252 Chapter 252

Ning Yi had thought she would meet him at Shang Ye for their return to Dijing, together in their joy and victory. He had planned to ask about his box of letters and whether she had liked the reed leaf and the coral, whether she wished to visit together the reed marsh as the passed through South Sea. He had wanted to see how she had changed in their months apart, whether she had thinned or grew curves, whether she had tanned in the salt of the sea, whether she had stayed well — it had been too long since he had left, much too long.

"Wait for me."

"I have to wait for you so we can return to Dijing together."

"I know what you look like. If you get skinnier when we meet again, I won't spare you."

"How will you not spare me?"

"I'll kill you, and we will never be reconciled."

Those teasing words had unfortunately come to pass.