The Forbidden City, Beijing, 12th April 1940 - Late Afternoon
What was supposed to be a comprehensive technical demonstration had been cut short after barely two hours, leaving the two young officers stranded in the vast expanse of the Forbidden City. Foreign Minister von Hausen remained in his private discussions with the Emperor, and the Chinese military personnel had retreated to their quarters with expressions that made clear their desire to avoid further interaction with their incompetent foreign instructors.
Wolfgang sat on a stone bench near the military quarters, his usually cheerful demeanor dampened by the day's failures. He watched the constant flow of servants and retainers moving through the courtyards with purposeful efficiency, their colorful robes creating a kaleidoscope of movement against the ancient architecture. Beside him, Kylian was attempting to write in his small leather notebook, though his pen moved hesitantly across the page.
"I'm hungry," Wolfgang announced without preamble, his voice carrying a note of petulant frustration that reminded Kylian of their academy days.
Kylian paused in his writing and looked up at his friend with mild amusement. "And where exactly do you suppose we're going to find food in the middle of the Forbidden City?"
"The soldiers here must have provisions," Wolfgang replied, already rising from the bench with renewed energy. "I'll go ask them."
Kylian watched with growing concern as his friend strode toward one of the military quarters with the confidence of a man who had not yet fully grasped the diplomatic damage they had inflicted that morning. The cultural complexities that had already proven so troublesome seemed likely to compound when hunger was added to the equation.
Ten minutes later, Wolfgang emerged from the building with his head hanging low, his earlier confidence completely deflated. His military bearing had given way to the slouched posture of a man who had been politely but firmly refused.
"There's nothing left," he announced as he slumped back onto the bench. "Though I suspect they simply didn't want to feed us. I'm certain of it after this morning's debacle."
Kylian chuckled softly, setting aside his notebook. "After what transpired today, I wouldn't be surprised if they've decided we're more trouble than we're worth."
Wolfgang's expression brightened with sudden inspiration. "Let's go to the main courtyard and ask a servant. Surely they wouldn't refuse a simple request for directions to food."
"I don't think that's advisable," Kylian replied, his tone suggesting he could foresee additional complications arising from such an approach.
Wolfgang grabbed his friend's arm with characteristic enthusiasm. "Come on, I don't want to go alone. Besides, how much trouble could we possibly cause asking for directions?"
Kylian let out a resigned sigh, closed his notebook, and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. His military training had taught him to choose his battles carefully, and Wolfgang's hunger was clearly non-negotiable.
They encountered numerous servants throughout the palace complex—the Forbidden City employed hundreds of people to maintain its operations—but selecting an appropriate person to approach presented its own challenges. Most appeared to be engaged in important duties, while others moved with the purposeful stride that suggested interruption would be unwelcome.
Eventually they settled on a young woman who appeared less intimidating than her colleagues: short in stature with an innocent face that suggested she might be approximately twenty years old. She was carrying a small bundle of what appeared to be fresh linens, her simple green robes marking her as a servant of modest rank within the palace hierarchy.
Wolfgang approached her with his most diplomatic smile. "Miss, excuse me, but could you tell me where I might find food? I apologize for the imposition, but I'm genuinely hungry."
The servant girl stared at him with obvious confusion and growing alarm. Her eyes darted between the two foreign officers, clearly unable to comprehend their words, while nearby palace staff began to pause in their duties to observe the unfolding scene with curiosity and concern.
Kylian, recognizing that the girl understood no foreign language, gestured urgently to his friend to attempt non-verbal communication. Wolfgang began an elaborate pantomime of eating, bringing his hand to his mouth repeatedly while making exaggerated chewing motions.
The girl's confusion transformed into delighted laughter at this unexpected entertainment, her giggles attracting even more attention from passersby. Kylian felt his cheeks burning with embarrassment as he realized they were creating precisely the kind of spectacle that diplomatic protocol was designed to prevent.
