They watched Concubine Lishu leave. The girl had asked to speak with her, and the concubine had been summoned. Jinshi had watched the entire exchange between the concubine and the apothecary and it took every ounce of control not to fully show how stunned he was. The way she pieced things together so methodically never failed to impress.

He was a little concerned. The girl claimed she felt fine, but she 'd been poisoned in the line of duty. She 'd been given a heavy duty emetic, despite her protestations. As if that wasn 't enough for one day, she 'd then proceeded to have that discussion with Concubine Lishu. One that had to have been at least a little stressful, considering the things the apothecary revealed having deduced about the concubine 's sensitivity to certain food.

Reaching out, he gently placed his hand on her shoulder. A second later her head snapped toward him, a look on her face that she thought him little more than a worm. In a flat voice, she informed him, 'I am a low born servant, sir. You should not touch me. '

He rolled his eyes the smallest amount at that, 'You know, you 're the only one who 's ever used that excuse. '

His hand rested on nothing but air as she slipped away and out of reach, saying, 'That 's because everyone else is too considerate. ' Making the traditional bow, she attempted to take her leave, 'I must return to Lady Gyokuyou. '

He wasn 't about to let her get away so easily. Before she could leave, he asked a question he 'd been considering for a bit, 'First, before you go, why did you want Lady Lishu 's food tester to be present? '

In that same flat voice she replied, 'I 'm sure I have no idea what you 're talking about. '

He wasn 't about to be swayed by her feigned ignorance, and tried a different line of questioning, 'Do you think that the ones who placed the meals are responsible? '

'I wouldn 't know. I 'm just a simple apothecary. I do not operate in conjecture. '

How one woman could be so delightful and exasperating all at once, he had no idea. He still wasn 't about to let her leave. Not yet, anyway. 'Fine, then answer me this. Was Lady Lishu deliberately targeted? '

The girl didn 't immediately answer. Finally, she took a deep breath and answered, 'To answer that, the other bowls would need to be checked. '

Without being officially dismissed, she turned and walked out of the room. He decided not to go after her, though he very much wanted to. She 'd had a trying day, perhaps giving her a reprieve from his presence would be best for the rest of the evening.

***

He yawned and stretched at his desk. He hadn 't seen the girl since the day before, but if he got his work caught up, he 'd fix that. He was so exhausted after the last two days, but the thing that kept him motivated was the thought of spending time with her without feeling rushed to get back to work.

Also, he really wanted to see her freckles again.

May I have the rest of that soup?

He paused his writing, squeezed his eyes shut, and massaged the bridge of his nose. She 'd been completely serious and genuinely baffled that he did not find it to be a reasonable request. How could someone so smart want to do something so incredibly stupid? What could possibly be appealing about causing herself pain like that?

He sighed wearily, the woman was a masochist and it was probably going to be a full time job ensuring she didn 't accidentally kill herself. She didn 't really seem to understand having limits. Instead she just kept pushing for more; weirdly gleeful at what had to be incredibly unpleasant, if not downright painful. He 'd never understand that particular aspect of her personality, but it didn 't diminish what he felt for her. At least she 'd served him several withering looks. The way they stabbed through him like a dagger felt far better than any smile he 'd ever been given by another person.

He 'd watched her vomit. It hadn 't been pleasant, but it hadn 't made him any less in love with her. If anything it had confirmed to him his feelings were genuine. What a truly strange way to experience certainty. Then again, when it came to the apothecary strange was normal.

His head ached. It felt like something was pulling it tighter and tighter. He 'd been working non-stop since the day before. Hadn 't slept at all. Had barely eaten.

Get caught up on his work and he could go see her. Well, he wouldn 't be worth much when he saw her if he didn 't at least get a little sleep. At least she wasn 't going anywhere. He had time to rest for a few hours and then get through his work.

***

There was an undeniable spring in his step when he finally left to visit the apothecary. It felt like he was off to collect a reward for a job well done. He was still tired, but it would all be worth it once she scowled at him.

