Chapter 7


When Dong Hua retired to Taichen Palace Meng Hao and the other generals also went into seclusion – Pillow Book 2, Chapter 1

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Zhong Lin was currently pacing the floor of his lord's study and growing increasingly worried. There was less than an hour until the new day dawned and his lord had not yet returned. Zhong Lin spared a thought for poor Si Ming. The Star Lord likely had his hands full re-ordering the destinies of mortals after this event. Even in the mortal realm the skies would not have been tranquil, falling stars and other oddities would have been noted and the mortals always seemed to either panic or get overly excited when such things occurred. He did not envy Si Ming his duties and was grateful his own tasks were lighter.

Whenever something calamitous happened every panicked god and immortal in the realms usually came clamouring to Taichen Palace. As the housekeeper of Taichen palace and Dijun's steward it normally fell to him to explain what had occurred. This time it appeared that Crown Prince Ye Hua was answering enquiries from Xiwu Palace. From the servants he learned that Dijun had solved another world ending calamity, but there were no further details.

Though Zhong Lin was grateful he had less to do, he was tempted to go over and ask if the Crown Prince had seen Dijun. His lord often disappeared to deal with various crises, but even so he usually informed Zhong Lin when he would be expected back. Rarely was something so pressing that his lord did not have time to be courteous.

Zonglin had just made the decision to leave Taichen Palace and go to the Crown Prince for answers when he heard the guards announce Dijun's return. He saw the purple robes of his lord appear a moment later as he came into the courtyard. Zhong Lin was relieved, his lord seemed completely normal.

"Have this delivered to Shenji manor, there are instructions on how to find it wrapped on the outside." Zhong Lin had not heard of such a place before, though 'profound rock hanging over water' had a beautiful poetry to it.

Dijun started writing as he continued his litany of orders.

"Find Lian Song, tell him if there is any rain planned for the Western Realm of Qing Qiu, he will delay it until tomorrow at midday."

"No one is to enter Taichen Palace without my permission," At this order Zhong Lin bowed his head in agreement to hide his confusion. In the whole world there were less than ten people with the rank that allowed them to enter Taichen without needing an invitation. His lord continued, "On that note High Goddess Ru Zhong will arrive within the hour, allow them entry."

Zhong Lin was a simple ascended hummingbird spirit. Having served Dijun for nearly forty thousand years he was no longer considered young by the standards of his people. Even so there were many things to do with ancient times he did not know. But for there to be a High Goddess he had not heard of? "Dijun, apologies, I have not heard of this personage, how may I know it is them?"

His lord waved a hand in languid dismissal; "The guards will know her."

To guard Taichen Palace was a great honour; none who had not marched in Dijun's hosts in the prehistoric era had ever earned it. Of course they would know of any High Gods that were still around from those times, likely it was one of the legendary seventy two generals that had lead those armies.

"Understood." He bowed and left to fulfil his lord's orders.

Zhong Lin's first action was informing the guard captain that no one was permitted entry to the palace without Dijun's permission, but also to expect the arrival of one Ru Zhong. The man's eyes had widened a fraction in surprise, but that was all Zhong Lin noted. After tasking an armed courier to deliver his lords letter to this Ru Zhong's Shenji Manor -a location that was as isolated as it was obscure- Zhong Lin made his way out of Taichen Palace.

His first destination was Third Prince Lian Song's Yuanji Palace. Of the two Palaces the prince held, this was the larger of the two, and the gregarious prince could more often be found there. On arrival it appeared he was not blessed with luck this day, as the prince was ensconced within his workshop in Wuji Palace. The servants informed him that the prince was apparently busy creating a gift for the arrival of the first royal daughter to be born in the Nine Heavens.

Zhong Lin hid his disapproval of the servant's gossipy nature behind a slightly relieved smile. At least they had helped him find the prince faster, and he could hardly blame the servants for emulating their master's own questionable personality traits.

It was fifteen minutes to Wuji palace, it took Zhong Lin another two to make his way to the corner where the prince keep all of his various workshops. Though not nearly as extensive as Dijun's own collection, the buildings housed tools and space for making everything from baskets to weapons of elegance and deadly beauty.

A servant pointed him to the correct workshop, and he entered noting a lack of noise, it was silent. He spotted the prince sitting at a table, the long sleeves of his robes tied back at his shoulders, his arms covered only by a close fitting linen inner robe.

The prince turned at his entry and seemed somewhat surprised to see him there. Well, It was rare that Dijun visited Lian Song, or sent Zhong Lin to arrange a Yi game. Often it was the prince who came to bother his lord, not that Dijun had ever sent the prince away, not immediately anyway.

"Zhong Lin! What errand does Dijun have you on now? Never mind, first come and see this." The prince waved him forward, gesturing to the table.

"I've kept it secret so far, but I know you're not one for sharing secrets." The prince noted as he stood at the prince's shoulder and peered down at the table.

