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Zhiyi looked at the stern, square-faced man who was leading her out of the Prince of Yue’s compound, past dead bodies. She’d seen more dead people in the last few months than she’d seen in her entire life. This time, most of the dead seemed to be men of Yue, to her relief.
“What did you say your name was?” she asked, as the man drew her along.
The man put his finger to his mouth. Once they were outside the compound, he let go of her arm and bowed deeply. “Your Highness, I apologise again for putting my hands on you. My name is Dao Qin. We must go. My mission is to get you clear of this compound, just in case.”
“You’re Xie Wei’s man?” Zhiyi had been astonished and concerned, when her husband had told her that Xie Wei was coming to negotiate her release, and very worried that he would be killed. It seemed that she had underestimated Xie Wei, as had the Prince of Yue.
Dao Qin nodded. “Yes.” He scanned the grassland watchfully. “Let’s go to the rendezvous point. There will be a carriage there. You will be more comfortable.”
“Who are we meeting at the rendezvous point?” Zhiyi asked.
“Marquis Yan Mu and Sir,” said Dao Qin.
Zhiyi blinked. “Marquis Yan? I thought… I thought the Yans were exiled to Huangzhou?”
“Not anymore,” said Dao Qin, blandly, still looking around.
“Did Lang… his Majesty… revoke their exile?” Zhiyi’s heart leaped.
“You’ll have to ask them about that,” said Dao Qin, setting off at a steady pace. Zhiyi bit her lip and hoped the Yans hadn’t broken Lang’s edict on her behalf.
Zhiyi was used to palanquins and for the past few weeks, she’d been mostly confined to her rooms. “Slow down,” she pleaded.
Dao Qin bowed deeply. “I apologise, your Highness. I am used to Sir’s pace.”
“It’s fine,” said Zhiyi. “You rescued me; I can’t complain. Have you been with the State Preceptor long?”
“Five or six years,” said Dao Qin, not looking at her, but at the terrain. His hand hovered above his crossbow.
They walked in silence for some time. Eventually Zhiyi saw a group of soldiers in Yan armour standing around a carriage. They cheered as Dao Qin and Zhiyi approached. Zhiyi felt her eyes prickle with tears. She sat on the steps for the carriage and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
“You might find it more comfortable inside the carriage,” said Dao Qin.
“No, I wouldn’t,” said Zhiyi. “I’ve had enough of being shut up in small chambers.”
Dao Qin bowed, his expression showing nothing of his thoughts.
Not too long afterwards, a band of armed men approached. Zhiyi tensed, but as they got nearer, it was very obvious that Xie Wei was the lead rider, from his height and white robes. She let out her breath in relief and stood up on the steps of the carriage to greet them. One part of her had been afraid that the Prince of Yue would suddenly appear and capture her again. He had been so cruel and relentless. Then she saw that Marquis Yan Mu was indeed riding beside Xie Wei, in plain clothing.
“Thank you so much, Junior State Preceptor, Marquis Yan. I am forever in your debt.” Zhiyi hesitated. “What happened to the Prince of Yue? Is he dead?”
Zhiyi had always thought that Xie Wei was a saint, but she saw another side to him as his lips curled, and an unpleasant smile came over his face. “No, your Highness. I ensured he suffered a fate worse than death.”
“You tortured him?” Zhiyi was profoundly shocked.
Xie Wei’s eyes flashed with a cruel light, and for a sudden, strange moment, Zhiyi was reminded uncomfortably of her uncle, Xue Yuan. “I didn’t touch him. I simply tied him up and sent him back to the King of Yue with a full description of precisely how he had been planning to overthrow his uncle. That’s all.”
Yan Mu shook his head. “His insult to Qian and to her Highness could not be tolerated.”
“Indeed not,” said Xie Wei, crisply, and shook his head. “Let’s go. We need to meet with Yan Lin.”
