The Last Concubine

Chapter 1

    A ND so it came to pass in the Qing Dynasty during the rule of the Sun Emperor Jun that the Lord Wu Min ordered a caravan to set forth on the dangerous journey to the court of General Qiang Hüi Wei, governor of the states of Yan and Qui, bringing a gift of great value, for he was anxious to win favor and high position with the emperor. Whether he was pleased or disappointed that the designated courtiers and soldiers managed to succeed in reaching the stronghold of Qiang Hüi Wei after passing through hostile territory is lost in the passing of time. History only records that the caravan did indeed arrive in good order, and when news of such was brought to General Hüi Wei, he caused an audience to be granted in order to receive the gifts with all due ceremony in observance of the customs of the day.
     
     
    “ W HAT do you suppose Wu Min has decided would be an appropriate gift, Hüi?” Lord Jiang asked as the two men strode through the halls of the palace on the way to the audience room.
    Hüi Wei emitted a short, mirthless laugh. “Bribe, you mean. He yearns for notice from the Son of Heaven and hopes I shall procure it for him.”
    “You are cynical,” Jiang observed.
    “And still breathing as a result.” Hüi Wei gave his friend a wolfish grin and paused before the door. The two soldiers stationed there raised their lances to let them pass and stood with inscrutable faces, as if they could not hear the comments of the two men. “We shall see what clever lies his envoys try to promote to me.”
    With that, Hüi Wei nodded and one of the soldiers drew back the curtain to reveal heavy wooden doors with iron hinges. He swung the door back soundlessly, and Hüi Wei preceded his friend and advisor into the room, emerging from behind rich damask curtains upon a dais raised above the gleaming tile floor.
    He stood, an imposing figure before the envoys sent to him, muscular and powerful, his impassive face handsome but weathered by his time on the battlefield, his eyes hard as he waited for the company to fall to their knees and bend in obeisance to his commanding presence.
    His expression did not change as he took in the incongruous sight of a slender, beautiful girl in the midst of the men, and his gaze moved past her without a flicker of interest. He sat upon his massive throne, rested his hands upon the snarling heads of tigers carved at the ends of the armrests, and waited in silence. As a studied insult to Wu Min’s representatives, Hüi Wei had chosen to receive them dressed in rough clothing more suitable for battle, including his leather breastplate, and wearing his sword at his side.
    Lord Jiang’s voice rang out as he announced, “His imperious person, the governor of Changchun province, including the states of Yan and Qui, oath protector to the Son of Heaven, Emperor Jun, General Qiang Hüi Wei has deigned to receive the representatives of Wu Min, lord of Liaopeh province. Who speaks for Wu Min?”
    One of the ornately dressed courtiers bobbed his head while still staring at his reflection in the highly polished floor and answered, “His gracious Lord Wu Min has required me to convey both his respect and a small, meaningless token of his allegiance to Qiang Hüi Wei.”
    “You will refer to my Lord as the Lord General Qiang Hüi Wei or your master will be pleased to receive you back—cut into a thousand pieces,” Jiang rebuked the man sharply, using Hüi’s military title rather than his civil one as a subtle reminder.
    Hüi Wei tried to keep his lips from twitching. His friend Jiang would certainly never have carried out such a threat personally unless he deemed it necessary for the security of this province, but he had convinced many of his ruthless cruelty by use of utterances such as these. Apparently, this courtier was one of them because he cringed visibly and hurried to correct his address.
    “A million apologies, your Honor!” he exclaimed, his voice somewhat muffled by the necessity of speaking directly into the floor. “I meant no offense. It was but my miserable ignorance that caused me to address his Excellency the General incorrectly. I pray you will not visit revenge for my abysmal infamy upon my gracious master.”
    Hüi Wei dared not glance at Jiang, but he could tell how his friend was enjoying this. “Sit up!” he ordered impatiently. “What does this Wu Min want?”
    The courtier sat back upon his heels, red in the face, as if with his girth he was unused