Chapter 613

Chapter 613

Dont do this.

Hardly Yuzhens most eloquent appeal, but given the circumstances, it was all she could come up with. The moment she received word of Baatars arrest, she knew this was a calamity which could see the Empire torn asunder, or at the very least, the Northern Citadel. Thus, after unwittingly sharing the news with the gathered representatives of the Northern Magistrates, Yuzhen left the meeting and her guards behind by way of the closest window and sprinted across the rooftops in a desperate attempt to avert disaster.

A good thing too, for she arrived home just in time to stop Gerel at the manor gates, but after blurting out her panicked plea, she was struck speechless by his transformation. Clad from head to toe in his silver-and-black Runic Armour, he made for a formidable sight, and Yuzhen spared herself a moment to drink it all in. In formal or casual wear, Gerels svelte frame almost appeared lithe and slender, but even though she knew what lay underneath his frilly outer robes, loose silken shirts, and glittering jewellery, seeing him dressed for battle made her wonder how she could ever have described him as anything less than solid. There was no better word for it, for though he was a warrior born, he was neither large enough to be considered hulking nor small enough to be considered slight. Whether it be his height or build, Yuzhen would have once described both as average, but now she was of a mind to call it optimal, with his thick, corded muscles straining from underneath his glimmering, form-fitting armour, so perfectly tailored it might as well be a second skin.

The Tyrant charged exorbitant prices for crafting Runic equipment, but she deserved every last copper paid as far as Yuzhen was concerned.

His naked sword held ready in his left and massive glaive resting in the right, Gerel loomed over her from atop his hulking, snarling quin and fixed her with a quiet glare, one delivered by conflicted amber eyes burning with unchecked rage. Giving thanks that his ire would never be directed towards her, Yuzhen wondered where her husband had hidden such... intensity. Shed known him for a passionate man and hot-blooded warrior, but this... this was something entirely different, primal display of raw, visceral violence, a side shed only seen once before, during the handful of minutes following Rains accusation and miraculous cleansing all those years ago in Sanshu. She once attributed her beloved husbands savage behaviour to influence from those insidious minions of the Father, but now she knew it was all part and parcel of the man she loved, and she did not balk in the face of it. In fact, seeing this side of him fascinated her, because while romance and passion were nice, it never hurt to spice things up with a bit of anger and conflict every now and then, both in and out of the bedroom. After months spent smoothing out his rough edges and teaching him how to rub elbows with high society, she finally turned him into a model husband for a proper Marshal, or rather a traditional Marshals wife, and she now saw this for the mistake it was. Yuzhen was anything but traditional, and while she enjoyed the attentions and affections of her loving, compliant husband, what she needed was a proper partner and comrade in arms, not a meek consort to warm her bed.

And what better partner than Demon Reaper Gerel?

To think, she somehow forgot that she married a Dragon amongst men, which meant her allies and enemies alike hadnt been treating him with the respect he deserved. Oh, they heard of his exploits on the battlefield and saw his match against the Royal Guardian, but stories and show matches were not the same as seeing this man before her, bristling with righteous fury and barely restrained violence as he readied to see justice served. Yuzhen had to give Yang Jixing proper credit, for only a true imbecile could kick over a hornets nest like this and make such a grand mess of things only moments after coming to power.

Why?

So distracted by this feast for her eyes, it took her a moment to parse through the question, Yuzhen stood tall and said, Riding out with swords drawn and bows bent wont help Baatar. For Mothers sake, I have on good authority he voluntarily went into the Disciplinary Corps custody. He wasnt beaten into submission and taken prisoner, so give me a chance to solve things peaceably through the proper channels and I assure you that everything will work out. The new Legate is likely doing this as a show of strength and to assert dominance over the established officers and show he will not be cowed by the People and their allies. A blunder to be sure, but one we can overlook once matters have been properly settled.

Half-expecting him to leap off his quin and capitulate, Yuzhen was thrown for a loop when Gerel shook his head and sneered. The time for politics is long past. You know as well as I what Jixing desires, and we will not turn Zheng Luo over. She is one of the People now, no different from Baatar, and we will spill a river of blood if anyone should dare lay a finger on either of them.

