The Last Concubine (22 page)

Lan’xiu drove her back into the bathing room and said, “Wait in there. I would prefer you not to bleed on my rug.”

The thunder of footsteps sounded on the stairs, and at long last Dr. Mu tried to escape Ning’s grasp. “I think you will wait here with me,” Ning told him in a silky voice, tightening his grip.

Ci’an was sobbing now, examining her wounds in the mirror with horror and trying to staunch the bleeding.

Lan’xiu still held her sword at the ready, but her arm was trembling and she hoped that Ci’an would not attempt another attack.

“Lan’xiu, my love!”

And then Hüi was behind her, sliding an arm around her waist to hold her upright, as if he sensed her pride would be wounded if Ci’an witnessed her collapse.

Ci’an turned when she heard Hüi Wei’s voice, holding up her hands to cover her face. “I need the doctor! Don’t look at me, Hüi. Your stupid little princess has
ruined
my beauty!”

“I will never look upon your face again,” Hüi Wei said harshly. “Take her away, Jiang.”

“And take away this piece of trash too,” Ning said, shoving the doctor forward.

The doctor fell to his knees, his hands clasped, begging, “Do not kill me, oh gracious Governor. Second Wife bewitched me into helping her. It was her wicked terrible beauty that put me under a spell—”

“And that,” Jiang said, “is likely how the poison got into the wine.”

The clatter of booted feet sounded on the stairs, and Captain Wen entered the room, ordering the accompanying soldiers to remain on guard outside.

“Shu Ning, you are well?” Captain Wen asked urgently.

“I am quite well, thank you.” Ning nodded, not taking his eyes off the doctor.

“Take them to the dungeon. Put them in chains,” Hüi ordered Captain Wen. “Please go with them and see to it,” he added to his friend.

“I cannot just now,” Jiang said. “Perhaps Ning could take my place? He might enjoy being in command for a change. Captain Wen, will you take charge of the prisoners?”

“Yes, sir.” Captain Wen bowed and cocked his head at Ning. “Will you accompany us, Ning-xiānsheng?”

“That I shall,” Ning said, his eyes gleaming. “I should like to ensure that Ci’an is securely imprisoned where she will not come near the princess again.”

Impatiently, Hüi waited till Captain Wen and Ning had delivered the prisoners to the soldiers outside the room before telling a curious Jia, hovering by the door, “That will be all, thank you. You may return to the kitchen.”

Reluctantly, Jia withdrew, and Jiang shut the door. “Lan’xiu’s arm needs stitches, and there is no physician we can call to her.”

“I am all right,” Lan’xiu said faintly. As soon as Ci’an was out of sight, her arm fell to her side, and she dropped her sword at her feet. She sagged gratefully against Hüi Wei’s body.

H
ÜI
W
EI
picked him up and held the slight body in his arms, staring at the weary face of his love. “How did she gain entry? What happened?”

“Later, Hüi,” Jiang said. “I shall fetch some wine. She may be more comfortable if she’s drunk when I stitch her up. And then we shall not leave her alone again until she recovers.”

Lan’xiu moaned slightly when Hüi Wei set him down on the bed, piling pillows behind him. Then Hüi ripped the sleeve open to view the wound. “How did she manage to cut you so badly?”

“That’s another robe you owe me, my Lord,” Lan’xiu said faintly.

Hüi chuckled. “And I am glad to pay the price, but tell me what happened. How did Ning come to let Ci’an in?”

“The doctor spoke through the door and said you had sent him, insisting he see me. Ci’an came in behind him, disguised as a male doctor. She attacked and I blocked with my arm while Ning went to fetch my sword,” Lan’xiu said. He closed his eyes. “I’m tired.”

Hüi Wei realized he was smiling. It was not simply relief in finding Lan’xiu was not severely wounded; it was pride in his unexpected lover. “My warrior princess,” he murmured.

Lan’xiu’s eyes flew open and he demanded, “What did you call me?”

“My warrior princess,” Hüi repeated. “What have I said?”

“Those are the very words of my destiny,” Lan’xiu whispered. “The seers told my mother at my birth. That is why she named me as she did and dressed me in skirts. And I never thought it would come to pass.”

“And now here you are,” Hüi Wei said.

“A prisoner,” Lan’xiu said with a sad smile. “But at least I have found you.”

“You truly feel like a prisoner?” Hüi asked, hurt. “You have my heart. Is that not enough?”

