The Last Concubine

killed off six or seven previous wives as Ci’an aspires to.”
    Mei Ju looked down at her hands, still smooth at her age, with the polished nails showing the half moons at the bases. “I am older than my husband, Hüi Wei. I was once a concubine to his older brother. I bore him children as well, but they were sickly, and none of them survived infancy. I did not love him, but I did my duty. And then, he was killed in battle.”
    “I am sorry,” Lan’xiu said in her soft voice.
    “If Hüi Wei were not the man he is, he could have had me thrown from the ramparts or returned to my village in shame or sold to pleasure the troops. Instead, he came to see me when his brother died and he succeeded to his position. And then, he married me. I have been a good wife to him and borne him six healthy children. I have given him the sons I could not give his brother.”
    “He sounds like a fine man, but why are you telling me this?” Lan’xiu wondered.
    “I don’t quite know.” Mei Ju gave a tinkling laugh. “I wish to offer you comfort. I have been in even more uncertain of a position than you are, but my lord is a kind man. Whatever your brother plotted by sending you here, you need not fear that Hüi will punish you for his transgression. He will be patient with you.”
    Lan’xiu wrinkled her brow again and blinked rapidly. “Thank you for all your kindness to me, First Wife. I thought that luck had turned her back on me, but surely she shines upon me in guiding me to you. I shall never forget your compassion.”
    Mei Ju stood up, briskly saying, “I should hope not. After all, we shall see each other every day from now to the end of our lives. I welcome you to the court of Lord General Qiang Hüi Wei and to the household, Princess Lan’xiu, seventh wife presumptive.”

Chapter 4

    A FTER the Princess Zhen Lan’xiu was helped into her cloak and Ning had opened an umbrella to hold over her (even though he had to stretch his arm to full length to ensure that it covered her and was left all in the wet himself due to the differences in their stature), Mei Ju watched the small procession move out of sight toward the seventh house.
    She waited by the window in the gathering dusk until she saw another servant approach under an umbrella, carrying a lit torch. As always, she held her breath, willing the servant to light the lantern by her door. A little bubble of jubilation erupted within her when the servant approached her house and her lantern began to glow.
    Although they no longer shared a bed, Mei Ju hurried upstairs to prepare for Hüi’s arrival. After seeing the fine cheongsam Lan’xiu wore, Mei Ju ordered her maid to fetch her best hanfu out of the wardrobe.
    “But it is not a festival day or your husband’s birthday,” the maid objected.
    “Do as I say, you silly wench,” Mei Ju snapped. “And find my jade drop earrings. And dress my hair again. My lord visits me tonight.”
    “As you wish, Madame Wife.” The maid dropped a sketchy curtsey, and it was clear she thought Mei Ju’s hopes were in vain.
    Mei Ju resolved to set her maid to polish the household bronzes on the morrow to pay her out for that disrespect, but she would not stoop to argue with her now. Although Lan’xiu was without doubt the loveliest girl she had ever set eyes on, between Mei Ju and Hüi Wei resided the comfort and respect of a long, intimate relationship. She would have to place her faith in that.
    When she came downstairs to await his pleasure, she was powdered and scented. She had reddened her lips and pinched her cheeks to make them pink, but she did not realize how the anticipation of seeing her love made her eyes glow. Mei Ju remembered gratefully that she’d been very pretty as a girl, but time and bearing children had lined her pleasant face and made her once slim figure rounder. She smoothed her dress over her hips, pleased that at least she wasn’t fat yet. Although she loved sweets, she ate of them sparingly, wishing to remain pleasing in her lord’s eyes.
    She had her reward when he came into the sitting chamber and his face lit up at the sight of her.
    “Mei Ju, as pretty as ever. It is good to see you.”
    “And you, my Lord.” She sank to her knees and bowed.
    “So formal after all these years,” he teased, extending his hand to help her up. He kissed both her cheeks and then her lips. “Mei Ju.” He sighed contentedly and sat down in the large chair, stretching his hands to the fire.
    “You still