Chapter 7: Volume 1 - CH 2.1

Volume 1.2.1 - The Flower Flute (Part 1)

Past the second watch at night (9pm to 11pm), Jusetsu made her way down a passageway in the back of her room and opened the twill silk curtains. There was a small room on the other side, and there was an altar placed alongside a wall.

Jusetsu blew on a candlestick, creating a flickering white flame that resembled smoke. Even she hadn’t burned incense, there seemed to be a strong musky scent.

Jusetsu bowed her head in front of the altar. On the wall behind the altar, there was a painting of large black uncanny bird that covered the entire wall. It had four glossy wings, its torso was like a pig’s, and its feet were like that of a large monitor lizard. However, only its face was that of a beautiful woman. She had white skin, red lips, and her hair, tied up, was decorated with gold and silver jewels.

It was a portrait of Wulian Niangniang, the goddess who came from the other side of the sea. She was the goddess of the night and the lives of all things.

Around Wulian Niangniang, there were birds of various sizes and species. Sparrows, spotted nutcrackers, nightingales, mandarin ducks, and little birds she didn’t even know the names of—they were the followers of Wulian Niangniang.

Jusetsu took out a peony from her hair and placed it on a white glass bowl on the altar. There was a sound like a bell ringing from far away, and the flower disappeared in the blink of an eye. Jusetsu turned on her heel and exited the room. At the same time, the white flame was extinguished from the candlestick.

When she returned to the room, Xingxing was flapping its wings and making a fuss. Jusetsu glanced at the door. There was a visitor.

“——Lady Raven Consort, are you here?”

It was a delicate woman’s voice.

“What is your business?”

Jusetsu responded curtly. “I have a matter I wish for you to entertain.” The woman spoke the Raven Consort’s stock phrase. The women who came here all used it like a password. Jusetsu had heard that stock phrase too many times since the previous Raven Consort’s time.

“——Enter.”

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She flicked her hand and the doors opened. She saw women standing at the entrance. There was an attendant standing next to the doors—she was probably the one who spoke—and at the back, there was a woman hiding her mouth with a fan. She was probably the mistress. Next to her, there was a palace lady who seemed to be her attendant, and two eunuchs holding lanterns standing by. Their mistress with the fan in her hand slowly entered. There was a beauty mark under her cool eyes. It seemed to be natural, not makeup. There was a hairpin ornately decorated with seven gemstones1 in her hair that was tied high on top of her head, but she wasn’t dressed particularly resplendently. Although, judging from her bearing, she wasn’t a low-ranking concubine. The strangest thing was the flower flute—a round jade flute used for mourning the dead—hanging from her sash. The flute, shaped like a magnolia flower, was a beautiful and exquisite item, but sashes were usually adorned with jade pendants or colored threads.

She sat in the chair the eunuch pulled out for her. Jusetsu didn’t sit and studied her face from the front. Her eyes weren’t the only things that were cool. Her features and air were both like a refreshing wind. She was wearing a mint robe and matching verdigris skirt, and her shawl was a thin silk that resembled mist. Her cool and refreshing outfit suited her well.

“Why don’t you have a seat?”

She indicated the chair across from her with a hand, her voice as cool and calm as her appearance. Jusetsu sat down, keeping her eyes fixed on her. The other woman signaled her attendants with her eyes, and they quietly stepped to the doors. She then turned to face Jusetsu.

“I am the daughter of the Un clan. My name is Kajou. I am the lady of Enou Palace.”2

Jusetsu was shocked by the fact that she so uprightly gave her name—most of the people who came here didn’t reveal their identities—but she was also shocked at her rank. The lady of Enou Palace was the consort who ranked second after the empress. Since she was given Enou Palace, she was called the Duck Consort.

Since Koushun still didn’t have an empress, she was in effect the highest-ranking consort. What business does she have with me? Jusetsu was suspicious.

“Your business here?” she asked curtly.

Kajou stared at Jusetsu’s face closely. It was presumptuous and straightforward behavior for a consort.

“I’ve heard that His Majesty often comes here,” Kajou said, sounding somewhat amused. “What is his business here?”

Jusetsu grimaced without knowing it.

“I know not what he wants. He only loiters around here for a little while before leaving.”

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Even after the matter of the jade earring, Koushun visited her. For Jusetsu, it was nothing but a nuisance.

Kajou nodded like she had understood something. “I see that you’ve been a conversation partner to His Majesty.”

“I do not talk with him.”

“He does not ask you to do something for him like the others do, does he.”

