21 21

Official Chu sighed, "Alright. Ning Ren is the least influential. Ning Qu is a drunkard. Ning Zhuo is a killer. The weakness of Caiwong is in that it's line of succession is weak. None of the princes despite their training are ready for the crown. I'm assuming Ning Yu has not offered because he is a child."

The king nodded, "Then my source was correct. I should refuse all."

"Your majesty, such an action could be seen as an insult to an emperor."

"Then what is the best course of action so the Jungpi I know will be passed to my children."

Bingquing spoke up, "Make Yan Ming the heir to Jungpi instead of her younger brother. Have the deal be that the princes must, if they marry into your house, give up their Caiwong titles."

The king laughed and put more food into her bowl. "I would love to have you as an advisor to my daughter some day."

Official Chu looked at his daughter with pride. "The Chu way is to stay out of struggles and conflicts. She was speaking to me earlier about how she wishes to increase her mental aptitude."

The king drank some wine as he considered this. "I can adopt her. You can return to Caiwong and devote yourself to serving your emperor. If anything should happen to you. She will always have a home here. Yan Ming could get a friend. They are both around the same age."

Official Chu hesitated. "Adopting would make her a princess of Jungpi."

Bingquing shot a look of shock at her father. "I don't think--"

"Third in line to the throne, I don't have many children. She can marry better. The tutors and scholarship she will have access increase as well. This is a small kingdom without much political upheaval--we have peace and plenty. Your kinship will not diminish."

"Your majesty--"

"I know you need time to think so we will give you until the moon is full tonight to make a decision. Otherwise the auspicious time will pass and the ceremony cannot be completed."

"Auspicious time?"

"Adoption requires one of significant spiritual training. There are not many in all the kingdoms who can complete the task to our satisfaction and our discretion. We have a master within our territory who we can broach this subject to."

"Bingquing and I will discuss your offer in private, your highness. I cannot decide for her. But, I can persuade her in a direction."

The Chus bowed and returned to their manor.

The queen returned to the pavilion to find her husband deep in thought. She seated herself next to him and touched his shoulder. "What mischief are you upto now?"

He was staring intently at something in the distance she could not see. "Securing our royal line so if we are all dead. Jungpi is not."

"I will always follow you to the ends of the earth. Jungpi can burn for all I care if I cannot have you with me."

"Langhua my beloved, I promise I will always take care of you and our Jungpi kingdom. There may be some discomfort in the future to make sure we stay our course but I think you are strong enough to bear it."

"Why do you have interest in those who hide away in quiet places? The Caiwong official is simply looking to live a retired life. Who are we to deny him that? The daughter who was dead is now brought back to him."

"Yan Ming is young for marriage. Official Chu's loyalties lie with his emperor. Ju is young, he may fall sick at any time."

"I always regret that I cannot bear more children to whom the crown may pass."

"Langhua, I never blame you. You should have never come back for me when the Caiwong attacked the manor that day. That is why we have no concubines other than the ones who are without connection. I never wanted to have difficulty feeling the authenticity of my affection. Some men have seasons where they prefer one woman over another. I always wish that all of my seasons are spent with you."

"Zaiyuan, please do not give me reason to want what I cannot have."

=//=

Official Chu stroked his beard in the firelight as he looked at the two documents he had written. One in the affirmative and the other with his deepest regrets.

Bingquing sat in a chair on the balcony. The open air ruffled her hair as her hands played the qin. The only tune she knew was one of her mother's compositions. Over and over again, she had refused to learn anything new. This she played at varied speeds and played with soft overture. It was like the qin was crying aloud. As the notes stilled. She looked at her father with a finality as her hands touched the strings.

"Father we cannot win. There is a loss with both."

"It's a maturity to know such a thing. But the Jungpi royal family is not the same as the Caiwong we know. My fear is if I am no longer here, you will have no one at all. You will only have worth as a wife. Not every man will remain good and loyal to your well-being."

"We could always leave. Wei? We could go as far as Yan? Or beyond to where the Mongols roam."

"The whole staff will be executed."

"Not if we sent them back to Caiwong."

"What about money? What about food?"

Bingquing walked over to his desk and looked at the letters her father had written. She burned one and sealed the other. Her father did not come over to see what she had chosen.