Chapter 4: The Inspector

Wanning had only moments before the carriage reached the inner gate.

"The basin," she said. "Under the bed. Now."

Shi An slid it out of sight with his boot.

She pulled the needles one by one from the Prince's arm and dropped them into the lacquer box.

Her fingers were quick and sure, and she did not look at the bed.

She drew the red robe back over his chest and tied the sash.

The wet cloth with the black stain went into the front of her own dress.

Then she sat down on the edge of the bed, took the Prince's hand, and put her other hand to her eyes.

"What are you doing?" Shi An whispered.

"Looking like a bride whose husband is dying," she said. "Open the door."

The inspector came in with a physician's boy behind him carrying a medicine chest.

He was a thin old man in the blue robe of the Imperial Medical Office, and he smelled of camphor.

He bowed to Wanning with exactly the depth the law required.

"The Crown Prince is concerned for his uncle's health on his wedding night," he said. "I am to examine the Prince."

"At this hour?"

"His Highness was most anxious."

"I'm sure he was."

Wanning stood, and moved aside.

The inspector settled on the stool and laid three fingers on the Prince's wrist.

He closed his eyes.

Wanning watched his hand.

It was spotted with age, and a few grains of brown powder had caught in the crease of his thumb.

She knew that powder.

The inspector's brow moved, very slightly.

"The pulse is stronger than at the last visit," he said.

"It has been getting worse since the afternoon," Wanning said quickly.