Upon arrival at the Jade Pavilion, he was greeted by a sobering sight. Lady Gyokuyou appeared to be devastated over something. She sat slightly slumped, green eyes sorrowful.

'What has happened? ' he asked as soon as he saw her.

She sighed and gave him a most pitying look. 'I 'm sorry, but our Maomao has taken off with someone. '

Something sharp and jagged slashed through him. His stomach tossed as the impact of what the woman had just said hit him. He couldn 't speak. He tried, but there was only a strangled sound that came out of him.

Lady Gyokuyou 's entire demeanor changed. Gone was the sadness. Her eyes were bright and merry and she laughed heartily. 'She 's just gone home for a few days. She 'll be back, day after tomorrow. '

'I see, ' he replied stiffly. 'And who is this someone she left with? '

Lady Gyokuyou looked toward her ladies, 'Do any of you remember his name? It escapes me at the moment. '

'I believe it was Lihaku, milady. '

Turning back to Jinshi, she said, 'That 's the name. She met him at the garden party. ' Worry stole into her eyes, as she took in the misery he couldn't keep off his face, 'I think you had better sit down. You 're very pale. '

It was a good idea. He felt like his legs were going to give out on him, and he sank into a chair a without his usual level of grace. As he did so, Lady Gyokuyou dismissed everyone but Gaoshun and Lady Hongniang. Jinshi watched the room empty out, and once the door closed again, he said, 'I know what you 're going to say. '

'You 're going to listen to me say it anyway. '

He shook his head, 'There 's no point. I know you think the promise was broken. '

'Consider my small jape your punishment for that. I was going to say something else. Or rather, I was going to ask something. '

'What would that be? '

'The man we discussed before, did he truly figure out his feelings? Is he serious about Maomao? '

Jinshi nodded, 'He is. '

'Good. ' Lady Gyokuyou favored him with the smile she usually only gave the baby princess, 'I doubt there 's any reason for concern regarding Lihaku. Maomao doesn 't strike me as the type to get caught up in a whirlwind romance. I 'm quite sure everything is perfectly innocent. '

***

Despite Lady Gyokuyou 's certainty that there was nothing to worry about, Jinshi proceeded to do nothing but worry and feel miserable for the rest of the day, and the day after. What if the apothecary really had gotten swept off her feet by that soldier? Jinshi knew the man was a soldier because he 'd gotten his record and read over it so many times he practically had the damn thing memorized.

Lihaku had been steadily rising in the military. He was doing quite well for himself. There was nothing in his record to indicate that he would be a bad option for the girl. Jinshi envisioned the type of future the apothecary would likely have with the soldier. They would have children, that was for certain. They 'd have a home, and life would always be a bit delightfully strange. She probably wouldn 't stop being fascinated with poison. Hopefully, her husband would make sure that there were things on hand in case she insisted on poisoning herself again.

Jinshi didn 't like the picture in his head. It made him feel queasy. He could see someone else 's hands on her, someone else holding her and kissing her. Someone else curling up in bed with her. These thoughts plagued him relentlessly both when awake and when asleep.

His dreams were cruel. In them he always lost her. In one, she dropped dead seconds after taking a drink of tea. In another, she was dragged into a dark alley, and no matter how fast he ran, he never reached the end or found her. He just ran through endless darkness, calling her name.

Even worse? His pride was wounded. She hadn 't even bothered to come talk to him before waltzing out of the palace and going home. Had it not even occurred to her that she shouldn 't just leave without giving him some kind of heads-up? Or had it, and she 'd just decided to ignore him anyway?

By the time the girl returned, he was in a foul mood. He arrived at the Jade Pavilion not long before she walked in. Standing to the side, he watched her greet Lady Gyokuyou and the other ladies. They were all very enthusiastic to see the girl had returned. She finally managed to disengage and excused herself announcing she was headed to her room.