Zhiyi got into the carriage. She peeked out through a gap in the curtains and noticed that it was Xie Wei who commanded the troops to leave, not Yan Mu.
She could not afford to be a spoiled, naïve little girl anymore. She’d learnt her lesson the hard way. She had to take more care and watch what was going on. This wasn’t the first time Xie Wei had commanded Yan troops; he’d used them in Tongzhou as well, to destroy the rebels. Yan Mu had always chafed against Shen Lang’s commands, much to Lang’s irritation. Yan Mu didn’t defer to any man readily… apart from Xie Wei, it seemed. Why would Yan Mu obey Xie Wei? Something tickled the back of Zhiyi’s mind, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
She put her head against the side of the carriage as they rolled through the flat grasslands and drowsed. She was greatly relieved when they got to the border forest; it felt like she was almost home. She peeped out of the carriage again. Another armed band had camped by the road, with Yan flags flying.
Zhiyi recognised the man in armour standing on waving his arms. “Yan Lin!”
“Zhiyi!” called Yan Lin. “You’re safe! Thank the heavens!”
When the carriage pulled up, Zhiyi got out and hugged Yan Lin.
“Zhiyi!” said Yan Lin, looking awkward. “You’re a Princess! I’m a single man! You can’t hug me like this.”
“I can too! I’m a married woman,” said Zhiyi, wryly. “Even Old Wang Jiu couldn’t object to this!”
Yan Lin raised an eyebrow. “Not a widow?”
Xie Wei swung off his horse and smiled grimly. “Not yet. Give the King of Yue time to sentence his nephew for treason, Yan Lin.”
Yan Lin laughed. “Couldn’t happen to a nicer fellow!”
“It was fully deserved,” said Yan Mu.
“We need to get ready ourselves for your triumphal return to Qian, your Highness.” Xie Wei put up his chin proudly. “Ning’er is waiting for you at the Xinzhou border.”
Zhiyi blinked. “My Ning-nya? You’re joking! She’s here?”
“Ning insisted on coming to Xinzhou with Xie Wei to rescue you, Zhiyi,” said Yan Lin, beaming. “Isn’t she amazing?”
Zhiyi wiped hot tears away. “Did that crazy girl bring the soil from the capital?”
Xie Wei smiled, unexpectedly warmly. “Of course, Ning’er brought the soil. She has been adamant that she must fulfil her promise to you.”
“Xuening has always been brave,” said Yan Mu.
“Tell the men to clean up, get into dress uniform, and get ready for our return,” said Xie Wei. “We should be able to make it by afternoon. I do not want to leave Ning’er waiting too long.”
Yan Lin and Yan Mu saluted. “Understood,” said Yan Mu.
Zhiyi relieved herself. After that she tried to freshen herself up the best she could in the privacy of one of the tents. To her surprise, Dao Qin brought her makeup box, containing a mirror and perfume, and several items of her clothing and jewellery in a bundle. “Sir took these things from the Yue encampment.”
“This is more than I could possibly have expected,” said Zhiyi, moved. “You’ve thought of everything. Thank you.”
Dao Qin bowed. “Don’t thank me. Thank Sir and Miss Jiang.”
As the camp packed up, Xie Wei directed everyone, like a tall white spider at the centre of a web, with Yan Mu standing by his side. Gone was the gentle, humble scholar who’d taught Zhiyi in the palace; he’d been replaced by a hard-faced military man. Who was Xie Wei? The ruthless air of command he’d displayed earlier was almost imperial. Zhiyi was profoundly grateful that she’d been rescued, but there was something strange going on. She would have to be on her guard.
When she had a chance, she grabbed Yan Lin and pulled him away from the camp a little. “Why are you and your father treating Xie Wei like your commanding officer, Yan Lin?” she whispered.
Yan Lin tossed his head. “Because his Majesty gave Xie Wei the Yan family tally, of course!”
“Your father doesn’t just obey anyone who has that tally,” said Zhiyi.
Yan Lin’s face went still.
