The Concubine Affair

by Quig Shelby

  ‘Yes, and that it is rumoured the Emperor’s physician covered up the crime.’

  ‘Is it not sad?’ asked Fu.

  ‘Even more so when you see her lover’s aura and broken spirit, but there is nothing we can do.’

  ‘You’re right,’ said Fu.

  ‘There is not long to prepare my love,’ said Zhen, at least hoping to save her own love.

  ‘It will be my greatest trick to date,’ said Fu.

  ‘And you’re riskiest,’ she reminded him.

  ‘Which is why we must prepare,’ he said, grabbing her hand.

  Eventually the large glass tank was full of water; it was the height of two guards, and as ten swords long. A ladder led to the top, and Fu jumped in; over and over again. He got to know every inch of the tank, where he could twist and turn.

  Zhen held the timer given to Fu by Alain. He took one more deep breath, and submerged himself. He was gasping for air, but rehearsed until he almost collapsed.

  ‘If Heshen tries to interfere again I must refuse,’ said Fu.

  ‘Don’t worry; he won’t dare intervene a second time; you are the Emperor’s magician.’

  They left the gated enclosure until tomorrow, when Fu would check and double check his chains, before diving into the deep end.

  ‘I wonder how he copes?’ asked Orvid.

  He was on deck leaning out over the river.

  ‘Who?’ asked Karin.

  ‘Peter the gardener.’

  ‘I guess his faith has helped,’ said Karin.

  ‘What was his fiancé called?’

  ‘Miranda Holt.’

  Lauderdale was sunning himself, and watching the approaching pleasure cruiser. Karin was about to wave, but there was a new skipper at the helm, his face scrunched in concentration.

  ‘You know that Alain saved Cong Chu Cheng?’ Orvid asked her.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Perhaps I could rescue Miranda,’ he said.

  ‘How? You neither knew her in this life or the last.’

  Karin was right, but wasn’t there something someone could do?

  ‘I just can’t get it out of my head,’ he said.

  There was a scraping noise at the rear of the boat, and they lurched forwards.

  ‘I thought he was too close,’ said Karin regaining her balance.

  ‘Sorry,’ shouted the skipper turning his vessel around.

  ‘Where’s Lauderdale?’ asked Karin.

  ‘There,’ said Orvid seeing the cat flapping in the water.

  Soon all to be seen was his tail.

  ‘Orvid,’ shouted Karin as he jumped in.

  Lauderdale was thrown back on board, with Orvid after him. There was a round of applause from the tourists on the river cruiser, and Orvid bowed. He was centre stage again.

  ‘Now my magician,’ said Karin ‘let’s get you changed.’

  ‘You can stay here,’ said Karin to her pet; she was going down below.

  Chapter Thirty Eight

  The body had finally been released, and buried; unlike his regret. Orvid placed the flowers on the grave, bending down to arrange them in the granite vase. He was unsure what to say, how to say it; guilt was welling in his bosom.

  ‘Libby I’ve found someone new,’ he mumbled.

  He hesitated. There was a skylark in the tree opposite watching him.

  ‘You’d like her,’ he said.

  The bird landed on Libby’s gravestone, and they both stayed a while. When he got up to leave, with the sun shining on his back, he noticed a familiar hunched figure; it was Peter from Monks Hill.

  ‘Forgive me,’ said Orvid ‘but I was paying my respects as well.’

  Peter had been crying, sobbing, as he always did. Some could move on, sooner or later, others always held a torch.

  ‘It’s quite alright,’ said Peter blowing his nose ‘you’re Karin’s friend aren’t you?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Orvid looked at the gravestone, Miranda Holt RIP.

  ‘Too young to die,’ said Orvid noting the dates.

  ‘It doesn’t say murdered,’ said Peter ‘but she was; I know it. She didn’t drink.’

  Orvid’s look told him he already knew the story, the official one at least.

  ‘Take a look around here,’ said Peter, leading Orvid to another gravestone - Greta and Arnold Holt, died together broken hearted, it read.

  ‘They committed suicide,’ said Peter about Miranda’s parents ‘they knew the truth too. Hushed up you see.’

