The Last Concubine (15 page)

Jiang began to have a glimmering of which way the wind was blowing when he next followed Hüi Wei to the silk shops, where he chose several items of women’s clothing.

He calculated that the only new variable that had entered the equation was the Princess Lan’xiu. Then he shook his head in confusion once more as he watched Hüi go to the ironmongers that made weapons. Now nothing about this shopping trip made sense to him.

A
S
ALWAYS
, Lan’xiu braced herself before she went to sit with the other wives. She knew they watched as avidly as she when the servant who bore the torch came to the square and that they knew well that her lantern had not been lit again. The competitive nature of the household guaranteed that some would slyly jibe at her with her lack of fortune in order to point out their own good fortune. She dared not let slip that Hüi had come to her without the formality of the usual public announcement.

If they had but known it, Lan was certain jealousy would be immediate, and in Ci’an’s case, potentially violent. If the other wives were privy to all he had said to her, it would have been even worse.

The smooth running of this household was based upon a certain uneasy openness, and now the secret she must keep from them wasn’t only about who she was, but also that Hüi had come to see her on the sly. If he was not ready to accept her as she was, it made her sad, but she understood. She could not turn her face away from him, because she knew how it felt to feel lost and unsure. How ironic would it be to have miraculously found Hüi ready to embrace her despite her deficiencies, only to then be cast out by his outraged wives.

She was used to keeping her own secret, but now that she was responsible for keeping Hüi’s as well, it made her timid in their gatherings. Lan’xiu had gained the reputation of being a shy, quiet girl, even though she would have loved to chatter and giggle with the rest of them, discussing clothing, cosmetics, and possibly even foolish little secrets about how to please their husband.

Only Ning could steel her to face her sister wives, although she often told him she went only to get away from his constant ragging.

Lan’xiu had taken to wearing her plainest robes when she went to consort with the others, hoping to downplay her looks so as not to excite their envy or attention. Her excuse was that she loved playing with the children. Being a modest girl, she could not know that nothing could make her look ugly; in fact, the plain hanfu of amber silk she wore today only emphasized the burnished satin of her skin.

As usual, Mei Ju called out to her in welcome when Lan’xiu entered her home. “Come here, Lan’xiu, sit by me and tell me what you think of the new dress I had made.”

Lan’xiu gave one of her rare but lovely smiles. “You look very smart, First Wife. That rose is a pretty color for you.” It was, but the cheongsam was so over-embellished and ornamented that it made Mei Ju look rather unfortunately wide.

“Look at what my husband gave to me,” Mei Ju said, holding out her chubby wrist.

“It is very beautiful,” Lan’xiu said, dutifully admiring the bracelet with a little sigh. She was wearing her only pair of earrings, as usual, and her plain jade bracelet. She had put away the ring that belonged to her mother, not caring to hear Ci’an’s comments on it.

The new bracelet was made of curved pieces of jade in varying shades of green, rose, and white linked together with silver good luck charms between them. Mei Ju looked at the bracelet and stroked a finger over one of the pieces of jade. “Hüi has given me many things, but I value this bracelet above all others. See, there is a charm here for each of the children I have borne him.”

Her words stabbed Lan’xiu in the heart like a knife, for she would never bear her lord any children, and her barrenness would be held against her—and him. Now it was her turn to be disappointed that Hüi had not come to her again, but a lady did not visit her own disappointments upon another, especially the woman who had been so kind to her.

“Your husband has great love for you, Mei Ju, that is clear. It is a beautiful bracelet and a beautiful sentiment.”

Mei Ju touched Lan’xiu’s sleeve. “Thank you, my dear, I know—”
But her words, whatever they were, were destined to remain unspoken when the third, fourth, and sixth wives came in together.

Lan’xiu rose and bowed, remaining standing as befitted her lowest rank, while Mei Ju stayed seated to receive the other ladies, all of whom kissed her hand and bowed. Lan’xiu was pushed aside as Fifth Wife Bai bounced into the room with her usual merry smile.

“Oh, am I late? I am late, aren’t I?” She gave a high-pitched laugh. “I am always late!”

“But you always bring the sunshine with you, my dear,” Mei Ju said, with an answering smile.

