Xue Liulan paced the room, stopping every few moments to glance anxiously at the screen. Murong Jin had collapsed an hour ago. The physician had been in there for half of that. Why wasn't she awake?
Just then, the old physician slipped out. Xue Liulan rushed to him. "How is she?"
"Congratulations, Your Highness." The old man bowed, his face a mass of beaming wrinkles.
"Hm?"
"The Princess Consort is with child. Just over a month now."
Xue Liulan just stood there, stunned.
"My lord? My lord?" Little Dingzi whispered. "Aren't you going to go see her?"
"Oh, right." Xue Liulan slapped his own forehead. "Look at me, dizzy with joy. Little Dingzi, see the good physician out." He paused. "Wait."
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Why did she collapse? Will there be any lasting harm?" He stared at the old man, his voice tight.
"Ah, the fainting was due to a great shock, which disturbed the fetus and disrupted her qi. She just needs rest and a few doses of medicine. She will be fine," the physician said, smiling at the prince's earnest, worried face.
"Good. That's good. Little Dingzi, see him out." Xue Liulan let out a breath of relief and ducked behind the screen.
Murong Jin was still asleep, her eyelashes trembling, her lips pale. She looked weak.
He sat on the bed and took her hand, which was cold and clammy.
A soft cough. Her eyes fluttered open.
The first thing she saw was his gentle smile. She tried to smile back, then struggled to sit up.
"Thirsty?" He arranged the pillows behind her, gently brushing the hair from her face.
"We failed him. My family failed Liu. It was me… I failed him," she murmured, her eyes vacant. "If I hadn't convinced him to help me, he wouldn't be…"
"Murong Jin, this isn't your fault." He cupped her cheek, his heart aching. "From your father's perspective, Liu's actions were the perfect way to divert all suspicion."
"So Liu's life was the price?" She stared at him. "You already had a way out of the prison. Why did you let him die?"
He frowned, confused, and touched her forehead. It was burning. His heart leaped into his throat.
"You have a fever," he said, turning. "Little Dingzi! Get the physician back here!"
He turned back to her. She was rambling, lost in her own world.
"Murong Jin, listen to me. Nothing you do now can bring him back." He gripped her shoulders. "Do you hear me?"
"But why did he have to die?" she whispered, tears suddenly streaming down her face. "Why?"
He was at a loss. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight, just letting her cry.
He watched her sleep, the medicine finally having taken effect, and tucked the blankets around her. He stepped outside. The night wind was cold.
"My lord." Hanlu appeared from the shadows.
"Speak," he said, his voice weary, his brow still furrowed.
"The Ministry of Justice has ordered Liu's body to be displayed at the East Gate for ten days, to appease the families of the murdered officials."
Xue Liulan's jaw tightened. He glanced back into the room. If she heard this…
"Did he say anything before he died?"
"He confessed to all the murders. When Li Yan gave the order to arrest him, he killed himself. He could have escaped, my lord. With his skills, and our help, he could have gotten away." Hanlu's voice was filled with a mix of respect and regret.
"If Liu didn't die," Xue Liulan said in a low voice, "Li Yan could have used him to drag me back down. Now, with the witness dead, the case is closed. Murong Yan thought of everything."
"But the forged letter and Po Jun still exist. Lady Die Man and Thousand Day Drunk are still in danger."
"My father has already released me. He's suspicious of my seventh brother because of witchcraft. As long as we get that military command and trade it for the antidote, he won't pursue this."
"I understand, my lord."
"The princess cannot be agitated right now. Do not let her find out about this," he ordered. He knew her bond with Liu. He knew exactly what she was capable of.
Hanlu vanished. Xue Liulan turned to go back inside, only to find her standing in the doorway, her eyes calm, but filled with a profound, chilling grief.
"When did you wake up?" he asked, his heart sinking.
"Just now." Her voice was hollow. She pushed past him and grabbed her cloak.
"What are you doing?"
"I promised Liu I would be the one to bring his body home."
"I'll have someone send him back to Wuchuan."
She ignored him, her voice flat. "I said, I will bring him home."
He finally understood. "You heard us."
"Why?" Her eyes, brimming with unshed tears, met his. "Why do they get to display his body? They were the ones who destroyed his family. How dare they call him a murderer and themselves the victims?"
He was silent. In the wars of the court, there were no victims or murderers. Only winners.
She pushed past him and grabbed the soft sword from the wall. She turned. "Get me out of the city. I will bring the Tiger Seal to Yin."
He stepped in front of her. "I won't let you go."
"Don't you want to save Die Man? Don't you want to save your precious Thousand Day Drunk?"
Die Man? he thought. If it was a choice between them and you, I wouldn't hesitate for a second.
"Do you know how many men are guarding that gate? You'd be walking into your own grave." His hands clenched at his sides.
"So what?" she said, her gaze defiant. "Liu disfigured himself so he wouldn't bring shame on my family. I will not bring shame to his memory."
"Murong Jin," he warned, his voice low and dangerous, a storm gathering beneath the calm.
"Let me go. I have to do this." She pulled a jade pendant from her belt—the Tiger Seal—and pressed it into his hand. "Take this. Get your antidote."
He crushed the pendant in his fist. He grabbed her, pulling her into an embrace so tight it drove the air from her lungs. She struggled, but he wouldn't let go.
"Xue Liulan, let me go!" she cried. "I'm begging you."
"Any other time, I would. But not now. Murong Jin, you are carrying our child. Even if you won't think of yourself, you have to think of him." His voice was a low, desperate whisper against her ear.
"What… what did you say?" She went perfectly still.
"I said, you are pregnant. With our child. Murong Jin, I will give you justice for Liu. I promise you. But you have to trust me. Please."
The tension drained out of her. She sagged against him, her body shaking, and as she closed her eyes, the tears finally came, a flood of grief and despair.
Liu, she thought, my family failed you. I failed you. I swear I will bring you home.