AN: Those of you expecting sappy XingYue moments will be disappointed for the next few chapters as we're heading into some much-needed angst. I say "much needed" because this is, after all, a Princess Agents story, and where would we be without angst? More importantly, I feel like the upcoming trials XingYue is going to go through are necessary for their development as a couple. YWY must face the reality that his actions could push XE away if he's not careful. XE must face the reality that her impulsive, emotional choices could ruin her life if she's not careful. I promise not to drag this arc out. I promise to deliver suitable ooey-gooey reconciliation scenes at its end. I promise to keep the Meng Feng/Yuan Song shipping to a dull roar. I promise to bring in Xiao Ce and Xia Chong at long last. (I won't promise not to rot anyone's teeth during the reconciliation scenes, however; I promise nothing.)
The young man sloppily kneeling before the emperor with a smirk on his face managed to convey disrespect for the emperor without being overtly disrespectful. Of course, angering the emperor was the least of his problems, as the emperor himself knew full well. After all, the man before him had killed his own grandfather and allowed himself to be outwitted by his enemies. They both knew that the emperor had to execute him; neither seemed compelled to give the other any quarter.
"What can your humble servant, Yuwen Huai, do for Your Majesty?" the young man asked with an impudent twist of his lips.
"You can satisfy my curiosity," the emperor responded, keeping his face neutral.
"Am I a curiosity?" Yuwen Huai asked with an air of false bewilderment. "I wasn't aware of that, Your Majesty."
"Your whole family has always been a curiosity to the people of Wei. Now they've become even more so with the recent revelations about your grandfather."
"Which revelations?" Yuwen Huai asked with an air of boredom. "There have been so many over the years, I can't keep up with them all."
"The revelation that your grandfather allied himself with Liang decades ago and has been selling secrets to them all along."
The emperor got the reaction he'd watched for as Yuwen Huai's best efforts couldn't keep the involuntary look of shock from forming on his face.
"Where did you hear that nonsense?" he asked with unconvincing bravado. "Did my dear brother tell you that?"
"Actually, my son discovered this information," the emperor said with a bit of an edge. "Your brother has been guarding the prison each night and has killed over a hundred assassins who have tried to hasten your punishment."
"How very good of Yue'er," he said, sneering. "I'm sure my so-called brother is watching over me out of the goodness of his heart. Is Xing'er out there, too, keeping him...company?"
"Xing'er stays behind to guard Qing Shan Yuan each night according to my spies."
"Apparently Brother Dearest doesn't trust his lover not to kill me. How charming. And congratulations on getting Yu'er to show a bit of backbone, by the way; that must warm your heart, Your Majesty."
The emperor's eyes flashed, but he refused to give this worthless son of a singer the reaction he was seeking.
"I am, indeed, proud of my son for uncovering this information," he replied. "He apparently discovered that the Grand Concubine of Hong Shan Yuan was living at Qing Shan Yuan and-"
A harsh burst of laughter rang out in the jail as Yuwen Huai interrupted his explanation.
"Oh, yes; I'm sure the tai fu ren is an unbiased, reliable source of information," he gasped out once his mirth had wound down. "I'm sure she would never lie in order to get vengeance on behalf of herself and her niece—who was Yuwen Yue's mother, in case you didn't know."
"Vengeful or not, the woman's not stupid. Apparently, your late, lamented grandfather had a secret room in which he stored a collection of ledgers going back decades. The Grand Concubine knew of this room and these documents and stole one from 20 years ago before leaving Hong Shan Yuan."
Yuwen Huai chuckled again.
"Considering that the tai fu ren is bound to her wheelchair, I sincerely doubt that she was able to sneak into a hidden room and steal a ledger."
"She claimed to have had a couple of maids do the legwork for her."
"Her deaf and mute maids? This just keeps getting better and better. This is all so convenient."
"Isn't it, though? I thought so. Naturally I had to come down here and hear your opinion on the matter."
"Of course you did. After all, what more important tasks could the emperor have to do than to get involved in the family squabbles of the Yuwen family?"
"Evidence of treason is hardly a squabble—nor is murdering one's grandfather, of course."
"Ah, yes," Yuwen Huai said, smirking. "Treason and murder are very serious crimes. So why isn't Yuwen Yue in this cell with me? After all, I'm sure you remember how...helpful he was the night Yan Xun escaped. We both know where his and Xing'er's loyalties lay in that regard. And murder...well...surely you don't think I took that drug on my own, do you, Your Majesty?"
"I knew you'd been set up the moment I heard what had happened. In fact, that's why I sent Prince Yu'er out to Qing Shan Yuan to investigate."
"My first inclination was to laugh, but now that I think about it, Yuan Song's interrogation techniques were likely better received by the maids of Qing Shan Yuan than those of your other officials. And yet, according to you, the only thing he turned up was even more incriminating information about my grandfather. Don't you find that a bit...convenient?"
"My son is loyal to me," the emperor retorted, maintaining control of his temper with great effort.
"Of course he is," Yuwen Huai soothed. "I would never suggest otherwise. I only meant to warn you against allowing Yuwen Yue and Xing'er to exert too much influence over such an amiable, impressionable young man. I can't blame him for having feelings for Xing'er; had her robe had my name on it at the hunting grounds instead of Yuwen Yue's...well..."
"Yes, I know exactly how you would've acted. I, of course, know of my son's unfortunate attachment to Xing'er and used it to gain his cooperation in this investigation. I'm not a fool."
