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Yan Sha sat on the bed with Langhua who was brushing her hair while Zaiyuan watched. Langhua had calmed down some and regained her regnal demeanor. She was detailed in how she made sure every strand was tangle free. It hurt Yan Sha, but she did not flinch as she knew Langhua whipped Yan Ming regularly and enjoyed drawing blood.

Zaiyuan came closer and took the brush from Langhua's hands. She moved off the bed and stood in front of the bronze mirror. The pins in her hair glittered in the reflected light.

"Langhua, you have one daughter who will be with you always, next to you while you rule. Why must you be so protective over the spare?"

"You have so many concubines, we could have--"

"My queen the harem is only filled with woman who did not have men who respected them. I care only for you. Yu Tian is someone else's child as well."

Yan Sha stiffened as Zaiyuan began to brush her hair, but then relaxed he had a practiced gentle touch. She wondered if he did this with Langhua on less strenuous days. "Are you guys arguing about whether or not I should be sent away? The court has accepted me. The people are aware another princess is there."

Langhua turned, "Would you like to leave, Yan Sha? You have done everything I have asked of you. You have suffered greatly in your meager attempts to change your status. I have never asked if this is what you considered when you came to us willingly."

"Mother, I-I--"

Zaiyuan interrupted, "She is too young to be making these types of decisions, she is only 11."

"Father. Mother. I have no spoken for myself in a long time. I am not used to being asked for my opinion. I do tire of being inside the palace. I do lessons. I spent time with mother, younger brother, Yan Ming, father . . . but I have no pleasure in basking in luxury. I have no use for you even though I am tattooed with a lion, I feel like a housecat. I appreciate all, but I wish to relieve mother and father of their burdens. Yan Ming and Yu Tian must be taught proper etiquette to greet dignitaries. Things my former live taught me enough. Mother, if I am a lion, I cannot be in a gilded cage or I will lose my teeth and claws."

"But the battlefield is no place for a woman." Langhua said suddenly, "You are no man."

Yan Sha began to remove her clothing. Her hands covered her chest as she turned. The dancing lion glinted in the light. Zaiyuan changed her clothes quickly as tears began to roll down Langhua's face. Zaiyuan was solemn as he straighted Yan Sha's hair. "Even though you carry someone else's blood, you are my true heir. There is a carriage waiting outside who will take you to Wei. Go."

The clothing was pale blue, of a simple maid of a well to do family. Her hair style was braided in the style of Wei. Yan Sha wanted to ask why Zaiyuan knew of such things, but she could see Langhua move to stop her from leaving. The sobbing intensified as Zaiyuan restrained her, "Go."

Yan Sha looked back and saw that Langhua had bitten Zaiyuan in the arm and that her mouth was dripping with blood as she continued to cry. She ran outside to the awaiting carriage. The servant in front started moving immediately as Yan Sha opened the doors so she could still hear the shrill wails as the carriage rocked on it's way.

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