That one country, albeit a very big one, should contain two such different cities as Peking (set in the remote past of the emperors) and Shanghai (cosmopolitan and ahead of its time) at the same time seems fascinating in itself. And here, they are both featured in one book. Due to the financial losses and illness of her father, Arielle becomes a courtesan as the only support of her family. During training, Arielle witnesses a client's frightening...