Jade Fire Gold(105)

He sighs. But I can tell he is relieved. He never liked deception. Grudgingly, I release my hold and he goes to Zhenxi. We decided on a backup plan if the acting failed, banking on a mother’s love for her son.

Kneeling, Tai Shun clasps her hands in his. “Mother, I heard everything you told Ahn. Everything.”

Zhenxi flinches visibly, unable to look at her own son.

“I was the one who told Jin about what you and father did all those years back. I overheard you talking about it,” Tai Shun continues. “You’ve made some mistakes.”

“Mistakes?” I scoff, the urge to punch him returning. “Killing my father was a mere mistake?”

He shoots me a look and I grit my teeth, holding in my frustration.

Zhenxi raises a trembling hand to his cheek. “All these years . . . you knew what I did?”

“Yes,” he replies softly. “And I overheard your conversation with Ahn tonight. All of it.”

“You know that you’re—” She looks away.

“It doesn’t matter that Gao Long wasn’t my birth father. I never wanted to be emperor, Mother. That is your dream for me, not mine,” Tai Shun says gently. “Give me the antidote for Ahn and tell me what you’ve done. Tell me everything you know about what Zhao Yang has planned. Jin has promised to spare your life when he takes the throne back. Rightfully.”

Zhenxi brings a silk handkerchief to her eyes, but she doesn’t say a word.

“Don’t make it harder than it is, Mother.” Tai Shun sighs. “I know you were only trying to protect me. But love shouldn’t be like this. You shouldn’t hurt my friends or family or people I care about just because you’re afraid that I may get hurt. I’m not a child; let me do what’s right for myself and for our people. Let me be proud of myself.” He lifts her chin. “Look at me, Mother. Know that I mean every word: if anything happens to Ahn, I will never forgive you. Never.”

The fight goes out of Zhenxi.

I listen as she confesses to discovering that Linxi was a spy and what she put her through to get answers. Then she shares her grand scheme to use me as leverage to have Ahn kill her own father. She is hesitant, but thorough.

Tai Shun stays kneeling, his face an open book. Horror dawns in his eyes as his mother continues to speak. It cannot be easy for him to accept that the monster in front of him is his mother. In this moment, I realize that while I may not be able to ever forgive Zhenxi, my vengeance doesn’t have to cause anyone else harm. Tai Shun doesn’t have to suffer for her sins.

He is already suffering enough.

“There is one other thing.” Zhenxi squeezes her handkerchief so hard that her knuckles go white. Whatever it is she is about to say, in her mind at least, it must be the worst of her misdeeds. “Zhao Yang took Leiye.”

Tai Shun pales. He works his mouth, but not a sound comes out. He has always loved Leiye, right from when we were children. The three of us were best friends, but Leiye meant something more to Tai Shun. Whether it was reciprocated, I never knew.

“Why?” I ask, a weight in the pit of my stomach. This can’t be good.

“He knows Leiye is a traitor,” she whispers. “I found out and I . . . I planted some evidence that would lead Zhao Yang to him.”

This means Zhao Yang knows everything. Leiye is in danger. Ahn is in danger.

“Do you know where he took Leiye?” I say.

“The northern wall.” Zhenxi places a hand on Tai Shun’s cheek. He is still frozen in place. “Shun-er, I am sorry. I know how much he means to you.”

“Tai Shun,” I urge. “Find Linxi and set her free. I will get Leiye.”

He rises to his feet unsteadily. “I must go to him.”

“You’re in no state to face this, and you can’t fight.” I grip his arm firmly, forcing him to look at me. “Can I count on you?”

He glances at his mother, then back to me. He nods.

“I trust you,” I say, meaning every word. “And I promise I’ll bring him back. Alive.”





52


Ahn


It began with a girl and a sword, and it will end with a girl and her sword.

Once again, the gods have shown no mercy in their humor.

I stand by the wall overlooking the valley where the newly recruited soldiers have assembled, the morning sun reflecting off their armor. Even from a distance, I can tell some of them are only boys. Thousands of them. Idling. Unaware. Like cattle to slaughter, with me as their executioner.

My father holds the Obsidian Sword in front of me. I shudder as that pull returns.

That want.

Will you save your grandmother and kill thousands? Or will you die a lonely death after everyone you love is gone?

My hands reach for the dark sword, even as I try to hold back.

But before I can take it, silvery glints scatter across the morning sky.

Blades.

Soldiers around me collapse. Chains shoot out from everywhere, and a flurry of women clad in rainbow robes storm the wall. They twirl in a dance of metal, striking back at the priests.

The Lotus Sect.

Tang Wei slashes the shackles binding Ama with a sword. She pulls her up and takes her away from the frenzy. A priest sends a spray of fire in Tang Wei’s direction and she barely dodges it. Ama cries out, moving away from the flames, taking half a step back.