"Of course not, Your Majesty. You couldn't have anticipated that his feelings for Xing'er would outweigh his sense of duty to you. Of course, there's also the possibility that he really didn't manage to charm anything out of those maids, in which case he would just be incompetent rather than disloyal."
"You're not helping your case with your behavior, Yuwen Huai."
"What are you going to do?" Yuwen Huai mocked. "Kill me? What do I have to lose?"
"I can determine how much you suffer before you die—which will be significantly more if you don't stop talking about my children."
"Children? I only talked about Yuan Song. Now Chun'er, on the other hand...is there anything she wouldn't do for her precious Yan Xun Ge Ge? You'd better not let her go out to Qing Shan Yuan, either. I'm sure she and Xing'er-"
"Any chance of leniency just disappeared for you, Yuwen Huai. I'll be keeping my eye on Yuwen Yue and Xing'er, but you're at least as dangerous as they are."
"I'm just warning you about potential bad influences on your family, Your Majesty. I would hate to see any of them learning the wrong sorts of things from a man who deliberately allowed an enemy of Wei to escape. I know you don't want to hear these things, Your Majesty, but I feel compelled to say them anyway."
"I'm sure you're just trying to help me out of the goodness of your heart."
"Of course I'm not," Yuwen Huai said. "I'm a dead man already. I don't really care about you or your family since I know you don't care about me or...well...there's nothing left of my family, now, is there? Not any worth claiming, anyway. But I don't want to see them get away with murder, which they have."
"Have they?"
"You tell me, Your Majesty. What are you going to do to Yuwen Yue, Xing'er, and that other woman?"
"What other woman?"
"My memories of that night are fragmented," Yuwen Huai said, a wry twist shaping his mouth. "I guess that's what Xing'er experiences on a regular basis with her own memories of the past. One thing I know for sure, though, is that I can definitely remember two women. I thought they were spirits at the time; my mind identified them as Xing'er's big sister and Yuwen Yue's mother—who had Xing'er's face, interestingly enough. They said...they said...I can't remember much. I just remember a feeling of dread. They told me...they told me...to 'kill the monster.' 'Kill the monster.' So I did. I killed the monster. But I saw them again. They were dressed like maids. Their faces were...obscured somehow. Maybe they were wearing masks. Maybe it was the drugs and wine. I don't know. But there were definitely two of them, and I don't think that's a coincidence."
"That was a fascinating story, Yuwen Huai," the emperor said, affecting boredom as the young man had done earlier. "But it's hardly convincing testimony. Of course you'd give one spirit Xing'er's face, and as for the other...well...who would she be, anyway?"
"I seem to remember my steward ranting about a forward yet beautiful young woman who tried to stand up to him on behalf of the maids a few days before that night. I think she was an Afterlife Camp assassin. Maybe she made a deal with her new master. Tell me, Your Majesty, have you heard of such a woman?"
"My son told me of a woman he met at Qing Shan Yuan named Meng Feng that fits that description," the emperor admitted. "He speaks quite highly of her."
The wolfish grin that Yuwen Huai shot him turned his stomach.
"I'm sure he does, Your Majesty. Oh, yes; you need to watch your son very closely indeed. You need to watch all of them, Your Majesty. You called me dangerous, but I truly am the least of your worries. You see, I know Yuwen Yue all too well. He lives by his own code, not duty to the state. He will always do what he thinks is right, which might not always align with what you think is right. If a time comes when you have to order him to do something that violates his personal code of right and wrong...well...just don't send him after Yan Xun, Your Majesty. And Xing'er and this Meng Feng...they would love to turn your son against you. They'd do it in a heartbeat if they thought doing so would give them an advantage."
"That was a lovely speech, Yuwen Huai," the emperor said, his temper nearing its breaking point. "It's quite late; I must return to the palace now."
"Of course you must, Your Majesty," Yuwen Huai said with mock sympathy. "I'm sure that talking to me has forced you to face numerous unpleasant truths. But tell me one thing, Your Majesty, if you would: If my grandfather is a traitor, then why do I have to die for killing him? If you wanted to say that I discovered his betrayal and killed him in a rage, you could. I could continue to keep Yuwen Yue in check for you—and keep doing the dirty jobs that nobody else can do as well as I can."
"I thought about saving you," the emperor said. "I decided against it for multiple reasons. First of all, I have noblemen in court clamoring for your execution lest their heirs decide to kill them off in...accidents as well. Secondly, you allowed Yuwen Yue to defeat you so thoroughly that I could never trust you to not get beaten by him again. Finally, given point number two, you're useless to me. If you can't help me to maintain balance within the Yuwen family, then what good are you to Wei? You're also the grandson of a traitor, which isn't going to help you to garner any support from your peers-who have already distanced themselves from you personally as well as politically."
"Thanks for the extra point, Your Majesty," Yuwen Huai said, inclining his head mockingly. "I figured it was worth a try. I'll be watching from the afterlife, Your Majesty. When Yuwen Yue turns on you, I hope you think of me before you die—if you have the chance to think of anything at all. If he manages to take your throne, I'll turn my head before he and Xing'er spend their first night in your bed, though. I'd rather not watch the things those two could do in a bed that large."
"You're mad," the emperor said, turning his back on the young man and walking away. "I have more important things to do tomorrow, but the day after will be your time of judgment."
The laughter that rang out behind him caused prickles to move up and down his spine as he attempted to dismiss the man's words from his mind. Try as he might, however, he couldn't dislodge the disgraced nobleman's accusations because they had the ring of truth to them. He knew he had to talk to his son and to try to figure out how much damage had already been done.