  ‘I thought about it,’ he continued ‘but I’ve always, you’ll laugh I know, thought she would come back one day. But I guess time has run out.’

  ‘Time’s a strange thing,’ said Orvid.

  ‘I just wish I’d gone back that weekend, and asked her to marry me. She’d changed her mind about the law course; too many big wigs and egos.’

  ‘Let’s go for a coffee,’ said Orvid ‘I’ve just had a really strange idea.’

  ‘Are you sure you’ll get them off in time?’ asked Zhen, referring to his chains.

  Fu nodded. The pick for the locks was in his mouth. He hauled himself atop the ladder, and readied himself to make a splash.

  The chains glinted in the sun. Wa Yu had borrowed them the other day but Zhen daren’t tell Fu; he was possessive over his equipment.

  Fu winked; then suddenly made waves. The twisted rope wrapped around his waist was tethered to a block near Zhen, and followed him to the bottom.

  Zhen hung onto every second of the hand on Alain’s watch. If Fu was in the water longer than five minutes she was to call one of the guards at the gate, and reel him out. She couldn’t watch as Fu thrashed around.

  Finally a pile of scrap lay at the bottom, with Fu thrashing his arms above the water.

  ‘How long?’ he gasped.

  ‘Four minutes, and fifty five seconds,’ said Zhen.

  ‘Not bad, five seconds to spare,’ said Fu smiling. It was his last time with the umbilical cord.

  ‘Let’s drain the water,’ said Fu ready to pull the plug.

  ‘Wait here I have an idea,’ said Zhen.

  Ten minutes later, she was back with the gardener.

  ‘You two,’ shouted Zhen to the guards ‘get some horses and help us wheel this to the orchard.’

  At the top of the hill the thirsty trees drank.

  ‘The Emperor’s apples are coming along nicely this year,’ said the gardener.

  ‘But look,’ he added pointing at a tree ‘someone’s been stealing them.’

  The gardener winked at Fu. Just how much did he see thought Fu?

  With the water tank back in the enclosure, and a solitary guard on duty, the gardener went back to his tiny hut on the edge of the apple trees. He’d lived there many years; a gift from the Emperor on hearing of his sadness.

  Damn he’d left his cap. He’d worn it since her death; it never left him. The guard was absent, the gate open. Chains rattled, and someone was bent over Fu’s locks, swapping them; he hid.

  The iron was thrown into a cloth sack, and buried beneath a mulberry bush. Tomorrow the gardener would prune the bush, and after collecting his only cap, put them back where they belonged.

  ‘Practice is over,’ said Fu confidently ‘I can do no more. And in just over a day’s time the world shall learn of my latest and greatest feat.’

  The Jesuit’s were coming to watch, but more than that, a friend of the French King was invited, and he owned a printing press in Paris. Surely he would not resist the exploits of the great Fu Chung Soo.

  Lei Weng stood naked in Heshen’s luxurious quarters.

  ‘Have they been swapped?’ Heshen asked of the padlocks.

  ‘All of them; and for the Emper
or’s newest and strongest. Now let the wondrous magician escape,’ said Lei.

  Heshen laughed, and stretched his arm forth.

  ‘Come join me,’ he said ‘tell me all about Bik Dong Fang.’

  ‘Have you impregnated the girl yet?’ asked Heshen.

  ‘If she is fertile.’

  ‘Good, then the Emperor will be certain the child is his,’ said Heshen.

  ‘Does Bik still intend to poison Chien-lung’s chosen successor?’ asked Heshen.

  This was the son who despised his corruption.

  ‘Yes once our child is favoured, but there is another name atop her list.’

  Was it him wondered Heshen? It would be a shame to lose a fellow schemer so early in her career.

  ‘Wa Yu,’ said the guard; then he revealed the information Heshen’s spies had not.

  ‘And her lover; the priest Alain Fontaney.’

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  He had the same kit, though he wasn’t a heroin junkie; he was becoming addicted to the past. No wonder he felt so damn important, he had been, was, Heshen; one of the most powerful men to live in Imperial China.

  Lawrence injected more slowly this time; he didn’t want a heart attack. And his lips weren’t turning blue; he was licking them in anticipation.

