One Tail at a Time

Alliances

It is a mere few days until the convention is set to begin and we have been notified of who her competition will be which I do not bother to inform her about because I do not want her to lose focus.  I know some of the boys and the rest are known to Die Feng who are Princes of varying rank and considered to be highly intelligent and very clever men so I am expecting the competition to be just as grand as it always is.  

It has seen some remarkable inventions brought to light over the years, including the communication mirrors which were invented by a past student of Kunlun Mountain during my fathers time, though they are very rare artifacts because so few were created and because the inventor has now passed over into the void, the knowledge of the spells and magic used to create them, went with him.

To date, only Die Feng has followed in that mans footsteps and some of his creations are just as beautiful and clever as those mirrors, but by far, her rudder is in a league of its own.  I have no doubts in my mind that she will win it, and nor do I see a problem with her father taking on the upkeep once the competition is over.  In fact, now that we are back, I am spending the morning preparing the contract that I will insist that he sign.  If he wants the revenue that such a grand venture will bring in for Qing Qiu as well as her future as its Queen, then he will sign it under her name until she reaches fifty thousand years old.  

After which time, we will come to our own agreement which I am currently working through.  Though I absolutely expect Bai Zhi to fight it, but this is where the brilliance of her entry into the competition comes in.  When it is done, the entire world will want the knowledge which she would be within her rights to sell to the highest bidder, and because it is my money that has assisted her in bringing her creation into being, then I would be the one to negotiate on her behalf.  Her father on the other hand has no real claim to any of it, but as her father and the one who is technically in charge of her assets until she reaches an age of consent, while I am technically the owner of it all, then I overrule him.  Therefore, if he wants what is in effect a one of kind asset that will bring untold wealth into his lands, then he will have no choice but to sign my contract.

And it just so happens that the man has arrived to visit with Xiaobai.  It is her birthday today and her entire family has arrived, though it isn't until I pull him aside for a quiet word that I learn the true nature of their visit which has me holding back on the contract.

He has brought a marriage contract with him from Prince Sang Ji the second Prince of the Celestial Heavens and the Crown Prince.  Immediately my mind turns to that girl and what this will now mean for her.  I know that eventually my students will go onto marry, have children and create wonderful lives for themselves, but suddenly my heart is aching.  The very real thought that she is being taken from me by a legal and binding contract of marriage is something I am ill prepared for.  

This child has been with me since she was little, so of course I see her as my own child, but to see her walk away and with that man of all people, has me quietly simmering in anger the moment her father walks away.  The contract for the ships is still on my desk, but suddenly the thought of her creation in the hands of those people who will absolutely demand it with her dowry, also has me knowing without a doubt that they will exploit her for her knowledge and whatever else she is able to obtain for their stores, resources and archives where the majority of their wealth is stored.

And this unfortunately places me in a precarious position because I am also of the Celestial Tribe.  As I have mentioned, she is technically the owner of the rudder which is the main attraction, whereas I merely poured my wealth into bringing it into creation.  But as a Celestial, it will be expected that I forego my right to seek reparation, I will literally be forced to give it all up, and this I cannot allow.