The carriage rocked and jostled on a road that forced Maomao to wonder what in the heavens the empire was doing with all its tax money. Still, she couldn 't quite keep the grin off her face as she hugged her purchases close to her chest, still imagining what she could make with what she had been able to afford off the ship. Granted, she didn 't have the budget for many of the more exotic ingredients, but she was particularly excited about a small jar of powder that had tasted almost overwhelmingly sour on the tongue when she tried it. It was being sold as a preservative and the ship 's captain said it was made from lemons. When diluted, she suspected she might be able to use the taste to more effectively mask bitterness and possibly get her finished medicines to last three times as long!

'You look happy, ' Luomen observed, sitting opposite her in the carriage.

Maomao smiled at her dad. 'Yeah. I 'd have liked to get my hands on some of the other ingredients, but I 'll still see some of them at work. '

'Not for much longer. It 's been just over six months. ' Her dad watched her with that slightly mournful expression that was more habitual than indicative of what he actually thought.

She put her bag down at her feet, surrounded by all the medical staff 's purchases. Luomen could have been riding in a more comfortable carriage with Doctor Liu and his other colleagues, but to her surprise he had asked to ride with her instead. 'Yes, ' was all she said, however.

Luomen smiled gently, eyes crinkling in the corners. 'I 'm proud of you. '

Maomao sat up straight, eyes wide. 'For what? ' '

'For taking a risk. ' He continued to watch her with that fond expression. 'I 'll admit, I used to despair that you might never get married. '

'I never objected to marriage, ' she pointed out, slightly peeved. 'I always had my own opinions about what qualities made a good husband. '

'Oh? ' Luomen seemed interested.

She settled back against the seat, feeling a stray package poke her side. 'Someone considerate. Thoughtful. Kind. '

'Not handsome? ' Luomen teased.

'Ugh. ' She huffed. 'Trust me, that ended up happening entirely by accident. '

Her father chuckled. 'Which is, of course, how you ended up in this situation. '

'I don 't control his terrible taste in women, ' she shrugged. 'But, since it seems there 's no correcting it, I 'll just have to take advantage of it instead. '

'What makes you say that he has terrible taste in women? ' Luomen furrowed his brow in an expression worthy of Gaoshun. 'From my perspective, he 's got excellent taste. '

Maomao rolled her eyes. 'You 're biased. '

Luomen heaved a deep sigh. 'Sometimes, I truly do wish I had moved you out of the pleasure district as a child. It 's given you a very warped sense of your own value. '

'I never wanted to be a courtesan anyway, Dad. What other people think of my looks isn 't very interesting. '

'And yet I had to stop you from overconsuming hamsa with Yao. ' Luomen shook his head. 'I pulled En 'en aside after that - overdoing anything isn 't good for Yao as it is, especially with her liver compromised. '

Maomao shrugged. 'I needed to gain a little weight anyway and while I may not care about what the court thinks of my looks, Grams thought the hamsa was a good call. '

Luomen shook his head. 'You know, your mother was never voluptuous either. '

'What does that have to do with anything? ' Maomao scowled, unconsciously rubbing her pinky against her leg.

'And yet, she was a Princess of the Verdigris House in her time. ' Luomen caught her gaze with his. 'It may feel like the great beauties are all tall and well-formed, but the fact is that when I was a boy, you would have been considered the far greater beauty. '

Maomao blinked. 'Pardon? '

Luomen nodded. 'Petite and slender was the standard sixty years ago. More generous curves were considered base - too overtly sensual. '

'I can 't imagine anyone who married a woman with more generous assets ever actually complained, ' Maomao observed with a certain dryness to her tone.

