It was difficult getting used to a quiet life, but Jin qing knew getting back into her comfort zone would do her-- and those around her-- more good than harm. There was a stark contrast between what she had been through for the past few months and the still tranquility of how she was living now, but it was a life she could get used to again.

Wake up early, get whatever wounds dressed and patched up, help make breakfast with the elderly lady and Yu Qi (who had insisted on waking up early along with her), drag the children out of bed, eat breakfast, do the chores that were needed for the day until lunch time... It was a routine that Jin qing's weary body got used to as the weeks drew by.

The summer was long over, but the fall harvest had started to ripen and the winter vegetables were creeping into their fullness. Baskets full of persimmons were brought into the house with the help of the children and Long Yin's climbing skills as the elderly woman and Jin qing's maids helped string together jujube berries to hang and dry in the last few moments of warm sun.

The busy atmosphere-- even if it was with so much more people-- felt familiar to Jin qing. It reminded her of the days when she was young and freshly out of the Liang empire, enjoying the warmth of the sun without fear for the first few times in her life.

She never had more energy in her life. She never had smiled and laughed like a child more in her life. It was a place for her to relax and be someone other than the 'Xue Xian' or 'Liang Wu Xin'. Here, she was whoever she wanted to be-- not whoever other people wanted her to be. No one looked to her for plans or advice, no one came to her with piles of work and notes. All they came at her was good food, a smile, a joke here or there, and a silent assurance that she could stay there for as long as she wanted-- and that offer extended even to Yu Qi and the children, who looked as relaxed as she was.

It wasn't a gentlewoman's life of idleness and vanity. It was a life built on hard work and aches when you slept at night-- but you were surrounded not by suffocating walls and mazes of corridors, but twinkling stars and a cackling fire.

Jin qing was free... or so she thought. She was expecting her old life to catch up with her at one point, but she had hoped it would take it's time to get to her again... but she wasn't so lucky.

It was early in the afternoon with the entire household running like a small army-- and Jin qing knew what an efficient army could do. Foods were being harvested, caught, fished, dried, preserved, anything you could think of that could be done to food was being done in preparations for winter and next year's harvest. There was little idle time and the elderly woman had a knack for knowing exactly who and how they were slacking off-- then deploying Yu qi to catch the offender and swiftly put them back at their post.

Jin qing was assigned to the large campfire that was set under a large drying rack, tending the flames and watching the smoke coat the fish and few wild ducks Hong Hui and Hai Lin managed to catch and shoot when she noticed someone riding toward their little cottage on a horse. It didn't take her very long to recognize who was on it-- and flew over welcome dearest Xue Hua to their company.

The arrival of someone new caught those who were in the front of the house's attention, and those who were familiar with her didn't look all too surprised that she was here.

"Xue hua!" Jin qing exclaimed, helping her down from her horse. "You didn't come here alone did you? A lady like you should have never have been able to leave the manor--"

Xue hua's eyes seemed to brighten a little when she saw Jin qing's smile, and she held onto her hands tightly. "I had to sneak out-- Father covered for me and Kai Feng had to rotate the guards up front to the ones loyal to you for me to even think of getting out of that lockdown. Thank goodness I remember the way here."

Jin qing had always said that Xue hua possessed a unquie sense of observation, and was no doubt still able to remember the path to and from the capital from her one time here-- but one word caught her off guard. "... lockdown?"

Xue hua looked around at the busy yard, who had all went back to their work to give the 'sisters' some privacy. "Did I catch you at a bad time? There's... I'm sorry, but there is more than one reason why I came here to see you."

Jin qing looked back at the smoking rack, and decided she had a while before she needed to tend to them again. "We have time, but make it quick."

<>

"Long story short..." Jin qing put her head in her hands. "The army is angry at the emperor for banishing me, the generals whom I have known to be the most loyal and stubborn prunes have betrayed the emperor in favor for me beacuse the Song general had seiged a city close by and is settling there for the winter-- and they claim that if I was there, I would have been able to stop him."

Xue hua nodded grimly. "You don't realise how much of a morale booster you are-- not only to the army, but to the civilians as well. The court has been on their wit's end trying to do your job as efficiently as you are and find competent people-- hence why Kai Feng was able to keep his job after his offence."

"What about this 'lockdown?' What's up with that?"

"Most of the army isn't in the city anymore and has taken camp outside. We're essentially seiging ourselves, and the city Is on tight security and on high alert for attacks."

"Attacks from whom? It's nearly winter."

"The Song general... and ourselves."

"A coup?"

