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hard battle and many lives were lost. Hüi Wei judged it to be better to come to terms and stem the flow of blood. Her father, the king Daji, was to stay within certain boundaries, and the emperor would allow him to rampage as he would there. But Daji’s terms were that the emperor, or failing that, Hüi Wei himself, must take his daughter to wed.”
    “So Ci’an was foisted upon my Lord Qiang Hüi Wei,” Lan’xiu asked, properly using his entire title.
    Mei Ju cleared her voice. “Hüi was a very young man then, with a fire in his loins. Ci’an is very pretty; make no mistake. It was not entirely a diplomatic decision that he accepted her. But he soon realized his mistake. She shares her father’s ambition and ruthless personality. In fact, it is entirely possible that her father was only too glad to rid himself of her combative and competitive nature. She might even have succeeded in deposing him if she’d lived there any longer. Hüi actually found it necessary to forcibly explain to her that he would not permit her to dispose of any who stood in the way of her becoming first wife.”
    Shocked, Lan’xiu gasped, “She tried to harm you?”
    Nodding, Mei Ju answered, “Yes, she did.”
    After a short silence, Lan’xiu reached forward to touch Mei Ju’s sleeve for the first time. “I am glad she did not succeed.”
    Pleased that Lan’xiu had come out of her shell enough to make even such a tenuous connection, Mei Ju said, “Hüi was very displeased with her. I do not think her lantern has been lit since then. In fact….” She drew a deep breath before continuing, ashamed that the thought of Ci’an’s punishment still caused her such pleasure. “He beat her. With a whip.”
    Lan’xiu went pale again.
    Taking pity upon her, Mei Ju said, “He will never treat you thusly. You are a lady. He said that if one acts like a mule, one must be treated like one. He is a very loyal and honorable man and cannot abide treachery.” She watched Lan’xiu closely to see her reaction.
    Another flicker of inscrutable pain crossed the ravishing face, but then the princess said, “Then my lord repays your loyalty with his own.”
    “Although I can no longer bear Hüi any more children, my lantern is still lit one night each week,” Mei Ju said softly.
    “This lantern you speak of. Is this a metaphor for something?” Lan’xiu blushed in embarrassment.
    “When Qiang Hüi Wei chooses to visit the household, the lantern is lit beside the door of the chosen one. It allows whichever wife to make ready to receive him and forestalls inopportune visitors.”
    “I see.” Lan’xiu shivered slightly and took a sip of her tea.
    “Hüi Wei will send a servant to light the lantern during the day. That is how you will know when he chooses to come to you,” Mei Ju explained. “You are so lovely, I would be surprised if your lantern were not lit before the stars have faded from the sky too many more nights.”
    “It will be an undeserved honor when that happy day arrives,” Lan’xiu said, not entirely suppressing the dread in her voice.
    Mei Ju was troubled. She did not know how to comfort this girl. She seemed even more fearful than any of the other wives, and all had been virgins when they came—with the possible exception of Ci’an, second concubine. One never knew about her. “You are seventh concubine presumptive. If Hüi never chooses to come to you, that is what your title will remain. If he accepts you, then you will be seventh concubine or seventh wife, by my grace. Hüi Wei is a very important man. There are times when he has to be away or has no time for us. ”
    “And you remain waiting always within these walls,” Lan’xiu stated rather than asked.
    “As first wife, I have on various occasions accompanied Hüi Wei to the outside world,” Mei Ju said with pride. “All the wives see each other, and our children play together until the boys are of age to go into training and school. It is a very pleasant