Minister Konoe when he was advising my son, and I often spoke with him about the administration of the palace, but our relationship was not close.”
Reiko could detect no falseness in Jokyoden’s neutral tone or manner, yet she understood that the sudden rapport between the two of them didn’t preclude dishonesty. Just as Reiko was deceiving Jokyoden, so might Jokyoden be deceiving her.
“What kind of person was the left minister?” In case her interest seemed too avid, Reiko said, “I never knew anyone who was murdered. I’m interested to learn why someone could hate a man enough to kill him.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Jokyoden replied, “He was more respected than liked. Underneath his handsome looks and charm, he had a selfish, ambitious spirit and a great need for power over other people. He couldn’t tolerate anyone defying him, or admit he was wrong.”
Those qualities could have easily provoked violence. “How did you get along with him?” Reiko asked.
“We had no quarrels.” As they passed under a vine-covered arbor, the sudden dimness obscured Jokyoden’s face. “I didn’t always approve of the way he managed the palace finances or handled my son, but it wasn’t my place to question his judgment. It was my duty to obey his orders.”
Yet Reiko observed that Jokyoden’s description of Konoe might very well fit Jokyoden herself. Had they clashed over control of the court? If so, Konoe would have won by grace of his rank and sex. Had Jokyoden then taken revenge by killing him?
“Didn’t the left minister mind having a woman in a position of influence?” Reiko asked.
“He tolerated the situation,” Jokyoden said, “because he knew it was temporary. When the emperor is mature enough to rule the court himself, my efforts will no longer be necessary.”
Reiko recalled Jokyoden presiding over the meeting of the Imperial High Council. Maybe Konoe had viewed her as a threat to his own domination of the court. Had she sought to protect her position for however short a time that remained? How much had she gained by Konoe’s death?
They emerged from the arbor into the open space around a pond. Jokyoden bent her shrewd gaze upon Reiko, who felt exposed and transparent in the hot sunlight. Surely, Jokyoden could guess what bearing her relationship with Konoe might have upon the murder case.
“Imperial politics can be brutal even though times have changed and courtiers fight over rank and privileges instead of control of the nation,” Jokyoden said firmly. “Left Minister Konoe had numerous enemies, including certain high-ranking nobles.”
But they, along with almost everyone else in the court, had alibis for the night of Konoe’s murder, according to Yoriki Hoshina’s report, which Reiko had read yesterday evening. “Who do you think killed him?” Reiko asked.
“It’s hard to envision any of one’s associates as a murderer.”
Reiko believed that Jokyoden must have some ideas about potential culprits-if she hadn’t killed Konoe herself. As if in idle thought, Reiko said, “The killer must be an expert martial artist, to have mastered the power of kiai.”
“Indeed he must,” Jokyoden said, ignoring Reiko’s unspoken invitation to speculate.
“You said ‘he,’ ' Reiko observed. “You believe the killer was a man.”
“Only because men have the freedom to move about at will,” said Jokyoden, “whereas the imperial women are confined under strict supervision.”
Although Reiko saw the logic of this reasoning, she also realized that it benefited Jokyoden, as well as Lady Asagao, by eliminating them as suspects. And the lack of freedom also applied to the emperor, who would be constantly surrounded by attendants and seldom left the palace. That left the emperor’s cousin as the killer. Of course Jokyoden would prefer to see Prince Momozono convicted of murder than herself, her son, or his consort.
“Who might have been in the Pond Garden with the left minister that night?” Reiko said, hoping that her interest would pass for natural curiosity.
“Left Minister Konoe had ordered everyone to stay away from the garden. There are very few people who dared disobey him and risk punishment.”
Reiko noted Jokyoden’s repeated evasion of questions. She realized that Konoe’s orders had informed all the suspects that he would be alone in the garden. Had one of them taken advantage of the circumstances? She voiced another possibility: “Perhaps the killer had arranged to meet the left minister for a private rendezvous.”
“As far as I know, Left Minister Konoe never told anyone why he wanted the garden to himself,” Jokyoden said, gazing at the circular green lotus leaves that covered the pond. She added, “I didn’t see him at all that night. The weather was very hot; I couldn’t sleep. So I took a walk around the summer pavilion, which is north of the Pond Garden. 1 was sitting outside, watching the moon, when I heard the scream.”
“Did you see anyone else around?” Though aware that these questions might give away her ploy, Reiko needed the answers.
“No. The area around the pavilion was deserted. And I didn’t take any attendants with me or tell them I was going out because I desired solitude.”
This story explained why Jokyoden hadn’t been in her chambers and had no witness to give her an alibi. Still, Reiko found herself pleased that Jokyoden had no apparent motive for the murder. Meeting Jokyoden, she realized with concern, had altered her hopes for the investigation.
She’d come to the palace bent upon pursuing a killer, wanting it to be one of the suspects she interviewed. Now she didn’t want Jokyoden to be guilty of murder because she felt a sense of kinship with her. But she couldn’t let her feelings toward a suspect compromise her judgment.
Lady Jokyoden’s cool voice penetrated her thoughts: “Such a thorough discussion of murder is quite unusual during a social call. Perhaps I’m not the only wife who performs her husband’s duties. And perhaps the sosakan- sama need not bother interviewing me, because you’ve obtained from me the answers that I presume he would ask of me himself.”
Alarmed, Reiko was quick to protest. “Oh, but I would never even try to do a man’s work.” Her earnestness sounded unconvincing even to her own ears. “Whatever information my husband needs, he’ll ask for himself. I don’t know anything about detection. I just wanted the pleasure of meeting you.”
Jokyoden watched Reiko’s discomfiture with the amused air of an older sister observing the antics of a clumsy younger sister. “Dare I suggest that you are still hiding behind the false pretenses under which you came here, Honorable Lady Sano?” She laughed, a low, melodic sound. “But perhaps you’re not the only one whose motives are ambiguous.”
Too flustered to think of a reply, Reiko wondered who’d been manipulating whom. Maybe Jokyoden had sinister reasons for welcoming Reiko and speaking so freely. Had Jokyoden intended for their conversation to be communicated to Sano, so she could plant in his mind the idea that she was innocent? Maybe she meant to prejudice him in her favor by befriending his wife.
Certainly Jokyoden possessed a strong will, the foundation for the power of kiai. That she must have known all along that she would be investigated by Sano cast doubt upon everything she’d said.
The crunch of footsteps on the gravel path broke the silence between Reiko and Jokyoden. A maid came up to them, bowed, and said to Jokyoden, “Please excuse me, but His Highness the Abdicated Emperor wishes you to come to him.”
Grateful for the chance to escape, Reiko said quickly, “I mustn’t impose on your hospitality or interrupt your business any longer. I’ll go and pay my respects to His Majesty’s honorable consort now.”
A ripple of mirth crossed Jokyoden’s face, as if she knew what Reiko was thinking. After they exchanged bows, Jokyoden said, “Thank you for a most interesting chat. Will you please visit me again before you leave Miyako? I should welcome the chance to improve our acquaintance.”
“So would I. Yes, I’ll come back.”
While glad of an opportunity to learn more about Lady Jokyoden’s possible role in the murder, Reiko glimpsed new dangers ahead. If Jokyoden was the killer, might she perceive Reiko as an enemy to destroy?
7
A series of hoots and yelps sounded outside the Purple Dragon Hall, where Sano, Yoriki Hoshina, and Right
