Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

clung to the sleeves and Chien prayed Minh would not ask.
    "No, no time. Time is wasting cousin." He pulled on Chien's arm until Chien relented with a sweet smile. In his mind though he could not figure what Minh might need him for. For the most part, his cousins preferred to ignore his existence until it was useful to them. Which meant Minh wanted something.
    "How might I help you cousin?" The faster he could get it out of Minh, the faster he could return to his rooms to continue his plotting in peace.
    "In a moment. I wish to speak with you about something." The closer they grew to Minh's rooms the more worried Chien grew. He could defend himself, Minh was hardly a martial genius after all, but this would certainly accelerate his plans if Minh decided to try something and take him out of any chance of succeeding the Empress. "Have you eaten your first meal?"
    Not that Chien had a chance of succeeding the Empress without drastic measures. She had done everything she could to destroy his chances to his throne, including spreading rumors that he was not his father's legitimate child, but the child of a palace guard whom scarcely anyone could remember.
    "I have not." Minh pulled him into his private rooms and gave the servants quick orders. When one, a young woman, gave him a baffled look, he shouted his directions once more. She looked around, frightened, until Chien subtly tilted his head toward the door and she ran gratefully toward it.
    "I swear the servants grow stupider each day."
    In truth, since the Empress had begun stretching her territory, the Empire contained a number of provinces that did not speak the palace's tongue. "I suppose."
    "Sit. Sit." Chien sat at the table, making his movements clumsy and nervous while his mind tried to dissect all possible reasons Minh would need his assistance. "Sit Chien!" Minh ordered when Chien took too long getting settled.
    "I'm sorry cousin."
    "No, no, it's fine. I've likely made you nervous." He seemed proud of himself as he cleared his throat. "You see, I need your help."
    "Why would you need my help, Cousin? You're quite smart." Minh prided his intellect above everything. His mother had ensured that he was raised by only the best of tutors, sending any she found subpar to death. When it became clear that he had surpassed the teachers, she had given him the task of spreading education to all the provinces.
    Minh had quickly found that he was far better suited for lording his knowledge over others than organizing any others into a cohesive plan. Within a year, the plans for a system of education had quickly fallen through in favor of Minh's forming a small class within the palace to teach only those who curried his favor first.
    As always, Minh fell victim to a bit of flattery. "Why yes, of course. But even a smart man knows when to accept help. And you will help me won't you?"
    Chien nodded eagerly.
    "Excellent! I'm sure you have heard of my duel with Tuan."
    "I have." Chien was beginning to form a suspicion of what this was truly about. Could Mai's son really have so little honor left? "Tuan does not think you will come out the victor."
    "Yes well, he is sorely mistaken. But this is where I need your help cousin. I have heard rumors that Tuan is attempting to circumvent the honorable restrictions of our duel."
    "That's terrible! We could go and speak to the Empress together!"
    "Oh no, I cannot do that. I cannot take control of this empire with anything less than the people's complete faith in my abilities. We must beat him at his own game."
    Minh sounded so very proud of himself, and Chien wanted to sigh because he had already figured the point of this exercise. "How might we do that cousin?"
    Minh began to answer him, but the door slid open and their breakfast was served. The food was warm and fragrant, and Chien's stomach reminded him of how long he had been awake without eating. When all the bowls had been set out, Minh dismissed them with a nod of his head and began to eat. His eating was a sign that Chien could begin as well. There would come a day when Chien would not be lower in rank than anybody. Then he would be able to eat his damned food as he pleased.
    "Now, cousin, the best way to deal with my dear brother I think would be with a little extract from this plant I have grown quite familiar with."
    "Poison?" Minh wanted him to poison Tuan so that he could get rid of his brother and blame someone else for the catastrophe at the same time. It was a cold