"The emperor wants me to go to the palace, again?" Jin qing rolled her eyes.

Her maids lowered their head, still ashamed that they had allowed an assassin in.

"Yes." Bai yan nodded and poured tea for her miss.

"Well, they really just have nothing better to do than just invite people over huh?" Jin qing said, then looked at Bai yan "Cheer up. It wasn't your fault last night, and neither was it yours, Ye bing."

"But-!"

"No buts, now, about this whole, me visiting the palace..." Jin qing smiled with a mischievous glint in her dark eyes "You two have always complained in the past about dressing me so plainly?"

Her two maids smiled in an effort to make their miss happy. They were glad they can finally dress their miss the way she should be dressed, but they still felt like the incident last night was still partly their fault. What kind of maid allows that?

Jin qing noticed their halfhearted smile but decided to ignore it. She knew they would be better later when something else excites them.

Bai yan chose a loose-fitting light blue gown with silver clouds hand-stitched over every inch of the fabric. The snowy white inner layer added complemented the clouds and modesty, and her outfit was complete aside from other jewelry on her hair.
They let loose Jin qing's hair and stuck in white crystals and tassels on silver pins on each fold and braid, keeping the amount small.

A carriage was being prepared for her ride.

As Jin qing waited for the carriage to finish, she caught a glimpse of Kai feng's scarlet cape from a corner of a door.

"Sister, Jin qing" He nodded

"Older brother, I thought you were in the army?"

"They allowed me a few days back." Kai Feng sat down on the stone bench on the opposite side of Jing qing. "I heard you were really the Xue Xian, who would have thought?"

"It started as me helping father with small plans during his time as a regular advisor," Jin qing answered, "When the late emperor asked him about where he was getting his plans and such from, father answered that I was."

"So he called you to the palace," Kai Feng remembered, "It was a shock, a person like you going to the palace, but you didn't look afraid."

"I did nothing wrong, why would and why should I be afraid?"

Kai feng chuckled "I haven't been home in a few weeks, and I forget how feisty you can be. You are heading to the palace again? What for this time?"

Jin qing shrugged.

"I suggest you watch your step in the palace. The new emperor is a little, ah, witty."

"Witty?" Jin qing rose an eyebrow.

"More like, very persuasive." Kai feng stood up and patted his sister on the shoulder "Be careful, you may have met your match in words."

A smile slowly crept up Jin qing's lips.

"Oh really now?"

<><><>

Jin qing knelt and kowtowed, and the emperor laughed.

"How many times do I need to tell you? We are equals, there is no need to be so formal."

"I am simply paying respect to the great emperor."

"Or is it because there are people around?"

"Most definitely not." Jin qing looked up, standing straight "The emperor called me here, is there something wrong?"

Xi jian waved his hand, and everyone left, guards and all, which struck Jin qing as odd.

"I heard there was an attempt on your life last night."

Jin qing mentally sighed, facepalming.
"I wouldn't say an attempt on my life, more like a failed abduction."

"Precisely. Xue Xian, or, Jin qing, think. An abduction will most likely end up in blood, don't you think?"

"Is the Emperor doubting my abilities?"

"Yes and no. It is more of I'm worried for your safety."

"My two maids are skilled in the martial arts and so am I. What else do you think I need? A guard that follows me around everywhere?"

"I want you to live in the palace."

Jin qing didn't expect that answer. "You what?"

"I want you to live in the palace" Xi jian repeated. "For three reasons."

"And they are?"

"The main reason is to ensure your safety. We have countless amounts of guards here trained to spot and dispose of assassins like the one that sneaked into your room last night." Xi jian rose to his feet "And second, don't you think it will be much more convenient for a maid or servant to simply go to you if I need assistance?"

"It doesn't take too long for me to get here, only a short carriage ride away." Jin qing countered "And guards have legs unless I am mistaken then correct me. They can simply come to my home?"

"And third." Xi jian began to walk toward Jin qing "It will be easier for me to talk to you. It gets awfully lonely in the palace."

"You have your brothers and sisters and a lot of work to do. Is it right to sit in idleness?"

"What if I make this an order?"

"Then as you said, I am your equal."

"But I am emperor."

"And I am the Xue Xian, the secret to your success."

Xi jian laughed "So then tell me, why don't you want to stay here? You will have to admit my reasons are very reasonable."

Jin qing was for once in her life, was a loss for words, and her mind raced for an answer "I prefer the comfort of my own home."

"That's it? Home is where the family is, do you wish to have your family here as well?"

Jin qing was silent.

"I see. You just refuse to stay here." Xi jian sighed "Jin qing, I wish for you to be safe. I do not doubt your abilities, but it will be easier on me if I know you are under the protection of the imperial household and guards. You have now become an even bigger target than my father ever was. If you don't realize, we are in the brink of war, and if we lose our biggest reason for success don't you think everything my predecessors have built will go to waste?"

