Chapter 177: Conditions

"The residence has been abandoned for years, but two of the rooms can still be managed." The man who later introduced himself as Officer Liang explained to the small group. "It just needs to be cleaned up for now, we can look into repairing the rest later."

Han Shuying looked around in visible distaste. "Two rooms for all of us?"

Officer Liang gave her a cool look. "The others are in an unimaginable state of ruin. It’s not safe for anyone to be in them. I’m afraid you’ll have to manage for now." He continued with a tight expression. "It’s not like we were informed of your visit."

Qingyue immediately stepped in. "Thank you, Officer Liang. We’re indeed very grateful."

Ru Yi’s gaze drifted back to the portrait of the former Empress. The triplets had long moved on from it but Ru Yi kept looking at it, noting the resemblance they had with their mother.

"I’ll take you to the East wing," Officer Liang announced, "that’s where the rooms are."

They all followed him down the corridor.

The Eastern wing was in better condition than the rest of the castle, although dust covered nearly every surface. The doors were old but intact, and the wooden floors creaked beneath their footsteps.

Officer Liang opened one door. "This room can be used." He opened another door. "This too. It’s safe enough for you to sleep inside."

Qingyue stepped inside first and looked around. There was an old bed pushed against the wall, several dusty chairs and a large wooden wardrobe that had survived the years surprisingly well.

"I can find people to clean it up for you," Office Liang said. "I’m sure some of them will be intrigued that you’re here."

"No," Qingyue replied. "We’ll clean it ourselves. There’s really no need for you to bother anyone. We’re more than capable."

"But—" Officer Liang looked confused. "You wouldn’t know how to do such domestic labor."

Lieyin shook her head from where she stood at the back. "We’ve had to learn since we were exiled." She walked to the front. "The only thing I’d like to request is a bath."

Qingyue shot her a look. "We’re not in the position to be making demands."

But, Officer Liang was already nodding. "That can be arranged."

Yexue opened one of the windows and grimaced when a cloud of dust blew across the room. "I think we can manage the rooms. This is certainly better than sleeping in the middle of nowhere."

He turned to leave, but Qingyue called after him.

"Officer Liang."

He looked back.

"Thank you for having us."

"You don’t need to thank me," he said with a small smile. "At least not yet. There’s still a great deal to be done here."

After he left, the group fell into an awkward silence, and Ru Yi had a feeling she knew exactly what was coming immediately when Han Shuying opened her mouth.

"I’ll be sleeping with Ru Yi," she said with a smug smile. "The rest of you can share."

Yexue immediately turned to her. "That won’t be happening under my watch." She crossed her arms. "Ru Yi will be sleeping with us."

Han Shuying’s expression hardened. "I wasn’t asking."

Yexue raised an eyebrow. "And I wasn’t negotiating."

Ru Yi looked between them with a helpless expression. "Can we not start this again?"

Han Shuying ignored her. "I’ve been sleeping with her throughout the journey. Why is it any different now?"

"Well, it ends tonight," Qingyue answered. "You’ll be sharing with Kael."

Han Shuying stared at her in disbelief. "I would rather sleep in the courtyard."

Kael, who had been standing near the doorway, looked up at her. "I heard that."

Han Shuying looked at him. "Good."

Qingyue sighed, looking between them with an expression that suggested she was beginning to regret allowing the conversation to continue. "You’ll share a room with him, and that’s the end of it. You can go to the courtyard if you disagree."

Han Shuying immediately turned to Ru Yi. "You’re really going to let them keep you? Like you are some kind of pet to them?"

It made Ru Yi’s face redden with anger. "No one is keeping me, we’re just sharing a room for one night."

Han Shuying tilted her head to the side, slowly... "Are you?" With that she turned around and moved to the other room, bumping Yexue’s shoulder as she passed.

Ru Yi sighed.

"Don’t let her get to you," Qingyue said quietly. "Come on, let’s put the room in order."

