by JC Kang
Young Lord Zheng spoke last, all the while staring at Minister Hong. “Minister Hong’s hard work led to the arrest of Chief Minister Tan. Despite his lack of experience compared to Minister Song, I believe he has shown creativity and initiative.”
Kai-Long studied Zheng. Hong must’ve promised him something amazing. The upstanding Zheng family was known for honoring its word to the point of stubbornness. Kai-Long had used their sense of honor to manipulate Zheng Ming’s youngest brother Tian many times when they were children, and would do so again when Zheng Ming inherited his father’s seat.
“Kai-Guo,” The Tianzi said. “I do not have much time left, so whoever rises to Chief Minister today will likely serve you. Therefore, I entrust this decision to you. Choose well, for the Chief Minister is one of the Dragon Throne’s greatest assets.”
Such trust! Kai-Long hid his surprise.
In contrast, the Crown Prince’s mouth hung open in a manner unsuited to rule. He bowed low. “Thank you for placing this great trust in me. Based on the advice of our esteemed lords, I choose Foreign Minister Song.”
Minister Hong was the first to congratulate Chief Minister Song, yet he must’ve been stewing inside. Two years of maneuvering for naught. In this, the old man could share Kai-Long’s despondence. It would make it easier to get him to skip to the final stage of their plan.
The Tianzi raised his hand, silencing the hereditary lords. “Chief Minister Song, your first duty will be to ensure the Golden Phoenix is ready to set sail for Ayudra Island with a full complement of imperial guards and diplomatic officials.”
The new Chief Minister bowed. “As the Tianzi commands.”
Young Lord Zheng bowed low. “Huang-Shang. The princess had asked me to travel with her, and I was unfortunately delayed by the insurgents. I ask to join in on the journey to Ayudra.”
Kai-Long considered the implications of Zheng Ming’s blooming relationship with the princess. Even if he could convince Hong to go through with the final stage of their plan, he still had to do something about her.
Hong Jianbin’s face hurt from forcing smile after smile. His cheeks burned even more than his old knees, which buckled with each step toward the main gates of Sun-Moon Palace.
The day could not get any worse. If only the Tianzi had decided himself, instead of leaving the choice to his foolish son, Hong’s merits would have reaped rewards. Instead, the Crown Prince caved to the Tai-Ming lords, as Hong knew the weak boy would.
Years of planning, all gone to waste. All of the backroom deals, for nothing. Only Young Lord Zheng had kept his word. And how ironic would it be if Hong’s role in arranging Zheng’s second meeting with the princess actually led to the philanderer winning her?
A hand clamped his shoulder and yanked him into one of the many small buildings on the palace grounds. His heart jumped into his throat as his vision adjusted to the dim light.
Lord Peng. Hong would expose Peng’s treason, as soon as he could figure out a new way of doing so without revealing his own complicity.
“Household Relations Minister Hong,” Peng hissed. “I am sorry things did not work out for you today. However, there is still a chance for your dreams to come true.”
Hong searched Peng’s eyes. “How is that?”
“When I am Tianzi, you will be my Chief Minister.” Peng patted him on the shoulder. “Even though things did not unfold as we planned, we can skip to the end of our plot. You deliver stage three of the poison. The Tianzi and his two sons will be dead. The Expansionist alliance currently has enough men in the capital to support my nominal claim to the Dragon Throne.”
CHAPTER 30:
A Position of Strength
The symphony of peaceful sounds energized Kaiya as her entourage made its way through the upper city. The low strums of the sitar radiated from one mansion, while fountain chimes rang from another. Birds twittered and chirped as they hopped among the hanging vines and flowers on villa walls.
If she had to live outside of Hua, this is the place she would choose! Unlike the raucous waterfront and downtown, which were virtually devoid of vegetation, this district of Vyara boasted graceful trees and manicured shrubs along the broad avenues.
By mid-afternoon, as Caiyue had waxed just past its middle crescent, they arrived at Hua’s embassy. At last! Walls nearly twice Kaiya’s height connected several adjoining block buildings, each two stories with tiled flat roofs. It certainly wasn’t as elegant as the neighboring villas, though it was nice enough not to shame Hua in the eyes of its Ayuri trading partners.
