The sun was shining brightly, high in the clear blue sky, but there was a chill in the air. Even with his heavy robes, Jinshi could still feel it. He pitied the women that were being forced to spend the entire day outside for this party. Hopefully, the wardrobes had been chosen well and would keep them all warm enough.

Normally, the garden parties held no appeal at all for him. Several hours of being charming with not a moment's rest was not how he 'd have preferred to spend the day. However, he was almost looking forward to this garden party. All the food testers would be present. Which meant he was guaranteed to have at least a little time with his favorite. There was going to be ample opportunity to experience the glares she chose to bestow upon him.

'You seem in good spirits, sir, ' Gaoshun said.

'Of course, ' Jinshi replied casually. 'Is that really so strange? '

'You seem far more enthusiastic about this garden party than the previous. Sometimes I 've almost had to drag you kicking and screaming to these events. '

Jinshi laughed, 'I suppose it 's just part of getting older. I 'm able to appreciate and enjoy these sorts of things the way I wasn 't when I was younger. '

'I see, ' the older man said in a voice that spoke he had far more to say that he was holding back.

'What is it? I can tell you 're trying to hold back a lecture. '

'Not a lecture. Just a reminder of the promise you made. '

Jinshi felt his cheeks heat. He didn 't need to ask which promise Gaoshun referred to. Trying to keep his tone lighter, replied, 'You needn 't worry about my memory. '

'That 's good, sir. '

A few minutes later, they reached the first of the four concubines he was going to check on before the party began. He made sure he was at his most charming and the visits went by smoothly.

Finally, they reached Lady Gyokuyou. The clothes she and her ladies wore featured shades of crimson. He paid his respects to Lady Gyokuyou, complimenting her earnestly. A compliment that was easy to give. The woman truly did look lovely. Right past where she sat, a petite woman with emerald hair was attending the baby princess. Of course, he couldn 't single the girl out immediately after speaking to her mistress, but looking at the baby would raise no eyebrows, nor would it seem strange if he spoke to the woman caring for the infant.

With boyish enthusiasm, he kept his eyes fixed on the girl and moved to the bassinet, saying, 'And how is the princess today? '

He froze as the young woman turned and looked up at him. Who was she? This woman didn 't have freckles. She didn 't have the pale complexion nearly devoid of all color. She was stunning. Unreal.

'Hello, Master Jinshi. '

The sapphire eyes and emerald hair went with the voice, but she looked so very different than he was used to he had to make sure it was really her. 'Apothecary? Is that you? '

'Yes. '

He thawed and stared at her. Fascinated and confused, he asked, 'Are you wearing makeup? '

She blinked and shook her head, 'No, not really. Well, not much. A little on my eyes and lips. '

'Where are your freckles? ' It was a little startling how much he suddenly missed the little brown flecks that always decorated her face. Freckles weren 't considered a thing of beauty. Most women went out of their way to hide them, something he 'd never seen the girl do. Until now. She had to be wearing more makeup than she had acknowledged.

'I removed them, sir. '

'You 'removed them? '

'Yes, sir. '

'I don 't understand. ' He really didn 't. Freckles couldn 't be removed by simply washing them off. And that wasn 't the only confusing thing. The longer he looked at her, the more he wished he could tell her to go put them back on immediately. Maomao had freckles. His Maomao. He really loved her freckles. They were just one of the many things he loved about her.

Her wide, sapphire eyes held his, as she said, 'Every morning, I apply dried clay to my face to make my freckles. Before now, you 've only seen me after I have them on. Cosmetics aren 't always about enhancing beauty. They 're a tool '

'What do you mean by that? '

Unblinkingly she told him, 'It 's to prevent being dragged into a back alley. '

An image formed in his mind of some sinister man snatching Maomao and pulling her away into the darkness. An icy chill filled his body and Jinshi shuddered. She didn 't seem to notice, though she was still looking right at him.

