Xin Fengxian stands at the head of the court assembly and prepares his thoughts while waiting for the emperor to arrive. During most conferences, Fengxian would remain silent, participate in the rituals, and speak up only when necessary or to indicate his support or resistance to a proposal. Today, he and he supporters would press their case with a bold proposal of their own.

He glances over his shoulder and looks across the gathered ministers and staff, numbering some sixty or more, and spots Zhou Xiaoming, the primary supporter of his plan. Xiaoming is in the middle of a conversation with someone else, so he does not notice Fengxian looking at him.

“Find something interesting, bother?”

Fengxian returns his attention to the front and shakes his head at his brother’s question. “No, I was merely lost in thought.”

Xin Jie, Fengxian’s younger brother, is a perpetual nuisance and occasional thorn in his side, and has been that way as long as he can recall. In truth, they are only brothers through their father, since Xin Jie is the son of the Lady of Beauty, Xiao Mei. This division created a rift between them a long time ago, and it frequently manifests into petty squabbles. The only saving grace lies in the rarity of Xin Jie’s moments of competency which forces him to rely on his mother and the prominent Xiao clan for support.

“I heard your wife is feeling better.”

Fengxian turns slightly and feigns a polite and gracious bow. “It was nothing serious. A little medicine and some rest helped greatly. Her illness has all-but-passed.”

Xin Jie is about to speak again when head eunuch and Regular Attendant, Deng Yu, scurries in. As the personal servant of the emperor, his entrance heralds the emperor’s arrival. “His majesty has arrived!”

Fengxian, Xin Jie, and every minister and servant in attendance turns and faces the throne to bow as one. “Greetings, your majesty! May you live for a thousand years!”

The emperor enters with marked haste, as if he wishes to begin and wrap up as quickly as possible. “You may rise.”

“Thank you, your majesty!”

The head eunuch unfurls a scroll. “This morning’s assembly is to focus upon the discussion of two topics: the great bastion has sent a request for supplies, and the dykes on the north side of the city require repair and expansion before the flood season begins. Additionally, three requests have been made in advance to submit proposals for other items, and his majesty has graciously accepted.”

The assembly bows once more. “Thank you, your majesty!”

Deng Yu lowers the scroll. “Grand Commandant, Song Zhuo, please present the request made by the commanders of the great bastion for his majesty!”

Song Zhuo, the fierce, hawkish man in charge of the empire’s military steps forward and bows. Aside from the military itself, he oversees a number of other fields and departments, but the most important for today’s topic is provisioning.

“Your majesty, Commander of the Front, Bai Jiande, has sent a request for additional supplies, funding, and manpower. The request is for an additional forty-thousand dan of rice, and four-hundred-and-fifty dan of salt every month. Commander Jiande also requests two-thousand able-bodied laborers to assist with repairs.”

Song Zhuo shifts slightly as he begins to offer his own thoughts on the matter. “The great bastion holds back the demons of the northern valleys and plains, and is pivotal in ensuring the safety of the empire and its people. Your majesty, please consider this request carefully!”

Song Zhuo bows and returns to his place.

Emperor Zhao makes a show of considering the request for a moment. “It seems that the commander has been making this request for some time. What do my ministers think of this request?”

The Minister of Finance, Bai Xian, steps into the center, bows to the emperor, and speaks his part. “The great bastion has received consistent funding and supply for centuries. There have been no changes necessitating such increases.”

A junior minister from the ministry of war steps out to contest him. “Time changes everything, and necessitates further changes! We must consider this request carefully. Is our safety not worth a little extra expense?”

Bai Xian scowls. “The three border provinces share the responsibility of maintaining the great bastion. Let this increased burden fall on their shoulders. Longzhou is rich and controls the center of the great bastion which Commander Jiande supervises. Why does Ruyilong not fulfill this request and prove her loyalty to the empire?”

Fengxian sighs as the debate continues. In the end, nothing comes of it. Song Zhuo protests as much as he dares, but the commander’s request is denied. Too many ministers believe that the burden should fall on the provinces of the north, particularly Longzhou, home of the great dragon, who has long been perceived as hoarding wealth.

