The search for the architect of Song Jianyu’s manor went on for five solid days with no leads. Despite the many connections of people Prince Enlai had, the single man they were searching for seemed to be off the grid.

“I feel like we’re looking for a ghost,” Prince Enlai mentioned as he flipped through his paperwork that evening.

“Song Jianyu definitely covered his tracks well,” Ying-tai sighed.

“We’ve asked every contractor that’s ever worked on the Song residence and have come up empty,” Xia rubbed his head.

“If all else fails, we might just have to sneak into the Song residence and rummage through inside to see if we find something of value by chance,” Huian suggested.

“No, that will be too risky,” Prince Enlai leaned his chin on his hand. “With Lord Han’s large network of people there will be eyes lurking at each corner.”

“So, what?” Xia sat up straight, “We’re just going to sit and wait?”

“I’m sure the moment will come to us,” Ying-tai assured. “When it does we will be the ones to take it. Remember that whatever Lord Han wanted from Song Jianyu, he still doesn’t have it.”

Realizing this, the men in the room nodded.

The morning after when the fog lifted from the earth, Ying-tai and Prince Enlai continued their investigation in the capital city’s great Archive Chamber—a site forbidden to the public. When they were permitted through the three partitioned doors by the gatekeeper, the bookkeeper greeted them. He sat at his dark walnut desk framed with gold and above him hung golden figures along with a few dimly lit lanterns. His silver hair lined his head and his hands trembled as he lifted one sheet of paper after another. He lifted his chin up and his grey-cloaked eyes met with theirs.

“Crown Prince Enlai,” he addressed in a raspy voice. “To what reason brings you here?”

“Your senses are as sharp as ever, Geming,” Prince Enlai lowered his head as he greeted the blind bookkeeper. Ying-tai followed his gesture. “I’ve come to request something from you,” Prince Enlai continued.

Geming stood and picked up his rod. He grinned, “Well, anything for the young prince. What can I assist you with?”

“I need the list of architects,” Prince Enlai began.

“Why,” Geming chuckled, “what a plain request. Having you give the effort to come all the way here I expected something more scandalous.”

“I need the names of those who’ve worked on the residence of Song Jianyu,” Prince Enlai clarified.

“Hehehe,” Geming nodded, “That’s more suitable for these walls to hear.” He walked past Ying-tai and came to a stop. Noticing another strong presence in the room, he turned his head to him.

“Who is your special guest?” Geming furrowed his brows at Ying-tai as he tried to study him.

“Ah, yes. Forgive my impoliteness. He is a familiar of the state,” Prince Enlai casually introduced.

“Unit Commander Ying-tai of Qin,” Ying-tai bowed his head as he presented himself, “at your presence.”

Geming gasped, “Lord, have mercy!” He stepped away and turned his head to Prince Enlai. “Why have you brought in a demon?”

“Demon?” Ying-tai raised his brow at Prince Enlai.

“He is no demon,” Prince Enlai chuckled at Geming’s startling behavior.

“Fine. Beast. Whatever!” Geming’s chest heaved.

“Contain yourself, Geming. Please watch your manners in front of my respected guest,” Prince Enlai warned.

“I know you may have heard a lot about me and written plenty reports of my countrywide proclaimed infamous feats,” Ying-tai started, “but today I am simply a guest among great aristocracy.”

“He is trustful,” Prince Enlai assured.

Geming paused and then finally lowered his tense shoulders, “Alright.” He turned around to feel for his lantern and lit it. “Having an outsider inside the Archive Chamber of Qi is complete taboo. If word gets out and this is put into history I will never let you guys hear the end of it.”

The Archive Chamber was impeccably impressive. Bookshelves extended on for limitless meters and the walls stretched upward in mammoth heights. The sunlight was absent as there were no windows. The only source of light was either emitted by nearly burnt out candles in the lanterns hanging on the few high posted lampposts or by Geming’s lantern. Their footsteps echoed in the cosmic structure and their colossal shadows followed close by with down casted heads as the glow of Geming’s lantern beamed through the silhouette of their bodies.

“Here we are,” Geming suddenly came to a halt and lifted his lantern. He ran his fingers up the shelves and counted his way through the stacked books. “I don’t know what you’re trying to gain from this but it’s never good to play with the dead.”

“We are just trying to gain some information,” Prince Enlai explained.

