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Before they retired to their beds, Rosethorn and Briar looked over their new rosebush, which had arrived during the lazed jar that matched the color of the leaves precisely, a touch even Evvy appreciated Moreover, the inked Yanjingyi lettering on the inside of the jar’s lip appeared to be instructions to the cats Even Monster, who had learned only with difficulty that he was not to anoint Briar’s shakkans -- miniature trees -- sniffed the jar once, sneezed, and stayed away froh the bush, finding the traces of Rosethorn’s earlier healing of the mold Neither of theardeners had not been forced to destroy the original plant
They were joined for supper by Jia Jui, Parahan, and those of the afternoon’s party who had actually seeners to soames andbody of water There they fed the giant carp that swam in its waters until an exquisite display of fireworks -- colored flowers and trees made of zayao -- was set off in their honor By the time it was over, Rosethorn, Briar, and Evvy were happy to return to their pavilion and their beds
Rosethorn spent an hour going over the rosebush again Once she was done she had hoped to write to her beloved Lark, back at Winding Circle, but she could barely keep her eyes open
A day spent with hidden tensions between Evvy and the general, Evvy and that olderon between the courtiers and Rosethorn’s people would do that The e with his lords She would be happy when they left the imperial court and its pitfalls Rosethorn was asleep as soon as she closed her eyes
Soled to shake it off her leaves and blossoht on their stereenery as thethis dreadful liquid all over thes and knocked petals off their bloo dry reeds down between their plants, reeds that drippedoil She didn’t understand None of them understood
The rose plants didn’t understand, but the sleeping Rosethorn did With a cry she thrust her blankets aside and jumped out of bed She didn’t even re of Briar or Evvy, she raced out of the pavilion through a back door The first touch of flaht her to her knees on a trail that skirted apond She lurched to her feet again and ran on as light grely in the sky ahead
When she reached the rose garden, all of it was in flaardeners had been bound and left at its center: They were done screa The emperor and his soldiers watched on horseback from the main path
The emperor saw her as he turned his horse to ride away "The plants harbored ardeners allowed them to do so," he said, his face calm "Surely you understand that no imperfection is permitted at one of my palaces I did tell you" He looked past Rosethorn "Slaves will come to escort you back"
Rosethorn felt Briar put his aric, wakened, and followed her to discover what Weishu had ordered done Once the eht, Briar spat on the path
They waited together on the edge of the burning garden until the slaves caravel and new gardeners had co up the roots
THE WINTER PALACE
DOHAN IN YANJING
The next five days were drawn from the pattern of the first They rose at dawn, for Rosethorn and Briar to pretend friendship as the emperor and his favorites showed thereenhouses Parahan and souards and a few younger courtiers and es, would join Evvy First they would play briefly with her cats, then venture out to visit the emperor’s wild animal collection, his treasure houses, his artisans’ workshops, and his rock gardens Everyone would gather together for a late breakfast or early midday meal
After a noon rest, so necessary in a part of the country that was already war up for suyi children studied ic, or Evvy would show Jia Jui what she could do Briar and Rosethorn retreated to the greenhouse where they and the gardeners would work on the rose they had promised Weishu There they produced a red-and-yellow-streaked blooardens The Weishu Rose was resistant to every plant ail all the uses known by the local peasant farht to dine on thes
They presented the emperor with his rose, and a bush which showed a handful of buds, on their fifth , at breakfast They could tell froive us, that we cannot rejoice more," he said as a eunuch carried the potted plant away and Weishu turned the single cut blooers (Briar had been careful to remove the thorns first) "Even the scent is perfection Our heart yearns to learn more of our Weishu Rose, but our duty forces us to leave it behind We depart the Winter Palace in theOur household will continue to look after you as if ere here, but imperial business calls us away You will find we have left the three of you certain gifts, in thanks for your learning and coether with the pack aniiven to understand you mean to take ship from Hanjian at the end of the month you call Goose Moon?"