Jin qing opened her eyes and stared at the window on the door to try and see who it is.

The wall outside illuminated, most likely from the light of a torch or lantern. The small noise of metal echoed when whoever was outside hung up their light source and peeked through the small hole.

Jin qing couldn't see them too well as the light was behind them, covering the person's face with a shadow.

The woman stared at Jin qing with a soft gasp, and the soft jangle of metal keys on a ring was soon followed by the click of the door unlocking.

Jin qing was immediately alert. Why would someone enter her room? Who would want to enter her room?
She reached for the silver dagger she had on her long before only to brush against only fabric.

She was crestfallen that the dagger she has kept on her since she was a child was lost and taken, but she had bigger things to worry about.

The woman on the other side of the door slowly freaked open the door. She pressed her hand to her mouth, seemingly shocked to see Jin qing. "It really... It really is you-"

Jin qing furrowed her eyebrows together, staring at the woman who seemed to be so overjoyed to see her.

The woman stepped toward Jin qing, who moved away from her advances. The woman sighed and folded her arms across her chest and stared at Jin qing with a sense of softness. "It's been a long time... I really don't expect you to recognize me. Perhaps a little bit of light would help?"
The woman left the room and came back with the lantern, holding it up so Jin qing could see her face.

Jin qing stared at the woman's light brown hair as she knelt in front of the bed, dipping her head with respect.

"Crown princess of the Liang, your majesty..." the woman rose her head, her brown eyes flickering in the dim lantern light. "Forgive me, for I did not know you were still alive-"

Jin qing stumbled down the straw bed and knelt in front of the woman whom she now recognized. She pressed her hand on the woman's cheek, the feeling of crying building up in her throat. "No- don't say sorry-"

"No. I abandoned my duty as your servant and guard even though you were still alive. I had believed you were dead-"

"Yu Qi... no, it's alright. I don't blame you for thinking I was dead. I wanted everyone to believe that. I should be the one saying sorry-"

"I deserved to be punished for my mistakes. Please forgive me-"

"You're already forgiven." Jin qing pulled Yu qi into a tight embrace.

"What are you-" Yu qi helped Jin qing rise to her feet and support her so she wouldn't fall. "You shouldn't be on the floor, here..." She placed Jin qing back on the bed gently. "I would give you some blankets from outside, but I'm not even supposed to be here and Shen Feng would probably get suspicious if a new blanket appeared in your room... I'm sorry I'm unable to do anything for you-"

"No, it's alright." Jin qing shook her head "I'm not that fragile little kid anymore, I don't need your protection from Shen Feng anymore. I'll be fine-"

"No, you won't" Yu Qi insisted. "As long as Shen Feng and you are in one country, you will never be fine. Besides, this isn't the Liang anymore where you had some sort of control over everyone. You are in enemy territory. I need to help you escape-"

"No. not yet."

"Huh?"

"We need to get the prince of the Wei and his men back into the Wei." Jin qing held onto Yu Qi's hand tightly. "If I leave first, their chances of escaping would go from little to none. They have a better chance than I ever will here. Yu qi, I intend to save as many lives as possible."

Yu Qi sighed. "You haven't changed in a few matters since the last time I saw you, and that was almost a decade ago. Are you sure about this?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll go and see what I can do. Do you have any orders for me?" Yu qi asked.

"I-" Jin qing paused. She didn't like how she was giving orders directly again. This reminded her too much of the short while she had to rule an entire kingdom on her own. "I do. Two things I must ask of you to complete for me. One is to find out where the Wei prisoners are so you can easily communicate with them. If they ask who are you, say that the Xue xian had saved your life once and wants to return the favor."

"That's understandable." Yu Qi nodded. "You said you had two things for me, what is the other one?"

"Don't ever come back and visit me unless you are here to pass along information or make plans when you and I escape." Jin qing continued before Yu Qi can say anything. "I know you'll be against this but I'm sure you're not allowed to be here as Shen Feng doesn't want any chance of you realizing the Xue Xian is actually me-"

"No. Not about that. What do you mean by you and me?"

Jin qing frowned. "What? You and I are both leaving here. The second I am gone Shen Feng and his mother is going to come to you because they know you had a part of this. I'm not making the same mistake as the last time we saw each other."
This is just like with her maids... Ji qing didn't want to leave someone behind to take the blame and punishments.

