Third Prince - Seiryu-no-kami Parsifal

Seiryu-no-kami Parsifal was the model prince: tall (not too tall); muscular (not too muscular); and in fact too handsome. With brassy copper hair and green eyes, the Third Prince turned heads whenever he entered a room. Loyal, dedicated, considerate, artistically accomplished, proficient in the most complex forms practiced by Dao Peak Abbey's diligent monks – Consort Jin's son glistened like a crisp Spring day. Courtiers shuffling between departments brightened as soon as they saw him.

"Warm greetings to the Third Prince," they whispered.

Parsifal's own excitement struggled with his trepidation. The plan, as he understood it, might repair the rift between Moonlight Chamber and his brother. Selling such a plan to the Emperor, however, came with risk. The Emperor had engineered a game to demonstrate the reality of his concerns about Princess Iba Algi. Rather than learn a lesson on political reality, Renjie dug in, refused to admit fault, slandered his usual targets, and was now only pretending to be confined. The Emperor, meanwhile, was boxed in by the support given to Renjie from the consorts and Empress.

It was a volatile situation.

Right Attendant announced Parsifal's arrival in the Emperor's private study. In spite of his accumulating years and the world's relentless pressure, the Emperor remained a vibrant man. Upon entering the study, Parsifal performed the royal protocols.

He was the only prince to consistently do so.

The Crown Prince was an intellectual. Because he was always thinking, he often required reminding that he was walking around in the world at all. The Second Prince was a feral animal. The Fourth Prince grew increasingly defiant the further he got from puberty. If not for a young member of the Royal Guard, Renjie might have openly rebelled rather than comply with confinement. Given the current arrangement of pieces on the board, the outcome of such a rebellion could not be predicted – except possibly by Iba Algi. Some people considered the chubby little princess a powerful piece. Whoever moved that piece would win the game. The Grand Preceptor was not one of those people. He considered the Princess a player.

"You are the only prince who consistently brightens my day," said the Emperor.

Parsifal recognized the unspoken "please don't mess it up" behind those words.

"I will brighten your day, Father," he said. "But at first there will be some clouds."

"Fine," said the Emperor. "Let's hear it."

"Moonlight Chamber wants to lay a trap for tomb raiders."

"If tomb raiders paid half their loot as tax," said the Emperor, "I'd give them license to raid whatever tombs they want. Skeletons don't need gold."

"The objective is not to prevent looting," said Parsifal, "but to weaken the Floating World."

"Fine," said the Emperor. "But what about the other plan?"

"Proceeding."

"Who is the first target?" asked the Emperor.

"Jian Peak Abbot," said Parsifal.

"Why him?"

"Jian Peak calls itself the most righteous of righteous sects," said Parsifal. "Associated with scholars, its gigolos pay the most obeisance to ancient sages."

"I'm not sure about gigolo," said the Emperor, "but obeisance is a scholarly word. A normal person might say 'lip service' instead."

"I have been playing chess with the Crown Prince."

"So Sand wants to rob Sacred Mountain of its intellectual core?" asked the Emperor.

"Yes," said Parsifal. "And to punish hypocrisy."

"Very righteous," said the Emperor. "What hypocrisy?"

"Jian Peak Abbey talks the most about the ancient sages," said Parsifal, "so that it can most ignore what they wrote."

"Certainly no one would accuse Dao Peak Abbey's disciplined practitioners of being gigolos and courtesans," the Emperor chuckled. "Fine. I agree that conspicuous praise of ancient scribbling is inevitably intended to cover present faults. No one will miss Jian Peak Abbot. The raiders you want to trap are Dragon Turtle Society?"

"Yes," confirmed the Third Prince.

"Why not just kill the so-called 'Great Turtle?'"

"Because he is in Gargogryeo."

"Fine," said the Emperor. "Sand doesn't need my approval for this."

"Here comes the first cloud," said Parsifal. "Please be appeased in advance."

"Just say it," said the Emperor.

"The plan is to raid a tomb in Jade Palace Mound ourselves," said Parsifal.

"To dig up bait?" asked the Emperor.

"Yes."

"The Mound belongs to us," said the Emperor. "So we wouldn't be raiding. I'd rather Moonlight Chamber dug everything out of this rock anyway. Just don't send it all to Gargogryeo."

"The person most qualified to help is…."

"The Fourth Prince," nodded the Emperor.

"Yes."

Parsifal recognized the signs of a building eruption. The best thing to do was let it happen. Any attempt to intervene would only accelerate the process.

"So you want me to release him too," said the Emperor.

Trying to wiggle would guarantee the eruption.

"Yes," said Parsifal simply.

The signs darkened – but stopped before a blast.

"Given Renjie's opinion of Moonlight Chamber," said the Emperor, "why would he help?"

"The Fourth Prince is an expert climber," said Parsifal. "He has explored more of the Mound than anyone else in recent memory."

"He doesn't need you for that," said the Emperor.

"He doesn't," conceded Parsifal. "However, our desire to explore is sincere. Because we will not be patronizing him when we ask for his help, he will appreciate having his talent recognized."

"Will he?" asked the Emperor. "There isn't much Renjie appreciates."

"He will appreciate this," said Parsifal.

"The Fourth Prince is only a year younger than you," said the Emperor. "It seems like ten. When he was born, the only person he wanted to cuddle was you. Sometimes he refused to eat unless you were also there. Now people say 'the Third Prince has three masters.' Renjie hates those masters. Aren't you his biggest disappointment?"

"Renjie does not hate you, Father."

"No?"

"He hates Alistair, it's true," said Parsifal. "He blames the Grand Preceptor for starting the feud between you and Iba Algi, but does not actively dislike him. Renjie's feelings toward you are more complicated. He acknowledges that you have created a peaceful era."

"You've always protected him," sighed the Emperor.

"I am not trying to defy you on Renjie's behalf," insisted Parsifal.

"Fine," said the Emperor. "But if Alistair intends to play a trick on the Fourth Prince… it won't work. The Princess will intervene. In that scenario, Alistair will die."

The Emperor's expression was no joke.