Li Mei sat upon her throne in her court - she had a cup of tea on a table to her side, but it had grown cold. She had forgotten about it as the man before her droned on.

The man before her, of course, was some governor or another. A siberian, by the look of him, all hair and fur. It was almost as if he had grown antlers himself.

"Go on..." she said as the man paused.

"My queen, your elegance... the people of the Urals need more food, and wealth to carry your forces!"

It all came down to food and gold. It always did. This was the third time today. When one man wanted the same things another did, and both were of your flock, which one would get what they need?

The other governor was in fact, an admiral, clad in proud navy uniform, leading somewhere in the Yellow sea. He had served well for many years, but had served poorly for many more. Perhaps this food would be just what she'd need to return him to loyalty. Perhaps not. Rumors abounded that he had colluded with the enemy - the Chileans and their league. She'd been caught up in a tangle of politics abroad, when there was a tangle of politics of her own at home.

But who to get the food? The new governor with promise and desperation, and in a useful position to boot, or the loyal old admiral who may not be so loyal after all?

Li Mei sipped her tea absentmindedly, and surprised herself once more that it had grown cold. A useless thing in a pretty porcelain container.

She set down the tea as the man droned on about his needs. She didn't need to hear it, as she'd already listened to it over and over - in court or in the meeting room. Or with the doctors and holy men.

She thought more of her son, now that she had made up her mind. The good thing about vassals droning on was that it occasionally gave her some time to think. The boy would grow strong like his mother, she knew it. He would grow to look fine, as his core was strong.

At last, the Ural Governor stopped. "Very well, governor. You shall have your food. Ensure my armies are treated with care against the enemy." Li Mei said. The Governor stuttered somewhat, made some passing resemblance of a bow (which was more than what she had come to expect from newer, farther-flung subjects), and marched out.

A short break had come before the next one would come in, and it gave Li Mei a chance once more to think. She had come into a tangle indeed - a war that stretched across the world - between Sumer and Kilwa, and of Chile and America, and even Australia and the old Burmese were back. An age of peace was over, though it was never an age of peace at all. A new age had begun, and they would be people of Han no more.

She would have to convene her ministers, of course. Were they all loyal? Certainly not. Some could be chilean, some could be American, some could be Sumerian, and some could be Polish. Some were certainly Constantinoplers, come to check up on the most glorious nation the world had ever seen. Corruption had seeped within the government. But some ministers, fortunately, were still loyal.

She would need to summon the Legion, of course. The corruption sat in, and they were a font of cleanliness. A force so secret not even those in it knew that they were. They would need to be called to scourge out the infiltrators once more.

Perhaps she would hold a burning. Perhaps not. The gods had refused to answer her for years, but she still found hope in the fires. Hope for a miracle. Hope for any number of miracles. One in her nation, one abroad, one for her, one for her son. Perhaps an answer. Perhaps just one word. She no longer wanted to feel like she was calling out to nobody in the darkness of night.

But she would still push on, as she always did. As China always did.

She drank from her tea, twisting her face as she found it cold once more. The new subject had come in, a... Japanese man, begging for food and gold once more. She sat back, and listened.