The letter arrived for Princess Ming on a gray, unremarkable morning, carried by a rider who'd clearly pushed his horse harder than the roads recommended. Yuan heard about it before he saw her — palace gossip traveled faster than any messenger, and by midday half the eastern wing was whispering about the princess of Xilan being recalled home.
He found her in the courtyard under the same plum tree, but this time the book sat closed on her lap, untouched, her hands folded over it like she needed something to hold onto.
"Princess," Yuan said carefully, settling onto the bench across from her. "I heard."
Ming's smile, when it came, didn't reach her eyes the way it usually did. "News moves faster here than it did at home, and that is saying something. My father wants me back in Xilan within the month."
"Can I ask why?"
