“I know you, Sun Bo Tao,” she hissed. “I know you are not a scholar, you are not a soldier, you are not even rich. You are a friend to the Emperor and so he lets you live off his bounty, and you are jealous of whatever he likes.”
“Mama, that’s not true,” Ji Yue inserted, but her mother was not listening.
“The Emperor has noticed you, daughter,” she snapped. “And this man wants whatever the Emperor has. So he convinces you to go home now so that we will be grateful when he courts you later.” Madame Chen drew herself up to her full height. “We will not be grateful for the likes of you!”
Bo Tao did not answer. Her accusations had the ring of truth. Once, he had lived off his friendship with Yi Zhen, had followed the Emperor around for the parties, the food, and the women. But endless rounds of princely games grew tedious. He discovered he liked the business of nations, and he grew up. Now he was an integral part of the nation’s government even though he had no official title.
He looked at Ji Yue, his heart in his eyes. “I have enough to live. And after the Festival, Yi Zhen has promised me an appointment with a salary. Enough money to support a wife and–”
“Bah on promises!” Madame Chen gripped her daughter’s arm and spun her around. “Hsst! You are smart, Ji Yue. Use your head.” Madame Chen pointed a bony finger at him. “Beauty fades and grows old. Promises come and go with thewind. You want nothing of this one!”
Ji Yue compressed her lips in annoyance. Bo Tao could tell she did not like having her mother tell her what she wanted. But without her mother’s support, she could not go home.
“Mama, the Dowager Consort despises me.”
“Because the Emperor sees your worth.”
“I do not think–”
“Enough,” interrupted the father.
Bo Tao turned, startled to hear from the man. “Honored sir?” he said with a bow.
“My daughter has caught the Emperor’s eye. She will remain an Imperial Virgin.” He lifted his chin. “There is no room for her at home.” Then he gestured to his sons. “Come, sons, your studies await. You do not want to become a wastrel, dependent upon promises before you can take a wife.” And with that, he waved his daughter a casual farewell and walked away. His wife fell into step behind her sons. But at the door, she turned to glare at her daughter. “Ji Yue, go! Go to the Virgins’ Palace and spend no more time with this wastrel!”
Ji Yue did not appear happy with her mother’s advice, but it didn’t matter. Without a home to return to, Ji Yue would remain in the Forbidden City and take her chances among fifty others to become the next Empress.
Bo Tao sighed. He could kill a foreigner in the lesser great hallway, but he could not win a girl away from her parents’ ambition.
“Do as your mother bids,” he finally said. “I am late to report to the Emperor.” He clapped his hands twice very loud, and a pair of eunuchs appeared. “Escort Chen Ji Yue to the Virgins’ Palace. I am late.”
With a last bow to her family–and the mother who still smirked in the doorway—he turned and left all the Chen women behind.
