Day three, Liu Rong was starving so bad he saw golden stars.
Piggy squatted in the shadows smoking his pipe, ember glowing on and off. Suddenly he spoke:
"Your Highness, I was almost a prince once too. Dreamed of milk that smelled sweet as heaven. Woke up and the wet nurse had long poisoned by Empress Dowager Dou. I was rolled in a torn quilt and tossed out the palace gate—five taels sewn inside, just enough to buy one top-grade pig."
He pulled out a crimson jade pendant missing a corner and shoved it into Liu Rong's freezing hand. Scalding hot.
"I haven't dared touch it in twenty years. Afraid I'd remember what kind of trash I am. You're the real dragon, I'm the fake pig. But today we're both in the same shit pit. Brothers—deal with it."
Liu Rong's fingers clamped the jade until his nails drew blood.
For the first time a thought bubbled up:
Holy shit, someone's got it worse than me? This fat bastard… kinda interesting.