the staging point for the day’s goals. Yan Ling listened intently as she did every day.
‘The mourning period over my father’s death provides us some privacy,’ he continued.
‘When did you lose your father?’
‘Over a month now.’
‘Such a loss.’ She quieted and bowed her head reverently before speaking again. ‘Your family must be saddened by the loss.’
‘That’s a private matter.’
‘Oh. Sorry.’ She bit her bottom lip.
‘Don’t do that.’
‘Do what?’ In her nervousness, she bit down even harder.
For now, he decided to let it go. Yan Ling needed to learn that she was no longer in the common room of a teahouse with its hum of chatter and gossip.
‘His death was unexpected,’ he said.
Fortunately, she took his cold tone to mean there would be no more questions. Of course there was sadness. His father, the man who had given him life and raised him, was gone. But Fei Long didn’t have time to grieve. As soon as he’d returned, everyone had surrounded him, asking him, ‘What now?’ Pearl was nowhere to be found. He’d let the household mourn in his stead. There were too many new responsibilities as eldest son and the new head of the household.
‘You’ll be carried in a palanquin into the city.’
‘What’s a palanquin?’
‘A litter. You’ll sit inside while we enter. It wouldn’t do for you to be seen. Too many questions.’
Her lips moved in a silent conversation with herself as she recited his instructions. He found the habit endearing and took a sip while he watched her.
‘Once you’re installed in our family residence, there will be a whole new set of lessons,’ he continued. ‘You’ll need to learn how to read and write. We’ll also need to practise court etiquette—entirely different than private etiquette.’
Her lips pouted and she blew out an exasperated breath. This part he didn’t find quite as endearing.
‘You’ll need to practise controlling your expressions,’ he reminded her. ‘And not make such faces all the time.’
‘I wasn’t making a face, my lord.’
‘You were.’
‘What does it matter when it’s just the two of us?’ she demanded.
They hadn’t had many arguments during their journey, but this was a recurring one.
‘Practise these habits all the time and they’ll come naturally,’ he said, forcing patience. ‘Remember, you were not accustomed to being heard or seen as a servant. Others will be watching you now. At times you’ll be the centre of attention, such as when you’re presented to the Khagan.’
‘Surely I have better manners than a foreign barbarian,’ she scoffed.
His lips twitched. ‘That is a matter for debate.’
She opened her mouth to argue, but the carriers had arrived with the palanquin.
‘Come, it’s time.’
He led her out to the street, noting that her back was held straighter, her head an inch higher. The carriers afforded her a slight bow as she approached. His chest swelled with pride. This was going to work.
Of course, it was hard to dismiss his dishonesty. He was deliberately deceiving the imperial court. Two courts, if he counted the kingdom of Khitan. But all parties were getting what they wanted. Khitan received an alliance and a princess and the Tang Empire didn’t have to worry about barbarian attacks from the north at least for a few years. Yan Ling would be taken care of. His family name and honour would be preserved for ancestors and heirs alike. So many good deeds had to balance out one black one.
He stepped forwards to pull aside the curtain on the sedan himself. Yan Ling paused as she was about to duck inside.
‘Wait—should I call you “Elder Brother”? Will you call me Pearl?’
‘There’s no need for that. You’ll be safely inside the family residence.’
‘What about the other servants? Will they know?’
Her voice was pitched higher now. The prospect of going to Changan was making them both anxious. Fei Long pressed a hand to the small of her back and gave her a slight push into the compartment.
‘We’ll work everything out later.’ He drew the curtain over the opening to cut off her protest.
As he made his way towards his horse, the side curtain flew open. Yan Ling peered out, framed by the window. Her eyes appeared wide and curious in her delicate face.
‘What if someone asks me who I am? What will I tell them?’
He strode back to the litter with purpose. ‘You won’t have to say a thing. Why would anyone even talk to you? Such nonsense.’
With that, he dragged the curtain closed and went to lift himself onto the saddle.