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.

Garden Party @ the Palace

It is a tiring day for the Palace Steward. I represented the Emerald Kingdom to attend a garden party of another kingdom. The palace is huge with a 9-hole golf course, a pond with 2 white swans and filled with flowers and other greeneries.

That was the hand of yours truly. Somehow the shape of the flower made me tempted to put my hand there like that. Disclaimer: I did not attempt to touch or pluck the flowers.

My old bones nearly broke after standing for hours in the garden. That was the reason why I was sent to the garden party because the Royal Family members should not exert themselves unnecessary.

The pressure is on ...

It has been months since Emperor and Empress IV got married. The whole kingdom is anxiously waiting for good news. However the couple is still childless. Is this going the mark the end of the Emerald throne line? No doubt that the couple is on very good terms but there are other determinants. Both of them are 1 year old this month, age is soon catching up with them.

The Palace Steward is honoured to be serving all my masters. Although it means spending my whole life in the Emerald Palace, I am thankful to have everything I had now. Some things are forbidden as a Palace Steward. Some things cannot be mentioned in the Palace. Some things can only remain in the memories. If only I can revive memories ...

How to be an ideal Palace Steward?

The Emperor IV ordered a decree stating how an ideal Palace Steward should be. The Palace Steward is halfway to the ideal state.

The decree stated the following:

A competent Palace Steward
1) has absolute loyalty to the Emerald Kingdom and the Royal Members.
2) have neutral feelings to everyone and anyone.
3) is calm in all kinds of situation.
4) constantly upgrades skills and knowledge.
5) is not distracted by other thoughts but serving the Kingdom.
6) is healthy so as to perform well at work and not spread disease to the Royalties.
7) never compromise on the standards of Palace food
8) serve and stay in the Emerald Kingdom till death
9) is responsible of own words and actions.
10) is responsible for the safety of all in the Kingdom.

This list is non-exhaustive and is subject to change.

By the order of Emperor IV

End of decree.

A peaceful start to the New Year

The Crown Prince is now Emperor IV and his Empress is 天晴公主. Empress III is now the Empress Dowager. With the help from the Empress Dowager and 三王爷, the inexperienced Emperor IV is learning well on the job.

The most adorable 仙云格格 & 仙宇格格:

The youngest 仙月格格:

With only 7 Royal members remaining, the Palace Steward is having an easier time taking care of all Masters and Mistresses. More time is spent in the Royal garden, tending to the cactus.
The cactus has grown taller over the months, just like the Palace Steward feelings for it grown deeper over the months. However the colour is not as brilliant as it used to be. Probably because it can sense the sadness of its caretaker. It is pricky and unapproachable, yet weak and vulnerable. The Palace Steward wonders what kind of treatment it desires. It is a pity that the cactus refuse to communicate. The Palace Steward only hopes for its colour to return just like before.