II. The Well-Crafted Frame Of Wood
The Prefect was taken aback by the admission. "You say it so brazenly?"
The prisoner again regarded her with his mild gaze, brown eyes inscrutable, almost innocent. "Why not? Every Emperor since the first, the wisest of all, has tried to eliminate the opium trade, so I cannot quarrel with such a policy. But today the price of opium is much the same as it was in the days of Sagacious Tien so many thousands of years ago. Only the face on the silver coin used to pay for the opium changes, the opium itself, those that smoke it, and those that sell it, are eternal as the seasons."
"Do you know how opium is prepared, honored Prefect? There are great purple fields high in the mountains, where the air is thin but the warmth of the earth is trapped in valleys, and the poppies grow thick and wild. The harvesters work with thick gloves on their hands, they slit the bulbs of the flowers with tiny knives the size and shape of fishhooks, and the sap is collected, pressed beneath stones and between paper, and dried into flakes. These are then smoked in water pipes."
"When heaven itself gives us such a gift, hidden in the bulbs of papery flowers for us to unwrap, as children might unwrap a present they are eager for, how can any Emperor, no matter how great or terrible, take it away? They can certainly try, and worry that people will do very wicked things when they use opium, but I have observed many of those that did and do partake of the subtance, and my view is different. Experience changes our view of matters, do you not agree? Does not the town gate guard who has never seen more than a drunken brawl view the prospect of war differently than a mercenary veteran of a hundred battles? So it is with my humble self and the observation of opium users."
"Those that smoked opium in the Little Star, which is what I named my teahouse, were not particularly wicked – they were simply lazy, or willing to be lazy for a time. They enjoyed being on the cushions, receiving a massage from one of my twelve ladies, enjoying the tart taste of a sliced piece of fruit from a copper bowl. Many said that their sexual congress was much enhanced by the delicious smoke, that the sensations were..."
The Prefect was blushing, sputtering before she could gather up a full interruption. "Is there no end to your perversion?"
The prisoner bowed his head. "I merely state these facts in order to give you a complete picture, Prefect. I do not wish you to imagine that I lived a life made of victimizing others, robbing them, crushing the innocent, or working the women like beasts in the field. I attempted to be an honest and honorable businessman. My most important merchandise was opium, and a pleasurable place to smoke it."
"It was a beautiful night when I first laid eyes on Melodious Ivory. Autumn, it was, and the leaves were falling."
"I owned - I still own - as I have said, a beautiful teahouse called the Little Star. We sold the very finest tea, drink and food in abundance, opium, baths of steam and perfumed water, and the services of courtesans. My business was prospering, and I had twelve women and three guards working for me. I had silver in abundance, I enjoyed my wealth, but also spent it freely. For example, I hired tutors for the women to train them in the many arts – painting, poetry, music, song, rhetoric, classical literature, dance, and the Blushing Courtesan style of martial arts, with its spinning, obfuscating steel war fan. Of course I also paid well for their training in the long-banned 64 Arts Of Pleasure, to refine their sexual skills to the highest degree. These expenses I considered to be investments in the future prosperity of..."
The Prefect blinked, interrupted. "The long-banned what?"
"Why, the 64 Arts of Pleasure." said the prisoner.
The Prefect scoffed. "Those are fictions."
"I assure you they are not, honored Prefect." the prisoner protested. "Many are very difficult, I am told, but..."
The Prefect lifted her finely manicured hand. "It is a tale told by sniggering schoolboys. That there was a scroll somewhere that told of 64 methods of attaining increasing sexual bliss, and a highly religious Emperor ordered its suppression lest the methods corrupt and seduce his virtuous subjects? Completely false. No such order was ever issued by any Emperor, devout or no. No such scroll ever existed. Merely the lascivious imaginations of pornographers and their gullible customers."
