Each evening after dinner, Ji Song interviewed potential spouses, which he found a little tedious, for the girls were so nervous and stuffy by the time they got to meet him, that they just bored him to tears.
This particular evening had been more of the same until the last woman on his list, Yin Hui Ru — granddaughter of the esteemed Shang minister Jizi, just outside of Yin proper — entered their audience, completely cloaked in black.
‘Is this a joke?’ Ji Song stopped slouching in his throne and sat up as she came to kneel before him. ‘How am I to know if I find you pleasing, if I cannot see you?’
‘Please forgive my deception, highness. I am not here to seek the position of your queen, but to warn you of an impending threat,’ she informed him.
Her voice was pleasing enough and Song was curious. ‘If you wish to converse with me, then remove your hood at least.’
‘Are you not listening —’
‘No. I am not listening to anyone who will not look me in the eye,’ he said, insistently.
‘Highness.’ Hui Ru flung her hood back to reveal a head shaved clean like a monk. ‘It is most —’
‘What on earth?’ He wondered what she was thinking, doing this to herself, for her face was very beautiful. ‘Am I supposed to find this attractive?’
‘No, highness,’ she stated, ‘that is the point. I have no desire to be your queen, only to warn you that I suspect there is a threat to the peace that your father has so recently established in our land. This marriage nonsense was my only means to get to Zhou.’
Song laughed at her charade. ‘I cannot imagine how you got through the screening process.’
Hui Ru rolled her eyes, impatient with the distraction, but humoured him. ‘I had my maid stand in for me at those interviews, hence the cape.’
‘I see,’ he chuckled, delighted, as he descended the stairs to observe her more closely. ‘You have gone to an awful lot of trouble to get here,’ he warranted.
‘Yes, I have,’ she emphasised, ‘because some kind of creature has possessed my grandfather and I believe that, through him, it is influencing events in the Yin court.’
When Song heard her story he laughed out loud. ‘If your aim was to be memorable, you are surely that!’
‘Highness, I know it sounds fantastic, but in the East we have heard that such creatures frequent the Yin court —’ Hui Ru gave up trying to explain herself, as the prince was laughing too hard to hear her.
‘I can see why you sent your maid to the interviews in your stead.’ Song curbed his mirth, circling her, wondering what kind of a figure was under the robe. ‘You never would have got past Zhou Gong with that story!’
‘Oh!’ she exclaimed, furious. ‘What would you know? You are just a boy! Clearly, I need to see the king.’ She stood and turned to leave.
‘Just a boy, am I?’ Song was tired of hearing that. ‘You won’t think so on our wedding night.’
‘What?’ She swung back around, horrified.
‘You are definitely the most interesting and enterprising female I’ve seen,’ he announced, happily.
‘No,’ she said.
‘And the best news is that I don’t have to do any more of these damn interviews,’ Song muttered to himself. By the time he looked back to her, she had a blade to his throat.
‘Marry me, and I shall kill you!’ she threatened, and was confused when Song grabbed her backside, one cheek in each hand.
‘Now that’s my idea of foreplay,’ he grinned, but looking down and noting the attire beneath her robe, he frowned. ‘The dressing like a boy thing is a little kinky for my —’
‘I am not your property.’ She forcefully shoved him backward, and Song played along, as he quite enjoyed being dominated for a change. Hui Ru backed him up to his throne, which she shoved him onto and then aimed her blade toward his groin area. ‘And I will never consent!’
‘Steady on,’ Song protested, not too worried. ‘Think of the children,’ he entreated, with a charming smile.
‘My house is under threat. Do you not understand?’ she asked, slowly and plainly.
‘Well, if you marry me, it will be under threat no longer,’ the prince replied, loving her dramatics.
Hui Ru was shaking her head at him, as if he should be taking her seriously and he was. This was, by far, the most amused he’d been in ages.
‘Guards!’ he called to have her escorted to back to her quarters.
‘No wait!’ she begged him. ‘You are making a terrible mistake.’
Song shrugged. ‘I’ll live with it.’
