321 RTYY 318 - Words Worse Than Swords

"I hear that our beloved El'Dur will be hosting the Annual Imperial Tournament next month," LinDou casually remarked as if she were talking with her son, sitting right next to her atop the dais. Still, she spoke in such a loud voice that FeiWan was sure that there wasn't a single soul in that room that hadn't heard her. Especially since the musicians had finally taken a break, after they had played non-stop through three different dancing shows, one of them even including a few sharp swords and burning clothes. As to be expected, no one could ever beat CalWan in his ability to keep his guests happy and entertained.

"Is FeiWan-her going to participate this year as well?" she asked, staring down at KimLay from her higher seat, as if that were enough to indicate that she was actually talking to her.

FeiWan took a sip from his cup. He didn't need to be a Varsen to predict that things were about to turn nasty. Still, the Imperial Dailar was obviously talking to his mother, not him. And so he remained as apparently indifferent as he had been, pretending that, in fact, he wasn't in that room, and that they weren't blatantly talking about him as if he didn't exist.

Hen KimLay, on the other hand, easily pretended she hadn't noticed Won LinDou's underlined mocking tone, taking her time to slowly place down her cutlery before she replied.

"But of course. FeiWan-her has been eagerly looking forward to this year's tournament," she calmly replied, not even dignifying LinDou with the grace of looking at her.

"That is such a relief. I was fearing our FeiWan-her might have been too disappointed and upset, after last year's defeat. After all, he did come out last, from amongst all the competing nobles. Such a pity. And to think that, at the start of the tournament, he was actually one of the favorites, right next to my CalWan-her."

Come out last my ass!!, FeiWan wanted to shout back at her. It was a miracle he hadn't outright died!, after someone had sabotaged his saddle's straps and then scared his horse at the right moment, making him not only fall off his horse, but also tumble down a steep cliff. If not for the fact that HenWan had also been present, one of his mother's unnegotiable demands, he was sure he hadn't survived the sheer amount of broken bones all over his body. The memory of the agonizing pain, however, no one would ever be able to take from him.

"You have nothing to worry about, Imperial Sister," KimLay replied, a perfect, gentle smile on her perfectly painted lips. "Although FeiWan-her did encounter some misfortune during last year's Imperial Tournament, such small mishap would never be enough to deter someone as brave as he. Thankfully, our beloved El'Dur has truly been blessed with heavenly sight, recognizing FeiWan-her's true worth and ability, even though he was forced to retire so early in the last Tournament. And so, this year, he has gifted his Imperial Son a brand new saddle, made of the best white leather, and blessed by three of the most powerful Jundai of our Great Empire of Wen," KimLay declared, pride pouring out of her every word, and FeiWan simply took another seep of wine.

Well, it was true that the old man had gifted him a new saddle, and that it was white, yes. But that was as far as it went, where reality mirrored his mother's extravagant description. In fact, FeiWan was pretty sure that KimLay herself had demanded at least this much from his father, after the blatant attack on his life, followed by an unprecedented general unwillingness to investigate the origins or causes of such terrible crime. Because even though his mother might publicly bow down on her knees and obey the El'Dur's every command like any loyal subject, FeiWan was well aware that their private audiences were a completely different matter. Not to mention that, being an expert at collecting sensible information on other members of the Imperial Family, FeiWan was sure KimLay held a great number of useful bargain chips to help her maneuver the old man according to her needs.

That being said, true or lie, her exalted description of what was a fairly common horse saddle, was more than enough to elate many amazed whispers amongst CalWan's guests, since such a precious gift was obviously proof of the El'Dur's favor. Not only that, she had just successfully stolen LinDou's stage, robbing her of her protagonism, which was clearly visible by the small frown marking the other woman's smooth forehead. All that summed up, this was clearly a double victory for KimLay, since not only she had come on top from their brief exchange of words, but she, a mere Janwan, had also actually managed to shut up the honorable Dailar.

Far from being dumb herself, LinDou took the intelligent route out, giving up on her sparring contest with KimLay for the time being. Instead, she turned her poisonous tongue towards an easier target. Which, in this case, meant the much younger, and a lot less proficient in those kinds of cruel word games, Janwan Wei DaiWei.

"What about you, young Imperial Sister? Between last year's two favorites, who do you reckon will win the Tournament this year?"

Suddenly caught off guard, Wei DaiWei was completely frozen in place, her face growing suddenly very pale, her big dark-blue eyes wide with fear. FeiWan felt truly sorry for the poor woman, now that she had become the center of LinDou's target practice.

"I …" DaiWei hesitated, and the longer she took to reply the quieter the room became, everyone waiting to see how she would extract herself from that obvious trap. "I really couldn't say, Imperial Sister," she finally replied, nervously squeezing her hands together. "As long as both CalWan-her and FeiWan-her finish the Tournament safe and sound, I'll already be thankful for our blessings."

Not bad, FeiWan thought, distractingly taking a grape to his mouth. Too defensive, sure, which was an obvious sign of weakness. But at least she had managed to more or less give both a gracious answer and one that didn't outright place her in a disadvantageous position by publicly choosing one side.

