The package was tied with string. Fei Long sat back, his expression revealing nothing, which only lured her even more.
‘For you,’ he said finally. She was already pulling the string free when he spoke again. ‘For tonight.’
‘Tonight?’
‘“The Maiden of Yue.”’
Her heart leapt and immediately she forgave him for his difficult disposition. She didn’t think he’d paid any attention when she and Bai Shen had spoken of it.
‘You’ll need to go in disguised as my servant,’ he said.
She pulled away the paper excitedly, revealing a bundle of cloth. She lifted the garments up one after another: cloth cap, black trousers and a dark cotton robe.
‘When will we go?’ She scooped up the outfit, eager to change as soon as possible.
‘Much later. Not until after dark.’
He didn’t appear pleased at all. Looking at the masculine garb in her hands seemed to make him uncomfortable. She didn’t care. She was swept up in the prospect of going out into the city.
‘I’ll come get you,’ he instructed.
‘Thank you, my lord.’
She couldn’t wait to try on the disguise. Pressing the clothes close to her breast, she rushed to the door.
‘Only this once,’ he called after her. ‘We need to keep you hidden.’
Back in her room, she tugged free of the layers of gauze and silk and then pulled the robe over her shoulders, fixing the sash around her waist. The sleeves only extended two hand spans. These were servants’ clothes after all. The material was heavier and didn’t mould to her the way silk did. The cut of the robe broadened her shoulders and straightened out the curve of her hips.
This was going to be such an adventure. Her first time out of the mansion since she’d first come there. She took a few practice steps, lengthening her stride and swinging her arms as she threw in a swagger. Li Bai Shen might even be proud of her.
* * *
Several hours later, she was wearing the entire outfit, including the trousers and cap, when she greeted Fei Long at her chamber door.
‘My lord.’ She raised her arms, palm to fist, and bowed ceremoniously.
A short laugh broke out of him. She didn’t know if it was out of genuine amusement or whether he was mocking her, but it didn’t matter. Nothing could darken her mood tonight.
‘What are you doing?’ he asked as she strode past him out into the hallway.
She stuck her chest out and chin up. ‘I learned this from watching you.’
‘I do nothing of the sort.’
‘No?’ She turned crisply, enforcing a stern expression while she ran a hand over the front of the robe. A cloth wrapped tight around her breasts further straightened her figure. ‘You hardly move any other part of your body when you walk. Rather like a tree. This is much easier than being a lady.’
He smirked. ‘Indeed.’
They’d reached the portico to the courtyard. As Fei Long promised, it was dark outside.
She pitched her voice a notch lower. ‘What shall my name be?’
‘You won’t need a name. I’ll call you “you” or maybe “boy”.’
She made a face. ‘That’s it?’
‘Yes. Remember, you’re a servant. Be humble, unassuming. If no one notices you, then you’ve succeeded.’
No matter. He could call her whatever he wanted if she got the chance to leave the confines of the mansion. They were going to explore the city at night! See the theatres and drinking houses and what other delights the capital had in its walls. She’d only seen Changan through one brief peek from behind the curtain of the palanquin. It was enough to make her hunger for more like a child teased with a sweet.
‘If you need to speak to me, lean close and speak quietly as if it’s a delicate matter,’ Fei Long said.
Always instructing. She nodded dutifully.
‘There is one more thing.’
Fei Long directed his gaze downwards to where her slippers peeked out from beneath the trousers. The embroidered flower pattern swirled delicately over her toes.
‘Oh!’
She ran back inside. After a short delay, she was able to borrow a pair of felt boots from one of the stable attendants. They were still too large for her feet, but she stuffed a handkerchief into each toe and was able to walk without them slipping off.
Out in the courtyard, Fei Long gave her another head-to-toe inspection, finally meeting her eyes. He held his gaze there for a moment longer than proper. Yan Ling squirmed in the disguise, growing uncomfortably warm in the cool evening.