When the rays of the sun poked through Xiu Juan’s eyes, she opened them to the sound of construction work outside of her door. She slipped through the doors after she got dressed while holding on to the train of her ivory gown so it wouldn’t sweep the floor that held residue from the night before.

Maybe I should see how Jinhai is doing. Xiu Juan thought. She tiptoed her way to his side of the palace and when she turned the corner, her head nearly bumped into Ngo Kwang's. The concubines gasped quietly behind her.

“Ngo Kwang,” Xiu Juan greeted.

“Empress,” Ngo Kwang also greeted, but with one eyebrow raised.

“You are all up early today,” Xiu Juan smiled.

“We are going to town today,” the concubine with the reddest lips replied.

“Oh?” Xiu Juan tilted her head. “Shopping?”

“Just for some business for the gala,” the concubine with the dark eyebrows answered. “Emperor Jinhai sent us.”

“Bao Yu, Chu Hua,” Ngo Kwang turned her head to the side to them. She returned her eyes to Xiu Juan and smiled condescendingly, “Where are you off to, Empress, so early in the morning?”

Xiu Juan saw Jinhai emerge from the corridor behind the concubines with Hui Zhong and Nianzu. When he saw Xiu Juan he stopped to look at her for a moment then turned around to walk away. Nianzu, though, smiled first at her, nodded his head, and then continued on with Jinhai and Hui Zhong.

Xiu Juan looked at Ngo Kwang again, “I’m taking a morning walk. I was just on my way to do some things of my own.”

“Oh?” Ngo Kwang raised her eyebrow.

“Mmm,” Xiu Juan nodded and began to part. “I’ll be on my way now.”

“Xiu Juan, wait,” Ngo Kwang stopped her before Xiu Juan could walk away.

“Yes?” Xiu Juan turned back to her.

“Why were you alone when the intrusion began?” Ngo Kwang asked.

Xiu Juan raised her eyebrows, “Pardon?”

“Did no one come get you? Surely that would’ve been the palace’s first concern,” Ngo Kwang tilted her head.

Now that she thought about it, no one came to her aid. “I probably left before anybody could find me. I was trying to get everyone to safety after all.”

“Mmm? Not even the emperor came to your aid?” Ngo Kwang raised her eyebrows.

A few concubines snickered behind Ngo Kwang, “The emperor came for Ngo Kwang and us many times before. What a shame his own wife doesn’t get the same act of conduct!”

Xiu Juan bit her lip and curled her hands into a fist as she squeezed her sleeves.

Ngo Kwang, her head still tilted, smiled and lowered her shoulders, “Hmmm, I didn’t mean to bother you with that. I guess we’ll be on our way as well.”

Xiu Juan let them pass her while she had her eyes lowered and then turned her head toward the direction they left when they walked away far enough.

A couple days later, Mei was in her shop laying out a long dark sheet of silk when Xiu Juan walked in with her plain white gown on. Mei spun her head to her when she heard a knock on her door.

“Empress Xiu Juan!” Mei gasped and then laughed. “Why, you scared me!”

“I thought I’d spend some time here today to finish up Ngo Kwang's dress,” Xiu Juan smiled warmly.

Mei nodded, “Of course! Here, sit here and I’ll grab you some tea!”

“Ah…no, Mei! Don’t hassle yourself!” Xiu Juan shook her head but she already left to the back of the shop. Xiu Juan sighed and laid the red dress that was wrapped in a white sheet onto the table Mei cleared for her. She stretched the red dress out and noticed the long dark sheet of silk lying on the other side of the table. She lifted it up to the sunlight and it gave out a silver gleam. She swept her fingers across it and it felt like milk running through her fingers. Mei came in with the tea set and watched Xiu Juan marvel over the beautiful silk.

“I just wove that,” Mei smiled as she poured a cup of hot tea and set it to the side.

Xiu Juan turned to Mei and brought her wandering hand to her chest. “It’s beautiful. It doesn’t quite feel like any silk I’ve seen before. It’s heavy yet so soft,” Xiu Juan sighed as she turned to look at the black silk again.

“Empress Xiu Juan,” Mei began, “do you have a dress for the gala?”