  He quickly put his tongue back in his mouth, he was not alone in bed, but sharing it with a powerfully built yet pretty faced young man.

  ‘Tell me Heshen will you always care for me?’ asked Lei.

  ‘As Chien-lung has always cared for me,’ he replied.

  Heshen was once a Palace guard. A nobody really, until his beauty caught the Emperor’s eye. He’d twisted the besotted Emperor around his finger, rapidly clawing his way up the ranks. He would cherish his young guard too, but he wouldn’t be as foolish.

  ‘Tell me, when does Bik intend to betray Wa, and her righteous lover?’ asked Heshen.

  ‘As soon as the cycles say she is pregnant.’

  ‘She’s a clever one is Bik Dong Fang,’ said Heshen with admiration.

  ‘I can’t wait to hear Alain Fontaney beg for his life, or rather his death,’ said Heshen, and they both laughed.

  ‘It’s almost a shame Fu shall die quickly in his fish tank,’ said Lei.

  ‘Things might have been different if he had the lantern to trade,’ said Heshen.

  ‘And what is your plan for me?’ asked Lei.

  ‘Patience my pretty one, you will soon be promoted,’ said Heshen, and he kissed him forcefully on the lips.

  Lawrence came spluttering back, rushing to the bathroom to wash his mouth out. He’d put his love for a Cambridge professor to the back of his mind years ago. And fortunately, he’d never told a young Marcus Forster of his infatuation.

  The enigmatic Wa Yu appeared to open many doors. If she was the lover of the priest, could she be Verity Forster wondered Lawrence? He’d seen her on the houseboat with Alain. Why else would she be there? And Marcus was the Emperor.

  ‘Go on, really, tell,’ pleaded Ivy.

  ‘It’s actually not that exciting,’ said Verity.

  They were in Ivy’s car, on a moonlit drive whilst Marcus was away.

  ‘Here’s a clue,’ said Verity, and she touched the key around her neck.

  ‘A policeman, I should have guessed with the handcuffs,’ said Ivy.

  Verity laughed.

  ‘No, but he does lock things away,’ said Verity.

  ‘So he doesn’t lock people up. Security guard?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Bank manager. No way too boring. Doctor, they lock the drugs away,’ said Ivy.

  ‘Close,’ said Verity.

  ‘Pharmacist?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Nurse.’

  Verity smiled.

  ‘Why did it take me so long? You’ve got to be kinky to do that job; all those enemas.’

  ‘He’s a mental health nurse,’ said Verity ‘he doesn’t do that.’

  ‘At least not on the patients,’ said Ivy smiling. ‘So where did you meet him?’

  ‘At Treetops.’

  ‘He works there?’

  ‘He did.’

  ‘And what does the nursing code say about our handsome masochist screwing innocent patients?’ asked Ivy.

  ‘I wouldn’t have the faintest idea. As you know I’m far from innocent,’ said Verity.

  Ivy pulled into a layby on the edge of a forest.

  ‘Don’t you find the moon romantic?’ she asked.

  ‘Well it’s a full moon so it brings out the beast in me.’

  ‘I’ve never been into animals but you can have me for dinner anytime,’ said Ivy.

  Their lips locked, with Ivy almost regretting her plan to betray Verity to Marcus. She was unbuttoning Verity’s skirt.

  ‘Oh I forgot to ask,’ she said ‘this nurse, what’s his name?’

  ‘Alain Fontaney,’ gasped Verity.

  ‘Bik, what a pleasant surprise,’ said Wa Yu.

  They were in the Court tailors, and Wa had come to check the progress of her robe.

  ‘Haven’t you touched me enough,’ said Bik to Hui Lin.

  He looked perturbed.

  ‘Honestly,’ said Bik ‘and they wonder why I don’t get measured in my rooms.’

  Verity smiled.

  ‘Men you just can’t trust them,’ said Bik ‘no wonder we have these strong powerful eunuchs to protect us.’

  ‘I’ll be with you in a moment Madam,’ said Hui to Wa.

  ‘No rush, I haven’t seen my friend in a while.’

  ‘You can help me choose the colours,’ said Bik to Wa.

