The Emperor's Court, cont., cont.

Ser Erich, an hour later and an hour soberer, lay couchant, discussing the problem of Bu Teh with Ser Karl and Wu Xi.

"There's no doubt of his treacherous intent," Ser Karl said. "The evidence is all too clear."

"Meaning that we have two traitors on our hands," Wu Xi said solemnly. "A most unpleasant situation."

"We have done as the Emperor requested - found the traitor within his court," Ser Karl slowly said. "Were we to say nothing of Bu Teh, our duty would appear fufilled... but," shaking his head as he began to speak with sudden decision, "that is a thing too dishonourable for me to contemplate. I would understand if you preferred it, Wu," Ser Karl said accommodatingly - but Wu Xi, too, was shaking his head.

"I may not have your knightly chivalry to bind me," he said, "but I still hold some code of personal integrity, and abandoning Bu Teh to whatever mischief he plans would certainly violate it. We have uncovered him; it is now up to us to see that he faces justice."

"We cannot simply deliver him to the Emperor," Ser Karl said. "He strictly instructed us to find no more than one traitor - our giving him another would be recieved poorly."

"Are we sure that the Minister of Culture is a traitor, after all?" Ser Erich asked, his voice slightly slurred.

Ser Karl looked at him with surprise. "We did deliver him to the guards and the executioner, on reasons we agreed were valid at the time," Ser Karl said. "What reason do we have to second-guess ourselves?"

"Well, the problem is the answer he gave, right?" Ser Erich asked. "He said he would be happy to see other ministers accused of treason. So: why? We thought it was because he himself was a traitor. Could be. But what if he wasn't a traitor himself, but knew he had one in his employ? Another minister being found guilty of treason then would give him a cover for rooting his own demon out - what sin is it, after all, to have a traitor in one's direct employ, when even the Emperor committed such an error?"

"An elaborate tale..." Wu Xi said, pulling on his beard.

"But, given that we know there was a traitor on the Minister of Culture's service, entirely possible," Ser Erich pressed.

"So - perhaps there is only one traitor," Ser Karl said. "What then? We cannot say, 'we were wrong, the real traitor was this man' - it would be a humiliation, to us and the Emperor! We could arrange some kind of swap - have Bu Teh executed in the Minister's place, let the Emperor exile or rehabilitate the Minister as he sees fit - but I have a hard time imagining the Emperor agreeing to such a scheme..."

"What if we were to present it as a fait accompli?" Ser Erich asked. "Do it first, seek permission later?"

"A bold move..." Wu Xi mused. "Reckless, even."

"Do you have a better scheme?" Ser Karl asked.

"None," Wu Xi replied. "And so I endorse this one. But before we act, we must consider the particulars..."

Bu Teh was roused by the sound of a scritching at his door. He rubbed his eyes; his room was dark, lit only faintly by the glow of the waning moon. There was a whisper in some foreign tongue, then another in Chinese: "Quiet!" it commanded. "Dress and then come outside. Quickly."

Bu Teh, drowsy and increasingly worried, complied. Outside, he met three men - two of whom he recognized from earlier in the night. "You!" he said, pointing. "The foreigner and his translator! What are you doing here?"

"Shh!" the foreigner hissed, and then something else, which his companion translated. (The other foreigner remained silent.) "Remember how you spoke to me earlier of taken back the spoils of the rich men?"

"Yes..." Bu Teh said nervously. "What are you thinking of? Are you the Emperor's man, come to arrest me?"

"Exactly the opposite!" Ser Erich said through Wu Xi. "The Minister of Culture - your former employer - he was a wealthy man, yes? An estate, servants, jewels?"

"Yes?" Bu Teh said. "Most certainly he did - but what of it? He is a condemned man. The Emperor will take it all, as punishment for his treachery. There is nothing we can do."

"Not so," Ser Erich said. "We cannot get it all, certainly - but as a wealthy man, living away from his home, the Minister will have certain valuables left in his safe. These we can get at, and steal quickly away - the Emperor will never know they were there!"

