by JC Kang
At the front, she turned and walked to a space on the other side of her brothers. Kai-Guo’s fists clenched tight, while Kai-Wu barely kept his posture straight. Kai-Long’s footsteps stopped in place just behind her.
Father looked somber, even more so than usual. How could he not be, with the murders of his brother-in-law and nephew on Hua soil? And then in two days, he’d have to dispense punishment on her. He seemed to have aged since yesterday. If his health were failing, she might be to blame.
From his place a step behind the Tianzi, Chief Minister Tan cleared his throat. “Tai-Ming Lord Peng Kai-Long, step forward.”
She tilted her head a fraction to find Kai-Long in the corner of her eye. He cast a somber smile toward her and rose. Striding to the place just before the dais, he sank to his knees and pressed his forehead to the ground.
“Rise.” Father’s voice shook with fatigue. When Kai-Long straightened, he continued. “Nephew, as pleased as I am to see you elevated to Tai-Ming, I convey my regrets for the loss of your father and brother.”
“Thank you, Huang-Shang.” Kai-Long bowed his head again.
“Swear your loyalty to the Tianzi,” the Chief Minister said. He placed the jade seal of state in Father’s left hand.
General Zheng strode forward. With both hands, he placed the Broken Sword into Father’s right.
Kai-Long’s swordbearer shuffled down the central aisle and presented a ceremonial dao to his lord. Imperial guards stepped in closer to Father, their hands resting on their own swords. There was little need: by custom, only imperial guards were allowed to carry weapons in the hall, and the ceremonial dao was only a hilt and scabbard.
Bowing his head, Kai-Long held the blade up in two hands. “Under Heaven, I swear eternal loyalty to the Jade Throne. I serve at your pleasure. My sword is your sword.”
He set the sword down on the floor before him, while another page came forth, bearing a seal on a silken cushion. Usually, the jade provincial seal would be used, though the immediacy had required a replica.
Again, Kai-Long bowed his head and lifted the seal in two hands. “Your command is my command.”
Father beckoned him out of the bow. “You have trained as a diplomat and served magnificently in that capacity for the last few years. However, ruling a province will prove challenging. I will send advisors with you on your return to Nanling.”
“Thank you, Huang-Shang.” Kai-Long pressed his forehead to the floor. He straightened. “Huang-Shang, if I may, I am certain that agents of Madura perpetrated this act.”
The assembled men broke into a chorus of murmurs. Kaiya’s belly clenched. Kai-Long would undoubtedly bring Prince Hardeep into the conversation, which would in turn remind Father of her own transgressions from the previous day.
Father silenced them all with a twitch of his mustaches. “After you informed me of your suspicions, I sent my own agents to investigate.” He faced the Chief Minister.
Tan cleared his throat again. “The Maduran trade mission vehemently denies involvement. They convey their regrets.”
“Lies.” Kai-Long’s voice carried an edge of anger.
The Chief Minister gestured to an old man in the first row, on the other side of the central aisle. “Deputy Yan, please report.”
Kaiya tried to find Deputy Yan in the corner of her eye. He only very rarely appeared at the palace, the last time being when her childhood friend Tian had been banished. Then, as now, his face moved whenever she tried to study his features. All she could say was that his face was plain. If foreigners had paintings of Hua faces in their encyclopedias, surely his would be the one.
The official bowed his head and stood. “Huang-Shang, my agents scoured the scene and followed up with eyewitnesses and the Jiangkou city watch. We recovered two of these.” He held up two bloodstained crossbow bolts.
Kaiya looked at Kai-Long’s fists, so tight the knuckles blanched. He must have known the Madurans had not used crossbows in nearly thirty years. They had Hua muskets, after all.
Deputy Yan continued, “The first penetrated Lord Peng through the throat. The second punctured his son’s lung. Also, several eyewitnesses claim seeing five large Hua men fleeing the scene.”
Just like the large men who had attacked her with crossbows. They might be the ones responsible for murdering the Ankirans, as well. Kaiya fiddled with one of her sleeves. All Kai-Long had to do was mention Prince Hardeep to give the Madurans a motive.
