Gyokuyou sat in the same pavilion where she had watched her father play Go against Lakan and lose. The breeze played over the water, sending ripples over the surface to gently ruffle the lotus petals, now in full bloom.

The Moon Prince would recover. Maomao had discovered the poison in time and treated him - they had been all but barricaded inside the Moon Prince 's pavilion the entire time. But now he was well enough to probe the status of the investigation into his poisoner.

Her husband was cunning. Rather than submit the food taster to the harsh interrogation of the Ministry of Justice, he had used family privilege to have the woman confined and isolated. One week, then two, with nothing but her own company and the knowledge that her crime was known. A single meal a day had been slid under her door - and when the tray had consistently come back clean, Gaoshun had known that the woman wanted to live.