18

At dinner, Bingquing was unusually quiet.  Official Chu set down his chopsticks for a second and glared at her.  He sighed, before picking up a piece of meat and placed it on top of her bowl with a defeated expression. 

"Ah, you spent a month at some strange place without me.  You need to put on some weight so that I can start to feel like my daughter is coming back to me."

"Why are you presenting me at the Jungpi court instead of the Caiwong court?  Haven't you said that one of the most traits in a men is his dedication to the country of his birth?  What happened with this truth which you made me memorize?  What is the point of memorizing morals if no one bothers to follow them?"

"Who said that?" Official Chu looked at Bingquing's long face with some amusement.  "Sometimes for survival there must be some sacrifices.  The dynasty has continued in Caiwong, this is much more important than there to be continue to be an Official Chu who is a close servant of the Emporer of Caiwong.  Everything has a price."

"Du Ni when she was helping with my bath?"

"Du Ni is a mere servant telling you palace rumors.  What does she know more than someone whose father has served as an important court official for many years.  We are trying to have some standing.  If I have standing than so does the daughter that I cherish more than my own life.  It matters little to me about the opinions of sheep who understand little of the dream I can see ahead of me for the Chu family.  It's a blooming field of flowers that's so bright that many will cower in the brilliance of the gems."

"So it's not true?  Is this what you mean, father?  I want to stay with you.  Please, I don't want to leave you ever again.  You're my favorite person in the entire world.  To part with you again is more pain than I could ever have in my life."

Official Chu made a long face. "I don't know this queen.  I've been at court maybe less than two months.  It takes six months to know and understand a monarch.  I think the officials are hoping you'll be some fright that will embarrass the emperor so someone who is of the Jungpi can take my position.  Or that you'll scare the queen to the point that there will be no return to the way that things were before you were found.  But now that you mention it, did you not say that you wanted to get stronger.  Would you like to meet the princess?  She was raised to be just as strong as her mother.  People find her blunt and unrefined so she does not have many friends.  In that case, I would have to present you at court."

Bingquing ate more quickly.

Official Chu laughed, "You like that idea?  I was also thinking of having you at the Palace Academy.  You could take the exam to become an official just so you understand my work. Maybe go to the military training school."

Bingquing almost spit out her food as she protested, "Father I am too old.  All of those there train starting as soon as they can walk."

"You are already good at household tasks, your sewing is enough to get me compliments from women, and you can burn things."

"Father!"

"I'm kidding.  Don't throw your chopsticks at me, they are sharp enough to take out an eyeball."

"I've always wanted a third eye."

"Then you can try on my eyeball."

Bingquing and her father looked at each other before bursting into laughter.  Official Chu slapped his knee, "I'm so happy you are safe and we are in a new safe place.  I had many sleepless nights wondering how I would carry on living now that you were not here."

"Father let us not talk about things that are depressing.  I know you will worry that the people in Caiwong will hurt us here now that you have made yourself a place.  But Jungpi is not as vast of an empire as Caiwong."

"Being a Caiwong fish in a Jungpi fish bowl will cause others in Caiwong to be able to track us easier.  Emperor will know you returned, he may not be without intent for a daughter of mine."

"Father, what does that mean?"

"Don't worry about it, it is the future that we cannot control.  Let's worry about the Jungpi Princess."