'Indeed. ' Luomen smiled. 'That, however, is my point. The Madam of Verdigris House stood out among all the other courtesans of her time because she was tall, curvy and had that presence she still retains to this day. She was a contrast to the petite, slender beauties surrounding her. And, as she became more popular, she was part of a shift toward tall, voluptuous bodies becoming the ideal. '

Maomao thought about that for a moment. 'So, that 's her actual strategy with the court. '

She could still hear Grams ' assessment ringing in her ears as she sat in Pairin 's room at the Verdigris House. Joka had been attending to the madam 's duties that day as part of her preparation to take over the brothel, allowing the Madam to devote her attention entirely to the task in front of her.

The Madam had sat there, sucking on her pipe, running her eyes over Maomao the same way she would any of her girls.

Hmph! You never let the customer tell you what they want - then you 're stuck catering to them and they 'll run right over you. No, you teach the customer that they don 't know what they want - but you do. The court isn 't special. They 're just one big, dumb customer. They 've got peonies and roses coming out their backsides. But the wood sorrel - hidden beauty under their noses? Mmm, won 't they feel clever when they 'discover ' you!

Of course, then began the Madam and Pairin 's stringent beauty care routine, making Maomao feel rather like the furrier Maomao as they scrubbed the metaphorical dirt off of her to begin polishing the material they had to work with.

Joka 's contribution had been training Maomao in the art of engaging conversation - her specialty.

Men don 't care what you have to say,

she had said bluntly, blowing smoke between lips that couldn 't help but curl in a sneer of disdain.

They want to be listened to. So, you listen, even if what they have to say is mind-numbingly stupid. What do they care about? Money? Power? Status? Speak sparingly, but when you do, make sure they know they 've been heard. Not agree with, necessarily - you 're not a sycophant. But to hear and understand your companion, that is the true mark of good conversation.

Meimei may not have been at the brothel anymore, but when Pairin had written her about 'Maomao 's makeover, ' she had sent a perfume as a gift that was green and verdant and put Maomao in mind of a fragrant grass she had once smelled while on the run with Chue in the western capital.

Still, Maomao had to admit that, as long as your taste ran to small women with modest assets and occasional freckles (she still wore them at work), she had cleaned up about as well as could be expected. Regular consumption of a reasonable amount of hamsa, as well as other medicaments had given her hair and skin a luster that even Maomao found pleasing. Her figure was still slender, but just a little additional weight had softened the overly sharp edges of her face and body.

'Yes, ' Luomen said, bringing Maomao back to the moment. 'Individual notions of beauty are just that, but when it comes to the court or the pleasure district, the biggest attraction is novelty. ' He caught her with a look. 'The fact that the Moon Prince was the first person outside the family to see you for the beautiful girl that you are is a mark of his good taste, as far as I 'm concerned. '

There wasn 't much Maomao could say in response to that as she blushed. Open praise from her dad was rare enough and she didn 't think this was a subject they had ever discussed before.

'Speaking of which, while I cannot recommend overconsuming the hamsa, I am pleased that you 're taking better care of your own health. '

She shook her head slightly. 'Well, I thought it made sense to build up my foundation now. I can delay pregnancy for a time, but once I 'm married, children will be expected to follow and I want to be well prepared for that. '

'I agree. In fact, I 'd recommend delaying childbearing for a full year after marrying. '

Maomao paused. 'In addition to the last six months? '

Luomen closed his eyes and nodded. 'Yes '

'Why? ' She tilted her head to the side, curious. She couldn 't imagine needing more than a full year to prepare for the rigors of pregnancy and childbirth, but her dad knew so much more than she did on this subject and she wasn 't going to miss this opportunity to learn.

Luomen smiled slightly. 'Two reasons. One, an extra year won 't hurt you when you consider that it 's not just pregnancy and childbirth itself, but also nursing. The habits you build up now will help once a baby actually appears. '

Maomao blinked. It was true that Luomen often recommended to nursing mothers that they eat as rich and varied a diet as possible, with as much rest and light exercise as they could manage. Unfortunately, in the world of the pleasure district and the surrounding neighborhoods, such care was rarely achievable. 'And the other reason? '

'You should have some time to get to know your husband

as

your husband. Not your employer or your prince. Use the time to learn the role of a wife before you add a new role on top of it. '

'Sure, dad. ' She sighed and glanced out the window. They traveled in silence for a few minutes as she watched the scenery go by, resolutely focused on her purchases. She was particularly excited about the preservative, but she had also purchased a book that she might have started reading immediately if it weren 't buried safely in her luggage. A compilation of Western recipes that she didn 't remember being a part of Luomen 's library in the annex.

