Discussion Questions:
1. How much do you know about the palace women in ancient China before you read this novel? In what ways do you think the palace women in China were similar to those in Europe? In what ways they were different?

2. The novel opens with the monk’s prediction of Mei’s destiny. What do you think of Mei’s and Mei’s father’s reaction to the prediction? How would you define the concept of destiny?

3. Discuss the theme of deception. How does the Emperor deceive the kingdom? How does Jewel deceive the Emperor and the other women? How will you relate this to Sun Tzu’s comment that “All warfare is based on the deception,” which Mei was instructed to learn?

4. Discuss the many facades of love in the novel, and how it manifests itself in the following characters: Mei, Pheasant, Jewel, Emperor Taizong, Taizi, and the Noble Lady.