Standing in a side courtyard, the Abbot quietly observed a young monk stroke the feathers of a dove. The boy was murmuring to it, holding it very gently with both hands. Smiling down, he patted its head while it cooed up at him. From the small metal tube tied to its foot, it was apparent that the bird had just returned to the dovecote. Turning, the boy nearly dropped the bird when he saw the Abbot and quickly made his bow.

 

“Abbot!” the boy breathed, flustered. He had unwittingly clutched the bird a bit too hard causing it to squawk its annoyance and soil the boy’s hand.

 

“You were frightened?” asked the old man with a small chuckle, trying to hold in his laugh.

 

“Ah! No, just a little surprised…” the boy murmured, looking down. He hurriedly cleaned the embarrassing puddle on his palm, looking apologetic.

 

The Abbot smiled and held out his own hand expectantly as the boy blinked.

 

There was an awkward pause.

 

“Ohhh!” the boy gasped, realizing what the Abbot was waiting for, and quickly untied the small metal tube from the dove’s foot. He then thrust the bird back into the cote, presenting two tubes, one retrieved from a dove he’d previously returned to the cote. Once he passed the tubes to the Abbot, he made to bow and leave, but the old man gestured for him to stop.

 

“Stay here a moment. I may have further need for you…”

 

“Er...Yes Abbot,” the boy said, colouring a little. He had rarely interacted with the head of the temple, and was obviously unnerved. However, the Abbot knew that the boy wouldn’t have been assigned to this task if he were not a trustworthy child with high potential. After all, the doves of the temple ferried news back and forth from all over the whole of Tiansheng, and some of that information would be dangerous if leaked outside.

 

The boy continued to look shyly at his feet, patiently waiting though the Abbot could see that it was difficult for him to stand still under such scrutiny.

 

The old man tried not to smile. Despite his shyness, he is reserved and steady…a good child. So, earnest…

 

With a calm look on his face and practiced hands, the old man slid the small scrap of paper out of the first tube, unrolled it, and then flapped it out. His eyebrows slid up a little as he squinted at the small squiggles.

 

Gods, his writing never improves…it still looks like chickens scratching in the dirt…

 

The boy’s eyes widened as the thin, brown, onion skin-like paper seemed to unroll and unfurl until it was the size of a normal sheet of paper. Taking in the boy’s expression, the Abbot really did chuckle then.

 

“Ahhh…you’ve not seen the thousand leaf paper before, is that right?”

 

The boy shook his head.

 

“It is very useful,” said the Abbot, smiling. He unfurled the second message, which was much shorter than the first. For a moment, he simply scanned the writing.

 

Although his smile did not change, he felt foreboding as the words on the page confirmed what he had already know to be the case. He sighed. It is thus that the wheel turns. Very well. She will come soon then…

 

He had barely had time to finish the thought when another monk, this one older than the boy, rushed into the courtyard.

 

“What are you doing rushing about?” the Abbot frowned.

 

The young monk, who screeched to a halt, had the grace to look apologetic, then he bowed, and straightened himself.

 

“Speak properly,” the Abbot rapped out, sternly. I know why you’re in a panic…but still…you must retain your composure…

 

“Abbot, Miss Wu has arrived with urgent business. It’s about Xiao Chuan and the others…” he said, trailing off.

 

“Ennn. Serve tea. I will see her now.”

 

The older monk bowed, and walked out in a much calmer, more dignified fashion causing the Abbot to puff air out of his nose. He held back his laughter and turn it back to the silent child.

 

“Well, child, what’s your name?”

 

The child made an embarrassed face, and his eyes suddenly looked faintly red. Looking at his toes, the boy said something, but it was too soft for the Abbot to hear.

 

“Your name?” he asked again patiently.

 

“Ehhh…Tong, Abbot…” he mumbled.

 

“Your parents named you Soup?” the Abbot asked, supressing his consternation.

 

“Ennnn,” said the boy in mortification.

 

“Well, that’s good. You must have a warm personality,” he smiled at the boy, and gestured. “Come now…you’ll serve me today.”

 

The child’s head shot up in surprise and pleasure, and a smile as bright as the sun lit every corner of his face.

