A week later after the fire and the escape of the Wei prisoners, Jin qing looked up from her daydream at the sounds of the heavy metal door outside unlocking.

Well, truth to be told, she was terribly bored from being locked up all the time, but this worried her a little bit.
Who could it be? If Shen Feng and Tian Xiang really are off on a military campaign to crush the Wei in her absence, who could it be?

Could it be Yu qi? But she had specifically told her never to visit her during the day and if there are no special matters that should be brought to her attention.

But... Compared to the person that came down, Jin qing almost wished that Yu Qi had defied her orders and came to visit her anyway.

"Jin qing," Huan le smiled, walking down the cold stone steps elegantly. "It's been quite a while since we last saw each other, no?"

Jin qing gritted her teeth, but she couldn't move freely. "You- Why are you here-"

"Why I heard of Shang ye's brilliant escape and I knew he was going to go back to the Wei and tell on me." Huan le walked up to the bars of the cell with a smug smirk. "I knew that if I didn't leave before he arrived, I would be executed."

"That's exactly what you deserve."

"Me?" Huan le placed her hand on her chest, her eyes shining with malice. "Why, I'm just a maiden who is trying to make her life better. You just so happened to get involved."

"I just so happened to get involved? As soon as you involved yourself with Shen Feng, you knew I was going to be a part of this."

Huan le shook her finger, still smiling "it came to me as a surprise though. The high and mighty Xue Xian isn't even from the Wei! And who knew? The Xue xian is also the infamous Wu Xin, who assassinated so many important figures in the Wei?" Huan le looked down on Jin qing "I wonder how the people in the Wei will react when they find out..."

"Do you really believe the rumors?" Jin qing rose her eyebrow "do you really think a child less than the age of ten would be able to do all that? She had other assassins kill in my name so people would fear me. I really didn't think you'll be this stupid."

"I don't need to be that stupid to know that the Wei wouldn't believe you." Huan le had a smug smirk plastered on her face "I don't need to be that stupid to know that Xi Jian won't believe you."

Jin qing paused.

"Tian Xiang and Shen Feng are on their way to crush the Wei as we speak." Huan le studied her perfectly done nails and peered at Jin qing through them. "I imagine Tian Xiang is heading back now, but I doubt your brother-"

"He is not my brother-"

"Don't interrupt me." Huan le smiled sweetly "I'm quite a good friend to Tian Xiang and Shen Feng trusts me. It's a wonder what some sweet-talking can do... I'm sure I can make a few arrangements for you." Her eyes flickered over the torn rags Jin Qing was wearing and scoffed "oh, how painful must it be for you."

"Your death will be ten times as painful as what I'm going through." Jin qing promised.

"I'll be going now." Huan le announced and started to walk away. "My death will be ten times as painful? My, if you live long enough to see to that, that is."

Jin qing sighed and rubbed her hands on her face.

"She's right, isn't she?" She said out loud to herself. "The Wei is not going to trust you as much as they did before once they find out who you are."

But even with that thought in mind, Jin qing still wanted to try to go back once she escaped. Perhaps her years of faithful service would cancel the crimes out.

A part of her stayed hopeful, something she fought to protect in such a dark world.

After a few minutes, Jin qing took back out the rope she was braiding.
The moisture in the cold cell kept the hay moist enough for her to braid, but not wet enough for mold to squeeze between the tight locks.

Jin qing was terribly bored with nothing to look forward to. She almost wished Shen Feng was here just so she has something to focus on.
It could just be her habit, but she always feels like she needs to be doing something.

Much to her surprise, she heard the sounds of the door unlocking that very same day nightfall.

Closing her eyes, she listened for any sign or hints of who it may be and was shocked when she heard only the soft rustle of cloth rubbing against each other.

"Yu Qi?" Jin qing randomly called out, hoping for the best that she was calling the right person. Then again, no one except for her would even dare come down.

"How did you know?"

Jin qing breathed out a sigh of relief. If it was anyone else, someone would have guessed that Tian Xiang has visited her before. "I know all." She lied, making it sound like she had more reasons than just a guess and a stroke of luck.

