Nanya - 23

23. The Doomed Party

Night had spread her wings with inky feathers and terrible slumbers. At the Imperial Residence the Emperor sat waiting for his guests. He sat and drank the wine. They were late, so he drank quite deeply. The anticipated audience was to be an informal affair. He was to meet my master's heart-song for the first time. Perhaps for this reason, Kao drank deeply. He was sleepy and longed for his bed.

"Where are they?" he muttered. "The wine is at its peak and will be gone soon, as I will drink it all. I will drink it. Not that I like to drink it. But, I must. It kills the pain and ends my headache."

He stood and held his head trying to shake off sleep, and the effects of the bottle.

"A curse on you brother and father for having been captured leaving me this horrible task. I was not born to rule, nor am I well dispositioned to it. But, I know what I need to do, as if the map was burned on my mind."

He walked to the door. It was strangely quiet. The night was spinning towards him, with its deadly secrets. But, his majesty was dispersed in his thoughts.

"I hear them all complain about Nan Tu," he said returning to chair and table. "I hear it. Do they think I like it any better. But if we stayed in Ch'i-chou, we would be fugitives of a different nature by now. Or maybe captured and on our way to the Northern forests to visit my father and brothers. I don't know why I bother. I have saved their asses - and yet they complain of me, of my cowardice. They should be thankful for my good sense of timing. I led us out of danger - out of the jaws of the serpent."

My master, Fu Lin-t'o and your humble servant interrupted these ramblings.

"Well, speak of timing - you are late, Nan Ya," said Kao. "Late."

"Apologies, your majesty, but the streets are under a curfew and torches are at a premium."

"Took a wrong turn did you? Step in some official shit. I hear there's lots of it about."

"My lord, it's thick since the barges still keep delivering your court to this place. How we will feed them, I don't know. And if we need to move again . . ."

"Move again?" said Kao. "Why would we move again?"

"Wu Shu, my lord," said Li K'ai-men.

"Wu Shu can kiss my ass."

"Your majesty has had a great start on this wine. May we pour a glass for ourselves?"

"Absolutely," said the Emperor. "Who are these? These are men like ourselves, but I know them not."

"If you recall your majesty, you commanded me to bring to you my scholar friend, Fu Lin-t'o."

The Emperor stood on wine shaken legs, steadied by the table's edge.

"So, this is his heart song."

Fu Lin-t'o went to his knees.

"And this object is?" said his majesty, indicating me.

"My man-servant," said my master. "Indispensable."

Empty praise indeed. I also knelt. The Emperor left me in that position, but he raised Fu Lin-t'o to his feet.

"Your majesty," said Fu, "may you live ten thousand . . ."

"Yes, yes, Nan Ya," said Kao, stopping Fu mid salute. "This is indeed a breath of springtime living in our midst."

"Thank you, my lord," said Li.

"And Fu Lin-t'o, are you as devoted to my Imperial Private Secretary as he is devoted to you?"

"With all my soul, your majesty," said Fu.

"With all his soul, he says. You know I am a tartar when it comes to your lord's devotion to me. I cannot abide his attentions to wander to any other place or sphere. He's my friend and advisor. He has even been . . . Well, let's say there has been some passion."

"I am honored, your majesty," said Fu.

"Honored?" said the Emperor. "What a charmer we have here? Do have some wine? Here, drink from my own cup, from my own lips. There now."

Fu drank from the Imperial cup.

"Your majesty," said Li. "Fu Lin-t'o was fearful he would not know how to act in your presence."

Kao steadied himself again, then sat with a thud.

"Good concern," he said, "but these are private moments and we are no more than a man in private. I am Heaven's Son from the fourth watch to the ninth. Isn't that so Nan Ya?"

Suddenly, the Emperor yawned and had difficulty seeing. He raised the cup once again.

"I think this wine is strong. I am strangely tired."

"Then we will leave you my lord," said Li. "You have much business to deal with in the morning."

"No, no, no, no . . " said Kao yawning. "Sit a while and keep me company. I enjoy your company Nan Ya."

"I really think you need to sleep my lord."

