Dynasty: The Glorious Strategist (Dynasty Saga Book 3) (24 page)

Ziah blushed slightly as she smiled proudly at Hsu’s praise.

That response had surprised Lymee a bit. She could understand that some of them felt this life was better than any life they may have had and not want to leave it. Yunna had said something very similar when Lymee had asked her about her life as a servant back when they first met. But Hsu had said that she was a noble. Lymee would have never thought that a noble would ever want to lower themselves in such a way. But then again it did not seem that they thought of this as lowering themselves.

“But if you had the option,” Lymee pressed. “To do anything or go anywhere, what would you want?”      

There was a long silence that fell around the room. The girls all looked at each other as they thought it over. None of them seemed to really have an answer.

“I love it here,” the girl who resembled Alia spoke up. “Even if it was just as a servant I would wish to stay.”

There seemed to be a universal nod of agreement from the other women.

“Wen is correct,” Ziah nodded. “I have spent my entire adult life here. There is nowhere else I would rather be.”

“I would not mind traveling a bit,” Hsu stated a bit fondly at the idea. “I always wondered if maybe I could become something like an envoy for the Empress. Going to other Lords, speaking on her behalf. Or even better yet, traveling with the Empress as her personal companion.” That seemed to get a very positive reaction out of the others as they nodded in agreement.

“There is no point is wishing,” one of the other women said rather bitterly. “As soon they get around to it we shall all be dragged out of here and divided up like sheep.”

All the warmth in the room suddenly vanished as they became somber once more.

“Maybe the Heavenly Fox
will
keep us,” Wen declared. “If it really is true that she is from The Heavens then maybe she will be different than all the other lords.”

Some of the women nodded in agreement but many of them did not seem convinced.

“Don’t be daft Wen,” the pessimistic woman spoke up again. “We are the Empress’ Concubines. A woman that was so evil that every lord in the entire Kingdom rose up against her.-”

“Not every lord,” Lymee mumbled to herself.

“-You seriously think that someone like the Heavenly Fox would ever want to be around those who tended to such a person?”  

The room grew very cold once again.

“And what did you think of the Empress?” Lymee asked. “Did you think her really so evil?”

“No,” Hsu stated clenching her fist looking down at her lap. “She was a sweet little girl. She loved to laugh and she loved making other people smile. She loved sweet tasting foods and enjoyed singing even if she did have a terrible voice for it. She loved each and every one of us and we loved her as if she were our own daughter.” Lymee could see tears building in her eyes and she was not the only one. Many of the other woman looked like they were trying not to cry.

“It was that Minister that was evil,” Ziah said clenching a fistful of her dress. “The Empress did whatever that woman told her to. It was not the Empress’ fault. She did not know that what she was doing was wrong.”

“Did any of you try to tell her?” Lymee asked. Everyone grew silent, most of them looking at the ground.

“One of us did,” Hsu said. “Her name was Ning. She told the Empress that what she was doing was hurting others. When the Primary Minister heard about that she waited until the Empress was gone and then proceeded to skin Ning alive in front of all of us using some kind of sorcery.” There was a long pause as a look of horror flashed across all of their faces. “It lasted for hours and in the end I think it only ended because she grew bored. She never said anything to us. Never threatened any of us. But the implication was clear. If any of us tried anything like that again that was the fate that would befall us.”

“When the Empress asked what happened to Ning the Primary Minister told her that she no longer loved her anymore and had left,” Ziah stated. “The Empress cried for days, and none of us said a word to correct her.” She clinched her teeth in frustration and regret.

There was a look of shame on many of their faces. A look of fear on the others.

“I’m glad that woman is dead,” Hsu spat. “I only hope that she suffered before she died.” There were nods of agreement from the other women. “I only wish that the Empress did not have to die because of her.”

“Because of what is about to happen to you?” Lymee asked.

“I would gladly become a whore if it meant saving the Empress’ life,” Hsu snapped rather angrily, causing Lymee to recoil a bit. “I would willingly take the worse imaginable death in place of her. My only prayer now is that our Empress did not die screaming, and that it was quick and painless. She deserved that much at the very least.” Then regaining her composure she lowered her head. “I’m sorry,” Hsu said.

“It’s fine,” Lymee assured.

She was a little surprised to see such devotion to the child. They all seemed genuinely stricken about her death. They were all going through the same thing that Lymee was currently going through. It would be so easy for Lymee to ease their pain. All she had to do was tell them that the Empress was still alive. Lymee was willing to bet they would be overjoyed to find that out. But if she told them than then it would only put the Empress in danger. It was only a secret so long as no one else knew.

If anyone ever found out that the Empress was still alive a bloody war was the best Lymee could hope for.

“My lord,” came a very surprised and loud voice from the other side of the room.

Lymee glanced over the heads of the women gathered around her to see a very astonished General Gea standing in the doorway with Yoni and one of Lord Niimu’s daughters behind her. Not the pretty one like Lymee would have preferred but the soldier one. Only Gea was still clad in armor but they all still carried swords on her hips.

“Hello,” Lymee raised her hand in greeting. “What are you guys doing here?”

“I heard reports of a Su soldier being seen entering here,” Gea explained taking a few steps forward. “Fearing that maybe some of our men had ignored your orders to leave the people unharmed-”

“I get it,” Lymee smiled raising her hand in understanding cutting her off. The women gathered around her all had a look of shock and confusion on their faces as they stared at Lymee. It would seem they were starting to figure out who she really was.

“In truth,” Niimu’s daughter stepped forward. Lymee had to really search for her name. Keo had told her once she remembered. She thought her name was Dao, or Bao. “My mother, as well as many others, have been searching for you.”

“I’ll bet she has,” Lymee sighed. She probably wanted to try and convince Lymee to become Empress again.

