Chapter Five
Xiao Shu
One of the perks of being the head of the Fourth Family is that my duties keep me busy. Spirits exist throughout all of Da Xian, so I am constantly having to be on the road traveling from one city to another as I hunt them.
It is a nomadic, isolated lifestyle, and oftentimes the trail the spirits leave is too grisly to mention.
It is a hard life, and I do not think that the other noble families are envious of me having it, even if it means that I belong to the fourth most powerful family in the empire.
However, it does come with its own perks.
Due to the unpredictability and importance of my duties, it often means that I do not have to make an appearance at the Imperial Court.
Unlike what is required of many other officials and lords.
However, when I am close to the capital, I know that a royal summons is unavoidable.
I sigh as I adjust the neatly trimmed sleeve of my courtly robes. It is a deep plum, short tunic that matches the military members of court. My high hat that covers my topknot sets me apart as a minister of Da Xian. The final piece of my ensemble is the jade plaque that represents my rank.
I adjust my belt with my spirit hunting token on it.
Out in the world it grants me a certain amount of authority, people see it and they have to listen to me.
It tells local guards and governors to cooperate with me.
But in the imperial court it’s basically useless.
It just means that I should be taking part in the court politics, vying for favor, and trying to get ahead.
I would rather fight a fifth rank spirit blindfolded.
My house, for its part, is all abustle with activity.
Servants that I didn’t even know I had in my employ rush to and fro hanging banners of brilliant crimson and yelling at each other about having the wrong nuts.
I don’t even know where these people came from.
This home in the imperial city is often left abandoned because our main residence is far in the north, near the mountains.
Where I am far from the politics, and probably more importantly, far from the scrutiny of the imperial court.
I much prefer my freedoms to the comfort and ease that comes with living in the imperial city only a stone’s throw from any service you would require.
To me that is more important than any amount of power.
And far to the north, no one cares to verify the rumors that circulate around me.
With the role that I fill, no one dares to question if they are actually fact, because if they are and I am removed from my position… well, who would replace me?
No one wants to catch spirits instead of currying favor, at least not anyone in the imperial court. Although, if you ask me, one of the two is far more deadly than the other and it is not the one that most people think.
I reach up, adjusting my black hat on my head and grab my token before I head out of my room, stepping down the stairs that lead into my courtyard. I am called to a halt by a familiar voice.
“Ah, cousin, I thought the house was particularly lively today. Now I see why. When did you get in?”
I turn, waiting for my cousin to catch up to me.
He is dressed in a matching robe, only this one is crimson.
As the child of the second son, Wen does not have the same lofty position or title as I do.
He is only Mr. Xiao, an official in the Ministry of Justice.
People have told me that my cousin and I resemble each other greatly, but I usually don’t see it.
However, when he is dressed like this rather than in his usually flamboyant robes, and when he has his hair up in a tight topknot instead of flowing loosely around his shoulders, I can almost see what they mean.
“It was late,” I reply.
“You should have woken me,” Wen says with an easy smile as he taps me with the end of his jade token. “We could have gone out for drinks, and I could have toasted you on your upcoming marriage.”
My mind flits to last night when Fanqing barged into my room, half dressed with her hair unkempt and I suppress a shudder. “I’m good.”
Wen chuckles as he pats my arm. “I suppose you have built up too much of a reputation, the emperor is trying to reign you in.”
I side-step Wen and begin striding forward. “And what about you? Why are you back at the capital, I thought you were investigating that smuggling case.”
He shakes his head sadly. “The head smuggler is a slippery sort; I can’t seem to ever catch up with him. I believe the head minister is quite put-out with me being unable to catch him. I was summoned back to get a new partner.”
Wen smiles dryly as he says this. We both know that he was assigned to this case to keep him away from gaining his own merits in the Ministry of Justice.
As a member of such a high-rank family he is likely a threat to his supervisor who isn’t even a member of the noble families.
However, if he spends all his time chasing a no-name smuggler instead of solving crimes and making a name for himself then at least the risk is mitigated.
