Chương 13: Chapter 11 (R)

"And what did you say you've called this curious contraption?" Xueshi Wenxue asks me a few days later, examining the abacus I've placed on the table, a Western-style abacus with four horizontal bars, not the traditional Chinese one with thirteen vertical bars.

"Abacus, esteemed Xueshi Wenxue. The idea came to me as a way to make mathematical operations more convenient, since carrying around a pile of rods to do calculations is cumbersome, not to mention you always run the risk of them shifting", I reply, looking at my tutor with an air of self-satisfaction.

"And how is it supposed to work, though I think I can get the general idea?" he continues, moving several of the colored beads I've strung on the abacus.

"Allow me to demonstrate", I tell Xueshi Wenxue, and proceed to perform several calculations under his increasingly interested gaze. After a while he stops me and asks "May I use it for a moment to see for myself how it works?" I gesture toward the abacus "I brought it as a gift, Xueshi Wenxue. It's yours to do with as you please." He blinks a couple of times and rises, then bows to me "I am immensely grateful to Zhāohuán Wen for this gift. I shall remember it for the rest of my life."

He straightens up and, taking the abacus, tells me "Zhāohuán, today you may do as you like. Simply ask RuNu Lianhua to fetch whatever book you'd like to read." With those words he hurries back to his table while I signal Lianhua to come over. Lianhua, after approaching, tells me "I told you this would happen, Zhāohuán Wen."

Watching my tutor begin running calculations on the abacus and comparing them against the counting-rod board, I reply "When I told you about my idea you said half the academics at the Guozijian would kill for access to my invention. I didn't believe you, but judging by Xueshi Wenxue's reaction, it seems you were right." I turn to Lianhua and continue "But once you see one and understand the concept, it's not that hard to replicate. They could make one whenever they wanted."

"No one would dare do that, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua replies.

"Why not?" I ask Lianhua with curiosity, since I doubt anything resembling a patent exists in this era, a system of noble patronage being far more likely. Suddenly I hear Xueshi Wenxue's voice from his table "Perhaps I should explain a few things, Zhāohuán." Looking over at his table I see him rise, pick up the abacus again, walk back to my table, and sit beside me, setting it down before us.

"Your lack of knowledge in this area is my fault. Given your age, I didn't see the need to teach you the court ranks and their privileges in depth, particularly those pertaining to your own rank, Zhāohuán", he begins in a serious tone.

"The first thing you must know and keep in mind is that you are the Zhāohuán, the Emperor's favored daughter", he tells me, pointing at me.

"In terms of rank within the imperial family, the only people above you are the Emperor and the Crown Prince."

"And His Majesty has not yet seen fit to officially designate one." He pauses to let me absorb what he's telling me before continuing "Although several of your brothers are considered apparent heirs, that is not an official rank. They only hold power within their circles and among those who support their candidacy for Crown Prince. In terms of relative power, in theory the only person above you is the Emperor. And I believe someone of your intelligence can quickly see where the problem lies."

After a minute of silence in which I digest what he's just told me, I answer in a quiet voice "I am the Emperor's heir."

"Yes and no, Zhāohuán", Xueshi Wenxue continues, looking at me intently.

"In truth it's more complicated than that, since the next Emperor is actually designated by the sect when the current one's hundred-year period of rule comes to an end. The title of Crown Prince, or yours, would only indicate a preference on the part of the reigning Emperor among his children."

"So the title is only important if something happens to the reigning Emperor and the sect doesn't want to deal with a regent while the trials to choose the next Emperor take place, since in that case they would give the post directly to the heir chosen by the previous Emperor", Xueshi Wenxue goes on, but every word he says seems to add another nail to my virtual coffin.

"Therefore, as long as no Crown Prince has been designated, if the Emperor were to die, may the Heavens forbid it, you would have the standing and title necessary to claim the post of Empress from the sect", Xueshi Wenxue finishes. Suddenly I understand the situation surrounding my mother and me. The silent void that has formed around us, with only a few low-ranking people coming near, people I now realize have gravitated toward my family because other princely candidates rejected them.

Not to mention the permanent Nei Wei escort I always have when I leave the Pavilion. And what happened at my first birthday, with a general bringing me a gift followed by my father's appearance to give me his blessing, has probably only amplified that perception. And it's not that I can't understand their position, especially in an imperial court.

