A waxing half-moon hung in the evening sky as the Sect of Morning Mist arrived at the Crown ring for the ceremony to mark the beginning of the final phase. The whole sect had turned out in their finery, with new robes provided courtesy of the Oaken Band Brotherhood. Chang-li's were of fine silk, the nicest he'd ever worn, with a vibrant crimson sash and Min's matched his. For once, he hadn't protested her grandfather's largesse. It was important that their sect looked the part tonight.

Li Jiya was to be acknowledged as one of the three final candidates for the Emperor's Bride. That meant their sect would have many eyes on them. She still wore her competitor’s white robes, with a sash in the Morning Mist patterns over it. Grandmaster Noren was at their head, wearing his own new Morning Mist robes, edged with black—a design Chang-li had seen on a few senior cultivators before. He asked Min, who explained in a low voice as they went up, "It means he is widowed and has no desire to take a new spouse. Usually, that's respected, though of course, the Emperor and high-ranked officials can overrule and require that he marry. But that's not common." Chang-li filed the information away for later.

The lesser acolytes had no border on their robes at all, as they had not yet achieved rank sufficient for them to court a gem noble. It was rare for any cultivator to marry one of the Sevenfold Court until they had at least reached the Peak of Mental Refinement. Brother Stone was almost at that rank but so far his robe, too, was without a border.

Joshi stalked along in his older robes, which showed wear and tear from battle. Chang-li guessed that he'd been sent a set with an indigo border, and he was refusing to wear them out of stubbornness. It didn't matter. Their little band of twenty-three cultivators — and Min — was caught up in the absolutely enormous throng surging up to the Crown Ring.

All the cultivators who had been part of the bridal competition were there, even the sects which had been eliminated weeks ago. The cultivation officials would not be issuing endorsements for licenses until after the conclusion of this tournament, which would also mark the end of this tower cull. This gave incentive for no sect to leave yet. The eliminated sects were at work on the lower floors, clearing them of tower beasts and reducing the lux inside to a safe level. But Morning Mist would be one of the three permitted into the seventh floor, this tower's top floor, to take on its guardian, win the boon, and render the tower's lux stores accessible to the army of technicians already waiting.

They would enter at dawn tomorrow and not emerge until the floor was conquered. Chang-li would rather be spending the night getting some sleep, working on his cultivation, or even spending time with Min, but he didn't have a choice. Everyone would be here, and he was expected to take part. It was all part of being part of a sect, and while he was still trying to wrap his mind around the implications, he knew his duty.

This was his third trip up to the ring, but it was as if he had never been before. The Crown ring shone. Every surface gleamed, literally, a faint, opalescent glow leeching off of everything around him. The government buildings were festooned in all the colors of the rainbow, honoring the cultivators who were taking part here and the empire they served. Tens of black and gray-robed servants moved about, prepared to serve any need. The open spaces had been transformed into feasting areas, gathering places, or small covered pavilions offering couches and benches where attendees could seek a moment's peace if they so chose.

"The party will keep going while you are inside. They won’t stop until there's a winner of the competition,” Min told Chang-li as he gawked.

"It could take days," Chang-li pointed out.

"Oh, a few people may go back to their residences, but for the most part, everyone will be here ready to celebrate the Emperor's new bride."

He, Joshi, and Li Jiya had been closeted in strategy meetings for many hours over the last few days before finally agreeing that they didn't know what to expect and would just have to take their chances.

Li Jiya still had not reached Peak of Spiritual Refinement. She wanted to use the elixir, but he and Joshi had persuaded her to wait until it was absolutely necessary. For one thing, the elixir would fetch a fine price from a richer sect than theirs, enough to sponsor him and Joshi at a different tower cull. For another, Chang-li was uneasy with the idea of her using it. Joshi said it would put an absolute stop on her further advancement, and couldn't truly make her the equal of the other brides if they had reached the Peak on their own.

And there was still time for her to reach the Peak. Chang-li, Joshi, and Li Jiya were supposed to get tutoring from one of the Prisms later tonight as part of the reward for making it this far. Chang-li hoped not from Prism Eri, but he was excited at the opportunity, eager to learn what they might teach him.

Now the sect passed smaller gatherings. The outer disciples peeled off to attend events more appropriate for their rank. Chang-li hoped they wouldn't say anything that might get them in trouble. He continued to follow Noren toward the governor's palace grounds.