The prisoner seemed fascinated by this development, and leaned forward. "What a marvelous dilemma, one any philosopher would be pleased to discuss. I can assure you that we did have a scroll, and it was inscribed with 64 different sexual arts, and that my maidens were trained thoroughly in those arts and we received no complaints of fraud or artifice from our clients. Indeed, rumors spread far beyond our tiny province. Rumors of the unbearable ecstasies to which our courtesans could bring to even the very aged, or very inexperienced - or even to women. I saw no reason that a woman's silver should not purchase her the same..."
The Prefect almost raved, her breath was coming short, her chest heaved as she gulped for breath. "Disgusting! Do not... Trouble me no more with your debauchery. No more! Return to your tale."
The prisoner's voice turned mischevious. "Of course, exalted one. Where was I? Oh yes. The great dilemma you have posed. If a false scroll purporting to be the original 64 Arts Of Pleasure were prepared by a swindler or charlatan, yet I, in my ignorance and gullibility purchased it, and encouraged the women in my employ to practice and refine their knowledge of these arts, and their reputation justly grew as a result, was I really duped? Was I deceived by this charlatan? Or perhaps is that the true nature of the Arts of Pleasure - that anyone can find them, if they but believe enough? I wonder what that might mean for you, who dismisses even their potential existence as nonsense..."
The Prefect was outraged. "Fool! Do not attempt to distract me with your unforgivable insolence!"
The prisoner mockingly groveled. "My apologies, great one. Your intellect surpasses mine in so many ways, what are to you impertinent, simple questions are to my poor mind of great interest." Still, he resumed sitting upright on his cushion and continued in a more serious tone. "To return to the story. The day when I first saw Melodious Ivory. I had silver in abundance, the cobbles in my courtyard were straight and the stone floors swept. I enjoyed having silk vests and the best wine. Other teahouse owners were changing to taverns, selling wine and liquor across a counter like shopkeeps, and only to the lowest of men, drunkards and sailors and all manner of disgusting persons. Although I would open our doors to anyone, they would be expected to behave as upright gentlemen or ladies while within my walls."
"Twelve women... I can call them to my minds eye as clearly as I can see you now, I can list their names, I can tell you their particular talents and favored clients. This is how devoted and attached to them I was. They called me Master Shi, as if I were a lord in a fortress. On some days I felt like just such a lord."
"That particular autumn afternoon, though, I was concerned chiefly with the acquisition of some premium wine. I had ordinary wine, the sort that was suitable for the average visitor, but I hoped to attract more prestigious and exalted clients, and I was willing to pay a dear price for several jars of the finest wine from the vineyards high on the mountainside. These rare fermentations, if you have never had the pleasure of tasting them, had the robustness of the plum blossom with a smooth tanginess that leaves the palate alive and tingling."
"So when I rose late that morning, I had business. I put on my robes, and summoned one of my guards, whose name was Kenji Chang and one of my women, named Graceful Butterfly to escort me to the marketplace. A wise businessman knows the value of presenting an alluring image, and as I am personally very plain..."
The Prefect scoffed at this statement. "Ha!"
"...you are too kind. At any rate, I always went about with a bodyguard and a courtesan. Thus I could display my prosperity and entice those who might be unsure about going to a place that seemed desperate. For why would I blackmail or extort monies from customers if I were so prosperous as to walk about the town with a veiled, beauteous woman and a stout bodyguard? Graceful Butterfly was a simple country girl who was born with untapped talent for watercolor, the dagger, mixing spices, and fellatio."
The Prefect was shocked. "What?"
The prisoner was the very picture of innocence. "Watercolor, the dagger, and mixing spices, as I say. She was a very talented girl. May I..." He looked expectant.
The Prefect, unsure of what she had heard, but suspicious, nevertheless did not protest further. "Continue."
"...yes. I shall." replied the prisoner. "I passed into the market square and stepped up into the shop of Fan Gong Li. He had the wine waiting, and I came to him in expectation of a fair price. We were in the process of agreeing upon that price when Lieutenant Ha of the town guard entered the shop. You must understand that Lieutenant Ha and myself did not see eye to eye on the matters of opium, courtesans and the Yellow Sash Gang. His views were closer to yours."
