The Stone Within — David Wingrove

A NEW WORLD FOUNDED ON THE TRADITIONS OF ANCIENT CHINA DEMANDS ABSOLUTE SUBMISSION AS THE PRICE OF PEACE...UNTIL THE FINAL SHATTERING THREAT TO A DYNASTY BEGINS...

A dying old man's dreams warn the Seven T'ang that a fierce storm is approaching... Do dark, so deadly it can destroy a world. Not even the T'ang, rulers of the magnificent mile-high city-kingdoms of the planet can predict from where the danger will come.

As assassins spread outward to a fortified palace in space, treachery moves inward into men's and women's hearts to bring down a dynasty....