The moon was overhead by the time Jin qing stepped out of the meetings with the generals the next day.

She was exhausted. The poison would still give her splitting headaches and an occasional tightness in her chest. But the Wei needed her, and she wouldn't let something as small as that get in the way.

But if the man she was thinking of was helping the Song... she needs to be careful and make sure the Wei wins the war.
She wanted to see the man dead.

He has evaded the cold grasps of death twice, and Jin qing wanted to make sure he didn't escape for the third time.

She went back to her room with her maids following closely behind her. Jin Qing's white gown trailed behind her, her jewels making a light sound like twinkling bells on a windy day.
Untouchable elegance.

On the way back, she caught a quick glimpse of Huan les gown and decided not to interact with her unless they crossed paths.

No doubt Huan Le was flying with the praise she was getting from saving her, and Jin Qing did not want to talk to her while she was drunk with the taste of glory.

But Huan Le went to her anyway, and didn't bother curtsying. "Jin qing."

"Huan le. What a surprise." She said calmly.

"Shouldn't you be thanking me? I saved your life."

"Thank you."

"Just that? No other words?"

"That's all."

"I should have just let you rot."

"Then why didn't you?"

"Because I'm a good sister. We still are related by blood."

Jin qing wanted to laugh. But she was curious, why did Huan Le want to help her? It can't just be because of the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. "Well, I said my thanks. It's late and you should be heading to bed."

"You should too."

Jin qing walked past her, her footsteps silent on the stone tiles. "Goodnight."

Before she can get too far, Huan Le spoke up again. "You owe me a favor now."

Jin qing didn't turn back.

Heavy footsteps approached her and Jin qing turned around in time to see a hand flashing toward her face. She caught it with her hand and held it in the air.

"May you thank the heavens I won't report you to the guards for assaulting someone with a status next to the emperor." She reminded Huan Le, and let her hand drop from her tight grip. "Remember your place."

"Oh, but soon you'll be at my feet, Jin qing. I know something that you don't." Huan le said with a small smirk. "Something I know you are very desperate to know."

"What can you possibly know that I dont?"

Huan Le walked to her side and mumbled under her breath. "I know who poisoned you."

Huan Le began to walk off with a smile on her face, so much in contrast of the obvious expression of surprise and panic that was being displayed on her sister's face.

Jin qing whipped around and grabbed onto her wrist, pulling Huan Le with a firm grip. "Tell me..." her voice was sharp, full of desperation mixed with a little bit of anger.

"How about no?" Huan le said with a smile.

"I'll have you arrested for treason for not sharing vital information with an official."

"And I'll be executed." Huan le pointed out. "And you'll never know who poisoned you."

Jin qing let go of her hand, a loss for words. "You don't dare..."

"So as long as I have that information... you can't do anything to me." Huan le spread her arms in a sweeping motion "you lose either way."

Jin Qing's fingers closed into a fist, her fingernails digging into her palm. "What do you want me to do for you to tell me who poisoned me?"

"I want you to tell me where you went during that week you were gone. Those wounds on you were expertly patched, it must have been done by a doctor or some sort of skilled medic." Huan le Stepped up to Jin qing fearlessly. Even though she was shorter than Jin qing, the confidence she radiated made her bigger and more threatening than she looked.

"Why would you want to know that?"

"Why would you want to know who poisoned you?"

"So I can find them."

"That's my answer. So I can find them."

"Why would you want to know who they are?"

Huan Le smiled. "Because you're being extremely secretive. The Jin qing I know would have told me in a heartbeat who they were if it meant me telling you who poisoned you."

Jin qing took in a deep breath and held it there. "I went some elderly couples house and they just so happened to be quite good at medicine."

"So why didn't you tell us? Or why didn't Xue hua answer even when we asked her several times?"

"Because they asked us to keep it a secret. Now, tell me."

"No."

Jin qing struggled to keep her voice level. "And why is that?"

"You didn't tell me the truth. You can be a terrible liar sometimes." She answered with a grin. "Besides... this started off as just simple curiosity, but now I know you're hiding something. And I'll find out what sooner or later." Huan le turned around and continued walking, leaving a frustrated Jin qing behind.

<><><>

Huan Le's words kept on repeating in her head. Why would she want to know? How does she know who poisoned her? What is her motive?

Those questions kept her up until the next morning.

Her maids dressed her in a pale pink gown with elaborate gold embroidery and decorated her hair with simple pins and tassels.
She wasn't in the mood to dress in anything better. She was mostly conflicted about Huan Le.
She had always known her older sister was secretly a very crafty woman but to that extent of actively manipulating her... Jin qing was more and more alarmed.

How could she not have noticed that side of Huan Le before? How much more does she not know about the people around her?

She eyed at her maids with a wary look in her eyes. Was it possible that they weren't telling her something? Were they hiding something from her? Perhaps they aren't maids at all.

Jin qing gripped her dress even tighter than before. What was she thinking?! She can trust her maids. They have been with her for seven years, they wouldn't betray her, ever. They vowed to serve her faithfully and would use their own lives if needed to protect her.

At least that's what her very first maid promised Jin qing. Look where that got her.

