The Lady's Scandalous Night
Page 5
“A pardon. Governor Li has declared that the debt between the two of them is settled.”
She took the decree from him and read through it. “Can this be a trick?”
“Li Tao can be harsh and brutal, but he doesn’t believe in deceit.”
“The governor would rather kill his enemies as public examples,” she said contemptuously.
“Sometimes these matters can only be handled warrior to warrior. Only Li Tao and Ru Shan can understand what has happened.”
“Then Ru Shan is safe? We don’t have to hide any longer?”
He nodded and she nearly collapsed with relief.
“I wouldn’t have taken Ru Shan’s life,” he told her. “I knew I couldn’t do it the moment we parted. I wanted to see you again, even if it was only in another life, and I knew the forces of heaven wouldn’t allow it if I went against what I knew was right.”
The weight of a hundred stones lifted from her. She’d known he wasn’t a coldhearted killer. “I was so afraid. I thought of you every day, wondering.”
Chen was finally there beside her. The barriers lifted away and the sight of him filled her, pure and uncorrupted.
He looked beyond her to the window of the cabin. Father had pulled back the curtain to stare out at them. “Is that the elder Master Yao? I’ve always wanted to meet him and pay my respects.”
“Father will be very happy to hear that Ru Shan has been pardoned,” she replied.
They started toward the door, side by side. She was no longer the sheltered girl by the river, but being close to Chen brought back those days of hope and longing. She could dream again.
“I didn’t just come to talk about Ru Shan,” he admitted. “There is something else I’ve been meaning to ask your father.”
“Oh? What can that be?” She looked away, coy and uncommonly pleased.
He reached out to take her hand and all the pieces of heaven and earth came together. Chen smiled at her for the first time since he’d returned, a true smile full of promise and happiness.
“It’s about his daughter.”
If you liked this story, don’t miss these other romantic tales by Jeannie Lin now available!
The Taming of Mei Lin
Butterfly Swords
The Dragon and the Pearl
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The Sheikh’s Impetuous Love-Slave by Marguerite Kaye
Deliciously Debauched by the Rake by Ann Lethbridge
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Jeannie Lin grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school, the stage was set. Jeannie started writing her first romance while working as a high school science teacher in South Central Los Angeles. After four years of trying to break into publishing with an Asian-set historical, her 2009 Golden Heart® winning manuscript, Butterfly Swords, sold to Harlequin Mills & Boon.
As a technical consultant, backpacker, and vacation junkie, she’s traveled all over the United States as well as Europe, South Korea, Japan, China, and Vietnam. She’s now happily settled in St. Louis with her wonderfully supportive husband and continues to journey to exotic locations in her stories.
You can visit Jeannie Lin online at http://www.jeannielin.com
ISBN: 978-1-4592-1300-5
The Lady’s Scandalous Night
Copyright © 2011 by Chi Nguyen-Rettig
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