“Eunuch Van, have you heard? The ban has been announced.” It had been a long three months since I first saw her. Three months of torture as I imagined all that could go wrong.

I’d spoken privately with both father and grandfather about my pleasure in Mia, even sharing with them the story of the day we met.

In those three months her father had been reinstated to his former position. Along with his son, they were now in charge of the imperial guard and were well on their ...