His Highness the Duke (27 page)

were the first to go. Some looked upset by the interruption in the ceremonies. He knew

that they would pout that he‘d chosen, after all these years, a woman not like them.

Most likely, they would consider it an insult that a criminal would be his bride over the

richest, most well-bred women in the land. Jin hated to admit it, but
he
found it to be a

bit of an insult. He again glanced around for his grandfather. The man was gone.

See if I ever leave you offerings again, old man.

178

His Highness The Duke

When the royal family was alone, the emperor relaxed. Stepping down from his

throne, he went to his son. Jin‘s brothers followed suit, joining them on the hall floor.

The empress stayed on her seat, not moving as she looked at her boys.

―Jin, are you crazy? She‘s a criminal. We don‘t even know what she was arrested

for,‖ Haun said. ―How could you pick her?‖

―Her crime has to be serious, if the guards dare to interrupt the ceremony for it,‖

added Shen. He was the most contemplative of the brothers and often spoke with a

sound mind.

―Jin—‖ Haun demanded.

―Stop,‖ the empress broke in, standing. She slowly made her way down from the

raised platform from her throne. Their mother was regal and beautiful—a true ruler.

Gracefully, she touched Jin‘s cheek, running her finger lightly over his jaw. ―He could

not help himself, could you my son? You saw her and just had to have her.‖

―Grandf—‖ Jin began. His mother slid her hand over his mouth, leaving her

palm pressed against his cheek as her thumb moved to still his lips. She shook her head,

her serious eyes telling him to be quiet.

―Lian,‖ the emperor ordered. ―Go retrieve the guards. We must find out what

Jin‘s bride is charged with. And see if they know who she is. If they don‘t know, you

have my permission to access the intergalactic database to find out.‖

Lian obeyed. Jin knew his father was worried about the family honor. The

emperor would not want the scandal of his son marrying a criminal. If her deeds

weren‘t that bad, she could be pardoned in light of the situation.

―There is still time,‖ Haun said. ―The astrologers‘ readings… Madame Eng could

announce the obvious imprudence of the match. Undoubtedly the stars will not agree

with such a joining. She is not like us.‖

―Let us meet the young woman first, my sons,‖ the empress said, still studying

Jin, ―before we are to judge her. There is a reason Jin was compelled by her. Perhaps

this is fate.‖

179

Michelle M. Pillow

Haun nodded once, but he wasn‘t happy. Jin was surprised to hear his mother

talk favorably about fate. He knew her to still be bitter about Mei‘s departure. It was a

fact she blamed on her own grandmother, Zhang An, who guarded the Sacred Chamber

and often divined the family‘s futures. An‘s prediction with Mei hadn‘t been completely

forthcoming as she manipulated the situation. If the empress had her say, Mei would

have been married to a Líntiānese prince, Song Lok, whose family lived across the

Satlyun River, ruling the only other dynasty on the planet.

―Shen, go tell your sister Fen of this news and send a communication to Mei,‖ the

empress said. ―We must appear pleased in this, otherwise there will be suspicion of our

family. Haun, I beseech you, go welcome the woman to our palace and make sure her

every comfort is met.‖

To any other, it would seem odd sending Haun to greet an arrested woman, but

Jin knew his mother sent the oldest prince to ascertain the security risk she posed. Haun

was an honorable man and the greatest of warriors. He might be a harsh judge, but he

would be fair. And, should the woman continue to prove volatile, he would be able to

easily subdue her.

―She is not to be allowed to roam free, not until we know more,‖ the emperor

said. ―Jin, it will be your responsibility to see to her.‖

Jin would‘ve smiled if he wasn‘t so irritated. When he was alone with his

parents, he said, ―Grandfather Manchu came to me, or more to the point, took over me.

I had no will to stop this.‖

―We warned you about the compelling force of the ancestors when a match was

to be made,‖ the emperor said. His lips curled slightly, as if he was suppressing a laugh

at the thought.

