Chapter 13: The Tale of Wang Jin- The First Scribe of the Eastern Empire
197.5 Leagues from Dongjing, 5 Leagues Away from Cangzhou
Wang Jin's eyes widened in surprise at who she saw, and then a smile slowly appeared on her face, her eyes relaxing as she looked warmly at him.
"... I should have known," she said, with a slight shake of her head.
Before her, stood an exceptionally tall person dressed in a fine light purple silk brocade, his long black hair bound in an elaborate bun with a small gold crown in front. Embedded in its center was a brilliant pearl, as great as a dove's egg. Sunlight reflected off its surface creating a sheen, akin to starlight on seafoam. Binding the crown to the bun was a long silver hairpin with a handle, like a tiny rapier.
Fair of skin, handsome, with the eyes of a grey phoenix, he was cleanshaven and looked not a day over 25. This normally would have shocked Wang Jin, for she had only met him three times in her life. The first was during her adolescence on a trip to Dongjing. The second was when he personally congratulated her when she officially became Head Arms Instructor. Finally, the third time was during a retreat/training experience with her apprentices in Cangzhou.
He had not aged since all those years ago when Wang Jin's father met with him in a tavern. For this was none other than...
"Didn't expect ya to know Lord Chai," commented Liu Tang with a smirk, interrupting her thoughts. Wang Jin's smile morphed into an irritating glower as she forgot that Liu Tang was still there.
Lord Chai responded in the same dialect, "didn't expect ya to have Dongjing's Head Army Instructor hidin' in your carriage, Liu Tang." This caused the Red-Haired Devil to laugh, as Lord Chai walked closer to Wang Jin.
"Oh, I don't have that role now, Lord Chai," she said more to herself, looking briefly toward the ground. Then her eyes caught Liu Tang, hands covering his face as if he was utterly amused by something. She gave the Red-Haired Devil a glare, unsure what he found funny.
"Mmm, but as you well know, friend," Lord Chai said, his voice switching over to Wang Jin's dialect, "being an instructor is one of those roles that once you possess it, it will never leave you."
His lips formed a smile, revealing teeth whiter than a lily, as he continued, "and did we not just go over this recently? I know we share the same given name, but you may call me Chai Jin (柴進), or 'Little Whirlwind.' While I am technically a Lord, I no longer desire dominion. Bowls of wine with heroes, cups of tea with friends, 'discuss talk and tale, only laugh and gale'... those are my passions now."
Wang Jin smiled back, "there's nothing little about you though, old friend," she said, then giving Liu Tang a sharp look as he had laughed yet again, "though... I need to remind you that what you find 'recent' isn't what we find 'recent.'"
Lord Chai chuckled, responding, "a difference of perception, perhaps! But still, the phrase 'time flies' applies here. It truly felt like a short time since you and your three students were traveling through Cangzhou. But now I notice something different about you..."
Then he peered at the back of Wang Jin's head, his mirth evaporating, leading her to feel a little uncomfortable.
She asked, "do you see an odd growth on the back of my head? What are you looking-?"
Upon looking at the smirk on Liu Tang's face as he unbound and straightened his long crimson hair, she realized immediately what Chai Jin was looking at.
"What foul thing did this?" muttered Lord Chai.
"... can we talk about that in Cangzhou?" Wang Jin asked, though without annoyance, for she was a little happier knowing that he noticed her short hair.
He did not nod, but tilted his head as the mirth returned, though his grey eyes lost a little of their sheen.
"Why, of course! For that is why you are on these seldom-traveled roads. Though this time..." he then moved towards the carriage, his eyes lazily looking for a moment through the slightly open window where somebody (most likely Shi Jin) was peeking out.
"... Two people: one a stranger and the other an old friend," he commented.
A good feat of eyesight for a mortal, but to someone like Lord Chai, it was child's play. She took a glance at Liu Tang who did not look surprised at all. That confirmed it! By some cosmic coincidence, those two were acquainted already. If that were the case, that would explain a lot of things, from the disciplined horses to how the imperial carriage came into the hands of the Red-Haired Devil.
After all, Wang Jin knew that Lord Chai had a network of contacts and informants within Cangzhou and scattered throughout the realm. He valued gallantry, bravery, chivalry, intelligence, and wisdom, appearing to those he deemed worthy.
"If ya told me earlier..." said Liu Tang to her, interrupting her thoughts yet again, a growing smirk on his face. Wang Jin rolled her eyes. The smirks were getting on her nerves so she focused her attention instead on her eavesdropping student who most likely was the one peeking out of the open window.
"Student, it is rude to eavesdrop!" Wang Jin yelled, "come out now!"
To her surprise, her student exited the carriage looking confused rather than guilty.
"Master, I was not listening in! That was your..." then he noticed an inquisitive Lord Chai gazing at him.
"Well, you are going to introduce yourself, student, are you not?" she asked, ignoring the surprising fact that it was her mother that was listening in, "this is Lord Chai Jin of Cangzhou. He was the first scribe of the Eastern Empire and is an old family friend."
"I-of course, but... Wait, just, how old-?" rapidly sputtered Shi Jin as he bowed in respect, hand clasped, towards Lord Chai, "Shi Jin pays respects to you, honored sir!"
"No need for that!" exclaimed Chai Jin as he helped the young man up, "and for your information, I would be 9,788 years old in solar years, or 10,082 in lunar years. Or am I 63,421 years old in solar years, and 65,323 in lunar years? Time was a little different when I was young, for the world was indeed very different. Then we have our own reckoning in terms of age that would confuse you even more because our age rate differs from our various stages of... oh, you look quite confused. Just think of me as old, then, young one."
For Lord Chai was ancient. Ancient enough that people forgot what his name was before he became the First Scribe. So ancient that he would be considered old during the years legends walked the earth! Wang Jin could barely wrap her mind around the concept of anyone being older than human history itself! As for Shi Jin...
