Chapter 7

XIAN

A bronze carving of a flying horse was nailed above the stable entrance. The harried stable hands didn't pay any attention

to Xian as they rushed back and forth with armfuls of bedding, sacks of feed, and buckets of water. Changle's stable was half

the size of Xifu's, and several horses had been brought out to the paddock to free up space for their visitors' steeds.

Xian walked along the stalls, searching for his horse. The only two people Zhaoye allowed to groom him were his keeper, Rong,

and Xian himself. Maybe Xian would be able to save some poor soul from getting kicked in the face for getting too close.

He found Zhaoye in the last stall in the row, which was larger than the rest. A stable boy around Xian's age was there, dressed

in coarse cotton trousers and a shirt with narrow sleeves rolled up just below his elbows. He was talking to Zhaoye in a low,

soothing tone.

Xian stopped.

The boy leaned forward and tapped Zhaoye's front leg as a signal to lift his foot. "Come on, hoof up."

Zhaoye raised his hoof. The boy bent over, a pick in hand, and meticulously dug out the mud and debris trapped in the horseshoe.

Xian was so stunned by his horse's calm demeanor that he didn't react quickly enough when the boy turned; he caught Xian watching.

"Hello." The boy let down Zhaoye's hoof and straightened, looking at Xian inquiringly. "You are?"

"That's, uh, the prince's horse," Xian said. He realized how dumb the words sounded as soon as they were out of his mouth.

"I know," the boy replied. "Our guest of honor here caused quite a ruckus earlier."

"What happened?" Xian walked toward them. "Is he all right?"

"Don't worry, he's fine." The boy patted Zhaoye's flank, and the horse made a satisfied noise. "While he was cooling down

after running all day, someone noticed watery red drops trickling down his coat and yelled that the prince's horse was bleeding,

which sent everyone into a panic. I told them there was nothing to worry about—he's a hàn xuè mǎ , after all . When they run, they look like they're sweating blood."

Xian hadn't expected a stable boy to know this unusual trait of Ferghana horses. Their skin was thin, almost transparent,

and exertion made their blood vessels become more obvious, giving the sweat on their necks and shoulders a metallic-red hue.

"How did you know that?" Xian asked.

"Oh, I've met them before," the boy replied. "In the east, close to the Tibetan Plateau. A few Ferghana horses broke free

from a noble's stable and made their home on the steppes."

Xian raised an eyebrow. "Do you come from a family of nomads?"

The boy chuckled. "You could say that." He ran a hand down Zhaoye's mane, gazing admiringly at him. Zhaoye preened, basking

in the attention. "Without a doubt, he is one of the most beautiful creatures I've ever laid eyes on."

Xian could have said the same about the boy. Feng would probably scoff, but this boy was, without exaggeration, beautiful

in a way Xian had not seen before. His features were delicate but defined, and his long hair, tied back in a half-knot that

had loosened, framed his face with a tumble of soft, dark locks that Xian wanted to run his fingers through. A sheen of sweat

gleamed on his alabaster skin; he was unusually fair for someone who spent most of his time working outdoors. But it wasn't

a sickly kind of paleness... more like moonlight, luminous in a way that was almost otherworldly.

Xian was captivated. Not just by the boy's looks but by his unpretentious charm—he probably wasn't even aware of how appealing

it made him to Xian.

"He kept tapping his left front foot as I passed by, and I figured there must be some grit irritating his hoof." The boy held

out the hoof pick to Xian. "Here. I hope you don't mind that I started grooming him. I didn't mean to take over your duties."

His duties? Xian blinked—then realized that, in Rong's absence and because Xian was dressed in a plain robe, the boy had assumed he was the horse keeper of the Wuyue delegation.

"Have you been working here for some time?" Xian asked.

The boy shook his head. "I just arrived in Changle a week ago. Everyone has been talking about the prince of Wuyue, and the

palace staff have been working around the clock to prepare for his arrival. It's the reason my sister and I managed to find

temporary work so quickly."

"Your sister works in the palace too?"

"She was sent to the kitchen; I was assigned to the stable." The boy paused. "My name is Zhen. What's yours?"

Xian thought quickly. "You can call me Xu."