―Compelling is one thing, but possession?‖ Jin shook his head. ―Certainly if we

announce what happened, the people will understand. I can‘t be expected to marry a…

a criminal.‖

180

His Highness The Duke

―No, my son, the people will not understand. They will believe it an even

stronger sign that you are meant to be together. One does not dispute the ancestors in

such things,‖ his father said.

―All ancestors were once human and not all humans act with logic,‖ Jin

mumbled.

―Very true,‖ the empress agreed.

―Maybe your grandfather knew you needed a push.‖ His father smiled, giving a

small laugh. He didn‘t even try to hide his amusement. ―How many years now have

you been avoiding even considering finding a bride? You and your brothers walk in

here, eyes bored as you look through each and every woman presented. You have never

considered the possibility. Perhaps your grandfather knew that.‖

―He should have told us beforehand,‖ the empress said, ―before meddling.‖

―And perhaps it was just time,‖ the emperor stated. ―The one meant for you

presented herself. What else could be done?‖

―He‘s an old fool, that‘s what he is!‖ All eyes turned to the keeper of the secret

chamber, Jin‘s great-grandmother, Zhang An. The three living royals bowed to the

woman in respect, though the empress‘ movements were stiff. Empress Zhang was not

talking to her dead grandmother whom she blamed for leading her daughter Mei away.

The spirit was dressed in the old style. Her long sleeves swept over the floor as

she drifted to them. The delicate silk gown was made even more so by the fact that it

traveled on air. Every movement was silent, like the breeze. Her wrinkled, pale face was

transparent, shading with each subtle movement until it appeared smooth as a young

girl‘s. She shifted over them, as if threatening to blow away completely. Long, dark hair

streaked with white flowed around her shoulders. Tradition from her time of life would

have had her put it up, but An was proud of her locks and, being dead, didn‘t have to

listen to all traditions.

―She‘s a thief of the worst kind,‖ An accused. ―She is not fit to be part of this

family.‖

181

Michelle M. Pillow

―What do you mean, thief?‖ The emperor stepped closer to her, studying the old

woman carefully.

―Exactly that,‖ An returned in irritation. Out of all his ancestors, they saw Zhang

An the most. Since her death, she had been residing in the sacred room hidden within

the walls of the Hall of Infinite Wisdom behind the thrones. However, lately she‘d been

of sour temperament—ever since Empress Zhang refused to leave her offerings of wine.

―She tried to steal the phoenix. If not for my guarding it, she would‘ve succeeded in

taking one of the last pieces of precious jade! And you know what that will do to this

family‘s reign. Emperor Song wouldn‘t hesitate to claim what is ours if he feels we are

no longer capable of ruling. Within a generation our time would be over.‖

The comment left them speechless. The phoenix was a symbol of not only their

royal power, but also a receptacle to that power. It fed them, guided them. Jin closed his

eyes. What cruel game was this the spirits played? Were they so bored as to guide him

to a woman who wished to take all his family had? What had she to gain by taking such

an important artifact? There were other things in the palace that were easier to get to for

a thief and would provide just as much profit. Why the Jade Phoenix?

Then an idea struck him. An mentioned Emperor Song. He was the only man

who had anything to gain by his family‘s fall.

Emperor Song was ruler of the only other dynasty on Líntiān. It was located

across the Satlyun River, which flowed through the exact center of their planet,

separating the territories of Muntong in the east and Singhai in the west. The river

circled from north to south. It was a marvel of nature, so wide it was impossible to

swim across. It was one of the reasons that the two empires did not fight. Though they

didn‘t agree on much, peace was something the Líntiānese cherished. Or so the Zhang

family had thought.

Was Emperor Song tired of peace? Did he yearn to rule all of Líntiān? Jin had

never met the Emperor of Singhai, but Haun had. His older brother didn‘t seem too

impressed with the man. He said he was a snob. Or was Emperor Song still angry that

Haun had discovered the drug, chandoo, was being produced in his Lin Yao Mines?