He glanced back at her, his eyes begging like the small court dogs. He then looked back to Father. “Thank you for devoting resources to the investigation, Huang-Shang.”
Kaiya let out her breath. Kai-Long had spared her the embarrassment, at least for now. Still, that expression of his…
Father nodded a fraction. “We will keep you apprised, Little Peng. Now…” He turned to the Chief Minister.
No, poor Kai-Long had lost his father and brother. He could have exposed her secret to give the potential killers a motive. He’d protected her, to his own detriment. Summoning resolve from the firmness of Tian’s pebble beneath her sash, Kaiya rose. “Huang-Shang.” Her voice came out as a mouse’s squeak.
The collective sucking in of breaths might have rid the room of half its air. The lords and ministers, already surprised by a girl even being present in this meeting, must have been shocked that she dare speak.
Chief Minister Tan gaped at her, his lips moving but no sound coming out.
Father’s face showed no surprise. “Speak, Princess.”
Kaiya glanced back at all the hostile scowls. Swallowing her nervousness, she straightened. “Huang-Shang, I believe Lord Peng’s suspicions—”
“Believe?” The anger in Chief Minister Tan’s voice almost silenced her.
“—because I was attacked last night, too.”
A second collective gasp would certainly rob the room of air, or maybe it was just her head spinning with apprehension. The ensuing jumble of sudden conversations was disorienting.
The Tianzi showed not even the least amount of surprise at her revelation. Did he already know? He raised his hand and the room once again fell into silence.
She peeked over her shoulder. Behind her, the lords all gawped. Kai-Long, sitting at her side, nodded with a smile.
“On my way to the Temple of Heaven—”
Murmurs rumbled again. Tai-Ming Lord Liang of Yutou’s voice sputtered above the rest. “The Temple of Heaven? Was she blessed by the priests before entering the grounds? If not, it is punishable by death.”
Apparently, her visit to the Temple of Heaven had been kept secret, and she’d just revealed it. Her belly tightened.
Kai-Guo jumped to his feet. “It was that eerie music, drawing her like a moth to a flame. It was not her fault.”
Kaiya shifted on her knees. This lie, too, would one day be exposed. Probably today. Right now.
Eyes raking over the assembled men, silencing them again, Father fixed his gaze on her. “Continue.”
She bowed her head. “Several large Hua men attacked me. Six the first time, two the second.”
Father showed no sign of surprise, though he rarely revealed any emotion.
Lord Liang of Yutou scoffed. “Are you saying you were able to defend yourself against six armed men?”
The Yu-Ming lords from his province nodded, followed by several others.
Kaiya lowered her finger, which had unconsciously twirled a loose lock of her hair, and took a deep breath. “I was with Prince Hardeep of Ankira, who was trained by the Ayuri Paladins. He fended them off.”
More murmurs. No telling what they thought about a young princess, alone with a man, wandering the city streets at a late hour.
She nodded to Foreign Minister Song, kneeling among the other high officials. “I went to Foreign Minister Song’s villa, where I retrieved an artifact. An Arkothi lute, made from a dragon’s scale. When I played it, two of the assailants fled. The song the city heard last night, I played it myself.” She bowed low to the minister
. “I am sorry to say that I lost the lute when I passed out.”
Foreign Minister Song cocked his head, a look of confusion on his face. He turned to Father and pressed his forehead to the ground. “Huang-Shang, I am afraid I have never heard of a dragon scale lute in my possession.”
Perhaps Hardeep’s journal had been wrong? Kaiya gawked. “It was on the wall of your receiving room. It came from your trade mission to Vyara City twenty-nine years ago. Your son gave it to me.”
“I see,” the minister said. “There were many things which I received as gifts from Madura after a successful trade agreement. We all did.” He nodded to Chief Minister Tan. “I do seem to recall a musical instrument from Grand Vizier Rumiya, though it did not have strings. My no-good son left home to start a job this morning, so I can only ask my chamberlain about it.”
“Where is the lute now?” Father asked.
Kaiya cast her eyes down. “I think Prince Hardeep took it.”
