In retrospect, writing Shosuro Jimen off just because he lost the Emerald Championship had been a mistake. Or perhaps it had been his young yojimbo, Bayushi Hoshi who after coming so close to the greatest prize, had decided she wasn't going to accept being just another daimyo, even a provincial one.
You stare at Jimen, as he hides behind the smiling mask that obscures his features. In your hands a formal petition from your vassals. Oh it was all couched in very very polite language, but in the end reading between the lines it was still a demand.
Kitsuki Akane had shot the arrow in order to bring this about. Putting forth the theory that the Articles of Heaven having been so manipulated, could no longer in good conscience be used as the basis of formal law. That had after some grumbling, been accepted for the most part. Your Champions had all agreed in principle that writing a new set of Laws, tentatively titled 'The Articles of Jade and Emerald' was worth attempting to do.
Fu Leng had come in during the details. The Scorpion wanted to maintain their monopoly on Opium and medicinal herbs in general, the Phoenix, Unicorn and Mantis had all bullied them into allowing a stake...and so on, it had been a knock down drag out fight, that left new vendettas sworn, and at least one Matsu family declared a blood feud on the Hiruma of all things for suggesting the Hiruma not the Matsu were best suited to patrol the ruined Beiden's Pass.
In the end, Akane had worked a near miracle, and gotten mostly everyone to come along side. An agreement in principle to accept the new articles and govern according to it's stricture.
Naturally someone had decided that it was too simple for that. You had a very strong guess as to whom too. You look at Jimen, smug as a cat with a canary and idly wish that you could order him to jump off a building. But no the Clans had selected him to be the Imperial Chancellor, and thus you were stuck with the son of a bitch.
"Am I to understand that all of my treasured friends are in agreement with this 'Amicable Inquisition to Matters of State' Shosuro-san?"
"My deepest condolences my Emperor but yes. They have sworn to obey you under the Articles of Heaven and naturally will continue to do so. However, if you wish to continue with your new and I must say improved Articles...then they request that this clause be placed in."
"I understand, Shosuro-san, I will require a night to consider such weighty manners, and give you an answer in the morning"
"As you wish my Emperor. As always, I am your humble servant." Jimen bows and leaves .
You watch him walk out, with Bayushi Hoshi following. She glances over her shoulder and from underneath the small domino mask, gives you a sad smile. You aren't sure what to make of that.
"Kanasuke" You say.
Your ever faithful majordomo
"Yes my lord?"
Keeping your anger in check, you manage to say.
"I want my family and Kitsuki Akane in my chambers in a quarter of an hour, understood?"
"Of course Tenno" Kanasuke bows and hurries off.
You rise and leave the the throne room, managing to get your anger and despair under control by the time you reach your personal chambers. You pace for several minutes, trying to go over the challenge you had been given.
They were willing to sign on, if you gave them the right to vote on your successor. Which for now they wanted you to formally designate Kaneka as your successor and legitimize him as a Toturi.
It was in a stroke, brilliant, enraging, and utterly unacceptable. If the Clans can chose the Emperor, then the Emperor will forever have to do what they want, not what they need.
You turn to see your mother and wife in rare harmony, looking like they wish to break every single person in half over their knee. Kaneka for his part is a neutral mask, and Akane.
Akane looks like she wants to get very very drunk.
"Well my Emperor, you have summoned us. What will you have us do?" Your mother asks.
You stop and turn around taking a simple parade rest stance.
"That is what we are here to discuss, I hope that you all have been informed as to current events?"
"Hai, the champions want to use me as a club against you" Kaneka says.
"In essence, I know not everyone was in favour of writing a new code of laws, but there is merit. Formally codifying the rights and privileges accrued over the centuries, and allowing for the abeyance of Laws no longer enforceable, can only help make the land more just....and now it seems my own vassals have turned on me."
"I do not believe they have turned on you fully." Akane says.
"All eight of their chops are on this petition, and have made clear that they will instruct their delegates to delay these articles indefinitely if not agreed to. They have rejected me Kitsuki-san."
Your mother shakes her head.
"No, they have checked you son of mine. You pushed for much and to the good. But they saw the winds blowing, first these laws, laws which allow you to serve as a higher court in a dispute where they are forbidden to duel...it is the loss of their power that they move against...even if they are a bunch of cowards for using this method."
"If we are united then we can make the land at peace. They have no right to deny the Emperor anything" Kaname says. Her hand going to her stomach.
"Why are the Phoenix for this?" You ask her.
Kaname shrugs.
"Likely the Elemental Masters made the champion sign it check the Shiba authority. I would...guess they expect you to refuse....or Lord Kaneka who holds allegiance to them, is the heir, a win win as they say."
"Like I would forgive those traitorous scumbags." Kaneka mutters.
"In any event, we are in a bind, once the clans have the power to chose the Heir...the Toturi will be doomed to the same decline as the Hantei are. We cannot allow that, yet if we wish to have these laws put in place..." you say.
"Then you have to give in." Akane says. "Emperor if it pleases you I will offer my seppukku"
"Allow me to consider it Kitsuki-san. However, that Kasuga-san did not inform us this was coming, making me somewhat more furious at him"
Kaneka folds his arms and looks down at the ground before looking at you.
"There is a third way"
"Oh?" You ask looking at him.
He answers.
"I step down as a Samurai and retire as a monk. Both the Articles of Heaven and these new ones, hold that once you become a monk, your old life is gone. Any political power, authority, or claims you may have are removed. If there is no Kaneka to designate as your heir, then the petition becomes so much empty paper. Daio loves you more than anyone save his mother, he won't ever gainsay you."
"So I must lose both my uncles then to this Throne?" You ask.
"You are....filled with potential my Emperor, in a few years, the things you grasp for will be all to easily in your reach. I swore an oath to your father to look after you and Daio...if this what fulfilling that oath requires, then so be it." Kaneka says staring back at you.
It would work, you maybe the Emperor, but the Phoenix, Dragon, Lion, Crab and Crane would all baulk at setting the precedent that you could return people from their lives as a monk. Too many of them had stashed inconvenient relatives in one temple or another, or respected letting them rest too much.
But you would lose your most skilled commander when war is on the horizon.
You could call them to task for the petition, and fight it out politically, but no doubt your reign would be fractured internally for years. Or you could simply accept it as the price of doing business, even if it means that your son or daughter will never hold the throne.
[] Allow Kaneka to retire
[] Fight the petition and win (-10 to all unlocked Clans, -5 to locked clans)
[] Accept their deal (Massive Prestige Hit, increased TN's for five years)
[] No you have an idea to save this. (Write in)
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[] Accept Kitsuki Akane's Seppukku you'll get a new Imperial Advisor
[] Do not accept. Her failure was not her fault
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[] Allow Kasuga Tenzan to redeem himself by committing sepukku
[] Execute the bastard