She just barely kept herself from groaning at the thought that she was going to need to return to her room at the La house, since she couldn 't actually sleep in the annex. She still hid there, reading through as many of the books as she could in the unending hours she was stuck in that house - she didn 't think she would keep her sanity much longer between the old fart 's rapturous excitement about having her on his arm during another court engagement and Lahan 's poking about how her 'numbers have improved '.

That tousle-haired, glasses guy should really learn not to underestimate the places Maomao could get to him when he was being annoying.

'Maomao, ' Luomen 's voice broke into her thoughts again.

She turned her head from the window and the scenery that she was paying almost no attention to in order to focus on her father. 'Yes, Dad? '

'What 's troubling you? ' he asked, watching her in that way of his - not pushing, but inviting confidence.

She sighed. 'I 'm just 'if this doesn 't work, I may be stuck in that house for the rest of my life. '

The carriage filled with the sound of soft chuckling. Maomao scowled - she was seriously worried!

'Oh, Maomao, ' Luomen said, wiping the corners of his eyes. 'Of all the things I worry about with you, that is not one of them. I give that boy about a day, at maximum, once you 've made your position clear to him, to do whatever is necessary to secure this marriage. '

'You think so? ' Maomao smiled slightly.

Luomen returned her smile. 'Oh, yes. Do you doubt how he feels? '

She shook her head. 'No. ' Jinshi had made his feelings clear, long before she was capable of accepting the depth and intensity of his love. 'But I am worried that he 'll try to sacrifice everything that 's important to him because he thinks he 's doing the right thing. '

'Like how you think I have? '

Maomao winced. Luomen really was sharp!

Rather than take offense, Luomen continued to smile. 'You have always thought I had the most terrible luck in this life. '

'You don 't agree? ' She looked at him.

'Not at all. ' Luomen shook his head. 'I have seen my share of misfortune, certainly. But I am almost seventy years old and when I look back on everything that has happened - the tragic and the glorious alike - I can 't truly bring myself to regret any of it. '

Maomao cocked her head. 'But you never got to have a family - a wife, children. You were stuck in the pleasure district, in that run down house with a bad knee, making medicine for coppers when you could have been much more comfortable somewhere else. '

Luomen shook his head. 'Oh, my dear girl. I got to travel the West and learn so many new things - see so many new sights. Meet so many people, do so much. And then I came home and if I wouldn 't have chosen to become a eunuch, I also couldn 't have imagined leaving that poor child to die. And she would have, if I had not been able to deliver her baby through the surgeries I learned overseas. '

Maomao listened, leaning forward in her seat to catch every word - it was so rare for Luomen to actually talk about his life rather than of specific things he had learned.

Luomen glanced out the window at the passing scenery before continuing. 'I will admit, I was somewhat galled to be dismissed from my post for an error I hadn 't made. But once I was over the blow to my pride, I had something else to occupy my time. ' He turned his gaze back to Maomao. 'If I had still been working in the inner palace, I would never have gotten a chance to raise you. Sometimes I was ashamed of being grateful that Lakan had been so careless. Not because I wished Fengxian 's fate upon her - heavens no! - or thought that Lakan didn 't deserve to be happy. But the first time you opened your arms to me and settled in my lap, I knew I was exactly where I wanted to be. Bad knee, scraping for coppers and all, because without all that, I would not have my Maomao. And I would not trade my girl for anything in this life. '

Maomao just sat, stunned, unexpected tears welling in her eyes.