Father turned to his ministers. “Deputy Yan, investigate the princess’ claims. It may not be the Madurans, but I find it suspicious that large men would target the Ankiran refugees, the late Lord Peng, and the princess.”
“As you command, Huang-Shang.” Deputy Yan bowed.
“General Tang.” Father gestured toward one of the armored men. “Mobilize your men. Coordinate with the city watch to scour the streets for Prince Hardeep. I want him brought before me.”
Sinking to a knee, General Tang placed a fist to the ground. “As the Tianzi commands.”
Kaiya’s heart rattled in her chest. She might’ve just sacrificed Prince Hardeep and herself to help Cousin Kai-Long. Still, it was the right thing to do. A princess shouldn’t hide behind others’ lies.
“Lord Peng,” Father said. “You may return to your place among your peers.”
Kai-Long bowed his head, rose, and strode back to his place among the Tai-Ming. Kaiya started to sit.
“Wait.” Father’s gaze locked on her. “Since Lord Peng has been elevated to Tai-Ming, all the first-rank hereditary lords, and many of the second rank, are now here. With their advice, I will pass judgment on your transgressions yesterday, as it has bearing on how we deal with the rebellion in the North.”
CHAPTER 26
Unenviable Choices
Ahundred disparate breaths rustled behind Kaiya as she knelt in the front row of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Apparently, her public humiliation would not wait until after her brother’s wedding after all.
Chief Minister Tan cleared his throat again. “Princess Kaiya, step forward.”
Rising, Kaiya kept her shoulders straight and chin high as she walked over to the place Cousin Kai-Long had just vacated. She focused on that spot, lest the curious faces of all the lords and ministers reduce her to a quivering mass of nerves. More than a few murmured, mostly showing appreciation for her poise. If only they knew how contrived it was.
She stretched her arms out to straighten her long-hanging sleeves and brushed her gown to her shins. Sinking to her knees, she placed her forehead to the floor.
“Rise.” Father’s voice quivered. If anything, the tone sounded like the one he’d used at Mother’s funeral.
“Huang-Shang,” she said, acknowledging his command and straightening.
“Yesterday, you entered the Hall of Pure Melody without permission and handled Yanyan’s pipa. Last night, you left the palace without permission, imposed your will on a minister’s son, and entered the holy grounds of the Temple of Heaven without a blessing from the priests.”
There was no honor in denying what everyone in the room knew. “I did.” She bowed low.
“What do you have to say in your defense?” His voice sounded imperious, as if he were addressing one of the rebellious lords of the North and not his own daughter.
So much for the rare smile he had afforded her the day before. Keeping her head down, she took a deep breath to settle herself. “I wanted to help the beleaguered people of Ankira.”
“In the Hall of Pure Melody? In the Temple of Heaven?” Though he was undoubtedly expressionless, his voice hinted at a rise in his eyebrow.
It’d made so much sense yesterday, but sounded so stupid now. She’d let Hardeep’s enthusiasm get the better of her. “I thought by learning the magic of Dragon Songs, I could convince everyone to support Ankira.” Her own voice squeaked in her ears.
Chuckling broke out among the assembled men. No doubt they thought her naïve to believe she could revive a long-lost art.
Then the hall fell silent.
She dared a glance up. Her father’s lip hinted upward just a hair to one side, his tacit message ordering the men to silence. His voice swept from left to right, something she’d never noticed before. “We are a nation governed by the Mandate of Heaven, and everyone, including myself, must follow the laws set forth. Princess Kaiya has courageously confessed to her transgressions. For her punishment, I will hear counsel.”
Someone—from the weight and motion, Kai-Long—rose to a knee. “Huang-Shang, if I may. The princess’ intentions were good and selfless, even if her methods were misplaced. I would recommend lenience.”
“Lord Peng,” the Tianzi said, using Cousin Kai-Long’s new title. “As the newest member of the Tai-Ming, you show bravery and initiative to speak first. We must remember, however, that horrible crimes have been committed in history with the best intentions. The Teleri Empire justifies the gang rape of every woman in its realm to breed an army of so-called peacekeepers.”