Years of scheming, of gathering nobles and officials to increase their power so their sons might have a better chance of being declared Crown Prince, only for a girl to appear out of nowhere, a disabled one at that, and outrank every one of their sons. They must all be seething with rage. And as I reflect on everything I've been told, I keep looking at Xueshi Wenxue, in whose eyes I can see a look of pity, and I can almost hear his unspoken words: "If she manages to survive."

Xueshi Wenxue suddenly claps his hands, startling me out of my depressing thoughts, and continues "Now that we've covered the most important point about your status, I suppose it's time to tell you why that matters for the abacus." He points at the abacus and goes on "You personally invented and built it, so it is your idea. No one would dare copy or create one without your express permission.

If you were a low-ranking noble, an ordinary official, or a commoner, there would be people who would try to steal the invention and pass it off as their own, especially high-ranking officials or great nobles. But doing that to you, the Zhāohuán, would be a crime against the imperial family. And everyone knows how those crimes are punished."

I look back and forth between Xueshi Wenxue and the abacus, and finally fix my gaze on my tutor "And what would you recommend I do, since I'm too inexperienced to know how to handle this without getting myself into more trouble than I'm already in?" He thinks for a moment and asks "Is this the first abacus you've made, and does your mother know anything about it?"

"No to both, Xueshi Wenxue", I reply.

"This one I made as a gift for you. The first one I made is in my study for my personal use. And I don't think my mother knows, though since I asked RuNu Lianhua for the materials, one of the maids may have mentioned something to her." A look of relief briefly crosses his face before he continues "Perfect. When you get home, give that abacus to your mother, explain that the materials you requested were for making it, and show her what it does.

Then tell her that since it was the first abacus you ever made, you wish to present it as a gift to the Emperor."

"Why is it so important that it be the first abacus made, especially to the point of needing to emphasize it?" I ask Xueshi Wenxue.

"The symbolism", Xueshi Wenxue answers.

"And more importantly, the Emperor will learn of your invention from you directly, since hearing about it from others could be too unpredictable, his impression would depend on the motives of whoever brought him the news." He places his hand on the abacus sitting on the table and continues "I'll keep the abacus you gave me hidden and show it to no one until you tell me the Emperor has his."

Then he looks around and fixes his gaze on several librarians who are watching us before speaking again "Moreover, I'll order the librarians to keep what happened here a secret. But I would advise you to deliver the gift as soon as possible, since as the saying goes, if two people know, the whole world will know."

"I appreciate your counsel, Xueshi Wenxue", I tell him, bowing as best I can from my chair. If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

"There's no need, Zhāohuán. As your tutor it is my duty to educate you in these matters. Besides, as I said, I shall remember this favor for the rest of my life", he replies, his eyes on the abacus. He rises from the chair, picks up the abacus, and looking at me seriously says "For today and for the next few days you are excused from your lessons so you can return to your Pavilion quickly and speak with your mother directly. And don't come back until you know the Emperor has received his gift.

I'll take care of everything here to make sure no one talks." I look at Lianhua, who has been at my side the entire time, and tell her "You heard Xueshi Wenxue. Let's go, quickly."

"Understood, Zhāohuán Wen", she replies, rising and lifting me from the chair, after which we swiftly leave the library, followed by the Nei Wei. As we go I can't help noticing Xueshi Wenxue step outside and say something to the Jin Wei standing guard at the door. As we move away I see them argue briefly, but in the end they seem to accept what my tutor is telling them.

He goes back inside and closes the door behind him, after which one of the guards takes a position in front of it as if to bar the way, while the other takes off running. I believe my tutor has just locked himself inside the library together with the librarians until the day I return. I feel sorry for the librarians, honestly, but I suspect that for my tutor, the more days I take to come back, the more grateful he'll be to me for leaving him locked up all day with a mountain of books.

We cross the park quickly, where the poor ducks will not be getting their scheduled meal today, and arrive at the Pavilion. I tell Lianhua to take me to the study, where I grab the abacus I have there, and after asking a maid where my mother is, we head to a courtyard where she is seated alongside Fei Yi Lingxi and several handmaidens, painting something on a length of fabric, silk, I imagine.

