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
"Your highness, the princess does not wish to have visitors today. She is tired from her sojourn and is still recouperating at the order of the queen. None are allowed to pass into this corner of the palace." The maid bowed politely as Ning Ren looked on forlorn. He had been pacing back and forth since court had adjourned for the day. The doors in front of the princess's palace were always closed with a pleura of guards standing in front. This was the first time that he had been greeted by a maid instead of a burly general with a mace who looked unamused when he admitted that he had wronged the princess and was trying to make amends.This was the princess whose rise in notoriety had every servant bowing in front of her door like she was some goddess in residence instead of a human being. The servants too who came from within were always very miffed at lower servants who were trying to get a glimpse of their madam. The whole air
There was a rustle in the leaves as there was a disturbance in the night. Yan Sha bolted awake as she had many times in the house of the Minister of War during the night with all midnight visitors. The plots ranged around her with her knowledge but really without her being involved in them as Yan Sha knew Zaiyuan had intended.The minister was unaware of her identity, only that his new deputy minister was given to him by the queen's prince consort, Zaiyuan. Her gender was not something that served to bother him. He did not ask much of her to begin with, she was a glorified shadow of his who knew little if anything.Allowances were made for her to dress as she liked while in her private quarters. Her role was mostly as a maidservant in the manner and outside as a personal aide when she accompanied the minister as a male deputy ministers. Sometimes she would be invited to participate in discussions or would be mentored by the minister, Zhang
"I know you don't really enjoy living in the palace, but I did hear from Minister that you were taken from your room and returned. He did not think that it was his place to question you so he reminded me that if this was the type of activities you would be involved in that you would no longer be welcomed at the manor." Zaiyuan looked miffed as he poured two cups of tea and drained them in quick succession."There is an explanation that I doubt you will like.""Oh? When have you really done what I would have liked? I am not very interested if this is what I think it is."The servants were already removed from the room so Yan Sha spoke planly. "Father, Ning Zhuo came for me."His hand dropped to his knee in alarm. She could see the veins tighten as his voice stayed level. "How did you get out of there alive? Are you compromised? Is there a need for us to get a physician involved?"Yan
Yan Sha followed closely behind Minister Xun as they entered the restaurant. As it was night, the place was crowded with young men. A group of scholars were crowded around a long sheet of paper that had been rolled down from the second floor from the rafters. Yan Sha could read that it was a long stream of poetry where the scholars would each choose a different line.Zhang Xun spoke quietly to the waiter standing behind the counter. Yan Sha tried to see if there was anyone whom she recognized. Most of the nobility of Jungpi were unfamiliar to her as she had not been allowed outside for fear of the attack from Ning Zhuo. Yan Sha wondered what she would do if she ran into him here. His feeling for her were chaotic and difficult to understand.A hand alighted on her shoulder as the minister spoke to her with a reassurance. "Let's go. Don't worry that outside people will be involved with us. These students are the
“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.”