Yan Sha coughed as she watched her friend finish the tonic she had made. “I have already made a better tonic than what the imperial physician made. Your health has return to you, if I expose myself to the same procedures then who knows what the result will be. There are too many hands in the making of medicines that it is difficult to find out without allying with many people. I’m not going to—“
There was a tapping against the side door and both of the women instantly went silent. Xianjuan looked at Yan Sha with a strange expression as there should be no reason that they would be disturbed like this. The Duke’s eunuch with his sapphic expression looked at the duo and seemed amused as he delivered the news. “His majesty, the Duke requests that Noble Lady Yu accompany him for his bath and attend to him in bed tonight as the duchess is away at the temp
“I care for you as you have shown that you want to shoulder my burdens. Huan has been alone for many years as all the women in the inner court are too frightened of the duchess’s disapproval to make a move. What kind of woman will not balk at someone with such a powerful family behind her? You were a tiny second class attendant? Why are you so fearless like a soldier on the battlefield? Where did such a person come into my house?” He brushed her shoulders before tracing the trail of flowers that had gathered there. “I will not die or abandon you like others that you have let into your hands.” “There are others in my heart, my lord. How can you be confident in keeping me if I may leave you for another? There is a harem full of concubines, why taste only one when there can be many tastes that play on the palette?”
Yan Sha blushed and pushed him off her. “Now you’ve gone too far. I will have to attend a morning greeting with which consort?” “There is only the duchess and then consort. There is little need to have some in the middle. Consort Guo is much more easygoing than the duchess. She and I are archery fiends so she will probably be twinned with me this afternoon. Why would she have any reason to messy with a little noble lady? But don’t worry, I will have people around you who will report to me if anyone dares to touch you.” “That sounds like good exercise.” Yan Sha laughed. “My lord, I have said that I do not need protecting. Keep the guards to the consorts and the duchess and especially for Concubine Sun.” “You co
“Good morning, Noble Consort. We all wish you good health.” The chorus fell on deaf ears as the consort fiddled with her hands impatiently. She was holding onto one of the cheap looking hairpins that Yan Sha had rejected as she knew it didn’t suit her and was also above her station as a noble lady. She had no interest to fall for this little tricks. Concubine Wei looked at the Noble Consort with a calculated glance. “What is it that is bothering you, dearest noble consort? Is there something that we can do to relieve your burden? I know that it is difficult for the consort to manage the household affairs now that the duchess is away.” “There is someone here in our midst who is trying to rise higher than her birth dictates she should. I was trying to clip her wings but she refuses to
Truly he had been worried that his young brother had been taken in by a strange vixen whom had warped his mind into thinking something strange. But these observations were similar to that of a refined girl of a well born family. She could recite the virtues of women too even though she had come from the martial world. Her tea was clean and elegant although she claimed that she hardly had the reason to serve anyone. It must be she had a very good teacher who made sure that she passed through to join in his brother’s bed. It was a sign of affection that the Duke of Jin was making such an effort. This woman had helped his deaf nephew and was taking care of the women in the harem happily like a good example of feminine ideals. How had someone whom had spent time in the martial world be a learned person whom understood the virtues of the inner court? The
Ning Zhuo then turned and saw a shadow in his study. He strutted back to find his bookcases trembling. His movements to fix everything were quick. Maids immediately rushed behind him and one poked him, “Crown prince, your man from Jungpi has arrived to see you.” Yan Sha froze as she sat on the roof. There was a good opening to jump over the roofs but she was torn as she knew that it was incredibly difficult to get spies into this manor. She was proud of her former partner but could not stop the lick of nostalgia. She wanted to say that she knew him. Below her, Ning Zhuo replied. “Oh good. Send him into my study. I want to hear what he has to say immediately.”
The person was walking upside down now and Yan Sha wondered how that could be. Then she realized that the ground was by her face. She struggled listlessly as the person dragged her away and out of sight. The scene that she had left behind was strange as there was just cloth and bones that were swept away by the morning sweepers as they wondered why this area of town had gotten so dusty. The local magistrates guessed all that ash had come from fires. Not knowing the whole area was hallowed with human remains. =\\= Yan Sha spat up black phlegm again and she coughed to clear her throat. No matter how much she coughed her throat continued to burn until she just gave up that she had gotten used to it that there was no point trying anymore. 
“What kind of school are we talking about, your highness. I have definitely never heard of it. Whom is this legendary teacher? But on second thought I would say he has been brutal to you. Your back is full of burns and scars and marks. It doesn't sound like a place where a delicate princess should be sent, even if you are the spare.” “I am not one who has been confined to private quarters like my sister all of her life. One sibling must learn of the outside world to keep the other safe while ruling. It is my duty to protect her and guard the line in front of our house. But these is explained in the words of men, I guard the land so I may have a place to go home to and a bed to sleep on and a sister whom I know will raise my children if I am to die first.” “If you say it in this way
Yan Sha laughed as she heard this. “Sister, I can’t believe that I hear you say this that you want to share me with others and even outsiders. If the Duke would hear of this I’m sure he would be positively shocked. He would say that someone has stolen away his beloved concubine sun and replaced her with a pious monk. He would look all around the moon for you until he found you right at home where he left you. But truthfully, sister, business is not for me. I could never keep all of the older matrons happy with tinctures. It would be a lot more talking than simply giving medicine.” “Well then you can be in all of their good graces and then they will want to invite us to all of the good gatherings and food tastings. Who is to know what nice things that they will share with us then?” “