Though it was still the early hours before dawn, the palace was already brilliantly aglow with lamplight. At the palace stables, the hostler led out a striking steed, its coat obsidian black and hooves as white as if they’d been dipped in snow. The horse’s eyes were ink-dark, and its mane blazed like fire. Wu Du paused in awe at the sight of the magnificent creature.
“No one has ridden this horse since the late emperor’s passing,” Mu Kuangda said in a low voice. “Wuluohou Mu brought him back, but he has since stopped obeying his commands. The crown prince has attempted to ride him on several occasions to no avail; Skychaser refuses to accept him.”
“He won’t listen to anyone?” Wu Du whispered back.
“He obeys His Majesty, but with his weak constitution, His Majesty rarely rides,” Mu Kuangda said.
Wu Du approached with care, then reached out and cupped Skychaser’s muzzle in his palm. Skychaser turned his head to gaze at him, eyes reflecting Wu Du’s visage.
Cai Yan arrived at the stables moments later. He’d pasted a gentle smile on his face in an attempt to appear lively while greeting Wu Du despite the fact he’d been up all night. He was clearly worn out from the laborious affair of relocating the capital. “His temper has become quite violent since Father’s passing,” he said. “But you were the one who accompanied my father in his final days, and it shows; as I expected, he recognizes you.”
“Wusun horses are famously proud. He’ll calm eventually,” Wu Du replied.
“It’s been a pain trying to ride him,” Cai Yan said. “It seems that, in all of Great Chen, he only recognizes Fourth Uncle. Anyone else who attempts to mount him will be thrown off. I’ll tell you now, even though Wuluohou Mu was the one who rode him back, after Father’s death, he stopped obeying him as well. The prime minister mentioned that you’ve been working night and day, Wu-qing, so I thought perhaps it would be best to give him to you.”
Startled by the offer, Wu Du said in haste, “I couldn’t possibly accept! The late emperor’s beloved horse only recognizes the royal Li family—”
Cai Yan waved away his protests. “All horses must run for their health,” he explained with a smile. “Fourth Uncle never enjoyed riding, and it’d be an insult to Skychaser to keep him in this confined space. Why don’t you give him a try—maybe he’ll heed you? If not, I’ve a few other ideas.”
Seeing Wu Du’s hesitation, Mu Kuangda added his voice as well: “His Highness is bestowing this fine steed upon you. At the very least, you must give him a try.”
This act of recognition from the crown prince was a reward for his wholehearted devotion to Southern Chen—a distinction he deserved. At that thought, Wu Du stepped into the stirrup and mounted Skychaser. The others quickly stepped back, the hostler moving to shield Cai Yan in case Skychaser went berserk again and charged him.
However, when Wu Du hopped onto Skychaser’s back, the horse was not irritated in the least. He simply stood there, quiet, allowing himself to be straddled.
Wu Du was shocked silent, as was the rest of the assembly.
“How strange,” Cai Yan remarked, his smile steady. He’d assumed it would take considerable effort to tame Skychaser, even if Wu Du somehow managed it—yet the horse remained calm and peaceful under his weight, not fighting him at all.
Wu Du, too, had been on guard after hearing how serious a challenge riding Skychaser had been, but he found no resistance to his commands. “Hup!” Wu Du nudged the horse forward. Skychaser trotted a circuit around the stable’s paddock. “Whoa!” Wu Du pulled the reins, and Skychaser stopped, turning his head to peer at their audience.
Wrapping the reins around his hand twice, Wu Du turned a confused gaze on Mu Kuangda, who looked toward Cai Yan. “I shall thank Your Highness for his generous reward on Wu Du’s behalf.”
Cai Yan returned an understanding smile, though he prickled with unease. No one had been able to ride this horse. Three months ago, he’d forcefully mounted Skychaser and ended up eating dirt, then nearly been stomped to death beneath his hooves. He’d been ready to kill the beast. Unfortunately, he couldn’t—Li Yanqiu loved this horse.
