As expected, Yan Yue’s ascension had set things into motion all over the continent. Xiantian ascensions were rare, and the fact that Jiaguo boasted two in such a relatively short period of time didn’t go unnoticed. Seong Misun answered her sister’s letter with a curt demand to speak through the reflecting pool, insisting that only Haeun and Eunae were to be present for the conversation.

It was a little presumptuous to demand the use of such resources from another country, but Yoshika had already extended the offer to Eunae, and Haeun was one of the few people who could operate Jiaguo’s reflecting pool by herself.

Yoshika respected the privacy of her friend and disciple, and afterwards Eunae had only been able to tell her that Misun was on her way.

Around the same time, Melati’s drones detected an anonymous delegation approaching from the north through the treacherous mountain passes. Though they had no identifying flags or symbols, the ornate palanquin being carried by xiantian cultivators suggested someone of very high status. It seemed the Qin Empire was finally breaking their diplomatic silence.

The fact that they were sending a small but powerful group through the mountains rather than trespassing through Yamato or Goryeo with a larger force suggested that their intentions were at least mostly peaceful, but the number of xiantian cultivators still put Yoshika on guard.

With so many important figures gathering in Jiaguo, Yoshika saw a rare opportunity for the leaders from each of the continent’s nations to meet on peaceful terms.

To that end, Hayakawa Kaede and Shogun Ashikaga Sae were on their way to Jiaguo as well, though Lady Sae wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea.

“Why do I even have to bother with this? Pompous elites from Qin and Goryeo aren’t even going to notice a houtian cultivator like me.”

Kaede sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“You’re the shogun of Yamato. I need you there to represent our people.”

“Represent them in what, exactly? You’ve got a low-ranked princess and some powerful unknowns approaching for mysterious reasons, and I fail to see how I need to be involved in any of that.”

“It’s not the first time it’s happened. Yan Yue’s original engagement to Xin Wei was used as an excuse to hold a summit of the great sects, and we were able to attend as representatives of the Yamato-Goryeo alliance to arrange for both the coalition assault on the demonic enclave and joint expedition into Sovereign Chou’s tomb.”

Lady Sae took a swig from her gourd and grimaced.

“In other words, when you tricked half the damn continent into letting you snag an artifact of near-infinite power and establish yourself as a new superpower. Going for the same trick again, are you?”

Kaede pursed her lips and looked away.

“That was...not entirely how we planned it. I just don’t want our country to be left out of any potentially world-shaking discussions. We’ve been isolated long enough.”

“You’re going to be there, aren’t you? Several of you, even. I’m just a figurehead anyway—your word is the only one that matters.”

“That might be true now, but it won’t always be that way. My dream is for the nations under my banner to be self-governing. I know it’s not to your taste, but I want to be a guardian, rather than an iron-fisted ruler.”

The shogun rolled her eyes.

“Tch, could have fooled me, the way you’ve been babysitting me. Why even abdicate if you were just going to micromanage the entire time anyway?”

Kaede sighed. It was true that she’d been a bit heavy-handed with Sae and the reforms she was trying to impose on Yamato. The warlords were slow to adapt, and while Ashikaga Sae was good at making them fall in line, that did little to push them away from their martial style of rule.

“It’s a temporary measure, I promise. The reforms are starting to take hold in the north. It took a while, but the lords are starting to take full advantage of the incentives we’ve been offering them.”

“Sure, until the more hardened martial lords move in to exploit them.”

“Isn’t that what I have you for, Shogun Ashikaga?”

She huffed.

“Not if I’m stuck up north in Jiaguo, playing tea party with a bunch of rich snobs who’ve never seen a day of combat in their lives.”

“Yamato will survive without our hands on the reins for a while. If anything comes up, Miss Yagi will let us know right away.”

Lady Sae glanced back at the priestess in their entourage, following at a respectful distance down the road to keep their conversation private.

“I know I’ve mentioned it before, but are you really sure about trusting her and her people?”

“Yagi and her clan have served my family for as long as they can remember, and with my father dead, that means me. It’s hard to say no to an entire spy network that’s already infiltrated most of the country, especially since Jiaguo’s intelligence division has been reduced to just Ishihara Naomi.”

“Yeah, but you still don’t know what happened to their leader.”

Kaede frowned.

“Hattori wasn’t the leader of their clan, just a particularly senior member. They don’t have a strict hierarchy beyond the fact that they answer to me. In all probability, he was consumed with the rest after my father transformed into a demon.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Eh, I don’t trust it ‘till I’ve seen a corpse. Sneaky bastards like that have a way of coming back to haunt you if you’re not thorough.”

Sae had a point, and it made Yoshika think of Do Hye. Was he really dead? If so, why all the secrecy about it? Even if they had a way to stop his reincarnation technique, executing him was risky. The queen was hiding something, that much was certain.

“I’ll keep that in mind, but for now Yagi and her clan are too useful to discard. They would find new masters to serve and rooting them out would be a challenge.”

“Couldn’t you just track them down like you did before? Honestly, that seems like a pretty glaring weakness for a spy network.”

Kaede shook her head.

“That was only possible with Yagi’s cooperation, and I’ve worked with them to refine their techniques against any rogue elements in the future.”