Two embassy guards, dressed in dark blue robes and armed with broadswords, stood by the main entrance.
Chen Xin stepped forward and displayed the unique silver ring that signified him as imperial guard. “By order of Princess Wang Kaiya, summon Ambassador Ling.”
Kaiya lowered her hood and shook out her hair. Though still clad in simple travelling clothes, she brushed off the persona of tired traveler and did her best to project the image of imperial grace.
“Dian-xia.” The embassy guards dropped to a knee, fists to the ground. “Welcome to the Tianzi’s office in Vyara City,” they said in unison.
She allowed them out of their salute with a nod of her head.
One jumped to his feet and ran inside. The other beckoned to the entrance and followed them in.
Kaiya took in the foyer with curious eyes. A fusion of several cultures, it didn’t resemble any room back home. A mosaic floor of white, brown, and green tiles depicted a map of the Hua Empire. An Estomari-style framed oil painting of the Tianzi in his youth hung on the wall opposite the entrance. The two scrolls flanking the portrait were unmistakably written in Xiulan’s bold hand. The broad strokes of Hua script sent a shiver of awe through Kaiya’s spine.
The embassy guard guided them to a side room.
Now this felt much more like home! A Hua silk carpet with colorful symbols of health, longevity, fortune, and prosperity covered the tile floor. Brush paintings of famous landscapes in Hua adorned the walls on brightly bordered scrolls.
Kaiya settled on the edge of one of several elegant bloodwood chairs, and ran her fingers through some exotic Ayuri plant that grew in a white porcelain planter with a blue dragon motif. The imperial guards took up defensive positions around her.
Without any invitation, Ayana sprawled into another chair and let out a long breath. So much for the legends of elvish dignity.
Commotion erupted from deeper inside the building. A middle-aged man in dark blue court robes emerged from an arched doorway, flanked by several similarly-dressed officials. It was Ling Xiaomin, a distant relative who had visited Sun-Moon Palace several times in her childhood.
He bowed low. “Dian-xia, it is our honor to receive you here in Vyara City. We had originally expected you two days ago, but since we had heard no word of the Golden Phoenix ever arriving in Ayudra, we were unsure how to proceed.”
Kaiya’s heart sank. The Golden Phoenix carried her wardrobe, personal effects, and official documents. Negotiating with the Madurans in salty rags would embarrass Hua, not to mention her.
She allowed him out of his bow. “Thank you for receiving us, Ambassador. We are pleased to be your guests. I would like to receive a briefing on the Maduran situation once my retinue and I have settled in.”
“Of course, Dian-xia.” The Ambassador bowed again. He motioned a girl forward from behind the wall of aides. “This is Meixi. She will take you to the guest house and assist your handmaiden in attending to your needs.”
Kaiya glanced at Jie from the corner of her eyes. The half-elf wore a half-smirk that told Kaiya she would be washing herself. Again.
The girl, probably no older than Jie’s apparent age, cast her wide eyes downward as protocol demanded. Her hand shook as she extended it toward an arching exit. “Th-this way, p-please, D-Dian-xia….”
Meixi kept her head lowered as she led them to a house within the compound. “We reserve this only for important visitors.”
; Kaiya’s second-floor quarters were decorated with bloodwood furniture and fine silk carpets. Fresh fruit, cut into narrow slices, sat in a bowl on a center table. Narrow windows allowed a glimpse of the street, where activity was now winding down for the day. The house had its own private bath on the first floor, which Meixi had started preparing. Cowed by Jie’s narrowed eyes, Kaiya waved the servant off and washed and dressed herself.
Though the simple shirt and dress on hand were more suited to a commoner, at least they were clean. With that small improvement, Kaiya felt a little more like herself. When her reflection in the dressing room mirror looked more like an imperial princess and less like a ragged traveler, she was ready to receive the ambassador.
Her entourage of imperial guards, all looking and smelling clean, joined her in the first house’s audience room. Kaiya ascended the far dais and settled on the edge of a central bloodwood chair carved in the shape of a dragon’s claw. Unlike a formal room in Sun-Moon Palace, where visitors would kneel on floor cushions before the Tianzi, chairs were arranged in a semi-circle facing the dais.
