Geming and Wang Yong returned to their residence after sending off Chinua and her men. At the door, a servant rushed forward and knelt in front of Geming.
"Your Highness, Empress Yan has issued an urgent order for His Highness to return to the palace," the servant said.
"May I ask what else Empress Yan wants to say?" Geming asked.
"Nothing more," the servant said.
"Prepared the ship," Geming said.
"The ship has been ready since last night," the servant said.
Sailing on the open water, Geming felt a little uneasy. He knew the reason why Empress Yan called him back to the palace. He stood on the open deck overlooking the deep, clear river with fish swimming by the side of the ship. Although the sky is sunny, but his heart is cloudy.
Wang Yong walked up to Geming and said, "Your Highness, lunch is ready."
Geming said sadly, "I'm not hungry. Go and eat first."
Wang Yong said, "Your Highness is worried about going back to the palace?"
Geming said, "I know why mother asked me to go back to the palace at such of time."
Wang Yong asked, "What's her Highness's intention?"
Geming said, "The loyal uncle doesn't want me snooping in the west. He is worried that I might encounter something that he doesn't want father to know. Secondly, mother wants another country to help consolidate the throne. The only way is through marriage."
Wang Yong asked, "His highness is okay with that?"
Geming said, "I've always wanted someone who speaks the same language as me to be my empress, but it's a pity that the person who speaks the same language as me doesn't have a royal statue."
Wang Yong said, "If I could marry in his highness's behalf, I will be more than willing to do so."
Geming looked at Wang Yong sadly and said, "I don't think I can drag on any longer." He frowned sadly. "No matter how long I try to prolong it, no matter what I try to prevent it from happening, there is nothing I can do at this moment."
Wang Yong looked at Geming and asked, "Does Your Highness like Chinua? If that person is Chinua, would His Highness disagree?"
Geming said sadly, "Chinua is not a royal, she can only be a concubine, not my empress. With her stubborn nature, she will not be willing to be my concubine." He sighed. "After knowing who I really am, she probably doesn't want to be my friend at all. Even if she doesn't mind who I am." He laughs. "I don't even know how to find her. Hmagol is such a big land, finding someone is like finding a needle in the ocean."
When Geming arrived in the palace, he went directly to see Empress Yan. When he entered the room, Empress Yan was sitting at the desk flipping through bamboo scrolls. He quickly knelt in front of Empress Yan.
Geming said, "Mother, I'm back."
Empress Yan looked up at Ge Ming, and smiled at him gently, "Come here and look at the map."
Geming walked up to the desk and found the large map sitting on the desk. "What does mother want me to see," he asked.
Empress Yan said, "These are countries that have a border with us. The three largest countries that border us are Ofleisia, Skouji and Hmagol."
Geming said, "The others are all small countries. Among the three big countries, Hmagol has the least military power, but we know very little about them. Over the years, loyal uncle has tried to invade the southern part of Hmagol boarder, but without success. That must mean their military is stronger than it is shown to us."
Empress Yan said, "The ministers of the whole court have suggested that on the occasion of the emperor's sixtieth birthday, invitations should be sent to invite princes and princesses of other countries to attend his birthday. You probably have a good idea why the emperor decided to do this."
Geming said, "I understand father's reasons."
Empress Yan said, "If we can secure our boarder through marriage without spilling blood of soldiers, it will be good for both countries."
Geming asked, "When will father announce this?"
Empress Yan said, "I predict that he will announce it no later than the day after tomorrow. I already talked to Ruizhe." She looked at Geming. "You and your brother... each must marry the princess from one of these three countries: Hmagol, Ofleisia or Skouji. If you want to secure this throne with the support of another country." She sighed. "I know you're against this marriage, but as a royal you have to sacrifice for the good of the country."
Geming said, "I understand."
Empress Yan said, "Go back and rest."
The palace was quiet; in his solitary private courtyard his heart was sad as he gazed at the old silver bracelet Chinua had given him. Wang Yong walked over and put the tea tray and snacks on the table.
Geming looked up and said, "Sit with me."
Wang Yong politely declined. "I'm a servant. I can't sit at the same table as Your Highness." He looked down at the floor without looking at Ge Ming.
Geming turned the two cups up and poured tea into the two cups respectively. He looked up at Wang Yong again, and said, "Sit down and drink tea with me." He stood up and grabbed Wang Yong's hand, but Wang Yong slowly pulled his hand away and walked to sit on the stool opposite Geming.
Wang Yong looked at Ge Ming and said, "Your Highness, this is not like you."
