Page 79 of The Cinders

‘Forget that wretched prince, Master Song.’Chen’s face illuminated with displeasure.‘There lies only ill-fortune with him.His Imperial Majesty is beloved of the gods, and saw fit to cast his cursed son out.What do you think that means?’

That the Daoguang Emperor was a hùndàn, and easily manipulated to believe such nonsense.

Lim dragged a deep breath in through his nostrils.He’d need more patience than the world had in reserve to endure this man.

‘You have a connection with the gods, you tell me what that means, Master Chen?’Too curt, Lim admonished himself.A deaf man could have heard the sarcasm.

Master Chen nodded his head solemnly, with no hint of irritation.‘I am glad you see it, Master Song.It means that His Majesty understood what needed to be done to keep evil from his door.He cast out the prince.I can only pray that the mandarin will do so too, before long.His court is prosperous, he must protect it.My coffers are full thanks to nobles from the Middle Kingdom and beyond, willing to part with their coin for sake of a beautiful pair of shoes.They seek to please wives and concubines, and those whose favour will gain prestige and fortune, and more and more of them come every month upon their ships, eager for specialities of Manhao.’He drew a breath.‘I am a skilled craftsman, make no mistake of it, but I only have one pair of hands, and so many hours in the day.With you working beneath me, so much more shall be done.So many more commissions shall be filled, and the renown of Manhao’s shoemaker shall spread.’

‘I will help you while I am here,’ Lim tread gently.‘But you must understand I will return to Kunming with the prince.You’ll be glad of that, surely?Considering you think him so unsightly.’

‘The prince is not returning to Kunming.’

A chill touched the back of Lim’s neck.‘You are mistaken.His highness is here at the goodwill of the Marquis, to dance at the New Year celebrations, and return to Kunming thereafter.’

‘No, that is why I am so displeased with his lordship.Kunming wished to rid themselves of the prince.Feng’s hunger for collection of oddities and curiosities will be his downfall if he is not careful.’Chen glanced quickly towards the open doors and winced.‘May Che Kung protect me, but I must be honest.The Veiled Prince’s presence here courts misfortune.’

He moved to where a horseshoe-back armchair sat near the statues, and seated himself heavily, pulling a fan from his belt, flicking it open with a flourish.

‘Are you certain Xian is not to return?’Lim demanded.‘You have seen the agreement?’

‘Fool.They’d not put such details into a written agreement.But Scholar-Official Park is a good friend of mind and was head of the envoy.He thinks my concerns overdone, but he’ll see soon enough.’

Lim nodded, his body numb; his tongue stunned into silence.Chen might be zealous, and very near a lunatic, but what need did he have to lie about Xian’s fate?

And Lim had seen Captain Duan and Marchioness Shen together, whispering over Xian as he laboured on his knees at their feet.

Lim needed no convincing to believe she’d commit so callous an act, or that her sister, Noble Consort Jing, would have a hand in the plot to rid herself of the last remnant of her rival.

Sick to the stomach, Lim looked to the slipper.

‘It is true,’ he whispered.‘He will vanish.’

A glint of gold sparked from beneath the material; as though the guardian ghost confirmed the horrible truth.

Lim clenched his fist, and the ceramic cup cracked against his palm.

‘What did you say, Master Song?’

‘Nothing…my cup…it’s broken.’He moved towards the bench, towards the slipper, clanking at the ankles like he were an ox dragging a plough through the field.

Did Xian know he was not to return home?Was he taunted with it?Or was it dangled like a gift before him?Ren had said that many tales flowed in on the river.If the farmer knew of the prince’s treatment in Kunming, likely many others here did too.Had the mandarin told Xian he was safe now?Lied to him.

‘You’ll get another cup later.I’ve no time to be running after you.I have Captain Duan’s order to attend to as a matter of urgency.You will finish the lotus shoes while I work.’

Lim gave up all pretence of belligerence.‘Where would you like me to work, Master Chen?’

His own petty amusements were unimportant.He’d bide his time until this conceited fool would surely go to join the celebrations, or at the very least, deliver the shoes to Captain Duan.Time in the workshop gave Lim time to plan a way to reach Xian.The guard Jang Ming had been sympathetic, Mai, too.

There would be a way.

Theremustbe a way.

A golden scale pricked his finger.Lim frowned down at his finger, where a bead of blood rose from the tiny cut.

A chair groaned with shifted weight, and Master Chen grunted.‘Oh, Your Highness.Gracious.An honour indeed.’

Lim spun about, nearly tripping himself up with the shackles.