Jusetsu looked at Kajou. The slender Kajou was taller than Jusetsu, so she naturally looked up at her.

“He had made a request. I will not say what it was.”

Kajou knit her brows together like she was thinking something.

“…He didn’t ask you to perform a curse killing, did he?”

What a strange thing to ask. Jusetsu tilted her head.

“The emperor could easily have someone’s head cut off without asking for a curse killing.”

Kajou narrowed her eyes, and a smile appeared on her face. She nodded in satisfaction.

“Precisely. There are many in the inner palace who don’t understand even that.”

“What?”

“His Majesty has executed the empress dowager. There are those who say that he has asked the Raven Consort to perform a curse killing.”

Jusetsu tilted her head to the opposite side.

“If she was executed, then there was no curse killing. That is illogical.”

Kajou’s smile deepened. “Exactly. She was only punished for her own sins.”

“Then why is there talk of curse killings?”

“Some people are illogical. There are also those who are jealous of you.”

“Me?”

“His Majesty rarely visits the concubines, but he visits you frequently.”

Jusetsu frowned, feeling deeply displeased.

“He is not visiting me in that sense.”

“Because you are the Raven Consort,” Kajou was nodding magnanimously. “I’m sure His Majesty has his own ideas.”

Whether he did or didn’t, she didn’t know. Koushun sometimes brought sweets as presents, and sometimes he simply dozed off in Jusetsu’s bed. He did as he pleased.

“So, you came to sound out the situation?”

When she asked that, Kajou smiled faintly with her eyes downcast.

“I came to check on things. I am entrusted with the inner palace, after all.”

The mistress of the inner palace was the highest-ranking consort. In other words, Kajou was the one who managed anything that went on within the inner palace.

“I’m glad I was able to meet you. My heart is put at ease.”

Kajou stood up.

“So, do you have any favor to ask of me?”

Or was that just a cover-up? Kajou glanced at Jusetsu and moved her mouth. No sound came out. ——“See you tomorrow.”

It seemed that it was something she didn’t want her attendants to hear. I hope it is not a troublesome request, she thought.

When Kajou turned her back to Jusetsu, the flower flute hanging from her sash swayed along with the tassel that hung underneath it. For some strange reason, Jusetsu’s eyes lingered on it.

The eunuch lit the candlestick in his hand again, and similar to when they arrived, the party quietly left.

“——Hua Niangniang is such a beautiful person.”

Jiujiu, who had been making herself small in the corner of the room, sighed and came to her side. Jusetsu still kept her as her attendant.

“Hua Niangniang?”

“That’s what most people in the inner palace call her.”

“Because her name is ‘Kajou’?”3

“That’s one reason, but you see, she wears a flower flute hanging from her sash. She always does. Even though it would be bad luck to wear it…”

Flower flutes were originally objects that were hung from the eaves at the end of winter. They were hung in mourning for those who had died that year. It was said that the dead would return with the wind that heralded the coming of spring and sound the flute. They were made of precious stones, porcelain, or wood and carved in the shape of flowers, and had holes in them to allow air to pass through, making a high, thin, chirping sound whenever the wind blew.

“Why is she wearing a flower flute?”

“No one knows the reason. Hua Niangniang never speaks of it.”

“Huh.”

What a strange consort. She wore a flower flute on her person for some inexplicable reason, but Jusetsu didn’t sense from her any of the obsessed sentimentality that was characteristic of the women who came here. She only felt a cool and refreshing wind. She was——.

“As expected, Hua Niangniang didn’t get angry about His Majesty frequenting this place,” Jiujiu said, impressed.

“Most likely because she understood he only comes here to kill time.”

“Oh no, you misunderstand. Hua Niangniang doesn’t get jealous over things like that. She and His Highness are bosom friends.”

“She is the second-ranking consort, so they must know each other well.”

“That’s not it. The two of them are childhood friends. I believe Hua Niangniang is three years older.”

“Childhood friends?”

“She is Prime Minister Un’s granddaughter. The Un clan is one of the distinguished families known as the Five Surnames and Seven Clans. Prime Minister Un has been a close aide to His Majesty since he was the crown prince, so through that connection, they have been playmates since they were young. Since she has known him for a long time, so she is very magnanimous.”

I see, Jusetsu responded half-heartedly. “You should take a little more interest in the affairs of the inner palace!” Jiujiu was miffed. It isn’t worth talking to you about it, she was saying.

