Nearly every night for the next two years, Fa-Ying and Sheiji met secretly in the room. They talked about many things, but mostly Fa-Ying trained Sheiji to be capable of ruling the empire.
He learned of matters of state: about measuring justice, about wars and treaties and of dealing with criminals, prisoners of war and treasonous men.
He learned of the history of Imatsuro; from the first king in the recorded history of his country to his late father, King Kawa; he learned of previous wars and battles, of friends and foes; he read both truth and myths that shaped the culture his country.
Sheiji learned about the lords and nobles, soldiers and Obokan warriors, merchants, tradesmen, and even common people of Imatsuro and their role in society, a thing most princes never learned. Fa-Ying believed it was very important to learn about even the peasants, so that Sheiji would be able to give justice and judge fairly.
Sheiji still had not figured out the code to Thánh, though, and it was obvious that Fa-Ying would never tell him. He almost gave up puzzling over it except for the strong desire to discover what was in that book that made Tamé so angry and deadly.
One night, Sheiji lay in his bed, turning over in his mind the first paragraph of the book in Thánh, which he knew by heart. He was waiting to see if Fa-Ying would summon him or not and could not seem to get to sleep.
“Toizo sezo, dezo durorczay durazi vàoza anhziy hurorngzoy denziy khizu toizu chetzey,” he mumbled to himself.
Suddenly he sat up straight. “I know it! I figured it out!” he cried silently. “If I take off the letter Z and everything after it, I get the word in Tekelonnese. My language, the language we all speak! But it seems almost too easy.”
Sheiji thought for a minute, “So, this sentence means ‘This is my will, to be read only after I die.”
“Now I see…” Sheiji whispered breathlessly. “They will kill me if they know I can understand. They didn’t want me to read my father’s will.”
Sheiji’s shoulders drooped. “I must tell Fa-Ying that I understand, now. And we are both in grave danger should anyone discover what treasure we have.”
He got up and groped for his slippers. Hurriedly he slipped them on his feet and tiptoed to the door. Sheiji opened it and peeked out. His eyes darted first one way, then the other. He slipped out without a noise. He had become so accustomed to creeping unheard at night, that it was not hard to walk down the familiar passage in silence.
He hardly dared breathe as he passed Sui-Tsai’s door. He was nearly to the end of the corridor when he heard a voice behind him. He whirled and looked Sui-Tsai straight in the face. Sui-Tsai smiled a cold smile that sent shivers down Sheiji’s back.
“Where are you going, O Gracious Vua, most Exalted King?” asked Sui-Tsai, his voice dripping with sarcastic reverence.
“I was only taking a walk, honored Brother,” replied Sheiji nervously. “My room is hot and stuffy.”
“It is dangerous for a king to walk alone at night,” Sui-Tsai fretted. “Let me tell you a story. There once was a king a number of years ago. He went for a walk through his palace on a hot summer night, much like tonight. He was never heard of again.”
“So that’s how you plan to get rid of me,” Sheiji mumbled. He stared at Sui-Tsai defiantly. Then he noticed something he had never seen before. It was a small purple tattoo on the side of Sui-Tsai’s neck in the shape of a lotus blossom.
“What do you mean?” Sui-Tsai asked with exaggerated innocence. “I only mean to escort you back to your room safely. I would hate for something to happen to the Future King of Imatsuro.”
“I’m sure.”
“Come now, Brother,” Sui-Tsai smiled. “Come with me willingly. I will take you back to your room now.”
Sheiji began to walk back to his room. Sui-Tsai followed close behind, his hand hovering near his side where either a sword or a dagger was concealed.
“Sheiji,” Sui-Tsai continued talking in his honeyed voice. “I have some important news to tell you. Shall we meet at ten o’clock tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, brother,” replied Sheiji. “What is it?”
“Of course it is not suitable to speak of it here, Little One,” Sui-Tsai laughed. “But meet me tomorrow in the…hmm…in the Water Room. You do know where that is, don’t you, Sheiji? It is the throne room near the pool of the goddess Naruyo, keeper of the swan.”
“I know.”
“Good. I shall see you there. Feel free to bring your beloved Fa-Ying or Inon or whoever you wish. Here is your room. Good night, Brother. And from now on, I suggest you stay in your room during the night; I would hate to have something happen to you.” The last sentence was spoken more like a threat and Sheiji knew the “something” would likely happen if he were caught outside of his room again.
He slipped quietly through the door and shut it behind him. He heard the latch fall into place on the opposite side and knew Sui-Tsai had locked him in.
Thoroughly exhausted with his night’s fright, he crawled into bed and fell into a deep sleep.