By a fortunate stroke of luck, the direction she turned to go went right past where Jinshi stood. She tried to ignore him and walk past quickly, but she wasn 't quick enough. He grasped her shoulder and leaned down close enough to say, 'I 'll be waiting in the sitting area, ' right into her ear. With that he straightened and watched as she glanced around, probably looking for an escape or help from the others present. Finding none, her shoulders slumped and she barely looked at him as she nodded. With that she disappeared down the hall and he went to the sitting area to wait for her. He instructed Gaoshun that he wanted to have this exchange take place privately, and his attendant took up a station outside of the room. Jinshi did not miss the warning in the man 's eyes.

The girl didn 't take nearly as long as he 'd thought she might. Soon she walked in the room, wearing her normal work uniform. She raised her arms, and gave the small bow before asking, 'Master Jinshi, you wished to see me? '

He regarded her coolly. She wasn 't wearing his hairpin. They were going to talk about that, but there was the small matter of the soldier to deal with first. 'So, you went home. '

'Yes, sir. '

'Mm-hm 'and how was it? '

'Everyone was doing well. That 's the important thing. '

That was a cryptic answer. He pushed a little, 'Is that so? '

She nodded, 'Yes, sir. '

And that was that. She added absolutely nothing. Not a single word more about the trip, or anything else. He decided not to put off the inevitable conversation any longer, 'Tell me about this Lihaku. '

Her head tilted to the side and her brow furrowed, 'What is it you wish to know? '

That was not the answer he wanted. She really was going to make him drag this out of her. Annoyed, his words came out clipped, 'What 's he like? '

She looked at him as if he was making no sense. Shaking her head, she answered, 'I 'm afraid I have not had enough opportunity to observe and be able to give you a full description of his character. All I can say for sure is that he vouched for me to leave the palace. '

She really was infuriating. He glared at her, forcing himself to stay seated. It wouldn 't do to get any closer to her. He 'd either shake her or kiss her. Maybe both. Neither would be acceptable. He gritted his teeth and asked, 'Do you know what that means? Do you understand at all? '

Nodding, she replied simply, 'Only those ranked high enough with an impeccable background are able to vouch for another. '

He was not getting the answer he wanted, and he wasn 't sure how to ask the right question. He was too irritated. Staring at her, he again took note of her not wearing his hairpin, but he also noticed she wasn 't wearing anyone else 's either. If the soldier had given her one, wouldn 't she be wearing it? 'Did he give you a hairpin? '

She nodded, and his stomach plummeted. 'He gave out several. Frankly, it felt a little like receiving a consolation prize. '

'A consolation prize? I lost to a consolation prize? ' She had taken everything he 'd offered and it had meant so little she 'd tossed it aside, preferring a man who didn 't even know her. He couldn 't bear it and demanded, 'I gave you a hairpin as well, but you didn 't bother to ask me to vouch for you! '

He didn 't go on. What was the point? The girl appeared startled, her eyes had rarely been so wide. It was the harshest he 'd ever spoken to her, but he refused to let himself feel any regret over it. He hadn 't said anything that wasn 't true.

A tense silence descended. He knew he was still glaring at her, and to her credit, she didn 't shrink under his gaze. She was the one to break the quiet by saying, 'I sincerely apologize, Master Jinshi. I did consider coming to you, but I couldn 't think of an appropriate compensation. '

He had no idea what to make of that, but a horrible picture started to form in his mind. Surely, surely she hadn 't 'she wouldn 't have 'but what if she ' 'What exactly do you mean by compensation? Are you saying you paid this other man? '

She nodded and calmly replied, 'Yes, sir. I offered him the pleasure of a night 's dream. '

The thing he 'd feared had seemingly just been confirmed. He hands shook, and his head felt a bit like when he drank too much. 'The pleasure of a night 's dream, ' he repeated, his voice tight.

