66. Calm before the storm

Looking at the girl to his side Fei Yuan internally sighed a sigh of relief. Xian looked much better and the fact that she was walking over the market with him only emphasized her recovered health. Four weeks ago the two Li sisters had reached the Qi mansion and Xian had been so pale and hand looked so poorly that Fei Yuan had feared for her life. To see the loverly and lively Xian so still had shocked him. He remembered from their time in Beirong how she had smiled and laughed with him after her recovery and Fei Yuan had become smitten with her. He'd helped nurse her as often as Yan had allowed him. This tie with Xian living in the Qi mansion Fei Yuan had again sat next to her and nursed her. And now she had finally regained enough strength to accompany him on his weekly visit to the market.

"Oh Fei Yuan, it is good to see you." The stallholder of the herb stall from which Fei Yuan often purchased specialized herbs, greeted him. Fei Yuan inclined his head and steered Xian to the stall. "I've received some herbs that might interest you. I've received them today." The stall holder reached for something under his table and showed the branches of the herb to Fei Yuan, who was interested and pinched some leaves between his fingers and sniffed. They negotiated a price which Fei Yuan paid. The stall holder held out the wrapped herbs. "I've heard that the imperial family from Beirong only send their crown prince and a female friend of the empress to congratulate the Prince Qi. People are outraged at the snub and think the emperor of Beirong should apologize. It appears also that the relationship between Liang and Beirong has cooled, especially with all the mishaps in the trade these last months. Whispers say a war is inevitable." Fei Yuan came to this stall holder precisely because this stall holder liked to talk. He had in the pas been able to help Yan with information gathered at this stall. But this time the information wasn't new. After all Prince Shuomo and Madam Luan had visited the Qi mansion and Fei Yuan had understood enough to know that Yan and Shuomo wanted people to think the relationship had cooled dramatically. During one conversation where all friends had been present – which had proved difficult to arrange because madam Luan was watching Shuomo and Yunchuan carefully - Yan and Shuomo had made it clear they needed to force the issue, so that madam Luan might strike soon.

"You'd better hurry, my supplier told me those herbs needed water soon as it took longer to get them here." The stall keeper said, effectively rousing Fei Yuan from his reverie. The two quickly made their way back to Qi mansion, where Fei Yuan found Yan to discuss what the stall holder had said. At the end of the conversation Xian came in and asked Yan where her sister was. "She has gone to the woods with the Princess Consort, Princess Yunchuan and Lady Xie. They'll return shortly." Yan responded.

"Did you receive a message from Prince Shuomo already?"

"No, but he left a week ago, he hasn't reached the capital of Beirong yet. I'm sure you'll get his message soon."

"It will relieve my sister to know that he's safely back home."

"I'm sure it will. Why don't you join me for some tea while we wait for them?" They walked to one of the pavilions looking out over the entrance gate. Their patience was quickly rewarded with the sound of an oncoming carriage. It stopped at the gate just as Yan and Xian stepped over the threshold. Yan stepped forward to lend his hand and helped Su and Xunan step down. He then held out his arms to the sleeping baby in Su's arms. With a soft smile Su placed the baby girl in Yan's strong arms. The group entered the mansion and got ready for dinner, fir which they would be joined by Captain Fu and Princess Yunchuan. During dinner princess Yunchuan told the others that madam Luan had extended her stay in Liang. "And today we received the news that little Yue's sister has recovered from her poisoning."

After Su had read Shuomo's letter on the day she had given birth, Su and Yan had asked princess Yunchuan and little Yue to join them. That's when little Yue had told them that her sister had fallen ill and Madam Luan had expressed her concern for the empresses favorite maid. She had continued to tell little Yue that a friend of her might know of a cure but this friend needed something from little Yue in return. Little Yue was to travel with princess Yunchuan to Liang and there she would receive instructions. Someone had approached Little Yue the second day that they had reached the capital of Liang. And they had handed her a maids outfit and told her to deliver a message from the emperor to princess consort Qi. The letter had seemed real and little Yue had been very worried about her older sister so she had done what had been ordered. With tear filled eyes little Yue had said she hadn't known that those people had meant to kidnap Su. Su had believed her and they had let her go. Su and Yan hadn't been as lenient with their own coachman, who they interrogated upon their eventual arrival back in Qi mansion. The Mingjing Office had already confirmed Su's suspicion, that the coachman was part, distantly, of a family who was very sympathetic and actively so with the mark of Zuan. Faced with his familial assessment and Su's recounting of his odd behavior and insistence on the princess using the carriage while she had clearly told him she didn't want to use the carriage, it hadn't taken log for SU to get the confession. He had indeed wanted to kidnap her for the mark of Xuan. The Mingjing Office guards who had already been ordered to the QI mansion then took him away and put him in prison.

Dinner was pleasant, but Su observed the glances between Fu Zihou and princess Yunchuan. She also saw the joy in Yunchuan eyes when she looked at Zihou and the wonder when their baby girl was brought in after she had woken up. Yan played a little with little Mei Ling, but the girl quickly realized he wouldn't feed her. So Yan handed the little girl to SU, who excused herself. Yunchuan then asked if she could come with her. The two princesses spoke of many things, but Yunchuan's interest, apart from investigations Su was conducted, was clearly aimed at married life. Su smiled as she recounted much of the conversation to Yan later when they laid down to sleep. Commenting that he hoped his friend would get started on marrying the princess. Yan took Su in his arms and cradled her. As Su couldn't see Yan's face, she couldn't see the worried look that crossed his face before he closed his eyes.