Shi Jin blinked a few times with a blank expression on his face. But at last, recognition dawned and with a confident smile, he said "you must be an elf then!"
"Or... I drank and survived the immortality elixir," retorted Lord Chai with a serious expression, "the arsenic and mercury were particularly delicious."
There was complete silence as now both Shi Jin and an eavesdropping Liu Tang looked confused. Wang Jin looked to the side, hiding the amused smile that was threatening to erupt on her face.
"Yer kiddin', right? Ya told me you were an elf," Liu Tang said.
"I am very perplexed," complained Shi Jin.
Wang Sheng's laughter rang from inside the carriage.
"Well, two out of four. Not bad, but perhaps I should stop reusing the same jokes," Lord Chai pondered.
Wang Jin coughed, then asked, "when was the last time you used that joke?"
"Only two years ago."
She chuckled, wondering if he had the same sense of humor before he was known as Chai Jin, or whether he was like water, shifting to different moods over the elf's exceptionally long duration on the earth.
Switching topic suddenly, as an elf would (for they were not tortoises!), he asked her apprentice, "you said you are Shi Jin? We share the same given name, do we not? I can draw it in the air for you."
Then suddenly, Lord Chai drew in the air what looked to be the reverse form of "進," except that Wang Jin knew that he was drawing it that way so that Shi Jin could see it as the accurate form of the character, rather than its reverse. An impressive spontaneous feat only a few humans could do, and none as quickly as Lord Chai did.
Unfortunately, she knew that Shi Jin would not be able to appreciate such reverse air calligraphy, because...
Shi Jin bowed apologetically, "forgive me, my lord. I am illiterate," he said.
A few seconds passed, and then to Wang Jin's surprise, Lord Chai responded, "there's a saying: 'Heroes do not know what books say.' There are advantages to not knowing the Empire's written language. Thus, I do not accept your apology because there is nothing to forgive."
Wang Jin frowned while Shi Jin smiled in joy.
"Hey!" Liu Tang interrupted, "how come ya didn't tell me that when I said I was illiterate?"
Lord Chai, switching dialects, turned and gave Liu Tang a stern look, then responded, "ya needed to be literate to understand the instructions I gave ya to take care of this here imperial carriage. Ya should be lucky that anonymous benefactor (he winked at Liu Tang) even gave ya that lead."
Liu Tang winked back, then the Red-Haired Devil noted, "I know, I know. Was just makin' sure you weren't favorin' that nine-dragon tattooed brat."
"Nine... dragon... tattooed," Lord Chai whispered, slowing his speech. He stood still for quite a while, and for a second Wang Jin feared that the elf's soul left his body. But then, Lord Chai glared quickly at Shi Jin, then gave a harsher glare to Wang Jin, surprising her until she realized something that slipped her mind.
Turning her head away from shame, she recalled the memory:
Lord Chai, like most elves, hated dragons. She remembered specifically years ago, while they were dining at Dongjing's finest restaurant, that once she brought up the Tale of Black Sword he went on quite a long rant:
"... we never knew what happened to our home! We do not know what caused The Cataclysm of our home to disappear forever. The grasses remembered not; the trees remembered not. Even the stones lacked an echo of the past we sought! Right now, I see the cause as dragon fire. Those deserters in that faraway war did not finish the job and a dragon fled, destroying everything! Bays do not just disappear! Not that those deserters would know! Argh, it confounds me to this day..."
And on he went, uninterrupted until the pair were the only two left in the restaurant. Before that day, Wang Jin had thought that Lord Chai was simply a very wise elf in "retirement," whose flame had already been mostly spent, who primarily gave advice and was waiting out the end of the world, having fun along the way. But this anger, passion, and vigor surprised and intrigued her. Lord Chai, even by Elven standards, was not ordinary.
"Master," suddenly interrupted a troubled Shi Jin, causing Wang Jin to snap her head away from her memories.
"What?" she asked, and then noticed that Lord Chai was gone. A panic then overwhelmed her as her eyes darted everywhere, "where did Lord Chai go?"
Elves, being one with the earth, were excellent at fleeing. Had she offended him so much that he left? That would not do! There was something that she needed him for. Not only for a place for her mother to spend her final days, as Lord Chai's manor had many unused rooms, but she needed him for another task that needed to be done.
"They're in the carriage talking with your mother," Shi Jin said offhandedly as he walked closer to Wang Jin. She looked at Liu Tang for confirmation, only to see him struggling to contain his laughter.
"Okay Red-Haired Devil, you've been smirking and laughing this whole time at me," she noted with annoyance, "what's the matter with you? What's so funny?"
"Oh?" Liu Tang asked as his eyes became even more mirthful, "I was gonna ask the same thing! It's funny how down-to-earth some legends can be once ya get to see them outta their comfort zone."
That was not the direct answer Wang Jin was looking for at all, and she was just about to walk over to the crimson-haired carriage driver until Shi Jin spoke, "Master?"
"What?" she snarled, turning towards her student with annoyance. Shi Jin did not respond, however, folding his arms and giving a disappointed look towards her. That was when Wang Jin realized that she never did ask him what he wanted to say to begin with. She was too distracted with Lord Chai not being there, after all.
"Wang Jin apologizes," she said, clasping her hands and doing a quick bow, turning her back from Liu Tang, "what is your concern, student?"
This sated him, as he unfolded his arms and smiled, "no need to apologize, Master! But..." then his smile quickly turned to a frown as he then asked, "why does Lord Chai dislike dragons?"
She sighed, not blaming Shi Jin for his ignorance about the elves' opinion of dragons, so she decided to explain their adversarial relationship.
Wang Jin's explanation of how dragons were an ancient enemy towards the elves, and how entire realms and kingdoms were destroyed due to those beasts, along with Liu Tang's interruptions and insults towards Shi Jin's ignorance, shall not be elaborated on here.