“It is not our intent to bother the spirits of those who have passed,” Ying-tai added.

Geming pulled out a book and placed it in Prince Enlai’s hands, “You’ll find all the names of the architects of Qi in here. All of their records such as their standing and their clients are filed in there. As you know, architects have the right to retain the prints of their work so this is all I can help you with.”

Prince Enlai grasped the book “Thank you for everything, Geming. And, yes, we were aware of that practice architects follow.”

Geming nodded. “Is there anything else I could do for you?”

“This would be all. You’ve done a lot for us, thank you,” Ying-tai replied.

“Mmmm. Well then, I’ll be at my desk if you need anything. Just don’t take that book out of the archives. It is a towering crime and could get you decapitated by court order,” Geming stroked his beard and headed on his way.

After stroking the final character of the last name on the list, Prince Enlai and Ying-tai slid the book back into its place and prepared to leave. At the entrance, another guest was speaking to Geming. Seeing who it was, Prince Enlai slid the list of names into his sleeve.

“Lord Han,” Prince Enlai greeted, “fancy finding you here.”

Lord Han flinched at the sound of Prince Enlai’s voice and then quickly corrected his posture, “Well, Crown Prince! What brings you to the Archive Chamber?” Lord Han grinned, “This is quite scandalous, if I may say.”

Prince Enlai disregarded his comment and bowed his head to Geming, “I will part from you now, Geming.”

Geming, too, bowed his head to Prince Enlai, “Always a pleasure to have you as company, young prince.” He then turned his head toward Ying-tai, “And a thrilling pleasure to have you in our presence.”

Ying-tai grinned, “Until we meet again, Geming.” He turned his eyes to Lord Han as he left and bowed his head slightly to greet him out of politeness, “Lord Han.”

Lord Han kept quiet as his squinted eyes pierced onto both of them until they were out of sight.

The glimmer of sunlight just brushed the earth when the court was summoned upon in the palace three days later. Over ten families reported their missing significant members while civilians roared for justice outside the grand gates.

“Fifteen years we were left in the unknown! Fifteen years we prayed! Fifteen years we waited for answers!” They cried. “Does your callousness know no bounds?”

“What is it they so plea for?” Ying-tai asked Prince Enlai as they entered the disturbed court.

“For fifteen years people have been disappearing from the shores of Qi. Family members: fathers, sons, daughters,” Prince Enlai’s brows were furrowed as his heart began to feel heavy. “Because there were no conclusions of the conjectures of their whereabouts we had empty funerals.”

Ying-tai’s eyes grew big at the information Prince Enlai shared.

“However, we got new witnesses on this account,” Prince Enlai paused and turned to Ying-tai before climbing the dais toward his father.

“According to the latest reports it’s going to be quite a sinister and snarled web to untangle,” Emperor Fengge leaned toward Prince Enlai when he sat down. Then he snapped his gavel and the wave of silence washed through the court.

“Your Excellency,” one of the royal advisors began, “here are the witnesses that claim to have seen those who have been reported missing over fifteen years back.”

“Your highness!” They greeted with their knees folded and their heads bowed low. “We are so ever thankful you will listen to the voices of lowly peasants such as us!”

Emperor Fengge lifted his hand, “Please, raise your heads.” He waited for them to collect themselves before continuing, “Now, which of you saw the faces of the vanished?”

Five men raised their hand upward, “We did, your majesty.”

“Where?” He interrogated.

The older one of the five, Dai, spoke as he recollected his exact memory of the moment, “The sun barely rose over the eastern horizon when we saw a fishing boat just like ours. Thinking it was one of our fellow fishermen, I did not think much of it. I only flashed my lamp and waved at them to let them know we were in the area. When they didn’t respond I shouted at them and… that’s when I saw his face,” he trembled and his voice cracked.

“Whose?” Emperor Fengge persisted.

“My son!” Dai sobbed as his shoulders broke its posture. “I lost him fifteen years ago but I can tell! I can tell it’s him! I cried out his name but he did not respond! He only rowed faster away from me as I and my fellow crew chased him. I heard muffled voices from his boat but I did not see who it was. He rowed into the forbidden waters and that’s where our pursuit ended. When I returned to the pier that afternoon, I heard that the children of the Bau, Chiu, Zhen, and Leung family have disappeared that morning. Also, the husband of Mrs Chen here never returned home from his fishing trip.”

