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“I’ve studied my entire life, but I’ve neverdoneanything with it,” he continued. “Not like you. No one has ever cried tears of joy because of me. I spend all day reading about things that don’t matter.”

To anyone else, his soft smile might have been endearing, but something about his earnestness only reminded me how sharp I felt in comparison. He saw the good in me because he could afford to underestimate people. I was a novelty, but nothing stayed new and shiny forever. The prince would grow bored once he learned I was just a shrewd merchant covered in clay dust, not a hero.

He raised his cup to take a sip, the paint by the handle flaking away at his touch. I grabbed his sleeve, careful not to touch his skin. Commoners weren’t allowed to lay a hand on royalty.

“Zilanxiaojie?”

I took the cup from him, held it up to the sun, and scraped away a flake of paint.

“This is lead glazed,” I said. “You can tell because it cracks like alligator scales. You use this glaze for míngqì, not anything meant for drinking.”

“I...will pass your comments on to whoever purchases my cups,” he said, raising an eyebrow and reaching to take it back.

I poured his tea out into the dirt.

He let out a surprised sound. “Zilan—”

“Lead is poison,” I said.

The prince went pale, grabbing his throat. “But my taste tester is fine!”

“Lead takes months to kill someone,” I said, rolling my eyes. “If you’re not sick already, you’ll be fine. Just don’t drink any more.”

I handed him the empty cup, which he took with stiff hands.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “This is actually what I wanted to talk to you about. My return to the palace has been...precarious. Will you come inside with me?” He stood up, his gaze falling on the bite marks on the back of my hand.

“Is that from an animal?” he asked, eyes wide.

I thought back to the rabid look on Zheng Sili’s face. “You could say that.”

“Were you in the rhinoceros garden?”

I blinked. “You have a rhinoceros garden?”

“It was a gift from the prince of Champa, along with some elephants,” he said, shrugging. “I’ll take that as a no. Do you need medicine?”

I closed my eyes, my mind reeling. I remembered Wenshu crying when we ate our last pig a few years ago, meanwhile the royal family kept exotic pets just for entertainment. I looked between the prince’s silk shoes and my own dirty feet.

“Why are you even talking to me?” I said. “I thought I made myself clear last time. I won’t work for you.”

“You were clear that you didn’t want to travel with me to Chang’an,” the prince said, “but now, you’re already here.”

“To study, not to serve you,” I said. “I don’t have time to help you. I haven’t passed the second test yet, and I don’t need you hanging around me, making the others think you bought my place here.”

The prince frowned. “Are the other alchemists giving you trouble? I can talk to them—”

“No,”I said. “Defending me will only look worse.”

“Then what can I say that will convince you?”

“Nothing.”

“Surely there’s something you want?” he said, clutching his cup. “I can give you anything.”

I shook my head, bowing and turning to leave. My dreams couldn’t be bought.

“Please,” he said, taking my sleeve. I jolted back, for his hand had come dangerously close to my bare wrist.