Nanowrimo 2022 - Day 4 Word Count and Best Bit (Patreon)

Today I added a whopping 3,021 words to my project, bringing the total word count to 8,161! We've got an extra long best bit today :)

“Greetings, my children,” the emperor greeted, his tone amicable. “It does one’s heart good to see how well you both have grown. Stand, and let me see you properly.”

“The Imperial Princess, Jin Xia, greets her father, the venerable Emperor Wu Zhi,” Jin Xia said as she straightened her back, smiling winningly. “And is humbled by his generous praise.”

A hand rose to stroke the emperor’s full beard, golden eyes glimmering in amusement. “Hopefully not so humbled that you doubt the sincerity of my words.”

Jin Xia’s empty, political smile did not waver. “Of course not, Your Majesty.”

“The Imperial Prince, Qui Ling, also greets his Majesty,” Qui Ling cut in, pulling the emperor’s attention his way. “And is pleased to see his Majesty in good health.”

Jin Xia could tell her father was pleased, both with her brother’s praise and with the clear rivalry on display. Despite the apparent attempts to keep fighting from breaking out amongst the concubines, Wu Zhi still knew that keeping them at each other’s throats was the easiest way to keep himself on top. That was, of course, why the lower ranked concubines lived in residences just beyond the grounds of the four consort’s palaces. So, when the emperor was particularly angry at any of the four consorts, he could walk right past her palace to spend a night with a lesser concubine under her domain. Jin Xia knew of at least three rumors of this happening to the Spring Cloud Consort, and the nasty punishments she dealt out to the lower concubines in the aftermath. Even the kindly Winter Sun Consort was known to insist that lower concubines in her domain drink a tea that was rumored to weaken a woman’s ability to carry a child. Such was the paranoia and jealousy that Wu Zhi inflicted upon his concubines.

“Enough formalities,” Wu Zhi said, waving his hand dismissively. “If we prattle on with niceties all day, we shall never get to the reason I called you both here today.”

“Of course, father,” Qui Ling agreed. “Please, go ahead.”

Jin Xia felt hair on the back of her neck rise as the emperor’s jovial gaze turn bitter and sharp. His glare might have been focused on her foolish half-brother, but Jin Xia could not ignore the fear it induced.

“I do not need your permission to speak, young man,” he barked. “Do you think so highly of yourself that you would think to order me about in such a manner?”

“My deepest apologizes, Your Majesty!” Qui Ling yelped in response, bowing low under the weight of their father’s harsh glare. “I did not mean to imply something so heinous!”

Jin Xia considered letting him flounder there, desperate to escape their father’s harsh judgement. It would certainly be amusing…after she was done being terrified. But perhaps she could use this as an opportunity.

“Venerable father, pay my foolish little brother no mind,” she pleaded gently. “He simply forgot himself in his excitement. It’s been so long since you formally summoned either of us to your side, after all. It would make anyone giddy enough to lose their sense of propriety.”

Wu Zhi seemed to physically restrain his temper as he took in Jin Xia’s words. She dropped her gaze as he turned his eyes to her, appearing as she knew he wanted her to be. As all men wanted her to be.

The emperor harumphed, stroking his beard pensively. “You’re lucky that your sister speaks so well on your behalf, Qui Ling. Be grateful for her quick wit and silver tongue, for it has earned you my mercy.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Qui Ling forced out through gritted teeth.

“Now, to business,” Wu Zhi announced, making a sweeping gesture with his hand, his many-layered robes weighing down the motion. “It has been some time since you both came of age. In my nostalgia for your days as children, I failed to complete my duty as ruler of our great nation and choose one of you as my heir.”

Jin Xia held back a disbelieving laugh. Nostalgia? How could he have nostalgia for things he did not witness. From her knowledge, he only sought her out as a child once, during the celebration of her first hundred days of life. After that, she only ever caught sight of him in passing, through the windows of the halls of learning or on the other side of the gardens. The next time he truly saw her was her coming of age ceremony. So much with being done with the niceties.

“Alas, I find myself struggling to choose between you,” the emperor sighed, leaning his head against a fist in some dramatic reenactment of contemplation. “But then, my Minister of War provided me with the most excellent of ideas.”

Jin Xia spared the quickest of glances to the right, catching sight of the preening Minister of War. The fact her father kept him in his employ despite the many decades of peace the kingdom had enjoyed betrayed Wu Zhi’s hidden ambitions. Did these two old men expect her and Qui Ling to go to literal war with each other over the throne? Jin Xia knew the emperor didn’t hold any real love for his children, but that level of callousness was beyond the pale.

“For too long, our kingdom has been trapped on all sides by enemies in waiting,” Emperor Wu Zhi continued, his voice heavy with false sorrow. “Our people cry out against this injustice, begging us to assuage their fears. As such, I have a task for the two of you.

“Conquer the nations to the north, the south, the east, and the west. Whosoever completes this task first shall be named my heir.”

Jin Xia felt her blood freeze within her veins. To call the nations around them enemies after all this time was ludicrous! Delegations from each had been invited to her coming-of-age ceremony! She’d received a summons for a wedding in the West just the other day! Just what was her father thinking?

But she could not show the men in this room her doubt or her incredulities. No, she had to appear to believe her father’s nonsense, to be confident in him. Instead, she simply bowed, hiding her shaking hands from his view with her body.

“As you have decreed it, so it shall be done,” she murmured. Qui Ling mimicked her seconds later, louder.

“You will each be given an army and a general to aide you in this task,” Wu Zhi continued. “They have already been informed of this and are awaiting your selection. The competition will officially begin in three days’ time. My blessings and well wishes to both of you in this endeavor. You may go.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Jin Xia said, standing and pressing her hands tightly into her churning gut to steady their shaking. “Then, the Imperial Princess, Jin Xia, shall take her leave.”

She turned, head held high, and walked until she reached an empty garden, where she promptly emptied her stomach.