1 Only time will tell

After five hundred steps on the stairs, they arrived at Ahn's imperial throne room.

Kun Lan looked back, marveling at the beauty of Luo Yang city below, where white stone buildings with red clay roofs lined the streets, and a massive wall surrounded the capital city on the horizon. It's a beautiful place, a far cry from his hometown.

"Come on, kiddo. Focus on what we came here for," Duke Kun said.

Kun Lan nodded, following his father as he carried two large boxes into the throne room.

Kun Lan, an eight-year boy, was Duke Kun Kuan's second son, the favorite son born to a concubine. He wore a white tunic and silver robe with a red wolf embroiled on the back, the Kun family crest. There is no fear in his eyes when he sees the nine dukes seated on his left and right, as well as the emperor on the golden throne.

When the Duke beside him kneels, Kun Lan does the same. It's the first time Lan has seen his father kneel.

The gallant man in his forties had never knelt except to his ancestors and God, not even before the one hundred thousand armies of Duke Han and Duke Ning on the battlefield.

If his father bowed before Emperor, then for sure, the Emperor was a great man.

"I, Kun Kuan, am the sixth duke of the Kun Dukedom. Thank you to the Emperor for being a mediator between Kun, and Han, and Ning."

"Rise. It's a disaster that fellow dukes are fighting each other. This war only weakens the Ahn Empire. But, for peace, is Duke Kun willing to fulfill the two Dukes' demands?"

Duke Kun rose and bowed. "I follow the emperor's orders." The duke gave a coded glance for Kun Lan to open the first box.

Kun Lan did well. "This is the key to the gates of Sichuan, Lipian, and Jouan. The three cities that Duke Han requested as a condition of peace. Please, Emperor, check." Lan handed the box to the eunuch.

"And here, the box containing the trade treaty. Starting today, all goods from Duke Ning can enter the Kun region tax-free for ten years. Please have the emperor check it out."

When the Emperor examined the keys and treaty tracts, Duke Han laughed contemptuously at Duke Kun.

His chair almost broke to accommodate Duke Han's huge body. With his body folded up, he was like a pile of pork in red clothes. He didn't even have a neck.

"Duke Kun, how many cities do you have? I can't wait to have all your cities."

Duke Kun looked at Duke Han sharply. "We're here to talk about peace."

"Yes, peace. Just like your father and grandfather when they handed over the kun cities to my grandfather and father long ago. Say, isn't this a tiresome tradition? Let me give you some advice. Why not give your Dukedom to me? I promise you will live on eternal happiness for the rest of your life."

Every Duke present there laughed upon hearing this. Even the Emperor smiled, except for Duke Kun and Kun Lan.

Duke Kun clenched his fists to kick Duke Han's ass. Asking for Dukedom was the worst insult for any Duke. But what could Duke Kun do?

Kun Dukedoom's military power is at the bottom of the ten dukes. Moreover, Duke Han was allied with Duke Ning. For three generations, they bullied Kun, and Kun fought back, losing many cities. Han and Ning captured ten cities and claimed two ports, cutting off Kun from the sea and trade.

As a filial son, Lan couldn't bear to see his father humiliated. He realized Lan

wasn't a fighter, but he had other things he could use to help his father.

Lan raised his voice. "Duke Han, what great advice! But if we give it to you, your Dukedom will grow stronger. Become the third or second strongest Dukedom in the great An Empire!"

"Hah, you have a sharp mind, dear Boy!" Duke Han said.

Lan said, "Then next time, you will challenge Duke Ning for hegemony."

Everyone gave Lan's attention, amazed by how straightforward and bright Duke Kun's child was.

Lan said, "It would be wise to keep the Kun weak and see it as a rice field. You could rip it at the right time. Ask Duke Ning for help because Duke Han has no power to do it alone. That's why he needs an alliance."

Every duke raises a laugh, even the emperor and Duke Kun. But Duke Han's face reddened like a reddish in soup.

Duke Han slammed a wooden table next to him. "Boy, how dare you speak nonsense like that!"

"Oh, you could do it alone?" said Duke Ning. "Admit it, your ragtag levy needs my elite troops to defeat Kun. You cannot do it without my troop."

"Duke Ning, I invited you to the game because I feared you would do something funny behind my back if you were left alone. I can defeat Kun alone if you promise not to backstab me when I conquer Kun."

"Big talk with no action."

"It settles then. In the next five years, I will attack Kun alone!"

"Silence!" The emperor's voice boomed from inside the throne room and made all the Dukes fall silent. "Don't you think of me? If you can't shut up, I will crush you with my power."

All the Dukes bowed in fear. Lan was amazed at the Emperor. He wanted to be the Emperor one day. The Emperor of Kun.

The Emperor continued to speak. "As mandated, peace must be maintained for five years and strengthen the Ahn Empire. Now, you are dismissed!"

All the Dukes came out of the throne room. Duke Han and Ning, who were allies, exchanged cold glances.

"Clever, boy. You ruined their friendship with that messy sentence." Duke Kun picked Lan up, putting him on his back.

Lan threw his arms around his father's neck, looking back. His admiration for the emperor grew.

"Father, is the Emperor, the greatest man in the world?"

"I don't know, but in the Ahn Empire, yes, he's the greatest."

"Father, I want to be the Emperor."

Duke kun laughed. "Yes, a good dream, son. A good dream."

However, Lan meant what he said. He wanted to be an Emperor who could make the Dukes tremble. That way, he could protect the people of Kun from bullies like Duke Han and Duke Ning.

Will Lan be able to realize his dream? Only time will tell.