Inner State Waterways

Li Banfeng asked, "Who exactly invited you to Chaoge?"

Luo Lijun replied, "Three members of the Royal Family, three of the powerful figures in the cabinet: Zhu Jin, Qiao Yi, and Xie Gong."

Li Banfeng was quite helpless. "There are clearly three of them, yet you insist on saying 'one of.'"

Luo Lijun said, "I just said it—they are Great Shang royalty. Three people grown on one body."

Li Banfeng asked, "Why did they invite you back to the Inner State?"

Luo Lijun took out a letter and handed it to Li Banfeng. "Of those three, Qiao Yi is in charge. This is a letter he wrote to me personally."

Li Banfeng read the letter. It was written entirely in classical Chinese, and its contents were exceedingly obscure. With Xiao Yeci's help, Li Banfeng grasped its general meaning.

Qiao Yi meant that he believed Juanzi to be the surviving orphan of a Saint, and he addressed Juanzi as the Crown Prince. He hoped to invite Luo Lijun to Chaoge to discuss supporting the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne.

After Li Banfeng read the letter, Luo Lijun handed him another invitation. Written on it were the words: To His Highness Seventh Prince Li, Crown Prince of Pro.

Li Banfeng stood stunned for a long while, then asked Luo Lijun, "What does Crown Prince of Pro mean?"

Luo Lijun explained, "In Great Shang, there are factions favoring war and factions favoring peace, and each faction has branches beneath it. Qiao Yi and I belong to two closely related branches under the peace faction. We both believe that you have already become the Crown Prince of Pro State."

Li Banfeng asked, "Why do you think that? What grounds do you have?

"Much of what you have done in Pro State has already