The Last Empress - Anchee Min [105]
Ito sat in front of my son dressed in a plain blue Japanese garment, which reflected his position as Li Hung-chang had described it, that of "a private citizen in his leisure time." Ito's hands rested on his knees. His back was straight and his chin was low.
My son, although dressed in the golden dragon robe of the Emperor, sat like a pupil, leaning forward, listening. An ensemble of strings and gongs softly played ancient music in the background. The gongs were meant to evoke distant peaceful times, but to my ear it sounded like explosives—Japanese cannons destroying our fleet. I fought to separate the humble man in front of me from the murderer of Queen Min. I tried to view Ito through my son's eyes.
The two men exchanged words about the weather and each other's health. My son asked whether Chinese food would suit his guest. Ito replied that there was no better cuisine in the world than Chinese cuisine.
I expected a conversation of political significance to follow, but it did not occur.
The guest began to talk about his favorite Chinese poets, and recited, "While moonbeams danced on the crest of waves where the water touches the sky..."
My son smiled and took a sip of tea.
"In Japan," Ito said, in a gentle voice, "only the children of the privileged class are taught Chinese poetry, and only the nobility can read and write Mandarin." His voice was full of admiration.
Guang-hsu nodded respectfully, slouching his shoulders and then sinking back into his chair.
When the clock struck four times, the minister of the interior appeared and pronounced that the Imperial reception was over.
I withdrew quietly before the two men rose.
The minister of national security, who worked directly for Yung Lu, sent me a memorandum. He asked for permission to issue Kang Yu-wei a Warning of Violation. Our spy had discovered that the reformer had gone to the Japanese embassy, where he supposedly met with Ito.
My son would be offended was the thought that came to mind. Guang-hsu would take such a warning as Yung Lu's as a personal attack on him.
I sent for Yung Lu and asked whether he was aware of the connection between the Board of National Security and Prince Ts'eng's Iron-hats, whose goal was to replace my son on the throne.
Yung Lu said that he knew of the connection. He agreed with me that "in trying to shoot the fly, we might end up shattering the vase instead."
I asked what we should do.
"It must be your decision, Your Majesty."
I protested and said that my priority was to avoid jeopardizing the Emperor's reform plan. "My son should be the one to issue Kang a warning. I cannot talk him into doing that until you provide solid evidence that Kang's activities threaten the nation's security."
"It is impossible to obtain the full facts at this stage," Yung Lu said.
"Then I cannot grant your minister the permission."
Quietly Yung Lu said that if he was not allowed to do his job, he would resign.
"You would not abandon me" was my reply.
We sat staring at each other for a long moment.
"You let Li Hung-chang go," he said.
"You are not Li Hung-chang."
"I can't work with your son. He doesn't respect me and he thinks he doesn't need me!"
"I need you!" My tears came. Yung Lu sighed, shaking his head.
My son let me know that reformer Kang Yu-wei claimed that he was the friend of ambassadors all over the world.
"What about Li Hung-chang?" I asked my son. "Li has actually met the 'real tigers' and has negotiated with them for years."
"Sure, Li negotiated, but for himself, not for China."
"Li Hung-chang has been behind every major reform." I tried to keep calm.
"But he won't call for complete political reform!" My son could no longer keep his voice down.
"Guang-hsu, calling for such radical change could mean your dethroning..."
The Emperor laughed. "As it is, I am an emperor without an empire! I have nothing to lose."
"Let me ask you this. Do you know why Japan stopped the Allies from setting fire to the Forbidden City