Xiu Juan was tending the garden of the plum blossoms with Ms Shu, Luli, and Bo when a royal servant of the emperor called for her.

“Princess Xiu Juan, Emperor Jiao Long requests your presence in the grand room,” he said.

“What for?” Xiu Juan asked, irritated. “I’m busy at the moment.”

“It’s for an important matter, Princess,” the royal servant informed. He looked at her hands. “You might want to wash up before you bring yourself inside the grand room,” he advised and bowed his way out.

“It must be important. I think you should go before his majesty starts trouble with you,” Ms Shu urged as she was concerned for Xiu Juan.

“I heard he invited some very important guests over but nobody was allowed to say who. In fact, I don’t think anybody knows who it is,” Bo mentioned while Luli poured water from a vase to wash Xiu Juan’s hand.

“We haven’t spoken in a while. I don’t know why he would want to see me now or even expose me to his fellow guests, knowing how he is,” Xiu Juan said.

On her way to the grand room with Luli, Xiu Juan noticed the solemn faces of the many servants that stood by the doorway.

“What’s with the facial expressions?” Luli whispered to Xiu Juan.

Xiu Juan’s heart became uneasy with the aura as she closed nearer to the doorstep. “I’m afraid I cannot say,” she replied.

“Grand Princess Xiu Juan of Qin has arrived!” The announcer announced when Xiu Juan stood outside the entrance.

When the doors opened, the first thing she laid her eyes upon was her brother sitting on the throne looking down to her. She kept her piercing eyes on him as she moved forward. The room was strangely quiet. The only sound that was heard was the sound of her silk brushing against the hardwood floor as she moved forward. The ornaments in Xiu Juan’s hair jingled lightly as she bowed to Jiao Long. She raised her head and glanced at Shirong who stood close by her brother.

“Xiu Juan,” Jiao Long’s voice echoed through the room, “I’m happy to see you here.” He motioned his hand to her seat. Xiu Juan made her way to the dais but before reaching the steps that led to her seat, in the corner of her eye she caught an unpleasant sight of a uniform she recognized from illustrations from Ying-tai’s books. She turned her head and shot her eyes toward their direction and froze in her steps. There were a large number of them with their faces masked, dressed in black robes and black armor. All of them had blue sashes that identified them as elite forces of their empire. Before them sat three large men dressed in heavier armor, and the one in the middle wore a deeper blue sash by his waist. Xiu Juan knew who they were immediately.

“I introduce you to Qin’s new fellow men in arm,” Jiao Long began as he smiled at Xiu Juan in a devious manner, “Zhao!” He stepped down toward Xiu Juan and took her hand, “No need to be afraid. They are our friends.”

Xiu Juan jerked back her hand from Jiao Long’s. “Your majesty, they are Qin’s sworn enemy. How dare you have the wits to bring them inside our walls as some justified guests!” Xiu Juan disapproved.

“Ah, but they are no longer our enemy,” Jiao Long said as he walked toward them, turned around to face Xiu Juan and raised both of his arms as to welcome them. “We’ve arranged a diplomatic relationship. Together, we can seize the world into the palm our hand!”

“Brother, have you gone insane? We cannot allow this. Father would not allow this. Ying-tai--“

“Father and Ying-tai are no longer here!” Jiao Long snapped, glaring at Xiu Juan. He took in a deep breath and poised himself. “Their voices no longer matter. Besides, this is for the best for Qin.”

Xiu Juan glared at him. She tried hard to keep her voice controlled. “How do you know we could trust them? How do you know they will not turn their backs on us? Are you not concerned about this?”

Jiao Long turned his eyes to Xiu Juan and walked toward her. “They will not turn their backs on us. Especially when it’s family relations.”

Xiu Juan widened her eyes. “Jiao Long,” she exhaled, “You don’t mean--”

“Oh, but I do,” Jiao Long lifted his head. He turned toward the Zhao men. He approached the man with the sash that had the deepest shade of blue. He stood up and looked straight at Xiu Juan. He bowed lowly to her.

“Meet Unit Commander Hui Zhong of Zhao. They come to make the treaty official,” Jiao Long presented then turned his eyes to Xiu Juan, “and witness your voice in partaking.”

