When the sun was at its highest the next day, Jinhai put on his robe over his white garments to leave the sparring room after he finished his training.

“Emperor Jinhai is exceptional in martial arts!” His men cheered.

“No one can measure up to your talent!” One of his generals praised.

Jinhai smiled, “I wouldn’t know about that. It is a big world. There’s bound to be someone out there that can keep up with me.”

“I highly doubt that,” Ngo Kwang said as she walked in. All of the men stared at her and gaped at the sight of a pretty woman. “You are exceptionally admirable for you are superior to all men,” she smiled at him.

Jinhai turned his head to her but he was unfazed by her presence.

“Ngo Kwang,” he politely greeted her as he sheathed his sword. Ngo Kwang flinched at the sight of the bright blade being swiftly placed inside its guard in a blink of an eye. With her hand on her chest, she returned her gaze to Jinhai.

“I’ve brought you some tea,” she said as she turned to the maid who was pouring the cup. Ngo Kwang took it from her and handed it to Jinhai. He looked at it and knowing that everyone was staring, he received it and took a sip. It was plain. It was like he was just drinking hot water.

“I have watched you for a long time and you have always successfully surprised me with your skills,” Ngo Kwang approached nearer to Jinhai.

“You know swordplay?” Jinhai asked.

Ngo Kwang tilted her head. “Well I watch you to know enough.”

Jinhai placed his eyes in hers. “You watch me. Only me,” he repeated. “If I am the only person you have ever seen swing his sword, how do you know what is good and what is not? How would you know if there is more to be perfected?”

Ngo Kwang smiled, “I think I may have a clue.”

Jinhai smiled and gave her a small sparring sword made of bamboo.

“Here,” he said.

All of the men stared at him. They were anticipating what Jinhai was going to do.

“Attack me,” Jinhai pierced his eyes into Ngo Kwang. He suddenly appeared intimidating and her heart began to rush. Not wanting to disobey him, she readied herself and swung. Jinhai observed her and sighed at her sloppiness. He lifted two fingers up and flicked her bamboo sword.

“You are being too careless,” he turned his eyes to her.

She pulled back the sword and lunged forward. With his fingers, he swiped away her strike and then struck her wrist, making her drop her sword and yelp in pain. All of the men in the room gasped. Jinhai just shook his head at Ngo Kwang holding her wrist. He raised his head to a medic in the room and nodded for him to come over. The medic scurried to Ngo Kwang to look at her wrist.

“You’ll be okay,” the medic said while examining the wrist. “It is just going to be numb for a bit because all of the nerves were stunned.”

Ngo Kwang looked at Jinhai who had his eyes on the medic examining her. He then swept up the bamboo sword and placed it back in its place. He turned to Ngo Kwang.

“I’ll take my leave now,” he lowered his head to her and left with two elite guards following closely by him.

In awe, she watched him disappear through the screen doors as her chest heaved.

As he neared the area of his study, he slowed his pace and traced Xiu Juan’s steps. His head turned to the side.

“Is there something wrong, your majesty?” One of his elite guards asked.

Jinhai didn’t say a word. Instead, he inhaled deeply and proceeded to his study. When he slid the door open, he found himself turning his head to the table where Xiu Juan’s kettle would be only to find that the table was empty.

She didn’t drop off the tea today. His sighed lightly from slight disappointment. Jinhai walked to the screen doors of his study and opened them to let in some breeze. On the awfully hot day, the sound of cicadas kept him company as he read.

Late that evening at the village after all of her deeds were done, Xiu Juan kept a close watch on the children swimming in the clear lake. They splashed the cold water toward her and she jumped at the drops of water touching her skin. She laughed and ran toward them with a small bucket in her hand, scooping water up and tossing a wet blanket of coldness at the backs of the children. Running along the beach, Xiu Juan’s bun came undone and her long locks fell down her back. She tried to pin it back up but the children took this chance to overpower her and threw balls of water at her while she squeezed her eyes shut and smacked them away, laughing. When they reached Ms Lin’s house, they showered their affection toward her new horse and attempted to mount it. Bo helped them ride the horse while Luli watched.

“Ah, Xiu Juan, you bring warmth and joy into my home,” Ms Lin laughed.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Xiu Juan replied.

