The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 11

There was one reason, and one reason only, that Rikuson wanted to destroy the family register—and that was because he felt a duty to Gyokuen

Maomao.” She heard Jinshi from the other side of the curtain. “I think things are going to get tiring. I need a charge.” His hand poked through the drapes.

“A charge?” Maomao asked.

She studied the shelf Chue had indicated. She took a mooncake wrapped in paper from a basket on the shelf and pressed it into Jinshi’s hand.

“Huh?!”

The mooncake dropped to the ground. The paper came off and, sadly, it touched the floor. Maomao moved to pick it up, but her right hand was caught by Jinshi’s. She felt his fingers slide between hers as if to make sure she was there. The fact they were both using their right hands made it oddly awkward.

Jinshi’s long fingers pressed into the back of Maomao’s hand, while his palm pressed against hers. She could

A high wall, however, appeared in front of Maomao. Thoom. Jinshi had risen from his seat and was standing smack in front of her.

“Yes, sir?” she asked. Jinshi continued to look less than pleased.

“It has come to my attention that this man with whom you claim not to be especially close recently proposed marriage to you.”

At least he was to the point.

Am I a pawn to you, Master Jinshi?”
He was silent.
“Is there something you’d like to say to me?”
“Yes. I want to...” He started to answer, but refused to look her in the eye.

Under the present circumstances, I think that it would be safest to return to the central region.”
Safest for whom to return, Maomao wondered, but then she realized—he meant her.

ploop-ploop. “Am I wrong? Is it only just beginning?”

don’t understand. It’s supposed to be over.” Tears began falling from his eyes. Ploop-

His next thought was that he would go on. In order to protect the western lands, he would live, he would continue to be the wind.

fear that, when I am gone, one of them may grow greedy and try something.”
That seemed like something the man Ou would do, Rikuson thought. In fact, he already had.
“Should that happen, I want you to eliminate that child. And then you must protect the western capital.”

you hate Brother Gyoku-ou?”
“I don’t even want to hear his name.”
“Really? He hates me too. I wonder, will he come after me someday?”
Rikuson paused. “If he does, maybe I’ll help you. If I feel like it.”
With that, Rikuson boarded his carriage.