Tsubaki Hun’s POV

Two weeks quickly passed with small candle lighting gatherings and the lantern boat ceremony after the mass funeral. People from all over came to my father’s funeral, mainly out of respect and some to celebrate him dying because they hated him. As for me, I wish the two weeks were longer because I don’t know why I had to wake up so early and for what? A meeting that I will need to attend every morning for a morning briefing to start the rest of the day. But then again the next few morning briefings will be quite different from normal ones. I glanced behind me as I saw a maid raising an umbrella over my head and then about seven behind me just following for the specific reason I didn’t know. I arrived at the government building and the doors opened and I was greeted by government officials bowing at my arrival. I slowly walked ahead and paused glancing at my mother, a slightly pondering look on my face.

She chuckled then pointed to the chair that father would usually sit in, I sighed and went to the same chair turning then slowly sat on it and looked ahead at the crowd. Then my mother, siblings and cousins came and sat on their respective thrones each by age. Pan-an then got up and raised his right hand towards the crowd.

“The first-morning briefing for the new future emperor’s reign will now commence. As everyone knows my little brother doesn’t know how these meetings usually go, so I will be the leader till when he feels comfortable governing. We have a lot ahead of us as you might know, for you that we are going to start over our transfer process. So all staff of the palace are temporarily dismissed from duty till either Tsubaki accepts you back or you are released from your position permanently.” He began then turned to me, “Tsubaki we are going to run through every single position available in this palace and you will either keep, discard or add positions. We will run through all the positions before we get into your actual emperor duties. Do you understand?”

“Yes, brother I do,” I responded.

He nodded his head, “Good, first order of business you will decide the elders of the empire. Of course, your closest family will be a part of your decision making but you need to have others aiding in your decision. The restriction is that they have to be a part of royal status or nobility status, nothing less. Please do you first want to address both father’s elders and the elders I chose?” Pan-an asked.

“Yes, first off. I don’t trust or know any of you but I have spoken with my family and reviewed records and archives of each of your backgrounds. This brings me to this decision that the majority of you will be removed from elder status for multiple misconducts and despicable crimes against the people and even my family. So the following names that will be called will remain Elders which will be explained after and the one that will have the honour will be Peru.” I smiled.

Gasps ran through the room as Peru walked into the room walking to his throne and stood in front of it, quickly smiling at me then turned back to the crowd.

“Sorry you guys didn’t expect me to be here, but that will change. I am allowed back into the court as an advisor the role I was born to play but was blocked from doing so. This is one of the many reasons why you are being replaced. Congratulations to Elder Cao Weimin, Elder Hao Su, Elder Hexen, Elder Hun Mashu, Elder Li Bai, Elder Mao Jin, Elder Qiao Shirong, Elder Qin He, Elder Sonnin, Elder Tuhai, and Elder Xiong Zhiqiang, you all will be the first 11 elders to the 28 Elders that will be assembled. You all have not only met the qualifications that are required of an Elder from nobility and royal status but also chosen for your heart. Welcome Elders.”

Peru then sat and I turned to see the elders. I didn’t choose to bow at my feet, asking to take them back which was pitiful. 

“Wait, you said 28 Elders who are you going to appoint in the remaining positions instead of us?” one of my father’s elders spoke up.

“Exactly, we made the qualifications and heart, why do you think this empire has been running strong?” another piped in.

“Elders don’t take from their people and then don’t return what they wrongfully took and then deny your actions when they confront you by using your status and power. You are only supposed to use your status in emergencies for no one is above the law.” my mother spoke up.

“Not even me as the future emperor,” I added.

“And I will have the honour of introducing the remaining Elders.” Lingjiang stood up.

The doors once again opened and one by one the rest of my chosen elders walked in, the people that have been allies of mine for a long time now; young but also good-hearted. I smiled as they took their seats beside my other Elders.

“Elder Cui Fa, Elder Dai Weizhe, Elder Erisu, Elder Fan Wei, Elder Gao Qiao, Elder Hao Huian, Elder Hara Chiyoko, Elder Hou Tu, Elder Kong Yun, Elder Kristoff, Elder Laingyu, Elder Liu Mingyu, Elder Meng Ling, Elder Mo ZhenKang, Elder Sun Ping, Elder Ushi, and Elder Zhan. Please welcome your new Elders.” Lingjiang clapped then quickly waved at her friend ZhenKang who waved back at her.

“This is outrageous, you can not have females as Elders, they are not qualified to hold such positions.” an old man screamed.

“Want to repeat that to my face.” Lingjiang said as she raced towards the same man and stood in front of him with a menacing look, “Did you ever give a woman a chance to prove you wrong?”

“I didn’t mean it like that, I mean that there was never a woman in the Elder position before your highness- it is sort of tradition." the old man resorted to.

