Chapter 7
Sheiji awoke early the next morning. He had tried the door five times but it remained locked. He searched his room for something to do and finally settled on translating those portions of his father’s will that he had memorized.
He had become so engrossed that he hardly heard the knock on his door. The knock came again, louder and more nervous, and with it came a voice, “Vua, are you in here?”
“Come in, Inon,” Sheiji called without leaving his perch on his bed. He was in the middle of an interesting paragraph.
Inon opened the door slowly and stuck his head inside. He let out his breath and stepped inside, shutting the door carefully behind him.
“I was afraid for you, Vua,” Inon said. “Your door was locked from the outside. Who did it?”
“Who do you think?” shrugged Sheiji.
Inon blew slowly out his mouth, “You should let me stay here to guard you, Vua.”
“Thank you, Inon, but I do not like people staring at me while I sleep.”
Inon smiled a little.
“What time is it, Inon?”
“It’s nearly ten o’clock,” replied Inon.
“Oh! So late already! Where are my clothes? And where are my servants?” Sheiji muttered.
“I shall call them for you, Vua.”
“No, I haven’t time. I must meet Sui-Tsai in the Water Room at ten,” replied Sheiji. “I’ll dress myself.”
“Why are you meeting Sui-Tsai?” Inon asked.
“I do not know. He said he had important news to give me,” Sheiji laughed suddenly. “I know what Fa-Ying would say to that. He would say, ‘What, your death sentence? That would be important to him.’ “
Inon smiled weakly. “Shall Fa-Ying be going with you?”
“Yes, and you if you are able,” replied Sheiji as he pulled a tunic from his wardrobe.
“I’ll go fetch him,” replied Inon. “We will return shortly.” Inon bowed out of the room and left Sheiji to his dressing.
Several minutes later, Fa-Ying hurried into the room with Inon. He was muttering something about stupid regents ordering so called ‘important meetings’ at this hour of the morning, though it was late in the day already.
“I’m ready, Fa-Ying,” stated Sheiji. “Shall we go?”
“Yes, yes. Where did that…your brother say to go?” asked Fa-Ying, catching himself before he said something regrettable.
“To the Water Room,” Sheiji replied. “It’s already so late.”
“Yes, I suppose it is,” Fa-Ying muttered.
“What has put you into such a bad mood today, Fa-Ying?” questioned Sheiji.
“What? Oh, nothing,” he replied.
They hurried down the hall, Fa-Ying leading and Inon last, with Sheiji in between. They wandered through a maze of passages and halls until they reached the door of the throne room.
Sheiji stepped forward to one of the guards and said in an authoritative manner, “I have an audience with His Regency Sui-Tsai.”
Fa-Ying smiled a little to see his usually timid young prince speak so boldly.
“Yes, His Regency is expecting you,” replied the guard.
“Your Majesty,” corrected Fa-Ying gruffly. “Have you no respect for the king?”
“Pardon me, Your Majesty,” the guard mumbled.
The guards opened the big doors and the small procession entered. The doors closed behind them with a loud thud and they were left to face Sui-Tsai.
Fa-Ying and Inon held back and let Sheiji take the lead. He strode confidently to the front of the room, though he was not half as confident as he pretended to be.
Fa-Ying and Inon stood several paces behind King Sheiji as was customary and Inon knelt on the floor. Sui-Tsai remained standing, smiling his thin-lipped, haughty smile.
“Kneel before the king,” commanded Fa-Ying, who felt it his duty to make sure all men showed proper respect for the king.
Sui-Tsai glared at Fa-Ying. Then his frown changed into a charming smile and he said, “Oh, I’m sure his Majesty does not wish me to prostrate myself before him. Do you, little one?” Sui-Tsai spoke to Sheiji as one speaks to a small child of two or three.
Sheiji was truly enraged. He was tired of this man treating him as a little child who didn’t know anything. “On your knees, fool!” Sheiji took a threatening step forward.
Sui-Tsai stared at Sheiji in astonishment with his mouth agape. Then he dropped to his knees and bowed his head, but no more than what was barely necessary.
Sheiji shot a glance in Fa-Ying’s direction. His teacher had a triumphant grin on his face. He nodded and Sheiji said calmly, “You may rise, Prince Regent.”
Sui-Tsai hastily got to his feet. He glared at Sheiji and waited for the permission to be seated.
Sheiji took his time settling himself on one of the floor cushions, relishing his brother’s submissiveness. Fa-Ying sat just slightly behind Sheiji, but Inon remained kneeling.
“Please, be seated, Brother,” said Sheiji.
“I’m flattered you remembered,” muttered Sui-Tsai. He sat.
“Now, for what purpose have you called us here?” Sheiji questioned.
“Must we so hastily get to business, Vua?” Sui-Tsai asked. “Let us talk a bit first and have some spiced wine.”
Sui-Tsai clapped his hands and a slave brought out a tray upon which sat three silver goblets. “Take one, Brother,” Sui-Tsai offered. “And Ying also.”
They each took a goblet of wine and Sui-Tsai took the last. “Now, you have changed much, Majesty,” Sui-Tsai began. “You act…nobler, more kingly. You used to be such a child…but now! How you have changed.”
Sheiji did not answer; perhaps Sui-Tsai was fishing for information.
“Of course it must be that you are so much older. It has been nearly two years since our dear father died. You are now sixteen years old.” Sheiji wondered what Sui-Tsai was plotting.
“Perhaps you have become wiser in your old age, hey, Brother?” Sui-Tsai laughed.
Sheiji knew he must say something. “Perhaps you are right, Sui-Tsai. Or perhaps I have learned a thing or two from your…manner.”
Sui-Tsai laughed. “You are humorous, Vua. I’m glad my personality is so worthy of being copied. But we mustn’t sit here all day chatting like old women. Come now, you shall hear of your surprise.”
Fa-Ying muttered some incoherent phrase and shifted his position on the cushion.
“As I said, Brother, you are growing quite old. I believe it is time for you to be engaged,” Sui-Tsai said.
“What?” cried Sheiji, barely resisting the urge to jump to his feet. When he had calmed himself, he said, “I believe that would be impossible, Regency. You see, I am already engaged and have been from the age of two.”
“Yes, yes. We all know that, Vua. But, as I’m sure you also know, your betrothed was stolen from her home when she was but an infant, and is now, most assuredly, dead. So I have arranged for you to marry another.”
Sheiji cast a worried glance in Fa-Ying’s direction. It was impossible to tell what the old man was thinking. It was a mix of acceptance, worry and hate. “I see. And when is the engagement to take place?” he asked quietly.
“Tonight,” replied the Regent. “But you shall meet her now.” Sui-Tsai signaled one of the guards and they opened the door. In rushed a large procession of servants and ladies-in-waiting.
After they were inside and the doors had shut behind them, they halted. From the midst of them, stepped a woman of about forty years.