“You’re hiding something,” said Zhiyi.
“I’m not,” said Yan Lin, guilt flashing across his face.
“You totally are,” said Zhiyi. “How did you and your father end up here, anyway? I thought you were exiled to Huangzhou!”
Yan Lin fiddled with his ponytail and looked at the ends of his hair. “His Majesty gave Xie Wei permission to attempt your rescue.”
“Why would Xie Wei want to risk his life like this?”
“Xie Wei is a very noble man,” said Yan Lin, glibly.
Zhiyi shook her head. “Nonsense. You are definitely hiding something.”
Yan Lin sighed. “Okay. If you must know, it’s because Ning kept bugging and bugging him.”
Zhiyi knew well how hysterical Ning had been about her marriage, but this still didn’t answer the question properly. “Really? Xie Wei risked his life for me, just because Ning-ning bugged him?”
Yan Lin looked widened his eyes. “You know what Ning’s like! She’s incessant.”
“But…” Zhiyi broke off as Xie Wei came over, looking stern.
“Xie Ju’an,” said Yan Lin, guiltily.
“Get ready to go,” said Xie Wei. “This isn’t the time to gossip, Yan Lin.”
Yan Lin bowed. “Yes. Understood.”
Xie Wei put his hand on Yan Lin’s shoulder. “Good man.”
As Yan Lin looked up at Xie Wei with admiration, Zhiyi wondered. Just as at Yan Lin’s coming-of-age, Xie Wei was behaving like Yan Lin’s older brother. And Yan Lin had called Xie Wei by his intimate given name, as if they were relatives or close friends.
Xie Wei bowed to her. “Your Highness. We will set out shortly. Please prepare yourself.”
Zhiyi found herself obeying too. Before she knew it, they were on the road again, ready to return to the border. She was profoundly moved by the ceremony at the gates of Xinzhou, when all the soldiers and officials bowed to her, and Ning handed over the soil from the capital.
She couldn’t believe her friend was really there. Eventually, they let go of each other, wiping their eyes, and Zhiyi went through the gate, holding Ning’s hand. She’d put aside all the mysteries of what was going on, just to savour this moment.
Once they were through the gate, and the gates closed, Ning turned, and her eyes lit up as she caught sight of something or someone. She smiled, her lips parting a little, and drew in a deep breath. Zhiyi followed the direction of her gaze and was shocked to realise that she was looking at Xie Wei.
Zhiyi had always thought Xie Wei was a distant man, not prey to the passions of lesser beings, but she discovered she’d been dreadfully wrong. He was staring back at Ning with equal intensity and for a moment, his gaze burned with a wolfish desire.
Meanwhile Yan Lin looked back and forth between the two of them.
“So, everything went as planned, Ju’an?” Ning stepped up to Xie Wei.
“Obviously. Your Princess has been rescued.” Xie Wei took Ning’s arm and pulled her close to him, his eyes narrowing. “Are you happy now, Ning’er?”
Ning sighed and rolled her eyes. “This is not the time or place. Let’s talk later, okay?”
Zhiyi didn’t know what disturbed her more: Xie Wei’s possessive, inappropriate behaviour, or Ning’s lack of concern or surprise about it.
Abruptly Xie Wei let go of Ning, as he noticed Yan Lin and Zhiyi were staring at them. “Yes, you’re right. We’ll talk later. Please excuse me, Princess, Yan Lin.” He strode off, followed by his bodyguards.
Ning shook her head, her eyes following Xie Wei. “He’s so petulant and moody sometimes! Let’s go to our lodgings, Zhiyi.”
“You go first, Ning-ning,” said Zhiyi. “There’s something I want to ask Yan Lin, if you don’t mind. Could you go ahead ask them to run a bath for me? And maybe get some food ready?”
“Of course!” said Ning, and then trit-trotted off, her hips swaying. Zhiyi and Yan Lin watched her, without speaking.