Clearly displeased with DaiWei's vague answer, LinDuo nodded, a cold smile on her face.

"It's such a huge comfort, to know that young Imperial Sister has nothing but our children's wellbeing at heart," she had no other choice but to approve. "Not to mention that I'm sure that this year's Imperial Tournament also holds a special significance to our younger Imperial Sister. Am I right to assume that this will be the first time that our Imperial Daughter participates in the sacred Haehir? I wonder if the Province of Wei will finally be granted the Heavens' blessings. So many of your noble Clan have attended the previous Haehir to no avail," she sighed, as if she felt sorry for them. "It has been how long? Fifty years? More? I have always thought it strange, that none of the previous Tien'Elhar found any of the noble members of the Wei Clan worthy of their blessing. What say you, child?" she went on, turning her fierce gaze towards Wen NimWan who, like her mother, immediately froze in place, her small shoulders stiff, practically glued to her ears. "Do you feel confident that you'll become the next Chosen One of our Great Empire of Wen? After all, this will be a special Haehir, since the holy Tien'Elhar is yet to complete six years of age."

"I … I will do my best … Imperial Mother …" the girl replied, her voice so small that it was barely audible.

"You do that. Be sure to make both your Clan and our Imperial Family proud. It would be such a shame, if the holy Tien'Elhar chose some other person. Who knows how long it will be, before the Heavens decide to bless us with another of its children. I am sure that you don't want to become like your older sister, right? Attending Haehir after Haehir, one after the other, to no avail."

NimWan immediately shook her head, biting her lower lip, too scared to even raise her gaze.

"Of course you don't. Your a smart little girl. So of course you don't want to become a useless El'Lin."

NimWan simply sat there, unmoving, her neck suddenly stiff, a terrified expression on her young face. Now that she had finally understood what LinDou meant, FeiWan was sure she was deeply regretting having shaken her head like that. Because the more she agreed with her, the more she was bringing insult to Wen NimRen. And one never knew when LinDou wouldn't suddenly change her position and decide to defend her own daughter, instead of outright publicly attacking her. It was indeed a difficult position, FeiWan thought, glancing sideways at both mother and daughter, Wei DaiWei clearly wishing she could reach out for her child and offer her some comfort, but obviously too scared to even blink.

"Ah, I'm confident little NimWan will soon become a wonderful Chosen One, Imperial Mother!" a happy voice suddenly declared, and everyone's attention instantly turned to Wen TenWan, who was obviously too much of an idiot to keep his mouth shut in that kind of situation.

With a bright smile on his face and an excited glow dancing in his green eyes, he looked up at LinDou like a child hoping to receive a wonderful gift.

"I wonder how the next Tien'Elhar looks like! I've heard that she's a very cute little girl. Little sister! You'll be so lucky when she chooses you!" he went on, this time turning to NimWan, and the girl simply nodded, clearly relieved by his unwarranted intervention.

"A shame older sister won't be able to attend the Haehir anymore," he added, turning his green eyes to NimRen, a genuine depressed expression on his face. "Shall I ask father to allow you to try again this year?" he honestly offered, and NimRen forced herself to smile, the pale color of her face making FeiWan wonder if she would be able to attend her brother's birthday celebration until the end.

"Thank you so much for your concern, Imperial Brother," she replied, her voice so frail that it sounded as if it could fail at any moment. "But I would never dare offend the Heavens in such a way. I am willing to accept that I'm simply not worthy of such sacred blessing," she declared, leaving a disappointed expression on TenWan's face, who, apparently, hadn't even realized that he'd been the one to place her in such a precarious position in the first place.

"Well, there's nothing we can do about the unfathomable will of the Heavens," LinDou sighed. "All we can do is trust in its sacred wisdom, and gladly accept whatever it decides to bestow upon us, be it a blessing," she said, offering CalWan a warm smile. "or an unexpected shame," she added, glancing coldly at NimRen. "All that's left now is to pray that the Heavens may take mercy on us. And who knows? Maybe this time, next year, I'll be holding my first grandchild in my arms. Wouldn't you agree, esteemed CalDai?"

The jolt that ran through FeiWan's body was so strong that he unintentionally smashed the grape that he had been holding between his fingers to a pulp. A wave of heat immediately made his blood boil, as he stared furiously at the white figure calmly sitting on the other side of the room.

Looking as undisturbed as always, CalRimRan turned his head towards the dais and nodded.

"Indeed, the will of the Heavens is well beyond our limited comprehension. Be it the birth of a new life, or the death of a loved one, we can only do our best and accept that which is handed to us," he gracefully replied, inciting a lot of whispers of agreement. And yet he hadn't denied it!, FeiWan growled beneath his breath! That bitch had clearly insinuated a future union between NimRen and him, and he hadn't denied it!

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Author's Note: Ah, one must love this refreshing Imperial Court ambiance 😅 . Just so you can't remember, Wei DaiWei is actually VinWei's cousin. Poor gal 😔

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