Threads 335 Tension 3

The interior of the hall was empty, still filled with tools and the signs of work being done. There, she saw two familiar figures. Xuan Shi stood by a cracked span of paneling, and beside him, Xia Lin, with her helmet off and her hand on her hip, looked very vexed.

“Baroness,” Xia Lin greeted, looking over Xuan Shi’s head. The word dripped with deep frustration.

Ling Qi felt repentant. She had made the girl—her friend?—deal with all of this nonsense. Ling Qi was weary of it after just an hour or two.

What had been Xia Lin’s favorite food when they went out to dinner together at Xiangmen? Ling Qi wished Sixiang could remind her.

“Lady Ling. Sir Jin,” Xuan Shi greeted. His expression was stony as it swept over Jin Tae. “This one is pleased to offer service.”

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” Ling Qi said.

“Indeed, the humbleness of the Xuan clan has never been in doubt,” Jin Tae said lightly. “What are your findings?”

Xuan Shi narrowed his eyes and blew out a sharp breath from his nose, turning his eyes to Ling Qi.

“Terrible snarl. Two energies to nurture, and two whorls of compassion, clashing and brewing a storm. A blast, if completed. Smoking malevolence, if left to simmer. This one has taken the opportunity to remove the offending panels.”

… Of course. Both crafters were right. Wonderful. Perfect.

“In your judgment, did the error in the fusion produce enough malevolence to affect minds?”

Xuan Shi considered, turning back to the wall to gently pull down the cracked and corroded wood, setting it on the ground. He clearly wondered if she had a preferred answer.

Ling Qi lowered her head.

“Enough to fray tempers and stoke spite, but only a small amount… This one does not see malice, only two styles fusing incorrectly. It is only outside both, looking in, that it is noticed.”

“Well, it seems we have our expert opinion. What now then, Lady Ling?” Jin Tae asked.

Ling Qi pursed her lips.

“We’ll simply have to divert more translators to the project and hold a further meeting about ‘obvious’ cultural matters. I will help train another few individuals in the White Sky tongue myself and ask that Emissary Khadne do the same. I am certain she will be reasonable.”

“If Lady Ling would like to raise the matter, this one would be pleased to volunteer their time. Idle as this one yet is,” Xuan Shi offered.

“How generous,” Jin Tae said. “Lady Ling, the matter of the insult is not to be forgotten.”

“I have not forgotten,” Ling Qi agreed.

Jin Tae had not in any way impeded her investigation. He clearly disagreed with her, but in the White Sky camp, he had shown solidarity in his silence. And while she thought he was wrong and knew that the ministry was not invested in her success, she also knew more of her countrymen than she cared to admit would be on his side in the matter.

“I will inform Emissary Khadne of the need for mutual apologies over the matter… but I will also ask that the guard in question be censured by removal from any mixed detail,” she decided.

Frankly, while the imperial crafter had made an impulsive error, she couldn’t help but see the White Sky’s response as excessive, even knowing there was cultivation damage involved. Also, from what she had gleaned of the White Sky’s intent, they agreed with her assessment. Having the guard who intervened taken out of the duty rotation to “cool her head” implied they thought it too hot. Similarly, they could quietly allow their crafter to recover and work on other projects.

If she assessed the White Sky right, they wouldn’t demand an announcement from the imperials. If Ling Qi asked Khadne to make a statement as part of her apology, she would be willing to do so. The White Sky pride was not quite the same as the imperial’s. Stating aloud what they were going to do anyway wouldn’t embarrass them.

Meanwhile, the more belligerent among her group would see that announcement as a concession, if a very small one. It would be viewed as an oblique admittance of fault.

“I see,” Jin Tae said. “Lady Ling is wise.”

She could only feel the begrudging nature of that compliment due to her superior cultivation.

“That does seem to be for the best. However, you should be warned that further meetings and discussions will eat into work time,” Xia Lin warned. “The structure will be complete, but sections with rough or lacking flourish are a possible result.”

Ling Qi grimaced. “I understand. I can only request that everyone give this matter their best, for the pride of the empire, if nothing else.”

“As long as you understand,” Xia Lin allowed.

Ling Qi gave the other girl a commiserating look. She could see the lapsed terror in her body language. Xia Lin had been outright afraid that her aunt would intervene back there, hadn’t she? That would have escalated the matter beyond saving.

She mentally added a bottle of fine Xiangmen root cider to her apology gift to Xia Lin.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“And I must thank you, Sir Xuan,” Ling Qi said. “I will send a missive to Lady Wang about your offer, but I am sure she will accept.”

Wang Lian was not the type to be so prideful. She would probably be pleased to pick the mind of even a younger and less cultivated Xuan crafter on the worksite.

“When a ship flounders, it is a good neighbor’s duty to offer tow.”

Xuan Shi was rather pointedly ignoring Jin Tae.

“Unity among the provinces is to be lauded,” Jin Tae said. “Shall I consider this matter closed then, Lady Ling?”

“I think so. I will write to Emissary Khadne and arrange matters with the workers. Would the ministry like to pass an inspection over the meeting hall before the work resumes as well?”

Jin Tae’s gaze fell on Xuan Shi. “Inspector Cao will briefly examine the formations. The ministry would not insult the Wang or the Xuan with less. Nor would we wish to impede the resumption of work. I do hope further collaboration will also go smoothly, Lady Ling.”