Reiko privately thought Hirata had turned into a conceited boor who wasn’t worth such anguish, but she wanted to help her friend. “Maybe you should show special interest in his life.”
“I’ve already tried that. “ Midori sniffled. “I offered to help him solve a case, but he just laughed.”
“Well, maybe that’s not such a good idea,” Reiko said, quailing at the thought of delicate, innocent Midori involved in dangerous detective work.
“You mean you don’t think I’m capable either?” Midori said, pouting.
“It’s not that,” Reiko said hastily. “But most men don’t admire cleverness in a woman or want her meddling in their business, and I doubt if Hirata-san does, either. Maybe you should just look as pretty as possible and be cold and aloof toward him. That should spark his interest in you.”
Comprehension shone in Midori’s eyes. “Of course! He’ll want me because he thinks I don’t want him. Oh, thank you,” she exclaimed, hugging Reiko. “I can’t wait to see Hirata-san and show him how little he means to me!”
Inside the Large Interior, rooms were crammed with pretty young women playing cards, combing their hair, and chattering among themselves. Their shrill voices deafened Reiko as she walked through the narrow, winding corridors with Midori. A cypress door, resplendent with carved dragons, marked the entrance to Lady Keisho-in’s private chambers. Two sentries-among the few men allowed in the Large Interior-stood outside. From inside came gay samisen music. Keisho-in’s crusty old voice yelled, “I’m sick of that song. Play something else,” then subsided into phlegmy coughing.
Another tune began. The sentries admitted Midori and Reiko to a room filled with tobacco smoke. Through its haze Reiko saw the samisen player seated amid other ladies-in-waiting. Around them lay cards, tea bowls, and plates of food. Lady Keisho-in lolled upon cushions. She was a small, squat woman clad in a cobalt silk kimono; a silver tobacco pipe protruded from her mouth. Puffing, she squinted at the doorway.
“Midori-san? Don’t just stand there, come over here.” Ill temper coarsened her voice. “Who is that with you?”
Reiko and Midori knelt before the shogun’s mother and bowed. “I present the Honorable Lady Reiko,” Midori said.
“Splendid!” With a grunt, Lady Keisho-in pushed herself upright. Her dyed black hair, thick white face powder, and crimson rouge gave her a guise of youth, but her sixty-seven years showed in her sagging bosom and double chin. She smiled, revealing gaps between her cosmetically blackened teeth; her rheumy eyes sparkled.
“Life is so melancholy these days, and it cheers me to see you,” she said to Reiko. She signaled the attendants, who poured tea for Reiko. “Have some refreshments.”
“Thank you,” Reiko said, glad of Lady Keisho-in’s welcome. She’d visited Keisho-in before, but never without invitation, and she’d feared offending the mother of her husband’s lord.
“My, it’s been ages since we last met.” Keisho-in shifted to a more comfortable position for a good chat. The samisen music continued; Midori and the other attendants sat in polite silence. “What have you been doing?”
“Taking care of my son,” Reiko said. “He’s eighteen months old now, and he keeps me quite busy.”
“I recall my own dear boy at that age,” Keisho-in said with fond nostalgia. “He loved his mama so much that he couldn’t bear to be separated from her. He was so obedient and docile.”
He hasn’t changed much, Reiko thought. The shogun depended on his mother for advice on how to rule Japan, and Lady Keisho-in was one of his most influential companions. Her word could elevate or destroy the careers of bakufu officials. Fortunately, Sano had earned her goodwill, and it was this goodwill that Reiko hoped to benefit from today.
“How is your health?” Keisho-in asked. “Do your breasts give plenty of milk? Hmm, your figure looks fine.” With a lewd cackle, she added, “I bet you and your husband have resumed marital relations.”
Blushing in embarrassment, Reiko nodded. The woman had such a vulgar habit of discussing intimate subjects!
“Move closer so I can get a better look at you,” Keisho-in said. Reiko obeyed. Keisho-in scrutinized her, then declared, “Motherhood becomes you.” Heightened interest lit her gaze. “In fact, it has increased your beauty.”
