Festivities erupted like a rash throughout the Fire Nation's capital, as families hailed the return of their most honored sons and daughters from the 11th Royal Regiment.
Among the lower classes, whole neighborhoods rose up with drunken cheer as the streets were overtaken by parents and spouses simply grateful for seeing their loved ones make it back in one piece. The relief quickly morphed into revelry when rice wine was brought out and friends were invited, and a relentless assault of toasts to the grateful living and the honorable dead were soon given.
For some families, it was a chance to really show off their recent wealth brought about by the increase in the soldier's wage. Once rural families now found themselves with little to spend on, still clinging to their old thrifty and hardy lifestyles to spend their money their children sent back to them on anything but the barest essentials.
In the upper classes, the festivities were pinpricks of bright lights in comparison, as there were far fewer noble officers of the 11th compared to the enlisted commoners. That didn't mean that they held back, though. Revitalized family estates became cramped with friends and well-wishers, partaking in more refined rice wine and lavish meals.
Many of these noble families made it a point to overdo the spectacle, as a show of their family's rising fortune, and to spite their rivals as was proper.
And as was proper in the noble circles, the celebrations were a chance for new deals to be made, and old agreements to be renegotiated, as old allies and new sycophants sought a share of royal favor.
It was under the latter circumstance that Saishen mingled with the friends and family of the Hiruma clan, the family of Captain Kai of the 1st Battalion.
The group she'd currently inserted herself into were wives who were old enough that their wrinkles couldn't be fully hidden by face powder. An aunt of the captain, a broad, tigerdillo of a woman with the voice of a scraping ceramics, took charge of the clique. When she gasped in astonishment, the other women followed along.
"Really, I'm glad you managed to get out of your horrid engagement," Kiri Hiruma said with believable sympathy. "Frankly, I never trusted Shiluo and his brother… Too haughty, too flashy. Imagine being bound to their family…and married to a dead fool at that."
Saishen bowed slightly. "Thank you, madam. If not for Colonel Xing's compassion, I might have ended up in dire straits." The young woman paused for a moment, and tried not to smirk as she smoothly slipped in, "I heard he was advised by your nephew."
It was a lie, of course.
Saishen remembered that day clearly, standing before four war-hardened commanders and the much younger but no less dangerous boy. He'd spoken with confidence and with a keen gleam in his eyes, and picking up the banter from the four older colonels that accompanied him, it was almost certain that the whole negotiations had been solely Xing's idea.
But, the false association did make the woman before Saishen break into a grin. "Ah, I wouldn't be so surprised. That Kai is always a soft hearted soul." She sniffed. "It's probably why he sought out service under Colonel Lidai's banner."
Saishen fought hard to roll her eyes.
Due to his final grades being merely average, Kai Hiruma did not qualify for assignments to more storied regiments like the prestigious Imperial 1st or the equally famed 7th, supposedly a first for the Hiruma clan. As punishment, he was tossed to the colonies and left to hide away in the then-undesirable and unassuming 11th, a defensive force that would have offered little chances of glory, but also an equal chance to avoid disgracing the clan any further.
Dying in defense of the Fire Nation almost always sounded good. Dying in a failed assault could easily hint at cowardice or incompetence, whichever suited best when blame needed to be passed.
Presently, Saishen gave a slight bow. "His compassion has proven to bear fruit. You must be proud of your nephew."
"Oh, indeed," the aunt casually lied, masking it poorly with a light chuckle. "Indeed. We're all so proud of Kai. Compassionate and valiant… He truly embodies the Hiruma name."
Instead of gagging, the young woman only smiled. "He is lucky to have such supportive family members." She paused for a second, and then put on a meeker mask. "Pardon my rudeness, but I do not see the good captain around…?"
Kiri answered without a flicker of hesitation. "Oh, he's so diligent, and as a captain Kai has a lot of work to tend to." The large woman actually sighed with convincing concern. "We told him to take a break, but Kai being Kai, he prefers working in the barracks."
Not that it stopped the clan from hosting such a grand celebration without its guest of honor. The spectacle was still needed.
The aunt blinked as if something finally occurred to her. "Do you wish to meet him?"
Saishen almost sighed. Finally, she got the damned hint.
But instead, the young woman gave a delicate shake of her head. "No, no. I wouldn't dare."
Kiri's lips spread into a lopsided smirk. "I see. Well, you should know that dear Kai is already married." There was a pause, and then the smirk became crooked. "However, I think he could accept a second wife… You are of his age, and you clearly have the education. Spirits knows he could use a woman with…a bit more…refinement than his lovely wife."
The woman and her clique wore expectant looks as Saishen let the enticing pause play out.
"However, you would not be the first to be his second."
This time, it was harder for her to smile along instead of cringing at the bad joke. The women before her had far less restraint, cackling like strangled birds.
"I'm not surprised that that's the case. Would you happen to know who might be the other…candidates?"
"Oho, looking to scout out the competition, eh?"