Xiu Juan turned to Mei. “I haven’t thought about it. I confess, I’m not that prepared for it,” she shrugged.

“If you don’t mind, may I make your dress for you to wear?” Mei asked shyly.

Xiu Juan’s eyes beamed, “For me? Aren’t you busy though?”

Mei shook her head, “With my husband back, he’s able to help me with the lot of it. I have some spare time.”

Xiu Juan smiled, “I would love that.”

Mei’s eyes sparkled, “Oh, I am so honored!” She rushed to Xiu Juan’s side with a measuring string and jotted down numbers onto a paper. “Empress, your waist is so small!”

“Oh…well…I guess!” Xiu Juan chuckled and blushed. “How is the dress going to look like?” She was curious.

Mei smiled from ear to ear, “Well, the backdrop of the gown is going to be black. Hence the reason why I wove this black silk just for you.”

Xiu Juan widened her eyes and turned to the black silk draped over the table.

Mei turned around and pulled out a box and opened it. Xiu Juan gaped at the shimmering threads of all colors. “Everything will be embroidered onto the dress. What would you like on it?”

Xiu Juan thought for a moment as Mei waited eagerly.

“Herons,” Xiu Juan said in almost a whisper.

“Herons?” Mei tilted her head.

“And a flower terrace.”

“Mmmmm,” Mei sighed at the lovely thought, “Anything else?”

“Plum blossoms and willows would be nice,” Xiu Juan’s eyes were far in thoughts.

Mei looked at Xiu Juan’s face that seemed to grow more solemn. “Okay,” Mei broke the silence and tried to brighten up the mood in the room. “Umm, any particular reason why you chose those?”

Xiu Juan smiled lightly, “Each of the things I named represents who I am.” She lifted her head up, “Herons for elegance and patience, plum blossoms for beauty and fragrance, willows for strength and agility…”

“And the flower terrace?” Mei wondered.

“The flower terrace,” Xiu Juan squeezed her hands together, “is everything that upholds me.”

“Ehhhh,” Mei smiled. “How artistically beautiful.”

Xiu Juan smirked and got up to finish embroidering Ngo Kwang's red gown.

Near that evening, right when Xiu Juan knotted the last golden thread on the red gown, she heard a large group of people approach Mei’s shop.

“Ah, Lady Ngo Kwang!” Mei got up to attend the front.

Xiu Juan turned her head slightly to listen.

“I didn’t know you were going to return so early!” Mei’s voice was nervous.

“I changed my mind. I decided I wanted it sooner. I want to see the dress,” Ngo Kwang said while touching other fabrics in Mei’s shop.

“I don’t think it’s finished yet though,” Mei said in a small voice.

“Your husband is back, right? I thought he’d be giving you a helping hand around here. You should’ve been able to get it done by now,” Ngo Kwang looked down at her.

Mei, her head lowered, apologized. “I’m sorry. I’ll bring you the product now!” She turned around and hurried to the back. Xiu Juan got up with the finished gown in her hand when Mei entered. She turned to face Mei and handed her the heavy red gown.

“It’s finished,” Xiu Juan smiled.

Mei shot her eyes up to Xiu Juan. “You finished it?”

Xiu Juan nodded.

Mei immediately was relieved. “Oh, Empress! I am forever grateful!” She gently took the dress from Xiu Juan’s arms and hurried back to the front.

When Ngo Kwang saw her dress, she smiled and her eyes brightened. She caressed it with her pale, slender fingers and picked it up. Mei was nervous of the outcome of Xiu Juan’s work but when she saw the dress unfold, her eyes widened. The concubines waiting outside gasped.

“Why! The embroidery is just spectacular!” Ngo Kwang beamed.

Why, thank you, Ngo Kwang. Xiu Juan smirked at the back when she heard the compliment.

“I’m impressed, Mei,” Ngo Kwang said. “I’ll take it with me now.” She turned to the servants by her and nodded her head. They scurried to the dress and wrapped it up in its white sheet.

“As for your payment,” Ngo Kwang started and pulled out a bag of coins. “Fifty silver coins should cover it, hmm?”

Mei stuttered, “Oh…umm..”

