The Chrysanthemum Order

The Peerless Eternal Order of the Golden Chrysanthemum traces its origins to the bodyguards and advisers of the Song Emperors in the dawn of the Empire of Chi'in. At the time, they were little more than a disparate group of influential officials. When the Winter of Sorrows struck and the Empire was sundered, the men and women who had managed the Imperial affairs came together to restore the Dragon Throne.

Since those days, the Order of the Chrysanthemum has overseen the welfare of the Empire, sometimes from a position of power as during the rule of the Chang Empresses, or from the shadows, such as when Ping the Mad declared them anathema and hunted the Order to near extinction.

Always it has been the Order's mission to preserve the Empire at all costs. They have been kingmakers, assassins, warlords, merchants, diviners. Members of the Order have traveled throughout Heaven and Hell and farther from Chi'in than anyone else, but none discuss these events.

Today, the reputation of the Chrysanthemum Order has faded. Their role in the darkest period in the Empire's history has not been forgotten, despite the best efforts of the Ministry of Culture to eradicate all traces of the Eight Skilled Gentlemen. The long period of peace under the Shen Emperors and Empresses has made some question whether the Order is even necessary anymore, and it has become a convenient place to send second sons, faded officials too infirm to contribute, and other people of whose importance require that they remain in the Capital, but whose abilities are lacking. Many in the Imperial Government see them at best as ineffective and a drain on the Imperial Treasury, and at worst as a force detrimental to the stability of the Empire.

The headquarters of the Chrysanthemum Order in the Imperial Capital. Ancient dictates of the Order instruct the members to gather here once a year on the Night of Sevens, during the Lantern Festival. The Manse itself is a colossal building that dates back to the glory days of the Order, and wings of it have since fallen into disrepair. The Manse itself is covered in sutras design to ward against violence, carved into the walls themselves by Faultless Yan.

The Chrysanthemum Order has always valued independence of thought and action for the greater good of the Empire. Nobody rules the Order, or instructs its members on which course of action to take. The yearly gatherings allow for convenient exchange of ideas, plans, and favours.

Being a member of the Chrysanthemum Order is an honour, not a profession, and as such most if not all members of the Order are employed by a branch of the Imperial Government.

The Most Diligent Keeper of the Chrysanthemum Manse, Lu Zhang has been caretaker of the Order's headquarters for three generations. Now by virtue of his seniority, consistent political neutrality and surprising lack of disagreeable habits, Keeper Lu stands as the Grandmaster of the Order of the Chrysanthemum.
Whilst his detractors mutter that Lu has little idea what goes on outside the Manse, let alone the Capital, those inclined to respect their elders opine that the Keeper has depths of wisdom which can't be appreciated by those obsessed with current affairs.
There is a persistent rumour that Lu is the last practitioner of Blooming Golden Flower, a style banned over a hundred years ago at the request of the Kings of Hell.