I hurry down the hallway, careful to remain unseen. The guards think nothing of a concubine leaving the emperor’s quarters this early in the morning. I’ve already wrapped myself in the emperor’s gold curtains, so they cannot see the color of my gowns. I know that everyone else will know that I was there, but at least the guards won’t know it was me leaving his chamber in the morning.

I finally reach our garden and slip through the archway, overgrown with morning glories. The entire garden is still, no one is awake yet. I hurry to my tent, leaving the golden curtain in the middle of the path. I hurriedly pack my things in a decorative bag, my gowns and veils all wrinkle as I shove them roughly into the silk sack.

When I turn around, I’m shocked to see Lilac standing behind me. “Lilac…” I whisper, my body shudders, “I have to leave.” I shake my head; my story is ridiculously unbelievable. She nods, gestures to her own, already-packed satchel. She holds up the gold fabric, rips it in two.

We don our veils.