Blood in the Snow by Sarah Pennington

Author:Sarah Pennington [Pennington, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-25T16:00:00+00:00

That evening, when Baili and Chouko told the others of the day’s events, Gan laughed proudly. “Hah! I knew that man would not be fooled by a pretty face when there is a prettier one nearby. He has looked and found truth, just as I planned.”

“As you planned, Ganbaatar?” Chouko set down her chopsticks and glared across the table. “I recall no plans from you.”

“Do not blame Gan, Chouko. I began it,” Ailin said meekly. “I told him that we should not leave his highness’s learning of our guest to chance.”

“She echoed my thoughts, and when two think alike, that is reason for action.” Gan smirked. “We were no fools, erveekei. On the günja’s first day here, we listened to the winds, Ailin in the kitchens and I in the stables. All news finds one or the other in time. And when the winds whispered that the prince was delaying every ceremony and that he and his father secretly doubted the river princess, we started our own breezes.”

“And we succeeded.” Ailin smiled, looking down at her bowl as if embarrassed by her pride. “There are a dozen rumors now, spread all through the castle, court, and city, but not one is in the false princess’s favor.”

“Indeed.” Nianzu leaned forward. “The widest-spread one is simply the false princess’s story turned on its head, that she is in truth the cousin who, out of jealousy, charmed all the guards into turning against the princess, but failed to kill her and so concocted her tale as protection.”

Baili smiled. “Oh? Then anyone who knows that rumor almost knows the truth.”

“So they do, but what of it?” Chouko snorted. “Only a fool acts on mere rumor.”

“That is not true.” As Baili thought through all the implications of Gan’s plan, her smile grew. “The common people hear the rumors and distrust the false princess, but will welcome me when I step forward. As for the court, any noble knows that rumor holds a grain of truth. Most have servants tasked with keeping track of gossip and finding the truth behind it. They will hear the first story, look deeper, and discover what we know. And the prince himself, if already suspicious, would see the rumors as an excuse to investigate further.”

“And what of the false princess?” Chouko pointed her chopsticks at Gan. “If his highness has heard of this, she surely has as well. What happens when she learns where the rumors started?

“Do not fear, Chouko.” Baili shook her head. “Until the wedding, Lanfen remains a guest in the emperor’s house. She cannot simply have people killed as she wishes. Imprisoned, perhaps, or brought before the emperor, but if the emperor is suspicious, neither would be so dangerous as before.” Baili’s smile faded. “If she does act, it will be in the night and against me alone. Without a noble’s support, you cannot speak against her, and explaining the deaths of four or eight people, even animal keepers, would be difficult.”

“You are not wrong, günja, though she may grow paranoid and strike anyway.

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