“Something the matter?” Ngo Kwang tilted her head.

“It’s just…umm…my silk is, you know, worth quite a lot and I put a lot of effort into it. Also, I need to make a living,” Mei said softly.

“You dare negotiate with me?” Ngo Kwang furrowed her brows. “It is my kingdom. I can put the price on anything I want!”

“But if I, as a business owner, cannot set my own prices to its deserving value my business will fall,” Mei tried to stand up for herself. “I cannot accept this payment.”

Ngo Kwang's eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“I value my products and my life depends on it.”

Ngo Kwang walked up to Mei and slapped her across the face.

“Wretched peasant. Who taught you your manners, you ill tongued bitch!” Ngo Kwang breathed heavily and the concubines outside the shop placed their fingers on their lips. The two closest to Ngo Kwang smirked. “If you don’t want the payment, you might as well lose everything here and never gain anything again. For speaking against those higher than you, you will be punished,” Ngo Kwang continued through clenched teeth. She turned to her guards behind her and shifted her head to the side to motion them to take Mei.

“Forgive me, my lady! Forgive me!” Mei cried.

Mei’s husband came back from his errands and when he saw the guards taking Mei, he fought against them.

“What are you doing? Let go of my wife!” He shouted.

They ignored his plea and continued.

“Do not interfere!” One of the taller guards growled.

“Halt!” Xiu Juan yelled in a low, stern voice.

The guards immediately stopped and turned toward the voice. Ngo Kwang turned her eyes to Xiu Juan and her mouth fell open. Xiu Juan’s eyes were wild and piercing through each guard that touched her friends. Their spines stiffened up and they saluted with their one knee on the ground, their heads bowed lowly.

“Empress!” They cried.

As Xiu Juan walked out, she glared at Ngo Kwang. Then she turned her raging eyes to the guards holding Mei who was trembling like a child.

“Let her go this instant,” Xiu Juan demanded. They let go and flung their arms to their sides.

She looked at the guards holding Mei’s husband down and shouted, “Pick him up!” They bowed and helped him get on his feet.

“Shameless!” Xiu Juan said with a clenched jaw. “Attacking your brother-in-arms and a civilian! Do you not know sentience?”

“Empress, forgive us for our lack of good judgment!” They cried, not daring to lift their heads.

Xiu Juan held onto Mei with Mei’s husband on the other side. She was crying at this point.

Xiu Juan turned to the guards. “You will see your punishment when you return to the palace,” she warned.

Ngo Kwang stepped up to speak but Xiu Juan stopped her.

“For you, Lady Ngo Kwang,” Xiu Juan glared, “You will pay the rightful dues.”

The six concubines looked at Ngo Kwang while she held her pride. “I did,” she said with her chin lifted but her eyes lowered.

“If fifty silver coins are all you want to spend, then perhaps you should return the dress for it is worth far more than that,” Xiu Juan advised.

Ngo Kwang shot Xiu Juan a look and turned her contemptuous eyes to Mei, “As a superior, I can set a price on anything I wish.”

Xiu Juan extended her hand out for the dress. She furrowed her brows at Ngo Kwang, “Is that how the emperor treats you?”

The concubines’ mouths flew open and their eyes grew large.

Ngo Kwang's eyes grew red and she bit her lips. Her chest heaved as she spoke, “How dare you.”

“A merchant tenderly cares for what will bring them pride and prosperity. A mother and father will do the same with a child. As the person who takes away something that is of value to someone else, we must return the deserving price to them even if the thing received may only be something like silk…or a daughter.”

Ngo Kwang raised her red eyes to Xiu Juan.

“Just because someone has treated you lowly doesn’t mean you bestow that unto someone else,” Xiu Juan said calmly. “Now, the dress,” Xiu Juan continued.

Ngo Kwang took in a deep breath and then looked away, “Name your price.”

Mei lifted her head to her then turned to Xiu Juan, “It is not in my right to name the price.”

Ngo Kwang returned her eyes to Mei.

“I wasn’t the maker of it,” Mei shrugged. “It was the Empress.”

