Xiao pried open the window and entered the room. It wasn't so spacious but it was comfortable, as far as he could see with the dim light of a candle, with light blue drapes over the bed and a tan carpet. He sat down on a chair and waited. He played with his dagger just for something to do. Soon, he heard footsteps approaching and muffled voices. 

"Yes, my mother is all well," the room's occupant answered. "Yes, good night." She pushed the door to her suite open and closed that behind her. Then she headed for the room Xiao was in. Xiao had his eyebrows furrowed. He didn't know the girl had a mother in the palace and, for the first time, doubted himself and the plan. The voice seemed right though.

As soon as she entered, Xiao almost flew out of his chair and, in a flash, was behind her and holding a hand over her mouth. His other hand and legs restricted the movement of her limbs. "Weiyu, it's me," he whispered. "Xiao."

Weiyu stopped struggling and Xiao backed away immediately. "I didn't want to do that," he said quickly. "Really, but I didn't want you to make a noise."

Weiyu looked at him with hard eyes. "You - "

"I did not do whatever that's accused of me. You should know that after so many weeks I spent with Leon in Wyatt City. They drugged me and why are you - "

"I know you didn't commit the crimes," Weiyu said dismissively. "But why are you here?"

"Why are you here?" Xiao asked. "And don't say you asked first because I did."

Weiyu rolled her eyes and closed the door behind her. Then she started crying again, like Xiao had found her when he was peering into the rooms a while back. "The concubine took me when she saw me on the street," she began.

"They were in Wyatt City? But that's not along the way - "

"They took a detour there," Weiyu said. "It scared the shit out of the governor of the Tajfel area and the useless mayor. Anyway, the concubine took me and many other maidens into her custody, saying it was a blessing on us. But," she broke down into fits that scared Xiao more than knives, "they were all killed by her."

"Then - "

"She took a liking to me after seeing me fend off a rogue on the streets and she made me her daughter. I was just called out to attend her."

"Why did she kill them?" Xiao asked.

"For medicine," Weiyu replied. "She has some sort of illness that requires medical attention all the time and apparently the hearts of maidens help with that."

"She is the one behind all the trafficking?" Xiao exclaimed.

"She's a part of it," Weiyu confirmed. "But there is another official, Logan Tatum, that she's very close with. He is here in Jonas as well. People say her father Paul Davidson is affiliated with the Ravens, but really I think it's Tatum. Just the past weeks I've been with her, they are constantly discussing something."

Xiao's eyes widened in interest. "Do you know what they discuss?"

Weiyu shook her head. "I do know about the grandmaster though. That's why you came right?"

Xiao grinned. "I knew I could trust you, Weiyu!"

"She did drug him," Weiyu confirmed. "She ordered a servant to mix in a sedative in all his dishes and his tea then got two maidens to bring him into her room. Then she killed the two maidens and got herself all messed up to report the grandmaster."

Xiao fumed. "I will kill her."

Weiyu's eyes widened. "Now?"

Xiao shook his head. "No, my boss wouldn't let me - "

"You have a boss?" Weiyu asked, interested.

Xiao brushed it off. "Listen, Weiyu, could you see if you could find any evidence of the concubine's connection to the Ravens or the trafficking organization?"

Weiyu nodded, determined. "I will do whatever it takes."

"I will get you out of here," Xiao told her, equally determined, "whatever it takes."

Weiyu smiled just a tiny bit and Xiao smiled back. "I live in the official's' residence," he told her. Then, as silently as he had entered, he left the palace.

In the guesthouse, Cole and Xiao were going over everything that had happened. "Weiyu will help us. Be it information or some evidence, she will definitely keep us up to date," Xiao promised.

Cole nodded. "If you trust her, I do too."

Xiao's eyes positively shone. "You do?"

"I trust you," Cole said simply. 

Xiao found it quite out of character for Cole to trust him as Cole was highly skeptical of everything, but on second thought, Xiao decided that Cole was simply trying to earn back his good graces after discovering what he had done to Xiao when they were young. Thus, he paid it no mind, but he did take it as an opportunity to open up about some of his own feelings.

