Her mother folded her hands and frowned. “We met only once, you know, though he spoke to your grandfather many times.” She grinned in memory. “Your grandmother and I watched through the screen. He was so handsome! He’d already passed the civil service exam. He was already an important person with a bright future in front of him. And look, now he is one of the emperor’s closest advisors.”
Ling Xin was very proud of her father. Less than one soul in a hundred passed the exam. And fewer than that rose high enough to advise the emperor. She smiled thinking of Zhi Hao. She hoped he would be as fortunate.
“So he spoke with grandfather before ever meeting you,” Ling Xin prompted.
“Several times.”
Which meant they’d married for one reason. “He wanted your dowry and grandfather’s connections.” Her grandfather had not passed the imperial exam. Indeed, it was one of the great failings in his life. But he had found his own way in making medicines. It was the basis of the family wealth.
But her mother did not like that characterization. “He would not have married me if I wasn’t acceptable in every way,” she said, her tone sharp.
“Of course, you are perfect.”
The lady sniffed and returned to the pile of linens.
“But…” Ling Xin began.
“Oh, you do plague me,” her mother complained. “What is it?”
“Mama,” she said, abandoning her formal tone. “Every girl set before the emperor will be virtuous. He has no need of family connections nor my dowry. How can I become empress—or even a favored concubine—if I do not please him in other ways. Inphysicalways?”
Her mother blinked at her, her mouth agape. Then she abruptly frowned. “You are not to know those things!”
Ling Xin threw up her hands. “I will need them on my wedding night!”
“The eunuchs will teach you. And if not, then I will see you before the wedding. The girl’s parents are allowed—”
“Not for the concubines. You will not see me if I am not selected as empress. And you know there are other families with connections just as valuable as ours. We bring the emperor doctors and apothecaries.”
“And bankers!”
Yes, her father had connections to money people throughout China. “Bankers are very important,” Ling Xin agreed. “But there are others who bring control over land or alliances with other countries.” She leaned forward. “Mama, I am one of many good candidates for empress. I am looking for a way to be even more attractive to the Son of Heaven so as to stand above everyone.”
Her mother bit her lip. She knew it was true. And a moment later, Ling Xin knew that she had gotten through to her mother. The lady sagged in her seat and stared at her hands. Once she spoke, her words were so quiet that Ling Xin had to strain to hear.
“There is a book,” she finally said. “Given to girls before their wedding night.”
Ling Xin brightened. “Do you have it?”
Mama shook her head. “I was not given one, but your grandmother had one. I saw it when I was a child.”
“What became of it?”
Her mother shrugged. “I will see if it is in her old things.”
Ling Xin immediately hopped to her feet. “I can look—”
“You will practice your singing,” Mama said sharply before slowly rising to her feet. “I will find it for you. If I cannot, perhaps I will ask your uncle. He will know how to get one.”
It was the best she could hope for. But even so, it was a faint hope. Seduction required skill. Could she learn that from a book?
“Please find it soon, Mama. I need to learn it—”
Her mother pointed a single finger at her. The nail was sharp and very direct. “You will not open it until you have been selected. Only after you have been confirmed as a concubine may you know such things.”
“Of course, Mama,” Ling Xin said, keeping her voice low and her eyes downcast. She had to in order to get the book. But she knew it was a lie. She would open the thing the first private moment she had. She did not like being ignorant, and she would not go into her Feast of Fertility unprepared.
But the chances of her mother finding that book were slim. Which meant that there was only one path open to her now. And that path led to the garden wall after everyone else was abed.