Chapter 12: The Court Decides

Lei stood in a massive courtroom filled with benches. When Chu had first guided him here he had been shocked at its scale. He was now sitting next to the king. He sat on a chair on a raised platform that faced the benches that the noblemen were starting to occupy. Finally, when all the benches were occupied, a pair of servants closed the doors leading into the courts. Then the king grabbed a gavel that was sitting on the table in front of him. He brought the gavel down hard on the table. The noblemen quietened down. The king stood and began to speak, "Nobleman of the Ye kingdom, I have brought you here today to decide royal matters as well as to introduce you to a new member of the court. Secretary, could we please have the minutes from the last meeting." A nobleman near the front of the assembly stood up and began to read the minutes from the last meeting. Lei started to daydream and tried to tune out the nobleman's voice. 

Finally the man finished speaking and the king banged his gavel again, breaking Lei away from his daydreams. The king dipped his head towards the nobleman and said, "Thank you, secretary Mu. Moving onto today's matters. Firstly I would like to introduce you to the newest member of our court, many of you will recognise him from my daughters welcome home ball. I would like to introduce you to Lei Kun. He will serve, in coming years, as the protector of our kingdom for Lei Kun is no ordinary cultivator. He is an arcane cultivator." 

The court stared back at the king in shock and then erupted into cheers. The court knew about the king's injuries. Many had worried that, when he finally lost his power, the kingdom would be left without a powerful protector. The king waited for the court to quiet down before continuing, "The second matter we have to attend to today also concerns Mr Kun. Last night I approached Mr Kun with an offer. I explained that I wanted to join him to the family and offered him my daughter, Li's, hand. Mr Kun denied my offer, however." At this whispers broke out throughout the court. The king held up his hand for silence and the whispers quieted. "He then informed me that he wanted Princess Xiang's hand. He also informed me he had fallen in love with her on his journey here from the Jai kingdom. In my rush to get him here as quickly as possible I allowed him to travel with Princess Xiang and these were consequences I didn't foresee. When I asked Xiang about this she also informed me that she wished to marry Lei as well. As many of you know Xiang is betrothed to nobleman Suu's son, Jai." The king turned to a nobleman near the front of the room and said, "Nobleman Suu, I'm sure you understand how important it is that we tie this young man to our family. Just imagine what a second arcane cultivator could do for our kingdom." Nobleman Suu glared at Lei and then turned to the King, "Not to disrespect you, my lord. But my son will be devastated and YOU will be breaking your word, surely that is not a good look for a king." The king sighed and then addressed the full assembly, "I'm sure most of you understand the importance of tying such an esteemed cultivator to the family. I think it is in our best interest to vote on this matter. Those in favour of allowing Princess Xiang to marry Mr Kun, please raise your hand." A flurry of hands rose into the air. A pair of servants that had been standing behind the king began to count. Eventually they walked around the King's chair and table and bowed to him. "We count 101 votes in favour, my Lord." The king stood again and addressed the assembly, "it is decided by the majority, of 101 out of 200, that Princess Xiang will be betrothed to Mr Kun." At this announcement several voices cried out in protest. Shouts of, "How can we ever trust your word ever again!" flew around the room. Suddenly the king exploded into a ball of arcane energy. Then he used his qi to empower his voice, "How dare you question the integrity of your king! I have saved most of your lives over and over again. If not in battle but when you were at home and I was stopping the enemy from reaching you. How could you question the integrity of a man who shattered his soul to protect the people he loved. What kind of man would destroy his cultivation base in order to save those he loved? I'll tell you what kind, a man filled with integrity!" The mantle of arcane energy around the king faded and he slumped back into his chair. 

The court sat in silence for a few minutes before the king spoke again, "All of you leave right now. I have had enough of the court for today." Lei stood still unsure if he should leave or stay. The king glanced at him and said, "You should leave too, Lei." Lei bowed to the king, who didn't acknowledge him, and walked out of the room. Lei had just exited the doors when he noticed Chu waiting for him. "I heard the verdict and thought that you might want to inform the young lady. I found the exit you would exit from so I could guide you to her." Lei nodded and a smile broke out on his face as he realised that's exactly what he wanted.

Lei arrived outside Xiang's quarters. Chu bowed and walked away. "I'll give you some privacy and I'm sure Princess Xiang's attendants would be more than happy to guide her fiancée back to his accommodation. Lei thanked the man. Lei knocked on the door and it opened immediately. Lei looked into Xiang's eyes and then at her worried expression, as she said, "What did the court decide?" Lei smiled and said, "Nobleman Suu wasn't too happy but in the end the court decided that we should be betrothed. Xiang, you are now my fiancée." Xiang's worried expression fell away as she drew him into a hug. "Then she opened the door wider and asked, "Will you join me for dinner?" Lei happily agreed, not just because of the excellent food, but because her presence brought him so much happiness.