Leaving the imperial study, Ning Chen made his way to the Falling Phoenix Palace.

Once he had been announced, Ning Chen found the Ninth Princess in a red dress, her smile bright and lovely.

The Ninth Princess seemed to have a particular fondness for red. He wondered idly whether her stomach-wrap was red too.

She had been in good spirits, but the moment she saw Ning Chen, her spirits sank a little.

Ning Chen watched the change come over her face and could not help asking, "The Princess doesn't look happy to see me?"

The Ninth Princess glared at him. "Have you come to ask whether I've made up my mind?"

"Hm? About what?"

Ning Chen looked a little lost.

The Ninth Princess planted her hands on her hips, willful and adorable. "About Yudie! Weren't you hoping I'd agree to let her be your concubine? Isn't that what you're here for?"

Ning Chen blinked, then shook his head.

The Ninth Princess brightened at once. "So you came just to see me?"

"I've come to say goodbye to the Princess."

The Ninth Princess froze. "Goodbye?"

Ning Chen nodded. "Wu has sent terms for peace. I'm to go there on Great Xuan's behalf and negotiate."

"It'll take nearly two months, all told. I'm afraid our wedding will have to be pushed back a few days."

The Ninth Princess shook her head. "It doesn't matter. It's only a few days' delay... and it'll give the Ministry of Rites more time to prepare, if anything."

Ning Chen looked at her, surprised. "You're not angry?"

The Ninth Princess looked at him as if he'd said something strange. "Peace talks are a wonderful thing for the kingdom and the people — why would I be angry?"

"If the talks succeed, the frontier won't have to fight a war every year. Our soldiers won't have to die. The common people can live their lives in peace."

Ning Chen looked at her with something like astonishment... He had never expected this willful, spoiled little thing to have such a grasp of the bigger picture.

"Just what I would…