Chapter 2.

It was barely noon, but the Imperial Academy was abuzz with frenetic activity. The Taiko, never satisfied with the level of knowledge of state officials, had expressed his discontent in a forceful manner. His complaints intertwined with those of Empress Seijin, who tirelessly pressed for a more thorough examination than the nation had seen in decades.

The empire was in a time of unrest and renewal, and the Academy, as the epicenter of knowledge and training for the new generations of the government, bore witness to these turbulent times. Her Majesty, the Empress, had instructed Yoshijiro to identify someone capable of overseeing the assessment of the thousands of candidates eager to access the imperial court.

Although, according to his sources within the imperial circle, the Empress had initially considered the possibility of Yoshijiro himself overseeing the supervision, she had eventually been persuaded otherwise. This decision was pleasing to him, for despite his ties to the academy, he did not enjoy the arduous bureaucratic work the position would entail.

Moreover, he did not hesitate for a moment when he recommended the perfect man for the job.

"Hajime Miyagawa is the right person, Your Majesty, to lead those exams," he declared with conviction.

The Empress posed a question that required a careful response.

"And why are you so sure of that, Marshal Yoshijiro?" she inquired. "The Taiko recommended Prince Kichiro. Why should I favor your candidate over a member of our family, also favored by the regent?"

The Empress's words echoed in the air, laden with political intrigue and rivalry. Behind the simple question about choosing the supervisor of the imperial exams, the power struggles at court were hidden.

Yoshijiro understood that the Empress did not look favorably upon the regent and his pacifying faction; it was a rivalry that went beyond mere preferences for candidates.

She was looking for a way to undermine the Taiko's influence, and the choice of the supervisor of the imperial exams was an opportunity to do so.

"Your Majesty, Prince Kichiro is without a doubt a highly valuable candidate, and his recommendation by the Taiko deserves respect and consideration. However, I believe Hajime Miyagawa is the most suitable choice for several reasons. First, his experience as a scholar at the Imperial Academy makes him an expert knowledgeable in the field. Additionally, his impartiality and dedication are widely recognized. But perhaps most importantly, Your Majesty, is his deep understanding of the current situation of the empire and his commitment to the stability and prosperity of our nation."

The Empress fell into a brief silence that seemed to stretch for an eternity. Her gaze, always inscrutable, settled on the floor, as if seeking answers in the delicate veins of the marble pavilion.

Then, with the elegance of a studied gesture, she raised a fan adorned with jade inlays, hiding her face behind it. The folds of the fan framed her eyes, concealing any emotion that might have hinted at her expression.

"Marshal Yoshijiro, your recommendation is held in high esteem," replied the Empress, uncovering her face. "Let Hajime Miyagawa take on the responsibility of overseeing the imperial exams. I trust he will carry out this task with the same dedication he has shown in the past."

Yoshijiro felt a sense of comfort sweep through his body. It was always gratifying when members of the imperial family heeded his advice. However, he did not intend to retire without understanding the reason for all the hustle about the new imperial exams.

"Majesty," he began, taking a calm but firm tone. "I appreciate your trust in my recommendation to oversee the imperial exams. However, may I ask the reason behind all this activity?"

The Empress looked at him inquisitively, as if weighing how much information she should share. Then, in a sudden movement, she snapped open the jade fan and positioned it again in front of her face, covering it. Yoshijiro understood that what he was about to hear was of utmost importance.

"A few days ago, there was an assassination attempt on the Emperor," the Empress whispered, her voice barely audible, as if afraid the walls had ears. "Fortunately, it was unsuccessful, but this is a sign that there are threats that must be taken seriously."

The news struck him like a storm.

An assassination attempt on His Divine Majesty? That was unheard of!

Yoshijiro felt the ground tremble under his feet, and the shadows of danger loom over the empire in a way he could never have imagined.

"This is disturbing, Majesty," he murmured, his voice full of disbelief and concern. "An attempt on the Emperor is an unprecedented and dangerous act."

The Empress, hidden behind the jade fan, nodded solemnly, her dark eyes glinting with a faint anxiety that escaped the shadows.

"That's right, Marshal Yoshijiro," she replied with a voice calm but tense, like the cold steel that cut through the night. "We find ourselves in uncertain times, times of shadows. If you ask me, I suspect that war is coming. The regent has proclaimed far and wide that it was the act of a madman. But the palace walls hear whispers."

The Empress stepped toward him until she stood by his side.

"Marshal, your loyalty to me has been unwavering. You are well aware of those savage 'catayos.' It seems they are mustering their forces, and rumors suggest a 'The King in Yellow' is forging an army to claim our continental lands. Our nation has grown complacent in the cradle of peace. But if a storm is to come, we must be prepared to face it. The exams must be more rigorous than ever. We must only recruit the best, those who can keep the empire's gates firmly closed when the time comes."

He had heard those rumors. On the fringes of the frontier, among the whispers of the wind that swept the desolate lands, dark murmurs were woven about the enigmatic "The King in Yellow." Prisoners captured by imperial patrols painted an intriguing portrait of this mysterious leader. They described him as a charismatic figure, a mad prophet leading the followers of the Yellow Lotus, a secret sect that fervently embraced ancient and esoteric deities, delving into forbidden practices.

Even darker tales circulated, suggesting that before proclaiming himself "king," the mad prophet had embarked on a journey across distant lands. He sought forbidden knowledge and forgotten artifacts, relics of a past that wise men and priests had tried to erase from history. It was said that in the depths of ancient libraries and hidden temples, he had found inscrutable secrets, endowing him with immense power.

Yet, in the mind of Marshal Yoshijiro Yokoyama, all those stories about the enigmatic "The King in Yellow" faded like shadows in the night. To him, they were baseless heresies, narratives designed to seduce the most gullible minds and recruit followers for a cause that, in his opinion, was doomed to fail.

The words of those prisoners, caught on the edge of sanity and fanatical belief, clashed with his pragmatic reality. He had walked the battlefields where blood mixed with dust, had witnessed the intrigues of the imperial court where loyalties were as ephemeral as the shadows of candles. To him, a charismatic leader and his devout followers were mere pawns on a chessboard, moved by illusions and power cravings.

"Majesty, you mustn't worry too much about outlandish rumors. I'm confident that this 'The King in Yellow' is little more than a madman who has managed to gather fanatical followers with his extravagant stories. Threats to the imperial dynasty have arisen in the past and have been effectively quelled. I trust our nation will remain strong and withstand any attempt at destabilization."

The Empress continued walking.

"Perhaps, Marshal, but I would be greatly appreciative if you could capture that man, dead or alive. We need to know who is behind this assassination attempt and what their true intentions are. The security of our nation and my son, the Emperor, depends on it."