As soon as Ning was well out of earshot, Zhiyi grabbed Yan Lin’s arm, and whispered, “What in the heavens is going on? Did Xie Wei undertake this extraordinary rescue just for Ning?”
“I… I’m not entirely sure, but I guess so,” said Yan Lin, hesitantly, painfully, his eyes watering.
“Seriously, our former teacher is in love with Ning?” said Zhiyi.
Yan Lin blinked miserably. “It seems possible. It certainly answers your question about why Xie Wei did this.”
“What does Ning feel about him?”
Yan Lin’s eyes watered again. “Uh. I don’t know. But I asked Ning to marry me again, when she first arrived at the border. She said no, because she’s in love with someone else. She didn’t tell me who, apart from specifying that it wasn’t Zhang Zhe. I think it must be Xie Wei, from the way she looked at him when we rode up to the gate.”
“Hmph, I missed that interaction, because I was still in my carriage,” said Zhiyi. “But surely you suspected something was up, if they came all the way here, together?”
“No, not really, because… well, Xie Wei was our teacher, Zhiyi. He never struck me as a man who was interested in marriage! I didn’t even contemplate this as a possibility.” Yan Lin’s brow creased in thought. “Just before we were exiled, Ning told me that she was going to marry Zhang Zhe, if he asked her. What happened there? Ning wouldn’t say.”
Zhiyi shook her head. “Mr Zhang’s mother died while they were in Tongzhou. Ning broke it off. She said that she had brought an ill-fate upon him and that she was responsible for his mother’s death.”
Yan Lin exhaled. “Not that nonsense about an ill-fate again! Poor old Zhang Zhe…”
Another thought occurred to Zhiyi. “Wait… how did Ning persuade her family to allow her come this journey?”
Yan Lin grimaced. “They know nothing about any of this, of course. Ning told everyone she was going back to her hometown, but instead, she ran off with Xie Wei in secret. I helped her write a fake letter to her parents the other day; we decided the hometown hadn’t changed.”
“Ning’s mother is going to have a heart attack if she ever finds out about this, from what you’ve told me!” Zhiyi put her hand to her head. “If this ever gets out there will be a genuine scandal!”
“Lady Jiang deserves a heart attack…” Yan Lin slapped his own arm. “No. That thought is not gentlemanly.”
Zhiyi laughed.
Yan Lin stiffened his shoulders. “Anyway. I have things to do. Let me take you to your lodgings.”
“Thanks,” said Zhiyi.
After Zhiyi had washed and eaten, she tried to probe Ning on what was going on. Rather than allaying her fears, the ensuing conversation made Zhiyi even more worried. Ning insisted that Xie Wei had participated in Zhiyi’s rescue because she’d called on a life-debt Xie Wei owed her from four years earlier, and he was simply keeping his promise. This was the first Zhiyi had heard of a life-debt, and she wondered at it.
Then Ning let slip that Xie Wei had forged an imperial edict in order to ensure the Yans came to Xinzhou. Zhiyi was seriously concerned that Xie Wei had dragged both the Yans and Ning into a dangerous mess. Xie Wei had not only risked his life to rescue her, but he’d also potentially destroyed his entire career and his reputation, if Lang responded badly to the forgery. Ning seemed to be in denial about the fact that Xie Wei’s actions were an attempt to impress her and please her. Zhiyi worried that Xie Wei could become a man with nothing to lose. Such a man was ripe for rebellion, if that was the only way he could defend his position.
Zhiyi asked Ning what she felt for Xie Wei. She could have laughed, if the situation hadn’t been so serious. Ning’s denial of interest in Xie Wei was unconvincing, to say the least. But this raised a new issue. If they were in a relationship, and Xie Wei rebelled, Ning could be pulled into rebellion too.
Cautiously, Zhiyi raised the possibility of Xie Wei rebelling. For the way Ning responded, Zhiyi knew she’d hit home.
Ning got up. “I’m going for a walk.”
