Chapter 17 · Survival Menu - Chapter 17: The Aunt Behind the Screen

The screen's made of rosewood. Carved cranes. I can see the shadow of a woman sitting behind it, perfectly still.

I don't move.

Nanny Liu's hand is on my shoulder. She's squeezing too hard. Her palm's damp through my sleeve.

"Go on," she whispers. "The Dowager's sister-in-law wants a word."

Sister-in-law. Not sister. So this isn't blood. This is someone who married in.

I take three steps forward. My hands stay loose at my sides. I learned a long time ago that when you can't speak, people watch your hands. They read everything. Fists mean fear. Clasped hands mean lying. Open palms mean you've got nothing to hide.

I keep mine open.

"Closer," the woman says.

Her voice is low. Controlled. The kind of voice that's used to being obeyed without being raised.

I take two more steps. Now I'm an arm's length from the screen. I can smell incense. Sandalwood, but older. The kind that's been burning for hours.

"Look at me."

I lift my eyes. Through the lattice I can make out her silhouette. She's small. Narrow shoulders. Her hands are folded in her lap, and there's something on her wrist. A bracelet, maybe. It catches the light.