Fortunately, their predicament was resolved by the timely intervention of a court official who had observed their difficulties from across the courtyard. The man approached with measured steps, his elaborate robes and confident bearing marking him as someone of significant rank within the palace administration.
"Can I assist you in any way, officers?" he inquired in excellent English, his tone suggesting professional courtesy rather than personal warmth.
Wolfgang's face brightened considerably. "Yes, thank you so much! I was trying to ask about food—we haven't eaten since this morning, and I'm afraid I'm rather desperately hungry. I apologize for creating such a commotion."
The minister's expression softened slightly at this explanation. "Ah, of course. Perfectly understandable." He turned to address the servant girl in rapid Chinese, his instructions causing her to nod vigorously with understanding. "Please follow her. She will escort you to the palace kitchens. There should be food available, though I cannot guarantee it will suit Western tastes."
"I'm sure the food will be wonderful," Wolfgang replied enthusiastically, already preparing to follow the still-giggling servant girl. "I've been eager to sample authentic Chinese cuisine."
As Wolfgang departed with obvious relief, Kylian remained behind, his expression thoughtful. "Your honor, might I inquire whether there are any gardens nearby where I could rest quietly for a few moments? I'd like to clear my head after today's... complications."
The minister appeared puzzled by this request. Most gardens within the Forbidden City were reserved exclusively for the imperial family, with only a few areas accessible to court officials and none typically open to foreign visitors. However, he recalled that the Emperor and Foreign Minister von Hausen had retired to the Imperial Garden for their private discussions, suggesting that perhaps this young officer had been granted similar privileges.
"The gardens are not far from here," he replied after a moment's consideration. "Continue through this quarter until you reach the Imperial residential section. The gardens lie adjacent to those buildings."
"Thank you very much," Kylian replied with a grateful bow before departing in the indicated direction.
The Imperial Gardens
The gardens that Kylian discovered exceeded even his elevated expectations. Tranquil ponds reflected the afternoon sunlight like mirrors, their surfaces dotted with lotus blossoms in various stages of bloom—pink, white, and deep crimson flowers that seemed to float upon the water like jewels. Ornamental fish moved lazily through the clear water, their golden scales catching the light as they swam among the lily pads.
Covered walkways connected various sections of the garden, providing shaded paths that led to elegant pavilions positioned at strategic points to maximize views of the water features and carefully cultivated plantings. The entire complex possessed an ethereal quality enhanced by the play of light and shadow, the gentle sound of water, and the subtle fragrance of flowering trees.
As Kylian wandered deeper into the garden seeking an appropriate place to complete his notes, he became increasingly aware that the residential buildings adjacent to the garden were clearly designed for members of the imperial family. The architectural details were more elaborate than anything he had observed elsewhere in the palace, with intricate carvings and decorative elements that spoke to the highest levels of artistic craftsmanship.
The buildings seemed almost enchanted in the afternoon light, their upturned eaves and ornate decorations creating patterns of light and shadow that shifted continuously as the sun moved across the sky. Yet despite their obvious grandeur, the residential quarters appeared deserted, with no sign of the imperial family members who presumably occupied these magnificent structures.
It was then, as he followed a covered walkway toward what appeared to be a particularly secluded pavilion, that Kylian's attention was captured by a scene that stopped him completely in his tracks.
Approximately thirty meters to his left, positioned within an elegant pavilion that overlooked one of the larger ponds, sat a young woman completely absorbed in the practice of calligraphy. She was positioned so that her profile was visible to Kylian, though her attention remained focused entirely on the delicate brushwork before her.
In that moment, Kylian found himself studying every detail of her appearance with an intensity that surprised him. Her dark hair had been arranged in an elaborate updo with side-swept bangs that framed her face, the entire style held in place by a large silver hairpin shaped like a flower with delicate petals that caught the afternoon light. Her skin possessed the porcelain quality that characterized classical Chinese beauty, while natural color in her cheeks suggested youth and vitality. Her jawline was sharp yet delicate, creating a harmony of features that seemed almost impossibly perfect.
