Suyin walked down the hall to the study with the morning mail in hand. She filtered through the stack of envelopes with little interest until she came across a peculiar letter. The address on the envelope was written in a delicate script Suyin found vaguely familiar. Flipping the envelope over she glanced at the wax seal and came to a halt.

A plum blossom pressed into signature scarlet wax.

The seal of the dowager empress.

The rest of the mail scattered on the floor at Suyin's feet. Only once before had she received a letter from Lady Xue. A handwritten letter of condolence for the death of her late husband. Suyin's hands trembled as she opened the envelope. Inside she discovered a formal invitation to the festivities at the palace this evening. Suyin hurried to her husband's study, barging in without knocking.

Liwei sat at his desk with his ledger open in front of him. He still wore his sleeping robes and his silver streaked hair was messy. Suyin started to speak when she noticed Xiang spread out on the floor by the fireplace working on his studies.

"Xiang, go make your father some tea," Suyin instructed.

Xiang lifted his head to give her a quizzical look. He glanced over at his father who currently held a steaming cup of tea. "But…" Xiang was about to protest when he saw his father shake his head ever so slightly. "Yes, mother!" Once the door shut behind their son Suyin approached her husband's desk.

"I'd say we have three minutes at best before Xiang has his ear pressed to the door." Liwei stifled a cough against his fist. He'd attempted to fight off his cold the last few days to no avail. Suyin handed him the invitation along with the envelope. He took a drink of his tea as he read the invitation.

"It's certainly last minute," Liwei remarked.

"We can't possibly attend!"

"I don't see why not."

"I have nothing to wear!" Suyin insisted.

"What about that dress you're saving for the New Year celebration?" suggested Liwei.

"You're ill!"

"If you're worried about that then I'll stay home."

"You know I hate going to these things alone."

"I'd never dream of sending you alone. It's high time Xiang started going to these events. Besides our daughter will be there. Don't you want to see Lan?" He asked.

Suyin pouted. Though Lan Fan would be there as a bodyguard she did wish to see her. Not a day went by that Suyin didn't regret letting Fu raise her daughter. Even now she didn't see Lan Fan as often as she'd like. She could see his point about Xiang as well. Suyin sighed as Liwei gave her that warm smile of his.

"Fine. I will go to the party." Suyin felt his forehead with the inside of her wrist and frowned. "But you must go back to bed. You're burning up. If you're still feverish this evening I'm staying home."

"My dearest, I…"

She gave him her most disapproving look. The one she usually reserved for the children when they tried her patience.

"...will head straight to bed once I finish my tea."

"Better," she said.

Suyin rewarded her husband with a kiss.

"I'm going to get you sick," he mumbled against her lips.

Suyin kissed him again to show him what she thought of that.


By the time Lan Fan returned Ling was ready for the day ahead. Upon Qiyin's departure the emperor had his beloved bodyguard all to himself. Ling pushed her mask up for a glimpse of her face. "Lady Bodyguard, must you spirit away every time I fall asleep?" Ling admonished. He leaned down to kiss her. Lan Fan placed her hand on the side of his neck as she parted her lips. She tasted of melon and her skin smelled like fresh soap.

"I didn't want to wake you," Lan Fan answered.

"If you're concerned for my beauty sleep you're welcome to take me back to bed," Ling suggested. Lan Fan's cheeks and nose turned a dusky pink. The shade reminded him of the sunrise. Ling decided it was by far his favorite color.

"This one humbly reminds you of your appointment with the dowager empress in the Hall of Serenity."

Ling affected a melodramatic air.

"I suppose if I must," he sighed. "I see you're all business this morning." Ling gave her a wry smile and tugged her mask back down. Truth be told he was eager to see the metamorphosis the Hall of Serenity for tonight's party. Lady Xue had taken on the planning of the social event at Ling's behest. The Hall of Serenity hall was only used for ceremonial purposes. His mother's decision to break with tradition wasn't lost on him.

The last event held there was his coronation, but the Hall of Serenity was most often used for imperial weddings. In fact Xue's own wedding to the previous emperor took place there more than twenty years ago. His mother was thirteen at the time, yet another reason Ling abhorred the tradition of the fifty wives. He knew his mother well enough to know this party would be the social event of the season. To that effect Ling had given her carte blanche to do as she wished.

Xue Yao did nothing by half measures.


The palace was animated this morning.

They proceeded to the pavilion where Lady Xue awaited their presence. The sun warmed them as they crossed the snow covered courtyard to the Hall of Serenity. Following Lan Fan's instructions there was a vast guard presence visible throughout the palace. Lan Fan relegated two of her best men to the shadows. Though she didn't see either of them she caught their qi signatures at the edge of her senses.

