Xue Liulan looked toward the courtyard's moon gate as a figure emerged from the shadows. Murong Jin wore a moon-white dress, her long hair pinned up, with only a few silken tassels brushing her ears. Her steps were light and graceful; no one would have guessed she had just returned from a long and dusty journey.
He stopped, his hands clasped behind his back. "I'm surprised you came back at all."
She raised an eyebrow. "This wasn't an elopement. Why wouldn't I return?"
Little Dingzi stood to the side, glancing from his master's ice-cold expression to the princess consort's indifferent one. It was like two blades meeting, point to point. He decided it was best to disappear. If his master's mood soured, he would be the first to suffer.
Just as he was planning his escape, Xue Liulan's voice, cool and even, cut through the silence. "Little Dingzi, I wish to welcome the princess home tonight. Fetch two jugs of our best wine."
"Yes, yes! Right away!" the eunuch stammered, bowing and then practically flying out of the courtyard.
Murong Jin walked past Xue Liulan and into the room, seating herself by the window. He followed, closing the door behind him.
"Is your back fully healed?" she asked, pouring herself a cup of tea. She looked up at him. His face was still a frozen mask, his lips pressed into a thin, hard line.
She set the cup down and rose, standing directly in front of him. "Are you truly so angry to see me? Had I known, I would have stayed in Wuchuan a while longer."
"If you like it so much there, why come back at all?" he asked, his voice dangerously quiet.
She looked away with a cold smile. "My father made his choice. I will do everything in my power to help you. Besides, I still bear the title of Fifth Prince's consort. I have no wish to bring trouble to the Murong family."
"You remember that, do you?" he snapped, the anger finally breaking through. "You remember you are my wife?"
"What?" The question caught her off guard. She could only stare at him.
"First you leave without a word, then you get yourself injured at some backwater posthouse. Is this how a princess consort is supposed to act?" He gripped her shoulders, his gaze intense. "Murong Jin, do you remember what I told you? I only need you to be my consort. Nothing more."
She stared at him, confused. This wasn't the lazy, arrogant man she knew. His seriousness was unnerving; his anger made her own heart beat a little faster. "This time," she said, suddenly finding herself explaining her actions, "I was fulfilling my duty."
"Your duty is to make me worry?" he asked, letting go of her with a frustrated laugh. "I know you're a general. I know you've faced down armies without flinching. But even knowing that, I couldn't rest easy."
She just stared at him, speechless. "It was supposed to be a simple trip. Who could have known…"
Before she could finish, he pulled her into his arms. "Don't you ever be so reckless again," he murmured, his arms wrapped tight around her.
"I…" She pushed against his chest. "This wasn't reckless. If I hadn't left, how could you have spent your days with Lady Die Man? And you were unconscious. I couldn't very well discuss it with you."
"And when I woke up?" he countered, his grip only tightening. She, mindful of his healing back, didn't dare push too hard, and found herself trapped in his embrace.
She fell silent. She had intended to tell him. But when she had seen him with Die Man, so intimate, the words had vanished.
"Are you jealous, Murong Jin?" he whispered with a low chuckle.
"No," she answered instantly, but a blush crept up her cheeks.
He looked down at her face, as lovely as a spring blossom, and gently kissed her cheek. Then he let her go, only to sweep her off her feet and into his arms.
"What are you doing?" she yelped.
He just smiled and carried her to the bed. He set her down on the edge and knelt before her, his hands gently taking her foot.
"Just looking at your leg," he said, carefully removing her embroidered slipper and silk stocking. A new scar from an arrow wound was stark against her pale skin. It wasn't large, but it was ugly.
"It's… it's already healed," she stammered. The warmth of his hands sent a shock through her. She looked down, her face burning. Even after what had passed between them, she was not used to this kind of intimacy.
He carefully put her stocking and slipper back on, then rose and sat beside her. "I imagine your father gave me quite an earful for this."
She covered her mouth to hide a smile. At first, her father had scolded her. But by the end, he had only been complaining about how Xue Liulan had failed to protect her.
"You got me yelled at. You'll have to compensate me," he said.
"You didn't even hear it," she countered, a playful light in her eyes.
"I was yelled at in spirit."
She could never win against his shamelessness. "Fine," she sighed. "What compensation?"
"Hold on, I'm still calculating."
"What?"
He gave her a sly, calculating look. "I worried about you for over a month. That has to be worth something too, right?"
"You're pushing your luck, Xue Liulan," she said, jumping to her feet.
He rose slowly to meet her gaze, a look on his face that clearly said, And what are you going to do about it?
She rolled her eyes, then smiled. "I worried for a month too. We're even."
"Oh? So you were thinking of me all this time?" he asked, fighting back a grin. "As flattering as that is, it doesn't count."
"Why not?"
"Because you were the one who made the mistake. So I make the rules."
"Xue Liulan!" she yelled.
Outside, Little Dingzi flinched and prayed for his master's soul.
After dinner, they sat in a pavilion in the garden. Two jugs of fine wine sat on the stone table between them.
"Here," Xue Liulan said, handing one to her. "A proper welcome home."
She took a sip and her eyes widened in surprise. "This is from the northwestern frontier."
"Of course. You think anything else would have that kind of kick?" he said, taking a long drink himself. "Siyou brought it back for me a while ago."
"Siyou?" she repeated.
"Ah, that's my fourth brother. It's his childhood name."
So that was it. No wonder the Fourth Prince had known they weren't truly close.
"Then I suppose he's the one who told you I was injured," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "I owe him my thanks." She took another drink. "Now that he's back, has the court been informed about what happened in Sushen? Who is leading the investigation?"
Xue Liulan shook his head. "My father ordered the matter to be suppressed."
"What?" she stared at him. "General Xu was murdered, and the court is just going to ignore it?"
"His family has already buried him. And no matter who is implicated, an investigation would cause chaos."
"So General Xu's death is officially recorded as 'killed in action'?"
"My father posthumously promoted him and provided for his family," Xue Liulan said, unable to meet the disappointment in her eyes.
She took several long drinks from the jug, then slammed it down on the table. "The border generals are the shield of this kingdom. And now the court treats their lives as something cheap, to be thrown away for the sake of politics. After this, who will be willing to guard the frontier? Who will fight for this kingdom?"
He set his own jug down. "My father may have suppressed the matter, but knowing Siyou, he will not let it go. The truth will come out, eventually."
She turned to him, her eyes sharp. "If the kingdom were in your hands, would you have done the same?"
He paused, then gave a soft, bitter laugh. "That is not for me to decide."