But it was not merely her physical beauty that held Kylian transfixed. There was something in her concentration, in the graceful movement of her brush across the paper, in the natural elegance of her posture, that suggested depths of character and intelligence far beyond mere appearance. She moved with a fluid precision that spoke to years of training, while her obvious absorption in her artistic work revealed a serious mind engaged in meaningful pursuit.
For several long moments, Kylian remained motionless, hardly daring to breathe lest he disturb the perfect tranquility of the scene. He had never encountered a woman whose presence affected him so immediately and completely. The very air seemed charged with possibility, yet he remained acutely aware that he was an intruder in this private moment, a foreign observer witnessing something sacred and intimate.
His reverie was broken when the young woman suddenly looked up from her calligraphy, perhaps sensing that she was being observed. Their eyes met for perhaps three seconds—a brief exchange that seemed to Kylian to last far longer—before she immediately returned her attention to her brushwork with what appeared to be studied casualness.
The brief eye contact left Kylian with his heart racing and his cheeks flushed with a combination of embarrassment and something far more complex. Overwhelmed by the intensity of his reaction, he quickly turned and retraced his steps through the garden until he found a pavilion much farther from the mysterious young woman, though his thoughts remained entirely focused on her image.
Settling onto a stone bench with his notebook, Kylian attempted to return to his interrupted writing about the day's military demonstration and his observations of Chinese society. However, concentration proved impossible. Every time he tried to focus on technical details or diplomatic analysis, his mind returned inevitably to the vision of the young woman in the pavilion.
Who was she? A member of the imperial family, surely, given her location in these restricted gardens and the quality of her dress. But beyond that, everything remained mystery. The very impossibility of the situation—a foreign military officer becoming entranced by what was clearly an imperial princess—only intensified his fascination. He understood the diplomatic catastrophe that even acknowledging such feelings could create, yet found himself powerless to dismiss her image from his thoughts.
Evening Return;
As the evening sun began to set over Beijing, casting long shadows across the Forbidden City's courtyards, Kylian and Wolfgang found themselves waiting beside their official limousine outside the palace gates. Foreign Minister von Hausen was considerably later than his promised return time, a delay that suggested his discussions with the Emperor had proven more complex than anticipated.
"Perhaps the negotiations went well," Wolfgang suggested with cautious optimism, though his experience with the palace kitchens had clearly restored his usual cheerful demeanor. "Extended discussions often indicate productive dialogue."
"Or they could suggest complications that require extensive resolution," Kylian replied, though he hoped his friend's interpretation proved correct. His mind remained divided between concern over their professional situation and persistent thoughts of the woman in the garden.
Their speculation was resolved when von Hausen finally emerged from the palace gates, his bearing immediately conveying disappointment and frustration. As he approached the vehicle, his expression suggested that whatever had transpired during his private audience had not proceeded according to plan.
The Foreign Minister settled into the limousine with a heavy sigh, instructing the driver to depart before turning to address the two officers with obvious reluctance.
"I regret to inform you both that the Chinese military leadership has requested different instructors for their training programs," he announced without preamble, his voice carrying the controlled disappointment of a professional diplomat delivering unwelcome news.
"Wonderful," Wolfgang managed, clearly stunned by this development.
Kylian remained speechless, the implications of their dismissal settling over him like a weight.
Von Hausen continued with the methodical precision of a man determined to complete an unpleasant duty. "You were both supposed to represent the finest examples of Hanseatic military education. Chancellor Torres von Reichsgraf recommended you personally, Captain von Reichsgraf, as his own brother, and naturally I trusted his judgment completely. Now the Chinese inform me that you treated their experienced personnel with disrespect?"
"We have no excuse, Your Excellency," Kylian replied quietly. "This failure reflects poorly on our training and judgment."
"Indeed it does," von Hausen replied with bitter irony. "The Chinese have specifically requested instructors with more extensive practical experience. They no longer wish to continue training with either of you."