The second item, regarding the dykes, faces equally stiff resistance. Complacent ministers, fattened by corruption, are content to shirk the expense and take the risk of the mighty river flooding and endangering the entire region, including Tiansheng and the Imperial Palace. Fortunately, the emperor dismisses their protests and approves the upgrades as a necessity.

Deng Yu soon steps back to the fore. “The assembly has addressed the issues of the state. It shall now turn to the proposals of the court. Xin Fengxian, please present your proposal to his majesty!”

Fengxian takes a deep breath and steps forward to bow. “Greetings, father! May your wisdom lead us to greatness!”

Emperor Zhao nods, giving his permission to continue.

Fengxian stands upright and raises his jade hu to cover his lips while he speaks to the emperor. “It has come to my attention that the rural peasants and distant cities have become discontent with the current state of affairs. However, the reason for these opinions has not come to light. In order to solve this mystery and ensure peace within the empire, I ask permission to take my personal retinue on a tour of these lands to conduct an inspection and consult with their administrators. I fear if we ignore these concerns, we may be at risk of revolts.”

Emperor Zhao stiffens slightly, and only for a moment, at the mention of revolts. “I have not heard anything of this in the past. Why is that?”

Zhou Xiaoming steps out before anyone else has a chance. “As headmaster of the imperial academy, I am surrounded daily by young men and women from all parts of our great empire, and I have been hearing such rumors. Furthermore, such talks have become more commonplace, and I believe Xin Fengxian’s concerns are well-founded. Your majesty, I implore you to consider this issue carefully!”

“Your majesty,” Grand Chancellor Jiang Li is the next to speak. “Such a concern cannot be ignored. If this is indeed the case, we must begin an investigation immediately. If Fengxian is willing to undertake this endeavor and supply his own troops, we need only provide any necessary supplemental funding. In such a case, I, Chancellor Jiang Li, support this proposal!”

“I, headmaster of the imperial academy, Zhou Xiaoming, support this proposal!”

“I, Minister of the Imperial Clan, Xin Yu, support this proposal!”

Others stepped forward to announce their support, and a handful stood in opposition, but in the end, the emperor approves Fengxian’s plan.

Fengxian strolls out of the assembly hall and into the sun beating down upon the vast courtyard and wistfully basks in the warm glow to supplement the pleasant feeling of an overwhelming success. Even Xiaoming expressed his surprise at how well everything had turned out, and how many of the ministers supported the proposal. However, Fengxian can’t shake his suspicion. Too many ministers and powerful nobles being so willing to let him leave for such a long inspection tour might signal a looming disaster. They will have a little too much freedom to act behind his back.

“An official inspection? What brought this on?”

Fengxian half-turns and then bows his head to his elder brother, Xin Xianying, who walks up beside him. “Greetings, brother. This inspection tour is necessary, in my opinion, to maintain the health of the empire.”

“It is an ambitious project.”

“Who else but me would dare to consider such a personal investment?”

Xianying bobs his head and chuckles. “Be careful, Fengxian. Once you set out, the balance of power may start to shift, and by the time you return, everything may have changed.”

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“I have some plans — and allies of my own. They will see to my affairs while I am gone.”

“Good, very good. That relieves some of my concerns,” Xianying folds his hands into the wide sleeves of his robes and looks up at the sky. “No matter where we stand in the empire, we all look up at the same sky. If only we could stand united… Take care, brother. Make sure to say farewell before you depart.”

“Of course,” Fengxian bows politely as Xianying departs.

Fengxian collects his thoughts for a moment and then begins to pick his way down the stairs where a small group of his retainers wait impatiently. As they turn to him, Fengxian smiles.

“It must have gone well if you’re smiling like that,” A deep, rumbling belly laugh accompanies Dong Peishao’s words.

Fengxian’s smile flows into a sly smirk as he nods to the silvery-haired veteran who serves as his personal general. “Better than I expected.”

He holds out his arms so his manservant, Zhao Zhuoting, can help him don his azure robe, and once it is in place, he begins to walk at a slow, leisurely pace. Zhuoting joins Fengxian’s bodyguards and cousins-in-law, Bai Chuanyu and Bai Chuanyun, in his wake, and his other general, Master Song Xinqi of the Twilight Abode, takes up his left flank.

