Something had shifted between the princess and her. Maybe it was born from her mutter of ‘Both’, or perhaps from the look of disappointment in Xi Qian’e’s eyes, but after that day, a wall of ice grew between them.

  It was a wall so thin it seemed it would melt if she pressed her fingertips to it. Yet the longer she did so, the deeper that chilling fear seeped into her, until she no longer dared to press her way through.

  She didn’t understand.

  Why was it, that when they sat together, ate together, and held each other’s hands, the princess seemed so far?

  She didn’t know how to grip onto that hand. Not anymore.

  The only conversation they had was one about business.

  ‘The Second and First Princes never pnned to protect us, Three,’ said the princess. In her hands she spun the medicine bowl — the bottom of it had become stained a deep bck. ‘They sent us to that pace with the intention of killing us.’

  Three watched that bowl spin as she sat still on the bed. The bandages on her stomach folded her skin in strange shapes; it chafed against her even as she rested her elbows on her knees.

  She didn’t speak. She just listened.

  ‘As for the empress, he needs to protect his son. He wants us dead, and rather than go head-to-head against the twins, he must’ve struck a deal with them, to join forces and kill us.’ Xi Qian’e reached out to brush a lock of hair away from her face. ‘Given Xi Jiaoyang’s arrogance, it’s likely that they struck the deal using Second as a middleman — and with Xi Qingxian’s ambition, he and the empress privately struck a deal.’

  Those fingers pulled away from her face.

  ‘Three,’ breathed the princess, ‘can you guess what it was?’

  ‘The Second Prince offered to sway his brother into killing us,’ she whispered, ‘and the empress promised to kill the First Prince in return.’

  Xi Qian’e kissed her hard.

  …Her princess was a quick learner.

  They stayed at the emperor’s pace for a few more days, until Three’s wounds closed and Nine cleared her of possible infections or complications. And it was only then that the emperor came to see her, early in the morning.

  The door swung open without a knock. ‘Three. Come and take a walk with Us.’

  She froze, then quickly downed her medicine and pced the bowl back on the table. Stood up, boots thumping on the floor. Then she grabbed Xi Qian’e’s hand and squeezed hard before letting go.

  The princess nodded. In her hands was a rge leather bag, generously given to them by Nine. The long strap rested on the woman’s shoulder, a glint of white jade coming from the bag’s knotted top. ‘Be quick.’

  ‘I know,’ Three said. ‘Keep my skirt and earrings safe for me.’ She turned back to the emperor and said, ‘I’ll be right with you, Your Majesty.’

  Xi Qian’e didn’t speak as she left.

  The emperor took her away, through the winding, endless hallways, before breaking out of the rosewood into shattered beams of sunlight and green jasmine pergos.

  The vines had long lost all their blossoms; now, only green, copper-tinted leaves remained, thick and strong even in the morning winter air.

  The emperor strayed off the path and onto the frozen soil. It crunched under those silken shoes. ‘Three, you knew what it meant to send Us that pendant.’

  She flinched. Then, she gritted her teeth. ‘I’m not ungrateful. If you still desire my hand, Your Majesty, then I’ll serve in —’

  ‘It’s fine.’ The emperor waved a hand. She didn’t need to see the other’s face to know it was set with indifference; the calm swish of golden silk on snow was all she needed. ‘We don’t have the habit of forcing others, child.’

  ‘…Why me, Your Majesty?’ She looked up at the other. The weight that had once sat deep in her chest finally floated up — it rested on her tongue and slid out of her lips. ‘It’s not that you want me, nor do you like me. I can’t see why it would me.’

  ‘It’s because you’re the best fit,’ the emperor said. The woman turned around, leaving a long mar on the pristine snow. ‘You’re loyal, a female, without political power, and strong enough to protect yourself in an assassination. If you married Us and became Our Noble Consort, We could block off so many greedy hands without worrying about unwanted children or hidden schemes and We… could do it without hurting Jinmeng.’

  ‘I see.’ She paused and said, ‘I hope you find someone suitable to fill that role.’

  The emperor smiled. But then it fell away, wilting into a sadder, softer curve. ‘We heard you and that niece of Ours… are having an affair.’

  Three flushed, her heels digging into the snow.

  ‘We suggest you stop that behaviour immediately, Three.’

  She froze. Fell silent. ‘Your Majesty, I —’

  ‘You and that girl have no future, Three.’ The emperor’s eyes, that voice, turned cold, was hard like ice yet held a kindness far, far purer than the snow. ‘Even if she forgives you for killing her mother, she will either be killed by her competitors or become an emperor. And a good emperor can never be a good lover. That isn’t something you, of all people, can tolerate.’

  She almost wanted to vomit. ‘I know, Your Majesty.’ And she knew better than anyone how deep her jealousy could run.

  ‘That’s good,’ said the emperor. ‘At least you know. And one more thing, Three — this is the st time you can take advantage of Us. We will spoil you no longer.’

  ‘I understand.’ She paused. ‘Thank you, Your Majesty. You saved my and my princess’s life.’

  ‘And it won’t happen again.’ The emperor moved to walk back into the building. ‘We came out to tell you that. The Third Princess will be with you shortly —’

  ‘Your Majesty, wait!’

  The emperor paused. Tilted her head back to peer down at Three. ‘What is it, child?’

  ‘…Why,’ she mumbled, ‘why did you… set up that competition?’ Her voice grew louder. ‘We all just want to live. Couldn’t you have just… named a Crown Heir? Then, wouldn’t everyone be alright?’

  The other gave her a sharp, terrible smile. ‘I could have. But perhaps, Three, I’m a horrible, horrible woman who wants to watch everyone die.’

  And the emperor walked away, vanishing into the shadows of the imperial pace.