The Last Concubine

closely to see her reaction.
    Another flicker of inscrutable pain crossed the ravishing face, but then the princess said, “Then my lord repays your loyalty with his own.”
    “Although I can no longer bear Hüi any more children, my lantern is still lit one night each week,” Mei Ju said softly.
    “This lantern you speak of. Is this a metaphor for something?” Lan’xiu blushed in embarrassment.
    “When Qiang Hüi Wei chooses to visit the household, the lantern is lit beside the door of the chosen one. It allows whichever wife to make ready to receive him and forestalls inopportune visitors.”
    “I see.” Lan’xiu shivered slightly and took a sip of her tea.
    “Hüi Wei will send a servant to light the lantern during the day. That is how you will know when he chooses to come to you,” Mei Ju explained. “You are so lovely, I would be surprised if your lantern were not lit before the stars have faded from the sky too many more nights.”
    “It will be an undeserved honor when that happy day arrives,” Lan’xiu said, not entirely suppressing the dread in her voice.
    Mei Ju was troubled. She did not know how to comfort this girl. She seemed even more fearful than any of the other wives, and all had been virgins when they came—with the possible exception of Ci’an, second concubine. One never knew about her. “You are seventh concubine presumptive. If Hüi never chooses to come to you, that is what your title will remain. If he accepts you, then you will be seventh concubine or seventh wife, by my grace. Hüi Wei is a very important man. There are times when he has to be away or has no time for us. ”
    “And you remain waiting always within these walls,” Lan’xiu stated rather than asked.
    “As first wife, I have on various occasions accompanied Hüi Wei to the outside world,” Mei Ju said with pride. “All the wives see each other, and our children play together until the boys are of age to go into training and school. It is a very pleasant life. Every comfort is provided for. And I am very fond of a good game of cards or mah-jongg.”
    “But we are prisoners within these walls.”
    “No more a prisoner than Hüi Wei.” Mei Ju could see her words meant nothing to the girl. “We all have our own burdens to bear in this world and the one to come. Men are just as much a prisoner of their destiny as any woman.”
    “Perhaps.” Lan’xiu didn’t seem to entirely believe that. “When you get together, is Second Wife Ci’an included?”
    “She is. She is one of us, even though she still schemes and strategizes to win favor from Hüi Wei. In vain, but it amuses us both. The other wives don’t regard her very much as she outranks them.”
    “Why is that?”
    “I shall have to explain them to you. Ci’an, as I said, is a bitter, warped soul. If anyone holds her prisoner, it is her own ambition. She cannot learn to be content with her lot.” Mei Ju watched to see what reaction her veiled words of advice elicited from the princess, but the girl kept her face an inscrutable mask. “Third wife is Fen and fourth wife is Huan. They are never apart.”
    “Close friends then.”
    “Very close.” Mei Ju nodded, pleased that Lan’xiu seemed to understand the situation without having it spelled out for her. “If you cannot find one of them at home, chances are that she will be at the other’s house and—occupied.
    “Sixth Wife Alute is like a perfect piece of carved jade. Beautiful to look at, but the lanterns are not lit upstairs. At least she is of an accepting nature. She would eat whatever you put in front of her.”
    “And fifth wife?” Lan’xiu asked.
    Mei Ju’s face relaxed into amusement. “I suspect you will like her. We all do. Bai is her name. She is very charming and funny, always up to some prank or joke. She keeps us all laughing, even with the short winter days and cold outside.”
    “I shall look forward to meeting them all,” Lan’xiu said.
    “Just be sure you hide a dagger up your sleeve when you meet Ci’an. I suspect that she will not take to you at all.”
    “I shall be careful,” Lan’xiu assured Mei Ju. “I thank you for sharing your wisdom with me. It is most generous of you to condescend to welcome a mere seventh concubine.”
    “I was not always first wife, my dear. I know how you feel.”
    It was Lan’xiu’s turn to look at the older woman with astonishment. “But… how can that be? You are first wife. And you are so kind. I cannot believe you