227 Servility (1/2)
*Three steps to the left, turn, three steps back, then a bow.*
Although Chatra Huemac was just a small official from the rural and uncultured east, his etiquette seemed well-practiced. At least for now, it was good enough to satisfy one of the most powerful men in the Immortal City, second only to the emperor.
”The Ignorant greet Great Scholar and Prime Minister Zyaton.”
Prime Minister Zyaton examined the young man's posture for a few seconds, before he hinted at a satisfied nod. Though of course, Huemac couldn't see the nod, so the gesture was pointless. Even now, the young lord kept his head lowered. His body stayed bent down to face the ground as the Great Scholar sauntered over to his favorite chair.
Without concern for his guest, the master of the house took a seat on the expensive piece of furniture. Made from onyx and lined with countless layers of silk for comfort, it had been a present for his seventieth birthday not too long ago. The inlaid gemstones shimmered in the low-hanging sun that shone in through the narrow windows. Zyaton really liked his chair.
After he had settled down, the prime minister looked at the young lord again, and saw that he had still retained his posture. Satisfied with the level of submission on show, Zyaton decided to acknowledge his guest's existence.
”Chutwa Milintica Huemac. You have traveled far to come here. This scholar wishes to welcome you in his home. Please raise your head.”
The lord did as asked. More than any other, Zyaton really liked this part of his work. Most days, the non-scholars who still held on to official positions in the empire would deride the more learned like himself. They claimed that the country would be troubled without what they considered 'strength', and what Zyaton considered 'barbarity'. Yet as soon as they needed him, all these brutish officials would become as submissive as his grandsons.
”Now then, young Chatra,” he continued in a friendly tone. ”What is it this old man can help you with? What is the purpose of your visit?”
”Nothing, Great Scholar.” Huemac bowed again, his feet glued to the same spot. ”This ignorant only wished to be in the presence of the great scholar, in hopes that he may learn from his wisdom.”
Out of view of his guest, the old man sneered. Who would believe that some young martial artist would travel away from his seat of power and halfway across the entire world, just to meet him? This young master was only a small, local official. A Chatra might be considered a great lord over in the eastern rural lands, but in the Immortal City, he was no better than a pauper. How would he even dare meet with Zyaton over such a trivial matter? How would someone so lowly ever get the chance for a meeting with the prime minister?
Yet despite all that, Huemac had somehow managed to bribe himself all the way here. From what Zyaton had been told by his servants, the young Lord Huemac had started his lavish spree of 'gifts' with the official in charge of the southern harbor's admission as soon as he had stepped off his boat. From there, he had worked his way up the chain of eunuchs and scholars bit by bit, all the way to the prime minister. Whatever he wanted, it would be important enough for him to gift away most of his life savings in a few short days.
Of course, while the bribes might have seemed huge to Huemac, they wouldn't even be enough to pay for the various paintings Zyaton had collected in this single room. In fact, even just his chair may prove too expensive. Still, this request was important enough to Huemac to risk his entire fortune, so Zyaton was at least mildly intrigued. Though before he asked the young man for details, he would collect the payment he deserved for his services.
”Great Scholar Zyaton, this official humbly wishes to show his appreciation for a true master, and has thus brought a few presents. Please accept them.”
Although the servant behind Huemac stepped forward with an ornate box of bronze in his arms, the prime minister motioned for him to halt.
”That is not necessary,” the prime minister said. ”How could a true scholar ask for something mundane like gold or silver in exchange for his knowledge?”
”Oh no, I insist. The gifts are truly not to exchange for anything. This official simply wishes to present these gifts to great scholar.”
Despite the young official's incessant fawning, Zyaton made a troubled face and pretended to think hard.
”However...”
”Please master, you would do this Unlearned a great honor if you were to accept his gifts. Please do this Unlearned a favor, and take the present.”
At this point, the lord fell on his knees in front of the prime minister. Satisfied with the performance, Zyaton sighed.
”If it means so much to Official, this Scholar will reluctantly accept. Please feel relieved and deliver the gift.”
The conversation had gone the way he had expected, yet when Huemac's servant came over with the bronze box and Zyaton opened it, he was shocked by its contents. Glittering and in unusual colors, the prime minister stared down at his bribes.
Laid inside the large box were a total of three objects, each more fantastical than the last. The first was a shiny, plain surface which looked clearer than the most polished silver, held by a frame of pure gold with a golden handle at the bottom. The second was a small vial of crystal as clear as a mountain stream, filled with a clear liquid. Finally, there was another vial, or rather a bottle, of the same clear crystal, filled to the brim with a purple powder as vibrant as the feathers of the splendid sunbird.
”Ooh, what treasures.” Although he tried to appear insincere in his praise, Zyaton's excitement managed to break through in his tone. ”Does young Chatra wish to introduce the items?”
While he was eager to learn about the nature of the objects, he couldn't be seen as less knowledgeable than some country bumpkin, not even in the privacy of his own home. To his good fortune, the Chatra didn't try to make things difficult for the master, and promptly began to explain the objects under the guise of a prideful boast.
”This official will be glad to do so. The first object is a mirror, as Great Scholar would be well aware. However, this one is made from a strange, clear glass of the far east and comparable in clarity to even the greatest bronze and silver mirrors of the Immortal Capital.”
”Glass, yes. Though it does appear to be polished silver,” the prime minister mumbled. In truth, he was shocked. Although Huemac tried to be diplomatic with his words and retained some face for the empire, there was not a single mirror of such clarity even within the Immortal Palace.
”How could these foreign barbarians have enough wealth for a mirror of pure silver?” Huemac replied. ”No, the object is mere glass, prepared in a special way of their people. That is the reason it appears so exceptionally clean.”
Zyaton's excitement was now well-hidden again, but inside he grew even more restless. Since the mirror was made of simple materials, it would be even cheaper to produce than a normal one made of bronze. Yet at the same time, it would fetch a much, much higher price among the high society of the Immortal Capital. As soon as these objects appeared on the city's market, its owner would become one of the richest men in the city over night. But for now, he needed to remain calm, and listen to the rest of the young man's presentation. No matter what, he would miss no detail, and he would not let this Chatra Huemac leave before he had gained control over the source of these objects.