“I waited all night long with my mother-in-law but he never came back home,” she hiccuped while wiping her tear stained face and cupping her round belly. “I always tell him to not wander too far.”

“Abduction?” Prince Enlai furrowed his brow deeply. “That will explain the unreturned bodies.”

“One more thing,” one of the witnesses continued, “The boy who we believe was to be our captain’s son headed toward a ship.”

“A Ship?” Emperor Fengge’s eyes widened. “A ship belonging to which regime?”

“It was no regime,” another witness spoke. He trembled, “Pirates.”

The court erupted with gasps and hisses.

“Pirates?” Ying-tai frowned. He raised his head to Emperor Fengge and Prince Enlai, “They were probably disguising themselves as Qi civilians so they could walk freely in the streets of Qi and not be detected.”

“That way they can plan out how and who they are going to abduct so we can never know,” Prince Enlai pieced together the puzzle and clenched his jaw. “How conniving!”

“You cannot be serious! How do we know if it was your son and what you guys saw was a pirate ship?” A familiar and detestable voice emerged from the crowded voices.

“Lord Han,” Emperor Fengge acknowledged.

“Allow me to speak, your highness,” he smirked. “Dai, was it? It was dark. You are still grief stricken and painted a picture in your mind. You saw a stranger and assumed it was your dead son and the distant ‘voices’ you all heard from the boat were probably morning birds and seagulls,” Lord Han ridiculed the fishermen.

“That’s enough,” Prince Enlai sternly demanded Lord Han to pull back.

“We live by the sea inhabited by many unidentified water beasts. Bodies sometimes get washed into the sea and are never to return. Please also consider the fact that the pirates have sealed a pact with Qi a long time ago. You are causing unnecessary panic! Know your place!”

“You!” Dai glared at Lord Han.

“Compose yourselves!” Emperor Fengge snapped his gavel.

The court was interrupted by a royal advisor rushing through the room. Quick paced, the seams of his layers whipped against each other as he approached Emperor Fengge. “Your highness!” He saluted. “There is another witness who wishes to give testimony!”

“Bring him in,” Emperor Fengge allowed.

“Ah,” the royal advisor paused. “The witness is a woman.”

Ying-tai and Prince Enlai shot each other a look.

The elite guards at the entrance moved to the side and pardoned the woman to walk through.

“High Courtesan Nuying!” Prince Enlai gasped to himself.

She stood tall and well postured. Familiar with the men in the room, she was undaunted by being in their presence and as she glided through with her heavy jeweled robe she ignored their ogling eyes ravaging after her beauty. When she noticed Ying-tai standing by the dais, her eyes brightened and she acknowledged him with a bow of the head and smile.

“To bring your kind all the way here to my court, you must have something valuable to say,” Emperor Fengge greeted with little regard toward Nuying because of her title.

Nuying slowly turned her eyes away from Ying-tai and then onto Emperor Fengge before bowing lowly to him.

“Your highness,” Nuying began, “I attend your court today bearing words of veracity that may help your case.”

“Continue,” Emperor Fengge furrowed his brows.

Nuying lifted her bowed head, “It was three nights ago when I honored the request of this guest. The young man had a face I did not recognize and when I asked him where he was from, all he said was that he was from a distant town. As I served him, he had this deep expression in his eyes that filled the room.”

“Are not all of the men in your attendance sad? Why is this such a surprise to an entertainer of desolate souls?” Emperor Fengge questioned.

“Trust when I say I am familiar with eyes that express what you call ‘desolate souls’, your highness,” Nuying countered. “But this was different. As I spoke with him, his face was crestfallen and he sighed a breath of nostalgia. He kept commenting about how this land was as beautiful as when he left it.”

Emperor Fengge raised his brow, “A wanderer who’s returned to his homeland?”

“What he said to me before he left my service made it clear that he was not a wandering man or a man who has left on his own will,” Nuying said

“What did he say?” Emperor Fengge leaned forward.

“He turned to me with a wistful smile and said, ‘I have profoundly longed for what I once called Home a fleeting dream ago. Forever will I remain familiar with it while it remains unheeding toward me.’ I was suspicious of this stranger’s odd behavior. Then when I heard of the reports of the missing people shortly after I met him, I had an uneasy feeling he may have had a part in it.”

“How did he look like?” Emperor Fengge was now curious.

