He nodded. “And China cannot weaken itself by fighting more rebels from within.” The feel of her small hand on his warmed his spirit and stiffened his rod. But his mind was filled with other thoughts that miraculously directed him beyond taking her to bed. “I must go question the other girls. Since you have passed the Family History Exam, you must have a meal with the Dowager Consort.” He slanted her a hard glance. “She will pick at you, but say nothing that is not... That is not...” How to phrase what he wanted?
“Empty headed?”
“Exactly! Pretend you will follow her direction blindly.”
“She is not that stupid. She will not be fooled.”
“Probably not, but she cannot be sure. After the meal, pretend to an illness. Claim you need to sit in my aunt’s garden to rest.” He used his finger to trace the route she would take from the garden lunch to the bower. If she could not remember it from his quick movements, then she was of no use to him.
“I understand,” she murmured. “What then?”
“I will have someone there waiting. He will take you where I want you to go.”
She nodded, but her eyes grew wary. “Do you swear on your honor that I will not be harmed by this?”
He winced. She was right to question him. Even now, his cock was large and hungry. “I swear by my honor that this will not hurt your chances to become Empress.” The words weresour in his mouth, but he said them anyway. If she gave up her quest to become Empress, then he could court her without fear from the Emperor. He paused, momentarily shocked by his own thoughts. Did he plan to court her? To marry her? The idea was...not unappealing.
“And my father’s reputation?” Ji Yue pressed.
“Was never in any danger from me.” He smiled. “Though I would very much like to meet your mother. She sounds like a most interesting woman. Are your brothers as clever?”
“The youngest is. The older...” She hesitated.
“Takes after your father?”
“He spends much time in his dreams.”
Bo Tao laughed and pushed to his feet. He had a moment’s insanity when he dreamed he would pull her into his arms. Her breasts were within reach, and her sweet cream flowed so easily. But the interrogator would return any moment now, and after last night’s warning from Yi Zhen, he had to be doubly careful. She was the Emperor’s Virgin, and he would do well to stay far away from her.
“Go now,” he said as he pushed her away. “Go quickly.”
She hesitated a moment, and her eyes lingered on his mouth. He knew she was thinking as he was, that she remembered every detail of their intimacy. Lust surged through him, nearly overpowered his reason.
“Go!” he rasped.
She nodded and fled.
