Zhāng Kingdom
After the festival in Yīng Kingdom
“Have you any idea what you’ve done?” roared King Zhāng from behind his breakfast table.
He stood abruptly as Jié Qiáng only stood taller and set his jaw for a debate. King Zhāng glared at Yǒng Ming and Yáng Ning, and they lowered their heads in shame.
“What were the two of you doing when this spoiled son was ruining the marriage contract?”
“Father,” spoke Yǒng Ming as he bowed low, “I tried to reason with him, but you know how stubborn he can be. I only thought to aid in his last journey before becoming a husband. I had no idea he was looking for a way to break the contract.”
“You’re his brother, Yǒng Ming,” the king almost sneered. “You know him better than anyone. Tell me you didn’t know he had no intention of honoring my decree.
Yáng Ning! You’re his guard and his constant companion. Tell me you didn’t know!”
Yǒng Ming and Yáng Ning shared a look of defeat and shook their heads in answer.
“Not until we left the village, Father,” Yǒng Ming replied.
“Your Majesty, I knew he was unhappy,” Yáng Ning answered, “but it was no secret. Like His Highness Prince Yǒng Ming, I had no idea he would do this until after the village.”
“King Zhāng,” interrupted someone from the doorway to the king’s chambers.
“What is it, Eunuch Lài,” responded King Zhāng with an impatient growl.
“Your Majesty, Queen Bái Xià Wén and Concubine Méihuā Qīn'ài are entering the courtyard,” he announced. “They’ve arrived for breakfast with you. Should I keep them at the pavilion until you wish to invite them in?”
King Zhāng glared at his youngest son and shook his head in disappointment.
“Do so,” he replied to the eunuch, who hurried to do as he was told.
The king returned to his seat and brushed away a lychee that had rolled from his plate.
“I demand to know what happened at this village to result in this disastrous consequence. I want the truth. If any of you lies, you will be given ten lashes, son or not.”
Yǒng Ming looked toward Yáng Ning and then to his brother, who continued to remain silent throughout the dressing down by their father. With a deep breath, he relayed everything that happened at the village with the two strange girls.
“Your Majesty,” Yáng Ning began as it looked as though the king was about to erupt in fury, “Prince Jié Qiáng had plans of gathering information on Yīng Kingdom, and he did. We learned of the people’s quality of life during these battles and of the impact of their losses. As soon as we returned, His Highness reported everything to the Minister of War. You’ll see it when he reports to you.”
“A common girl,” the king uttered in obvious dismay and disapproval. “A simple girl who can do nothing for us the way your betrothed could have. We need that herb for our soldiers, and you threw away our only chance at acquiring it for a tryst!”
Jié Qiáng quickly looked up from the floor to glare into his irate father’s eyes.
“It was no such thing!” he yelled. He brushed off his brother’s hand when he tried to stop him and continued. “You speak of her as a common girl, yet you want me to marry a common girl for a weed.
You’re the king! You can march into Guó Clan’s field and take it. If you don’t want to agree to his terms giving him official sovereignty over that land, send in soldiers like you would any weak kingdom you wish to conquer.
You always speak of my responsibility to our people, but you sit on your throne and allow Guó Ju-Long to dictate what you can and cannot do on your own land. That field is part of our kingdom, whether he likes it or not.
So what of his threats to burn it to the ground. Call his bluff! He wouldn’t destroy everything his ancestor’s built to keep one flower away from our soldiers. We’re fighting for his clan just as we are fighting for every one of your subjects.
That marriage wasn’t needed and you know it. You simply didn’t want to submit to Guó Ju-Long’s demands.
You don’t want to take it by force because you think the people will despise you for your treatment of a peaceful people. Instead of harming your own reputation, you toy with my life.
This girl you speak of in that village has more heart and wisdom than any presented in your royal court. She knows the suffering of their people because of this war and speaks on the wisdom of peace. She …”
“Enough!” bellowed the king, his voice reverberating throughout the spacious wooden room.
The more his son spoke, the angrier he became. The angrier he became, the louder his angry tirade grew.
Jié Qiáng grit his teeth and squinted his eyes in resentment as his brother and his guard looked on in worry.
“I want you to get this girl out of your head!” roared King Zhāng. “I command Yáng Ning to bring you as many whores as it takes to make you forget.
If that doesn’t work, I’ll command your brother to take you to the front lines with him. Until now, you haven’t proven you could be trusted to watch over our men. Well, it’s time you see what we’re facing. It’s time you looked these blood thirsty beasts in the eye.