Just when Wang Jin was growing tired of getting in Shi Jin's way of trying to throttle Liu Tang, who had been coming up with increasingly creative ways to berate him, Lord Chai exited the rear of the carriage. Just when Wang Jin was about to apologize on behalf of her student, Lord Chai suddenly knelt on all fours as if he were a stepping stone, his eyes closed.
"What?!" Wang Jin cried, soon realizing what he was doing, "no no no-!"
She ran towards the elf, with Shi Jin and Liu Tang following suit. But Lord Chai raised his left hand in front of them, bidding them to stop, while his other hand remained steady on the ground.
"Absolutely not!" she remonstrated, "we have stepping stones, let me-!"
"Oh daughter..." came Wang Sheng's voice from inside the carriage, as she slowly placed one foot after another on Lord Chai's back.
"Ma, no! Please..." begged Wang Jin.
"This... this," stammered Shi Jin in shock.
Liu Tang sighed.
Then a second later, Wang Sheng stepped off of Lord Chai's back, landing on the ground and stretching her legs and arms.
"Ma!" Wang Jin yelled, grasping both her mother's shoulders, "why? They are not our servants! You know this!"
Wang Sheng scoffed, "you think me a fool? I told Lord Chai the same thing. But you know how persuasive elves can be, how close he was to your father."
"How stupid elves can be, more like! Father is Father, Lord Chai is Lord Chai!" barked Wang Jin as she released her grasp on her mother's shoulders to glare and point at him, who was still kneeling on all fours, "get up! Enough of this idiocy!"
"Please get up..." Shi Jin begged as well.
"Not gonna work," muttered Liu Tang.
Chai Jin stayed still.
A fire erupted within Wang Jin and her eyes blazed. Her non-pointing hand quickly tightened, and she was just about to force him to stand up. Suddenly, her free hand was seized in a vice grip, leading her to quickly turn around, forming the other hand into a fist, ready to strike at whatever fool was...
Only to realize that it was her mother who grabbed her, her supposedly weak and frail Ma, and for a moment Wang Jin was reminded of the former arms instructor for everyone in their village, and her own arms instructor long ago, the one who not only reminded Wang Jin that there was always someone more talented, but also the one who disciplined her. Hence, Wang Jin was silent, listening to whatever her mother had to say.
"They are not our servants," Wang Sheng calmly said, "you know this, daughter."
Like a sudden downpour on a campfire, Wang Jin's anger dissipated. Her shoulders and arms slumped, head bowed, and from the corners of her eyes, tears formed. She cared not what anyone else did or said; Wang Jin now desired to walk into the woods, find a rock, kick said rock, and slap herself for what a hypocrite she was.
That was when her mother's grip loosened, causing Wang Jin to raise her head, looking into her mother's warm eyes.
"I left the carriage because I seek privacy in the woods. Please guard me, daughter," Wang Sheng requested with a smile.
Her daughter sighed, responding, "very well, I'll grab a staff. Shi Jin, guard Lord Chai and the carriage..."
While Wang Jin guarded her mother's privacy, the latter explained that if Father was here, he would have done the same thing Lord Chai did. For when she was heavily pregnant, Father would try to make life as easy for her as possible. Given that Lord Chai still felt guilty about him joining the Last Desert's garrison, a critical defense against the wereworms of the northwest, the elf decided to make amends in one of the most humiliating ways possible.
Elves... thought Wang Jin. She was in no mood to argue with her mother but would need to interrogate the elf later. As it was an imperial order that caused Wang Jin's father to be sent to the most inhospitable and dangerous part of the empire, and given that Lord Chai still had enough clout to influence the imperial court...
If Lord Chai was telling the complete truth, then he would have prevented it. Thus, there was more to the story and Wang Jin was determined to get the full truth out of him.
After they did their business, the pair returned to the rest of the group. Lord Chai was standing now, discussing a private matter with Liu Tang. Whatever they said had apparently assuaged Shi Jin, who now looked uncomfortable for a very different reason.
"Go and handle your business, student," Wang Jin stated matter-of-factly. Without hesitation, Shi Jin ran off into the woods. She, meanwhile, guided her mother towards the rear entrance of the carriage.
Then, without warning, Wang Jin herself knelt down on the ground on all fours like a human stepping stone.
"Daughter. No." Wang Sheng said firmly.
"So you never carried me as a babe, huh?"
"What? Of course I did! Everywhere!"
"Then use me as a stepping stone like I used you! I used your body as a home, so you shall use mine as a step!" Wang Jin insisted.
"What a twisted... Such filialness is not... you're only doing this because... fine, fine," Wang Sheng muttered as she hesitatingly placed one foot on her daughter's back, then quickly retracted it.
"Ma, my back is strong... please climb aboard the carriage," Wang Jin said, forcing a smile on her face.
"No! You're my child... there is no need to reciprocate this! And the others are watching! You're embarrassing yourself!"
"And because of you, I'm grown up. You're my Ma, not them! Who cares what they think?" Wang Jin retorted with gritted teeth, "think of this as an apology for the times I disobeyed you, Ma. Please..."
Her mother sighed, "to be a parent is to hear your children say 'no' to you. You don't need to apologize at all! But fine!" and Wang Jin felt her mother's foot on her back again.
But only one foot dug into her back, and a weird crash was heard from the carriage. Wang Jin panicked, raising her head. However, Wang Sheng was fine, walking towards her seat in the carriage, and Wang Jin realized that her mother used her to leap inside, a surprising feat.
"Heh," Wang Sheng smirked, "told you I still had fight within me, child." Wang Jin held a shocked look for a second, and then she mirrored the smirk.
"I think I'll leap onto the carriage too. Can't let you upstage me, Ma!" Wang Jin said, but just as she was about to do so, Wang Sheng held up a hand.