“I am trying,” Lan’xiu said brokenly. “It’s not that I don’t love you, I do. But I long to see the sky, to breathe the free air. Oh, for a gallop on my horse! I miss it so, being free to come and go as I please.”

“It is for your own protection that you are kept here,” Hüi tried to explain. “It is the custom—”

“Even for a warrior princess?” Lan’xiu sat up, pushing his hands away. “Try me in battle. I could come with you. I could—”

“Lan’xiu, it would mean my death if I lost you in battle,” Hüi said. “And even I do not fight on the front line any longer. I prefer to achieve peace by other means, and if that is not possible, it is my role to direct the mighty force of the soldiers rather than engage personally in combat. But I see that you are different from my other wives….” He paused awkwardly.

Their eyes met and both began to laugh.

“Moderately so,” Lan’xiu managed to say between giggles.

“I didn’t expect merriment in my absence. What did you find to get her drunk already?” Jiang said, coming back into the room.

“Nothing,” Hüi said, not taking his gaze away from Lan’xiu’s. “I am getting to know her better.”

Since Hüi had first seen Lan’xiu, he had intuitively felt that the household was no place for her, although he was loath to admit it to himself. It wasn’t simply his beauty; he had a rare fire that gave him spirit but also allowed him to melt to Hüi’s needs. They fit, and whenever Hüi had to be away from him, he suffered.

Jiang was smiling as if indulgent of their mirth as he poured a glass and held it out to Lan. “Drink this and be as merry as you like. It will help you bear the pain.”

Lan hesitated, perhaps from the habits of a lifetime of caution, but Hüi reassured him. “We will not leave you. Have no fear.”

“I fear this will loosen my tongue,” Lan’xiu confessed. “I’ve never drunk much wine before.” He made a face as he sipped at the liquor and began to giggle before the glass was half-empty. “How did you make the room spin like that?”

“I think she’s had enough,” Jiang said.

Hüi took the glass from Lan’s trembling fingers. “Lie down, my love. I will hold your hand while Jiang repairs the damage.”

To distract Lan, Jiang asked, “Princess, why didn’t you simply slay Ci’an when you could? You had her disarmed and trapped.”

“If you can forget what I am, I never can,” Lan said, slurring his words. “It would not have been an honorable act to kill a woman.”

“Hush now, do not distress yourself,” Hüi said. “Keep still, and then you may sleep.”

Obediently Lan’xiu slid down against his pillows. The alcohol did allow him to withstand the pain without a sound, even though he bit his lip as Jiang stitched the gash in his arm. Then Jiang bandaged the wound and patted his shoulder. “Sleep well, Warrior Princess,” he said before he left the room.

H
ÜI
slipped behind Lan’xiu, leaning against the pillows so he could hold his lover in his arms.

Groggily, Lan’xiu said, “Did you hear? He called me Warrior Princess.”

“And so you shall be, Lan’xiu,
my
warrior princess.” Hüi felt Lan’s head snuggle against his chest and lowered his cheek to touch his hair.

Even disheveled and bloody from the fight, Lan’xiu never looked more beautiful to him. Maybe that’s what he needed, a warrior princess who was the prince of his heart in disguise. It all made a strange sort of sense.

Hüi’s eyes grew heavy. It had been a long night sorting out the shocking damage Ci’an had wrought, and there was still her fate to be dealt with. Because he didn’t want to endanger Lan’xiu by falling asleep with the door unlocked, although it went against the grain to cower behind a locked door, he forced himself to remain awake until Ning came back. But even a general needed to sleep at times.

When Ning returned, strutting a bit with pride, Hüi ordered, “Lock the door, Ning. I need to rest.” He had no energy left to explain, but Ning did not seem to mind.

Ning went and locked the door. It was all Hüi could do to remain awake long enough to hear the click of the lock. Through the mists of sleep closing around him, he thought he heard Ning mutter proudly to himself. “Ning, Guardian to the Governor General of Yan and Qui, and his consort, the Princess Zhen Lan’xiu. That’s me. That reminds me, Lord Jiang owes me five hundred tael. I shall have to make sure to collect on that bet.”

D
ROWSILY
Lan’xiu became aware of Hüi Wei bending over him and felt the gentle stroke of his fingers on his cheek. Hüi bent to kiss him. “Keep her safe, Ning,” he heard him say, and then he was gone.

Lan’xiu slumbered peacefully through the day, waking several times to drink some water, but he didn’t say much. Ning told him what Hüi had said and he smiled.