Yue Qi grinned from his hiding place in the copse of trees near the racing field as Xing'er defeated Meng Feng yet again from atop Cold Fire. The former assassin didn't seem to mind, however, and appeared to be enjoying herself despite her slower mount. Not that the horse was substandard; after all, it was the horse that the master had given Xing'er to ride initially, and the master would never give Xing'er anything less than the best he felt she could handle.
As usual, what the master had billed as a punishment for Xing'er had been a prized gift in disguise. His master had now given Xing'er a horse that was faster, stronger, and smarter than almost any she was likely to encounter, which would mean that she would have a quick means of escape if she ever needed one.
And, of course, the breaking of the horse had been pleasurable for both the master and Xing'er judging from the scene I walked in on that time. How long would Xing'er have stayed on top of the master had I not intervened?
He continued to smile in contentment, glad that the master had given him such an easy and enjoyable mission. The master had come to suspect that Xing'er was up to something with Meng Feng, so he'd tasked Yue Qi with finding out what his beloved was hiding. Yue Qi hadn't gotten the impression that his master had been worried about Xing'er getting into trouble or betraying him; he'd sensed more amused curiosity than anything from the spymaster.
Had he genuinely thought something was wrong, he would've investigated the matter himself regardless of what would've happened to Yuwen Huai. Nothing and nobody is more important to the master than Xing'er.
Xing'er was beating Meng Feng again by a couple of lengths, her dark hair flying behind her and her face forming what he could tell even from his hiding place was a look of triumph. She was a beautiful woman, as was Meng Feng.
The rest of the guys are either on guard duty or doing drills and I'm sitting here watching two gorgeous women race each other on lovely horses. Sometimes being the master's right hand really pays off.
Twin glints of metal on the left side of each horse caught his eye, and he blinked in mild confusion. For some reason, both women had brought their swords with them. While nobody with half a brain would question why two such deadly women would have their swords on them at any given moment, he knew that neither woman carried her sword with her at all times.
Maybe they're going to do some sparring once they're done racing, he thought in anticipation. Maybe they'll even fight on horseback. Now that would be a sight!
To his disappointment, however, the two women didn't make a single move towards their swords as they both dismounted. In fact, they acted like they hadn't a care in the world as they talked idly, allowing their horses to crop some grass nearby. A laugh floated over to Yue Qi's hiding place, and he smiled softly.
Xing'er and Meng Feng have been good for each other. I know the master has encouraged their friendship, knowing that Xing'er has had little older female companionship in her life. In fact, I'm sure that the suspicion of Meng Feng's involvement in whatever Xing'er has gotten herself into this time is one of the main factors that led to the master's lack of concern.
His master's beloved looked so small and innocent now, laughing and chatting with the slightly-older woman. Just looking at her like that, one might be able to forget that she was a walking, talking trouble beacon. Yue Qi shook his head as he remembered some of the scrapes that the young woman had gotten herself into.
How one little woman can attract so much trouble, I'll never understand. Of course, she also attracted the master...which only proves my point, honestly. I'm glad I'm as good at my job as I am, because between the two of them, they attract an entire kingdom's worth of trouble.
Thinking about some of that trouble caused the smile to disappear from his face. These past few weeks had been hard on everyone, but Xing'er and the master had seemed to have borne the brunt of the trials. Yue Qi could tell that their separation had been wearing on both of them to the degree that there seemed to be a slight undercurrent of awkwardness and resentment between them.
Not that I know much about romantic relationships, but I can't help but feel that something is wrong between them, he thought, frowning. Not that I think that they're in danger of separating; nothing could ever come between those two. Still, something has happened between the two of them-something having to do with the Grand Concubine, I think.
He remembered all three times his master had met in private with the woman—or, at least, he recalled the aftermath of each visit. His master always left the bitter woman's chambers morose, melancholy, and in need of the comfort of his woman.
At least I think that he needed the comfort of his woman, Yue Qi thought as the two women began tending to their horses. After all, what's wrong with seeking love from your woman? Isn't that one of the reasons a man should get married in the first place? To have someone to hold onto in this cruel, chaotic world? The master did take comfort from Xing'er after the first conversation, but the last two…
Yue Qi had known the master for many years. Yuwen Yue had saved his life, raised him up from nothing, and now trusted him like he trusted no other. Not even Xing'er knew all of the things that the master had confided in him over the course of their relationship.
I know the master is not prone to sharing his feelings with others, but the times when he's sought comfort in Xing'er's arms, he's been so much more relaxed the next morning. These last two talks with the tai fu ren have taken their toll, and as far as I can tell, he's been actively shutting Xing'er out of too many parts of his life.
The women finally mounted up, and Yue Qi's gaze sharpened in readiness. If the women went back to Qing Shan Yuan the normal way, then Yue Qi could report to the master that both women had simply indulged themselves in a bit of sport that could also double as a training lesson. If they went off in another direction, however, Yue Qi knew he'd be in for a bit of adventure.
At first, he thought they were going to head in the direction of home, but at the last minute, they veered away from that path and went off into the woods instead. They rode their horses with purpose as if they knew where they were going, so he knew that he'd soon get to the bottom of the master's mystery. Yue Qi grinned, knowing he'd have to wait a few moments before following two such skilled, vigilant women.
