The Last Concubine

“Greetings, sister wives. It is so good to see you all again.”
    “Second Wife Ci’an,” Mei Ju said, welcoming her formally. “I trust I see you well. I am anxious for you, the physician is so often at your house.”
    “What of it?” Ci’an snapped.
    “I was merely expressing the wish that you were enjoying a period of good health,” Mei Ju said gently.
    Lan’xiu wondered how she could be so gracious with this arrogant woman.
    “Oh, you needn’t start planning my funeral yet,” Ci’an smirked. “I intend to outlive you yet, First Wife.”
    Where they sat together on the divan, Fen and Huan looked away pointedly. Mei Ju’s wise face remained inscrutable, but Alute looked distressed at the insult.
    Bai came to the rescue, cheerfully saying, “Ci’an, you are too beautiful and evil to die soon. You must have made a pact with the demons to look so lovely when you suffer from strange maladies so often.”
    Lan’xiu was cautiously amused to see that Bai’s forthright statement stymied Ci’an and even caused her to laugh.
    Second Wife Ci’an moved into the room. On this occasion she was dressed in a robe of the finest mulberry silk with a broad embroidered panel that crossed her bosom and edged the length of the dress to the hem. The sleeves were similarly decorated, as was the little stand-up collar. Real pearls had been used for buttons, and a tall headdress of rich golden ornaments of flowers and birds crowned her hair, which was dressed high, towering at least eight inches over her head. It seemed almost a pity that she had chosen that day to outshine Lan’xiu, dressed in her plainest robe.
    “If I had to choose one of you to slay upon this day, I vow you would be the last to go, Bai. You amuse me. You insult me with one tongue and call me beautiful with the other,” said Ci’an.
    “I was born with Gemini rising in my stars.” Bai held out both hands at her sides and swayed first to her right and then to her left. “The twin natures possess my soul and balance each other. I am sometimes good and sometimes very, very bad.” She gave a giggle that all the other wives understood to indicate that it was with their husband she chose to be very bad. “Our Lord Hüi Wei has said he does not know whether to beat me or….” She gave a wicked smile and then turned to Lan’xiu. “Come sit by me, Princess Lan’xiu.”
    “Yes, do go sit with crazy Bai, Princess of Nothing,” Ci’an concurred. “Of course, she may simply be asking to you to sit with her because her lovely cheongsam outshines your rather plain and drab one.”
    “Don’t listen to her, Lan’xiu,” Bai said, chuckling. “Last time I wore this dress, Ci’an informed me it was an ugly rag.”
    Lan’xiu went to the divan where Bai sat, settling next her. “I think it is a very pretty dress.”
    “Clearly, you are no judge of fashion, judging by what you are wearing. Bai, I misspoke when I told you that. I think Lan’xiu’s dress makes yours look like the height of fashion.” Ci’an smirked, her eyes fixed upon Lan’xiu’s earlobes. “You must love those turquoise earrings. You wear them so often.”
    “I do like them.” Lan’xiu put her hand up to touch one of the turquoise drops. She had almost made the mistake of admitting they were the only pair she owned. “They belonged to my mother.”
    “They’re simple. And therefore appropriate for you .” Ci’an waited for Lan’xiu to realize the insult, but when she made no reply, she continued. “Rather boring with that dress, perhaps, but when one hasn’t much to boast of except a spurious title….” She shrugged, peering superciliously at Lan’xiu. “If you play your cards right, perhaps one day someone might give you a nice little lacquer comb out of pity.”
    “It wasn’t pity that got Lady Mei Ju her new bracelet!” Bai said with a laugh. “Nor her lovely dress.”
    “Ah, yes, the fecundity bracelet. Not as elegant as one might have wished for. Quite the popular sentimental purchase amongst the merchant classes, or so I hear.” Ci’an gave an exaggerated yawn and sat down, drawing her chair uncomfortably close to Lan’xiu. “Certainly fitting for one who has borne a litter of little bastards.”
    Mei Ju grew angry and lashed out at Ci’an. “This bracelet means much to me and to my husband, Second Concubine. It celebrates the many healthy children we have created between us. More than you managed to produce.”
    Ci’an reddened at this