"You won't be riding in the carriage. You'll be riding with Lord Chai,"
"That is right," Chai Jin responded, shocking Wang Jin as she did not realize that he'd crept behind them. Wang Jin turned around, noting the warm smile on the old elf's face. He clearly had forgiven the grievance of her student's dragon tattoos. Still, she wanted to spend more time with her Ma.
"But Ma-"
"Bah! I'll be sleeping the whole way. You go catch up with Uncle Chai Jin," her mother responded quickly, hand waving her off. Of course, Lord Chai was NOT her literal uncle; it was a phrase in the empire for younger people to address their family's older friends. Much like how people of the same generation addressed each other as siblings if they liked each other.
"What about Shi Jin?"
"You want to disturb my sleep with your prattle?"
"But I like tucking you in..."
"I don't move about in my sleep so you'll only do that once! Now stop objecting and go catch up with Lord Chai!"
Seeing all options exhausted, Wang Jin sighed and said, "fine, Ma."
Liu Tang's voice suddenly boomed from the driver's seat, "ha! That's settled, then. Close the door and we can get to Cangzhou! You two have fun! I know you will, Wang Jin."
A bemused Wang Jin deliberately ignored the last statement and replied flatly, "you're not leaving without my student, Red-Haired Devil."
"... aah well, worth a try!"
Once Shi Jin returned from relieving himself, the carriage containing Liu Tang, Shi Jin, and Wang Sheng was off, moving on the Old Roads towards Cangzhou.
"Your mother told me everything," he said, as his horse galloped near the pair, "I feared that taking on students who liked dragons meant..."
His voice faltered once he noticed Wang Jin's stony stare.
"Would you mind telling me what that kneeling was all about, you fossil of fossils? It couldn't just be an apology for letting my father accept that permanent 'vacation' to the desert. What are you not telling me?" she asked with a hint of annoyance. The expensive purple garment covering his legs was still stained.
Chai Jin's face slowly turned into an aggrieved look as he responded, "to have you fully understand what I did would take much longer than you would like. For now, know that your mother will die soon. My action was the least bit of a thank-you for what they did in life. You are not the only hero that your mother taught."
"... flattering, but out of all the humans that have lived, out of all the village arm instructors that have passed, you chose my mother to bestow this kind of 'thank-you' on? Do you know how unbelievable that is? You should have just said that you lost all your influence in the imperial Court so you could not have blocked the order, and I might have believed you," she asked skeptically.
"But you are not me, and though your father prevented the use of my influence, your mother was indeed part of the reason," he responded, "to a person who never knew what dispositions your mother had before your birth, who never knew the ambitions they kept close to their bosom before you came to be, perhaps to them it is unbelievable," he replied.
This did not sate her whatsoever. She knew her mother aspired to be more than a village arms instructor, but imagining her as some sort of tyrant obtaining hegemony over the land was farfetched.
"You're right on that: it is unbelievable to me and you should never have knelt. I don't care if it was your choice! I simply can't believe Ma would force all the world to kneel down. Ridiculous! No need to tease long-dead fake dreams that will never come to be," she admonished.
For whatever reason, this amused Lord Chai, who replied, "there is a big difference between being forced to kneel and choosing to kneel. Know that I do not do this for just anyone. You speak of dead dreams, and yet for me, the distant past of our youth, many thousands of years ago or so, was one of bliss. Those dreams are who we once were, in full bloom and power, when the marring of our world had not been fully understood. Do you not think that I was simply reminding your mother that they were not always a dying old woman, but a warrior worthy of respect? Who in times of peace could have become a leader? Who would have people willingly risk their lives for them, let alone kneel in respect?"
It was a reasonable response, but there was one obvious hole that Wang Jin saw in his argument:
"But I never saw you in my village, and I don't recall Ma mentioning you as a common visitor before my birth either," she retorted, "even if what you said about my Ma were true, how would you ever know this?"
Lord Chai gave an even larger smile as if he was a teacher helping a student realize some difficult concept.
He responded, "quite a sharpness you possess! But as to who gave me such information, it would be someone very close indeed."
This gave Wang Jin pause. Someone close to her mother who regularly communicated with him. Then her eyes widened, as he realized who this informant was. It was obvious! This person, before he entered her mother's village, lived in Cangzhou for much of his life. Then once he had mastered the essential weapons, moved into the village in order to be on the frontline defense against the Wainriders.
Wang Jin's father was most likely an informant of Lord Chai! She now felt a bit stupid for not connecting the dots sooner. They were not just close friends, but her father was part of the lord's intelligence network throughout the Empire. This implied several troubling things. Was there trouble in the northwest that Lord Chai needed to keep an eye on? Why did he not trust her father with such an assignment given that he regretted not stopping the imperial order? Why did he personally ride out to greet the group before they entered Cangzhou? But she was careful not to voice all of this aloud. Instead, she asked,
"... It was my father, wasn't it? You know all of this because Father communicated with you by some means. Maybe through supply runs or weapon requisitions... didn't know they were that literate. Why did my father never tell me this?"
Lord Chai nodded in affirmation, and then shrugged, saying, "perhaps it was no longer relevant when you were growing up. Or perhaps they felt that they wanted you to be your own person. I am surprised myself, which is something that I do not say often, for they were always short of temper, prone to fighting, and had a foul mouth. Such discretion is quite a pleasant surprise."
You don't say, wryly thought Wang Jin as her mouth twitched. This apple apparently did not fall far from its tree.
As if reading her thoughts, he added, "though you share quite a few of your father's qualities, I see quite a bit of your mother in you as well. At least when you last visited Cangzhou with your students. Why, when the three of them defeated you in that spar, you took your defeat quite well. Much better than your father would have. Perhaps if they are as promising as they showed, perhaps when you are aged I will-"
"No. You will not. And speaking of Cangzhou," interrupted Wang Jin, wanting to change the subject, "don't you think we should ride over there before Liu Tang does? I know your eyesight is keen, but I don't want to be on these roads for much longer."
