Chapter Three

The Yang Princess

Tuesday

Ling was nervous about this meeting. First because his half sister was a day late, which didn't speak well for the outcome of this meeting, and second because he was hoping that wasn't a sign that he was going to have news similar to last week.

Ling had only met Kenja Yang once, when he had been seven. At the time his father had called all of his living children to the palace to officially meet them. Ling had been escorted by his usual team of guards and his mother. It had been his last trip with her. The entire time he had been terrified. Even then, the idea of being around so many people who wanted him dead was terrifying.

That was a large part of why he was doing this. He didn't want any other children to grow up with that terror. The knowledge that at any time, you could wake up to a knife at your throat or your mother's corpse. He didn't want that for his younger siblings, and he certainly didn't want that for his son…sons. Children should not live with such fear.

He was an idealist. A fact that he had accepted long ago. However, if there was even a sliver of a chance that this generation could grow up with the simple lives described in story books, then he had to do his best to make it happen. To be honest with himself, until his journey across the desert he hadn't believed that such lives were real. He learned from watching the people of Amestris that it was possible. Even in the constant shadow of war, children there grew up loved.

Not all of them, and it was far from ideal, but it was better than the childhood he had been given. Better than the one his wife had been given as well. The Elrics…well to be fair the Elrics had suffered enough that they were not a good example of what he wanted to build. But the lives they lead now, the lives of friends they had introduced him to over the time he'd spent there. Now he knew his dream was possible, but the first step was these meetings.

Kenja Yang was announced, and a young woman who looked to Ling a lot like he would expect Mei to appear in a few years, was lead inside. Beside her came not family members but guards. It was entirely possible that she, like himself, no longer had a mother. It was sad that she brought no cousins or friends though. Although perhaps that was simply caution on her part judging by the barely shielded fear radiating off of her.

Kenja wore her hair back simply in a double braid wrapped around her head almost like a crown. Purple ribbons weaved into the braids, and her dress was of the same color. She kneeled on the forward cushioned stool without a word, her eyes remaining on the ground the entire time. Her guards, after surveying the room, reluctantly kneeled behind her but remained stiff and alert.

"Welcome Kenja Yang. Thank you for agreeing to come." Ling said using the kindest voice he could muster. "Was there trouble along the road?"

"Yes my lord. We were accosted by a band of assassins a few miles out of the capitol. I apologize for our late arrival." Kenja responded, finally looking up for a brief moment.

"It is nothing." Ling said waiving away her late arrival. "You can hardly be held at fault for the delay."

"Thank you my lord." Kenja said, relaxing slightly at his dismissal. "I have brought gifts, to honor your ascension."

One of the guards stood and brought forward a small cherrywood box. Ling's own guard made sure to take it and peer inside to ensure Ling's safety before handing it to the crown prince. Ling then opened the box, to find a pair of jade dragons entwined in gold. It was a beautiful statue. Ling nodded as he placed the lid back on the box and handed back to the guard to be put away.

"A most beautiful gift. Many thanks." Ling said politely. "Now, please relax and enjoy was break from the road. I've arranged room s for you to stay in while at the palace. I would invite you to join me for supper in the south garden this evening."

"Thank you, sire." Kenja replied. She was led from the room by one of the maids and Ling finally relaxed a little. He had sensed nothing hostile from her, perhaps she would be easy to persuade.

South Garden

7:00pm

Ling had debated the situation greatly, but in the end had Mei stay behind for this dinner, though he had Lan Fan join him. He had asked Mei to remain in the rooms as extra protection to his sons. She had agreed with only a minimal amount of pouting when he assured her they would not be gaining another roommate.

Ling and Lan Fan arrived in the garden a few minutes before Kenja. They had just been seated when one of the maids lead the princess out to the table. Ling thanked the woman, and dismissed her before greeting his sister. "Please. Sit. I invited you to join us for dinner, not to watch me eat."

"Thank you, sire." Kenja replied as she took the third seat.

"When we're out here, or anywhere other than in front of father's advisors or the throne rooms, please call me Ling." Ling said with a wide smile.

