Chapter Six

Ling Xin had a great deal to think about come morning. It was clear she was walking a dangerous path with Zhi Hao, but sometimes dangerous paths were necessary. Especially if one dared to become empress.

And so she sought out her mother, the one person she knew had the most common sense.

The lady was in her solar, rolling bandages for the hospital. She also mixed medicinal salves according to her brother's recipes. He ran the most prestigious apothecary in Peking. Indeed, Mama's family had been associated with medicine and healing arts for generations.

Except for her mother, of course, who rolled bandages and mixed salves in her spare time because she was the wife of an important court official. And because the lady was squeamish when treating the ill. Whenever Ling Xin or her brothers had been ill, their nanny was the one who had tended them. At most, their mother would speak to them from the door rather than step inside the sickroom.

"Good morning mother," Ling Xin said as she entered the solar.

"Good morning dear. Have you finished your dance practice already?"

Ling Xin sighed dramatically. "I fear I have been working too hard. My ankle hurts, so I decided to rest it today."

"Wise of you," her mother answered without looking up. "But what of your voice? I have not heard any singing. You must not lose the opportunity to learn from Li Fei. She has a beautiful singing style. And, you know, singing can be heard from a distance. If the emperor does not see you dance, perhaps he can hear you sing."

"An excellent idea," she said, though privately, she wondered if the emperor's living space would be anywhere near the virgins who awaited his pleasure. If it was, then there would be dozens of virgins trying to sing for his attention.

But of course, she didn't know if this was true. She didn't know much of anything about what happened in the Forbidden City. And that was the whole problem.

"Mother, I have been thinking," she said as she sat down and started rolling bandages.

The lady heaved a loud sigh. "And now you shall ask me something inappropriate." The lady shook her head. "You cannot do such things in front of the emperor. No one wants to hear your bizarre thoughts."

Ling Xin tried not to be hurt by that statement. On one hand, her mother had often admonished her for not thinking before acting. And now she was supposed to stop thinking? Or perhaps just stop sharing her thoughts, which was more likely.

But that did not stop her from carrying on with her questions.

"I am afraid you are correct, Mother," she said, her tone a little harsh. "But I must ask someone for guidance, and my options are limited."

"Guidance?" Her mother set down her finished bandage and looked at her. "On what topic?"

"You have set me the task of attracting the emperor—"

"And we are very proud of you for that," her mother interrupted.

Ling Xin nodded, then decided to simply say it baldly. "I do not know how to attract a man."

"You are kind, beautiful, and well versed in the Confucian virtues."

"Just like every other girl there." She touched her mother's hand. "But I need to be more than every other girl there."

"It is your beauty—"

"Every girl will be beautiful."

"But you—"

"Mother!" she snapped, her impatience overcoming her good sense. "I need to know how to attract a man. Don't pretend you don't understand. I have heard uncle speaking of the prostitutes who come to the hospital—"

"Do not say those words!" her mother growled. "You should not even know about them. The emperor does not want such knowledge in a wife!"

Ling Xin grimaced. "Are you sure? What is his wife except a vehicle for his child? What are his concubines for, except for that?"

Mama sniffed with all the disdain it was possible to pour into a single inhale. Then she added, "He is the Son of Heaven. He will know your virtue, and he will select you."

Ling Xin kept quiet, already familiar with the hard wall of her mother's prudishness. But she had to know, and her mother was the only person she could ask.

"Very well," she said, doing her best to appear meek. "Tell me about when you and father met. How is it that he chose you. Were you in love?"

"Love?" her mother scoffed. "That is something for fairy tales. You know better than to look for that."

She did. After all, hadn't that been Li Fei's downfall? "I am not looking for love. I want to know why father selected you. What did you do to make him choose you?"

Her mother folded her hands and frowned. "We met only once, you know, though he spoke to your grandfather many times." She grinned in memory. "Your grandmother and I watched through the screen. He was so handsome! He'd already passed the civil service exam. He was already an important person with a bright future in front of him. And look, now he is one of the emperor's closest advisors."

Ling Xin was very proud of her father. Less than one soul in a hundred passed the exam. And fewer than that rose high enough to advise the emperor. She smiled thinking of Zhi Hao. She hoped he would be as fortunate.

"So he spoke with grandfather before ever meeting you," Ling Xin prompted.

"Several times."

Which meant they'd married for one reason. "He wanted your dowry and grandfather's connections." Her grandfather had not passed the imperial exam. Indeed, it was one of the great failings in his life. But he had found his own way in making medicines. It was the basis of the family wealth.

But her mother did not like that characterization. "He would not have married me if I wasn't acceptable in every way," she said, her tone sharp.

"Of course, you are perfect."

The lady sniffed and returned to the pile of linens.

"But…" Ling Xin began.

"Oh, you do plague me," her mother complained. "What is it?"

"Mama," she said, abandoning her formal tone. "Every girl set before the emperor will be virtuous. He has no need of family connections nor my dowry. How can I become empress—or even a favored concubine—if I do not please him in other ways. In physical ways?"

Her mother blinked at her, her mouth agape. Then she abruptly frowned. "You are not to know those things!"

Ling Xin threw up her hands. "I will need them on my wedding night!"

"The eunuchs will teach you. And if not, then I will see you before the wedding. The girl's parents are allowed—"

"Not for the concubines. You will not see me if I am not selected as empress. And you know there are other families with connections just as valuable as ours. We bring the emperor doctors and apothecaries."

"And bankers!"

Yes, her father had connections to money people throughout China. "Bankers are very important," Ling Xin agreed. "But there are others who bring control over land or alliances with other countries." She leaned forward. "Mama, I am one of many good candidates for empress. I am looking for a way to be even more attractive to the Son of Heaven so as to stand above everyone."

Her mother bit her lip. She knew it was true. And a moment later, Ling Xin knew that she had gotten through to her mother. The lady sagged in her seat and stared at her hands. Once she spoke, her words were so quiet that Ling Xin had to strain to hear.

"There is a book," she finally said. "Given to girls before their wedding night."

Ling Xin brightened. "Do you have it?"

Mama shook her head. "I was not given one, but your grandmother had one. I saw it when I was a child."

"What became of it?"

Her mother shrugged. "I will see if it is in her old things."

Ling Xin immediately hopped to her feet. "I can look—"

"You will practice your singing," Mama said sharply before slowly rising to her feet. "I will find it for you. If I cannot, perhaps I will ask your uncle. He will know how to get one."

It was the best she could hope for. But even so, it was a faint hope. Seduction required skill. Could she learn that from a book?

"Please find it soon, Mama. I need to learn it—"

Her mother pointed a single finger at her. The nail was sharp and very direct. "You will not open it until you have been selected. Only after you have been confirmed as a concubine may you know such things."

"Of course, Mama," Ling Xin said, keeping her voice low and her eyes downcast. She had to in order to get the book. But she knew it was a lie. She would open the thing the first private moment she had. She did not like being ignorant, and she would not go into her Feast of Fertility unprepared.

But the chances of her mother finding that book were slim. Which meant that there was only one path open to her now. And that path led to the garden wall after everyone else was abed.