"Sleep is not a blessing to me, Nan Ya. I see them in my sleep. I see the weary eyes of my brothers and my father. I see the cages blown by the northern gale freezing the marrow in my poor father's bones. He was a soft spirit filled with creation and art. Now he sees only the gray and drear of the northland. He may have deserved it for his lack of insight and forbearance, but death would have been better. So, sleep is another nightmare for me. I close my eyes and see my Aunt, sitting from her obnoxious seat of judgment at Nan-ch'ang, shouting at me to return to K'ai-feng and die like a man. "Cross the River! Cross the River!" Tsung Tse's howl on his deathbed. I see my sister plotting to get her own baby on the throne; and my aunt manipulating her. I see Yang Yuan-yu as regent, riding on a chariot of iron, killing my appointments, running the streets red."

The guests were mesmerized by this rattle and watched his majesty intently. Was there ever such a dilemma as this one?

"No, stay with me tonight - both of you. All three. I am so alone always. Since a child of five, I have been alone and cold. No wife near me even to give me peace or rest. I hope she is coming to my side soon. Where is she? Where is my son? Why do they keep their distance?"

"The Empress Chia was sighted two days ago traveling with the heir apparent to Yang-chou," said Li. "Soon, there will be an Imperial family together once again, as heaven ordained it."

"Yes, yes. But do not leave me."

"We will leave you," said Li. "Your eyes are heavy."

"They are heavy?"

"Let the weight of it all wash away down life's river," said my master in a soft voice. "May you dream of sweet things, of the isle of the blessed, where the fires we light in life are captured for pure light and the rage is calmed as wisteria and lilac."

"Yes, they are heavy and yet, light," said Kao as he began to drop off, then snore.

"I think," said Fu Lin-t'o, "I think he has much on his mind, poor man."

"My dear Fu," said Li, "this is a man who has taken the weight of the world on his being - and he is really a very small being. Let us withdraw."

I raised the torch to lead them away; but as we reached the doorway, we were greeted by a sword point. It was K'ai Ma-yuan and his conspirators. Chang Shun-lin and Gao Xin-wu approached the sleeping Emperor. They drew their swords and woke him. At first, he did not realize what was happening; perhaps a dream? But when he did realize his position, he arose and assumed a challenging stance.

"My lord, Prince Kang," said K'ai Ma-yuan, "you are under arrest for high treason against the state."

"By whose authority?" asked Kao.

"By your son's authority, Prince Meng - our lord and Emperor."

The full details of these circumstances were irrelevant. The Emperor knew at once the situation.

"Those bitches!" he stammered.

"Please my lord," said K'ai Ma-yuan. "Come quietly with your minions and no one will be hurt. I am sure his majesty and the regent will grant clemency if you surrender yourself as willingly as you surrendered the North."

"I must be still asleep," said Kao. "This is not happening. It is the wine."

"No your majesty," said Li. "You are awake."

"Please address his lord as Prince Kang," said K'ai.

"How has K'ang Yu-wei allowed this?" asked Li.

"K'ang Yu-wei is no longer among us," said Gao Xin-wu. "He expired quite unexpectedly earlier this evening. He choked on a carp bone."

My master's eyes were on fire. He tensed and clenched his fists. He bolted his guards and tackled Gao Xin-wu, knocking the adjutant down. The sword changed hands at once as Li tried to run Gao Xin-wu through. But all swords were drawn and aimed at my master's throat.

"K'ang Yu-wei was my mentor and friend," said my master dropping the sword and easing the threat on himself.

"So," said the Emperor, "you have murdered K'ang Yu-wei. This indeed is a great loss to the empire."

"A sacrifice," said K'ai Ma-yuan. "Many sacrifices will be in order my lord. But it need not be you or your minions."

"Nan Ya, dear friend," said the Emperor. "I for one welcome death. But I will not confine you so wittingly. Ease up, dear friend. Ease up."

The Emperor gazed sternly at K'ai Ma-yuan.

"And who are you, sir?"

"I am K'ai Ma-yuan, commander of the garrison at Nan-ch'ang."

"Aha! Nan-ch'ang!" said Kao. "We all know who rules here now! Well, what now K’ai Ma-yuan, commander of the garrison at Nan-ch'ang? What now?"

"We shall see, Prince! We shall see!"

This was very terrifying to me then. I have witnessed worse since; however, in the education of a peasant lad like myself, a little usurpation does not happen every day. But then again, there was invasion and migration, and there would be conspiracy and exile and rheumatism and failing sight and perpetual orders from a cranky old master. What's a little usurpation but a touch of spice for an otherwise plain and agrarian life. After all, had my master left me alone, I would have lived like my father, growing the largest squashes in the village, bragging about them in the tea-house as an elder and never traveling more than the length of my fields from the place of my birth. Ah, but now, under arrest, in good company, facing death, thousands of li away from squash and water margin, I K'u Ko-ling can brag of life's spice. What's a little usurpation anyway?



