Chapter 9: An Expensive Kind of Courage

Qiu had not forbidden anybody to crouch beneath the weather screens.

He had removed the weather screens entirely, which was more effective.

The new arrangement lay in plain view before the course opened.

The judge inspected it and announced the changed conditions to every entrant.

Ji could not complain that her rival had hidden what he meant to do.

That made it harder to dislike his pleased expression honestly.

Without the low screens, the open terrace caught the river wind.

A hanging pennant snapped straight outward above the finishing ribbon.

Ji had used those screens as shelter while holding a small force steady.

Now she would need to keep her bowl level without their protection.

The prize purse contained enough silver to replace the school's broken bench.

She had already imagined the new one against their sunny wall.

Luo could sit there while her ankle healed without balancing on a borrowed stool.

Ji wanted that particular result too much to walk away easily.

Shen watched her study the course and kept her own hands inside her sleeves.

"The wind will not admire your posture," she said.

Ji knew that was advice, not permission to give up.

She loosened her robe and knotted its lower folds above her knees.

Her first attempt at dignity had caught a noodle ladle yesterday.

At least she had learned something useful from the chipped bowl.

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