It had been two years since the coup in Amestris, and Ling was sitting on the throne of the Xingese Emperor.

A Chang-clan merchant lay prostrate before him, pleading for his life.

"Please, my Lord," he groveled, "I did not mean to cross into Lee territory! The clan lines have been changing so quickly, I…"

"Silence!" Ling demanded. "You knew exactly what you were doing. The noble house that sponsors you is one of the main opponents of clan cooperation and has been giving me problems since the day I took this throne. Add to that the fact that an arms merchant such as yourself would gain handsomely from increased Chang-Lee hostilities and your excuse is starting to sound more than a bit weak."

The man pressed himself further into the floor and trembled. The boy's words were undeniably true, but his masters had promised him. He would be safe, there was no way the young, naïve boy-emperor would see through their plan. Most likely he would be pardoned by the softhearted idealist, and at worst he would have to pay the fine for crossing clan lines without a proper permit.

The way things were looking how, however, he would be facing a charge of treason.

Ling sighed and leaned forward on his elbow. "Your family needs to learn that youth and idealism are not synonymous with naivety, and beheading you would be a good way to teach them that."

The merchant let out a groan of terror and began mumbling, "Please, oh please, no…"

The Emperor felt an overwhelming surge of pity, but his voice took on a steely aspect, "Why should I show you mercy? What can you offer in exchange for your disgusting, worm-like existence?"

Too frightened to even balk at his description, the blubbering mass threw himself at his Emperor's feet. A shadow immediately detached itself from behind the throne and flew at the merchant, freezing with a kunai at the man's throat.

"Stand down, guard," the Emperor ordered. "I'm in no danger from this dog."

The guard loosened her grip but kept the knife in place. The merchant looked down at the beads of blood running down his neck and squealed in fear. His eyes shifted to the steel below his chin and fixed there, widening.

"Infor… information," the merchant stuttered, licking his lips. "I'll tell you everything I know."

"Which is what, the price of flash bombs?" the Emperor sneered.

"No, no! I can tell you which Chang families are behind the princess and which are trying to usurp her!" he wheezed out in a panicked gasp.

The emperor raised an eyebrow. "And how does a simple merchant come to know something like that?"

The man licked his lips again. "I… I listen. I am one of their main weapons suppliers, and I hear things when I'm making deliveries. Please, please…"

The Emperor nodded to his guard, who dropped the man. He then turned toward one of the men lining the walls of the throne room and called out to him. "Pan-Shu! I want you to take this man and question him privately. Report to me with your results."

The spymaster stepped forward. "And his fate, my Lord?"

The Emperor folded his arms. "We'll see once I get the information."

The merchant, how had been silently sobbing with relief, choked at this, but was soon escorted from the room by the Pan-Shu and several other courtiers. The Emperor looked down the lanes of remaining courtiers, representatives from every family and clan, all ready to stab him in the back if given the smallest opportunity.

He stood from his throne and they all quickly knelt, abasing themselves with false reverence and respect.

"We're done for today," he announced, and then walked behind his throne and out of the chamber's back exit.

A/N: Pretty different from my last story, but I hope you still enjoy!