"I can call Lieutenant Ha to my mind's eye now. Tall, very tall, taller than you or I, slender, with hard muscles and few scars visible. He wore the half-cuirass armor of an Imperial Guard and wore his hair in a very old-fashioned high topknot. Children made fun of him for it but I found it very striking. He and two of his guards entered the store. They were carrying spears, the iron tips dull grey in the light from the window."
"'Well, well.' he said. 'If it isn't the city's most reknowned scum. Shi Jiexie. I hope you aren't so obvious as to purchase your opium through this fool.'"
"'I am shocked,' I said, 'to hear one of the Governor's top men speak this way of an honest merchant.'"
"'Honest! You do not know the meaning of the word.' insisted the Lieutenant."
"My voice was offended: 'I meant my dear associate Fan Gong Li, who I was about to conclude some business with, as you can see.'"
"The Lieutenant suspected that he had gone too far, and gave a curt bow to Fan Gong Li by way of apology, although I confess Fan did not appear to notice it. He was hiding under the counter. Lieutenant Ha said 'I have received word that a wanted fugitive is here in the city. She is a murderer and thief, carrying a golden sword. Have you seen her?'"
"'I have not.' I replied. 'A golden sword, what a childish notion. It would bend upon the first striking.'"
"Ha ignored my comment, and said, 'She is young, and favored with beauty, so she may attempt to hide among courtesans, and as you are the chief whoremaster in these parts...' At that moment I heard Graceful Butterfly's fan snap open, the metal slats clanking into place one after another, heard her body shift within her robes, her face hardening, this expression of anger visible in the eyes above her veil. It was a dangerous situation. The guards sensed it, their spears dropped slightly towards her. She lifted her war fan. The Lieutenant looked shocked, surprised, baffled that she would risk prison for assaulting the guards..."
"I spoke, 'Lieutenant, you have called me a whoremaster, and thus you have called Graceful Butterfly a whore, a most pernicious lie. A whore is a woman who sells herself as a beast might be sold - for the flesh only, to be worked until they are good only for the slaughter. You surely will not say that Graceful Butterfly is like this. When you do not even know her, have never seen any of the sublime portraits or landscapes she has painted. Have you seen any of these?'"
"'No.' he replied, not taking his eyes off the glittering, razor edge of her war fan. A yellow sash was painted across the slats, it tilted and swayed as her wrist turned it this way and that. My bodyguard had his hand on his wakizashi, coiled like a viper ready to strike."
"'Then to be fair, as you admit you do not know the full extent of her talents or education, you cannot say that she is a whore, and thus you cannot say that I am a whoremaster. You must see the logic of this position.' I said. 'Perhaps you spoke in haste, no doubt you are agitated by the news of this dangerous fugitive. There is no need for more aggressive measures in settling this unfortunate dispute, is there? Come, Lieutenant, I invite you to sample some of the wine Fan Gong Li has just sold to me. Withdraw your remark and assist me with deciding what to serve with this excellent wine. I trust your expert advice. Here, try some, and give me your best counsel.' Of course I was trying to calm the situation. I did not wish to do battle with Lieutenant Ha at that time and in that way, although the circumstances were very advantageous for me - my Graceful Butterfly was armed, as was I, and the guards' spears were worse than no weapons at all in the tightly enclosed spaces of Fan Gong Li's shop. No, it was not out of concern for the outcome that I did not wish to fight Lieutenant Ha - it would simply have been disrespectful to my valued associate Fan to do battle in his shop."
"'I apologize to you, madam.' Lieutenant Ha said, pretending to ignore my protestations. 'I should not have painted with so broad a brush, when my insults were intended only for this man, and his illegal practices. I spoke hastily.' With that same sudden snapping clank, her war fan was folded and tucked away in her sleeves. She bowed deeply and did not raise her eyes back to him. The apology had been accepted. She had never spoken a word."
