The Concubine by Jade Lee

Author:Jade Lee [Lee, Jade]
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2009-03-21T04:00:00+00:00

10

WHAT A POWERFUL WOMAN! Bo Tao thought as he watched Ji Yue’s tiny mother inspect her daughter from head to toe. That had been his surprise for JiYue. Once she finished with her notations on his meeting with the Dutch, he’d escorted her to another room where her family waited. It had given him such joy to hear her squeal with delight and rush forward. The happiness she expressed when surrounded by her family went a long way to restoring his peaceful spirit after his disastrous afternoon.

The emperor would applaud his show of strength to the Dutch, but murder was never something Bo Tao would stomach with ease. That JiYue had witnessed his moment of violence disturbed him, but she’d handled it with more aplomb than two of his soldiers. They had to leave early to cast up their stomachs; she had sat quietly and recorded her notes. Looking at the mother now, he understood how the daughter became the amazing woman she was. Her mother would have tolerated nothing less!

But whereas the mother was almost shrewish with her tight words and pursed lips, Ji Yue was sweet-tempered and kind. Those must be the traits she got from her father, who was indeed rather vague in his mannerisms. Even the sons were just as Ji Yue described, the eldest lost in his own thoughts while the youngest missed nothing. But no one in this family could match the mother for power.

Bo Tao ordered food, then sat back and watched the family interact. He drank his tea and listened in silence as Ji Yue related a severely edited version of all that had occurred so far in the contest. They all cheered in delight that she had passed both the physical exam and the family history exam, which meant she had only the artistic display before the final selection. Then, just when he was at his most relaxed, the mother pinned him with her stare.

“This is most lovely, Sun Bo Tao. Our family can never repay such a kindness. But I cannot help but wonder if all the imperial virgins have family visiting. If so, then the Forbidden City must be overrun with happiness today!”

“Today has indeed been a happy day,” he lied. “But no,” he said, answering her unspoken question, “the other virgins have not been so fortunate as your daughter. They rest in the virgins’ palace without the blessed kisses of their mothers.”

Madame Chen’s brows shot high. Or rather, they would have if the woman still possessed eyebrows. “Sweet heaven, we are richly blessed,” she cried. “Has something occurred that we receive such beneficence? Ji Yue, what have you done to be singled out so?”

Ji Yue blushed a bright red. Damn. Such a shrewd woman would see right through any lie.

“It is a trifle, Mama. It appears I have gained the attention of the emperor.”

“Really?” her mother said, hope and surprise at war on her features. “How?”

Bo Tao stepped forward. “A simple matter of translation, Madame Chen. Your daughter speaks the sailors’ dialect of Canton.

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