[Shen]

(Written with lauch)


When Joanna Greenwood received a letter inviting her to tea with the new Empress, she had been afraid. She still had flashbacks to the humiliation she had suffered at the hands of Wu Zhou, and though she felt ashamed, and would never admit it, she had been somewhat relieved when the old woman had passed away. All throughout the journey, she had been nervously going over what she could say to the new Empress, how she could avoid further humiliation without putting herself in danger.

When she arrived at the gate, and the imperial guards began to escort her to the Jade Garden, her nerves increased... only for then to vanish when she saw the garden. It was magnificent, full of beautifully maintained bushes. There were ducks in the pond, and cats dotted around. Her eyes were drawn, however, to the twelve enormous jade statues. The largest of all was the dragon, 35ft tall. The Empress sat in front of the dragon, and when Greenwood saw, her nerves returned slightly.

The woman was dressed in black robes. An outfit of mourning for her deceased mother.

The only splash of color being highlights of ruby red in her crown and outfit.

And her face covered by a black silk Veil.

"... president Greenwood? You got here just on time. I always respected a guest whos punctual"

A servant walked out from behind the Jade Dragon. It's fearsome to fanged vissage looking down on the table.

He sat down a platter on to that table with two cups of tea.

One made exactly how the president liked it even though she had not ordered it

" come. Sit. "

Nervously, she walked forward, taking her seat at the table.

"I am grateful for the invitation, my empress," she said, her voice only shaking a little. "And I was sorry to hear of your mother's passing."

" your condolences are appreciated Madam president. I have been quite busy preparing for her funeral. I'm glad you will be joining us to morn our nations loss"

"Of course I will, my empress," she replied. "I am very grateful for the protection she offered me when I... well, when I had done nothing to deserve it."


" whatever reason my mother had for offering you protection died with her. But rest assured I have no plans to violate Orthodoxy by overturning one of her last decrees"

The empress picked up her own cup of tea and held up her vail for just a second to take a sip before turning her attention back towards the president.

" I heard you've accepted a job teaching at University"

"I have, my empress," she nodded. "I look forward to it. I remember teaching my own daughters about history - the actual version, not what we tell girls in our schools - and I always got joy out of seeing them learn."

She picked up her tea and took a sip. "Mmm, this is exactly how I like it..." she trailed off and then involuntarily glanced behind her as she realised they had probably found out somehow.

" I was hoping my servants got it right" she replied offhandedly as the president could see a small smirk behind her veil.

" it seems like you are well suited to be an educator then. Good. Biaking university is the most prestigious University in the Empire. I myself attended it when I was much younger. "

"I hope I can live up to the expectations placed upon me," she said, sipping her tea again. "My youngest daughter may wish to come and visit at some point, however I have yet to hear from my eldest, though she is in Shuell so I am unsurprised."

" as long as she has a valid passport cheese of course allowed to apply for a entrance Visa like any other citizen. I'm sure there won't be any issue issuing one to her."

The woman took another sip before letting out a sigh " I am a bit distressed there but your other daughter hasn't contacted you. I'm hoping your choice to go into Exile hasn't caused any Rift in your family"

Joanna flinched at the word exile. "I am sure she is just busy at the Olympics. When she is back in Kerlile she will likely get in touch," she said, though she didn't sound confident.


" i hope she does. My own son has a habit of making infrequent contact with me. I understand. He's traveling about the world and he's just spreading his wings. But it can be hard as a mother"

"It can indeed," Joanna agreed, smiling slightly. Her nerves hadn't vanished entirely, but she was feeling considerably more confident than she had been initially.

The empress returned the smile " now that you are an educator...perhaps your Empress can ask a favor of you?"(edited)

Her nerves increased again slightly. "A favour, my empress?" she asked.


" yes... as an educator I'd like you to help to educate me... come let's walk around. I've always preferred to learn while being active"the empress said rising from her chair

Joanna rose also, a mix of curious and nervous.

"...kerille...is a state built on ideology... this is quite a curious concept to me as a shen. After all I am the state. All power in this Empire flows from me...." the two began to walk around the pond in the center of the garden

"... and just as curious as Most states are built on the nation-state model. Built on ethnicity"


"Kerlile is somewhat unique," Joanna agreed. "Although the Lavender Country is currently run using a somewhat similar concept by the LGBT community, if I remember correctly. It is, however, a protectorate of Gardavasque, so not an independent state."


" yes... unfortunately i dont have a former head of State of that protectorate. So I guess we'll have to stick to the example of kerille"

The Empress stopped for a moment as a cat was standing in their way. She looked back at the president has the cat slowly and lazily got up and walked off the warm Stone path it had been napping on

" how would you describe the ideology of the matriarchy? "

"The Kerlian brand of feminism is different from other types. We believe that a central system is needed to guide people towards gender equality in the long term. And I do not just mean legal protection regardless of gender, I mean the complete removal of gender roles. However, men will naturally resist this after spending so long in charge in much of the world. This is not relevant to Shen, of course, but in many of the old monarchies, there were instances of male children inheriting a throne over adult women, such as in the Kingdom of Fleura of old," she began to explain.

"We believe that men must be educated in how to cast off their patriarchal ways, the misogyny ingrained into that gender for centuries, for there to ever be equality. The Matriarchy is not the end goal, but the interim stage. In a few centuries, once men have learned to change their ways, the system of gender segregation and restrictions of the present can be gradually removed to create a state in which full equality will be possible. Of course, because of the outside influence of patriarchal countries around the globe such as Zamastan, for one, it is proving... difficult to get to that stage."