This tribal allegiance had its benefits, but right now, it was sorely testing Yuzhens patience. I understand you see this as an assault on your sovereignty, but in the eyes of the Empire, the People are citizens like any other, and thus you have none. This was a lawful arrest on the grounds of suspicion, with charges laid but judgment yet to be rendered. If you ride in baring fangs and brandishing claws within minutes of his arrest, public opinion will turn against you and as everyone questions why the People reacted so violently to mere charges. Seeing he was still unconvinced, Yuzhen pressed harder in hopes of averting disaster. And make no mistake, public opinion will be with us, so long as you stay your hand. Baatar has the loyalty of his soldiers and the support of his allies, powerful allies like myself, Nian Zu, and the Society. The last one wasnt entirely certain, but despite all the setbacks theyd encountered in the past five years, the Society was still a juggernaut of military and commerce in the Northern Province, so their presence could not be overlooked. There were other allies of importance too, mostly factions from South and Central, but almost all were absent from the Northern Citadel save for a nominal presence. Even if the other Marshals or Colonel Generals wanted to help, it was likely they wouldnt even hear of this matter in time to speak up, much less appear in person, so it would be the Northern factions opinions which mattered most.

Yes, Gerel said, nodding in agreement, but then Yuzhens stomach lurched as he added, Which is why we should strike whilst the iron is hot. Between the Death Corps, Royal Guardians, and Disciplinary Corps, Jixing cant have more than ten-thousand loyal combatants stationed in the Citadel, including Rains honour guard who we can easily deal with first.

Mother save Yuzhen from fools and idealists. And then what? You flee to your mountain homes and hide?

We withdraw to our homes, Gerel corrected, his anger and pride flaring at her careless accusation, And fight to defend them. We will defend the entire Northern province if need be, but we will not serve under an Empire which sees fit to trample over our rights.

And what of the People currently serving on the second lines? This finally made Gerel blink, as it was clear hed forgotten about them in the heat of anger, and Yuzhen pressed her advantage. Will you just leave them behind, just as you would abandon the rest of the Empire? Your feud is with one man, and you would doom millions of innocents out of what? Impatience? Whats more, Yuzhen continued, moving closer to Gerel and praying his ornery quin wouldnt snap, Just yesterday, we received verified, military reports from Chen Hongji which contained nothing but praises for the People and their allies, reports the heralds read and repeated in every corner of the Empire, with some still reading those reports now. Citizens and soldiers alike celebrated the good news and learned of great heroes amongst the People, heroeslike Mila, Alsantset, Tursinai, and more. Swallowing her fear, Yuzhen reached out to clasp his hand, wrapped as it was in a white-knuckled grip around his sword and said, Think, beloved husband. Everyone in the Citadel knows Baatar by sight. Theyve seen him work tirelessly since the start of the war, planning the defences, training the soldiers, and most importantly, celebrating his sons marriage in the streets. They know his name, have seen his face, know his people fight to defend them, but the same cannot be said of Yang Jixing, a nobody who just appeared out of nowhere to arrest a beloved Military General. Not exactly true, since she knew Jixing had been active in the outer provinces for over a year, but hed made no public appearances and kept his presence a secret, so for most, this would be the first time theyd ever heard his name. I can make Jixing see reason and convince him to drop these charges, Yuzhen concluded, seeing the anger drain from Gerels beautiful eyes. You just need to give me time.

Besides, if she failed, it still wouldnt be too late to spill blood. Even as incompetent as he might seem, surely Jixing wouldnt have Baatar, a Lieutenant General of the Imperial Army and father of the Minister of Finance executed without a public trial.

...Probably.

Hopefully...

Gerels grip relaxed almost imperceptibly, but Yuzhen knew shed gotten through to him, and a wave of sweet relief rushed through her. Then, her husband ruined it by opening his mouth and saying, Very well. Even though my honour and conscience demands it, I will not join the others.

What. In the. Fuck. ...What others?

You. Dare?!