When he was sure that enough time had elapsed, he left the copse of trees, staying near the treeline as he made his way over to where the women had entered the woods from the field. Their hoofprints were clear, so he settled back in his saddle and ambled along at a leisurely pace. Besides, although he didn't ride this way often, he still knew these woods well enough to find his surroundings familiar and safe.
That feeling of comfort began to disappear as he rode further into the forest, however. The trees grew closer in, and the air in the woods grew more stifled and heavy. Yue Qi frowned, wondering why the two women he was following would be riding in such an unpleasant area in which there...was...nothing…
A prickle of unease skittered up Yue Qi's spine as an idea hit him. He knew of the abandoned courtyard, of course; Yuwen Yue had told him about it brusquely in passing once years ago. Yue Qi had never bothered to explore it, unwilling to risk the master's wrath over visiting an area that held little appeal to him.
But the place would appeal to Xing'er, he thought, his good mood evaporated. She would see exploring the ruins as an adventure—and, perhaps, a source of the answers that she was craving—answers that the master wouldn't give her.
The hoofprints he was following emerged from the woods and onto an overgrown path that had obviously once been much larger than its current version. His heart sank as he knew that he must be on the road to Hei Shan Yuan. Yue Qi was also forced to admit another source of appeal that the place would likely hold for Xing'er.
Given the way Yuwen Yue's been treating Xing'er these past few days, she would likely enjoy going somewhere she knew would anger him—and Hei Shan Yuan would definitely qualify. She would probably see going there as some sort of rebellion, some way to get back at the master for turning away her multiple offers of loving comfort.
Yue Qi kept riding on the path, his excitement for the mission long gone. He knew the master was going to be upset at his report. He knew that said report was going to strain things between the master and Xing'er even more.
And I know that I'm going to end up caught in the middle of whatever mess results from this little adventure, he grumped as the desolate atmosphere of the woods continued to dampen his spirits.
Meng Feng dipped her brush in the bucket yet again, drawing it out and applying it to the filthy floor of the master's old room. This area had clearly not been cleaned in ages, and she knew that she and Xing'er would likely spend most of their time here today just getting the floor clean again. Her friend was industriously scrubbing away on the other side of the small room, obviously determined to finish this job she'd begun several days ago.
The former assassin was also determined to accomplish something, although she knew that Xing'er was likely not going to want to help her to do so. As an observant person, she'd noticed the tension that had continued to build between Xing'er and the master. While she'd been wrapped up in Yuan Song's investigation and its results, she'd still seen the ashen face and closed-off eyes of her master as he'd left the Grand Concubine's room after confronting her over her startling confession.
She'd also seen Xing'er almost immediately make her way to the master's side only to be rebuffed by him in front of a variety of maids and house guards. While she understood the master's desire for solitude after such an experience, she also felt bad for her young friend's heart. After all, Xing'er had only been trying to comfort the master, and he had brusquely brushed her concerns aside before riding off to the prison.
As Xing'er attacked the floor with vigor, Meng Feng couldn't help but feel that the young woman had a well of resentment within her that ran as deep as the one outside from which they'd drawn the water they were currently using. She knew that Xing'er had a temper. She knew that the master could sometimes bring out that temper in Xing'er. She knew that Xing'er loved the master, and that the master loved Xing'er.
But I also know how being trapped in a bad situation can feel, she admitted as they continued to clean in companionable silence. I know how desperate you can be, what types of choices you can make…
Not that Meng Feng necessarily thought that Xing'er was on the verge of doing something rash, but she knew from experience how quickly a situation could go from bad to worse. The last thing she wanted was for the love that had convinced her she could trust Yuwen Yue and Xing'er in the first place to grow cold due to neglect and mistreatment.
I owe Yuwen Yue and Xing'er for treating me like more than an untrustworthy assassin. They could've turned their backs on me or even killed me, but instead, they've made me feel welcome and valuable. I won't let anything happen to their relationship if I can help it.
"Part of me wishes the master could see this," Meng Feng said, beginning her attack. "Of course, the rest of me knows this would just upset him."
"Mm."
Meng Feng had expected such a reply from the young woman, so she soldiered on.
"After all, our merely being here would upset him, much less our attempts at cleaning this place up."
"Mm."
"Your being here especially would upset him."
"Maybe. He'd be mad that I'd done something out of his control, I guess."
"These past few weeks have taken their toll on him."
"So I've heard."
"As a result, he might be inclined to say or do things he wouldn't really mean."
"Or he might be inclined to say and do things he really does mean but that he'd normally be able to keep himself from saying and doing."
At least she's answering me in sentences now…
"Do you think he's done anything to deliberately hurt you, Xing'er?"
The sound of scrubbing intensified.
"How would I know?" she retorted. "It's not as if he gives me a chance to determine his motives these days."
"But do you really think-"
A nervous neigh from the entrance to Hei Shan Yuan cut off her questioning, and she could sense Xing'er's relief at the impromptu ending of the questions. Meng Feng inwardly cursed her luck and vowed vengeance on whomever had interrupted the headway she'd been making with her friend.
Both of them soundlessly set down their cleaning supplies and stood up, grabbing the swords that Meng Feng was now glad she'd insisted they bring. This place made her feel on edge, and being here without the familiar presence of her faithful blade last time had made her feel naked. Xing'er had seemed amused when Meng Feng had recommended bringing Can Hong Jian, but she knew how fond of the sword her friend was, so she hadn't been surprised to see Xing'er give in without argument.
Each woman unsheathed her sword and crept to a side of the door, waiting silently for the intruder to make itself known. They both recognized the cadence of the hoofbeats at the same time and shared an amused yet irritated look as they put away their weapons.