"Of course, Instructor Wang, we shall ride there immediately."
The horse, which had wandered off to graze, then walked towards the pair. It bore a headstall, with the straps studded with jewels. But what she found peculiar was the fact that it bore a saddle, reins, and stirrups. Normal if the rider was human, but not normal if the rider was elven.
"I thought elves did not need these things to ride," she commented, then looked around trying to see if there was another steed, "and why is there only one horse? Am I riding while you are running alongside me in those fancy clothes? Is a kine going to come out of nowhere in this forest and you'll ride it?"
Lord Chai chuckled, saying, "while having a five-league run sounds nice, we'll be riding together. Though perhaps I will ride a kine soon... once you negotiate with them, they are pretty accommodating."
"... you do realize I am not a thin courtesan? Muscles are denser than fat for us humans. I would strain your horse's lower back. Furthermore, I prefer to be in front."
"Oh, worry not, you shall ride in front and I will be riding in the rear," he responded.
Wang Jin looked straight into his grey eyes. Thankfully he was at an angle where there was no glare from the sun hitting his topknot crown. Otherwise, it would have been quite blinding. She was unsure whether his smile meant he was joking or not.
"... I'm sorry, but you are exceptionally tall and I know you have a strong frame. How will you not force your horse into retirement?!" she exasperatedly asked.
"I believe you would call it, 'magic,'"
Elves... Wang Jin thought, rolling her eyes, although she had a small smile on her face, "I've seen elves walk atop a foot of snow like nothing. Is it the same logic then? Mastery of one's body, so they can transfer their weight wherever, or being well attuned with nature?"
He raised one of his eyebrows and showed off some of his perfect teeth with a smile, "perhaps one or the other. Or both, in fact. Or perhaps another reason is that we would prefer you discover it on your own?"
"Always with the self-discovery!" responded Wang Jin. If this were anyone else, she would have been tempted to steal the horse and bolt. But because this was Lord Chai, who was quite learned, witty, an elf, flexible, and easy on the eyes, she could make an exception for him. Though... now she idly wondered if elves even had a phase where they drew genitalia and called it art.
While she was in that vein of thought, another worrisome thought struck her, "but you are married. You told me so years ago when we ate at that restaurant in Dongjing. Might others misunderstand if they see us ride the same horse?"
Chai Jin's smile disappeared, his grey eyes looking at some distant mountain, and he muttered under his breath in words that Wang Jin could not understand. For Elvish was seldom taught to anyone, but the wisest, in the Eastern Empire. Two reasons: the first was that Elvish had quite a few wide dialects. The other main reason was that because the language was marred, just like the entire earth was marred, it would sway humans to desire to be more like the elves, particularly the immortality part, and that desire led to some of the worst griefs in history. For humans were only guests of the earth while Elves remained, even when their bodies faded. At least the Elves said such. It was a hard concept to understand for Wang Jin. Weren't human languages then marred as well, as brief as its language's existence on earth?
Soon enough Chai Jin stopped muttering to himself and sighed, replying, "even if by some chance of fate my wife stepped off of that mountain and saw us, and even if I were to completely violate such a sacred custom (I would rather sunder my spirit than violate the sanctity of marriage!), my wife would merely smile at me, knowing that I would be one less obstacle from their true goal."
"Elven loyalty indeed!" she replied with a wan smile, trying not to let the disappointment show on her face, "let's ride then. You'll be issuing out the orders to the horse from the back?"
"Yes, for if you rode my horse alone you would be thrown off immediately."
"You underestimate me, Lord Chai! You think I don't know how to tame horses? But let's move on then."
197.5 Leagues from Dongjing, 2.5 Leagues Away from Cangzhou
They did not take the old roads toward Cangzhou, rather taking a unique route through forests, up and down hills, and through grassy plains. Within sight now were the imposing Western Mountains, reflecting red in the sun, though the top of its highest peaks remained white. The stonework walls of Cangzhou drew ever nearer as they rode with the sun at their side.
Soon they rested near a forest creek, for the horse was not used to bearing Wang Jin.
"... your language has always fascinated me," commented Lord Chai as Wang Jin ate a baozi he gave to her as a snack, the pair of them sitting on the grasses near the creek.
"Mine?" Wang Jin asked, mouth full of food.
"The Empire's language, or shall I say, languages," he clarified to her disappointment, "is it not a funny coincidence that today I meet two people with the same given name as me, one completely different from the other? Yet this is not at all a rare occurrence in these lands... Such a thing would be rare in other societies."
"Oh?" Wang Jin asked in surprise, "and I thought 1000 years would have made you used to it. We have a lot of people with the same given names, even the same family names too."
"So one would think! But you all have different... spirits, so to speak. Each Wang Jin, for instance, is different from one another in a myriad of ways."
Wang Jin scoffed, "and I bet I could kick all their asses."
"Perhaps!" he responded, chuckling.
"Is it different for elves, then?"
"I cannot speak for every elf. As we have different dialects and different cultures, each with names that may be difficult to remember or pronounce in the tongues of the Empire. Generally, we do not have family names. For one, we have no need, as we can recognize each other on sight, and if they wore helms, on words and actions. As you know, our memory is quite vast," said Lord Chai.
"But for your group of elves? What of them?"
"... it is not something I particularly wish to discuss. After the loss of our birthplace, we came to the conclusion that everything, even the lands in the Uttermost West, would eventually decay and perish. What then was the use of fiefdoms and lordships when everything would fade before our own eyes? A vain grasp at temporary power for those who do not see far. For we are not superior to the earth; we are entwined with its fate and forever will be part of it. In the end, kinship was the only thing that drew us elves together. Still, those days were truly dark, and many of the people I knew scattered across the land, slain in some fashion, or withered away, no longer to be seen by mortal eyes."
