26. A conversation between Yunchuan and Zihou

The entire group assembled for dinner and after dinner, while they enjoyed some tea they discussed the murder of the minister.

"So we know he was poisoned, this was confirmed by his physician, the coroner and Rushuang. We don't know what the poison was and when he was poisoned. We know he visited the palace and the market. The market visit was planned, the palace visit wasn't, which would make it even harder to poison him in the palace. But as far as we know he didn't eat anything at the market, which makes a poisoning there unlikely." Su summarized.

"I did find those puncture marks, that could be a way in which the poison was administered." Rushuang interrupted.

"If that is the case, it would limit the possible poisons that were used, right Rushuang?" Yan asked, looking at Rushuang, who nodded and said: "It would, because it would have to be a very powerful poison. But when was it administered? He must have felt something. How about his wife or someone from his own household, if the poison was powerful it might have been given when he was at home."

"It was generally known that the trade minister had a very good and loving marriage. And the wife seemed genuinely upset when we met her this afternoon." Shuomo said. Su concurred with him and added: "And then we also have the matter of the powder on his overcoat and in his pocket. Oh, right. Prince Shuomo could I see the medallion again? Rushuang, could you get the magnifier?" Shuomo asked a servant to retrieve the medallion as Rushuang rushed to her room to get the required item. When she returned she handed the magnifier to Su. Su accepted it and proceeded to examine the medallion, which the servant had delivered swiftly, closely. "There is still some yellow powder here. Look Rushuang." Su leaned to Rushuang, so she could look through the magnifier.

"I see, it looks to be the same powder, I'll see if I can confirm that tomorrow. But what does it mean?" Rushuang asked, Su thought about it for a short period and then said: "I think someone placed the medallion in his pocket just after he fell in the market. The yellow stain was not near his pocket, so someone must have reached in with stained hands. It must have been the supervisor of the market, he was then one who helped the trade minister. The stall holder was on the other side of the stall and wouldn't have been able to reach the minister."

"But why would the supervisor place the medallion in his pocket?" Yunchuan wondered.

"To make sure suspicion would fall on the one who apparently lost the medallion: Jiang Xiwu."

"Except Xiwu is dead, after they'd found that out, surely the suspicion would fall on the supervisor again. And we know he had a reason for wanting to get rid of the minister…" Yan responded to Su's answer. He kept silent along with the others and then continued: "You said there were puncture marks, could the supervisor have done that?"

"When though? And how could he have done it without the minister knowing about it? There were multiple puncture marks, after the first he must have noticed the second, third and fourth puncture?" Rushuang added, recalling the wound on the lower arm.

"I don't know, let's leave it for today and look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow." Su suggested, suppressing a yawn. The others nodded and all started to rise to retire to their rooms. Yan and Su were the first to leave, but the others followed quickly.

The next morning they all gathered again for breakfast. "I have to go to court today, after that I have some time to meet with the emperor. Yunchuan, father asked to see you too. Can you join me?" Shuomo looked over to his sister, who was again seated next to Zihou. "I will join you."

"Prince Shuomo, could you try to find out what the minister ate and drank when he was at the palace? I'm going to see if I can find out what poison was used. I believe you said that the royal physician saw the minister right?" Rushuang said. Shuomo nodded and added: "I'll ask him to visit you here, if you would like to talk to him."

"That would be good. I'll also see if the powder on the medallion is the same as the powder on the clothing. Dear, I need some materials." Rushuang turned to Xie, who smiled at her.

"Do you have enough room to work in the rooms you have been given, sister Rushuang?" Yunchuan asked, not waiting for an answer she continued: "No, of course not. I'll help you find a better room to work in. There is a small building in the herb garden, I think that would be better."

"That would be nice. Brother Pei, could Fei Yuan help me get the necessities and set up?"

"I'll join brother Xie and help get all the materials and herbs you need. Fei Yuan can stay here. I think Su is also going to stay here." Yan said smiling. Su had still been asleep when he went to breakfast, he had left her to sleep a little bit longer. "Fei Yuan can you make sure she gets some breakfast when she wakes up?" Fei Yuan nodded: "Of course, young master." He didn't have to say it, but both Rushuang and Fei Yuan knew Yan expected them to take care of Su, while he was away. When everyone had finished eating, they all went their separate ways. Yunchuan first made sure Rushuang and Fei Yuan could use the building in the herb garden. Next to the building was a small pavilion. After Rushuang had told Xie and Yan what she needed, Yunchuan suggested she would join them to help them find all the necessary materials. "Commander Fu, will you join us? I can show you the city after we found the materials for sister Rushuang." Yan saw his old friend seemed delighted to spend some more time with Yunchuan. The four made their way to the city, where Yunchuan quickly led them to the different stores that they needed to visit. As they walked from shop to shop Yunchuan and Zihou walked in front of Xie and Yan, Yan could see that they were comfortable with each other. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could see they were enjoying the conversation. He could see them smile at each other from time to time. "You and Su also walked and looked like them. Are they in a relationship?" Xie suddenly asked in hushed tones.