“It is an honor of mine to be able to meet you Grand Princess Xiu Juan of Qin,” Hui Zhong said as he bowed lowly. He had a deep intimidating voice and sharp features. He was around the same age as Huian and had a deep brow line and deep forehead wrinkles. His eyes were like that of a preying hawk. Though his face was expressionless, his impression as a whole was formidable. “We are here on behalf of his majesty. Please take our attendance here as if it were his majesty himself,” he continued.

“I’m sorry you’ve traveled long and far for this, but I disapprove of this diplomacy,” Xiu Juan rejected. “I refuse to partake in such acts that will bring Qin to shame.” She turned to walk out of the grand room.

“Princess!” Shirong snapped.

Jiao Long raised his hand to silent him. “I don’t think you understand the vitality of this, sister,” he called after her.

Xiu Juan turned around and scorned at her brother, “You cannot force me to wed for your political reasonings! The amount of disappointment I have toward your agreement to these beliefs to use me like this sickens me.”

“You don’t understand your position, Grand Princess Xiu Juan,” Hui Zhong chimed in. “I’ll cut to the chase and give it to you bluntly: we have no need to form an alliance with Qin. But because my king and Emperor of Qin desire to join the nation’s two leading powers to gain something greater, sacrifices must be made. With faith, we give you our army. In return, Qin will give us you and you are what will forever bond our two empires. By blood. It is a fair trade.”

Xiu Juan furrowed her brows at Hui Zhong. “What if I refuse?”

“With the diplomacy your Emperor proposed rejected, we will continue to slaughter your people by the numbers you give us,” he said as he smiled cunningly and lifted his head up in pride. “And we Zhao are merciless. Nothing stands in our way to achieve his majesty’s vision.”

Xiu Juan heard his men chuckle from behind. She looked at Jiao Long and clenched her fists.

“Choose wisely, Grand Princess of Qin,” Hui Zhong warned more than advised.

Xiu Juan avoided Hui Zhong’s stare and made her way to Jiao Long.

“You will really allow others to objectify your only sister just to get something you want? Am I not human? Am I not of the same blood as you, dear brother? Do you not know what you may get us into? I beg you to not throw me away like this! There must be other ways we could settle this!”

Jiao Long did not respond.

“If you care for your people, you know what to do,” Hui Zhong commented.

Xiu Juan, not taking her eyes off of Jiao Long, slightly nodded to his silence as it was his reply to her plea. She paused for a moment then poised herself. Standing straight, Xiu Juan lifted her head up and turned to the Zhao men.

“Give me a night to think it over,” Xiu Juan requested. “I’ll give you my answer by dawn.”

Hui Zhong grinned cunningly and nodded. “We’ll be here,” he replied and bowed.

Xiu Juan turned her back to them and made her way out the door of the grand room. Luli was waiting outside and when she saw the distress look on Xiu Juan’s face, her heart dropped. She quickly followed behind Xiu Juan, trying not to step on the long layers of her dress.

“What happened?” Luli asked in a small voice.

Xiu Juan, keeping her strong composure, did not reply.

When Xiu Juan and Luli got inside her chamber, Xiu Juan sat down on her cushioned mat and remained silent. Luli stared at Xiu Juan while she sat poised; her hands placed on top of one another on her lap before her and her hair stretching far behind with her gown. The silence was broken when Bo popped up before them.

“Princess Xiu Juan,” he gasped, “is it true what they say? Please tell me it’s just a rumor in the palace!”

Luli turned her head quickly toward Xiu Juan. “What is he talking about?” She asked nervously.

“Zhao proposed an alliance with Qin,” Xiu Juan said, still looking into the distance, “by asking my hand in marriage.”

Luli’s eyes filled with fear. “Zhao? You’re not going to accept it are you?”

“The Zhao are ruthless people,” Bo scorned, “you must not agree to this arrangement, Princess!”

Xiu Juan sighed. She looked at Bo and Luli. “If I don’t make my move, Qin will suffer more than it needs to.”

“What are you implying?” Bo asked, his chest heaving.

“I know this is all part of my brother’s plan,” Xiu Juan began. “Whether it’s to hurt Ying-tai or Qin, I will make sure he won’t achieve anymore devious acts.” She took a deep breath. “I will accept their proposal.”

“Grand Princess Xiu Juan,” Luli pleaded with tears welling up. She placed her trembling hands on top of Xiu Juan’s. “I don’t agree to this. Why must you give yourself to them? Is there not another way?”

