Fei was happy to see him stay at least.
He of course asked him what had changed his mind, and Al had simply answered that he realized there was more to Xing than what he had experienced and he might as well experience more. He was the Ambassador after all, he should learn everything that he could, shouldn't he? It was a good enough reason for Fei at least, who was just happy to have one of his only friends stay.
The rest of the court was far less happy about the change of plans, but Mei announced during a particularly riled session of court that he was welcome as long as he wanted to be there and abided by the rules of etiquette and the laws of the land.
She avoided looking directly at him as she said it.
Rikui's plans were already more or less set in stone, so she still left the same day that Al was scheduled to. Both he and Fei saw her to the train to wish her farewell. She would be taking the train to the edge of the Shu Province then would have to hire someone to take her, probably by cart, the rest of the way to the Chang Province.
"So what are we going to do?" Fei asked him as they walked away from the train station through the streets of Xing and back to the palace. Al raised an eyebrow at him.
"What do you mean?"
"You said there's more to Xing to experience! Let's experience it!" Fei's eyes were shinning with excitement as he talked, almost running into a couple of different people. "Your brother is going to have his baby in six months; we should go see as much as we can! We can explore it together! There are parts of Xing I've never seen. I would be honored to have you visit my home in the Bao Province. From there we could explore the South, and then perhaps go to the Chang Province!"
"Fei," Al said quickly, before he could get carried away, "I'm touched, and I would be honored to, some day. But for right now I think I need to stay here in the Capital."
"If something goes wrong with your brother's baby," he said, nodding immediately. "Of course you'll want to be in a position where you could receive word and leave quickly, I completely understand."
Al smiled at his friend. That wasn't exactly the reason… but there was no harm in letting him believe that. After all, Mei would be mortified if he said anything about what had happened to anyone. So if Fei was under the impression he was staying here for Ed's sake, then that was probably for the best.
"There is still plenty of the capital to explore! I've shown you what I know. We can learn about more together! Unless of course you don't want to…" he finished very quickly.
"No, no! I'd love to explore more of the capital with you," he said, smiling. "It would be my honor."
"There is no more honor than in helping a friend."
28 May 1920
If you had told Hua Pang ten years ago that he would be here, he would have laughed at you until his sides hurt or he couldn't breathe anymore. Whichever came last.
Yet here he was.
He used to think that people he was now standing among were fools to cry their injustices to an uncaring world. The act itself would get you nothing except a sore throat. Yet now he not along stood among them, but he stood in front of them.
"I fought for my Empress like every able bodied loyal citizen! I fought and killed and bleed and watch my friends die to protect her and my home! I was a prisoner of war for two long years in Gondappai and still did my duty to my country and Empress! But since returning home, I've been turned away from a job that was rightfully mine. I've starved more than I did on the battlefield!"
There were yells of outrage from the crowd. "I love my Empress and I love Xing! I've proven that a hundred times over! But it is time we the people of Xing get what we deserve! A fair chance to put food on our tables! A chance to see our children educated! A chance to make our ancestors proud instead of ashamed as the filth that's been made out of our lives!"
More shouts of agreement.
"The governor has just put into effect another law that will take the money our children need to eat from us to line his own pockets. If we do not raise our voices, our lives might as well be forfeit!"
"We will raise our voices today," one of his partners, a man named Yen, said, turning to face the crowd. "We will raise our voices only. Today is not the day for violence. There will be no lives forfeited, only improved!"
More roars from the crowd.
They began to march forward.
Hua smiled as they march, moving on the governor's house. He finally felt like he was doing something. Even if the results so far had been minimal… they had been results. He and the other protestors had managed to get an entire business to stop hiring only those from the lower classes that reduced wages. Their efforts had gotten the local trains to accept business from individual farmers instead of only noble-sponsored workers.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, however, he knew that this was not going to be one of those days.
The shots were fired before they even had time to say anything.
There was instant screaming as people began ducking for cover and hiding. He had managed to duck to the ground, probably because of his time on the front lines, but some of his friends were not so lucky. As more bullets fired into their crowd, he heard more screaming and shouted but also more of the groaning characteristic of a battlefield.
Hua began to swear under his breath, crawling along the ground until he reached a large potted plant that should hide him enough for him to get stock of what was going on.
Two minutes, and their carefully planned protest had been turned into chaos. He saw men screaming and running for their lives, trying to escape. All the while the forced, who had to be men hired by the governor, continue to fire. Hua noticed a clear path to the still open gates and bolted.
"Don't say a single word, Alphonse Elric," Ling said as soon as he caught side of Al standing there on the train platform. "I know exactly what you're going to say, and of course you can!"
Al frowned. "I don't'—"
"Of course you do," he said, smiling as he pulled a picture out of the fold of his robes and handed it to the blond.
The image was of a pudgy, black haired little baby. His eyes were shut tight so Al couldn't tell whether he got his mother or his father's eyes, but his face was most definitely his mother's.
"I have more in my trunk if you want to look at them. Lanny refused to be in a single picture, but since I couldn't bring her with me, I had to bring some part of home with me and a picture of my perfect son will have to do." Al had to laugh as he helped the Prince grab some of his luggage.
