Motu Proprio (The King and the Neko) - Volume HaiYin

Filial Ties

On the tenth day of Emperor Gu Wei Ting's death, dawn greeted the rest of the Imperial family gathered on the bridge spanning the always unfrozen River Lai, flowing between the Zu-Bai Castle, home of the High Priest and acolytes, and the Ko Tower, which houses the Temple Oracle. Collectively known as the Zu-Bai Temple, this is where the Imperial family will send off Emperor Gu Wei Ting to the Deep End.

Bai Luoyin stands to the right and just behind Gu Hai, while Jin Lulu is on the same level as him at Gu Hai's left. They are now the ranking Imperials, with Bai Luoyin's mother taking her place among the veiled concubines behind the three heirs, never mind if she is still Imperial First Concubine.

Bai Luoyin glanced surreptitiously at Gu Hai's rigid form. All of them are wearing black beneath woolen coats, with Gu Hai wearing Gu Wei Ting's red cape the only swath of color in this somber gathering. The sun still has to rise, not helping with the cold and dark mood.

In no time at all, the sun rose on the horizon in front of them. In perfect timing, Gu Wei Ting's funereal barge floats down the river from behind them and crosses the bridge beneath them. Sobbing comes anew from the concubines. Jin Lulu barely holds on to her composure, not willing to shed tears anymore. Below them in the Temple courtyard and the People's Square, the people of Guanyi lined the riverbanks to witness the Emperor's sendoff.

Two of Gu Wei Ting's Kingsguard approach Gu Hai from either side. One is Captain-Commander Sun Jingwei, who hands Gu Hai an ornate shortbow engraved with runes of power. A wooden arrow with its arrowhead wrapped with oil-soaked cloths accompany the shortbow. The other Kingsguard holds aloft the torch Gu Hai would use to light the arrow.

Gu Hai doesn't hurry nor dally - shooting the flame arrow cannot fall too far, nor too short of Gu Wei Ting's funereal barge. Gu Hai lights the arrow and takes a calming breath before he aims at a point in the sky. He breathes out, and lets the arrow fly.

All who watched gasped as the flame sails in a perfect arc and starts descending, unerringly heading for the Emperor's barge. But the flames never reach Gu Wei Ting, nor it is meant to. A rumble commenced from the depths around the barge, before a majestic water dragon rose. It intercepted the flame, itself bursting into a fiery orange color where it once was the color of clear water. The now flaming dragon coils around Gu Wei Ting's barge without touching it, so it seemed like Gu Wei Ting was flaming without getting burnt.

The spectacle is enough to startle the crowd into reverent silence. Only a few would remember that it is the same water dragon who blessed Gu Wei Ting when he won his Crown Trials. But everyone remembered the bond accorded the Emperor with the dragon - protection in life and death. The water dragon looked back to the remaining Imperial family, and bowed his head before his actions sped up and he ferried the Emperor towards the Deep End.

The family remained on the bridge until they couldn't see the barge over the horizon, against the glare of the still rising sun. With no signs anymore of the barge, the Imperial family started to disassemble, each headed to individual destinations after properly sending off Gu Wei Ting. Gu Hai and Bai Luoyin lingered, though it was more like Gu Hai remaining standing in attention as he seemingly watched for Gu Wei Ting's barge, and Bai Luoyin remained behind like his hovering shadow.

"Was that..." Bai Luoyin started to ask.

"Iluko, Father's water dragon," Gu Hai answered, anticipating Bai Luoyin's question. Bai Luoyin had heard of the tales, but he had never really seen the water dragon the whole time he was around the Emperor. And in all the time Gu Hai had known him, the First Prince never mentioned the water dragons. Nor did any of the Imperial family or courtiers. It made Bai Luoyin wonder if they only meet a water dragon upon winning The Crown Trials. Or upon death, Bai Luoyin's thoughts amended, but never seen nor heard about whilst a monarch lives.