The Apothecary Diaries Book 11

Gyokuen's Children

Maomao watched Jinshi smack his head into a post. It was practically comical, seeing him bash himself against a pillar in the sumptuous chamber, surrounded by attendants.

"Young master, at least use this," Suiren said, inserting a wadded-up cotton jacket between Jinshi's head and the pillar. The sound went from thump thump to bompf bompf, which only made it seem sillier. Suiren didn't go so far as to try to stop him.

"He played me!"

"Like a two-stringed fiddle, sir."

"You're mocking me!"

"Yes I am, sir."

Maomao had her hands full trying to offer noncommittal responses. Just agreeing with everything Jinshi said was better than letting herself slip and accidentally try to suggest an actual solution. It was the same way she dealt with huffy courtesans; it always calmed them down.

"Are you even listening to me?!" Jinshi demanded.

"I'm listening, sir."

Apparently, it was still the wrong choice. In this case, instead of offering inoffensive comments, she should have tried to suggest a solution. But at that moment, Maomao didn't even have any ideas to offer.

Neither did the rest of Jinshi's entourage.

Gaoshun was the first to speak. "Moon Prince, has there been any communication from Empress Gyokuyou since then?"

When's "then"? Maomao wondered. She knew Jinshi and the Empress had been in touch with each other about Gyoku-ou's daughter. Was that what he meant?

"Communication? Yes. But I don't think she's in a good position to deal with Sir Gyoku-ou. For one thing, the Empress would have no way to know about this most recent event. Even if I contacted her as urgently as I could, I doubt it would be in time. But thankfully, she's already put me in touch with certain other connections."

Makes sense. Even the members of a single family were hardly going to be in lockstep. Maomao wondered who these connections were.

"What about Master Gyokuen, then?" Basen asked.

Jinshi paused for a second, then said, "I can't be certain, but I doubt Sir Gyokuen had a hand in this. I've kept him apprised of the situation here, but there are certain things that I think he wishes to leave to his son's judgment. He sends only the most ambiguous answers. I can only imagine that what he writes to Sir Gyoku-ou is quite different from what he writes to me."

"You don't suppose that his answers conflict with the report you're getting, Master Jinshi?" Taomei asked. She seemed to be wondering if Jinshi's letters were reaching Gyokuen at all.

"At the moment, I don't think so."

"I would agree," came a voice from behind a curtain. Maomao was caught off guard for a moment, but then realized it was Gaoshun's other son, Baryou. Chue flitted over and nudged the drape.

He's gotten used to us enough to speak, huh?

She had no idea, though, how many more times she might have to visit before she saw his face. Maybe he would open up to her if she wore a duck mask.

Gaoshun picked up the thought. "Master Gyokuen's policy was always to be on friendly terms with neighboring countries—and thus to keep them in check. He might make 'suggestions' or negotiate sometimes, but he never made an open declaration of hostility. I think that means it's safe to assume Master Gyoku-ou did this on his personal initiative. At the same time, I can see why Master Gyokuen might hesitate to criticize his son's approach."