Here, at last, he and Min were split away from the group by a bowing subordinate who whispered something in Min's ear. Min nodded, looking worried. She plucked Chang-li's sleeve.

"Come with me, please," she whispered, and they hurried off. The servant wore fresh-pressed gray robes with a pin at his lapel, the crest of Riceflower Province. As they entered the wing of the palace, past the eyes of a pair of provincial guards, Min told Chang-li in a low voice, "This is Understeward Arh Nya. He has served my family for many years." Chang-li guessed that she meant the official side of her family, not the Brotherhood side.

The understeward glanced back over his shoulder. "My felicitations on your marriage, Lady Min and Cultivator Wu. I am honored to make the acquaintance of the lady's spouse. I know you have other duties this evening, so thank you for taking time."

"For this, of course," Min breathed. "I've been wanting to speak with my grandfather ever since we arrived in Riceflower, but my brother said it was never a good time."

"Yes, well," the understeward's face was clouded. "It still isn't, but there won't be a better one." He led them through a dizzying maze of halls, leading upward and inward. Chang-li thought they must be in the main section of the palace now, on the top floor. He stopped outside a pair of richly hand-laid wooden doors. The threshold was painted yellow, and the doors bore Riceflower's crest worked in different woods, polished till it gleamed.

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Min looked nervous. "We just go in without being announced?"

"I'm afraid there wouldn't be much point in announcing," the steward said. He rapped on the door. It swung open from the inside.

The room was opulent beyond anything Chang-li had ever previously imagined. A large bed dominated the room, with posts at all four corners and silk hanging from the posts, elevating the mattress over the floor. The room stretched out in all directions. Windows were covered with heavy draperies. Damask-covered couches sat around low tables, and everywhere were the trinkets of wealth: fine dishes, delicate and painted with little blue designs, and vases with flowers that should bloom in different seasons, letting a delicate scent waft through the air, not quite hiding a note of decay.

The room was several times larger than the house where Chang-li had grown up. The bed itself, as large as their family's tight, crowded kitchen had been, seemed a ridiculous luxury. To have a bed taking up so much of the room, and one that could not even be rolled away during the day to give more space!

Servants kept out of the way, their heads bowed, as men strode unheeding across the room toward the man who lay in the center of that enormous bed. He was covered in a crimson quilt, shining with designs picked out in gold thread. His back was propped up against pillows. He had a wispy white beard and many dark brown spots on his yellowing face.

Chang-li stood beside Min as she knelt at the side of the bed and took the man's hand in hers. "Grandfather!" she whispered.

The man on the bed was breathing. His eyes were half-open, and he stared up at the canopy of his magnificent bed from under heavy, wrinkled lids. Soft footsteps echoed behind Chang-li, slippers against the polished wood of the floor. He turned. It was Jai-lin, Min's middle brother. Dressed in the red robes of a gem court noble, he nodded politely to Chang-li as he crossed to Min's side.

Min looked up at him, her face full of grief. "Can't he hear me?"

Jai-lin shook his head. "He's heard no one since his incapacitation. The family's been keeping it quiet."

"But I am the family!" There were tears in her eyes. Her lips trembled.

"And I hope you remember that." Her eldest brother, Yuan-li, strode into the room, the heavy doors thudding shut behind him. Servants seemed to draw into their surroundings even more, practically disappearing into the draperies and walls. He didn't seem to notice. Instead, he strode over to the bed. "This is how our family stands now, Min, on the edge of a precipice. One false move from you and we go over."

Min started to retort, but Yuan-li held up a hand. His nails had been painted in crimson, possibly a reference to his rank, but he wore the robes of a first-rank government official, with the crest of Riceflower Province hanging from a gold chain around his neck. "The prisms support me for Grandfather's heir. We have presented a petition through the usual channels, and I am hoping the Emperor himself will confirm me when he visits Vardin City here to receive his bride. Once that is done and my position is secure, our family's standing will be safe. Until then, I need you to stand beside me, without speaking, without doing anything to disgrace our family. You have done very well in your role as cultivator's spouse."

His eyes flicked to Chang-li and then back to Min, as though Chang-li wasn't worth any of his time. "Your sect has done far better than I had expected in the standings. You begin to redeem yourself, little sister."