“Was the cultivator he assigned last time not up to snuff?” I ask as I stride through my main courtyard. It’s just as bustling as the house is. When did I get all these servants? This isn’t even the main home. I’m going to have to speak to my steward about this.
Like Wen, this cultivator Ren Shang was assigned to this case for ulterior motives, however at least these motives I can agree with.
As a member of one of the noble families, and one of the last remaining Xiaos, it would look bad on the head minister if anything bad were to happen to Wen.
So, this cultivator is there more as his bodyguard than anything.
However, the poor man doesn’t seem to realize that and takes his duties seriously instead of simply accepting his fate and looking to live an easy life like Wen does.
“Apparently not, now we are both going to have to work with a junior member of the ministry, an alchemist who has absolutely no experience at all.” He shakes his head.
“Honestly, she’s the daughter of one of the officials there.
Probably just assigned to it like the rest of us, because the ministry doesn’t know what to do with us, so we have to ‘get experience’. ”
“Do you think the smuggling ring’s leader will ever be caught?” I ask as I stride toward the street.
“I somehow doubt it. The man is far cleverer than me.” Wen shakes his head, clicking his tongue. “Traveling with a girl will bring some complications. Ren Shang is stuck up enough without us having to also have to worry about propriety added into the mix.”
“Who is this alchemist?” I ask. I don’t actually care, but Wen sometimes sulks if he feels like I haven’t shown enough interest in his life. I can see the rising slopes of the roof of the palace up ahead.
My home is situated far too close to the imperial court for comfort, it is one of the downsides to being the fourth most powerful family in the whole land. Direct proximity to the imperial palace.
I am glad that it is a cloudy day because when the sun shines, the imperial palace is almost painful to behold as the rays bounce off the golden inlays in the carvings of the dark wood.
Wen sighs. “I can’t quite recall her name. What was it… Mu…Mu…” he clicks his finger as he tries to remember.
The bottom of my boot scrapes against the stone road as I draw to a halt. “Mu? As in of the Mu family?”
Wen nods. “Yes, that’s the one. Her father has been a minister for some time but he’s only eighth-rank. He doesn’t seem interested in playing the head minister’s games and moving up.”
He couldn’t possibly be speaking of Mu Fanqing. He said that this new member was an alchemist and Fanqing is a cultivator.
“Mu Ehuang!” he cries. “That’s it. Mu Ehuang.”
I blow out a breath, feeling a bit of relief. I have no idea how it could have been Mu Fanqing, but I didn’t like the idea of her spending so much time with my cousin. This Mu Ehuang must be a relative of hers though. Perhaps her sister?
“It seems we Xiaos cannot escape the Mus,” I mutter under my breath as I start walking again.
I climb into the waiting carriage, and Wen comes in after me.
“Think of it, if I could only catch that smuggler though my life would be so much simpler. I might even get some merits and move up a few ranks.”
“Don’t tell me my cousin dreams of a life in politics,” I mutter as the carriage begins rocking. “Isn’t being a sixth-rank official enough for you?”
“How could it be when my cousin is a lord in the realm?” he asks with a sly smirk.
“Do me in then and you can have my position.” I finger the jade and glance at him. “And all the responsibilities that go with it.”
Wen strokes his face as if he is considering it before he finally shakes his head.
“Unfortunately, you’re the only family I have left.
I get you out of the picture and then what is there left for me?
To be the last remaining Xiao? I would have the sole responsibility of carrying our name. No thank you.”
I find myself smiling softly as the carriage rolls to a stop. I step out into the imperial palace’s courtyard, separated from the steps that lead up to the main entrance by a massive gate.
The pavilion is long, probably to make you think about the gravity of the fact that you are going to meet the emperor. Either that, or to keep the courtiers from getting too fat and lazy.
I exhale loudly as I stride forward, I am not the only late comer.
There are still a few stragglers filing into the massive doors leading into the audience chamber up ahead, but I am the last to arrive.
As I step through the door and am forced to walk through the aisle, perfectly divided by groups of courtiers line both sides, I hear whispers start up from the sea of purple and red robes.