Jackal Among Snakes

It was a new day for Emperor Ji Meng. Rest didn’t come easy for the victorious army as hellfire continued to rain down from the sky, but their armies took shelter in a formidable fortress. What little remained of the Blue Emperor’s support fell under their banner without any struggle whatsoever. Within this fortress, the emperor kneeled in the spot the lord of the castle generally occupied, while two people sat at a table they’d dragged into the room, enjoying a large breakfast. Ji Meng wasn’t the lord, in this scenario. These two were.

Emperor Ji Meng looked upon King Argrave and Queen Anneliese. In the past days, he’d seen the king willingly have his heart ripped out by a gargantuan, inhuman demon, only for him to keep talking and delivering orders to his underlings like nothing was amiss. The queen, meanwhile, dropped down in the center of a battlefield, stood her ground against dozens of S-rank spellcasters alone, then fought the champion of an ancient god that ripped a crater into the earth the size of a city. And she’d won that battle.

Ji Meng was rather contented he’d made the right decision, submitting to the duo.

“Are you going to gather errant forces before heading to the capital?” Argrave asked him expectantly, cleaning his hands of crumbs.

Ji Meng shifted where he kneeled, drawn from his thoughts. “No. I’m going to head right for the imperial court, gather what remains of the palace guard, and then regain control over the city. All things stem from Ji—it’ll make the task easier.” He pointed at a body that bore his visage, propped up against the wall—another unnerving thing. “We’ll display that body in a public place. It’s doubly helpful that you slayed him, Queen Anneliese.”

“Because you couldn’t have?” Argrave said with a smile, pushing aside his empty plate.

“That, and it gives me more legitimacy. ‘The emperor didn’t deign to fight the lowly pretender. Instead, the demon was slain by his faithful Grand Commandant’s second-in-command.’” Ji Meng gestured toward them. “I’ve no doubt they’ll be telling legends about you throughout the whole continent. My men ask me endless questions about the white-haired woman.”

As Anneliese smiled without much enthusiasm, Argrave put his hand atop her own. “And you tell anyone that asks, I’m sure, that she’s my wife.”

Ji Meng dipped his head. “Of course. I do have something to advise about, however.”

“Go ahead,” Anneliese encouraged him.

“Governor Zen will hear about me leading armies, my vital force rejuvenated. He’ll be fully aware that this is far beyond the plan that you discussed with him. And with the prospect of me heading to the imperial court—and by extension, the imperial harem, where his power is densest—his distrust of you will reach its apex,” Ji Meng declared clearly and with urgency.

you’re trying to do—secure your position by isolating us from Zen. The fact is, though, we have an information leak. We need to stay close to Zen temporarily for a total victory both within and without. You want to purge the

He closed his eyes and sighed. “Yes. I would see you separated from Zen; such an outcome would

silently, while Anneliese

Meng caught himself, questioning if he was pushing the boundaries. He lifted his head

a harsh sentence, but after a time Argrave put his elbow on the table and leaned

he’d said a joke, but Ji Meng was uncertain of

began uncertainly,

military authority to me.” Argrave put his hand to his chest. “You’re to retain the title of emperor, and you’ll continue to be known as the son of heaven. But rather than having genuine political power, you’ll be a ceremonial figure; effectively, the head of the faith, of the

has been unlawfully lifted without the

acted prudently, Ji Meng could continue to reign as emperor as long as his natural life. It would be infinitely easier to be the emperor that humbly confirmed rulership over the Great Chu to a military dictator than one who fought valiantly to maintain

done in many decades. From where he kneeled, he lowered his head until it touched the ground in a kowtow. He lowered his head to people more than half

for your grace,” Ji Meng said, his mouth facing

dismissed. “Now—what were you

he sees weakness as opportunity. If we can couch my present position not as your newfound strength, but a weakness… it’s far easier to assume incompetence before excellence.” He held his hands out. “Of course, I’m asking for a great deal

cheek. “No harm in hearing

#####

once again stood with Governor Zen. In wake of the terrible war, the governor had abandoned his peaceful pavilion for a fortified compound loaded with arrays of defensive weaponry designed to resist thousands of invaders. Now they stood in the heart of this fortified compound. Unlike all other times, dozens of guards lined the room as Governor Zen sat at the head

emperor,” Stain conveyed just as Elenore told him, sitting at the foot of the table as the guest of honor. “Now, it’s all but assured the rest of empire will fold. Do you know what comes next

Zen entwined his fingers. “The

Time and time again, the importance of this topic had been mentioned to him. In this talk, his role was to reveal the leak in their ranks by steering the conversation properly. And just alongside that… they’d plot out the siege of