Luomen continued. 'You are my daughter. You have inherited many of Lakan 's and Fengxian 's traits, but you 've always had a warm heart that insisted on helping whenever you could. You always looked at the world around you with wonder for all the fascinating things in it. You were eager to learn whatever I would teach you - indeed, sometimes to my shock. So, you see? I have made my family - and my legacy - out of the opportunities I have been given. I have been a doctor, a colleague, a friend and, most important of all, a father. I have watched you grow from a bright, curious little girl to a dedicated young woman who is constantly mastering her craft while also finding the courage to risk everything to marry a young man who sees and values my girl for the exceptional woman that she is. '

Ploop, ploop. The tears fell. Luomen shifted his weight to make space on the bench next to him and Maomao slid from her seat to sit next to her dad in a way she hadn 't since she was a little girl. He put his arm around her as she leaned against his side and let him hold her close for a minute as she got her emotions under control.

'Do me a favor? ' Luomen murmured in her ear.

'What is it? ' Maomao swallowed the lump in her throat.

Her dad squeezed her shoulders. 'Don 't punish the prince. It 's a bad way to begin a marriage and I promise you, he has suffered over the last six months. He already knows what he lost when he let you go. There 's no need to torture him with the thought that you might become his father 's concubine. '

Maomao groaned through a sniffle. 'Ugh. I told the old fart that I didn 't want to risk ending up in the Rear Palace. How the hell did that rumor even crop up? '

Luomen shrugged. 'People will assign their own motivations to others ' actions. '

'If I somehow end up as the Pure Consort, the Emperor better get used to being served swertia tea every single visit, ' she grumped.

She felt more than heard Luomen chuckle. 'A good consort cares for her sovereign 's hairline. '

Maomao shuddered. 'Okay, enough thinking about that. ' She sat up fully and wiped the remaining tears off her face.

They traveled in comfortable silence for a few hours after that, until the capital 's walls came into view. 'Almost home, ' Luomen remarked, shifting forward to peer out the window.

They heard hooves outside the carriage, quickly followed by a bright, cheerful voice that Maomao would recognize anywhere by this point. 'We 're still half an hour outside the city - what 's Chue doing here? ' She leaned forward to peer out the window.

'Miss Maaaaaaaaaomao! Miss Maomao! ' Chue waved wildly as she brought her horse up alongside Maomao and Luomen 's carriage, the reins wrapped securely around her bad arm, which could still provide at least a little leverage.

'Miss Chue! What 's wrong? ' Her basic medical kit was already in her hands.

Chue just grinned at her. 'We 're switching rides - you 're needed in the pleasure district! '

Luomen poked his head out. 'Is anyone sick or injured? '

'Quite the contrary, Doctor Kan! Our Master Lihaku is

making his move

! ' Chue grinned wider at that pronouncement.

Maomao couldn 't hold back her own grin at this pronouncement. Although she had been surprised that Lihaku hadn 't gone with Jinshi on his tour of the empire, it turned out that Jinshi had deliberately left him to keep a discreet eye on her - Chue had pointed out that at this point, the man was all but her official bodyguard.

Meanwhile, Lihaku had risen steadily through the ranks for the last few years. A battlefield promotion for a daring raid during the war games that had consumed the court all winter, courtesy of the old fart, coupled with a one last,

very

generous bonus meant that Lihaku not only had the capital to buy out Pairin 's full contract, but he had enough money left over to purchase a property - a small, snug house in a decent part of the city.

Which meant he was ready to bring a wife home.

Maomao bounced in excitement. 'Will we get there in time? '

'If we go now. Miss Chue told you those riding lessons would come in handy! ' Chue gestured to a second horse, whose reins were being held at a distance.

