On the third day of Bai Jin's secluded recovery, Qian Renxue placed a chair beneath his window.
That afternoon, a stack of Official Documents appeared on the chair.
Another day later, a teapot and pastries joined them.
Bai Jin looked at the growing assortment, leaned against the window, and sighed.
"Are you planning to work here?"
"So no one slips out the window."
He glanced toward the other window.
Qian Renxue didn't look up. "Yan's watching that one."
Bai Jin stuck his head out. Sure enough, Yan was crouched at the foot of the wall. At the sound, he sprang to his feet, his face bright with the satisfaction of finally getting his turn.
"Elder Bai, you should be resting."
"Remember that look on your face today."
Yan's smile stiffened, but he still refused to move.
Later, Bai Jin's hand healed completely, but the chair stayed where it was. Once Qian Renxue finished her work, she would sometimes sit there for a while. After winter came, Bai Jin brought her inside, Official Documents and all.
Little by little, each of their quarters filled with the other's things.
Her hair ribbon hung beside his mirror, while his sunglasses kept turning up on her desk. Whoever got back first asked the kitchen to keep dinner warm. It was easier to keep up than many promises they had made aloud.
Nearly five months later, Spirit City welcomed a ceremony unlike any before it.
The new banners of the Seven Great Sects stood on either side of the Plaza.
The duchies and kingdoms that had pledged allegiance to Spirit Hall each sent envoys bearing seals, treaties, and land registers. The old temple banner still flew high above Spirit City, but beside it hung a military standard representing the new regime.
The Spirit Hall Empire