"Mother, I have something to tell you", I say as I watch her stop painting to look at me upon noticing our entrance into the courtyard.

"You know you can tell me anything, Wen", she replies, signaling one of the handmaidens to vacate the chair she's sitting in and make room for me.

"In private, Mother. It's important", I tell her after Lianhua sets me in the chair. She looks at me seriously, then glances briefly at the abacus in my lap before making a gesture with her hand "Leave me alone with my daughter." The handmaidens rise and, after a brief bow, file out of the courtyard and close the door behind them. My mother watches them go, and now the only people remaining are myself, my mother, Lianhua, and Fei Yi Lingxi.

My mother turns to look at me and points at the abacus "I suppose that is the reason you pestered all our handmaidens for three days with your irrational requests. I take it you want to explain to me what it's for?"

"Yes, Mother", and I proceed to explain its function with a demonstration. Before she can interrupt with questions, I recount what Xueshi Wenxue told me about the best course of action. My mother falls silent for a while as I watch her, and with each passing minute of silence I grow more and more nervous, until finally I can't stand it any longer "Mother?"

My mother raises a hand to stop me from continuing, and taking part of the roll of silk she'd been painting on, writes something on it, then folds it and seals it with a stamp she produces from an inner pocket of her garment. She hands it to Fei Yi Lingxi and tells her "Go quickly to the court and give this letter to the Shangshu. Tell him it is from me, for the Emperor, regarding Zhāohuán Wen.

And on your way out, instruct the Nei Wei that the Pavilion is sealed, no one is permitted to leave unless I give permission." Fei Yi Lingxi takes the letter, bows, and hurries out of the courtyard. After watching her go, my mother turns back to me "As for you, young lady, the next time you see Xueshi Wenxue you must thank him for the loyalty he has shown you. Many people would have exploited your ignorance of how you should conduct yourself in a situation like this to take advantage of you or humiliate you."

"I will, Mother", I reply, before sighing internally and pressing on with another question I feel is necessary.

"Mother, is it true that right now I am the Emperor's principal heir?" My mother seems surprised by my sudden question and then sighs, rubbing her forehead.

"Who did you hear that from?" she asks.

"From Xueshi Wenxue. When he explained how to handle the abacus situation, he first explained everything my father's title represents", I answer.

"Even being Blessed by the Heavens and learning as quickly as you do, you're still too young to be worrying about such things. But I suppose Xueshi Wenxue considered it necessary, especially given all the new attention you're about to receive", my mother replies, then asks me "But the main thing is something you have to decide for yourself. Right now, do you want to be the Empress?"

"What? No!" I answer quickly. In my condition, trying to enter the race for the throne would be practically suicide.

"Then that is what you must say, always, no matter who asks you, in the event someone has the poor taste to raise the subject. There may be people who won't believe you or who are jealous, but as long as you maintain before everyone that you don't want it, only the most irrational will go out of their way to cause you trouble", my mother tells me with gravity.

She waits a moment, giving me time to absorb her words, then continues "But until you have turned at least eight, and depending on what happens then, you needn't worry about the matter any further. So we'll leave it here." Eight years old. It almost certainly has to do with cultivation. But since my mother, for some strange reason, doesn't want to discuss the subject with me, and now is not the time to press her on it, I decide to keep quiet and leave it for later.

My mother turns to Lianhua "RuNu Lianhua, take Wen to her room and prepare for the Emperor's visit. I don't know how long it will take him to come, but even if it's several days from now, everything must be ready so we don't keep him waiting when he arrives. And take the abacus, it's much better if the Emperor receives it from her hand." She looks at me and adds "As for you, young lady, you had better behave.

This will be the first time you meet the Emperor face to face, and you had best display the proper etiquette." I can't tell my mother this isn't actually our first encounter and that I remember his visits from when I was a baby, so I refrain from asking whether I can tug on his beard while calling him Papa, because I think that's what he'd enjoy, and answer meekly "Yes, Mother."

After those words Lianhua lifts me from the chair and carries me to my room, where she and several handmaidens begin selecting an outfit for me to wear when the Emperor arrives, and they start explaining how I should behave during the meeting.

