Much to Jin qing's surprise (and relief), she didn't even need to do anything for Tian Xiang to come and find her. 

Less than twenty minutes after Huan le and Gui Fei left, she heard the guards in front of her door speak their greetings to the emperor of the song, and she rushed out of her room to greet... a door that was still closed. 

"Tian Xiang, we had an agreement!" Jin qing shouted, her voice carrying over the walls to reach Tian Xiang's ears "You said Gui Fei wouldn't bother me as long as I did my own thing- what do you have to say for yourself?"
Staring at the door, Jin qing expected it to open so she can confront the emperor himself, but it remained stubbornly closed. 

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Tian Xiang asked. 

Jin qing's eyes widened a little when she detected the slight bit of anger in his voice. He sounded much like when she first met him when she was captured- formal, serious, and very angry at someone and something. She didn't want to admit it, but it sent shivers down her spine from the contrast to the voice she had been used to hearing him speak. "Huh?"

"I didn't think I'd have to remind you of this, but Wu Xin, you are in the Song,"

"And so?"

"Don't you underestimate how many eyes and how many ears work underneath us," Tian Xiang answered, "Did you really think someone wasn't going to notice how you snuck out a few nights ago to set fire to the fields?"

Panic quickly took over Jin qing's rational line of thought as she listened to him speak. Only dignity was holding her back from pounding on the door at that point. "How-"

"It took a while, but Huan le managed to track down strange movements in the palace around the days where the fields were being burned." Tian Xiang shouted from the other side of the door "Wouldn't you know? There was a horse missing on the day of the fire, taken around the time period of when the fire started and returned around the time it would have taken to travel from here to the site." 

A piece of paper slipped between the door, which Jin qing looked down at in confusion as it fluttered to the ground.  

"The stable from where the horse came from is the closest to your residence, and Gui Fei knows you well enough to say that you're the one who burned the fields- you have the motives too." Tian Xiang continued "Liang Wu Xin, I remind you once again that you are not in the Wei anymore. You are being watched."

Jin qing knelt down by the door and picked up the piece of paper. "What's the paper for?"

"A list of your crimes," Tian Xian answered her- much to her surprise "You aren't as sneaky as you thought."

As the sound of footsteps drifted away, Jin qing stared at the note that was left on the paper. 

what crimes???

She knelt down and picked the single sheet of paper and opened it. 

I'm sorry for sounding angry at you, I had to sound convincing or Gui Fei would think that something was wrong with the lie I told her to explain why you were out of your cell. 

Jin qing burst out laughing, but quickly stifled it when she realized that she was outside and that people would hear her. Folding the paper, she rushed back into her room and shut the door behind her. 

So Tian Xiang was going along to Gui Fei's request? It was smart of him to do so, but she doubted it would fool Gui Fei for very long. She reopened the letter and continued reading. 

Gui Fei's claim that you're the one burning the fields paired with the evidence she gave... were you really the one that burned them? I'm sure you have your reasons, though I'm sure that they won't agree with my ideas, I'll let it slide. 

I'm sorry for breaking my deal with you, but I had to if I didn't want Gui Fei to it out. She said the immediate solution would be to lock you in your room and put you under surveillance for the time being as we wait for Shen Feng to come back.  

Jin Qing shuddered. Her entire goal was to get out before he came back. If Shen Feng comes back, it would most likely mean that he had conquered the Wei and is coming back to celebrate his victory- he isn't the type of person to come back with a defeat. 

besides... she can deal with Gui Fei if she tried a little bit. Jin qing would be powerless against him, however. 

The orphans asked to see me, and they're safe as I write this in a hurry so I can get to you. I hope Gui Fei didn't say anything to you that was too horrible. 

I had arranged for a messenger bird to be put in a cage and hung on the tree in the center courtyard. You might need to climb a little, but it's for you to send something back to me. I'm trying to figure out a way to let you out of your room as I write and definitely as you read. The orphans would be my method of sending things back to you if you aren't mad enough at me to not answer. 

My priority is to make sure Gui Fei isn't plotting behind my back to take the throne, and you're the only one that can help me. 

I look forward to your response, please burn this letter. 

Tian Xiang. 

Despite the serious situation, Jin qing had to stop herself from bursting out into a fit of giggles. She've never really written letters or notes to anyone before, and his last sentence 'I look forward to your response' almost made it sound like he was writing a love letter. The tone of the letter was serious but his word choices almost made it sound playful- if not a little romanticized. 