Her story continued, 'I grew up in the pleasure district, near the brothels. Some men would not be satisfied with what they got at the brothel. They would try to get what they wanted however they could. Violent men, broke men, men with venereal diseases. They rarely take notice of a short, skinny, ugly girl. '

There was a sharp, cutting feeling in his chest as he tried to fully comprehend what she had said. It was bad enough she thought her freckles made her ugly, but it was even worse knowing that she 'd been a target at all.

He had to know what he didn 't want to know. He 'd make certain that any man who had done such a horrible thing to her would be found and they 'd never harm another. He had to know or it would drive him mad. His voice was rough, 'Did that ever happen to you? Were you ever dragged away? '

She gave a small nonchalant shrug and answered, 'There were attempts. Instead, I got kidnapped. ' Her mouth twisted into a wry smile, 'My makeup was faded enough and the kidnappers seemed to think I was borderline marketable. ' She shrugged again, seeming to add

that's just life.

The palace had bought her. His stomach rolled, 'I 'm sorry we couldn 't police them. ' They should 've. There should have been policies in place to keep what had happened from happening. There would be. There had to be something he could do.

'I don 't particularly care, ' something her tone seemed to confirm. 'The buyer can 't tell if you were kidnapped or sold off legally so a family would have one less mouth to feed. '

How could she talk so calmly about it while he simmered with rage? 'Doesn 't that make you angry? '

'Of course it does. But it 's not your fault. '

Such grace and absolution so freely given was unheard of in his world. Yet, she 'd given him just that. Maomao was unusual. A mystery. Someone that should be protected and treasured. Someone who should be loved. Maomao should be loved. He loved Maomao.

'I 'm sorry. ' So incredibly sorry. He would do whatever to keep anything like that from happening to her again. She would be protected. She would have him. He was hers. He 'd give himself to no other. Only her.

She was still watching him with those blue eyes. Had she sensed what he had just vowed unspoken? He hoped so. Her expression had softened. Maybe she was having her own moment of realization regarding him. The look on her face was almost the same as the day they met and she saw the baby princess.

He reached up and removed his hairpin. They were standing so close, it was the easiest thing to reach out and place the pin in her hair. He rested his hand on her head, longing to be able to do more. Say more. If only they were alone. Truly alone. No minders, no status. Just him and her. If only '

'Ow, ' she sucked in a breath and batted his hand away. 'That hurts! '

His cheeks were very warm and probably noticeably red. Hopefully the shade of the gazebo made it less pronounced. 'Sorry. It 's yours. '

I 'm yours.

His hand gravitated back to the top of her head and he let himself touch it once more. If he didn 't leave, he was going to do something like kiss her. This was neither the time nor the place for that. He tore himself away with great effort and took his leave.

As soon as he could, he found a small, secluded spot to pull himself together. It meant being a few minutes late to arriving at the party. To his relief, Gaoshun didn 't say anything. Just waited patiently.

Jinshi had just announced who the girl was to him. To the entire royal court. He didn 't regret it at all.

***

He arrived at the party right as everything erupted in chaos. A taster had stated there was poison, but had behaved so pleasant and calmly, it seemed like she was lying. One of the ministers had taken a drink himself in a vain attempt to prove it was fine. Instead, he collapsed.

Jinshi stood at the very edge of the crowd taking in the commotion. Out of the corner of his eye he saw emerald and crimson hurrying away. He took off after the familiar figure.

By the time he reached her, she was washing her mouth out. 'Here you are. '

She looked up at him, 'Good day to you, Master Jinshi. '

She was smiling. It wasn 't a pleasant sight. There was something off about it. He 'd already guessed that she was the taster who 'd had the poisoned dish. Which meant she 'd consumed poison. Time could be very limited to get her help. Grabbing hold of her arm, he pulled at her.

'May I ask what you 're doing? '

'Taking you to the doctor. You just ate poison. '

'That 's unnecessary, ' she muttered and he chose to ignore it. At least she hadn 't turned fully stubborn. She probably realized if she did, he 'd just pick her up and carry her there.

Silence fell between them. After a few minutes, he felt her tug his hand and stop moving. He stopped as well and looked down at her, "Yes?"

'Please, Master Jinshi, may I have the rest of that soup before we go? '