Autumn's Final Dynasty

Ganimedzu-no-kami Renjie sat in a fancy rickshaw. Iba Algi sat beside him. Harlecuin Sols sat on her lap. Or so Renjie understood. The Fourth Prince could never quite tell if the little ghost existed, or if Iba Algi had only convinced him the little ghost existed.

That empty ice cream bowl was pretty convincing, though.

"Our driver has fierce legs," said Iba Algi. "I get exhausted just walking up stairs."

Person-drawn carriages were the primary means of transportation around Jade Palace Mound. The men and women pulling them were all members of the Royal Guard.

"She does have fierce legs," said Renjie. "Sister-in-Law also has fierce legs. Did you know she is called 'Goddess of Glaives?'"

"Everybody knows that," said Iba Algi.

"Was she spying on me because I'm so cute, she was worried I'd get taken advantage of?"

Iba Algi looked at him for several silent moments.

"Yes," she said. "That must be it. Unless you weren't the one she was spying on."

Renjie considered that possibility.

"If not me," he said, "then was she spying on my Muscular Benefactor?"

"With such big, strong arms," said Iba Algi, "and such large, powerful hands – and that incredible back, with its deep, thick, muscular grooves – he must also be from Gargogryeo. Perhaps the Crown Princess wants to keep an eye on what her countrymen are up to."

Renjie leaned close.

"Do you know what her countrymen are up to?" he asked.

"Well," said Iba Algi, "there are rumors about dragon turtles."

"Oh my gosh!" said Renjie.

"Oh my gosh!" said Harlecuin Sols.

"My Muscular Benefactor is a member of Dragon Turtle Society?" asked the Fourth Prince.

"I did not say that."

"You implied it."

"I did not," said Iba Algi. "But if I were allowed to examine the bruises his big, strong hands left, I could divine whether or not he was a member of that notorious arms smuggling and…."

Renjie and Iba Algi looked into one another's eyes.

"Arms smuggling," said Renjie, "treasure ship salvage, and tomb raiding cartel."

"Interesting," said Iba Algi.

"You could always divine the bruises," said Renjie, "and then divine further from there."

"That's no fun! Just show me the marks that brute left on your bottom!"

The woman pulling the rickshaw advanced without a single giggle.

"He's not a brute!" said Renjie. "Where's my Muscular Benefactor now?"

"Jail."

"Oh my gosh!" said Renjie. "Is he alright? Is he being mistreated? Is he tied against a wall covered in blood and cosmetic mud and only little strips of strategically-placed ripped clothing?"

Iba Algi closed her eyes, inhaled, leaned back – and exhaled.

"He's spent the night getting a deep tissue massage."

"Be more specific," urged Renjie.

"A backrub with elbows and knees," said Iba Algi.

"I can't tell if you're making a precocious euphemism or…?"

"He's fine," said Iba Algi.

"In any event," said Renjie, "Sister-in-Law has a lot of explaining to do."

Harlecuin Sols mimicked the Fourth Prince's nod.

They reached the Peach Topaz Palace. The Crown Prince's residence was a grand collection of courtyards pushed against the Hall of Auspicious Contemplation's eastern edge. No sooner had the rickshaw deposited its occupants than palace staff rushed out to fawn over Iba Algi. Once the procession through the palace happened upon Esmaralde's two daughters – ages six and seven – the fawning got worse. Both Esmaralde's daughters appeared to interact with Harlecuin Sols. When Esmaralde arrived, she also paid more attention to Iba Algi than Renjie. The Fourth Prince couldn't believe it. What sorcery was at work?

Was Moonlight Chamber right all along? Preposterous!

"Renjie is wondering why you are spying on his Muscular Brute," said Iba Algi.

"Benefactor!" corrected Renjie.

"Is that so?" asked Esmaralde.

"It is," said Iba Algi. "At first, the Fourth Prince believed you were spying on him, meaning the Fourth Prince, because he's so cute you were worried someone would take advantage of him."

"Is that so?" asked Esmaralde's daughters.

"It is," said Iba Algi. "But now we are both wondering if the Crown Princess of Great Yao was spying on Fourth Prince's Brutish Benefactor because he is a member of Dragon Turtle Society?"

"I see," said Esmaralde. "Is that it?"

"What else is there?" asked Renjie.

Iba Algi elbowed him.

"Thank her for rescuing you," she whispered loudly.

"Thank you for rescuing me, Sister-in-Law! But about my bubble-bottomed Bon Bao…."

"Your Bubble Bottom is the Great Turtle's favorite grandson," said Esmaralde.

Renjie nudged Iba Algi.

"Is that true?" he whispered loudly.

Iba Algi closed her eyes, inhaled – and exhaled.

"Yes," she said. "But he doesn't know it."

"How can someone not know something like that?" asked Renjie.

"Crime families work differently than normal families," said Iba Algi.

"The only crime families you've seen are in naughty illustrated novels!" protested Renjie.

"The Princess is correct," said Esmaralde. "The Great Turtle's children are scattered around Gargogryeo and raised by minions."

"So there," said Iba Algi.

She and Harlecuin Sols nodded emphatically.

"For what purpose?" asked Renjie.

"Without knowing who they are," said Esmaralde, "they cannot form cliques in the gang. It's also difficult for Gargogryeo's authorities to find them. They may not have even committed any crimes."

"How do you know my bubble-bottomed Bon Bao is related to this nefarious crime family?"

"He's been a bad boy," said Esmaralde. "The Great Turtle likes bad boys. But your bad boy got himself sold into underground boxing. That forced the Great Turtle to take additional measures."

"Such as?" asked Renjie.

Iba Algi giggled.

"Such as asking the Crown Princess of Great Yao to look after him," she said.

Esmaralde pinched Iba Algi's chubby cheeks together between her finger and thumb.

"This is why Moonlight Chamber is suspicious of you," she said.

"Why didn't you tell me about the Great Turtle sooner?" Renjie asked Iba Algi.

"It doesn't work that way, you big silly," said Iba Algi. "I have to wait for a catalyst."

"Meaning?"

"I don't know the right answer until someone asks the right question."

Renjie pinched Iba Algi's cheeks and distorted them. Esmaralde's daughters laughed, and laughed – and laughed some more.