Heian Romance: 14. The Snake

14. The Snake

    Yuiko quickly releases Yorinaga when she realizes that she had been hugging him tightly during the thunder. After that there’s silent among them…

“Koremitsu…are you…are you really a man?”

“Yes I AM!! This is insulting you know?

“Sorry…It’s just that….”

“Ouch!!”

A long green snake emerges suddenly and bites Yuiko’s leg. Immediately Yorinaga took out his knife and slices the snake into half before it could start menacing again. He then came to Yuiko and put his mouth on her injured leg to suck out the snake’s venom.

 “Yorinaga, what are you doing?!”

“Suck out the venom, you fool!! Are you really a physician?”

“Thanks… Could you pass me the herbs pouch, I would like to apply some herbs onto my wound.”

“Sure. Are you well?”asked Yorinaga when he saw Yuiko’s face getting redder and redder.

“Yea…why ask?”

“Well it seems that your face is getting redder. Was it the effect of the venom?”

 “Perhaps, but don’t worry I’ll be all right after applying the soothing herbs.”

“If you’re tired please sleep then, I’ll help you guard the night.”

“Thanks but I insist to stay awake, who knows what will happen next in this weird place.”

“If you insist…”

Both of them stay awake the whole night chit –chatting on and off until the beginning of another day. They went back at dawn after the rains stop; Yuiko gave Yorinaga some herbs to heal his servant Kimiharu, but rejects to heal him personally.

***

Back in the palace,

“My lady, where have you been? I have been looking for you the whole night!”asked Ryoko Yuiko’s lady in waiting worrying.

“Was caught in the rain while collecting herbs.”

“Really, thank God to see you in perfect shape!! Clean up and dress up quickly for we’ll be late for the Seimei Prayer Session!”

“Gosh, I almost forget about it!! Here comes another troublesome festival of the year!!”

“What to do, you’re obliged to attend. So please be hurry. By the way my lady what happen to your right leg?”asked Ryoko when she saw Yuiko’s bandaged leg.

“Bitten by a snake.”

“What?!”

“Don’t worry, already been taken care of. Now let’s proceed.”

Heian Romance: 13. The Old Shrine

13. The Old Shrine

 

One particular cloudy evening, Yorinaga was looking for Yuiko urgently. So he went to Oxen Street but found that she had left the clinic and went to outskirt of the capital looking for certain herbs sometime ago. Hence, he hastened his horse in order to catch up with her.

 The reason Yorinaga looking for Yuiko, is that his affectionate comrade and servant Kimiharu was hurt by a poisonous arrow while running his master’s errand. Ever since Yorinaga was promoted to the Minister of Left, he had made many enemies who resented his disapproval of the current Emperor Konoe. His enemies namely consist of his own brother the Regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi, the Empress Dowager Bifukumon and her brother Fujiwara no Ienari. When they heard that Kimiharu was hurt, they would bride all the physicians in the capital not to treat him. Therefore it left Yorinaga no choice but to ask for Yuiko’s help.

Yorinaga found Yuiko picking wild flowers along a small stream when he reached the site stated by the servant in the clinic.

“Physician Abe no Koremitsu, I beg you to come with me immediately!”

“Yorinaga?! What are you doing here?”

“My servant Kimiharu was hurt by a poisonous arrow, he is in need of your help!”

“Why should I? That’s none of my business. I only treat poor people, not dog from prestige family!”   

Yuiko get back to her horse before Yorinaga could make any replies.

 “Get back here!!” Yorinaga got up his horse and started a cat and mouse chase with Yuiko.

The sky turns darker as they went farer and farer from the capital, and eventually heavy rains fall which cause them to stop at an abandoned old shrine.

“I guess the rain won’t stop until the next day.” Said Yorinaga.

“Well thanks to YOU, we are trap in this broken shrine!!”

“Why me?”

“If you didn’t follow me then we won’t end up here!”

“If you would accept my invitation to help Kimiharu then we won’t end up here!”

“Why should I accept it?”

“Why shouldn’t you?”

“Stop it! Stop it! This conversation is getting nowhere!”

“Fine!”

They set up a fire inside the shrine and Yorinaga started to take off his outer garment to dry them beside the fire.

“What are you doing?” asked Yuiko.

“Are you blind? I am drying my garment! It get all wet and damped because of the rain. You should do the same either, before you catch cold.”

“I am fine!! I like the wet and damped feeling though! Hachoo!!”

“Here let me help you get rid of your clothes.”

“Get off of me!! I am fine!!”

“What a weird person. Saw you picking wild flowers just now, makes me wonder about your gender.”

“NONSENSE!! I am truly a big man! Not like you white face, red lips sissy!”Said Yuiko while striking her chest.

“You should be the sissy not me!!”

Their menial argument continues until a loud thunder strikes.

“Hey, do you know this place?” asked Yorinaga.

