Alone on the winding road to Wei rode a young martial gentleman and his lover. Yan Sha wrinkled her nose as she looked at the view of the mountains she had watched from her windows for months.  It was refreshing to finally see it while riding in front of her protector. "Why are you riding so slowly?  This is still tribal lands?  The civilized people are much in front of us.  It could get dangerous if we are here too long.""Nuan, yes.  Yes, everything you say is true, but how long have we been shrouded with responsibilities.  I'm so close to my birthright and all the pieces being in play for my good.  I'm hopeful for the first time in a long time."  Ning Zhuo sighed deeply as his shoulders brushed against hers."It's almost too good to be true."The horse stopped as Ning Zhuo considered this.  "What are you saying?  You don't trust me?""I'm not saying that.  I'd like to prepare for thing

Yan Sha awoke surprisingly refreshed.  She rolled over and was surprised to see the bed empty.  Immediately she panicked as she could see the unfurled blanket reaching to the open window.  Yan sha woke up with a yelp and moved to the window.  She poked her head out and feeling a little self conscious whispered loud as she dared,  "Yu Zhuo?  Yu Zhuo?  I know you're a martial artist, but could you at least wait until your wounds are properly closed to move."As she turned, a shadow fell over her face.  She screamed and fell backward as Yu Zhuo swung his body into the room.  He was so quiet when he alighted on the bed that she couldn't quite speak.  His black clothing was loosened to reveal the Wei clothing that they had been given by the hotel's madam the right before.Yan sha gulped as she realized the flower clutched in his teeth was probably for her.  She couldn't believe that he had brought up her need to furfill

As the carriage slowed to a stop, Yan Sha could see that Ning Zhuo was starting to change his body language as he started to plan for the task ahead.  Yan Sha looked at him and remembered what she had seen from her previous encounter with men.  Currently their objective was murky as they were thrust into an unknown region to try and prevent a conflict before it happened.  How would she make sure that her place would be respected if she returned to the place she had adopted as her new home?Did a prince really need any more accomplishments to solidify his position when his father was the emporer of such a bohemoth as Caiwong?  There was little benefit to being the wife of a minor prince of such a huge territory.  She could imagine the large country estate where she would be bound indoors taking care of children of his many wives that he would inevitably bring home once he tired of her.  Her mother had always warned her that men like her father wer

"Oh here it is our lady general here with us?"  Yan sha looked to the man who had spoken, a colonel of General Tang.  He was holding a pot of wine in his hand which he raised to toast her as she walked into the room.  She had decided to wear the same dark clothing as the soldiers so she could be less of a distraction, but the general had obviously decided otherwise.She waved to the concerned party before moving closer to the sand table where General Tang had already began the meeting.  The same colonel raised his voice.  "General, our sources have told us that Prince Ning Ren of Caiwong has returned to Jungpi and officially debuted as the emissary from Caiwong.  His fiancee was mysteriously killed close to Taishou.  Do you think it was due to bandits?"Yan sha shrugged.  "Why does it matter?  The young lady will not get any justice.  The magistrate will not want to get too involved with the royals.  W

"Your highness, the princess does not wish to have visitors today.  She is tired from her sojourn and is still recouperating at the order of the queen.  None are allowed to pass into this corner of the palace."  The maid bowed politely as Ning Ren looked on forlorn.  He had been pacing back and forth since court had adjourned for the day.  The doors in front of the princess's palace were always closed with a pleura of guards standing in front.  This was the first time that he had been greeted by a maid instead of a burly general with a mace who looked unamused when he admitted that he had wronged the princess and was trying to make amends.This was the princess whose rise in notoriety had every servant bowing in front of her door like she was some goddess in residence instead of a human being.  The servants too who came from within were always very miffed at lower servants who were trying to get a glimpse of their madam.  The whole air