- Chapter Start –

Di FeiSheng doesn't know what to think. One minute, he's angered the Emperor enough to warrant a whipping. He's prepared to go through with it, but half a dozen lashes later, he's left quite alone after Princess ZhaoLing throws herself under the whip.

Why, Di FeiSheng has absolutely no idea apart from perhaps a misguided and very unnecessary attempt to protect him.

Ridiculous!

He's endured far worse beatings at Di Fortress while still a child. This is nothing. All Princess ZhaoLing has done is prove herself to be every bit as emotional and impulsive as Fang DuoBing!

Di FeiSheng grinds his teeth together, but only because her scream nearly ruptured his eardrum earlier and not because he's – he didn't ask her to do this! Besides, she only received one lash. Her skin, protected by her robes, would be bruised, but not broken. It wouldn't even scar.

But her cheek might, a voice whispers in his head, making him grimace. She must still be in pain because her fool of a father has one arm around her shoulders, unaware that he's clutching the exact same spot where the lash fell, and equally oblivious to the hem of his gold robe resting on the bloodstained whip.

None of which are his concern, Di FeiSheng tells the voice and pointedly looks away. Xuan YuanXiao and Yang YunChun are standing nearby, tense and pale faced, while Head Guard Dian Qiu is ashen faced and looks a hairsbreadth away from grabbing the whip and strangling himself with it.

All three look distracted enough that Di FeiSheng could escape if he wants to, but what would be the point without the Styx Flower?

- o -

"No." The Emperor shakes his head. "Your mother wouldn't give Li LianHua the flower. She prized peace more than anything else. That's why she agreed…"

He trails off, eyes unfocusing a little as if recalling a past memory. Sniffling, ZhaoLing wipes away her tears only to hiss in pain when her fingers brush over the cut on her cheek.

"Ow!"

"ZhaoLing, you're bleeding." Alarmed, the Emperor looks around. "Call for a doctor!"

ZhaoLing raises her hand and sees the smear of crimson on her fingertips. Oh. She really is bleeding.

How bad is it?

Will it scar?

Then she looks up and sees Di FeiSheng, still on his knees and staring straight ahead, back ramrod straight despite the whipping.

No. Her face can wait. Her throbbing shoulder can wait. But Li LianHua can't.

"Fuwang, please listen. It wasn't peace that muhou prized above all. It was your promise to her. You promised to keep her village safe from bandit attacks. She always told me that a promise from you is priceless."

"She… she said that?"

"Yes. My promise may not be as valuable," ZhaoLing continues, striving to keep her voice steady, "but I can promise you, Li LianHua is a good man."

Her father's soft smile vanishes at once.

"ZhaoLing, my promise to your mother was backed by my ability to keep her village protected even when I wasn't there. Yours is based solely on your brief interactions with Li LianHua. It does not count."

Di FeiSheng turns to face them, chin lifted.

"Bixia is right. That promise is mine to make."

The Emperor shakes his head.

"A promise from the Demon Leader of the JinYiuan Alliance holds insufficient merit."

"What if I stake my life on it?" Di FeiSheng counters.

The Emperor's eyebrows go up, but he shakes his head again.

"Commendable, but it does not take away the risk Li LianHua poses."

ZhaoLing struggles to sit up, wincing when her father's fingers tighten on her shoulder. She can't help but feel the same disbelief and frustration that's painted on Di FeiSheng's face, can't help but emphatise with how his gaze darts around as if he's desperately thinking of what else he can say to sway the Emperor's mind. She doesn't hear the doors open until she hears a familiar voice.

"Why are my son and my granddaughter sitting on the carpet?"

The Empress Dowager enters the room, accompanied by her maids.

"Qing-er, what happened? You're bleeding!"

"Ahh! Huangzumu." ZhaoLing scrambles to her feet with her father's help.

"Muhou, what brings you here?" The Emperor asks.

"ZhaoLing's maid told me she might be in trouble. Of course I have to find out what happened to my granddaughter." The Empress Dowager spots the bloodstained whip at the Emperor's feet and gasps.

"What happened?" She looks around and sees Di FeiSheng's torn robe. "What has this man done? ZhaoLing, did he attack you?"

"No, he didn't! Huangzumu, this is Di FeiSheng. He and Li-shengyi defeated Shan GuDao and that fake Imperial Perceptor of XiBei!"

"But why is your face injured?"

"It's nothing," ZhaoLing says hastily.

"How can it be nothing?"

"Huangzumu, please, Li-shengyi is dying. We need to save him!"

"He's dying? I didn't know he was injured in the battle." The Empress Dowager nods. "We should help him."

"Yes!" ZhaoLing hurries to her and grabs her arm. "He needs the Styx Flower from fuwang."

"Enough!" The Emperor snaps, face like thunder.

"We must save him, he's not a threat to our kingdom!" ZhaoLing cries.

"A threat? Why would Li-shengyi be considered a threat?" The Empress Dowager looks between father and daughter.

The Emperor keeps silent, lips pressed so tight they all but disappear. Heart pounding, ZhaoLing glances at Di FeiSheng who's as still as a statue, except for his glittering eyes.

"Why is he a threat? I want to know everything," the Empress Dowager insists in a voice that brooks no refusal.

- o –

Di FeiSheng paces up and down like a caged tiger, paying no mind to Yang YunChun and the three guards keeping a watchful eye on him. Princess ZhaoLing stands a few feet away, ignoring her frantic maid while reassuring a guilt-stricken Dian Qiu that she'll be fine and that it wasn't his fault.

They've all been ordered to exit the room, leaving the Emperor, the Empress Dowager and Xuan YuanXiao inside.

"Gongzhu, I must see to your cheek at once." Her maid tries to usher her along.