She had no interest in the relationships of the inner palace. However, Kajou’s flower flute weighed slightly on her mind. After having Jiujiu retire, Jusetsu went to bed. Kajou had said, “See you tomorrow.” She wondered what she was going to request from her.

The next morning, Jusetsu woke up and got out of bed, then walked to the kitchen in her nightwear. The old servant woman was crouching down to start a fire in the stove. Next to her, So Kougyou was chopping parsley. When she noticed Jusetsu, she neatly bowed. Jusetsu had decided to employ her here after she recovered. She rationalized it by saying that she was getting a little uneasy leaving the old servant woman to do all the kitchen work by herself. She approached the water jug in the corner of the kitchen, scooped some water with the ladle, and moved it to a silver washbasin. When she was about to carry it, a voice came from behind her.

“Gracious, Niangniang! Didn’t I say I would bring you water?”

It was Jiujiu. Jusetsu, whose face was hidden by her unbound hair, turned her head a little.

“I’m here now, so I will help you get ready in the morning. Otherwise, there’s no meaning in me being here.”

Jiujiu wanted to be helpful to Jusetsu. She was here under the pretext of being her attendant.

“I have been doing this by myself for a long time. I do not need help.”

“But, then…”

Jiujiu’s shoulders drooped in disappointment. Bewildered, Jusetsu ordered, “Then, you will help prepare for the morning meal as well. It will allow you to familiarize yourself with it.” Jiujiu agreed happily like a fish that had found water. When she returned to her room, Jusetsu sighed. ——I have done something troublesome.

Just as she had thought, she shouldn’t have kept unneeded people here. In fact, she had intended to have both Kougyou and Jiujiu return to their original places once the whole matter was over. If they were always here, they might one day discover Jusetsu’s true identity. Even Koushun turned a blind eye, if it was made public, even he wouldn’t be able to defend her. Because the massacre of the previous imperial family was coded into law.

However, she had already grown accustomed to the chatter of the skylark-like Jiujiu and Kougyou’s attentive gaze like she was watching over them all. They ate into Jusetsu’s body. When she imagined her room without them, her heart became as stiff as when the piercing cold rose up from one’s feet to numb one’s flesh and bones in winter.

——I am going to tell you something cruel. Do not think about establishing bonds with other people. It will create a tear.

The words of Reijou—the previous Raven Consort—came back in her mind. Do not keep an attendant, you only need one servant woman, she had told her. The more people she trusted, the more the danger would increase.

She washed her face with the water in the washbasin and wiped it with a hand towel. She put on her black garments, tied her hair up, and peered into the octagonal mirror adorned with mother-of-pearl. On her pale face, her silver lashes were swaying with worry. She couldn’t show this face to Jiujiu. She applied makeup, checked her hair carefully to make sure the color wasn’t fading, and left the mirror.

When she parted the curtain, the morning meal was being laid out. On the table, there was thin rice porridge with parsley and pine nuts and mantou. As she was eating them, Jiujiu brought her some hot soy milk.

“Shall I bring seconds?”

“No need,” Jusetsu shook her head with a mantou in her mouth.

Found out by Koushun, living with Jiujiu and the others—little by little, she could feel tears being created. Jusetsu didn’t know where this would all lead to. But as she moved forward, a darkness seemed to be waiting for her, casting a shadow over her heart. Would Wulian Niangniang give her an answer?

Koushun was the main culprit. Ever since his visit here, troublesome things began to happen.

That main culprit came to Yamei Palace at sunset.

“I heard that Kajou came here.”

That was the first thing that came out of Koushun’s mouth. As always, Ei Sei was behind him. Jusetsu frowned at Koushun, who calmly sat down in a chair like this was his own room.

“’Tis because you come here so often. Better to go to your consorts’ palaces promptly.”

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“I do visit the consorts properly. Enough that I won’t get lectured.”

“You should not come to me. Leave at once.”

“Did Kajou ask you to do something for her?”

Koushun, ignoring Jusetsu’s complaints, asked.

“…She did not. She said she would come here again today.”

“I see.”

That was all he said. He seemed as though he knew what Kajou was going to request.

“Do you know what her request is?”

After a short pause, Koushun answered, “Perhaps.” She couldn’t surmise what he was thinking from his expression that didn’t seem like an emotion. There is a feeling of winter from this man, Jusetsu thought. Quiet and motionless, with a warm sun, but something was crouching in the shadows.

“That consort is——”

She was about to say, but then she turned her eyes to the doors. Xingxing was flapping its wings.

“——Pardon me.”

It was a woman’s voice. It belonged to—Kajou.

