Later that day, Jin found his princess hurling knives at a wooden dummy. The blades sank into the wood, handles jutting out parallel to the ground. He scooted a little further from the target as Liqin aimed again.

The sun beat down of them, as the target area was not in the shade of trees. A dry breeze blew, sending some of Liqin's curls flying into her face. This did not seem to bother her as the knife flew into the dummy's heart.

Liqin panted, sweat dripping down her cheeks. "I'm just so fed up!" she fumed, throwing up her hands in frustration. In both hands she waved a weapon, seemingly unaware that she almost took off Jin's head with them. "He did this seven years ago too! What kind of a father won't let his child see her mother? It's ridiculous!"

She paused to fire another dagger.

     "Perhaps he's telling the truth, and your mother truly is ill?" Jin suggested, but he knew it was unlikely. Even when bowing, he'd been studying the Emperor's face. A flurry of emotions had flickered across it, and Jin figured there was something Liqin's father was not telling her.

Liqin finished off the dummy with a few more hits before dusting off her hands. "Pah! Telling the truth? You're joking. Anyway, I'm going to sneak into the harem tonight to see Mother."

Jin gaped at her. "But you're the princess! You can't just go in like that!"

Liqin shook her head. "I've made up my mind, and you can't stop me."

Panic seized Jin. His mistress was disobeying a direct order from the Emperor. He would have her head, princess or not! "You can't," he pleaded, "His Majesty would not allow it."

Liqin strode over to the dummy to retrieve her knives. "Which is exactly why I'll do it," she said calmly. Jin swallowed. The cold, determined set of her eyes was unnerving.

"Fine!" he announced. "But I'll come with you."

At this, Liqin looked surprised. "There's no need, Jin. I couldn't bear it if you got punished for something I did." He gave her a crooked smile, falling into step behind her.

"You raised your hand for a barbarian when no one else would. If not for you, I probably would have been sold to someplace to fight to the death for entertainment or end up dead in a ditch."

She shook her head, amazed. "You're foolishly loyal."

"One of my best traits, princess."

"I feel ridiculous." Jin pulled at the soft cotton servant gown he wore, making a face. "There has to be another way."

"Hush," murmured Liqin, tongue sticking out as she meticulously painted color onto Jin's cheeks. "This is the easiest way. We're lucky you're so pretty. Your cheekbones are to die for."

Jin grumbled, folding his arms. "Do you have any idea how detrimental your words are to a man's pride?"

Liqin snorted, giving the decorative silk sash around Jin's slim waist a yank, squeezing his sides and choking him. "What pride?"

"Hey!" He turned to smack her playfully, but he was constricted by his clothes. He resisted the childish urge to stop his foot. "Let's get this on with, before I change my mind about helping you."

"Great!' Liqin chirped. "Let's go." She picked up the tray of food they'd stolen from the palace kitchen earlier and slipped out the door. After a moment's hesitation, Jin followed her.

Night had fallen. The moon proudly shone her beams down on earth as the clouds attempted to shield her from the human eye. They made their way through the luscious gardens, the stone pathway lit only by the occasion firefly. They treaded purposefully and refrained from sliding into the shadows every time the patrol came around.

The harem was a separate palace from the Emperor's, and it was where Jin spent his first few years with Liqin. Once she'd hit seven and was deemed healthy enough not to drop dead, they were ushered into a new life at the grander palace. Since then, Liqin had not seen her mother often.

When they reached the entrance, they were halted by the stationed guards who crossed their spears, barring the doorway. "No one is to see Empress. Emperor's orders."

Jin internally panicked. Liqin had advised him not to speak, because his voice was too deep to pass off as a girl's. But Liqin had it under control. She bowed demurely, making sure to keep her face lowered.

"We are here to deliver the Empress some food. She'd requested a late-night snack."

The guards looked at Jin suspiciously, taking in his tall frame, his ankles peeking out from the too-short hem of his dress. "It takes two of you to deliver one tray?" one asked, his grip visibly tightening on his spear. Jin shifted, his hand sneaking towards the dagger strapped to his arm. Liqin shot him a look, wordless order for him to freeze.

Jin thanked the stars that it was dark enough to conceal his foreign skin tone. Otherwise, it would have rung bells that he was the infamous barbarian serving Kou's princess.

"This one here is by request of Her Highness. She's quite skilled in massages."

A guard reached over and plucked a piece of chicken from the steaming plate. He held it up to his nose, sniffing it, before shrugging and popping it into his mouth. "Doesn't seem poisonous," he said between chews. "Let them in."

Liqin dipped her head demurely as they uncrossed their spears, and then they were in the harem. The halls were quiet, their echoing footsteps being the only sounds. The tall, decorative pillars cast long shadows on the marble floor, and only a few candles lit the way.

Jin was on high alert. If they were caught, who knew what the Emperor would do to them for disobeying direct orders?

Everyone living in the harem seemed to be asleep. The concubines were slumbering behind delicate screen doors, and the servants still up tried to go about as quietly as possible. Jin glanced at Liqin.

Even if her posture denied her anxiety, the nervous chewing of her lip confirmed it. He observed how she occasionally paused to wipe her clammy hands on her robes.

They were only a few steps away from where the Empress resided when they heard the giggling of a child and the scolding of a woman. Tiny footsteps pattered down the hall to their left.

"Your Highness!" panted the woman. "Please do not run about at this time of night! Your Honorable Mother is asleep, and you'll wake up the other concubines."

"Ha! I'll stop if you catch me!" This was shrieked by a high-pitched squeal, a child's. A few moments later, a small figure rammed into Jin's side in a whirl of black curls and fluttering blue robes. Instinctively, Jin's hands snapped out to grip the boy by the shoulders.

The child writhed in Jin's grasp, unable to break free. "Unhand me, fiend!" he shrilled. "Do you know who I am?"

A servant burst from the hall, her grey-streaked hair tousled and falling from her bun, and dirt marks streaked her pale cotton robes. "Your Highness," she huffed, "please cease this nonsense. You are supposed to be in bed!" Upon seeing Jin, she frowned. "What in the heavens are you doing? Let go of the prince!"

"Prince?" Liqin exclaimed. "Since when?"

The nanny harrumphed, her chin sticking up in the air. "You servants must be new then. This is Kou Zemin, son of the Empress, of course."

hahaha I BET I CAUGHT YOU OFF GUARD WITH THAT ONE (just kidding, all of this was in the book's summary anyways XD). anyway, finally got around to writing this chapter. I suppose we finally understand why Emperor Kou was so adamant about refusing Liqin's request?

Zemin = Ze-mean. Also, in case you haven't guessed, the royalty's last name is the name of the country they rule :)

Please let me know your thoughts! Don't be shy to drop comments and votes.

Discussion Questions: How do you think Liqin will deal with this new problem? How will the arrival of Zemin affect our plot?