		23. The Doomed Party Night had spread her wings with inky feathers and terrible slumbers. At the Imperial Residence the Emperor sat waiting for his guests. He sat and drank the wine. They were late, so he drank quite deeply. The anticipated audience was to be an informal affair. He was to meet my master's heart-song for the first time. Perhaps for this reason, Kao drank deeply. He was sleepy and longed for his bed. "Where are they?" he muttered. "The wine is at its peak and will be gone soon, as I will drink it all. I will drink it. Not that I like to drink it. But, I must. It kills the pain and ends my headache." He stood and held his head trying to shake off sleep, and the effects of the bottle. "A curse on you brother and father for having been captured leaving me this horrible task. I was not born to rule, nor am I well dispositioned to it. But, I know what I need to do, as if the map was burned on my mind." He walked to the door. It was strangely quiet. The night was spinning towards him, with its deadly secrets. But, his majesty was dispersed in his thoughts. "I hear them all complain about Nan Tu," he said returning to chair and table. "I hear it. Do they think I like it any better. But if we stayed in Ch'i-chou, we would be fugitives of a different nature by now. Or maybe captured and on our way to the Northern forests to visit my father and brothers. I don't know why I bother. I have saved their asses - and yet they complain of me, of my cowardice. They should be thankful for my good sense of timing. I led us out of danger - out of the jaws of the serpent." My master, Fu Lin-t'o and your humble servant interrupted these ramblings. "Well, speak of timing - you are late, Nan Ya," said Kao. "Late." "Apologies, your majesty, but the streets are under a curfew and torches are at a premium." "Took a wrong turn did you? Step in some official shit. I hear there's lots of it about." "My lord, it's thick since the barges still keep delivering your court to this place. How we will feed them, I don't know. And if we need to move again . . ." "Move again?" said Kao. "Why would we move again?" "Wu Shu, my lord," said Li K'ai-men. "Wu Shu can kiss my ass." "Your majesty has had a great start on this wine. May we pour a glass for ourselves?" "Absolutely," said the Emperor. "Who are these? These are men like ourselves, but I know them not." "If you recall your majesty, you commanded me to bring to you my scholar friend, Fu Lin-t'o." The Emperor stood on wine shaken legs, steadied by the table's edge. "So, this is his heart song." Fu Lin-t'o went to his knees. "And this object is?" said his majesty, indicating me. "My man-servant," said my master. "Indispensable." Empty praise indeed. I also knelt. The Emperor left me in that position, but he raised Fu Lin-t'o to his feet. "Your majesty," said Fu, "may you live ten thousand . . ." "Yes, yes, Nan Ya," said Kao, stopping Fu mid salute. "This is indeed a breath of springtime living in our midst." "Thank you, my lord," said Li. "And Fu Lin-t'o, are you as devoted to my Imperial Private Secretary as he is devoted to you?" "With all my soul, your majesty," said Fu. "With all his soul, he says. You know I am a tartar when it comes to your lord's devotion to me. I cannot abide his attentions to wander to any other place or sphere. He's my friend and advisor. He has even been . . . Well, let's say there has been some passion." "I am honored, your majesty," said Fu. "Honored?" said the Emperor. "What a charmer we have here? Do have some wine? Here, drink from my own cup, from my own lips. There now." Fu drank from the Imperial cup. "Your majesty," said Li. "Fu Lin-t'o was fearful he would not know how to act in your presence." Kao steadied himself again, then sat with a thud. "Good concern," he said, "but these are private moments and we are no more than a man in private. I am Heaven's Son from the fourth watch to the ninth. Isn't that so Nan Ya?" Suddenly, the Emperor yawned and had difficulty seeing. He raised the cup once again. "I think this wine is strong. I am strangely tired." "Then we will leave you my lord," said Li. "You have much business to deal with in the morning." "No, no, no, no . . " said Kao yawning. "Sit a while and keep me company. I enjoy your company Nan Ya." "I really think you need to sleep my lord." "Sleep is not a blessing to me, Nan Ya. I see them in my sleep. I see the weary eyes of my brothers and my father. I see the cages blown by the northern gale freezing the marrow in my poor father's bones. He was a soft spirit filled with creation and art. Now he sees only the gray and drear of the northland. He may have deserved it for his lack of insight and forbearance, but death would have been better. So, sleep is another nightmare for me. I close my eyes and see my Aunt, sitting