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I rolled my eyes as I climbed into the carriage with him. I didn’t tell him that I would have Siwang sign the treaty either way. Even if it was unfair. For it was that, or die by Lan Yexue’s sword.

Fate be damned, I would not let anything happen to Siwang.

The carriage’s silk-lined interior was beautiful, but I was most excited about the cushioned seats. It felt good to sit down with something supporting my back instead of being tossed about on a saddle. “Have you ever thought about joining the theater?”

To my surprise, Yexue laughed and made an exaggerated stretch, his long legs taking up half the carriage, and he was making a show of bumping them against mine, giggling as he did. “Are you saying that I am dramatic?”

“I’m saying you are the drama,” I murmured, and Yexue laughed harder. It was nice, hearing him laugh.

The carriage began to roll, and I opened the window to see Ping and Peizhi waving us goodbye.

“I will bring you back another time,” Yexue said.

I almost smiled. I would like to see Ping again, but what were the odds of that happening if Ping was here behind Lan’s border and I was on Rong’s side?

I closed the window and noticed how heavy the sliding panel was. Instead of curtains, there was a strange type of mesh made from interlinked metal chains.

There was something odd about the carriage. When I pressed my hand against the walls, I noticed it did not vibrate the way wood did. The material of this carriage was denser.

Metal.

“Has something happened?” I asked. This could be the only carriage that was available, but if Yexue wanted to get back to his city as soon as possible, why wouldn’t he choose a lighter, wooden carriage?

My question was met with silence. Yexue closed his eyes, so I knewnot to press for more. “If you have any other questions for Ping, you can write to her, and I’ll make sure the message is delivered.”

“In other words, the message will be read by Peizhi, who will read it to Ping?”

“Anything Ping knows, Peizhi will also know at some point.”

“You could have sent her a letter of questions and saved us this whole trip.”

“Having someone ride back and forth with letters would take twice as long. It is easier for you to get your answers here, in person, where you don’t have to wait days for responses. And be honest: Would you have believed me if these letters had arrived from someone claiming to be the stargazer’s disciple?” he asked.

No, I wouldn’t have.

“I know you think of me a certain way, Fei. I had secretly hoped that by showing you more of my cities, meeting more of my people, that you would see the truth with your own eyes and realize that I am not the monster Siwang paints me to be.”

I bit my lip. “Your people do look happy.”

“What’s that, I didn’t quite hear you, can you say it again?” Yexue teased, and I fought the urge to kick him.

“Thank you,” I grumbled, turning my attention to the city we were passing. I still clutched the scroll Yexue had given me. I wasn’t ready to open it yet.

“What’s that, I didn’t quite—Ouch!”

I kicked him for real this time.

Though traces of the siege could still be seen in the burn marks and crumbled buildings, Xiangxi was already in the process of being rebuilt. Despite everything, the people here looked genuinely happyas they hopped from market stall to market stall, selecting vegetables and cuts of meat.

“You have absolutely squandered your chance, despite myextremelyselfless cooperation,” Yexue grumbled, making an exaggerated act of rubbing his ankle, when all I did was tap him with my toes. “Next time you want to seduce me, I will expect earth-shattering poetry and a dramatic declaration of love. I am not a man who travels thousands of miles for just anyone, you know.”

“Are you only interested in girls who hold a knife to your throat?”

“Unfortunately for me, yes, I am only interested in girls who are interested in killing me. Unfortunately for you, I seem to have a shortage of those. It is a pity—the girl whom I am trying to offer my beating heart to would rather stab that heart than cherish it. No wonder the emperors of the past often referred to themselves as????:lonely souls who must choose solitary paths.For love is a concept so far off when the one I admire…”

“Oh, skies.”How many more hours of this?

“Yes, do pray to skies and beg them to help you get back in my good graces.”