“Well it’s a dumb tradition, and it is now broken now let it go.” Juneko walked towards the old man, “Call my mother, sisters, cousins and your wife and every woman weak again and it’s out with your tongue.”

“I am sorry, please pardon me.” the old man apologized.

Pan-an rose once more, “That concludes the filling of the elder position, all other Elders not asked to resume their positions will now leave the building, please be sure to clean out any rooms you used to allow the new Elders to enter behind you. But don’t worry, if you wish to return to the palace there will be announcements of positions later on.” 

The former elders all rose and slowly moved from their seats and walked out. I watched as the new Elders that couldn’t sit before took their seats and settled in calmly bowing towards me before they did. 

“This is one of the many changes to this palace, it feels great,” Rouqiu shouted.

“Now, welcome Elders to our meeting, we are going through the palace positions which you were briefed on. Congratulations on receiving your position, please use it wisely.” Pan-an warned.

“Yes, your Prince.” the Elders responded.

“Now we will be talking about our upcoming events. First off the positions that need to have national testing to apply for the positions of Ministers, 14 different positions to be exact. What should we do?”

“I suggest we have them back to back if we have the resources to do so. And have a restriction that a person can only apply to take one position not multiple. They would also need to prove their qualifications for the said role they are working towards.” Elder Cui Fa contributed.

"I agree, we can’t have someone taking multiple tests when there could be someone else that could. So I suggest that we have all the tests on the same day to reduce those chances.” Elder Hou Tu added.

“ I don’t think we have the manpower to oversee so many tests at once. It would reduce the security of the nation- I say it is better to go with the idea of back to backtesting.” Elder Sun Ping rebutted.

"Then how are we going to address the possible repeats?” Elder Hexen asked.

“How about we have General Wu Shaoqing oversee that repeats don’t occur, he is after all a renounced Investigator.” Elder Hara Chiyoko suggested.

“We can even have some of General Lai Yuanjun’s men aid too.” Elder Hao Su's song, “I could even aid in it.”

“No, you are needed to do your duties as an Elder let the military handle it.” I spoke out, “I have thought it over and I like the idea but I want you to do me a favour. I want you to help me by putting each test together. We will take each minister position and form a test around the position but we will add other questions to it- we need well-rounded ministers. If we can, we will do so before we go on recess or well most of it." I spoke.

“Alright now we are talking” Zackri shouted.

“Let us do it, your majesty.”Elder Fan Wei agreed and the other nodded.

“Great now first Minister position- Minister of Foreign Affairs.” Pan-an begun

~~~~~

“And done.” there was a group sigh in the air.

I glanced outside and realized that it was night, the moon currently very high in the sky. I sighed quickly calling dismissal- only getting through three-quarter of the minister position testing paper. I rose from my seat slightly wobbling and walked towards the dining room where we would have dinner. I sat at the head of the table and others joined. The food was shared and after my mother started to eat the rest of us dug in.

“Today was eventful,” Anoki spoke first.

“Did you guys see the look on their faces when Peru walked in? I wish the royal painter was close by to paint it for me.” Fanui laughed.

“Finally, we are breaking the curse of having only males in high ranking positions, and we will be adding females everywhere.” Sasha cheered and bounced in her seat.

“Which means we will have to open mainly female roles to males too, don’t we only be fair,” Yui asked. 

“I don’t see why not.” Peru approved.

“Wait, does that mean Tsu can marry anyone he wants,” Lingjiang questioned.

I started to choke on my food, “Well I never thought that far, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have male maids or even female guards.” 

“But another thing, we need to start winning the trust of the people. I wonder where we should start?” Yuijin started to tap her fingers on the table.

“Mother, didn’t you send people to survey the lands to see what the people want?” Pan-an asked.

“Sadly, none of the people trusts the guards. The people don’t know who to trust but won’t voice it in fear that Tsubaki will harm them like what his father did before.” mother sighed while giving the news.

“Did you send the private guards?” Juneko suggested, “I am sure they wouldn’t pick them up.”

“I thought that but you see, they picked them up so quickly and were so scared of the guards; the entire time the guards were searching for answers, the streets and districts were so deserted it looked like ghost towns.” mother shared her results once again, “I wonder how we can do this?”

“Wasn’t there a rumour about the royals and nobility not knowing how the citizens live and grow? So we could never help them?” I asked.

“When I was in the farmlands, I heard the farmers conversing about it, and well it made me hate the royals but then I found out it was certain people, I changed my mind. I believe you need to expose yourselves; make people see that there is a change in government.” Zian spoke out.

“That idea sounds wonderful, but question how we are going to do that?” Yunmo thought out loud.

“I believe a field trip is in order.” I smiled towards my family.