The Last Concubine

she would not have one.”
    “She could kill him in his sleep,” Ci’an said sulkily, but the tautness left her body and she sat down.
    The other wives tittered at the indelicate comment. Even though Ci’an was often crude, they appreciated a risqué joke. Hüi Wei did not sleep when he visited them.
    “Oh, shut up, Ci’an. You’ve stirred up enough dust for one day,” Bai said. “Why can’t you ever behave?”
    “That would be boring,” Ci’an said provocatively, her lips curling, but she took good care not to look Lan’xiu’s way.
    Lan’xiu seated herself next to Alute and yawned delicately. Bai laughed at the subtle jibe at Ci’an. “Perhaps you should surprise us one time by acting pleasant. Your tantrums have grown rather commonplace.”
    Turning away abruptly, Ci’an demanded, “Is no one going to offer me anything to drink?”
    “I have a fresh pot of jasmine tea here—” Mei Ju started, reaching for the new bronze and jade teapot that had been Hüi Wei’s gift to her along with the headdress.
    “I require something a bit stronger than that,” Ci’an announced. “You! One of you soldiers at the door assigned to prevent me from killing any of these lovely ladies! Run to my house and fetch the bottle of huáng jiǔ on the sideboard. And mind you don’t sneak a sip for yourself. I know the level of my bottle,” she ended sharply.
    The second soldier hesitated until Mei Ju nodded her acquiescence.
    It seemed to Lan’xiu that the women in the room held their breaths for the short time until the soldier returned with the bottle.
    “Now we can get drunk and gamble,” Ci’an announced. “Mei Ju?”
    “You know I never drink spirits, but I always enjoy a good game of chance,” Mei Ju responded. She instructed her maid to fetch some glasses.
    “Perhaps together we can win those new earrings away from the princess or snap up the bracelet Alute wears. Clearly, the two beautiful idiots have spread their legs to good purpose for our husband to purchase their favors so extravagantly. One might think their private parts were made of gold that he snatches at them so greedily.”
    “Ci’an! Mind your manners or you may as well return to your house! Remember you are a guest in my house!” Mei Ju rebuked her.
    “Manners? Why, what is it other than good manners when I have offered to share my very best drink?” Ci’an said, a malicious smile curling her red lips. “Will you have some, Bai?”
    “Oh no, I find I don’t need intoxicants to elevate my spirits,” Bai replied blithely. “I have an appointment to dance with the moon later and must be on my toes.”
    “Lord, what a moon-calf. Whatever does Hüi see in you? Fen and Huan? I’m sure you’ll come to a decision together since you do everything together.” Ci’an laughed at her sly dig. When neither woman replied, she said, “Still ignoring me, I see. It won’t do you any good. You can’t make me vanish by pretending I’m not here.” She looked toward the large temple chair Alute and Lan’xiu shared. “That leaves the two lovely dummies. Oh, pardon, one lovely and one dummy. Perhaps some liquor will loosen your tongue, Alute, although I doubt you would ever find anything even slightly intelligent to say.”
    “Yes, thank you,” Alute said desperately, as if hoping to quiet Ci’an. She accepted the glass of golden liquid and held it in her hand.
    “And you, Princess of Nothing? You must wish to drown your sorrows. Not yet pregnant and you didn’t get to use that knife on me.” She raised her glass as if in a toast and tossed back the entire contents. “Yet.”
    “Thank you for your kind offer. I will take a glass,” Lan’xiu said with quiet dignity, although the jibe cut her to the quick. She could feel the rage and jealousy emanating off this cold woman and wondered how she had ever managed to bear a child.
    “You think I am very cruel, don’t you? Poking fun at these sweet innocents.” Ci’an refilled her glass and waved it at the other women.
    “I think you are very unhappy,” Lan’xiu said.
    Ci’an’s mouth dropped open in shock, and she stared at Lan’xiu, speechless for once.
    “I am sorry. I should not have said anything so personal,” Lan’xiu said.
    “Girls, this is not how we should behave,” Mei Ju said in distress. “Please, cannot we simply be polite and have a pleasant afternoon, just once ?”
    “I am sorry, First Wife.” Lan’xiu bowed in her direction.
    “I didn’t mean