"... more of a protest than a coup."

Jin qing took in a deep breath and then took a look outwards, staring at the unbothered surface of the lake they were sitting besides. Her state of mind was just as quiet and still as that lake just a few moments ago, until she learned about the disaster that was the Wei since her absence.

"And all this happened within the... three weeks? I've been gone?"

"The army was already protesting as soon as the emperor put out an warrant for your arrest. You actually leaving sent them into action." Xue hua followed Jin qing's gaze on the surface of the water, watching ripples get sent out on all different directions by a fallen leaf. "They respect you so much more than the emperor-- Kai Feng is the emperor's last line of communication with them, and he's the only reason why the Wei hasn't collapsed inwards yet."

The situation reminded Jin qing an awful lot of what happened when she was a child. A power vacuum was created that she couldn't fill in the Liang, which caused the structures of society and court to fall apart and attack one another-- which ultimately lead to her escape.

Was she about to let history repeat itself?

Jin qing looked up again, her carefree and lighthearted expression replaced by something more familiar to Xue hua-- an expression of stone and unfeeling, the sense that nothing short of the heavenly gods that held up the world descending to earth could stop what she wanted to do... and it scared her.

"Did someone send you to come here? Is that why you're here?" Jin qing asked with no thought behind her hardened gaze. "Was it the emperor? Was it the second prince?"

"Jin qing..."

"All in hopes that I would go back and save them like all the other times before."

Xue hua fiddled with her dress, dirtied from riding and wrinkled from her nervous tugging. "I was going to visit you anyway... but his highness did ask if we knew where you could have gone so he can tell you what's going on there. I told him I would go instead, since I was sure you wouldn't like outsiders knowing about this place."

"When do you plan on leaving?"

Xue hua looked up in surprise. She has heard about her 'sister's icy temper before by those who had witnessed it, but never would she have thought it would be aimed at her. "Huh--? Jin qing, I--"

"Don't get me wrong-- I enjoy your company and have missed you, but I don't want to keep his highness waiting for my response."

She brightened. "So does that mean--"

"Tell him my answer is no, and he and his brother can have their best lives without any more of my help."

Xue hua's face immediately fell, quieting down when she realized Jin Qing's quiet anger wasn't directed at her-- but more towards something she couldn't control. Even with that information, she knew she had the best chance of changing her mind... even if the chances were super slim. "Are... Are you sure? I-- I trust your judgement and I respect it, but the Wei--"

"The emperor is a prideful man. He's the type of person to flaunt victories that aren't his own and disregard the people who actually won those for him-- disposing them when his own emotions gets the better of him." Jin qing finally turned around to look at Xue hua, a smirk playing on her lips "If you get the choice on who you want to marry, don't choose a man like him-- even if he's the most eligible bachelor in the world. Get someone that respects you for who you are."

"I-- I doubt I'll get a choice on that matter, but--"

"I'll think about it," Jin qing answered quickly, though Xue hua could tell it was said half heartedly. "The answer at the moment is still a no, but from logic... The Song general isn't stupid enough to attack during wintertime, especially since he's deep in enemy lines without a reliable chain of supplies." She stood up, holding out a hand for Xue hua to take. "When you go back, tell Kai feng to cut off and isolate him from his lifeline-- if he could and if he hasn't done that already. Even I won't be happy to see the Wei go down in such a dishonorable fashion."

Xue hua smirked. She knew Jin qing's judgement would get the better of her. "I'll make sure to tell him that when I get back. He's been at the end of his string trying to fill out your militaristic duties-- he would appreciate your advice."

"I'm sure he has already noticed it and has wanted to act on it-- but I'm willing to put some money down that it's the emperor who isn't letting him..." She laughed "or it's because the army is refusing to cooperate. Im sure he's doing all he can.

"Of course." Xue hua smiled. "He's the only one keeping our family's reputation alive after... after Huan le--"

"Ha! Huan le that little bastard." Jin qing interrupted her, speaking to the air as if the winds could carry her words to her. "Look who's disgracing the family now?"

"... and the emperor's accusations against you." Xue hua finished. "Speaking of which... what was up with that?"

Jin qing's eyes grew distant again, but her feet was starting to move in the direction of where they came from. "The meat has to be ready by now," she said absentmindedly. "I think I saw Long Yin scramble to clean himself when you arrived, I think. There's nowhere better to tell stories than with some wine and good food..." Jin qing looked back to make sure Xue hua was following her-- which, she was. "It's a long story with plenty of secrets behind it all. Lets go back: there are some truths I should explain... and lies I should right."