"I am no safecracker," Bu Teh said. "If that is what you wish from me, I must regretfully inform you that you have the wrong man."

"We plan no such strong-armed tactics," Ser Erich said. "Besides - those would certainly leave marks of our presence. We would be hunted. Instead, consider this: the Minister is condemned. Like all condemned men, he will be wracked with guilt, seeking some absolution for his crimes before his death. Were he presented with a confessor, asking for him to give up all worldly wealth before the end - well!"

"And why do you need me for this?" Bu Teh asked.

"Us he would recognize," Ser Erich said. "We two foreigners; and Wu Xi, our translator, who spoke to him just before his arrest. But you - he is an important man, yes? A self-important man. He would barely recognize his servants under normal conditions. Now?" He hefted a confessor's robes in his hands, the hood large and concealing.

"And what would you give me for this?" Bu Teh asked, his voice growing suddenly sharp.

"Why, a full quarter share of the proceeds," Ser Erich said. "It is only fair."

"Half," Bu Teh demanded.

Ser Erich shrugged. "A third."

"Half," Bu Teh said again.

Ser Erich rolled his eyes."Half, then, but no more."

Bu Teh's eyes glinted with greed. "Lead on," he said.

They passed the guards without difficulty, half-sozzled with alcohol smuggled out from the festivities; finding the Minister's cell proved somewhat more difficult, but was managed in safe time. The lock on his cell was simple, and openable from the outside; it appeared that he had been placed in an area of lesser security, the short span of his imprisonment and nature of his character minimizing fears of his escape. Huddled in a corner, the Minister's eyes cracked open as the party slid the door open: "It's not dawn yet, is it?" he asked fearfully.

Confused by his swift reversal of fortunes, the former Minister of Culture was an easy mark for deceit, just as Ser Erich had predicted; Bu Teh was able to worm the location of the hidden safe keys from the Minister without difficulty. Ser Karl had made his way behind the Minister during the conversation; as soon as the last necessary information had been given, confirmed by a nod from Wu Xi, he struck, sending the Minister crumpling to the floor. Bu Teh flinched back. "What was that?" he asked, his voice nervous. "What are you doing?"

"We can't just walk into his suite as we are," Wu Xi explained. "His servants and guards will still be present; they will cast us out as once. You must disguise yourself as a noble to make entrance; and where better to fetch a noble's robes from than the Minister's own person?"

"And we'll have to dress him in your old clothes," Ser Erich reminded. "If the guards find him naked tomorrow morning, they'll be most suspicious."

"This wasn't in the plan," Bu Teh said, his eyes darting about.

"Half the treasure, remember?" Ser Erich said reassuringly. "You'll be a free man, after this. Rich, even."

Bu Teh nodded, slowly, then set about disrobing.

Once the swap was done, he looked about apprehensively. "Nice clothes," he said. "They fit me well - I could even pass for the Minister, to anyone who didn't know him too well, I think."

"That's exactly what we're planning," Ser Erich said. Wu Xi rolled his eyes and neglected to translate the comment.

Bu Teh looked up. "What? What was that?"

A crashing blow from Ser Karl drove him into unconsciousness.

"All these attacks from behind really seem most unchivalrous," Ser Karl fretted.

"In a cramped jail cell, in the middle of the Emperor's dungeon, against a traitor, may not be the best conditions for a duel," Ser Erich noted. "Now, we should get out of here before a patrol stops by."

"Yes, yes," Ser Karl agreed, shrugging off the concerns. "Help me pick the Minister up."

Hefting the courtier between their shoulders, such that an inattentive guard might mistake him as simply unsteady on his feet, Ser Erich and Ser Karl made their way from the cell, Wu Xi closing and locking the door behind them, with Bu Teh (in the Minister's clothes) still inside. Again fortune was with them, and the guards offered them no challenge; passing through the halls of the Imperial palace, the party (after a few alarming minutes in which they feared themselves lost) managed to find their way back to their suite.