Zhen offered a courteous bow. "Good to meet you, Xu."

"So what have you heard about the prince of Wuyue?" Xian couldn't resist asking. "It sounds like his reputation precedes him."

"They say his father favors him even though he's not the firstborn, which means he must be very capable." A furtive smile

lifted the sides of Zhen's mouth. "They also say he's handsome."

"Hmm. Prince Xian—that's his name—might have a few skills, but between you and me?" Xian leaned forward until he was inches from Zhen's ear and said conspiratorially, "I'd rather deal with his horse." The other boy had an earthy musk that reminded Xian of sandalwood and grass after summer rain. "I mean, what kind of show-off arrives a day earlier than expected with no gifts, sending the poor host into a frenzy to get the banquet ready? Who does he think he is?"

Zhen arched an eyebrow. "You have a strong opinion of your lord. Have you been working in the palace in Wuyue all your life?"

Xian couldn't suppress a grin. "Yeah, you could say that."

Zhen glanced around the stable. "So which of these horses is the one you rode?"

"Uh..." Xian pointed at Fahai's horse. "That one."

Zhaoye neighed and scratched his hoof on the ground.

"You're lucky to have the chance to care for and spend time around such fine creatures." Zhen looked at Xian wryly. "To tell

you the truth, I'm only supposed to be mucking out the stalls, not grooming the horses. I might get in trouble if they found

out. I hope you won't tell on me."

"You have nothing to worry about," Xian replied. "What I just said to you about the prince is enough to get me a dozen lashes

and a week in the stocks."

Zhen smiled. "I won't say anything if you won't."

"Deal." Xian took one of the apricots from his pocket, cleaned his dagger on his sash, and cut the fruit in half. He gave

one piece to Zhaoye and offered the other to Zhen. "Try this. It's ripe and fragrant."

Zhen regarded the apricot with amusement. "Am I worthy of taking fruit meant for a prince's horse?"

"Let's find out." Xian showed the second half to Zhaoye. "Do you want to share this with your new friend?"

Zhaoye snatched the fruit without hesitation. Xian and Zhen exchanged looks, and they both laughed. Xian liked the sound of Zhen's laughter, as pleasing as the tinkle of copper chimes teased by the wind.

"Good thing I came prepared." Xian took out the second apricot. He touched Zhen's shoulder and beckoned him away from Zhaoye's

stall. "Let's leave the selfish horse and share this one."

They moved to a corner of the stable where the fodder was stored. Xian sliced the apricot in two and handed one piece to Zhen.

"Here."

Their fingers brushed as Zhen took the fruit. "Thanks."

Xian ate his half, not taking his eyes off Zhen as the other boy bit into the yellow-orange flesh. The way Zhen's tongue flicked

out to chase the drops of juice on his lips sent a thrill through Xian.

"Where did you find such a delicious apricot?" Zhen asked. "Surely you couldn't have brought it all the way from Wuyue."

Xian couldn't tell him the apricot was from a fruit bowl in his royal chamber and had likely been sent to the capital from

one of Min's finest orchards. "Just a lucky pick along our journey."

Zhen leaned against a post. "I was told your delegation would be staying until after the Duanwu Festival. Do you have any

days off?"

"I'm not sure the prince of Wuyue understands the concept of days off. He's a brutal taskmaster." Xian tilted his head. "If

I could get away, what do you have in mind? Would you show me around Changle? You said you only arrived a week ago."

"I'm familiar with the forests outside Changle," Zhen replied. "There are some beautiful scenic spots not many people know of. Perfect for half a day of riding... I mean, if you're up for that."

Xian's heart lifted. Zhen could be their guide for a snake-hunting expedition in the forests around Changle. Perhaps his visit

to the temple had won the favor of the gods, and this chance meeting with Zhen was more than just serendipitous.

"Sounds perfect," Xian said. "I would love to."

Zhen looked pleased. A distant shout made them both turn.

"I'm afraid I have to get back to work before the steward of the stable gives me the sack," Zhen said.

"Of course. It would be a shame if I found myself with a day off and no one to spend it with."

Zhen's eyes glimmered with mirth. "I hope we'll see each other again soon, Xu."

Xian grinned. "I have no doubt we will."