Silence hung heavy in the pavilion. Xue Liulan and Zuo Xunxiao stood facing each other, their expressions calm, betraying nothing.
Yi watched from a tree in the distance, scratching his head. He couldn't figure them out.
"So, how does the Fifth Prince think I will choose?" Zuo Xunxiao finally asked.
Xue Liulan thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't even know what choice I will make when the time comes. How could I guess the General's mind? But I think what you will have, and what you can gain… will be decided here today."
"No wonder Jin… the Princess Consort chose you without hesitation. You have a certain… quality." At the mention of her name, the calm in Zuo Xunxiao's eyes dimmed.
"She chose me out of duty to her family," Xue Liulan said slowly. "You fought beside her for years. You know her. Duty, to Murong Jin, is more precious than life."
"But you made her fall in love with you, beyond duty."
"That was my duty as well." Xue Liulan smiled, a hint of pride in his voice, but no arrogance. "To make the woman I love fall in love with me… isn't that a responsibility too?"
Zuo Xunxiao looked at him, baffled. This prince was a riddle. He had the blood of Empress Murong, yet he played the fool. But when he was serious, he possessed a terrifying strength.
"Then I must congratulate the Fifth Prince." Zuo Xunxiao bowed slightly.
"Thank you." Xue Liulan nodded. "But General Zuo didn't come here just to congratulate me, or to talk about my wife."
"Your Highness is wise." Zuo Xunxiao pulled a folded letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.
Xue Liulan took it and read. It was a list of locations—provinces, mountains, rivers—scattered across the dynasty.
He frowned. "What is this?"
"This is why I chose Deng Qinyao." Zuo Xunxiao smiled faintly. It was a simple statement, but the sacrifices behind it were immeasurable.
When Murong Jin had married Xue Liulan, Zuo Xunxiao had vowed to help the Seventh Prince take the throne, to leave Xue Liulan with nothing. Few knew of it, but those who did admired his resolve.
Xue Liulan read the letter again, then laughed. "I doubted your motives then. But thinking back… General Zuo is a man of passion. 'A rage for a beauty' is not out of character for you."
"If Jin hadn't done so much for you later, I might not have given you this." Zuo Xunxiao sighed. Since this was what she wanted, why should he make it hard for Xue Liulan?
"Proof?" Xue Liulan asked.
"Yes. Deng Qinyao is secretly recruiting soldiers and forging weapons. I'm sure you've heard the rumors."
"I have." Xue Liulan paused, looking at him in surprise. "You mean these are the locations of his armories?"
"And his secret garrisons," Zuo Xunxiao added. "This is most of them. At least, all that I know."
"Most is enough." Xue Liulan's face brightened. "If we take these, the rest will be nothing."
"But why would General Zuo help Xue Liulan?"
Murong Jin's voice rang out from behind Zuo Xunxiao.
Both men started. She walked slowly up the steps into the pavilion. She glanced at Xue Liulan, then fixed her gaze on Zuo Xunxiao.
He froze, staring at her. How long had it been? Since the assassination attempt, he hadn't seen her. She was fuller now, her face rosy, but the cold fire in her eyes hadn't dimmed.
"Is the Princess Consort suspicious of me?" he asked, composing himself.
She paused. She didn't know why she had asked. She just felt she had to consider everything for Xue Liulan. She hadn't stopped to think that after five years of friendship, she was doubting him.
"Yi promised no one would eavesdrop. He's broken his word," Xue Liulan said quickly, stepping to her side. "Why are you out here? I told you to wait inside."
She looked up at him, her dark eyes sad.
He understood. He squeezed her shoulder. "Where's the baby?"
"I gave him to Yi." She sniffled, giving him a grateful smile.
He turned to Zuo Xunxiao. "I'm going to check on Qi'er. Excuse me." He left the pavilion, leaving them alone.
They needed time. Space to untie the knots in their hearts.
Murong Jin and Zuo Xunxiao stood in silence under the dim light of the lanterns. In the distance, Xue Liulan held the bundled infant he had taken from Yi.
"I didn't break my word," Yi said from the tree. "I can stop anyone else, but I don't have the guts to stop Sister Jin."
"I understand. It's cold. I'm going back." Xue Liulan nodded and turned to leave.
"Hey, you're really leaving them alone?" Yi laughed.
"Why not?" Xue Liulan stopped. "It's freezing out here. Why don't you come inside for a drink?"
"Aren't you afraid old embers will catch fire?" Yi asked, half-joking.
Xue Liulan looked down at his son. "If I don't go back, he'll freeze."
"Xue Liulan?"
"I trust Murong Jin. That's all." He walked away. "Are you coming or not?"
"Coming! Why wouldn't I?" Yi shouted, jumping down. "She's not my wife. Why should I freeze out here?"
In the pavilion, Murong Jin watched Zuo Xunxiao, waiting for his answer.
"If I said to trust me based on my character alone, would you believe me?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
"Yes," she answered without hesitation.
"Aren't you afraid I'm luring the Fifth Prince into a trap?"
"Of course I am."
"Then why believe me?" His hand clenched into a fist.
A faint smile touched her lips. "If I'm wrong, and something happens to Xue Liulan, I will be with him. Since we are together either way, why not choose to trust the brother I fought beside for five years?"
He let out a long breath, a weight lifting from his shoulders. It was over. Even if it wasn't Xue Liulan, it would never be him. Not two years ago, and not now.
"Before you returned from Wuchuan, your father, General Murong, came to me privately," he said slowly. "Everything since then was arranged by him."
"My father?" She was shocked. "You mean your defection to Deng Qinyao was his idea?"
"Yes. To gather evidence of his rebellion." He smiled. "We lived and died together. I know your temper. Even if I had the spirit to rage for a beauty, that beauty should be a gentle lady, shouldn't she?"
Since it was decided, why not stay friends? At least he would always have a unique place in her heart.
She stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing. She laughed until she bent over, and Zuo Xunxiao couldn't help but join in, his eyes crinkling to hide the pain.
She punched him in the shoulder. "The way you acted back then… I really thought I had that much charm."
"Hah! If you did, I would have wooed you back in Wuchuan. The Fifth Prince wouldn't have stood a chance."
But if I had had the courage then, he thought, would the man standing beside you now be me?
The full moon banquet was lively. Even the Emperor came, personally placing a longevity lock on the baby. But while others missed it, Guo Shangzhong noticed a shadow on the Emperor's face as he left.
He remembered that the Emperor had left the banquet for a short time, and the Fifth Prince had followed. What had they discussed in that quarter of an hour?
"Guo Shangzhong." The Emperor's voice cut through the silence of the Imperial Study.
"Your servant is here." He knelt. It had been a long time since he had heard such a grave tone from his master.
"Issue a decree. The Fifth Prince is to investigate Deng Qinyao for forging weapons and plotting rebellion. If the charges are proven, show no mercy."
"Yes." Guo Shangzhong bowed and retreated.