Chapter 252: Empress Hui’s rally.
At a stadium in the city, thousands had gathered for the Imperial war against bad technology forum. They were dressed in black and white shades as instructed. Someone had advised the Empress that it was the color of revolution. Empress Hui was standing in the middle of he field on a high stage, the highest platform. Behind her were stairs leading down from the platform.
Royal agents were standing on those stairs, to her sides, directly behind her and in front of the stage. Drones streaked the air above the stadium from high above, watching the people, but mostly keeping an eye on the platform.
Empress Hui wore white, not silk but something made from eco friendly materials. Shd hated how it felt on her body and the almost too fresh scent of natural dye and fermented earth. But she did not show it on her face as she smiled at the crowd that had turned up to listen to her talk.
She could hardly believe that all those people had come out for her. What was even more unbelievable was that the Emperor had released her from confinement so soon and the Empress Mother was helping her rebrand her image.
Empress Hui stepped forward. The microphones activated, transporting her nervous breathing to the crowd before the start of her speech.
"Welcome to the Imperial war against technology forum." She started, in a shaky voice.
The crowd cheered her enthusiastically. She has been doing various interviews, talk shows and giving small planned speeches in different venues, speaking on the dangers of technology. This was the first large crowd she was addressing and she was nervous.
"The warning has been sounded by others before me, great men like philosophers and wealthy men that brought some of this technology to life." Her voice cut through the air.
The crowd parted as a minister arrived. Press cameras shattered and anti fans of the Empress’s new war secretly passed the shirts they would use to express their displeasure.
"It does not make sense that our children speak to mirrors, first thing before their own mothers in the morning. It is not right that our teenage daughters reach for metal and put it on their ears to talk to friends and boyfriends before greeting their mothers and fathers. We cannot laugh anymore as our toddlers turn down outdoor recess in preference for machines."