Li Yuan yawned and stretched as the craft descended, then looked across. His personal secretary, Chang Shih-sen, was gathering his papers together, softly humming to himself.
‘We've got through a lot of work in the last four days, Chang,' he said, smiling. ‘I don't think I've ever worked so hard.'
Chang smiled back at him, inclining his head slightly. ‘It is good to work hard, my lord.'
‘Yes...' Li Yuan laughed, feeling the craft touch down beneath him. ‘But today we rest, neh? I won't expect to see you until tomorrow morning.'
Chang bowed low, pleased by his master's generosity. ‘As the Prince wishes.'
He turned back, looking through the portal at the activity in the hangar. A welcoming committee of four servants, led by Nan Ho, was waiting to one side, while the hangar crew busied themselves about the craft. Chang was right. He felt good despite his tiredness. He had spent more than eighty hours scanning files and interviewing, and now all but two of the places on the Project were filled. If his father agreed, they could go ahead with it within the week.
For one day, however, he would take a break from things. Would set all cares aside and devote himself to Fei Yen.
He looked down, grinning at the thought of her. Life was good. To have important business in one's life and such a woman to return to: that, surely, was all a man could ask for?
And sons...
But that would come. As surely as the seasons.
He heard the hatch hiss open and looked back at Chang Shih-sen. ‘Go now, Chang. Put the papers in my study. We'll deal with them tomorrow.'
Chang bowed his head, then turned away. Li Yuan sat there a moment longer, thinking over the satisfactions of the last few days, recollecting the great feeling of ch'i, of pure energy, he had experienced in dealing with these matters. Unlike anything he had ever felt before. It made him understand things better. Made him realize why men drove themselves instead of staying at home in the loving arms of their wives. And yet it was good to come home, too. Good to have that to look forward to.
‘A balance...' he said softly, then laughed and climbed up out of his seat, making his way down the short gangway, the three servants standing off to one side of him as he passed, their heads bowed low.
Nan Ho came forward as he reached the bottom of the steps, then knelt and touched his head to the ground.
‘Welcome home, my lord.'
‘Thank you, Master Nan. But tell me, where is Fei Yen?'
Nan Ho lifted his head fractionally. ‘She is in her chambers, Prince Yuan. She has given orders for no one to disturb her. Not even her amah.'
Li Yuan grinned. ‘Ah...'
‘My lord...'
But Li Yuan was already moving past. ‘Not now, Master Nan.'
Nan Ho turned, his extreme agitation unnoticed by the Prince. ‘But, my lord...'&p>
‘Later, Nan Ho...'
He ran through the palace, past bowing servants, then threw open the doors to her apartments.
She was waiting for him, sitting on the huge bed, her legs folded under her, the vermilion robe she had worn on their wedding morning pulled about her. Her head was lowered in obedience, but there was a faint smile on her cherry lips.
‘My lord?' she said, looking up, her eyes as dark as the night.
‘My love...' he said, the words barely a whisper. The scent of plum blossom in the room was intoxicating. Closing the doors behind him, turning the great key, he went across and sat beside her on the bed, drawing her close.
‘I've missed you...'
She shrugged the thin silk robe from her shoulders, then drew his head down into the cushion of her breasts, curling her legs about him.
‘Make love to me, my lord.'
Afterwards he lay there next to her, staring at her in wonder.
‘My love. My darling little swallow...'
She laughed then drew his face close, kissing him gently, tenderly. ‘Now you know how much I missed you.'
‘And I you...'
She pushed him back and sat up. ‘But you're tired, husband. Why don't you sleep a while. And when you wake I'll have a meal ready for you.'
‘But, my love, you needn't...'
She put a finger to his lips. ‘I want to. Besides, I am your wife.'
He made to protest again, but she shook her head. With a brief laugh he lay back on the bed, closing his eyes. Within a minute he was asleep.
She studied him a moment, laying her hand softly on his chest, feeling the soft rise and fall of his breath, then gently covered the soft fold of his spent manhood. She shivered. He was still such a boy.
She went into the tiny pantry and busied herself, preparing the ingredients she'd had brought from the kitchen only an hour before. It would be two hours before it was ready. Time enough to bathe and change again.
She lay there a long time in the bath, soaking, looking through the open door at his sleeping figure on the bed. He was no bother really. Such a sweet boy. And yet...
