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Jiaoqiu disliked the regular Commissioner meetings, to put it mildly.
He hated how performative these meetings felt - even if they were necessary - and how every Commissioner and official tried their damnedest to publicly undermine Feixiao's authority as General. There were some good ones in there, but they were mostly a bunch of rats.
The meeting was held in a large, ornate room - one of the only places where their old Xianzhou architecture was preserved, untouched by IPC influence. Commissioners of the Yaoqing, various officials, and the General herself sat around a large, circular table. Jiaoqiu sat to Feixiao's right. His presence was meant for him to listen and advise Feixiao rather than participate in the meeting.
This time around, Officer Xiang of the Realm-Keeping Commission, an annoying foxian fellow who was one of Feixiao’s more outspoken dissenters, had decided to be the star of the day.
“I really question your ability to make strategic decisions, General.”
Jiaoqiu could see Feixiao fighting the urge to sigh. “And what exactly do you mean by that, Officer Xiang?”
“You know what I mean. You're more rash than your peers. Have you even run the numbers for the next movement of the Knights?”
Jiaoqiu bristled at the clearly pointed remark. Xiang was not the first to make digs at Feixiao due to her borisin blood, but it was still unacceptable.
“Yes, I have. They have more than enough supplies.”
“You mean, you had one of your provisioners run the numbers for you and took credit for all of the work.”
“I'm not taking credit for anything. I delegated the task appropriately.”
“Sounds like you're just taking credit for everyone else's achievements. Just like you did as a Commander, and how you stole the title of General from its rightful heirs. Greedy people like you just can’t help themselves!”
Of course, “rightful heirs” meant full-blooded foxians.
“Officer Xiang, that is-”
He interrupted her, almost shouting over her voice. “You can't even speak up clearly! Everyone can so easily talk all over you! Have a little self-respect.”
Oh, how Jiaoqiu so badly wanted to tell him to take a good look at a mirror.
Feixiao was authoritative and professional, but her anger showed in the stiffness of her shoulders and her tight grip on the edge of the desk. “I'm going to stop you right there. We're getting far from our initial topic. Does anyone have any more input on the new regulations having to do with the IPC?”
Before Xiang could speak, one of the commissioners quickly answered Feixiao, sparing the whole room from needing to listen to the rest of his tantrum.
Before today, Xiang had already been someone who pissed Jiaoqiu off. If rudeness was all there was to it, it would be one thing, but Xiang was a corrupt official who used his power to get what he wanted from others. There was no concrete evidence yet, but today, Jiaoqiu planned to get it once and for all.
After the meeting was officially over - but everyone stayed afterwards to play politics in smaller groups - Jiaoqiu, who was standing at the side of the room, was approached by none other than Xiang.
Jiaoqiu smiled pleasantly. “Can I do something for you?”
That was all these people ever thought of him as - pathetic and subservient, only good for following Feixiao’s orders - so he might as well act the part.
Xiang spoke quietly, but smartly did not reveal through his body language that his words were meant to be secret. “You must be tired of always following that General around, aren't you?”
“I'm sorry, I don't quite get what you mean. Is there some particular reason I shouldn't like the General?” Jiaoqiu purposely egged him on.
Xiang smiled. “Your wording tells me you know already.”
Jiaoqiu’s smile grew. “Do I, now?”
“Who in their right mind would want to follow someone with borisin blood? The borisin are filthy - I can't imagine what it's like always being around her.”
Xiang’s blatant discrimination sparked hot anger in Jiaoqiu's chest, but he kept his tone light. “Have you ever smelled Lupitoxin?”
The words burned like acid as they left his throat. Even if it was in order to fool someone like Xiang, he hated saying such disgusting things.
Xiang laughed boisterously, as if Jiaoqiu had just told the greatest joke on the Yaoqing. “You're a clever one! Say, why don't we continue this conversation over a meal? I hear you're a great cook.”
Of course he would assume Jiaoqiu would cook for him without even asking. Fortunately for him, he was right this time. “Of course. I'll prepare something you're sure to enjoy.”
They dined on an outdoor terrace. Jiaoqiu preferred eating his soups scalding hot, but he refrained just this once. As they waited for their soups to sufficiently cool, they had a conversation that was almost comically evil.
“You want a way to get rid of Feixiao?” Jiaoqiu prodded.
“Of course,” Xiang said. “Who wouldn't? If you and I work together, I think we could make something happen.” He stared down at the soup, impatient for when he could take his first bite.
There it was - essentially proof of Xiang’s scheming to kill Feixiao. Verbal evidence only witnessed by Jiaoqiu himself would never hold up in front of the Ten Lords, but luckily, Xiang would never be standing in front of them for trial.
