Ning Ren didn't refute this. "I will hope you will be more civil when the bloodlust isn't upon you as it is now."

"They call me the wolf you know. Not that you've won any such honor as a person in the borderlands. Father was disappointed you know when you said you'd rather be an official than be a soldier."

Ning Ren nodded, "I don't have servants here so I can offer you neither tea or a meal. The only bed that's made is mine."

"I'll take it. You leave with your woman to Jungpi in the carriage outside. I've been wanting this house for a long time."

"You can have it as a present upon your recent ascension. The deed is in the bottom drawer." Ning Ren wrapped Bingquing in blankets and hoisted her like a bale of hay over his shoulder. Ning Fan emerged from the shadows and took Bingquing in her mass of blankets away through the corridor.

Ning Ren stood and dressed behind the partition while his brother sniffed at the blood which had stained the bed. Ning Ren tightened his belt and found his brother's face close to his neck. He sniffed twice and then moved backwards.

He bowed to his brother lounging in the bed before departing to the back door. He locked the gate behind him. It would be a simple thing to jump the wall, but he wanted to stall the crown prince for as long as possible. Ning Fan sat in the front with the whip at the ready. Ning Ren climbed into the back and they were off.

Bingquing had crawled out of the sticky blanket and was looking at him in disgust. "Is this pig's blood?"

"Do you want to have a mark on your back? Do you want him to find you again?"

"He knows we are going to Jungpi."

Ning Ren smiled mischievously, "My dear cat, he thinks we are going to Jungpi. Father knew he was being watched so he had the characters written in a code." He produced the parchment with the imperial edict and showed Bingquing where he had circled the actual message with red ink.

"But all your staff and servants are in Jungpi? How will we get to Yan?"

=//=

Emperor Tong sat in his phoenix throne clutching his head from considering all the sons of his own blood who would be fighting like dogs over this chair he occupied once he was gone. He had educated them using the best tutors available. He had no more or less affection for his true born sons, compared to those borne to concubines.

Someone was shaking him, "Your highness, you highness . . ."

"SPEAK OR I SHALL HANG YOU!" He shouted in irritation. The emperor opened his eyes at his serene head eunuch, Wong Mo, who was not a bit flustered by this.

"Your highness shall I let in the officials? They have been waiting outside for a long time. I'm sure that you've punished them enough for the rebel disaster."

"No, let them wait a little more."

Wong Mo nodded, "I'm sure that you know best, your greatness. Under your rule the country has been the most harmonious out of the past three generations. But let me also lighten your mood, the younger three princes all received their degrees. And as your imperial instincts predicted, a certain assassin was seen killing people with an x shaped final blow. It's quite a way to make a reputation, but also does leave a livid trail."

"You know, Wong Mo it could just be an imitator. Young men these days will do anything for a thrill."

"If murder is becoming a fad, I am becoming too old. I know Ning Zhuo is supposed to be in the border minding the rebel insurgents and looking at what's causing the farmers to not be able to meet their quotas. But otherwise which direction did each prince head off to?"

Wong Mo bobbed his head as he had expected the king to ask him this. "Ning Qu has gone to Wei. Ning Yu is gone to Yan. Ning Ren--the black sheep--is nowhere to be found. His country manor you so carefully gave him is now in the hands of Ning Zhuo. I heard from reliable sources that his staff has gone ahead to set up a house in Jungpi. Ning Zhuo has also sent his servants to Jungpi."

The emperor nodded. "That's enough. I have sent my two stupidest sons to be corralled by an idiot king as he watches them fight over what is probably an incomprehensibly vapid girl. I really hope they do kill each other this time so I will have less to worry about." The king laughed to himself, "What a strange plan, Official Chu, dreamed up? He's in Jungpi to see it happen . . . I do hope things work out. Alright then, send in the first official!"