My Fair Concubine by Jeannie Lin Page A

first half of the hour and they arrived at the section gates once the many offices and functionaries had had a chance to settle into their daily routine.
    They watched from the street as the army of clerks and messengers travelled between the various offices. A good portion of the northern part of Changan worked for the imperial government in one form or another.
    ‘I can’t imagine you working here,’ Bai Shen remarked.
    ‘It’s reputable work,’ Fei Long argued. His father, his grandfather, and on and on back, his line of ancestors had held government positions in one form or another.
    ‘Unlike the theatre.’ Bai Shen tossed him a sideways glance before continuing along the colonnade toward the central ministry buildings.
    The imperial palace had moved just beyond the city walls at the start of the dynasty, to a secluded area cordoned off by more walls and gates. These government offices were the closest most citizens would ever come to being in the presence of their imperial ruler. Of the illustrious officials of the Six Ministries, only the most senior and highest-ranking were ever given an audience within the palace itself. Unlike the bureaucracy of the ministries, the Censorate reported directly to the Emperor, which was why men like Tong were treated with such care.
    They passed by a patrol of city guards without a blink in their direction.
    ‘It should be easy to blend in,’ Bai Shen assessed.
    Fei Long smirked. ‘Not in those robes.’
    As usual, Bai Shen was the most colourfully dressed in the crowd. He dismissed the comment with a wave.
    ‘The Ministry of Personnel resides in that building with the green rooftop.’ Fei Long gestured toward the towering assembly hall at the end of the avenue. ‘Minister Cao is there every morning overseeing special petitions.’ He turned to Bai Shen. ‘Are you still in good with that crew of rascals?’
    ‘Everyone loves Li Bai Shen.’
    ‘Can you position yourselves near Minister Cao’s offices that morning?’
    ‘A diversion.’ Bai Shen looked thoughtful. ‘Yes, a
grand one.’
    ‘No. Not a grand one.’ Fei Long stared him down. ‘Just delay him.’
    He imagined having to stand before the magistrate on behalf of Bai Shen and his entire acting troupe. It was something Fei Long had done years ago when the crew had been thrown into prison after being disrespectful to the city guards. Loudly and drunkenly disrespectful.
    ‘And nothing illegal,’ he added on the heels of the unpleasant memory.
    ‘Of course. But you’re going to owe us a round of drinks after this.’
    They walked the perimeter, with Bai Shen surveying the gates and exits as if planning a siege.
    ‘We’ll need to be sure he doesn’t slip past us,’ the actor said. He peered intently down the deserted alley along the western side. ‘Six of us could cover it. Maybe seven.’
    ‘What are you planning?’
    ‘Better you don’t know.’ Bai Shen started down the empty lane, head bowed in concentration. Fei Long imagined he was scripting out his performance line by line.
    He followed Bai Shen into the shade cast by the high wall. The hum of the street faded behind him in a rare silence seldom found in the crowded city. It seemed as if had been ages ago when he and Bai Shen had walked the streets of Changan together. Not since his days as a student.
    It was tempting to think of those days as carefree. He’d had his wild times carousing in the entertainment district, but Fei Long had always felt the weight of responsibility. He’d never forgotten it, even when he’d left the city to try to make a name for himself. The sense of duty just hadn’t been as palpable until his father had left them.
    ‘Thank you,’ he said, putting as much feeling as was proper into his words.
    Bai Shen’s back was to him, but the actor stopped in the middle of the alley and turned. ‘What, we’re friends here, right? No need for thanks.’
    Fei Long never imagined he’d have to lean on the hapless