 

Aaahhh! There is the gentle good nature that I saw, thought the Abbot. While not appearing to rush, he moved quickly enough that the boy actually had to trot to keep up, but he paused now and then to ensure that the child was still able to follow. The little shaved head bobbed up and down as the boy stayed close. The Abbot continued to smile to himself.

 

Turning down a corridor, they finally reached the sitting room and the boy hurried to slide the door open.

 

Shlaat!

 

It was a tiny bit forceful from the boy’s haste, and Cui Xi jerked her head toward the opening with her hair standing on end. Getting to her feet, she saw the Abbot enter followed by a boy, who looked to be only a little younger than Xiao Chuan. While she dipped in a curtsy, she noticed the boy’s blush covered his entire shaved head. Obviously, he had not expected the guest to be a woman.

 

“Abbot,” she nodded, looking down to hide her smile. If the old man was surprised by her unveiled face, he did not reveal it.

 

“Amitabha! Greetings, Benefactor Wu. Please sit.”

 

They settled again and tea was served.

 

“Abbot, I won’t beat around the bush. You’re aware that Xiao Chuan and the others were taken while they were out carrying messages for me?” she asked. I have to be careful here…I don’t know where he leans politically…if he supports the Crown Prince then this will fall on deaf ears…

 

“Yes, I was informed,” he said calmly.

 

“Then you know why I am here and what I would ask of you.”

 

“Actually, no. Should I, Benefactor Wu?” asked the Abbot gently.

 

Cui Xi’s voice froze in her throat. This attitude…no, no, calm down. Stay calm.

 

“I’ve come to ask for your help to look for the children,” she said, getting on her knees and putting her head down.

 

“Miss Wu! There is no need for this. We are already looking for the children…” said the Abbot.

 

“Abbot. You know what I am asking…I will get down and beg if I must.”

 

There’s no way, you don’t know who took them. Please don’t refuse me. Even if I have to fight the Crown Prince’s men, I will retrieve them. He won’t hide them in East Palace, so they must be somewhere in the city…do you truly refuse to get involved?

 

“What of your Master?” the Abbot asked with distant politeness, “Benefactor Wu, surely he is a better choice than myself? The temple looks after many orphans… I cannot mind all of them. If they disappear while they are outside the safety of the temple, then this is out of my control.”

 

“My Master is away…Is this your answer? You will not involve yourself?” asked Cui Xi coolly. She felt, rather heard Xiao Hei’s uncomfortable shift in stance. Yes…I feel this is getting awkward too.

 

“Benefactor Wu, you mistake me. As I said, I too am searching for them. If I hear news, then I will pass a message on to you immediately. If there is more that I can do, I will certainly come to you first,” said the Abbot.

 

Right now is not the right time to get involved.

 

She sighed. It was useless to think that there would be a different response. The Seventh Prince was considered to be in the Crown Prince’s faction though he had not openly declared it and appeared neutral.

 

Before he had entered the temple, the Abbot had been the Seventh Prince’s martial arts Master. If he got involved, he would essentially be declaring himself against the Crown Prince and that would put Zhao Ling Xian into an awkward position…

 

But the cost…

 

“Then, I bid you farewell, Abbot,” she said, rising, but before she could reach the door, the Abbot’s voice came from behind her.

 

“Your Master… He is in the south looking for something very important. You should not distract him.”

 

She paused, gritted her teeth, but then pushed the door open and strode out.

 

The boy went to shut the door and then knelt next to the Abbot, pouring some more tea. The old man sipped at it and then glanced at the boy.

 

“Do you think me unkind?” he asked.

 

The child thought for a moment.

 

“My heart is sad. Xiao Chuan is like a brother to me and he speaks very well of young Miss Wu. However, I think you have your reasons for refusing her, and it is not my place to question it,” the boy said, biting his lip.

 

“Ennnn. Tong Tong, you are right. Although I am troubled, my responsibility is to protect the temple. Right now, if I choose to help Miss Wu, then my ability to protect the temple will be endangered. However, it’s good to have your own opinions. You don’t have to be afraid to speak your mind. I will not scold you.”