  Chien-lung was kitting her out with a new wardrobe. There really was no fool like an old fool. Eventually Hui had all Bik’s measurements in his notebook.

  ‘It’s nearly ready Madam Wa, just a few finishing touches,’ said Hui.

  ‘May I see it?’ asked Wa.

  Hui clapped his hands, and after a few fervent whispers the assistant carried in her new robe.

  ‘You are going to look stunning Wa,’ said Bik.

  ‘You’d better watch out Bik, I might steal the Emperor back,’ joked Wa.

  ‘Steal, after last night you can have him,’ said Bik.

  Hui looked nervous, and Bik took a swipe at him with her fan.

  ‘Don’t be such a fool,’ Bik said to Hui ‘maybe you should have joined the eunuchs.’

  Wa couldn’t help but laugh, but his timidity had saved her neck; thus far.

  ‘If Madam Wa pleases I can deliver the robe this afternoon,’ said Hui.

  ‘Careful Wa, he’s after you now,’ said Bik.

  ‘Excellent, I shall wear it in the gardens this evening,’ said Wa to Hui.

  He nodded.

  ‘Make sure your eunuch’s in the room,’ said Bik.

  But Hui was too scared to play along.

  Wa was choosing a necklace from the licensed Palace vendor, when Hui Lin came knocking.

  ‘That one,’ said Wa pointing into the tray.

  ‘No, only one,’ she said to the woman, who began to clasp it around her pretty neck.

  ‘Now leave,’ said Wa.

  The vendor rushed out, pleased with her biggest sale of the day.

  ‘Would Madam care to try on the robe?’ asked Hui.

  ‘Of course,’ answered Wa.

  She edged along her elongated sofa into another room, behind an embroidered silk curtain. It was a gift from her parents, on the day she entered the Emperor’s harem.

  Hui felt sorry for Wa, as he did all the concubines, so pretty and serene, yet hobbling around like old peasant women.

  ‘Come and take a look,’ shouted Wa from behind th
e screen.

  Hui hesitated.

  ‘I’m dressed,’ she shouted.

  ‘Adorable,’ said Hui.

  ‘It is thanks to you Master Lin. The look is rather fetching is it not?’

  ‘Indeed it is,’ said Alain Fontaney ‘one could even say it takes the breath away.’

  Hui had given her a slightly different cut; tighter around the curves. There was still plenty left to the imagination, but you could see her shape, and it almost knocked you out.

  ‘You approve then Mr Fontaney.’

  ‘In France they say the test of a woman’s dress is how quickly her lover rips it off,’ said Alain.

  ‘Really: And how long would this robe stay on me if we were alone?’ asked Wa.

  ‘Madam Wa, it would already be on the floor.’

  Wa laughed; she felt deliriously happy.

  ‘I hope I’m not interrupting anything,’ said Bik.

  ‘My dear sister,’ said Wa.

  ‘I should leave,’ said Alain, still feeling the sting of Bik’s last visit.

  ‘The two most beautiful concubines in China, and you wish to flee with your,’ Bik paused ‘tail between your legs.’

  She looked him up and down, and could see why Wa was so interested in him.

  Alain looked at Wa Yu. It was a tempting proposal.

  ‘Oh stay a while, why not,’ said Wa ‘after all, you already know Bik.’

  Hui was edging towards the exit as Bik looked at him.

  ‘So tailors as well as eunuchs can keep secrets,’ said Bik as he left.

  ‘I hope you have recovered from your wasp stings Alain,’ said Bik.

  Alain looked embarrassed but Bik, the new Emperor’s favourite, was growing in confidence by the day.

  ‘What else do you think we concubines have to talk about?’ asked Bik.

  ‘The weather,’ he replied.

  Bik and Wa both laughed.

  ‘You have rather refined tastes Alain,’ said Bik, trying to swat a fly with her elegant fan.

  Alain wasn’t sure what to say.

  ‘He’s not usually so reluctant to use his tongue,’ said Wa.

  ‘Really, and I have always wanted to shut up one of these infernal priests,’ said Bik.

  ‘Then my sister, his mouth is all yours, I shall take the part the eunuch’s do not have.’