“Going to talk to this man who is totally, definitely not your lover?” Zhiyi raised an eyebrow.
“I need to thank Xie Ju’an properly. You’re right; he probably did rescue you in part for me.” Ning looked Zhiyi in the eyes. “And then… I’ll tell Ju’an that I’m going back to my hometown, just as I was originally planning. I’ll come back to the capital to see you, once you’re all safe and sound. He’s kept his side of the bargain, and I kept my promise to you. There’s no reason for me to stay here anymore.”
“Really?” said Zhiyi, feeling relief.
Ning nodded. “Really.” She hugged Zhiyi and kissed her on the cheek. “Go to sleep, darling Zhiyi. You must be so tired. I’ll speak to you in the morning.”
When Zhiyi woke up, she discovered that Ning had never come back that night. “Where is Ning?” she asked one of the maids.
The maid bobbed anxiously. “Er, they’re saying that Lord Pingnan kidnapped the young miss, your Highness.”
“WHAT? Lord Pingnan?” said Zhiyi. “What in the heavens would he want with Ning? Is he at the border too?”
“Lord Pingnan said he won’t give the young miss back, unless the Junior State Preceptor goes to speak to him, your Majesty,” said the maid. “And they’ve searched all around, and Lord Pingnan has disappeared, with the young miss.”
It seemed likely that this was Lord Pingnan’s revenge upon Xie Wei for the destruction of Tongzhou, but why and how would Lord Pingnan have snatched Ning? Zhiyi’s heart sank, as she recalled the furore when A’Shu had spread rumours that Ning had been in Tongzhou, and Ning’s role in the destruction of Tongzhou had been confirmed openly in court. Lord Pingnan might be revenging himself upon both Ning and Xie Wei.
Lang had been entertained, Zhiyi suddenly remembered, by Xie Wei’s spirited defence of Ning’s bravery and character in court. “Official Xie goes to extraordinary lengths to keep his promise to Lord Jiang to look after the second Jiang daughter,” he’d murmured, smiling wryly. Zhiyi had snapped, “It’s not funny! What A’Shu did to Ning-nya was dreadful! She could have ruined Ning’s reputation!” Lang had said, “I know it was dreadful, Zhiyi. It was proper of Official Xie to defend your friend. However, it’s quite evident that some men in court are not deterred by any supposed stain to Miss Jiang’s reputation. She will be fine.” At the time, Zhiyi had thought Lang was talking abut Zhang Zhe, who had also publicly come to Ning’s defence. But now she wondered if Lang had suspected Xie Wei was in love with Ning.
Zhiyi dressed and confronted Yan Mu. As Yan Mu attempted to calm her down, Xie Wei arrived and said that he would go, alone, to rescue Ning. Zhiyi eyed him suspiciously. Despite Xie Wei’s evident concern for Ning, she suspected this was partly his fault, and that he’d somehow put Ning at risk.
After everyone had left, other than Yan Lin and Yan Mu, Zhiyi said, “What happened? How did Lord Pingnan manage to kidnap Ning?”
Yan Lin shook his head. “It’s complicated. Xie Ju’an and Ning had a huge fight last night. If you must know, he dared her to stab him, and she did…”
Zhiyi shook her head. “Ning. Stabbed. Xie. Wei. Did he force her?”
“We don’t think so,” said Yan Mu.
“He‘s refusing to talk about it,” said Yan Lin. “However, Jian Shu asked eyewitnesses, and they said no, Xie Wei didn’t force Ning, although he did drag her around the yard, and rant a lot about molten metal. It was a crazy dare, as far as we can work out. She said he’d be the death of her. He denied this, gave her his knife, and dared her to stab him instead. So, she did, but fortunately she didn’t hit anything vital.”
“You’re joking,” said Zhiyi faintly.
“No.” Yan Lin shook his head. “The moral of the story is: never dare Ning to do anything. She’ll do it. Anyway, Ning ran off to the edge of town, crying. While we were all concentrating on treating Xie Wei’s wound, Lord Pingnan kidnapped Ning and left a letter demanding Xie Wei come to Guiyi Heights to meet him.”