After dinner, Xiu Juan washed the dishes by the shore while Bo and Luli helped clean the house. As she scrubbed, Xiu Juan watched the sunset quietly. Sitting there with the dishes organized in its basket, she sighed at the scenery. The quietness was soon interrupted by a sound of strings being plucked from an instrument. Recognizing the instrument, Xiu Juan turned her head toward the direction of the music. She got up slowly and approached the sound. When she got to the porch of the house, she saw Ms Lin playing the guzheng for the children, Luli, and Bo. She hadn’t heard one in so long, her heart danced at the notes being sung by the strings. Ms Lin looked at Xiu Juan and saw the brightness in her eyes.

“Do you play?” Ms Lin asked Xiu Juan.

Xiu Juan turned her eyes to her. She nodded. “Back at home, yes.”

“Miss Xiu Juan sings beautifully!” The children told Ms Lin.

“Yes!” Luli jumped in excitedly.

Ms Lin stopped playing and smiled brightly. She scooted over and patted the empty space by her.

“Come, child. Play for this old lady,” she requested.

“I have to warn you, I am still an amateur compared to someone like you,” Xiu Juan said shyly.

“Ah, no. Don’t say that. Let’s hear you play first,” Ms Lin stated. “And sing for us.”

Bo looked at Xiu Juan admiringly and nodded for her to play. Xiu Juan sat down and thought of the words to her song. She touched the wood of the guzheng and ran her fingers lightly along the strings. She plucked one of them and it echoed deeply, tugging at Xiu Juan’s own heartstrings.

“Beautiful,” Xiu Juan gasped. She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes to think. She opened her eyes again and looked at the new friends she made and played her composition while everyone watched in silence.

The meadows whisper to mountains and they listen

The rivers scurry through rocks and they are pardoned

Seasons never speak yet honor one’s time of end

And still, man and man’s hatred is richly thriven

A flower in the desert knows how to flourish

The vast sea knows where it must not transgress

Forests recognize fire as means to nourish

Still, ‘let bygones be bygones’ is man’s lost language

 Ah, let the darkness blind me so I can see what’s meant to be seen

Ah, let the ages steal my memories so things can restart clean

If ignorance is my only chance at peace with thee

Take away all that I know and all that I have seen…

While she sang, people who passed by stopped in their tracks to listen to her song. Even a group of patrolling soldiers stopped to listen to the beautiful voice coming from the house by the lakeside. They were so taken by it they yelled from the top of the hill to them.

“Wonderful! Wonderful!” They waved.

“A voice gifted by the heavens!” One yelled.

Xiu Juan raised her head and saw the soldiers waving at her from afar. She quickly hid away her face just in case someone will recognize her. The soldiers laughed at her thinking she was being bashful and teased her. Ms Lin stood up and told the young soldiers to leave as she waved her hand. When she sat back down, she looked at Xiu Juan and took her hands.

“My child,” she began, “who are you really? Ordinary people do not possess your kind of gift.”

Xiu Juan looked at her and smiled tenderly, “For now, just think of me as a visitor.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Ms Lin shook her head as she marveled over Xiu Juan, “You are just full of surprises.”

“What style of music is that?” A person from the audience asked.

“Yes ,tell us! It’s not of Zhao, but it’s beautiful!” A lady praised.

Xiu Juan looked at them and felt joy. “It’s the music from my home,” she said.

“Where’s that?” One of the children wondered.

Xiu Juan lowered her eyes to them and paused.

“Somewhere far away,” Luli spoke.

“Yes,” Xiu Juan nodded.

“You won’t leave us to go back to your home, will you?” A little girl asked Xiu Juan in a small voice.

Xiu Juan’s eyes grew big.

“You can stay here and share with us these wonderful things about your home! We’ll try to make this place your home too!”

Xiu Juan couldn’t say a thing. Her eyes only grew wet. She held the children in her arms and closed her eyes as she cradled them.

“You’ve already made this into a place like home for me,” she smiled, sealing away her true heart.

When the glow of the stars began to leak through the sky, Jinhai went up to his garden on the palace’s rooftop and watered his plants. Climbing down the stairwell, he heard his imperial guards murmuring and gawking like little boys.