"What now?" Ser Erich asked, rubbing his back.

"Now, we tie the good Minister up, gag him, and stuff him behind a couch," Ser Karl said, beginning on just that. "After that, we get a good night's sleep, and watch the fireworks."

When they saw him the following morning, Bu Teh seemed in poor spirits, being dragged kicking and screaming to the center of the execution square. "An ill character to the last," Wu Xi observed. "Condemned by his own greed, just as we knew he would be, he now fails even to live the last moments of his life with dignity or grace."

"They're gagging him now," Ser Karl observed. "Good. Less chance of someone figuring out the swap."

Ser Erich's thoughts were elsewhere. "What sort of execution are they performing?" he asked. "There seem to be an awful lot of executioners."

"It's a new form of punishment, introduced just for the occasion," Ser Karl said. "I missed the name, but I believe it is somewhat similar to our drawing and quartering?"

Ser Erich considered this.

"Do you think it will be thought of as a slight if I turn away during the execution?" he asked. "I have been in battle, yes; I have seen death, yes; but I have no desire to watch a drawing and quartering."

Ser Karl nodded. "Just don't make a show of it, and I think it'll be fine."

Afterwards, Ser Karl, Ser Erich, and Wu Xi had a brief encounter with the Emperor's sister; from what they could tell of her expression, she seemed pleased.

This was not the case on their subsequent audience with the Emperor. In fact, quite the opposite. "Who is this man?" the Emperor's sister asked, pointing to the man kneeling on the floor.

Ser Erich looked at Ser Karl. Wu Xi looked at Ser Karl. Ser Karl decided to do the talking.

"I'm not entirely certain," Ser Karl said. "He appears somewhat similar to your former Minister of Culture, but that person was executed, for all to see. We thought to present him before you, for your consideration."

The Emperor's sister looked at the man kneeling before her; she looked at the Westerners' party. "Who did we have executed yesterday?" she asked.

"Your Minister of Culture, of course," Ser Karl said. "All know that. If a traitor, formerly of the employ of the Minister of Culture, also went missing at the same time, it was most certainly a coincidence."

The Emperor's sister appeared ready to speak again; but, before she could do so, the kneeling man began to babble. Wu Xi listened, his brow furrowed.

"What is he saying?" Ser Erich asked.

"He is apologizing to his Emperor for his betrayal, and asking why his life was spared," Wu Xi said. "It appears that there were two traitors after all."

The Emperor's sister strode to the Westerners, speaking quietly so that the kneeling man could not hear. "Why have you brought me two traitors?" she asked her voice heated.

Ser Erich looked at Ser Karl. Wu Xi looked at Ser Karl.

"I have sought to act in every way in your Imperial interests," Ser Karl said. "The discovery of two traitors would have undermined your court. This we have never doubted. But how many traitors have been discovered? Only one, and he is dead. This man, you may consider a... bonus. To dispose of as you will, without accountability or consequences."

The Emperor's sister looked at them expressionlessly; then she turned, stepping over the kneeling man, and strode to the Emperor's screened-off throne. Some conference was held.

"What now?" Ser Erich asked.

"If they decide that we have acted in Their interest, then we are honoured, rewarded, and sent home flush with the fruits of success," Ser Karl said. "If not - " he made a hand gesture, a sharp slice across the air at neck level. Ser Erich winced.

"Which will it be...?" Wu Xi mused, watching the Emperor's sister emerge.

She stopped before them, something like a smile appearing on her face.

"Is that good?" Ser Erich hissed.

"I don't know!" Ser Karl hissed back.

She stood still a moment longer; then spoke, two words, harsh and guttural.

"Is that good?" Ser Erich hissed.

"I don't know!" Ser Karl replied. "Wu Xi! What did she say?"

Wu Xi translated.

"Well done."

