Chapter 19: The Weight of Love

The Emperor ended the hearing with a raised hand and a fit of coughing.

The Crown Prince went to the Palace Guard's cells that afternoon.

The Empress went to her own rooms, with a guard at the door.

Her father was given the estate's best guest room.

He fell asleep in it before the bowl of soup reached him.

Wanning sat by him until dark.

Then she went looking for her husband.

She found him on the covered walk behind the bedchamber, leaning on a pillar with a cup of cold tea in his good hand.

He did not turn when she came.

"Your arm needs the evening needles," she said.

"It can wait."

"It can't."

"Then do them here."

She sat on the step below him and unrolled the case on her knee.

He pushed up his left sleeve.

She set the first needle in the crook of his elbow, and felt the old tremor run up it and settle.

"You said nothing in the hall," she said.

"It was the first term."

"I know. I watched you keep it." She set the second needle. "It was the hardest thing I have ever watched anyone do."

"I wanted to put the Crown Prince through the wall."

"I could see that too."

He gave a short laugh, and then stopped.

The lamp on the pillar flickered.

"You'll go south now," he said.

She looked up.

"You told my sleeping face," Chengxiao said, "that when the Crown Prince fell, you would go south."

"He has fallen, Wanning."

"By the end of the week he will have no title."

"I said that."

"Then you should go. I will not stand at the gate."

"Chengxiao."

"I never asked you to stay for the revenge." His voice was very even.

"Not once. I asked you to stay because I wanted you near."