Mothers

Mothers follows from Chinese Whispers Book I - Sisters as the Xià become the first Chinese dynasty.

Pockets of Lóngshan warlords continue to strike fear into the populace, although their activities are gradually curtailed. As their power recedes, the deposed elite hitch their wagons to the new empire; instead of fighting against it, they seek to get their feet under the table and pervert from within.

The Sisterhood looks centuries ahead and only belatedly attempts to forestall short-term backward steps. From being a large-scale, seemingly low-impact organisation, they morph into a high-impact, tightly self-controlled group prepared to manipulate through kidnapping and assassination. Not all their members are comfortable with the changes, and gradually, a dissident feminist cabal forms to promote the education of girls and boys.

Most still cling to the hope that the phrase, "It's a girl!" would continue to be shouted in celebration. However, the socialist experiment is stalling. Lust for political power and business success wreak havoc amongst the leadership of the new empire. Soon, businessmen are found dictating societal change, and it is no surprise that the biggest losers are the females.

Will the Sisterhood prevail, and if so, how long might it take?