Third Prince - Parsifal Stood Across From The Crown Prince

Seiryu-no-kami Parsifal stood across from the Crown Prince in the Sanctuary of the Guiding North Star. Smallest of the Emperor's audience halls, it was also the most secure. Whenever an emperor held court in the Sanctuary, the issue under discussion had no good solutions – only gradations of bad.

The Emperor sat on a jade bench. The Empress sat to his left. The imperial benches sat on a dais. Parsifal stood to the left and immediately in front of the dais. His mother, Third Consort Jin, sat behind and to his left. Fifth Consort Su sat across from her, behind and to the right of the Crown Prince.

Consort Su should have been sitting on the bench to her right, but Second Consort Chen had rejected the summons. Rejecting a summons to the Sanctuary of the Guiding North Star was almost a declaration that she had abandoned the Emperor. If she had, the Emperor lost more than he gained by sending Mr. Sorrow against Iba Algi.

The First and Fourth Consorts were no longer on Jade Palace Mound. The First died shortly after giving birth to the Crown Prince. This was blamed, with evidence, on one of the Emperor's brothers. The Fourth Consort went into voluntary exile after the abolishment of her son's royal status.

Renjie was not present. He and the Guiding North Star did not get along. Rangiku and Garrett sat behind Consort Su. It was preposterous for a recruit to be in any of the Emperor's audience halls – nevermind the North Star's Sanctuary – yet here one sat behind a consort and beside a princess. When the Minister of Rites raised that point, Consort Su snarled at the hapless old man so ferociously he nearly fell backward. The issue was dropped.

Rangiku's rank entitled her to participate in any discussion. By staying off the aisle, however, she signaled her intention to observe. In the middle of the hall were ministers, officers, and petitioners. The Rectifying Commandant and Tianming Duke had come to beg the Emperor for protection. The Crown Princess had come for permission to kill them both.

"The Rectifying Commandant and Tianming Duke provoked the Crown Princess," said Consort Su. "Now a dozen censors and some number of theTianming Guard are dead. The Third Prince gave the Censorate a direct order meant to avoid the present situation. The Rectifying Commandant petitioned the Emperor to have that order revoked. The Crown Prince argued it should be maintained. In typical fashion, the Emperor ignored the Crown Prince. As a result, here we are."

Parsifal controlled his smile. The Emperor maintained a face of sovereign calm.

"Consort Su!" protested the Prime Minister. "You cannot blame His Majesty."

"Prime Minister," said Consort Jin. "Shut up."

Consort Su stood, stepped into the aisle, turned toward the Emperor, and approached the dais. It was a hostile move, and caused a stir. Neither Left nor Right Attendants made any move to intercept the consort. The Empress also offered no rebuke. The Royal Guard tensed, but took no steps. Even Alistair remained stone faced and unmoving. The Emperor's sovereign calm held up.

"What did His Majesty intend to accomplish by ignoring the Crown Prince?" asked Consort Su.

She did not stop walking until she reached the foot of the stairs up the dais.

"Fifth Consort," said the Prime Minister. "We are here to help answer His Majesty's questions, not to ask His Majesty to justify himself."

Consort Su ignored him.

"Prime Minister," said Consort Jin. "The political reality you live in is not real."

The Emperor's sovereign calm developed hairline fractures. He had nine rabid brothers and a bloodthirsty tyrant for a father. Prevailing in the Strife of Ten Brothers and One Tyrant required trade-offs. The Emperor married women with the power to help him win. It worked. But that victory came at a cost previous ruler's refused to pay.

On a daily basis, the Emperor made decisions regarding Great Yao's governance. Under his rule, the nation's prosperity rivaled that of past golden ages. His terrifying wife and formidable consorts kept rival power players in check. That had allowed the Emperor to implement reforms. He succeeded in concentrating military and financial power in the crown. Externally, he was one of the most effective Emperors who had ever ruled. Internally, however, he could not use his wife and consorts against themselves.

He may have even lost Consort Chen's support altogether.

Parsifal knew the Emperor did not want to answer Consort Su's question. Answering would force him to take responsibility for his own actions. Furthermore, there was no good answer. In all likelihood, he countermanded Parsifal's order simply to show the Crown Prince that his advice was always optional. As matters turned out, that wasn't true. The Emperor waited an uncomfortable length of time for someone to rescue him. But the people who wanted to rescue him didn't dare try to invent an acceptable intention.