"We should hide the horses in another building just on general principle," Xing'er muttered in disgust.
"I'm sure the master just sent him here to protect you," Meng Feng responded.
"Of course," Xing'er said. "I'm sure his presence here has nothing to do with him not trusting me."
"Well, considering that we are currently somewhere he wouldn't want us to be..."
Xing'er scowled at that bit of logic.
"I'll start caring about Yuwen Yue's feelings regarding my secrets when he starts caring about my feelings regarding his."
Her friend's resentful, angry answer concerned Meng Feng deeply, but she had no time to reply due to Yue Qi's poorly-timed entrance. By mutual accord, she and Xing'er had resumed their positions on the floor with their scrubbers, presenting the guard captain with the sight of the two women working as if this were a normal cleaning day at Qing Shan Yuan.
"Hello, Yue Qi," Xing'er said nonchalantly before returning her attention to her task.
"Haven't we made good progress?" Meng Feng asked, gesturing at the room.
"Um...yes...but..."
"We should be able to finish the floor today if we're able to work without further interruption," Xing'er said.
"You know the master's going to be upset about this, Xing'er," he finally said.
"Only if he finds out."
"Do you really think he won't find out, Xing'er?"
"I know he'll find out. I just don't care."
Meng Feng caught Yue Qi's eye and shook her head slightly.
"Well, I can think of worse ways to pass an afternoon," he cheerfully admitted, spotting an extra bucket and picking it up. "I'll just fill this half-rotten bucket, grab this barely-there brush, and get to work, then."
He walked towards the well, strolling as if he were out for a walk around Qing Shan Yuan. Meng Feng surreptitiously looked over at Xing'er, but the woman was studiously avoiding her gaze. Yue Qi returned quickly, and they finished the floor in less time than the two of them would've taken to complete the task alone.
"Is that all you were going to do today, ladies?" Yue Qi asked. "Yes? So we can go home? Great!"
"Of course we're not done yet," Xing'er said, scowling. "I'm not going to leave the bed in that condition."
She stalked over to it and began pulling the mildewed, moth-eaten bedding off of the surface. Meng Feng and Yue Qi helped her, creating a heap of ruined fabric outside of the door. Xing'er opened a chest and pulled out some bedclothes that had been surprisingly well-preserved. They spread the spare blankets over the small bed, coming closer to recreating the original appearance of the room.
"I can't believe the master used to sleep in a bed that small," Yue Qi said. "Of course, I'll bet that Xing'er could fit in it."
Meng Feng smiled as the young woman gave her typical scowl before reluctantly climbing into the bed.
"Yue Qi's right, Xing'er," Meng Feng said. "You can fit in the bed."
"Barely," Xing'er muttered. "I definitely prefer a larger bed, though."
"I know," Yue Qi said, grinning. "You prefer the adult version of this bed—and the adult version of its former occupant."
Before Xing'er could respond to Yue Qi's teasing, they all heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps outside in the courtyard. The leaves crunched and crackled as they were crushed underfoot by the heavy tread of someone walking at an unhurried pace. They all looked at each other wide-eyed for a few moments before springing into action.
Xing'er was glad that Meng Feng had insisted on them bringing their swords now that they might have to use them. She'd already unsheathed Can Hong Jian and leaned it up against the wall near the window. A few swift movements prepped and armed her small crossbow; she noticed that Meng Feng had a spray of darts in her hands and Yue Qi's sword was also at the ready.
Nobody had bothered to close the door, likely figuring that boxing themselves inside of a dilapidated building with no way out would not be a sound tactical decision. Besides, there were multiple piles of ruined linens, rugs, and wall hangings outside of the door, so anyone with the most basic observational capabilities would be able to tell where people were probably hiding. They had, however, closed the windows partly in order to provide them with minimal cover—and a slight element of surprise, perhaps.
As Xing'er watched the tall, masculine figure come closer, she gripped the small crossbow in her hand. She knew that between the three of them, they should be able to defeat a single stranger, but the man looked like a formidable fighter in his own right. He was dressed in light armor and carrying a well-worn but well-crafted sword that was currently still in its scabbard. His posture was one of alertness, and his eyes seemed to miss nothing.
Once he got close enough for Xing'er to see his eyes better, she barely restrained herself from letting out an audible gasp as the figure's identity made itself clear to her. How many times had she seen that same expression of wary yet confident observation in her beloved's own gaze? While Yuwen Yue wasn't an exact copy of his father, the resemblance was still striking and apparent.
Xing'er looked at Meng Feng and Yue Qi, who had obviously both recognized the man in the courtyard as well. She handed her small crossbow to Yue Qi and sheathed Can Hong Jian, holding it by the middle of the scabbard so that its design would be obvious to the man outside. Meng Feng and Yue Qi looked as if they wanted to join her instead of letting her go out alone, but she gestured with her head to the two windows. They gave in, and she strode confidently out the door.
As the man's eyes quickly came to rest on her, Xing'er projected an air of polite interest. Inside, however, she felt both more and less tense than she had before she'd recognized the stranger. While she doubted that the man would harm her or her friends once he learned who she was, she also knew that he likely wouldn't approve of his future daughter-in-law sneaking around his supposedly abandoned property, either.
He'd stopped his approach and was now looking at her with a cold expression that would've chilled her were it not for her familiarity with its descendant. Xing'er showed no fear, approaching the man respectfully yet boldly as she stopped just outside the reach of his sword should he choose to draw it. She clasped Can Hong Jian in her hands and bowed, deciding to address the man by the least controversial title she could think of.
