Third Prince - The Scenario

"The scenario presented to me is not a trick," said Parsifal.

"I will share my thoughts," said the Emperor. "Don't panic in advance."

"I am honored," said the Third Prince.

"I know you consider it absurd that I am worried about a ten year old girl."

"I don't understand it," said Parsifal. "There have always been mhoddim practitioners stronger than members of the nobility. Even if the Princess is a divine talent, so are Her Majesty the Empress and Second Consort Chen. If the Empress wanted to rule in her own right, nothing could stop her. People who are that strong don't care about the daily administration of an empire."

"Correct," said the Emperor. "Renjie frames my concern as revolving around the Princess trying to replace me. I know she has no such intention."

"What is her intention?"

"Her intention isn't the issue at all," said the Emperor. "You are the son of Consort Jin. Consort Jin is the oldest daughter of Eastern Duke. Eastern Duke is the head of the second oldest noble family in the empire. The person with the oldest noble heritage is…."

"Princess Iba Algi," said Parsifal.

"Correct," nodded the Emperor. "I fought a war with my father and brothers twenty years ago. My father ruled for four years before that. Before that, his father ruled for thirteen years. Our family has been on the throne for less than forty years. Half those years were awful."

"The first half," said Parsifal. "Not your half."

"Correct," said the Emperor. "Previously, my grandfather held the rank of Marquis. Before that, our family boasted plenty of generals, but no noblemen. In contrast, your grandfather's family have been dukes for six hundred years. Princess Iba Algi's family was royalty for seven hundred years, and were the Tianming Dukes during the last millennium of the Qianqiu Dynasty. They are the only family to possess noble rank in all three dynasties."

"It's impressive," agreed Parisfal. "But if the Princess doesn't intend…?"

"If, ten years from now," said the Emperor, "Eastern Duke were to marry one of your cousins to the Princess, any child of that marriage would have unimpeachable lineage. Presently, the Princess has the unequivocal backing of the Fourth Prince and Consort Su. The Second Consort and Empress treat her as the third member of their exclusive club. The Princess already has stronger support than I did when I started my bid for the throne. Recognizing this, your mother has maintained cordial relations with the Princess and her family, but avoids overdoing it."

"She doesn't want to create an impression that the Princess already has unanimous support on Jade Palace Mound?"

"Correct," said the Emperor. "But you and the Fourth Prince can no longer cuddle without making waves. Any step you take to get closer to him will be interpreted as part of your grandfather's plan to put a descendant of his family on the throne."

Parsifal repeatedly insisted he had no such intention.

"I told you not to panic," said the Emperor. "Your grandfather's dream is an illusion."

"Why?" asked Parsifal.

"Manipulating the Princess is beyond his capabilities," said the Emperor. 

Parsifal did math in his head.

The Emperor agreed with the Grand Preceptor. It was possible for that to be a coincidence. However, it was also possible they spent more time together than other people realized.

"But just because Eastern Duke's dream won't work doesn't make the problems it raises go away," said the Emperor. "The nobles resent me for centralizing military and tax power. Your grandfather will convince many that his foolish plan is foolproof. Once you start mending fences with the Fourth Prince, that's one more token Eastern Duke will put on the board in his favor."

A pit of despair opened beneath Parsifal.

"You won't agree to the plan?" he asked.

"Don't panic," repeated the Emperor. "I agree. Continuing to confine the Fourth Prince is burning political capital at an unsustainable rate. The Empress intends to send Renjie away from Jade Palace Mound and out into the world. Because that will happen whether or not I agree, your plan gets me out of a bind. An important part of being Emperor is knowing when someone has saved your ass. But I wonder if you've been paying attention well enough to identify the biggest benefit of your plan to me. You touched on it briefly."

Parsifal considered.

"You hate tombs," said Parsifal. "They emphasize age and ancestry, and are a way for noble families to proclaim legitimacy without actually doing anything legitimate."

"Ashes and a plaque are enough for the dead," said the Emperor.

"Our plan undermines respect for tombs," said Parsifal, "but only indirectly. You are instead motivated by… the objective of weakening the martial arts societies?"

"Why?"

"You mentioned Eastern Duke's scheme," said Parsifal. "I'm sure he has more than one."

"Of course."

"Furthermore, there are four more dukes. Each duke is served by four earls. Each earl is served by four counts. The counts were served by barons until you abolished that rank."

"I did everyone a favor," said the Emperor. "Few appreciate it."

"But the counts are afraid you will abolish them next."

"You're almost there," said the Emperor.

"The counts need protection, but realize the dukes will exploit them as much as you do."

"More," said the Emperor. "I have Great Yao to draw upon. Each duke has a smaller base, and must therefore pull from it harder."

"The nobles love secret societies," said Parsifal. "The counts cannot compete against the state's military might. But figures in the Floating World can provide personal protection. The counts may not be as rich as they want to be, but they are rich, and can provide assets to the societies. As for the societies, they are better off the weaker the government gets. Consequently, the government is better off the weaker the societies get – and so you consider disrupting them worth the risk of giving Eastern Duke a temporary playing piece."

"The Crown Prince understands this better than I do," said the Emperor. "But he is the type to let thinking about perfect solutions take priority over implementing good ones. The Fourth Prince is pampered by the most powerful women in the world. He continues to live in a child-like state and has no foundation in reality. Ironically, his solution would work – in its own way."

"How would Renjie solve this problem?" asked Parsifal.

"He would give Eastern Duke the throne right now."

"How is that a solution?" cried Parsifal.

"Having gotten what he wanted," said the Emperor, "Eastern Duke would discover he had been placed in a position far above his competence. With the possible exception of Western Duke, none of the great nobles understand how hard it was for me to make everything look so easy. With Eastern Duke on the throne, the nation would collapse. People with no foundation in reality – such as the Fourth Prince and Jian Peak Abbey's gigolos – would call this 'poetry.' The Crown Prince might even agree with that assessment. But I would prefer not to condemn so many millions to strife in the name of 'poetry.' You are the prince who is best able to see the problem, and do what must be done."

Parsifal bowed.

"Thank you for your instruction, Father," he said.

But Parsifal knew that there was one more prince out there. He wondered how Baltukhasar would handle this. Violence would play a central role. Baltukhasar was an animal.

But animals could be clever.