“Humph,” the Emperor said. “You do not look so bold now. Tell me, Chen Ji Yue, why did you hit my friend with a plate?”
Ji Yue’s gaze hopped to Bo Tao, her mind filled with the memory of his hands on her breasts, of her heart beating so fast as his hand slid ever lower. She felt her face heat beneath her white paint and saw an answering panic in his eyes. Did she tell the truth? Did she say that the Emperor’s best friend had done things to her that no virgin allowed? And that part of her still moistened at the thought of doing again?
She swallowed and ducked her head. “It was an accident, great Emperor,” she said. “I...tripped and the plate flew from my hand. I was merely clumsy.”
“Humph. I suppose that could be true.” He flashed Bo Tao a look filled with humor. “But I doubt it.” Then he snorted as he looked across the sea of hopeful virgin faces. “A girl’s virtue is always in danger even in the Forbidden City. Your clumsiness does not offend me.”
It didn’t? Thank Heaven!
Ji Yue exhaled a grateful breath in relief. She was not to be punished for hitting Bo Tao. Now she had to capitalize on her opportunity. She had to think of something clever to say, and she had to do it without looking at Bo Tao, without thinking of what they had done together, and without wondering about what he was thinking and feeling right at that moment.
Fortunately, she had an easy topic at hand. “The news of the Taiping’s defeat is most excellent! I am breathless to see your plans for the northern lands such that no upstart can rise again.”
It worked! The Emperor’s attention and been wandering to Li Fei, but at her words, they sharpened back upon her. “Whatever do you mean?”
Ji Yue straightened uncomfortable at his curt tone. “Only that when servants–or peasants–act badly, there is usually an underlying cause. Address that cause, and the meals once again appear hot and on time.”
The Emperor frowned at her. His face darkened, and his eyes grew cold. “Do you hear that Bo Tao? Comparing our glorious Empire to servants and meals!” He strengthened his voice so that all would hear. “Bad servants will be whipped. Upstart peasants who dare challenge the Dragon Throne will be killed. And that is the end of it!”
Cheers and claps greeted his rousing statement. Then he turned back to her, his humor restored. “But I like your butterfly pin,” he added.
She blinked, undone by the Emperor’s rapidly changing mood. She barely managed a murmured thank you before he laughed again and strode back to his table in the front of the room. It all happened so fast, and she stared after the Emperor with dismay. Had she ruined her chances?
She looked to Sun Bo Tao who had lingered, his gazedark and uncertain on her. She met his look–she couldn’t help herself–but she couldn’t read his meaning. She merely felt that tension again, that low lute string of power that seemed to tighten between them whenever they saw one another. And then he was gone, his long strides easily catching up to the Emperor.
“You have disgraced us!” someone hissed.
Ji Yue turned and was startled to see her fellow virgins glaring at her.
“What?”
“He came to our table to talk with us, and you coughed all over him. It is no wonder that he rushed away. He must fear a plague from you!”
Ji Yue blinked. “It wasn’t that kind of cough!”
“He will think we like you. He will think we keep company with upstart women who challenge his authority.”
“I did no such thing!” she cried.
“You do it even now! Oh, we are ruined because of you!”
Ji Yue looked from face to face. She had shared some good times with these girls. Not all of them were spoiled children like her roommate. They had laughed together and shared stories of their homes. But now every one spit into her napkin at her and turned her face away. Even Li Fei would not look at her.
“My chances are my own,” she finally said. “They will not effect yours.”
“Ugly and stupid,” the nearest one said. “She will bring us all down with her.”
Ji Yue said nothing. Their minds could not be swayed, and worse, she feared they were right. Men’s minds did not always remember details. The Emperor might very well confuse her actions with one of theirs, but she doubted it. Especially since each girl would take pains to remind the Emperor that she was the one who had insulted him so.
No one would remember that she had tried to complimenthis statecraft, not insult it. He would only know that she had created discord in his home, and that was a sin that could never be forgiven, especially in the Forbidden City.
In short, she had not only failed to impress the Emperor, but she had just turned every virgin against her.
