Ning Zhuo put his sword on the side of the cave as he looked at the red fabric that had been festooned around the four poster bed. He could see the slim girl with the red fabric on top of her head. She was obviously sniffling as he moved closer to her. Her body rebounded backwards towards where the bed met the cave behind it.
Her voice was soft as she tried to speak through the sobs that were still racking her. "I thought I was going to be leaving with Master Guo. He told me I could serve as his maid as he advised the Wei generals towards peace."
Ning Zhuo threw off the red robe with irritation as he had been incredibly hot through the simple ceremony. The ceremony had taken place inside the natural hotsprings which were nestled in the karsts that made up the caves of the cult's site of operation. His boots came off as he felt the heat continue to rise in him. Maybe it had something to do with all the wine that he had bee
Alone on the winding road to Wei rode a young martial gentleman and his lover. Yan Sha wrinkled her nose as she looked at the view of the mountains she had watched from her windows for months. It was refreshing to finally see it while riding in front of her protector."Why are you riding so slowly? This is still tribal lands? The civilized people are much in front of us. It could get dangerous if we are here too long.""Nuan, yes. Yes, everything you say is true, but how long have we been shrouded with responsibilities. I'm so close to my birthright and all the pieces being in play for my good. I'm hopeful for the first time in a long time." Ning Zhuo sighed deeply as his shoulders brushed against hers."It's almost too good to be true."The horse stopped as Ning Zhuo considered this. "What are you saying? You don't trust me?""I'm not saying that. I'd like to prepare for thing
Ning Zhuo sat and waited while Yan Sha was in the other room bathing. She had ended up using the bason as the bath water had to be thrown out with all the cloudy blood that had contaminated it. He felt oddly annoyed at himself that he had not let her go first. Ning Zhuo had been so delirious that he had forgotten that this was not one of his servants who was here for his comfort. This role had come easy for her as she was trained for such a task from his old mentor. It still made him feel uncomfortable although these were things which were not unfarmiliar to him.As Yan Sha finally got out from behind the screen, Ning Zhuo couldn't help the soft exhalation that escaped too loud of his mouth. The girl moved close to him and touched him with the irresistable tendernesss in her eyes. She spoke even more softly than she had before as she asked with concern. "Does it still hurt?"Ning Zhuo pulled her into his embrace. "I
Yan Sha awoke surprisingly refreshed. She rolled over and was surprised to see the bed empty. Immediately she panicked as she could see the unfurled blanket reaching to the open window. Yan sha woke up with a yelp and moved to the window. She poked her head out and feeling a little self conscious whispered loud as she dared, "Yu Zhuo? Yu Zhuo? I know you're a martial artist, but could you at least wait until your wounds are properly closed to move."As she turned, a shadow fell over her face. She screamed and fell backward as Yu Zhuo swung his body into the room. He was so quiet when he alighted on the bed that she couldn't quite speak. His black clothing was loosened to reveal the Wei clothing that they had been given by the hotel's madam the right before.Yan sha gulped as she realized the flower clutched in his teeth was probably for her. She couldn't believe that he had brought up her need to furfill
Ning Zhuo opened his eyes and was shocked to see that the carriage was still moving, even though the outside was completely blackened as time had passed with his sleeping. He breathed deeply as he wondered how he was sleeping on something so soft. He sat up and Yan Sha's sleepy body lulled into his. Her soft snore was a surprise to him as her hands were holding both the crossbow and his sword in an almost read position.He looked at her with a slight smile. He fished in the tied bundle of clothing that held his old army issue clothing and he wrapped her in the cloak. She curled close to him. He remembered what she had said before as he leaned back into the carriage. It was strange to him that he had a woman now to take care of. He wondered how serious his teacher wanted him to take this marriage. Ning Zhuo's thoughts on the plucky woman was she could give him insights at strange times and she was much more capable than any
