Chapter 7

That day, I was ordered to visit the Minister of War.

His Lordship had just shown me into the study when he cupped his hands, a little apologetic. "A moment, Your Highness."

"This humble official happens to have an urgent file to handle."

File?!

My eyes lit up.

Didn't Great Zhou call those memorials, official papers, or frontier reports?

I held down a heart that wanted to beat out of my chest and stared at him. "Good noon."

The Minister of War looked up from a stack of documents.

Blank-faced. "Ah? Your Highness, this is the Shen hour. It's already afternoon."

I wasn't ready to give up. I stood, moved to his desk, and said, "Thanks."

The Minister of War looked even more lost. He scrambled up and bowed. "Your Highness is going to kill this old official. You honor my house with your presence. I should be the one thanking you for the grace…"

I clenched my jaw, locked onto his eyes, and said it one word at a time: "How are you!"

The Minister of War froze where he stood.

The brush in his hand hung in midair, stuck.

His whole face said, Who am I? Where am I?

Right. False alarm.

Then the Minister of War slapped his forehead hard, as if a lamp had gone on. "Oh… this old official understands."

"Your Highness. That was Western Regions bird-talk just now, wasn't it?"

"I won't hide it from Your Highness. This official has lately been studying the secret histories of the Western nations as well."

He pulled open a drawer and, like offering up treasure, lifted out a thick stack of foreign manuscripts. "I've collected any number of curious tales from foreign tribes and outer states. If Your Highness is interested, this old official would be honored to talk with you through the night by lamplight."

I looked at that stack of Western-Regions writing, all of it chicken scratch, and my mouth twitched.

"Your Highness. That 'How-ah-you' you just said—what does it mean in Western talk?"

The Minister of War's eyes were shining. Curiosity maxed out.

"…It means I'm fine, thank you." I turned around, face blank, feeling like a despairing volunteer English teacher on some overseas posting.

The next morning at court, the way the Minister of War looked at me had gone from polite courtesy to looking-up-at-a-mountain worship.

In front of the entire civil and military court, he poured it out before the throne, voice ringing:

"Your Majesty! His Highness the Crown Prince holds the whole realm in his heart!"

"Last night he discussed Western Regions strategy with this official!"

"He is even fluent in foreign bird-talk!"

"This official is ashamed to stand beside him!"

Boom. The whole throne hall exploded.

Every official stared at me, stunned.

I just wanted a crack in the floor to crawl into.

On the dragon throne, the Emperor rested his chin in one hand and looked at me, almost smiling and not.

That gaze stayed a long time. Long enough that my whole body went uncomfortable.

I didn't know why. Lately, the Emperor was looking at me more and more.