" like shen?" She said with a small chuckle as the cat finally walked away and the two could continue on their orbit of the pond

" i grew up in this country madam president. The throne is open to men and women because it is meant to pass to the most capable and in our history women have shown that sometimes that's them. That same attitude about meritocracy extends to the bureaucracy as well. But you and I both know that that meritocracy doesn't extend to our culture. Family life is divided rigidly between the roles of men and women. We have achieved meritocracy in practice. Not egalitarianism "

She looked away from the president "... I'm not my mother Joanne. I don't take criticism personally...so long as people know when it is there a place to give it"

She looked back towards the president "... interesting you mention a timeline of centuries. It seems the current Administration wishes that timeline to be measured in decades. Maybe even just a few years"(edited)

"Well, I think it is rather public knowledge that the current administration and I disagree on certain matters. In fact, I would go so far as to say that President Arnott," she almost spat the name out, "does not even believe in her own ideology, but rather seeks power and has seen this as a way to achieve it by getting Jennifer Hale, the democrat, and Carmen Robinson, the traitor, on board." She paused. "Sorry, that was inappropriate of me, I allowed my emotions on the matter to get the better of me."

The empress stop them and turn towards the president. Extending her arm and resting it on her shoulder.

" you have nothing to apologize for. Passion towards your beliefs is not a negative in this Empire and will not be punished at my court"

The empress kept her hand on her shoulders face began to walk again. Seeming to conduct her words with her free hand as they made their way across the warm Stone path

" I can't say I disagree with your opinion. When you ran the country there was a certain sense of stability to the region. The current government doesn't exactly Inspire faith. If only there was something that could be done strike out against them and weaken their power and allows sensible government to return to the matriarchy....one that will allow a former president the privilege of living in her own Nation"

Joanna frowned, curious. "I do not see what can be done. The other families will not move against them. We fear greater instability at this time of economic uncertainty thanks to the Haven Accords."


" hmm... certainly we can think of something Madam president? I'm sure you want to return home. And I want stability in the region. Something neither of us can achieve with the current government. Perhaps we can do something that will force them out of power but not affect the internal stability of the nation? Something that will only be known behind the scenes and at the highest levels of power"

"I am... not certain what you mean," Joanna began careful. "And I would be reluctant to work against my own country with the help of a foreign state."

" joanna...president Greenwood... we're working against the power-hungry bastards who have hijacked your feminist Revolution... I can think of No Greater Act of loyalty to your ideology... then helping to take down a government that you said yourself does not support it"(edited)

Joanna remained silent, thinking. On the one hand, she had herself condemned several people to death or torture for treason against the Matriarchy. On the other, the thought of permanent exile...

"How?" she asked eventually.

"... there's really only one way I can think of where we can force the government currently in power out of power, without causing instability that will hurt the citizens... we have to strike at your intelligence Network. The continual failures of security in regards to leaks of Aurora documents has already disgraced the president. With your help we could efficiently act on those leaks... when Aurora's start to go missing or are returned to the matriarchy in Chains..."

The empress looked towards the Jade statue of a rat. The symbol of the shingzi ren

"... if that happened with our agents the first Minister and The Grandmaster would resign in disgrace"(edited)

Joanna's face turned from curious to shocked, to frightened.
"Empress... you are asking me to commit treason."

"...Joanne... I'm asking you to commit treason against a government... out of loyalty to your state and ideology"

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a wrist watch. Placing it in her hand

"... this belonged to my great-grandfather... it was the watch he was looking at when the time finally came to initiate his plan to overthrow the emperor...and save shen."

"I have heard that story from the perspective of the Chiu family. I imagine you would give a rather different version. Empress, I... you must understand that this would be a giant risk. If they ever found out - ever - that I had helped you, then they would not only continue my exile, but my family would

"I suppose I would. "

She reached out and slowly closed Greenwoods hands. Allowing her to tightly grasp the watch of the man who had been en put in the same position she was over a century ago

"I understand. Believe me I do. I know what it's like asking a woman to risk the safety of her family. I don't make this request of you lightly and I can assure you I will repay your favor to me tenfold when this is over. But right now you're the only person who can save kerille. What kind of country will be left to your family if you don't help bring down the reformists?"(edited)

She thought. She had two options. She could commit treason in the hope of saving her country and returning it to its former glory, pray she doesnt get caught and hopefully one day end her exile. Her other option was to refuse the favour, potentially be sent back and imprisoned, only to watch her country fall further into decline. But at least she wouldn't have committed treason. Really, there was no choice: she was naturally selfish, and one of those options was better than the other.

"Okay. I will... I will help you," she said. Goddess save me, she thought.

There was a certain glow that came from the empress as she got her answer. Both of the president's hands were taken

" thank you... together we can do what neither of us could truly do alone. Bring down the reformists. Now why don't I take you to meet The Grandmaster? You can help him formulate a strategy. I will have my servants prepare guest chamber for you here in the Heavenly Palace. I don't want you too far from my side during these trying times. I could use your counsel"

"Of course," she nodded, though she was shaking. "I warn you, even as President I did not know everything. The Programme is the domain of the Pierre family, they are the only ones who knew the full extent of it. For, well, for security purposes."

" I will be thankful for whatever advice you can give me Madam president. Now lets go"

The empress led the way as the two left the Jade Garden and walked towards the golden Tower