Lianhua finally picks an outfit for me while she continues drilling me on the protocols for meeting my father, protocols I intend to ignore, since in my mind I'm already sketching a plan that will either increase my father's affection for me or get me beheaded, one of the two. While Lianhua and I are each occupied with our own concerns, a handmaiden suddenly enters and tells us the Emperor has sent a messenger to say he will be arriving shortly.

And nervously I think I've underestimated my father, given the haste with which he's come over a simple note about having a gift for him. Lianhua, upon hearing the handmaiden, drops the etiquette lesson and with the help of several maids dresses me in record time, after which they carry me to the study, where I push aside a half-assembled abacus to make room for the finished one. After a moment we hear a commotion outside, and not for the first time I curse my inability to stand and look for myself.

The tumult, which I assume is caused by my father's arrival, echoes through the entire Pavilion. Soon a relative silence falls, and I wait nervously beside Lianhua for someone to come. After what feels like a very long time, the door opens to reveal my father's figure. He looks at me intently as he sees me seated at the table where the completed abacus and the parts of the one I'm building are laid out.

He enters the room and, without looking at Lianhua, who has dropped to her knees the moment he entered, says "Leave. We wish to be alone with Zhāohuán Wen." Lianhua rises and, without turning her back to my father, exits the room, closing the door behind her. My father sits in a chair across from me and, regarding me, begins to speak in a regal tone.

"The note Guifei Xiang sent us indicated you have a gift for us and something to say. It also said it would be something important. As we had some free time today, we decided to come and see what it is about."

"I'm grateful you came so quickly, Father", I blurt out, mentally crossing my fingers that the impression my father gave me on the night of my Man Yue and at my first birthday, as well as the few times he entered my room to see me when I was a baby, even if he stopped coming as I grew, was the right one. My father furrows his brow "What did you just call us? Do you not know who we are?"

I hold his gaze without fear and reply "You are the Emperor, the Son of Heaven to the innumerable inhabitants of the Tianjing Empire." I lower my head and my gaze in a calculated gesture while watching him from the corner of my eye.

"But to me, you are my father." I see the corner of his lips twitch briefly as he fights not to smile and struggles to maintain his stoic expression, and I begin screaming in victory inside my head.

"We understand", he tells me, stroking his beard.

"Today we are feeling magnanimous, given that you are supposed to have a gift for us. Therefore we shall permit you to call us Father, but only when we are alone." I bow until my forehead touches the table "I am grateful for your understanding, Father." As I raise my head I see him covering his mouth with his hand while pretending to cough slightly, then he looks with curiosity at the completed abacus and the half-assembled one, since they are the only things on the table.

"We assume that is the gift your mother mentioned", he asks.

"Yes, Father", I reply, noticing he has stopped referring to my mother by her title.

"And also the reason for what I have to tell you. If you'll allow me, I'll give you a demonstration of how it works." He makes a gesture with his hand to indicate I may proceed, and for the third time that day I demonstrate the abacus's function. When I finish, his face has shed its usual composure to clearly reflect the interest he feels. He picks the abacus up from the table and, after fiddling with it for a moment, looks at me and asks "Does anyone else, apart from the people in this household, know about this…

abacus?"

"Yes, Father", I reply, thinking it's best to be truthful about this.

"My tutor, Xueshi Wenxue, also knows. I demonstrated it to him this morning and he was the one who recommended I tell you as soon as possible, since with my lack of knowledge I didn't know how to proceed. He is currently in the library, where he has locked himself in of his own volition."

"And when I returned from the library I also told my mother, since she was the only person I knew who could contact you", I finish, bowing once more.

"Don't worry about that", he tells me, his eyes settling on the half-assembled abacus on the table.

"So this is the only one you have?"

"It was the first one I built, Father. It is my gift to you", I reply.

"But my tutor has another one, the same one I used to show him how it works." He seems to grip the abacus a little tighter after hearing those words, but says nothing. After a moment he rises, looking at me.

"We are satisfied with your gift", he tells me in a regal tone.

"But the free time we have is scarce, so we must take our leave." I bow to my father once more, and apparently satisfied, he turns and leaves the room. I sigh after his departure, and as I watch Lianhua come back in, I'm relieved that my instincts proved right and that my head, for the moment, remains firmly on my shoulders.