While Yaozu now hated being parted from Xinying, he knew that there was no one else that he trusted to look after her either.
Not that she had to be looked after, but he didn't trust anyone to protect her as much as himself.
But when he was forced to leave Xinying's side, Yaozu preferred to do his work when everyone else was sleeping.
Streets show their real shape in the hours before dawn—when stalls are shuttered, dogs keep guard, and coin spoke louder and more truthful than the mouths that usually carry it.
He left the Emperor's study with the paper folded once in his sleeve.
But he didn't need the piece of paper to know what he needed to do.
The names were already carved into his head like notches on a blade. Ren's warehouses. Captain Hua. The rope-sellers. Names that thought they were clever because they were common.
