Not far from the newly established Xuanhuang Palace.
In a secluded grove.
Jiang Yu drew her plain cloak tighter and stood beneath a Soul-Returning Poplar, silently watching the shimmering Silent River in the distance. Faint footsteps suddenly reached her ears.
"Why did you stop me from asking?"
She asked without turning around, as though she knew who had come.
A faint fragrance drifted over, and Su Shijun's light voice sounded behind her. "Why ask something you already know? Why ask a question with no answer? Are you trying to make things difficult for him, or for yourself? Or do you lack faith not only in him, but in yourself?"
The witch by the river said nothing.
A hand settled on Jiang Yu's shoulder. She turned her head and stared for a moment at its long, fair fingers and almost translucent skin, lovely as fine jade.
The Upper Councilor of the Moonlit Parliament had appeared beside her without a sound. With a hint of pride and irritation, she said, "He kept looking at you even with me standing right there. You should have a little more confidence in yourself.
"As for what happened in Perrin World, everyone who needs to know probably already knows. He made no particular effort to hide it, so he must have guessed that the elders of both our families could learn what happened there... and who was there. He let us know she exists, yet didn't bring her back. That says plenty. So why drag it up again?"
"He could have brought Ilena back to school." Jiang Yu looked away from the hand on her shoulder and down at her toes. "He didn't dare bring her back. He's obviously feeling guilty."
"No. Keeping that Gypsy witch far away is the only way he can maintain a