Zhiyi looked miserably at Yan Lin and Yan Mu. “Xie Wei destroyed the rebel stronghold in Tongzhou, after you left. But there’s reason for Lord Pingnan to hold a grudge against Ning, too. She was there, in Tongzhou, along with Zhang Zhe and that idiot Xue Dingfei. There was a big scene in court about it, because A’Shu spread rumours about Ning…”
Yan Lin blinked. “Hang on, what did you just say? Xue Dingfei was in Tongzhou, with Xie Wei? That’s impossible.”
Zhiyi had totally forgotten, in her distress, that Xue Dingfei was Yan Lin’s long-lost cousin, and Yan Mu’s nephew. “Oh, has no one told you? Xue Dingfei survived after all.” She sighed as she recalled Yan Lin’s panegyric on the virtues of Xue Dingfei at his coming-of-age. “I’m sorry to say that the poor man is not the brave figure you’d both hoped, but a very damaged fool.”
Yan Lin’s eyes narrowed, and he tossed his ponytail over his shoulder. “This man, whoever he is, is a fake. I will expose this man, when I go back to the capital.”
Yan Mu said in propitiating tones, “I’m sure these things will sort themselves out.”
“It is intolerable,” said Yan Lin. “I must tell Xie Wei.”
Zhiyi rolled her eyes. “Sure! He’s the one who found your cousin.” She frowned. “I wish I hadn’t said anything, but it’s best to prepare you both. Xue Dingfei drove the Xue family mad, because he turned out to be… well… a drunken, womanising, profligate lunatic.”
To her immense astonishment, Yan Lin burst out laughing and then put his hands over his mouth to stifle the laughter. Yan Mu shook his head, but Zhiyi was surprised to note that the very faintest ghost of a smile hovered at the edge of his lips.
Zhiyi shook her head. “It really isn’t funny! The poor man was so damaged!” Then she frowned. “Yan Lin, why were you so sure he was a fake?”
Yan Lin’s levity suddenly vanished. “Sorry! Please forgive me. No reason.”
“Yan Lin is upset by everything that has occurred,” said Yan Mu, solemnly.
Xie Wei came back into the room, followed by his unhappy-looking bodyguards. “I’m going now.”
“State Preceptor, before you go, Yan Lin didn’t believe me that you found Xue Dingfei…” Zhiyi began.
Yan Lin shook his head and gave Xie Wei a strange sidelong look. It seemed almost guilty. “This is the least of our worries right now. Father is right. Just forget everything I said, Zhiyi.”
“Poor Xue Dingfei is very much at the top of my mind,” said Xie Wei in harsh tones. “I suspect that Lord Pingnan recaptured him, and it’s likely he’s been tortured. That’s how—”
“How what?” said Zhiyi.
“—How Lord Pingnan knew that Ning’er is precious to me,” said Xie Wei, in a tight, furious voice, looking down at his clenched fist. He looked up, and his eyes glinted with something disturbing that made Zhiyi take a step back. “I will make him pay, I swear it! Not only for taking Ning’er, but for the attack on the capital twenty years ago, and so many other sins!”
“Good,” said Yan Lin, his voice emotional, and his eyes gleaming with tears. “I want him to pay for what he did then.”
Yan Mu bowed his head. “Xie Wei, we will stand with you, if you need us.”
“Marquis Yan, I must go alone at first,” said Xie Wei. “I have to face Lord Pingnan personally, and rid Qian of this scourge.”
“Don’t destroy yourself in the process,” said Yan Mu. “The tree still has to flower.”
To Zhiyi’s astonishment, it looked like Xie Wei’s eyes filled with tears, but he hid it by bowing low. “I will do my best, Marquis Yan. I hope that, in what I do next, you will trust me.”
“I have faith in you,” said Yan Mu, quietly.
