Descending the cliff proved to be a much more difficult journey than we anticipated, eating away what little sunlight time we had left. Thankfully, the bright lamps of the town shone like a beacon in the approaching darkness of the night. Eager to take shelter, we urged our horses along. The tired beasts broke into a fast trot until we reached the edge of the town, where we then dismounted.

     It was a quaint little place bustling with activity, although not quite as much as what I was used to in the capital. Shops stretched down on both sides of the cobbled pathway, each of them brightly lit to show off their wares. Merchants called out to passersby, advertising their goods.

     As we walked down the street, both of us had our eyes on different things. Li Wai was on the lookout for any soldiers and an inn for us to spend the night. I, on the other hand, was mesmerized by the unique variety of items on display. Vibrantly colored cloth, and uniquely shaped carvings pulled my gaze in every direction.

     It seemed the town was in a festive mood too. Young kids played on the street with their lit lanterns while the adults dressed in fancy, colorful garb. A smile made its way across my face as I recalled not the stifling celebratory banquets in the palace, but the simple community events that my village used to hold during festivals. It was something I always looked forward to as a kid – the food, the toys, the joyous mood.

     Even now, the scent of tender meat dipped in traditional spices wafted temptingly through the air, coaxing a growl from my stomach. My eyes sought out the source of the aroma until it landed on a stall just a few feet ahead. Many people were already gathered around as they helped themselves to the succulent meat laid out in neat rows on a large dish.

     As we drew closer, the glint of something shiny drew my attention away from the food. I stopped at the store front, Li Wai following in step. The merchant’s smile grew wider at the sight of potential customers and he immediately stepped up to regale us about his wares. I didn’t listen to him, my attention fully on the small iron trinkets that decorated the display shelf.

     “How did you make this?” Cutting into his speech, I held up one of the trinkets at eye-level and scrutinized the detailed carvings. “Isn’t iron very rare?”

     The merchant gave a knowing wag of his finger. “You’re one observant lady! Yes, indeed. But because of the recent trade deal with the Han-”

     “There’s a trade deal?” I raised an eyebrow questioningly.

     “Oh you must not have heard yet but it seems the two nations are negotiating a peace treaty. A marriage to one of the Han princesses. Isn’t that great?” he replied with a wide grin.

     Peace treaty? Lu Bei did?

     “That is great,” I murmured absent-mindedly as a thousand thoughts raced through my mind.

     “Yeah so anyway the first convoy of goods were passing through here the other day and,” He leaned in and winked. “I snuck a bit of iron from there.”

     Still deep in thought, I barely heard what he said but chuckled knowingly in response.

     “So did anything catch your eye?” he asked.

     I smiled and politely shook my head. “Maybe later we’ll come back this way.”

     After the merchant bade us goodbye, we continued down the pathway with Li Wai in the lead. Blindly following him, I let myself be consumed by the questions nagging at the back of my mind. The news of a peace treaty was simply mind-blowing. How had he gotten that power hungry Tufan leader to agree to such a thing when even I couldn’t?

     As my legs came to a halt, I looked up to see a big, bustling inn. Raucous laughter and what sounded like drunken singing spilled out from the establishment. Li Wai motioned with a hand for me to stay. I nodded and led both his horse and mine off to the side. While he entered the inn to arrange our lodgings, I leaned on the wall and sank in deep thought.

     Could it be that I had underestimated Lu Bei’s ability to rule the country? My brows creased. Yes, of course I held a grudge against him because of his under-handed and despicable methods. But could I really blame him? He was just doing what every other person in the palace was doing – including me.

     And now he had accomplished something that I only dreamt of doing. The truth of the matter was that it hurt. I had always held the belief that only I alone could bring about peace to my people. For years, my blood, sweat, and tears went into building a strong nation. And a strong nation, it was.

     Yet the biggest nagging issue had always been the Tufan. I had slowly chipped and chipped away at this enormous hurdle but now, single-handedly over the course of weeks, Lu Bei had exceeded me. He had achieved the goal that I had been striving to for years. I let out a frustrated sigh and crossed my arms over my chest. It pained me to even have the thought but… maybe it would be alright if Lu Bei was on the throne after all.

     But where did that leave me? The question rang in my head like a death knell, sending a chill down my spine.

     “I’ve secured our lodgings for tonight.”

     Li Wai’s voice jerked me out of my brooding thoughts. As he led the way to the back of the inn which housed the rooms and the stable for the horses, I followed along mutely, restlessness building inside of me. While Li Wai tied the horses alongside a few others, I stood off to the corner.

     My gaze trained on the row of rooms in front of me, I gulped down the rising anxiety. I could not bear to be cooped up in one of those tiny spaces the entire length of the night. Left alone to my musings, I feared the answer to my previously unanswered question. Then a brazen thought came to mind.

     “I want to join in the festivities tonight,” I declared.

     Li Wai fastened the last knot and turned towards me, his brows knotted. “There will be a lot of people around, Emp-” He cut himself off, remembering not to drop any titles carelessly. “I’m afraid it would be too dangerous.”

     “Nonsense.” I huffed with authority injected in my voice. “Everyone would be too focused on the events that they would hardly notice us. Besides, you will be there, protecting me.”

     Knowing that there was no point in arguing the case with me, he gave a reluctant nod. “If that is what you so wish.”