"I don't know." Yan whispered back, then he raised his voice and said: "Princess Yunchuan, Zihou, we are going back to the mansion. Are you coming as well?"

"No, I want to show Commander Fu the capital. We'll see you later." Yunchuan and Zihou had both turned to reply. Yan nodded and then he and Xie returned to the mansion.

"Come, I want to show you the lake." Yunchuan turned into a side street and Zihou readily followed her. "These side streets are good way to lose the guards my brother insists on sending after me. I've learned the layout very well."

"Why do you want to roam the capital on your own? Why not accept the extra security? You family just wants to protect you." Zihou asked as they weaved their way through countless small streets. He saw Yunchuan remove her overcoat and turn it inside out, hiding the gems. Then she removed her necklace, she had opted for limited hair accessories. With these little changes she changed her appearance enough to pass as a relatively ordinary woman. "You've done that before." Zihou stated, a little impressed with the way she was thinking ahead. As it wasn't a question Yunchuan only raised her eyebrow as response. "How often do you 'lose' your guards?" Zihou asked, checking behind him to see if the guards were really gone. Yunchuan didn't respond, she merely kept walking. Zihou thought it best not to comment for now. Eventually they stepped out of a small street onto a wide paved path, lining a large shimmering lake. On the left and right of the lake the city wall stopped. The lake itself forming an effective defense against intruders. Beyond the lake lay a large forest and even further Zihou could still see the mountains. "Beautiful, isn't it? It's my favorite place in the entire capital." And Zihou could believe it, not just for it's marvelous view, but because here it seemed the world opened from the city. To someone who felt trapped in the city, this must be a place to dream, a place where freedom beckoned. There was a wooden path leading over the lake, Yunchuan quickly walked as far as she could and then sat down on the edge, her shoes almost touching the water. Zihou followed her.

"You always write about the days you shared with the princes, when you were younger and when you were older. But did you live in the palace?" Yunchuan looked to her side where Zihou was seated.

"No, my father was captain of the royal guard and he took me and my brother to the palace a few times. We then played with the princes. Our friendship grew , so we often went to the palace. The princes often ordered us to the palace when they knew we would have to go to school. The empress quickly discovered my brother and me were not getting our education, so one day, after the princes had summoned us, she waited for us and arranged it so we would have to do the same lessons as the princes. From that day we received our education at the palace, we can there every day. We did feel a little cheated, the education at the palace was very difficult, but now I am very grateful. It was a great honor to our family." Zihou looked out over the lake, thinking back to those early days of his friendship with the Yan brothers.

"But you didn't live in the palace. You didn't have the responsibilities the princes had. You are not expected to marry to strengthen the empire." Yunchuan looked down on her folded hands.

"I thought your brother would find someone with you?"

"Yes, but I haven't found someone I like yet and father is getting restless. He wants me to marry soon. We still don't want to marry to strengthen bonds between our empire and other empires, but my father and brother are getting worried about the trade agreement and peace with Liang. So if I would marry a man from a powerful family from Liang it could help strengthen the bond. My father would not be adverse to a marriage with a Liang man." Yunchuan sighed a little.

"Do you want to marry?" Zihou asked, taking in Yunchuan's hunched position.

"Only with someone I like, but as I said: I do have to marry. Not doing so would be a dishonor to my family."

"But…" Zihou pressed, sensing there was more.

"I want to explore the world, see the other towns in our empire, how would I be able to do that once I'm married?" Yunchuan looked at Zihou.

"Lady Pei travels even though she is married. As does Rushuang." Zihou reminded Yunchuan.

"But they have occupations that require them to travel. I don't. My father and brother tell me but a little of what is happening in our empire. All I am to know is how to have a conversation, how to embroider and keep a house. What is interesting about that?"

"I don't know." Zihou truthfully said. He felt sorry for Yunchuan. To be limited in what you were allowed to do and where you could go, it sounded dreadful. He thought about his own wife and what he had expected their life to be like. He also would have expected her to remain at home, take care of their household and do those tasks that were considered to be for the wife. Would she have liked that? Or would she also have felt trapped, bound by honor? His wife had never expressed disenchantment with what was expected of her. But she had also never been as adventurous as Yunchuan. Having said that, his wife had seriously considered eloping with his brother, something that had surprised Zihou. He had loved her and had wanted her to be happy, but would she really have been happy had she chosen to stay with him or would she simply have been content, knowing she had made her choice based on honor and not love? He still missed her, but it wasn't the deep grief he saw in his brother, even to this day. There were even days that Zihou almost wished they had eloped, and then he remembered she still would have died. He watched Yunchuan, who was staring out over the lake, lost to her own thoughts. And what about Yunchuan? He cherished the friendship they had built through the letter they wrote and the visits she had made to Liang since her poisoning. The days that she had been poisoned had been the bleakest in his existence. He had guarded her day an night, only taking rest when it was absolutely necessary. As he had told the maid it had been out of duty and honor, but had those been the only reasons? Zihou dared not consider his feelings to be more, fearing disrespect to his late wife. Yet he could not deny it had been a relief to hear Yunchuan had not yet found someone else she liked. "Tell me, what happened since the last time you wrote to me?" Yunchuan asked, ending Zihou's reverie. Zihou needed a little bit of time to get his thoughts straight, so for a few moment he just watched Yunchuan's face, glad to see the sparkle in her eyes again.