"Very well. Please, then call me Kenja." She replied, relaxing further. In truth, this meeting had made her very nervous. Though she had heard rumors that Ling was trying to unite the clans, and had already adopted two clans into his own, but on the other hand the history of their people said it was just as likely he would have all of his siblings removed before doing so.

They ate in silence for a few minutes before Ling decided now was as good a time as any to start the conversation that would hopefully lead to peace negotiations. "So, I assume you are wondering why you were invited to visit the palace."

"I admit I was curious." She said as she placed her spoon back down.

"If I remember correctly, you have always been an advocate for clan unification. Stop me if I am incorrect. I wish to open talks between the Yao clan and Yang clan." Ling began. "Please continue eating. The soup is not nearly as good once it has grown cold."

"My lord takes his food very seriously." Lan Fan said, speaking for the first time since they arrived downstairs.

"Lan. I told you a hundred times. I am always Ling to you. Always. You are my wife, and the mother of my son."

"I had heard rumors that you had returned with a bride and heir." Kenja said with a smile. "As well as the prize that won the throne."

"I heard rumors that you refused to search." Ling said in response, his tone light.

"I did. I and Chen Li both refused to participate. I can not speak for her reasoning but mine was simple. I was not going to leave my clan vulnerable while I chased fairy tales." Kenja said, then realized how it sounded. "Of course, I doubt you had such issues. The Yao clan is considerably bigger."

"It's true, I didn't have to choose between providing for my clan or chasing the stone." Ling said with another waive. "I understand that you never really cared to have the throne either. I remember you sating so at the birthday dinner we attended as children."

"This is true. I do not find myself embarrassed that my younger brother has won. At least it was a kind one."

"Thank you. I assume then you are open to the idea of peace between our clans?"

"Yes, I feel that would be ideal. I understand if you wish to remove my title, but please, I beg you allow me to remain with my clan. They need me to continue to thrive."

"Do not be so rash." Ling said with a frown. "I appreciate that you are willing to give up so much for your people, but I have no intention of removing you from your place or title."

"… Historically-"

"I am aware of our history. Just last week, I was faced with Huan Zhang. He and two others are the sole survivors of the Zhang clan." Ling said and paused at Kenja's gasp. Apparently, word hadn't spread just yet. "I was faced with the choice of absorbing his clan or exiling Huan. He's currently upstairs eating dinner with Mei Chang in my apartments. The other two members of his clan prepared this dinner."

"So. The rumors are completely true for a change. You simply desire peace between clans."

"What I desire, is for no other child to wake to the knowledge that their mother was murdered for the 'crime' of being the forced bride of the emperor. I want the children of our great nation to grow up in a kingdom of peace." Ling said. "I want my son to live a happy and long life."

"We have similar ideals then."

"I had hoped I remembered that correctly. Now enough of that for tonight. Tomorrow is soon enough to worry about details. Tell me more about yourself."

"Well. I married against father's wishes six months ago, to a young man far below my station. I do not regret it, though I feel it must be made known before we continue."

"Lan Fan was my bodyguard. My primary bodyguard for the last three years. She is now my wife, and the mother of my son. I am glad you have found happiness, as I have. Traditions are not always the right way to go."

Thursday

Kenja would be leaving later today, they had managed to make a preliminary agreement for their peace treaty. Ling had decided yesterday while they were in negotiations that he liked and trusted her enough to introduce her to his family.

After breakfast, he asked that she be summoned to his private rooms, so he let her meet Mei and his sons. She arrived, just a nervous as she had been on the first day, before he lead her into the sitting room. Mei bristled when she saw their visitor, but Ling lightly cuffed her head and told her to be nice.

After Mei had been settled, though grumbling in the corner, Ling asked the boys to be brought in to him. Kenja was then introduced to Huan Zhang Yao and Ping Yao. Ping, being ten weeks old, didn't care about the newcomer instead looking around until he spotted his parents and reached for them. Huan, on the other hand, was just as friendly to Kenja as he had been when Ling met him and climbed right into her lap to stare at her seriously.

She shot Ling a questioning glance at the child's behavior. Ling shrugged and said "He seems to like pretty much everyone. I don't know too much yet. He's only been here a week and a half. He did decide last night that Lan is 'Mama' though."

"I am certain I can convince him to call you Papa soon." Lan said with a smile.

