From the street outside Jiafahn's urban home, she could see the grand, almost cloud-like clusters of brown and gold leaves that had grown from the Godly Tree. It was said to be the tallest tree ever found in Junshu, but quite a few people were willing to debate that.
The tree's trunk was hidden by a city-like complex of palaces, workshops, and other buildings, but these buildings were hidden too, kept behind a massive wall of white stone. On some occasions, artists would be hired to paint certain sections of the wall with images that were vivid yet easy to wash away. Vandalism against the wall would earn one severe public beatings.
Sometimes, a person might see the highest points of a building's hip-and-gable roof from behind the wall. Some of the most beloved stone decorations on the roofs resembled fruits and vegetables, but creatures of both mundane and whimsical origins also had their popularity.
As she rode in the carriage with her father, Jiafahn imagined the sculptors had used molds. She almost didn't notice that her father hadn't looked at her face during the whole journey. It was an uncomfortable, unusually quiet trip. Thankfully, they didn't live far from the nearest gate to the Tree Cage's interior.
There was once a time when the Godly Tree was smaller and literally kept behind a cage for its own protection. Or rather, that's what Jiafahn had read. Eventually, the metaphorical cage of palaces were laid down, then the wall. This didn't happen in a month or so. This was centuries of work.
Jiafahn had to distract herself with these kinds of thoughts. Otherwise her pent up fury would've melted her.
A Junshu woman typically submitted to her father, and Jiafahn was pretty much the same ... except when she felt she'd been gravely wronged. And now she knew she'd been gravely wronged.
When Father confessed his crime to her, she locked herself in her bedroom and started screaming. She hadn't even used real words. Father had let his greed control him, then he'd lost his nerve and put the attention on his daughter.
Jiafahn was going to embarrass herself before the Emperor, the Holy Ruler of Junshu, chosen by Heaven. Well, technically he'd been chosen by the previous emperor but most Junshun people strongly believed that Heaven guided the emperors. Jiafahn would have to prostrate herself before the most intimidating, most powerful man in the empire, and tell him she'd sinned.
She'd dared to comment on governmental affairs! It was an unseemly crime, even though she'd technically only wanted some fun, and she hadn't been planning on showing her fiction to anyone else, and her so-called commentary was indirect.
One out of place step, one fallen word, and Jiafahn could lose her head. It was the most stressful thing in the world. She didn't want to go anywhere near such a man.
Actually ... she was technically his sister-in-law ... one of many sisters-in-law he likely had. There were also likely many brothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, and mothers-in-law. One could argue that Jiafhan was family and should be treated with gentler fingers, but the connection was far too distant. Jiafhan wasn't even nobility, let alone royalty. She had no right to expect any more mercy than what was offered, and even then there was the risk of sudden execution.
The carriage was allowed to pass through the tall, red, studded gate. Then, for the first time in her life, Jiafahn could see inside the walls. Her father had seen this scenery every day, and had often described the architecture. As Jiafahn's dark blue eyes peered from behind a tan colored curtain, she decided her father hadn't lied.
She didn't know which building was a palace, the dormitory for older princes, the doctor's department, the sewing departments, or even the laundry department. Everything looked delicately designed. Curved and shiny ribbing was in the roof panels. The doors often had elegant patterns in their wood. Some buildings, which were likely the palaces but Jiafahn couldn't say, were partially hidden by their own walls and gates.
Some people were walking by, going about their work. Young women in simple but elegant clothing, likely embroidery maids, carried wide, thin cases as they walked. Eunuchs in red hats and shoes, their bodies covered in bright blue gowns, also walked on. Some were carrying boxes of seemingly important things. Some were walking with scrolls or folded paper in their hands, as if they were trying to deliver messages. Jiafahn even saw some of them carrying a large, rolled up rug over their shoulders, sharing the burden as they took it somewhere.
In one of the gardens, some rather plainly dressed women were digging weeds out, while an older woman looked on, a whip in her hand, her fingers twitching as if she was waiting for someone to slack off. Frowning men in pale red uniforms were either standing at certain locations or stiffly patrolling the area. They were all armed. Jiafahn assumed they were guards.
Father had once told her the guards that stood outside the Tree Cage's walls, and within the first outer layer inside the Tree Cage's walls, were typically commoners of excellent skill. As for the guards past the first outer layer, closer to the center, they were all from high ranking military or aristocratic families, but they were also required to be highly skilled. A soft handed rich boy simply wouldn't do.
One particularly pretty thing that Jiafhan noticed was an artificial river bordered by an intricately carved, low stone fence. She didn't know where the stream began nor where it ended. She only knew that it was pleasant to see.
The carriage was taken through a few more gates, then to what seemed to be the widest, most glamorous palace in the world. Or that's what Jiafhan had thought. There were two stories. In order to get near it, one had to walk up one of several sets of white stairs. Between each staircase, there was a white statue of a tree, or an animal, or even a sleeping dragon.
A few eunuchs approached the now parked carriage, and they asked Lu Sahng and Lu Jiafahn to follow them to a side entrance to the palace. The walk up to the great building was almost tiring. Jiafahn hoped her makeup didn't melt from sweat.
And yes, she did wear fashionable makeup. She was expected to wear the best she could afford. Her dress had an admittedly loud pattern of blue floral medallions against a reddish-brown background. Her dark green blouse was kept over the dress, the hem reaching the end of her ribs. The placket was mostly loose, only joining close to the top of the dress at the bosom, with that point kept in line with a simple silver brooch. A long, thin, white shawl was draped over her elbows and allowed to droop close to her dress' hem.
Inside the palace, Jiafahn and her father were led down some hallways, through some rooms, and finally, through a pair of tall doors into the throne room.
Jiafahn knew better than to raise her eyes. The shiny floor was all she dared to examine. Besides, she thought the spacious glamour might overwhelm her and then she'd faint from low class stupidity.
Between rows of officials, some short distance from the steps that led up to the throne, Jiafahn and her father knelt down and then prostrated themselves. She heard Father say, "Junior Minister of the Imperial Treasury, Lu Sahng, is here with his daughter, Lu Jiafahn, to serve the Emperor."
And Jiafahn heard the voice of the mighty emperor. It sounded much younger than she'd assumed it would be, but there was still a heavy power there.
"You may kneel."
They both got to their knees, but their heads were bowed. Jiafahn could see the stairs ahead of her.
Again, Emperor's voice. It made her breath hitch in fear.
"'The Reconstruction,' I believe that was the title. Lu Jiafahn, are you the author of this fiction?"
Her voice was hollow. "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Why did you write it?"
Jiafahn swallowed ... something. She didn't know what it was. "This servant of yours wanted to write, and while she wishes the tragedy in the mountains had never happened, she was able to find inspiration. It was meant to be a private work."