“So do I,” said Yan Lin.
“I am grateful,” said Xie Wei. “I’m going now. I promise to bring Ning’er back.”
Xie Wei left, and the Yans watched him silently.
Zhiyi went back to her rooms to read a book, but she couldn’t concentrate on it properly; something about the conversation before was bugging her. She put the book down when she suddenly realised who Xie Wei reminded her of, when he was furiously angry. It was Xue Yuan. An extraordinary, insane possibility entered her mind.
Lang had been grieved and guilt-ridden by the wreck of Xue Dingfei. Zhiyi had thought, when Lang had talked privately about it to her, that it was sad to see that, sometimes, a very brave child did not become a very brave adult, and wondered what tortures her cousin had undergone to change him so. The adult Xue Dingfei had borne little resemblance to the boy she’d known, or to Aunt Yan and Uncle Xue. She had just been thankful that Xue Dingfei apparently held no resentment towards Shen Lang for the sacrifice he’d been forced to make.
However, if Yan Lin was right, and the man she’d thought was Xue Dingfei was fake, there was another man who had grown into a very brave adult, and who continued to walk alone into danger: whether it was the Prince of Yue’s stronghold or Guiyi Heights. He was also a man who bore a resemblance to Yan Lin, and, as Zhiyi had seen earlier, he occasionally bore an eerie, entirely unexpected resemblance to Xue Yuan.
Zhiyi’s heart started to beat faster. Could Xie Wei be the real Xue Dingfei? This would explain why the Yans treated him with such respect and familial affection, and why he hated Lord Pingnan: if she was right, he’d been a captive for decades. But why would Xie Wei produce a fake Xue Dingfei, if he was the real son of Xue Yuan? Had he simply been trying to annoy his father? Was it a strange form of revenge, or misdirection?
Zhiyi’s fingers tingled with alarm. The man who’d called himself Xue Dingfei hadn’t borne Lang a grudge, but if Xie Wei was the real Xue Dingfei, what if he did? Was that why he’d obtained such a position of influence so quickly, and not revealed his true identity? There was something scary and ruthless about Xie Wei, just like Xue Yuan. On the other hand, Lang had always said Xie Wei was the closest thing he had to a friend in court. They played Go together, and sometimes caught up for cakes or tea. When she was a little girl, Zhiyi had been jealous of the friendship between Fei’er and Lang’er. Her friendship with A’Shu had never had the same depth and had turned out to be without any depth at all.
It was also possible that Xie Wei’s targets were Duke Xue and the Dowager Empress. Her Uncle and her mother had frequently complained that, while the State Preceptor’s advice always seemed reasonable, since he’d come to court, the Xue family had not been able to advance their interests so easily. As she, Lang and Jie had discussed at different times, they regarded themselves as Shens, and didn’t share their mother’s obsession with the fortunes of the Xues to the exclusion of all else. Zhiyi had been bored by her uncle’s and mother’s complaints, but she now wished she hadn’t tuned them out. Suddenly she recalled Xie Wei’s lessons on politics, and how he’d emphasised that a wise leader had to represent everyone. Maybe Xie Wei had been trying to teach both the court and his family: Yans, Shens, and Xues had all been among his students.
The problem was that Zhiyi wasn’t really sure what Xie Wei was, regardless of what his true identity was. He seemed to have a dangerous, crazy, self-destructive side, hitherto entirely concealed. Unfortunately, Ning seemed to be attracted to this. Would the two destroy each other? Ning’s reluctance to admit that they were in a relationship seemed to confirm that there was something wrong. However, in retrospect, there had been a strange frisson between Ning and Xie Wei since the very beginning. And then Zhiyi realised that it had been Xie Wei who had ensured Ning was her study companion, all the while seeming to be reluctant to accede to her and Yan Lin’s demands. They were in the hands of a master manipulator, and they could only hope that Xie Wei possessed at least some of the values he’d spoken about in class.