Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/138

RV 133 (LADY T'AI CHÊN) longer are you the concubine of a Prince but of the Emperor. I am 'The Lord of Ten Thousand Years' and by the absolute power vested in me, you are mine. No power on earth shall ever separate us, for I am the most powerful of Rulers. I doubt if there is a barbarian strong enough to dispute my right. As for my son, he is weak. He will be entirely satisfied with the arrangements that will be made."

"I am honored, Your Majesty," she said humbly. She stood with bowed head, perhaps so that he could not see the elation in her eyes. After all this was the culmination of all her dreams, dreams so lofty that she had dared not whisper them to anyone. Now there was nothing to stop her from some day being Empress of China. She knew that the Emperor would never turn from her. She had little worry about the charms of other women. Already there were many thousands of women eager to do the Emperor's bidding. Yet all of them faded into the mists of obscurity before the spell of her smile.

"But I am a little bit frightened," she whispered.

"When you have the Emperor's protection?"

"I do not wish people to think me immodest. It might lead to my bitter denunciation in secret by other women."

"Who dares dispute the Emperor of China? However, your point is well taken. No one will speak ill of you. You are after all but a concubine. They know that you cannot disobey my wishes. But because I want everything to be done in a manner of strict decorum, RV 133 (133)