Two steps behind the emperor she ascended the steps to the pavilion. Lan Fan meant to tell Ling of her discussion with Shu, had intended to tell him the moment they were together again, but then Ling kissed her. He was playful and happy, and there wasn't any point in ruining his mood. Ling trusted them to take care of these things.

It wasn't unusual for a spy to break off an assignment if discovery was imminent. Three all at once was a noteworthy aberration. A dead agent was another matter altogether. Lan Fan wished she'd pressed Shu for more information, but when it came down to it Shu's job was intelligence and Lan Fan's execution. In every sense of the word.

If Shu had anything more than conjecture he would've told me.

Lan Fan returned her attention to her surroundings as they entered the hall. A veritable bouquet of lanterns in the shape of lotus blossoms were suspended from the ceiling. Once illuminated the lanterns were sure to cast the room in an enchanting light. The caisson in the center of the vast room was the only portion lacking them. The intricate design depicted two golden dragons intertwined amidst a series of hexagons.

Throughout the room tables covered in pristine cloth awaited the feast of delicacies Wei had undoubtedly devised. The food was the only thing that made these sort of things tolerable for Lan Fan. Wei always treated the servants to an abundance of leftovers. Wasting food was an inexcusable offense in his kitchen. One of his staff once made the mistake of throwing out a bruised, but otherwise perfectly good peach in front of him. Wei reduced the young man to tears.

The eastern beauty of the room was juxtaposed with music from the west. Upon the dais at the far end of the room a band warmed up with a jazz standard Lan Fan knew by heart. Furthermore, she realized she knew the band playing it. Whiplash was a signature of the jazz band from Lindy Club. The septuple time was a live wire that sent a jolt down her spine. Lan Fan spotted Madeleine seated on the edge of the stage with her ankles crossed.

The singer was enraptured by the two women dancing the quickstep in front of her. Lan Fan recognized Margot right away, but it took her a full measure of the song to realize she was dancing with the dowager empress. Lady Xue's hair was curled and swept up in a modern updo. Instead of robes befitting royalty she wore a goldenrod cheongsam. The absence of her usual attire and ornamental hairstyle revealed her slight silhouette. When Margot spun her she laughed in delight.

Xue Yao looked so much like her son when she laughed that it caught Lan Fan off guard. For the first time she wondered if her father saw this lighthearted side of Lady Xue. Feng had only been a few years older than her. They must've been close for Xue to trust the safety of her son to him. Whatever the nature of their relationship, Xue cared enough about his daughter's fate to personally fetch her from the lakeshore in the dead of winter; to stay by Lan Fan's bedside when she was sick with fever and needed a mother.

"Très magnifique!" exclaimed Madeleine. The dance came to an end and Ling joined in on Madeleine's applause. Lady Xue laughed again, fanning herself as she turned toward her son and his bodyguard.

"There you are," Xue said. The dowager's ruby red lips curved into a sly smile.

"Bienvenue, Your Majesty," greeted Madeleine.

Margot nodded in a curt manner to the emperor.

"Good morning! I didn't realize there were dance lessons to be had. You're going to put me to shame tonight," Ling said.

"But of course!" Madeleine chimed in. "You are just in time! We must go over tonight's set list. Lan Fan, you will show your emperor the steps, non?"

Lan Fan froze in place as everyone looked at her.

"What?" she squeaked.

"Lan Fan is a splendid dancer," Madeleine said in a stage whisper.

"Is that so…?" Ling inquired. He looked like the cat who got the cream. Lan Fan shook her head and held up her hands in protest.

"Imperial Majesty, this one assures you that's an exaggeration," Lan Fan denied.

"Do not believe her lies!" Madeleine insisted. "Mademoiselle Liu is a dancer at heart!"

Madame Rousseau is a traitor, Lan Fan thought.

"Madeleine," Margot warned. Apparently, she was the only one on Lan Fan's side.

"You are far better off learning from Ms. Fontaine," Lan Fan argued.

Lady Xue moved closer to Margot and linked their arms.

"I'm afraid her dance card is full…"

Madeleine rose from her seat and stepped onto the stage.

"What about Stardust?" Madeleine cajoled. "You love that one, ma coeur." Stardust was one of Madeleine's lullabies for Lan Fan during those agonizing nights when her body was racked with chills and her nerves were on fire. The singer's musical cohorts played the first bar of the song to entice her. Madeleine stepped in front of the microphone and adjusted it. "Or perhaps there is another song you'd prefer…?" She raised her eyebrow evocatively.