Jiaoqiu wondered how many others Xiang had killed to rise to his current position as an officer.
Jiaoqiu carried on with the farce. “Oh? And why would I take such an offer?”
“So you don't need to follow that borisin stench around all day, that's why. Whoever fills her spot as General will probably be a full-blooded foxian.”
“Like yourself?”
Xiang bursted out in laughter. “Me? Arbiter-General? Of course not! Think of my plans to kill her as more of a... community service than anything else. I won't personally benefit from it. Ah, I think the soup has cooled enough.”
Jiaoqiu was pleased - and at the same time disgusted - to see Xiang pick up his spoon and start stuffing his face.
“This is delicious,” Xiang said, red-tinted soup dribbling down his chin. “What did you put in it?”
Jiaoqiu offered Xiang a napkin, as if Xiang didn't already have a perfectly good one he wasn't using. As Xiang dabbed at his chin, Jiaoqiu said, “Oh, nothing fancy. Chili peppers enhance any flavor. You might taste hints of sourness from the vinegar in the soup base.”
“That's it? It's delicious.” Xiang ate another big mouthful.
“Of course, there are many other ingredients, but I can't well reveal them all, or others may steal my recipe.”
Xiang nodded as he chewed. Jiaoqiu figured he was probably barely paying attention to the conversation.
“Of course, the most unique ingredient comes from the unique species of hemlock I had specifically imported from a nearby forest planet.”
Xiang absently nodded, opening his mouth to agree, but then he stopped short. His eyes went wide, and he slammed his hands on the table, standing up. “There's what in this?”
Of course, it wasn't exactly hemlock, but a faster-acting plant extract of similar variety. Jiaoqiu only mentioned hemlock to watch the horror and recognition dawn on Xiang’s face.
“Don't worry, I've specially treated it before cooking. I made it a bit faster-acting than the normal plant.”
“But, your own bowl...” Xiang pointed at Jiaoqiu’s own bowl of soup, eyes landing on the clean spoon on the table beside it.
“Ah, my apologies. I wasn’t able to even touch it yet due to our conversation.” Jiaoqiu smiled. “But greedy people like you just can't help themselves, can they?”
Xiang's face turned red in anger, and he leaned over the table, looking violent. “The General put you up to this!” Spit flew from his mouth. “She told you to assassinate me!”
“The General? No, she didn't put me up to this. I did it all on my own. I'm a loyal retainer, you see.”
Xiang seethed, looking like he was about to shout another pathetic comeback. Unexpectedly, he thought better of it and stepped away from the table. He bent over with a hand on his knee, sticking the fingers of his other hand down his throat to try to induce vomiting.
“Wow, I'm actually a little impressed.” Xiang made retching noises as Jiaoqiu spoke. “You're better trained than the others. Too bad, though. Did you know that ginger is a fairly effective anti-nausea agent? I always take some myself whenever my stomach isn't feeling quite right. I included some in this soup just for you.”
Jiaoqiu had been prepared for this scenario. Aside from ginger, there were several other ingredients that would prevent nausea and vomiting.
He'd repurposed a cure to aid in delivering a poison. He couldn't bring himself to feel guilty about it.
Xiang's retching was interrupted by hiccups and short breaths.
Jiaoqiu said, “Ah, it's kicking in now. You can expect your respiratory system to completely fail within the next three minutes.”
Horror crossed Xiang's face. His lips formed the word “Help!” as if he wanted to yell, but it came out as a raspy whisper.
Jiaoqiu frowned. “You should've called for help earlier when your lungs were in better shape. Now everyone can so easily talk all over you.”
He was sure Xiang didn't notice or care about throwing his words back at him, but it made Jiaoqiu feel better, at least.
Xiang gasped and hiccuped more violently. He collapsed to the ground, taking shallow breaths.
Jiaoqiu stood from his seat and silently watched Xiang die.
When Xiang went still, Jiaoqiu turned back to the dirty dishes on the table. He had a lot of cleaning to do.
When Jiaoqiu walked into Feixiao's office, she said, “Jiaoqiu, where have you been?” She sniffed the air. “Oh, what were you cooking? It smells good.”
Jiaoqiu chuckled. “Sorry, but there's none left for you to try. I was sharing a wonderful meal with Officer Xiang of the Realm-Keeping Commission.”
“Oh?” Feixiao's interest was piqued. She was probably wondering what Jiaoqiu had done to this one.
“I think the exotic tastes I used were a little too much for his palate. He won't be bothering you anymore.”
Feixiao laughed. “How unfortunate. Good job, Jiaoqiu.”
He wasn't ashamed to revel in her praise.
“It's all just part of my duty, General.”