"Actually I was close to you. I visited the border town with Brother Pei, Sister Su, Rushuang and Xie. Oh and Fei Yuan of course."

"Where you there while the market of two empires was there? I heard the festival is very lively, I would love to visit it." Yunchuan replied.

"Yes, we where there and met a young maiden, Tong Xin. She showed us around. But we didn't go there to visit the festival, that was a coincidence."

"I know Tong Xin, I've met her in the capital a few times. Why did you go to her town?"

"Li Yu, the woman who poisoned you had been found there. She'd escaped prison during last year and we finally found her."

"Did you recapture her? Did they punish her?" Yunchuan still felt resentful towards the woman who had meant her harm. She clenched her fists, Zihou reached for her hands, holding them in his. "Calm down, she is not worth any more of your attention Yunchuan." Zihou had said it before to Yunchuan, wanting her to not be reminded by what had happened to her. He felt her unclench her fists. "By the time we reached the border town we discovered that she was murdered. Soldiers from our army had found her."

"Good."

"Yunchuan…" Zihou admonished her, but Yunchuan turned to him eyes fiery: "No, she tried to kill me and would have succeeded without sister Rushuang. I'm glad she's dead." Zihou sighed inwardly, he could understand her reaction, so he let it rest and continued his story: "Well anyway, Su thinks she was killed by someone who might have been sent to help her cross the border to Beirong."

"You think there is a connection with Beirong?"

"Su and Pei seem to think it likely, she is linked to the rebel Yun, so in Liang it would be difficult to find shelter. And she joined the Beirong trade party in Beirong, she must have had help getting a place in the group going to Liang." Zihou explained.

"You are right, someone from the palace, a close friend of my mother, recommended her." Yunchuan thought back to that time, she fell silent and then thoughtfully said: "Oh…oh, my brother isn't going to like the implications."

"Neither does Pei." Zihou responded. "While we were there we heard people talk about a Ghost Army."

"Does Liang also have a Ghost Army legend?" Yunchuan sat up, immediately interested. Zihou shook his head: "Not as far as we know. I was wondering: what is the legend of the Ghost Army?"

"Well from what I heard, a long time ago there was an army which had the best warriors of the empire. Everywhere they fought they were victorious. No other army could defeat them. The warriors fought on, winning back land long ago lost to other empress. It is said that these warriors were so good that they would fought on even if they had already died. The fighting ghosts. The will come if that what they fought for is threatened. Eventually every warrior of that army died, some on the battlefield, but most in their own home when old age had bend them." Yunchuan finished.

"So, defending Ghosts?" Before Yunchuan could respond a guard came up to them and bowed: "Your Highness, you are expected in the palace." Zihou looked at Yunchuan, the question clear in his eyes. Yunchuan shrugged: "They all know this is my favorite place in the city" Zihou extended his hand to help her up and together with the guard they left for the palace. Once they were at the palace Zihou attempted to leave, but Yunchuan tugged him to the palace: "You can come as well." As Zihou doubted his presence was required at the mansion he accepted the invitation and followed Yunchuan to one fo the many pavilions in the palace. An older but still beautiful lady was already seated, her apparel and head piece clearly stated that this was the empress. Yunchuan and Zihou bowed, and were asked to rise. "Mother." Yunchuan said, walking to her mother to give her a kiss on the cheek.

"My daughter, it is a pleasure to see you again." Approaching footsteps had them turn to see who was coming. It turned out to be the emperor and prince Shuomo. Once more bowing the group welcomed each other. If the addition of commander Fu to their party was a surprise, they all kept it to themselves. "Mother. Father. This is commander Fu, who guarded my room day and night while I was in Liang. Keeping me safe from any further mishap." Yunchuan introduced Zihou. The empress then spoke: "Then we have to extend our deepest gratitude to the service you have done our family. Thank you." Zihou bowed in acceptance of the praise: "Thank you, your Highness, I was just doing my job. I will leave you to your conversation." The emperor asked a maid to show Zihou to a private pavilion. Yunchuan started to protest, but one look from her mother silenced her. Zihou smiled to himself while he followed the maid. Yunchuan's reaction amused him, as so many other things about her were amusing and endearing. He accepted the tea and refreshments that were brought to him and patiently waited for someone to reunite him with Yunchuan and Shuomo.