“It’s me. Could you please open the doors?”

Jusetsu moved her hand in a beckoning gesture. The doors opened. Kajou was standing there with two attendants. Kajou gave the attendants a look, and then walked in alone. The doors closed with the attendants still standing there. Kajou stepped up to Jusetsu and the others, and then bowed to Koushun.

Koushun rose.

“If you have a request for the Raven Consort, then it would be better for me to excuse myself.”

“No, you are welcome to stay.”

Kajou smiled. There were only two chairs, so Jiujiu and Kougyou hurriedly brought in a chair from another room. Kajou sat down on it.

“Please listen as well, Your Majesty.”

“…If you insist.”

Koushun sat down again. The atmosphere was somewhat like Kajou was the one in control, and the two of them seemed more like an older sister and younger brother than man and woman or husband and wife. It wasn’t only because of their ages. The two of them were—.

“I would like you to have a look at this.”

Kajou removed the flower flute hanging from her hip and placed it on the table. It was a magnolia flower flute made of jade with a faint celadon green color. There were several holes bored into the petals to make sounds.

“This flute has never once made a sound. It was made for a certain person, but it has never made a sound. ——What do you think is the reason for that?”

Jusetsu took the flower flute in her hand. It was of fine make. It wasn’t a defective item.

“Does it not make a sound because that person has not returned to me?”

The sounds of a flower flute are a signal that the person being mourned had returned. If the flower flute remained silent, it meant that they hadn’t returned.

“…Who is this person?” Jusetsu asked.

“He was once my lover,” Kajou answered without her expression changing. Jusetsu glanced at Koushun’s face. He was as expressionless as always. He probably knew.

“Three years ago, he—Ou Genyuu—passed away. In the spring of that year, I hung this flower flute for the first time and waited for his spirit to return, but…”

The flower flute didn’t make any sounds.

“Why is that? Why did he not return?”

Kajou’s tone was quiet, but Jusetsu felt like she could see a hint of emotion from her for the first time. Her emotions were there—with her deceased lover. Jusetsu looked at Koushun again, and then directed her gaze at the flower flute.

“Can you make this flower flute work? Can you call him?”

“Is that your request?”

Kajou nodded. “Yes, it is.”

Jusetsu placed the flower flute on the table.

“Very well. I shall try summoning that person’s soul.”

Kajou’s eyes widened. “Are you able to do that?”

“I can only summon a soul from paradise once. Know that.”

Jusetsu took an inkstone and brush from the cabinet. While grinding the inkstone, Jusetsu asked Kajou, “Is Genyuu his courtesy name?”

“Yes.”

“What is his given name?”

“Shou.”

She took out a small lotus petal-shaped paper from her breast and wrote “Ou Shou” on it. She placed it on the table, and then put the flower flute on top of it. Jusetsu took out a peony from her hair and blew on it. The flower turned into smoke and surrounded the flute. The flower flute was gradually absorbed into the smoke, and its shape became hazy. Kajou made to get up, but she looked at Jusetsu and returned to her position. Jusetsu thrust her right hand into the smoke. The smoke was cool and soft, coiling around her fingers like smooth mud. Jusetsu was about to summon the spirit as though reeling in a thread in the midst of the smoke, but her brow furrowed at the sense of wrongness.

——This is…

Jusetsu pulled out her hand and blew out a breath to clear away the smoke. The smoke dispersed and the flower flute began to take form again. When the smoke completely disappeared, the flute returned to its original shape.

“I cannot summon him.”

She told Kajou bitterly. “Eh?” Kajou asked back. “What does that mean?”

“The soul you are seeking cannot be found in paradise. That is why he did not answer the soul invocation call.”

“That means—”

“This Genyuu is either still alive, or in a state where his soul cannot be involved because of some kind of circumstance.”

Kajou’s eyes shook in bewilderment.

“He cannot be alive. I have seen his body with my own eyes, and his funeral has already taken place. What do you mean by some kind of circumstance…?”

“I know not. This is also the first time I have not been able to summon a spirit.”

She had heard from Reijou that there were times when she couldn’t summon a spirit, but Jusetsu never experienced that until now.

“Under what circumstances did this person die?”

She asked. It was Koushun, not Kajou, who answered.

“Three years ago, Ou Genyuu was sent to the province of Reki to serve as a military consultant under the regional inspector. He lost his life in a riot that broke out there. A thrown stone had unfortunately hit him in the head.”

Ou Genyuu was also an acquaintance of Koushun’s, so he had seen his body. It happened before he ascended to the throne.