Consort Su turned around, showing her back to the Emperor.

"Special Agent Dust," she said.

Parsifal wasn't expecting that. His eyes shifted to Giselle. She stepped forward and saluted.

"Reporting to the Fifth Consort," she said.

"You were at Marquis Yue's mansion this morning?"

"I was," agreed Giselle.

"You told them their only option was to petition the Emperor?" asked Consort Su.

Consort Su was showing off her own intelligence network.

"I did," agreed Giselle.

"They ignored you?"

"They did."

"You should be reassigned to the Crown Prince's household," said Consort Su.

"It would be an honor," replied Giselle without missing a beat.

Parsifal glanced at the Emperor. His face had lost its sovereign calm.

"After they ignored you," said Consort Su, "what happened?"

"They tried to force their way into the mansion," said Giselle. "The Crown Princess killed them."

"The Censorate has a duty to ensure that all official actions comply with the Emperor's mandates and laws," said the Rectifying Commander. "This duty is always met with hostility by the officialdom. If we fail to perform it, however, Great Yao stops being a nation unified under its Emperor, and starts becoming a chaotic battleground of warlords."

He wasn't wrong, thought Parsifal, but that wouldn't save him.

"Passionately stated," agreed Consort Su. "Because the Censorate's duty is always met with hostility, however, censors must ensure they are prepared. When the Emperor chose to ignore the Crown Prince's advice by overruling the Third Prince's order, did you ask for and receive an edict to raid the Crown Princess's new mansion?"

"The Censorate's innate authority to investigate official conduct is long established," replied the Rectifying Commander.

"If your authority is innate," said Consort Su, "why do you need the Emperor's protection?"

"Consort Su," said the Emperor. "The Crown Princess's authority is also innate. Someone must referee."

"Someone must referee," said Consort Su without turning around. "Interesting. It's too bad no one explained that to the Rectifying Commandant before he acted as if he required no referee."

"Respectfully correcting the Fifth Consort," said the Crown Prince. "I explained to both the Emperor and the Rectifying Commandant that a referee was required."

Even someone unfamiliar with the Emperor's mannerisms would know the man was furious. He wanted to explode, but knew that Consort Su would not only decline to be intimidated – she would explode right back. If Consort Chen had abandoned him, and the Empress was not going to intervene, the diminutive Consort Su was a big threat.

Unable to vent at one target, the Emperor would ordinarily divert his fury to the Crown Prince. That was not an option, here. The Crown Princess was a rambunctious barbarian, but she sincerely loved her daughters and her husband. The Attendants would prevent her from killing the Emperor even if the Empress took no action, but nobody would stop her from killing Tianming Duke on the spot if she lost her temper.

Ministers and officials fidgeted nervously.

"Crown Princess," said Consort Su. "Kill the Rectifying Commandant."

"Absolutely not!" roared the Emperor. "The Censorate has done nothing wrong!"

Consort Su turned around.

"It's done everything wrong!" she retorted.

The diminutive consort took a step up the dais. Parsifal's eyes flicked to Left and Right Attendants. They made no move to stop her. Neither did the Empress. The Emperor jumped to his feet.

"Consort Su!" he said. "Control yourself!"

"A few hours ago," said Consort Su, "your sons made remarkable progress in advancing our understanding of Jade Palace Mound. Instead of celebrating their discoveries, we're stuck here because of two blundering old fools. Excuse me. Three blundering old fools!"

"Consort Su!" protested the Prime Minister. "Even if your anger has cause, attacking His Majesty undermines the state. The population does not deserve to suffer because of our infighting."

"No one needs to suffer," said Esmaralde. "I can kill this old fool quickly."

She gestured at the Rectifying Commandant.

"Crown Princess," said the Prime Minister, "that is not helpful."

"The Rectifying Commandant is dismissed from his position," said the Empress. "He may retire to his hometown. The Crown Prince shall lead the rebuilding of the Censorate. This task shall include appointing a new Rectifying Commandant. Prepare the edict."

"Yes," said Left Attendant.

The Emperor sat down. The audience hall thanked the Empress for her benevolence. The former Rectifying Commandant was led out of the chamber. Consort Su returned to her seat.