More than 2 years on...

2 years passed ... many things happened in the Palace. The new heirs, Princess Biscuit and Princess Pancake, kept a very low profile ever since they took over the Emerald throne after the Emperor and Empress IV passed away. To mourn the Royal deaths in the Palace, no updates were given.

Shortly after that, the Empresses V (Princess Biscuit and Princess Pancake) passed away after news of their real parents mysterious deaths. The Kingdom was shroud with grieve and unresolved mysteries. Empresses V had 2 sisters who took over the throne last year, named Empresses VI but one of the Empresses died and left only one Empress VI who outlived her life expectancy and brought the Kingdom back to light and hope.

Unfortunately old age has brought a toil on her health. She can hardly eat hard foodstuff but she still manage to enjoy sliced carrots that the Palace Steward prepares for her to eat. Recently she lost her eye sight and is moving even slower than before. In fact she hardly move anymore. The Palace Steward can only pray that she is able to live her life painlessly till the end. Again, the Kingdom has no heir. Special envoys had been sent out to search for the next heir.

Welcome the 2 new princesses

The Emperor and Empress IV are unable to have children after all their newborns died for a second time. Hence they adopted 2 princesses from a very distant relative of the Pudding family when they are a month old. The Emerald Kingdom never have any royal member with coat of fur like the princesses. They are golden beige and beautiful. Their new parents name them Princess Biscuit and Princess Pancake given their colour and their love for food.

The Emperor and Empress IV

The princesses settled in the Emerald Kingdom comfortably. The Palace Steward is absolutely delighted to serve them. The new royalties are nice and polite to everyone. The Emperor and Empress IV are proud to present them to the whole Kingdom. Celebrations spread to every corner of the Kingdom. The Palace Steward strive to serve them with zeal and efficiency. The Royal Family released some photos of the princesses to share their joy.

Tragedy struck, King Ah Pui passed away...

For the past 1 year plus, the Emerald Kingdom had been basking under the able leadership of King Ah Pui, aka 肥仔 after Emperor and Empress IV and 3 concubines passed away.

King Ah Pui's official portrait

King Ah Pui was one of the best rulers of the Emerald Kingdom, comparable to his early predecessors. The Palace Steward loved and respect King Ah Pui a lot. His loss was a total heartbreaking experience. This afternoon the Palace Steward noticed that King Ah Pui was not his usual self when he slept half body in his house with his head outside. Usually King Ah Pui would sleep in the house or under the house or on top of the wheel.

The Palace Steward went out to run some errands only to return and find King Ah Pui's body near the main gate of 橙阳殿. His Majesty must had been waiting for the Palace Steward's return.

King Ah Pui's death was totally unexpected as he had been young and healthy but probably the King himself knew something was not right, he commanded the search of new heirs a few months back. He adopted a pair of distant relatives as his children, who will now take over the Emerald throne and named the Emperor and Empress VI. Just few days back the couple suffered a miscarriage and lost 3 children. Unfortunate events plagued the Kingdom.

The Palace Steward is devastated by the lost of King Ah Pui. RIP our dear King.

One year on ... A new heir found ...

A year has passed. The search was a strain on the Palace resources. Finally a suitable heir was located. 三亲王 passed on before he managed to find a suitable heir for Emperor and Empress IV. This responsibility fell onto the three princesses 仙云，仙宇 and 仙月. However, the Emperor did not produce an heir with his concubines. The Palace Steward left the Palace for a year to go full time into searching for a suitable heir.

Finally after a year, a suitable heir was located. He was a prince from a large and rich kingdom, a distant relative of the Royal Family. The whole Emerald Kingdom rejoiced. He was immediately named the Crown Prince after he arrived. He brought together with him delicacy from his Kingdom and construction materials to build his palace the way he wanted it to be. His palace was completed before his arrival, named as 橙阳殿.

The Crown Prince is fussy with food. It may take some time before his supplies finish and he has to get used to what is available in the Emerald Kingdom. His size is about twice the size of the other Royal Family members due to his exceptional diet and appetite. The 5 Royalties fondly call his nickname 肥仔. The Crown Prince showed no airs and was delighted to meet his new family. The Palace Steward is very happy to serve His Highness. Long live His Highness.

The Empress Dowager departed ...

Her Majesty left before she can finish her last and most urgent task of finding an heir to the Emerald throne. She left this unfinshed business to the Palace advisor 三亲王。The continuity of the Kingdom and the Royal Family depends on finding a suitable heir since the Emperor and Empress IV are unable to have children. Currently there are only 6 members of the Royal Family left, 2 generations and 5 of them in the same generation. The Palace Steward can only try the best to assist 三亲王 while juggling with other Palace duties.

Last Wednesday, the Palace Steward travelled out to a island nearby for an official visit. Below are some photos taken to show the Royal Family how clear the water is around the island.

Seems that conservation efforts around the island worked. The water is very clean. His Majesty, the Emperor IV was very pleased with the results. It is a pity that the Empress Dowager cannot be there personally.

Yesterday I visited a new place. I find it serene and peaceful. The weather was good. Below are some pictures of flowers, bridge and waterfront that the Royal Family has keen interest in.
Some flowers which I thought Her Majesty will like to decorate the Palace.
A new bridge which I came across.

Clear water despite the traffic nearby.

Age is catching up with the Empress Dowager ...

The Empress Dowager is getting weaker by the day. She used to love her fortnightly walk around the Palace premises in her ball. However when the Palace Steward brought her around today, she was less active and visited only the main hall. After all Her Majesty was already more than 2 years old. The Palace Steward will pay more attention to Her Majesty's needs. Her quest for finding an heir to the throne is still on-going.

Few days back the Palace Steward was out doing some odd jobs. I went for a nice place for lunch. Although it was not my first time there, this time I took out my handphone and snap a few pictures to give my masters some ideas on how to decorate the Palace.

The bridge lead to the eating place. It was a bright sunny afternoon but my handphone could not capture it. Nevertheless, it is the bridge that I want to show my masters. My masters are looking into constructing bridges to link up various buildings in the Palace.

Pretty flowers. As a Palace Steward, looking out for new flowers to decocrate the Royal Garden is part of my work. These are water plants on a fountain. Perhaps the Palace can have something like that too.
This plant has a special meaning to me ... I will take photos of it if I see a nice one hanging around. It will look good in the Palace too.

In and round the Emerald Palace

There have been changes in the Emerald Palace after the Emperor IV ascended the throne. He has ordered an imperial decree that other events happening around the Palace should also be reported rather than focusing on just the Royal family members.

The rulers of the other Kingdom came for an official visit to the Emerald Kingdom. The small one is the King and the bigger one is the Queen. Special arrangements have been made for our distinguished guests to feel at home. Special food has also been catered to suit their exquisite taste.

The Emperor IV has decided to credit an unsung hero of the Kingdom. A small warrior who recently eliminated a pest. Fighting someone same size if not bigger, the warrior showed no fear and eventually got its lunch within a short span of time. The Emerald Kingdom lacks such talents. Recruitment for warriors never stop.

The Empress Dowager is in the process of finding the next heir for the throne from other distant relatives given that the Emperor and Empress IV are still childless.

As for the Palace Steward, I am relearning a skill that I have lost last year; relearning how to be alone. I used to have a reporting officer last year, but I am all by myself now.