Anshi: The Lost Eagle of the Steppes

Stern Mistress

Anshi and Han entered the Queen's chambers, and she sat stiff-backed in her reception chair that sat on a dais in her private reception area. Her eyes glittered dangerously as she stared at the two men who kowtowed before her. She ordered the guards from the room. "Clear the halls and guard the outer doors. "

She stood and towered over the kneeling men.

"I am seeking a good reason to not send both of you to the deepest, foulest dungeon beneath this palace that I can find. "

Han raised his head. "Please most Bountiful Regent. I cannot answer until I know what we have done to upset you."

"Don't play your games with me, Minister! How could you have been so lax as to allow a virtual stranger, no matter his rank, the freedom to seek out the mad former prince of this Kingdom? How dare you Envoy Anshi, take advantage of your friendship with this inadequate fool and go where it is forbidden!"

"Your All-Powerful Highness. I did not mean any harm to the former Crown Prince."

'Oh. Heaven's Blessing! Straighten up! I will see your faces when I speak to you. However, as thick-faced as the two of you are I doubt I will get a straight answer from either."

Anshi continued.

"Gentle Regent. I accept all the blame. Please turn your ire my way and do not punish Minister Han for my transgressions. He is entirely without blame. He was not aware of my intention to visit the Former Prince today. I kept my plans secret from him." Han tried to object and the Queen raised a hand to stop him.

"Finish."

"You are aware of my past relationship with the Crown Prince. He has... been on my mind since the start of his illness. I wanted to judge his condition myself. Despite him being my enslaver, I felt a responsibility to see that his condition had not deteriorated and that he had not become a danger to others. I was out of line. When he received the report of the object of my walk through the corridors below, High Minister Han rushed to stop me, but I forced my way past him and entered."

"No, Majesty!" Han could not stay contained at this moment.

" That is not true. I saw how determined he was to make sure of the former prince's health that I relented and allowed access." He bowed close to the ground again. He was terrified at this point. The offense did not seem, to him, to be all that extreme. He was confused. His mind wanted to be analytical, but his heart was in a panic. He could not let his Anshi face another unwarranted punishment at the hands of his kingdom.

"I deserve death, Oh Might Majesty. Please turn your righteous anger to me, not the innocent Envoy."

Anshi followed Han to the ground." Please, Majesty. Don't listen to..."

"Quiet! Idiots! Both of you. Seriously. What am I to do with you?" She sighed deeply. "I have reasons for needing to know these things, Anshi. The handling of the former prince must be delicately done. Your actions could have been dangerous, politically. Factions are always seeking ways to gain control of my husband and rule through him. I could be toppled and my son, at best, would become another pawn in their grasp. Luckily, it was Han's men who discovered your destination and it has been mitigated. Now my only problem is how to deal with you until the treaty is signed, spring arrives, and you are on your way."

"Whatever Your Majesty deems best. "

"First, when you walk the palace and grounds, you are to be beside High Minister Han at all times. He will be your keeper while he is not attending to palace duties."

"Thank you. Majesty. I do not deserve this sort of leniency."

She sat back down. "Face me, please. I must now decide how your movements are monitored while Minister Han is not with you. Luckily, your timing has made this problem easy for me. I spent last evening and the hours before I sent for you discussing this matter with your other keepers. They have agreed to monitor your activities for the next month. After that, you will no longer be under close surveillance. Do you agree.?"

"Yes, Majesty." Anshi was feeling sick with relief. The Queen had treated him with great kindness. He was lucky. He heard some rustling behind him, but he kept his eyes obediently on the Queen. To disobey at this moment could still be fatal for them both.

She smiled strangely at him. "Would you like to meet your keepers, Envoy Anshi? Keepers, do you agree to be by Envoy Anshi's side?"

He nodded, suddenly worried and nervous but then a deep baritone said, "We agree, with all our hearts." He rose slowly and turned. He froze in place.

Anshi was suddenly confronted by a sea of blue and white. Five people were standing in the forefront. In the center was the tall figure of Lan XiChen and he was flanked by Anshi's two mothers, Yenay and Qinyang on one side and his two brothers, Lan Zhan and Wei Ying on the other. The air seemed to radiate around them all but his eyes went straight to Yenay, who had tears running down her face. He flew across the room, forgetting the Queen and Han, straight into her arms. 

"Mother!" He cried out in a broken voice and the Lan clan immediately gathered around, sheltering the two in from sight. There was only the sound of soft weeping in the room.

Han was stunned by the sight. He had expected Lan XiChen for the signing, with his arrival scheduled for two days before the ceremony. But to see the large contingent, was a shock. He turned to his Queen with a questioning look. She laughed out loud. The crowd around Anshi turned.

"Do you think you are the only person with secrets, My Minister? Please go and ask the conspirators in the other room to enter."

He obeyed and returned with a grinning Dawa Tuya and Maral behind them.

The Queen began to address them all.

"For the last month, I have been planning a surprise for Envoy Anshi. I wanted more than Lan XiChen to witness Envoy Anshi's first diplomatic triumph. I wanted his family here with him. I enlisted their help and asked Dawa Tuya and Maral to help set it up. Han was left out because of the 'improvement' in their relationship, and we did not want the beans spilled. The art of political prevarication seems to be totally gone from his diplomatic bag of tricks when he is around our lovely envoy, these days. The only thing missing was the way to serve this surprise." She paused and tsk'd gravely, yet her eyes were merry.

"Who would have thought our intended victim would provide it for us, only hours after his gift arrived? You also provide me with the perfect opportunity to teach you a lesson in not overstepping the boundaries in another person's territory. And I hope High Minister can pull his head from the clouds and keep his head clearer as well?"

They all bowed as she swept for the room with a smile on her face.