Chapter Twenty Seven

‘And the jade dragons?’ asked the interviewer.

‘Tang.’

‘The ceremonial teapot?’

‘Ming.’

‘The goldfish and chrysanthemum vase?’

‘Fake, circa 1900.’

There were more items, and each one correctly identified with hardly the blink of an eye.

‘One rarely finds a man with your knowledge Mr Peng. You have a golden eye.’

‘Please call me Yi.’

‘And what brings you to Kings’ auction house?’ asked Kingsley.

‘The opportunity to use my knowledge,’ said Yi.

Yi was an expert on Chinese artefacts.

‘Your understanding of Imperial China is most impressive,’ said Kingsley.

‘I lived and breathed it,’ said Yi.

‘You mean you live and breathe it,’ said Kingsley.

‘Quite,’ said Yi.

‘We’ll start you off with the bric-a-brac for a week,’ said Kingsley.

What some of the appraisers also referred to disparagingly as ‘car boot’ were the items destined to fetch between ten to a hundred thousand pounds at auction. A reserve price of ten thousand was the minimum prerequisite for a place in Kings’ catalogue.

‘And when can I start?’ asked Yi.

‘Maria’s leaving at the end of the month, so shall we say in five days to bed you in,’ said Kingsley.

‘Perfect,’ said Yi.

‘Take your feet off the settee,’ shouted Ivy.

‘In this dive, does it matter?’ asked Roger.

Roger was a scrap metal merchant, and a long standing customer.

‘I’m trying to keep the place clean,’ said Ivy.

‘Going up in the world are you?’ he mocked. ‘Anyway come over here and give me a kiss,’ he said.

He held out one of his grubby mangled hands.

‘Not yet, I need some blow,’ she said.

‘Funny that’s exactly what I had in mind,’ said Roger.

Ivy winced. She needed to snort some coke before he came near her.

‘Here use this,’ said Roger, and he handed her a rolled up twenty pound note.’

‘You can keep it,’ he said disdainfully.

At least Marcus wasn’t as vulgar, and his hands were smooth. It was about time her luck changed.

‘Well come on then, what’s keeping you?’ said Ivy, and she led him to the bedroom.

‘Bik, what if the Emperor catches us,’ said the Palace guard Lei Weng.

‘Shall I call a eunuch? Perhaps he will be of more use to me,’ said Bik Dong Fang.

The handsome guard smiled.

‘And do you think a eunuch can do this?’ he said holding her hand close.

‘Perhaps not, but what use is it there?’ she replied.

They lunged at each other’s clothes, tearing them off.

‘Does the thought of being caught not excite you?’ asked Bik.

‘Indeed my love and our child shall bear the Emperor’s name, and soon the old man will be gone.’

The sun filtered through the blinds as Bik’s eunuch stumbled across the lovers.

‘No one will believe you,’ said Bik. ‘Utter a word and I shall have your tongue cut out.’

‘Well don’t stop, show him what a real man can do,’ said Bik to Lei, and she laughed.

Bik would have to see Wa this evening. She needed to sleep with Chien-lung so there could be no doubt over the child’s parentage, if indeed she did fall pregnant.

‘Are you sure it was wise?’ asked Lei, after the lust had evaporated.

‘The old man won’t be around forever. I need to give him a child,’ said Bik.

They lay back on the cushions smoking opium, their bodies entwined.

‘If we fall asleep wake us before the sun goes down,’ Bik ordered her eunuch.

Bik rushed into the apartment as Wa was being wrapped in gold cloth by Yi.

‘My sister the Emperor only has eyes for you,’ said Bik.

‘It is my honour,’ said Wa.

‘I know you don’t mean it my sister. The Emperor is too old for girls like us,’ said Bik.

‘Bik, be careful that your words are not heard beyond these walls,’ said Wa.

‘If the Emperor does not sleep with me by the next full moon my family will be disgraced,’ said Bik.

‘I have told him of your beauty,’ said Wa.

‘But still he ignores me,’ said Bik.

She looked at Wa thoughtfully.

‘Let me take your place,’ she asked.

‘It is unheard of,’ said Wa.

‘Well then let us go together, surely no man can refuse us both?’ said Bik.

She was right, and Wa knew it.

‘Please my sister,’ begged Bik.

‘I can give you more joy in a minute than the son of heaven can all night,’ said Bik.

‘But we must be careful not to show more love for each other than the Emperor,’ said Wa.

‘Indeed.’

It was agreed, and Yi apprehensively wrapped them both. He deposited them quietly at the foot of Chien-lung’s bed.

‘Heshen was right, you do have a lover,’ said Chien-lung.

‘It is only a woman,’ said Wa nervously, wondering which way the Emperor’s judgement would fall.

‘Now that I can tell,’ said Chien-lung.

‘Tell me Wa, what does the Court say of me, really?’ he asked.

Wa wasn’t sure how to reply.

‘That you are a withered branch in bed,’ said Bik.

‘Do they now,’ said Chien ‘and what else do they say?’

‘Some whisper you are Heshen’s concubine,’ said Bik.

Chien-lung burst out laughing.

‘I like your spirit, what’s your name girl?’

‘Bik Dong Fang, your Majesty.’

‘Do you promise to always tell me the truth?’ asked Chien-lung.

‘If it is what your heart desires,’ replied Bik.

‘My heart and my sanity,’ said Chien-lung. ‘Wa you have made an excellent choice in bringing Bik to me. But perhaps the Court is right. I am too old a man for both of you.’

Chien-lung clapped his hands, and Yi came running.

‘Take Wa Yu back to her rooms,’ said the Emperor.

And perhaps he had found a new consort.