Tang Di was taken back to the Yunan Prince’s mansion, and Ruoshui and the others went with him.

　　Yu Lan stayed by Tang Di’s bedside. He said weakly, “You should leave. I might infect you.”

　　Yu Lan shook her head, resolute. “I won’t go. I’ll stay and take care of you.”

　　She had been frightened at first; the plague seemed distant when only heard of, but seeing someone fall ill before her eyes — and that person being Tang Di — made the danger real. She feared infection, she feared death, but she feared Tang Di’s dying even more. Her stubborn, determined expression made Tang Di feel tender. But he could not let her sacrifice herself. Turning away, he said, “Yu Lan, thank you for the music and the meals, but the person I like is not you. Go now.”

　　Yu Lan was stunned. Why speak of this now? She could not contain her grief and cried, “Who do you like?”

　　“I like… Ruoshui,” Tang Di muttered, unable to meet her eyes. “You’re right — her music is finer, she’s prettier… and she can—”

　　“Stop!” Yu Lan ran out crying. She had always known she was no match for Ruoshui in birth or beauty or talent; now the truth hammered at her heart. In her despair she made porridge and brought it to Tang Di herself.

　　“I told you I didn’t love you,” Tang Di croaked, too weak even to push it away.

　　“If you drink this porridge, I will leave,” Yu Lan said, feeding him spoonful by spoonful.

　　He ate. She dared not look into his eyes, for his gaze held tenderness and regret. After he finished, he sent her away again. “You should go.”

　　“I love you, even if I’m unworthy. I want to stay and care for you,” she said through tears.

　　Yu Lan’s pain was sharp, and Tang Di felt it too. He wanted to tell her the truth: that he did not love Ruoshui, that Ruoshui’s music was not what he loved, that he loved Yu Lan. But he could not say it. Instead he lied, “You should leave. Do you want me to die looking at a face I don’t love?”

　　Yu Lan’s tears fell. Tang Di turned his face away, afraid of regretting his words.

　　Even after Tang Di’s blunt words, Yu Lan furtively crept in while he slept and kept vigil by his bed.

　　When Feng Xinzi returned to the Yunan Prince’s mansion, Tang Di was near death. Feng Xinzi examined him and shook his head — the plague in the Sleepless City was unusual and vicious. Yu Lan, distraught, rushed to Ruoshui and knelt.

　　“Miss Ruoshui, please — go to him. The prince isn’t well.”

　　Furong and Ruoshui were puzzled. “Why me? What can I do?”

　　“Prince Tang Di said he likes you. Please go see him,” Yu Lan pleaded, bowing her head to Ruoshui.

　　Furong realized the truth: Tang Di had used Ruoshui as a shield. Ruoshui, who had little memory of Tang Di besides a few brief encounters at the gate and a quarrel, was pulled along by Yu Lan. She went with her without delay.

　　By Tang Di’s bedside, Feng Xinzi’s face was grave. Tang Di had been exposed to blood splatter during his earlier battles and had concealed his symptoms, for he had the duty of the city on his shoulders. Yu Lan had kept night watch. Feng Xinzi, worried, asked questions while Yu Lan wept.

　　Yu Lan begged Ruoshui, “Please — look at him.”

　　Tang Di opened his eyes. Yu Lan thought the gaze was meant for Ruoshui, but Tang Di’s tired eyes searched for Yu Lan. Ruoshui, noticing, realized suddenly that something else was going on. Tang Di reached to comfort Yu Lan, tried to wipe away her tears, but his hand fell powerless. He closed his eyes.

　　Yu Lan wailed, shook him, and then he did not answer.

　　Night settled. The mansion was hushed. Yu Lan kept vigil beside Tang Di while Feng Xinzi could do little. Ruoshui, meanwhile, slept fitfully without the steadying music she usually had.

　　That night Ruoshui dreamed she was running. She did not know why but she ran and then was tripped. Her forehead struck a dead stump and she bled. She touched her wound and was annoyed until the stump sprouted green shoots. A man’s voice said behind her, “Your blood can nourish all things.” The voice was familiar and comforting. She turned and saw a figure in white — and once again it was Sumu.

　　Ruoshui woke. “Your blood can nourish all things.” That line felt as if someone really had told her. Like in Yunfu Town, the vision kept showing Sumu’s face. Coincidence twice seemed too much. For over two years she’d been trying to forget that she had once been called Sumu’s wife; she had been a married woman in name. Now she could not make sense of it. There were more important things: Tang Di lay dying. She pulled on a jacket, went to his room remembered the scene.

　　Yu Lan had fainted beside his bed, still holding his hand. Ruoshui pulled out Yu Lan’s hairpin, rolled up her sleeve, and with a calm she did not show to others she sliced her wrist. Blood welled and she placed her bleeding wrist over Tang Di’s lips, letting her blood drip into his mouth.

　　Then she slipped away. Although she’d barely shed any blood, she felt weak and faint. She returned to her room and collapsed into sleep.