The Last Concubine

imagining that each courtship and eventual capitulation had followed a different course than her own. Qiang Hüi Wei was a very clever man, known for his mastery of strategy and love of battle. Each time he had eventually come back to her, but Mei Ju knew well that his heart had never been hers.
    Rumor had flown throughout the compound that the seventh concubine was extremely beautiful, and Mei Ju dutifully celebrated that fact on behalf of her beloved Hüi Wei. He deserved only the best. Besides, beauty alone was not enough for Hüi. Although the second and sixth wives were very pretty, they had not managed to hold his interest for very long.
    When she caught sight of the small party approaching her home, Mei Ju turned away from the window and clapped her hands twice. Her servant went to the door, and while she listened to the sounds of umbrellas being closed and stood within draining pots, wraps being taken and hung to dry, Mei Ju seated herself before the fire and composed her face to receive her company.
    Her maid appeared in the doorway and announced, “The Princess Zhen Lan’xiu begs for the honor of attending your Ladyship.”
    Mei Ju could not hold back a tiny smile. Her maid always pretended to be so respectful when company came to call upon her. It was quite the contrast from her usual manner when they were alone. “I will be pleased to receive the princess. You may escort her here.”
    The maid bowed and withdrew.
    Mei Ju could not hold back a gasp of astonishment at her first sight of Princess Lan’xiu. If her own skin was white, Lan’xiu’s was like burnished ivory. Her face was exquisite: high cheekbones sculpted to perfection, the pure line of her jaw flowing into a long, graceful neck. Her nose was perhaps a bit large, but it suited her face; her lips were pale pink and curved like the wings of a bird in flight. Her eyes were downcast, as was proper, veiled by lush, dark lashes. Her earrings were silver with long, pear-shaped turquoise drops, and a pale green jade bracelet encircled her left wrist.
    She was a slender girl who swayed gracefully like the reed that bends to the wind as she walked, but she stood straight and tall. Mei Ju realized that if she stood beside her, she would be looking up at the princess, and that would never do. Lan’xiu’s cheongsam of lavender and crimson silk set off her beauty to perfection, while her hands hid inside her sleeves, which were lined in turquoise. The daring color combination made Mei Ju remember that perhaps it really was time to have a new dress made for herself. She had grown comfortable and out of touch with the fashions of the day, despite the entreaties of the third and fifth wives to smarten herself up a bit. She always made the excuse that chasing after the children was dirty work, but now she thought she might need to bespeak a new robe after all.
    Princess Lan’xiu prostrated herself on the ground and waited, motionless, her head bowed as if aware she was being inspected.
    Despite the fact the princess outranked her in the world beyond the harem, Mei Ju took comfort in the fact that as first wife, her position here was unassailable, and it gave her the confidence to welcome her guest. Suddenly, she noticed Princess Lan’xiu trembling, and the memory of when she was as young and in the same position came over her in a flash. Her natural compassion overrode her sense of formality, and she rose, moving forward to raise Lan’xiu and greet her warmly. Sure enough, Mei Ju found herself looking up at that exquisite face.
    “Princess Lan’xiu, it is my pleasure to welcome you here as seventh concubine presumptive. This must be very strange for you.” Mei Ju put her hand on Lan’xiu’s arm and led her to a chair. “Please, be seated and we shall have a cup of tea.”
    “After you, Lady First Wife,” Lan’xiu said in a soft, musical voice of a low timbre.
    Mei Ju seated herself and watched Lan’xiu sink onto the facing chair, her eyes still fixed on the floor. “Our customs must seem strange to you, coming from the north.”
    “They are somewhat different,” Lan’xiu admitted. “I do not wish to offend through ignorance.”
    Leaning forward, Mei Ju touched Lan’xiu’s sleeve. “Look at me, my dear.”
    Startled, Lan’xiu looked up and Mei Ju gasped again at the lovely, deep, almond-shaped eyes. Such a beauty! And then she forgot her own pain and was filled with pity. This poor girl was terrified and suffering some untold agony.