The Case of the Traitor in the Emperor's Court:

Complete!

The Emperor's Court, cont.

On the evening of the social occasion, the Emperor's sister appeared at the door to Ser Karl's suite. "A good evening to you noble gentlemen," she said politely, translated by Wu Xi.

"And to you," Ser Karl replied. "We have just concluded our preparations, as you can no doubt see from our dress. Has it begun? Should we make haste?"

"Not so," the Emperor's sister replied; "it has not quite begun, and in any case, it were best that you arrive slightly late, so as to make the best impression on society. I did not come to instruct you on timing, though, rather, I came to remind you of your task."

"Of course," Ser Karl said. "We had not forgotten."

"Enjoy yourself," the Emperor's sister said. "This is a momentous occasion, after all; very seldom are we visited by emissaries of the Occidental princedoms. But remember: you must be at all times alert, so that you may find the traitor in our midst."

"What if there is more than one?" Ser Erich asked.

"There must be only one," the Emperor's sister said sharply, a tone even the Westerners could hear. "One traitor will damage the credibility of our reign; two would shatter it. Do not come to us with two traitors."

"We understand," Ser Karl said, "and will obey."

"Good," replied the Emperor's sister, her voice as perfectly calm as before. "We hope you have a pleasant time."

When Ser Karl and his party arrived, the gardens were buzzing with activity. Whichever way they looked, there were courtiers gossiping, servants swarming, and country nobility gawking. Immediately around the Westerners, conversation focused on their appearance: their strange eyes, their peculiar skin, their barbarous language and fashion.

"So, what now?" Ser Erich asked. "I don't see the ministers anywhere. For that matter - how will we recognize them?"

"We spoke about this beforehand," Wu Xi said. "We will mingle, and I will listen for references to the ministers. When I find word of them, I will guide us in their direction; then we will make small talk with them, and by this means determine their guilt or innocence."

"And how are we to do this?" Ser Erich asked hotly. "Why did I not hear any of this beforehand? Have you been conspiring without me?"

"You were in the same room," Ser Karl said; "we kept nothing from you. Why you did not hear, I cannot say, though I might offer a guess: were you thinking about - a girl?"

Ser Erich's ears turned bright red. "That's none of your business," he said.

"Keep your mind on the matter at hand," Wu Xi advised. "This will be hard enough if you're thinking with your right head, much less the other."

Ser Erich was blushing furiously now; Ser Karl looked at him a moment longer and then, considering him sufficiently admonished, turned to converse with an approaching courtier.

The first minister they encountered was the Minister of Order, surrounded by a swarm of fan-holding young ladies. He was an old man, gone somewhat to seed; in conversation he was, so far as Ser Erich and Ser Karl could tell through the translation barrier, quite reserved.

"This is where we put our plan into motion," Ser Karl explained to Ser Erich as they approached. "There is a certain question I will slip into conversation, for each of the ministers: 'How would you feel, were one of your fellow ministers discovered as a traitor in this very court?'"

"Hardly lightweight party conversation!" Ser Erich remarked.

"I will soften its impact with context," Ser Karl demurred. "Regardless: by the minister's reply to this, we will take his measure."

"And how, exactly, will this be accomplished?" Sir Erich asked.

"Hark!" Wu Xi hissed. "The Minister has acknowledged us; now you must speak!"

"I would consider it a most uncomfortable thing," the Minister of Order replied when put to the question. "One of my fellow ministers, a traitor? It would cause a most unpleasant hubbub - yes, most unpleasant indeed. Most off-putting to my poetry. No, that would be not a good thing."

"Ah!" cried the Minister of Arms, a thin, cold man. "A disgrace to the Imperial honour - to have appointed such a man! It would be a blow to the entire realm. No, no, that would be most unfortunate, if they were to find a traitor in the court - especially in these troubled times. - Is there one in particular you suspect?"

