The Last Concubine

it when people dare me,” Bai said, grinning impudently at Ning.
    “I will keep you both company,” Ning announced and sat upon the chair beside Lan’s bed, his eyes fixed upon Bai’s face.
    “After what Ci’an did, I can’t say I blame you.” Bai drew up a chair for herself and sat beside Ning. “I was worried about you, Lan’xiu, but you look well. Just a little tired.”
    “I will soon be well again, but it was kind of you to concern yourself with me.”
    “The household is roiling with rumors,” Bai said, her face growing serious for once. “First we heard of poor Alute’s death, and Mei Ju made herself sick from weeping. Huan went to Fen’s house and threw all the servants out, bolting them both inside. Then came the news that you had been taken ill as well.” Bai stopped and looked down discreetly for she could not address the miscarriage directly. “Mei Ju told me that our husband was nearly mad with fear for you.”
    Lan’xiu’s eyes stung with tears, and she blinked quickly to clear them. It would never do to let Bai see this uncommon display of emotion. “I was so sad to hear of Alute’s death. She did nothing to deserve this.” Lan pulled her sleeve down to cover the bandage but too late to prevent Bai from noticing.
    Bai, however, uncharacteristically, did not comment upon it. “I came to see that you were on the mend, but also I bring other sad news.” She glanced at Ning, as if asking his permission in case it would upset the princess.
    Ning gave her a nod.
    “Please, tell me,” Lan’xiu begged. “First Wife Mei Ju is well, I hope, and her children!”
    “They are all fine,” Bai said soothingly. “This is tragic news but perhaps also in the nature of the gods taking justice into their own hands. Ci’an has killed herself.”
    “Good!” Ning burst out. “Save the soldiers the trouble!”
    “Hush, Ning. Who knows what demons tormented her soul and caused her to act as she did,” Lan said. “How did she do this dreadful deed?”
    “She climbed to the watch tower and threw herself onto the cobbles below,” Bai said. She put her hands over her face.
    Lan’xiu could see how affected Bai had been and leaned forward to touch her hand. “Poor Bai. I hope you didn’t see it.”
    “I heard her scream as she fell,” Bai said in a haunted voice. “And the street was shining red until the soldiers washed her blood away.” She took her hands away from her face and looked at Lan’xiu with agonized eyes. “It was horrible.”
    “I’m sorry you had to witness that,” Lan’xiu said, holding Bai’s hand.
    “That is not the worst thing. When the soldiers searched her house, they found a little boy, a son who said Ci’an was his mother. She had kept him in a darkened room, and no one even knew he existed!” Bai exclaimed. She said pityingly, “He is so small and pale. Mei Ju has taken him into her home and is caring for him.”
    “That is evil! How dared she treat a child so!” Lan’xiu cried out. “But why? Why would she hide a son from Hüi Wei?”
    “This boy was certainly born after Hüi no longer came to Ci’an. He would have known the boy was not his. Some think she meant to kill us all and Hüi Wei too, and put her son upon his throne,” Bai said.
    “Ci’an did not hide her hostility toward Mei Ju, but she cannot have been demented enough to kill the children too!” Lan cried in distress.
    “Do not be so sure. She was a monster.” Bai gulped and her face twisted in horror. “They found also skeletons of three infant girl babies, packed in the trunks in her attic.”
    After a horrified silence, Lan said, “I can’t imagine what drove her to such madness.”
    “She was always hungry for power,” Bai said. “Before you came, and before Alute gave birth to her son, Ci’an wanted only to supplant Mei Ju. One can move up in rank in the household through other means than death. You have.”
    “I?” Lan asked in astonishment. “How can that be?”
    “You are now concubine of the first rank, right after First Wife Mei Ju,” Bai said. “Did no one tell you?”
    “I have been asleep,” Lan said, as if in a dream. “Ning?”
    “I’ve been here with you. I heard nothing of this,” Ning answered.
    “For our husband to do this, he has great feeling for you,” Bai said. “He has never changed a wife’s rank before.”
    “I—don’t know what to say,” Lan said in a dazed voice. “But you! I thought you were one of his