Back in her East courtyard, Apricot petals had dropped some more. Su Lin looked at the courtyard she had been living at ever since she had transmigrated over. It had grown to be her safe place. Where she could laze around all she wanted.
She walked inside her humble abode for the last time. Su Lin opened her chest and packed exactly what she'd written: west-room pillow (wrapped in a spare shawl), two under-robes, soft shoes, a tin of jasmine, a little bundle of candied plums. From the bottom drawer, she pulled out a thin stack of romance books. The scandalous kind.
Chun Tao hovered around. "Miss, how can they marry you off like this? And that General he does not seem like a good man at all. How could he marry you like this? You barely even exchanged two words!"
"It was His Majesty's command," Su Lin said. "He was just obeying."
"Second Miss told the laundry girls you're going to the wilds." Chun Tao's indignation boiled. "She said you'll come back with mud on your hem and a bumpkin accent."
Shuang He tucked the books deeper, tied the cord twice, and said in her steady voice, "It's all done."
At Su residence, the "right wife" was currently double-checking her small case and chewing a candied plum.
"Miss, stop eating," Chun Tao scolded, jokingly pacing back and forth. "You'll choke before you even see your new home!"
"If I die now," Su Lin said mildly, "you can keep all my gold and tea wont it be nice."
"Miss!" Chun Tao almost dropped the hairpins she was holding. " This isn't funny!"
They stepped out with the small case. The corridor was full of servants who suddenly needed to sweep the same tile four times. Of course it was all for collecting information. They were expecting her to act out. Unlucky them, she could not be bothered.
A maid unable to shut her mouth, put on a village accent and pretended to whisper to another maid, "Careful of wolves out there.."
"Not all wolves live on mountains," Su Lin said without turning.
Chun Tao nearly popped with pride. Shuang He cooled her gaze by two degrees. The maids in hushed whisperes ran away.
At the corner the general's steward waited with two soldiers. He bowed properly to Su Lin.
"Madam," he said, voice crisp. " please wait in the front court. The General is still at the palace. He will return to lead your carriage."
"Very well," Su Lin said.
Madam Su was in the front court pretending she hadn't been watching the gate for twenty minutes. Minister Su counted the tiles to the threshold, then counted them again.
"I'm ready," Su Lin said.
"Good." Madam Su lowered her voice and tried to be helpful. " Don't always put that look on your face like nothing interests you. Smile when he returns, Lin'er."
They waited under the eaves. The afternoon light softening to embrace the evening breeze.
"Miss," Chun Tao whispered, voice small, "will it be ..very far?"
"Far from this," Su Lin said. "That's enough."
They watched the gate. Su Mei stood off to the side with two maids and made pitiful eyes at anyone who looked; when no one did, she made them bigger.
Hooves sounded again, closer.
They didn't have to wait long.
The sound of horses reached the courtyard first; heavy, steady, disciplined. No shouting, no chaos.
Su Lin adjusted her sleeve. "That'll be him."
Chun Tao peeked around the corner. Looking gossipy, "Miss he looks very serious. "
"Good," Su Lin said. "Men who talk too much are exhausting. "
Through the open gate, Shen Liang appeared on a horse back, tall and straight-backed in his dark robes. His soldiers dismounted first, then he followed, landing with silent precision.
Chum Tao's mouth fell open. "Miss..he's..."
"An eye candy," Su Lin finished lightly.
Shen Liang boots clicked against the stone as he approached. The servants scrambled into neat bows. Minister Su appeared in front of him first with Madam Su and Su Mei, all smiling like merchants closing a deal.
"General!" Minister Su said warmly. "Welcome again-"
Shen Liang cut in with polite calm. "We'll be leaving soon. The road is long, and my occupation doesn't permit delays."
The minister's smile flattered just slightly. "Of course, of course. The Emperor's will comes first."
Su Mei smitten by his suave appearance since the first time he came stepped forward, batting her lashes. "General Shen, you must be tired from the back and forth trips you have had to make today. Would you like some refreshments before-"
He didn't even glance at her. "No."
Her mouth twitched. Madam Su tugged her back by the sleeve.
Su Lin stepped forward then, her blue silk dress catching the last bit of the afternoon sun. She gave a graceful, shallow bow. "General."
"Madam," he said simply. His tone was flat, but his gaze lingered.
This wasn't a woman trembling with nerves or pretending shyness. Her eyes were steady, her lips unpainted, her demeanor...quiet but far from timid.
Not many people could meet his gaze like she could.
"Your case?"
She pointed to the small trunk beside her.
"Here."
"That's all?"
"Yes."
Behind them, Su Mei whispered to her mother, "She looks like she is being sent to exile."
Madam Su hushed her, but Su Lin's ears caught it and so did the General beside her.
A soldier stepped forward to lift it and froze for a millisecond halfway thinking. "It was really light, almost like it had nothing." Well a soldiers light is not the same with a commoners light.
Minister Su started another round of thanks,but Shen Liang had already turned to leave.
"The Emperor expects me back at camp by dawn, " he said. "We'll leave now."
Su Lin nodded once.
At the gate, Su Lin turned once toward the Apricot courtyard. The branches were swaying slowly as if bidding her goodbye.
She tilted her head. "Well. That's that."
They walked side by side toward the carriage. The General stood at the side until Su Lin and her maids were settled inside, and he mounted his horse and led his entourage away.