Ngo Kwang's astonished eyes flicked to Xiu Juan. “You can’t possibly be the crafter behind the intricate embroidery!” Ngo Kwang scoffed. After thinking for moment, she gave in and lowered her shoulders and crossed her slender arms, “You’re just full of surprises, Empress Xiu Juan. Well, name the price!”

Xiu Juan turned to face her, “With the quality of the silk, the amount of days it took to complete, and the number of golden thread used to stitch…I’d say about five hundred gold coins.”

“Five hundred GOLD coins?” The concubines gasped.

“Well the short amount of time you requested for such a task and all the stress you’ve caused has been calculated into it too. This is pretty considerate considering you’ve never paid your rightful fees toward this shop,” Xiu Juan grinned.

Ngo Kwang huffed. She crossed her arms and thought for a moment then nodded to a servant who walked over and handed a box of gold coins to Mei and her husband. They gasped and bowed as they took the box from the royal servant’s hand.

“Let’s leave,” Ngo Kwang spun around and walked off.

Everyone bowed to their Empress before following Ngo Kwang. Before the guards could leave, Xiu Juan stopped them.

“Wait!” Xiu Juan yelled after them. “You will be coming with me.”

With fear in their eyes, they obeyed and waited for Xiu Juan.

“I’ll take my leave now,” Xiu Juan smiled to Mei and her husband.

“Thank you for everything, Empress. We are forever grateful!” Mei’s husband bowed lowly. Mei ran in for a hug and surprised Xiu Juan. She patted Mei’s back.

“Thank you. Thank you so much!” Mei wept.

Xiu Juan nodded and smiled.

Xiu Juan and the eight guards entered through the doors of the grand room with her leading them. She saw Jinhai, Hui Zhong, Nianzu, and some guests . They shot their heads up and looked at Xiu Juan.

“What’s the issue here?” Hui Zhong frowned.

Xiu Juan kept her eyes on Jinhai who did not take his off of her. “Your highness,” she lowered her head. Jinhai nodded back. “There is something we must address,” Xiu Juan began. “These men of yours must be educated as well as they train for combat.”

“I beg your pardon?” Jinhai furrowed his brows.

“Your men have attacked civilians, a code that must never be broken under any circumstance,” Xiu Juan addressed.

“Attacked civilians?” Nianzu furrowed his brows.

“Why do you feel that YOU must address this?” Hui Zhong glared.

“I encourage ANYONE to report any misconduct,” Xiu Juan looked at him. “This is unforgiving and must not be looked over. As a soldier, they must know discipline and who to fight against. What sense is there in swearing to fight to protect and yet attack those we’re supposed to defend?”

“Empress, it’s not proper for you to barge in like this and speak up to men in the court especially when dressed like that. You have an image to live up to,” one of the eunuchs urged Xiu Juan to silence herself. “If anything, we will fix it ourselves as this is not of your matter.”

“Pardon my disagreement towards your opinion but this IS of my matter as this empire is in my rule also,” Xiu Juan spoke to the eunuch. She returned her eyes to Jinhai, “This is not the first time I’ve seen your soldiers harass civilians. I’ve let it go before but this time I will not. I realized you will do nothing about this issue.”

“Empress, you are speaking out of turn,” Hui Zhong growled.

Xiu Juan kept her eyes on Jinhai, “Fighting against the weak, fighting amongst ourselves…it’s not the right answer. These men must know this.”

“Force is necessary when things must go back to order,” Hui Zhong argued.

“Force is necessary against the competent evil. Not against those who can’t fend for themselves,” Xiu Juan said as she turned to Hui Zhong. She returned her eyes to Jinhai once again, “Your men attacked their own comrade without hesitation. They are losing touch with themselves.”

Jinhai raised his eyes to her.

“Empress, you must leave,” the eunuch urged again.

Jinhai raised his hands and everyone hushed. “Xiu Juan of Qin,” he began, “I’ve heard of your acts before you entered Zhao. During your parting on your wedding day in Qin, you attacked my men and even handicapped some of them. How am I to know you’re just not trying to go against them and cause havoc in my empire?”

“They were attacking my people! My dear friends!” Xiu Juan spoke up, her eyes filled with deep anguish at the memory.