"I'll have to look at those later. It's the least I can do after what you're doing for me here."
"I was surprised to get your call. This was about one of the last thing I expected you to ask me for."
"I realize that it was probably unexpected. But… I've opened my eyes a little while I was out here and I want to help."
"You want to help the Empress, that's understandable," Ling said, nodding. He handled his own luggage, even when the driver of the car Mei had sent to come pick up Ling tried to put it in the trunk for him. "She's way in over her head."
Al stopped and stared at him. "How do you know that?"
"Even if I'm not actually in court, Al, I have my connections. I know pretty much everything going on right now, so no need to catch me up. Debtors knocking at the door, upset nobility, uprising poor, hardly able to move an inch without someone trying to blow her up. She's looking for allies. I don't know how you got involved in this Al, probably you sticking your nose where it shouldn't be— Oh, don't be embarrassed, it's what you and your brother are good at— but you came to me because I mentioned being happy with the fact that Mei became Empress instead of me. I'm willing to help. But she's going to need a lot more than just me to pull anything off."
"That's another reason I asked you. The Yaos have a lot of powerful friends, you'd be able to bring in more supporters."
They got into the car on opposite ends, leaving the seat next to the driver open. "That's a lot to ask, Alphonse. It means pulling in a lot of favors I may not be willing to pull."
"You owe me, though."
Ling smirked. "And why are you willing to use your favors from me to help her out?"
"Because she's a friend," Al said evenly. "And I help my friends. Like you're going to help me, right?"
"Look who's a politician after all," Ling said, the smirk morphing into a grin. "It's been a long time since I went to the palace. Not since the Empress's ascension."
"I hadn't realized how beautiful it is. And the food is great. You weren't lying."
"I never lie about food, Alphonse Elric. Ever."
"But you do exaggerate," Al pointed out, causing the Yao Prince to grin.
"Perhaps a little. But I wasn't this time, now was I?"
"No," he had to admit. "You weren't."
The car ride from the train station to the palace took about twice the time it should have because of the traffic. The streets had been designed with foot travel in mind, so the roads were often small and filled with people. The Imperial symbol helped cleared the congestion somewhat, but it was still close to sun down by the time they got to the palace.
The guards let them in without any trouble — Al scowled at the fact that they let Ling in without a second chance while he had had to be thoroughly searched and then inquired after but oh well — and they made their way to straight to where the Empress held her private audiences. Al hadn't spent private time with her since the morning he promised to be her friend, but he could tell from when their eyes happened to connect during court meetings that she hadn't forgotten.
"Ling…" she said hesitantly.
"Little sister— sorry, Empress," he said, bowing his head in her direction. She nodded at him, crown dipping dangerously.
"Thank you for coming. I'm sure the Ambassa— I'm sure Al's told you why you're here." He had had to tell her why Ling was here too. After the phone call, Al wasn't sure whether the Yao Prince actually was going to come. Then he got the call that morning from him telling him he was getting on the train heading there right now. She hadn't been happy about the idea until Al reminded her that she needed the help whether she wanted it to not. No one would think she was weak.
He could tell she still had her reservations, but she gestured for Ling to take a seat and took one herself. Al joined them.
"I'm willing to support you, Empress."
"I'm willing to offer you some position of power if you wish it."
"Save your positions for those that are more easily bought, Your Highness. You're going to need them."
"I am not going to buy my supporters, Yao," she snapped. "That is one thing I refuse to do. The corruption of our father's reign has to end."
"I completely agree. But to beat someone at their own game, you have to play it. You have my support because you're my favorite sister—"
"I'm your favorite sister?" she asked, looking taken aback. "But I tried to kill you and your wife. And I beat you to the Philosopher's Stone."
"Yes, but you also didn't kill me the entire time we crossed the desert back to Xing. And you were easier to converse with than Lan Fan. You were also sympathetic about Fu's death. You didn't make any rude comments and you watched over his body as if it was your own ancestor's. That meant more than you might think to Lan Fan. None of our brothers and sisters would have done that. So yes, you're my favorite sister."
"Thank you…"
"Thank you," Ling said pointedly. "But not all of them feel the same way I do about you. So you're going to need something a bit more potent. Figure out what their pet projects are. Figure out what they want and use that to your advantage. The Chen family would love to have some sort of potent connection to you and your family. The Po's too. The Han would kill for a chance at some of the power the Yao wield, so I'll be able to offer them something." He leaned forward, resting his chin on his interlocked fingers.
"Pick and choose your allies. If you're looking to make some sort of move to raise money for the debts, don't turn to the richest families, they're going to hang onto their money for all they're worth. The poor don't have any to give. But if you offer the middle families the chance to become more powerful in exchange for their paying off parts of the debt? They'll jump on the chance."
"And how do you suggest I make this proposal?"
"Start with figuring out what they want. That's all this is, just give and take. There's a fine balance, and right now you're on a tight rope."
"What's beneath?" she asked, rising an eyebrow.
"Crocodiles," he said with a completely straight face. "That won't hesitate to tear you apart."