whow]