"My luck, he'll decide that title goes to Ed when he gets here in a couple weeks." Ling grumbled good naturally. His best friend had arranged his deal for Ping and Ling had no fear that Ed was going to steal away his children, but he enjoyed joking about it with Lan Fan.

"Edward has his hands full with his own son and country Ling. He doesn't want to steal yours." Lan Fan said with a small smile.

"Edward?" Kenja asked.

"Edward Elric. He is coming to my coronation as an official representative of Amestris. I intend to negotiate trade with them." Ling said. "I met Ed while across the desert and he became a friend. He's my age actually, but fairly important in his government as is his father who is also coming"

"I see. Well then, best of luck with the negotiations." She said as she smiled down at the child. A few moments later she managed to talk him off her lap and into Mei's. She didn't want to say anything that could hurt the peace talks, but children that she didn't know made her uncomfortable. She was not one to feel the pull of motherhood. Her friends and advisors assured her that it would change as she grew older and that she was still young. She hoped so because she knew she was expected to produce at least one heir, if not for the throne then for her clan.

Shortly after that, she asked to be excused to finish making preparations for her departure. Ling agreed, but reminded her to be back in the city in a month. She and her highest ranking clan members were to be here for Ling's coronation at which time he would announce their treaty making it official.

After they had seen Kenji off, along with her guards, he asked his siter and wife once more what they thought of his plan. Mei seemed more hopeful of it working now than she had when he presented it, but still thought it was going to be a difficult battle that could possibly lead to a civil war if certain factions felt he was upsetting the old ways too greatly.

Lan Fan remained impartial to the plan, stating as she had several times, that she was too new to politics outside of protection to give a fair opinion. Both Ling and Mei assumed that meant she agreed with Mei but didn't feel right siding against her husband. Ling was a bit frustrated with their opinion, though he admitted to himself it was his concern as well. As long as he could win over the majority it shouldn't matter. He just needed to hope that most of his people wanted to change the way things were done.

So far as he had seen he felt he had a fairly decent chance. He admitted to himself that he was counting on Edward's arrival with his remarkable appearance to the Sage to help sway them. It was after all a factor in why Ling himself originally spoke to Ed. He knew it had a lot to do with why Mei sought them out as well.

Ling just hoped it all worked according to plan. Since there was nothing more he could do about it now though, he decided to spend the rest of the weekend spoiling and bonding with his children. Huan and Ping were always a joy to spend time with for him, and unlike with what he saw with Yuery, Ling had the benefit of being busy enough that he rarely had to see the cranky side of things. Ling wasn't entirely sure that was the way he wanted things, but he had made his choices and had to live with them.

He was not going to be able to be as involved in his care for his boys as Ed got to be with Yuery, but he refused to be as distant as his own father or anywhere close to it. Ed and Roy were the framework on which he was basing his role as a father. Truthfully, he didn't know many fathers. In his clan growing up, most of the fathers doubled as guards and soldiers and were rarely around. Fu had been the closest he had seen to a father before he'd gone west and the man was not comforting. He loved his granddaughter, but he also expected her to do her duty without fail.

No, Ling wanted to not be a father but rather a Dad. He was sure he could pull it off, as long as he balanced everything carefully. He needed to make the most of times like this, Huan was sitting on the floor next to him as he held Ping in his lap. He was reading them a story book and cuddling them. After this he intended to take them for a walk in the garden, and then sneak down to the kitchen to steal some snacks and let Huan play with the girl who had come to live here with him, Boa.

Ling had done this a couple of times last week and over last weekend. He had found that Boa was a rather shy but charming child. She preferred to stick close to Ai and followed her around the kitchen happily. Ling was trying to think up a better solution for the two of them. It didn't seem right to him to keep Huan's aunt as a kitchen aide, it was a matter of finding a better placement for them both.

He would eventually think of something he vowed as he watched the little girl happily play with the toddler and stare in fascination at the baby. He asked her if she wanted to hold Ping and she stared at him wide eyed before nodding slowly. So he instructed her to sit down and placed the baby in her lap. He chuckled as he envisioned Ed twitching over the way she held the tiny boy as he adjusted her hold.