Maomao glanced at Luomen, who was smiling with open pleasure. 'Go on. Make sure you tell me all about it later - and give Pairin my congratulations and best wishes. '

She gathered up what she could put in the pack saddle - her basic medical kit, the book and her new preservative, before nodding to her new chief (and only) lady-in-waiting. 'All right - let 's get going. ' The carriage stopped just long enough for Maomao to descend and walk alongside the mounted Chue to her own horse - one of Lahan 's better gifts once she 'd gotten over her trepidation of acquiring one of the more traditional accomplishments of a noble lady and learning how to ride properly.

Of course, after her experience with the bandits in the Western Capital, making sure she could actually ride meant that the skill had uses other than showing off to nobility that she couldn 't care less for. She stowed her supplies and tied her skirts so she could mount up easily.

Chue 's hair was wild against the spring wind. 'Let 's have some fun! '

Maomao wrapped the reins around her wrists and deliberately relaxed her body - it seemed they were going to be going fast and after hours cooped up in a carriage the freedom of finishing the rest of the trip on horseback wasn 't completely unappealing. 'I want a bath afterwards. '

'Of course, my lady! Miss Chue will see to it! ' Chue nodded emphatically.

Maomao winced. Chue had managed to smooth over the vast majority of the awkwardness she felt at suddenly being in the position of a noble lady when she was far more comfortable as the servant. The last six months, however, had given her a better appreciation for how carefully Jinshi phrased almost everything he said so that nothing could be construed as an implicit order by accident. She had been thinking that they could get a bath at the Verdigris House afterwards - and they still might - but if they did not, she knew Chue would be arranging one when she returned to the La family home.

Because catering to Maomao 's needs and desires was now her job.

But this was a consequence of the decision she had made and she wasn 't going to turn back now. Instead she nudged her mount into a canter and made for the city walls. Her sister was getting bought out and Maomao intended to celebrate!

The pleasure district was abuzz with excitement by the time Maomao and Chue arrived, handing their mounts off to one of Ukyou 's apprentices. Pairin sat in the window of her room, gazing out at the street, amused at the commotion.

Maomao glanced around. 'So, where is he? '

'Patience, my lady. ' Chue grinned, but her eyes were carefully scanning the crowd.

Maomao scowled at the address, but glanced over the crowd as well. She saw all the usual suspects - Chou-u, now fully integrated at Verdigris House, who was sitting at a good vantage point with a look of concentration on his face and a pad of paper in his hand. At times, Maomao felt guilty. She had essentially pushed his care onto the Verdigris House, once she was caught up in various political events that had her either constantly traveling or living outside the pleasure district. Still, he seemed to have integrated well, and his drawings were popular enough that he had found a niche in the pleasure district 's ranks.

'Oh my - I 'm surprised he came. I would have thought he 'd die of embarrassment. ' Chue gestured to a figure even as she shifted their position slightly to take advantage of the crowd to hide them.

Maomao looked around to see who Chue had pointed out - and saw Basen looking uncomfortable at his surroundings (as always in the pleasure district), but also watching, waiting for something to happen along with the rest of them. She recalled that Basen and Lihaku had become friends over the last year or so, ever since their time in the Western Capital. As far as Maomao was concerned, however, Basen 's presence meant something more important than just himself.

'When did Master Jinshi get back? ' she asked Chue.

'Almost two weeks ago. ' Chue glanced at her. 'A week after Miss Maomao and the physicians left for the buying trip. '

She huffed a little. 'Talk about convenient timing. '

'Indeed. ' Chue nudged her. 'Ah hah! Your sister 's prince has arrived! '

Lihaku rode through the pleasure district on a white horse, grinning the whole time as he made his way down the crowded street until he finally stopped under Pairin 's window. 'My fair lady! I have come to carry you away to a home of our own, if you will grant a simple soldier your favor! '

Pairin blushed like a maiden, giggling madly. 'Oh, but I 'm afraid I cannot leave my house! The door is locked and the only key lies in the possession of a cunning and fearsome spirit who will only let me go to the most worthy man in the world! '

The crowd laughed, well able to see the Madam of Verdigris House as just such a spirit - one that must be placated with a suitable offering of silver.