As the carriage slowed to a stop, Yan Sha could see that Ning Zhuo was starting to change his body language as he started to plan for the task ahead. Yan Sha looked at him and remembered what she had seen from her previous encounter with men. Currently their objective was murky as they were thrust into an unknown region to try and prevent a conflict before it happened. How would she make sure that her place would be respected if she returned to the place she had adopted as her new home?Did a prince really need any more accomplishments to solidify his position when his father was the emporer of such a bohemoth as Caiwong? There was little benefit to being the wife of a minor prince of such a huge territory. She could imagine the large country estate where she would be bound indoors taking care of children of his many wives that he would inevitably bring home once he tired of her. Her mother had always warned her that men like her father wer
Ning Zhuo looked at Yan Sha with a strange expression. He moved his face close to hers so that his words were soft. "We're so close to General Tang's study. Don't you find it strange that he would trust us all of a sudden? Why would he get so excited about two students of Master Guo entering his barracks when he has amassed a sizable army for war?"Yan Sha looked at the door which was closed behind both of them. There was a small crack where the torchlight outside was visible. The light went out for a second before coming back. She looked at Ning Zhuo with concern. "Zhou Yu, do you think that he put us here because he wants us to be observed? Is he wondering whether you will enter his study and try to alert the enemy of his plans?""No, no, listen. I understand that this is your first time where you are in this type of a situation. You have to stop the racing in your head and think clearly. You saw the f
"Oh here it is our lady general here with us?" Yan sha looked to the man who had spoken, a colonel of General Tang. He was holding a pot of wine in his hand which he raised to toast her as she walked into the room. She had decided to wear the same dark clothing as the soldiers so she could be less of a distraction, but the general had obviously decided otherwise.She waved to the concerned party before moving closer to the sand table where General Tang had already began the meeting.The same colonel raised his voice. "General, our sources have told us that Prince Ning Ren of Caiwong has returned to Jungpi and officially debuted as the emissary from Caiwong. His fiancee was mysteriously killed close to Taishou. Do you think it was due to bandits?"Yan sha shrugged. "Why does it matter? The young lady will not get any justice. The magistrate will not want to get too involved with the royals. W
"Your highness, congradulations are in order as I have heard there is a legend created about the lion of jungpi who stopped a war between Wei and Caiwong. One of your daughers brokered this deal to make it such that our neighbor will have splendor and stability. The people are rejoicing over this exempliary news."Queen Langhua smiled thinnly as she took her own small cup of wine and toasted with her minister. "There are many great accomplishments that have come from the people of Caiwong. My daughter is only serving as a good example to her people. It's excellent to have her advising the heir apparant."The festivities continued for a person who had decided that she didn't want to come to her own commemoration. Zaiyuan baited different officials with different explanations. His cheery expression disappeared as the last official left the party.=//=Yan Sha sat in the bath. There was the pass of the crown pr
“Who dares to disturb the emperor after the court session? That’s bold of whatever minister can even bear the thought of death for his point. This is not the time to keep pushing a point that has died through discussion. Tell that courtier that I will execute him if he persists with his petition. I am not in the mood to entertain anybody under any circumstances. I will not be forced into doing more things that I have no care for.” Ning Zhuo nursed his head as his head was spinning after reading so many memorials. Even though the pile to the left of finished memorials was more in height than the one on the right, he knew there was a whole pile of them that his eunuchs had hidden behind a pot to encourage him to continue. It was incredibly annoying as work now was never ending. He already knew all the sides to the argument so he was irked that some small person was still trying to push after being re
Langhua, the queen of Jungpi, put her arms around Yan Sha tightly and started to cry as Yan Sha was too shell shocked to move or react. “You’re healthy. My daughter has finally returned to me the way that she does in my dreams. To see such a beautiful sight is beyond what I have hoped for so many years. I am so happy. You’re healthy finally. I have felt such guilt as your mother for sacrificing so much just to stabilize the reign of the incumbent. I searched so hard for an answer to my question of how to stabilize what I had put up for slaughter.” “Mother I—“ Yan Sha didn’t know what to say as she was so used to the brutality of the ruler. To be even here to see the tears and true joy in her return to a better state of health made Yan Sha realize that her aunt really did love her even if she preferred her own daughter above Yan Sha. 