Kaiya’s heart lurched. Since when did rape become the moral equivalent of trespassing?
“Huang-Shang.” Another man, Xiulan’s father Lord Zhao from his voice, rose to a knee in a shuffle of robes. “The Five Classics state that a subject may learn more from forgiveness than punishment.”
Father responded, “The classics also state that a ruler who is too gentle with his people invites rebellion. Just think if the Sultanate of Levastya had censured the priests who abandoned their patron god. Perhaps their king would not be living in exile and his people subjects of a foreign conqueror. With a rebellion now bubbling over in the North, wouldn’t it be better for a ruler to make an example of those who disobey him?”
Kaiya’s heart went from lurching to racing. Father really was going to make an example of her. If she was lucky, the penalty would be banishment. Then, she could follow Hardeep to Ankira. However, if any of them mentioned the Temple of Heaven again, a death sentence could be warranted.
Just behind her, Eldest Brother Kai-Guo shuffled. He probably wanted to speak on her behalf, but he never went against Father. Second Brother Kai-Wu would certainly say something in her defense, but the light sound of his breath suggested he was dozing. Not surprising, given his lack of interest in these functions of state.
“Huang-Shang.” The voice of Tian’s father, Lord Zheng of Dongmen Province, echoed in the hall. “The princess has never shown any sign of defiance before today.”
“As the classics say,” the Tianzi said, “without correction from a parent for a first offense, no matter how mundane, a good son might one day become a rebel, a good daughter a whore. Such impertinence—”
Kaiya bristled inside, a roaring in her ears drowning out the rest of her father’s words. All she had done was try to help a persecuted people. Apparently, that was the first step to selling her body and then instigating a rebellion. It wasn’t like she had offered herself to the prince. Not like Hardeep would have taken her bony, curveless body if she had.
Impertinence, was it? Let them all see impertinence.
Gasps erupted as she rose from her bow. “If I may, Huang-Shang. The Five Classics also say that when nobody acts to correct a moral wrong, a minister should remonstrate those who would turn a blind eye.”
The Tianzi stared at her, expressionless. “I am glad you have studied the Five Classics. Are you now a minister in addition to being a priest and grand musician?”
The words might as well have been a slap. Even though every fi
ber of her upbringing urged her to bow in contrition, Kaiya squared her shoulders. “Huang-Shang, I may not be a minister, but none have spoken on behalf of a people downtrodden by our open trade policies. I may not be a priest, but even the eyes of a girl can see the immorality of our ways. In the hands of an aggressive foreign army, our guns have widowed women. Our firepowder has orphaned children. We profit from others’ suffering. And last night, their people were murdered on our soil. Surely Heaven would not condone it.”
The hall fell utterly silent. A slight tilt of her head gave her a glance through the corner of her eye at all the gawking lords and officials. The Tianzi remained inexpressive.
“Huang-Shang.” Courage waning under Father’s glare, Kaiya added the honorific address to the end of her tirade.
She pressed her forehead back down to the floor. What had possessed her to speak, to embarrass Father in front of all the lords and ministers like that? Maybe before her rant, she would have been confined to quarters until marriage. Now, she’d left the Tianzi no choice but to administer a more serious punishment. The Founder of the dynasty had stripped titles, cut out tongues, even executed families to five generations for such outbursts. Her palms clammed up.
“Chief Minister Tan,” the Tianzi said.
“Huang-Shang.” The Chief Minister’s voice sank, suggesting his bow.
“Let it be noted that we shall not extend the trade agreement with Madura.”
Another collective gasp might have finally sucked the last bit of air out of the room. It had, if her spinning head were any indication.
“As the Tianzi commands, so shall it be noted.” Chief Minister Tan beckoned toward a scribe.
“Let it be further noted that Princess Kaiya’s death sentence shall be suspended as long as she remains obedient, and shall be entirely revoked if she proves worthy to the realm.”
Kaiya looked up. Father was smiling. A real smile. Even more than when Mother had still been alive. “Very good, Kaiya,” he said. “I knew you could do it. You acted out of compassion, and you defended your decision even at risk to yourself.”