Lihaku simply smiled up at Pairin - a small, private smile just for the two of them before he offered an upraised hand. 'Well, my lady, I am sure there are more worthy men in the world than myself, but there are none who love you as dearly as I. '

He was smooth! Maomao was impressed, even as the crowd sighed at the romance of it!

Pairin 's eyes were soft as she looked down at Lihaku. 'And there is no woman in the world as lucky as I to have your love. '

'Then will you go with me, if I can rescue you from your house? ' Lihaku 's throat worked as the crowd held their breath, on edge for Pairin 's answer.

Those soft eyes held a shimmer of tears even as Pairn smiled so widely she could barely get the words out. 'Yes. I will go with you anywhere, Lihaku. '

The crowd cheered as Lihaku turned to them. 'You all heard her! Fortunately for the love of my life, I have the only key that matters! '

A ripple of hilarity ran through the crowd at the risque joke, even as Pairin nodded in satisfaction - which only prompted more whoops and calls. Lihaku dismounted from his horse before grabbing the side of the Verdigris House and began pulling himself up the decorative embellishments on the side as easily as if he were scaling a ladder. He ended up just under Pairin 's window, one hand holding on to the sill while he offered the other to her.

Pairin took his hand and climbed out of her window, letting Lihaku cradle her in his free arm, very carefully descending the building again with his precious burden as the crowd below them went utterly wild at the display of strength and dexterity. Lihaku was truly a testament to the finest of the Emperor 's armed forces! Finally, they landed on the ground and Lihaku switched to a princess carry, never letting Pairin 's delicate slippers touch the cobblestones before placing her on his white horse and mounting up behind her.

'My friends! Will you help distract the spirit by celebrating our love? ' Lihaku called out to the crowd.

The crowd responded by going utterly wild. Chue passed Maomao a small bag full of flower petals and Maomao threw the first handful into the air, the delicate pink flowers fountaining around her as others quickly followed her example, turning the streets of the pleasure district into a beautiful, multicolored rain.

Pairin laughed and Lihaku nudged his horse, carrying her away from the Verdigris House, which had opened its doors to reveal a truly splendid banquet as all the courtesans inside danced in Pairin 's honor. The brothel 's full splendor was on display as the lamps were lit and reeled out on lines - enough lamps that Maomao had only ever seen their number rivaled once before.

Maomao guessed that the guests of honor would return to celebrate - at the very least, this feast would last for the next three days and nights - but for now, it would seem the lovers were stealing a little time for themselves.

Chue nudged her. 'Basen hasn 't seen us yet. Shall we sneak away from my little brother-in-law before he can report to the Moon Prince? '

Maomao pressed her lips together, Luomen 's voice in the back of her head.

Don't punish the prince.

She shook her head. 'I 'm not hiding from the Moon Prince. If he wants me, he can court me. And if he intends to hold to his resolution, then better to know now. '

Chue giggled. 'Oh, Miss Chue wouldn 't worry about that. There was rumor of an explosion in the Empress ' palace just about the time our dear Moon Prince learned about a certain rumor. Apparently, he did not take the news that the La Princess might become the new Pure Consort very well! '

Maomao just looked at Chue. 'How

did

that rumor start, anyway? '

Chue just looked up and whistled.

'Miss Chue, you

know

how he gets! Why would you do that?! ' Maomao almost threw up her hands with exasperation.

Chue looked at her with a much more serious expression on her face. 'Because the Moon Prince 's jealousy might actually shake him out of his own head and make him realize that his noble sacrifice could have consequences he can 't live with. ' She shrugged. 'Also, the rumor is true. '

'

WHAT?!

