Chinua stood inside Batukhan's study room, next to Bastsaikhan. She stared down at Batukhan's fingers as they flipped through her journal. As she waited for him to finish the last entry, she glanced periodically at a shadow on the wall. The shadow swayed left and right with the movement of the candlelight.
After standing for more than an hour, Batukhan finally closed the journal and put it aside with the small box containing the documents left by Reza. Batukhan looked up at Chinua and asked gravely, "In your opinion, how likely is it that Umusa Kingdom will side with other kingdoms?"
Chinua said, "In my opinion, it is unlikely that Umusa Kingdom will side with other kingdoms. As we have seen, their kingdom is uniquely vulnerable to invasion by other kingdoms. Therefore, other kingdoms are reluctant to forge alliances with Umusa, fearing the obligation of providing aid when needed. Hmagol, however, needs to maintain a strong friendship with Umusa and needs to send aid in times of need. I respectfully request that Your Majesty provide more support along the border regions of Umusa and Hmagol."
Batukhan asked, "Your reason?"
Chinua explained, her voice serious. "After the battle in Hosha City, I understand why Zasra, Biyla, including Tanggolia, have long sought to occupy Umusa. Once Umusa falls, they will immediately turn on us. Zasra attacking from the east, Biyla from the southeast, and Tanggolia from the south. Furthermore, if those three attack in concert, I believe Payapasa Kingdom will likely attack us directly from the east, too. Should that happen, the third brother Mönkhbat will not be able to hold Lao-Da Pass."
Bastsaikhan said, "If Lao-Da Pass is lost, Tanggolia will take over our southern border. And the citizens there, being descendants of the Tanggolian people, may well welcome it." He looked at Chinua and Batukhan. "I have received many accounts of unfair treatment of citizens in the South over the years, particularly in the Southwest region. However, I cannot personally vouch for their accuracy, as I have no solid evidence."
Chinua looked at Bastsaikhan as she recalled the words the old woman had spoken. "Speaking of which," she said, "on our way back, I witnessed firsthand how other Magoli treated those of Tanggolian descent or with Tanggolian surnames. This leads me to ask: how reliable are the government officials in the Southwest? If they treated everyone as a citizen of Hmagol without prejudice, those who are expected to betray us once Tanggolian soldiers arrive would be the very ones to take up arms and fight alongside us. But so far, everything I've heard and seen suggests the opposite. Therefore, if our southern border were attacked, it's likely that more than half the southern population would not aid our soldiers or defend our territory. It's time for change in the South."
Bastsaikhan said, "Chinua, it's easier said than done. This idea has been buried deep in people's minds."
"The roots are buried deeper," said Chinua, turning to Bastsaikhan, "but with the right tools, they can be uprooted." She then addressed Batukhan more directly. "A good king does not solely listen to his ministers; he must also hear his people before making decisions. On my way back, I encountered many southerners fleeing the floods from the southwest. I learned from these citizens that those with surnames not considered typically Magoli received no government assistance whatsoever. They even claimed this was codified law."
Batukhan slammed his hand hard on the table. "Outrageous!" He shouted angrily.
"One of my subordinates reminded me that no matter how clear the emperor's orders were," she said, "he was still thousands of miles away." "And I believe he is right. How could one fear a wolf if they had only heard stories but never faced one?"
Bastsaikhan said, "Is this why you decided to accompany the eldest princess to Zhugow City?"
Chinua replied, her voice resolute, "I wanted to see with my own eyes whether those whom father entrusted with the citizens' welfare actually abide by his orders and the Supreme Law of Hmagol."
Batukhan said, "Bastsaikhan, while Chinua is in the southwest, send a trusted group of soldiers to provide more support to that region." He looked at Chinua and Bastsaikhan, a slight smile touching his lips. "Here, I have you. In the west, Chimgee. North, Dzhambul. East, Chinua." He sighed, the smile fading. "And in the south, Mönkhbat. I am glad to have such children helping me protect Hmagol." He stood and walked towards them. "It's getting late. You two should go and rest now." He turned to Bastsaikhan. "Tomorrow is the wedding of the eldest princess and Prince Geming. As Crown Prince and the eldest, you must remain until the ceremony ends." Then, looking at Chinua, he thought of Geming's likely discomfort. "As for you," he said, "I need you to deliver a gift to the training camp for me. And I've also prepared a gift for you to take to Mönkhbat and his family." He gently patted them both on the shoulders. "Remember," he said, his voice low, "a single sword bends easily. Five strong swords together? Impossible to bend."
Chinua pushed Bastsaikhan in his wheelchair, guiding him out of Batukhan's study and towards his courtyard. With servants trailing behind them, they proceeded past the beautiful lanterns hanging from the ceiling.
"These are beautiful," Chinua said.
Bastsaikhan looked up at the lanterns hanging from the ceiling. He realized Chinua had reached the age to consider starting a family. But she was busy with the welfare of the kingdom, and he felt she was wasting her youth. Guilt gnawed at him because he knew a flower only bloomed once. And once its time passed, no matter its past beauty, it could no longer attract suitors. He sighed. "Is Chinua angry?"
Chinua asked, "Angry at what?"
Bastsaikhan said sadly, "Angry that the bride tomorrow morning is not Chinua. You've reached the age to consider starting a family, but because of me, you've had to take on responsibilities that were not originally yours." He sighed. "As far as I know, when Prince Geming came to propose, the intended princess was Chinua."
