Dream of a Spring Night (Hollow Reed Series)
“It had been an unusually dry and hot summer, and everyone hoped for rain. In the courtyard grew a cherry tree that servants watered regularly. Even with such care the tree’s leaves were already turning yellow and falling to the gravel below. The Emperor’s eyes frequently looked past it to the blue mountains in the distance, and at a bank of dark clouds building another, more threatening, mountain range in the sky. He made a face at Tameyazu’s words and told him he could not see them. T...he matter was trivial, especially at the moment. More evil omens had been reported by the Bureau of Divination. There was the fear of drought and a poor harvest. Bad harvests brought starvation and disease to the people. He had been thinking about making another pilgrimage to the gods of Kumano to ask for rain. The problem with Tameyazu’s news was that it reminded him of an embarrassing private matter. He had sent for the girl on a whim. It had been a momentary weakness, like the one that had caused him to bed the shirabyoshi Kane years ago. This case was worse, because a more unsuitable background for an imperial concubine could hardly be imagined. His passion for gathering every last one of the songs of his people for his collection had piqued his curiosity, and her appearance on horseback had blinded him to her father’s greed. It had all been lies, of course, and certain to be found out, but her mercenary family hoped that by then his lust for her young body would outweigh any disappointment in her lack of talent. He should have sent her home months ago. Women had always caused him regrets. His own mother had only summoned him to make certain that his education progressed adequately.MoreLess
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