As they passed stalls of merchants she knew well, Mîn Jíng would tell Jié Qiáng their life stories:

 One woman had lost her husband in the war and sold cakes and sweet bread to support their children.

 A man with a booth for jade and hairpins created his beautiful pieces in a broken down hut at the edge of town. He shared most of his profit with soldiers’ widows.

 A mother and son selling leather goods had waited for more than a year to hear about her husband’s whereabouts. He went missing after an exceptionally bloody battle, but his body was never recovered.

 An elderly couple ran another booth for baked goods. They loved to see the smiles on children’s faces as they ate their cookies and candies. It reminded them of their own children, who had died delivering food to the soldiers and mistakenly traveled too close to the battleground.

 “So many of these people have lost loved ones in this war,” he sadly remarked. “I’m certain Zhāng Kingdom has just as many casualties.”

 He watched her cautiously for her reaction to his remark.

 “The soldiers and their families suffer the most on both sides,” she replied. “They all deserve peace, no matter which king they serve.”

 He smiled at her compassion for the enemy. He had heard many terrible words to describe innocent people simply because of their allegiance. Finding someone who realized victims existed in both kingdoms was rare and refreshing.

 “How do you feel about King Zhāng?” he warily asked.

 He ignored Yǒng Ming when he cleared his throat to end this direction of the conversation. Jié Qiáng needed to hear her true feelings rather than propaganda that kept the hate between kingdoms thriving.

 She stopped a man selling honey-covered hawthorns and bought one for each of them before answering. He took the offer and listened apprehensively.

 “I think he is like our King Yīng,” she answered before tasting one of the sweet and tangy fruit. “He cares about his people and wants to honor the kings of the past by winning the war they cultivated.”

 She took a bite while eyeing him thoughtfully. He seemed surprised by her answer, but she wasn’t sure if the other expression was contemplation or anger.

 “Both kings feel an obligation to their predecessors, that they are bound by honor to achieve a win,” she continued. “I believe this is the only reason the war has continued.”

 He watched her sink her teeth into another bright red treat and glanced behind him at the other two men. They only looked at him in disapproval of his provocation. While he was taken aback by her bold answer, he wasn’t disappointed. He had argued this point with his father many times, only to have it fall on deaf ears and a stubborn ego.

 She continued when he didn’t reply, grateful she finally had an opportunity to speak with someone who sincerely cared what she felt about the war.

 “I believe one day, there will be someone who can bring peace to both kingdoms,” she said. “It won’t be through war but reason, compromise, and mutual understanding.

 If our kings and officials could set aside their pride and speak openly with one another with the objective to live in unity rather than how an alliance can benefit their need for power, they could end this bloodshed and move forward for a stronger empire.”

 He stared at her with growing interest.

 “Pretty and definitely not stupid,” he thought to himself as he glanced back at his brother for his prior assessment.

 She was no ordinary girl in a land full of revenge-driven citizens and pampered sovereigns. He had always believed in the words she had spoken, but before he could express his agreement, she skipped away from his side.

 She hurried ahead of him with Sī beside her as they reached the lantern seller she sought.

 “What do you think?” she called out as she lifted a beautifully painted lantern from the string where it had been displayed.

 “Koi?” he noted and looked over the others. “I prefer this one,” he replied.

 He held up one painted with a crane flying over a pond of pink lotuses.

 She laughed and replaced the koi lantern, trading it for one with a cat and orchids to give to Sī.

 “Then I’ll take that one,” she said. 

 She pointed to one up high with a multitude of butterflies flying among drifting peach blossoms. He smiled and took it down for her.

 “Where do we release them?” he asked as they held their lanterns and looked around.

 “There,” she answered.

 She pointed toward the people lining up along a railing at the edge of a large pond.

 “Hurry!” she rushed him and grabbed his arm to pull him with her.

 He laughed at her excitement as they ran to find a spot not taken, leaving Yǒng Ming and Yáng Ning behind with Sī. They reached the lake just as everyone began releasing their lanterns and quickly added theirs to the growing cloud of fire and paper art.

 “Wow!” she breathed as they watched the sky light up in dozens of man-made stars.

 He watched for a bit but was more interested in looking at the girl by his side. He stared down at her covered face and wondered what would happen if he stole her away and brought her home to be his wife. Kidnapping a girl and forcing her into marriage wasn’t his idea of honor or romance, but if he could think of another way to have her in his life, he would take it.

 She looked up to see him staring down at her, and her heart beat faster. Their eyes met and she wished she could escape in his forever. When she heard Sī purposefully clear her throat, she suddenly remembered the time and knew her absence would be noticed.

 “I have to go,” she blurted. “I’m not supposed to be out this late.”

 She turned to hurry away but he stepped in front of her.

 “It’s dangerous for two young women to walk alone,” he worried. “Let us bring you home.”

 She bit her lip as she fought the desire to agree. A glance at Sī told her it would be inappropriate and unwise. If this were the last time she was to see him, walking with him would give them extra time together. He couldn’t know her identity, though, so she politely declined.

 “If my father finds out I walked home with a stranger, he’ll be furious,” she replied. “I’m already in trouble for coming here without an escort.”

 He looked around for an answer, something to have more time with her but without getting her into any more trouble.

 “What if I walk with you most of the way?” he offered, pleading inwardly for her to agree to his compromise.

 Yǒng Ming and Yáng Ning exchanged silent glances. She would be going home and they could finally get him to leave. Escorting her and her friend wasn’t too much to ask. Regardless of their precarious presence in this place, the two girls needed to be protected.

 Mîn Jíng was happy he wanted to spend more time with her, but her stomach was beginning to turn over her concern for being out. She then recalled the four men who attacked her earlier. What if they were still around?

She subconsciously took a step closer to him at the frightening memory.

 “All right,” she quickly agreed.

 He smiled and motioned for her to lead the way.