“No…actually I never been to as far as the stream just now...”

“Really? Hmm… this place gives me a creep! Do you think it is haunted?”

“Silly you how can it be?”

“Think about it Koremitsu, an abandoned shrine in the middle of nowhere on a rainy day!! They said there will always be a parade of hundred demons during night like this!!”

“Stop it Yorinaga! You are scaring me!!”

“Ha-ha!! So who’s the sissy now?”

The thunders strike again. This time more vigorously.

 “Ah!!”

Both of them were shocked and hugged each other tightly.

While hugging a sudden indescribable feeling grows in Yorinaga…

Heian Romance: 12. The Kitten and the Wicked Minister of Left

12. The Kitten and the Wicked Minister of Left

One evening as Yuiko was about to leave the Oxen Street’s clinic, she saw Yorinaga sitting quietly at the corner of the clinic’s veranda.

“Minister of Left Yorinaga what are you doing here?”

“…Nothing…”

“Are you feeling well? You seems pale to me…”

“Can we have a talk?”

“Sure….what is it? By the way, congratulation on your promotion.”

“That’s not a thing worth for congratulate! Because of this position I had lost my beloved father Tadamichi. Although he may be my foster one but still I’m truly fond of him. Never have I thought that he would hate me so much. What had I done to anger him? I had been following his instructions and words for the past 21 years… What I did was for the good of him son, but WHY till such extend to kick me out of the house?!  ”

“……”

Yuiko wasn’t the person with words she couldn’t think of any words to comfort him, hence, she took a lute from the clinic and play a tune for him. Yorinaga was back to himself again after a few songs.

“Thanks…”

“You’re welcome.”

“By the way what are you doing at the palace during the New Year Ceremony?”

Before Yuiko be able to respond to him, a cute little white kitten crawls by the veranda, stops in front of Yorinaga and meow at him innocently. He picks up the kitten and caresses it softly; the little kitten enjoys it a lot and turns to the belly up position as an invitation for belly rub.

“I used to have a white kitten just like this when I was young. I named him Ayawaka after my childhood name. When someone needs me to do cumbersome tasks, I would call Ayawaka the kitten to go instead of myself…”

“What a wicked minded boy you were!!”

The appearance of the kitten had made Yorinaga forget about his sorrows and also the reason why Koremitsu the physician was in the palace during the New Year Ceremony…

  

***

The little kitten comes to the clinic everyday looking for Yorinaga. Yuiko takes pity of this little fellow and decide to take it back to the palace.

“I’ll name it Ayawaka!” said Yuiko happily.

“My lady how can you name a cat after the Minister of Left’s childhood name? It’s rude you know?” questioned Ryoko, Yuiko’s lady in waiting.

“Well in the beginning I was planning to name it Yorinaga! But then again it’s too obvious, so I choose Ayawaka instead.”

“I know I won’t win the fight with you so instead I’ll keep quite.”

“Good!”

“My lady, speaking of Master Yorinaga there’re lots of rumors about him. After him being promoted to the position of Minister of Left, he had become a dogmatic activist. He gave severe punishments to those courtiers who are late for work such as burning their houses or canning penalty. As if he had possessed by the evil or so, people are fearful to him and call him ‘Akusafu悪左府 – The Wicked Minister of Left’ at his back.”

“True. I notice about that too. Wonder what happen to him? His attitude at the Oxen Street the other day is totally different from this.”

“Also there’s another rumor about Satou Norikiyo’s disappearance.”

Yuiko had never seen Norikiyo after the incident in front of the palace gate at the New Year day. No one really knows what happen to him and it seems that he had disappeared into thin air.

“Although there have been a lot of gossips about Norikiyo’s mysteries. The most plausible statement is that Yorinaga had instructed his servant Kimiharu to kill him for he had an affair with his wife*…”

“What?! That’s impossible! Ryoko, please I beg you to help me to investigate this event!”

“Yes, my lady!”

 

 

* After Yuiko’s rejection at the arrange married interview, Yorinaga was married to a lady named Sachiko who is older than him by 8 years old. Perhaps because of the age gap both of them never get along and they never have any children.  

Heian Romance: 11. The Seed of Flame

11. The Seed of Flame

The year was 1143 when The Regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi’s first son was born. It has been 20 years ever since Tadamichi married, the poor couple wasn’t gifted a son until the age of 40.

Before that due to the demanding of an heir for the Fujiwara Regent Clan, Tadamichi’s father Fujiwara no Tadazane instructed him to adopt his brother Yorinaga with the age gap of 20 as his own son.

Yorinaga was adopted by Tadamichi at the age of 6 and was given the name of Ayawaka as a child. With his born with intelligence and adorable look, Ayawaka had earned the hearts of people in the clan at young age. His real father Fujiwara no Tadazane the head of Fujiwara Regent Clan in Uji is especially fond of him and looks high on him as the one who will bring back past glory to the clan. Tadazane’s overly pampered attitude towards Ayawaka had made him became a spoilt child afterwards.

