‘Ah…corner a dog in a dead-end alley and he’ll turn and bite.’ The crime lord eyed him for a long time, stroking his thick beard thoughtfully. ‘I have another thought. How’s your arm?’
‘My arm is fine.’ It wasn’t his arm that bothered Fei Long as much as the pain in his ribs when he moved too quickly.
‘You know, I lost a lot of money on you several years ago,’ Zōu said. ‘Rumour has it there’s a new prodigy in the field. A master bowman who can’t be defeated. All the odds are in his favour. I could stand to make a lot of money if my champion managed to defeat this young upstart. I hope those unidentified alley dogs didn’t hurt you too badly.’
Stand as the crime lord’s champion? Gambling was officially illegal in the city, but the magistrates tended to turn an blind eye, especially when it came to popular events such as archery. It would be a tricky situation to navigate.
‘When?’ Fei Long asked.
‘Two weeks.’
It was too soon. The pain in his side would be worsened by the strain of the bow. ‘And if I lose?’
Zōu shrugged. ‘Then you keep on paying until I recover what you owe me, one way or another. You may have powerful friends, but I have desperate, more deplorable acquaintances.’
‘You’ll keep your word?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Zōu waved at him dismissively. ‘You’re rather a pain to deal with, Lord Chang. And not nearly as entertaining as your father. Win this and I’ll have ten times the amount you owe me.’
Lose and he would be truly out of options.
Chapter Eighteen
He expected to find Yan Ling waiting anxiously for him in the courtyard when he returned. Perhaps not expected as much as hoped. It was unseemly to speak too personally with the servants of the household. It only served to embarrass them. Yet Yan Ling wasn’t a servant. He could share his thoughts with her, plan out ideas. She was something else entirely to him. Fei Long didn’t know quite what that was.
As soon as he had returned after accepting Zōu’s challenge, he wanted to tell her. She’d scold him and tell him he was mad, but he’d convince her and, in convincing Yan Ling, he might convince himself.
Fei Ling dismissed Huibin and the stable boy once they were inside the gates. Bai Shen took his leave with great drama, humbly refusing to set foot inside the walls, clearly going through extra effort to extract an apology.
With his escort dispersed, Fei Long set about looking for Yan Ling. He found her seated in the parlour. The sight of the uninvited guest across from her turned his stomach.
Inspector Tong.
He could only see Yan Ling in profile, but she appeared pale as she nodded slowly. A desolate expression clouded her eyes—one he hoped to never see again.
‘Inspector Tong, what an unexpected surprise,’ he declared loudly from the entranceway, ignoring protocol. ‘How are you?’
Tong looked at him as if he was an errant mosquito, buzzing too loudly. Fei Long needed to get Yan Ling away from that man.
‘I was just now speaking to your sister about some new developments.’
She looked up at him, her eyes large in her face. ‘The date of the voyage has been changed. I’m to leave in two weeks.’
Tong stared with great interest at the bruising along the side of his face. Let the minister speculate all he wanted.
‘What is the meaning of this?’ Fei Long demanded. ‘Auspicious dates have been set. The journey was to begin mid-summer.’
‘We’ve heard news that the Uyghur delegation is also sending a bride.’
‘That is an offence to our family.’
‘Now you must listen here, Lord Chang. This is diplomacy. The ambassador from Khitan has ensured us that the khagan’s intention is to take your sister as his principal wife. We just want to make sure that is still the case. We’ll demand the wedding be performed as soon as she arrives. The Emperor is arranging for the fastest horses with several changing stations to ensure the fastest journey possible. Two weeks is the fastest we can prepare.’
‘Perhaps it is best that I go now.’ Yan Ling spoke to no one in particular, but each word rang in Fei Long’s ears. ‘Staying longer would only prolong the sorrow of leaving.’
‘I am very pleased that Lady Chang recognises her duty—more so than her brother.’
‘It is my humble duty to serve,’ she said.
Her expression was empty, flat. All the hope had drained out of it and looking at her left Fei