Threads 350 Summit 2

“So there is truly something amiss,” Cai Renxiang said from behind steepled fingers, her brow crinkled with a frustration that reflected Ling Qi’s own feelings.

The room itself was small without being cramped, plain like the rest of the meeting hall. The floor was bare but polished wood, and there was only a single hanging, a watercolor depicting Tsu the Diviner smiting the Wolf God over a backdrop of Xiangmen.

“Shu Yue has confirmed that they agree with the assessment of Meng Dan and myself,” Ling Qi said.

Ling Qi had spent her time in between meeting Shu Yue and this meeting by collating information and reports from among the staff. There were many little accidents, but nothing that showed real evidence of tampering or being outside the result of natural geomantic shifts in an unstable region.

Not for the first time, she wished that the general could have been less disruptive.

Gan Guangli stroked his chin. “Troubling, if they cannot find the source immediately.”

“I would ask that all of us keep our eyes well open here, especially…”

“We cannot make any public statements regarding it,” Cai Renxiang said, her expression pinched. “Not without destroying this moment and the chance for either side to buy in. Not when it is already so tenuous.”

Ling Qi sighed. “Yes.”

“The Ministry of Integrity must be apprised of this matter, if they are not already aware,” Cai Renxiang stated bluntly.

“Although I do not wish to speak ill of them, they may already be aware of it and are choosing to remain silent, much as we intend to do,” Gan Guangli pointed out.

Ling Qi had to grudgingly admit that this was a possibility. While the Ministry had not been friendly to her, she had done little to endear herself to them either.

“Regardless, we must focus on the opening ceremony. This sabotage appears to be slow-acting,” Cai Renxiang said. “Do we agree on the broad interest groups we must satisfy here?”

“The nobility of the Emerald Seas is favorably disposed towards us, albeit with a touch of condescension, given the duchess’s clear investment and our work thus far. However, we will need to be careful about the concessions we make to keep them that way,” Gan Guangli summarized.

“Jaromila is heading the main White Sky group and has a personal interest in this,” Ling Qi offered. “I trust that she is at least as invested in this as we.”

“But they have their larger national interest, much like we do,” Cai Renxiang agreed. “The crows…”

“I believe Emissary Dzintara can be used to gauge that group’s interest. It is as much spiritual as political,” Ling Qi said. She had put that much together.

“This leaves our own watchers, the Ministry of Integrity and General Xia.” Gan Guangli said thoughtfully. “Miss Ling has somehow gained the general’s patience.”

“I was merely able to determine the right words to convince her that there is some value in this effort.”

Cai Renxiang glanced at Ling Qi, making a considering sound. Ling Qi smiled.

In truth, she found the general pretty terrifying. She was comprehensible though, if one understood her intent.

“But the ministry is barely on board,” Gan Guangli finished.

“We will need all of these to, at the minimum, not oppose us by the time the summit is complete,” Cai Renxiang said. “At the same time, we must also accomplish our central goal of negotiating a binding ceasefire. If we cannot manage that much, this effort will have been for naught.”

And their position—Cai Renxiang’s position—would be cripplingly weakened. It would take years, if not decades, merely to be taken seriously again.

“But even that is not enough,” Ling Qi said. “Rather, achieving only the bare minimum can only be seen as a failure. We need to establish this ‘foreign quarter’ concept here and foster closer relations.”

“I am more inclined to ‘embassy town’ for our situation,” Gan Guangli said. “But I agree. If we do not accomplish something surpassing the minimum, Lady Cai’s star will not rise.”

“And even beyond our ambitions, if we cannot establish a framework for peaceful relations, failure to accomplish more will only ensure that the south remains unstable” Ling Qi said.

“And there is only so much time,” Cai Renxiang said. “Ling Qi, you will be taking the lead in this. I will speak, especially to our own side, but your knowledge of the foreigners must guide my interactions.”

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“You will have them. What is the speech schedule for the opening ceremony?”