The Last Concubine (4 page)

Her maid appeared in the doorway and announced, “The Princess Zhen Lan’xiu begs for the honor of attending your Ladyship.”

Mei Ju could not hold back a tiny smile. Her maid always pretended to be so respectful when company came to call upon her. It was quite the contrast from her usual manner when they were alone. “I will be pleased to receive the princess. You may escort her here.”

The maid bowed and withdrew.

Mei Ju could not hold back a gasp of astonishment at her first sight of Princess Lan’xiu. If her own skin was white, Lan’xiu’s was like burnished ivory. Her face was exquisite: high cheekbones sculpted to perfection, the pure line of her jaw flowing into a long, graceful neck. Her nose was perhaps a bit large, but it suited her face; her lips were pale pink and curved like the wings of a bird in flight. Her eyes were downcast, as was proper, veiled by lush, dark lashes. Her earrings were silver with long, pear-shaped turquoise drops, and a pale green jade bracelet encircled her left wrist.

She was a slender girl who swayed gracefully like the reed that bends to the wind as she walked, but she stood straight and tall. Mei Ju realized that if she stood beside her, she would be looking up at the princess, and that would never do. Lan’xiu’s cheongsam of lavender and crimson silk set off her beauty to perfection, while her hands hid inside her sleeves, which were lined in turquoise. The daring color combination made Mei Ju remember that perhaps it really was time to have a new dress made for herself. She had grown comfortable and out of touch with the fashions of the day, despite the entreaties of the third and fifth wives to smarten herself up a bit. She always made the excuse that chasing after the children was dirty work, but now she thought she might need to bespeak a new robe after all.

Princess Lan’xiu prostrated herself on the ground and waited, motionless, her head bowed as if aware she was being inspected.

Despite the fact the princess outranked her in the world beyond the harem, Mei Ju took comfort in the fact that as first wife, her position here was unassailable, and it gave her the confidence to welcome her guest. Suddenly, she noticed Princess Lan’xiu trembling, and the memory of when she was as young and in the same position came over her in a flash. Her natural compassion overrode her sense of formality, and she rose, moving forward to raise Lan’xiu and greet her warmly. Sure enough, Mei Ju found herself looking up at that exquisite face.

“Princess Lan’xiu, it is my pleasure to welcome you here as seventh concubine presumptive. This must be very strange for you.” Mei Ju put her hand on Lan’xiu’s arm and led her to a chair. “Please, be seated and we shall have a cup of tea.”

“After you, Lady First Wife,” Lan’xiu said in a soft, musical voice of a low timbre.

Mei Ju seated herself and watched Lan’xiu sink onto the facing chair, her eyes still fixed on the floor. “Our customs must seem strange to you, coming from the north.”

“They are somewhat different,” Lan’xiu admitted. “I do not wish to offend through ignorance.”

Leaning forward, Mei Ju touched Lan’xiu’s sleeve. “Look at me, my dear.”

Startled, Lan’xiu looked up and Mei Ju gasped again at the lovely, deep, almond-shaped eyes. Such a beauty! And then she forgot her own pain and was filled with pity. This poor girl was terrified and suffering some untold agony. Mei Ju knew she would not get to the bottom of it upon a first meeting, but perhaps she could allay at least some of the fear.

“How old are you, Princess?”

“I am almost eighteen,” Lan’xiu responded. “Please, call me Lan’xiu. I am no princess outside my own province, and I miss hearing my name.”

“You are pure and chaste,” Mei Ju said shrewdly, “but you must not fear my Lord Qiang Hüi Wei. He is a skilled and gentle lover. When he takes you, he will cause as little pain as possible.”

Lan’xiu went white to the lips, turning so pale Mei Ju feared she might faint and wondered if she had been too forthright. But the girl was a concubine; this was her fate and it would come to pass, like it or not. Men were weak, and Mei Ju could not imagine any man would have the fortitude to resist the temptation of being the first to pluck such a perfect blossom, no matter what his head or heart had to say about the matter.

“He is my lord and master,” Lan’xiu said miserably and bowed her head. “It will be as he wills.”

“You must forgive me for being so personal, but you are the most exquisite creature I have ever seen,” Mei Ju burst forth. “Such perfection has never rejoiced my eyes before. You are flawless, like the summer sky.” She was relieved to see a tiny smile hover over Lan’xiu’s curved lips. She had begun to fear the girl could not smile, and yet with regret she noticed the smile only rendered her even more beautiful. Her teeth were like a set of perfectly matched pearls.

