Third Prince - Parsifal Was A Young Man Of Action

Parsifal was a young man of action. Realizing that trying to get more information out of Rangiku would only delay his ability to act, he nodded and left. His mother resided in Pearl Cloud Palace. Located at the other end of Hell King Hades's Cut, it commanded a spectacular view of Tianming Town. Rather than take ordinary routes, Parsifal used his flashing step techniques to travel beneath the lip of the Cut. He rose only at the last moment to enter his mother's lair.

Renjie and Rangiku's Plum Terrace Palace was a fairy wonderland of fanciful trees, ancient statues, and fountains. Pearl Cloud Palace, in contrast, was a jewel of sophisticated architectural lines and forms. Initially surprised to see the prince, the sentries quickly expressed relief. Parsifal was tempted to ask what happened. Rangiku had urged him to talk to no one but his mother, however, so he only nodded at the sentries reassuringly.

He was then met by Pearl Cloud Palace's Attendant. The enigmatic, anthropomorphic construct explained Consort Jin was dealing with a pressing matter, but would come to see her son as soon as possible. The Attendant led Parsifal to a particularly secure inner parlor.

Clearly something serious had happened.

"What brings you to the palace?" asked the Attendant.

Rangiku had insisted Parsifal talk to no one until he spoke to his mother, but the Attendants were in a class of their own.

"Rangiku told me to give Mother this coin," he said.

The Attendant inspected the coin.

"That's all she said?" he asked.

"She also said that she couldn't say anything more," said Parsifal, "and that I wouldn't be able to say anything more either once I spoke to Mother."

"Remarkable," said the attendant. "How is the expedition into the Mound going?"

"We've found a unique chamber," said Parsifal. "Rangiku was invited down to help us mold the stone walls. When she arrived, she listened to our plan, tricked her brother, pulled me aside, gave me that coin, and told me to speak to Mother."

"You can infer additional information from that behavior," said a woman's voice.

Consort Jin had arrived. Parsifal and the Attendant saluted.

"What's happened?" asked Parsifal.

"You haven't heard anything from Alistair?" asked Consort Jin.

Parsifal shook his head.

"Why would Rangiku make an effort to distract her brother?" asked Consort Jin.

"Sometimes it's better for you to just tell me what happened," said Parsifal.

"Princess Iba Algi killed Mr. Sorrow," said Consort Jin. "Consort Chen then killed Mr. Woe along with everyone else in Sorrow Woe Society – at least in or around Tianming Town."

Parsifal was stunned. In hindsight, it was true he could have inferred that whatever had happened involved Princess Iba Algi. Nothing was certain to send Renjie into a rage than an injustice visited upon the plump little princess.

"But…," said Parsifal, "how did Iba Algi get to Mr. Sorrow?"

"Mr. Sorrow solved that problem," said Consort Jin, "by attempting to assassinate her while she was playing her own version of chess with her imaginary friends."

Parsifal sat down.

"Was the Princess injured?" he asked.

It would be the end of the world. Snowblind Tigress would keep killing.

"No," said Consort Jin. "Immediately after the Princess killed Mr. Sorrow, the Empress appeared to offer congratulations and comfort. Shortly after that, the Empress used the silk portals to summon all the consorts."

"All?" asked Parsifal.

"The Fourth Consort also appeared," confirmed Consort Jin. "After receiving instructions from Her Majesty, we returned to our residences. Except Consort Chen. She went on a killing spree."

Parsifal leapt up.

"Mother!" he said. "There's a member of Sorrow Woe…."

"The one called Whisps has been spared," said Consort Jin. "Ironic, given that he was only a few hundred yards away from the provoking attack."

"But Mother," insisted Parsifal, "he's also incredibly dangerous…."

"Don't underestimate the Minister of Antiquities," said Consort Jin. "He's on your level. So is Renjie's bubble-bottomed Bon Bao. Also, don't underestimate Renjie, his sister, or that little hydromancer."

"No one will believe me if I tell them you said 'bubble-bottomed Bon Bao,'" said Parsifal.

"I will deny it and punish you."

"But this is insanity!" said Parsifal. "Why isn't Jade Palace Mound under lockdown?"

"The Royal Guards noticed a disturbance," said Consort Jin, "but did not know it was an attack by Mr. Sorrow. Furthermore, the Empress ordered them to be silent."

"Why?"

"We want to see who does what," said Consort Jin.

"Mother," said Parsifal ominously, "there's only one person who could have done this."

"There are two people," said Consort Jin.

"No," insisted Parsifal. "Sorrow Woe Society would never have taken the contract from Tianming Duke. He couldn't protect them from the inevitable retribution. Obviously, the Emperor couldn't protect them, either. But twenty years of stability has given him an aura of infallibility. Sorrow Woe Society could have, and clearly did, believe he could protect them."

"Reasonable analysis," said Consort Jin.

"But why would he do something so stupid?" raged Parsifal. "He's risked everything!"

"I see a method in the madness," said Consort Jin.

"What method?" cried Parsifal. "Enraging the Empress is only madness!"