Tiny filings of gold lay scattered on the table, a necklace charm lay nestled among the chaos.

The charm held the character for 'good fortune', wrought in gold and encircled by a band of pure jade. It was a beautiful piece, elegant in its simplicity. He noted that it was big enough that a baby or toddler would not be able to fit it in their mouth, it was a good gift and he said as much.

"This is just a small something," Lian Song demurred, as he held the charm up to the light, moving it this way and that, attempting to catch any imperfections in the carven gold. "The actual gifts I have for Dijun's little terror child are much more grand."

Slightly offended on behalf of his lord and his unborn daughter, replied swiftly "How do you know this child will be a 'little terror', do you have some unshared secret of divination?"

"No mystical powers or gifts required," Lian Song replied as he placed the charm back on the table and turned back to Zhong Lin, "It's not exactly a secret that the females of the Bai family are... how to put it delicately... The most fox-like of all of them? Mischievous balls of unheeding chaos?" The prince postulated as he stared in to the distance. Listing off an impressive amount of epithets that would be close to insults, if it were not for the fact that nothing he was suggesting was strictly incorrect.

Well, Zhong Lin supposed Lian Song had a point. But then his lord's children only had the Bai name because he had not seen the point in creating a new family name, when they could simply use his lady's. Passing down the family name was one of the main reasons most men even got married and have children. Then again Dijun was not 'most' men. He still remembered the consternation on Tianjun's face when the man found out that both of the most important families in the Nine Heavens now carried the Bai name.

Zhong Lin supposed if the Dragon Clan wanted to have a family name to pass down, they should have picked one sooner. Only the Fox Emperor Bai Zhi's family had a family name. Perhaps in only ten generations the entire universe would have the family name Bai, either way Zhong Lin would be long dead, but the thought was amusing.

Regardless, Lian Song was much more gleeful about his lord's potential parental tribulations than was polite, even for a close friend. Zhong Lin refused to comment on it, and instead told the prince about his lord's request.

"Dijun kindly requests that if there is any rain planned for the western realm of Qing Qiu that you ask the rain god overseeing that area to delay it until midday tomorrow."

Lian Song was the Water God of the Four Seas, and all the minor rain gods and goddesses reported to him.

"Since when has Dijun ever kindly requested anything?" The prince noted with amusement, "You are the most diplomatic housekeeper I've ever known, then again with Dijun as your master, I suppose you need to be."." The prince teased as he picked up a fan that had been haphazardly discarded next to the gold shavings on the table.

Zhong Lin could see the gears turning in the prince's head even as the man teased him, trying to figure out the strange puzzle Zhong Lin had presented. He almost sighed, if there was one thing that could test his sanity more than anything else, it was having this genius member of the gossip trio curious about his lord's activities.

"Well, who can resist such a sweetly worded plea? Certainly not me, wait here a moment." The prince said as he disappeared in a wisp of cloud.

Zhong Lin did not pass up the opportunity to look around. It seemed the prince had no other ongoing projects in this workshop but the charm he was making for his lord's soon-to-arrive daughter.

Any request made by Dijun was generally more of an unspoken command, and Lian Song had received it as such. Dijun was only rarely involved in anything less than world ending calamities, universe destabilising wars or something of that nature. It was rarer still for Dijun to actually explain anything he was doing, and so everyone rightfully assumed any request from him was for good reason.

Zhong Lin found himself with a rare moment to simply stand and let his mind wander, inevitably his musings focused on the man who just left.

The third prince Lian Song was undeniably a genius. Avoiding work, responsibility and political intrigue among his most noted skills. On the surface the third prince Lian Song was everything most expected to see in a third born son. Unburdened, unmotivated, just competent enough at the job he had been given to not be labelled inept, and certainly an inconspicuous womaniser.

Most who spent any amount of time around Lian Song and Dijun knew this was a carefully crafted façade. Zhong Lin was convinced Lian Song had foreseen what would happen if he had declared his love and intent to marry Cheng Yu all those years ago, before he ended their relationship. Tianjun would have never approved of his son marrying an ascended mortal, and judging by the later results of both Ye Hua and Sang Ji's declarations of love to unacceptable women Lian Song had made the correct choice.

Zhong Lin was about to start wondering if poor love-matches was just Heaven's way of amusing itself, but he had no time to continue that train of thought as the Third Prince returned.

Lian Song confirmed that there was no rain planned for that area from now until next week. Unfortunately for Zhong Lin the prince now had time to query the reason for the oddly specific request. True to his nature as one of the three legendary gossips, along with Si Ming and Cheng Yu the prince seemed intensely curious why Dijun of all people had bothered to ask for such a minor and frankly bizarre thing.

Zhong Lin had no answer to give, he had not asked his lord for his reasoning. Even if he did know, if his lord had not specifically said it was knowledge to be shared, Zhong Lin would not speak of it. Lian Song was the only being in the Nine Heavens close enough to Dijun that people would describe them as friends. And still Zhong Lin would not share it, such was his loyalty and protectiveness of his lord and his secrets, no matter how minor. In the end the prince had quickly given up and the jade charm was left resting on the table as the prince left to go and hunt down gossip, as was his wont.

