Akitada thought this over. “You say she was of high birth. Who was she? Why was she abandoned?”
Genshin shook his head. “That I will not tell you. When I was told she had committed suicide, I believed it. She had lived a short and very sad life. But she did not seem desperate to me when I talked to her beside the Kamo River. Rather there was a strange joy about her. I took it to be of a spiritual nature. She said she was a devout believer in the Way.” He paused. “And now I must see to my duties. I wish you well, Akitada. I wish you the serenity of Lady Ogata.”
Akitada made his return journey in such a temper that he no longer saw the beauty of the mountains around him, or the vast view of the capital, spread before him in the golden haze of the evening sun.
23
A Good Name is Forever
It was nearly dark by the time he entered the capital. As soon as he reached First Avenue, he headed east, turned down one of the smaller streets and arrived at his sister’s home.
His brother-in-law, Toshikage, held a modest rank similar to his own, but unlike Akitada he had inherited vast provincial estates so that his income was only affected by an occasional poor harvest. The ready supply of funds allowed him to settle for posts that did not strain his energy while allowing his wife to enjoy the company of the highest-ranking ladies in the nation.
It was the latter fact that made her a very useful ally in the present case, and Akitada was eager to share with her the information he had gleaned from Genshin. It was little enough, but with her own knowledge of society gossip it might be enough.
Toshikage’s servants knew him well and took his horse, directing him to their master’s study. Toshikage, it seemed, was home early. This was not unusual, and Akitada was happy enough to see him. He liked Toshikage.
He found his brother-in-law dusting and rearranging his collection of small figurines and lacquer boxes. They had, in fact, met over Toshikage’s love and care for small works of art, though in that case it had been a figurine belonging to the emperor which had mysteriously disappeared while in Toshikage’s possession. Akitada had just returned from service in the far north and found his older sister married to a man suspected of having stolen imperial treasures, and his younger sister’s lover in jail on a murder charge. Those had been tumultuous months in his life, also marked by the death of his step-mother. Both men had proved to be innocent, and both had won Akitada’s respect and gratitude as he theirs.
Now Toshikage greeted him with a cry of joy and a long embrace. “My dear Akitada,” he kept repeating while squeezing him quite hard. “My very dear Akitada. It gives me such pleasure to see you.” He released Akitada long enough to study his face anxiously. “How are you, brother? Holding up all right? Must be strong for the children, you know. She would have wished it.”
Akitada smiled a little bleakly as he freed himself. “I know,” he said. “I try. But enough sad talk. I’m parched from a ride into the mountains. Any chance of some of your good wine?”
Toshikage bustled off to fetch two cups and a flask of wine, carried these to his veranda and placed two pillows. Akitada sat down gratefully. He had become stiff in all the weeks he had kept to his room without any exercise. Now he was tired, and his back and weak leg pained him.
“So you had a pleasant ride?” Toshikage asked, smiling at him. “Good, good. Can’t sit still all day. Bad for the constitution. You’ll soon be your old self again, you’ll see.”
Akitada smiled back and nodded. He would never be his old self again, he knew, but Toshikage was such a naturally cheerful fellow that talk of death and loss made him quite miserable.
“I went to speak to an old acquaintance of mine, Abbot Genshin.”
“Oh, him! He’s got quite a reputation I hear. I didn’t know he was a friend of yours.”
“Not a friend.” Akitada grimaced at the memory of that very unpleasant meeting. “Or at least not any longer. I knew him as a student when he was Takashina Tasuku.”
“I see. He no longer pleases you? He’s supposed to be a very learned and holy man.”
“Learned perhaps. Tasuku was always a very good student. Holy, I doubt. He still flatters the powerful and seeks their company.”
Toshikage chuckled. “Akiko would remind you that you should learn from him.”
Akitada managed another smile. “Yes. I actually came to speak to her also. She knows a little about a case I’m interested in.”
Toshikage clapped his hands. “Oh, good! You’re working again. That’s great news. I don’t mind telling you, we were very worried about you. Yes, very worried. Akiko couldn’t sleep at night for thinking about you and the children.”
This surprised Akitada, but his sister had surprised him once or twice before. He promised himself to be more patient with her irritating habits in the future. He said, “I’m sorry to hear it. It’s been very difficult, and still is. She may have told you that I lost my position in the ministry and, unless the grand minister relents, I am without income for the foreseeable future. It seems I shouldn’t have left my post in Kyushu to come home.”
Toshikage’s face fell. “She did say something, but surely, brother, such a thing will not be allowed to happen. No, I think you both take a much too negative view of things.” His face brightened. “Come, take another cup of wine and cheer up.”
Toshikage was notorious for not worrying about imminent disasters. But he might be right in this case. There was no point in assuming the worst would come to pass. Akitada drank another cup of wine and felt grateful for Toshikage’s cheerful outlook.
They were interrupted at this point by Akiko, who sailed in, her face flushed and her silk robes fluttering behind her. When she saw her brother, she stopped. “Akitada!” she cried. “Why didn’t someone tell me? Is anything wrong? Did you get news from court?”
Her worries about his career and livelihood were foremost in her mind, and for Akitada this cancelled out the more positive mood her husband’s optimism had produced.
He shook his head. “No, Akiko. At least … I haven’t been home yet. I just returned from a visit to the Daiun-ji temple.”
“Oh?”
Toshikage smiled at his wife. “On your way to see the empress? My dear, your costume is exquisite! And so are you!” He turned to Akitada, “Isn’t she breathtaking? No woman can carry off those colors with such grace and elegance.”
Akiko brightened and paraded her finery. “It did turn out well,” she said smugly.
Akitada knew little about courtly color schemes. But he saw she wore traditional fall colors ranging from darkest green to glowing reds. Toshikage was right. The colors suited her much better than the gentler tones Tamako had favored. Akiko was forceful and spirited to a degree that was surely unsuitable in a woman of her rank, but possibly this very flaw made her a favorite among ladies of the highest rank. Akitada got a sudden inkling that women might wish to be more like her. In any case, she was blessed in having found a husband who so doted on her that she could do no wrong in his eyes.
He looked at both with affectionate tolerance. They were his family, he thought, and felt grateful.
Having shown off her costume, Akiko sat down and returned to her other current interest. “So you went to talk to the much-revered abbot, Akitada? And what did he have to say?”
Akitada made a face. “Very little, as it turned out. It wasn’t a pleasant visit. I don’t like the man.”
Akiko frowned. “Honestly, Akitada, I sometimes despair of you. I expect you let him know that.”