He awoke when the sky was growing dark and Ning was lighting the lanterns, feeling a bit drained, his arm throbbing but not actually painful.

“Do you think you could eat some soup, Lan’xiu?” Ning asked when he noticed he was awake.

Lan pushed himself up against the pillows, and he hurried to help, piling them helpfully around him.

“Stop, Ning,” Lan’xiu laughed. “I don’t need twenty pillows to sit up.”

“The general bade me to take care of you,” Ning said.

“As if you wouldn’t even if he said nothing.” Lan looked at Ning affectionately. “Get my soup and stop fussing. I shall be quite well.”

“Very well. Don’t try to cross the room on your own while I am away,” Ning admonished her. He rushed to the kitchen, returning quickly with a covered bowl on a tray. “Mind you drink it all!”

“Don’t bully me,” Lan’xiu said crossly. But in fact, he ate almost the entire bowl. He hadn’t felt hungry when Ning suggested he eat, but the soup tasted good and it was warm, and he enjoyed it.

Ning picked up the tray to return it to the kitchen when a tap sounded on the door.

Lan’xiu sat straight up in bed, a look of alarm on his face. “My sword!” he hissed.

“Not this time,” Ning said grimly. “You couldn’t stay on your feet for five minutes.” He set down the tray hastily and drew his own sword, creeping quietly to the door, and yanked it open suddenly.

L
AN
’
XIU
laughed in relief. “Fifth Wife Bai. How kind of you to come to see me.”

Ning eyed the young woman suspiciously as she entered the room.

Bai held out her arms as if dancing. “Would you like to search me for weapons?”

Blushing, Ning stammered, “I would, but it would not be proper.”

“I could strip for you,” Bai offered.

Lan covered her mouth and giggled. “I don’t think that will be necessary. Don’t tempt her, Ning. She might do it.”

“I like it when people dare me,” Bai said, grinning impudently at Ning.

“I will keep you both company,” Ning announced and sat upon the chair beside Lan’s bed, his eyes fixed upon Bai’s face.

“After what Ci’an did, I can’t say I blame you.” Bai drew up a chair for herself and sat beside Ning. “I was worried about you, Lan’xiu, but you look well. Just a little tired.”

“I will soon be well again, but it was kind of you to concern yourself with me.”

“The household is roiling with rumors,” Bai said, her face growing serious for once. “First we heard of poor Alute’s death, and Mei Ju made herself sick from weeping. Huan went to Fen’s house and threw all the servants out, bolting them both inside. Then came the news that you had been taken ill as well.” Bai stopped and looked down discreetly for she could not address the miscarriage directly. “Mei Ju told me that our husband was nearly mad with fear for you.”

Lan’xiu’s eyes stung with tears, and she blinked quickly to clear them. It would never do to let Bai see this uncommon display of emotion. “I was so sad to hear of Alute’s death. She did nothing to deserve this.” Lan pulled her sleeve down to cover the bandage but too late to prevent Bai from noticing.

Bai, however, uncharacteristically, did not comment upon it. “I came to see that you were on the mend, but also I bring other sad news.” She glanced at Ning, as if asking his permission in case it would upset the princess.

Ning gave her a nod.

“Please, tell me,” Lan’xiu begged. “First Wife Mei Ju is well, I hope, and her children!”

“They are all fine,” Bai said soothingly. “This is tragic news but perhaps also in the nature of the gods taking justice into their own hands. Ci’an has killed herself.”

“Good!” Ning burst out. “Save the soldiers the trouble!”

“Hush, Ning. Who knows what demons tormented her soul and caused her to act as she did,” Lan said. “How did she do this dreadful deed?”

“She climbed to the watch tower and threw herself onto the cobbles below,” Bai said. She put her hands over her face.

Lan’xiu could see how affected Bai had been and leaned forward to touch her hand. “Poor Bai. I hope you didn’t see it.”

“I heard her scream as she fell,” Bai said in a haunted voice. “And the street was shining red until the soldiers washed her blood away.” She took her hands away from her face and looked at Lan’xiu with agonized eyes. “It was horrible.”

“I’m sorry you had to witness that,” Lan’xiu said, holding Bai’s hand.

“That is not the worst thing. When the soldiers searched her house, they found a little boy, a son who said Ci’an was his mother. She had kept him in a darkened room, and no one even knew he existed!” Bai exclaimed. She said pityingly, “He is so small and pale. Mei Ju has taken him into her home and is caring for him.”