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She flushed under the physician’s keen eyes. Perhaps he pitied her—such a beautiful girl, her face so unfortunately marred.
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought your tonic.”
The Empress lifted a hand. “Tend to Xifeng first, please. Her need is greater than mine.”
Xifeng tugged her hair over her disfigured cheek, thanking the gods she’d had the foresight to heal the other one. The physician opened a black case, revealing bottles and metal instruments.
“Turn your back and bend at the waist, please,” the physician instructed her, tutting at the bloodstains on her tunic. “With permission?”
Empress Lihua placed a calming hand on Xifeng’s shoulder as Bohai lifted her tunic. There was a sharp, burning sting as he washed her wounds, then applied a cool solution to her torn skin. “This is a salve to help heal the injury. Try to sleep on your side for a week.”
Xifeng nodded wearily. The movement shifted the hair on her face, and Bohai’s quick eyes saw the scratches on her cheek.
“Let me give you something for your...”
“Hideous disfigurement?” she whispered.
Bohai and the Empress exchanged glances. “It’s not as bad as you think, and you are not the first young woman I’ve treated for this.” His manner was so kind, Xifeng pushed aside her hair and her pride. “I can give you something for the pain, but there may be faint scars.”
Xifeng gasped. “Permanent scars?”
“If they are, you’ll hardly be able to see them,” Bohai assured her, but the room seemed to tilt and spin once more. She bent her head, heartsick at the damage Lady Sun had caused and ashamed of the way Bohai and the Empress regarded her with pity. She barely heard his instructions as he pressed a small tin into her hand.
“Thank you,” she murmured as the physician turned to Empress Lihua.
“I apologize for not having this ready sooner, Your Majesty. I’ve had to formulate a new draught that would not be harmful.” His gaze flickered to the Empress’s abdomen.
Xifeng struggled to hide her surprise—she hadn’t noticed the woman’s slightly rounded belly beneath the patterned silks she wore. “My congratulations, Your Majesty,” she said, to which the Empress smiled as she waved away Bohai’s apology.
“You’ve made me the same tonic for fifteen years, since the birth of my youngest,” she told the physician. “Of course you need time to adjust the prescription. It’s a blessing I’ve carried this baby long enough to need a new formula.”
“I replaced the black fungus with licorice, ginseng, and crushed longanberries,” Bohai said. “It should be as effective in helping you sleep. How have you been feeling this week?”
“I ate a bit more than usual today. But I’ve had an ache here.” The Empress laid a wan, trembling hand on her belly. “I haven’t felt the baby moving or kicking as much. Has she been lost?”
“With your permission, Your Majesty.” Bohai placed his own experienced hands on her belly, pressing here and there. His face was thoughtful as his fingers moved over the material of her robe. “Have you had any bleeding?”
“Not a drop.”
“Has the pain been very sharp?”
The Empress shook her head.
“The baby has not been lost.”
Empress Lihua closed her eyes and exhaled very slowly. She held out a hand to Xifeng, who took it, thrilling at her touch. “Then it’s nothing to be concerned about?”
“We should always be concerned about symptoms, Your Majesty. But not overly so.” Bohai gave her the gentle smile he shared with Akira. Xifeng stared, amazed a father could have his daughter’s smile and never know it. “You must continue to eat. The baby’s strength depends upon it. And if the ache returns, send your lady for me. I’d rather come and tell you a symptom is not worrisome than not be told and have it be serious.” He bid them good night and left.
“Are you all right?” the Empress asked Xifeng when they were alone. “Don’t fret, my dear. A few scars will not change how beautiful you are.”
Xifeng shook her head in misery. The Empress didn’t understand; none of them did. With one swipe of her claws, Lady Sun had ruined everything. She had ensured the Emperor would not look at Xifeng again. Surely the destiny written in her stars would now change, now that His Majesty had seen the blood and scratches that ravaged her beauty. He would not want a marked, flawed woman for his queen.
“All this because I spoke to the Emperor. Without knowing him,” she added quickly. “I didn’t mean to show disrespect. I didn’t know I should have been kneeling at his feet.”
An unseen enemy lurks... the Fool.
Lady Sun had done everything Xifeng expected the Fool to do. But there were two players in this game, and she would not sit back and wail and weep. She had come to the palace to seize her fate with both hands. All she needed now was to show the concubine she had made an enemy of the worst possible person. She had to strike before Lady Sun made her next move.
