Chapter 5: Hall of Radiance

Jinye did not let go of her hand until they reached the top.

It took a long time.

Nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, and on every one of them she remembered the same walk going down.

At the top, the terrace was packed.

Immortals in silk lined both sides of the path, hundreds of them, and none of them spoke.

They had come to see the herbalist's daughter.

Qinghe walked through them with her chin up and her hand on a demon's arm.

Whispers trailed after her.

"The Demon Emperor."

"On the Prince's own stairs."

"She doesn't even look ashamed."

She did not look ashamed because she was not.

At the doors of the Hall of Radiance, a tall man in white and gold stood waiting.

He wore a gold crown, and his black hair was pinned neatly under it.

His face was calm, cold and flawless, and she had once thought it the most beautiful face in the Nine Heavens.

Yan Chenxi.

Three hundred years had not touched him.

He looked at her, and then something went wrong in his face.

It was small, and only someone who had watched him for years would have seen it.

His eyes widened.

His lips parted, and the color drained from his cheeks.

He put a hand flat to his chest, over his heart, and stared.

"Su Qinghe," he said.

His voice was not steady.

"Prince Yan," she said.

She gave him the bow of one god to another, no deeper than his.

His gaze dropped to Jinye's hand on her waist.

It stayed there a moment too long.

"Lady Su," said a bright voice at his elbow. "How lovely to see you again."

Hua Yuruo stepped out from behind the Prince in rose silk, with pink jade combs in her hair and a smile.

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