House Lin

Inside the Lin Tower, very near to its foundation, was a large room for family forums and debates. It could house perhaps up to a hundred people for the very pressing issues of the clan, but today there was only a tenth of that present. Among those present was Lin Mei, daughter of Lin Wei. Like the others present in the room, she wore a very formal hanfu that would normally be reserved for matters of the state, but to the eyes of those in House Lin, they were very much concerning the state of the empire. As some of the highest authorities of House Lin were gathered to discuss Mei’s potential seat as Empress of the Grand Celestial Empire.

Lin Mei was neither voluptuous nor petite, she was somewhere in between without being considered average. Her face was beautiful, especially with a smile upon it, and her movements graceful, no matter her task. Her black hair was cut short, not going past her shoulders, and it held a silver ornament within it.

“Mei,” Began her father, “This task that I present to you will come with great challenges. The ultimate goal will be for you to take the role of Empress, but should you fail, do not let Yi take the title again.”

“We have worked tirelessly in the south to assure that House Luo nor any other house offer a bid to the Emperor,” Said one of her brothers, “They will have to rely solely on Yi to maintain their leverage in Bei Ma, and she will not go down without a fight.”

“Your secondary objectives are to discover where she is keeping your uncle, and to release him if possible.” said Wei, “For resources, I have inserted allies into the Imperial Palace that will help you gather information and aid you in your mission if necessary. They will introduce themselves to you with the phrase we talked about.”

“I do not like all this sneaking around, father. Could we not assume the same goal using a more negotiable approach?” Asked Mei.

“Yi does not negotiate!” Wei shouted, “She is a witch that is holding my brother hostage!”

“Father…” Mei’s brother addressed their father to calm him down. The remaining seven in the room looked a little uncomfortable due to his outburst. They were all either Mei’s siblings or Councilors to House Lin.

Wei took a deep breath, and his politician's smile returned to his face, “You may approach the situation as you see fit, Mei. When you enter the Imperial Palace, you will learn what I mean, and you will learn quickly. I have faith in your abilities, and you will perform well.”

Mei, much like the Celestial Emperor, had just come of age within the year. Despite her youth, she had picked up the shrewd diplomatic traits of her family quite well, but her approach did not lack the empathy that most of her family had forgotten. If she was going to beat this Yi, she had to understand her, that’s all she was trying to ask her father about. As for the daughters from the other Great Houses…well, she will be entering this Palace outnumbered, unless she used her father's allies within carefully.

“I will not fail you, father.” Mei bowed from her position in the forum room. When she rose again, she asked, “Is there anything you can tell me about this Emperor Xue Yun that could aid me?”

“He should be easy enough to turn into a puppet. That is likely the reason Yi has not killed him yet.” He replied, and pulled out a scroll that seemed to be written by an Imperial Councilor. It described Yun as frail, fickle, and lustful. “So, in conclusion, if your beauty cannot control him, your skills as a diplomat will.”

“Understood, father.” This man was supposed to be her Emperor? Her husband? Mei could not help but be a little disappointed at his description, but it was a blessing in disguise. She should be able to gain control of the situation that much more easily.

Lin Wei dismissed the small family forum, and the attendees scattered into different directions of the Lin Palace. Mei stayed put, and an assistant of hers approached her. This assistant was a woman about ten ears older than Mei, “The preparations for the move are almost complete, my lady. If things continue to go smoothly, you may be the first to arrive at the Imperial Palace.”

“Will you be coming with me, Yuling?” Asked Mei.

“I cannot,” affirmed her assistant reluctantly. The older woman placed her hand on Mei’s ass cheek and said, “But I can come with you one last time here. Your bedchamber. Be there in twenty minutes.”

Mei gasped after the woman let go of her. Her folds moistening up already from the thought of what was going to happen. She had twenty minutes to wrap things up and be in her bedchamber. Mei would not be late.