‘Idiot!’ she yelled as she was hauled away kicking and resisting. ‘I demand to see the king!’
‘You shall see him at our wedding, sweetness.’ Song blew her a kiss, and looked to the master of the interior who had entered with the guards. ‘Find her a dress, so I can see what kind of form she has. And no more haircuts.’
‘Give me a sword, and I shall show you my form!’ Hui Ru threatened.
‘I cannot give you my sword until our wedding night, my love, but it is good to know you are so keen,’ he teased her. She was in a silent fury as the master of the interior closed the door on the departing scuffle, and Song collapsed into his chair, content with his choice.
She was not Jiang Hudan, but would be a feisty challenge to follow his goddess rite.
News that Ji Song had finally chosen a bride gave Dan the best night’s sleep he’d had in ages, but the awakening proved not so blissful.
‘My lord? Brother, please awake!’ Fen was stressing about something …
‘What did she ruin this time?’ Dan figured Fen’s tigress must have knocked over the ink again, or chewed up his new boots.
‘The king is ailing.’ The serious tone of the lad’s voice got Dan’s attention. ‘And he has ordered his guard to keep me out.’ The young count swallowed his pain. ‘He is asking for you.’
Dan did not bother to tidy himself, but made for the king’s chamber with Fen hot on his heels.
The healer was halted at the door and the duke entered alone, to find Jiang Taigong and Ji Song already with him, along with several of the king’s house staff in various states of dishevelment.
‘What are you doing?’ Dan went down on bended knee beside the king. ‘Let Fen in here to heal you.‘
‘I cannot do it any more, Dan,’ Fa said, appealing for his indulgence, and gripping Dan’s hand in his. ‘This wound tears open a least once a day, and I cannot put her from my mind … you understand?’
The duke comprehended the plea, knowing if he had to go a day without thinking of Hudan, he would have died long ago. He nodded to show his understanding. ‘But I must speak with you alone,’ the duke said. He had to get Fa to rewrite his will before he became too incoherent to do it.
‘No, stay!’ the king ordered those who had moved to leave upon hearing the duke’s request. ‘Dan knows my wishes and there will be no discussion. Our prime minister has my will in writing. Promise me, Dan, promise that you will see it done.’
Fa was sweating fiercely, as the wound had been left to fester, no doubt at the king’s own order, and it smelt as bad as the creature who had given it to him. Dan had to wonder if his brother was already beyond reasoning with. Put on the spot, the duke nodded to console his brother, then stood and backed away. ‘I shall return presently.’
As Dan left the room the prime minister pursued him.
‘What do you intend to do?’ Jiang Taigong asked, knowing the duke would not act against his own good judgement without protest.
‘Just the man I need,’ Dan said, inviting the prime minister to follow him.
‘Where are we going?’ Jiang Taigong was uncomfortable to be running around in his bed attire. ‘Should we not at least dress ourselves properly?’
‘There is no time for propriety,’ the duke insisted. ‘Come, Fen, I could use a second witness.’
‘Witness?’ Fen was concerned.
‘Walk now, query later,’ the duke urged, not pre
pared to speak further until they were away from prying ears.
‘If the king intends to die, let me give him the elixir of waking sleep to ease his passage from this world?’ Fen implored the duke as he kept pace with him.
‘Not to sound cruel, Fen, but I need the king to have his wits about him just a little bit longer.’
When Dan led them to the family storehouse complex, Jiang Taigong had a fair idea what he was up to, and as they waited for Heng, the storehouse guard, to unbolt the door the prime minister was feeling most unnerved.
‘It is the only way to be sure,’ the duke said in justification, as the door to the storehouse opened and he was handed a lantern to guide the three of them down to the lower level.
‘What can I get for you this evening, my lord?’ Heng asked.
‘I need the Jade Book, and the metal-bound coffer containing the king’s last will and testament.’
Heng was cautious, as the two items named were currently the most prized in his care. ‘And the prime minister agrees?’
Jiang Taigong was uneasy, but trusted Dan’s judgement. ‘I do.’
