Chương 78: Book 2, Prologue

Within the private room atop the Bangbang Dabang, five figures sat around a table. They all shared similar features that marked them as kin, but each was as unique as the five seasons. The room itself was far simpler than its occupants. Tapestries illustrating horses and warriors adorned walls bereft of any gold filigree or jade figurines. The round table in the center of the room was low slung, and made of the rougher wood of the Nakjo plains. But then, this room was never meant to receive customers.

Instead, it was the place of power of its Nakjo Lee family owners, and was meant to serve as a constant reminder of the simpler times and place they'd come from.

"Is Papa Geomu coming?" The youngest, a woman who was not quite a girl, said brightly.

"I want to show him my idea for a new sherbet before the official arrives." She had her black hair drawn up in buns with two long bangs framing her face, and wound a forelock around one finger as she gave the woman across the table a hopeful look.

"Father is busy with an alchemist from the guild. He's given his blessing for whatever we discuss here," the woman she'd addressed said with a calm, stately tone. Of the women seated around the table, she was the only one wearing the flowing robes of a guzhuang.

"And I don't think it's a good idea to change our menu right before we attempt to become an Imperial Restaurant."

"Eldest Sister is correct," another said, her voice a mix of irony and boredom. She wore the longsleeved shenyi robe of an imperial scholar, and she sat more languidly than any other at the table, her long black hair spilling onto the ground.

"Your eagerness does you credit, but I worked hard inking the signs and menus, and there just isn't enough time to redo all of them."

"Aww…" the young woman pouted, her cheeks scrunching up like a small puppy. She pouted like one too, her eyes and ears practically drooping. One could imagine a tail going limp behind her.

"More importantly, Master says something's been disturbing the beasts on the mountain," another woman in the furred deel of the Nakjo plainsfolk said, baring her teeth. Coupled with her short spikey hair, it made her look like a tiger. Her eyes burned with inner fire and any who looked at her could physically feel the intent behind them.

"It's why the pandas have been hiding beyond the bamboo forest."

"That's a problem," the eldest sister in the guzhuang said, a small frown tugging briefly at her lips before she smoothed her features once more.

"Does he know what's causing it, Third Sister?" The woman with the burning eyes shrugged, leaning back from the table and resting on her palms.

"No. Maybe the monsoon? Or some powerful beast near Chengdu?"

"So it may pass before the judgment," the eldest mused, looking out the window at the spattering rain.

"Or maybe not. Just keep in mind that a raging panda may be on the menu alongside our Bangbang chicken." The tiger-lady laughed, a wild cackle unbecoming of a noblewoman, and yet it suited her. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"The horses are fine, at least." the only woman who hadn't spoken yet said graciously, entering the conversation as though she'd always been a part of it. She was twin to the girl with hairbuns, but exuded warmth rather than youthfulness. Her hair was cut in short rivulets that reached her shoulders.

"Everything should be ready for the horse dance." The tiger-lady scoffed.

"That's because they're domesticated animals, with little sense left."

"You mean properly trained, unlike your wild beasts," The young woman shot back, shifting her hanbok jacket uncomfortably.

"And is that any way to speak of your Jilju on the fortnight before your performance?"

"You keep Jilju's name out of your clean and sparkling mouth, fourth Sister! My Jilju is nothing like your mild-mannered nags! He's a true stallion through and through!" The eldest placed a manicured hand on the table, her silvered nails etched with images of bamboo leaves shining in the light. Her voice cut through the noise effortlessly, as she ignored the byplay between her sisters.

"Speaking of which. You've all been practicing for the dance, yes? This will be the highlight of the night for the officials, and we can't afford someone falling off like last time, right Second Sister?" The lounging woman in the scholar's robes rolled her eyes.

"It was one time, Eldest Sister. I've been practicing properly in-between my poetry."

"Good," the eldest sister's smile was beautiful, but as icy as winter.

"As Father Geomu says, we can't forget our roots." The woman in the scholar's robes made a polite cough.

"Technically, our roots are in the imperial Capital as one-time nobility."

"You know what I meant…"

"Eldest Sister," the twin with the buns in her hair blurted.

"Will the martial artists be ready? I'm looking forward to that more than the horse show!"

"They have been coming and going from your table these days, Eldest Sister." the tiger-lady grinned again.

"Along with all your other suitors."

"The Lord and Lady Cultivators have been most excellent company. And several are interested in showcasing their martial arts to the wide-eyed common-folk of Chengdu," was the frosty reply.

"You'll be wise to watch how to speak of them."

"Let them come and meet me in the arena then! Hah!"

"Father says he sent word to the family in Changpo," the twin with the shoulder-length hair spoke once more, easily soothing the mood before fire and ice could boil over.

"Wouldn't it be nice if some of them came to see us receive the emperor's favour?"

"I don't know, Auntie Eunji scares me," her twin with the buns replied, shivering.

"Why's she always in armour?"

"Soldiers of the emperor should always be ready to defend his honour. The armour is a reminder to any and all who they represent," the woman in the scholar's robes said dourly.

"For some it is their only point of pride."

"But Auntie Eunji's a hero…"

"As much as it would be lovely to see Aunt Eunji once more, I'm not sure it would be a good idea to invite our family from Changpo. Could you imagine?" The eldest looked out the window once more, shaking her head.

"With all the effort we're expending, and all we've had to do to make our place in this city. What would happen if a bunch of barbarian horse herders arrived in force to our Dabang on the eve of our greatest triumph?" The women all variously shook their heads in disbelief or chagrin. Though a few looked somewhat wistful at the thought. Outside, rain spattered on slate roofs as far as the eye could see through the mists.

Just behind them, a hill that was more like a mountain rose above the surrounding city, covered in thick trees and bamboo. Overhead, a crane with a crest that sparkled with starlight wheeled in graceful circles.