The Last Concubine

touched the floor again. He looked first at Ning, and then at Jiang. “I won’t even ask Ning’s opinion. He is so besotted with his princess, he would say anything to procure her whatever she wants, but you, Jiang, must see this is madness.”
    “I see nothing of the sort,” Jiang said. “The princess is quite correct. She would be of immense help in the field. And she didn’t do so badly against Ci’an even though wounded.”
    “You are all mad,” Hüi said in disgust. With clenched teeth he said in a low voice, “Lan’xiu, I cannot see you hurt again. What if you should be taken prisoner?”
    Her face paled, but Lan’xiu did not yield. “That is not in your destiny, my Lord. I see my way clear and it is imperative that I accompany you.”
    “You can cast oracles?” Jiang asked.
    “Not for myself,” Lan’xiu said. “For others, perhaps. My goddess deserted me when first I came here, but now I feel her presence again. Victory is by no means assured, but it can be achieved.”
    “I will have wine brought here that you may make the necessary sacrifices,” Hüi Wei said. “Only then I will make the decision whether you are going, not you.” He strode from the room without another word, and Jiang hurried after him after taking his leave of the princess.
    “He seemed upset,” Ning commented.
    “You’d better find me some armor that fits,” Lan’xiu said.
    “We’re going?” Ning rubbed his hands together eagerly.
    “You bloodthirsty imp. Yes, we are going,” Lan laughed.
    “You haven’t even asked for signs yet.”
    “I don’t need to cast the bones, I can feel it in my own,” Lan’xiu said. “I have a role to play in this conflict. One thing I do know: if I don’t accompany him, Hüi Wei will not return.”
    “You don’t mean to sacrifice yourself for him, do you?” Ning asked in alarm.
    “I will cast the oracles tonight, and then we shall see, but tell me, Ning, loving him as I do, what good would life be to me without him?”
     
     
    L AN was waiting for Hüi when he returned that night, without having his lantern lit.
    “You knew I could not stay away,” Hüi said, when he saw he was still awake.
    “I hoped you could not,” Lan said, holding his hands out to his lover.
    Hüi took him into his arms, holding him and inhaling his scent. “This week has been hell, staying away from you, knowing you were waiting for me,” Hüi whispered into Lan’s skin. “I could not risk your safety with Daji’s emissaries here within the city, watching with their sly eyes. I wanted you so much.”
    “I missed you.”
    “I cannot live without you near to me. I am going to take you into the palace so we are always near,” Hüi said.
    “What of Mei Ju and the others?” Lan asked, his heart pounding. He wanted desperately to live with Hüi, but the others were here first.
    “I never knew what love was until I met you,” Hüi muttered. “Now I understand—but no matter what pain I cause them, I can’t help myself. I must have you near me always.”
    “Then you will take me with you to fight?”
    “You understand, like Ning I hate to deny you anything you desire, but the thought of your precious body, hurt, bloodied, broken on the field of battle—I cannot even imagine living through such horror. It was bad enough seeing you standing there, your life blood dripping on the floor, shaking like a leaf in front of that devil Ci’an—” Hüi broke off and buried his face in Lan’s neck again.
    Raising his hand, Lan stroked Hüi’s rough locks. “Believe me, my Lord, I do not want to die and leave you. I wish we never had to be parted. But I have received the omens tonight, and I will suffer no harm if I go with you. It was not made clear to me, but I have some part to play in this conflict on your behalf.”
    “Daji and Wu Min have their own spies. They must know the turmoil that has ensued in this household,” Hüi said. “If they know that, they may also know that I hold you dearer than any other of my wives. You will be a target.”
    “Not if I am disguised as a man,” Lan said.
    Hüi released him, and they stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter at the irony. “News has been brought to me that Ning is busy trying to scrounge a suit of armor for you. Tell him to stop. I shall see to it myself. I shall send for you on the morrow, and you will have a suit made to measure. I shall not see my warrior princess go to war in a shabby, borrowed