‘I shall return,’ Heng disappeared up the dark stairs.
‘What exactly are we doing?’ Fen was concerned about what the said items amounted to when put together.
‘We are deciding the course of history,’ the duke stated plainly.
‘Or rather,’ Jiang Taigong added, ‘allowing an ancient book to do that for us.’ The prime minister made his disapproval plain.
‘It has been right up until now,’ Dan challenged.
‘Perhaps because of people like us?’ The wise old man raised his eyebrows in question, and although Dan saw his point he could not agree.
‘I know the author of this book made an accurate account of how history originally was, and this is how it must be again.’ Dan was determined, and as soon as the treasure was unbolted before him, he found his place and read: Ji Fa of Zhou will unite and rule over all the land — He turned the tablet over, as Hudan had, to read what had shocked her into abandoning her research. — but will die two years thereafter. King Cheng, son of Fa, will succeed under the regency of his uncle, Zhou Gong. They suppress an eastern rebellion to secure a peace that survives them both.
‘It is as I thought, and not as the king has willed it,’ Zhou Gong informed his company, and moved aside to allow the prime minister to read for himself.
‘King Cheng?’ the prime minister queried.
Clearly, Cheng was a posthumous name, as it was a tradition to pay tribute to their kings and founding fathers in this manner. Even Dan’s father, Ji Chang, who had never officially become king, had been given the posthumous title of King Wen, as he’d been considered to be knowledgeable, benevolent and kind.
Cheng meant ‘to succeed, to be accomplished and sincere’, which hardly seemed a fitting description of Ji Song at present, Dan had to admit. ‘It does state, the son of Fa,’ the duke pointed out, ‘which is clearly not I.’
‘But the king has two sons now,’ Jiang Taigong pointed out.
Dan did not even want to consider trying to hold the regency until the younger prince grew to manhood. ‘Let us just assume for the moment that the text refers to Song.’
‘So what do you suggest we do. Forge the king’s will?’ Jiang Taigong jested, but lost his cheer when the duke nodded.
‘You penned the first will for the king’s signature, did you not?’ the duke said, implying how easily this task could be carried out.
‘I do not think I should be here,’ Fen said, horrified by their talk.
‘Fen Gong, do you not agree that Ji Song should rule?’
Fen was stunned by the query. ‘Yes, of course. That is the only way to define a clear line of succession … and the Great Mother has foreseen it.’
‘I have consulted the ancestors on this issue and they say the same.’ Dan made sure Jiang Taigong noted the lad’s view. ‘But our problem is that my brother has willed me the throne.’
Fen gasped in panic. ‘That would certainly bring war; we must change the king’s mind.’
‘I have appealed his decision, all year,’ Dan replied, and Fen ran out of protest and fell silent. ‘No, gentlemen, I am sorry to say this weighty decision has fallen squarely in our quarter. The future of the Zhou dynasty must be rewritten by us here and now, and placed in an identical coffer to that of the king’s, which will be hidden away by Heng to bear future witness to what we have done here this morning. May future generations judge us as having chosen wisely for the greater benefit of our land.’
‘There will still be a rebellion, Zhou Gong: the text states as much. Xian will demand the regency.’
‘But if we take this suggested path it promises we shall overcome,’ Dan pointed out. ‘If the king gets his way, we may not fare so well, with every brother I have and Song against us. As much as I hate to admit it, Song is our best way forward.’
When Jiang Taigong finally nodded, that was the duke’s biggest obstacle gone, and it was a huge relief to him. For Dan knew that on a higher level of awareness he was achieving an even more important directive — history would stay its course.
‘Now, may I have permission to offer the king some pain relief?’ Fen begged. ‘For he is obviously to have no further say in worldly affairs.’
Dan nodded to confirm the request. ‘I shall join you at his bedside as soon as we are done here.’
Fen nodded.
‘Not a word to anyone, Fen Gong, not so long as I live,’ Dan asserted. ‘Swear it to me.’