“I am far from flawless. I have learned to hide my faults.”

“I cannot discern a single blemish,” Mei Ju said in wonderment.

Lan’xiu sighed. “I have always regretted my hair.”

Mei Ju examined the tightly smoothed hair, piled high and secured with a silver and turquoise enameled slide. “Your hair is perfectly lovely.”

“Unless my servant irons it straight, it is rather wavy, especially when the weather is damp,” Lan’xiu admitted. “Some women of the north are afflicted with this condition.”

“Your maid must slave to disguise it,” Mei Ju said flatly. “Take it down, please, that I may see it.”

Lan’xiu turned her head and called out, “Shu Ning!”

A short, clever-looking eunuch bustled into the room and came to her side before prostrating himself to Mei Ju. Then he sat back on his heels. “Princess.”

“Lady First Wife wishes to see my hair down,” Lan’xiu said in a resigned tone.

Against protocol, Shu Ning shot a sharp glance at Mei Ju. She was amused to see he seemed to be assessing her intent toward his mistress. Apparently, he was able to discern that she harbored no ill will, because with nimble hands he took down Lan’xiu’s hair and coaxed it into curl.

Mei Ju cocked her head to one side. She found the curls ugly but endlessly fascinating, so different from her own smooth locks. Without being pulled back, Lan’xiu’s dark hair rippled wildly, taking on a glint of reddish chestnut, but perhaps it was just the warmth from the dancing flames of the fire. Then Mei Ju sighed. Nothing,
nothing
, seemed to mar this girl’s perfection, not even the ugliness of curls. The masses of wavy hair served only to accentuate the delicacy of her features. “Thank you for indulging my curiosity. Shu Ning, you may restore her highness’s hair to the usual dress.”

Shu Ning yanked at the princess’s hair with an ivory comb. Lan’xiu showed no pain on her face; she merely endured until her hair was neatly piled up again.

“Thank you, Ning. You may go,” Lan’xiu said. Then she put a hand over her mouth and glanced at Mei Ju in dismay for the insolence of having given an order within the first wife’s home.

Mei Ju laughed as Ning fled the room, no doubt in fear that his mistress would be punished for this presumption. “Allowances will be made for you. Hüi Wei will not resent your giving your servant an order, even in his presence. You have been used to being a princess.”

“I humbly apologize for this transgression.”

When it seemed that Lan’xiu meant to prostrate herself on the floor again, Mei Ju stopped her. “I mean you no harm, child. We are sister wives. You are one of us now, and it is my responsibility as first wife to make you welcome and educate you to our customs.”

“I thank you,” Lan’xiu said, her voice shaking and her eyes downcast.

“Do not be so humble when you meet the other wives. Second Wife Ci’an should have been named ‘Shark’. Weakness is like blood in the water to her, and she will hunt you down ruthlessly if she senses any vulnerability.”

Lan’xiu looked alarmed but said, “How would she manage that, guarded and hemmed in as we are?”

“She would find a way, have no fear, or she would if Hüi Wei did not take care to have our doors locked at night.” Mei Ju clapped her hands. “I have sent for tea and cakes. It is cold without, but we sit by a nice warm fire within and should enjoy ourselves. You will address me as first wife before others, particularly my husband, Hüi Wei, but my name is Mei Ju and I would like you to call me that.”

“Beautiful chrysanthemum,” Lan’xiu murmured. “That is a lovely name.”

Mei Ju sighed. “Yes, named after a common chrysanthemum that may be found anywhere. And round like the flower.” She patted her curved hips with regret.

“But chrysanthemums are cheerful and bring much happiness. Forgive so forward a comment in one who does not know you, but comfort clings to you like a silken garment. It is impossible to feel unhappy in your presence.”

Mei Ju stared at Lan’xiu in astonishment once again. She could see no guile in the girl’s face; in fact, she did indeed look a bit happier than she had when she first came in. “How very odd,” she said.

“That was an odd thing to say?” Lan’xiu asked anxiously.

“No, it was a beautiful compliment and gracefully said. The odd thing is, that is precisely what my husband tells me,” Mei Ju said softly.

A welcome diversion came in the shape of five children who burst into the room. “Mama! Mama! Where are our cakes?” they shrieked.

“Quiet, you bad children, you must be patient and wait to be invited,” Mei Ju scolded with no real expectation of being taken seriously.

