Part 4 (2/2)
The court tried to cut audiences short. Blocks of ice were brought in, and carpenters devised makes.h.i.+ft box chairs to hold the blocks. The summoned, who wore heavy court robes, would sit right on top of the ice. By noon, puddles of water would spread out from beneath the boxes. It looked as if the ministers had urinated.
Nuharoo wore a moss-colored dress when she entered the Hall of Spiritual Nurturing during a break in the audience. The eunuchs began to work the wooden fans to draw wind. Nuharoo frowned because the fans made a terrible noise, like the slamming of windows and doors.
She sat down elegantly on a chair opposite me. We glanced at each other's dresses, makeup and hair while exchanging greetings. I hated wearing makeup in the summer and applied it only lightly. I sipped tea and made an effort to appear interested. By now I knew Nuharoo well enough to predict that any proposal of hers would have nothing to do with the nation's urgencies. I had made many attempts in the past to brief her on court business. She would either change the subject or simply ignore me.
”Since you have to go back to the audience, I shall be brief.” Smiling, Nuharoo took a sip of her tea. ”I have been thinking how the dead like to hear the living cry on the day their spirits return home. How do we know that our husband does not desire the same?”
I did not know what to make of her words, so I muttered something about how the pile of court doc.u.ments on my table was growing higher and higher.
”Why can't we create a picture of Heaven to welcome the spirits?” Nuharoo said. ”We could dress the maids up in the costumes of moon G.o.ddesses and scatter them around in decorated boats on Kun Ming Lake. Eunuchs could hide in the hills and behind pavilions and play flutes and string instruments. Wouldn't Hsien Feng like that?”
”I am afraid it would be expensive,” I said flatly.
”I knew you would say that!” She pouted. ”Prince Kung must be responsible for putting you in such an unpleasant mood. Anyway, I have already ordered the party. Whether or not the court has the taels, the minister of revenue is responsible for paying for the Emperor's memorial. This is a small gesture.”
Between audiences, I took time to take care of things that Prince Kung thought were unimportant. For example, an article came to my attention. It was published in The Court's Updates, The Court's Updates, a newspaper read by many government officials. It reprinted the essay of the top winner of that year's civil service examination, called ”The Ruler Who Surpa.s.ses China's First Emperor.” a newspaper read by many government officials. It reprinted the essay of the top winner of that year's civil service examination, called ”The Ruler Who Surpa.s.ses China's First Emperor.”
The author flattered my son beyond belief. The choice of t.i.tle was alarming. It told me that something unhealthy was developing in the heart of our government.
I asked for the list of examination winners from the judges. When it was delivered, I circled the author's name with a red brush pen. I removed him from first place and sent the list back.
It wasn't that I didn't enjoy flattery. Then again, I could distinguish between puffery and praise that was earned. But people tended to accept newspaper articles at face value. What I was afraid of was that if I failed to stop the tendency toward flattery, my son's regime would end up losing its valuable critics.
”I have not heard the whistling of the pigeons. What has become of them?” I asked An-te-hai.
”The pigeons are gone,” the eunuch replied. Although his movements were still stylish and his gestures elegant, An-te-hai looked nervous and his large eyes had lost their brightness. ”They must have decided to find a more genial home.”
”Was it because you neglected them?”
An-te-hai was silent. Then he bowed. ”I let them go, my lady.”
”Why?”
”Because the cages don't suit them.”
”Their cages are grand! The royal pigeon house is as big as a temple! How much bigger would the pigeons want? If you think they need more s.p.a.ce, ask the carpenters to enlarge the cages. You can make them two stories high if you want. Make twenty cages, forty cages, a hundred cages!”
”It is not the size, my lady, nor the number of cages.”
”What is it, then?”
”It's the cage itself.”
”It never bothered you before.”
”It does now.”
”Nonsense.”
The eunuch lowered his head. After a while he uttered, ”It is painful to be locked up.”
”Pigeons are animals, An-te-hai! Your imagination has become addled.”
”Perhaps. But it is the same imagination that finds fault with the a.s.sumption of happiness and glory in your life, my lady. The good thing is that pigeons are unlike parrots. Pigeons can fly away, while parrots are chained. Parrots are forced to serve, to please by mimicking human words. My lady, we have also lost our parrot.”
”Which one?”
”Confucius.”
”How?”
”The bird refused to say what he was taught. It had been speaking its own language and therefore was punished. The eunuch training him did his best. He tried tricks that had worked in the past, including starvation. But Confucius was stubborn and didn't say another word. He died yesterday.”
”Poor Confucius.” I remembered the beautiful and clever bird, which was my husband's gift to me. ”What can I say? Confucius was right when he said that men are born evil.”
”The pigeons are lucky,” An-te-hai said, looking at the sky. ”High up they went and disappeared in the clouds. I am not sorry for helping them escape, my lady. I am actually happy for what I did.”
”What about the reed pipes you tied on the pigeons' feet? Did you let them take the music with them? They would be fed under any roof if they brought music.”
”I removed the pipes, my lady.”
”All of them?”
”Yes, all of them.”
”Why would you do such a thing?”
”Aren't they Imperial birds, my lady? Aren't they ent.i.tled to freedom?”
I was preoccupied with Tung Chih. Every minute I wanted to know where he was, what he was doing, and whether Doctor Sun Pao-tien was succeeding with his treatment. I ordered Tung Chih's menu sent to me, because I didn't trust that he was being fed properly. I sent eunuchs to follow his friend Tsai-chen to ensure that the two boys remained apart.
I was restless and felt caught in a mysterious force telling me that my son was in danger. Both Tung Chih and Doctor Sun Pao-tien avoided me. Tung Chih even went to work on the court papers so I would have to leave him alone. But my worry didn't go away. It turned into fear. In my nightmares, Tung Chih called for my help and I couldn't reach him.
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