The Last Concubine

could dress like a man and go into battle by my side. My men would follow you, they proved that today.”
    “But I don’t want to. I will go to battle with you again, but I will go dressed the way I prefer,” Lan’xiu said, laughing. “I like dressing like this. I love that you love me no matter what, but it makes me happy to be this way.”
    “What else can I do to make you happy?” Hüi growled, sliding his hand under Lan’s robe.
    “Take me, my Lord,” Lan answered a bit breathlessly.
    “Your order is my great pleasure, my Warrior Princess.”
    The cries and moans that came from the general’s tent that night made his soldiers laugh with ribald merriment, but that belied their secret pride that their leader had found happiness with such a courageous warrior princess who pledged her loyalty to him.
     
     
    A ND so it was that General Hüi Wei, servant of the emperor and protector of the northern border and the provinces of Yan, Qui, Henan, and Liaopeh, ruled long and wisely upon his throne. He was accompanied every day of his life by his beautiful warrior princess, Lan’xiu; together they fought many battles and put down many rebellions to protect their borders. Lan’xiu led troops in numerous military campaigns, and General Hüi Wei placed great confidence in her. Although their union was never fruitful, due to the grievous injury inflicted upon her by the traitor concubine Ci’an, they lived a long and happy life together.
    Lord Jiang and his partner, Zheng Guofang, were often guests of Hüi Wei and Lan’xiu, and fought in their command. Lan’xiu instituted reforms in the harem, by which the gates were kept open and the remaining wives were permitted to go shopping and to tea accompanied by their guards. The Sixth Wife Bai was released as a concubine, and rumor had it that Lan’xiu had found her a husband who accepted the two sons she had adopted. In the passage of time, Bai and her husband had sons of their own and lived happily in their own province.
    The concubines Fen and Huan lived together in one house for the rest of their days, and it was noted that neither of them greatly missed Hüi Wei’s presence. Their lanterns were never lit again.
    It was otherwise with Mei Ju. Her lantern was faithfully lit once a week, when Hüi Wei would come to her, and what transpired behind their closed doors no one knew. However, it was seen that Lan’xiu and Mei Ju sustained a great friendship, and First Wife was often within the palace with her children. Lan’xiu was beloved of them, although she insisted they mind their education, for she said if they were to grow up to govern as well as Hüi Wei, they would need to have knowledge of the world.
    Mei Ju often was heard to say that Lan’xiu was their mother as much as she was. Inevitably she grew old, and when she died, she commended the care of her children to Lan’xiu, who guarded them carefully and with love. In the sequence of time as they came of age, each of the four sons was given the responsibility to govern one of the provinces their father ruled. The two daughters were permitted a say in choosing their own husbands and visited the palace of their father often with their children. After the prescribed period of mourning for Mei Ju, Hüi Wei married Lan’xiu in a small, private ceremony and made her First Wife.
    When at last in old age, Hüi Wei died, Lan’xiu did not live past him more than one week. The legend went that she died of grief, so greatly did she miss him. They were buried in the same tomb, surrounded with food, armor, and swords. The aged eunuch Ning allowed none to prepare his precious princess for her journey to the heavens except himself, and he was heard to comment to his lover, Wen, that they had no need for treasure in the next world—they were each other’s treasure and all they needed.
    And so endeth the tale of Lan’xiu, the Great Warrior Princess of the North, and her lord, the General Hüi Wei, forever twined in love that lasted throughout life and beyond death.
     

About the Author
    C ATT F ORD lives in front of the computer monitor, in another world where her imaginary gay friends obey her every command.
    She likes cats, chocolate, swing dancing, sleeping, Monty Python, Aussie friends, being silly, spinning other realities with words, and sea glass. She dislikes caterpillars, cigarette smoke, and rude people who think the F-word (as in faggot, or bundle of sticks) is acceptable.
    A frustrated perfectionist,