Upon my return to the Palace, there were many matters to see over so I didn't see the Royal Physician. Neither did I tell my parents or elder brother, as they were already under stress. True to the Meteorologist's word, the heavens did not bless us with rain and a few boroughs were afflicted with drought, necessitating purchase of crops from those areas with abundance.

"We are keeping the citizens of these boroughs fed by using the wealth of the Palace," in the three full moons since the last meeting, the Jade Room had become as sparse as the day it was built. This sacrifice was the cornerstone to preventing a revolt from the serfdom. No one addressed the elephant in the room- what more would be traded off to keep them content?

I had suggested that we immediately send volunteers into the mountains to cart down snow so that by the next meeting, the Dynasty could be assured of some levels of water. Some of the elders were doubtful of my plan but offered no solution of their own. They remained silent as the Royal Peacekeeper brought up something concerning.

"Scores of children have disappeared from the boroughs we were planning to assist next. Their parents have all passed away after eating a new species of mushroom," he listed the figures and we then asked if anyone guarding the borders had perceived anything amiss. He denied this so I declared that my bride and I would visit, confident that the presence of royalty would soon flush out the truth. Preparations were discussed for travel before we broke for the midday meal.

Sakura was ecstatic when I told her of our plans after we ate, the joy of the nuptial ceremonies having worn off a few weeks ago. Before the drought, there would have been endless festivities to have kept her entertained but the Palatial lifestyle was now subdued, in keeping with the mood of the serfdom. I was keen to show her the delicate bonsai I had raved about to her in one of our many missives, and she wanted to know her new home better.

The curtains to the palanquin in which we were carried, opened up to show my wife the once-lush fields of Jiangdu. Now, the stalks of wheat stood unnaturally firm, having been dried up by the scorching sun. There was nary a bird or rodent to be scried, these usually competing with the peasants for grain. She kept her curiosity in check, promising to return when the usual deluge visited once more.

Our hosts, one of the distant cousins of my father, asked if we had any special requests for the meal and I shook my head, saying that we would enjoy whatever they served, be it vegetables only. They tried to mask their relief but failed, and I turned the topic to local matters.

"If you follow the path into the woodlands, you will come to a hill with the most dazzling view of the setting sun," one of the youth had suggested an afternoon stroll for Sakura and I. She pleaded with me to go and I pretended to refuse just so I could see her face scrunch up in determination to get me to go.

The trees were animated with creatures scurrying around in the last hours of daylight, making use of the time they had before night descended. I pointed out animals that she hadn't seen before and listed their various characteristics, knowledge leaching like rain into the fertile soil of her mind. We finally reached the hill when we spotted a labourer with a large basket on his back.

The breeze died down suddenly and I felt something ominous stirring. I turned to my bride and noticed that she was silent too, no doubt putting the pieces together to some puzzle.

"Go get the peacekeeper- I have no doubt that your intuition is correct," my whisper sounded loud in the deafening quiet. Her eyes widened, surprised that I believed her without hearing her reasoning. I had no idea why society silenced women's voices when they were usually insightful. She ran like a gazelle, quickly and noiselessly, despite the skirts impeding her movement.

I stirred into motion, stalking the serf I had spotted when I noticed another farm labourer walking from the opposite direction- he too had a large basket on his back. They met in the middle of a valley and put down their baskets. I decided to announce my presence and they froze.

"Liege-" they were about to bow when I stopped them.

"What are in those baskets?" I tried to keep my fear at bay. "I hope that this is an exchange of crops between villages and not a case of hoarding."

My only answer was from a crow- another omen I tried to ignore.

"You have no reason to be afeared, I am merely curious as a cat," I heard the jingling of armour and the galloping of horses- my wife had brought assistance. The guards circled the serfs but this did nothing to alleviate my anxiety. The men ran away only to be restrained by the peacekeepers, knives falling to the grass.

Sakura and I nodded at each other, approaching the bamboo vessels. We heard whimpers as we removed the lids and we gasped when we saw the contents.

"It is as you suspected, right?" I turned my sight away from the infants, as the chief peacekeeper joined us.

"Yea, but there is one more thing I need to confirm," she turned to him. "Could you show us to where those poisonous mushrooms were found?"

"Second Princess, I would caution against that," the sleuth shook his head.

"I won't be eating them," my bride promised. He led us away from the solemn procession to a path in the forest. Prickly brambles and briar choked the floor of the trees as we trekked to a desolate spot. The caps of the fungus were scarlet- in nature, this was a warning. On the mushrooms, there was a weird but recurring pattern- a white skull but as if drawn by a child.

"Do you have a trowel?" she turned to the peacekeeper. He shook his head and instead offered up his dagger. My wife took it and pierced the mud. She carved out a small rectangle and I dug with a flat rock I had found at my feet. There was a steadily growing umber pile at my feet when the rock hit something solid.

My fingers trembled when I saw the white skeleton of a child; who should have been running in the fields but was instead buried in a shallow grave, marked only by mushrooms. The rock fell down on the pile of mud as I turned Sakura's eyes away from the sight.

"I didn't want to be right this time," she sank to her knees and I joined her.

"I promise to stop this," I embraced her, enabling me to help us stand up again. Out of the corner of my vision, I saw the chief cradle the remains far more tenderly than the cannibal had.

"How?" the bride always looked for solutions, even when deep in despair.

"The dowry your father gave me is unspent. I will import grain for these boroughs to feed the children, instead of them being fed to their parents," I had wanted to save it for our offspring but I had time for that while there were others running out of time.

"Oh, Junhui," she clung to my arm as we walked back to our host. I could feel her trembling at this horrendous discovery.

I dispatched a message with Ling Chao, beseeching the Crown Prince to bring my dowry with him while he was in the process of preparing for his journey. We agreed to meet at the shrine on the outskirts of the village.