The Chinese Federation boasts the largest population of the world's superpowers. Although the Federation has an Empress, Tianzi, she is too young to rule. Her cabinet of councilors, the High Eunuchs, thus govern the Federation with an iron fist. To that end, they have lent their support to the Black Knights and the exiled Japanese, allowing them to take the man-made Horai Island as a territory. As the Black Knights receive new Knightmares and an airship, the "Ikaruga", from India (who have an interest in becoming independent from the Chinese Federation), Lelouch plans to take over the Federation's Vermillion Forbidden City, using Diethard's knack for manipulating information to have public perception of the Black Knights' actions seem heroic.
Trouble arises not long after the Black Knights arrive on Horai Island: the Chinese Federation is planning a political marriage with Britannia, with Empress Tianzi to marry First Prince Odysseus! Not only does this interfere with Lelouch's plan to kidnap Tianzi, but the Chinese Federation's new alliance with Britannia could also mean that the Black Knights would be offered by the Federation to Britannia as a "wedding present" of sorts. All this was carried out by a man with a vested interest in winning the High Eunuchs over: Second Prince Schneizel!
At the wedding reception hall, Schneizel arrives with Nina, allowing her to meet once more with her old school friends, Suzaku and Milly (the latter of whom is still betrothed to Lloyd). Elsewhere, Xingke and his closest allies discuss how to address their High Eunuchs selling out their Empress. Xingke, in particular, has a great interest in trying to rescue the Empress: when he was younger, he had broken the law by saving a man from being executed. This was grounds for Xingke, himself, to be put to death. Tianzi, however, spared his life. As a result, Xingke indebted himself to Tianzi, and made a pinky promise with her to show her the outside world when she was older. He is now left with a moral quandry: save the Empress, or let her be married and ensure peace...
Kaguya arrives at the reception hall, with Zero and Kallen in tow, to the shock of the guests. Zero challenges Schneizel to a game of chess. If he wins, he asks for Suzaku to give to Kaguya, as a means of giving him a chance to use his Geass on everyone in the reception hall. Schneizel agrees on the condition that, if he wins, Zero removes his mask and reveals his identity. As the game reaches a fevered pitch, with Schneizel backing Zero into a corner both in the game and psychologically, they are interrupted by Nina suddenly trying to assassinate Zero to avenge Euphemia. As Nina breaks down, the game ends in a draw. Schneizel warns Zero not to show up at the wedding the next day.
The following day, the wedding ceremony is held, with Tianzi thinking of how, even though she would be a hostage in Britannia, she would finally be leaving the Vermillion Forbidden City and seeing the world outside its walls.
It is then that Xingke and a band of rebels crash the wedding, challenging its legality. As Xingke fights his way past the guards, he begins to wonder if he's doing the right thing, if his actions were in accordance to the Empress's wishes, if she even remembered their promises...
Tianzi begins to cry out Xingke's name, her pinky finger raised high in the air!
She does remember! Xingke's resolve is renewed, and he makes his way to the Empress...
...only for Zero to appear, taking Tianzi hostage and about to make his escape with her!
Elsewhere, V.V. talks with another man, about how disastrous it would be if Zero came and destroyed all her and Schneizel worked for.. The man, a cybernetic Jeremiah Gottwald, promises to finish his adjustments, then dispose of Lelouch and C.C.