Fengxian shifts his arms behind his back and takes hold of his wrist with his free hand. He begins idly tapping his thigh with his jade hu while they walk and talk. “General Dong, I’ll need you to begin mobilizing the White River Cavalry right away. We will depart in one week, so this will be a good chance to show your progress.”

Peishao bangs his fist against his armored chest. “I will have the men ready in three days, my lord.”

Fengxian believes him without hesitation, and is confident that if he gave him the order for tomorrow, he’d make it happen. Though not a true general, Dong Peishao is a military veteran with over thirty years of experience, and his accolades and achievements are the envy of many.

For the last five years, ever since Fengxian became prince of Lanxi, he’s been preparing the White River Cavalry, Fengxian’s personal army. Despite being relatively few in number compared to a true army, Fengxian wouldn’t hesitate to consider them among the best the empire has to offer, even when compared to the imperial guard’s Feathered Forest cavalry or Rapid Tiger infantry.

“General Song.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“You will need to prepare, as well. This tour will be the perfect opportunity to expand the Twilight Abode beyond Sizhou.”

“I have already made preparations, and my agents know their roles.”

Fengxian merely nods. He has already discussed his plans for expanding his personal spy network, the Twilight Abode, to elsewhere in the empire. Song Xinqi, the spritely young woman in charge, has a mind as sharp as his, and a plethora of finely-honed skills that make her one of the most dangerous women in the imperial city. Fengxian believes himself truly blessed to have found her when he did.

“Excellent,” Fengxian glows with pride. “To my surprise, not only did my father approve the inspection tour, but the support I received exceeded all of my expectations. Master Zhou has set aside one-thousand seats in the academy for next year that can be granted to any promising candidates we find. I had not anticipated that announcement, but it was surprisingly well-received.

“The Grand Commandant could not get supplies approved for the Great Bastion, but was able to give us an additional fifty-thousand dan of rice to distribute as necessary to appease the people. I can only imagine he was irate when uncle Bai Xian approved his suggestion without hesitation, especially after he opposed support for the Great Bastion.”

“He should know that the Bai clan supports you by now,” Xinqi remarks.

“Indeed,” Fengxian chuckles dourly. “Gifts, food, and authority have all been granted for this tour, so we must make the most of it. If I am successful, the factions that oppose me will be put in a tough spot, but if I fail… haaa… well, that means the empire is in great peril.”

“We will not fail, my lord,” General Dong declares with the utmost confidence.

“We must proceed with caution. Our enemies will see this as an opportunity to undo all that I have achieved around home, and will undoubtedly take this chance to act against me while I am away from the capital.”

Fengxian sighs. “Sounds just like any other day, doesn’t it?”

“Prince Lanxi! You’ve returned!” Huan Niang, his wife’s head maid, greets him. However, her palpable surprise indicates that she hadn’t been expecting him quite yet. “Lady Bai is waiting for you in the rear foyer.”

“Thank you. Let her know I will be there shortly,” Fengxian replies before turning to his three remaining followers. Since the two generals split off on their way there, only his personal staff remained. “I’ll leave my preparations in your hands.”

The three men bow and disperse.

Fengxian doesn’t move quickly. He gives the young Huan Niang enough time to scurry off and inform her lady that he’s arrived. There’d have been no issue just barging in right away, but his wife likes to surprise him, or have everything neatly arranged whenever he comes home. Not only is it courteous, but her plans being foiled always puts his wife in a dour mood.

Fengxian bides his time, meandering about his residence until he is confident he’s waited long enough. He takes a moment to preen and rearrange his hair, straighten his collars, and press his robes down neat and tidy, and then heads to the rear foyer that enters into their living quarters.

He pauses outside the door and takes a deep breath.

The door opens before he can make his move, and Huan Niang invites him in with a pleasant smile and a curtsey. He nods his head in thanks and strides in, bold and prideful — perhaps even a bit excited to see the love of his life.

“Welcome home, dear husband,” Bai Xiyun greets him with a silky tone and a coy smirk. “Come, join me. I would like to hear about your progress.”

