Epilogue

One hundred days later

Xian stood in the middle of the Broken Bridge and lifted his face to the morning sun.

Fall had arrived—maples turned flaming orange while pines and cypresses were still evergreen. Lotuses had wilted, their fallen

petals and withered stalks floating in a sea of brown leaves. Wooden fishing boats were moored by the side of the lake, their

hulls reflected on the still waters. Soon the winter frost would descend on the West Lake, turning it white, bleak, desolate...

the way Zhen had left Xian's heart exactly a hundred days ago.

On the parapet wall of the bridge was a tray with a purple clay teapot and two undecorated porcelain cups. The teapot had

lost some of its heat in the intervening time, but the tea he poured into each cup was still warm. Xian had steeped it himself

just before setting out.

A hundred days after someone's death, close family and friends would gather to remember the person and celebrate their passage into a new life. Qing was still in Mount Emei with Feng, so Xian decided to mark the day at the place he and Zhen had first met seven years ago.

" Lóng jǐng tea," he said. "We were supposed to enjoy a cup together, remember? I brewed some today for us to share."

He brought one cup to his lips and drank. The bitterness he felt had nothing to do with the tea's flavor.

"I miss you, Zhen," he said quietly, gazing across the mirror waters of the lake. "I can't drink a cup of tea without thinking

of you. I refuse to go hunting again. I haven't touched a wéi qí board in three months. Nothing is the same without you."

He took the other cup and poured the tea into the water from right to left, as was the custom when people drank in honor of

their dead loved ones.

A hundred days. He had felt Zhen's absence in every single one.

Xian leaned down and picked up a small cage by his feet. Inside was a brown water snake he had rescued from a mongoose by

the lake the previous day. The snake stared at him with beady eyes, its forked tongue flicking out.

"You need to be more careful," Xian told the snake, opening the cage and letting it slither toward freedom. "Watch your back.

Stay close to your friends. And don't trust tortoises."

"Good advice," came a familiar voice behind him.

Xian whirled around. His eyes went wide. Was he actually dreaming, still lying asleep in bed instead of standing on the Broken

Bridge?

"Zhen?" he whispered.

Zhen walked toward him. He looked transcendent in a flowing white robe embroidered with metallic silver threads. The top half

of his hair was twisted in a knot held by a white jade hairpin, while the rest cascaded elegantly down his shoulders.

Xian stared at him, still rooted to the spot. His hand trembled as he reached out to touch Zhen's face. He expected Zhen to

vanish like a mirage the moment he extended his hand, as had happened countless times in his dreams. But his fingers brushed

Zhen's cheekbone, and Zhen didn't disappear. "Is... is it really you?"

A curl lifted the edges of Zhen's mouth. "I promised I wouldn't lie to you again."

Xian inhaled, sharp with disbelief. "But... how?"

Zhen's expression turned contemplative.

"Remember the meaning of the small dot of the opposite color in each half of the yin-yang circle?" he replied. "Because I

gave up whatever strength remained in the pearl to bring your mother back, I was allowed to choose: Return as a snake spirit

and stay on Mount Emei in seclusion for a thousand years, after which I would gain immortality and ascend to the heavens.

Or come back as a human, without any powers, and be fully mortal for the rest of my life."

"You... you gave up eternity to come back to me?" Xian breathed.

Zhen smiled. "It wasn't even a choice."

Xian embraced him tightly. He was still afraid to believe this was real. But Zhen was solid against his chest, and his heartbeat thrummed in counterpoint to his own.

"I told you I would give up anything to stay with you," Zhen said in his ear. "To spend the rest of my life by your side."

Xian took Zhen's face in both hands and kissed him. Kissed him like there was no tomorrow, and even if there wasn't, it wouldn't

matter—they had found each other, and he could ask for nothing more than to spend his last day on earth with his soulmate.

Zhen pulled back, concern in his eyes. "How's your mother? Is she well? Has she fully recovered?"

Xian nodded.

"The physicians say her qi needs time to circulate after stagnating for many years, but she's been taking longer walks and

getting stronger every day. My father has given us leave to spend the winter in the eastern palace in Yuezhou." He leaned

in until their foreheads touched. "I've told her all about you. I can't wait for her to finally meet you."

Xian had never imagined he would get the chance to introduce his mother to the person who had given her a new lease on life.

Zhen looked around. "Where's Qing? Is she still in the palace?"

"Feng sent word that he and Qing arrived at Mount Emei in time to harvest the summer milfoil," Xian replied. "Now that autumn

is here, they'll probably start their journey back soon."

Zhen shook his head, marveling. "I can't believe Qing actually listened to me."

"That might have something to do with you not being around for her to argue with."

Zhen took Xian's hand. "Thanks for allowing Feng to accompany her. My mind is more at ease knowing there's someone by her

side. Not that she needs protection—I think he'll be spending most of his time getting her out of trouble."

"Feng told me he promised you that he'd take care of her." Xian grinned. "I have a feeling he wants to do that for the rest

of his life."

Zhen chuckled.

"I'm glad I came back in time for the wedding." His eyes clouded with emotion as he touched the gray pebble that hung on a

chain around Xian's neck. "You're still wearing this. It's not befitting of a crown prince."

"I thought I'd never see you again." Xian reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Zhen's ear. "But I just couldn't

let you go."

Zhen sobered. "I'm sorry I left you alone. It won't happen again."

Xian wrapped his arms around him. "You going to keep your word this time?"

Zhen smiled. He pulled Xian closer until their lips touched. "I promise."

Standing on the Broken Bridge, they had finally come full circle. This was where their paths had first crossed—and seven years

later, this was where the rest of their lives would begin.