"I would be pleased, of course," the Minister of Culture replied with considered thought. His wide, jovial face creased as he thought. "Yes, that would be good news. If there is a traitor, better that he be caught then be let loose to wreak further havoc, yes? Especially in such a high position. How could anyone think otherwise?"

"And so?" Ser Erich asked, turning to his companions in a corner surrounded by bonsai shrubs. "Who is the traitor?"

"The Minister of Culture," Ser Karl said flatly. "Guilty beyond the slightest doubt."

"Yes," Wu Xi agreed. "His words condemned him."

"But - how?" Ser Erich asked, confused. "He said he would be happy if they found a traitor!"

"No," Ser Karl said. "He would be happy if they found another minister to be a traitor. What better atmosphere for the guilty to hide in than one in which the innocent are convicted? In such a smoke of confusion, he would be free to work his foul deeds, certain that others would be blamed for his wrongdoing."

"For recall what the Emperor's sister said," Wu Xi reminded. "There must be only one traitor found; more would destroy the credibility of the court. If an innocent man is found to be the traitor, then the true villain is free from worry; he knows that he cannot be named for what he is, even if discovered, for to do so would wreak certain destruction upon the Imperial throne."

"Ah!" Ser Erich said. "Your guile is great indeed. So - shall you now go to inform the Emperor?"

"No," Ser Karl said. "You and Wu will go; I will stay here, to avoid a connection between our party's absence and the condemnation of the guilty. We will not be long here, but it would be ill for us to be seen as too involved in local intrigues. Remember - we are lieges of Emperor Sigismund, not Emperor Zhu Di."

"Myself excluded, of course," Wu Xi said politely.

Ser Erich nodded, somewhat overwhelmed. He moved towards the nearest entry to the palace, Wu Xi at his side; Ser Karl, now alone, turned towards the nearest servant holding refreshments.

"Could I have some of that wine?" he asked in German, gesturing towards the wine.

The servant, correctly guessing at Ser Karl's intent, gave him a glass of wine.

Ser Karl looked elsewhere. "Might I have some of those shrimp?" he asked of another servant.

He was given shrimp.

"Ah - and some of that rice?" he asked.

He was given something with too many tentacles.

"Er," he said, prodding it.

Normally he would give a polite demurral and return the item - but, not having Wu Xi with him, his only choice seemed to be to take a bite or to give mortal offense to the poor servant, probably resulting in an immediate honor-suicide. This seemed a bit much for Ser Karl; so, nervously, he took a bite.

Ser Erich and Wu Xi rejoined Ser Karl midway through his third fried squid, just before the Emperor, in a palanquin covered in gold, made his appearance. Heralds blew trumpets. The court, as a collective, kowtowed. (Ser Karl and Ser Erich bowed; as a matter of honour, they would bend the knee to no monarch but their own.)

"We have an announcement to make," the Emperor's herald read from a scroll unfurled before him. "This man, Our former Minister of Culture, is a traitor to Our person. He will be arrested immediately, and executed tomorrow for his crimes." Already, guards had appeared as though from nowhere, surrounding the very surprised-looking Minister of Culture.

"Well done," the Emperor's sister said, appearing next to Ser Karl with a surprising amount of subtlety, given the number of servants surrounding her. "Now that you have found the villain, the job is done; we will conclude the trade agreement in two days. For now, you may enjoy yourself."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Ser Karl said. "We intend to."

Somewhat later, Ser Erich, very drunk and feeling rather unhappy, wound up lying in a corner, next to a similarly-sozzled Wu Xi and a servant named Bu Teh. "Man, it's just not fair, you guys keeping me out of the loop like that," he complained to Wu Xi. "It's not right. The little guys always get picked on, always. Not fair at all. You know what I mean, right?"

Wu Xi, obligingly, translated.

"Yeah, that's the way of it," Bu Teh agreed. "Everyone steals from the little guy. The merchants steal from the poor, the noble steal from the merchants, and the Empire steals from the nobles. But - you know what?"

"Wha?" Ser Erich asked. "Whuzzat?"

