Prince Enlai was awake before the sunrise of the next morning. Unable to sleep, he splashed cold water over his face and patted it dry before slipping his arms through his silk robe. Before he tied the knot to his sash, a knock sounded.

“Crown Prince Enlai, his majesty requests your presence in the Silver Willow Library.”

Without turning his head, Prince Enlai answered, “Yes, I’ll be there.”

The sun rays had already made their pillars through the corridor toward the library by the time Prince Enlai arrived. Behind the guards, the steam from the tea kettle inside sneaked its way through the crack of the door to greet him. As soon as the guards noticed him, they moved aside for him to pass.

“Crown Prince Enlai arrives!” A royal servant announced his entrance.

Emperor Fengge turned from his stack of scrolls and acknowledged Prince Enlai’s bow.

“You wanted to see me?” Prince Enlai kept his eyes down.

Emperor Fengge watched his son for a moment and lightly sighed before beginning. “Lament not, Crown Prince. A leader of a nation must not let his emotions be visible to others.”

Prince Enlai kept quiet.

“That man,” Emperor Fengge lowered his chin to Prince Enlai. “This is the right thing to do—”

“I understand,” Prince Enlai spoke suddenly and slowly raised his eyes to his father. “But do not tell me to not mourn over the death of a brotherhood.”

Emperor Fengge lowered his shoulders and his brows raised slightly from the comment.

“I trust you to understand better than most.”

“Understood,” Emperor Fengge nodded. He pulled out an envelope with the imperial seal of Zhao from his sleeve and handed it to Prince Enlai. “An invitation to their annual celebration.”

“You will be leaving for Zhao?” Prince Enlai said aloud as he read the invitation.

“No,” Emperor Fengge turned his face to the morning sun as he spoke. “You will.”

Prine Enlai’s eyes grew large at the announcement. “You want me to go? Alone?” He was surprised. “Why? Would the emperor of Zhao not find it questionable if the emperor of Qi does not attend the ceremony? We do this to vindicate our neutrality with them!”

Emperor Fengge closed his eyes, “Yes. You are right. We do this to demonstrate our neutrality. But I will not be king for long.” He turned to Prince Enlai, “For when you return from your journey, you will rise to the throne.”

Prince Enlai’s chest heaved. “But I am not ready.”

“Yes, you are,” Emperor Fengge affirmed. “I have seen that you are. You have proven much the last months. It is time you take hold and accept what is rightfully yours to bear. That is final.”

Prince Enlai bowed to his father so as to accept his words and kept it bowed as Emperor Fengge proceeded to leave the room. Before he stepped foot outside the door, he turned once more to Prince Enlai.

“Ah, one more important thing I must let you know.”

“Yes, father,” Prince Enlai responded.

“Emperor Jinhai’s empress is the former princess of Qin.”

Prince Enlai raised his head. He widened his eyes. That’s right! How did I forget all about that?

“Empress Xiu Juan of Zhao, descendent of Qin. I heard she has caused quite a motion in the Zhao kingdom. As a matter of fact, she is teaching Emperor Jinhai’s people the ways of Qin.”

“Huh,” Prince Enlai was enthralled. “The ways of Qin, you say?” He responded to his father.

“Yes. Surprising enough, she has become quite a powerful figure in the state of Zhao. Knowing the nature of the late emperor of Zhao and his son, I am quite confounded at the fact that Emperor Jinhai allowed a Qin descent to have that much of an influence.” Emperor Fengge warned Prince Enlai, “Be wary of this Empress Xiu Juan. Do not converse much with her. We do not know what she can and will do.”

Hmm. Prince Enlai continued with his thought. If the former princess of Qin is that competent and influential, why did Emperor Jiao Long and Lord Han exclude her in their case? Prince Enlai furrowed his brows. He locked his eyes on a painting of plum blossoms that resembled the ones Ying-tai carried with him. He smirked, If not both Lord Han and Emperor Jiao Long, one of them had something to surely fear. Perhaps Unit Commander Ying-tai of Qin was, in fact, unrighteously tried! I must make haste and meet her!

“Crown Prince Enlai of Qi!” Emperor Fengge snatched him away from his inattention, “Did you hear a thing I said?”

Prince Enlai straightened his back, sharpened his poise and answered blatantly, “Yes, father!”

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That evening, a young messenger came into Prince Enlai’s study and handed him a letter. It was from Nuying. Prince Enlai exhaled and folded the letter gently before placing it down onto his desk. “So she requests my attendance?”

“Yes, sir,” the young messenger nodded.

Of course. She must have heard by now. Prince Enlai knew what the meeting would be about. “Tell her I’ll honor her request. I shall be there by sundown.”

As always, the Blooming Lotus Pavilion was filled with a pleasant smell upon entering. When the ladies saw him they smiled coquettishly and bowed their heads with their lips behind their fans. He was soon greeted by courtesan Lifen who scurried her way over to him.

“Prince Enlai,” Lifen bowed. “I’m so happy you decided to come.”

Prince Enlai raised his brow, “You sound perturbed.”

Lifen’s eyes remained lowered. “Please, follow me this way,” she lead the way to Nuying’s suite.

When they reached Nuying’s door, Lifen paused before knocking. She turned to Prince Enlai, “Since she got news of that man, she has not spoken to anyone.”

Prince Enlai looked down to her.

“She won’t meet anyone. Won’t eat. Won’t drink.” Lifen squeezed her sleeves harder. “I have a clear understanding of what men are capable of. It’s reflected in each of my sisters’ eyes. Yet older sister Nuying remains like a lotus that blooms even in the murkiest of waters.” Lifen smiled warmly, “I have never seen her smile so genuinely until after her encounter with that man. He was the clear rain she had been waiting for.” She looked up at Prince Enlai, “I am inane and do not know much. But this much I know: I would not have abandoned such a person like that.”