Echoing out from the highest room of the command centre, the words crashed into Yuzhen like the icy winter wind waiting outside her manor doors back north. There was something about this verbal exchange which she didnt understand, similar to how the Legates speeches had once inspired and excited the crowds in Nan Ping, but... more. Not just Yang Jixings reply either, which left him red faced and breathless as he appeared at the window above, but also in Rains quiet demand delivered at what felt like a normal, conversational volume, yet somehow reached the top floor, and from the looks of it, the rest of the crowd around Yuzhen as well. Turning to Rain in a mixture of awe and horror, Yuzhen wasnt sure what to make of this not-so-crippled dragon standing before her. She truly believed him when he claimed he wasnt a Martial Warrior, and had seen enough proof to corroborate those claims, but shed also heard several accounts of how hed killed Demons with his bare hands the last time he was in Sinuji, so she had no idea what to think anymore, and could only pray for the best.

Unmoved by Jixings flustered appearance, Rain cocked his head slightly and asked, Why would I not? I speak only the truth. My father had no part in Shen ZhenWus mishap, so you have no grounds to arrest him. Release him now, and I will look the other way.

You dare dictate terms to me? To. Command. Me? Still infusing his voice with Chi, Jixing roared down at the crowd with such intensity it forced Yuzhen back a step, and she was not the only Martial Warrior affected as such. Peak Experts like Sarnai, Kuang Biao, and Gerel only flinched, but almost everyone else rocked back beneath the verbal assault.

Everyone except Rain, who didnt even blink, as calm and relaxed as ever. What was going on with him? Was he crippled or not?

It was more of a suggestion really. Though still speaking in a conversational tone, Yuzhen could see every face in the crowd hanging onto Rains every word, and knew that they could somehow all hear him as clearly as she. Not impossible for Martial Warriors, but this wasnt due to any effort on their part, and Yuzhen suspected Rain was doing something to make himself heard. Hed somehow done the same in Sinuji too, and now dramas were being made to tell the tale of Falling Rain and Ai Qing, though at least the playwrights had the decency to wait until after Rains weddings to perform them. Seemingly unaware of the effect he was having on the people around him, Rain traded stares with Jixing and asked, So you refuse to release my father? Tell me, what crime has he committed to warrant his arrest?

So incensed by Rains defiance, Jixing had difficulty finding the proper words, and it was several seconds before he found his breath and voice once again, and while his words were still infused with Chi, they didnt make Yuzhens ears feel like they were bleeding. Baatar of the People has been arrested and stripped of his rank under suspicion of treason. Even from five stories down, Yuzhen could see the hateful sneer on Yang Jixings face, a youthful bully who took great delight in delivering this statement. Prior to this, Baatar had still been a Lieutenant General, but now Jixing had stripped him of his title as well. Even if all went well, the charges were dropped, and his rank reinstated, Baatar would forever bear the shame of having borne this suspicion. A black mark on his reputation to be sure, and while the soldiers and Sentinels in the crowd voiced their disbelief and indignation, Rain merely continued to stare up at Jixing, who faltered at seeing his statement fail to have the desired effect. Since Rain would not play by his rules, the Imperial Brat addressed the crowd directly, seeking satisfaction from them instead. I, Yang Jixing, provisional Legate of the Eastern Province, regret to inform you that Shen ZhenWu, your previous Legate, was ambushed and attacked in the home of this traitor, Baatar of the People. Shen ZhenWu suffered grievous injury, but he is alive and well, and has since returned to the homeland to recover from his debilitating plight. I will not let this crime go unpunished, and will see to it that the traitor and all his co-conspirators are punished to the full extent of Imperial Law.

This was a set up. Jixing wanted the North to rebel and was pushing them beyond their limits, there was no other logical explanation, but why would he do such a thing? A civil war would give the Defiled a clear pathway into Central, and from there, North and South would be vulnerable as well. Did the Imperial Clan truly not care what happened to the outer provinces? How could anyone in power allow this Jixing to behave as he did? Any second now, Yuzhen expected the bloodshed to begin, but again, Rain was entirely unmoved. Oh? The single syllable cut through the crowds muttering and silenced all their voices in an instant, dousing their desire to bare blades and shed blood like water over hot coals. First you say my father was arrested under suspicion of treason, Rain drawled, doing that hateful thing where he pretended like he was an idiot even though he clearly wasnt. But then you started talking like hed already been convicted. Did a Justicar already pass judgment? How could that be possible? My father was only arrested a few minutes ago. Surely a trial of this severity would take longer to conclude?

