Chương 47: Chapter 46

A complicated array of emotions raced across the boy's face. His jaw worked, but whatever he wanted to say didn't make it out of his mouth.

"If I disappointed in any way…" He started, making a visible effort to maintain his composure. Wu Zetian brushed her cheek with a finger, watching him sideways. Part of her felt bad for this. A small one. There simply was too much at stake for playing with words, nor was there a delicate way to put this down. Yet…

"This is no demotion, grandson," she assured him.

"Just a reordering. We can't have two people holding the title of Master if we have to retain proper order. But I want you to avoid thinking, even for a moment, that this is because you aren't appreciated. The opposite. You did a splendid job and the Sect and I will always be thankful. Once more, this is not a demotion. If it were, we'd be having a very different discussion right now.

What I want from you is carrying your qualities to a different type of work, one that will hold the same level of responsibilities, trust and prestige as that of Acting Master." Kinda funny how easily her managerial side took over. She had given the same spiel to thousands of people, both honestly and while thinking about severance agreements. Good thing this was the former. But Nenqin looked uncertain. She sighed.

"I understand how much this title means to you, I truly do. Believe me when I tell you that I thought long and hard about this, and I don't take any pleasure in it. The main branch wouldn't have been entrusted with it if I hadn't. But the Acting Masters were supposed to hold the throne until my return. And I am here now. This is just what was always established. Rather than the result of failure, it's the result of success, the end of a process and the start of a better one. It doesn't mean you'll be pushed aside.

I want the main branch to stand by me as we rebuild the Sect. I want you to stay by me. All that will change will be the title." She watched him, trying to smile. Unease churned in her stomach. Talking with a family member, a grandson, was very different from talking with an employee. She wasn't cut out for this… emotional closeness. At least Nenqin looked a bit less tense. The young man's shoulders dipped, and something that may have been surrender flickered in his expression.

"I… understand." He bowed his head. He smiled weakly.

"Has the Founder already decided where I'll be reassigned?" Wu Zetian eyed him for a moment. Despite the words, his Qi was laced with bittersweetness. She chose her words carefully.

"As I said, I want the main branch in important posts. I wish for them to also take care of the family estate. The residences, archives, ceremonial events, treasuries and ancestral sites, all of them. You already take care of the Sect regalia, don't you?" A bit of a sore spot, and Nenqin flinched at the mention, but it had to be faced.

"Yes, of course." Out of the three treasures of the Sect entrusted to the main branch, two were sealed away because of a lack of resources and the third, the Ancestor Seal, had been stolen by the traitors. The one Wu Nenqin returned to her was a copy, invested with the same ritual significance but lacking the powers of the original.

"It doesn't matter," Wu Zetian consoled him.

"Considering everything the Sect went through, it's a mark of effort the main branch managed to preserve two." Wu Nenqin didn't look reassured. Still, he made an effort and that was enough in her books.

"You'll keep doing it. I also confirm the other duties: official ambassadors, masters of ceremonies, high commissioners and members of a privy council to advise me." It wasn't a bad deal by any stretch. Wu Nenqin knew it, but, to Wu Zetian's amused exasperation, the young man couldn't keep his mouth shut.

"Father took the title of master of ceremonies from the family," he stammered.

"I… I wouldn't advise against keeping it so. The main branch may be outstretched as it is." Wu Zetian wanted to roll her eyes. Too honest for his own good. Nenqin smiled, a bit strained yet relieved. Master of ceremonies may not look like an important title, but it was anything but so. Having jurisdiction over rituals meant that you could contest almost anything by citing ritual errors.

That the boy was willing to let it go said volumes about his sense of honor and how much the failure of his forebears weighed on him. Too much, but what can you do about it? At least it was endearing.

"Out of the question," she said, arching an eyebrow. And then, when he looked like arguing, "this is not about repentance or modesty, grandson. The main branch must show itself strong and in favor, and must be so to carry out my orders effectively. Our clan must appear united and well-entrenched to discourage rebellious parties. You shall put your pride aside for this." The boy looked chastened, almost making her regret her harsh words. But there was no taking them back, not without appearing indecisive.

And that couldn't be allowed, not now, not ever. He nodded, and Wu Zetian didn't need her Qi vision to watch him squash his pride under cold reasoning. She may have been proud. A bit.

