Chapter 4

“Your Majesty, could you please not tell my father that I’ve been reading in secret?”

I made myself look frightened.

“Why?” he asked with interest.

“Father says there must be a distinction between a wife’s children and a concubine’s. My sister is his wife’s daughter, so she needs accomplishments. I’m only a concubine’s child; all I need to do is obey. I secretly watched her lessons and learned a little. I’ve already gone against his wishes. If he finds out, he’ll be angry.”

I explained in a small voice, stressing the distinction between wife and concubine, and the word “secretly.”

The emperor, too, was a concubine’s son. As a prince, he had been oppressed by the crown prince, the principal wife’s son, who mocked his birth. But the crown prince had died young, and he had become emperor instead.

That distinction was therefore a particularly sore point with him. My words would do Father no actual harm for now, but they would leave the emperor with a much poorer opinion of him.

After this, he would surely be less well disposed toward my dear father at court. An emperor’s attitude could determine an official’s future. If he disliked a man, promotion became difficult indeed. Such was the power of a word whispered in bed.

As expected, his expression darkened briefly. He hid it almost at once. Rather than comment, he reassured me. “From now on, you may read openly. I like you to read.”

I let delight show on my face. “Thank you, Your Majesty. You’re so kind.”

I looked at him with adoration. Whatever their status or station, men liked to be worshipped by women.

He drew me into his arms, just as I had expected. I yielded against him, letting my gaze play shyly over him.

Neither of us slept that night…

After attending the emperor, every consort except the empress had to be returned to her own courtyard. I did not have one, so I could only be taken back to Qin Yiyi’s.

The courtyard was blazing with lights when I arrived. She sat in the middle of it, a matron standing beside her with a tray. There were two things on it.

I recognized them at a glance: a steaming bowl of medicine and a letter.

Qin Yiyi greeted me with the same hostile expression. “Drink the tonic. Mother brought a letter from your mother when she visited yesterday. You can read it while you’re here…”

I did not need to be told that the supposed tonic was a contraceptive draught. Qin Yiyi would never allow me an imperial child to use as leverage. Producing Mother’s letter at such a moment made the threat plain.