"Nevertheless Lieutenant Ha did not appreciate my diplomatic efforts, for instead of partaking of the offered wine, he poked his finger at my chest in an unpleasant manner and said, 'I have my eye on you, Shi. Don't expect any leniency just because you happen to know influential persons in this province. If you are caught with this fugitive, everything is on the table. The opium. The courtesans. The thievery, and yes, your associations with the Yellow Sash Gang. That's how high this goes, that's how serious these orders are. Do you understand me?'"
"'Perfectly.' I said, injured by his tone. At that point he departed. I knew that I had to find out more about this fugitive, if nothing more than to protect myself and my investments. I gave a silver piece to a boy with a cart to carry the jars of wine to the Little Star and proceeded with my bodyguard and courtesan to the home of Master Ko-Gun. This as you no doubt know, was the head of the local Yellow Sash Gang. He has since passed onto the Wheel of Life. I looked up to him a great deal, ever since I was a boy. He was like a favored uncle."
"With great pleasure and surprise, I saw the Zu Mir Brothers sitting in the front parlor. I greeted them enthusiastically. 'Brothers!' I cried, and bowed deeply. They leaped to their feet to bow back. 'What a marvelous development. The Zu Mir Brothers here. I heard you had been in the high north plains.'"
"'Your information is impeccable as always, Shi Jixie.' replied Zu Mir Ma. 'How is it that you hear everything that is worth hearing, without ever leaving this little province?'"
"'By always inviting travelers for wine and food. And so I shall invite the two of you. Tonight. We shall have a great feast for the poetic and brave Zu Mir brothers, you shall be entertained by the songs and poetry of the women of the Little Star, and perhaps tomorrow you can give them your criticisms and train them further in the gentle arts."
"'The last who heard our poetry would not describe it as so gentle.' said Zu Mir Sa, and we all laughed. For you see, the Zu Mir brothers were practicioners of a lost form of kung fu called the Gentle Syllable Style. It could only be performed by two persons who had been trained not only in fighting with the curve-bladed sword of the north provinces but also in the sylized, rhythmic poetry of the barbarian tribes of that country. The songs they exchanged during battle allowed them to focus their chi into perfectly synchronized strikes, letting them fight as one body, much as every human heart sings the same in the presence of great poetry."
"'But will you come?' I insisted."
"'Our host is Master Ko-Gun. I would not like to disappoint him.' said Sa."
"'I shall invite him as well. He often comes to the Little Star. You will not mind escorting him home tomorrow, I hope?'"
"'If he will agree, then we are agreed too.' said Sa."
"'Then we are all agreed.' came the aged voice from the inner doorway. The Zu Mir brothers leapt to their feet and bowed deeply. I bowed as well. It was Master Ko-Gun."
The Prefect sneered. "Such a felicitous group of murderers and thugs you had in the province. So polite and kind to each other. If there is no honor among thieves, there at least was the appearance of it. The pretense of it."
The prisoner looked deeply injured. "Prefect. I am surprised at such a vicious remark. Perhaps I deserve it, but to say it so bluntly...have you not heard the ancient proverb that mercy for those in unfortunate circumstances ought to be extended even to the impious?"
"I am not here to give you mercy. I am here to obtain information." the Prefect said reproachfully, unashamed of the insult she had given him. "Go on."
The prisoner did so. "'Master Ko-Gun,' I said. 'I am your poor servant. How are you this day?'"
"'Older.' Master Ko-Gun replied. 'By the grace of heaven, I am older. I hope to maintain this condition for some time to come. Thank you for your kind invitation, Shi Jixie. I confess I always look forward to the excellent food your servants concoct. Can you tell me the menu tonight?'"
"'Duck, in a light plum sauce, served upon the finest fresh-cooked rice and with a new high valley wine for you to sample.' I replied."