The three boys immediately tumbled over the long divan, wrestling their way onto the floor while two little girls came to Mei Ju’s chair and snuggled into her embrace, one on each side.

Lan’xiu laughed with delight at their antics, and Mei Ju beamed at her. “You like children?”

“I love them,” Lan’xiu said, chuckling at the boys’ exploits.

“I hope the gods grant you many,” Mei Ju said formally.

A flicker of pain crossed Lan’xiu’s face, and after a slight pause, she replied, “That is very kind of you. I hope so too.”

A servant arrived just then, bearing a tray with a steaming pot of tea, cups, and several plates with a variety of cakes.

“Red bean cakes,” the plumper of the two girls said in a pleased voice. “And sesame!”

“You may each have one, but you will need to wait for Princess Zhen Lan’xiu to make her selection first,” Mei Ju instructed.

“A really, truly princess?” the other girl asked, staring at Lan’xiu.

“Yes,” Mei Ju said, forestalling Lan’xiu. “She is the new wife to your father. She has just come to us. You may get your tea and your cake and then return to the playroom.”

“Must they leave?” Lan’xiu asked.

“They must if we do not care to wear our tea rather than drink it,” Mei Ju said firmly.

Lan’xiu smiled as she watched the children fall upon the tray like ravening vultures and then tear out of the room clutching their cakes. When the sound of the childish voices faded, her smile did as well. “They are all so beautiful. Are they all yours?”

“I have six still living,” Mei Ju said with understandable pride. “My eldest son trains to be a soldier and diplomat, like his father. All my sons stand in line to carry on Governor Qiang’s noble heritage and serve the emperor as he does.”

“You have indeed been blessed,” Lan’xiu said.

Mei Ju looked at the beautiful face. This girl was intelligent, that was clear. In fact, being a gambling woman, Mei Ju was almost ready to back her against the machinations of Second Wife Ci’an already, without even knowing how this girl might think. With all her intelligence, an innate sweetness radiated from Lan’xiu. Despite her apparent misery at being consigned to the lowly position of seventh concubine of a man with whom she had never yet exchanged a word, Lan’xiu seemed genuinely happy that she, Mei Ju, first wife, had supplied their lord and master with four fine, healthy sons and two beautiful daughters.

Lady Mei Ju was also willing to wager that when Lan’xiu bore her own sons, she would accept their position as lesser sons and would not lift one of her slender fingers to advance them within the household, although she had no doubt that Lan’xiu could do so if she chose.

Only the fact that Second Wife Ci’an had borne just one daughter, and a sickly one at that, had enabled Mei Ju to allow her children out of her sight for even a minute. If Ci’an had managed to produce a boy, all bets would have been off.

She poured a cup of tea and offered it to Lan’xiu. “Jasmine. I hope you like it.”

Lan’xiu reached for it, sniffing delicately. “The fragrance is lovely. Like a flower.”

Mei Ju looked down at her own plump, but shapely hands. Lan’xiu’s hands were a bit large for so delicate a girl, and she displayed unfortunate calluses at the base of her right thumb and fingers. Another of her flaws, and Mei Ju reproached herself for being glad to see it. “Do you like needlework?”

Lan’xiu immediately set down her cup and slid her hands within her sleeves. “Alas, I have no talent for it.”

“I only wondered because of your hand. You should use a pad to guard against the needle,” Mei Ju said.

A blush colored Lan’xiu’s face like a rose. “I do not sew well.”

“Third Wife Fen, although of noble lineage, was forced to work in the fields before she came here,” Mei Ju said, hoping it would lead to a confidence from the princess.

“She must enjoy her life here in contrast,” Lan’xiu said.

Mei Ju took pity upon her evident discomfort. “Forgive my curiosity. It was not to pry that I invited you here. Instead, I will tell you about the household and your position within it.”

“I know that I am the seventh and most humble concubine,” Lan’xiu said, her voice giving away nothing.

“I am first wife, as I told you. I lived here as Hüi Wei’s wife for ten years before he took another.”

“That would be Ci’an, second wife, if I recall,” Lan’xiu said, with an adorable tiny wrinkle between her arched brows.

“When Hüi Wei first achieved success on the field of battle, nobles of neighboring states who did not wish to take their chances meeting him in war sent concubines as a peace offering. Ci’an, Fen, and Huan all arrived at nearly the same time, and as a gesture of welcome and courtesy, I permitted them to be called wives. They are in reality only concubines. I am the only wife Hüi has married.”