"Sometimes," Bu Teh whispered, "sometimes, the little guys can take something back."

Wu Xi's eyes opened wider. Carefully, he continued to translate.

"Whaddya mean?" Ser Erich asked. "Like breaking into the nobles' houses and taking their stuff? Mostly that just ends with hands gettin' chopped off, from what I see. Wouldn't recommend it."

"No, not like that," But Teh hissed. "Look - you serve the Western prince, yes? You have no loyalty to the Emperor?"

"He's an Emperor, too," Ser Erich said defensively. "Rules over aaalll the Holy Roman Empire. Biggest one in the world, too. Tell you that."

"But you serve him, yes? Not our Emperor?" But Teh asked.

"Yeah, yeah," Ser Erich agreed. "Why?"

Bu Teh considered. "I'll show you something," he said, "but you have to leave the other guy behind."

Ser Erich looked at Wu Xi. "Why?" he asked. "But then we won't be able to talk?"

"That's why I'm showing you," Bu Teh explained with drunken care.

"Ahhhh," Ser Erich agreed. "Sorry, friend."

Wu Xi shrugged, his eyes narrowed. He watched as the drunken men staggered into the palace; and he was still there, but now with Ser Karl at his side, when Ser Erich appeared again.

"And what did he show you?" Ser Karl, just briefed, asked.

"Man, he's got cash just papering his room!" Sir Erich exclaimed. "It's crazy! All this stuff he took back from the tax collectors, and sends back to his people at home! He's got nerves of steel, I'll tell you!"

"Where is his home, again?" Wu Xi inquired.

"Uh, not sure exactly," Sir Erich said. "Ler was the name, I think? Somewhere in the southeast?"

"And who was his employer?" Wu Xi asked.

"Uh... don't remember," Sir Erich said. "Oh! No! He was that Minister of Cultures guy, the one we arrested. Bu Teh was grateful when I told him we did it. Said the guy was a big jerk, the biggest. Go us, right?"

Ser Karl looked at Wu Xi. Wu Xi looked at Ser Karl.

"So there's a man who steals money from the Emperor, sends it to his home in the southeast - very possibly in the rebel province of Annan, in the southeast - and works for the Minister of Culture, who we just had arrested because we believed he was a traitor," Ser Karl summarized.

"Yeah," Ser Erich agreed. "And - wait."

He thought.

"...you mean we arrested the wrong guy?" Ser Erich asked.

Gravely, Ser Karl nodded.




To be continued, again.

The Emperor's Court

A tale set in a history somewhat distinct from our own.

Ser Karl of Frankfurt, titled Baronet by the Holy Roman Emperor in honour of his expeditions to the east, stood in a large, lavish room, waiting. He was hardly alone; the room was filled with servants, and Ser Karl's most trusted companions, Ser Erich (liege-man) and Wu Xi (native guide and translator), stood at his side. But his attention was not upon them; instead, his gaze was fixed directly forward, upon the two ornate doors at the end of the room.

"This is it," Ser Erich whispered to him. "The big moment we've been waiting for. The end to our long journey."

"Try not to whisper while we're in there," Ser Karl replied, his tone stern. "The Emperor would not be pleased."

Ser Erich shut his mouth firmly.

After several more minutes, the doors cracked open; a servant's face appeared, though his garb was rich enough to make him appear a prince to any who lived outside the palace. He spoke something, quickly; Wu Xi translated it. "The Emperor will see you now."

Ser Karl took a deep breath; then, measuring his step carefully, he entered the audience chamber.

Formalities were exchanged; each side went through a lengthly exchange of titles, trying not to be bested in length or quality. Gifts were presented; rare luxuries, virtually unknown to the Far East, transported all the way from the seat of Sigismund himself. And then Ser Karl made his request; that, for the greater good of both great civilizations involved, there should be a trade route established between the Ming Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, passing over the Silk road through the lands of the Emerald Khan. Should this request be viewed favourably by the Emperor, and granted, it would make Ser Karl's fortune - he should be granted an entire principality, his children Dukes, for this success!

