She closed her eyes, and sleep came quickly.

No further dreams disturbed it.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

YESUGEN.

Weimeng had never been so fussy with her, while meters away an entire roomful of people waited

patiently for the appearance of the ward of the Moshuguang.

Kati had argued for braids, but Weimeng insisted on buns and finally had her way, doing them up herself. The golden robe with red dragons was also her choice. "There is enough red in it to avoid offending the Emperor," she explained, "but gold is the best color for you. I think Shan-lan will be pleased."

"Shan-lan is here?"

"Of course, dear. I always invite the Emperor's family to my parties. It has been His choice not to attend, but Shan-lan seemed eager to come. He says you're a close friend."

"We are," said Kati, "but I haven't seen him lately. He hasn't been attending Master Yung's cla.s.ses."

Kati's head bobbed as Weimeng worked the buns of her hair.

"He spends his time in court, now. The n.o.bles are constantly at him about things they sought with his father, poor boy, and he's a bit overwhelmed by them."

"The Emperor is very ill, then."

"Yes. His energy is gone, but he's still alert. He called for me the other night, you know. I sat with him

until morning."

There was a tenderness in Weimeng's voice.

"How could you, mother, after what he's done to you?"

Weimeng put her hands softly on Kati's shoulders. "He's done nothing to me, Mengnu. He needed an

heir to the throne, and I couldn't give it to him. He's given me a place of honor, every comfort I could desire, and he's allowed me to care for you as my own. What more could I ask for?"

"A place in court," said Kati, firmly.

"That's only protocol. He's often sought my advice, but in private. He's not a bad man, Mengnu, only

rigid. Our concern for each other has never diminished. The shame I've felt is because I couldn't give him a son. It's my own shame, not his. There, I think it's ready."

Kati looked at herself in the mirror. "I look older," she said, and Weimeng giggled behind her.

"They will stumble over themselves to meet you," she said. "Let's not keep them waiting any longer."

They went to Weimeng's suite, and Tanchun opened the doors for their grand entrance. There was barely room for standing, people shoulder-to-shoulder in conversation, but the din of their voices stopped abruptly as Kati entered the room.

Shan-lan was the first to reach her. He bowed, and kissed her hand.

"You're beautiful. I feel another poem coming to me."

Kati smiled, and lowered her eyelashes coyly for him.

Sheyue came up to introduce Kati to her betrothed, a handsome young man whose family controlled metal production on Shanji. Kati heard his name and quickly forgot it, thinking instead about the mess she'd seen at the factories.

Kati looked around for Huomeng, but didn't see him at first. Her father, Mengyao and Juimoshu were there, all in formal black. Weimeng guided her through the crowd, stopping here and there to introduce her to n.o.bles and to those of their sons she deemed suitable for her Mengnu. Kati fluttered her eyelashes, charming them all. Two of the young men were struck dumb by her presence, and the few who attempted to engage her in conversation prattled on about the weather and her appearance and wondered how such a delicate woman could bring herself to practice the arts of war with the sons of commoners.

She forgot them all, continued looking for Huomeng and finally spotted him talking to a group of older men in a corner of the room. She steered Weimeng towards them until she caught Huomeng's eye, and he beckoned to her.

"There are some men I must speak to with Huomeng," she said.

"Don't be too long," said Weimeng. "There are four young men following us at this very moment, working up their courage to speak with you."

"Just a few minutes, mother," said Kati, and Weimeng released her arm. She went to Huomeng, and the three men with him turned to give her frankly appraising looks as he made their introductions. Older men, all n.o.bles and ministers, they seemed eager to meet her and began asking questions immediately.

"Huomeng has told us about your plan for economic expansion," said one.

"It's our plan," said Kati. "We've worked on it for over a year."

"How can you proceed with such a plan when the Emperor discourages expansion? He says our needs are met by what we have now."

"He doesn't consider the needs of the people who produce the goods, and it seems you don't tell him about them."

The men were startled, and Huomeng chuckled. "I warned you about her directness."

"Our managers are responsible for the workers' needs when they relate to productivity, nothing more. How people live is their own choice."

"I don't agree. People live as they're forced to live. You enjoy privileged lives by the grace of the Emperor, and have responsibilities like his, the well-being of Shanji and all its people. A man of truly n.o.ble character cares about those who serve him. You're responsible for the basics: adequate housing, food, sanitary facilities, and health care."

"We provide that."

"That's not what I hear," said Kati. "I think you provide a certain sum to your managers and trust them to spend it wisely without your checking on how they do it. The results are in the production figures both you and the Moshuguang receive each month, figures we've spent weeks studying. What we see is chaos: sporadic production, frequent layoffs, excesses and shortages, no organization whatsoever."

Without telling them she'd seen it in person, she recited the problems in Wanchou, the factories, the farms with bins of unclaimed, rotting foodstuffs. Suddenly the rhythm of her speech was quick, as in her exchanges with Huomeng when they were working on a problem. "Considerable investment is needed to solve such problems, and the market for the goods you produce even now is too small. You should disperse the population of workers, build new cities, each specialized in particular industry and connected by fast transportation."

"That's impossible. The Emperor pays us in gold for the needs of His city, nothing more. We cannot make such an investment."

