Empress Orchid - Anchee Min [117]
As if shocked by my revelation, Nuharoo grabbed my hand and pressed her nails into my palm.
But I couldn’t be stopped. “Not a day passes that I don’t fear for my son,” I barged ahead, and then suddenly stopped, deeply embarrassed. I looked down and noticed the magnificent sword in my hand. “I hope that one day Tung Chih will fall in love with a sword this beautiful.”
“Indeed.” Nuharoo seemed glad that I had returned to a proper subject. Joining in, she praised the weapon as a masterpiece of craftsmanship.
I recognized the symbols on the sword’s handle, which were reserved for the Emperor. Surprised, I asked, “Was this a gift from His Majesty?”
“Actually, it was a gift from Emperor Hsien Feng to my superior Su Shun,” Yung Lu replied, “who in turn gave it to me, with the permission of His Majesty.”
“What was the occasion?” Nuharoo and I asked almost at the same time.
“I was fortunate enough to be able to save Su Shun’s life in a fight with bandits in the mountain area of Hupei. This dagger was also my reward.” Yung Lu got down on his left knee and pulled out a dagger from inside his boot. He passed it to me. The handle was made of jade inlaid with stones.
The moment my fingers touched the weapon, I felt a sensation of excitement.
It was noon when Nuharoo said that she had to leave for her Buddha room to chant and count her beads.
To her, what Yung Lu and I were talking about was uninteresting. It amazed me that she found the endless chanting interesting. Once I had asked Nuharoo if she could shed some light on Buddhism, and she said that it was all about “an existence of nonexistence,” or “an opportunity that is not pursued.” When I pressed for more of an explanation, she said that it was impossible. “I can’t describe my relationship with Buddha in an earthly language.” She gave me a steady look, and her tone was full of gentle pity as she said, “Our lives are predestined to attain.”
After Nuharoo left, I resumed talking with Yung Lu. It felt like the beginning of a fascinating journey, which I was enjoying despite my guilt. He was of Manchu origin and was from the north. As the grandson of a general, he had joined the White Bannermen at the age of fourteen and worked his way up, taking the Imperial academic route as well as advanced military training.
I asked about his relationship with Su Shun.
“The grand councilor was in charge of a case in which I was a plaintiff,” Yung Lu replied. “It was in the eighth year of His Majesty’s rule, and I took the civil service examination.”
“I have read about those examinations,” I said, “but I have never known anyone who has taken them.”
Yung Lu smiled and licked his lips.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
“Oh, no,” he apologized.
“So, did you win a position through the examination?”
“No, I didn’t,” he answered. “Something strange was going on. People suspected the winner of cheating. He was a rich layabout. Several people blamed it on corruption among the higher-ups. With the support of fellow students, I challenged the court and demanded a recount of the scores. My proposal was rejected, but I didn’t give up. I investigated the case myself. After a month, through an elderly clansman, I presented a detailed report to Emperor Hsien Feng, who forwarded the case to Su Shun.”
“That’s right,” I said, remembering learning about the case.
“It didn’t take Su Shun long to find out the truth,” Yung Lu said. “However, the case was not an easy one to solve.”
“Why?”
“It involved one of His Majesty’s close relatives.”
“Did Su Shun persuade His Majesty to take proper measures?”
“Yes, and as a result the leader of the Imperial Academy was beheaded.”
“Su Shun’s power rests in his flexible tongue,” Nuharoo interrupted us. She had returned quietly, and sat holding her prayer beads.