Ave Xia Rem Y

~~~

Night falls over the palace. Most servants have already retreated to their quarters, and the only soldiers still awake are those keeping guard around the perimeter. The rooms that were full of activity mere hours ago are now empty and dark.

Liu Jin rather likes it like this.

The young ruler closes his eyes and leans back into his seat. He is in the same room where today’s meeting took place. It is much more relaxing without dozens of people talking over each other and the constant requests for his input. Life would be so much easier if it was always like this. If only he could disappear into the darkness.

“You have been doing much lately.”

Liu Jin nearly falls out of his seat.

General Nie Dan had not bothered lowering his Qi. While he usually keeps it low enough to avoid overwhelming everyone else, it is still high enough that everyone in the palace knows where he is at all times. Despite that, Liu Jin did not notice his approach. The general is simply too fast. He can be anywhere he wants in a literal blink of an eye.

“General Nie Dan,” Liu Jin says, struggling to keep his voice even. “I was not expecting you.”

“Clearly,” General Nie Dan says dryly. “You have yet to fully recover from the battle. Despite that, the notion of appropriate rest seems foreign to you.”

“I do much because there is much to do,” Liu Jin counters.

“Is there?” the general challenges. “The pacification of Murong Bang’s former territories goes well. Your uncle’s Brotherhood of Thunder has been of great aid in that regard. Lady Bai Wen has also proven enthusiastic in the endeavor. Some of the nobility tried to cause trouble, but they are largely under control now. The Storm Dragon Empire is closer to peace than it has been in decades. There is no need for His Majesty to keep occupying himself.”

Liu Jin smiles, but there is no joy in it.

“Can someone like me really be called the Emperor?” Liu Jin asks. “It is no secret you are the strongest and most capable person here, general. My position facilitates this transition, but that’s all there is to it. Eventually, I will have to answer to the Eternal Flame Clan, and my return from there is uncertain.”

General Nie Dan looks at him.

“If you really think that, why not stay here instead?”

Liu Jin blinks.

“That would anger the Eternal Flame Clan, general. You know this.”

“Our alliance with the Eternal Flame Clan has been fruitful, but we no longer need to depend only on them. Other parties have made their interests known,” Nie Dan says. “The Five Blessings Group, in particular, has been rather forward lately.”

Liu Jin immediately thinks of Song Daiyu. The girl has already sent countless letters to him from Rumbling Thunder City. Some are friendly. Some are playful. Others are downright mercenary. Most likely, it is a result of how surprised she is.

“The Eternal Flame Clan might not like it if you decide to stay here indefinitely, but they would be foolish to risk angering you,” Nie Dan says. “Especially with the eyes of the Divine Frozen Palace so close.”

The face in Liu Jin’s mind changes to that of Lady Bai Wen. She is not in the palace right now, but his last conversation with her is still clear in his mind.

“I will report everything that happened to the Divine Frozen Palace. However, I do not think you realize what that means for you just yet. As far as the Divine Frozen Palace is concerned, Xiao Shuang is your wife. That you are the Emperor right now… Surely, you understand what that entails, right?”

The Divine Frozen Palace will want Xiao Shuang to be recognized as the official Empress. Once they have that, they will throw their full support behind them. The Eternal Flame Clan would be foolish to let that happen.

It is as Lu Mei said. Everyone is ready to fight over him.

“Why are you telling me this?” Liu Jin asks. “Things would be easier for you if I wasn’t the Emperor, general. Forgive my rudeness, but you cannot expect me to believe you feel any strong loyalty towards me. I know you do not approve of some of my choices.”

“True enough,” Nie Dan says. “However, I am loyal to the Black Dragon. I believe the Black Dragon would wish for you to be happy, so I am acting in a way that facilitates that.”

Liu Jin looks at him. “You believe I want this?”

“Yes,” Nie Dan replies bluntly. “Make no mistake. I am not the one making you Emperor. You are the one doing that. If you wished to flee this responsibility, you would have already tried it, and I would have helped you. If you wanted me to rule, I would accept it even if I wouldn’t like it. However, you are here because you wish to act. To rule. Over the past few weeks, your every action has reflected that. You have negotiated with various people in public and private to the point of overworking yourself. To be Emperor is what you have already chosen.”

“I really do not care for the title,” Liu Jin says. “I just need to accomplish certain things. Once those are done, I’d be happy to have you take charge of this country.”

“In other words, you wish power but none of the responsibility and duties that come with it.”

Liu Jin flinches.

It is not a purely physical reaction. Something about General Nie Dan’s words cuts to the core of his being and makes it recoil. He feels exposed. Cold.

Hurt.

“I see,” Liu Jin says after a while. “If I want to use the power of an emperor for my own ends, I cannot ignore all the trappings that come with it. Doing anything else would be shameless. Is that it?”

“It is, and it would.”

“I see,” Liu Jin says. “Thank you, general.”

“Young people do not often realize their own hypocrisies. It is up to those older to point them out,” General Nie Dan says.

“I still need to return to the Eternal Flame Clan,” Liu Jin says. “If nothing else, I need to explain myself properly.”

“I would prefer it if you did not, but I suppose it could be disguised as a holiday for now,” Nie Dan says.

“Also, there’s probably going to be an emperor in the Dead Plains who might want to kill me in the future.”

“I beg your pardon?”

~~~