182

His Highness The Duke

The Zhang family fought hard to protect the masses from the drug. It lured you in,

made you feel alive, but eventually would rot your brain and wear you down into a

worthless mass of nothingness. Emperor Song denied knowledge of the intergalactic

drug traders, but the Zhang family was unconvinced.

Was this just a plot to dethrone the Zhang family?

Slowly, Jin noticed all eyes were on him. He shook his head. This day was

supposed to be a day like any other. But now, he was engaged to a woman he knew

nothing about, to a woman whose face he‘d not even seen. The memory of her eyes

pierced him. Jade, just like what she tried to steal from them.

―By my will or not,‖ Jin said, taking a deep breath as he tried to figure out his

path. ―By my will or not, the words left my lips. Everyone heard them. I will honor my

decree and take the woman as my bride.‖

―You cannot!‖ An shook, her transparent figure rippling. ―To do so will grant her

immunity from this. This is not the path. It can‘t be! I would have seen it. For once she is

your bride she won‘t be put on trial for taking what becomes hers as well as yours. Our

possessions will become hers and hers ours. Not that she could possibly have anything

we want. Think about what you are doing!‖

―I must, Grandmother.‖ Jin turned to his parents, knowing full and well he was

changing his tune from a few minutes before. ―To back out of my word now would be

to dishonor the Zhang name. The declaration was public and witnessed by many. How

would it look if the first of your children to declare marriage backed out later like he

was indecisive? The people will be angered.‖

―You are wise, my son,‖ the emperor said, nodding.

―What? No!‖ Zhang An screeched. ―What if she steals the jade and leaves you?

You don‘t know these outsiders. They are not like us, Jin. They are deceitful liars—‖

―Odd, Grandmother. When you sent Mei to marry an outsider, you didn‘t seem

to mind them. What is it? They‘re fine, so long as you choose them?‖ the empress

demanded.

183

Michelle M. Pillow

―I did not choose for Mei. The fates chose. I only told her of her destiny,‖ An

said, lifting her chin. ―Do not be angry with me, child, for divining the future. You are

lucky I tell you anything at all.‖ The spirit‘s face became tight as she mumbled,

―Ungrateful woman, refusing to give me my offerings.‖

Jin hid his smile. Zhang An liked her ‗offerings‘. Wine in particular.

―Perhaps Father spoke on behalf of the fates as—‖ the empress began. Jin sighed,

his grandfather hadn‘t said anything about fate.

―Zhang Manchu is my son,‖ An interrupted, her image fluttering. ―I think I

know what—‖

―Please,‖ Jin tried to insert into the argument. He wasn‘t in the mood to listen to

them fight about Mei‘s marriage. Prince Jarek was a good man, the empress knew that,

but he‘d taken Mei with him into space. His sister was happy and in love with a child

on the way. To Jin, there wasn‘t really anything else to discuss about the matter. Mei

had chosen her fate, accepted it with open arms. Jin wished he could do the same. But

his situation was different.

―What if she was tried for her crimes before you married?‖ Zhang An glided

forward, her words merely a whisper on the breeze that came with her. Her milky eyes

stared into him, eerily searching his depths. Jin had to look away before the woman saw

too many of his thoughts. Her voice low, An continued, ―If she were to receive death—‖

―Death?‖ Jin repeated, frowning. He recalled his new bride‘s eyes. They haunted

him with their anger. A pain unfurled in his gut and he couldn‘t bear the thought of

killing her. It was strange that he‘d feel such, but there it was. ―Isn‘t that a little severe?‖

I just want to discover her purpose. My defense of her has nothing to do with the fact that

her body sets mine on fire.

―Such a harsh punishment when she didn‘t even succeed in her crime?‖ the

empress asked.

―I told you not to defend your father‘s actions to me,‖ An told the empress. ―He

was my son and even I don‘t understand why he would betray us in such a way.‖

184

His Highness The Duke

Grandfather betrayed them by making him choose a bride? That makes no sense. If An

said the man was bored and meddled, he would understand that. But betrayal? What exactly was

going on? What was this all about? And what were the ancestors not telling them?