"'Marvelous.' he said. 'I am glad you invited me, but is this the only reason you have come?' He seated himself on one of his wide green silk cushions, folded his legs and pressed his palms together in a meditative posture. Master Ko-Gun's face was wrinkled and aged, his eyes almost invisible in the deep folds of skin. In his youth he had spent a great deal of time in the sun, and this was visible, as his skin seemed leathery, his hands rough, despite not having done the brutal work that calloused them for decades. He dressed simply, in plain robes, like many of his age, he did not have any wish to impress any man with his wealth or taste. Instead, he wished only to modestly finish his life in seclusion. I think, although I do not know, that he continued to mourn his wife many years after her death and did not wish to adorn himself like a peacock when her spirit might be displeased with it."
"'I confess not, Master Ko-Gun.' I said. 'I was accosted at the shop by Lieutenant Ha...'"
"'That buffoon?' scoffed Zu Mir Ma. 'He is still trying to defeat us?'"
"Zu Mir Sa was more cautious. 'He is an expert swordsman. I heard that he is a veteran of over a dozen duels against vicious criminals.' he said sagely."
"Master Ko-Gun looked sternly at the two. 'Please, allow Shi Jixie to finish his story without interrupting with your gossip.' Their lips were profuse with apologies for a moment. Then Master Ko-Gun's eyes returned to me."
"I continued. 'He said that there was a beautiful young fugitive in the city and had I seen her? He said that she was carrying a golden blade. Do you know of this?'"
"'Are you considering taking up bounty hunting, Jixie?' teased Ma."
"'I simply wish to have all the facts. To be enlightened.' I replied."
"Master Ko-Gun closed his eyes. 'Yes, I am aware of this fugitive.' he said. 'She is a woman of approximately your age, and of great beauty. It is said she is connected to a noble family, who she has disgraced by her actions against the Emperor.'"
"'Shameful.' remarked Sa."
The Prefect's eyes bulged. "He said 'shameful'? Zu Mir Sa called Melodious Ivory 'shameful' for acting against the Emperor?"
The prisoner was outraged. "Prefect, I must insist, your incredulity is insulting. You have made your point - you do not believe that I am sincere when I say that we in the Yellow Sash Gang were largely respectful of the authority of the Emperor even if we did not always agree with specific edicts. I understand your view and I do not wish to constantly be arguing with it. Do you or do you not wish to hear this story?"
The Prefect was taken aback by the prisoner's anger, then glared at him harshly and said nothing.
"I shall proceed, then." said the prisoner. He waited a moment to see if she would say anything in response to that, but she did not. "Having learned of this fugitive, I instructed my guards and women that if she were to come into our hands, or if their contacts should learn of her whereabouts that I should be informed straightaway. I feared Lieutenant Ha might use her as an excuse to target my business interests and I felt I would be in a better position if I had more information. For is it not a proverb that a player who holds the stones in his hand has an advantage over the one who does not?"
"I returned to the Little Star to make it ready for the guests that night, and informed my employees of the attendance of Zu Mir brothers and Master Ko-Gun."
"'Oh!' squealed one young woman, whose hair was dyed in streaks as red as a sunset. 'Zu Mir Sa and Zu Mir Ma will hear our poetry?'
"'Yours specifically.' I told her. 'I wish for you to take their learned criticism to heart, their ear for felicitous poetry is far better than mine and perhaps even superior to your honored tutor.'"
"'I shall, I shall Master Shi. Thank you!' She knelt and kissed my feet once, a mischievious, childish gesture of affection which made me blush."
The Prefect interrupted. "Where was Melodious Ivory?"
"Prefect, you are so impatient! Almost as impatient as the girls were to see their favorite musicians again, the handsome Zu Mir brothers. But at that time, when I was retiring for an afternoon of work on the accounts, Melodious Ivory was running along the Crystal Brook, a small creek that fed the river on which our modest town sat. Her feet splashed in the cold clear water. Behind her, two men with pikes chased her, shouting to each other, go left, no, right, you stick to your side, we will encircle her, trap her against the cliff. Yet when she reached the cliff she ran straight up it, arm stretched out before her, her weight nothing to her strong legs, her powerful chi lifting her upwards and upwards towards the autumn afternoon sun..."