"Oh, what a teasing gentleman-" Jin Qing said aloud, tilting her head a little as she sat down by a table. "Is he trying to suggest something? or is he trying to make me overthink?" It amused her to no end as she read and reread the letter before lighting it aflame from a candle. 

snatching up a sheet of paper and a writing set, Jin qing set down to write her own reply. 
A small smile spread across her face as she read over her note while she wrote. As a joke, she was mimicking his playful style while getting her point across. After all- she wanted to get out of here, not be too friendly with the enemy's emperor. 

An emperor of a kingdom who she wished to tear down with her own hands. 

That thought only made her laugh, but she continued writing. 

<><><>


Tian Xiang waited anxiously for her reply. He paced around his elaborately decorated room, breathing in the rich incense that wafted around his nose, glancing up at the sky for a bird with a letter tied to its feet. 

He'd been waiting for a while now, and he was getting more and more scared by the second that he had sounded too harsh to her to the point that she had refused to even look at the note after he left. Besides, she has the reason to be angry if she didn't read the note- he did break their promise after all.
Hope was passing the seconds slightly faster, but Tian Xiang believed that he knew her well enough in their short encounters that she'll look at the note from pure curiosity. 

The orphans she brought back was watching him just as anxiously. Both of them were sitting on a chair in the front table, but the younger boy seemed to be at relative ease. Tian Xiang was surprised when a guard brought the two of them to him, saying how they had demanded to see him on a girl named 'Jin Qing's behalf. 
He had taken a guess that Jin Qing was Wu Xin's other name while she was in the Wei. It was a good choice, and he had to admit it. 

It suited her personality. The second word of the name can mean so many things depending on how the word is written. 
Passion and clarity. 

Tian Xiang couldn't help but chuckle. Did she think of that name herself? Intentionally, or not?

The sound of wings fluttering brought his attention toward the window. 

Hurrying to the window, he quickly took the bird indoors before dashing behind a screen to remove and read the note in relative privacy. 

Tian Xiang, before anything, I'll remind you that I'm planning to leave even if you don't let me out, but that would be a heavy loss on your part because you wouldn't know if Gui Fei is really plotting behind your back. It'll be up to you and your abilities though, but I do guess that you'll miss my company?

Second, I was the one who burned the fields, but trust me, if I had wanted to deal real damage I would have set off a chain of fires, not stop after one a night. My reasoning and plans are too difficult to explain over paper- so I'd very much appreciate it if you'd let me out of my room so I can see you. 

After all, I did some looking, and I found out that you've 'completely forgotten' to tell me about Shen Feng succusses in his military campaigns to the capital of the Wei, so I'll hurry back if you don't mind. Frankly, I can't wait to get out of your home, I've to think I have spent enough time here. 
It's common etiquette to know that a pure lady like I shouldn't stay over at an unmarried man like yourself.

You better be treating those children well, Tian Xiang. 

I look forward to actually stepping outside of my room. I'm packed and I'm ready to escape, so don't even try and stop me. 

Better hurry before I leave.

Wu Xin

Tian Xiang can hear her sing-song voice echoing the last line. It was aunting him to hurry and catch her before she slipped out of his hands, whether she knew it or not. He'd figured that she'll find out about Shen Feng eventually, but so soon?

He'd known that she had been taking the orphans out to the city, but apparently she had been doing more work than he'd anticipated... or has she?

The messenger bird cooed, bringing his attention to it. It had been free for the day, granted the rare privilege of being in the skies and spreading its wings where it belongs. In the end, unfortunately for the prized bird, it'll have to return and stay in its cage till the next time it comes of use. 

Tian Xiang closed the door from the cage, letting his mind wander. He needs to know about Gui Fei and if she's planning anything, which means it'll set Jin qing free of her side of the deal.
It'll be dishonorable of him to say no to her...

But Tian Xiang had no intention of letting a bird he had worked so hard to capture be set free.  











I am SO sorry for disappearing. 

I was supposed to update two weeks ago, but life caught me off guard and I didn't have the energy to update.

I'm trying to keep the updating schedule of two weeks (and hopefully return to the glory days of every week,)

Sorry again, and see you in (hopefully) two weeks!