Zhong Lin returned to Taichen Palace, and had just finished informing Dijun that every order had been taken care of when he heard some small commotion outside and looked up.

Zhong Lin did not expect to see a woman of average height and beauty with a kindly looking face. She had the look of someone in their early forties, there were few wrinkles to be seen, but her hair was flecked with many strands of grey and it made her seem older. Her clothing was primarily black with highlights of yellow struck throughout it. It was a poisonous look that all but screamed warning and danger. It was at odds with her wide eyes and the wrinkles at the corners of her mouth, signs of one who smiled a lot. He supposed not everyone could have his lord's refined sense of colour.

Such deities were generally exempt from such shows of deference, only in the most formal of circumstances was anything more than a waist bow required.

Indeed he noted the ancient High Gods Bai Zhi, Zhe Yan and Mo Yuan often greeted his lord with a simple bow of the head.

"This lowly commander offers greetings to the Shaoyang Monarch of the Purple Palace, Dong Hua Dijun."

He could not quite hide his surprise when he heard the High Goddess use such self-humbling language.

"General." Was the noncommittal response from Dijun, acknowledging the goddesses presence.

The goddess raised her head and met his lord's eyes, but did not rise from her kneeling position.

Zhong Lin found it strange that his lord did not give permission for this goddess to rise. Dijun instead moved to rest his cheek upon a closed fist and then spoke. "Has my reputation fallen so low through these longs years? That one of my generals sees fit to rush so swiftly to my side?"

He could not figure out if his lord was playing a game with this goddess, or if he was truly annoyed. This was a source of some consternation on Zhong Lin's part, he'd been chosen for his prestigious position partly based on his ability to understand his lord, and suddenly now he was finding it very difficult to do so.

"Never my lord. I saw the sky and hoped you might have use this one. And so I arrogantly prepared for your summons."

There was a noncommittal hum from Dijun, to Zhong Lin it sounded slightly disappointed. As if his lord was anticipating a verbal spar, rather than the required reverence. Zhong Lin watched as Dijun rose and presented a scroll to the kneeling High Goddess.

"Early this evening the Queen of the Eastern Realm of Qing Qiu was ambushed and killed."

A sharp intake of breath escaped him at his lord's unconcerned and inflectionless delivery of the news that Bai Fengjiu was dead, seemingly murdered? Surely not?

The kneeling goddess glanced at him as she took the scroll from Dijun. It was piercing, full of sharp edged analysis, nothing like his lord's leisurely observation. He half expected the eyes that glanced at him to hold the same sickly yellow colour as her clothing, but they were normal, a dark brown. He felt like he was being dissected and discarded all in a single moment.

"Take your people and investigate, you have until midday tomorrow to provide a written report."

"I hear and obey, my lord." Zhong Lin saw the High Goddess raise the scroll she had been given above her head as she bowed, acknowledging the task she had been given.

"You may rise and go." Dijun was already moving back to the low table upon the dais as the last syllable reached the edges of the room and faded into silence.

Zhong Lin watched as the High Goddess rose to her feet. She maintained a low bow facing Dijun until she was at the entrance, only then did she turn and rise from the bow and leave.

He could not quite believe the news, Bai Fengjiu had been as beloved in the Nine Heavens as she was in Qing Qiu, she had brought light and laughter to sombre halls. Zhong Lin was blessed to serve his lord, lady and their little son. He had been quietly anticipating the arrival of the newest little highness.

"The lady is dead?" His question sounded more like a breathy whisper than a question, almost as if his body did not want him to speak and confirm the tragedy.

"Yes." The tone was even and lord did not pause his writing.

"And the baby?" he asked, tentative but determined, he needed to know. His lord did not respond for a few seconds, and Zhong Lin's fear grew and he dreaded the answer, if both had been lost.

"Alive." Came the eventual response, the tone was the same, but he could tell his lord was irritated, as he had paused in his writing.

To Zhong Lin this was very concerning; there was no one in all the Nine Heavens that had spent more time around Dijun and his family than Zhong Lin. He knew his lord loved Bai Fengjiu and his children more than life itself. How could Dijun now be so reserved, so cold?

"Deliver these." Dijun, stated as a seventh scroll, came to rest gently on top of its six brothers.

"At once Dijun." He replied swiftly, bowing as he did so.

Zhong Lin had been considered wise in his youth, and though no longer young, he had only grown wiser. Such gathered wisdom meant he collected the tray of scrolls and left the room swiftly. The questions swirling in his head went unspoken and unanswered, utter confusion overrode all his emotions and thoughts. The grief he knew would hit him later, when there were no pressing tasks to complete.

He was the head steward of Taichen Palace, and it would be shameful if he started weeping in the corridor for all to see. For now he had his orders, and he would complete them.

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