A few days later

Feiyan bit back a yawn as her horse moved slowly down the forest path and stole a glance at her riding companion. Yixing sat straight in his saddle, his eyes staring straight ahead with his face settled into an unreadable mask. Feiyan swallowed down a sigh and huffed quietly. If there wasn’t a need to please all the elders and political players in the Mongol court and likely those in the Ming court as well, she wouldn’t have bothered trying to act civil with her husband, much less ride on a horse next to him.

“You could at least smile a little.” Yixing’s voice cut into her thoughts, drawing her back to the ridiculously boring horse ride.

“I don’t see any reason to be smiling with you.” Feiyan replied with a slight pout.

“Oh? And would you rather smile around my eldest brother instead?” Yixing’s question startled Feiyan just as her horse was startled by a rabbit running across the path, sending the horse skittering sideways in fright. Yixing’s hand reached out and caught the reins as they slipped from Feiyan’s hands, steadying the frightened horse.

“Thank you-” Feiyan’s heart jumped into as she found herself awfully close to her husband’s face. She had slid slightly sideways as her horse had shied, sending her wobbling in Yixing’s direction. She cleared and slipped back into her seat, her heart pounding in her chest.

“I thought you’d be a better rider by now.” Yixing teased with a chuckle, “After all, you have practiced with my brother so much, now haven’t you?” Feiyan glared at Yixing.

“I would watch your mouth if I were you.” She hissed, “I don’t need infidelity rumors flying around, and neither do you.” Yixing smirked and reached over to yank her horse closer.

“Then you should be smart and stop acting in ways that will create those rumors.” He replied. Feiyan felt her face flush and urged her horse to go faster.

“Yilong gege and I are simply friends.” She said, “Nothing more.”

“I see no reason for you to defend yourself unless you’ve done something against your conscience.” Yixing replied as he easily caught up. Feiyan turned to glare at him, her hands tightening on the reins.

“You are quite the infuriating man, did you know that?” She muttered. Yixing laughed and glanced back at their guards. The men were far back enough that they were just out of earshot, but close enough to see the expression on the royal couple’s faces. For all intents and purposes, they could have been having a light cheerful conversation instead of bickering. Yixing raised an eyebrow as he levelled his gaze at her.

“I’ve warned you of this once, and I’ll warn you again.” He said, “There is more to Yilong then he shows. He is a dragon that will not hesitate to burn down everything in his path in order to get what he wants. In his eyes, no one is worth more than his own ambition. You’d best stay far away from him, unless you want to be destroyed.” Yixing’s words sent a chill through Feiyan’s chest, but she steeled herself and glared at him.

“I see no reason to believe you.” She snapped. Yixing sighed and shook his head.

“I do wonder.” He said, “How can you be like two completely different people within less than one day? Just last night, you were the epitome of what a perfect wife should be. And yet, you are the complete opposite now.” Feiyan laughed.

“It’s called diplomacy, Prince Yixing.” She replied, “It’s a game I learned to play after spending years in the Ming palace. Without it, I couldn’t have survived until today. Surely, as Crown Prince, you would know that without me telling.” Feiyan turned to look at Yixing, who was looking at her with an interesting expression on his face.

“Then tell me,” He said, “Which one is the real you?” Feiyan gave him a little smile.

“Whichever one you think it is.” She answered. Without waiting for Yixing to respond, she spurred her horse into a gallop, and left her husband behind her as she headed back to camp. Yixing watched her go, not bothering to chase after his wife. The smallest of amused smiles curled up the corner of his lips. There was certainly more to his wife than he had imagined.

___________________________________________________________________________

“Princess, a letter has arrived for you.” Feiyan paused as a voice called out to her after she had dismounted. She took the letter that a servant handed her and as smile spread over her face as she recognized the handwriting on the envelope.

Tianjun!

Feiyan hurried back to her tent and opened the letter, her eyes eagerly scanning the page.

“My dear little sister,

I hope you are doing well in Mongolia. Life goes on as normal here, but it is much quieter without your constant chatter. I write to tell you that I will be visiting you in Mongolia to see how you are settling into your new life. By the time this letter arrives, it should only take me about another week to arrive at your camp. I will see you then.

Tianjun”

Feiyan’s heart leaped as she folded the letter to her chest. At last, a familiar face!

“You look quite happy.” A voice spoke from the tent entrance, and Feiyan smiled as she looked up.

“Hello, Yilong.” She greeted her brother-in-law. Yilong smiled as he sat down next to Feiyan.

“Who has managed to make you this happy? I have rarely seen you smile so happily since you came here.” He commented. Feiyan grinned.

“My brother is coming to visit!” She said, “I haven’t seen him since I was married here!” Yilong chuckled.

“You must be very attached to your brother.” He noted. Feiyan nodded.

“He always took care of my sister and I when we were young.” She said, “He’s like half a father to me.” Her gaze traveled to Yilong’s smile as she spoke, Yixing’s words from earlier ringing in the back of her mind.

A dragon that will not hesitate to burn down everything in his path…

Yilong’s gaze was gentle now, but was there more to what his face showed than what she saw? What thoughts were going on behind those deep brown eyes?

“Feiyan?” Feiyan blinked as Yilong waved a hand in front of her face.

“Are you alright?” He asked. Feiyan smiled and nodded. There was no reason for her to believe Yixing’s words; Yilong’s eyes betrayed nothing but kindness when he looked at her. She would be a fool to think otherwise.

“Tell me more about your brother. He sounds interesting.” Yilong said, smiling. Feiyan laughed.

“Let’s see...he always tells me stories about what happens outside the palace, because my father never let me leave the palace to explore.” She clasped her hands together in delight as she imagined her brother, “He’s young, but already has much experience from the battlefield. All the maids swoon over him when he comes to visit.” Feiyan’s eyes gazed off into the distance as she spoke, remembering the times she had spent with her brother. She heard Yilong laugh from next to her, but with her thoughts distracting her, Feiyan failed to notice the look darkening Yilong’s kind eyes.