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At dinner, Bingquing was unusually quiet. Official Chu took notice.

"Ah, you spent a month at some strange place without me. You need to put on some weight."

"Why are you presenting me at the court?"

"Who said that?"

"Du Ni?"

"Du Ni is a mere servant telling you palace rumors."

"So it's not true?"

Official Chu made a long face. "I don't know this queen. I've been at court maybe less than two months. It takes six months to know and understand a monarch. I think the officials are hoping you'll be some fright that will embarrass the emperor. Or that you'll scare the queen. But now that you mention it, you did say you wanted to get stronger. Would you like to meet the princess? She was raised to be just as strong as her mother. People find her blunt and unrefined so she does not have many friends. In that case, I would have to present you at court."

Bingquing ate more quickly.

Official Chu laughed, "You like that idea? I was also thinking of having you at the Palace Academy. You could take the exam to become an official just so you understand my work. Maybe go to the military training school."

Bingquing almost spit out her food as she protested, "Father I am too old. All of those there train starting as soon as they can walk."

"You are already good at household tasks, your sewing is enough to get me compliments from women, and you can burn things."

"Father!"

"I'm kidding. Don't throw your chopsticks at me, they are sharp enough to take out an eyeball."

"I've always wanted a third eye."

"Then you can try on my eyeball."

Bingquing and her father looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Official Chu slapped his knee, "I'm so happy you are safe and we are in a new safe place. I had many sleepless nights wondering how I would carry on living now that you were not here."

"Father let us not talk about things that are depressing. I know you will worry that the people in Caiwong will hurt us here now that you have made yourself a place. But Jungpi is not as vast of an empire as Caiwong."

"Being a Caiwong fish in a Jungpi fish bowl will cause others in Caiwong to be able to track us easier. Emperor will know you returned, he may not be without intent for a daughter of mine."

"Father, what does that mean?"

"Don't worry about it, it is the future that we cannot control. Let's worry about the Jungpi Princess."