The Moon in the Palace by Randel Weina Dai

Author:Randel, Weina Dai [Randel, Weina Dai]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2016-02-29T23:00:00+00:00

23

Two figures stood near the door: one old, the other young. One had his back to the fire, and the other’s face was bathed in light. Both stared at me.

The candlelight was too bright. It glared on my naked face like daylight, scalding me. I lowered my head.

“Here you are. Come with me.” The Emperor turned around, pulling his cape around him.

“Mei Niang?” Pheasant said. There was a thick current of confusion in his voice, and something else, a tremor, like that of a wounded animal.

My throat tightened. Did he believe I had betrayed him? Did he believe I no longer loved him? I could explain. I could tell him I was pleasing the Emperor only to help my family. I could tell him it had nothing to do with how I felt about him. Would he understand?

“Prince Zhi.” I bowed and prayed he would not say anything to expose us.

The smoke drifted from the brazier and stood between us. It smelled scorched, like that of a pyre.

“That’s the formal name the Emperor bestowed on her,” Jewel said.

“I see.” Pheasant sounded as though something had caught in his throat. There was silence again, and then I realized he was staring at my naked legs. Awkwardly, I covered them with the sleeves of my robe.

“Shall we go now, Father?”

The Emperor waved and left with Pheasant. I went back to the bed to look for my trousers and girdle. I was still shaken. The Emperor did not suspect anything between Pheasant and me. We were fortunate. But Pheasant… I thought of him and how his voice had changed when he saw my bare legs.

“We should follow them quickly,” Jewel said, returning. “Where is my girdle? Mei?”

I composed myself and pulled up my trousers. “Yes, your girdle is near the futon.”

She took it and wrapped it around her. “It’s a great honor to have the Emperor bestow a name upon you.”

“I know. I’m honored. Shall we go now? Where are we going?”

“To the Eastern Palace.” She stuffed the unsigned golden paper in her pocket. “If you don’t wish to go, you could stay here.”

I wanted nothing other than to hide in a corner, but if I stayed, Jewel would suspect something was wrong.

She cocked her head toward me, her catlike eyes glinting. “Are you all right?”

I could not arouse her suspicion. I squeezed out a smile. “Of course. I am disappointed, that’s all.”

“Disappointed?” She arched her painted eyebrows. “Are you blaming me for ruining your night?”

“No. I’m not.”

She nodded and walked toward the door. “Did you see how Prince Zhi stared at you?”

My hands froze on the ties of the skirt. “How did he stare at me?”

She chuckled but did not answer. I could not understand whether she was fishing for clues or simply testing me. I tidied up my skirt and tucked my hair behind my back. When I was ready, I folded my hands across my abdomen and followed her out.

We soon caught up with the Emperor, who was riding on

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