As she floated there, she found herself remembering the sight of Tsu Ma in the water, his chest bared, his hair slicked back; the presence of his boots planted so solidly on the earth beneath the table; the deep, warm vibration of his voice.
Tsu Ma...
She opened her eyes again. The boy was still sleeping. Her husband, the boy.
She shivered, then stirred herself in the water. It was time she dressed and saw to his meal.
He woke to find her sat beside him on the bed, watching him. He turned his head, glancing at his timer, then yawned. He had slept more than two hours.
He sat up, breathing in deeply. ‘What's that? It smells delicious.'
She smiled and turned away, returning moments later with a bowl and chopsticks. He took it from her, sniffed at it, then tucked in, holding the bowl close to his mouth, smacking his lips in appreciation.
‘This is excellent. What is it?'
She was kneeling by the bed, watching him. ‘It's a recipe of my grandmother's. Wolfberry stewed with beef. A tonic for yang energy...' She laughed at his frown. ‘An aphrodisiac, my husband. It enhances strength and endurance.'
He nodded enthusiastically. ‘It's good. Your grandmother was a clever woman, and you, my love, are an excellent cook.'
She lookee s">Heooklsquo;Id down, smiling. ‘My husband is too kind.'
He was still a moment, watching her, astonished for the hundredth time by the fragile beauty of her, then began to eat again, realizing with a laugh just how hungry he had been.
‘Is there anything else, husband? Anything I could get for you?'
He lowered the bowl, smiling at her. ‘No. But that reminds me. There is something I must do. One small thing, then the rest of the day is free. We could go riding if you like.'
She looked back at him, her eyes bright. ‘I'd like that.'
‘Good. Then I'll call Nan Ho-'
Uncharacteristically, she interrupted him. ‘Forgive me, husband, but that is not possible.'
‘Not possible?' Li Yuan frowned, then gave a short laugh. ‘I don't understand.'
She lowered her head, making herself small, submissive. ‘I am afraid I had to dismiss Master Nan. He-'
‘Dismiss him?' Li Yuan set the bowl aside and stood, looking down at her. ‘Do I hear you right, Fei Yen? You have dismissed my Master of the Inner Chambers?'
‘I had to, my lord...'
He shook his head, then looked away, past her. ‘Tell me. Why did you dismiss him? What did he do?'
She glanced up at him, then bowed her head again. ‘My lord will be angry with me...'
He looked back at her. ‘Have I reason, then, to be angry with you?'
She looked up, meeting his eyes, her own dewed with tears. He hardened himself against the sight; even so, he felt himself moved. He had never seen her as beautiful as at that moment.
‘I am your wife, my prince. Did I not have good reason to be angry with the man?'
‘Fei Yen... talk sense. I don't follow what you're saying.'
She looked down, swallowing, a sudden bleakness in her face that tore at his heart. ‘The girls... Nan Ho had brought girls...' A shudder passed through her. ‘Girls for your bed ...'
He took a long breath. So ... She had misunderstood him. ‘Forgive me, my love, but you have no reason to be angry with Nan Ho. It was not his doing. I asked him to bring those girls here. That was the thing I had to do.'
‘And that makes it better?' Her voice was broken, anguished. ‘How could you, Yuan? Am I not a good wife to you? Do I deny you anything?' She looked up at him, the hurt in her eyes almost too much for him. When she spoke again, her voice was a mere whisper. ‘Or have you tired of me already?'
He was shaking his head. ‘No... never. But you mistake me...'
‘Mistake you?' Sudden anger flared in her eyes. ‘You bring those girls here – girls who have shared your bed – and say I have mistaken you.'
‘Fei Yen...'
‘Then deny it! Look me in the eyes, husband, and deny that you haven't had them?'
‘It wasn't like that...'
But his hesitation was enough for her. She tucked her head down bitterly, her hands pulling anxiously at the lap of her dress, then stood angrily.
‘Fei Yen! You must believe me...'
‘Believe you?'
He bristled, suddenly angered that she could think this of him, after all he had done to purify himself for her. Hadn't he cast the maids off? Hadn't he denied himself the pleasures of their company this last year? He shuddered. ‘You had no business dismissing Master Nan!takp wiu h of Who comes or goes in these rooms is my business, not yours!'