“This can only be the argument of all men who will not raise up their eyes at all,” Mianning said. “For these clouds have lingered now long years, and the storm grows ever larger.”
He made a quick gesture, and two servants scurrying unrolled a great map of the world over the floor: not entirely accurate as to shape, with China outsize and the other continents somewhat awry, but plain enough to recognize. “My father, already the Emperor of France, Napoleon, has stretched forth his hand to make alliance with mighty nations across the sea.” France itself and all Europe were stained a dark green color; so, too, the Incan Empire and Africa: they stood like dark blots against the pale canvas. “His appetite knows no bounds, and already once have the evils of this foreign conflict crossed our borders, bringing the pestilence which struck at the ranks of our dragons, the breath of our nation. If not for your own foresight in having secured my brother’s service with the bonds of filial devotion, and his courage on that occasion,” he gestured to Laurence, who could only wonder what he had done to merit such an encomium, “who can say how many would have perished?”
“And yet what worse sickness, what worse miasma,” Bayan said, “could enter our nation but the poison which their ships carry unchecked into Guangzhou? How many lives and souls have they destroyed with the crushed seed of the poppy, which makes men drown themselves by their own hand? Thrice have you commanded a reduction in this evil trade; thrice have they obeyed only with sullen reluctance, like disobedient children, and then stealthily permitted it to resurge. And it is the British, those to whom you have in your generous love given most license, who do the most evil in this regard by far. They are poisoners, and liars, and should all be banished from our shores.
“And, Dread Lord,” he added, and Laurence glancing saw him press his forehead to the ground again, “I pray you forgive my humble words: I wish to offer no disrespect to the crown prince—”
Mianning’s shoulders were stiffening, and the Emperor’s eyes narrowed; Laurence had one moment to realize, Now we come to it, and then Bayan concluded, “—but I have received a report of General Fela, whom you charged with repressing the remnants of the White Lotus rebellion, and ensuring they did not flourish to regrow, that he has seen the British bringing those evil traitors aid, in the form of this evil drug.”
“By God,” Laurence said, too outraged to restrain himself, “—that is an outright lie.”
He at once regretted having uttered a word, however justified; Mianning threw him a short unreadable glance, and the Emperor’s eyes turned towards him. Laurence only at the final moment remembered to drop his own gaze, but he was caught: plainly he was now expected to speak. He saw from his lowered eyes Mianning flick his fingers towards the ground, and belatedly made another prostration himself, however reluctant. As he had dug himself a hole, he could only jump into it without complaining.
“Your Majesty,” Laurence said, speaking to the ground, “I must beg to be excused from speaking on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, for which I have insufficient authority; but I have not the least hesitation in most heartily repudiating the scurrilous accusation which Lord Bayan has made against my country which, if true, would be injurious not merely to her honor but to her sense, and which should defy all rational consideration. We have come here for no lesser cause than alliance against Napoleon. How could it profit us in any manner to create turmoil and distress within your borders, which should make you less able to aid us, even were we not the guilty culprits?”
He halted there, hoping at least he had not made matters worse; neither Mianning nor Bayan spoke immediately, which, Laurence rather dismally suspected, meant that he had spoken so far out of turn they had neither of them been prepared to respond to an outburst of the sort. The Emperor gave no sign of his own thoughts yet; but he left the field to them, and after a moment Lord Bayan bent forward and said, “Your Majesty’s adopted son, who to do him credit has shown all the instinct of proper filial respect—”
The instinct only: Laurence supposed this was meant to hint at the deficiencies of his training and education in the same. “—all the instinct of proper filial respect,” Bayan went on, “would scarcely be the confidant of those of his country-men intent upon such dishonorable behavior: even within a band of thieves one man of good character may be found.”