Flashman And The Dragon by Fraser George Macdonald

Author:Fraser, George Macdonald [Fraser, George Macdonald]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Humor, Adventure, Historical, Military
ISBN: 9780006513032
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 1985-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Now, because I love you, too, and need you, Little An, I shall be honest with you—as I always am.” The silvery voice was sober as a judge's now. “I want this barbarian, for what you call my wicked lust … no, no, it's true. And why not, if it pleases me? You talk of honour, loyalty to the Emperor—what loyalty do I owe to that debauched pervert? You know I'm not a woman to him, but a pretty painted toy trained to pander to his filthy vices—what honour is there in that? You know, and pity me—and used to arrange those secret trysts with Jung, the man I loved. Where was my honour then?”

“Jung Lu was a noble, a Manchoo, a Banner Chief who would have married you if he could,” he whimpered, pawing her feet. “Oh, please, Orchid, i seek only your good—this thing is a barbarian brute —”

“But if I want him, Little An, mayn't I have him … please? He is just a little pleasure … a watermelon seed. And he may have another use; you should know of it … and of other things, which it will soon be time to tell you.” She paused, head lifting. “Yes … why not now? This is a good secret place, away from big ears. Go—see that all is safe.”

He hopped up, all alarm, popped his head out, and came back nodding nervously. She sat down, motioning him to kneel close, and stroked his fat cheek playfully. “Don't be frightened, small jelly. Just listen.” She began to talk, quite unaware that the big ears of the barbarian melonseed were understanding every word.

“Soon, Little An, two great things will happen: the barbarians will take Pekin, and the Emperor will die. No, listen, you fat fool, and keep your babbling to yourself. First, the Emperor. Only I and one discreet physician know it, but in a few weeks he will be dead, partly of his infirmities, but mostly of over-indulgence in the charms of the Yi Concubine. Well, it's a pleasant death, and I give him every assistance. I believe,” says this Manchoo Messalina, with a reflective chuckle, “that I could have carried him off tonight, by combining the Exquisite Torment of the Seven Velvet Mirrors with the Prolonged Ecstasy of the Reluctant Shrimp, which as you know involves partial immersion in ice-cold water. But it will be soon, anyway—and who will rule China then, Little An?” She played with her feathers, smiling at his evident terror. "Will it be that amiable

,weakling, Prince Kung, the Emperor's brother? Or his cousin, the hungry skeleton Prince I? Or that murderous madman, Prince Sang? Or Tungchi, the Emperor's only son—my son? Any one of these, or as many others, might become Emperor, Little An—but who will rule China?"

Well, he could guess, all right, and I could have a suspicion myself; I knew nothing of their palace politics, or the immense power of Imperial concubines, but I know women. This one had the spirit,

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