The Last Concubine

Hüi said. “We have found something to celebrate between us, and that is all that matters. I love making love to you as I have never done with any woman. I will love you until the day I die.”
    “I love you as I have never loved anyone,” Lan said.
    They sat within their safe embrace until Lan’xiu yawned.
    “Boring you already?” Hüi laughed.
    “No, you are… very vigorous, my Lord, in your lovemaking.” Lan giggled and yawned again. “Will you stay with me?”
    “Is that all you want from me?”
    “I love to sleep within your embrace. When I am alone I wrap my arms around myself and pretend it is you, but that is small comfort compared to being held in your arms.”
    “Then I will stay,” Hüi said.
    Lan rubbed his cheek against Hüi’s. “Let’s go to bed.”

Chapter 14

    W HEN Ning entered the bedchamber by the early light to rouse the general, he found that Hüi Wei had already gone. Anxiously, he examined the pile of Lan’xiu’s clothing on the floor. They certainly needed to be washed, but other than that, they showed no signs of the usual destruction Hüi tended to leave in the wake of his visits.
    Lan’xiu slept with a happy smile upon her face. Ning approached the bed to pull up the sheets to hide her exposed nipples and stopped dead in his tracks at the gleam of red in the tangle of her hair.
    The most magnificent ruby and diamond earrings shone in her ears. He almost gave out a shout of triumph and settled for pumping his fist in the air silently, not wanting to wake her. Finally! That spiteful cat Ci’an would swallow her piddly jewels in a rage when she saw these earrings, and he hoped the stones would scratch her throat bloody on the way down.
    Although, in his opinion, the general could easily have afforded to give Lan’xiu another set of earrings. Two was a measly number for the most beautiful concubine in all of China—nay! Not just China, all the world—
    “What are you doing, Ning?” a sleepy voice asked.
    Recalled to his setting and place, Ning composed his face. “Admiring your new earrings, Lan’xiu. It appears someone has found favor with the master.”
    “Go away.” Lan’xiu rolled over and covered his ears with his hands, which likely enabled him to ignore Ning’s squeals when he made the next discovery.
    He had found a parcel upon the bench at the foot of the bed, neatly tied up in a length of printed cotton. When he opened it, he found a new set of silken underthings, exquisitely delicate and embroidered with ghostly cherry blossoms, and two new cheongsams. The first was a glorious crimson, the perfect color to set off the new ruby earrings, with white and purple dragons embroidered on the sleeves and hem. Gold cloth edged the neckline and hems, and golden waves were embroidered into the fields between the dragons, as if they were emerging from an ocean of gold.
    The other dress showed all the colors of the peacock, in green, chartreuse and brilliant cobalt blues. Black and gold bands decorated the edges, and the buttons looked to be sapphires set in gold. A smaller package fell on Ning’s foot with enough weight to make it smart. He opened it to find ornate enameled peacock earrings, with gracefully dangling tails set with emeralds and sapphires.
    One last wrapped parcel lay on the bench and Ning examined it to find a slim, beautifully engraved dagger with a jeweled handle held within a scabbard that could be strapped to wrist or leg; a most suitable gift for a beautiful but warlike girl who faced envy within the household.
    He stared at the array of gifts, stunned into unaccustomed silence. “Behold the new favorite,” he whispered. He stared at the sleeping Lan’xiu, wondering what had transpired between the lovers the previous night.
     
     
    T ODAY , Lan’xiu took pleasure in putting on the new red dress Hüi had left for her. When she’d awakened, filled with the languorous afterglow of the night’s lovemaking, she had touched her new earrings with a secret little smile.
    She’d been shocked when Ning had shown her the two new cheongsams and the pretty corselet and panties Hüi had left behind. Lan couldn’t imagine why he hadn’t given them to her with the earrings but decided that perhaps it was his way. Then she was struck speechless by the emerald earrings and the dagger. She couldn’t decide which she preferred.
    When she donned the new crimson cheongsam, Lan’xiu knew a moment of quiet satisfaction at the thought of what Ci’an