My Fair Concubine Read Free Page B

him, was it even possible for her to pose as his sister? Everything she said or did felt awkward next to Chang Fei Long. Anyone could see they weren’t from the same breed.
    ‘You said they were expecting a princess. I’m no princess.’
    ‘Neither was my sister, Pearl.’
    He slowed his stride to match hers and Yan Ling felt especially small, more from the authority in his bearing than from his actual size.
    ‘A past emperor gave one of his favourite daughters away in an alliance marriage to a barbarian chieftain,’ he explained. ‘The story has since become quite famous. Have you heard of it?’
    He paused to look at her and again she shook her head. They didn’t speak of the comings and goings of the imperial family in their little teahouse.
    ‘The princess wept and begged for her father to reconsider, composing verses of poetry lamenting what she considered her exile from her beloved empire,’ he recounted. ‘But the Son of Heaven couldn’t rescind the agreement to his ally. When the princess left for foreign lands, the Emperor was heartbroken. When another neighbouring kingdom petitioned for a Tang princess, the Emperor chose one of his concubines and bestowed the title of princess upon her. The newly appointed princess went to fulfil the alliance rather than the Emperor’s true blood.’
    ‘So now our Emperor wants to send an imposter instead?’ she asked.
    ‘It’s not uncommon. The alliance brides may be nieces or distant members of the imperial family. Occasionally even daughters of high-ranking court officials might be chosen. It was a great honour to our family when my sister, Pearl, was elevated to the rank of princess.’
    Yan Ling stared at him, trying to sort out the strangeness of such whimsical decrees. ‘Wouldn’t that make you a prince?’
    ‘Not quite—however, the decree does bestow imperial favour and duties upon our family.’ He looked uncomfortable. ‘Duties that cannot be refused.’
    She supposed the divine Emperor could do whatever he wished. ‘But what if the barbarians find out they don’t have a real princess?’
    ‘It doesn’t matter. The political arrangement itself is the important part. The marriage seals the agreement and the title is just a formality showing the Emperor’s commitment.’
    She didn’t like the thought of being a peace offering, travelling to this faraway place along with bolts of silk and a fleet of horses. Hadn’t Fei Long practically looked her over as if she were a horse? Checking her teeth, checking her feet to see that they were small enough to belong to a high-born lady.
    ‘Tang princesses are highly valued in the barbarian lands,’ he insisted. ‘You’ll have every need taken care of.’
    A ripple of pleasure ran through her, lazy and warm with promise. She would never need to worry about being cold or hungry again. Her back wouldn’t ache from serving customers from the first light of day to deep in the night.
    ‘I couldn’t even imagine this if it were a dream. You’re just telling stories,’ she accused.
    ‘It’s true.’
    ‘Then why did your precious sister run away? If I were Miss Pearl, I would never give up such an opportunity.’
    He tensed. Only the twitch of a muscle along his jaw revealed any emotion. ‘She was young with…romantic notions. Not thinking of reason or duty.’ He met her eyes, his gaze scrutinising. ‘You seem much more practical.’
    ‘I am very practical,’ she agreed. The teahouse had always been about survival and keeping a roof over her head.
    They stopped before the town’s civil office. Without a word, the nobleman handed her the reins and strode through the front gate, completely assured in her compliance. The horse paced a few restless steps while she clutched at the reins with a life-and-death grip.
    ‘Stop,’ she commanded in a fierce whisper. ‘Hear me? Stay still, you .’
    She prayed the horse wouldn’t run off. If it decided to, she’d be dragged along with it. She didn’t