Threads 177- Emissary 12

Ling Qi quietly shut the door to her room behind her, leaving Hanyi and Zhengui to their rest and cultivation. They wouldn’t be participating in the talks today.

“Join us, Ling Qi.” She looked up at the sound of her liege’s voice. Cai Renxiang and Gan Guangli were already seated at the table in the main room. She had felt their presences from within her room; a beckoning pulse of Cai Renxiang’s light had brought her out so early.

“Of course, Lady Cai.” A flicker of shadow carried her to an open seat opposite Gan Guangli. “May I ask what you were discussing?”

“Small matters of philosophy,” Gan Guangli said. “And what matters are reasonable expectations for the future.”

Cai Renxiang gave a small, assenting nod. “But we have not the luxury of long ruminations. We should prepare ourselves for the meeting coming later this day.”

“Should we not wait for the others then?” Ling Qi asked. “I believe we agreed Meng Dan’s presentation would be our opening move.”

“It is. Prompting a reciprocation of information on their history will be important to avoiding misunderstandings in the future. However, there is something I need to discuss with the two of you before that. At this point we are unlikely to fail at our expedition’s goals. Are you two in agreement?” Cai Renxiang looked at each of them in turn.

“It would seem so,” Gan Guangli said. “These people are not greatly inclined to war. I do not think it is a weakness of character though, as most would think of such timidity. Although I have only spent a short time with them, I think there is a deep resolve in their hearts which should not be underestimated. So long as our demands do not become insulting, they should remain accommodating.”

“I can’t say much about martial virtues, but I believe I understand Emissary Jaromila and her position well enough now to be certain that she wishes these negotiations to succeed. For her, additional ties with foreigners would only strengthen her position,” Ling Qi said thoughtfully. “We do not need to worry much about higher realm intervention either so long as we avoid offending their religious sensibilities.”

“Yes, you did say that their higher realms abrogate temporal rule,” Cai Renxiang recalled. “I find it odd that the wisest and farthest seeing do not rule, but I suppose that their power remains as backing for government decisions. Given their focus on religious institutions and consultation with them, I suppose it is not so different from the patriarch, head, and heir systems most clans observe.”

<I can’t help but feel that her interpretation is a little wrongheaded, but it’s not exactly incorrect either,> Sixiang muttered. <Probably the best explanation you all could give your bosses anyway.>

Ling Qi nodded silently, gesturing to indicate that she had nothing else to say.

“It is true that the abilities of those beyond the fourth realm are not necessary in most situations, except to counter their peers,” Gan Guangli mused, drumming his fingers on his elbow. “But I still find it strange.”

“I do not completely understand their cultivation,” Ling Qi admitted. Gan Guangli’s point bothered her, but she couldn’t quite say why. “So I do not want to judge overmuch.”

“Agreed,” Cai Renxiang said. “What I wish to ask you two then, is what you would advise we do with this accomplishment.”

“You think the Duchess will grant us a boon?” Ling Qi asked.

“I believe she will be inclined to give more duties to those who prove they can handle it,” Cai Renxiang corrected levelly. “Assuming we succeed beyond the parameters of the expedition, it will be possible to make choices on where those duties lie.”

“You are wondering whether it is wise to remain where you are?” Gan Guangli asked to clarify.

“I have been reminded of late that my accomplishments are still very thin on the ground,” Cai Renxiang answered. Her fingers tapped a steady beat on the hilt of her saber which was laid across her lap. “The path we are on, of achieving high rank in the Sect and being its champions at the intersect tournament, I have begun to wonder if it is enough. Excellence is the only thing Mother cares about, and this is the chance to pursue something more.”

“You know, my lady, that the tournament is no small thing. Attendance and performance there will be seen throughout the province and the Empire beyond, particularly with the greater number of disciples from out of province arriving in recent years,” Gan Guangli pointed out. “The connections that can be forged there among the nobility of the Emerald Seas and its institutions will be tremendous.”

Ling Qi was mostly worried that Renxiang was speaking of the task laid down by the Duchess herself could be “insufficient.” She knew that the girl pushed herself tremendously at all times, and wondered if she was now intending to take that even further. She didn’t know how healthy that was.

“I acknowledge this, but in the end, they will still be the achievements of students,” Cai Renxiang pointed out.

“But we are students,” Ling Qi said.

“Nonetheless, we must think beyond a few years.”