"You mean to have the main branch act as the face and moral conscience of the Sect," he said, wrestling all his emotions under control.

"And its heart. You're my descendants. I want you to prosper." That… felt far more awkward to say than it should have. Wu Zetian concealed her embarrassment by cooing the Sun-Devouring Serpent from her sleeve to pet him. The snake blinked at being suddenly awoken, but there were pets to be had and he didn't complain, bless his heart. Wu Nenqin too looked awkward. The young man turned aside, clearing his throat. Well, at least there are two of us being a mess at family.

"I… see," he said.

"Then… may I offer a few suggestions?" Wu Zetian tilted her head in encouragement. Yes, please.

"The Clans are used to resolve disputes by employing internal mediators. It does an invaluable service in settling problems before they become legal battles, but it lacks impartiality. The main branch could take on the role. It'd go a long way to reinforce the role you have in mind, and the Clans could have a better way to settle their disputes before bringing them to the courts." This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Wu Zetian considered it.

"An interesting idea. I'd be inclined to reject it, though. What you prospect is too large of an accumulation of power. The main branch would already be present in almost all aspects of government."

"Yes," Nenqin didn't lose a beat.

"That is why I also would suggest two limitations." Limitations… here's an interesting word.

"Go on."

"First, the main branch must tour the realm. Every member, no matter the age, will be required to be a public presence, study and know the Domain and its people. In the flesh, not from the palace's windows. If we are to be its heart and soul, we must also learn to know it. And should everything fail, even the lowest of souls should be able to see us and know we are offering protection."

"As said in the new laws. It'd mean extending the right of appeal from only me to the whole main branch… mh, yes, I can see it working. And the second?"

"No commercial monopolies. No mines, no factories, no guilds. The members of the main branch will be barred from owning any kind of such property. Instead, they'll receive a generous stipend from the Treasury, with possibilities of bonuses and increments based on performance and needs." Wu Zetian watched him, looking for any sign of reckless enthusiasm. But no, Nenqin was deadly serious. Wherever that proposal came from, he had been thinking about it for a long, long time.

"Entirely neutral, mh?" She mused.

"I am tempted," she said, not committing.

"It may need some tweaking. I have projects that will require the main branch's expertise, but we'll see. I'll keep it in consideration for sure." Nenqin bowed, not arguing. A mix of disbelief and joy warred beneath his calm exterior. He had really been concerned over his clan's destinies, it seemed. He appeared to her in a new light. If it depended on her, she wouldn't have ever let go of the prerogative, not even in a million years. Yet again, she was the old monster. And he…

he was quite the virtuous young man, wasn't he?

"That brings us back to your question." Nenqin didn't falter. He hadn't forgotten about it. Still, his Qi flowed smoothly and unbothered, with a sort of calm acceptance to it. Now that he had settled the family in such a dominant position, his own destiny didn't seem to touch him much.

"There may not be a need for an Acting Master anymore, but there are many places where a capable, young man like you can be of assistance. I read over the main branch's titles, and I while I couldn't find anything to my satisfaction, there's no reason I cannot create a new title. Or several." That took him by surprise.

"I… wouldn't want to impose…" She fixed him with a look, and he promptly swallowed his words.

"I won't have my direct descendants remain without a proper title. It's not only you, but Wu Lin as well. You'll both be honored as it's proper to my dignity." That… didn't come out as she hoped it would. It almost sounded like she was doing it for herself, while she couldn't care less. What she wanted was for the two children to be safe and protected under a clear title. If Nenqin had problems with it, he didn't say it. His expression retook its poise, and he bowed. Wu Zetian watched him for a moment.

She stood taller, matching the impression. Right.

"As Founder of the Godless Night," she said, injecting solemnity in her words, "I am known as Trailblazer, Defender of the Highlands, Guardian of the East, Divine of Night, Ancestor Supreme, Doom of the Immortal Barbarians, Lady of the Crater, Gazer Over the Flying Sea and Heart of Billowing Darkness. As I take back the title of Sect Master as well, you shall be known as the First Prince of Night, and your little sister as the Third Princess of Night." They had been informal titles until now. No more.