‘I believe in you, my lord,’ he replied, sounding shaken. ‘If this is what you say must be done, then there is nothing to discuss, now or ever.’ He bowed out of the proceedings and scampered up the stairs.
Jiang Taigong appeared to have a bitter-sweet taste on his tongue as he watched Fen depart. ‘If only men had the same kind of faith in our young prince, our worries would be fewer.’
‘Before I hand over the regency, Song shall be respected by his elders.’ Dan was not hearing any more reasons for a change of heart now. ‘I promise you.’
The prime minister did not appear so certain. ‘Then, let us do what we must and be content with it.’
As the death of the king would cast the land into a state of chaos that would only be stabilised upon the crowning of the next king, Fa waived pain relief in order to maintain his sensibilities and spent his final hours advising his son and nobles.
There was no time to prepare a huge funeral or to undergo a three-year mourning period, as they had been at liberty to do with their great father, Ji Chang. Ji Fa had not ruled long enough, nor did their young dynasty have the time or resources to waste on such veneration. If they were required to quash a rebellion in the wake of his death, the king commanded that they do so without hesitation.
It was also the king’s wish that Song take good care of his baby brother, which the prince claimed went without saying, for he had already formed a close attachment to his only sibling. It was not often Ji Song showed vulnerability, but in the face of losing his father, he could not prevent the tears from silently streaming down his face. The idea of ascending to the throne at such a young age was far more daunting to him then he would ever admit openly.
Fa’s final request was to be buried on Li Shan behind the temple of Heaven, next to his queen, where they might listen to the sweet music of the Wu for so long as their spirits dwelt on earth.
Dan was gutted as he watched his older brother breathe his last. There was no long-standing friend he trusted or loved better than Fa, and he wept bitterly upon his passing, along with everyone else who had known him for the unassuming and honourable man that he was. The duke feared that the potential for a truly great and wise ruler died along with Ji Fa.
In the wake of his death, the king’s spirit stayed in the room and, as the duke was the only one who perceived this, he had the room cleared before attempting to communicate.
‘I know what you have done, Dan,’ said the spectre
, and Dan bowed down upon hearing his brother’s voice.
‘Forgive me, brother, but the Jade Book —’
‘I am aware of why you have defied me,’ he granted, ‘and I understand that you could not confide in me without disclosing my own passing. Song is not yet the best man for the position, but I trust you will make it so. I support your decision, and trust you to see our great forefathers’ aspirations brought to full realisation.’
Dan rose, astounded to be vindicated. ‘I shall not fail you in this.’
‘Be at peace, brother.’ Fa bowed to Dan, and the duke returned the sentiment. By the time he rose again, the spectre of his brother had vanished and the duke drew a deep breath for strength. His diplomatic skills were about to be tested to their limit, and Dan inwardly braced himself to face the consequences of his decision to refuse the throne.
18
THE REGENT OF JI SONG
Naturally Song suspected nothing of the micro-conspiracy that had swept through the court just prior to his father’s death, as he had always fully expected to be king. But when he learned Dan was to be regent until he came of age, Song was none too happy. ‘Why not Xian? He is the eldest of my uncles?’
‘Your father left Xian as far east as possible for a reason,’ Jiang Taigong pointed out. ‘He is prone to war and thus not always of sound judgement.’
‘This will not affect your marriage plans, or your goddess rite,’ Dan added to reassure him. ‘Only to speed them up, as we need your rule established quickly. In order to rule, you need to be granted the Great Mother’s blessing on your reign via the goddess rite. And so that the Gao Mei rite is not wasted, you must be married, so as to pass her blessing on to your queen.’
‘What do you mean “so that the Gao Mei rite is not wasted”?’ Song queried, finding the phrasing curious.
‘You will be briefed by the Great Mother before the rite takes place,’ Dan advised, carefully avoiding that explosive subject for the moment. ‘I suggest that after the funeral we accompany the king’s body for burial on Li Shan, and stay for the rite of Gao Mei. Upon your return to Haojing you can immediately marry and —’
Dreaming of Zhou Gong Page 50