“Tall, thin, and dark. His hands and feet were large compared to his body so I assume he is a young boy still developing into a man.”

“About how old?” Dai stepped in.

Nuying turned to him, “I would say around fifteen to seventeen years old. He was malnourished so he looked younger than his actual age.”

“You say a young man around the age of fifteen to seventeen years old?” Dai’s eyes widened. “What else can you describe from him?!”

“Mister Dai, please contain yourself!” Emperor Fengge alerted.

“Ah, well,” Nuying continued, “He had many scars on the palm of his hands that looked like they came from rope burns. And there was a mark on his neck.”

“A mark on his neck? Where exactly?” Dai grew anxious.

“Over his left shoulder,” Nuying confirmed.

Dai let out a trembling exhale and raised his hand upward, “My boy’s birthmark is at the same exact place! Why must you deny my instincts as a father!”

“Mister Dai, we cannot be sure—” Emperor Fengge tried to console him.

“But we cannot afford to lose anymore children if it is true! They may be using him to do their wicked deeds!” The civilians in the court roared.

“Your son has turned over to them! He is just as wicked as they are!” Some of the civilians began to curse at Dai.

“You should burn along with him! He’s been taking away our loved ones all of these years!”

Dai looked at them, unable to say anything. He lowered his head in shame.

“A disappointing crowd you are,” Ying-tai spoke over them and they immediately turned to his direction. “Have you forgotten that you all shared a similar loss? Has your pain made you so bitter that you’ve become eager at the chance of putting blame upon another to soothe your conscience?”

Dai looked at Ying-tai with large eyes.

“Of course, your spirits are tired and at the brink of breaking, but you are close to finding your answers. Your years of waiting and searching shouldn’t go in vain! You dare let your anger get the best of you? The children of thy empire are waiting to come home!”

“Ying-tai,” Prince Enlai uttered under his breath, his eyes big.

Ying-tai turned to Prince Enlai and shook his head, “Enough with bitter outcomes. These are children we are speaking of. Children with blank canvases of their childhood.”

“What can we do?” Nuying turned to Ying-tai.

Ying-tai kept his eyes on Prince Enlai, “You know what must be done.”

Prince Enlai thought hard and deeply furrowed his brows.

“What can you do?” Lord Han bellowed. “If these ‘children’ you speak of were really taken by the pirates, they are far at sea where the forbidden waters are and we are stuck here! It’s a law that cannot be violated! Your immaturity is laughable!”

“But there are enough witnesses to prove that they have violated the law already,” Ying-tai rebutted. “And as far as I know, if a treaty is broken the appropriate response to follow is to be graciously granted,” his eyes were ablaze with the spirit that longed to fight again.

Emperor Fengge slammed his fist down, “They gave their word to never step on our soil and in return we never sailed in their waters!”

“Your Highness! You can’t really believe what these kids are saying—” Lord Han took a step forward.

“Lord Han, you’ve spoken enough already,” Emperor Fengge raised his hand to silence him. “The past few days you have done far too much. Perhaps you need a break. I am relieving you from all court duties until further notice. At that time, I want you to travel a little to ease your mind.”

“Ah—” Lord Han tried to argue.

“This is an imperial court order!” Emperor Fengge declared.

Lord Han reluctantly obeyed and bowed his way out. Before the doors of the court closed on him, he turned his head to Ying-tai and glared, Soon your voice will no longer be heard and your foul existence shall diminish from the face of earth! I will strip you from all that you know, soldier! When you are nothing, that’s when I will carve your heart out from your chest and watch you take your last breath!

When the doors clicked shut, the advisers saluted and spoke in unison, “Your Excellency! Something must be done! The country watches! The country watches! The country watches!”

As they pled, Prince Enlai got up from his seat and bowed lowly to his father, catching him by surprise.

“Prince Enlai! What are you doing?” Emperor Fengge raised his brows.

“Father, I plea your permission to sail!”

Emperor Fengge shot up from his seat, “You know well what happened the last time you sailed our ships to the forbidden waters! For committing a capital felony by stealing warships without imperial authorization and causing major casualties, you were severely reprimanded and forbidden to ever sweep across naval affairs! You can never sail a ship again. We must obey the imperial decree!”

“And with your consent, that decree could be waived for the sake of our country!”

“A king can never go back on his words!” Emperor Fengge clenched his fists as he tried to reason. His voice began to quaver as he looked at his son, “If you dare to set sail once more, I’m afraid my words will not even be able to protect you from the consequences that awaits.”