Cleaning the room proved far more difficult than they had anticipated because dust had settled into every corner. Several pieces of furniture had to be dragged away from the walls before they could even see the floor beneath them.

Lieyin searched through the storage rooms for blankets that had not been destroyed by moisture, and Ru Yi tried to move an old wooden table toward the wall.

Qingyue caught the other side before she could lift it completely. "You don’t have to do everything yourself." She helped Ru Yi push it against the wall.

"Thank you," Ru Yi told her in a quiet voice.

Qingyue nodded. "It’s fine."

After they had made the rooms as comfortable as they could, Qingyue quietly left the others and found Han Shuying outside near the courtyard. She was checking the horses while Kael stood several feet away with an expression that suggested he was already regretting being with her.

"Han Shuying," Qingyue called out when she was close. "I need to speak to you." She stopped in front of her. "Ashen Fortress can’t survive on what remains here."

"And what does that have to do with me?"

Qingyue ignored the bite in her tone. "They need food, medicine, weapons, and people willing to trade. Are there any cities or towns that still have open trade routes with this region?"

Han Shuying was quiet for several moments before answering. "There are several."

Qingyue’s eyes brightened slightly. "Where?"

"East of her is a merchant city called Yunhai. It sits along one of the major mountain routes and receives traders from several provinces. There is also Baihe City to the west, but getting supplies through there would be considerably difficult."

"What about Yunhai?"

"It’s possible, but you’re wasting your time. They’re all banned from trading with anyone here in Ashen Fortress. By imperial order."

"Still..." There was a hopeful look in Qingyue’s eyes. "There must be something we can do for these people."

"There is, but you’re asking the wrong person for help." Han Shuying took a step closer. "We’re not exactly on the same side, in case you’ve forgotten."

Oh—

She’d really forgotten.

"Then why are you here? Why did you help my sisters find me?" Qingyue narrowed her eyes on her. "Or you’re just here to spy on us? I mean, I already knew that’s what you were doing all along."

"Yet, you still let me come with you."

"Because I wanted to know what you were after before deciding what to do with you."

A smile touched Han Shuying’s lips. "You’ve always been the clever one."

"We both know kindness usually comes with a price. That’s how we were raised." Qingyue’s expression hardened. "Let’s have an honest talk."

Han Shuying sighed. "If I were spying for her, you wouldn’t have made it this far."

"That doesn’t mean you’re not."

"No." Han Shuying’s voice became quieter. "It means my loyalty lies with Empress Lihua, but my heart lies somewhere else."

Qingyue scoffed. "Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you."

Han Shuying laughed, then raised her hands in mock surrender. "You got me there. But I can assure you, I’m not here on behalf of the Empress. Besides, it’s a little too late to worry about that."

Qingyue hated not being able to figure out Han Shuying. "Then what are you here for? I can’t seem to think of anything that could’ve possibly caught your interest."

"That’s where you’re wrong. You might be clever, Qingyue...but you certainly don’t have my intentions figured out."

"Han Shuying..."

"Empress Lihua does not know you’re here in Ashen Fortress. In fact, she has no idea that there are people still inhabiting this run down place."

"But..."

"The moment you start trading with other regions, she’s going to put the pieces together. And that does not work in your favor, because she wants you dead."

"Tell me something I don’t know," Qingyue said with a roll in her eyes. "I don’t know how Yexue was able to tolerate you in the past."

"There’s a way for you to get back the throne without necessarily coming back to the Capital," Han Shuying replied with an evil glint in her eyes. "That, dear Qingyue...is something you don’t know."

Qingyue froze. "What do you mean?"

Han Shuying’s smile widened. "Have you ever heard of the Blood Lotus Temple?"

Qingyue searched her brain but nothing came up. She shook her head.

"In the past it harboured a very important relic that was used to appoint Emperors in the past." She brought her voice down to a whisper. "The Heavenly Sovereign Seal."

"How do you know this?"

"Because my family has secretly guarded the location for generations." She smiled again. "I can tell you more about it, but I have a condition..."