The Hall of Supreme Harmony echoed with whispers as Jin entered. Two hundred officials in color-coded robes arranged themselves in perfect formation according to rank—a human chessboard where every piece knew its place. Jin did not.
He ascended the jade steps to the Dragon Throne, a monstrosity of carved gold and precious stones that looked about as comfortable as sitting on a cactus. Settling onto its hard surface, Jin forced himself not to fidget as Chancellor Li's voice rang out.
"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Tao of Xingyan, Son of Heaven, Dragon of the Eastern Realms, graces us with his divine presence!"
Two hundred foreheads touched the ground in bowed in unison. Jin suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Back in his old life, he couldn't get Devin Matthews to stop shoving him into lockers; now grown men with gray beards were kowtowing as if he were a god.
"Rise," Jin commanded, relieved when his voice didn't tremble.
Grand Eunuch Wei stood to his right, Chancellor Li to his left—positions of highest honor in court. General Zhou remained at the bottom of the steps, hand resting casually on his sword hilt. Jin noticed how the general's eyes never stopped scanning the crowd, even here in the heart of the palace.
"The council will now address the matter of the assassination attempt on His Imperial Majesty," Chancellor Li announced, his voice echoing to every corner of the vast hall.
An elderly official in dark blue robes stepped forward, hands hidden in huge sleeves. "Minister of Intelligence Gao Fei requests permission to speak."
Jin nodded, recalling fragments of Tao's memories floating to the surface like debris after a shipwreck.
Gao Fei— a man, with eyes that missed nothing and a network of spies rumored to extend beyond the empire's borders.
"The prisoner has been questioned," Gao reported. "Before departing to meet his ancestors, he confirmed our suspicions. The assassins were indeed from Qiushan."
Murmurs rippled through the assembly.
"Did he reveal who ordered the attack?" Jin asked.
Gao's eyebrows rose slightly—perhaps surprised by the emperor's direct question. "The man claimed to serve Prince Yong of Qiushan directly."
"Prince Yong?" Jin frowned. "The third son of Emperor Renhu?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty," Gao confirmed, a flicker of approval crossing his wizened features. "It seems Your Majesty's memory remains sharp despite the... incident."
"And what would motivate Prince Yong to make such a move against me?" Jin asked.
Chancellor Li cleared his throat. "If I may, Your Majesty. Prince Yong had his eye on our western land for a long time. With Your Majesty's marriage negotiations with Princess Lihua of Nanjiang going well, an alliance between our empires would make any military action by Qiushan very sensible. Perhaps Prince Yong hoped to eliminate Your Majesty before such an alliance could be official."
Marriage negotiations? Jin locked away that little bombshell for later examination.
"A desperate move, maybe," Jin said, thinking out loud. "Or he's trying to provoke us on purpose."
General Zhou stepped forward. ""Your Majesty, I recommend immediate military action. A retaliatory attack to show that strikes against the Dragon Throne will not go unanswered."
Several military officials nodded their approval, but Jin caught the silent exchanges between Chancellor Li and Minister Gao.
"And you, Chancellor? What is your advice?" Jin asked.
Li stroked his beard. "War's expensive, Your Majesty. Maybe we should try a diplomatic approach instead—"
"Diplomacy?" General Zhou scoffed. "Fifty assassins tried to remove the emperor's head from his shoulders, and you suggest we send a strongly-worded letter?"
"I suggest," Li replied coldly, "that we think this through before sending our armies into another land just because of one prisoner's confession."
Jin raised a hand, silencing them both. "Minister Gao, what evidence beyond the prisoner's confession connects these assassins to Prince Yong?"
The Minister of Intelligence blinked, clearly surprised by the emperor's demand for proof.
"Their weapons had markings from Qiushan forges, Your Majesty. And three of them were identified by my agents as former members of Prince Yong's personal guard."
"I see." Jin leaned back, mind racing. He knew nothing about geopolitics or military strategy beyond what he'd learned in World History and the strategic video games he'd played instead of socializing in his old world. But he did know logic. "And is there any chance this evidence was planted? That someone wants us to think Prince Yong is behind this?"
A heavy silence fell over the hall. Jin could practically hear the rustle of shifting priorities and realigning loyalties
Grand Eunuch Wei's lips curved into the ghost of a smile."Your Majesty demonstrates his father's wisdom. Indeed, who better to provoke a war between Xingyan and Qiushan than by staging such an assassination?"
"And who would benefit from such a war?" Jin pressed.
"Nanjiang," General Zhou answered without hesitation. "They could strike once we and Qiushan have tear each other down."
"The northern tribes," offered another minister. "Our armies would be drawn south, leaving our borders exposed."
"Or fractions within our own court," Wei added softly, "who might profit from chaos or a change in leadership."
The tension in the hall thickened to something you could cut with a knife. Jin realized he'd opened a can of worms—or rather, a nest of vipers. Everyone was now looking at everyone else with disguised suspicion.
"An investigation will be conducted," Jin announced firmly. "General Zhou, strengthen our western border garrisons but take no offensive action. Minister Gao, I want your agents to verify Prince Yong's involvement beyond any doubt. Chancellor Li, draft a message to Emperor Renhu express our concern, but don't directly accuse him."
All three bowed, though Jin noticed the flash of surprise in their eyes. Evidently, Emperor Tao wasn't known for measured responses.
Before anyone could respond, the massive doors at the end of the hall burst open. Guards rushed to intercept the intruder, but froze at the sight of the young man approaching.
He wore imperial yellow—not quite the same shade as Jin's robes, but close enough to indicate royal lineage. His face was remarkably similar to the one Jin had seen in the mirror, though harder, with a thin scar running from left eyebrow to cheekbone.Where Tao had exuded cold dignity; this man burned with restrained rage.
"Brother!" the young man called, his voice ringing through the hall. "I came as soon as I heard. Are you injured?"
Jin stared at him in disbelief. Brother? Emperor Tao had a brother?
As if in response to his confusion, another memory fragment surfaced—painful and urgent. Prince Kwan, younger brother to Emperor Tao by eleven months. Born to a favored concubine rather than the empress, technically half-brother. Charismatic. Extremely Dangerous.
General Zhou moved with surprising speed for his age, placing himself between Jin and the approaching prince. His hand didn't leave his sword hilt.
"Prince Kwan," Wei said smoothly, gliding forward. "Your concern for His Majesty is touching, but protocol dictates—"
"Damn protocol," Kwan spat. "Assassins nearly killed the Son of Heaven—my brother—and you stand here debating politics?"
Jin studied his newly-discovered brother carefully. The concern seemed genuine, but something hid beneath it—an intensity that made Jin uneasy. Or perhaps that was just Emperor Tao's instincts warning him.
"Brother," Jin said, testing the word. "Your concern is noted, but as you can see, I am unharmed."
Kwan took another step forward. Two imperial guards moved with him, hands on their weapons. Jin realized with a start that these were Prince Kwan's personal guards, not palace security.
An odd sensation prickled up Jin's spine—not quite fear, not quite recognition. Emperor Tao's body was reacting to his brother's presence with a complex mixture of emotions that Jin couldn't fully interpret.
"The Phoenix Prince honors us with his presence," Chancellor Li said, using what Jin gathered was Kwan's formal title. "Perhaps His Highness would care to join our deliberations? His military expertise would be valuable."
Military expertise? Another piece of the puzzle slid into place. While Emperor Tao had been groomed for the throne, his brother had been trained for war.
"I would be honored," Kwan replied, executing a bow that was technically perfect yet somehow carried a trace of unease.
Jin gestured to an empty spot near General Zhou. "Join us, brother. Your counsel is welcome."