Her lips curved into the tiniest smile. It wasn 't malicious, but it did seem to indicate whatever she was thinking about was pleasant. 'He seemed quite pleased, which made me feel that all my hard work had been worth it. '

For the rest of his days, he never could quite say what had happened in the next few minutes. His worst fears about the girl and the soldier had been realized. Everything went a little hazy. The girl moved around the room in a blur. She made some kind of comment about cleaning things, but he had no idea why.

Suddenly, she was gone. Lady Gyokuyou, Gaoshun, and Lady Hongniang entered the room. The concubine sat in the chair a few feet away, and she wasn't even trying to restrain her laughter. Jinshi wasn 't doing the best job of masking his despair, and that only seemed to amused her even more.

It was obvious that Jinshi was too gutted to even try to speak. Everyone who had come in when the girl left must 've been eavesdropping. Once the concubine 's laughter calmed, Gaoshun asked, 'Lady Gyokuyou, would you be able to clarify a certain matter for us? '

'Certainly, if it is something I know. '

He nodded, 'Are you aware of what transpired between Xiaomao and the soldier? '

Another peal of laughter burst out of her, 'Perhaps. '

'Do you know what the nature of their agreement regarding compensation was? '

A mischievous smile curved her lips, 'Are you sure you want to know? It might be too much for you. '

Gaoshun sighed, 'I believe it will be fine. Please tell us what you know. '

She turned to look at Jinshi, 'I promise it 's not anything like you may be thinking. Maomao knows some high ranked courtesans. She gave him time with one of them. That 's all. '

'Who knew she had such connections, ' Gaoshun stated.

'Indeed, ' the lady agreed. 'Our Maomao never fails to surprise, does she? '

***

She hadn 't given herself to the soldier. That should 've been comforting. Instead, Jinshi was miserable. Why hadn 't he just asked her for clarification? He buried his head in his arms on top of his desk wishing he could rewind time.

'How long are you intending to sulk? ' Gaoshun asked from somewhere nearby. 'In case you 've forgotten, you 're supposed to be working. '

'I know that, ' Jinshi grumbled. 'I hate work. '

He wasn 't sure what was worse, the fact that he 'd been a boneheaded jealous idiot, or the fact that the paperwork never ended. After several more seconds of lying there, he finally sat up and resumed his work. His mind raced as he read over the document in his hands.

Should he go back the next day? Maybe if he was calmer they could talk like reasonable people. What if she didn 't want to see him? Technically, he could order her to see him, even if she didn 't want to. That didn 't sit quite right with him. It probably wouldn 't encourage her to seek him out if she needed something in the future. He didn 't like the idea of not seeing her for a few days, especially right after she had returned from being gone for days.

He sighed in frustration. Part of his job was keeping the women of the rear palace happy. He was very successful in that matter. Or at least he had been. The apothecary was starting to make him doubt if he had any idea what he was doing at all. Had his looks been doing all the work for him?

***

It turned out, the decision to seek out the apothecary was easier to make than he 'd been anticipating. Unfortunately, it was only that way because there was a sudden death. Master Kounen had died at a party, seemingly from overindulging in alcohol. The next two days, Jinshi spent time with the girl, trying to piece together what had actually happened. It was easier to be around her when there was a problem to solve that wasn 't tied to his tangled up knot of feelings for her.

Someone had spiked Master Kounen 's drink with salt. The girl deduced that the man had likely lost his ability to taste salt and someone with ill-intent had used that to their advantage. When the girl had offered everything she was able or willing to, he sent Gaoshun to follow-up on the few leads her findings had provided.

It was late afternoon. Two days earlier he 'd nearly lost his damn mind thinking she 'd chosen another man. If she was upset with him for what had passed between them that day, she made no indication of it. The office was bathed in golden sunlight, and he was alone with her. 'I 'm grateful for your help, ' he told her, hoping it might start some kind of conversation.

