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Three days later, the imperial procession entered the Jing capital. I tried not to gawk as if I were a child fresh from a tiny village, but it was impossible not to do so. The surrounding land, while not barren, was devoid of anything longer than tiny blades of grass. The lack of high vegetation made the walls four-story-high walls appear far taller. All minor buildings were three leagues from the stone base. The Jing people took the prohibitions concerning plant growth and out buildings near city walls far more seriously than we did in Issura, a subject I would need to bring up the next time I spoke with Duke White Eagle.
Chengzhou was much, much larger than Standora. As the city had grown over the centuries, a series of concentric walls had been built around the new stores and homes. Sister Yin Li had dropped back to ride with Luc and me as we approached the city’s Eastern Gate. She pointed out the next wall under construction a half league from the gate in front of us. Men and women dug the deep pit needed to support the massive stone fortress that would eventually surround Chengzhou. I wondered construction had started before Po’s half-brother had been assassinated.
She didn’t need to mention we avoided any delays with the bureaucracy while entering the city as part of the imperial party. For once on this blasted trip, Reverend Father Biming proved his worth.
Captain Huizhong and his men took point as we wove our way through the wide streets. Their announcement of the crown prince’s presence was a contradiction. More people flooded the streets, but they kept well out of the imperial party’s way. The people bowed deeply, and they did not rise until the last guard passed them.
In the meantime, Yin Li pointed out significant sites. I wasn’t the only one enthralled by the art and architecture. The sister’s son Yin Shang stared in wonder at the people and surrounding buildings. It struck me it had been nearly two years since he’d left Jing with his mother.
At approximately the same age I had been when I had been forced to leave Orrin.
While Yin Li identified specific monuments and dispensed stories about them, I looked at the boy on top of his shaggy pony. “How much do you remember of your birth city, Master Yin Shang?”
“No much,” he admitted shyly. “It’s like coming to someplace new.” He glanced at his mother and added softly, “I only remember I didn’t want to leave Father when Mother was told to go to Issura.” He looked up at me. “Do you think I had a premonition something bad would happen to Father?”
The child’s insight took me by surprise. “I do not know. I’ve never had any experience with foresight. Have you spoken to your mother about this?”
He shook his head. “Uncle Po, er, the emperor said I should not say anything to Mother because it would trouble her. I don’t want to hurt her in any way. He also said if I was ever in need of an honest answer, I should ask you.”
I smiled at the boy, vaguely amused Po put that much trust in me. I knew he was quite fond of Yin Shang, and the soon-to-be-crowned emperor looked forward to having his own children. I didn’t know if Shi Hua was aware she was with child yet, but I had learned my lesson about addressing such a matter before the mother-to-be or the potential father announced the coming babe. I had nearly destroyed my cordial relationship with the Duke of Orrin and Lady Katarina over her first pregnancy.
“And what did the emperor say when you asked him if you had foresight?” I asked.
The boy shrugged. “He said the Temples would determine my talents when I was a bit older.”
“Do you wish to serve the Temples?”
Yin Shang glance at his mother’s back before he looked at me again. “Part of me wants to because Father and Mother serve.” A mischievous grin spread across his face. “However, I learned a great deal while we were aboard the Mars Tranquilis. Perhaps I could serve the emperor by working on a ship.”
“I think the emperor would gladly have you serve him in any capacity you both agree on.”
My answer seemed to please the boy, and we both paid more attention to his mother’s gracious discourse.
Our travel through the city wasn’t a straightforward as it would have been in the cities of Issura. Whenever we reached an inner wall, we would have to traverse left or right to reach the actual gate. It was a maze that would have confounded even the builders of the Crimson Palace in Ryukyu. Both invaders and prisoners would have difficulty getting through the gate system even if they knew the city intimately. No doubt Chengzhou’s architects planned for such things.