Lan Fan knew exactly which song Madeleine hoped she'd suggest. She hadn't forgotten Madeleine's words that night about sharing it with 'the one she cherished', but now wasn't the time nor place for such things. La Vie en Rose had too many associations for Lan Fan, and she doubted Ling had forgotten the melody after her delirious display in the desert.

"Stardust is fine."

Lan Fan looked down at herself. I'm not dressed for this. She removed the more cumbersome pieces of armor, as well as her spiked gloves and mask, then deliberated over her footwear. After a moment she decided to remove the boots as well. Better to dance barefoot than risk inadvertently stepping on Ling's toes. Though taking his amusement into consideration Lan Fan thought he might deserve it.


Ling tried not to look too pleased with himself. He hadn't the faintest idea Lan Fan knew how to dance, let alone that she had a secret passion for it. This was the most fascinating thing he'd learned about her of late. Furthermore, Madeleine's influence on Lan Fan continued to work in his favor. He resolved to keep the women in Xing if possible. Ling held out his hand and gave Lan Fan a cheeky grin.

"Shall we?"

Lan Fan glanced at his hand. For an instant he thought she'd change her mind, but she took his offered hand and stepped closer. Ling stood still as she took his other hand and lightly set it on her waist. In the corner of his eye he saw Margot and his mother take up the same position. When Lan Fan turned her chocolate eyes up to him he felt his heart skip a beat.

"Beginning with your left foot you'll take two walking steps toward me, then one to your left and bring your right foot together," Lan Fan instructed as the music started. "Walk. Walk. Side. Together." Ling looked down at his feet and mirrored her steps. The mesmerizing voice of Madeleine Rousseau filled the room.

And now the purple dusk of twilight time

Steals across the meadows of my heart

High up in the sky the little stars climb

Always reminding me that we're apart

"Slow. Slow. Quick, quick," Lan Fan guided him. "You don't want to bump into anyone when you're dancing. That's where the corner step comes in. Step forward on your left foot, then rock back on your right foot, and make a quarter turn to change direction."

"Seems easy enough," Ling remarked.

"It's harder when you aren't looking at your feet," Margot quipped.

"Keep your eyes on your dance partner, Your Highness," said Lan Fan.

You wander down the lane and far away

Leaving me a song that will not die

Love is now the stardust of yesterday

The music of the years gone by

Ling laughed and lifted his eyes to her face.

"You've been keeping secrets again, Lady Bodyguard," he teased.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," she replied.

"Since when do you know how to dance?"

"Grandfather taught me," Lan Fan answered. "When we were in Amestris."

Sometimes I wonder why I spend

The lonely night dreaming of a song

The melody haunts my reverie

And I am once again with you

"And you've been practicing in secret all this time?"

"I have a phonograph at home. My stepfather gave it to me and Madeleine sends me records. Xiang and I listen to them together." Lan Fan's cheeks colored and she averted her eyes. "Sometimes we dance, too."

Ling drew her closer as they did another corner step.

"After all this time you still manage to surprise me. What's this dance called?" he asked.

"It's the foxtrot."

When our love was new

And each kiss an inspiration

But that was long ago

Now my consolation

Is in the stardust of a song

Nearby Margot spun Lady Xue under her arm. Ling wondered how long his mother had practiced with Ms. Fontaine. They looked so natural together. "And that move?" he asked again. If Lan Fan loved to dance then he intended to learn every step.

Beside the garden wall

When stars are bright

You are in my arms

The nightingale tells his fairytale

Of paradise where roses bloom

"A promenade with a turn," Lan Fan told him. "Step to the side with your left foot and cross with your right. The gentleman leads the lady through the turn with his right hand on her back. Left, right, left, together and back into the basic step."

Ling followed as she slowly walked him through the steps. "Like this?" He led her through the move this time. When Lan Fan faced him at the end of the turn she was all smiles.

"Very good, Your Majesty."

Though I dream in vain

In my heart it will remain

My stardust melody

The memory of love's refrain

"Once again you've saved me, Commander Liu." Ling swept into a bow and pressed a chaste kiss to the back of her hand. "Only this time from embarrassment. You're quite the teacher."

"This one is honored to be of service," Lan Fan mumbled.

Ling gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting go. He turned then toward the others with a smile that froze in place when he saw the loathing on Margot's face. They locked eyes and in an instant her expression became impassive. She retrieved a cigarette case from the pocket of her trousers and put one between her lips.

"If you'll excuse me," Margot said.

The redhead headed for the door without waiting to be excused.

What was that about?