They would be a proper real household, with all the accoutrements and frippery to match. Useless to her, and to Nenqin too, she suspected, but appearances must be served. If he thought anything about the mention of her disappeared elder sister, and that she was still considered a princess in the Founder's eyes, Nenqin said nothing about it. Even his Qi was as expressive as stone.

"I thank you, Ancestor," he said, bowing deeply.

"From the deep of my heart, and in the name of all the generations that came before me, this unworthy descendant swears your trust shall not go unwarranted." She wanted to say there was no need for it. That his face, bearing and kind, dutiful heart resembled him so much she would have welcomed him no matter what. But that didn't go well with the persona she intended to show. And even if it did, she couldn't bring herself to saying it, cursed her tongue.

It was the reason why she didn't ask about the unknown third daughter. In time, she reassured herself, in time. She had dropped and received enough bombshells for a day. Not like she didn't have another to drop.

"Since the administration is expected to grow," she said.

"You can expect to be relieved of some of the heavier duties. Mostly about having to deal with the Clans and to do paperwork." She smiled. With her taking over most of the executive decisions, that would leave him with plenty of free time.

"I hope that will allow you to work on your cultivation and rest a little." And they both knew he needed that. Nenqin was incredibly talented. His Bloodline was well-developed and he was magnificently armed, with both a high-level artifact and an impressive artifact spirit. Problem was, his power was fragile. She had been going extensively over his meridians and Qi, and the result was always the same: in his hurry to push on to Core Formation, her grandson had neglected building a proper foundation.

He was strong, a match for any expert twice or even thrice his age, but he was also unable to sustain that level of power for more than a brief time and was constantly at risk of ever-extending himself. What he needed was to reforge his Foundation, something that could be done only with resources that were rare even for a Sect like the Godless Night and time to work on it. That had always been her intention for him. She saw it as a demonstration of her appreciation and trust for his future in the Sect.

And, well, he deserved to have a youth. As he went rigid, she realized her mistake.

"I… understand," he said. His features lost all warmth, settling into a polite lack of expression.

"I'll do my best to meet your expectations." Wu Zetian watched his meridians spin with bone-deep cold.

"Hold on a moment now," she said, and hated how defensive she sounded.

"Remember what I said? This is no demotion. It's just… what is necessary." Something dangerously close to panic swamped her. She wanted to reach for him, but her arm seemed to have turned into lead.

"Of course," Nenqin droned, eyes fixed on the floor. It was like a wall had come down between them. All the progress she felt they had made was gone in a moment. All of a sudden, Wu Zetian felt drained. This, this was too close to discussions she had with him. Before she let him go, before she realized that they wouldn't ever be able to connect, and that letting him go was the only way to make him see that beyond all the madness that was her existence, she could care for someone, she could still care for him.

Fear ran like ice in her veins, before igniting into irritation, then anger. She could see what was happening, but was unable to stop it. Panic was hard to deal with. Anger was easier, anger at a little boy refusing to listen to her, an existence before whom kingdoms bowed and armies died. Anger at insolence, irritation at having to explain herself when she didn't need to. It was easier, and she clung to it.

"You're not listening, I see," she said, dropping in cold politeness herself.

"We're done then. Good work, grandson. We'll talk again soon. Dismissed." The bow he gave was pitch-perfect. So was the turn and the marching away. Smouldering with frustration, Wu Zetian refused to watch him go. Only when the doors closed did she remember that the Owls were still there. The warriors had been standing perfectly still during the whole conversation. She had counted on their presence acting as proof of her newfound trust. Now, it felt intolerable.

"You have your orders," she hissed.

"Begone, all of you." They obeyed at once, melting back into the shadows and leaving her alone. Wu Zetian ignored everything. Her gaze was inward, on a back that she didn't need to watch to see.

"Foolish boy," she growled.

"Why didn't you listen? Why wouldn't you believe me?" Attracted by her emotions, the Sun-Devouring Serpent emerged from her sleeve. After a moment of hesitation, they started rubbing their heads against her finger. She didn't look at them, barely felt their touch. She was too focused on squashing the army of Heart Demons emerging from her sands. That, and wrestling with the memories of the past, grinding her teeth on a stupid present. Everything was going so well. Of course it had to be family spoiling it.

Of course!