Epilogue

He passed the exam.

Indeed, with Baba's sponsorship, Ko Zhi Hao was soon established in the financial section of the government. It was after his first day at work that Baba gave him the highest compliment that she had ever heard him say.

"Your husband understands systems," he said. "Numbers can be taught, but systems are the mark of a gifted student. He has a gift, and I am well pleased."

They were married (again) a week after his exam results arrived. That was a long enough delay that his family had time to travel to Peking to attend. The rituals were observed, the banquet a delight, and finally, Ling Xin and Zhi Hao were wedded and bedded in a proper fashion.

There was no period of isolation for a honeymoon. There was only one night in a private suite before they returned to their place in the Song household. Zhi Hao did not have enough salary yet for an establishment of his own, but it wouldn't take long. He continued to impress her father and advancement was assured as long as he remained loyal to his wife and her family.

"And with such a wife," he whispered to her, "how could I ever imagine doing anything else?"

It was evening on their third night in the Song household. They were walking through the back garden, meandering openly here for the first time.

"Will you exercise again for me?" she asked as they neared the place where she had first climbed the wall. "I want to spy on you again."

He shook his head. "Your father has me working so hard, I haven't the strength." He pulled her in tight for a kiss. "Though you are the one making me so exhausted every night."

"You are the one who promised we could explore a new page every night."

"I suppose I am," he said as he trailed his hands down her back.

She shivered with delight, as she always did when he got that look in his eye. And then she rubbed herself against him in the way that made him shiver in turn.

"I cannot believe this is my life now," he murmured against her temple. "How did I get so lucky?"

"I wish there was a way to thank Li Fei," she said.

"There is no way to get a message inside the Forbidden City. Not now."

She knew it was true, but she ached for it anyway. "I wish we knew what happened."

"We do know," Zhi Hao said. "She got her wish."

It was true, in part. The Feast of Fertility had ended a month ago, and Li Fei had been chosen as an honored concubine. So she would indeed see the emperor and hopefully, one day, she would give birth to his son. But that remained to be seen.

Meanwhile, Ling Xin thought of her cousin's true wish. She knew it hadn't been to grace the emperor's bed. She knew Li Fei had longed for someone else, a man from the north who was now dead. Life in the Forbidden City was her second choice, but she hoped that Li Fei had joy of it.

Ling Xin was about to suggest they go inside when Zhi Hao suddenly tensed. A half breath later, he spun her around behind him while she gasped in surprise. Then she saw what had startled him.

A red fox peered at them from beneath their tree bower. Bright eyes, thick red fur, and a swollen belly.

"Look at that," he murmured. "And here I thought you were the fox spirit."

"But do you see it?" she whispered, afraid of startling the creature. "Do you see her belly?"

"You think she's pregnant?" he asked. He tilted his head as he looked. "Maybe." He stepped forward, but the animal disappeared with a quick flick of her tail.

Ling Xin looked to see where the creature had gone. Together, they searched for her den, but found nothing. She seemed to be long gone.

"Don't tell Mama about her," Ling Xin said. "She thinks foxes are evil."

"Never," he said. "I could never doubt the creature who brought you tumbling into my arms."

She chuckled, remembering the frightening moment just before she fell off the wall and into his arms. "Let me tumble into your arms again," she said as she pulled him to their bedroom. "We can see how well you catch me."

He laughed as he followed her, and soon they were tumbling together, their laughter barely muffled out of respect for her parents. When they were done and Ling Xin laid spent in her husband's arms, her mind went back to the vixen.

She definitely thought the creature had been pregnant.

Could it be sign? She wondered as she rubbed a hand over her own thickening waist.

Yes, she decided. Yes, it was. The most auspicious sign of all.

*

Nine months later,their first son was born.