Niches in the walls displayed samples of Hua’s most treasured goods: bolts of silk, porcelain wares, and tins of tea leaves. A second-generation Hua musket, less accurate than the current model and therefore allowed for export, occupied the most prominent spot behind the central chair.
Kneeling, Ambassador Ling motioned toward a slender man in blue robes. “This is my Information Minister, Yi Minshou.”
“A Moquan brother,” Jie whispered in her ear.
How did Jie know? Had she exchanged some secret message with the gaunt, middle-aged man? Kaiya allowed the two out of their bows and motioned them into chairs facing her. “Ambassador, what have you learned about Madura’s relationship with the Teleri?”
The ambassador took a seat. “Dian-xia, Madura is a staunch ally of the Teleri Empire. Any meeting that occurs between Madura and other nations will invariably be attended by a Teleri advisor.”
“Do you believe that the Teleri Empire, not Madura, is behind the unrest in Hua?” Kaiya asked.
Yi Minshou bowed. “Dian-xia, if I may speak. The maharaja of Madura believes he can manipulate his relationship with the Teleri. It certainly seems that Madura has a free rein with regards to its aggression.”
Ambassador Ling nodded. “We think the Teleri chose Madura as an ally because of its belligerent nature toward its neighbors.”
“However,” the Moquan said, “there is nothing to suggest that Madura instigated any of the trouble in Hua.”
Kaiya twirled a lock of her hair. If it wasn’t Madura behind the unrest in Huajing, then who was it? “Are you certain? And if not, how much of a threat is Madura to Hua?”
Li bowed his head. “We can never be fully certain. We only have limited reach into Madura’s inner workings. Their Golden Scorpions root out our spies with ease.”
The ambassador unfurled a map. “As for the threat, Madura has occupied Ankira at our border for ten years. Though much of the populace still pines for the return of their own maharaja, the land is mostly subjugated.”
Ankira. Prince Hardeep. Kaiya’s hand strayed to the lotus jewel, concealed in her sash. Yes, they would make time for a visit to the Ankiran villa here.
The ambassador pointed out locations on the map. “Madura will not directly confront the Ayuri Confederation because of its Paladin protectors. The wild lands to its east between Madura and the Kanin Kingdom of Tomiwa are controlled by the dragon Avarax. Therefore, Hua is the most available target.”
A full-on assault? Unthinkable. Kaiya straightened. “The Great Wall and thousands of muskets stand between us and Madura. Are their Golden Scorpions so formidable they could breech the Wall?”
The ambassador gave a slow half-nod. “If Madura could deploy half of its two thousand Golden Scorpions, then Lord Peng’s provincial army would have a difficult time defending the Great Wall’s south gate. However, many Scorpions are stuck in Ankira to stifle a potential insurgency.”
Minister Yi raised his hand. “The Teleri have been breeding an auxiliary Bovyan army in occupied Ankira for almost ten years. Within another four or five years, they may have enough numbers to control the populace and escalate the threat to us.”
Kaiya shuddered. The Maduran army, bearing down on the Great Wall. Tens of thousands would die on both sides, and if the Scorpions could fight half as well as Master Sabal… And to think Minister Hong wanted to bring so many soldiers into Huajing. She might not have a mind for strategy, but even she knew such moves would leave the defenses in the south thin.
She stood and glided over to the map. She ran a finger from Hua north to the Nothori kingdom of Rotuvi. An aggressive neighbor and independent tributary nation to the Teleri Empire, they had tried several times to recapture Wailian County, where Ming had served.
Her eyes turned south to Madura, another friend of the Teleri. Prince Aelward had insisted that there was an unholy alliance among the three nations, and Ayana insisted the Teleri were pulling the strings. Their encounter with the spy earlier in the day lent credence to those assertions.
She looked up from the map. “It seems, then, that even if Madura is not a threat now, it may be one in the future. We must gain the support of those who might help us deter Maduran aggression—either current or future.”