“Many thanks for the undeserved praise,” Reiko said politely. “I know I look terrible.”
“Oh, you’re too modest.” Lady Keisho-in dimpled. “Now tell me, what news is there of the sosakan- sama?”
“He’s investigating the fire and murders at the Black Lotus Temple,” Reiko said, leading the conversation to the topic of importance to her.
“Men,” scoffed Keisho-in. She inhaled on her pipe, exhaled smoke, and coughed, shaking her head. “Always so absorbed in business. Do you know that Priest Ryuko has gone off somewhere and left me by myself all day?”
Ryuko was Keisho-in’s spiritual adviser and lover. Evidently, his abandonment had caused her bad mood. Now she fluttered a silk fan in front of her face. Above it, her eyes twinkled at Reiko. “I bet your man has left you to your own devices, too.”
“Actually, he’s asked me to help with the case,” Reiko said.
She explained about Haru, and her belief that the Black Lotus sect was involved in the crimes. Lady Keisho-in listened eagerly, uttering exclamations: “Shocking!” “Remarkable!” Her attention encouraged Reiko to hope that Keisho-in would grant the favor she wanted.
“I need to speak with High Priest Anraku, the leader of the sect,” Reiko said, “but his subordinates wouldn’t let me.”
“Disgusting!” Keisho-in grimaced. “Those people take too much authority upon themselves.”
“Perhaps if I had assistance from a person of influence…?” Reiko hinted.
“I suppose that might help,” Keisho-in agreed cheerfully.
“Someone to whom the high priest owes a duty could convince him to grant me an audience,” Reiko said.
Smiling, Keisho-in nodded, but it was obvious that she had no idea what Reiko meant. Mirth shimmered behind the stoic faces of the ladies-in-waiting. Reiko gave up on subtlety. “The high priest would see me if you ordered him to,” she said.
“Of course he would. “ Comprehension brightened Keisho-in’s face. “He has to do what I say. All of his kind must.”
Lady Keisho-in was an avid Buddhist who had taken a religious name; she’d also directed the shogun to build temples and give generous endowments to religious orders. The clergy didn’t dare disobey her, lest they lose Tokugawa patronage.
“Just leave that priest to me,” Keisho-in said, “and you shall have whatever you want.” She fixed an insinuating, covetous gaze on Reiko.
Keisho-in was flirting with her! The belated realization flabbergasted Reiko. Everyone knew that the shogun’s mother liked women as well as men, but Reiko had never imagined herself as an object of Keisho-in’s romantic interest. The dowager had always treated her with maternal kindness, yet now it seemed that Keisho-in had taken a fancy to her.
“A thousand thanks,” Reiko stammered in dismay. Keisho-in often had affairs with her attendants, the wives of bakufu officials, and even her son’s concubines. No lover could give her as much affection as she needed, and she punished them harshly for their failure. Everyone had heard tales of maids and concubines thrown out on the streets; ladies-in-waiting dismissed and doomed to spinsterhood because Keisho-in forbade anyone to marry them; officials demoted because their wives had displeased her. Reiko wasn’t physically attracted to women, and she found the shogun’s mother repugnant. She was horrified to discover that she’d put herself and Sano in peril.
The only solution was to get away as quickly and gracefully as possible. Reiko said, “Your help will surely benefit the investigation, and I truly appreciate it, but I must-”
“We shall go to the Black Lotus Temple tomorrow,” Keisho-in announced. “I’ll order the sect to let you see the high priest, and we’ll both visit him.”
“What?” Reiko hoped she’d misheard the shogun’s mother.
“A little trip is just the diversion I need,” Keisho-in said. Giggling, she leaned closer to Reiko as she whispered, “Traveling together will give us time to get better acquainted.”
Reiko stared at her, dumbstruck. She didn’t want to spend any more time with Lady Keisho-in. Nor did she want Keisho-in around to meddle in the investigation.
“But you don’t have to go to the temple,” Reiko said, fighting anxiety. “It’s such a long way, and a message from you to High Priest Anraku would do just as well as a personal visit. Please don’t trouble yourself.”
