48 48

"All the princes that I know all the same. You speak as if being above everyone else will make your life have meaning. It's silly. Being a king is rules. You could be a bandit and do the same."

"And how many bandits have you had the privilege to know?"

Yan Sha took off her animal mask and placed it in a slot next to the door where it immediately dropped down. Tomorrow she would have a new face. She shrugged out of her heavy outer garments and hung them on the clothing rack. "Who of the common folk does not know of bandits? There are always those who prowl the roads. Only a prince is one to have that privilege."

"A woman of good breeding should spend her life in private quarters and be raised to believe in only what she is told. To have seen the outside spoils you. You're never going to have a good marriage or become anything more once Guo has lost use for you. You'll be discarded to some servant he has a high regard for. I think it would be in your best interests to come with me. Become my woman and I'll give you so many riches than you've ever seen."

"I'm sure you have many women you've tried this type of method. I'm going to study poisons today. I need some light as I'm going to spend quite a while reading."

Ning Zhuo grunted as he finally got off the bed. As Yan Sha was reading she could hear him behind her. The sword slicing through the air as he practiced was oddly calming as the pile of scrolls before her shifted from her unread pile over to where she was finished with them. As he swung more aggressively with a shout, Yan Sha heard the sword clang to the ground.

She didn't turn, but continued on with her research. On a small piece of paper, she started to decoct which ingredients she would use . . . as she finished, Yan Sha finally turned to see Ning Zhuo doubled over on the ground, his hands splayed on his chest as he coughed up blood.

The paper slipped through her hands as she ran over to him and placed her handkerchief on top of his hands. She recoiled as the blood quickly soaked onto it. She brought it back to her desk and wafted the smell to her. Instantly she recoiled, "Oh my, what did you do?"

Ning Zhuo tried to laugh, but the laugh turned to a cough as he spat up blood. His voice was rough as he dragged his body across the ground to the straw mat where he had been sleeping. He made a grunt as he rolled himself over and started to take off his shirt. Ning Zhuo looked over at her with disgust, "Is that all you're going to do? Admire the view, while you sit with your books of poisons?"

"I could call Master Guo, I'm sure he really would like to take a look at you. It would take a bother off my hands. I have a handkerchief covered in your poisoned blood."

"Yet you haven't. I'm sure you're holding it out for the fantasy in your mind for what it is to be wife of the crown prince."

"I don't care for you. I don't care for Caiwong much." Yan sha got up and moved closer to him. She loosened his dark clothes quickly and got to the thin white undergarments. After loosening the ties, the stench of the poisoned flesh made her taste bile. He had haphazardly tried to bandage himself with what fabric he could find, stuffing it into the places where he needed stitches. To say the least was that it was a mass of peeling, rotting flesh was quite an understatement. "You shouldn't be here, your highness, you should be on the bed. I do have some bandages here. I think I'd like to have you heal so I don't have to smell you."

Ning Zhuo made a face as Yan Sha pulled him up. His hands were splayed across her body as she moved him. He grew heavier and heavier until he hit the edge of her bed, where he resisted any attempt at lying down. He pushed his undershirt back until it was a pile behind him.

Yan Sha watched him as his hand tightened around his sword. She wrestled it out of his hand. He made a face as she put it out of his reach, her eyes never straying from his. She cut off where the fabric was stuck to his skin. Then she opened up the apothecary kit that she had been given. She mixed several powders before lightly tapping it all over the wounds. Ning Zhuo made a groan as she wrapped him back up again. His bandaged soaked through several times so the half of the roll was used.

Ning Zhuo pushed her back as he sighed deeply in satisfaction. He reached behind and tied the blood soaked undergarment back over his freshly treated torso. He reached for his sword slowly as his eyes were watching her with a strange expression.

Yan sha got up from the floor quickly and dusted her hands off. She corrected the items in her kit that has gone askew before returning everything to its place at her desk. His eyes bore into every movement as he gathered his thoughts.

"I'll take you away from here when I get better."

"No," Yan sha said quickly.

"I'll give you a better life, anything you want can be yours." Ning Zhuo insisted as he moved back to his pallet on the floor. His breaths seem to come more evenly now.

"I think I'm starting to understand why Master Guo is happy that you couldn't stand being here. Not everyone is as simple as you are."

"Simple?"

"You probably took credit for somebody else's deeds. What a lousy crown prince if you really are the one. I would die if I went off with you to who knows where."

"I do have several concubines, but I've never touched them."

"Why are you telling me this?"