Page 97 of The Cinders
At last, she declared the tightening done.The rigid panels held his waist to an unpleasant narrowness, and a breath could not be taken in full.Xian scratched at the bodice.
‘I don’t think I can wear this.’
Kai-Ming shifted to face him, her sharp features bunched with worry.‘You can, your highness.You’ve faced far worse than this dress, I’m sorry to say it.But you survived it all.’Her eyes pleaded with him; and perhaps she did so selfishly, fearing the mandarin’s anger being directed at her if Xian refused to wear the gown.But he could not blame her for that.
‘Come on now.I’ll not wait any longer,’ Mandarin Feng called.
Xian exhaled.‘I am ready, your lordship.’
He stepped out from behind the divider, the feather-light panels that made up the skirt moving all too easily to part around his legs.He remained where he was, unwilling to display himself at the centre of the room.
Mandarin Feng’s eyes widened, and Xian looked away before he could read his expression too deeply.
‘Magnificent.There shall not be a single eye in the room that is not upon you, your highness.’He clapped his hands, the sound a strike of the anvil against the sword.‘They shall all be left speechless.Is this not the most sublime gown you’ve ever worn, Prince Xian?’
He felt rather than saw Kai-Ming tense.His own body was little different, his joints stiff with panic, his heart marking just one beat;
Run.Run.Run.
Xian nodded, the underside of his chin rubbing at the high neckline.‘It is like nothing I’ve ever known.’
Or would know again.
‘Good boy.Sensible boy.Now I must go.You will take the evening meal in your room, and rest.The evening will be long for us all, especially those of us who shall dance.’His smile was hollow.‘Your absence will only make our guests more eager for your performance.’He flicked his hand towards Kai-Ming.‘See his highness is tended to, anything he needs to prepare himself for this evening is to be taken to him at once.’
‘Yes, your lordship.I will need to return the gown to the seamstress.’She cowered beneath his haughty glare but kept on.‘A few minor adjustments that is all…to be expected with a first fitting.’
‘Fine.Do what you must.When he is dressed ensure his hair is left loose, it will please the Westerners who see such freedom so rarely in their own rigid style.’Little different, Xian thought, to the Middle Kingdom’s own unappealing queues, mandated for men, or the structured uplifted weaves anddian zifor women.‘Put jewels in the strands so they are not left to wonder at Manhao’s prosperity.’He gave Xian another appraisal, his gaze drifting low.‘You will not wear those drawers of course.But aside from that, you are pleasing, very pleasing.Will the shoes you speak of do the gown justice?’
‘My lord.’Xian bowed his head, resentment cool and fine in his veins.‘They will.Master Song’s work will bring you as much renown as this gown, I’m certain.’
Feng paused at the doorway, observing Xian with vain satisfaction.‘Let us hope so, your highness.It may encourage me to rescue him from the fate Captain Duan seems to believe he deserves.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
NEAR THEeleventh hour, the Palace of Endless Prosperity was alive with raucous activity.The hue and cry of those who were intoxicated by the approach of New Year had hammered at Xian’s ears as he sat beneath the fussing of attendants.They had set a dian zi upon his head, the hat ring decorated with flowers of gold and the stunning blue of inlaid Kingfisher feathers, and pinned tight in his hair, which was threaded through with tiny sapphires.A veil of gold had been affixed to the edges of the crowning dian zi, and was lower on his nose than those he normally wore and liked, but at least the fabric was opaque.
He’d not eaten much, a bite or two of his meal, the duck too rich for his troubled stomach.
The seamstress had done what she dared with the modesty panel, lengthening it and weighing down its hem with lead pellets so it sat firmer against his thighs and would not lift as the rest of the dress was so inclined to do.
Kai-Ming remained with him, touching up the kohl at his eyes, and encouraging him to take a sip of huangjiu to calm his nerves, when the knock at the door came.
‘Your highness, I am to escort you to his lordship.’
‘One moment please,’ he called back.
‘His lordship is waiting on you,’ came the strained reply.
‘Of course.’
But Xian refused to be hurried.He unwrapped the slippers from the folds of the gown he’d intended to wear this night.
‘Oh, your highness,’ Kai-Ming gasped.‘They are more beautiful than my eyes can believe.’
He smiled at her awed expression, her heavy-lidded eyes now wide, her hands pressed to her chest.‘I have a shoemaker who is like no other.The very best of men.’
Xian stepped into the slippers as easily as dipping his toes into water.Their fitting was not so calming as when Lim held them, but the comfort that came with having the shoes on his feet could not be denied.Xian thanked Kai-Ming again, wishing her a prosperous New Year.