Yan Sha was led to an unmarked carriage on the side gate of the Jungpi palace. It was odd at this time of day and she tensed when she saw it. This was out of her usual routine. No one had left her a note or explained why there was such a deviation so she was instantly alert. Her daggers were with her and she brandished them quickly in a way that would disarm the people around her. But as her movement was swift, there was a clothed man in animal skins who was silent and unexpected to Yan Sha such that she had not thought that such a person would be waiting for her. She couldn’t remember what happened after as the disgusting taste of medicine filled her mouth and she slipped out of consciousness. Her body was dragged into the carriage and the wild man drove off in a huff as all the servants scattered.
Yan Sha looked at Ning Zhuo with a sigh as she could feel the world around her come crashing down. Her breath came in harsh strokes as she tried not to breathe at all, if this was a dream she had to fight hard to make sure that she didn’t wake up. But reality was quick to set in. The bath house behind them was abruptly searched. They could hear the sounds of the maid explaining that there were people just here. “Don’t you feel bad for them?” Yan Sha said with a forlorn expression as she could see their panic and expressions. “They work for me. They are all paid well and even if they are taken into the Prefecture Penitentiary. I will take care of their families and make sure that their descendants are well.”
The black melange was moving up her body which as her clothing disintegrated covered all of her up to her neck. All below the water was pitch black and pulsating. He dropped the torch and there was a hiss as the fire went out. “Crown prince you cannot. I have burned many people. Everyone gets burned as they come close to me. You should not. You cannot. I am poison to everyone. Crown prince, please.” He picked up her body and the black color dripped down onto his hands. He moved swiftly out of the lake. Yan Sha touched his face and bounced back as she remembered what was wrong with her. “Crown prince? Since when have you called me that? If I truly am the cause of this, then I will search day and nig
Yan Sha laughed as she heard this. “Sister, I can’t believe that I hear you say this that you want to share me with others and even outsiders. If the Duke would hear of this I’m sure he would be positively shocked. He would say that someone has stolen away his beloved concubine sun and replaced her with a pious monk. He would look all around the moon for you until he found you right at home where he left you. But truthfully, sister, business is not for me. I could never keep all of the older matrons happy with tinctures. It would be a lot more talking than simply giving medicine.” “Well then you can be in all of their good graces and then they will want to invite us to all of the good gatherings and food tastings. Who is to know what nice things that they will share with us then?” “
“What kind of school are we talking about, your highness. I have definitely never heard of it. Whom is this legendary teacher? But on second thought I would say he has been brutal to you. Your back is full of burns and scars and marks. It doesn't sound like a place where a delicate princess should be sent, even if you are the spare.” “I am not one who has been confined to private quarters like my sister all of her life. One sibling must learn of the outside world to keep the other safe while ruling. It is my duty to protect her and guard the line in front of our house. But these is explained in the words of men, I guard the land so I may have a place to go home to and a bed to sleep on and a sister whom I know will raise my children if I am to die first.” “If you say it in this way
The person was walking upside down now and Yan Sha wondered how that could be. Then she realized that the ground was by her face. She struggled listlessly as the person dragged her away and out of sight. The scene that she had left behind was strange as there was just cloth and bones that were swept away by the morning sweepers as they wondered why this area of town had gotten so dusty. The local magistrates guessed all that ash had come from fires. Not knowing the whole area was hallowed with human remains. =\\= Yan Sha spat up black phlegm again and she coughed to clear her throat. No matter how much she coughed her throat continued to burn until she just gave up that she had gotten used to it that there was no point trying anymore. 
Ning Zhuo then turned and saw a shadow in his study. He strutted back to find his bookcases trembling. His movements to fix everything were quick. Maids immediately rushed behind him and one poked him, “Crown prince, your man from Jungpi has arrived to see you.” Yan Sha froze as she sat on the roof. There was a good opening to jump over the roofs but she was torn as she knew that it was incredibly difficult to get spies into this manor. She was proud of her former partner but could not stop the lick of nostalgia. She wanted to say that she knew him. Below her, Ning Zhuo replied. “Oh good. Send him into my study. I want to hear what he has to say immediately.”