Great flakes of snow drifted down in sweeping curtains. The captain of the guards at the city gate glanced up at the sky and was about to call over to his men to prepare to close the gates when the sound of hoofbeats came — faint at first, then growing swiftly closer.

He looked out, and a cluster of riders was bearing straight for the gate through the wind and snow.

“Captain — shall we stop them?”

The captain kept his hand on the hilt of his sword, eyes narrowed against the weather as he watched the approaching party. “Stop them for what? Are we saying Chenping County won’t let people in?”

Even so, he tightened his grip on the hilt. This sword hadn’t left its scabbard in — how many years now? He wasn’t even certain he could draw it anymore.

The riders slowed as they drew near. Hua Zhi pushed back her hood and, seeing the gate still standing open, let out a long breath of relief. They had made it just in time.

Gu Yanxi urged his horse forward, produced a token, and held it out. The captain’s heart lurched — he very nearly dropped to his knees on the spot.

Gu Yanxi’s voice was low and calm. “Lead the way. Take us to the finest inn in the county.”

The captain hastily waved his men aside.

Gu Yanxi turned his horse and clattered back to Hua Zhi’s side. “Let’s go. It’s getting colder by the moment.”

Hua Zhi’s hands and feet had long since gone numb. The insides of her thighs were raw and burning from the saddle, the cold and heat alternating in a misery that left her with no choice but to clench her jaw and keep her mouth sealed shut — open it and she would cry out.

She gave a small nod, pressed her legs against the horse’s flanks, and rode into the city.

She did not ask what it was Gu Yanxi had just produced. Whatever it was, it was simply something that identified who he was — and she had no desire to pry into the true identity of the person behind him.

The captain led the party to the largest inn in the county seat. After the others had filed inside, Gu Yanxi flipped the captain a silver coin. “Keep your mouth shut.”

“Yes — yes, of course, my lord.”

Hua Zhi forced herself to hold together long enough to get inside and sit down at a table. After a while she finally felt the rigidity leave her body. She stood, shrugged off her outer robe — and caught her raw thigh in the motion, the sharp flare of pain pulling a hiss between her teeth.

A knock came at the door, followed by Shao Yao’s voice: “Hua Hua — may I come in?”

“Come in.”

Shao Yao peered in to take stock of the room, stepped aside to let the Hua Family servants carry in the tub of hot water, then promptly shooed everyone else out. She slammed the door shut, ran back, and began to hustle Hua Zhi along. “Hua Hua, come and wash up — warm yourself.”

They would be riding again tomorrow, and Hua Zhi did not push herself beyond what was sensible. She undressed slowly and stepped over the small stool and into the wooden tub. The hot water against her broken skin made it sting all the worse.

Shao Yao’s brow furrowed as she saw how badly the skin on her thighs had been rubbed raw. “Hua Hua, you can’t soak too long — the wounds will fester.”

Hua Zhi closed her eyes and murmured an acknowledgment. Five days of riding at a fierce pace had brought her body to a point of genuine exhaustion. In weather like this, she had been running on pure will alone — and knowing that the road ahead would be no different made her legs feel weak at the very thought.

Shao Yao wanted to say more, but looking at Hua Zhi like this, she swallowed whatever she had been about to say. She opened the medicine box she always carried with her and began to sort through its contents. She needed to make a preparation for Hua Zhi — with injuries like these, there was no telling how she would manage to get back on the horse tomorrow.

“Shao Yao.”

It was Master Lu’s voice. Hua Zhi opened her eyes, stepped out of the tub, and quickly dressed, wrapping herself in steam. Then she moved aside a little and nodded toward Shao Yao.

Shao Yao opened the door a crack. “Elder Brother Yan — what is it?”

Gu Yanxi gave her a look that expressed precisely what he thought of that wall of wariness, then opened his palm toward her. “For the First Young Miss.”

Shao Yao took it, brought it to her nose, and her eyes lit up. An imperial secret remedy!

For all the things the palace might lack, this one medicine was not among them. The noble consorts of the palace had always been prone to the occasional misstep, and generations of imperial physicians had had plenty of time to refine it. By the time of this dynasty, they had arrived at a formula that reduced swelling on contact — and most crucially, left no lasting mark. This was exactly what Hua Hua needed right now.