“Such voice was out of this world, you say?” One man asked.

“With music sounding like from another land?” Another one pushed in.

“Was she beautiful? Did you see her?” One man blurted.

The one telling the story shook his head, “No. She was too far away for me to see clearly.”

“What if she was ugly?” One man laughed.

“No! I know she wasn’t. It was her demeanor maybe?” He baffled over the woman he saw singing by the lakeside.

“Demeanor? You’re really going to rely on that?” His other friend raised his eyebrow and chuckled. “I will wait till I see her face first.”

“No! The other guys that were with me will tell you too!” He assured them. “There was just something about her,” he sighed.

“I’m going to find her and take her as my bride!” One man laughed. His fellow comrades punched his arm for saying such a thing that was impossible for him to do.

“You? You are afraid of women!” His friends laughed.

Jinhai walked through the doors and they immediately changed their behavior and bowed to him.

“Your majesty!” They saluted.

“Don’t have anything better to do, I see,” Jinhai commented.

“We were just leaving!” They lowered their heads and left after Jinhai dismissed them. However, the man who heard the music was stopped.

“You,” Jinhai halted him.

He froze in his steps then quickly turned around and bowed.

“Yes, your majesty?” He replied loud and clear.

“What was it you were talking about? The voice from the lake side?” Jinhai asked.

“Yes. Me and a few other men were patrolling around that area and heard a voice like no other coming from the small house by the lakeside,” he informed.

Jinhai wondered who it may be. “You said the song was not from songs of this land?” Jinhai wanted to clarify.

“That’s correct, your majesty!” The soldier nodded.

Jinhai guessed it was probably a traveler. He looked at the soldier, “Men should not stalk women. It is shameful. Where is your discipline as a soldier?” He scolded.

“My apologies. I have put shameful desires over my duties!” He bowed lowly, trembling.

Jinhai furrowed his brows lightly at him and dismissed him. After he left, Jinhai turned around to his chamber with his water pitcher in his hand. While he strolled through his white corridors, the thought of the singing woman ran through his mind again. He couldn’t help but be curious of this mysterious woman.

The next several days, Jinhai would return to his study and continue to find his table empty. Xiu Juan had not been delivering her tea to him. She had been keeping her mind busy from him and devoting her time to the people of Zhao. Every morning she would get dressed in her plain clothes and ride her white horse down the mountain and dive downward in a thrilling speed with the birds.

She continued to meet new faces and continued to strengthen the friendships she found for herself. She learned new things and discovered adventures at every turn. Though the days were long and unbelievably hot, she pulled through with her sunhat under the scorching sun. Then to end the evening, the people listened to her sing before she parted away to the secret passageway to the palace with Luli and Bo.

On the hottest day of the week, the children only sat on their porches and fanned themselves. It was too hot for them to do anything. Xiu Juan approached them and took off her sunhat when she reached the shade they were in.

“Why aren’t you guys playing today?” She asked them.

“It’s too hot to do anything, Miss Xiu Juan,” an older boy whined.

“You could splash in the water,” Xiu Juan suggested.

“We’re bored of that,” they told her.

“Oh,” Xiu Juan said as she sat down on the steps. She fanned herself with her sunhat and sighed, “I wish we had something chilled to eat or drink.”

“Yeah, that would be something,” an older girl dreamed of a chilled snack.

One of the children’s mother brought out sweet round dumplings with syrup—made from juice that was extracted from fruits—drizzled on top.

“Ahhh but this will do for now,” they smiled as they passed the plate around.

Xiu Juan smiled and took one for herself. It was warm, but the sweetness from the syrup made her eyes big from the pleasant flavor.

“Delicious,” she grinned widely.

The children nodded as they ate and sweated.

“Ah, this day is so hot!” A little girl squeezed her eyes shut as she spoke with a full mouth.

“I don’t remember other summers as hot as this!” A boy groaned.

“Indeed,” his friend nodded.

A breeze blew into their faces and the children embraced it.

“I wish I could stand in the ice room all summer! This is how it must feel like! It is divine!” An older girl spread her arms out and smiled with her eyes closed.

“Ice room?” Xiu Juan was curious.

