The Last Concubine

her down the stairs to where soldiers stood ready as porters. It was not fitting that Princess Lan’xiu walk through the pouring rain in her embroidered slippers, so they would carry her to First Wife’s house in a covered chair. Ning unfurled an umbrella, resigned to following behind on foot.
    It was a short trip across the square, but for such an occasion, the soldiers bore the princess around the park upon the stone pavement, rather than through it. Ning was secretly grateful for this attention to formality. He was getting wet enough and did not relish sinking ankle deep into the mud so plentiful in the park. He hoped that First Wife would allow him and the other servants to descend to the kitchen to warm themselves rather than make them shiver in the hallway.
    After he had helped the princess out of the chair under the covered walkway, escorted her into the house, and taken her cloak, Ning bowed deeply, hoping to convey to her without words that she should disport herself like a princess and not let the other women outshine her. Then he gratefully followed a maid who showed him the way downstairs to the kitchen.
     
     
    L AN ’ XIU paused in the doorway, her heart beating so hard she was afraid the other women would hear it and know how frightened she was. She had visited Mei Ju since the first time they had met but had spent most of her time playing with the children, who accepted her uncritically as a large but amusing playmate. The other wives would be sure to examine her person, dress, and jewels with sharp eyes, and they might not be so kind. When she walked into the sitting room, she forced herself to smile and bow deeply, as befitted the seventh and lowliest of the concubines gathered there.
    She remained bent low until she heard Mei Ju’s voice, admonishing her to come in.
    “My dear Lan’xiu, don’t stand there like a ninny. We observe no ceremony here. Come in and meet the other wives.”
    Lan’xiu straightened up and advanced into the room, which seemed filled with beautiful women, although there were only five and one was Mei Ju, with whom she was already familiar. She was glad she had worn a pretty dress instead of the drab one Ning had despised, for they were all beautifully attired in brilliant silk robes.
    “Lady First Wife,” she said, going to her knees to kiss the gold ring on Mei Ju’s hand, a symbol of her higher status.
    Mei Ju smiled at this show of respect. “Please, be seated here at my right, Princess Lan’xiu. I will pour you some tea to warm you up. It is terrible weather, is it not?”
    One of the concubines spoke up. “It is good for the farmers.”
    Another girl laughed. “You make it easy for us to remember you were a farmer’s daughter, Fen.”
    “Second Wife Ci’an has been unfortunately taken ill and could not attend this day,” Mei Ju explained. “Fen, who speaks often of the farmers, is third wife; Huan is fourth.” The two women sat together upon the divan, close enough together to wreath their arms about each other’s waists.
    Lan’xiu bowed to them from her chair. They nodded back to her in return.
    Then Mei Ju indicated a pretty woman with a round moon face and tranquil expression. “That is Alute, sixth wife, and the most restful creature.” She indicated the last woman, slim as a sprite and fairly quivering with energy. “And Bai is fifth wife, completely the opposite. She lives with the faeries conversing in her skull and is off with the pixies most nights. But she makes us all laugh.”
    “Even Ci’an,” Bai piped up. Her face was like that of a pixie, full of mischief and light—not precisely pretty but very engaging. “You must forgive me for saying so right out loud, Princess, but you are so very beautiful! I have never seen a girl as lovely as you are!”
    “And Bai is not much for proper manners,” Huan said officiously. “I hope you will forgive her.”
    “Oh, Huan, you are not my mother!” Bai rolled her eyes comically.
    “There is nothing to forgive,” Lan’xiu said in her soft voice. “I take no offense.”
    “I’m sure you must be used to being stared at,” Fen said enviously.
    “Where I come from, the women live apart. I usually saw only my mother and my servant,” Lan’xiu said. “It is you who must forgive me. I fear I am not very clever in conversation. I’ve not been in a room with so many people often.”
    “The household did not meet as we do?” Fen asked. “That is barbaric!”
    Huan interjected,