The Last Concubine

assault against me.”
    Lan’xiu started to shake again. “He found out that I am not a girl. He was enraged at being so deceived and killed my mother. He planned to kill me also, until he thought of this scheme.”
    “I do not wonder that he was outraged,” Hüi shouted. “I share his sentiment and I do not take kindly to those who mistake me for a fool!”
    The door opened, and the eunuch stood upon the threshold, looking worried.
    “Ning! You may go! Shut the door behind you and go downstairs!”
    Hüi started at Lan’xiu’s sharp tone of command. Although the eunuch hesitated for a moment, his eyes fixed upon the line of blood on Lan’xiu’s throat, he obeyed the order. “Yes, my Lady.” Still eyeing the general belligerently, he backed slowly from the room and shut the door.
    “Born to command, eh?”
    “Ning has been with me since I was a child and he would prefer that I didn’t die,” Lan’xiu said wryly. “And he prefers not to die either. But we have accepted our fate.” He folded his hands in his lap, the picture of resignation.
    Hüi continued to pace. “I should kill you here and now to avenge this insult. I can have it put about that I found you had betrayed me before I claimed you.”
    “That would play into my brother’s hands,” Lan’xiu said. In a calm voice, he explained, “I have had much time to consider this. If you slay me for betraying you, you hold yourself up to ridicule as a cuckold. If you cast me from your door in disgust, my brother will take care to spread the news that I am male and that he was able to fool you into taking me as a concubine. If you kill me, the stain of guilt is upon your hands rather than his and he is provided with all the excuse he needs to launch an attack to avenge my death. Once he disposes of you, he will carve a path to the sea. He believes that you are the only thing that stands in the way of his seizing all of China.”
    “The emperor might take issue with his opinion on the point. I am not the only barrier that stands between Wu Min and the sea,” Hüi said. He found his anger draining away and sat down at a safe distance from the girl—boy. “You appear intelligent enough. Why did you lend yourself to this plot?”
    “Lend myself? What choice did I have? A certain death awaits me either way, but I would extend my time in this world as long as possible. At home I was closely guarded. If I had tried to run away, my brother would have killed me then and enjoyed it.” Lan’xiu shuddered. “I should prefer a clean, swift death by your sword to enduring the long, painful tortures he tells me he has devised for me.”
    “And those calluses on your hand?”
    “My eunuch, Ning, is a sword master. He thought I should learn to defend myself.”
    “Or assassinate me?”
    “The swords are not within this room, my Lord. You may search if you choose, but you will not find any weapon here.”
    “So, you smuggled them in when you arrived.” Hüi arose and strode to the door, bellowing, “Ning!”
    The eunuch appeared so promptly, it was evident he had not followed the orders to retreat.
    “I thought I told you to go downstairs.” Lan glared at him.
    “I was still on the stairs, on my way down,” Ning said defensively, glaring back.
    “As slow as a tortoise in winter.”
    “You didn’t give me a specific time by which I had to arrive downstairs.”
    “You should have been a lawyer,” Lan said.
    Hüi’s lips twitched at the interplay between the two. Evidently, even imminent death couldn’t seem to interrupt their accustomed bickering. “Bring her—her Ladyship’s sword, Ning, if you please.”
    Ning’s mouth dropped open in alarm, and he glanced at Lan’xiu for guidance.
    “You heard my Lord. He gave you an order,” Lan’xiu said.
    Ning went and returned quickly, holding a delicately engraved sword with both hands.
    “Give it to he—him,” Hüi ordered.
    Lan stood up and held out his hand. Ning put the sword into it and then wheeled to face Hüi. “You’ll have to go through me to get to her!” he said defiantly, clenching his fists.
    “Ning, you fool,” Lan said, his voice exasperated but fond at the same time.
    “That will present no difficulty, seeing as I am holding a sword and you are not,” Hüi pointed out.
    “Ning, go away!” Lan put his hand on Ning’s shoulder. “If the fates intend me to die tonight, then let me die with honor. I will not hide behind you.”
    “Oh, Lan’xiu!” The misery in