 

“Ennnn,” nodded the boy, brightening.

 

“Now, the inkstone, Tong Tong…and the brush. Quickly,” he said, gesturing.

 

The boy got to his feet to bring the things the Abbot had asked him to fetch.

 

On the other side of the temple, Cui Xi tried not to stomp her way to the gate.

 

“Will you not see the Seventh Prince?” Xiao Hei begged.

 

She stubbornly shook her head. She briefly considered the jade ring sitting under her collar, but then discarded the idea. Murong Yan would not leave the Prince for something like this…nor would she ask it of him.

 

“Maybe the dove will reach your Master…” started Xiao Hei.

 

“The Abbot might have promised that, but that doesn’t mean he’ll do it…” she muttered. “I should have gone myself to find Tao…”

 

Wait…I don’t know where Master lives…Dammit!

 

She had already sent Su Qing, and it would mean driving the carriage all the way back home to find out where Master’s manor was located from Yue Xia and Xiao Mei or Su Rou… and the temple was in the outer quarters of the city.

 

I don’t have time for that now. What do I do? Wait! What did Master say that one time?

 

His voice floated softly to her in her head: “If you ever need to get a message to me, leave it at the Chrysanthemum Tower with the Second Lady, Gu Jia Er.”

 

“Wait! Mistress! Where are you going?” Xiao Hei shouted, running after her.

 

“To the Chrysanthemum Tower…”

 

“Wait! What did you say!?”

 

***

 

The closer they were to their final destination, the more dangerous it was to stop, and he forced himself to clamp down on his feeling of uneasiness.

 

It was raining again, and Zhao Ling Ye, the Eldest Prince of Tiansheng, shivered inside the carriage as it rolled along the road. Ignoring the deep ache in his chest, he lay sprawled against the bench of the fur lined interior and fiddled with the handwarmer, tightening his grip on it as they went over a particularly rough section. Given his weariness, the contents would spill onto the floor and set the carriage on fire if he wasn’t more careful. He sighed as the carriage clunked along a road already heavy with mud. How much more of this could he take? Even he wasn’t sure about it.

 

Hah! When did I become such a weakling? He laughed softly, bitterly.

 

Although it was not very cold in the south, his body temperature was lower because of the poison in his system and he often felt the dampness of the weather more keenly than others. His hands hadn’t felt warm for a very long time which had led to an aversion to touching and being touched. He even flinched if Tao touched him while dressing, and yet the coldness of his skin had never bothered his little XiXi.

 

Smiling to himself, he was suddenly reminded of the warm, soft hands of the girl, who would fling herself into his arms at every chance. Even if his body was cold, the thought of her laughing face warmed his heart. Sighing, he imagined basking in her honey amber gaze and touching his forefinger to the little mole high on her cheek.

 

A frown shadowed the handsome face. Zhao Ling Ye had not intended to leave so close to the New Year, but a report from the hidden guards had left him no choice. He had left the capital on short notice and regretted that he did not have the time to see her, to hold her, before he had to leave.

 

I want to touch that little mole, to kiss the lips that drive me mad with longing…

 

“How much longer?” he asked in irritation as the wheel suddenly came free from a rut, causing him to slide sideways in the carriage.

 

“It’s about here, Master…” a voice floated in through the curtains. “There’s no more road. We will have to go by foot.”

 

Zhao Ling Ye raised a hand and pushed the curtain aside to stare up at the mountains. They were now deep in the river valley, surrounded by peaks that thrust themselves right into the heavy mist. Even so, he felt exposed. Ugh…

 

“Master…are you sure you want to do this?” sighed the voice of Zhong.

 

He snorted with disdain.

 

“What do you think? If you don’t want to follow me, then go die,” he said.

 

“As you wish, Master,” came the chuckled response. Although it had been very quiet, the whisper of laughter had seemed to echo unnervingly.

 

A humourless smile flickered over his handsome lips. You think you’re so funny? Eh? Only the guards of Hidden Night City can laugh like that in the face of death…Very well then. Follow your Master to the door of hell…

 

“Be cautious. Let’s go,” he commanded.

 

Zhao Ling Feng, my dear brother…I won’t die so easily.