“It’s a room in the palace where they keep their food so it doesn’t go bad,” the older boy explained. “My father said so.”

“And where do they get the ice?” Xiu Juan wondered.

“They harvest it during the winter and collect blocks all winter long. By the time summer ends the ice will be used up but by then winter is already around the corner,” the older girl described to Xiu Juan.

“I see,” Xiu Juan nodded.

What if I were to borrow some of that ice? She daringly thought to herself. She watched the farmers dedicate themselves to their heavy chores under the unforgiving sun. Up on the hilltop, she saw Luli and Bo returning from the market with Ms Lin and Mei. She waved at them and got up to leave the children to their snacks.

Walking to Mei’s house, Xiu Juan noticed Mei looked stressed and worn.

“Mei,” she called to her softly. “Are you okay?”

Mei turned to Xiu Juan and smiled lightly. “Yeah, I am,” she said weakly.

“I can help if you need something,” Xiu Juan insisted.

She thought for a moment and then opened her lips to speak. “I’m so booked with all the tailoring and all of the dresses I have to make. I don’t think I will be able to finish all of them and Lady Ngo Kwang's in time.”

“Are you always this booked every year?” Xiu Juan asked.

“Yes. They come to me because my prices are very cheap,” Mei said looking at the ground.

“How cheap do you make your products?” Xiu Juan was concerned.

“I like to make my things affordable,” Mei said sweetly.

Xiu Juan lowered her shoulders at Mei for her naivety. “Mei,” Xiu Juan said tenderly, “Your silk is the most beautiful in the land. That is why they all come to you. And because you make it so affordable, they take advantage of this. They intimidate you and set their own prices against yours. You shouldn’t let them do that to you.”

“I don’t want to lose my business,” Mei worried.

“In the business world, you must have a tough skin or you will never prosper!” Xiu Juan encouraged her.

“Really?” Mei raised her brows.

“Yes.” Xiu Juan nodded her head.

“Huh,” she thought for a moment. “I’ll keep that in mind, Miss Xiu Juan!”

Xiu Juan exhaled and then offered to help Mei, “I can do Ngo Kwang's dress, if you don’t mind.”

Mei spun her head to her. “Lady Ngo Kwang’s dress? But she needs every detail to be right! I can’t mess up with hers. She’s too particular! She’s too much of a perfectionist! She’s too difficult—“

“Trust me, Mei,” Xiu Juan said. “I know how to embroider. If it will take the weight off your shoulders, I’ll help you to the best that I can!”

Mei grinned from ear to ear, “You really can? Are you sure?”

Xiu Juan nodded, “Yes!”

“Okay, I’ll put my trust in you,” she said.

That night, Xiu Juan returned to the palace and quietly tiptoed in her corridors with Luli holding Ngo Kwang's unfinished red gown. When they were out in the veranda, Xiu Juan was startled when Guang almost bumped into her. She was about to scream thinking Xiu Juan was an intruder but Xiu Juan quickly silenced her.

“Shh! It’s me! The empress!” She shushed her.

Guang widened her eyes as she looked at Xiu Juan up and down, “Empress?” She then giggled when she came to realization, “Empress! Why are you dressed like that?”

Xiu Juan smirked. “Can you keep a secret?” Xiu Juan winked.

Guang grinned widely and nodded excitedly.

Xiu Juan heard footsteps approaching them and knew she had to act quickly.

“Quick! Hide, Xiu Juan! People can’t see you dressed like this!” Luli whispered.

Luli and Guang stood shoulder to shoulder and blocked Xiu Juan from view while she squatted behind them.

“Please be nobody, please be nobody, please be nobody,” Xiu Juan chanted quietly. She suddenly felt Luli and Guang stiffen up.

“It’s Emperor Jinhai!” Guang squealed.

“Ah shit,” Xiu Juan lowered her head, squeezed her eyes shut and slapped her forehead.

She opened her eyes and then moved Luli and Guang’s skirt to the side to peek through. Jinhai, Hui Zhong, and his men turned and started to walk to the opposite direction of them.

Don’t turn around. Don’t turn around. Don’t turn around.

To their bad luck, Jinhai turned his head.

“What should we do, Xiu Juan?” Luli whispered.

