Matthew_Melmon

The Fourth Prince wants his father to cut Iba Algi some slack. Only ten, almost eleven, she’s no threat to the ruling dynasty of Great Yao. The Third Prince wants everyone to get along, but carries a big sword in case he needs to cut a fool. Baltukhasar used to be the Second Prince. After behaving badly, he started killing bad guys in the Northwest Territory to atone. Crown Princess Esmaralde wants her space. If she doesn’t get it, well, she’s called Goddess of Glaives for a reason.

Bon Bao thinks the Fourth Prince is cuter than a demonic red panda. He doesn’t need big swords or heavy glaives on account of so many muscles. Flex. Pin Fun isn’t cuter than a demonic red panda, but he’s cute enough for Iba Algi to save him from a lich. Special Agent Dust has a job to do and does it well. If everyone else were as dedicated to their work, she wouldn’t have a job at all. Screw that. Garrett’s just a nice guy with great abs trying to get by in a changing world.

Iba Algi doesn’t think it was very nice for First Qianqiu Emperor to imprison the God of War four thousand years ago. Though only ten, almost eleven, she intends to do something about that.

Autumn's Final Dynasty

Pearl Cloud Attendant awakened Parsifal in the early hours of the morning. A privileged group had assembled in the Sanctuary of the Guiding North Star. The Emperor, Empress, consorts, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Minister of Rites listened to the Crown Princess and Giselle describe what they had found in their assault on Tianming Fort.

"The paperwork will take time," Esmaralde conceded. "But we have ten dead previously abducted martial artists – and a dozen living ones."

"Prime Minister," said Consort Su, "earlier you summarized the problematic nature of evidence in this case. In order for the Crown Princess to manufacture the evidence actually recovered, however, she would have been required to travel back in time, repeatedly, to abduct the martial artists at the right moment. Is that what happened?"

"No," conceded the Prime Minister.

"Then the Third Prince acted correctly," said Consort Su.

"He did not act correctly," said the Prime Minister. "But he did act."

"And Tianming Duke was a traitor," said Consort Su. "He opposed the Emperor's reforms and tried to raise an army to fight them."

"Twenty martial artists cannot overthrow the Dynasty," said the Prime Minister.

"Twenty were found," said Consort Jin. "That does not mean there were only twenty."

"Even a hundred are no threat to the Dynasty," said the Prime Minister.

"Is that so?" asked Consort Su. "How many people in this room could the Crown Princess alone kill right now?"

"Distasteful," said the Prime Minister. "Equally valid would be to ask how many members of this private army the Crown Princess could kill. We know it is at least ten. But I agree that Tianming Duke opposed the reforms and sought to push back against the diminishment of the nobility."

"Who diminished the nobility?" asked Consort Su.

"The Emperor," said the Prime Minister.

"Tianming Due is dead," said the Emperor. "His family has fled. I would not have executed him for what we know. People may advocate for their causes. People may patronize the martial arts societies. It has never been my intention to abolish the Tianming Dukes. Minister of Rites?"

Parsifal narrowed his eyes but did not argue. The Minister of Rites saluted.

"Identify a cadet branch of the family and pick a young member to elevate," said the Emperor. "For now, the Crown Princess will take command of the Tianming Guard."

"Your Majesty," said the Prime Minister. "The Crown Princess killed…."

"Do you think I don't understand that?" sighed the Emperor.

"I raise the issue only to understand it myself," he said.

"She has established her qualifications to be in charge," said the Emperor. "With her in charge, the Tianming Guard won't worry that it will become the target of another conspiracy. Obviously the Crown Princess will kill whoever conspires against her."

"I understand," said the Prime Minister.

"Not yet," said the Crown Prince. "The Third Prince no longer needs to confine himself to Peach Topaz Palace. Dismissed."

The Emperor stood and left. The princes were polite.

"Your brother has made more progress with the Mound," the Crown Prince told Parsifal. "You should join him. Perhaps after you get a little more sleep."

Third Prince - Pearl Cloud Attendant Awakened Parsifal