“Zhao must not be overlooked. The bitter truth is: they are as strong of an empire as Qin. One misstep and we could all be slaughtered.” Xiu Juan turned her gaze up toward the darkening sky, “My men are already fighting too hard. I will not risk them any additional threat that lurks from behind.” She lowered her eyes to look straight ahead. “I will marry the Zhao Emperor. If they do decide to come to peace, all the better. But if I sense any deceitful plans from the Zhao Emperor to harm Qin, I will stop him. Even if that means killing him.”

“Isn’t that kind of reckless of you to put your own life in danger?” Bo stressed.

Xiu Juan smiled, “I’ve seen more reckless men that served my father. If the fear of death does not touch them, why should I be touched by it?”

“What about Ying-tai?” Luli asked.

Xiu Juan paused. She opened her lips and spoke softly, “This is the least I could do for him. The very least.” Not lowering her head and trying to keep as poised as she could, she squeezed her silk robe as her eyes welled up, “If it means the guarantee of his safety, I don’t mind giving myself up.”

Bo looked at her fondly. His heart ached partly for the significant amount of care Xiu Juan had in her heart toward Ying-tai, and partly for realizing well that he had no place in it.

Leaving Xiu Juan alone in her patio, Bo stepped out of her chamber with the weeping Luli.

“Why does she have to do this?” Luli cried.

Bo looked up into the starry sky. “She actually feels trapped,” Bo sighed.

Luli looked at Bo.

“I’m sure she wishes for a way out. But as a Princess, she has her own duties she must obey. This is one of them.” Bo slammed his fist against the wall. “Those bastards trapped her in their game!” He pressed his forehead against the wall he punched and grieved, “I can see it in her eyes. The amount of love she has for him. Her hands tremble but her eyes remain fierce for his sake. The only reason why she’s doing this is to help him achieve what he fights so hard for. She’s so selfless that his dream became hers! And there’s no way anybody can pull her out of it. Not even us.” He wept.

“Is there nothing we could do?” Luli asked, tugging at Bo’s sleeve.

He thought for a moment then turned to Luli. “There is. We stay by her side and make sure she doesn’t fight this alone.”

Luli nodded. They sat outside the door until dawn and stood up when they heard Xiu Juan step out. She looked at Luli and Bo and smiled faintly.

“Let’s go,” she said and walked in front of them, leading them back to the grand room.

Back inside the grand room, Xiu Juan stood before Jiao Long, the Zhao men, and the court. All eyes were on her as she knelt down before them.

“Do you have your answer?” Jiao Long asked, looking down at her.

“I do,” Xiu Juan replied, her head still lowered.

“Well?”

“I accept the proposal,” Xiu Juan confirmed.

“Wonderful!” Jiao Long bellowed from his seat.

Hui Zhong got up and bowed. “A wise decision, Grand Princess,” he complimented.

Xiu Juan turned her eyes to him, “You will keep your end of the deal as I have mine. Be cautioned that the day you turn back on your words, your shoulders will be without head whether I’m still standing as your Empress or not.”

Hui Zhong looked at her sternly, “Of course.” He turned his stare to Jiao Long and bowed to him. “We will take our leave now and let his majesty know of the result of the proposal.”

He turned to the door and his men got up at once to follow. Putting on his helmet and before stepping through the door, Hui Zhong turned to Xiu Juan one last time.

“We will meet again soon, your grace,” he bowed.

As the men stepped down the stairs, Xiu Juan walked to the door to watch them leave. As Hui Zhong mounted onto his horse and whipped it to go forward, she saw a swarming number of Zhao cavalry that accompanied him—all with masked faces and dark armor—emerge from behind the walls and followed him down the hills of Qin.

Bo’s eyes widened. “I didn’t even know he had that many men come with him.”

Xiu Juan looked at the Zhao soldiers. “He brought them with the intent to intimidate us.”

“It seems to work,” Bo exhaled. “You’re right. They must not be overlooked.”

Xiu Juan turned away her gaze and took in a deep breath. She lifted her head up as she walked away from the door. “Have no fear against those who flaunt their power, Bo,” she consoled in a confident voice as she looked at her brother, “for without it, they are just men in shimmering robes.”