Bai yam placed a tray of cakes to her right. "Miss, you look really pale. Are you alright? Do you need to take a rest?" She asked as she quickly placed a hand over her miss' forehead to check for a fever.

"I'm fine. Just doing some thinking."

"Is it about Huan Le?"

"Yes."

"I don't think we should worry. We can find out who poisoned you by ourselves. We don't need her!"

"Yes of course, but I want to know why and how she knows."

Her maids were silent. They hadn't thought about that.

Though it was true. If the poison was placed by enemy assassins, how would Huan Le know about it?
Jin qing closed her eyes, letting her head rest on her closed fist.
Was it possible that Huan Le was secretly working for the Song? What if Huan Le was the one who poisoned her, but she had a deeper motive to give the Wei a disadvantage to they would lose?

If so... why wasn't she dead and why did Huan Le supposedly cure her?

She can feel her heartbeat picking up, the pounding loud in her ears.
She needed to stop thinking. She needed a distraction before it starts again.

Jin qing had hoped it would happen less often after it hadn't happened in a while.
But the fates wouldn't be so kind to her, huh?

To her maid's surprise, Jin qing stood up and began to walk toward the door.

"Miss?" Ye bing looked up.

"I would like to go for a walk. You two stay here." Jin qing said simply. If it does start, she wanted to be alone.

"Where will you be heading?"

"I'll just be wandering around a little. But if you need me I'll most likely be in the garden."

Jin qing quickly walked out, keeping her head low and her thoughts to herself, just like the times before her identity was revealed.
She missed those times.

Back then, the most she had to worry about was what the first wife was going to do to her, an occasional thought or two about her role as the Xue Xian.
Sure, she still had to think and worry about many things, but nothing compared to now. They were at war, multiple attempts on her life, and the man she despised with the Song emperor.

She hated the man. She shouldn't have spared his life the first time and should have just killed him right then and there when she had the chance.

Underneath her sleeves, her fists balled up and shook a little. Just thinking about him or his mother made her blood boil.
They robbed her what from what she deserved, ruining her life.

"Jin qing."

Jin qing quickly turned around. "Princess An ru." She said with a small nod. "I didn't expect to see you outside today."

"Neither did I. I thought you'll be in a meeting or some sort. Shouldn't you be resting? You just recovered after all."

"Thank you for your concern, but I'm feeling fine. I just needed a walk that's all." Jin qing said with a pleasant smile. "How about you?"

"Oh, studies was getting a little dull, told my tutor that I needed some fresh air. Do you mind if I join you?"

"Not at all."

An ru happily stood by Jin Qing's side, her many maids closely following her.

Jin qing was pretty sure that she wasn't going to have another one of those, so it should be fine is An Ru joins her. Even if she preferred to be alone.

An ru tried to think of a conversation starter. Every time she was with Jin qing, it had always seemed so awkward. They lacked the common interests to start and much less hold a decent conversation.

"I know you probably don't have any time to think of such things, but..." An ru looked up with a sly grin. She has been wondering this for a while, and it wouldn't hurt to ask. Especially when both of her brothers have taken an interest in Jin qing. "Is there anyone you fancy?"

Jin qing smiled and connected the eye contact. "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious. No matter how we act, we are still human, and having a fancy for someone is normal, even for you."

Jin qing experienced a bit of a pleasant surprise. This was her first time hearing someone call her human. "Well, not at the moment. Do you?"

An ru smiled shyly and looked down at her hands. "Yes..."

"Oh? Who is it?"

"It's this prince from the Qi I met a while back... we write letters to each other's often."

"Love letters?"

An ru blushed a little. "Yes..." she mumbled under her breath.

Jin qing looked up at the clear blue sky. Is this what other ladies talked about while she stressed over battle plans and strategies? "Well, the Wei is declaring an alliance with the Qi, so there is a possibility that you'll get to see him more often."

"Yes, and I'm happy about that."
An ru wondered if she should tell Jin qing about her two brothers.

"How long have you two liked each other?"

"For around two years now. But no except my sister knows about this, and you, of course."

Jin qing let out a heavy sigh. "It must be nice to have someone who feels the same way for you. Who knows? You two actually might get married."

"My brothers fancy you."

Jin qing stared at her with wide eyes, then let out a chuckle. "I'm sorry? I don't think I heard that correctly..."

An ru laughed out loud. "You heard me! My brothers Xi Jian and Shang Ye likes you!"

Shang Ye... Jin qing can believe. But the emperor? How? Why?

Jin qing grinned nervously. "Well, I didn't expect that. Do they know that they both... fancy me?"

"Not from my knowledge. And they never told me, but just from how they act with you it's pretty obvious."

Jin qing frowned. Never in her life did she ever imagine someone would fancy her.
But she knew she shouldn't get her hopes up. Once they find out... she'll most likely be shunned even with her position as the Xue Xian.

Alright.
I just celebrated for getting 7K last week, and here we are with 9k.
This is crazy.
I am so glad so many people are enjoying Jin qing's little story!

I'm practically publishing every week, so I might as well try and write when I get the chance so I can resume updating every Sunday, even as I am on vacation.
Anyway, see you all next Sunday!