from her obnoxious seat of judgment at Nan-ch'ang, shouting at me to return to K'ai-feng and die like a man. "Cross the River! Cross the River!" Tsung Tse's howl on his deathbed. I see my sister plotting to get her own baby on the throne; and my aunt manipulating her. I see Yang Yuan-yu as regent, riding on a chariot of iron, killing my appointments, running the streets red." The guests were mesmerized by this rattle and watched his majesty intently. Was there ever such a dilemma as this one? "No, stay with me tonight - both of you. All three. I am so alone always. Since a child of five, I have been alone and cold. No wife near me even to give me peace or rest. I hope she is coming to my side soon. Where is she? Where is my son? Why do they keep their distance?" "The Empress Chia was sighted two days ago traveling with the heir apparent to Yang-chou," said Li. "Soon, there will be an Imperial family together once again, as heaven ordained it." "Yes, yes. But do not leave me." "We will leave you," said Li. "Your eyes are heavy." "They are heavy?" "Let the weight of it all wash away down life's river," said my master in a soft voice. "May you dream of sweet things, of the isle of the blessed, where the fires we light in life are captured for pure light and the rage is calmed as wisteria and lilac." "Yes, they are heavy and yet, light," said Kao as he began to drop off, then snore. "I think," said Fu Lin-t'o, "I think he has much on his mind, poor man." "My dear Fu," said Li, "this is a man who has taken the weight of the world on his being - and he is really a very small being. Let us withdraw." I raised the torch to lead them away; but as we reached the doorway, we were greeted by a sword point. It was K'ai Ma-yuan and his conspirators. Chang Shun-lin and Gao Xin-wu approached the sleeping Emperor. They drew their swords and woke him. At first, he did not realize what was happening; perhaps a dream? But when he did realize his position, he arose and assumed a challenging stance. "My lord, Prince Kang," said K'ai Ma-yuan, "you are under arrest for high treason against the state." "By whose authority?" asked Kao. "By your son's authority, Prince Meng - our lord and Emperor." The full details of these circumstances were irrelevant. The Emperor knew at once the situation. "Those bitches!" he stammered. "Please my lord," said K'ai Ma-yuan. "Come quietly with your minions and no one will be hurt. I am sure his majesty and the regent will grant clemency if you surrender yourself as willingly as you surrendered the North." "I must be still asleep," said Kao. "This is not happening. It is the wine." "No your majesty," said Li. "You are awake." "Please address his lord as Prince Kang," said K'ai. "How has K'ang Yu-wei allowed this?" asked Li. "K'ang Yu-wei is no longer among us," said Gao Xin-wu. "He expired quite unexpectedly earlier this evening. He choked on a carp bone." My master's eyes were on fire. He tensed and clenched his fists. He bolted his guards and tackled Gao Xin-wu, knocking the adjutant down. The sword changed hands at once as Li tried to run Gao Xin-wu through. But all swords were drawn and aimed at my master's throat. "K'ang Yu-wei was my mentor and friend," said my master dropping the sword and easing the threat on himself. "So," said the Emperor, "you have murdered K'ang Yu-wei. This indeed is a great loss to the empire." "A sacrifice," said K'ai Ma-yuan. "Many sacrifices will be in order my lord. But it need not be you or your minions." "Nan Ya, dear friend," said the Emperor. "I for one welcome death. But I will not confine you so wittingly. Ease up, dear friend. Ease up." The Emperor gazed sternly at K'ai Ma-yuan. "And who are you, sir?" "I am K'ai Ma-yuan, commander of the garrison at Nan-ch'ang." "Aha! Nan-ch'ang!" said Kao. "We all know who rules here now! Well, what now K’ai Ma-yuan, commander of the garrison at Nan-ch'ang? What now?" "We shall see, Prince! We shall see!" This was very terrifying to me then. I have witnessed worse since; however, in the education of a peasant lad like myself, a little usurpation does not happen every day. But then again, there was invasion and migration, and there would be conspiracy and exile and rheumatism and failing sight and perpetual orders from a cranky old master. What's a little usurpation but a touch of spice for an otherwise plain and agrarian life. After all, had my master left me alone, I would have lived like my father, growing the largest squashes in the village, bragging about them in the tea-house as an elder and never traveling more than the length of my fields from the place of my birth. Ah, but now, under arrest, in good company, facing death, thousands of li away from squash and water margin, I K'u Ko-ling can brag of life's spice. What's a little usurpation anyway?