"The Emperor survived," said Consort Jin. "Sorrow Woe Society has not. Yes, that complicates our plan to take out the grand masters, and the Emperor liked that plan. But the most powerful masters – and the most difficult to control – have already been killed. Furthermore, Sorrow Woe Society itself was dangerous, and now it's gone except for stragglers. The nobility will learn what happened. Iba Algi's status as a divine talent has been confirmed. Controlling her is delusional. Eastern Duke must retreat. Many had forgotten what Consort Chen could do. Now they remember. Using his consorts to intimidate his enemies is one of the Emperor's shrewdest strategies. He gains the benefit of that even if the consorts are angry at him."

Parsifal paced around the parlor, then stopped.

"He knew the attack would fail," he said. "It only looked plausible to those on the outside. In fact, he wanted it to fail. If it succeeded, the Empress would have killed him – or more likely, she would have declined to stop Consort Chen from killing him. So he gained the benefits you listed at little cost except gold. If he apologizes to Iba Algi for causing her distress, it will blow over."

"Your father knows how to run an empire," said Consort Jin. "I don't like how this happened. But I cannot say the attack on Iba Algi was automatically wrong policy. Two problems remain. One, did Moonlight Chamber in any way, shape, or form participate in the attack on the Princess? If so, Consort Chen will kill everyone in the organization."

"Iba Algi was absolutely, positively not included in the contract with Sorrow Woe," said Parsifal.

"You've always been uncomfortable lying," said Consort Jin, "and I'm confident you're telling me the truth as you know it. But that's not necessarily the truth."

"The Princess will know who attacked her," said Parsifal. "Alistair knows that. He also knows what the Empress and Second Consort would do to him – and that the Emperor could not stop them."

"Agreed," said Consort Jin. "But Alistair is the kind who will sacrifice his life if he believes doing so serves some cause. You must become vigilant when dealing with Moonlight Chamber. If you discover anyone there was in any way involved in the attack, under no circumstances may you protect them. None. You will not be forgiven. Is that clear?"

Parsifal had never seen his mother look so menacing.

"It's clear," he said. "What's the second problem?"

"Perhaps distracted by the incident we've discussed," said Consort Jin, "the Emperor has made a miscalculation with a different princess."

"Other than Iba Algi," said Parsifal, "the worst princess to offend is Esmaralde."

"She's about to go on a rampage," said Consort Jin. "But the Goddess of Glaives is much less discreet than Snowblind Tigress."

"Who is Esmaralde going to kill?" asked Parsifal.

"It's hard to put a limit on it," said Consort Jin. "Her targets will mostly be in the Censorate."

Parsifal sat down.

"The Emperor countermanded my order?" he asked.

"The Commandant wouldn't stop protesting that the Censorate must be free to do its duty," said Consort Jin. "As a result of his successful petition, in a few hours he'll be dead."

"Maybe the Emperor wants that result too?" asked Parsifal.

"No," said Consort Jin. "He ignored the Crown Prince, who defended your order, and is now underestimating how the Crown Princess will react. Once she murders all his censors, what can he do? Nothing. He would be willing to look weak if it achieved a fantastic benefit. But he values the Censorate as a tool against the officials, and the censors are loyal to him. Having offended everyone in the bureaucracy, they have to be loyal. The Commandant is being loyal right now. But he does not understand the reality of the Emperor's position on the throne."

"What can we do?" asked Parsifal.

"In this case," said Consort Jin, "we must stay out of it."

"The Censorate often irritates me," said Parsifal, "but they do play a critical role in the governance of the state and I don't want to see all of them murdered by a raging Gargogryeon."

"That's why I'm saying that we – and specifically you – must stay out of it," said Consort Jin. "You are blameless. It's the Emperor who has miscalculated. He's distracted by what could go wrong with his other plan. Furthermore, he's surrounded by politicians, and is used to confrontations being only shouting. Equally important, however, is not becoming Esmaralde's enemy."

"Stopping her from acting rashly…."

"Parsifal," said Consort Jin, "the only people on hand who can stop Esmaralde are the Empress, Consort Chen, and the Grand Preceptor. Oh, and Iba Algi. If none of them take action, don't get cocky. When the time comes to account for what Esmaralde is about to do, you must refrain from telling the Emperor you told him so; and, you must refrain from condemning the Crown Princess. Everybody will know that you foresaw the consequences and that you tried to prevent them. Alright?"

Parsifal inhaled and held his breath.

"Alright," he finally agreed.

Consort Jin clearly harbored doubts about his commitment.

"Stay here," she said. "The only princes who know how to bluff are the First and Second. If you go back to the expedition now, it will be obvious there's trouble and Renjie will tickle answers out of you. If he gets a hint that something happened with Iba Algi…."

"He'll go insane," said Parsifal. "I get it. But is Renjie really that dangerous?"

"He may not be," said Consort Jin. "But his mother is. It's true Consort Su doesn't have an obvious mhoddim component. But Warakirikoban royalty is never alone. There are always servitors on the other side of reality. Furthermore, her resources are vast. If Renjie gets riled up, she'll get riled up too – and she's already extremely angry."