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Lady Meng?Xifeng hadn’t known they were friends. In fact, it seemed illogical. In spite of her wariness, Xifeng felt curious. “I’ll go as long as Kang accompanies me.”

“Lady Sun wishes him to wait outside the door.”

Kang gave the other eunuch a contemptuous once-over. “I serve Madam Xifeng, and I will go where it pleases her.”

Instead of arguing, the eunuch bowed and turned to lead them out of the hall.

“See how powerful you’ve become?” Kang whispered as they followed him. “Everyone knows of the Emperor and Empress’s regard for you, and they respect me by association.”

“You did right to befriend me,” she said, only partly joking. “But it’s all right. I want to enter alone, to show Lady Sun I’m not intimidated by her.”

She clasped her hands tightly as they climbed up to the concubine’s apartments. Lady Meng was harmless, but whatever Lady Sun had planned would be cruel and destructive—of that Xifeng felt certain. She had to be prepared for anything.

Lady Sun was lounging in her main room, draped over a nest of red and gold brocade pillows, while Lady Meng paced restlessly and froze like a rabbit when Xifeng came in. Xifeng didn’t bother to bow, but she bit her tongue. She had been invited for a reason, and she would not say anything they might use against her. Lady Sun examined her fingernails, content to let her wait, but Lady Meng was not so patient. The gossips said she was desperate, and from the frantic gleam of her eyes, Xifeng might well believe it.

“How long have you and the Crown Prince been lovers?” she snarled. Her slurring rural accent intensified with her anger. “Don’t play the innocent with me. I saw him give you a love letter.”

Caught off guard, Xifeng struggled to hide her astonishment. She glanced at Lady Sun, who continued studying her nails with a little smile. “The message was not from His Highness, and it was certainly not a love letter.”

“I don’t believe you.” Lady Meng looked so pale, she seemed about to faint. “I want to see it with my own eyes.”

“It was a private note and I have disposed of it.” The memory of Wei’s words disappearing into smoke still stung, but Xifeng thanked thegods she’d had the foresight to burn them. “I swear to you, my lady, the Crown Prince was only delivering my friend’s message to me.”

The young concubine leapt at Xifeng, standing so close, their noses nearly touched.

“What friend ofyourscould ask favors of His Highness?” Lady Meng demanded, and on her breath Xifeng smelled strong rice wine.

“Ambassador Shiro of Kamatsu.” Xifeng did not pull away, though she would have gladly done so at the girl’s sour breath. “He was my guardian on my journey through the Great Forest and wished to assess my well-being. He cannot visit me here, as you know.”

Behind them, Lady Sun laughed quietly.

“Ask anyone. His Highness has no interest in me, my lady,” Xifeng said as gently as she could. She pitied the poor girl, with her thick village accent and her steadfast unhappiness. “Ask the Crown Prince himself. He was merely doing the ambassador and me a kindness.”

The concubine gaped at her, face shaded with doubt. “Then why was he staring at you during the Moon Festival?”

“If you remember, he was upset with someone he believed wished his mother harm.” Xifeng locked eyes with Lady Sun. “I imagine he was looking off into space, wondering what sort ofmonsterwould want to hurt her.”

Lady Meng chewed on her lower lip, turning to the older concubine. “You lied to me. You told me you had read the prince’s love letter to her. You said he wanted to run away with her!”

“You are so quick to believe everything you hear, aren’t you?” Lady Sun draped an arm over the back of her chair. “So silly, so empty-headed. But you do have your uses.”

“You promised to help me. You said you’d find a way for me to meet the prince in secret.”

Xifeng regarded the girl’s crestfallen face, vexed and yet darkly amused by Lady Sun’s catty, underhanded dealings. The woman had not only used this girl as an informant, but also exploited her secret love and tormented her for pure pleasure.

“In time, my dear,” Lady Sun said patronizingly. “We must not rush matters of the heart. Besides, I am not the one who would slip into the Crown Prince’s bed at the first chance.” She angled a sly glance at Xifeng, lips curving upward.

Lady Meng rocked back and forth on her heels, her eyes wet, frantic. Surely, Xifeng thought, she had been driven to despair; surely her hopeless situation had brought it upon her.

“She lies, as you said yourself,” Xifeng told Lady Meng in a gentle voice. “I would never do such a thing, not when the prince isn’t mine to take. Believe me.” But the girl only stared back, hopeless tears streaming down her face, and then fled without another word.

“Since when do you care about men who aren’t yours to take?” Lady Sun lazily arched an eyebrow. “Noble of you, being kind to that little lunatic. I did promise to influence the Emperor to help her win the Crown Prince. But she never thought that through, did she? She belongs to His Majesty, so why would he help her win another man’s love? You and I should be thankful we’re cleverer than that.”

Xifeng bristled at the use of the wordwe. She had nothing in common with this conniving woman. “Tell me what you want. If you’re hoping to plant something on me and have me whipped, I’m afraid you already tried that.”

“Oh, no, my beautiful one. I have other plans for you. And for Wei, too.” A feline grin crossed her face at Xifeng’s shock. “You think that drunken idiot Meng is my only informant? I’ve known for some time now that Wei isn’t so much your friend as your lover. It won’t take morethan a twitch of my finger to exile you both to whatever hovel you came from.”

A steady hum sounded in Xifeng’s ears.