Xi jian turned around, facing his golden throne, deep in thought.

"Your words have meaning to them." Jin qing answered, "I will stay for the sake of the great Wei."

Jin qing turned around and left without so much as a curtsy.

<>

Her maids waited for her In her room in the palace, and again, they were terrified.

Every time their miss comes back from a meeting with the emperor, she always comes back looking furious.

Jin qing closed her eyes and sat very still. She didn't want to be here, she wasn't to be in the comfort of her own room and home.

Sounds of footsteps caused Jin qing to open her eyes.
Min yin turned in, eyes growing wide to find Jin qing there.

Her maids curtsied, and Jin qing stood up.

"Your highness Min Yin" Jin qing nodded "how may I help you?"

"Oh, I heard from my brother that you are here to stay. I didn't believe it, so I came to see for myself."

"Your brother convinced me to."

"Well, he can be pretty persuasive." He chuckled.

"My brother warned me of the same."

"Your brother... Kai feng, correct?"

"Yes"

"I've met him several times during military campaigns. He is a pleasant man."

Jin qing only nodded in agreement.

"Well, I won't bother the Xue xian anymore. Is there anything you'll like me to do before I go?" He asked.

Jin qing paused, thinking of a request.

"Well, as from now on, when we are in private, address me by my name" Jin qing smiled "there is no need to be so formal."

"If you wish, Jin qing." Min yin nodded. "And if you don't mind, can I ask you of two requests?"

"Within reason."

"My sister, An ru, has been wanting to speak with you. Will you mind spending an afternoon with my sisters?"

Jin qing smiled "it would be my pleasure. Now, the second request?"

Min yin blushed and looked down at his feet "uh... before I knew who you were... lets put our exchange of words behind us and start fresh."

Jin qing couldn't help but let out a genuine laugh "I already have. Let us forget our small talk before that hunting trip."

Min yin nodded, a soft grin spreading on his lips. "That's good to know. My sisters... They should be in the gardens somewhere. Would you like me to take you there?"

"I would, thank you." Jin qing placed her hands together and followed him out.

<><>

The two sisters dipped into a curtsy and lowered their heads. "Greetings to the Xue xian."

"Spare the formalities." Jin qing said, starting to grow impatient form all the times she had to say that. "We are alone and away from the court's prying eyes. Let us address each other by our names"

An ru nodded. By addressing one another their normal name, they will essentially be known as friends. "Of course, Jin Qing. Chun ting, have you met Jin qing in person before?"

Chun ting shook her head "No I haven't! This is my first time talking to you, and its a pleasure!"

Jin qing smiled. Chun ting reminded her of Xi yan. "I feel the same way."

"What brings you to the garden?" An ru asked.

"Jin qing and I was looking for something to do and just so happened to pass by" Min yin said for her.
Jin qing can only nod in agreement.

"Well." An ru sat down on a stone bench "there isn't much to do here."

Jin qing calmly lowered herself onto the flowers and plucked a single flower. She beckoned Chun ting to her side and tucked the violet in a small fold in her hair.

Chun ting brightly smiled and reached a discolored violet that leaned into a lighter shade of purple. Jin qing leaned over and allowed her to place it on top of her ear.

An ru had joined then by now, but she was a lady and sat with her hands folded on her lap.

To break the silence, Jin qing began to hum.

An ru noticed and began to sing along softly. Chun ting soon too sang with them.

Halfway through the song, An ru stopped. "Jin qing, you have a wonderful voice. Why don't you sing out loud than just humming?"

Chun ting nodded "that's right! We all heard you sing during the hunting trip. Why don't you?"

Jin qing lowered her eyes, but smiled "My voice is inferior to the two princesses, I figured it was best to use my normal voice to act as the harmony, rather than the melody."

An ru wondered why Jin qing wouldn't take in confidence in something she is good in.

Jin qing absent-mindedly picked smaller flowers and slowly braided their stems together. The white and pink flowers complimented each other well, and she held the flower chain up to admire it.

"That's so pretty!" Chun ting's eyes lit up and reached for it, holding it gingerly in her hands. She held it softly, afraid to break this delicate ornament.

"You may keep it if you like." Jin qing said softly.

"Thank you!"

Jin qing only smiled and turned her head a little, selecting another flower to braid.

She knew her days at the palace, unfortunately, will not be as leisure as this one.

Unless my phone and computer are deceiving me, we hit 500 reads!
My goodness, this thing is exploding!

Thanks!
Next thing we know it hits 1k.
Well, we'll see if we ever reach there I guess.