My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin

insisted. ‘How much older are you than Pearl? Were the two of you very close? And when did you leave home for your military appointment?’
    ‘There’s no need to know such details. It would be rude to ask anything so personal.’ These weren’t the most intimate of questions, but even so they raised his defences.
    ‘She’s right, you know,’ Bai Shen said. ‘The two of you don’t seem like brother and sister at all.’
    Fei Long sensed a rebellion brewing in the ranks. ‘I’ll be there beside you in case Tong decides to ask anything of that nature. It’s best that you say as little as possible. Let’s practise that.’
    Yan Ling blatantly ignored his suggestion. ‘According to Bai Shen, I should be over-prepared for the performance. I should know everything about Miss Pearl.’
    Fei Long rubbed a hand over his temples. ‘You don’t have to become my sister. Inspector Tong has never met Pearl.’
    ‘But what about Minister Cao Wei?’ she asked. ‘If he’s your father’s benefactor, won’t he be there as well?’
    Yan Ling and Dao stared at him expectantly. Even Bai Shen had straightened to raise a questioning eyebrow.
    ‘I’ve already been thinking about that,’ Fei Long said. ‘This will only work if Cao Wei doesn’t attend.’
    More subterfuge. More deception.
    ‘Can’t we let the minister in on the secret?’ she asked nervously.
    ‘That is impossible,’ Fei Long explained. ‘Cao Wei is a senior official within the imperial court. He would never let such a transgression pass.’
    Yan Ling wrung her sleeve, crinkling the silk beneath her fingers. Her poise was faltering under pressure. Ill-fated indeed.
    ‘All you need to do is concentrate on your part and I’ll take care of the rest,’ he assured.
    She nodded blankly.
    ‘Yan Ling.’ He waited for her to meet his eyes. If they stayed focused, they could do this. Together. ‘Pearl and I are seven years apart. I left the city nearly five years ago after the military exams.’
    The information seemed to calm her. ‘Were you and Pearl close?’
    ‘Our relationship was a harmonious one.’
    Her nose wrinkled. ‘Harmonious?’
    What else could be said? He and Pearl had got along well enough.
    ‘I’ve never had a brother or a sister,’ Yan Ling insisted. ‘It would help to know what it’s like.’
    ‘Miss Pearl worshipped her older brother,’ Dao supplied helpfully.
    ‘Fei Long was very strict about her upbringing.’ Bai Shen chimed in, his voice muffled. He was resting his head against his hand as if it had become too heavy to lift.
    Fei Long shifted uncomfortably in his seat. How had this conversation become about him? He thought of how his sister had depended on him. Their mother was gone and there was no one else in the household to ensure her education and well being. When Pearl had been betrothed to Khitan, she’d written him impassioned letters. He’d assured her it was a great honour and the marriage promised a bright future for her. Even when she’d begged for his help, he’d remained steadfast.
    ‘Pearl was always diligent in her studies,’ he told Yan Ling. ‘Sometimes she was impetuous, but only because she was young. She was well-mannered, thoughtful and obedient. Remember that and you’ll do well presenting yourself to Inspector Tong, I’m sure of it.’
    Yan Ling absorbed each description with quiet concentration. He always admired how seriously she took her role. So much depended on it.
    He moved closer and considered taking her hand, but decided against it. ‘If I had seen you for the first time today, I would have never known that you were that impulsive teahouse girl from the provinces.’
    Her hopeful gaze held on to him. ‘Really?’
    ‘Yes. That’s the truth.’
    * * *
    The scouting mission was underway the next morning. To Fei Long’s surprise, Bai Shen appeared at the gates with a determined expression and they ventured together to the Administrative City. On foot, the journey took them the