"I see," replied Wang Jin, frowning. Even though she would never fully understand how they came to such a dark conclusion, the loss of something that one did not expect to lose was something she could relate to, "I suppose you won't tell me your name before you became the First Scribe, then?"
"I will not."
She sighed, as she noticed herds of sheep in the distance to her left, possibly guided by an unseen shepherd.
"Why do you find us any different, Lord Chai? Compared to you, our lives are shorter than cicadas."
"You are..." and then he paused for a second. The sun had started to shine on her face, so she shifted her straw hat accordingly. Then Lord Chai suddenly asked, "would you like me to share a memory I had with the First Emperor?"
That was indeed very tempting, but it appeared he was dodging the question.
"How is that relevant?" asked Wang Jin.
"The First Emperor asked the same question. Though they did not refer to cicadas; they used a mayfly comparison," he responded.
Wang Jin frowned, saying, "those things last only a day! But I see why you asked. Yes, please say this memory aloud."
"Shall I say it using 'I' or shall I say it referring to myself in third-person?"
"The latter. You're older than the word 'pretentious' itself! So please, Lord Chai. I do enjoy your stories."
"Very well."
Xianyang, Over 1000 Years Ago
"Chai Jin, Welcome to my private chambers. I trust you are acclimating to the Imperial Court. Your calligraphy and writing are simply superb, I daresay we will learn much from you," greeted the First Emperor. The chambers were smaller than he expected, but the bed was-
Third Age Year 1934
197.5 Leagues from Dongjing, 2.5 Leagues Away from Cangzhou
"The Mother of the Empire sounded like THAT?" interrupted Wang Jin incredulously, "I thought they sounded more regal with a lower pitch. And what were you doing near their bed? Were they trying to seduce you like they did to that barbarian overlord?"
Lord Chai laughed for a time, and then clarified, "keep in mind that the First Emperor was in their late 60's. I was summoned for a private discussion and the outside of the bedroom was guarded by a trusted official. I am also translating our conversation into your vernacular dialect, rather than the Old Easternese that you would not understand."
"Well, that clears up some things. Please continue, Chai Jin."
"... a subpar attempt at impersonating the First Emperor, but allow me to continue."
Xianyang, Over 1000 Years Ago
Chai Jin hesitated, not accustomed to the First Emperor using the term "I" instead of "we." Nor was he accustomed to her not wearing the imperial crown or robes. She wore a noblewoman's attire such that she looked more like an affluent elder than the ruler of the Eastern Empire.
She continued, "you made a very moving speech today. Nearly everyone in the hall wept from your tale. Your loss is immeasurable, and to bear such a pain for the rest of eternity? You truly gave us perspective on who the elves are and completely changed our viewpoint on you. We only suffer for 100 years at most, and yet you have suffered for far longer. It may take time for the commoners to follow suit, but such is the case for ingrained beliefs."
"I merely spoke my tale," Chai Jin responded, "and not all elves are of like-mind as me."
"Yet the ones you call 'deserters' will most likely come to the same conclusion. Albeit, very far in the future when even their undying realms pass from existence. Know that so long as the Empire stands in the East, we will provide you a substitute home, though it most likely pales to the original."
"Your serv-"
"Do not," she gently interrupted, her aged eyes saddened, "you are not our servants; you were never our servants. You are our siblings, as we are all Children of the One. For is that not what Mori said? Only say 'your servant' in public, as everybody does. You may call me 'Sister Mi.'"
"I... thank you... Sister Mi," he said, as he began to bow.
"Please do not bow," she gently commanded, "only do so in public. You need not obey the customs when we are in private."
"I understand, but do you not have a given name, like other humans? Mi is a family name, is it not?"
The First Emperor looked away, and her eyes were very distant, "... I was not given one when I was born. If I had a choice I would choose 'Yue,' since I do enjoy strolling under the moonlight, but most of us women are not given names. Or your historian predecessors simply did not care to keep track of said names. Pity, but like many other things, it shall be rectified in time."
Her eyes then narrowed, "I was given the nickname, 'Bazi,' but only because of my ranking in King Huiwen's harem. I trust you understand why I would not like you to refer to me as Sister Bazi?"
"Of course, Sister Mi. But... if I may, can I ask a question about you, the person?"
The First Emperor gave a warm smile, "I hope my responses are to your liking, oh scribe. For I have no doubt you have asked this question to many before me, and probably will ask many after me, too. Perhaps I can measure up to the legends of old, or at the very least, the fair elf maidens I have heard legends of. A real pity that you did not see me when I was younger when I did not require so much make-up to look even presentable. Go ahead and ask."
Chai Jin looked away with a small smile, commenting, "I have never heard of an elf maiden declaring themselves a grand title such as 'The First Emperor of the Eastern Empire.'"
Then he looked back to her pleased eyes and asked, "speaking of that, I have noted, in my research, that in your time as dowager you seemed to apply either your femininity or your experience as a concubine in some of your key decisions."
"Ayo!" The First Emperor giggled, "they... they actually wrote all of that down? When I made that metaphor as reasoning for that diplomatic matter?"
"It was effective! It would only make sense for the scribe to write it down," Chai Jin said, himself smiling, "but from what I have seen from you as an Emperor, you have not been doing that. In fact, you have been quite mysterious and distant in public. Why is that?"
"Now that is our scribe, and why I wanted someone like you to be our Empire's first!" the First Emperor replied, "as that is exactly my intent. Bear with me, of course, as I explain:
"Though I held de-facto power for decades, I was not the king. Despite the power I possessed as the Dowager when I sat next to my son in the king's court, the officials had their own notions about who I was and what I would say. As you probably know, the key to maneuvering in this turbulent sea is by pretending to validate those opinions, but then, in the end, putting a little twist so that the one who is outmaneuvered are those same officials. Take, for example, that famous diplomatic matter regarding a rival territory wishing for our help in attacking my ancestral homeland. I could have brought up several points on, for instance, how battling against that large kingdom would have cost too many supplies and manpower.