She waved away his words, 'Not necessary. ' A beat and then she asked, 'Did you know Master Kounen? '

'I did. He was good to me when I was younger. ' He debated telling her more, but hesitated. That might best be saved for another time.

To his surprise, she didn 't immediately try to excuse herself the second she thought he was done talking. Instead, she stood quietly, patiently. He wasn 't quite sure what to do or say. At last, he remembered the item he 'd stored away, with intention to give her as a reward. The day before, while showing her one of the gourds of alcohol from the party, he 'd watched her drink the whole thing and it seemed to have no effect. He was such a lightweight, if he 'd drunk that much he 'd have been passed out for a week. If she ever suggested a drinking contest between them, he would be wise enough not to accept.

She had seemed completely delighted with the alcohol. He 'd secured a container that morning and left it in his office. Retrieving it, he handed it to her. She studied for a few seconds before looking up and asking, 'A gourd? '

He nodded, 'A token of my appreciation for services rendered. ' She uncorked it, and took a whiff. The blissful look that took over her face, made him add, 'Please try to be discreet about drinking it. '

She secured the cork, and met his gaze, 'Thank you. I 'm grateful. '

Things felt less awkward than they had the last time he 'd been alone with her. Some of his charm kicked in, and he teased her, 'And yet, you don 't look terribly grateful. '

The glare she offered wasn 't her most cutting, so he knew she wasn 't too annoyed with him. He was delighted to find that after days without her glares, they still had ample effect upon him. There was something almost reassuring about the shiver that coursed through him, under the impact of her gaze. She shook her head slightly, 'Seems that the look on my face is not what you should be concerning yourself with, considering you likely have work you should be doing right now. It would not do to get too far behind on it. '

Damn it. He didn 't want to go back to work, even though there was certainly plenty to do. He wanted to spend that time basking in her glower. An evil glee filled him as he realized how he could antagonize her just a little. 'I 'll have you know, I 'm more than keeping on top of my work. ' It was a lie, but she didn 't need to know that. 'In fact, I 've recently been reviewing a new law that 's been proposed. It would make it illegal to drink alcohol before turning twenty-one. '

The glare was gone. She stared at him in horror, and her voice anxious as she said, 'Please, Master Jinshi, please don 't pass that law. I 'm begging you not to do that. '

Her begging him for anything was definitely going to be something he 'd think about later. It would go right into that category where biting her had landed. Something he liked to think about a bit too much, and best not thought about in her presence. He gave her his most magnanimous smile, 'It 's not up to me, but I 'll bear your request in mind. '

***

Oh, the way she 'd glared at him. It had been divine. Late that night, when he went to bed, his thoughts were consumed by her. Things had felt better by the time they 'd parted ways earlier. Much better than a few days earlier. He 'd noticed she still wasn 't wearing his hairpin, but she wasn 't wearing anyone else 's either. A small debate had raged inside over asking her to wear the thing, but ultimately he 'd thought better of it. Asking her could wait.

He 'd have to tell her the truth about himself when that time came. It wouldn 't do to keep that from her if he wanted her to be willing to consider being his wife. Of accepting him as her husband.

Oh hell.

It had been on his mind. Of course, it had. But it was the first time he 'd really paused to consider the obstacles that stood in the way of what should be a fairly simple thing. Even if he could convince his brother to truly release him from the looming threat of having to rule, would he be able to convince him to give his blessing to such a match? She had saved one of his children and one of his concubines. Would that be enough to balance out the fact she wasn 't of noble birth?

Jinshi didn 't care that she 'd grown up in the Pleasure District. He didn 't care that she was low-born. In fact, he was rather envious of the low status. What a relief that must be, not having to live under the constraints and expectations that came with being the crown prince. For all the wealth and power that came with his status, there was no real freedom. It was suffocating. People rarely said what they meant. His world was filled with secrets, including his own.

If his brother wouldn 't give him his freedom, would he be able to convince the girl that marriage to him was a good idea?