The Last Concubine

feinted as if too weak to ward off the blow. Ci’an cried out in triumph and tried to lever the sword from Lan’xiu’s hand. It was the move Lan’xiu was waiting for. She employed the same trick Hüi Wei had successfully employed upon her during their first meeting and used Ci’an’s force against her to flick the blade out of her hand.
    Thwarted and frustrated, Ci’an charged at Lan’xiu with her hands outstretched, as if to strangle her. Lan’xiu launched herself into a somersault through the air, avoiding Ci’an’s grasp and landing behind her. As Second Wife turned to face her, Lan’xiu drew her blade down Ci’an’s other cheek and away from her, slicing off her earlobe and the earring in it.
    “So much for your taste in earrings.”
    Ci’an screamed in pain and clutched her bleeding ear. “I shall kill you for this!”
    “You said that already, but you don’t seem to be making much headway,” Lan’xiu said. It was costing her more to hide her pain now, but the chance to best Ci’an was too heady for her to resist. “If you care to try again, your sword landed there.”
    Without bothering with the sword, Ci’an aimed a high, roundhouse kick at Lan’xiu, who leaned away to let the foot sail by her head. When Ci’an was forced by her momentum to turn away, Lan kicked her in the ass, knocking her to the floor on her hands and knees.
    “There, you are much closer to your weapon now. Pick it up,” Lan commanded, sounding every inch a princess.
    Ci’an moaned as if in too much pain but then suddenly lunged for her sword and came up slashing wildly. Lan’xiu blocked her amateurish attempts and waited for another mistake. Sensing that Ci’an was sucking desperately for air, Lan’xiu used a series of short stabbing motions to repeatedly prick Ci’an in the face, neck, and hands, inflicting long, bloody scratches to enrage her. Ci’an dropped her sword and started to scream, batting ineffectively at the unrelenting blade with her bare hands.
    Lan’xiu drove her back into the bathing room and said, “Wait in there. I would prefer you not to bleed on my rug.”
    The thunder of footsteps sounded on the stairs, and at long last Dr. Mu tried to escape Ning’s grasp. “I think you will wait here with me,” Ning told him in a silky voice, tightening his grip.
    Ci’an was sobbing now, examining her wounds in the mirror with horror and trying to staunch the bleeding.
    Lan’xiu still held her sword at the ready, but her arm was trembling and she hoped that Ci’an would not attempt another attack.
    “Lan’xiu, my love!”
    And then Hüi was behind her, sliding an arm around her waist to hold her upright, as if he sensed her pride would be wounded if Ci’an witnessed her collapse.
    Ci’an turned when she heard Hüi Wei’s voice, holding up her hands to cover her face. “I need the doctor! Don’t look at me, Hüi. Your stupid little princess has ruined my beauty!”
    “I will never look upon your face again,” Hüi Wei said harshly. “Take her away, Jiang.”
    “And take away this piece of trash too,” Ning said, shoving the doctor forward.
    The doctor fell to his knees, his hands clasped, begging, “Do not kill me, oh gracious Governor. Second Wife bewitched me into helping her. It was her wicked terrible beauty that put me under a spell—”
    “And that,” Jiang said, “is likely how the poison got into the wine.”
    The clatter of booted feet sounded on the stairs, and Captain Wen entered the room, ordering the accompanying soldiers to remain on guard outside.
    “Shu Ning, you are well?” Captain Wen asked urgently.
    “I am quite well, thank you.” Ning nodded, not taking his eyes off the doctor.
    “Take them to the dungeon. Put them in chains,” Hüi ordered Captain Wen. “Please go with them and see to it,” he added to his friend.
    “I cannot just now,” Jiang said. “Perhaps Ning could take my place? He might enjoy being in command for a change. Captain Wen, will you take charge of the prisoners?”
    “Yes, sir.” Captain Wen bowed and cocked his head at Ning. “Will you accompany us, Ning-xiānsheng?”
    “That I shall,” Ning said, his eyes gleaming. “I should like to ensure that Ci’an is securely imprisoned where she will not come near the princess again.”
    Impatiently, Hüi waited till Captain Wen and Ning had delivered the prisoners to the soldiers outside the room before telling a curious Jia, hovering by the door, “That will be all, thank