“Well then I suppose we’d better hope your spies really are your spies. Otherwise, you’ve gone and sharpened a blade that can be turned against you.”

“If everyone thought that way, then the world would fall into endless decay as everyone hoarded their knowledge and took every inch of progress they made to their graves.”

Sae shrugged indifferently.

“I suppose that’s why you’re the one in charge, Your Majesty.”

----------------------------------------

Kaede arrived in Jiaguo a few days before the expected arrival of the Qin delegation. It felt good to be home, even though she’d technically never left in the first place. Yoshika barely even noticed such contradictions, anymore—they were just part of who she was.

The city had grown a lot since her last visit. The outer city had its own walls to keep animals and magical beasts out, and some of the satellite villages had developed into little towns of their own. At the rate things were moving, Jiaguo’s imperial capital wouldn’t be a mere city state for much longer.

She stretched as she made her way through the city gates, ignoring the guards bowing respectfully at her passing.

“Lady Sae, I’m going to pay Master Yumi a visit before things get too busy. Would you like to join me?”

The shogun crossed her arms and scowled.

“Very funny. No, I’ll find my own accommodations—you go have fun with the invalid.”

“You realize she’s almost fully recovered from her injuries, right?”

“Then why isn’t she back on the front lines, defending her nation?”

Kaede huffed.

“Because she doesn’t have to be anymore. Can’t you just let her have her happiness?”

“No. If her strength has returned, then she should use it. Otherwise, she may as well still be a cripple, wasting her power like that.”

“There’s more to life than just fighting, Lady Sae.”

“Whatever. Come find me when you need your little lap dog to do some barking.”

Kaede sighed as Ashikaga Sae stormed off. She always got irritable whenever Ienaga Yumi was involved. Their rivalry had ostensibly ended when Master Yumi became the first martial artist to achieve a xiantian ascension, but Sae’s jealousy had burned for over a century, and becoming Yoshika’s subordinate had only rekindled that flame.

Casting an illusion over herself to avoid drawing any further attention, Kaede made her way to the government district where Lee Jung and Ienaga Yumi lived together in one of the roomy homes designated for important officials.

Technically, Lee Jung was Jiaguo’s minister of foreign affairs, though the title was largely decorative. Her actual role was more advisory, and she rarely attended any important meetings directly.

Kaede knocked politely before letting herself in.

“Hello? Pardon the intrusion.”

Jung’s voice carried down the hallway from another room.

“Is that Kaede? Welcome home, dear! I’ll put some tea on right away.”

“Thank you! It’s good to be back.”

While Jung bustled in the kitchen, Master Yumi came out to greet Kaede in person, wrapping her in a tight hug.

“Welcome back, Kaede. It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too, Master. How is your recovery going?”

Yumi stepped back and clenched a fist in front of herself.

“Good! It’s the first time I’ve been able to just rest and focus on myself in a hundred years. I feel like I might have even reached a new peak.”

“Don’t push yourself. Ashikaga was complaining that you haven’t returned to active duty, but as long as we’re still at peace I want you to relax.”

“Ah, she would. I appreciate your concern, but I’m fighting fit. If you need me—”

Jung stepped out of the kitchen carrying a tray of freshly brewed tea.

“Then she’ll ask for you, darling. Why so eager? Tired of my company already?”

Yumi blushed and shook her head.

“No! Of course not. I just get restless, sometimes. Martial artists need to fight to stay sharp.”

“I’m sure Yoshika would be happy to spar with you any time, isn’t that right, dear?”

Kaede bowed.

“Naturally. Your skills aren’t the only ones that could use some honing.”

Master Yumi smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of her head.

“I might just take you up on that some time. Though it’s a little embarrassing for a master to ask her student to hold back.”

The three of them moved their conversation into the sitting room, where Jung had already set out some snacks. She cozied up next to Yumi and sighed contentedly.

“So Kaede, how are things going in Yamato?”

Kaede sighed.

“Slow, but steady. Noguchi and the other northern lords have been quick to adapt, but Kasuga is still our only foothold in the south. They aren’t willing to challenge either Sae or me directly, but that doesn’t stop them from ignoring our mandates and squabbling with each other.”

Master Yumi nodded slowly.

“They’ve always been like that. I’m sure things will improve, but you need to give it time.”

“I know. It’s just frustrating.”

“Most endeavors worth pursuing are. Other than that, has Ashikaga been causing you any trouble?”

Kaede groaned.

“She’s loyal, at least, but she has a very narrow view of things. I made her shogun because she commands the respect of the veteran warlords, but for that very reason it’s been difficult to make her understand my vision for Yamato’s future.”

Jung smiled sympathetically and reached across the table to place her hand over Kaede’s.

“I’m sure you’ll get through to her eventually, dear. You always do.”

“Thank you, Jung. Right now, though, I’m more worried about the visitors from Qin.”

Master Yumi raised an eyebrow.

“Any idea who they might be?”

“Only guesses. Suitors for Yue, most likely, but until they get here we have no way to know. I only know that whoever it is, they are strong. Strong enough to block my domain from investigating, even so close to the city.”

“Do you think they’re a threat?”

Kaede chewed on her lip nervously.

“That’s why I decided to come back in person. They don’t seem to be malicious, but if it comes down to a fight...I don’t know whether I can win.”