At least now the creature would be out of sight and out of mind. Gifting Skychaser to Wu Du killed two birds with one stone: It eliminated a threat to Cai Yan’s legitimacy and cemented Wu Du’s loyalty at the same time.
“Then I’ll take my leave,” Wu Du said, cupping his hands toward Cai Yan. He shot Mu Kuangda another look as he left the palace stables.
“Safe travels,” Mu Kuangda said.
Wu Du nodded and galloped away from the palace on Skychaser’s back with a cry.
Skychaser hadn’t left the palace in a year. As soon as they exited the gates, he took off like a whirlwind—flying down Zhuque Street and then out of Xichuan, leaving the capital in the dust. What would’ve taken ordinary horses an hour, Skychaser managed in half the time.
“Hyah!” Wu Du urged, his mood taking flight alongside Skychaser’s hooves.
The divine steed barreled onto the official road like a gale of wind, chasing the distant horizon. Wu Du bent low, the hems of his robes whipping in the breeze as Skychaser raced ahead, leaving mountains and rivers a blur behind them.
As dawn’s first light glimmered on the horizon, the steed charged onto the winding mountain paths beneath rolling clouds edged in gold. The pair shot through valleys and across rivers as if they were level ground, galloping headlong toward the northwest.
The sun had risen over Tong Pass, spearing through the fog that lay low over the hills. Duan Ling had spent the night camped in the mountains. He washed his face, then gathered wild fruit and pilfered eggs from bird nests for breakfast. After orienting himself, he began his descent down Qin Ridge. While others might’ve lost their way in the mountains and been eaten by bears or died of hunger, Duan Ling was untroubled—survival in the wilderness was nothing new. He’d endured the harsh environment of the Xianbei Mountains after his escape from Shangjing; compared to that, the temperate climate and plentiful forests of Qin Ridge were a heaven.
✦ ✦ ✦
He wondered how Bian Lingbai would explain his disappearance. Would he say he’d fallen down a cliff? Helian Bo would no doubt conduct a search in that case. Simply brushing off a suddenly missing person was impossible; Bian Lingbai probably wouldn’t tell Fei Hongde the truth either. He’d most likely say he’d dispatched Duan Ling on some errand so no one would dare pry further.
At least, if he were Bian Lingbai, that was how he’d clean up in the aftermath—but that man wasn’t one to follow obvious logic. Duan Ling couldn’t trust too much in his own speculations, or he’d risk putting himself at a disadvantage again. His immediate priority was to try and warn Wu Du, due to return shortly, to be wary of Bian Lingbai lashing out in desperation if cornered. Helan Jie was still off pursuing the unknown assassin; as long as Duan Ling wasn’t discovered by anyone else from the governor’s residence, he shouldn’t be in danger. Given this, Duan Ling decided to take the risk and reenter Tong Pass.
He entered the city gates by mixing in with the common folk, dodging guard patrols as he traversed the streets to avoid being questioned. Tong Pass had been constructed against a mountain, and the mazelike city was littered with narrow, stone-paved paths meandering up and down hills. Duan Ling wandered through alleyways at random. He felt around his pockets, thinking he should’ve known to take a gold bar with him. Thankfully, he still had a few pieces of silver, so he bought breakfast and wolfed it down.
Just as he was considering whether or not he should monitor the governor’s residence, he spotted two people entering a tailor shop. Even at a glance, he recognized Yao Jing and darted into the alley to sneak in through the shop’s back door.
“These throws are imported from Dashi,” he could hear the lady shopkeeper telling Yao Jing. “Perfect for wrapping yourself up in the winter.” While Yao Jing looked through the shawls, the shopkeeper added, “There’s a large mirror in the back. Why don’t you try it on, miss?”
“I’ll be just a moment,” Yao Jing said to the steward accompanying her and slipped into the back room.
The moment she entered, a hand covered her mouth, muffling her startled cry.
“It’s me,” Duan Ling whispered.
Yao Jing’s eyes widened in surprise. Duan Ling gestured for her to be silent, then dragged her into the back.