Both officers felt the full weight of their professional humiliation. Wolfgang could only emit quiet sounds of dismay, while Kylian shook his head in silent self-recrimination.
"When we return to the embassy," von Hausen continued relentlessly, "I must send a message to Theodosia requesting that experienced communications and logistics instructors be dispatched immediately. Naturally, the government will want to know what went wrong with the original arrangement."
The Foreign Minister paused to rub his temples, clearly dreading the explanations he would be required to provide. "However, the Chinese Emperor has suggested an alternative arrangement. There is a pre-wedding celebration taking place at an imperial estate near the ancient capital of Chang'an. His Majesty believes that attending these ceremonies might teach you something about hierarchy and proper respect. It would also provide exposure to traditional Chinese culture."
Despite their embarrassment, both officers felt their eyebrows rise with interest at this development.
"This is mortifying," Kylian murmured to his friend.
Wolfgang, however, attempted to find positive aspects in their predicament. "At least we'll have the opportunity to see an imperial estate and participate in traditional ceremonies. That could prove quite fascinating from a cultural perspective."
Von Hausen said nothing more for the remainder of their journey, leaving both officers to contemplate how completely they had managed to compromise what should have been a straightforward military assignment.
Embassy Quarters - Evening;
The journey back to the embassy proved torturous for Kylian, though not for the reasons Wolfgang might have expected. While his friend stared out the window with obvious dejection over their professional disgrace, Kylian found his thoughts consumed entirely by the image of the woman he had encountered in the gardens.
Her face appeared in his mind with startling clarity—the way the afternoon light had played across her features, the graceful movement of her brush, the brief moment when their eyes had met. He knew she must be a member of the imperial family, but beyond that, her identity remained a tantalizing mystery that seemed to grow more compelling with each passing moment.
It created an almost unbearable paradox within him. One part of his mind burned with shame over their professional failure and the disgrace it would bring to his family name. Yet another part found itself consumed with curiosity about the mysterious woman, wondering who she was, whether he might encounter her again, and how such meetings might unfold.
When their limousine pulled up before the embassy gates, von Hausen delivered a terse "Goodnight, gentlemen" without even looking at them before disappearing into the building. The dismissive coldness of their superior's manner struck both officers like a physical blow, making their already sinking spirits plunge even deeper into despair.
"God, I feel terrible," Kylian admitted as they followed the Foreign Minister inside, their footsteps echoing hollowly in the embassy's elegant corridors.
Once they reached their shared quarters—a spacious room with large windows overlooking a private courtyard filled with flowering trees—both officers began the methodical process of removing their formal uniforms. The silver braiding and ceremonial chains that had seemed so magnificent that morning now felt like mockeries of their professional pretensions.
Wolfgang, still working to untie his uniform jacket, spoke first in an obvious attempt to lighten their mood. "You should have come to the kitchen today. The food was absolutely incredible."
"Oh really?" Kylian replied, grateful for any distraction from his brooding thoughts. "What did you have?"
"There was fish—probably caught today, so sweet and delicate—and a host of other dishes I couldn't even begin to identify. I loved every bite of it, though."
"You didn't bother to ask what anything was?" Kylian asked, genuinely amused despite their circumstances.
"Not at all. They were feeding me generously, but I didn't understand a word they were saying. I'll tell you this much—the kitchen staff were wonderful, at least in my experience. Much more welcoming than the military personnel."
"I'm glad you were fed well," Kylian replied, then found himself adding almost without conscious thought, "I saw someone today."
The words hung in the air as Kylian settled onto his bed, staring out through the window at the darkening courtyard. When he said nothing more, Wolfgang turned from his uniform with obvious confusion.
"Saw who?"
"Ah, forget I said anything," Kylian replied quickly, covering his face with both hands as he leaned back against the bed, his legs hanging halfway to the floor.
"That's... odd," Wolfgang observed, studying his friend with growing curiosity.
For several minutes, Kylian remained silent, lost in thoughts that seemed to carry him far from their modest embassy quarters. Finally, Wolfgang attempted to engage him in conversation about their immediate future.
