Nanowrimo 2022 - Day 14 Word Count and Best Bit (Patreon)

Today I added 1,941 words to my project, pushing me over the halfway mark at 25,027 words total!

"You wound me, princess," Wukong joked. "My only purpose is to make sure you get through this competition alive."

Jin Xia paused, taking in his words. Once more the question floated through her mind. This time, she decided to voice it.

"Why did you volunteer to help me?"

Wukong took a moment to perhaps consider his words, chewing slowly on the latest candied nut he'd pilfered from Jin Xia's treat bowl. When he spoke, his tone left no room to misconstrue his words.

"Quite frankly, princess, I don't like it when people in power get comfortable."

Jin Xia couldn't help but feel disappointed at his answer. "So...you just wanted to spite my father. That's the only reason?"

"Not the only one," Wukong corrected. "Call me a sucker, but I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic. And what's more romantic than the daughter of a common-born concubine rising up and becoming empress?"

"You've been reading some odd romance novels," Jin Xia said dismissively. She wasn't sure if that reason made her feel any better. It seemed like he just expected her to be a helpless, trembling thing waiting to be saved. "I'm sorry to dash your fantastical daydreams."

"What are you talking about?" Wukong said with a disbelieving laugh. "You've exceeded all my expectations!"

It was Jin Xia's turn to blink owlishly. "What?"

"You're clever, you're principled, and you shoot like the archer who married the moon!" Wukong exclaimed, jumping up from his chair to gesticulate wildly. "You're the kind of heroine anyone can root for!"

Jin Xia snorted in a distinctly unladylike manner. "I'm not some character in your novels, General."

"Maybe not," Wukong agreed, sitting back down and leaning across the table with a grin. "But you have a story nonetheless. A story you can use to make the people love you."

Jin Xia's eyes widened as she finally understood what the general meant. Winning the people's support was just as important as convincing the ministers of her capabilities. She could complete her father's challenge perfectly and still not be able to sit on the throne for more than a year if a commoner's rebellion took place. No matter how many soldiers she had, the peasantry would always outnumber them. And who would soldiers be more loyal to: their emperor, or their families?

"You rely so much on your wits that you forget that most people make decisions based on their feelings first and foremost," the general said. "If the ministers thought logically, they'd see you are the better option. But they don't. They see that Qui Ling is a man and his ego makes him easy to manipulate. These things appeal to them on an emotional level because they fear change and want to hoard their own power. Appeal to people's hearts, Jin Xia. That is what will win you the throne."

A long moment of silence stretched out between them, ember-red eyes never releasing their hold on amber-gold. The air felt thick, breaths coming heavy and slow.

"You said my name."

Wukong pulled back. "Eh?"

Jin Xia smiled. "You said my name for once. Normally you just call me 'princess'. Though either one is grossly improper."

"You never seemed to mind," Wukong said with a shrug.

"I don't," she admitted. "It makes me feel like I have a friend. I have so few of those."

"The palace is a lonely place," Wukong agreed, staring wistfully out the window. "I always tried to be friendly with the members of the Jade Emperor's court, but in the end they only saw me as a burden. Or a threat."

He turned to her once more, expression tired and sad. It pained Jin Xia to see it. "Maybe that's the real reason why I wanted to help you. Everyone looked at you the same way they looked at me."

"A burden or a threat," Jin Xia echoed, eyes dropping to her reflection in the polished wood of the table. "Yes. I think I know exactly how you feel."