"Yuwen Da Ren," she said.
As his attention centered on the sword, his face formed in a familiar yet different expression of amused irritation.
"I suppose I have the honor of addressing Xing'er," he said with exaggerated courtesy.
"Your servant, Xing'er, is at your service, Da Ren," she said, inclining her head again.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you, Xing'er," he said in that dryly-mocking tone that his son used frequently.
"I'm sorry I trespassed on your property, Da Ren. I thought it was abandoned and that nobody would mind."
"Really? You thought nobody would mind? Do you consider my son to be a nobody, Xing'er? Because you and I both know that he would definitely mind."
"Young Master Yue new told me not to come here."
"Of course he didn't. After all, he would've had to tell you about this place and its history, which I'm sure he was reluctant to do."
"Young Master Yue is reluctant to tell me a lot of things," she said, scowling. "He keeps so many secrets from me that I don't feel guilty for keeping some from him."
"Ah; I can see that Yue'er has inherited my prowess with women. Not that Yuwen Zhuo would've been any better of a teacher. Talk about the blind leading the blind."
Xing'er stared at the man with wide-eyed incomprehension, causing him to actually break out in rumbly chuckles. Part of her wanted to be indignant that her future father-in-law was laughing at her, but most of her was so charmed by such a sound coming from a man who resembled her beloved so closely that she couldn't be mad.
I would love to hear Yuwen Yue laugh even once, she mused as the general continued to chuckle softly. Of course, I think I stand a better chance of becoming Empress of Wei than of ever witnessing such an event—especially if Yuwen Yue continues to treat me like he has over the past few weeks.
The man she loved had, of course, confronted the Grand Concubine after she'd told Yuan Song the truth about Yuwen Xi's betrayal of Wei. Yuwen Yue had emerged from the encounter pale-faced and taciturn and had publicly spurned her offer of comfort in front of all who'd been watching. Not only had his behavior been humiliating, but it had also shown her how much his regard for her had dropped in the past few weeks.
Had that been the extent of his coldness, she would've forgiven him. Had he sought her out or responded to any of her overtures, she wouldn't have held the incident against him. Had he even said something along the lines of, "Xing'er, I can't talk about this now, but I would like you to make us some tea," or, "Xing'er, you don't need to know any of the details of our discussion, but I think I need a shave," then all would've been well between them.
But he did none of those things, she thought grimly as the general's chuckles wound down. He continued to avoid me, continued to shut me out, and continued to reject any overtures of comfort or reconciliation I made towards him. So, no, Da Ren, I don't feel any guilt at all about being here.
"So what have you been doing here, Xing'er?" the general asked, seeming to be genuinely curious.
To her dismay, Xing'er felt herself blush slightly as she led the general to the door of Yuwen Yue's old room in answer. Meng Feng and Yue Qi greeted the general in a similar manner to Xing'er, but he gave them only a cursory acknowledgment as he looked around the restored room in wonder. His eyes were drawn to the small flute lying on the freshly-dusted table, and he picked it up gently and examined it.
The tender look on the man's careworn face moved Xing'er, and she listened to her instincts. Her hand reached into her robe and withdrew her own flute, which the general noticed with a look of raw anguish that took Xinger's breath away. She held it out to him, and he took it in his hand after setting Yuwen Yue's boyhood copy back on the table. He turned it over in his hands multiple times as if memorizing its heft and feel in his grasp.
"My son gave you this, right?" he murmured, still absorbed with his treasure.
"Mm."
"I assume you know the story behind this flute,"
"Yes," Xing'er said. "He told me its history right before he asked me to marry him, in fact."
His eyes left the flute and found hers, examining her own gaze in as penetrating a fashion as his son was wont to do. Whatever he saw made him turn up the corners of his mouth in a smug smile.
"Did this proposal happen to be a week or two before the members of the Third Branch suffered their terrible tragedy?"
"As a matter of fact, I did agree to become Yuwen Yue's wife not long before that sad, unfortunate event took place."
This time, the general's bark of laughter had no geniality in it.
"Oh, yes, Xing'er," he said. "That was an unfortunate event, indeed. I'm heartbroken over the fate of Yuwen Xi and his most excellent grandson."
"I can tell," Xing'er said wryly.
"Actually, the reason I came here in the first place was so that I could tell..."
He trailed off, and Xing'er offered him a sympathetic look. His gaze sharpened, and he looked at her with new wariness. She knew that she had to tread a fine line, but as always, she trusted her instincts.
"I already told her. I told her he's dead. I told her how died. I told her who killed him. I played that for her," Xing'er said, nodding at the flute in the general's callused hands. "It just seemed right."
The general seemed at a loss for words, so Xing'er gave him time to collect himself by looking around the room as if she were searching for more tasks to complete. Her eyes fell on the bead strands surrounding the bed, and she realized that the strings were rotting and that the beads needed to be cleaned. She reached up as high as she could to take them down, but a large form beat her to the task and effortlessly removed the entire bead shroud for her.
"Thank you, Da Ren," she said, trying to corral the slippery beads on their floppy strings. "I take it that you don't mind that we did this?"
"No," he murmured. "No, I don't mind. It was all for nothing, but I don't mind."
"Oh. Well. You got to see it, so it wasn't all for nothing, was it? If you want, we can leave you alone here. We need to get back to Qing Shan Yuan before we're missed; we'll mend the beads another day."
