The next morning, Xiu Juan made her way to Sir Guozhi, a very good friend of The Emperor and Ying-tai. He was a strategist, but he now often spent his days researching in his study. He used to serve right next to The Emperor when he was young and counseled him when he went to battle. However, now that he has aged he stayed behind while frequently communicating with Ying-tai’s unit during his leave. He was valuable to Qin and incredibly intelligent.

He was in his study; papers stacked everywhere, yet well organized. He was a small but vigilant old man with white strands of hair running through his head and beard. They announced Xiu Juan’s arrival and he looked up from his monocle he held in his hand.

“Princess Xiu Juan,” he bowed and greeted, smiling. “Why, you grow more beautiful each day. What day it is to have you come visit me.”

“Sir Guozhi,” Xiu Juan smiled and greeted in return, “You are looking well and healthy.” Then she lowered her voice, “I need to speak to you alone. It is urgent.”

Sir Guozhi’s face, worn from battle, grew solemn. He dismissed his men and had them shut the doors.

Xiu Juan and Sir Guozhi, making sure no soul was around to hear them, walked to the table to sit down on the cushion seat on top of the bamboo mat. Xiu Juan knelt down and flattened out her layers of silk around her. It took up most of the tiny room.

Sir Guozhi, old fashioned in his mannerisms, poured them both a cup of fresh brewed ginko tea.

“Last night, I caught an intruder trespassing inside the palace,” Xiu Juan began.

“An intruder? Princess, why did you put yourself in such danger?” He lectured.

“He was harmless. And I already took care of him,” Xiu Juan said.

“Still, you should not risk yourself like that,” Sir Guozhi insisted.

Xiu Juan pulled out the copy of the letter out from her sleeve and placed it on top of the table.

“He was carrying this. It was to be delivered here from Zhao.”

Sir Guozhi’s eyes widened and took the paper from the dark, glossy wooden table.

“It was coded so I did not know what it said. I figured you were the only one here I could trust to break it.”

Sir Guozhi looked through his monocle and furrowed his brows.

“These are codes used specifically by the Zhao. Whoever was the recipient of this letter had been communicating with them long enough to be fluent in their cryptogram.”

Xiu Juan breathed heavily. “What does it say?”

“The agreement has been granted,” he translated.

Her heart pounded heavily. “What agreement would he have with Zhao?” Xiu Juan whispered to herself, squeezing her own hand.

“Who?” Sir Guozhi asked.

She looked at him with distress in her eyes, “My brother.”

He raised his head. “Does your father know?”

“No. No one but you and I.”

Sir Guozhi thought for a moment. “Do not bring alert to anyone. We are not sure what the agreement is and we do not want to stir attention yet and be threatened inside our own walls. We will keep a close eye on Crown Prince’s behavior until Lord Ying-tai returns.”

“Are you going to tell Ying-tai?” Xiu Juan asked.

“No. I don’t want him distracted. If I told him we had a person inside our walls communicating with Zhao, he will rush his way back home. He cannot afford to be stressed right now. Ying-tai’s division just arrived at the front by Wei and the other division we sent out is by Zhao and both will attack tomorrow.”

Xiu Juan sighed and nodded.

“Don’t worry, child. We will work something out.”