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“I don’t recall offering my family as an alternative,” he countered lightly.

I flushed, turning from him. “The empress agreed to help Liwei escape. I will get him out.”

“We will get him out,” he corrected me.

“No, I must go alone,” I told him flatly. The empress would not have lied, not for this—she would want me to succeed, especially after securing my vow. “The palace is warded against your people. I can’t risk Liwei being accused of conspiring with the Demon Realm.”

“You would rather get caught? Because of what people might say?” he asked tersely.

“Your presence might be what gets us caught,” I told him.

“You can’t do this alone. Every soldier will be on the alert. Who will speak for you should trouble arise?” He stepped closer to me, and I made myself hold my ground. “Don’t punish yourself for what happened on the moon, for what you think were your mistakes. You don’t need to save everyone in some misguided attempt to right these wrongs, out of a sense of obligation.”

“I’m not doing this out of duty. I want to save Liwei, more than anything.” My voice was hoarse with suppressed emotion.

His expression shuttered. “I spoke out of turn. I know your feelings for him.”

I looked away, the hurt inflicted by the empress still raw. For even if I succeeded, she had ensured that I would still lose. “I have a plan. There will be no danger.”

When he stared at me, unspeaking, arms folded across his chest, I added, “Maybe just a little danger.”

“Don’t be a fool.” Wenzhi’s tone dropped dangerously low.

“Don’t call me a fool when the worst thing I ever did was to trust you,” I hissed through gritted teeth. “Don’t imagine you alone have all the answers. I have seen and done as much as you, I have guarded your back as you did mine. I tricked you once, and would do it again.”

We glared at each other, our robes fluttering in the breeze, the wind teasing our hair. His eyes shone so brightly, the only stars in this bleak night.

“You are right. I am the fool for imagining anything could change.” He held my gaze. “Tell me, then, how you will invade the Jade Palace singlehandedly with just a little danger.” A shred of humor lifted his words.

“There will be no invasion. I intend to draw their attention away, like you did the last time, except within the palace grounds.”

“If only I had not helped you then,” he said with feeling. “Causing a small diversion at the gate is not the same thing as wreaking turmoil in the heart of the Jade Palace. What will you do?”

“Shoot a few arrows into the Hall of Eastern Light?” I stifled a laugh at the expression on his face, equal parts incredulous and anxious. While the thought had crossed my mind—undoubtedly satisfying—it would be dangerous beyond measure. “I don’t have a plan yet,” I admitted. “But I will.”

He inclined his head. “I did not mean to offend you earlier. You might be somewhat reckless at times, though never a fool.”

Something stirred in my chest that I quelled. Silence fell between us as we entered the Southern Sea, making our way through the watery tunnel. The guards at the entrance did not question us when we displayed our pearls for their inspection. As we strode to the palace, a shell caught my eye. Snow white, spiraling into a cone, just like the one I had given Liwei. As I crouched down to pick it up, a memory surfaced, of the vendor proudly displaying his wares in the Celestial market.

These were picked from the deepest waters in the Southern Sea … enchanted to capture your favorite sound, music, or even a loved one’s voice.

My mind spun with the beginnings of an idea. I stopped the first Sea Immortal passing by, a plump woman draped in lilac brocade. “Is there a merchant here who sells shells? Enchanted ones?”

She blinked, taken aback by my urgency. “Master Bingwen owns the shop by the coral fountain. You will recognize his store when you see it.”

As I thanked her, Wenzhi stared dubiously at the shells strewn around us. “Why would anyone want to buy one of those here?”

“Not everyone can do what he does.”

Away from the palace, the streets widened, lined by undulating fronds of jade-green seaweed, interspersed with coral in jeweled tones. The walls of the buildings shimmered with a pearlescent hue, their arched rooftops adorned with delicate sculptures of sea creatures in turquoise, gold, and silver. Circular gateways opened into lush courtyards, though a few remained locked behind gates of lacquered wood. As a soft rush of water drifted through the air, we followed its trail to find a fountain formed of azure and lilac coral.

An elegant building was situated beside it, its mahogany pillars carved with a pattern of shells. The latticed windows were shut as was the door, but I rapped on it, my nerves frayed. When there was no response, I pushed against the wooden panel that swung open smoothly. At the entrance, I hesitated—reluctant to enter without an invitation, yet I had little time to waste. It was dark within, a damp heaviness clinging to the air, clogging my lungs with each breath. Glittering flecks darted through the air like fireflies, and red lacquered chests of drawers were pushed against the walls. Glancing down, my eyes widened to find the floor submerged beneath a layer of luminous seawater. Its glowing tendrils crept up the sides of the drawers, seeping into the wood like shining veins. Bracing myself, I stepped into the room, the ice-cold water sloshing around my ankles. At once, a brightness suffused the chamber, the lanterns hanging from the ceiling flaring to life.

“The store is closed. Who are you?” an irate voice demanded.

An immortal strode in from a doorway at the far end, the broad-faced merchant from the Celestial market. As he caught sight of me, his forehead furrowed like he was trying to recall something.

“The musician!” A smile broke across his face as he came forward, wading easily through the water. “I never forget a face. Especially not someone I made a good trade with.”