“Even if it falls or dies, its roots delve deep into a child’s heart and nourish it with her eternal thoughts.”
Her eloquent speech warmed me. I was hopeful. Perhaps they would find Mother. Perhaps I would see her again someday. “Your son is doing well.”
“He’s doing his best.” Prince Ke had the most shots so far. Perhaps soon he would win the prize to sit next to the Emperor.
“I hope he wins,” I said.
“I should hope so.” The shadow of the tree swayed to the side, and her gold necklace glittered in the sun. She looked proud, and rightly so. Jewel’s death had made the Emperor realize how valuable the Noble Lady was, and if ever he deposed Taizi, Prince Ke would no doubt become the heir. “Have you prepared what to say when the One Above All comes?”
Before I replied, a white shape landed on my shoulder. A furry paw with claws swiped at my face. I gasped, flinging my arms. Those claws. They had attacked me before… Not the same ones…but similar.
And there was a deafening growl, followed by a heartrending shriek, and the sky seemed to spin, while a storm of leaves blasted around me… “Mei!” Father’s voice!
“Mei?”
I jerked. It was only the Noble Lady. But I could not understand. Those images. Where did they come from? But wait! The beast was still perched on my shoulder, growling. I cried out in fear.
“Go away,” the Noble Lady said, waving her hand, and the weight left my shoulder. “Are you all right?” She held my shoulder, and I panted in relief. “Are you all right, Mei? Did it frighten you? It’s only a cat.”
I tried hard not to tremble. “I know, my lady…I know.”
The Noble Lady turned to the Pure Lady, who was stroking that cat. “Did you see what your cat just did, Pure Lady? You should be more careful,” she said. It was the first time I had heard her speak to the Pure Lady in a disapproving tone.
The Pure Lady shot to her feet and dashed toward us. “Now you would chide me over my cat? My cat? You’re very proud of yourself, aren’t you, Noble Lady? Everything works out for you. My son is exiled, and yours stays here shooting animals. What else will you do to me?”
“How could you say that, Pure Lady—”
“And look at you, wearing all this gold and jewelry, looking so splendid and superior. You think you’re better than me? You’re nothing without your son, and you don’t deserve to wear this.” She yanked the gold necklace off the Noble Lady.
The Noble Lady gasped, her hands flying to her neck. “You can’t blame me for your son’s exile, Pure Lady.”
“Is that what you think? But you must pay.” She thrust her head back, and her long arm lashed out to point at me and then the others. “You, and all of you.” She stormed away.
“You’re bleeding, my Noble Lady.” I held her arms. The necklace had cut deeply into her skin, and two gashes had appeared on either side of her neck, so it looked as though she had been wounded by two swords crossing under her chin. I felt terrible for involving her in this.
She did not seem to hear me. “Did you hear her? Did you hear what she said?”
“I did.”
“She said she would make us pay, but what did we do? It was not my fault her son was exiled.”
“She was angry.” Blood was trickling down her neck. “Would you like to go see the physicians, my lady?”
“Physicians?” Her plump cheeks had turned pale. She looked as though she would faint. “Oh, yes. Take me to the physicians.”
We would need to talk to the Emperor some other time. Hurriedly, I left the shade of the ginkgo with the Noble Lady and her maids. Behind me, Rain made a sound like she was suppressing a chuckle. My heart tightened. I could not explain it, but I felt the worst was yet to come.
AD 643
the Seventeenth Year of Emperor Taizong’s Reign of Peaceful Prospect
WINTER
31
“Rise.” A hand shook my shoulder.
It was the Emperor. I rose from my mat and rubbed my eyes. Around me, the other Talents were still sleeping. The night before, we had gone to the Emperor’s bedchamber, but as usual, he had not favored us; instead, he had passed the night drinking in the circle of candles. According to the protocol, we were supposed to leave once he finished with us, but lately, he always ordered us to stay. I could not understand why, but at least he still followed the bedding schedule.
“Follow me.” He woke Daisy too, who had recently been demoted to a Talent for her clumsiness, and then the three of us, with Daisy and me holding lanterns, left the compound.
I wished to know where we were going and why we had to leave the bedchamber on the cold night. I would rather have gone back and slept, but he needed us to hold the lanterns for him. Shivering, I walked in front of the Emperor, holding the lantern with my right hand and wrapping my coat around me with my left.