Hmph. Clearly caught in a mistake and unwilling to admit it, Jixing doubled down on his statement and said, The evidence is overwhelming, and the verdict obvious.

So youre a Justicar now? An Oath-Sworn Imperial Servant with the authority to pass judgment?

That was interesting... Though Yuzhen knew all members of the Disciplinary Corps were Oath-Sworn, she hadnt known they counted themselves as Imperial Servants. Had she known, she might have been more leery of them, because even under ideal circumstances, there were certain matters she wouldve preferred to keep secret from Imperial interests. Previously, she thought that any Justicar or Adjudicator could be trusted with any information so long as it wasnt criminally relevant, but now, she was not so sure.

Rains question struck a chord with Jixing and set his cheeks to blazing, and his answer uttered through gritted teeth. The trial is currently underway, but the verdict is obvious.

That was all, but it was enough for everyone present to know he was talking out his ass, and set Rain up perfectly for his next blow, which Yuzhen saw coming and felt giddy watching in action. A private trial? How is anyone supposed to present proof of his innocence in a private trial?

There is nothing you can say to save him. The sneer was back, and Yuzhen couldnt help but shake her head at Jixings stupidity, flouting his glee and obvious agenda without even trying to hide it. As I said, the evidence against him is overwhelming.

Then let us hear it. What evidence do you have? Not expecting an answer, Rain shook his head and continued. You accuse my father of treason, of colluding with the Enemy, of injuring my Patron, and you expect us all to take you at your word without hearing the evidence arrayed against him? I know as well as you that there is no evidence, because my father had no part in the attack. Are you really so desperate to force this to a trial by combat? The Prime Ministers son using the Disciplinary Corps as a political tool, truly a disgrace to Justice.

Obviously not expecting Rain would simply blurt out the truth, Yuzhen was enjoying watching Jixing learn how to play politics with Rain, which was different from playing politics with anyone else in the Empire, because he cared nothing for face. His statements and accusations were a black mark on Imperial dignity, and where others might balk at airing their private feud in public, Falling Rain would trample over the Emperor Himself if he felt it justified. He had a way with words and a penchant for keeping his opponents off-guard and therefore defensive, which was why Jixing was so hesitant to reply. Speak his mind and reveal his ploy or deny it and be forced to pronounce Baatar guilty and back the verdict with falsified facts, or do nothing and eventually be forced to release his prisoner, neither option was desirable and Jixing was at a loss on how to proceed.

Which gave Rain plenty of time to continue his offensive. My father can disprove your accusations with a single statement and Oath. Shen ZhenWus injuries had nothing to do with him. My Patron paid me an unscheduled, impromptu visit to speak on matters of importance, and I just so happened to be working in my fathers manor. The Wraiths who attacked us likely did so because they saw a target of opportunity. As I said in my report, those Wraiths were powerful foes, unlike any wed ever seen before, and might well still be in the Citadel right now, yet instead of putting effort into apprehending these criminals, you waste your time on a sham trial you engineered to further your own personal grievance against me during this time of crisis, all over what? Greed and jealousy, thats what. Giving the crowd time to process his words, Rain drew himself up to full height and slammed the butt of his spear against the cobblestone floor. As the mild thump echoed through the silent plaza, a surge of emotion rocked through Yuzhen as Rain revealed his fury for all to see, his lip curled in utter disdain and eyes blazing with outrage. Yang Jixing. This is your last chance. Release my father, now. I make no demands or threats, I only ask you do what is right, or what comes next lies on your head, and yours alone.

And Mother help her, Yuzhen believed him with all her heart, and would fight to the death to bring Jixing to justice.

Warrior, merchant, minister, and now? It seemed Falling Rain was on the cusp of adding rebel leader to his list of professions, and there was no shortage of soldiers willing to follow him.

Chapter Meme