Chapter 11: The Long Night

They did not go to the Records Hall that night.

Mingzhu sent Lanyin to say the princess was unwell, and shut the doors of the bedchamber herself.

"They can't take the decree out of the archive without my seal," she said.

"I won't let them. We have until morning."

"Then let's not waste it."

Ruoxi sat on the edge of the bed, barefoot, with her hair loose and her spoon cord already off.

She looked at the lamp, the plum-colored curtains, the cream robe over the chair.

She had been afraid in this room, and happy in it.

It was the only place in the world where she felt whole.

"Come here," she said.

Mingzhu came.

She stood between Ruoxi's knees, with her fingers curled around the edge of her collar.

"I want to tell you something first," Ruoxi said. "And I want you to let me finish."

"All right."

"I came into this post to feed my mother."

"I know."

"I stayed because I thought I was the only thing between you and a cup of poison. I was proud of that."

"You should be."

"But the first night in this bed I understood something."

"What?"

"I'd have stayed if there had never been a cup. I'd have stayed to watch you eat."

Mingzhu's eyes filled slowly.

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