A Cup of Conflict - Chapter 7

Things are slowly taking shape in this book. However, I had to put it on the backburner while I worked on getting Magick and Murder out to my Kickstarter backers, double-checked my documentation for taxes, and voted yesterday. Then the lake-effect snow flurries keep drawing my attention, even though it's officially spring.

Anyway, here's your next taste of A Cup of Conflict!

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A huge square, easily a quarter league wide and long, stood between the Temples and grounds of the imperial palace itself. Bricks covered the entire ground space. Wooden poles stood around the edges of the square while some were embedded in the middle, marking off a smaller square.

Workers were already decorating the square for the Spring rituals. They ran ribbons from pole to pole. Tables and benches were transported by oxen and wagons from a nearby warehouse to the square.

“Is the middle section for dancing?” I quietly asked Yin Li.

She smiled and nodded. “Knowledge will provide paper lanterns, which will be hung the night before the first day.” She chuckled. “Unless the weather oracles predict rain. Then the Temple of Light will provide the lanterns.”

I laughed in return. “That’s one thing we rarely have to worry about in Issura. The winter rains are often long gone before the Rituals.”

A waist-high wall separated the square from the imperial palace. No doubt, the vicinity of the Temples to the throne were part of what triggered the resentment of the schools of philosophy. I needed to research more Jing history. I had a strong feeling the schools existed before Balance’s Revelation. If so, that would add to the masters’ animosity.

We entered the palace grounds, and imperial guards lined the avenue. Like the majority of civilians, the guards exhibited an enormous sense of relief at the new emperor’s return to Chengzhou.

The avenue itself was constructed of Toscana concrete. A great expense, but the material would last longer than cobblestone given the amount of traffic the palace normally might see. And the lane would definitely be crowded between the Spring Rituals and the upcoming coronation.

Huge troughs of soil held flowering plants, most of which were starting to bud under the balmy weather over the past four days. Statues were randomly placed on the lawn. Each art piece was surrounded by bed of plants or sand. In the sand beds, designs were drawn. I couldn’t be sure if they were similar to the Diné sand paintings because all sand looked the same to me. It was something I would have to ask Luc about later.

At the end of the quarter-league avenue, people I assumed were the Dragon Palace staff lined up in neat rows at the ends of the wide steps up to the palace itself. Imperial guards kept a significant path in the middle of stair clear. The only people who weren’t surrounded by the armed men and women were the handful of nobles and the many squires at the foot of the palace steps.

When we reached the end of the avenue, Po gave the signal to stop and dismount. I glanced behind us, half-expecting the heads of the Temples to have joined the procession, but no one was behind us except the escort loaned to us by Duke Lixin.

Once the riders stood on the pavement, the lead noble approached Po and bowed deeply. “Welcome home, Your Majesty.”

“Rise, cousin.” Po chuckled. “We’ll have more than enough ceremony to stand on over the coming weeks and years.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty.” The noble straightened, a neutral expression on his face.

Po gestured Shi Hua to his side. “May I present my wife Bao Shi Hua? My love, this is my cousin, Duke Bao Mengchang, the Imperial Grand Chancellor.”

I didn’t miss the slight twitch of the duke’s lips when Po grasped Shi Hua’s hand in his and led her to each noble present and introduced them to her. Mengchang may simply have conservative views. Or he could simply be biding his time. All of his cousins with claims to the throne would be present for the coronation.

Maybe Mengchang still thought Shi Hua was the concubine who’d accompanied Po to Issura nine years ago.

Gah! Now I was seeing plots where none might be. The events over the last two years had ruined whatever normality that had existed in my life. I glanced at Luc and amended my thoughts. We’d lost whatever stability we had the day Katarina came to me at the inn.

Maybe there wasn’t a plot, but Mengchang’s disapproval increased when he noticed Captain Mateqai wasn’t from Jing. And he was outright frowning deeply when Po instructed him to house Luc, me, and our wardens in the imperial family wing.

“The staff are still cleaning the family rooms in the emperor’s wing,” Mengchang said stiffly.

Po eyed his chancellor. “What are you proposing, my cousin? That we place the esteemed ambassadors from Issura in concubines’ quarters?”

“They’re Temple,” Mengchang said. “I was not expecting clergy to reside in the palace, Your Majesty.”

Well, I had to admit, if only to myself, Po had told us the truth about how his own people regarded him. If anything, he had undersold the problems he faced.

“The Issurans lost their southern border city of Tandor at this time last year,” Po said coldly. “If it weren’t for Chief Justice Anthea and High Brother Luc, Teodora of Issura would have lost her entire queendom. You will treat them with the esteem Teodora holds them and the honor they have earned.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” Mengchang bowed again. “I beg your forgiveness. No slight was intended. I shall double the housekeeping staff to make sure the rooms are ready for tonight.”

“Also, Duke Lixin should be here in two days,” Po added.

“We shall prepare for his arrival, Your Majesty.” Another deep bow.

“Once my lady wife and I have refreshed ourselves from our long journey, please dine with us and our guests this evening.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Mengchang’s annoyance lifted. Had he feared he would be dismissed due to Chengwu’s assassination? Or worse, executed for failing to protect the previous emperor?

“Your Majesty, if I may be excused briefly,” I said. “The high brother has had a proper audience with your Reverend Father of Light, but I must extend my own courtesies to your Reverend Mother of Balance.”

Po inclined his head. “Of course, Chief Justice. Dinner shall commence a candlemark after First Evening.”

I bowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” This time, I had to bite my tongue to keep from making any flippant remarks concerning the imperial couple staying out of trouble while I was gone. As much as I worried about their safety and Luc’s, etiquette needed to be observed.

And it gave me a chance to escape Sister Darys’s watchful eyes.