Geming handed the poured tea to Wang Yong, and said, "Before Chinua left, she asked me to treat you better."
Wang Yong said, "Your Highness does not have to do what Chinua said. She's not a member of the royal family; she doesn't understand that in the royal family there is a fine line between servant and master. This line should never cross."
Geming said, "Some words Chinua said are correct."
Wang Yong asked, "What words?"
Geming said, "Chinua said that the best gift you can give to others is your time, because you have given them something that you can never take back, and they will always remember." He smiled at Wang Yong. "Although we have experienced a lot together as a master and servant over the years, I want you to know that I have never treated you as a servant."
Wang Yong said, "It is my duty to protect His Highness."
Geming said, "I want to see how Chinua treats the two people she mentioned."
Wang Yong said, "Your Highness will not tell Chinua your real identity, will you?"
Geming said, "If we meet again and if she asks, I might tell her." He sighed. "Tomorrow, father will announce his next phase of border security, which will involve me and other princes and princesses."
In the distance, three eunuchs walked towards Geming and Wang Yong. "Greeting his Highness." The three eunuchs knelt in front of Ge Ming.
Geming asked, "Eunuch Li, does father have something to pass on to me?"
Eunuch Li said, "His Majesty ask that crown Prince, and the other Princes are to attend tomorrow morning meeting."
Geming said, "Thank you. Please tell father that I will attend the morning meeting tomorrow."
Eunuch Li, "This minion is taken his leave." He and the other two eunuchs retreated slowly, leaving Geming's small courtyard.
Geming sighed, "Father's announcement came earlier than I thought." He took a sip of tea and sighed. "I wonder if Chinua has crossed the Hmagol border yet."
Wang Yong said, "It took us three days to return to the capital from Searock City. It takes five days to cross the wider landscape from Searock City into Hmagol."
Geming looked at the full moon and said, "The sun sets on the same horizon, and the moon rises on the same sky, and yet, we are still thousands of miles apart."
The southern wind blew through the night, and owls hooted now and then in the middle of the driest lands of southern Hmagol. Chinua sat alone by the small campfire, watching the flames swaying in the wind.
Hye walked over and sat beside Chinua. He looked at Chinua and asked, "You stopped writing your journal?"
Chinua said, "I've finished." She looked at Hye. "Why haven't you slept yet? It's not your turn to be on duty yet."
Hye said, "I can't sleep."
Chinua picked up some dry wood and threw it into the campfire. "Do you often have nightmares?"
Hye chuckled. "Kind of," he said. "What are you thinking?"
Chinua said, "When we were in Searock City, I found out that their economy is much better than ours. I really want to improve our economy, but I know that my voice alone will not gains enough support to change Hmagol."
Hye smiled and shook his head. "If you want something to be successful, it can't be changed instantly on a whim. You must change it a little at a time. You need to allow time for other people to adjust and see the improvement you provide. Takes us for example, people laughed at us when you said peanuts can make a person stay full longer. You and I know it's true, but not everyone knows it's true. Although we truly believe it, but not everyone will believe what we believed, so here we are, trying to prove our theory."
Chinua looked at Hye and chuckled.
Hye looked at Chinua and asked, "What?"
Chinua said, "Have you ever thought about being a teacher?"
Hye chuckled and said, "I never thought about it, I will never become a teacher."
Chinua asked, "Why?"
Hye said "This is my little secret...I hate children. Especially teaching children."
Chinua shook her head because she knew it was a lie. She turned to Hye and said sincerely, "Thank you."
Hye asked, "For what?"
Chinua said, "Thank you for being willing to stand by my side."
Hye said, "Don't thank me yet. If you are worthy of my stay, you still have many more year to prove yourself."
Chinua said, "I'm glad… I have someone like you. Someone who can understand my thoughts without me expressing them."
Hye teased, "Well, I'm glad to serve you, my dearest princess."
The two were amused by Hye silly joke, and Chinua suddenly remembered that she had buried sweet potatoes under the firepit, so she quickly picked up a stick, and quickly dug five sweet potatoes from the campfire. Chinua and Hye continued their conversation as they ate sweet potatoes under the bright moonlight.
Lying not too far away in the cold night on the dry land, cracking lip from dehydration, Drystan looked at the stars in the dark sky and chuckled softly. Blood oozed from his arrow wound, he grunted in pain and clutched his lower abdomen. He was panting heavily, each breath becoming more painful than the next.
Drystan coughed, then giggled. "I'm not afraid of you…Death… If you want my life, you have to do better," he said, continuing to pant and look at the night sky.