The Last Concubine

maids. The idea of you going about in the color of mud or sand!”
    “It has a purple lining,” Lan’xiu said.
    “Brilliant!” Ning said, sarcasm heavy in his voice. “You can wear it turned, inside to the outside. What is amiss with you? You are a princess; you must put on a show worthy of your rank!”
    “I am no princess here,” Lan’xiu said.
    The desolation in her voice made Ning’s heart ache for her. He knew however much she might dread meeting the other wives, it was the fact that her lantern had remained dark in the weeks that followed Hüi Wei’s first visit that made her so sad. However, no matter how closely their lives were entwined, this was not a subject he could discuss openly. Any servant would be forbidden from speaking freely about the master. “Lan’xiu, you are the most beautiful princess in all of China. If you dressed in a rice sack and bare feet you would outshine all of those women anyway.”
    “Then it doesn’t really matter what I wear, does it?” Lan’xiu pointed out waspishly. “And have you checked every princess personally by way of comparison?”
    In an odd way, Ning rejoiced to hear her snap; at least she was not sinking into the slough of despond if she was still able to ignite a spark of anger. “You do no honor to your husband if you dress like a servant. Nor to your hostess. First Wife has been very gracious to you and she is not required to treat you well. Besides, you do yourself no honor to wear your emotions on your sleeve in public. That is not how you were brought up.”
    “You are right, First Wife has been most kind,” Lan’xiu said, bowing her head. The fact that Mei Ju could have treated her cruelly with impunity was true; as first wife, not even Hüi Wei would have rebuked her if she had ignored, mistreated, or even struck Lan’xiu. “It was wrong of me to give way. I will wear the turquoise robe with the chrysanthemums in her honor.”
    “A very auspicious choice, Lan’xiu. And a delicate compliment for First Wife,” Ning approved. Although he would never call her by name, he knew well Mei Ju was named for the flower. He withdrew the hanfu in question, a shimmering turquoise silk heavily embroidered with gold chrysanthemums at the neckline, hem, and sleeves. He selected a black under-tunic with gold and green designs to peek out at the neckline.
    Lan’xiu stood patiently as Ning arranged her green satin sash, embroidered with cranes of good luck, and hung the ornaments of silver coins and carved jade beads from the buckle attached to the sash. She sat before her mirror so Ning could place jeweled sticks in her hair; her favorites, topped with cloisonné butterflies enameled in rainbow colors. Delicate antenna of wire quivered with every movement, making the pearl tips move gracefully as she inclined her head.
    The same long silver earrings dangling with the turquoise drops adorned her ears. Ning slid a ring that had belonged to Lan’s mother on the middle finger of her left hand. It was shaped like a dragonfly and the body was studded with gems. The wings were almost transparent, woven of thin wire into lacy swirling patterns to resemble the actual wings of the insect, and large enough to extend over the back of her hand.
    He stood back to assess her appearance and smoothed back a stray hair. Then he powdered her face one last time and touched up her already reddened lips. “You look beautiful, as always, Lan’xiu. The gods will make the other wives turn jade green with envy.”
    Lan’xiu gave a sigh but her lips curved into a smile that hurt Ning to witness, although he would not burden her with his feelings. He could not know how she felt after her one night with the general, but if only as a matter of pride, it had to gall that her lantern had remained dark and her nights cold and lonely. And she went now to face the very women who knew better than anyone that she had been left alone since Hüi’s first visit.
    “Do not let them see how you feel,” Ning said quietly, his mouth near her ear in case of eavesdroppers. “It would not be seemly in a princess.”
    “Thank you, Ning,” the princess said in her lovely voice. “You do well to remind me of how one must behave.”
    He patted her shoulder. “You will make me proud. You always do.”
    Lan’xiu stood up and smoothed her skirts. She took one last look in the mirror and scrutinized her appearance. “You’ve made me as presentable as can be. I am ready.”
    Ning followed