"Wu Xin, your majesty, you have a future in the Wei while I do not. The people of the Song knows my face too well. As soon as they see me in a place where I am not supposed to-"

"Don't you think when I escape Shen Feng would reveal my identity? In a twisted way, I have as much of a future as you do, but at least I won't be alone." Jin qing sighed. "And don't you think the people here knowing you is a good thing? I don't think you'd want to come back here after you leave so you can use your influence to get us around until we are back in the Wei."

Yu Qi still looked doubtful.

"Listen, you may have already gone for too long." Jin qing pushed Yu Qi out the door. "I don't want you getting caught by Shen Feng. Can you lead the Wei soldiers out of here safely?"

"Yes. Of course." Yu Qi nodded. "You can count on me."

Jin qing smiled. She knew she could always rely on her friend. "That's good. Now go! I enjoyed your company but I can't rise you getting caught."

Yu Qi nodded and shut the door behind her, leaving Jin qing alone in the dark.

Jin qing rested her head back on the stone walls and let out a deep breath. Perhaps things won't go so badly for her after all. She was still terrified of leaving the Wei alone with Xi Jian and Huan Le, but now that she was reunited with her friend, a small ray of hope was starting to light up her heart.

<><><>

In the following night, Yu Qi didn't go and visit Wu Xin.
No, her chambers would be too heavily guarded now that she had shown signs of resistance in today's interrogation.

Yu Qi wished she could help the girl who was like a younger sister to her. But unfortunately, That very girl had given her a task and she didn't want to let her down.

Slipping into the prison of the Wei prince, she found him lying on the stone floor in a separate cell from his other men.

Silently, Yu Qi opened the door and the man stayed still.

"Your highness Shang Ye." Yu Qi said politely. "I am a friend of the Xue xian. You can get up, you can trust me."

Shang Ye sat up immediately, his dark eyes meeting hers. "You know her?"

"I knew the Xue xian while she was in the countryside as she had helped save my life in the past." Yu Qi answered. It wasn't a lie but most certainly not the full truth. "She had asked me to help you and your remaining men escape-"

"Is she alright? Is Jin qing alright?"

"The Xue xian is alright." She lied. "She worries for you and your men's safety. I have come to tell you not to lose hope as she and I intend to help you escape."

"What about her?"

"She says she will soon follow you once she figures out a few things here."

"No... she needs to leave with us. I don't know what your General has with her but she isn't safe here. The Wei needs her-"

"The Wei needs their prince to help with royal affairs." Yu Qi contradicted. Spending so many years with Wu Xin had taught her so much. "It would be important to prove your emperor wrong about the ambush and to warn him about the amount of spies in his palace. I will try to organize a list for you to take back so you can tell your emperor who is the spies."

"Why are you helping the Wei?" Shang Ye interrupted her. "I understand why you are helping me and my men, but why the Wei? How can I trust you?"

"Do you trust the Xue xian?"

"Yes."

"Then you should trust me."

"I do not question the Xue Xian's judgement but that will not stop me from making decisions on my own and for myself."

Yu Qi suppressed the urge to grin. This boy likes to argue. "Then fine, you don't have to accept the list I'm about to give you. But I'm going to help you escape and that would be non negotiable-"

"I'm not leaving without the Xue xian."

Yu Qi sighed. "If you are taking her along with you, your already slim chances would be none. She is much more heavily guarded than you, and if she disappeares, the entire city would be under lockdown and your chances would vanish in an instant. She had thought this through. You said you trust her? This would be something she would want you to listen."

After a short pause, Shang Ye let out a deep breath. "Swear On your life you will get the Xue xian out as soon as possible."

"I swear on my life."

Shang Ye still seemed doubtful. "When do we leave?"

"As soon as I make some arrangements to get you out of the city. Once you are out of here, I cannot help you much more and you'll have to rely on yourself and the supplies I can scrape up for you. That would be alright?"

"That is already more than I can ask." Shang he thanked her. "I don't think you have ever introduced yourself. Do you mind if you tell me?"

Yu Qi paused. "Yes. I do mind. I don't want you accidentally giving up my name or both my life and the Xue Xian's life would be in danger."

Shang Ye shook his head. "I'd like to know the name of the person that saved me and my men." He insisted.

After a moments pause, Yu Qi left him and walked out the door, leaving him in the dark.

I'm reading my work over and oh my god how did you guys manage to read over the typos???
This is nothing short of a miracle. I'm pretty (probably not) sure I've said it once before that I want to start editing but oh my goodness-

Thank you.