Zhāng Kingdom

Neighboring Kingdom at war with Yīng Kingdom

Servants within Zhāng Palace rushed about the corridors and banquet hall to ensure decorations and food were prepared and set correctly in their place. Banners of the kingdom were hung with pride along with embroidered flags bearing the oldest prince’s crest: a three-legged bird in front of a golden sun positioned above a sharp mountain peak.

Prince Zhāng Jié Qiáng crept quietly behind his older brother by six years, Prince Zhāng Yǒng Ming. The First Prince heard nothing but passing servants and sighed heavily at the flurry of activity for his benefit.

“Got you!” called out Jié Qiáng as he shoved his brother farther into the banquet hall.

Yǒng Ming whipped around, his ceremonial sword already out and ready to defend himself against an assassin. He huffed and angrily shoved the blade back into its scabbard as he glared at Jié Qiáng.

“Thirteen and behaving as a five year old!” Yǒng Ming scoffed.

His young brother only laughed at the near fatal reaction and shook his head.

“For the world’s youngest lieutenant, you certainly are as skittish as a rabbit!” he teased.

Yǒng Ming brushed away Jié Qiáng’s arm as it was flung over his shoulders.

“When will you grow up, Jié Qiáng?” he admonished. “This isn’t a time for games. This is a military ceremony. All the commanders and generals will be here.”

He shook his head in exasperation at his brother’s usual carefree demeanor and walked away from the royal hall. Jié Qiáng followed and watched his brother stare straight ahead without emotion or hint of what he was feeling. Yǒng Ming could hide nothing from him, however. Jié Qiáng glanced over to see Yǒng Ming’s guard hurry to join them.

He cleared his throat and spoke as if he were addressing the guard rather than his brother, though he knew Yǒng Ming would certainly listen.

“Yáng Ning,” he called to the guard a year older than Yǒng Ming. “I’m bored. What should we do today?”

Yáng Ning looked ahead at Yǒng Ming, who pretended not to care. He knew Jié Qiáng was up to something concerning the eldest, and he knew the youngest would once again involve him in a problematic scheme.

“Your Highness, I believe you’ll be busy with Prince Yǒng Ming’s ranking ceremony,” he answered in hopes he wouldn’t be included in more mischief.

Yǒng Ming gave an almost unnoticeable shake of his head before responding. “He won’t be missed.

 Jié Qiáng chuckled. “I won’t be wanted!”

The two men behind Yǒng Ming had to abruptly stop as the crown prince stopped walking. He swiftly turned to face his brother before he spoke.

“Who’s fault is that?” he asked rather curtly.

Jié Qiáng gave an innocent shrug of his shoulder and a sideways grin as he glanced at Yáng Ning. He sighed and his smile vanished at the men’s stern expressions.

“I’m a prince,” Jié Qiáng tried to argue. “Why should I care what officials and soldiers think of me? I’m young, too. You signed your life over to Father’s army, brother. Not me. You’re the crown prince. Not me.”

He shrugged again and started to walk away, but his brother grabbed his arm to stop him.

“And if I die in battle?” Yǒng Ming countered. “We’re this kingdom’s only heirs. You have an obligation to everyone just as I do.”

Jié Qiáng shook off his brother’s hand and took another step away.

“I’m a concubine’s son,” he argued. “We’re not the same. Father may care for my mother but he has no feelings for me. You’ve seen how he ignores me when you’re around, how he refuses to acknowledge any mention of me by my mother or even your mother, the queen.

I’m not like you, brother, and he knows it. I wasn’t born to lead. If I must step into your role as heir to the throne, I’ll have no choice and I’ll take that responsibility. Until then, I don’t owe anyone anything for a simple birthright.”

“Is that what this is about?” wondered Yǒng Ming. “Father’s love? You know he loves you and he’s proud of you as Concubine Méihuā Qīn'ài’s son. You’ve given him nothing else, Qiáng. You’ve refused to abide by the rules of his palace and even those of tradition and honor since you were a child.”

“I’m still a child,” contended Jié Qiáng. “As you stated, I’m only thirteen. What responsibilities should I have?”

“Your brother has been an honorable prince since before then,” Yáng Ning interrupted.

He attempted to mediate between the two brothers so different in personality, they were like the sun and moon.

“That’s him,” replied Jié Qiáng, his voice rising a bit more with each point he claimed. “Why can’t anyone understand we will never be the same?”

The young men didn’t hear the heavy boots of approaching palace guards until they were very near. They didn’t stop their quarrelling until a voice boomed through the echoing passageway.

“The entire palace knows you are nothing like your brother,” spoke a deep masculine voice, and the three men quickly stood at attention. “As do the soldiers and the commoners.”

King Zhāng Gāng Jié waited until they straightened from an obligatory bow and shook his head at his youngest son. 

“I was recently informed of your whereabouts late last night,” he said curtly. “Gambling at your age is for street dwellers and peddlers. It is unfitting of a prince! You were seen at the brothel soon after. A brothel!”