What surprised me most was the number of parks within each set of walls. They were as well kept as those in the Ryukyuan capital. The first flowers of spring blossomed in their beds, and brilliant yellow buds glowed at the tips of the small trees and bushes’ blue branches. It was a reminder of how close we were to the Spring Rituals. What’s wrong? Luc whispered in my mind.
Just my usual trepidation at this time of year, I replied.
At least we’re not in Tandor this year.
His jibe didn’t make me feel better. You will still be expected to bed some of the local priestesses. He was silent for a long moment before he whispered, After what Gerd did to you and Claudia, I doubt I would be able to perform for fear of some tragedy striking the woman.
His fear surprised me. My birth mother is dead. She cannot touch either of us ever again.
And I refuse to hurt you ever again.
I swallowed my bitterness at the strength of his declaration. Despite the months I spent under Child’s care, the old emotions surged through me. I hoped I would have time to myself to meditate, but I doubted I would have such privacy before First Night.
Yin Li’s running commentary slowed as we passed through the middle wall gate. This wall was much thicker than the last. At the third gate, I noticed the sentries on the parapets were no longer imperial troops, but Temple wardens and clergy. However, they were too high for me to clearly read their shoulder emblems.
“By the Twelve, how did the demons enter the city with this many priests and priestesses about?” I said in Issuran.
“There’s usually not this many Conflict wardens and clergy guarding the inner walls,” Yin Li replied in kind. “Nor as many soldiers manning the outer walls and patrolling the streets.”
“So, you do have Peacekeepers?” Luc asked.
The priestess nodded solemnly. “The extra guards are a response to the winter attack.”
Inside the third wall, large buildings clearly marked as guild houses interspersed with manors housing the noble class, the various philosophical schools, and high-class inns. Each structure was larger than Duke Marco’s castle and the Orrin Government House put together. Small storefronts were housed in the corners of the guild buildings. From the quality of goods, they had been obviously made by masters. The inns had similar corner shops where visitors to the inner city could purchase meals and drinks to eat on the street-side terraces.
As we passed these buildings on the way to the imperial palace, the quiet obeisance to Po continued. I watched facial features and colors of bodies as we passed. While the merchants, common tradespeople and families had largely been relieved at their new emperor’s return, the feelings switched within the inner wall. Guild masters, their journeypeople, and staffs had mixed feelings, but nobles and the school staffs were perturbed though they did not openly express their hostility.
I could feel Luc watching through my eyes, silently comparing his impressions with mine.
This is not good, he said.
It’s not as if we believed Po would be received with open arms by the nobility, I replied sourly.
Luc snorted. Duke Lixin didn’t sweeten the news either.
I smiled at him. Duke Lixin has no taste for more power. If it wasn’t for his family, I think he’d be perfectly happy quietly farming in a small corner of Jing.
Luc chuckled as the imperial procession swung south. At Yin Li’s sharp glance, he quickly sobered.
I could smell the perfumed air before we reached the Temple District. As I expected, as I expected, the next turn opened onto the avenue of the Twelve. The temples themselves put the ones in the Ryukyuan capital of Naha to shame. Nor did they resemble the layered buildings in Haung He. The Temples were out-and-out fortresses.
High walls surrounded each complex except for the main doors and the twelve steps leading to the entrance. The symbols of each Temple were inscribed with gold inlays on the lintel posts. Carved jade decorated the massive bronze doors of the main entrances. A palpable sense of worry emanated from the clergy, wardens, and staff as we passed. It was almost a relief compared to the animosity of the nobles.
“There’s only one gate each for the two inner walls?” I quietly asked Yin Li.
Her slight nod was my only acknowledgement. She kept her eyes forward.
That must have been how the Temples and imperial guards kept the demons from spilling out to devour the civilians when they attacked the palace. Emperor Chengwu and his family were a high cost to pay for the rest of the nation. Did the people here even understand what had been done by the Reverend Mothers and Fathers to save their lives?
Even worse, did it matter if the nobles or school masters failed to acknowledge their new emperor?
