Serpent's Eyes 10

“Yes, lets,” Bai Meizhen said carefully, drawing another long sip from her wine, savoring the faint buzz. “You have seen something of mine. I intend to present a pole among the younger generation, an alternative to Bai Nuying, for all that I intend to remain in the diplomatic corps for now.”

“Difficult, you intend to challenge her without even remaining in Zhengjian?”

“I intend to connect those who can challenge her while I am away,” she had only picked up a few strays and scraps so far, hangers on, but not… faces. Her victory would give her more chances there, as it had right now.”

“I can respect that. I after all, loathe Zhengjian,” Bai Shuye admitted breezily.

Bai Meizhen stared at her blankly, for just a moment before recovering. “...Bold.”

“It is a small place, and I feel endlessly cramped in it. The smell of sea air agrees with me far more I have found. The Jin are crude in many ways, but they are right, in some ways the Empire should look outward, to find more wealth and power beyond its shores. I understand the Emerald Seas is going through such expansions now.”

Bai Meizhen did not know that ling Qi would appreciate the comparison, even if she thought her friends sensibilities could be a bit… determinedly naive at times. “It does seem, for the first time since before the strife, more of the Empire is looking outward than inward. There is strength in drawing from our more cordial neighbors. …And in not blinding our own eyes. It is shameful that we have allowed our command of our own seas to rot.”

Bai Shuye’s eyes gleamed. “It is. We are the masters of water, yet the Jin and the Xuan are the only ones to show pride in their fleets? Shameful indeed. It was not only an idle fancy then, that drove the questions you have put your retainer to answer.”

“It is not, and though my Mother is most interested in port infrastructure, I believe there is something to be said for expanding our own shipping. Those wretched Sun are moving in the direction of a port again as well.”

“Then we do indeed share an interest. Are you familiar with the history of the weapon you wield?”

“I am,” Bai Meizhen replied. The Ship captain, Bai Guzhen had brought it, among a trove of other treasures from her voyages west beyond the Red Jungle, long ago.

“Then you understand my ambitions.” Bai Shuye said agreeably. “Ships, a fleet of more than fisherman, The Jin shall not be the only ones to rule the seas.”

“A fine direction, though I am curious as to how much your Mother supports that ambition. The Minister of Communication is not a woman known for humoring fanciful thoughts, if you will excuse my saying so,” Bai Meizhen said.

She was in fact a fierce taskmaster and ruthless manager of her ministerial fiefdom, so far as Bai Meizhen knew, and Communication was a powerful enough post that neither her Mother nor the General’s faction pressed her hard for allegiance.

“Mother is pleased enough that my eyes look outward. I am after all her third daughter. This was a rare thing in the old days, for all the eldest push for more children from the younger generation,” Bai Shuye said. “I think there may have been some lack of forethought there.”

Conflict with her blood sisters then, or rather she was avoiding just that. “Keeping the house in harmony IS more troubling with more siblings, or so I have heard. Only one can take their Mother’s place after all.”

“Just so, it is not as if I am after something which will shame or harm the family. At worst, I earn a death at sea that may be spun as honorable,” Bai Shuye chuckled, waving a hand casually.

“But more than that, will your making connection with me upset her,” Bai Meizhen continued quietly. “Your mother has avoided showing favor to either the heir or the general.”

Here, finally the easy smile on Bai Shuye’s lips faded. “While I am but a young woman, not privy to all of her honored Mothers thoughts, I do know she is becoming… frustrated with the challenges of keeping up with the Generals constant campaigns into the rewilded parts of the province, particularly with how many couriers and clerks have met unfortunate ends on the roads not yet built to proper standards. I think, if I were able to present a stable prospect of benefit to our family, the balance could be nudged.”

Bai Meizhen closed her eyes for a moment, the last pieces clicking into place. “You would wish some control over the port infrastructure and supply lines then?”

“That would be quite a prize for a third daughter to present to her Mother. If not one our more blinkered ‘sisters’ might clamor for here and now.”

“Communication would be vital, in keeping ships at sea apprised of events on land,” Bai Meizhen allowed. And the Ministries active support would certainly speed of the logistics of it all considerably, she dimly understood, from her many conversations with Renxiang.

“Nor am I a fluff brained lackwit, who knows nothing of management. I have the desire to be a commander upon the sea, I have studied the needs of a port basing for ships rigorously in my time on Jin lands,” Bai Shuye said, finishing her wine with a long draw. “I shall never understand those of our Sisters who complain about being given the opportunity to take the strengths from other provinces and make them our own.”

“I agree with that sentiment, certainly,” Bai Meizhen said. “The Emerald Seas has certainly taught me many lessons of its own. For all the difficulties, I am glad to have gone there.”

“One could almost believe the pretext of the Imperial Decree, hm, that it was all merely meant to make us integrate ourselves further into the Empire,” Bai Shuye laughed, eyes twinkling in amusement.

Bai Meizhen chuckled at the jest. Absurd indeed. But then, forcing your enemies to choke on the grand words they laid over the bones of their schemes was a pleasant way to perform a reversal.

The companionable silence that fell between them then was interrupted aby a low buzzing emerging from Xiao Fen’s sleeve. Bai Meizhen glanced sharply at her viper, whose eyes had widened in alarm. To her credit there was no fumble or pause further than that. She swept the transmission stone out of the hidden pocket sewn into the inside of her sleeve, eyes flicking over the characters scrolling across its surface. “Incident. Violence in the outer market district. Requesting Aid.”

“Lao Keung?”

“Yes Mistress.”

Bai Shuye raised an eyebrow.

Bai Meizhen rose smoothly to her feet, stepping out from the table and toward the door. “It seems likely I have a sore losers riposte to deal with, I hope you will not mind if I must cut our meeting short, Bai Shuye.”

She waved her hand without hesitation, the formation locks and wards on the room hissing into dormancy. “Not at all sister. Tend to your assets, but do get back to me soon.”

“Of course sister, you have given me much to think about.”