These are not Yīng soldiers. This is no mere battle for the throne. These are soulless beasts and they are growing in number while our kingdom and Yīng’s are losing. You will look them in the eye and you will watch our men cry out in their suffering as you think about what you gave up for a one night dalliance!”
“Your Majesty!” called out Concubine Méihuā Qīn'ài in despair. “He’s too young!”
He hadn’t noticed his wife and first concubine hurry to the door as his voice rang out into the gardens.
“He’s twenty-one! Yǒng Ming was younger when he joined our troops,” King Zhāng argued.
Before Concubine Méihuā Qīn'ài said more, Queen Bái Xià Wén placed her hand on her arm to silence her. She spoke up, instead.
“He isn’t like Yǒng Ming, Your Majesty,” she reasoned. “He hasn’t been trained as our oldest son. He isn’t as skilled on the battlefield. He …”
“And whose fault is that?” the king angrily interrupted. “I allowed Méihuā her say in those matters because you asked it of me. He was always following her around being doted upon by her, the other concubines, and even you. It was because of you both that this palace has had to face harsh criticism of his unruly behavior.
Gambling, fighting, even stealing my own prized stallion simply to prove it could be done under the watch of my elite guard! You’ve both had a hand in raising such an insolent spoiled brat; therefore, it is I who must decide how to turn him into a man.”
Jié Qiáng mumbled something, to which Yǒng Ming and Yáng Ning quickly shook their heads for him to remain quiet.
“What did you say?” King Zhāng asked in a deep and dangerous tone.
Jié Qiáng looked directly at his father’s furious gaze and repeated, “I was quite the man the night I infiltrated enemy territory and stole the kiss of a virtuous young woman.”
“Jié Qiáng!” hissed Concubine Méihuā in shock.
His brother and guard could only shake their heads and sigh at his insolence. Yǒng Ming rubbed his head of the creeping headache and looked at his mother for any help. Even the queen could say no more.
Without uttering a word, King Zhāng stormed from around his table and as soon as he reached his youngest son, struck his cheek hard with the back of his hand.
Jié Qiáng loudly gasped and Yáng Ning caught him as he stumbled. He looked up at his father in shock at being hit for the first time by him.
Everyone was silent as the king stared at his son. Moments felt like hours in the suddenly quiet room until King Zhāng finally issued his demands.
“Your brother and your guard will see to it my orders are followed,” he said in a low command. “Whores and battle. It is what will cure you of this enemy girl and make you the kind of man your brother has always been. Leave my sight. I will not see you again until you leave for war.”
Jié Qiáng swallowed hard at the lump of rage in his throat. He glared as his father returned to his table, refusing to further acknowledge anyone as he ate. The young son took a deep breath and huffed as he hurried from the room.
“Jié Qiáng,” called out Concubine Méihuā as they hurried to catch up to him.
He turned and held his mother close, patting her back to ease her tears and worries.
“I’ll speak with Gāng Jié,” Queen Bái Xià Wén offered. “Once his temper has settled, he can be reasoned with.”
Concubine Méihuā sniffed away her tears and nodded her gratitude. Yǒng Ming bowed gently to his mother in thanks and Yáng Ning breathed a sigh of relief for her help.
Jié Qiáng, however, shook his head in disagreement.
“No, Royal Mother,” he replied. His voice was stern and determined. “He was wrong to dismiss my wishes and reasonable points about that medicinal herb, but he was right about the war. I haven’t done enough. I certainly haven’t done as much as Yǒng.
Regardless of what Father wishes, I will never give up on this girl. I made her a promise and I won’t go back on that. Until then, I can fulfill my duty to this kingdom. I’ll leave with Yǒng Ming in the morning for our battle camp.”
Concubine Méihuā Qīn'ài rested her face against his chest as she held him close and cried softly in worry. Queen Bái Xià Wén gave him a proud smile that hid her fears for his safety.
“You’ve grown, dear son,” she said softly with pride evident in her tone. “Someday, your father will see. He’ll welcome you home with as much honor as your brother.”
He returned her smile and hugged her along with his birth mother.
“Yǒng, Yáng,” he said to them, “I want to leave at first light. Rest well and meet me at the palace gates. We’ll give those Yīng soldiers the beating they desire and then we’ll take out every last one of those evil Wáng Píng monsters that prey on our innocent people.
No matter what happens, I’ll bring honor to my family. Then I’ll find my Little Crane and make her mine.”
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