“In retrospect,” Yoni said looking at the room and the dozen or so women gathered around Lymee. “This should have been the first place we searched for you.”

“One day I will teach you what this means,” Lymee said flipping Yoni off.

“I can guess,” Yoni smiled seemingly relieved that Lymee was back to her old self.

“Whelp, I guess play time’s over,” Lymee sighed getting to her feet.

Looking down at herself she realized that she was still wearing her rather revealing outfit. Both Gea and Bao noticed as well and averted their gaze slightly trying not to blush. Yoni on the other hand seemed to do so only out of obligation and Lymee could see her glancing her eyes at Lymee sneaking a peek.

Doing her best not to look embarrassed Lymee moved her hands in front of her chest as she looked down at Hsu. “You think you could get me my clothes please. Or at the very least something a bit more fitting than what I am wearing.”

Hsu just sat there for a moment seemingly too stunned to move. Then shaking it off she started to get to her feet.

“Of course, my lord,” she said. All of the women backed away giving her plenty of room to move on through.

“What’s the situation with the city?” Lymee asked Gea as she waited fighting the urge to unfold her arms across her chest and place her hands on her hips to try and appear more authoritative.

“All resistance was subdued late last night,” Gea reported still averting her gaze from Lymee. “We have disarmed all the Imperial soldiers that chose to surrender and they are currently being held outside the city.”

“Good,” Lymee nodded. “I guess I will have to deal with them at some point,” she mumbled. “And the looting?”

“It was kept to a minimal,” Gea assured. “We have several of our men who were caught pillaging and are being held, awaiting your judgment.” As she spoke Hsu and one of the other women came back into the room holding Lymee’s armor and outfit. The armor had been polished and the clothes looked cleaned and folded.

“That’s fair,” Lymee said rubbing her still sore head with one hand while the other reached out and accepted the offered clothing. “I’ll deal with that later. For now,” Lymee turned to Bao as Lymee started to pull her clothes on over her gown. “I imagine I should go and talk with your mother.”

“I think she would appreciate that,” Bao nodded. “If you like, I can lead you to her right now.”

“That sounds good,” Lymee nodded as she slipped on her over shirt. “General.” Lymee turned to Gea. “Put a guard or something outside this room. I want to make sure these women are undisturbed until I say so.”

“Understood my lord,” Gea bowed.

“Where is Keo?” Lymee asked. In all honesty she would have expected that Keo would be the one to eventually come looking for her.

“Lady Keo is currently resting,” Gea stated. “It would seem that she was celebrating our victory long into the night.”

“I highly doubt she was celebrating anything,” Lymee said giving Gea I look of warning telling her not to be so disrespectful to what Keo must be going through. Gea did not flinch but Lymee was sure her warning had gotten though. “We should let Keo sleep then. Yoni,” Lymee turned to the still smirking woman. She straightened up as she heard her name called. “Would you please accompany me? I would welcome your council while discussing matters with Lord Niimu.”

“If that is what my lord desires,” Yoni bowed her head.

In the absence of Keo, Yoni, as a former lord, made the next best choice to accompany her as she would have a much better grasp on the situation then Lymee would. She would also be better at spotting any kind of political underhandedness that may be used. And Lymee was not in any kind of frame of mind to be trying to keep an eye out for such things.

Not to mention Lymee did not want to go and face Niimu alone.

“If you would follow me,” Bao said gesturing to Lymee. “I shall take you to my mother.”

Lymee nodded to Gea as she started to follow Bao. Just before she left the room she turned back and looked at the women still standing there frozen in shock. Lymee smiled and gave them a wink before departing.

The Palace seemed much livelier than it had the previous night. Most of the battle damage had already been repaired or covered up. The blood stains now cleaned and the bodies disposed of. Servants and soldiers alike wandered the halls performing various duties. Every twenty feet or so there was a guard stationed along the walls. Some of them were Gon and some were Su. There did not seem to be any kind of pattern to which soldier was chosen for what post but then maybe that was intentional in and of itself.

“In here, Lord Sun,” Bao said walking up to a solid wood door. She paused before raising her hand and knocking on it. “Mother, Lord Sun is here and wishes to speak with you.”

“I really don’t’,” Lymee mumbled.

“Enter,” replied Niimu from the other side of the door.

As soon as she was granted permission Bao lifted the latch swinging the door open. She quickly stepped to the side letting first Yoni then Lymee walk passed her.

Lord Niimu was standing in front of a large table in what looked like some kind of library or records room. She was surrounded by several people that looked like either officers or officials of some sort and all of them were dressed in the forest green colors of Gon Dynasty.

Niimu herself was no longer wearing her armor, but she was not dressed in any kind of noble attire either. Instead keeping her uniform of forest green pants and shirt with a simple but well-made sleeveless shirt that she wore over it.

“We will pick this up at a later time,” Niimu stated looking at the people gathered around her. “If you will excuse me I have an important matter to discuss with Lord Sun.”

All but one bowed their heads respectively before making their way towards the door. The people leaving all bowed their heads as they passed Lymee mumbling some sort of honorary name or greeting as they passed. The one that had remained behind was Niimu’s other daughter, Lei. Unlike her mother she was dressed much more officially. She was wearing a stunning green dress as well as makeup and she had her hair done up with fancy hair sticks that were increased in silver and green gems.

Lei smiled bowing her head deeply as Lymee made her way to the opposite side of the table.

“Good day, Lord Sun,” Niimu greeted with a slight bow of her head. “You remember my daughter Lord Lei.” She motioned with her hand at the woman standing next to her. 

“Good to see you again Lord Sun,” Lei greeted with a very humbled face. “I am overjoyed to see that you are doing alright. My mother told me of the terrible tragedy that befell you.”