“He was an excellent civil servant. That was why he was dispatched to Reki Province. At that time, a strange faith called the ‘Moon Truth Sect’ became popular in that area. There were rumors of collusion with the government, and we had replaced the regional inspector in order to investigate that. The riot was caused by their believers.”

In the end, the riot was suppressed, and the faith died out.

“‘Moon Truth Sect’…I have never heard of it.”

On the streets, it was not uncommon to suddenly see temples being built with people claiming to be divine oracles, or people worshipping driftwood that had washed ashore as a deity. In some cases, these new temples might outnumber those of Wulian Niangniang. There were those who said that the worship of Wulian Niangniang was old-fashioned.

“Apparently, they don’t actually worship the moon. They only worship a person called Father Moonlight as a living god. It is said that he had a reputation for predicting the future or guessing one’s past, but I heard guesses that he might be some sort of shaman. It is all very suspicious-sounding, but he was arrested after the riot, sentenced to caning for misleading the public, and then banished.”

“A shaman, huh…”

They were folk spellcasters. Some were highly skilled magic users, but there were others who were frauds. She wondered which of these types Father Moonlight belonged to.

After thinking for a while, Jusetsu turned her eyes to Koushun.

“I would like to know a little bit more about this Father Moonlight.”

“Father Moonlight? –Very well.”

He most likely isn’t alive, he said. Even if his punishment was caning, the criminal was beaten a hundred times with a hard cane, so it was no different than the death penalty. Even if he didn’t die on the spot, most of them were released half-dead and died afterward.

Kajou gently took the flower flute in her hand and stared at it.

“Can you make this flower flute work?”

Jusetsu hesitated for a moment, and in the end answered honestly. “I know not.” Kajou smiled slightly and stroked the flower flute.

“Please, I entrust this to you.”

Kajou stood up gracefully, flipped the sleeves of her robe, and headed for the doors. Even the rustling of her clothing was refreshingly beautiful.

After Kajou left with her attendants, Jusetsu gave a side glance to Koushun.

“Why is she in the inner palace?”

“What?” Koushun’s eyebrow twitched at Jusetsu’s question. “What do you mean?”

“She does not even attempt to hide the fact that she still pines for her deceased lover in front of you. You also allow that. She won’t be your wife.”

That was the reason why she didn’t feel any passion for Koushun from Kajou.

In Koushun’s expressionless face, a shade of something like awkwardness appeared.

“…Kajou is like an older sister to me.”

“You put someone like that in the inner palace?”

“Kajou’s grandfather is my advisor and tutor. This is the best way to solidify our connection. Besides…” Koushun looked a little towards the doors through which Kajou had left. “After Genyuu died, Kajou had no place to go. Once her partner died, she had to marry someone else. She wouldn’t agree to that, so I gave her this place.”

If she was forced to marry someone else, she might have chosen death.

“I thought that she would be able to live here quietly while cherishing Genyuu’s memory, but…”

It didn’t turn out the way I expected it, Koushun let out a small sigh. “I never would have thought that the flower flute would not sound. ——There are no defects in that flute, are there?”

He asked as if he was concerned, and Jusetsu nodded in puzzlement.

“I see. That’s good. That was something I made.”

“You made it?” The unexpected words caused her to let out a sound that was unlike her, and she cleared her throat. “Are you sure you do not mean you had it made instead?”

“I make those sorts of things as a diversion. In the past, there was someone who taught me.”

It was said that every human being had one special skill, and it seemed that Koushun was quite dexterous with his hands.

“Shall I make something for you as well?”

He said that with no emotion on his face, so she couldn’t tell if he was saying that seriously or if he was joking around.

“I have no need for it.”

She answered immediately. Ei Sei, standing behind Koushun, shot her a murderous look.

“Unless you have business here, leave. And do not come here again.”

“I’ll come again,” Koushun didn’t listen to Jusetsu’s words at all.

“This is not a place the emperor should visit. The Raven Consort and the emperor are incompatible with each other.”

When she said that, Koushun furrowed his brow slightly. “What do you—”

Jusetsu flicked her hand and opened the doors. She wordlessly prompted him to get out. Koushun obediently stood up. If he opposed her, he would be tossed out by Jusetsu’s magic.

After Koushun and Ei Sei left, Jusetsu, still sitting in her chair, pondered for a while. Why did that flower flute not make any sound?

Sometimes I wonder if I should translate the palace names to English as well since it feels a bit inconsistent to keep them in Japanese…oh well

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