The words gave Lan’xiu a pang; Mei Ju was always kind to her, but she was not amusing like Bai, or good-natured like Alute, or contented like Fen and Huan. She was conscious that guarding her secret had consumed her to the point that she offered the other wives little in return for their friendship, however shallow it might be. So anxious not to offend, she had become little more than wallpaper, attractive but not precisely scintillating.

Isolation had bound the wives of the household together into a unit, however uneasy, and she was the odd one out, just as much as Ci’an was, despite their efforts to include her. As Lan’xiu was resolving to try to exert herself a bit more to make herself agreeable, a silence fell over the chattering women. She looked up from her reverie as they all turned to face the doorway.

It was Second Wife Ci’an, whose preferred manner of arrival seemed to be coming late and sneaking in to eavesdrop.

Her hands were hidden in her sleeves when she entered and her lips curled sarcastically. “Greetings, sister wives. It is
so
good to see you all again.”

“Second Wife Ci’an,” Mei Ju said, welcoming her formally. “I trust I see you well. I am anxious for you, the physician is so often at your house.”

“What of it?” Ci’an snapped.

“I was merely expressing the wish that you were enjoying a period of good health,” Mei Ju said gently.

Lan’xiu wondered how she could be so gracious with this arrogant woman.

“Oh, you needn’t start planning my funeral yet,” Ci’an smirked. “I intend to outlive you yet,
First
Wife.”

Where they sat together on the divan, Fen and Huan looked away pointedly. Mei Ju’s wise face remained inscrutable, but Alute looked distressed at the insult.

Bai came to the rescue, cheerfully saying, “Ci’an, you are too beautiful and evil to die soon. You must have made a pact with the demons to look so lovely when you suffer from strange maladies so often.”

Lan’xiu was cautiously amused to see that Bai’s forthright statement stymied Ci’an and even caused her to laugh.

Second Wife Ci’an moved into the room. On this occasion she was dressed in a robe of the finest mulberry silk with a broad embroidered panel that crossed her bosom and edged the length of the dress to the hem. The sleeves were similarly decorated, as was the little stand-up collar. Real pearls had been used for buttons, and a tall headdress of rich golden ornaments of flowers and birds crowned her hair, which was dressed high, towering at least eight inches over her head. It seemed almost a pity that she had chosen that day to outshine Lan’xiu, dressed in her plainest robe.

“If I had to choose one of you to slay upon this day, I vow you would be the last to go, Bai. You amuse me. You insult me with one tongue and call me beautiful with the other,” said Ci’an.

“I was born with Gemini rising in my stars.” Bai held out both hands at her sides and swayed first to her right and then to her left. “The twin natures possess my soul and balance each other. I am sometimes good and sometimes very, very bad.” She gave a giggle that all the other wives understood to indicate that it was with their husband she chose to be very bad. “Our Lord Hüi Wei has said he does not know whether to beat me or….” She gave a wicked smile and then turned to Lan’xiu. “Come sit by me, Princess Lan’xiu.”

“Yes, do go sit with crazy Bai, Princess of Nothing,” Ci’an concurred. “Of course, she may simply be asking to you to sit with her because her lovely cheongsam outshines your rather plain and drab one.”

“Don’t listen to her, Lan’xiu,” Bai said, chuckling. “Last time I wore this dress, Ci’an informed me it was an ugly rag.”

Lan’xiu went to the divan where Bai sat, settling next her. “I think it is a very pretty dress.”

“Clearly, you are no judge of fashion, judging by what you are wearing. Bai, I misspoke when I told you that. I think Lan’xiu’s dress makes yours look like the height of fashion.” Ci’an smirked, her eyes fixed upon Lan’xiu’s earlobes. “You must love those turquoise earrings. You wear them so often.”

“I do like them.” Lan’xiu put her hand up to touch one of the turquoise drops. She had almost made the mistake of admitting they were the only pair she owned. “They belonged to my mother.”

“They’re simple. And therefore appropriate for
you
.” Ci’an waited for Lan’xiu to realize the insult, but when she made no reply, she continued. “Rather boring with that dress, perhaps, but when one hasn’t much to boast of except a spurious title….” She shrugged, peering superciliously at Lan’xiu. “If you play your cards right, perhaps one day someone might give you a nice little lacquer comb out of pity.”

“It wasn’t pity that got Lady Mei Ju her new bracelet!” Bai said with a laugh. “Nor her lovely dress.”