"Actually, Xing'er, I think I'd like to fix these beads myself. Then I'll go...elsewhere and..."
She nodded in understanding and picked up her flute, which he'd set down on a table in his haste to assist her with the bead curtain.
"You can keep this if you want to play her a song on it."
"No," he said. "No, thank you, Xing'er. That flute is yours now. Besides, what would you tell Yue'er if he asked you to play for him and you didn't have it?"
A bitter laugh escaped Xing'er before she could stop it.
"You don't have to worry about that, Yuwen Da Ren. Your son hasn't asked me to play for him—or even played his own flute—since...never mind. So you can keep it if you want to."
"Actually, I think I'd rather play this one," the general said, picking up the small replica flute that used to belong to his son. "You need to keep that one close by at all times. After all, if there's one thing I've learned from the battlefield, it's to always have your weapon at hand because you never know when you'll need it."
His eyes traveled around the room, noting the various swords, crossbows, and discarded darts littering the tables.
"I can see that you've already taken that advice to heart, though; I'm glad that you recognized me before you attacked me."
"I wouldn't just attack someone without any provocation," she said, scowling. "Well, I might attack someone first if I recognized an enemy. Or if I were in charge of protecting others and the person looked dangerous. Or if a trusted comrade in arms told me that the person was dangerous. Or-"
Another rumbling chuckle came from the general as he interrupted her list of exceptions.
"I can see why my son likes you, Xing'er. In fact, I'd like to get to know you better. I know that Yue'er wouldn't like you spending time with me, but-"
"But I don't need his permission to spend time with his own father if I want to," Xing'er said, her eyes flashing. "If he doesn't need my permission to do some of the things he does, then I certainly don't need his permission to see who I want to see and go where I want to go."
"Ah, Xing'er," the general said, sighing. "I'm sure my son will return to normal once this nasty business with Yuwen Huai comes to a merciful conclusion."
"Mm," Xing'er grunted, neither wanting to argue nor disagree with the general. "We need to be going, Da Ren. It was a pleasure to meet you. We will leave first."
They all clasped their swords in front of them and bowed, giving the general his due respect before leaving the small room behind. As they mounted up and rode away, they heard the haunting sound of Yuwen Yue's old flute being played inside of that room for the first time in years.
Nobody seemed to be in the mood to talk; their ride back to Qing Shan Yuan was silent and somber. Xing'er figured that Yue Qi was thinking of ways to conceal the truth from his master, and Meng Feng...well...trying to figure out what was going on in that woman's brain could be almost as difficult as doing the same for her former master.
Not quite as difficult, she thought, scowling. Meng Feng might often be a private person, but at least she's never overtly shut me out-unlike a certain someone. Even Yuwen Yue's father—who may as well be the personification of evil itself according to Yuwen Yue—was more open and honest with me. Should I even bother seeing Yuwen Yue off tonight? He doesn't need me or anything I have to offer. These days, he doesn't even seem to want anything I have to offer. Why should I waste any more time when I'm not even going to get any sleep today?
The general's weathered, careworn face appeared in her mind, and the idea that Yuwen Yue could look like that in 20 or so years sobered Xing'er. As angry as she was at Yuwen Yue and as much as he'd hurt her with his recent actions, she still loved him and cared about his well-being above all else.
No matter what I have to do, I can't let him become that desolate, that tired, that hopeless. Maybe if I spend more time with his father, I can eventually get the two of them to reconcile. And even if they never reconcile, I can still get to know the general on my own. Besides, Yuwen Yue's already upset at me, so what's one more item to add to my list of transgressions?
Xing'er's mixed feelings continued to plague her during the entire ride back. How was she going to fix things between her and Yuwen Yue when she couldn't even fix things within herself?
Yuwen Yue stood in front of the entrance to Qing Shan Yuan, already anticipating another long, lonely night of guarding a man he loathed. He could've left at any time, but he was waiting for the woman he loved to see him off as had been their tradition since Yuwen Huai had been moved to the jail. Part of him wouldn't have been surprised had Xing'er failed to say goodbye tonight; he knew that his beloved was upset at his inability to sufficiently master his emotions.
He had, of course, had to talk to the Grand Concubine after her revelation about Yuwen Xi's betrayal. The hours-long visit had depleted him emotionally as he'd had to learn even more disgraceful facts about the depths of the Third Branch's depravity. Yuwen Yue had known that divulging the truth about Yuwen Xi would bring even more disgrace on his family's name, but he'd been willing to divert the emperor's attentions away from the murder investigation—away from Xing'er—at the expense of his family honor.
A few more moments elapsed, and Yuwen Yue truly began to fear that this would be the night when Xing'er finally decided that spending time with him simply wasn't worth the effort. While he understood his beloved's reasons for feeling hurt by his recent actions, he simply didn't feel capable of dealing with Xing'er when he already had so many other demands on his time. Besides, if he told Xing'er some, then he'd have to tell her all, and he knew he didn't have the mental stamina to do so.
Once Yuwen Huai is executed, life can return to normal and we can work things out. I'll gather my thoughts, explain a few things, kiss her senseless like I did a few nights ago…
His mind drifted back to the pleasurable memory of waking up with Xing'er in his arms at sundown a few nights ago. She'd insisted on eating lunch while sitting on his lap, and he'd gotten the last laugh by making her fall asleep after the meal. He'd tucked her into bed, taken care of a few details, and then come back to their room and climbed into bed with her for a few satisfying hours of sleep.