"You know, about this cultural education arrangement we're embarking upon—I must admit I'm quite excited by the prospect. What about you?"
Kylian, still covering his face with his hands, finally responded. "Wolfgang, really? We just suffered complete professional humiliation. I imagine the entire court already knows what happened to us."
"I know, I know, but consider this—we won't be returning to the court this time. We'll be visiting an imperial estate near the ancient capital of Chang'an, no less. I'd genuinely love to see more of China beyond Beijing."
Kylian lowered his hands and turned to face his friend, his expression troubled. "It's going to be far worse than the Forbidden City, Wolfgang. I can already envision it—this is their ancestral clan estate, which means they'll have even more elaborate protocols and rigid hierarchy. We'll potentially be interacting with the entire extended royal family, assuming we're granted any interaction at all. I strongly suggest we both exercise extreme restraint."
Wolfgang settled into a chair near the window, his expression becoming more serious. "I understand your concerns, Kylian, but perhaps you should try to lighten your approach somewhat. You don't always have to be quite so rigid when it comes to following rules. Certainly, as a fellow nobleman, I appreciate the importance of proper protocol, but sometimes you must be willing to step outside conventional boundaries."
Kylian turned to face Wolfgang fully, his voice carrying genuine distress. "I honestly don't know how I'll return to Hansa if something like this happens again. I can only imagine my mother's disappointment, not to mention my brother's reaction. Chancellor Torres trusted me to represent our family with distinction, and instead..."
"Relax, brother," Wolfgang interrupted gently. "We simply experienced a cultural misunderstanding. These things happen in diplomatic service, and they can be overcome with proper effort."
Despite his concerns, Kylian found himself smiling at his friend's optimism. "I hope you're right, Wolfgang. Actually, I do find myself wanting to see this imperial estate."
"I knew you would," Wolfgang replied, returning the smile.
As the night deepened around the embassy compound, the three inhabitants of the Hanseatic mission pursued their separate concerns. Wolfgang fell into the deep sleep of someone whose troubles, while significant, remained manageable through optimism and good humor.
Foreign Minister von Hausen remained awake in his private quarters, hunched over his desk as he composed detailed wireless telegraph messages to the Chancellor back in Hansa. The diplomatic cables would need to explain not only the failure of the military training mission but also the complex negotiations with Emperor Xianhe, the requests for military guarantees that exceeded his authority, and the delicate balance of Chinese-Japanese relations that could affect Hanseatic interests throughout Asia.
And Kylian lay staring at the ceiling of his darkened room, his mind racing between two equally consuming concerns. The professional disgrace that threatened his family's reputation and his own career prospects weighed heavily upon him, creating a knot of anxiety in his chest that seemed to grow tighter with each passing hour.
Yet even more disturbing was his inability to dismiss thoughts of the mysterious woman in the garden. Her image appeared before him with vivid clarity whenever he closed his eyes—the concentration on her face as she practiced her calligraphy, the elegant arrangement of her hair, the brief moment when their gazes had met across the garden's tranquil space.
The very impossibility of such thoughts should have made them easier to dismiss. He was a foreign military officer whose presence in China depended entirely upon diplomatic courtesy, while she was clearly a member of the imperial family whose status placed her beyond the reach of any foreigner's romantic aspirations. Even acknowledging such feelings, much less acting upon them, could create a diplomatic incident that would destroy not only his own career but potentially damage relations between their two empires.
Yet knowledge of these constraints only seemed to intensify his fascination. As he finally drifted toward sleep in the small hours of the morning, Kylian found himself wondering whether their journey to the imperial estate might provide another opportunity to encounter the woman who had so completely captured his imagination. The thought both thrilled and terrified him in equal measure.
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, he eventually surrendered to exhaustion, unable to stay awake any longer, hoping that the next day will bring brighter and better things for the two young Captains. The sting of professional failure was a sharp reality but it was the mysterious figure in the pavilion that's unsettling him more than he cared to admit.