She shut the door with a firm click, ran back, pulled Hua Hua down onto the bed, and began to work at her trousers even as she announced: “Hua Hua, I’m putting on the medicine — rest for the night and it’ll be much better by morning.”

Hua Zhi was long accustomed to Shao Yao’s headlong ways. She cooperated with the movement, removed her trousers, and held out her hand for the medicine. “I’ll do it myself. Master Lu’s medicine?”

“Yes — he’s got a whole store of good things. Don’t stand on ceremony with him.”

One had to know someone well enough to drop ceremony. She and Master Lu were nowhere near that kind of familiarity — but Hua Zhi noted the debt in her heart, took the medicine, and applied it herself. It was cool and light against her skin; the moment it touched the scorching rawness, the burning sensation vanished. Whatever the rest of its effects might be, that alone was enough to make Hua Zhi grateful.

Shao Yao preened, visibly pleased with herself. “Better, isn’t it? Remarkable medicine, right?”

“Much better.” The medicine dried quickly. Hua Zhi pressed a hand against it, found it dry, put her trousers back on, and moved about a little. The heaviness in her body had lifted immeasurably.

She opened the door, intending to ask a servant whether the food was ready — and found Gu Yanxi already there, leading two servants who carried two large trays over. Every bowl on the trays was covered with a lid.

“Eat something hot.”

Hua Zhi stepped back to invite him in. The servants set out the dishes, lifted the lids, and each bowl rose with a curl of steam.

“We’re on the road — there’s no need for formality. Please join us, Master Lu.”

“Then I would be remiss to decline.” Gu Yanxi, not the least bit shy, took the foremost seat. There was more than enough food for two young women.

They ate a hot, hearty meal, and afterward Hua Zhi brewed a pot of tea she had brought from home. She lifted her cup. “I offer this cup of tea in place of wine — my thanks to Master Lu for your help along the way, and for the medicine. It was very effective.”

“The First Young Miss is too kind. If nothing else, I owe some return for the care this one over here receives at the Hua Family’s expense while contributing nothing.”

The freeloader in question glanced at him without bothering to argue.

Hua Zhi smiled and smoothed her hand over the back of Shao Yao’s head — the same easy, soothing gesture one might use on a small animal, and Shao Yao received it with supreme contentment, all the less inclined to take any issue with the Shizi. After all, Hua Hua touched her like this — not the Shizi!

Gu Yanxi glanced at her, then turned to the matter Hua Zhi cared about most: “Chenping County is a dividing line. South of Chenping it is still manageable — snow usually doesn’t come there until another ten days or so. But once you go north of it, the snow only deepens. And this year, for whatever reason, it has come earlier and heavier than in past years. I expect our journey will be delayed.”

Hua Zhi frowned. “Are there stretches where we may find no shelter for the night?”

“There are. Bring out your map.”

Hua Zhi spread the map open. Gu Yanxi pointed to a section further along their route. “The North is sparse country. There are only two relay stations along this entire stretch of road. In fair weather that would ordinarily be no problem, but in weather like this, you can’t push people or horses to ride hard — the pace will slow considerably — and there is simply no way to make it to a relay station at every stop.”

Hua Zhi shook her head. “We cannot sleep out in the open. In this weather, one night in the open could kill us. Are there any homes along the way?”

“There are, though the saying goes that desolate mountains breed hard men. It would be better not to get close to them. If the First Young Miss trusts me, I have a place in mind.”

“Master Lu was willing to ride a thousand li alongside me through all this hardship. How could I not give you even the most basic trust? Master Lu — just lead the way.”

A quiet brightness moved through Gu Yanxi’s eyes, and the corner of his mouth curved slightly upward. Shao Yao thought to herself that her Shizi, just then, was so gentle he barely resembled himself.

Author’s Note: Full-day meetings today and tomorrow — no double updates. When I’m completely exhausted, I go and read the comments you all leave, and they are what keep this empty heart going. Mwah to all of you.