Chapter 11

XIAN

Feng and the rest of the delegation arrived the next day with all the gifts and valuables accounted for. Governor Gao had

sent soldiers from Changle to help clear the debris and escort the Wuyue contingent to the capital; with the added security,

they had ridden through the night and made up for the delay, arriving as originally scheduled.

Feng wiped a hand over his sweaty brow as Xian embraced him. "Careful. Don't let my grime stain your robe."

"It's true, you do stink. I have a bathtub in my chamber that will fix that."

"Your very own bathtub? They really went all out to impress you."

"That wasn't the only extravagance they offered to our prince," Fahai remarked obliquely. He gave Feng a welcoming nod. "You handled the unexpected task admirably well. General Jian will be pleased. Wash up, have something to eat after your journey. I'll take over from here."

Feng bowed. "Thank you, Counselor Fahai. I'll leave the rest to you."

"Sorry to inform you that you missed the feast," Xian told Feng as they headed to the royal manor. "But I've already told

the kitchen to whip up your favorite dinner, braised pork belly with steamed buns. With a side of smoked duck and mushrooms

as well as radish with osmanthus."

Feng slowed his pace and arched an eyebrow. "What did you do?"

Xian gave him an innocent look. "I can't order my best friend his favorite dishes?"

When they entered the walled compound, instead of appreciating the architecture or the landscaped gardens in the courtyard,

Feng eyed their surroundings critically.

"We'll station two of our own guards outside your chamber," Feng said. "Another two will patrol the walls. I'll take the first

watch tonight to observe Changle's security and their shift changes."

When they stepped into Xian's bedchamber, Zhen was smoothing out the creases of Xian's lóng páo on the wooden rack. He turned

with a tentative smile, which vanished when he saw Xian wasn't alone.

Zhen swiftly knelt. "Good morning, Your Highness."

Feng frowned. "Who's this?"

"Feng, this is my new attendant, Zhen." Xian gestured for Zhen to stand. "Zhen, meet my bodyguard, Feng."

Feng narrowed his eyes at Xian, who offered a blithe smile before turning to Zhen.

"Please bring some steamed buns for my bodyguard," Xian said. "Hunger always makes him bad-tempered. Oh, and a pot of oolong

tea to lower his temperature."

"Yes, Your Highness." Zhen bowed and left the chamber.

Xian gazed after him approvingly. "I must say, white really is his color."

Feng glowered at Xian. "I let you out of my sight for one day, and the first thing you do is jump into bed with a pretty boy

who looks good in white?"

"I couldn't possibly reject the Min court's hospitality. I kept them on their toes, though—they offered their best courtesans,

but I chose Zhen. We met in the stable when he was grooming Zhaoye. I was dressed in an ordinary robe, and he mistook me for

a horse keeper—"

"If you could be a prince masquerading as a horse keeper, he could be an assassin pretending to be a stable hand." Feng's

gaze swept across the chamber and fixed on the cot. "Am I supposed to sleep there?"

"No, that's Zhen's bed. Your room is through those doors." Xian pointed to the adjoining room. Feng looked incredulous. "I

know, it doesn't have its own bathtub. Feel free to come over and use mine."

"That's not what I meant." Feng stared daggers at him. "For obvious reasons, this attendant should not be allowed to sleep in your chamber. I can't believe Fahai didn't object. This is exactly why I—"

"He slept here last night without incident."

Feng made an exasperated sound. "If you insist on allowing him to sleep in your chamber, then I'll have to as well."

"If that's how it's going to be, you can take the cot and he'll share the bed with me." Xian waggled his brows at his best

friend. "Unless you insist on joining us, in which case, things could get interesting."

Feng raised his eyes to the ceiling. "I can't believe I rode five hundred miles to continue facilitating your trysts."

"Just hear me out." Xian reached into his sleeve and took out the rolled-up parchment. "I went to the temple yesterday to

inquire of the gods what I should do next. I shook the bamboo sticks and got this."

Feng read the phrase out loud. "?‘Even a powerful dragon struggles to overcome a snake in its native haunt.' What do you think

it's supposed to mean?"

"Despite having my father's backing, we still need the help of someone local to find the snake," Xian replied. "That's the

reason I chose Zhen as my attendant. He's familiar with the forests around Changle. When we go snake hunting outside the palace,

he can be our guide. Not to mention he's also the only stranger I've seen come close to Zhaoye without getting kicked in the

face."

"Excuse me if I don't count Zhaoye as a credible character witness." Feng sighed. "I still don't think this is a good idea. You don't know who he is, and he's going to be sharing your bed for the rest of our time here? Or at least until you get tired of him?"

"If you really must know, I didn't sleep with him last night."

Feng scoffed. "What happened, you were too drunk?"

"Unfortunately not. Trying to go to sleep was hard in ways I didn't expect."

"I can teach you a few Shaolin meditation methods to help with that." Feng paused. "Did the priest say anything else? Did he warn that we should be on the lookout for any threats?"

Xian didn't like keeping secrets from his best friend, but Feng was already suspicious of Zhen. If Xian mentioned that the

priest had said his mother's amulet would protect him from a hidden danger lurking close by, Feng would overreact and refuse

to let Zhen stay in Xian's chamber.

"The answer will reveal itself at the right time," Xian replied. "That's all he said."

Feng's expression turned serious. "Listen, we aren't children anymore. I'm here as your bodyguard now. It's my sworn duty

to protect you with my life."

Xian put a hand on Feng's shoulder. "There's no one I trust more to have my back. Not just as my bodyguard but as my best

friend." He smirked. "Does this mean we can't go searching for secret escape tunnels in the Changle palace?"

Feng let out a half groan, half chuckle. "If your father doesn't have my head for that, mine certainly will."