Min stood up, letting her grandfather's hand fall limp. She looked furious, her face white with little spots of red up in her cheeks. Chang-li thought about stepping in, but this was a family matter between her and her brothers. He wanted to support her, but he didn't understand the family dynamics. He moved a little closer toward her, putting himself between Min and her brothers. She trembled as she spoke. “I do what I do for my husband and his sect. Not you."

Yuan-li rolled his eyes. "Spouses come and go. Blood is forever," he said. "You will always be Guo Min of the Guo family. Our position enhances or diminishes your own. There is no conflict for now between your sect and your family, but I remind you to conduct yourself with decorum here at this event."

"And when have I not?" Min demanded, unflushed.

Jai-lin cleared his throat. "What our illustrious brother means to say is that, should your sect member be chosen as the bride, we hope you will ask her to intercede on the family's behalf for Yuan-li and his position."

Min's eyes narrowed. "I thought it was settled.”

"These matters are never settled until the Emperor confirms them," Yuan-li said stiffly. "The council of Riceflower Province has approved of me, and Prism Nai Hong expresses his belief that I am ready. But nevertheless, there are those who would suggest I am young for the responsibility. Compared to the heritage of our family, my own youth is nothing. Nevertheless, it's good to have backing."

"I'll mention it to Li Jiya the next time I see her," Min said flatly. "I can't believe you've kept me away from him." She looked back at her grandfather, her voice breaking.

"And what good would it have done you? He's been like this since his stroke," Yuan-li said roughly. "Just remember, little sister, that you are still part of this family with obligations."

Now Chang-li had had enough. He strode forward toward Yuan-li. Min caught at his sleeve, but he shook her off. "Your notion of obligations seems remarkably one-sided, brother," he said.

Yuan-li stared at him. He was about an inch taller than Chang-li, broad in the shoulders. He had an arrogant air to him, a man used to getting his own way. But Chang-li had had his share of dealing with cultivators. A simple governor was no match now.

"You have made it very clear what Min can expect from the family." Chang-li twisted the last word, letting it sink in. "Your concept of obligation is remarkably one sided. I am surprised Min has any respect for you. "

Yuan-li spluttered at him. "How dare you address yourself—"

"How dare you address yourself to me in such a manner?" Chang-li demanded. "The Sect of Morning Mists is very close to taking offense at you, brother." He focused on Yuan-li and extended his will as he did in training against Joshi. He still wasn't very good at it, and did no more than shove his will at Min's brother for a brief moment. But the man's knees buckled. His eyes went wide as he caught himself. Chang-li's will snapped back into place, leaving him breathing hard. He hoped Yuan-li didn't notice.

Min's brother stared at him. "You, you — You don't want to make an enemy of me."

"Don't make stupid threats," Chang-li snapped. "You're asking us for our help and support. Whether or not Li Jiya wins this tournament, the Sect of Morning Mist is a powerful ally. One you cannot afford to estrange. Perhaps you have forgotten that." He turned to Min. "Are we done here?"

"I, yes," she managed, stepping to Chang-li's side. He put his arm around her shoulder and glared at Yuan-li.

"You will give instructions that if my wife wishes to visit her grandfather, she will be admitted."

"Of course," Yuan-li muttered.

"Then we understand each other, brother. I look forward to your confirmation as governor soon." He swept past Yuan-li and Jai-lin, bringing Min with him. As they stepped out into the hall, the door closed behind them. Min sagged against him and whispered, "You shouldn't have done that. There was no need to make him angry. Yuan-li's always worried about face. He won't forget this.”

"There was no one there but family and servants," Chang-li said. "He won't count the servants. He'll remember the sting, yes, but he knows he needs us. He's young to be governor, and our family is lacking in connections right now.”

“He was counting on Jai-lin or me making a spectacular marriage, and I fear he's disappointed so far." She managed a wan smile. "Maybe he'll change his mind now."

"There's no need to treat you like he has,” Chang-li said.

"No," she let out a sigh. "He's just so afraid of our family losing face. I don't mind, really I don't."

“But I do,” Chang-li said. “You’re my wife, and I won’t stand for this sort of insult.”

A look of wonder passed over Min’s face. “You mean that,” she said. Then she blinked, her expression clearing. “We’d better get back to the festivities. You wouldn’t want to miss your private tutoring.”