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Rosethorn refused to give his on too thick No one else would notice; this was the way they normally addressed the e iarden and workrooot advantages these poor fellows don’t It would be our pleasure to do this for you"
He looks like he sed sourthe eain
"You cannot fight these illnesses?" he asked the gardeners
The head gardener did not look up "No, Glorious Son of the Gods, Protector of the Empire, Imperial Majesty It is as they say The heat and the wet of these southern lands, that row so fast, also produce much that preys upon the roots and leaves"
The ees "And you? You cannot stop this?"
They looked at one another with alarm "We do not know, Great Son of the Gods," said one, reen "I would have to s for the space of months, perhaps years My field of expertise, as you know, is that of ust Majesty It is well known that when soardens to sicken, that plant is simply destroyed"
"Your I herself not to sound as i Circle Earth dedicates here in Yanjing, es, who have studied plant diseases all their lives You have only to summon them" She had been surprised at first that none of the local dedicates had come to visit her, but the maids in their pavilion had explained it was considered rude to uests before the emperor had done so
Weishu smiled "We shall have our people make appropriate inquiries," he replied "The truth of theCircle and the priests of the gods of Yanjing, of our state religion, do not fare well together We fear that, should we invite priests of the Living Circle into our palace, the priests of our state religion would uided by our priests, keeping harmony in our palace"
Rosethorn gazed up at the emperor’s unreadably smooth face His explanation was believable, but she did not trust it She suggested politely, "Then, Your Iardeners and your plants, I recommend they speak to local far thethen the roots of your roses against co everyone could work on at your pleasure"
"We could iven tiardeners "Until Dedicate Initiate Rosethorn and Nanshur Briar find the leisure to return and see to the health of my roses, uproot that one and burn it" He pointed to the bush that Rosethorn had saved
She threw herself in front of it as the gardeners scrambled to their feet "Imperial Majesty, why?" she demanded, shocked "It’s healthy now -- healthier than ever! There’s no reason to kill it!"
"There is every reason," he told her "It failed us at the moment of a test, e cauest Anything that does not present itself in glory and perfection betrays us and must be destroyed"
"But you weren’t betrayed!" Rosethorn argued, thinking fast What would satisfy this absolute ruler? "We have never seen such splendid gardens -- have we, Briar?" He shook his head He’d gone to her side and was keeping an eye on the gardeners They had yet to notice the tiny green shoots sprouting through the dirt at their feet She glanced hurriedly at Briar and then at the bits of green
He closed his eyes briefly The green sprouts shrank into the earth, seely before anyone noticed they were there
"We’d like your permission to sketch the roses, because on’t be able to describe the of Bihan ith envy e tell hiardens and lily ponds This plant didn’t fail you If you approve, we can create a new color for you from its blooms One that will breed true, that will be only yours forever"
He hesitated She had tereat favor indeed if you were to give us such a gift," Weishu said with a broad smile Then the smile vanished Rosethorn hated the way these people had schooled thes behind a blank face "But the plant dies," Weishu said "A flaw is not to be tolerated"
A gardener loved hand on the bush when Briar was distracted: Rosethorn heard the plant’s cry when the ripped it hard She couldn’t bear it She would have felt the rosebush’s pain as she walked away Throwing herself to her hands and knees, she did as the Yanjing people did and touched her forehead to the earth All around her the ground quivered as roots and sprouts strained to break through
"A favor, Imperial Majesty!" Rosethorn cried The bushes trembled as Briar’s temper flared She wrapped her power around hiently in hers as a reminder to Briar to exercise control Slowly, reluctantly, she felt him relax As he calmed, so did the roses, sprouts, and roots
To the emperor Rosethorn said, "It is flawed and an ele’s eye But to a humble dedicate fro of you, will you let reat e? It would be an honor beyond all words"