And if the Emperor frowned on it - it was not to be conceived of.

The Emperor, hidden behind a decorative screen, was silent for one full minute. Ser Karl grew ever more nervous; an emotion he sought to keep carefully away from his face, for to show weakness in an affair of state was not to be thought of. Then he gave some answer - Ser Karl glanced at Wu Xi, but the latter shook his head, the Emperor's words inaudible at the distance - and the Emperor's sister, her face hidden behind a fan, walked out from behind the screen. (The Emperor's person, Ser Karl had been informed before the audience, was too holy to be profaned by directly speaking with outsiders - his sister, however, was just mortal enough to endure the experience.)

The Emperor's sister spoke sharply. "Clear the room," Wu Xi translated for Ser Karl. "No-one except for the outsider and his translator is to remain."

Ser Erich looked to Ser Karl for guidance. "Stay here," Ser Karl told him. "You're my liege-man; wherever I go, you go. Tell her that," Ser Karl instructed Wu Xi, who promptly (with much bowing) did so.

When the room was empty of servants, the Emperor's sister walked closer to Ser Karl's party. She spoke quietly; Wu Xi translated. "The Emperor is sympathetic to your request," he relayed as she spoke. "He is willing to grant it - with a condition."

Ser Karl thought quickly. He did not wish to appear ungrateful or insolent, here, now - "We will do it," he replied. Wu Xi translated quickly.

The Emperor's sister, so far as any expression could be read behind her fan, appeared pleased. "Good," Wu Xi translated. "The trouble is thus: in the province of Annan, to the southeast, there is great rebel agitation. It has persisted despite Our efforts to quash it; we believe that there is a traitor in this court, supporting the rebels in hope of personal gain. As a neutral outsider, with no stake in affairs, you may be trusted to uncover the truth."

"How may this be done?" Ser Karl said, measuring his words carefully. "I am certain that you, in your Imperial wisdom, have some plan for how we may uncover the traitor with no knowledge of Your court; we would be greatly pleased to have this knowledge imparted to us."

"There are three suspects," Wu Xi translated. "Our Minister of Arms; Our Minister of Order; and Our Minister of Cultures. These three may be supporting the rebels. We will hold a formal affair this night to celebrate your arrival to Our court. There, you will investigate the three ministers we have named, determine which of them is guilty, and deliver them to Our Imperial justice."

"Why do you suspect the Minister of Culture?" Ser Erich asked, curiosity burning on his face. Ser Karl looked sharply at him, but didn't move to stop Wu Xi from relaying the question.

"On more than one occasion, he has allowed plays to be performed which questioned the infallibility of the Emperor's predecessors," the response came. "He made apologies immediately when confronted on his errors, but We still suspect him of disloyalty."

Ser Erich nodded, his brief bemusement now hidden.

"Why is the Minister of War not under suspicion?" Ser Karl asked. "In failures of war, should he not be the first suspect?"

"The Minister of War is most certainly innocent," the Emperor's sister replied.

"Is he beyond reproach in honor and honesty?" Ser Karl asked. "Such things are rare in matters of state."

"His honour and honesty are great, but not so much as that," the Emperor's sister said through Wu Xi, leaning forward to speak more quietly. "Rather, it is that his control over the upper echelons of the army are strong enough, such that he choose to rebel, he would be certain to succeed. Since he has not, he must consider his situation superior as a servant in a strong state than ruler in a state wracked with upheaval; and so we may be certain that he has no interest in supporting the rebels."

"Ah," Ser Karl said. "Your wisdom is clear to me now. I have no further questions."

"Very well, then," the Emperor's sister said, turning to walk back towards the hidden Emperor. "Rest a while, and take refreshments. Then, tonight, the truth will be revealed."

(The hour grows late; therefore, this will be continued in a second part.)