"I do not dare consider myself as a…competitor," Saishen honestly responded. "I am merely curious."
"Of course," Kiri said, no doubt not fooled for a second. She nodded her brick-like head towards a gaggle near the main hall. "Yuli over there has been asking the right questions… Daughter of the Hui clan. Well connected, rich, but…" A flicker of a smirk flashed across her face. "The Hiruma clan looks beyond such shallow things."
"Of course, madam."
Not bothering to haggle for the non-existent place beside Captain Kai, Saishen endured the socializing for a while more before excusing herself, ignoring the aunt's confused look.
She flitted between the partygoers, offering bows and quick smiles but never stepping into the trap of engaging in conversation. She circled around her target, waiting for the right moment to approach.
When Yuli disengaged from her conversation with some Hiruma members, Saishen made her move, calling for the other woman as if she'd just only noticed her.
"Lady Yuli?"
As befitting of her station, Yuli was attired with understated luxury. The intricate silver threads in her silk dress gleamed from lantern light, and the jade and gemstone accessories peeked out to any who cared to look, instead of screaming gaudily for attention. Her face was subtly powdered, just enough to enhance her youthful beauty, and her thick, glossy hair hung over her shoulder as a display of its excellent grooming.
Saishen did not deny the pang of envy at the quiet show of extravagance.
"Oh. And you are…?"
"I am Saishen. Lady Kiri over there was praising you just now, and so I thought I might be acquainted with you."
Yuli's smile was far more natural and far less conniving. Someone who was very, very used to treating their peers and lessers with grace, regardless of what they truly thought.
"I see. I'm flattered that she views me so highly. What might I do for you, Lady Saishen?"
With sudden fluidity, Saishen's face flowed forwards, her still smiling lips whispering beside Yuli's ear in a flat tone.
"I wish to advise you to cease your attempts at ingratiating yourself into Captain Kai's side. He is happily married to his wife, and deeply loves his daughter. Attempting to unmake such a wonderful family might cause the influence you seek to tap into to turn…sharply…against you."
The message clearly delivered, Saishen pulled back and bowed at the wide-eyed woman. "I hope that you consider my advice, Lady Yuli, that we might meet again."
With her task done, Saishen turned about and swiftly flowed towards the exit. She didn't need to glance over her shoulder to know that poor Yuli would be looking down at the brass token that she'd pressed into her hand. A token bearing the royal flame, inlaid in silver.
Saishen left the bright lights and quietly made her way to one of the many carriages waiting outside the Hiruma estate. She slipped into a plain one, and the coachman urged the dragon moose on without her needing to say a word.
She was dropped off at one of the servants' gates to the royal palace. Flashing a small silver emblem kept the guards from barring her path, and she quickly found her way towards the crown princess' study.
"You're back earlier than expected," Crown Princess Azula remarked the moment Saishen presented herself.
"The Hirumas threw a simple party, not a lavish ceremony," the princess' agent plainly replied.
The princess seemed to consider the response for a second before shrugging. "Hm. Figures. Anyway, should I ask whether the message was delivered?"
Saishen nodded. "Yuli Hui has been warned."
Azula broke into a grin. "Do you think she would heed it?"
"Yuli seemed to be as smart as she was pretty," Saishen replied, nodding again. "She shouldn't give your highness any reason to turn your wrath upon her."
"Well, one can hope," the princess said far too casually.
"If it means anything, I'm sure that Captain Kai would not be so easily seduced by her."
"Of course he wouldn't," Azula scoffed. "But I can't have Ren worrying over her husband's virtue now, can I? It'd be bad for the recruits' wellbeing. And Fan's upbringing."
"Of course, your highness."
The princess gave a quick nod and then waved Saishen off. "Good, you're dismissed. The night's still young, go enjoy yourself or something."
"Thank you, your highness." Saishen began retreating towards the exit, but then her benefactor suddenly called out.
"Saishen."
"Yes, princess?" There was a curious tone in the crown princess' voice that the agent hadn't heard before.
"When you were engaged to Shiluo… Was there any courting?"
Where was this coming from?
Saishen shook her head. "No, your highness. Our betrothal was arranged beforehand, and I only got to meet him once, when I was first introduced to the general. As I knew it, he did not have the time to proceed with courtship."
He remembered Shiluo's broad smile back then. It wasn't lecherous, more akin to someone receiving their first commissioned painting or vase. She remembered his clumsily worded promise to return to 'cherish' her.
She'd seen a glimpse of what Captain Ren had, the naked affection she and her husband exchanged…
Returning to the matter at hand, Saishen gave the princess a quizzical look. "Is there something about Shiluo you are concerned about?"
"No, nothing about him." It was rare to see the princess distracted. Uncertainty seeped out of her then, and for a moment Saishen grew concerned. Then Azula seemed to resolve herself, and her next words banished the bubbling worries.
"Would you know what would entail if a…noble would attempt courting a royal?"
Saishen bowed her head to hide her smile. "I do not, your highness. However, I could…look into the details for you?"