“With Your Highness, himself, leading the rescue, surely you have all the skills you need.” This was what a courtier might say, hoping to flatter the prince—if not for the edge in my tone.
Liwei crossed the room to stand before me. “Not all. You surpassed me in archery a long time ago, as we both know.”
When I did not reply, he took one of the chairs opposite General Jianyun and motioned for me to do the same. I sat stiffly beside him, wishing I were anywhere but here.
“Continue, General Jianyun,” Liwei said.
“We believe Princess Fengmei is being held in the Eternal Spring Forest, close to the mountains south of the Phoenix Kingdom. That was the last trace we had of her.”
The name struck a chord in me. “Was that the home of Lady Hualing, the previous Flower Immortal? Before she disappeared?”
He nodded grimly. “Since then, the forest has been veiled from sight by a strange magic. No one has ventured there for centuries. We don’t know what other dangers lurk there in addition to the hostile forces holding the princess. Stealth and subterfuge will be crucial, as will your skills.”
General Jianyun expected me to accept with grace. I would not. Some might think me unkind, but I could not so easily cast my feelings aside. My own desires mattered, too. Guilt pricked me at the thought of Princess Fengmei’s peril, but I was not so arrogant to imagine I was the only one who could perform this task.
I stood, raising my cupped hands and bowing from my waist. “General Jianyun, you promised that I would have the freedom to choose my assignments. I refuse this one.”
He scowled, his mouth opening to rebuke me—but Liwei interjected, “May I speak with Xingyin, alone?”
The general threw a forbidding look my way, before bowing to Liwei and leaving the room.
“Would you like to sit?” Liwei asked, after a moment’s silence.
“I prefer to stand.” I was eager to leave at the first opportunity, determined to avoid any further intimacy with him.
He sighed as he rose to join me. Part of me cringed from the absurdity of our situation. Only yesterday he had pulled me into his arms with such passion, and now he was asking me to rescue his betrothed. Anger flared in me, hot and fierce.
“Do you care so little for my feelings?” I could not help asking, hating myself for it, too.
“I must do this,” he said. “If we fail, if any harm befalls Princess Fengmei—not only would it be a great tragedy, but it would tilt the Phoenix Kingdom toward the Demon Realm, strengthening them and weakening us, immensely. With this advantage the Demon Realm would be tempted to break the peace, to go to war with us again.”
“I understand. But why do I need to go with you? There are countless competent warriors you could choose from, who would be honored to accompany you.”
“Because there’s no one I trust more than you.” His eyes held mine. “Too many things have been happening of late. Fox spirits coming through our wards. Archer Feimao’s affliction. And now, this. The princess was taken on her way to the Celestial Kingdom. Only those in the inner circles of our courts knew of this trip. Which means there is a traitor either in the Phoenix Kingdom or here,” he concluded gravely. “I meant what I said about your skill. This will be dangerous, and we’ll need every advantage we can gather.”
When I did not reply, he added in a low voice, “I’m placing you in an impossible situation. You must hate me.”
My head pounded beneath the weight of my indecision. To be tasked with saving Liwei’s betrothed both unsettled and hurt me. I wanted her to be rescued, but I also wanted no part of it. And a small voice inside me whispered that if the Celestial Kingdom should fall, perhaps my mother would be free . . .
I flinched from the vile thought. I had friends here whom I cared for, who would suffer if it came to war. And what if the Demon Realm ascended to supremacy? While I no longer believed them to be the monsters I had dreaded—neither did I trust their king who seemed as ruthless as the Celestial Emperor, particularly if he had kidnapped Princess Fengmei to force the queen’s capitulation. Dare I lay our fates in such hands? If I had learned anything over these years, it was that no one won in a war, not even those who thought they did.
Princess Fengmei’s face flashed through my mind now—not the royal wearing the golden cloak of feathers I had seen from afar, but the girl I had met in Liwei’s courtyard. Could I not treat this as any other task I had accepted before? If not for our past, I would have leapt at this chance to aid the Celestial Crown Prince and the Phoenix Princess. It was a rare opportunity, one which would undoubtedly gain the emperor’s attention—possibly bringing me within reach of the Crimson Lion Talisman and averting a disastrous war. And beyond that, could I truly refuse to help Liwei? No matter what, he was still my friend.