Jinhai turned his wide eyes to Hui Zhong and glared at him for neglecting to share that part of the story. Hui Zhong avoided his glare and shut his lips. Jinhai looked at Xiu Juan, “Those were your friends in Qin…”

“As the people who were attacked here were mine,” Xiu Juan stopped him. “They were my dear friends.”

Nianzu smiled warmly at this and nodded.

“Your friends?” Jinhai repeated as the piercing expression in his eyes diminished.

“Yes,” Xiu Juan confirmed.

Jinhai was warmed by Xiu Juan’s passion toward his people of Zhao and even surprised. With a stern face still, he stood and walked toward Xiu Juan. He stood close before her and looked down at her, “Well then, what will the punishment be, Empress of Zhao?”

Xiu Juan widened her eyes and her heart pounded faster from the unexpected position Jinhai placed her in. She turned to the eight guards and could sense the fear in them. She lowered her shoulders as she thought while looking at their faces.

“Men, let this be a warning. A lesson that I’m giving to you,” Xiu Juan said to them and they lifted their faces, stunned. She looked up to Jinhai and bowed her head. “Thank you for showing righteousness, your majesty,” she said softly then turned around and left the grand room while Jinhai and everyone else watched her leave and the guards’ heads fell for a deep bow.

“Thank you, merciful Empress!” They cried after her.

“The Empress, hmm?” A voice came from behind Jinhai. Jinhai turned around to the elderly scholar who came to visit him.

Jinhai lowered his head to him, “Yes. That is the Empress of Zhao: Xiu Juan of Qin.”

“Quite a person she is, hmm? I don’t believe I remember anyone courageous enough to stand their ground against you.” He soon smiled warmly, “Instead of bestowing punishment, she pardoned your men with another chance.”

“A chance? Just what is her intent?” Hui Zhong ranted.

The elderly scholar kept the smile on his lips, “A wise man once said that in archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself.”

Hui Zhong looked at him.

“That’s what Empress Xiu Juan hoped for,” Nianzu chimed in, walking up to Jinhai and the elderly scholar, “to teach them so they can learn to change for the better by themselves.”

In Xiu Juan’s chamber, she changed into her long ivory robe and laid out paper, brush, and ink.

“Dandan said I had to prepare something for the gala so I’m going to attempt to do that since I’m finished with the red gown now,” Xiu Juan talked to herself. “Hmmm…perhaps I’ll write a song,” she smiled as she picked up her brush and began to write. While she wrote, she heard the concubines return from their shopping. They were giggling in the corridors.

“I’m so excited!” One squealed.

“What do you think Emperor Jinhai will wear? What color should I wear to match?” One giggled.

“It doesn’t matter. We can’t compete with Ngo Kwang. She is going over and beyond to get Emperor Jinhai’s attention. I’m sure she might succeed this time around. They did have a thing going on before,” one of them sighed.

“We aren’t sure about that fact. It was just a rumor his mother passed around,” one stated.

Xiu Juan sighed and placed her brush down. “I can’t concentrate. I need an instrument. I’ll go ask Dandan where I could borrow a guzheng.”

Xiu Juan found Dandan in the kitchen with papers and a brush, jotting down things.

“Dandan,” Xiu Juan called to her.

“Oh Empress,” she lowered her head. “What brings you here? It’s a little hectic at the moment as we’re trying to get everything ready for the gala.”

“I wanted to ask where I could borrow a guzheng,” Xiu Juan informed her.

“Oh? You will have to go to the music room,” Dandan told her without looking up from her papers. She then turned to Xiu Juan, “I’m sorry, Empress, but I’m very busy right now. I’ll have to leave you.”

“Ah, sure,” Xiu Juan said and watched Dandan leave. Xiu Juan tilted her head. Where is the music room, though? She turned and left the kitchen and went on the search for the music room. She moved aside for the servants that rushed around the corridors with pots for flowers and silks to drape over the walls of the palace. When she was about to give up, she heard an erhu sound and spun her head to the direction of the noise. She picked up her skirt and followed the beautiful music. When she neared it, she read the sign by the door.

MUSIC ROOM, it read.

