Book 4: Chapter 69: Mirror

Book 4: Chapter 69: Mirror

There was chaos in the throne room after the prince’s rather decisive to, in effect, claim the throne. Guards and servants were summoned. The guards took the queen away in chains, cursing her unfilial child all the way. The servants were tasked with taking away Chan Yu Ming’s hysterical sisters and rousing all the people Sen rendered unconscious. In the midst of all of that, Sen tried to fade away into the background. It was almost a successful venture. He’d gotten as far as a side door before the prince called out after him.

“So, is that it? You send the kingdom into chaos and turmoil, and then you leave without a word.”

Sen turned and met the prince’s angry eyes. “The kingdom was already in chaos and turmoil. All that’s changed is that now you know about it.”

“You planned all of this, didn’t you? You expected me to kill him.”

“He needed to die. I knew that much. It was better for the kingdom if someone in your family did it. Yes, it was also better for me if someone in your family did it. If one of you hadn’t killed him, though, I would have.”

“And what if we’d closed ranks to protect him.”

Sen let the silence linger between them for several seconds. “What do you imagine I would have done?”

“The person who visited my home and discussed politics with me? I think that man would have left in disgust. Except, you aren’t that man. This is who you really are. If we’d chosen to protect him, I think the man standing in front of me would have slain us all.”

“Well, that’s an answer. You were wrong about two things, though.”

“Was I?” asked the prince.

“Yes. First, I am both of those men. I lesson I had to learn the hardest possible way is that I can be more than one thing. The second thing,” said Sen, “is that you didn’t fail my test.”

Jing was caught so off-guard by that statement that it seemed to disrupt the not entirely unreasonable anger he was feeling at Sen.

“I don’t understand.”

“You are, against all odds, a decent man. The fight I was in at the time was no place for a decent man. A break with me was the surest protection you could get. As my ally, you were a target with no real defense against the people who would have come for you.”

“Do you even recognize how patronizing that is?”

“I...what?”

“Your excuse is that it was all for my own good. You made that decision like I wasn’t intelligent enough to understand the dangers inherent in the situation. Do I strike you as stupid?”

The prince’s expression darkened. “If you’ve been on my side of this conversation, why would you ever do that to someone?”

“We don’t always see ourselves clearly. At least, I don’t. You don’t always recognize when you’re walking down the path to a bad decision,” said Sen.

“That’s an easy excuse.”

“You know that it’s not an excuse. It’s a truth. One I hope you avoid when you’re sitting on that profoundly uncomfortable throne.”

The prince turned away with his fists clenched. Sen remembered that anger and the hurt that drove it so well. Sen consoled himself with the knowledge that the prince could at least send him away. He could even banish me, thought Sen. He is the king or just a hair’s breadth away from it. Although, the prince probably recognized how futile it would be to try to banish a cultivator like Sen. And, the prince was also savvy enough to know that, if Sen lived, he would be good for a favor or three down the road. Favors from higher-level cultivators weren’t something that smart rulers threw away on a whim or in a fit of pique. It took a little while, but the prince’s fists eventually unclenched. Sen watched as the prince frowned at the throne.

“It really is absurdly uncomfortable, isn’t it?” said the prince.

“You should get a new one,” said Sen, taking a few steps so he stood beside the prince.

“I think I will,” said the prince. “You realize that it’s going to be a while before I stop being angry about all of this.”

“Yeah. I know it better than anyone.”

“Will you speak with Yu Ming before you leave?”

“No.”

The prince eyed him. “Are you sure that’s the best course of action?”

Sen offered the other man a half-shrug. “If I was her, I’d probably blame me for all of this. She won’t want to see me. Or, she’ll definitely want to see me, just so she can try to put a jian through me. Either way, better for everyone if I’m just not here.”

“Perhaps so. I take it you’re leaving the city.”

“I am. Soon.”

“In that case, travel safely if you can.”

“Rule well, your majesty.”