Nanowrimo 2022 - Day 17 and 18 Update (Patreon)

Another double update, over the past two days I've added a combined 3,407 words, bringing my total to 30,743!

They were brought into the walled courtyard, where they exited their carriage and joined the throng of people making their way into the main palace building. Fires roared in giant hearths, spreading warmth through the building to keep the mountain chill at bay. Most local nobles wore thick furs over their shoulders, and Jin Xia was starting to wish she’d thought of that. She hadn’t expected it to still be so chilly in the spring and summer months.

“Are you cold?”

Jin Xia turned at the unfamiliar voice, ignoring the way Wukong stiffened protectively next to her. A tall, broad-shouldered man stood before her, watching her shiver with fiercely pale blue eyes. White hair was cropped short and contrasted beautifully with his dark skin. Such a combination was not unheard of in the west, but Jin Xia had never seen it herself. She wondered if it was a blessing like her golden eyes were.

“I am,” she admitted, rubbing at her arms. “I am not used to the cold air of the mountains.”

The man nodded, seeming to ponder this a moment before shucking the furred cloak he had hanging about his shoulders. He held it out to her with a innocent smile. “Take this then.”

Jin Xia stared at him, as she was sure An Cheng was doing as well. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly take your cloak.”

“I have others,” the man said with a shrug.

“But…we’re strangers,” Jin Xia pointed out. Who just gives a stranger their clothes?

The man’s hand withdrew a bit, as if he was considering this point. Then, he simply smiled again, holding out the cloak once more. “I am Bai Xue, a councilman’s son. And what’s your name?”

Jin Xia blinked, utterly perplexed by where this conversation was going. Still, she would not let her confoundedness make her forget her manners. She dipped a curtsey. “The Imperial Princess, Jin Xia, greets the councilman’s son Bai Xue.”

The man, Bai Xue, grinned even wider. “There. Now we’re not strangers, and you can accept my cloak.”

Jin Xia couldn't exactly argue with that logic. Well, she could, but she didn't think it would help. Instead, she murmured her thanks and took the furred cloak, wrapping it around her shoulders. It was far too big for her, the end dragging on the ground for several inches where on Bai Xue it only came halfway down his shins.

Bai Xue turned then to An Cheng, friendly smile still plastered on his face. "Are you cold as well?" Before An Cheng had the chance to answer, he turned and shouted over his shoulder at a man quite similar in looks to him. This one appeared older, his eyes a refreshingly minty green rather than Bai Xue's icy blue. "Guo Ming! Come give your cloak to this lady. She's cold."

An Cheng blushed a brilliant red color, holding up her hands as if to fend off the gesture. "No, no! That's really not necessary!"

"Think nothing of it," the other man, Guo Ming, assured. "What kind of hosts would we be if our guests shivered so fervently? Please, take my cloak."

An Cheng's eyes shifted rapidly between Jin Xia and Guo Ming, desperate for the princess to give her some kind of guidance. Jin Xia couldn't help but chuckle slightly.

"Just take the cloak, An Cheng," she said flatly. An Cheng did as she was told, practically snatching the fabric out of Guo Ming's hands with hilariously stiff movements.

"You got a cloak for me? Perhaps some pretty lady would be willing to give up her furs." Wukong asked, clearly joking.

Bai Xue didn't seem to catch onto that fact, however, glancing about for yet another man he could corral into giving up his cloak. "I'm sure we could find another for you. I'm not sure a woman's cloak would fit you, though..."

"Yu Nuan's might fit him," Guo Ming offered, a light smirk on his face.

Wukong held up his hand, unable to hold back a smirk. "It was a joke."

Guo Ming's smirk widened slightly. "I am aware."

"Well, if you change your mind, I'm sure we could find a cloak for you as well," Bai Xue said cheerfully.

"I'm sure you'd steal it off the shoulders of the high king himself if you had to," Wukong joked.

Bai Xue didn't seem to hear him, his attention back on Jin Xia. "Have you been told where you are staying? Guo Ming and I could escort you there, if you'd like. The palace is quite large and it's easy to get lost if you don't know where you're going."

"We haven't spoken with the steward yet," Jin Xia said, trying to not let herself get caught up in the infectious energy of this strange man. Such friendliness in the imperial palace would be seen as either suspicious or overly naïve, and yet here it seemed utterly unremarkable. Bai Xue didn't even seem to recognize who she was, even with her formally introducing herself.

"We'll show you to the steward, then," Bai Xue offered. "And then, when you know where you're staying, we can escort you there."

"You seem very insistent on escorting us," Jin Xia said cooly. "Almost as if you want to know where we're staying."

Bai Xue's boyishly disarming smile made her feel silly for being so suspicious. "Is it so odd that one might want to spend more time in the presence of someone of your beauty?"

'Ah,' Jin Xia thought. 'So that's what it is. A womanizer.'

"Bai Xue, mind your manners," Guo Ming warned. "The imperial princess is not someone you just flirt with."

So at least one of them was aware of her status. Jin Xia eyed Bai Xue, who did not flinch at the suspicion. She was used to being called beautiful, though it was usually by her mother or by some brown-nosing servant or courtier. At times like that the compliment meant nothing. Occasionally she heard it from ministers and bureaucrats with wandering eyes, which made the compliment feel tainted.

But it didn't feel meaningless or tainted when Bai Xue said it. Either he was a very good womanizer to appear so genuine, or he actually meant it.

"I'm sure we will see each other plenty during the festivities," Jin Xia eventually said. She dipped a curtsey. "For now, we must bid you farewell."

Bai Xue's smile fell, disappointment all over his face. "Oh...alright."

Jin Xia took the time to flash him a smile over her shoulder as she and her companions turned to make their way further into the palace. Just that seemed to brighten the westerner's mood. Jin Xia appreciated an easily pleased man. They were so easy to use.

"Ask around about that Bai Xue," she whispered to An Cheng. "He might be useful."