The dragon curls protectively around MCS’s collar, rumpling the cowl at his neck, before crawling under one layer of his clothes, out of sight.
MCS bows as much as he can in the circumstances, hands folded together in apology to the two princes before him.
“It seems tired today, and on such days, cannot be forced out.”
Even if they believed it a lie, the two princes were not about to insult the Dragon Bearer and made their polite farewells.
What MCS doesn’t tell them is that the dragon would’ve reacted differently had they even a chance of being chosen. He also does not tell JY this, even as the young dragon willingly climbs onto the man’s shoulder upon their first meeting.
JY doesn’t move an inch, only his eyes following upward as the dragon clings to his hair, small but already long and serpentine.
“This is a promising sign, Your Highness. As Dragon Bearer, it is my duty to aid the dragon in its search for the rightful heir. Therefore, I offer my services as strategist. History has shown that the endorsement of the Heaven’s Dragon alone is not a guarantee of success, and it can draw the attention of those with ambition.”
“As a strategist?” Jingyan scoffs. “Sir Su is indeed different than dragon bearers before himself.”
MCS hid behind a polite smile. Once he had lived up to the reputation of a typical dragon bearer: strong, vibrant, shining. At the time, nobody would’ve been surprised if Young Marshall Lin Shu had been selected as dragon bearer. He had even joked often, with such youthful arrogance, that one day a dragon would descend from the heavens to entrust him with an egg.
As it was, he’d never expected to be given the care of a dragon at a time when he had barely been able to care for himself, let alone Da Liang’s newest heavenly mandate.
There was already talk about what such a sickly Bearer portended and why the dragon had appeared so late this time.
“Different perhaps, but nevertheless a useful tool in these times.” Mei Changsu poured a cup of tea he knew Jingyan would dislike.
Jingyan’s gaze sharpened at the implied meaning. It was no great secret that Jingyan did not agree with the way court was conducted for the last several years. Many other upright officials felt the same way, but had no power to speak up and excise the rotting corruption.
He wondered if this was all a trap. To think that he, of all the princes, was to receive the heavenly mandate. Could it be true or did this Mei Changsu have another motive? On the other hand, if it were true, at least it would confirm that the royal family had at least not lost the mandate, despite these recent bleak years, as Jingyan had at times privately wondered.
Even speculation that the emperor’s impending death must be nigh are kept to one’s self. While the arrival of the dragon was generally seen as auspicious, the following events were often tumultuous.
Many emperors’ dragons only stayed long enough for the coronation itself or a short time after. It is said that the longer the dragon stays, the more blessed the country. And whenever the choice for Crown Prince conflicted with the endorsement of the dragon, that’s when matters became awkward. As it was, MCS had successfully dodged that issue so far. His Majesty was happy to assume that the dragon’s impartiality between Yu and Crown Prince was an endorsement of the two equally. MCS smirked to himself. It technically wasn’t a lie.
(The last time one of the dragons was killed, the entire nation of the dragon and the assassinating nation both collapsed. Wrath from the heavens descended upon both without prejudice.)