“You!” At the thought of him sitting beside my mother, speaking and laughing with her—bile rose in my throat.

“Xingyin, what do you mean?” Liwei’s tone was guarded. A reminder that I had few allies here, and none the emperor might listen to.

Whispers slithered all around. I steeled myself for condemnation, for the guests to rush to the general’s defense. None did. While some glared at me, just as many scornful glances lingered upon General Wu as though savoring his humiliation. Some raised their sleeves, exchanging malicious whispers. I had always felt an outsider at the Celestial Court, but was not the general one of their own? Why did they not accord him the same deference as General Jianyun?

The glove was snatched from my grasp. General Wu tugged it back down over his hand, his fingers shaking a little. “Your manners leave much to be desired.”

“Courtesy is reserved for those who deserve it. Not for liars and thieves.” I spoke as steadily as I could.

“Xingyin, have you mistaken the general for someone else?” General Jianyun asked.

“There is no mistake.” I turned to Liwei. “Those scars on his hand are the same as Master Gang’s. Don’t you recognize his flute?” It was the first time I had seen it on him. Perhaps it was not something he wore with his ceremonial court attire.

Liwei frowned as he stared at General Wu, as though searching for the resemblance between this haughty courtier and the frail visitor to the moon.

“He masked himself, his hair and face.” A simple disguise, yet cunning, as a more elaborate enchantment might have been detected.

General Wu faced Liwei as he asked in ringing tones, “Your Highness, do you wish for your father’s festivities to be disrupted by these groundless accusations?”

He was a master at deception, his expression conveying nothing but righteous outrage. I struggled to contain my anger, tempering my words. “I know what I saw. I know what you did.”

Liwei’s fingers tightened around mine in a reassuring grip. “General Wu, if you tricked your way into the Moon Goddess’s domain, it would be a violation of hospitality. A dishonest and underhanded act.” He spoke in his cold, imperial voice—edged with a calculated detachment. This was one of those court games where he had to appear impartial to sway opinion.

General Wu spread his hands wide. “I am your father’s loyal servant who obeys his every command. If my actions have caused offense, Your Highness should address your concerns to him.”

A veiled threat that he had the emperor’s support. And he must be high in favor, to show such little respect to Liwei.

“Be certain that I will,” Liwei replied tersely.

General Wu bent in a shallow bow. “If you would excuse me, Your Highness. I must attend to your father.” Without waiting for a dismissal, he strode away.