Chapter 6

"So I asked that merchant's wife–do you even know I am?"

Yin fixed her eyes on her own plate, stirring around the pieces of scallion floating on top of her soup, determined to block out all details of the grating monologue.

She had tirelessly looked through court records and gave Auntie Liu a large sum to look into the backgrounds of diplomats from both sides. She couldn't find any signs of purposeful discord between the two parties, making the recent developments even more so concerning.

Her brother had yet come back from his afternoon meeting with the diplomats. It had been more than a week since their arrival but no perceivable progress had occurred. All negotiations ended in fiery outbursts from ministers and members of the envoy. Jiang nobles had been frustrated to no end since many previously unprofitable strips of ancestral land had been turned into gold mines by the Li who felt no obligation to return them.

In the meantime, she was stuck at a luncheon with an irritating suitor. How fortunate.

"Princess?"

"Yes Marquis Chun?" She looked up, forcing a smile at the nobleman.

"Is something wrong?"

Yin paused. She would love nothing more than to tell the pompous aristocrat that she had no interest in hearing about how he sneered at peasants for respiring in the same oxygen sphere as him. However, he was one of few bachelors that her mother had personally approved of, if only for his wealth and social standing. Regardless, she was sure to get an earful if she committed any offense.

The jasmine flowers in her courtyard had fully bloomed. Sunlight had been cast over its petals, fainting grasping at the circular stone table they were seated at. Steamed dumplings, delicate as morning dew, were carefully placed on elevated plates. An assortment of fruits and rice cakes filled the spaces in between them.

"Anyways," Without waiting for her reply, he continued. "I practically own her family. You should have seen the look on her face."

"I'm sure she was terrified." Yin remarked blandly. "What did you do to her?"

"I had her whipped of course." He proclaimed, his chest puffed out. "Her husband begged for mercy. Typical Southerner."

"That's fun."

Since he had been her suitor for the longest, she had gotten used to the Marquis' violent tendencies. However there were few nobles who were as blatant as he was. Perhaps it was because he was his father's only son, spoiled to no end by his elders and envied by his many sisters.

He had a very square face, and a smug air about him that made him all the more irritating. He was dressed in pale green silk, his attire more formal than usual, but not by much. His parents had undoubtedly pestered him to look nicer in front of royalty, not that he cared particularly.

Yin took a bite of a dumpling, smiling bitterly at how abnormally well it was made. It seemed that even the palace kitchen doted on the boneheaded Marquis.

"Speaking of fun Princess," He took a sip of his tea. "Has your brother told you about what the Southerners are up to these days?"

"Not at all." Yin frowned, feigning ignorance. "Did something happen?"

"They've turned Minister Ji's family graveyard into a gold mine." He smirked. "It's as if the bastards are asking for a war."

"War?" Her eyes widened as she chewed on another dumpling.

"You know," He explained. "Lots of fighting, killing, blood, all that sort."

"Mm."

Did he just explain war to me? She scoffed to herself. My family orchestrated a military coup and he doesn't think I know what war is...

"Princess," Marquis Chun leaned back in his seat, frowning at her in disapproval.

"Yes?"

"Don't you think you're eating too much?"

Yin looked between her plate and his.

His plate was filled to the brim with dumplings and rice cakes, with at least 15 items in total.

She had a bowl of soup and three dumplings.

It took incredible restraint for her to keep herself from strangling him in his seat. She fought the urge to squeeze out every one of her precious dumplings he had devoured in the hour he had been there.

Instead she smiled.

"I have a silly habit of taking food I don't eat these days," She said with a clenched jaw. "I let them sit on my plate as decoration of sorts."

"It's alright." He took one of her dumplings in hand, taking a large bite out of it and smiling. "You'll know better next time."

"Yes." She widened her smile, suppressing her anger.

"See this is why I like you Princess." He said while chewing. "You're obedient, unlike other wretchedly unmarried noblewomen."

Nauseating. Absolutely nauseating.

Before Yin could muster what was left of her patience and pretend to be flattered by his compliment, or what he thought was one, a maid rushed into the courtyard.

"What is it?" She asked, relieved at the interruption.

"It's the Li emperor." The maid said, out of breath. "There was an assassination attempt."

Her relief evaporated.

XXX

Emperor Li sat at his bed, his brother beside him. There seemed to be no visible wounds. However, his white robe had been torn in three places, the jagged fabric hanging off of his waist and shoulders.

"Emperor Li." Kai said. "We heard the news. Are you alright?"

"Oh don't worry." He said, looking up. "Jun chased the archer away before they could do anything."

Prince Li looked back at them with narrowed eyes. His long hair was disheveled and clinging to the sides of his face. Sweat glistened on his forehead, trailing down to his temples as his white knuckles club onto the handle of an unsheathed sword. The tip of it was coated in a thin layer of blood, undoubtedly from the perpetrator.

Upon seeing Yin's gaze fixed on his sword, he swiftly slid the blade into his leather sheath.

"We sincerely apologize for what has happened on our soil."

"Really?" Prince Li folded his arms. "I'm sure your ministers would have rejoiced if they heard the attempt was successful."

"Jun." Emperor Li turned to his brother, with a warning look. "Stop it."

"I understand your suspicion," Kai replied. "However it is also in our best interest that your brother remains alive. We seek alliance between our countries, not war."

"Do your ministers share the same sentiment, your majesty?" Prince Li pushed. "I've heard rumors of dissent among them, opposition to your rule even."

"There have been disagreements, yes." He admitted, uncomfortably shifting in his seat.

It had been well known among kingdoms in the area that the Jiang coup was largely successful. However, many suspected that there were more Zhao loyalists than there seemed. It had caused initial hesitation during trade agreements, since countries with too much conflict were deemed financially unstable. Jiang's economic reputation had improved substantially in the last year, but whispers from disapproving foreign nobles still proved to be a thorn in the side.

"I don't see how your words hold any meaning. You can't even keep your own ministers in line."

"Jun!" Emperor Li warned again, his voice louder this time. "There's no need to be rude."

Yin arched her brow, waiting for Kai to reply. Rage bristled inside her when she saw her brother's dejected expression. No matter how he tried to hide it, Kai was still unused to blatant insults to his ability as a leader.

"It's alright Emperor Li." She interjected, "We understand that the Prince didn't mean to say something so...tasteless."

"Is that so?" Prince Li replied, his voice like steel.

"Of course we would still appreciate it if you thought before you spoke." Yin turned to the Prince, smiling. "Lest it create any misunderstanding."

"Are you calling me thoughtless?"

"Perhaps." She said, the air between them crackling with newfound tension. "If you're determined to interpret it that way."

"And you wonder why I doubt your intentions." Prince Li scoffed. "If you can hide so much within your words, who knows what you hide behind your warm welcomes and lavish banquets."

"If this alliance is to be productive at all," Yin felt her patience shatter. "Basic respect is essential between us."

Emperor Li's eyes swung to and from both of them, panicked.

"Respect is earned." Prince Li leaned forward, his gaze unyielding. "Not shot from a bow through a window in the middle of the afternoon."

"Besides," His lips curled into a cynical grin. "We're not allies yet Princess. Not even close."