“Found it,” Xiu Juan smiled. Knowing there was someone inside, she quietly slid the door open and let herself in. She saw an elderly man playing away with the strings of the instrument with eyes closed. He stopped when she stepped in.

Xiu Juan lowered her head, “Sorry for intruding. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

“Xiu Juan of Qin, was it?” He called out without turning around.

Xiu Juan raised her eyebrows, surprised. “Y-yes.” She paused. “You didn’t have to stop playing.”

“Ah, but I already feel accompanied by a pleasant visitor,” he chuckled. “Come, child,” he patted on the spot by him.

Xiu Juan slowly approached him and he placed his erhu away. When he laid eyes on her he smiled brightly and bowed lowly to her.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Empress Xiu Juan. My name is Weizhe.”

“Sir Weizhe,” Xiu Juan lowered her head to him and knelt down. “What brings you to Zhao?”

“Oh, I’m just a traveling scholar,” he smiled.

“Huh?” Xiu Juan raised her eyebrow.

“I’m just traveling around, seeing each corner of my divided country before I past,” he closed his eyes.

“You travel across the country? How exhilarating,” Xiu Juan sighed.

“Is it?” Weizhe chuckled.

“How does it feel to belong everywhere?” Xiu Juan was curious.

Weizhe opened his eyes. “Wonderful and sad.”

Xiu Juan lowered her shoulders, “Oh…”

“It’s wonderful because nobody fears you and treats you like you’re their own. Unification is a beautiful thing when you get a hinting taste of it. Then when you remember how the world is right now, it’s sad to see how divided we are. You find how similar one person is to one on the other side of the world yet they can’t speak to each other because they were taught not to. There’s an invisible gap that keeps these people apart.”

Xiu Juan lowered her eyes, “I understand.”

Weizhe looked at her and smiled gently, “I’m sure you do.”

Xiu Juan lifted her eyes and looked at him.

“You are unordinary, Xiu Juan of Qin,” he commented, “in a very, very good way. I’ve seen Qin and Zhao fight for so long, yet you are able to sway the hearts of these people who are—no—were once your very own enemy. That’s courageous.”

“Thank you,” Xiu Juan smiled warmly.

“They say: where so ever you go, go with all your heart,” he quoted. “Keep that up, child.”

Xiu Juan nodded.

“I must be keeping you from what you came here for,” he chuckled. “You may go on now. Don’t let me keep you.”

Xiu Juan shook her head, “No, not at all. I’m in no rush.”

Weizhe waved his hand and smiled, “I have to get some rest anyway.”

Xiu Juan smiled in return, “Well, if that’s so, I will leave you then.”

Weizhe nodded.

Xiu Juan returned to her chamber with a white guzheng in her arms and laid it down on her table. She fluffed her gown and fanned it out as she sat and then spread out sheets of paper before her. She twirled her brush with her fingers while she thought about the words she wanted to put in her song. When she thought of something, she dabbed her brush into the dark ink and stained the white rice paper with lyrics.

Jinhai was at the other side of the palace when he heard strings of a guzheng being plucked and a tune being hummed gently. Intrigued by such sound, he followed it and found himself standing in front of Xiu Juan’s slightly opened door. He pushed it a little more and watched Xiu Juan furrow her brows as her whole being was focused on this song of hers while she sat in front of the opened paper screen doors of her balcony; the waves of wind making her hair strands caress her skin. Sensing someone was by her door, she raised her head and saw Jinhai enter through. She got on her feet and bowed to him.

“Emperor Jinhai,” Xiu Juan gasped, “you startled me!”

“Ah, I didn’t mean to,” he commented. “My apologies.”

Xiu Juan casted her eyes to her messy table covered with sheets of rice paper and her guzheng. She bent down and quickly stacked them to the side.

“Have a seat. I’ll have someone prepare some tea,” Xiu Juan said as she cleared her table.

Jinhai raised his hand, “Don’t bother. I don’t want anyone to know I’m here anyway.”

Xiu Juan raised her eyebrow at him.

“I mean, I don’t want people to start assuming things between us.”

Xiu Juan lowered her gaze and nodded, “I understand.” She then poised herself and cleared her throat, “Then, did you have some important business to speak to me about?”

Jinhai paused and raised his head, “Honestly…no.”

