It had been good to get a proper bath. Cultivation could keep the body clean, cycling qi preventing the build up of sweat and other impurities, but it simply could not compare with a good, hot soak. That it was an opportunity to change out of her traveling clothes for an evening was merely a welcome bonus!

Gu Xiulan frowned for a moment, inspecting her reflection in the stand mirror that adorned one side of the rooms she had been given. The scars her tribulation had left on her face were no more, leaving instead leaving pale almost invisible lines of blue that accentuated her features and lit with electric light when she channeled her power. It was an improvement, but still a reminder of how she had changed.

She refuted claims of arrogance naturally. Those were accusations that rose from envy and failure. Yet… she was less certain of her place than she had been when she had went to the Sect. Life did not seem so clear anymore. It wasn’t enough to merely do as expected.

“You shouldn’t be sad! That’s a very pretty dress!” Linhuo chirped, voice emanating from the brass brazier that had been filled for her

“You’re right,” Gu Xiulan laughed. She’d not gotten a chance to wear this one before. It was rather impractical, a deep wine red gown with a long train of black lace that trailed behind her. The imbued thread subtly sparked and smoked, making it seem to smolder, the high color brushed her chin with similar lace, and with her hair worn down, it was difficult to tell where one began and the other ended. That it came with dark evening gloves that hid her arms infirmity was a nice touch.

It was rather a shame that Ling Qi’s stubbornness regarding fashion had been locked in so firmly by receiving a Cai gown. She would have liked to coax the other girl into the matching blue and white ice imbued gown that had been paired with this one. But she had run out of time. It always seemed that there was more time, until there wasn’t.

She ran the comb in her hands through her hair one more time, turning her head left and right to be sure that everything was in place, then let a flicker of qi run through, lighting dim embers in her hair. Well, she still had it at least.

There was a knock at the door, and Gu Xiulan glanced over her shoulder, feeling the outline of heat through the wood and the familiar stoked energy at its core. “You may enter Captain.”

The door opened and the worn old soldier bowed from the entrance. Without his helm and armor, Captain Yun seemed far smaller, more tired. She wondered when that had changed. “Sir Guo has arrived and requested to meet you, Lady Gu.”

“I see, it is good that I have finished preparing then,” Gu Xiulan replied. “In the dining room?”

“Yes, my Lady,” he replied, straightening up.

“Then tell him I shall be along in a moment,” she said dismissively. She caught her own eye in the mirror then and frowned as the door began to close. “Captain Yun.”

He paused, peering back through the door. “Yes lady Gu?”

“Thank you. I appreciate your loyal and attentive service,” Gu Xiulan said. “The house of Gu is fortunate to have such a retainer.”

“You honor me,” he said, bowing his head. “It has pleased me to watch my liege lord’s children grow so well.”

Hmph, a little presumptuous, but she supposed that was fine.

After another minute or so of self examination, she left her room, and entered the dining hall.

Guo Sho awaited her in the private dining hall assigned to her groups sweet, politely rising to his feet as she entered the room. The hall was luxurious without being gaudy, with polished wood paneling and tasteful natural decor, hanging planters filled with oasis flowers and plants dangling from the high ceiling. The furnishings were gilded with scrollwork of precious metals and the long table was laden with fresh fruit and decanters of wines and juices.

“You look most ravishing Lady Gu,” he said, offering a polite bow. His armor was gone, leaving in its place a loose and billowy white tunic. “I am truly impressed that you were able to make such arrangements so quickly.”

“A simple task,” Gu Xiulan replied coyly, drifting toward the seat at the opposite end of the table. “Will we be serving ourselves?”

“If the lady doesn’t mind. I am not one to prefer being waited upon,” Guo Sho replied, elegantly returning to his seat.

Gu Xiulan did the same, reaching for the handle of a decanter full of well watered wine. “It has its appeal, but I can understand the impulse. Thank you for your escort, Sir Guo.”

“Ah a mere formality,” he dismissed, folding his hands under his chin. “Your caravan was more than capable. You saved us a little work after all!”

“Now you’re being too kind, it was only a few dregs,” Gu Xiulan dismissed. It had been a welcome encounter, to let the fire and lightning in her blood sing free. “But I suppose you would like the news of the west?”

“Your company is reward enough, but certainly I would love to hear some tales,” Guo Sho replied, smiling charmingly.

Gu Xiulan gave a polite nod and began to speak. Of the political maneuvering between the Territories, the Lakes and the Emerald Seas, of the rousing of the Sect against the nomads, the underground beasts, and all the rest. Guo Sho listened attentively, politely drinking and eating.

“Quite a storm stirring among the mountains and hills,” Guo Sho mused.

“Do you think it should concern the Golden Fields?” Gu Xiulan asked, taking a sip of the sweet wine in her glass.

“It is good to be concerned about most things our erstwhile peers in the other provinces get up too,” he replied wryly, swirling his own glass. “If the trade lines are disrupted that would mean quite a lot of belt tightening, yes?”

Gu Xiulan gave a small nod. It was a sour thought. Her people were hardy and they had learned to survive on their own, but they had not needed too for a long time.

“The Bai and the Cai eh? A strange pair, those pale fossils and this new madness. Let us hope they temper that Duchess and she breaks them out of their rut, eh?” Guo Sho said, raising his glass. “To the Empire.”

“To the Empire,” Gu Xiulan agreed, raising her glass. “And the rest?”

“The Wall runs into our lands, but it is south of the Grave,” Guo Sho shrugged. “If the Cloud Men think they can approach over it, I am sure the Gravetenders will be most entertained. We will certainly need to fortify the southwest near the Luo lands though.”

All of the Golden Fields had been blasted by the death of the Purifying Sun and the Twilight King, but the Grave of the Sun the actual epicenter of it, was a whole other matter, the twisted qi there would kill even first and second realms in a matter of hours, and cripple or sicken those in the third if they went too deep. At its center, even the greatest cultivators of the Empire would suffer.

“These underground fellows though… Well perhaps I should inform my uncle to give more credence to some of the wilder stories coming from the new wave of reclaimers,” Guo Sho mused.

“How is the reclamation of the east going, if I might ask?” Gu Xiulan said, leaning forward. “I have not had much news.”

“Ah yes, you have a cousin involved eh?” Guo Sho said, losing his thoughtful expression. “No large troubles. The extension of the oasis network is proceeding on schedule and casualties have been light. I believe your cousin was fine at last report.”

“That is good,” Gu Xiulan said with some small relief. Tai was an irritating boor, but she certainly didn’t wish him any harm.

“But, there is more than the reclamation going on in these dunes,” Guo Sho said casually. “How much do you know about your Zheng guest?”