'

'The honored strategist 's regard for Miss Maomao is very well known in the court - and that court is not happy that the grand commandant has seemingly slipped his leash to quash overt discussion about the succession among the military. Not to mention he 's now openly advising the Emperor? ' Chue shook her head with mock dismay. 'They want him back in line and holding a daughter hostage in the Rear Palace is a very traditional way to do that. His Majesty has to at least appear like he 's taking suggestions to curb the strategist seriously. '

Mamao shuddered in disgust. 'Swertia tea might not be strong enough ' ' She couldn 't help but remember a young woman who might have been free to study and love insects had she not been caught up in her parents ' machinations.

Chue patted her back with her good hand. 'Miss Chue doesn 't think Miss Maomao needs to worry. But if we want to say hello to my little brother-in-law, then follow Miss Chue! '

Apparently, she 'd better! It may have been etiquette for Chue to trail behind Maomao, but in this crowd, Chue somehow cleared a path without jostling or shoving anyone, letting Maomao walk freely in her wake. They quickly found Basen doing his best to fend off attention from excited, middle-rank courtesans, who found his blushing manner more alluring than their feline Maomao found catnip.

'Little brother-in-law! ' Chue called, causing the courtesans to scatter, much to Basen 's obvious relief.

Basen turned to look at them. 'Chue! ' He smiled with open relief at his sister in law. 'What are you doing here? '

'Escorting my lady. ' She gestured to Maomao, who had drawn up beside her.

At this point, Maomao was somewhat used to the double take. Given that she had been returning from her trip with the physicians, she had forgone most adornment, dressed in the medical uniform of a court lady, her hair sensibly tied up. However, she had left off the freckles and that seemed enough to force people to actually look at her.

What she didn 't see was that the quick ride had brought a natural flush to her face, her hair mussed from the wind and her eyes still a little soft from the joy of seeing her sister swept off her feet by a man that Maomao genuinely thought worthy of her. The combination of factors appeared to leave Basen stunned and speechless as he mentally reconciled the girl he thought he knew with the woman in front of him.

A state that Chue couldn 't resist poking him about. 'Ah, has Miss Chue 's little brother-in-law finally figured out that our Maomao has been deliberately downplaying her looks? '

'I didn 't realize she was actually pretty! ' Basen blurted out.

Lady Taomei would have been proud of her daughter-in-law for the smack Chue laid across the back of Basen 's head at that rather rude comment. Maomao couldn 't help but laugh at his aggrieved expression, even as she bristled a little. 'This is why you 're not popular with women, you know, ' she jabbed back.

Basen drew himself up. 'I don 't need to be popular with women. The only one I want likes me just fine. '

His statement hung in the air for just a second as Maomao and Chue just looked at each other in accord before turning identical smiles of glee on a terrified Basen. 'Oh

really

?! ' they chorused.

He waved his hands in front of him. 'I didn 't mean anything by that! '

'So what did you mean? Is our Basen finally going to fulfill his duty to the Ma Clan and start producing little heirs? ' Chue pressed.

'Argh! Enough about me! ' Basen looked at Maomao. 'Can you come take a look at him? Something is wrong and I don 't know what. '

Chue frowned. 'Miss Chue thought he was looking better after a week 's rest when he got back. '

'He was, but he 's getting sick again! '

Maomao rubbed a finger against her bottom lip, doing her best to ignore the tight clench in her gut. 'What is he sick with? '

'Headache is the biggest thing, but the nausea 's back. Tired. And he 's on edge. ' Basen looked like he wanted to drag Maomao back to Jinshi 's pavilion then and there, but focused on answering the question.

'That could be stress from the political situation, little brother-in-law, ' Chue interjected.

Basen shook his head. 'He 's been run ragged before, but he 's never reacted like this. '

Maomao pressed her lips together and nodded. 'I agree with Basen. This doesn 't sound like him at all. '

'Then you 'll come look at him? ' Basen 's hand twitched toward Maomao.