“What is it you propose, Lady Cai? It is unlike you to be so evasive,” Gan Guangli said, furrowing his brow.

“I have found myself thinking that it may be best to stake my place in the province on this business,” Cai Renxiang said. “This matter we have stumbled into thanks to Ling Qi’s actions is not an opportunity to come again soon. We are guaranteed to have martial achievements given the war coming to the south and Mother’s participation. But we are uniquely positioned to gain influence over the relationship which develops here.”

Cai Renxiang’s gaze turned toward Ling Qi, and she knew what the heiress meant. By quirk of fate, she was someone that these foreigners would extend at least limited trust to, even before building a relationship with them.

“I am not sure this is a decision to be made now,” Gan Guangli protested. “My lady, even if these negotiations succeed, it will be many months before we can realistically expect there to be further contact. The base location will need to be prepared, and matters of the war and the border counts will need addressing.”

“It is something which we must consider,” Cai Renxiang said. “Ling Qi, Gan Guangli, I will admit that I am considering a risky path, so please, consider it in your minds and later, when the time comes to debrief my mother, I would have your opinions.”

Ling Qi crossed her arms. It was true that they had achieved something unique here, but did she really want to commit to that? The Sect remained a place of wealth and knowledge that she could continue to benefit from.

<And of course, pretty much everyone you know is there,> Sixiang thought. <I could see snake girl ending up part of this, but you might be leaving a good number of people behind. But that would also be happening at some point given the proposed timeline.>

Ling Qi acknowledged that at most, they would be with the Sect for another year. Was accelerating that in their best interests though?

<I think you should counsel what you’ll find the most fulfilling personally,> Sixiang whispered. <You’re at the point in your cultivation where progress needs more than drugs and stones and cultivation sites.>

“I can see the benefits you speak of, Lady Cai, but I think that many of the lords of the Emerald Seas will not respect it as much as a more traditional position for an heiress,” Gan Guangli warned. “That is unfortunate, but it cannot be denied.”

“This is true,” Cai Renxiang admitted. “In the short term, it is likely that my—our—connections with the bulk of the nobility will be less than they would otherwise. This can be mitigated through personal effort, but it is absolutely a disadvantage.”

“On the other hand, if we succeed in making something more here, we can use that success to boost those who do support us against the ones who didn’t,” Ling Qi said thoughtfully. “ I don’t know how that will work out though.”

Cai Renxiang let out a long breath. “Breaking traditions…”

Ling Qi was silent, and so was Gan Guangli. She knew what the heiress’ seeming non-sequitur was about. The image of the radiant titan burned in the back of her mind.

It wasn’t going to be an easy choice.

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***​

“And so you can see, our people were allies once, and it would shame our shared blood to not at least seek to come to an accord,” Meng Dan finished smoothly, bowing his head at the conclusion of his speech.

All of them were present again, this time on the upper floor of the redoubt. The hall here was more lavishly furnished, thick furs and wooden paneling softening the harsh iron edge of the chamber. They sat at a round table of polished marble set in the center of the room.

This time, they were not just speaking to Jaromila and Ilsur. Two other emissaries of the White Sky were present, though they were junior to Jaromila. The most obvious addition was a thickset woman who by complexion and features would not look out of place in the south Emerald Seas. Their hosts had sent out a message to the closest outpost of their countrymen, the Sibiar, the day before. This woman, Emissary Khadne, had been the one to answer, riding hard through the night to arrive for the meeting in the morning. Her garb was much the same as that of their hosts, the Alaniar, save for a preference for green and white colors. She wore her hair in thick dark braids.

“You spin a very good tale, I will grant,” Khadne said. Where the others were seated, she stood, looking down over the documents and books on the table. She glanced to her left where they had set up the tapestry, which, to Ling Qi’s amusement, seemed terribly indignant at the use they had put it to. “But I am not so eager to call you kin.”

Meng Dan’s research had traced down the closest connections to the old prince, and in the modern Emerald Seas, they lay in the Meng and the Diao clans.

“Blood is, of course, not the only thing which determines kin, especially when such gaps in time are in play.” Meng Dan said humbly, “It is only my intention to show that it is possible for our people to get along.”

“I will compare this to our records when I return. Granting that you are not speaking falsehood, the Sibiar will give their support to these negotiations.” Khadne gave Meng Dan one last considering look before sitting down. “To business then.”