Garrett was up before the sun and practicing his tai chi. Jade Wall Iron Fist emphasized strong blocks, hard hits, and close-quarters brutality. The Royal Guards expected to fight in confined areas, and they weren't inclined to mess around. While living in the barracks, Garrett practiced in his uniform. The fabric rubbed. He practiced morning, noon, and night, so it rubbed a lot. In Plum Terrace Palace, the Fourth Prince had introduced him to the benefits of nothing at all.
Something felt off, however, and not just his clothes.
Once he started living at Plum Terrace Palace, Garrett's practice sessions felt fluid. The motions came to him naturally. He understood them at an intuitive level. That was the difference. In the barracks, Garrett thought about making moves. In Plum Terrace Palace, his body just moved. Except that morning, it wasn't moving as fluidly as the day before. Garrett was forced to think about moves again. Not all the time, as in the barracks, but half of the time at least. In fact, now he was thinking about thinking about how to move.
That was not helpful.
What was different?
Renjie was not in the palace. Could having the Fourth Prince around make Garrett a better fighter? Absurd. The Fourth Prince was perpetually overheated. If he wasn't cuter than a demonic red panda, it would have been really annoying.
Was Garrett subconsciously trying to impress that little twink?
Absurd. If cutiepies improved performance, there would be cutiepies posted in every barracks. Actually… cutiepies were posted in most barracks. Several people in Old Keep Central Platform North River Barracks Five considered Garrett a cutiepie. On reflection, maybe they practiced harder when he was around. But practicing harder was different than practicing better. If trying harder was enough, after all, then Garrett could have just tried harder even when the twink wasn't around.
It was even more complicated than that.
Although Renjie made a point of watching Garrett practice, Garrett often practiced in hidden places to avoid being watched and fondled. Was the issue that Renjie had gotten too far away?
Garrett finished practicing. He put on the fashionable running uniform Rangiku had given him. It was revealing, but not as revealing as nothing at all. He ran around the terraces, put on his duty uniform, and got on with his duties. An hour or so before lunch, someone self-important started giving sentries at the entrance of Plum Terrace Palace a hard time. He was about the same height as Garrett, older, less muscular, not as good looking, but dressed in a sinister uniform.
He demanded to see Consort Su.
"You are not on Consort Su's schedule," said Garrett.
"I am an Investigating Censor on official business," the self-important man replied.
"Official business is recorded on the Consort's calendar," said Garrett. "You are not on the calendar. Consequently, your business is not official."
Incensed, the Investigating Censor displayed his official bronze token.
"Seeing this token is seeing the Emperor," he said.
The sentries dropped to their knees and saluted. Garrett did not.
"You have entered one of the consort palaces," he said. "If the Emperor were to desire an audience with Consort Su, the Attendants would work together to put him on her calendar."
"Insolence!"
The Investigating Censor stepped forward. Garrett extended an arm, blocking his path, and smiled. These were exactly the circumstances in which Jade Wall Iron Fist excelled. The Censor countered. Each Investigating Censor was an accomplished martial artist. Prior to taking up residence in Plum Terrace Palace, Garrett doubted his skills would be up to the task ahead. Those skills had come a long way in a short time, however.
Garrett countered the counter.
Enraged, the Censor tried to draw his sword.
Garrett blocked it from leaving its scabbard. The two men spun around one another. Every move the Censor made, Garrett countered – almost without thinking about it. Recognizing the mistake of staying close to a practitioner of Jade Wall Iron Fist, the Censor tried to create distance. Garrett's explosive leg strength allowed him to remain in contact with the man at all times.
Plum Terrace Palace's Attendant appeared.
"Stop," the automaton instructed.
The two combatants stopped.
"The Royal Guardsman stated a fact," said the Attendant. "If you wish to speak to the Consort, you must petition her for an audience. If granted, you will be placed on her calendar."
"The Censorate is tasked with investigating all officials," said the Censor.
"Consort Su is not an official," replied the Attendant. "Speak to the Superintendent."
"I have spoken with the Superintendent," said the Censor. "That's why I am here."
"Then the Superintendent of the Imperial Household has failed to inform you of the proper protocol," said the Attendant. "Perhaps you should investigate him for that. Now leave."
"Refusing to cooperate with the Censorate…," said the Censor.
"Are you refusing to comply with my order?" asked the Attendant.
The Attendant stepped forward. The Censor stepped back.
"If you want to see my mother right now," said the Sixth Princess, just arriving, "I can take you to her. Fair warning: something has put her in a bad mood. Because of her bad mood, she cleared her calendar. That's why you can see her. But if your visit pisses her off, she'll kill you."
"Threatening…," said the Censor.
"She'll kill you," said Rangiku. "No one will do anything about it. If you do not understand that, you have no business being an Investigating Censor. Do you want to see her or not?"
The Investigating Censor agreed to be taken to the Fifth Consort. Garrett considered it an error on his part. Garrett had only been in Plum Terrace Palace a short time and had never seen Consort Su angry. He wasn't sure she could get angry. It was possible that Rangiku was bluffing. Except neither Renjie nor his sister understood the concept of bluffing.
