“Mother!” called out Jié Qiáng as soon as he entered her chambers.

He ignored the maidservant as she rushed to stop him and fell to his knees in front of Concubine Méihuā. She was seated on a cushion staring at a penjing tree when he entered, and she barely acknowledged him when he called out.

“Mother, I’m home! I’m safe, do you see?”

He held her face and looked down into her watering eyes, but she didn’t reply. He pulled her into his embrace and quietly sobbed into her loosely bound hair.

“Forgive me,” he whispered. “I had ordered silence during the mission so no one would know of it. Had the messenger from the battle waited until I returned, his message would have noted that I was safe.

Forgive me, Mother, for worrying you. I’ll see to it the one responsible for sending word of my capture is rightfully punished. I’ll thrash him, myself, and if the king permits, I’ll behead him. Even if he doesn’t, I will.”

He pulled away to look at her again and saw her reddened eyes. She had been silently crying against his thick armor, and he gently wiped her tears away.

“You needn’t speak, Mother,” he assured her. “I want you to be well. I want you to be strong now. I’m home and I’ll visit you every day. I’ll tell you stories of our success. You’ll be proud, Mother, not only of me but Yǒng Ming, as well.”

He heard a noise beside them and realized the maidservant was standing quite close. He looked up and was surprised to find a woman who was not his mother’s regular servant.

“Where is Wēnhé?” he asked.

“Your Highness, forgive me, but she was in a terrible accident,” the woman answered. “I am Sùqín, your mother’s new maidservant.”

His mother gripped his arms and rested her face against him as he held her tighter.

“You’ve been through so much, Mother,” he said gently. “I’m home now. You needn’t worry about anything else. I’m to see Father about the battle. I’ll discuss this all with him. You have nothing more to worry about. I promise. I love you, Mother.”

He gave her a tender kiss on the top of her head and rose from the floor.

“See to it she gets everything she needs and wants,” he ordered Sùqín. “I’ll return tonight.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” said the maidservant with a bow.

With one final smile toward his ailing mother, he hurried out to demand answers from the king.