The sound of hooves echoed.
Waves crashed against the shore as the last rays of the setting sun painted the sky. Several horses emerged along the beach. Shen Wei set down her basket of seashells and craned her neck to catch a glimpse of Prince Wu.
In this secluded fishing village, Prince Wu Zhao Ziqi was her best source of news from the outside world.
"Elder Sister, let's go home," Yuan Fu said, his sun-darkened face creased with worry as he tugged cautiously at Shen Wei's sleeve.
He feared his sister might provoke Prince Wu again and bring trouble upon them.
Shen Wei patted Yuan Fu's shoulder. "I just want to look."
The receding tide had left the beach scattered with fisherwomen. Most of the men were either out at sea or repairing boats, leaving the task of gathering seafood to the women.
From a glance, there were at least twenty or thirty young women on the shore.
The sound of hooves grew closer.