Chue stepped in between them. 'Basen. Lady Kan Maomao cannot just approach the Moon Prince, no matter what their past association has been. She must think of her position. '

Maomao 's fingers were twitching, but she knew Chue was was right, even as her lady in waiting invoked her recently claimed nobility to emphasize the point to Basen. 'I 'm being dragged to another banquet in about five days. Will he be there? ' she asked.

Basen nodded. 'With the succession situation, he has to show up to all court events unless he can give His Majesty a compelling reason not to. '

Because the potential Crown Prince couldn 't be seen slacking off - even if Jinshi desperately wanted the position to remain with Gyokuyou's son. Maomao clenched her fist and turned to Chue. 'Can we create a reason for me to step away from the banquet long enough to examine him? '

Chue grinned. 'Just leave it to Miss Chue, my lady! '

Maomao looked at Basen. 'You 'll be in charge of getting him away from the event to meet me and I 'll look him over. In the meantime, since we don 't know what 's going on, it's better to be paranoid than dead. Assume something is getting to him. '

Basen pressed his lips together, grim but not surprised. As if Maomao 's statement had merely confirmed his own intuition. 'So it does sound like poison to you? '

Maomao shrugged. 'I don 't like to speculate without evidence. It could be an illness too, but I 'd take precautions. Nothing should be going into his mouth without being checked. '

'That 's already being done - everything is either prepared by Lady Suiren or goes through either me or the food taster. '

Maomao nodded. 'Have Lady Suiren double check everything in the kitchen then - make sure none of the new foodstuffs have been adulterated. '

'And double check the Moon Prince 's food taster. Miss Chue is curious if she 's showing similar symptoms at all, ' Chue added.

Maomao nodded. 'She ought to be monitoring her own health in case of anything slow acting, but if it is poison that imitates an illness, she could have missed it. '

'And if she isn 't showing symptoms, then switch tasters. ' Chue 's voice was grim.

Basen and Maomao both turned wide eyes to Chue. 'You think - ' Basen looked astounded.

'If someone wants to administer poison, getting to the taster is almost foolproof. And it would explain why the Moon Prince was recovering during his vacation, but appears to be going downhill again as he starts attending court events. ' Chue 's normal lightheartedness was nowhere to be found.

'I could just take the taster into custody. ' Basen 's face had turned a delicate pink, but from anger rather than embarrassment.

'With what evidence? ' Maomao pointed out. 'If she 's innocent, that would destroy her whole life. '

'And if she 's guilty, then that leaves whoever is backing her still at large, little brother-in-law. The Moon Prince 's condition is concerning, but not critical, ' Chue finished.

Basen deliberately took a slow, controlled breath, then another. 'Okay. I 'll start investigating the food taster 's background and connections and watch her to see if she 's also sick. What should I tell the Moon Prince? '

Maomao shook her head. 'Nothing. Master Jinshi also has his position to think of - right now what we are engaging in is pure speculation with no evidence to back it up. I 'd be embarrassed, except that the consequences of being right are too dire to ignore. '

Basen nodded. 'I 'm going to hang around long enough for Lihaku and his wife to get back and then head home. '

'You might be waiting around awhile. After all, they might not show up until the last day of the banquet, ' Maomao pointed out.

Chue started laughing at the expression on Basen 's face as he realized just what might be keeping his friend from receiving prompt congratulations. 'Oh, little brother-in-law, we are going to have to work on that if you 're going to bring home a bride of your own. Speaking of which ' '

As Basen attempted to blush all the way to his hairline and Chue teased him, Maomao led them both into the only banquet she was looking forward to attending in the near future with what felt like a stone in the pit of her stomach. If she thought she could get away with it, she would have charged into Jinshi 's pavilion with enough boldness to make the ladies of the Crystal Pavilion flush in sympathy. But this wasn 't the Rear Palace and the consequences of following her first impulse would be more than some letters of complaint that Jinshi could shield her from in favor of scolding her himself.

Jinshi would be fine for the next five days. He had Suiren and Basen looking after him.