"Later. Fuwang hasn't dismissed me yet," ZhaoLing reminds her.

With a sigh, Di FeiSheng reaches inside his sash - ignoring Yang YunChun and the guards tensing up – and pulls out a tiny container.

"Gongzhu, you may apply this to your face in the meantime," he says, holding it out.

"An ointment? But your back-"

Di FeiSheng's lips twist in a humourless smile.

"A mere cut. Gongzhu needs it more."

"Oh. Thank you." ZhaoLing accepts the tiny bottle with a hesitant smile and passes it to her maid.

Di FeiSheng turns away, catching sight of the darkened sky outside the window. By now, Li LianHua would've realised that he's missing. Di FeiSheng is banking on Fang DuoBing not being able to stay away from Lotus Tower, just in case Li LianHua realises where he's gone. He wouldn't put it past that self-sacrificing idiot to try to find him.

But of course he can't, not in the condition he's in.

Di FeiSheng resumes pacing, ignoring the uneasy ripple going down his spine.

- o –

It feels an age before the door opens again although it can't have been more than half an hour.

"Come in," Xuan YuanXiao says with a grave air that gives no indication as to any decisions made.

The Emperor is sitting on his throne with the Dowager Empress beside him, both looking rather pale.

"Xuan YuanXiao, how many people are aware of this secret?" The Emperor Dowager asks.

"Taihou, besides myself, Li LianHua, Fang DuoBing, Di FeiSheng, Yang YunChun and the widow of Li LianHua's shifu - Madam Qin. Also, the fake Imperial Perceptor of Xibei and Feng Qing of Wansheng clan who are both in prison."

"I believe we can trust Xuan YuanXiao and Yang YunChun," the Empress Dowager says, nodding at them, "as well as Fang DuoBing who is the son of Minister Fang."

"Whatever the secret is, we can also trust Li LianHua, Di FeiSheng and Madam Qin!" Princess ZhaoLing quickly adds.

"Have you not interfered enough?" the Emperor fixes her with a stern look. "Can you really trust the leaders of two independent sects who have never affiliated themselves with the Imperial Palace?"

"We can trust Di FeiSheng and Li LianHua." Princess ZhaoLing is nothing if not obstinate.

Shaking his head, the Emperor turns to Di FeiSheng.

"And what if, after being healed, Li LianHua raises an army to try to claim our kingdom for himself?"

"What army?" Princess ZhaoLing asks, only to be ignored.

Di FeiSheng crosses his arms over his chest, ignoring the sharp sting at his back as the skin pulls taut.

"Bixia, I do not make promises lightly, but I speak for Li LianHua. We just want to live out our days in the martial arts world, traveling and solving mysteries. We have no interest in politics or conquering nations… and we are running out of time. Please-"

That last word slips out, unbidden, uttered in a voice that cracks. Di FeiSheng's nerves are stretched to breaking point from the combination of his worry for Li LianHua, his frustration with the Emperor's stubbornness, the ache of his wounds and the hours ticking past, all the while having to exercise non-existent patience.

"Bixia, what would it take for you to give me the Styx Flower?" He growls. "Dissolve the JinYuan Alliance? Fight under your banner in times of war?"

The Emperor returns his gaze without blinking.

"You are the strongest martial artist there is, Di FeiSheng. I have heard of your Beifong Baiyang. But leading the JinYuan Alliance does not mean you possess the battle strategies and tactics to defend an entire kingdom. Your experience cannot compare to any of my generals who are used to commanding thousands."

His shoulders hunch over a little, as if reminded of the weight they bear, but his back remains straight and unyielding.

"I will not need your assistance unless our great kingdom is on the brink of collapse and that is something I will never allow."

Di FeiSheng curls his hands into shaking fists, feeling more helpless than when he was in Jiao LiQiao's dungeon, with tendons cut and wounds unable to heal. It feels like they are right back where they started. He's run out of arguments to sway the Emperor's mind. He's failed Li LianHua. And Fang DuoBing and everyone who considers themselves Li LianHua's friend.

"Fuwang," ZhaoLing speaks up, voice trembling, "if you cannot trust a promise by Di FeiSheng or Li LianHua, then I offer my life in forfeit if they should betray you."

"ZhaoLing, what are you saying?!" The Empress Dowager exclaims.

"Nonsense!" The Emperor states and then his eyes narrow. "Hm. I could reinstate your betrothal with Fang DuoBing if you take back your promise."

Princess ZhaoLing shakes her head, tearful but resolute.

"If I cannot save the life of Fang DuoBing's shifu, what right do I have to make him my Prince Consort?"

Di FeiSheng turns to her in surprise and reluctant admiration. He can't think of any princess who would relinquish her own happiness for a friend. Then again, the only other princess he knows was a psychotic woman who would rather incapacitate him than lose him.

With a sigh, the Empress Dowager gets to her feet.

"My son, you have been given a promise by the Leader of the JinYuan Alliance and another by your own daughter, both offering their lives as forfeit. Must I add mine as well?"

Di FeiSheng's heart skips a beat.

"Muhou!" The Emperor looks stunned.

"A kingdom will grow and prosper under the reign of a wise Emperor, and a wise Emperor is one who believes in his loyal subjects."

Di FeiSheng doesn't dare move or blink or even breathe… until the Emperor inclines his head with a faint smile of resignation.

"Muhou, I sometimes forget you were more formidable than the late Emperor," he says and turns to XuanYuan Xiao.

"Bring me the Styx Flower."

- Chapter End –

bixia = Your Majesty (for Emperor)

fuwang = royal father

huangzumu = royal grandmother

muhou = royal mother

shengyi = doctor

taihou = Your Majesty (for Empress Dowager)