Xiu Juan raised her eyes. She smiled slightly and lifted her chin, “I see. Just wandering aimlessly then?”

“Don’t be foolish. I’m always busy. I just happened to pass by,” Jinhai furrowed his brows at her.

Xiu Juan looked down, “Ah, so you did.”

Jinhai looked at the instrument on the table, “What are you doing with the guzheng?”

Xiu Juan turned her eyes to it, “Oh, it’s just here to accompany my train of thoughts.”

Jinhai turned to the stack of papers, “This?”

Xiu Juan quickly lifted her sleeve over it, “It’s not yet completed. I’m not ready to show it to anyone yet.”

Jinhai looked at her.

Xiu Juan lowered her head, “I hope you understand.”

“No, I do,” Jinhai nodded. “What is it for, though, that you dedicate your whole self toward it?”

Xiu Juan looked at him. “It’s for the ceremony,” she said softly.

“The gala?” Jinhai raised his brows.

“Yes.”

Jinhai’s eyes glowed at this. Xiu Juan was doing a small tribute for the ceremony that honored his country. “I see,” he said.

“Everyone is so eager for it I thought I, as the empress of Zhao, should do something. It would be rather dishonorable of me if I didn’t.”

Jinhai lightly grinned at this, “Admirable.”

“Eh?” Xiu Juan raised her eyebrow, unsure of what she really heard.

“That’s admirable of you,” Jinhai said as he stroked the white guzheng with his fingers.

Xiu Juan smiled and lowered her head. “This whole ceremony is a huge thing for the people around here, hmm?” She then remembered about the comment the concubines made about Ngo Kwang and Jinhai. “The ladies really look forward to this gala,” she commented as she peeked over to Jinhai. “And Ngo Kwang,” she continued. Jinhai still made no motion of reaction. “Everyone believes she’ll be the most beautiful one at the ceremony.”

“What is it you’re trying to get to?” Jinhai asked in a low voice.

“I’m just trying to say,” Xiu Juan started, “that she is giving a lot of effort into this. Into you. Perhaps you could give her some attention for the sake of politeness.”

Jinhai looked at her, “Why does Ngo Kwang interest you so?”

Xiu Juan’s eyes grew intense, “Because you both once had a special bond right? Then all of a sudden, you left her in the darkness and she can’t seem to get out of it because you won’t acknowledge her.”

Jinhai furrowed his brows at this and paused. “Yes. We did have a bond once.”

Xiu Juan raised her brows, “What?”

Jinhai took in a breath, “It was a very long time ago, though. When my mother proposed for me to marry Ngo Kwang, I refused it. We are now nothing more than friends. If she somehow took my act of kindness for something more then that’s on her.”

“Emperor Jinhai! How could you say that?” Xiu Juan furrowed her brows.

“I don’t see why I am to be blamed for something I didn’t intend to do,” Jinhai turned away. “She knew about our recent situation.”

After a moment of silence, Xiu Juan spoke up, “If you loved her back then, why did you not marry her?”

“Duty called. When my father died, I had to overlook the empire. I had no time for such relationship,” Jinhai explained.

“For Duty? That’s really it?” Xiu Juan’s eyes welled from the understanding of Ngo Kwang's pain and clenched her fists. She squinted her eyes at him, “You broke her heart!”

Jinhai turned to Xiu Juan. He saw the look on her face and his stern expression lessened. “Why does this touch you so?”

Xiu Juan pulled herself from her thoughts and forced herself to quickly think of an explanation. “Because…you know…they say she’s the most beautiful lady of Zhao. How could you not be fazed by such praise?” Xiu Juan thought for a moment then her eyes grew bigger. “Could it be…that you…”

Jinhai raised his eyebrow, waiting to hear her next words.

“Are you gay?”

Jinhai’s eyes widened extensively. “What?!!”

Xiu Juan stepped closer to him, “Well no woman seems to faze you now and you only speak to men! You say it is duty that changed you, but what if it’s really a realization—”

“Are you an idiot?” Jinhai scolded. “Women do faze me! I just told you I was fond of a woman once. Why do you make these assumptions from thin air?”

