The Last Concubine

outfit.”
    “How exciting! I have always wanted armor,” Lan said. He put his hands up to touch Hüi’s face, caressing each cheek. “But not as much as I have wanted you.”
    “I have missed you, Lan’xiu,” Hüi said in a throaty growl. He picked up the slight young man and, holding him, went to the bed where they fell upon the mattress together. The bed frame gave out a loud groan and Lan’xiu giggled.
    “There goes my reputation,” he said.
    “The only reputation you need is that everyone knows how much I love you and want you,” Hüi said.
    He bent his head to take Lan’s mouth in a deep, probing kiss.
     
     
    H ER heart was pounding when she rapped upon First Wife’s door. Ning had argued that it could only cause both her and First Wife pain should Lan’xiu make this duty call, but she could not go without first thanking Mei Ju for her kindness.
    Much had changed within the household. Mei Ju must have heard by now that Princess Lan’xiu, concubine of the first order, was being taken to live within the palace. Most likely Hüi Wei had done First Wife the courtesy of telling her himself. Lan’xiu steeled herself to face anger and hatred, knowing how she would feel in Mei Ju’s place.
    When the servant came to the door, she opened her eyes wide in surprise at Lan’xiu standing alone and uninvited upon the step. However, she permitted the princess to come inside while she went to announce her to Mei Ju.
    To Lan’s surprise, the servant came back and said, “Please follow me, Princess.”
    She was ushered into a small room on the second floor, where Mei Ju was sitting, staring out the window, dressed in a white gown of mourning, her empty hands resting on the arms of her chair.
    Lan’xiu bowed low in respect. “First Wife, I have come to thank you for your kindness to me.”
    Mei Ju turned an implacable face to Lan’xiu, her eyes hard and dry. “And this is how you repay my kindness? You steal my husband’s heart from me?”
    Miserably, Lan’xiu stood silent. There was nothing she could say in answer to this ravaged agony; no defense she could make. She knew how she would feel if someone took Hüi from her now.
    Mei Ju merely sat waiting for a response that never came, her hands clenching the carved arms of her chair. “I knew, when first I saw you, that you were too beautiful for a mere man to resist, but I did not think Hüi would raise you to supplant me. You played your cards very well, pretending to be so modest and sweet.”
    Lan flinched and her face worked with emotion. “I am so sorry, First Wife. I did not—”
    “Be silent!” Mei Ju’s voice was harsh, like shattering glass. “I don’t care to listen to your excuses and apologies.”
    “Perhaps I should not have come.” Lan’xiu waited a moment, but Mei Ju’s face did not soften. She turned to go. “Please believe me, First Wife, I did not come here with any intention of causing you pain.” She went to the door and opened it.
    “Princess Lan’xiu! Wait!”
    Lan’xiu froze and then turned to face Mei Ju, unable to conceal the torment on her face.
    “I—I must apologize to you,” Mei Ju said stiffly. “The gods have dealt me a cruel blow, but that is no excuse for me to visit my bitterness upon you. You have done nothing wrong.”
    Lan stood with her head bowed, not knowing what to do. “You are most gracious, First Wife.”
    “My—Hüi Wei has informed me that you had no choice when you were sent here, that your brother expected him to reject or kill you.” Mei Ju shook her head, as if she still couldn’t fathom why this would be so, but it was of little importance. “I knew when we met that you were in the grip of dread. I could tell you were innocent, that you possessed no arts to enslave Hüi’s mind and heart.”
    “Lady First Wife, if there was anything I could have done—”
    “I know.” Mei Ju held up a hand. “Come, Lan’xiu, sit down by me. And call me Mei Ju.”
    Uncomfortably, Lan’xiu crossed the room and sat cautiously on the edge of the chair. There was nothing she could think of to say to assuage the pain of a woman whose heart had been direly injured, through no fault of her own but entirely because of her.
    Mei Ju stared out over the tile roofs. “I knew he would love you. I thought I had prepared myself for it, but there is no way to anticipate the depths of pain… I thought he would always return to me… we have been such friends….”
    “He will return to you,” Lan