In fact, the Consort was angry. Garrett felt it upon entering her audience hall. The dazzling socialite was gone. Seated in her place was an incandescent dragon queen.
"At a time like this," said the dragon queen, "the Censorate has decided to waste one of its investigators on my palace?"
The Censor appeared momentarily uncertain.
"He's going to die," Garrett whispered to Rangiku.
She shushed him with uncharacteristic urgency.
"Fifth Consort," said the Censor with an appeasing salute, "the Rectifying Commandant is concerned with matters of security on Jade Palace Mound."
"He better be," said Consort Su.
"In the interests of security," said the Censor, "the Superintendent of the Imperial Household is charged with documenting the origins of all members of palace staff. However, the Office of the Superintendent is lacking documentation for a recent addition to your household."
"Is that so?" asked Consort Su.
Garrett recognized that tone from his own mother. The Censor was going to die.
"There is a painter…," he said.
"A painter!" raged Consort Su. "You are here about my painter?"
She stood up. Everyone else – including the Censor – got down.
"Fifth Consort," pleaded the Censor, "even if it appears trivial…."
"Mr. Sorrow attacked Jade Palace Mound yesterday," roared the Consort, "but today, the Censorate demanded an audience with me about my painter! Silence! Return to the Rectifying Commandant with the following order. Silence! He submits a written memorandum to me explaining why an Investigating Censor is in Plum Terrace Palace one day after an attack on Jade Palace Mound; or, I will petition the Empress to remove him from his post and execute him!"
"Fifth Consort!" pleaded the Censor, "We have no information about any…!"
"Deliver my command!"
Her rage convinced the man to retreat without another word. Consort Su sat back down on her bench. The air boiling around her was not entirely a figment of Garrett's imagination.
"Mother," asked Rangiku delicately, "did Mr. Sorrow…?"
"No one repeats a word of this," said Consort Su. "No one. Understood?"
The order was acknowledged as understood by all.
"Mr. Sorrow attempted to assassinate Princess Iba Algi yesterday," said Consort Su. "The Princess is unharmed. Mr. Sorrow is dead."
"Did Consort Chen intervene?" asked Rangiku. "Or…?"
"Iba Algi killed Mr. Sorrow herself," said Consort Su. "The Empress appeared immediately after his death to comfort the Princess. In addition, she used her silk portals to summon all the consorts."
"All?" asked Rangiku. "Including…?"
"Including the Fourth Consort," said Consort Su.
"Has this ever happened before?" asked Rangiku.
"Never," said Consort Su.
"How could the Censorate not know?" asked Rangiku. "Was the battle hidden?"
"Artifacts of battle were noticed by guardsmen in Garrett's old tower," said the Consort.
Garrett saluted for no reason, but said nothing.
"The guardsmen had no way of knowing the details," continued Consort Su. "By the time a contingent arrived on the scene, the Empress herself was there and ordered them to depart. The only people with direct knowledge of what happened are Iba Algi's family, the Empress, the consorts – and whoever is responsible for orchestrating the attack."
"The Empress told you not to share," said Rangiku, "in order to lure out the organizer?"
"It was Consort Jin's suggestion," said Consort Su. "The Empress agreed."
"But you just shared," said Garrett.
"Correct."
"Are you defying the Empress?" asked Rangiku.
"Of course not," said Consort Su. "No fish have come out of hiding, so I'm expanding the net. The other consorts will make similar decisions. However, no one here is to repeat the information. If you hear about this from anyone – anyone, profess ignorance and report to me. Obviously, the other consorts will issue the same instructions. Consequently…."
"If we blab," said Garrett, "they will know."
"Correct," said Consort Su.
"On some level," said Garrett, "the Censorate appears to have passed the test."
"Partially correct," said Consort Su.
"I believe fear made that man tell the truth," said Rangiku. "Though his commander may have sent him here for that very reason."
"Correct," said Consort Su.
"If Renjie hears about this…," said Garrett.
"Renjie must not hear about this," said Consort Su. "Understood?"
Everyone present indicated that it was understood.
"How is Iba Algi?" asked Rangiku.
"The Princess is her usual self," said Consort Su. "The Empress made an effort to cheer her up. She has even given the Princess one of her silk portals. Now, business as usual until further notice."
Everyone present saluted. Plum Terrace Palace returned to business as usual. A few hours later, a messenger arrived from the expedition. Renjie was asking Rangiku to join them for some "stone magic." The Sixth Princess asked her mother if it was a good idea.
"It's fine," said Consort Su, "as long as you say nothing to your brother."
"What about Parsifal?" asked Rangiku.
Consort Su considered.
"Interesting," she said. "You can't tell him what happened. However, you can tell him that his mother wants to speak with him."
Consort Su produced a small gold coin and handed it to Rangiku.
"Give him this," said Consort Su, "and tell him to give it to Consort Jin."
"Renjie will get suspicious," said Rangiku.
"Renjie will get distracted," said Consort Su.
"By what?" asked Rangiku.
"Me," said Garrett.
"Correct," said Consort Su.