Empress A Novel [Paperback]

"McCune has recreated the splendor and intrigue of the imperial court in the Tang dynasty...giving us entertaining and informative access to a brilliant time and a complex woman."
JEFFREY RIEGEL
Chair, Department of East Asian Languages
University of California, Berkeley
Sweeping through exotic, turbulent seventh-century China, EMPRESS is the captivating epic of one extraordinary woman who would become the only female emperor in all of China's history. The story of Wu Jao, set against the backdrop of medieval China, reveals not only an age of horrifying barbarism, daring treachery, and precarious power, but also an eternal culture of sophistication and enlightenment.CHAPTER ONE
 
Caravan leader Ko stood in the doorway of the kitchen courtyard and eyed the clouds piling up on a darkening horizon. The big man exuded strength and confidence, but his lined, normally good-natured face was troubled. “Couldn’t be snow, but looks like it—and feels like it,” he murmured thoughtfully.
 
He turned to eye the maids, who were hurrying past on their way to breakfast, screeching because of the wind in their faces and the ice underfoot. “You there,” he shouted to the nearest one. She was clutching a coat over her head, and lifted it reluctantly.
 
“I?” Nurse Wang asked chidingly.
 
“Who else?” Ko was disappointed that he had gotten the older woman. “You look as if you know what goes on around here.… Will you tell me where to find the masters?”
 
Nurse Wang nodded and pointed with her chin. “There,” she said.
 
Ko aimed his eyes at a couple of vehemently arguing figures standing toe-to-toe at the far end of the court. “Those are the masters?”
 
“Those,” she sniffed and hurried on.
 
He’d started toward the two men, when he was nearly knocked off his feet bl“+