Understanding his father’s position, Prince Enlai clenched his jaw. He then took in a deep breath and closed his eyes, fell onto his knees and raised his hands upward to plea for the final time, “Then send me as a criminal heading to greet his death!”

Nuying’s eyes became glazed with dolor as she lifted her fingers to her quivering lips. “Your majesty! Please, be fair and wise with your edict! Consider the young Prince’s life!” She knelt and pled Emperor Fengge.

“Once, the world feared the sight of the Qi navy. At the age of twelve, I led a fleet stronger than my grandfather and his great-grandfather. But the legacy I inherited ended abruptly all because I supposedly promoted a fight that was never to be fought.” Prince Enlai looked up at his father, “And now we’re just cowards at bay, slaves to the rogue.”

Emperor Fengge sighed at the sting of shame in his heart and closed his eyes.

Not hearing a reply from his father, Prince Enlai rose to his feet. He furrowed his brows while he stared at Emperor Fengge, “As Ying-tai said, these are children we are talking about. If you’ll go as far as putting politics and pride before the lives of these children just so you won’t get your hands dirty then go ahead and bear that alone. I will not deny my country’s chance of a steadfast future.” He whirled around to face the court. Poised and head held high, he pronounced, “The laws you use to victimize the will of people will not restrain me. I will break all chains. I will set sail and strike the enemy with a firm blow. I will bring forth those who have long waited for the break of dawn. Their sufferings will not go to vain.”

“Crown Prince Enlai!” The royal advisors gasped at him. “You are going against the wishes of the emperor and acting upon your own irrational desires! Do you have any idea what you are doing? You are in a dangerous position!”

He deepened the furrow of his brows and his eyes glared of brilliant fervor, “And anyone who deserts the people of Qi or anticipates the thought of it can be sentenced to death as that is flawed and faulty loyalty!”

The royal advisors pulled back and stumbled for a retort while Ying-tai smiled at Prince Enlai’s mettle.

“Whoever wishes to follow me, I will lead you steady and true,” Prince Enlai continued. “But if you wish to stop me step up now.” He stepped his way down the dais stoutheartedly as the court looked at him wide-eyed.

“Your majesty!” The royal advisors entreated but Emperor Fengge only remained standing silently as his eyes followed his son.

The elite guards by the entranceway came into position and created a wall between Prince Enlai and the door and prepared to subdue him.

Ying-tai raised his clasped hands up and bowed his head to reason, “Emperor Fengge. With all due respect, Crown Prince Enlai’s intentions are to not harm you or your empire!”

Prince Enlai approached the elite guards closer, headstrong.

“He wishes to go against the Emperor! One with such behavior should not be trusted!” The royal advisors countered in unison.

Ying-tai continued, his head still bowed, “Prince Enlai will not inflict pain without allowing something new to be born!”

Emperor Fengge’s lips remained sealed and his eyes laid still on his son’s back. Prince Enlai was only a few paces away from the elite guards who were gripping their drawn weapons.

“The Emperor must display his supreme position! His word is the law!” The royal advisors were unrelenting.

“Lie faith in Prince Enlai!” Ying-tai pled on, “If you would just have faith as small as a seed, you can say to a tree to uproot itself from the ground and be planted in the sea! Nothing will dare be impossible, Emperor Fengge!”

Emperor Fengge closed his eyes and then raised his hand. The elite guards immediately swept to the side and permitted Prince Enlai through. Ying-tai and the hushed court turned their heads simultaneously toward the door and stared with large eyes as Prince Enlai exited the room. Ying-tai turned his eyes to the floor and softly exhaled a breath of relief.

Emperor Fengge sat back down on his throne and cupped his hand over his eyes and softly spoke, “It is his death wish.”

Ying-tai lifted his eyes to Emperor Fengge and let out a sigh of disappointment before exiting himself.

“And where are you going?” Emperor Fengge questioned Ying-tai.

Ying-tai, his back facing the emperor, turned his head just enough to look at him, “To prove my worth to a man I’ve given my word to in this very same room.”

Emperor Fengge raised his eyes, his heart beating at a rapid rate. Nuying immediately excused herself with Ying-tai after he pulled his stare away from Emperor Fengge and continued forward hastily as the layers of his robe lifted in the air with each stride.