"I want to say thank you for taking care of me," he began. "You have been my savior for not only saving my life but making sure I lived it to the happiest. Without you by my side, I don't think I could do so much for the civilians and for Bradley." He cringed at the words, but he persevered to trudge on. However, Cole wasn't about to hear more of his own merits.

"Alright, that's enough," he said. "Before, I was just being chivalrous, now I am paying my debts."

Xiao took a long swig of alcohol, emptying the bottle. "You've paid it, Cole-ge."

"So let's not be all sappy, alright?" Cole said smilingly.

Xiao laughed and uncorked another bottle of wine. But as the sweet smell filled his nostrils, his smile faded. He had wasted away so much of his life and lost so many memories with Bradley because of drinking. He wasn't going to do the same thing with Cole. So even if Cole had told him not to be all sappy, he spoke again. "You let me grieve over Bradley in a good way. Who knows how many nights I would have drunk myself to sleep if not for you. You've put up with me even though I was insufferable with my hatred for life and my discontent with you - "

"We are good now, then?" Cole interrupted.

Xiao laughed again. "We are good."

Xiao walked around Jonas City, wondering what made the King want to come here, or rather, why the concubine wanted to come here. It was quite pleasant a place, with beautiful lakes and rivers, as well as several beautiful temples, but it wasn't too special.

"Psst, Xiao," someone called.

Xiao turned his head just a fraction to see Weiyu by the entrance of an alley awfully close to the residence. He walked up to her. "Do you have news already?"

Weiyu nodded and looked about nervously, evidently scared that someone would see her talking to a man. By Xenon's traditions, for a maiden to be in close contact with a man would be seen as disgraceful. What was more was that Weiyu shouldn't have left the palace. "Tatum came to her last evening," she reported. "He said he received some news and he was to reply to it."

Xiao's eyes widened excitedly. "So he probably has a letter or something," he mused.

"I couldn't catch anymore," Weiyu said apologetically. "But I have to go back now. The concubine might want me." She turned to leave, her turquoise dress flapping in the wind behind her. Instinctively, Xiao caught her arm. She froze at the touch.

Xiao looked her in the eyes, "stay safe, Weiyu."

Weiyu nodded, her eyes a mix of emotions. Xiao stood there, terrified for her. She never had any training in martial arts. If caught, she would not be able to defend herself. What scared him especially was the determination in her eyes that bordered on craziness. He felt that she wouldn't back away even if death was looming ahead.

When he returned to the residence, Cole relayed a piece of news from George that Grandmaster Maguire wouldn't be given a trial but executed in the coming days. Xiao clenched his teeth in anger. "How is that just?"

"It's not," George said as he entered their room and sat down upon Xiao's bed. "Even if he was found in the concubine's room, he still needs a trial."

"But he was framed. Surely Cole told you!"

George nodded. "I advised him against it but to no avail." Cole smiled appreciatively at George's fairness and justice.

"I met Weiyu just now," Xiao said. "She told me that Tatum has received a letter or something and he was going to reply to it. We could get a hold of this and turn the whole thing around on him and maybe the concubine as well." Cole's eyebrows raised appreciatively at this.

"Lady Davidson would be difficult to deal with," George warned. "Besides the king doesn't want to trial for the grandmaster. How would you bring the matter to light?"

They fell silent, thinking. Then Xiao shrugged dismissively. "Whatever, we will get the letter and any other evidence first, then think about that later."

Cole nodded in agreement. "We will do that tonight."

George looked at them with furrowed eyebrows. "How will you even bring this up in court when you find the evidence."

"If Weiyu could testify," Cole began. Xiao looked at him with intense anger and he stopped himself. 

"How can you put her in such danger?" Xiao demanded. "Hasn't she been through enough?"

Cole looked down and didn't say anything more. George fixed his eyes on Xiao for a long while before speaking, "someone has to testify, Xiao. But we will figure things out step by step." Cole nodded in agreement and Xiao, again, found himself hating both of them for teaming up against him.