Yǒng Ming and Yáng Ning stared at Jié Qiáng with disapproval, though the habit wasn’t something they hadn’t known before the king discovered it.

“I was only curious,” Jié Qiáng said with a grin. “Don’t worry, Father. I only watched. I didn’t risk spreading the royal seed to disreputable women. I was, however, invited to return for my sixteenth birthday.”

King Zhāng’s face grew red in anger and his voice bellowed. “You are impudent and immoral! You will learn your place as a noble son of this kingdom, no matter what it takes!”

Unfazed by his father’s wrath, Jié Qiáng continued his brazen responses.

“Well, Father, you could always give money to those street dwellers and peddlers and pay off the debts of the women in the brothels if their existence bothers you. You are the king, after all.

Or perhaps you can simply behead them or something less messy, like banishing them from the kingdom. Let them become another kingdom’s problem. Gift our worst residents to Yīng Kingdom to keep their king occupied for a while so my brother can annihilate their soldiers with his newly appointed rank. He can make you and the officials proud with yet another grand achievement!”

“Qiáng!” called out a woman from nearby.

The men turned to see the queen and several concubines beside her. The one who called out was his mother.

The women bowed to their king before Concubine Méihuā stepped closer to address her son.

“What do I hear, my son?” she asked, her tone fraught with sad disappointment. “Why do you bring dishonor to yourself and to your father? To your brother and to me?”

Jié Qiáng took a deep breath to calm his temper and relaxed his shoulders before he replied.

“Forgive me, Mother,” he said softly. “I never wish to dishonor you or my brother. Perhaps if I were looked upon with such high esteem as Yǒng Ming, I could be as noble as he. If I am treated as an unwanted son and spoken to as a criminal by His Majesty, why should I behave differently?”

“Oh, Qiáng,” replied his mother as she stood beside him. She took his hand in hers and brushed back his long loose black hair with her fingers. “You are as wanted and loved as Prince Yǒng Ming.”

She hugged him close and the queen stepped up to join them.

“Dear Qiáng,” replied Queen Bái Xià Wén, “His Majesty is overwhelmed by the war with Yīng Kingdom and the radical clan attacking our people. As his son, you should understand the burden he faces.

You are as loved as my Yǒng Ming. His Majesty must respond to your actions to appease the court and keep peace and support from those we need at this time.

No one thinks of you as a criminal. His Majesty’s harsh words are only a father’s love to guide you in the actions of honor and nobility.”

King Zhāng’s eyes squinted at his youngest son’s usual manipulation of the royal women. When they once again coddled him and came to his defense, he looked up to the heavens for guidance. When he turned his eyes on his family, they stared at him as if in expectation of kinder words.

Rather than caving to their pandering whims, he stood taller and called over his head eunuch.

“Eunuch Lài, read my decree,” he ordered.

The eunuch came forward and unrolled a scroll of silk.

“It is decreed by His Majesty that His Highness Prince Zhāng Jié Qiáng will be wed on his eighteenth birthday to a proper woman whose alliance will assist in our war with Yīng Kingdom. From this day, His Majesty’s scouts will travel in search of such a woman. The moment she is found, the marriage contracts will be signed and His Highness Prince Zhāng Jié Qiáng will fulfill his obligation to the citizens of Zhāng Kingdom.”

Everyone stared at Jié Qiáng as Jié Qiáng stared at first his father and then both of his mothers.

“Seek not the women to save you this time,” King Zhāng warned. “I am not swayed by their coddling of you. If you refuse to behave as a soldier or a prince, I must use the only worth you leave me for the good of this kingdom.

Yáng Ning, as soon as Yǒng Ming has found a suitable replacement as his chief guard, you will take responsibility for Jié Qiáng. His current guard will be removed for his severe lack of discipline and guardianship over my son.

Yǒng Ming, prepare yourself for the ceremony. It will begin shortly.”

Without another word, the king and his palace guard left the group to ponder the heated conversation.

“Qiáng,” Concubine Méihuā started to speak up.

Jié Qiáng watched as the queen and concubines followed the king before he spoke.

“I’ll see you soon, Mother,” he told her and kissed her hand. “I have a short time of freedom to enjoy.

Yǒng Ming, I hope you enjoy your glorious celebration and the endless praise you’ll receive today. Regardless of my feelings toward our father, you know I respect you a great deal. You deserve this rank and higher. You’ll certainly be Unit Commander someday.

Yáng Ning, stay close to my brother. Enjoy the strict protocol while you’re with him. As soon as you’re mine, I’ll make you work hard for your pay!”

He laughed as his mother, brother, and his brother’s guard only looked at him with further disappointment.

He gave another short laugh and shook his head as he turned to leave them.

“I think I’ll accept my invitation at the brothel a few years early,” he loudly announced and ignored his mother’s call to return.