"Of course you do." Yu Qi rolled her eyes and knelt in front of the bars of the cell. "I've come here to update you on a few things. I'll have to make this quick."

"It's alright." Jin qing slid down from her bed and sat down in front of Yu Qi. "Speak."

"I'm sure you already know that Jiang Shang Ye and his remaining men have escaped."

Jin qing smiled "Yes. I could tell the fire you set was a distraction so all the palace guards and such would be in one spot. Are they safely back? Which route did he take?'

"Whether he is safely back or not... I'm not too sure. But he crossed the river to go into Liang territory-"

"Why would he do that?!" Jin qing burst out, temporarily forgetting the fact that she was supposed to be quiet. "The Liang is dangerous for someone like him to be! Why didn't you stop him?"

"I didn't have the time to reason with him, but it's quite smart too." Yu Qi shrugged "Going the long way back, the least suspectable way."

"But Shen Feng isn't that stupid. He probably thought of that already..." Jin qing groaned and rubbed her face with her hands "Where is he anyway? You'd think I would be dead already if he was here. When will he be back? He went on a military campaign, how is the Wei doing?"

"He has sent word back a few times." Yu Qi answered "And your absence is really showing how weak the Wei is. Most of the cities and plots of land are still holding out pretty well, but I suspect that if you don't start heading back soon..."

"I know, I know." Jin qing sighed "I don't even know if they'll accept me back into the country once they find out who I am."

"Just in case they don't, where do you intend to go?" Yu Qi asked "I'm already looking for ways to get you out of here, though it may take a little while longer."

"I'm... pretty sure it won't come to that option."

"Why not? Didn't you just say that you didn't know if the Wei will accept you back?"

Jin qing looked down at her hands, suddenly wanting to look anywhere but Yu Qi's face. "Im sure Xi Jian will gratefully take me back if he doesn't want to lose this war. Goodness, he's an incompetent person but I guess he'll have to do."

"Are you sure?"

"Not really, but I'd like to think my absence will make him a little wiser and more wary of his mistakes."
Jin qing didn't say it, but she also hoped that Shang ye would vouch for her and Yu Qi. She would have to admit Shang ye would be a much better emperor than Xi Jian ever will, but that possibility didn't seem too likely.

"I've never met him, but he sounds stupid already." Yu Qi chuckled and stood up "I should be leaving. I only came to update you on what has been happening. Shen Feng is due to come back in two weeks. I must make as much preparations during those two weeks so we can leave as soon as possible. Do you want to go through the Liang like Shang ye? Ironically, that might be the safest route for us too."

Jin qing shuddered at the thought of even going back to her home country. "No. Of course not. I'd rather go city hopping until we reach the border. If anyone sees us in the Liang... we're done for. You might be able to escape there, but I'm sure I'll be killed on sight."

"Of course." Yu Qi nodded "Also... an important thing. Be careful of Tian Xiang."

"hm? Thats a new one."

"You know what your mother used to say. You always seem to attract bad company, even as a child."

"You mean he's taken an interest in me." Jin qing said flatly, raising an eyebrow.

"More like taking an interest of your political and strategical power." Yu Qi sighed "Men. Always so greedy for power. But this is just my warning. If you get closer to him, you might be under more protection from Shen Feng, but that protection won't be for free."

"Anything sounds good when safety is being negotiated."

The sides of Yu Qi's lips tugged in a smirk "Of course. I see that trait of yours hasn't changed. I'll be back when I can."
And with that, Yu Qi's footsteps quickly disappeared as she ascended the stairs. 

Jin qing chuckled to herself. Her mother was right; she did always seem to attract the attention of people that are bad for her.

It's not usually a good thing, but Jin qing had learned how to make the best of it in situations like this.

If Tian Xiang wants her attention, then that she shall give him.

His protection comes with a price, Yu Qi had said.

Jin qing smiled, her eyes suddenly shining with a glint of mischief as a plan formulated in her head. She was never very good at the things she was about to try, but she wanted to see how far can she push this attention she was getting from Tian Xiang.

She had only fully met him once and remembered his comment on how she seemed to make court life calm.

Jin qing wanted to laugh. She finally, finally had a plan.