Chinua smiled. "What are you thinking, elder brother?" she asked gently. "I admire Prince Geming's intelligence, yes, but it's purely friendship. If I were ever to seriously consider marriage, the man would be Khunbish and no one else. He is the one you chose for me." A complex expression crossed her face—a sigh paired with a soft smile. "And believe me," she added, her voice soft, "I never saw taking on those duties as depriving you of anything."
Chinua stopped the wheelchair, then walked the few steps to kneel before Bastsaikhan. She grabbed his hands, looking up at his face. "Oh, my dear brother," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "Please, never think that way again. I know what I'm doing. And if it ever comes down to choosing between love and family? I choose family. Always." She rested her head on his hands. "I can always find a husband. But I will never find another brother like you. I will fight for you, protect you, and never let anyone look down on you because we were born from the same mother's womb. No one's blood flows closer to my own, in every single vein, than yours."
Bastsaikhan gently stroked Chinua's head. His voice was thick with emotion as he whispered guiltily, "You are indeed God's special gift to me." Tears streamed down his cheeks, his heart overflowing with gratitude. "Thank you, Chinua."
Qara stood on the other side of the hall, a silent observer as the children talked and cried quietly. As she watched them, a wave of sadness washed over her. She knew that treating Chinua as nothing more than her son's legs was a deep-seated prejudice, but simultaneously, she felt undeniable pride in all that Chinua had achieved.
"Let's go back," Qara said, turned around and walked away with Gan and ten maids.
Early in the morning, amidst the music and joyful celebrations of the royal wedding in the capital, Chinua, accompanied by eight of her men and a hundred soldiers, was delivering wine and food to the main training camp in the outskirts of Ntshua-Ntu City.
"I don't understand!" he complained. "Shouldn't we be in the palace eating with everyone? Why do we have to send food to some soldiers we don't even know?"
Hye replied, "This is called a good deed. Suppose you are one of the soldiers still training, far from the city. From such a distance, you can see the fireworks blooming in the sky tonight. How would you feel?"
"Me?" he said. "I'd rather sit around a small campfire with my brothers, a bowl of wine and a roasted chicken leg in hand, than sit in the throne hall listening to all those false compliments."
Chinua looked at Drystan and said with a wry smile, "Believe me, the food in the throne hall is not as delicious as the food we roast over an open fire, and the conversations between those ministers are also super boring."
Drystan said, "You can say that because it's your home."
Chinua turned to Drystan, her voice low. "Believe me, Drystan," she said. "I have seen enough. I understand that this is not real. It is just a pretense."
"Drystan," Zhi said thoughtfully, "no matter how delicious the food is, if the people you eat with don't really care about you, then the food will have no taste."
Chinua said, "If you really want to taste the food, I will ask the royal chef to cook it for you."
Drystand said, "Fine... Fine..."
Khawn asked, "Chinua, why were you late this morning?"
"I went out to run some errands this morning," Chinua said.
Khawn asked, "What kind of errands?"
Chinua said, "I gave the three thousand pieces of gold I had obtained to a metalsmith to make gold plates."
Drystan asked, "All three thousand pieces?"
Chinua said, "Yes... I asked the metalsmith to melt them down and turn them into three thousand sixty-four gold plates."
Khawn asked, "Why?"
Chinua did not discuss the decision with Hye, yet Hye understood her intentions, nonetheless. The number Chinua just mentioned was exactly the number of soldiers who had gone to Hosha City. While not all of them returned from the battle, he was grateful that Chinua even considered this tribute for those who had lost their lives under her command.
"It's so generous of you to even consider the deceased," Hye said with a smile.
Chinua turned to look at Hye, who was riding beside her. "Dead or not, they are my soldiers," Chinua said.
Hye's lips curved into a smile. "I suppose I get one too?" he asked lightly.
Chinua returned the smile. "Everyone gets one," she confirmed, "including me."
Hye laughed. Behind them, Naskh frowned at Jeet, who shrugged, while Drystan and Khawn exchanged puzzled glances, none of them quite following the conversation between Chinua and Hye.
Khawn asked, "I don't understand."
Chinua, a smile playing on her lips, said, "The gold plates? I'll give them to you in three days."
Jeet frowned. "Three days? But in two days we leave with the princess for Zhugow City."
"You'll get your gold plate before then," Chinua said.
Drystan crossed his arms. "Honestly," he said. "I don't like speculation. Just tell us."
Zhi sighed. "What's unclear?" he asked. "She's having gold plates made. That's it. No hidden secret."
Khawn just spread his hands in confusion. "But... I still don't get it."
Khunbish looked at their confused faces. "Okay," he said. "That gold was the three thousand coins Chinua got from the victory in Hosha City. She didn't keep it. She had a metalsmith melt it and make three thousand sixty-four gold plates, each with a soldier's name on it. She'll give you yours before we leave for Zhugow City."
"So, even the soldiers who died in battle, everyone has a gold plate as a commemoration," Zhi said.
Naskh, Jeet, Drystan, and Khawn exchanged glances, then nodded. They finally understood the purpose of the gold plates.
Chinua looked at the backs of the soldiers chatting in front and behind her. She muttered happily to herself, "Since we are destined to be brothers, why must we share the same womb." She spurred her horse forward, leaving them momentarily behind. Then she looked back and yelled, "The last person to reach the gate owes the winner three coins!" A moment of startled silence, then a chorus of cheers and answering shouts rose up from the group.