Read Online The Sword Dancer by Jeanne Lin - Free Book Online

‘Now tell me what evil deed he committed to warrant your attention.’
    She was so close that she was nearly in his lap, all because she genuinely liked him, of course. Despite the flirtation, Han knew he was unlikely to be invited into Lotus’s bedchamber. She was very selective about her lovers, enjoying the attentions of notable scholars and officials. They were friendly enough, however, that he was able to take hold of her chin to direct her eyes to his. He wanted a clear view of her expression for his next enquiry.
    ‘When I first mentioned Cai Yun, you looked surprised. As if you’d encountered some coincidence.’
    She tried to look innocent now. ‘What do you mean?’
    A silhouette passed by the outside of the curtain that divided the sitting room from the main hall. He wasn’t able to discern much more than a shadow. Definitely not a face or distinct form. But the quality of the movement sparked something in him.
    ‘Who was that?’ he asked.
    Lotus laughed lightly. ‘You’re trying to make me jealous, Han.’
    ‘Lotus.’ The one word served as admonishment and enquiry.
    ‘The new girl.’ She shrugged, handing him a cup of wine. ‘There’s not much to say about her.’
    Lotus wasn’t jealous. Han would have to be an imperial minister of the first rank to make it worthwhile for Lotus to be jealous.
    ‘Does she dance?’ he asked, his tone casual.
    The courtesan smiled at him slyly. ‘You are single-minded when something catches your eye, aren’t you?’
    ‘I’d like to talk to her.’
    At that, Lotus tilted her head obligingly and stood. She glided from the room without any further attempt to deflect. She was as smooth as silk and cunningly accommodating. Han took his time finishing the wine before setting his cup down and following her through the curtain.
    Lotus was already coming back down the main staircase. ‘She isn’t feeling well—’
    ‘How caring of you.’
    Heedlessly, Han moved past the courtesan and continued up towards the private chambers on the second floor. He had a certain instinct when it came to this sort of thing. The first door he opened revealed a group of scholars listening to a pipa player. He opened the second door to the sight of the ‘new girl’ trying to climb out the window.
    Han grabbed hold of an ankle and she fell back on to the bed in a tangle of blue silk and gauze. She squirmed and struggled as he brushed aside the sleeve that had fallen over her face. He only caught a flash of dark, glittering eyes before Li Feng twisted beneath him.
    She rolled on to her side and the unexpected shift in momentum threw him off of her. He’d forgotten how agile she was. With a rustle of silk, Li Feng was on top of him, her forearm shoved against his chest.
    ‘Always you!’ she seethed.
    She was dressed like a courtesan, in one of those robes that appeared to be made out of paper-thin cloth and air. The silk had fallen from her shoulders, revealing smooth bare skin from her throat to the topmost swell of her breasts. It was too long of a pause before he could drag his gaze upwards. Her eyes narrowed at him, fully aware that he’d been staring at her.
    He grabbed hold of her wrist and yanked, causing her to collapse over his chest. Li Feng recovered quickly and clawed at his face. From there, it became a brawl, more cat and dog than tiger and dragon. Finally, he took hold of a handful of silk and flipped her on to her back.
    ‘I don’t—’ he lifted his head to avoid a swipe ‘—want to hurt you.’
    Li Feng was breathing hard and her cheeks were flushed with colour. Her hands shot up before he could trap them. Instead of gouging his eyes out, Li Feng slipped past his guard to bury her fingers into his hair. She kept her gaze on him as she ruthlessly dragged his head down. Before Han knew what was happening, his mouth was pressed against soft, inviting lips.
    His hands fell to the bed on either side of her, his fingers curling reflexively into the bedding. She