"Not with the Emperor as your only customer. He sets prices, takes his taxes before you're paid, and controls all lands. I say put the lands in the hands of the n.o.bles, according to their investments, and let them set the prices. Let them expand at their own initiative, and deal compet.i.tively with each other in a free market, paying taxes only on net profits. New cities will provide the markets you need for centuries as the standard of living increases. Expansion is the only way to move Shanji ahead, and eventually there should be trade with other worlds. A s.p.a.ce program will create industries you haven't even considered. The ruler of Shanji must support this. Talk to Shan-lan about it. He's here, in this room. Get his opinion."

"He's a boy, a poet, not a ruler," said one man. "He runs to his dying father for advice, and nothing changes."

"Careful," said another. "The Emperor has ears in this room."

"Give him a chance," said Kati. "At least talk to him about it. We're friends, and he'll listen to me. I'll support any plan for expansion, but the people's needs must be met. When they're happy, and healthy, they'll produce more for you."

"Yes, we hear you'd give them land of their own."

The way he'd said that bothered her. "As bonuses for hard work and productivity. Land, and finer homes, goods to make their lives comfortable, yes. They will produce more if it benefits them. It's a small price to pay for the increased profits you can realize. Huomeng will have to continue. Weimeng is glaring at me, and I must meet some new, potential suitors she's gathered."

Sober-faced, the men bowed. "Your ideas are interesting," one said. "Perhaps we can talk again?"

"I hope so," she answered. "Please excuse me now." She turned deliberately to give Huomeng's arm an affectionate squeeze, which pleased him, then went back to Weimeng and the three young men who stood nervously awaiting her.

For nearly an hour she endured their prattle, responding coyly, laughing at their little jokes, eyes darting occasionally to Huomeng, who remained talking to the men the rest of the evening. Mengmoshu, Mengyao and Juimoshu never spoke to her, but remained on the sidelines of the party all evening to watch her every move.

To please Weimeng, she accepted the invitations of five young men to call on her in the future, but by the end of the evening she couldn't remember their names. She stood at the door with her foster mother to bid goodnight to each guest, ending with her Moshuguang friends and her own father, whose hand she gave an extra squeeze. Weimeng followed them down the hall to the outer door, and Kati turned, thinking she was alone.

Huomeng was still there, smiling at her.

Kati held out a hand to him. "Walk with me," she said.

Huomeng walked the short distance with her to her own rooms, and followed her inside.

"The ministers are wavering," he said, after the door was closed. "They're interested in our ideas, but still think small. With support from the court, though, I think they would move ahead. It's much better than I expected, Kati."

They sat down on either end of a couch in her sitting room. "One man kept asking if 'I' would do this or that. Do they know about me?"

"I don't see how they could. But they know about your training, and see you as someone pushed by the Moshuguang into a position of possible influence. Your friendship with Shan-lan is no secret, you know. The most important thing is their respect for your ideas. They see the benefit to them, and will remember that when we bring you forth as Empress."

"a.s.suming we survive a war," said Kati, standing up to pace the room reflectively. "What will happen to Shan-lan?"

"That's up to you. It's clear to me the n.o.bles will not accept him as Emperor when his father's gone. They've reached the end of their patience, and there will be no better time for change. Mengmoshu tells me you intend to fight alongside the troops. He's worried, and so am I. If something happens to you, we have no Empress, and First Mother is sure to establish Her own rule without choices by us. It's a terrible risk you don't have to take. Even your own Mandughai, in ancient history, guided Her army's movement from a hilltop. She didn't risk her life in battle."

"I'm not Mandughai," said Kati. She sat down again, so close their shoulders touched, and he looked at her curiously when she did it. "You fear for me, Huomeng?"

"Yes."

"You fear losing an Empress?" Kati put a hand on his arm.

"Not just that. You could be hurt, even killed."

Kati rubbed his arm up and down. "Would you miss me if I were killed, Huomeng?"

"I'd miss our arguments," he said lightly, but his smile faded when he looked at her. Her face was close, and now she gripped his arm.

"Something has changed between us. Do you feel it?" she asked.

Her eyes were green, and mesmerizing. He said nothing, but nodded in agreement. Kati leaned her head against his shoulder, but his hands remained clasped together in his lap.

"We aren't student and teacher anymore," she said.

"I have nothing more to teach you."

"But you come here every day, and we talk for hours."

"We make plans for Shanji when you're Empress."

"More than that, Huomeng. We share dreams, ambitions, feelings. The masks we put on our minds don't

work well when we're together. Have you noticed that?" Her hand moved across his chest, and he lifted

his own hand to hold it there.

"Your heart is pounding," she said, pressing on his arm so that he turned towards her. Her face was right there, her breath sweet, chin tilted upwards. Her full lips parted. "Huomeng," she murmured.

Their lips came together softly, then harder, the kiss deepening as his arms went around her. She moaned when their tongues met, and her breath quickened. He kissed her nose, cheeks and neck, and then their cheeks were together as they clung to each other, and she was murmuring into his ear.

"When did it change, Huomeng? Do you know?"

"A gradual thing," he whispered. "We'd been together so much, and suddenly you were a woman. I

began to see you differently, Kati. Now you'll be an Empress, and I'm only Moshuguang, not yet in middle ranks. I can't expect you to see me as anything but a-"

"Lover? Friend? Husband? I see all those things, Huomeng. I think I'm in love with you."