“8 months of preparing and it all comes down to today.” It had been spring when Ku Wei left the capitol, but by now winter would be settling in. The view from his tower of the palace covered in snow had always been one of his favorites and the thought of it made him oddly home sick.
“Ku Xue will be fine. It's a simple plan, but that's a good thing. It means there are less chances something will go wrong,” Ming Jia Ying tried to reassure Ku Wei.
Ku Wei nodded, “I'm not worried Cousin. In fact, I'm excited. I might have been worried if he needed to beat Cousin Zemin, but I have faith your plan will work. Also, I just received word from Prince Ku Xue that Little Shen pulled some strings to get Aunt Wen out of the palace for a while so that he could welcome Cousin Zemin personally.”
Ming Jia Ying had long gotten used to Ku Wei's casual way of speaking to her, but that made his use of honorifics when speaking of his brother all the more jarring. It seemed old habits truly do die hard. “Why do you seem pleased Ku Wen will be absent? I need her to deliver those pages to Ku Qin Zemin so I can get in touch with my family, regardless of today's outcome.”
“Aunt Wen won't be gone long. Cousin Zemin will definitely get the pages before he leaves. However, if our plan is successful before Cousin Zemin receives them then Little Shen will have less reason to be suspicious of the pages.”
“Okay, that's enough scheming you two,” Tomo laughed as he approached his disciples. “Break time is over, it's time to resume your training. Put your blindfolds back on. Remember to try and 'see' your surroundings using the elemental energies present. When those energies feel like an extension of your own body you will have completed the first step in your training.”
After donning their blindfolds the two youngsters returned to their duties. Moving among the vitrines, pedestals, and shelves of Tomo's Treasures with practiced easy as they cleaned and rearranged the displays.
*** *** *** ***
Within the Ku Clan there are three main factions: The Royalists that follow Ku Fu believe strengthening the main branch family is what's best for the clan and the country. The Nationalists that have Ku Wen's support believe in strengthening the country from within through social programs for the citizens. Lastly, the Imperialists that are only loyal to Ku Pa believe that the only way to ensure the country's prosperity is to annex all their neighbors before they can become a threat.
The Qin branch family are leading figures in the Nationalist faction and Ku Qin Zemin is seen as a rising star among them. The Nationalists are often a moderate voice at court, reigning in the self-serving Royalists and tempering the hot-blooded Imperialists. It is often difficult to get anything done at court without the Nationalists' support. As such, Ku Qin Zemin's backing has become a heated point of contention between Ku Xue and Ku Shen the last few years.
“Greetings Cousin Zemin! It has been far too long since you last visited the capitol. For a moment I thought I was going to have to make a trip to the Qin region myself.” Ku Shen stood at the end of the palace courtyard as he welcomed Ku Qin Zemin, who was just exiting his carriage.
Hearing Ku Shen's voice, Ku Qin Zemin's brow knitted briefly. He much preferred to be received by Ku Wen, but he didn't let his frustration show, flashing a brilliant smile at Ku Shen as he turned to greet him, “You're welcome in the Qin region any time Prince Shen. We would hold a festival in your honor and the entire district would celebrate your arrival.”
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“You're too kind and that is a tempting offer, but I'm glad you chose to make the trip out. You being road weary is probably my only chance to beat you at Siege. I'm warning you now, I have a few new moves up my sleeve this year.”
“You still haven't let that go?” Ku Qin Zemin sighed.
“How could he? You promised to back whichever of us could beat you at Siege,” a new voice chuckled from the side.
Turning to face the new voice, Ku Qin Zemin questioned, “And what about you Prince Xue? Have you given up on beating me?”
“I'm afraid I will have to disappoint you dear Cousin. As a matter of fact, I have a tea room with a Siege board ready and waiting if you'd like to get this over and done with. I will however make one small concession, win or lose this is the last time I'm going to challenge you,” replied Ku Xue.
“Aw, Big Brother Xue no fair. I was here first. You can't cut the line and challenge him before me.” Ku Shen knew that Ku Xue hated it when he spoke in such a friendly manner.
However, before Ku Xue could reply, Ku Qin Zemin interjected, “You were indeed first Prince Shen, but you have been first the last few years. Why don't we mix things up this year and let Prince Xue go first?”
The three youths made their way to Ku Xue's tea room. There Ku Xue and Ku Qin Zemin took their seats and began to arrange their Siege pieces while Ku Shen served as the de facto judge for the match. While the opponents couldn't see each other's placements due to the dividing wall currently on the board, Ku Shen had a clear view. Ku Shen smirked to himself, because it was obvious that Ku Xue was at a disadvantage before the match had even begun.
The blossom formation was a rare opening and inverting it as Ming Jia Ying had done was even more rare. It was to the point that it wasn't worth specifically guarding against, but it had revealed some weaknesses in Ku Qin Zemin's usual opening that he had corrected over the last year.
As the dividing wall was lifted Ku Qin Zemin was shocked to see the inverted blossom formation. Ku Xue even favored the water units and they were arranged exactly as Ming Jia Ying had done. After the accusations of cheating the matches from this year's Qin Regional Siege Tournament had been stricken from the records. While it wouldn't be impossible for Ku Xue to use his connections to get an idea of how the match had gone, it was unlikely he would be able to recreate it so perfectly.
In a hushed tone Ku Qin Zemin said, “I need a moment alone with Prince Xue. Prince Shen please leave.”
Ku Shen almost couldn't believe his ears, “You dare order a Prince around in his own palace...”
Before Ku Shen could continue to protest Ku Xue cut him off, “You are disturbing our guest. As the Crown Prince, I, Ku Xue, am ordering you to leave. Unless you think I lack the authority to order you around.” Ku Shen fixed Ku Xue with a steely glare, but quickly retreated out of the room as he felt the ground beneath his feet begin to quake.
“He's growing my impertinent by the day, you have my apologies...” Ku Xue stopped talking as he turned back toward Ku Qin Zemin. Instead of the smiling cousin he'd become accustomed to he found a face filled with rage.
The only person Ku Qin Zemin could think of that could have informed Ku Xue of the proper unit placements was General Gui. He was barely able to contain his wrath as he gave his cousin a chance to explain himself, “Where did you learn this opening?”
Seeing how serious Ku Qin Zemin was Ku Xue didn't mince words, “I learned it from your fiance, Ming Jia Ying.”
“Prove it!” Ku Qin Zemin's expression hadn't eased up at all, but there was hope in his eyes.
Ku Wei and Ming Jia Ying hadn't accounted for this type of hostile response, but Ku Xue quickly ran through their conversations and recalled something she'd declared quite adamantly when she'd announced she was Ku Qin Zemin's fiance. “She said the political field can be more dangerous than the battlefield at times, but she was going to help you navigate both.”
The flood gates opened as tears streamed down Ku Qin Zemin's face, his bright smile returned with such a vengeance that it threatened to break his face in half. “Thank goodness she's alive,” he half sobbed and half laughed.