Dynasty of Summer

Chapter One: Ting

Thirteen years.

That's how long I lived with a heart and mind as innocent as spring blossoms hooded in snow. The days enjoyed with music and poetry in my mother's courtyard. She, the fourth wife to the Yu Emperor.

And me... her fourth child.

My mother told me, when I was born, the bold whispered behind sleeves that I was doomed to a cursed fate. Something they wouldn't dare do if I were a boy.

The number four was avoided. Its pronunciation seldom distinguishable from "death." For that reason, my father didn't take a fourth wife for five long years.

But when presented with my mother... he couldn't deny her bloodline and what it meant for his Empire.

In our era, blood meant everything.

Ages ago, the Three Sovereigns blessed the world with gifts linked to sentience and foresight. When the deities left earth, each chose a family to bestow a heavenly mandate to rule. For only the wise could ensure their gifts were not squandered.

If they were, the sin would leave the world in ruin.

~*~

My name is Tai Xia. I was named for the season I was born, Summer; as were each of my full-blooded siblings. The four of us made a year.

My first thirteen years flew by, each summer more beautiful than the last. I wish I would've taken the time to see more clearly. To smile more.

During my tender ages, I noticed changes around me. Such as the Emperor's heir, Yu Longjing. When I was barely to his waist in height, he used to let me ride on his shoulders. He visited his half-siblings often, laughing with us.

When I turned nine, he ceased to visit. When chancing upon him, he no longer greeted with a smile. Instead, he acted as if I were invisible.

I was taught to step aside and bow.

I didn't have to bow to my other half-brothers.

Ting, the younger son of the Emperor's third wife, explained Yu Longjing's life belonged to serving the Empire. That I shouldn't let it get to me. Ting could be kind when he wished.

When we were little, Ting liked to sneak from his mother's courtyard and played games with my brother and two sisters. I was the smallest and often left chasing after them. Witty and loud, he announced openly his mother didn't like us because our mother usurped her role as the Emperor's favorite.

My sisters often asked, irritated by his mannerisms, "Then why do you not play with Second Mother's children?" referring to my father's second wife. "Or your full-blooded brother, Shen?"

"They're pretentious," Ting would rolled his eyes. "Winter and I agree on many things," he'd sling an arm around my full-blooded brother, "so you'll need to put up with me."

It's true. I often saw Ting and Winter speaking for long hours in my mother's orange orchard. Winter could be headstrong; tenacious, yet silently patient. The complete opposite, brash Ting openly challenged authority. The two as a pair were difficult to contend with. Ting often angered the Lords. Winter would try to keep him grounded, but Ting declared he was untouchable as the Emperor's son.

I remember well the last time I saw him alive.

Shortly before my fourteenth birthday, Ting told me about dangers lurking in the palace. I didn't believe him, thinking he sought to frighten me for his amusement. He had begged me to help with a simple task, asking me to paint a portion of a walkway with black ink. But he wanted it done in the middle of the night. He said he needed to, "catch a man up to no good."