As he'd predicted, she'd been a bit irritated with him for letting her sleep through supper, but he'd been able to tell that much of her complaining had been for show. Just to make sure that she hadn't been too upset with him, he'd kissed her passionately, putting that dazed look on her face that he loved so much. Yuwen Yue planned to spend the rest of his life causing that expression—or similar ones— to appear on Xing'er's face as often as possible.
Without conscious thought, his eyes were drawn to the top of the stairs as his beloved reached them. She exchanged nods with a few of the guards, telling one that she'd be taking his place shortly. Xing'er walked down the steps, a small bundle clasped in her hands. Yuwen Yue knew that the package contained snacks for the night. He'd taken some with him the night he'd skipped supper, and Xing'er had been supplying him with them for the past few nights.
"Did you put some food in there for the bird?" he asked her as he accepted the package.
"Of course not," Xing'er said, giving him one of her typical scowls. "I did, however, pack extra, so if you want to waste a few on that pest..."
"I'm sure he'll steal some when I'm not looking."
Normally, this type of banter would've comforted the spymaster, but something about the interaction seemed forced and mechanical. Xing'er seemed to just be going through the motions as if she'd just mentally checked "banter with Yuwen Yue" and "give Yuwen Yue his snacks" off of her list. She stepped away from him a bit, clearly ready to mark off "watch Yuwen Yue leave for the night" as well.
"What did you do this afternoon, Xing'er?" he asked her suddenly, trying to catch her off-guard.
Her eyes filled with momentary wariness and guilt before being taken over by ignorant innocence.
"I went racing with Meng Feng," she said, smiling at him. "Cold Fire won every time, of course. Thank you for giving him to me, Yuwen Yue."
The obvious insincerity of the response caused him to scowl at her and turn away, easily mounting his horse. He looked down at Xing'er, who was now looking up at him with a mixture of defiance and frustration. Why she would be frustrated with him, he didn't know—and at that moment, he didn't care. After all, he had an important task to carry out, and Xing'er obviously wasn't in the right frame of mind to answer his questions honestly.
And why might that be, oh, spymaster? his snide voice taunted. After all, you've made such a great effort to encourage Xing'er to be as honest and open with you as you've been with her. It's a wonder she's not beating down your door just to spend time with you these days.
I've just been busy, he mentally retorted as he urged his horse away from his home. When all of this is over, then I'll get some rest, deal with Xing'er, and get on with my life—with our life.
He looked back and saw Xing'er taking her place at the entrance of Qing Shan Yuan, sword in hand and sober wariness visible in her posture. She saw him exchange a look with Yue Qi, and he remembered the task he'd set for his faithful guard captain.
I can't believe I forgot to ask him about Xing'er, he berated himself as he trotted along the road. I must be more tired than I thought. Given her behavior, I need to find out what Yue Qi knows—and soon.
Yuwen Huai saw the lovely, mysterious woman seem to shimmer into existence in front of his cell. While he knew that the illusion was just a trick of the dim lighting, he once again couldn't help but remember that night. He'd become more and more convinced that Xing'er had been there and that her face having been on Yuwen Yue's mother's body had been no coincidence.
"Did you enjoy the show?" he asked the woman, casually dangling one leg off of the pallet they called a bed and canting the other.
She stared at him for a few moments before slowly withdrawing the pill from within her robes. The spy rolled it around on her fingers as she'd done before, looking at Yuwen Huai in a mocking manner. Unwilling to give her the satisfaction of a desperate response so close to his impending death, he affected an air of boredom as he watched her antics.
"As entertaining as this petty showdown has been, I have more important things to do," she finally said, lazily holding out the pill.
"Ah, yes," Yuwen Huai said, smirking. "Things to do, lives to ruin, kingdoms to topple...the life of a spy gets busier by the moment."
She responded with a cold smile. After waiting a few more moments, he slowly stood up, making a show of stretching out all of the kinks in his muscles before sauntering over to the bars and holding out his hand. The spy engaged in a bit more posturing before handing over the pill with exaggerated motions.
"I know how this poison works," Yuwen Huai said, rolling the pill in his hands. "I'll take it, and it will kill me in just a few moments. If I take it now, will you tell me who Xing'er is and why her identity matters? I'm not going to be able to tell your ingenious plan form the underworld, after all."
While the spy made a show of pondering his request, he knew she'd give in. he could tell that the woman was as arrogant as he was, and were he in her position, he would definitely want to brag to a defeated foe about his own genius.
"I'll grant your dying wish," the Liang spy said, giving him a smirk of her own. "After all, I thought your bringing the emperor's children into your argument was a clever move—and one that will likely reap dividends for us in the future."
Yuwen Huai gave her a mocking bow of thanks before placing the pill in his mouth. As he swallowed it, he felt a sudden, profound desire for this tedious thing called life to be over. The last thing he felt was the exhaled breath in his ear from a beautiful woman's mouth, which was more than most men could say. The last thing he heard was the truth and the plan, and they made him die with a smile on his face.
AN: So Yuwen Huai's role in the story comes to an end, although his legacy will live on due to his parting words to the emperor. Next Chapter: YWY finally learns where XE has been going in the afternoons; ugliness ensues. Next Next Chapter: XE continues with her plans and overhears YWY say something devastating. Next Next Next Chapter: XE puts her plan into action, but a royal intervenes; XE and YWY confrontation/resolution. Next Next Next Next Chapter: More reconciliation; others weigh in.