Prince Enlai’s eyes grew big. Before he could reply, she knocked on Nuying’s door and announced their arrival. As the door closed behind him, he lifted his gaze unto Nuying who sat quietly in her dark blue gown that spread out around her.

“You asked for my attendance?” Prince Enlai approached her.

Nuying opened her eyes and slowly turned them to him, her silver jewels tinkling as she moved. Prince Enlai sat himself down on the other side of the table and poured them both a cup of tea.

“I will order some duck with lotus root and sweet rice. I know you love them too,” Prince Enlai began. “You need to eat. I heard you have not been taking care of yourself.” He smiled, “I’ll eat with you. You always say food tastes better with company.”

“Lifen says you hate lotus root,” Nuying commented, her eyes on Prince Enlai.

Prince Enlai paused. “Why would she say that? I eat it all the time.”

“Because I eat it all the time.”

“Is that so bad?” Prince Enlai had not yet raised his eyes to her.

“I always eat according to what my guests fancy,” Nuying continued. “I was surprised when I found a guest that had the same taste as I. But that was not the case.” She lowered her shoulders at Prince Enlai, “My point is, you have always looked out for others and considered their feelings greatly over your own.”

Prince Enlai said nothing and went on to pour himself another cup of tea but Nuying stopped him. “So then, why would you do a thing like that?”

“I had no choice,” Prince Enlai plainly answered.

“Yes you did,” Nuying disagreed. “You truly believe Unit Commander Ying-tai of Qin to be that kind of man? For goodness’ sake, why would you dare consider Lord Han’s words?!”

“No, Nuying. It’s not that simple,” Prince Enlai reasoned. “I would be just a man going against two kings, two empires.”

“That cannot be all there is to it. I can’t help but feel that in a way you have suddenly grown doubtful of him.”

Prince Enlai raised his eyes to Nuying.

“For once someone had selflessly lended their hand to you and when you should have kept them close to you, you have instead thrown them away.” Nuying drew her hand back and sighed, “But what could I say? I cannot blame someone such as you for not recognizing the gesture.”

“I have a duty I must abide by. I am to be king. I cannot show the world that my will could be bent so easily by strangers.”

“After all the good he has done for you, you turned him into a stranger so quickly?” Nuying’s eyes had hurt in them. “I had ONE encounter with him. It was enough to leave me humbled. You stood by him day by day yet have perceived and gained nothing! ”

Prince Enlai clenched his fists at the sudden ache he felt in his chest.

“I will not acknowledge who you’ve become,” Nuying shook her head and turned her eyes away.

When he returned home, Princess Yanmei had been waiting for him by his chamber.

“Yanmei?”

“Older brother,” she greeted him with a warm smile. “I heard you were leaving for Zhao soon.”

“Yes,” he nodded as he walked toward her.

“I wanted to wish you well on your journey. Also, to congratulate you on becoming the new king.”

“Thank you, Yanmei,” Prince Enlai smiled at her. He studied her face, “Is there something else?”

“Oh, uh…no.” Princess Yanmei shook her head. “I will take my leave now.”

“Why,” Prince Enlai questioned her as she proceeded to leave. “Why do you weep for a man like such?”

Princess Yanmei stopped in her steps.

“Does bearing a duty mean to lose sense of humanity? If this is what is right, then why do I feel otherwise?”

Princess Yanmei turned to her older brother, “Because you have forsaken a great man.”

Prince Enlai, too, turned to face her. “A great man?”

Princess Yanmei’s voice echoed in the corridor as she strode away with her heavy silk swishing in rhythm to her recital,“Virtue is more to man than water or fire. Though many have died from treading on water or fire, you have met the one who will die treading the course of virtue.”

Ying-tai raised his eyes to the window above him after the rooster had crowed its first crow. He sat quietly until a Qi guard approached his cell.

“Ying-tai, you have a visitor,” he notified.

He nodded.

In a hooded cloak and travel attire, Prince Enlai greeted Ying-tai. “I’m here to see you before I leave.”

“Leave?” Ying-tai wondered.

“For Zhao.”

Ying-tai looked up at him.

“They have an annual celebration and we attend every year as a pledge to our neutrality.”

Ying-tai remained silent.

“Ying-tai of Qin,” Prince Enlai started. “I want to hear it from you. Is all that has been said about you true?”

There was a moment of silence before he answered. “What if I said yes?”

Prince Enlai widened his eyes and turned them to Ying-tai.

“Would it make a difference anymore? For you have turned me into a foe the moment you chained me.” Ying-tai continued.

Prince Enlai clenched his fists.

“I…” Prince Enlai reached into his garment, “I wanted to return this to you.” In his hand that extended out to Ying-tai, he held the paper of pressed plum blossoms. “It seemed of great significance to you.”

Ying-tai’s expression softened as he received it from Prince Enlai’s hand. “You put away a man to wait for his death yet you return such a simple possession? Are you to relieve me of supposed fear or to woefully wallow in nostalgia?”

“Consider it your way out,” Prince Enlai made it clear. “You are a great man with great enemies. It’s only natural to have them scavenge after any chance given to bring you down. What I want to know, though, is: how great are those who stand with you?”

Ying-tai lifted his eyes to Prince Enlai.

“What would they do for you, great Unit Commander Ying-tai of Qin?” Prince Enlai inquired as he left and the violet fabric that hung over his shoulders swept the ground behind him.