Chapter 30: Wolves and Hounds

As the queen’s favored confidante, even though she was merely a maid, she took great pride in her status. She had grown up alongside the crown prince, who showed her exceptional favor, allowing her to move unhindered throughout the royal court. Many believed that once the crown prince ascended the throne, she would become queen herself. Even she had begun to believe this.

The brothers, Quan Zhi and Quan Xu, dared not voice their grievances, though their hearts were filled with resentment. They were sons of Quan Xi—royal blood! Yet...

They could not help but sigh. There were reasons for their plight. If not for the rebellion a century earlier, even with their father's disappearance, they would never have been treated so poorly.

During that rebellion, the insurgents had sought to enthrone the brothers, and Quan Zhi, in particular, had been swept up in dreams of becoming the merman king. Alas, the insurrection was crushed in Haining City by King Quan An, who struck with thunderous force. All merfolk involved in the rebellion were executed, and though Quan An said little to the brothers, from that day forward, their royal status became precarious, and their living conditions deteriorated sharply.

If not for the constant care of the Dowager Princess, Quan Hui, who knows what would have become of them.

The maid, a favorite of the queen and lover to the crown prince, was a staunch loyalist. To these former rebels, she naturally showed nothing but disdain.

Quan Xu, pale-faced, clung to his elder brother's sleeve, whispering anxiously, his voice tinged with sobs, "Brother, what do you think King An wants with us? Will he have us killed?"

His heart was shrouded in unease. For a hundred years, he had lived in perpetual fear, terrified that one day King An would recall the old rebellion and hold him accountable.

Quan Zhi, however, remained calm, showing no great fear. Instead, he comforted his brother, "Do not weep. The blood of our ancestors flows in our veins. If we are so timid, how can we call ourselves royalty?"

Quan Xu cast a resentful glance at his brother. If not for his insistence on meddling in the rebellion a century ago, would they have fallen to such a wretched state? But there was no use lamenting now.

Quan Zhi was undaunted; Quan Xu was resigned. Together, they followed the merman maid ahead.

When they reached the palace, they were astonished to find not just themselves, but several other members of the royal family gathered there as well. All were minor figures—distantly related to the former king, now idling away their days in the royal court.

Those with any real ability had already been dispatched by King An to govern the seven cities. Many royal kin had already entered to confer with the king, only to emerge soon after, crestfallen and ashen-faced.

Witnessing this, the brothers were left bewildered, unable to fathom what had occurred.

Their confusion persisted until a young merman was dragged out by the guards. The brothers recognized him—he was the great-grandson of the late king's uncle, notorious for his arrogance and for abusing his royal status to oppress the people of the seven cities.

"The king is stripping us of our royal status!" he cried. "Are you all just going to stand here and watch?!"

Before he could say more, the guards stuffed his mouth and hauled him away.

The surrounding royals were thrown into panic, exchanging anxious glances, uncertain and afraid. The brothers, too, stood rooted to the spot, their minds reeling as if struck by a heavy blow, unable to respond.

"Summon Quan Zhi and Quan Xu!"

With trepidation, the brothers entered the hall, feeling the weight of a regal gaze bear down on them. In the shadows, Quan Zhi could just make out the imposing figure seated upon the throne—the king of the merman court, suppressor of rebellion, founder of the seven cities, and creator of the new laws: King An.

...

"What do you think of Quan Xi?"

Suddenly, the Feather Priestess looked up at the girl and asked this unexpected question.

"Uncle Quan Xi is wonderful. He always brings me grilled fish," the girl replied, first with heartfelt candor, then, remembering something, she straightened her face and continued in earnest, "The development of Feather God Lake owes much to Uncle Quan Xi. He has done countless great deeds for our people—he is a pillar of the Feather Tribe."

"You trust Quan Xi greatly?"

The priestess’s smile faded as he asked quietly, "But what if Quan Xi is not of the Feather Tribe?"

"Not of the Feather Tribe?" The girl was surprised, her lips parted, unsure what the priestess meant. "As long as someone contributes to our people, does it really matter if they’re not of our kind?"

"Ah..."

Seeing the girl's view of Quan Xi, the priestess shook his head and began, "Do you know about the wolves in the southern forest?"

"I do. When Feather God City was first founded, the wolves often attacked us, so we drove them out and built our city in the forest," the girl replied.

"The wolves are cunning, lurking beneath the dense trees. In the sky, we are unrivaled, but within the forest, we became prey for the wolves," the priestess continued, his memories slowly unfurling. "At first, we captured a few wolves and, over the years, tamed them to become our companions."

"To distinguish them from the wild wolves, we gave them a new name—dogs."

"Dogs look no different from wolves, their habits are nearly the same, but they are our 'companions.' Toss them a few bones, and they grovel before us."

The priestess’s gaze turned contemplative as he went on, "Though some wildness remains, it was by relying on these dogs that we drove the wolves from the forest and established our city within it."

"Feather God City has since begun raising dogs in great numbers. A few centuries from now, the wolves that once threatened us will be gone, replaced by the dogs, who will become our greatest allies."

The girl listened quietly, seeming to grasp the priestess’s underlying message.

"Quan Xi is no different. Imagine an animal—call it a sheep, perhaps. It is neither dog nor wolf, merely a four-legged beast somewhat resembling a wolf, now mingling among the sheep. What is its true aim? Does it wish, as we did with the wolves, to seize the forest for itself, perhaps even to enslave the flock?"

"I understand," the girl nodded.

At this, the priestess smiled and stopped walking. They had returned to the ancestral lands. He patted the girl on the shoulder and said gently, "Go home now, have a good rest. You've been through much today."

The girl did not linger; after bidding the priestess goodnight, she skipped away to her own dwelling.

The priestess watched her go, sighing softly with a smile.

"Priestess!"

At that moment, two figures sped across the high platform, landing in unison. With two fingers pressed to their temples, they saluted the priestess respectfully.

"No matter whether he is sheep or wolf, it is safer if he is dead," the priestess said, his eyes clouded yet brimming with cold intent. "I have already given him ample time to escape—my reward for a century of service to our tribe."

"Gather the nearby guards. Hunt down Quan Xi. Do not let him escape the ancestral lands."

"Issue a warrant to Feather God City: Quan Xi has betrayed the Feather Tribe and committed grave crimes. If he is spotted, kill him on sight!"