"But that would have alerted those wanting me to step aside, for I would have revealed too much of my ability and lowered the prestige of the king's officials. Advocating an attack on my homeland would further hamper any diplomacy I could influence with that kingdom's ruler, for I was their kin. And would it not be unexpected for a fellow who only sang, danced, and pleasured a king to give such advice?
"It was the job of the advisors and generals to make such a strategic argument benefiting our state, not the Dowager. Hence, why I used an obscene metaphor, seeming to validate those officials while leading to the result that I felt was best for our kingdom."
Third Age Year 1934
197.5 Leagues from Dongjing, 2.5 Leagues Away from Cangzhou
"I know that story," Wang Jin said, "in front of the whole court, the Queen Dowager stated that when the king would put only a leg on their body, they protested. But when the king placed their whole body on top of them, they were pleased. Brave to talk about positions in bed. A tit-for-tat thing that the envoy somehow understood? Are you certain that really happened?"
Lord Chai merely gave her a small smile, "I was not present then. That was before the reconciliation. But given the Dowager's precarious position at the time, such a subtle misdirection would fit their cunning. It worked, and the envoy was convinced that the Dowager's kingdom would have no benefit in such a joint attack."
"A nice story. But when will you tell me why you find us different?"
"Allow me to continue."
Xianyang, over 1000 Years Ago
The more Chai Jin learned about the First Emperor, the more confused he felt. For the Emperor had openly admitted to using deception, playing with the psychology of those around her to benefit herself. Yet she was telling all of this to Chai Jin as if he were her close kin! Why did she assume that he was not like any of the others? There were quite a few elves that played at power, and quite a few of those were in the Eastern Empire's very folk tales. Did she think he was different than the others? No, there had to be another reason...
"But no position jokes in court now?" Chai Jin commented with raised eyebrows.
"Ha!" she laughed, "no, no position jokes. For I do not represent just myself anymore. I am the Emperor, the model for everyone in the empire to follow. I cannot be the Emperor if I represent only myself. I cannot be the emperor if I represent only the women. I cannot be the Emperor if I represent only the men. I cannot be the Emperor if I represent only the women and the men."
She then gestured towards the crown, a headdress topped with a board, strands of jade beads draping both ends.
"When I wear that crown," she continued, "I no longer concern myself with any identity other than being the ruler of the Eastern Empire. Just like our word for 'king (王),' the word 'emperor (皇帝)' bears no hints of the identity of the ruler, besides the word for 'white,' on top of the word 'king,' a symbolic representation of our resistance against the Dark. The ruler is responsible for being the line connecting heaven, humanity, and the earth. They transcend themselves, as they desire their subjects to transcend themselves. That is why I must be distant in public, for our empire hangs by myriads of thin threads. I must be akin to a deity: mysterious yet visible, everywhere yet nowhere at once, powerful yet still. Action through inaction. My ministers do most of the work, while I simply observe them. Then, when I make a decree, those decisions become even more impactful and significant, for power is better remembered when it is used seldom."
"That is different from the humans of the West," Chai Jin commented, "their identity is tied to the title."
"At this moment, the First Emperor's brows furrowed, her head bowed in sadness. She seemed to age before his eyes, looking every bit the elder, bearing every single year on her wrinkled face.
"Then they are slaves to their own language. For how could one change the course of humanity if they are tied down to, rather than be the master of, the very things they invented?"
Chai Jin responded not, as he pondered over the First Emperor's words. In truth, whatever influence the elves had on the Eastern Empire's language had dissipated long ago. For when they rejected the dark, they rejected their prior languages as well. This was evident in the disconnect between the written and the verbal language, for although one could detect some patterns in meaning from the written logograms, they were different enough to be considered different languages altogether.
"May I call you Brother Chai?" she asked.
"... if you wish, Sister Mi,"
But the First Emperor shook her head, "until you say a definitive 'yes,' I will not. That is not the main question I wished to ask, however.
"I wish to ask you this: how would these humans of the West evaluate me?"
Chai Jin paused, considering his words carefully, "that you are intelligent and wise, an inspiration for anyone who seeks to better themselves. You brought prosperity to your kingdom even though you were not at the helm, and now you stand as the most powerful human east of the Mountains."
To that response, The First Emperor only smiled a little, then said, "they know not the things I have done. I believe that you may know this already, but there were three loves in my life. The first was the king I was a concubine towards. Ying Si died sooner than he should have. The second love I had killed for the security of the kingdom, for they were a rival ruler that threatened us. The 'barbarian king,' they called them, but to me, they were not as barbaric as many of the people in my court, or myself, really. The third was an open affair that I ended as soon as I ascended the throne."
He knew not why he was hearing these private details, or why the First Emperor, or rather the person known as Mi Bazi, was unveiling all the secrets that could undo her as a ruler. But Chai Jin stayed silent, and she continued speaking."... I bore illegitimate children with that second love. I still recall their faces when I dream. Those I let be murdered... My own flesh and blood! Even my legitimate son, who I supported on the throne, I never gave Ji'er the full power that they have earned. I helped stop a coup against Ji'er during their early reign, only to hold on to the real power for decades after. They passed their fifth decade now and recently attempted a coup against me.
"There was also the time I allowed the kidnapping of my own royal kin from a rival kingdom, who died not in their home. Then, I allowed repeated invasions of my ancestral homeland where countless innocent people died. You know of many more actions I facilitated, approved, and enacted.
"If the people of the West knew of all this, what would they think of me?"
He paused again, his grey eyes no longer meeting hers. After time had passed, he responded, "with condemnation. That you are proof that darkness reigns in the hearts of the East. They would consider you evil, an abomination of all that is good in the world. They would use you as an effigy, a reminder of the Dark's remaining hold in the world."
