The Last Concubine

suited Lan’xiu’s coloring, especially the wine colored scarf wrapped around his neck since he insisted on keeping the window of the carriage down.
    Ning kept looking down at his own new boots with pride. When Lan had been given his new clothing, he had insisted that Ning procure some boots for himself, and wearing them made the eunuch feel like a swordmaster once more.
    The cottages grew sparser, and eventually all that could be seen was miles of empty grasslands and the mountains purple in the distance. Captain Wen had deployed his men to ride at a distance, keeping watch in all directions, so Hüi felt safe in calling the caravan to a halt.
    Lan’xiu looked at him questioningly as he rode to the carriage upon his magnificent black stallion. “Why are we stopping here, my Lord?”
    “I thought you might like to ride the rest of the way—” Hüi stopped speaking as Lan’s face lit up with incredulous joy.
    Lan’xiu almost fell out of the carriage in his haste to open the door. Ning descended after him more sedately, but with no less excitement as he observed Captain Wen approaching, leading two saddled horses, one rather smaller than the other.
    Hüi Wei was smiling broadly at Lan’xiu’s eagerness as he dismounted and handed his reins to Ning. “Let me put you up in the saddle.”
    He bent and Lan put his knee in his offered hands, springing lightly up into the saddle, understanding for the first time why Ning had made him don the split skirt. The chestnut mare was fresh, having been led riderless on the journey, and sidestepped restlessly, prancing playfully as if trying to unseat her. Lan’xiu controlled the horse easily, staying with her every move.
    “Thank you, my Lord! She is beautiful.” Lan reached forward to pat the glossy neck. “Is that pony for Ning?”
    Hüi had recovered his reins and mounted his stallion. “I thought Ning might prefer to remain at your side rather than ride inside the carriage.”
    “That I would.” Ning took the reins from Captain Wen and swung himself into the saddle.
    Lan’xiu nudged the mare’s ribs lightly, and they started to canter. Without a moment’s hesitation, Ning chased after him. The mare broke into a gallop and the princess leaned forward in the saddle, moving as if one with the animal.
    “What a splendid rider the princess is!” Wen declared.
    “She is, isn’t she?” Hüi said proudly. Then he realized that he was galloping away from him and slapped the reins on his own horse’s rump. With a startled leap, the stallion took off with his long stride, easily closing the distance between him and the princess.
    Recalled to the consciousness of his duties, Captain Wen raced after them, his men falling in behind him.
    Hüi allowed Lan’xiu to run her mare for almost a mile before he came up beside her and put a hand on her reins. “Gently, my love. You’ve been ill, remember?”
    Her cheeks rosy and eyes sparkling, Lan’xiu laughed at her lover. “I have never felt more alive, my Lord. That was glorious!”
    Ning rode up behind them, kicking at his stubborn mount that was content to amble along at a trot. “What a foul beast! Lan’xiu! You should not gallop like a hoyden! Remember you are a princess!”
    Lan’xiu’s smile faded. “I forgot about the soldiers and Captain Wen. Perhaps I should not have ridden off that way in front of them?”
    “I think it’s time for you to acquire your own guard,” Hüi Wei said with a smile. “Captain Wen has chosen these men carefully, and they accompanied us knowing that they would take the oath to serve you.”
    “To serve me ?” Lan’xiu seemed both pleased and perplexed. “But why?”
    Ning rolled his eyes in exasperation, but Hüi did not permit him to interject.
    “I will not chance losing you again. If you had your own guard, Ci’an would never have schemed her way into your room and raised her sword against you.”
    “She wasn’t that much of a fighter,” Lan said.
    “You were ill! In no condition for a fight,” Ning said sharply.
    Captain Wen and his men rode up to the group in time to silence what promised to be a long tirade from Ning and sat at attention upon their mounts.
    “It is time,” Hüi Wei said to Wen.
    Captain Wen kept his eyes on Lan’xiu. “Princess Lan’xiu, it is my honor, and the honor of my battalion, to swear eternal loyalty to you and your dependents. We are willing to fight for you and to die to keep you safe. Please accept this vow and oath of our