“Eh?” Xiu Juan raised her eyebrow.

“I should have you punished for this!” Jinhai’s face was in disgust and embarrassment.

Xiu Juan raised her hands up, “I’m sorry! I’m just rather confused…about you.”

Jinhai looked away and cursed under his breath, “Am I gay?! How foolish!”

Xiu Juan bit her lips from smiling at the foolish assumption she made. “Forgive me, Emperor Jinhai. Forget I even mentioned this.”

Jinhai sighed heavily.

Xiu Juan fiddled with the seam of her sleeve and smiled warmly, her eyes gentle, “Well…whoever it may be in the future, I’d love to meet the person who will be able to make you tremble.”

Jinhai’s expression grew gentler as he turned to Xiu Juan. She lifted her head and smiled kindly to him, “She would be something.”

Jinhai smirked lightly, “Mmm, is that what you think?”

“It’s what I know,” Xiu Juan stated as she nudged his right shoulder. At this moment, he closed his eyes, furrowed his brows and lightly winced as though she had hurt him. Xiu Juan’s eyes widened and she immediately apologized, “Oh, I’m sorry! I only meant to be playful! I didn’t think that would hurt you!”

Jinhai opened his eyes and looked at her with a harsh stare. Xiu Juan lowered her eyes to his shoulder.

“Your shoulder…what happened?” Xiu Juan questioned, now serious.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” Jinhai responded as he moved his shoulder.

Xiu Juan thought about the Clandestine and suspected something. She opened her lips in intent to confront, “Emperor Jinhai—”

A cool breeze interrupted her and gushed through her doors and swept up everything light in the room: the sheer white drapes, the silk on Xiu Juan and Jinhai’s feet, and the papers that were laid out on the table. The papers spun upward and then dispersed in all directions above them. Xiu Juan and Jinhai got up at once, raising their hands to collect the papers drifting with the motion of the wind. Xiu Juan twirled in her long white gown while collecting each single paper that she could reach. Jinhai soared upward and grabbed the highest ones and didn’t let a single one of them touch the ground. He fanned the papers toward him and was able to make them float around him as he reached for each one and placed them into his hand.

Each time his eyes laid on Xiu Juan when his head turned to her it would seem as though she were dancing gracefully and as lightly as the papers floating around her. They both twirled their way nearer to one another, focused on gathering all of the papers before they touched the floor. With the breeze blowing through their silks, from afar it seemed like two ginko leaves being carried away by the wind.

The very last piece of paper to Xiu Juan’s song was still in the air and both Xiu Juan and Jinhai noticed it from the corner of their eyes. At the same moment, they both twirled toward each other and reached out for the last piece of paper. Jinhai touched it first as it was higher. Half a second later, Xiu Juan’s fingers also met with the last floating paper. Their eyes met, faces inches away from one another and lightly landing back on their feet onto the hardwood floor.

Xiu Juan didn’t notice that Jinhai had his hand under her arm to assist her in landing softly so she wouldn’t hurt herself for he could read her body saying that she didn’t have the precise skill to do so. With their fingers almost touching, they quickly let go of the paper at the same time and it began to fall again. Jinhai reacted quickly and swept it back up with a soft whip of his sleeve and recollected the last piece of paper. He placed it on top of the pile he collected and handed it to Xiu Juan who took it from him with her gaze lowered.

She dragged her extensive white skirt with her toward the table with one hand while one arm was wrapped around the stack papers. After she placed a paperweight on top of the stack, she turned back to Jinhai who was now staring outside of the balcony to elsewhere. She approached him slowly.

“Xiu Juan of Qin,” he began and turned his eyes to her, “I look forward to your song.”

Xiu Juan’s eyes brightened and she smiled excitedly. Jinhai returned the smile seeing that she was so happy.

Before he left her chamber quietly so no one will notice he was there, she stopped him. “Emperor Jinhai,” she called in a small voice.

He turned to her almost immediately.

“Thank you,” Xiu Juan smiled.

He raised his eyebrow, “For what?”

“For your act of kindness toward me the past few days.”

“But it was nothing.”

What Xiu Juan said next warmed his heart. She shook her head, “Mm mmm. It was everything to me!”