A look appeared in her eyes, one that Chai Jin did not expect, for it was not a look of disappointment, but a look of confirmation. As if she already knew how they would judge her.
"Then what do you think of me, Chai Jin?" she asked.
Though another pause ensued, he found the words easier to express than he thought:
"You are strange. A mystery that I fear will leave this world soon. You have blood on your hands, yet your people are prosperous. To benefit your kingdom, and now Empire, you would cast away your own identity, everything you love and hold dear, to the welfare of all. I will have to see more of your reign before I can truly say whether we elves were correct in revealing ourselves to you or not. Or whether you will be the end of us."
However, at these words, Mi Bazi did something completely unexpected:
She smiled and it reached her eyes.
"And that is why you are our scribe, Chai Jin. For, your role is to know the real person behind the throne. To discern their past and highlight who they really were. So that future rulers, when they talk to you, can understand that if I, the eighth concubine, can cast aside who I am, what I have done in the past, to become the Uncut Stone of this Empire, then they can do so as well. No matter if they were sage or murderer, once they don the crown, they become The Emperor. The opinions of those who do not understand matter not, for The Emperor cares only for their own. The caring for their subjects supersedes all. Heavy is the crown, indeed!"
Standing, she walked over and looked outside the window to the night sky, illuminated by the moon and stars. She then spoke again but did not directly face him.
"Who better to record who we were than those that will outlast us? Because we are only guests in this world, and I shall pass from it soon. Not too soon, I hope! But each day I wake up with more of my body betraying me, as is the case for all of us."
Sighing, she turned around and faced Chai Jin, bearing sadness as her eyes shone and narrowed, "such is the case with this Empire too, I fear. The home that we constructed, the one you are our honored guests towards, this poor substitute for your birthland. It will decay and rot too, will it not?"
"... I cannot deny that," he responded, averting her gaze.
"Then I trust you to leave before it collapses! And come back should a new one arises from the ashes. Guests should not bear the burden of their hosts' quarrels among themselves."
He nodded, still averting her gaze, "... we do not 'look forward' to the future, as one would say, for good reason. But I do not wish to ponder such despair yet! I cannot speak for every elf, but we will do what we must when that time comes, as we have done since we realized the extent of the world's marring."
This time, the First Emperor did not respond, preferring to hear the singing of the grasshoppers outside and the crackle of the torches that illuminated the palace they resided in.
When she spoke again, she held a look of confusion on her face.
"If that is the case, then why tarry here and see us suffer? Why not go to these Undying Lands in the West and live in bliss until the end of the world? What do you see in us that you do not see in any other being on Earth? I know you see us as guests, but why do you find us any different? For are we not mere mayflies to you? Mayflies that slaughter each other, no less?"
Third Age Year 1934
197.5 Leagues from Dongjing, 2.5 Leagues Away from Cangzhou
"... Lord Chai, can you continue? Why did you pause?" Wang Jin asked.
"That is the end of what I'll tell you, Instructor Wang."
Wang Jin's mouth twitched, and her eyes flared, "but you haven't told me your response to the First Emperor's question. Nor mine, for that matter. Is this a joke? I do not find it funny. Was it funny 9,000 years ago? Know that we are different from the people you knew 1,000 years ago, even 200 years ago!"
At this, he merely smiled, "but I did answer your question. Rather, it is shown in my conversation with the First Emperor. We elves, like the being above the sky, do prefer that you come to many conclusions yourself, after all."
Elves! she angrily thought.
She could get no more out of him. With every question asked he found some way to redirect and deflect away. His tale was absolutely fascinating, revealing more about the First Emperor than she had thought. Was he afraid that his words would skew the true answer that she wanted to know? That words alone could not describe it, but would alter its meaning?
Eventually, after more futile discussion, she eventually gave up, saying, "we have rested long enough, Lord Chai. Let us ride to Cangzhou. Do not think that I will forget this conversation, though!"
"Of course, my young friend," he replied.
"Hmph!"
Third Age Year 1934
200 Leagues from Dongjing, Outside Cangzhou
Finally, they had come upon Cangzhou, at the foot of the Western Mountains. It had a very interesting name, for long ago it was thought that this area was close to a sea that was just beyond the mountains. Hence, why Cangzhou, the "oceanside prefecture," was mistakenly named. By the time it was discovered that the location was nowhere close to even the Inland Seas of the West, the people had shrugged, as they already created the plaques and signs for the city.
Cangzhou had two walls: one old and the other new. The old wall still stood, its black stones imposing, for the city was founded well before the days of the Empire. A relic of the old days, when humans were divided and fought amongst each other.
The new wall stood within, about 200 feet away from the old walls. These new walls were crafted out of a redder stone, and with the help of the dwarves of the Western Mountains, shone brilliantly in the sun, as red as the mountains themselves. Between the two walls was the famed Iron Lion of Cangzhou, a massive iron-casted beast that seemingly guarded the city. Atop its back was a giant bowl where people would throw money in to receive good luck. It is said that when the bowl was filled, the streets were cleaner, the city smelled nicer, there were fewer fires, and peace would reign in Cangzhou. Coincidentally, the bowl's money would disappear at the same time.
To her surprise, their horse stopped well outside the old walls. They were not near the main traffic roads where people could recognize Lord Chai, but it appeared that they stopped for a reason.
"... what is it, Lord Chai? Why have we stopped?" she asked.
"I find it surprising, Instructor Wang, that you never asked me why I rode to meet you instead of waiting in Cangzhou."
A sudden cold stilled Wang Jin as suspicion dawned on her. Her body went rigid, but she did her best to calm her heart, closing her eyes and listening for any sudden movements behind her.
"Because of your friendship with my father?" she asked, biding her time as she ran through several rapid-fire scenarios in her head.
"No. Because you are technically a wanted criminal in the Empire."