“Shh! I’m not here with you guys! Just…say something that doesn’t involve me!” Xiu Juan glared up at Luli with her finger on her lips.

Jinhai approached them and the girls stiffed up. Luli and Guang held each other firmly so as not to drift to the side and reveal Xiu Juan sitting behind them. Hui Zhong raised his eyebrows at their odd behavior.

“Ladies,” Jinhai addressed them while his men stood very close behind him. His aura charmed them. His intriguing eyes that were focused on Luli and Guang made their knees weak. “What are you doing out here at this late hour?” He questioned them, his eyebrows slightly furrowed as he stared at them.

Luli cleared her throat, “Um..ah..we were just..” Luli looked down at Ngo Kwang's dress wrapped in a white sheet. “We were just cleaning this dress! We just got behind on our chores today!” She spoke quickly.

Good job, Luli. Xiu Juan praised, smirking.

Jinhai raised his eyebrow. He thought for a moment and then asked, “It couldn’t wait till morning?”

Luli nudged Guang for her turn to speak.

“Uh no! They wanted…insisted on getting it cleaned tonigh—before the day was over!” She stammered. “You know how women get when they are waiting on something. They get impatient. Once they want something done, that something has to be done.”

Luli chuckled to ease the tension. “Ha-ha-ha! Yes…” she laughed choppily. “Women! Demanding are we! YOU should understand!”

Jinhai raised his eyebrow again, suspecting Luli had just unintentionally called him demanding.

Stop. You’re blowing it! Xiu Juan slapped her forehead again.

“Women,” Hui Zhong shook his head and scoffed.

“The dress,” he turned his eyes toward it and nodded his chin to it. “Is it for the Empress?”

They both shook their heads quickly.

“We don’t ask. We just do our job,” Luli’s voice was trembling.

Jinhai noticed he was making the women uncomfortable and excused himself.

“I understand,” he said. He cleared his throat and prepared to leave. “I’ll leave you be then,” he said calmly. He turned to go but stopped himself. He turned back to Luli and Guang and they stiffed up again.

“Say, have you ladies got the chance to see the Empress lately?” He felt the want to ask and Hui Zhong turned his head to him at his sudden question.

Xiu Juan, too, turned her head toward the direction of his voice.

Luli and Guang shook their heads rapidly.

“She’s a busy, busy person, the Empress,” Guang said.

Xiu Juan pinched her. I’m not supposed to be a busy person! She scolded inside her brain. Guang yelped and the men raised their brows at her.

“Mosquito,” she explained herself with a cheesy smile.

Luli’s eyes brightened. “Why do you ask? Did you want to see her?”

No! What?! Xiu Juan pinched Luli too and made her flinch. Guang and Luli cursed under their breath at Xiu Juan.

Jinhai smiled lightly at their weirdness. “No. She’s just been very quiet, that is all. I thought I’d ask you ladies if you knew if she was well.”

The girls smiled shyly.

“I assure you that she is well, your highness,” Luli said.

Jinhai nodded and politely smiled before leaving them to themselves.

Xiu Juan rose from the ground and watched him leave. She was in disbelief of the words that came from that man’s lips. Luli and Guang spun around to her, their eyes wide and bright.

“He asked about me,” Xiu Juan said in almost a whisper, still looking at the direction he walked off to. “He’s been cold to me all this time. Why the sudden change?”

“Isn’t this a good thing though, Xiu Juan?” Luli asked, grinning hopefully.

Xiu Juan continued to her chamber, her eyes lowered. She tilted her head and furrowed her eyebrows, thinking hard. “He probably pities me,” she reckoned.

Luli and Guang stared at each other. Guang fastened her pace to meet Xiu Juan’s side.

“Empress, you mustn’t put yourself down like that,” Guang pleaded.

Xiu Juan continued walking quietly.

“It probably took a lot of courage for him to ask about you in front of all of his men like that,” Guang mentioned.

Xiu Juan looked at her who was smiling warmly.

Luli also hurried to her side and agreed with Guang. “She’s right,” she tried to lift Xiu Juan’s spirits.

Xiu Juan smiled and looked ahead. “I wouldn’t know. He is a mystery to me.”