It doesn’t matter how many times he sees his wife, the wonder of the experience never diminishes. Xiyun, beautiful by anyone’s standards, is even more than that to Fengxian — she is like the radiant sun, and his heart always skips a beat when he lays eyes upon her. Her beauty is merely the obvious, and the first thing he sees, but Xiyun is so much more than just her appearance.

She is seated at a low table with her exquisitely-crafted go equipment set up and waiting for him to join her. Huan Niang has also supplied a tea set and hot water for brewing, and even lit some fresh incense to improve the mood and clear the mind, so everything is perfectly established for a bit of relaxation.

“It would be my pleasure!” Fengxian replies excitedly, and hurries to his wife’s side.

He shifts behind her and gently places his hands on her slender shoulders to steady her while he leans in and places a kiss on her cheek. However, Xiyun doesn’t quite cooperate, so Fengxian settles with her forehead.

“You’re in a good mood,” Xiyun stiffles a giggle and brushes her fingers against his hands while he moves to take his seat opposite from her. “I guess that means you received approval.”

“I did,” Fengxian gets comfortable on the cushion and takes a small handful of stones while Xiyun considers her choice. “I will set out in a week, so we’ll have to discuss what you’ll do afterwards.”

Xiyun smiles and places a single stone on the board. “I considered going back to Lanxi, but it might be better to stay here, in Tiansheng.”

Fengxian puts the stones down and counts five, so he takes the pot of white stones. “I don’t think you’ll be in any danger, but master Zhou did say he was arranging someone to look after you. He implied it is someone we can trust, and should be able to handle just about anything.”

“Oh? Did he say who?” Xiyun places her first, flat-bottomed glass stone on the 4-4 point near the corner of the board.

“No, but he is sending them here as an introduction, so we’ll meet him later today.

“If that is the case, I will remain in the capital,” Xiyun smirks mischievously as she places stones to aggressively capture the middle of the board. “I can invite Master Zhou to play in your stead.”

“He is a better opponent than me, I suspect.”

“I have yet to defeat him.”

“I can’t imagine how that feels…”

Xiyun snickers and continues to rapidly place pieces the moment he sets one down. She’s already several moves ahead of him and he knows it. “What is the plan?”

“Well, based on the rumors, I think I’ll start in Fuzhou. Over the last three years, the entire political situation there has been in an upheaval. It started with the new governor, Chen Yanshou, whose qualifications were more than sufficient, so even I supported his appointment. However, since he came to power in Fuzhou, many of the administrators and magistrates have been replaced, and at a rate has been alarming, to say the least.”

Xiyun pauses, momentarily distracted from the game, but after collecting her thoughts, sets the stone down. “To someone with such limited information, it might look like Governor Chen is replacing people loyal to the emperor with his own. Since the talk of a revolt came up, he would be a prime suspect.”

“That was what I thought at first,” Fengxian mulls his words over before continuing. “But that seems too simple, and I don’t think a single governor could pull that off. Either he has substantial backing, or it is a coincidence of an impressive scale.”

“Hence the reason for the inspection?”

“Exactly!”

Fengxian pauses their game long enough to serve tea to his wife. In truth, he needed a moment to refine his strategy. Xiyun has already secured too much of the board, and unless he manages to pull off a genius-tier strategy in the next two or three moves, his defeat is assured. After repeatedly scanning the board he meets his wife’s gaze, and Xiyun is smiling mischievously.

He sighs. ‘She knows…’

“Do you need a hint?”

He shakes his head.

“Taking advice from your wife is nothing to be ashamed of.”

He shakes his head again and then stubbornly sips his tea.

“You know… your lovely wife has a very, very good suggestion…”

Xiyun vacates her seat, leans up and over the board, takes hold of Fengxian’s collar, and pulls him in a little closer. Shivers run up his spine and he suddenly realizes that Huan Niang has made herself scarce. He sets the tea cup down and takes a deep, shaky breath.

“What might that be?”

Xiyun licks her lips and crawls over the board like a tigress stalking her prey, spilling stones all over and disrupting his faltering battle lines. However, it seems that Xiyun has a different type of battle in mind.

“Maybe we should take this to our chambers…?”

“Maybe we should…”