The ambassador bowed. “The princess is wise. Just remember that it is our national policy not to enter into alliances with other nations, so that we may trade unfettered with all.”
“Of course, Ambassador,” Kaiya said. “Yet the perception of an alliance can be just a powerful tool as an actual one. Please make arrangements for me to meet with representatives of the Ayuri Confederation.” Another thought crossed her mind. “And Ankira’s exiled maharaja.”
“What about the meeting with the Madurans tomorrow?” the ambassador asked. “You are supposed to dine with their prince at the half-waxing crescent.”
If the Madurans weren’t behind the insurgency in Hua… “I do not see the urgency. Let us delay the meeting for one week. By then, my retinue will hopefully arrive on the Golden Phoenix and I will have met with potential foreign friends. When we negotiate a non-aggression treaty with Madura, it will be from a position of strength.”
The ambassador shifted in his chair. “Prince Dhananad has been pestering us about the meeting for the last several days. It would be unwise to offend him with a postponement.”
She twirled a lock of hair. “Then I will have lunch with him, and relay our desire to negotiate a non-aggression pact at a later date.”
The ambassador gazed at her, a smile forming on his lips. “As the princess commands. I will send messengers to all of the embassies at once.”
Kaiya raised a hand to stop him from leaving. She pulled the Maduran copper rupiya from her sash and passed it to him. “Who is this?”
Ambassador Ling held it up to the light before passing it back. “This is old Maduran coinage. You can tell by how worn the images are. I would guess it is Madura’s former Grand Vizier Rumiya.”
The name sounded familiar. Kaiya received the coin and stared at it. “Who was he?”
Minister Yi tapped his index fingers together, a symbolic gesture to ward off bad luck. “He was an evil magician who rose to power in the Maduran court a century and a half ago.”
An evil magician! As if elf wizards and Oracles weren’t enough excitement for one lifetime. Kaiya twirled a lock of hair. “He must have been influential to have ended up on a modern coin.”
Minister Yi nodded. “It was his idea to recruit castoffs from the Paladin Order and establish the Golden Scorpions. In a few short decades, Madura tripled in size, until it reached the border of the Paladin mandate.”
And then north into hapless Ankira. Kaiya’s hand strayed to the lotus jewel in her sash.
“Rumiya himself,” the minister said, “used black magic to suck the life force from others to preserve his own. Until thirty-two years ago, he remained young and hale.”
Evil magic. Kaiya shuddered. “Then what happened?”
The ambassador paused a second. “He just disappeared.”
Disappeared? She rubbed her finger over the image on the coin. Perhaps the familiarity came from having seen it in a history book before. “Do you have any paintings of him?”
“No, but I am sure the Maduran embassy does. He would be a national idol if their current maharaja didn’t downplay his role in their history.”
Kaiya pushed the coin into her sash, joining Tian’s pebble and Hardeep’s lotus jewel. She hadn’t wanted to request anything of Prince Dhananad in tomorrow’s meeting, but she felt compelled to see a painting of Grand Vizier Rumiya.
CHAPTER 31:
Even a Carp Dreams of Becoming a Dragon
Though not an accomplished poet like that fop Zheng Ming, Hong Jianbin felt inspired to compose. It was not the full White Moon Renyue reflecting in the carp pond of his courtyard garden that stirred him, though he watched it as he sat on the adjacent veranda on this warm spring evening. Without a doubt, his muse was the deflating feeling of failure. The poetry he wrote tonight would sing of unfulfilled dreams and monumental disappointments.
The only path he could see to Chief Minister now travelled through Lord Peng. The treacherous lord might very well have him executed instead of promoted. He had always planned on poisoning the Tianzi and his sons, but on his own terms, not Peng’s.
Now, the Tianzi might be the only one who could keep him alive. All those years getting into Prince Kai-Wu’s good graces would also be meaningless if Crown Prince Kai-Guo inherited.
Hong let out a long sigh. He was to meet Leina tonight in the Floating World—not for the celebratory lovemaking he had planned, but for advice. He could not count how often great ideas came to him through her idle banter. If the silly girl had an eye for political maneuvering, perhaps she would be a high official.