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Yes,she wrote.The emperor tried to kill my teacher.

My world came to a stop. “Why? And is she still alive?”

I don’t know,she wrote.

It took me a moment to realize that this was her answer to both questions.

Again, she hesitated before she dipped the pen back into the ink and wrote:My master told me once, a long time ago, that you are our best hope of a better tomorrow. Of peace. Your fate is the answer to everything. It will either bring the ruin of the continent, or save it.

My breath caught at that last part. “But they say I am the empress of all empresses; I am to wed whoever unites the continent. The prophecy never said anything about mesavinganything.”

Ping was still for a moment, as if collecting her thoughts.

“If I become the empress of all empresses and marry the emperor who will unite the continent, will that finally bring peace?”

If Teacher was right, then I believe yes, it will.

“Did your teacher ever say anything about who that person mightbe?”

Your true love,she wrote.

I laughed. “How am I going to know that?”

Follow your heart.

“I don’t trust my heart.” Considering how dangerously close Yexue and I got last night, I didn’t trust myself to make any decisions.

If you choose wrongly, then I guess we will all die. I should say that I hope I don’t live to see that day, but I already can’t see anything anymore, so I guess it doesn’t matter.Ping smiled as she wrote the last part.

Despite the tragedy she had endured, she still had a sense of humor. I liked her.

I believe it would do everyone a great deal of good if you would stop running from your fate,she wrote. Then, a second later, she added:I have heard about how you ran away from your betrothal to Prince Siwang. It seems he is not your true love. Why don’t you give Prince Yexue a chance?

I glanced over at Yexue, grinning at this. “Did he pay you to writethat?”

Yes. A whole chest of gold and a manor at the heart of the city.

“A manor?” I gasped.

He is very generous; you should give him a chance,Ping wrote, her lips pinched as if holding back giggles.

“You weren’t supposed to tell her that,” Yexue groaned.

Peizhi only told me to say good things about you, not lie for you.

Yexue rolled his eyes, and Peizhi was looking at the ground. “Tell her to lie next time, Peizhi.”

Peizhi nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”

Ping was biting her lips to hide her grin. Even I couldn’t help but smile. “Did your master know about Yexue’s prophecy?”

From the corner of my eye, I noticed how Yexue stood a little taller at this question.Be careful,I reminded myself, conscious that Ping was living within Lan’s borders and she couldn’t afford to upset the prince regent. Her every word could be influenced by Yexue’s wishes.

“It’s okay,” Peizhi reassured her.

Yes, she did.

“Do you know if our prophecies are intertwined?” Yexue asked.