"China, 1881. Seven-year-old Jinhua is alone and unprotected after her mandarin father's execution for speaking the truth. For six silver coins, she is sold to a brothel-keeper. Will the private ritual that is her father's legacy and the wise friendship of the brothel maid be enough to sustain her? When an elegant but troubled scholar takes Jinhua as his concubine, she accompanies him to Vienna and her eyes and heart are opened. To this day, Sai Jinhua is a legend in China, and this is her story, told the way it might have been." -- From the publisher.