“Ah, yes, the fecundity bracelet. Not as elegant as one might have wished for. Quite the popular sentimental purchase amongst the merchant classes, or so I hear.” Ci’an gave an exaggerated yawn and sat down, drawing her chair uncomfortably close to Lan’xiu. “Certainly fitting for one who has borne a litter of little bastards.”

Mei Ju grew angry and lashed out at Ci’an. “This bracelet means much to me and to my husband, Second Concubine. It celebrates the many healthy children we have created between us.
More
than
you
managed to produce.”

Ci’an reddened at this reminder of her sonless state. Perhaps she remembered the rebuke Mei Ju had given at the previous party and didn’t want to run the risk of another, or perhaps she wasn’t finished with the other wives, but she bit her lip silently before turning again to Lan’xiu, leaning forward to elbow her in the ribs. “You simple innocents have no idea how to keep a man interested. If you liked, I could share some secrets of how to fan the flames with Hüi. The first night after he left me, I couldn’t sit down the day after. My sheets were red with blood.” She looked meaningfully at Lan’xiu and winked as she said it.

Ci’an’s laugh made Lan’xiu want to take a bath.

“I’ve noticed it remains
quite dark
on your side of the square. Now that Hüi has made the ritual visit out of politeness, he obviously plans to have no more to do with you. I’m sure you could settle for a nice little flirtation to fill your time, like Fen and Huan have.” Ci’an waved a hand at the chair where the two girls sat together as usual. “You can only plead innocence for so long, or perhaps you’re too stupid to see which way the sun sets? Choose a nice young man from the guard. Some of the soldiers set to watch us are quite virile and not so focused on their responsibilities that they can’t put those assault skills to use closer to home. Isn’t that so, Liang?”

One of the pair of soldiers who accompanied Ci’an everywhere flushed red but continued to stare into space without comment.

“Or perhaps you prefer the company of eunuchs? I see you have a tame one of your very own.”

“Most eunuchs are very good company,” Lan’xiu said. She could not defend Ning by boasting of his prowess with a sword, but she was tiring of Ci’an’s unending stream of malice. “Perhaps you might find it profitable to make the acquaintance of one or two before you insult them.”

“Oh no, my sweet innocent. They are very well to serve brainless consorts, content to lie upon their backs and spread their legs—”

“Second Concubine!” Mei Ju rose to her full height, which wasn’t very tall at all, but she was impressive in her indignation. “You shame only yourself with your vulgar ramblings. I order you to leave my house at once! You! Guards! Make yourself useful and escort this woman to her home. Ci’an, I hope a period of solitary reflection may restore your humor!”

Ci’an gave Lan’xiu a wink and hauled herself up out of her chair. “Get your eunuch to procure you some porn,
with
illustrations, Princess of Stupid. You have much to learn if you wish to hold the attention of our husband. You would look lovely with your heels over your head, all red in the face while he pumps away at you, I’m sure.”

Lan’xiu felt the color mount to her cheeks, humiliated that Ci’an would plant such images in the minds of the soldiers who stood there listening, but she made no reply, deeming it useless to involve herself in a verbal brawl. When she replied with a dagger, Ci’an beat her down with a battle-axe.

Even Bai did not care to answer that parting jibe, and Ci’an was escorted out in a chilly silence. Her dismissal did not seem to discompose her; in fact she appeared rather amused to be shunned by the other wives, as if it gave her some advantage.

Mei Ju seated herself and leaned forward to touch Lan’xiu’s sleeve. “My dear, don’t let that witch bother you. Your earrings are very pretty.”

For some reason that comment made Lan’xiu want to laugh when she had been holding back her tears, but she couldn’t appear to make fun of First Wife. Mei Ju was a tender soul, and Lan could tell it cost her to stand up to Ci’an. “I am very fond of these earrings.”

Bai put in, “It really doesn’t matter what you wear. You could wear the poorest cotton cheongsam and no jewelry at all, and you would still outshine the lot of us.”

“I have no desire to—” Lan’xiu started to exclaim.

“You cannot help your face. You are as the stars and gods made you,” Bai said, sounding serious for once. “Unearthly in your beauty, like a star shining in the night sky.”

“I think you are quite pretty and your earrings too,” Alute said placidly. “Ci’an is just mean.”