Ayawaka refused to learn poetry and preferred horse-riding instead, this gave his adopted father Tadamichi who is also a talented poet a migraine. Even until now Yorinaga doesn’t ever compose a poem; he would call his servant or teacher to write for him, which makes Tadamichi very angry as this is plagiarism.

Things changed when Tadamichi first son was born. As day after day Tadamichi’s love towards his new born son grows, his hatred and disgusts on Yorinaga became more and more obvious.

The patience of Tadamichi reached his limit when he saw Yorinaga caning his 7 years old son for he had failed to memorize the Chinese philosophy Four Books and Five Classics properly.

“Stop this madness immediately, Yorinaga! You don’t have the right to cane my son! ”

“But I was teaching him for the sake of becoming a good politician.”

“You have no authority in my son’s education! Get out of my sight and never set foot to my house again!!”

One month later Tadamichi went to Uji to beg his father Tadazane to cut off the foster father and son bond between him and Yorinaga. Tadazane was furious with this idea due to the fact that he knew his son’s plot. Tadamichi wanted his own son to become the heir of the clan instead of his younger brother Yorinaga.

Tadazane rejected his son’s request many times until Tadamichi called the involvement of the Emperor, which leaves Tadazane no choice except to accept the request but on one condition that is to make Yorinaga the head of the clan. Tadamichi accepted the request reluctantly as this is the best bargain he could get.

As the new head of the Fujiwara Regent Clan, Yorinaga was promoted to the Minister of Left and was given the power to inspect the Emperor’s edict a job which equivalent to his older brother the Regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi.

Thus it marks the beginning of a series of unending quarrels and wars not only within the clan but the whole capital which cause the downfall of the monarch and the upraise of the Warrior Class in the not far future…  

Heian Romance: 10. The Intruder

 10. The Intruder

Quiet and peacefully another year had passed. Here comes the beginning of a new year with the era name of Hougen which means longevity.

On the first day of New Year or Ganjitsu, everyone in their formal suite will gather at the Celestial Hall early in the morning for Ganjitsu praying sessions by the Court Onmyoji and follow up by a series of dancing and drinking festivals till late night on the 2^nd day of the year.

It is a complicated and tedium occasion. However the event is compulsory for everyone in the palace even Yuiko too get no exception, if any bad things occurs during the New Year, those who unable to attend the Ganjitsu event will be the head of blame.

Yuiko was seated among the wives of the officials and courtier behind the blind next to the emperor and empress’s seats. She saw Satou Norikiyo guarding the ground in his full armed brand new uniform in red; due to the fact that it is New Year he had taken an extra step to trim his hair making himself as neat as ever. He made the ladies giggles when the Emperor called him up to compose a poem.

“What a handsome man!” “How talented he is!” “I wish I am married to him!” etc… That was their exclamations when seeing Norikiyo.

Opposite Yuiko’s seating quarter are the Fujiwara Regant clan’s seats. Yuiko saw Yorinaga sitting directly opposite face to face with her. He is wearing the official formal robe Sokutai in white, which matches his fair complexion perfectly, making him very good looking indeed.

For some unknown reasons Yuiko couldn’t take her eyes off Yorinaga, she would pay attention to his trivia actions and movements, such as the way he holds the wine cup or his facial expression after the performance of some courtiers by peeping through the blind.

“My lady is there any wrong?” asked Ryoko, Yuiko’s lady in waiting.

“No. Why do you ask?”

“Well…it seems that you keep looking at the Minister of Center Yorinaga, and so I thought something puzzling you…”

 “I….Did I really fix my gaze on him? I mean is that that obvious?”

“I’m afraid so my lady…”

“Gosh! It is all stupid Norikiyo’s fault, making me fall into his word’s trap!!”

Yuiko was too ashamed that she excuses herself and back to her quarter. She then changes into Koremitsu and plan for a visit to Oxen Street that afternoon. While she was about to reach the palace gate, she saw Yorinaga right in front of him.

“Physician of the Oxen Street Abe no Koremitsu ?!”

Before Yuiko could replies, someone shouted ‘intruder!’ loudly few quarters ahead. Yorinaga turns his head back and saw that Yuiko was long gone. She bumped into Norikiyo after safely past thru the palace gate. She was frightens by Norikiyo’s serious facial expression, as if he had just committed a murder…

Heian Romance: 9. The Definition of Beauty

9. The definition of beauty

It was a windy afternoon where Norikiyo came to Yuiko’s quarter to teach her archery. The lesson was held at a small yard in front of her quarter. Norikiyo would watch Yuiko practices and correct her posture when mistakes occur. She managed to hit the bulls-eye that afternoon no matter how far the distances given to her.  

“I made you proud am I?”

“Don’t get yourself too haughty my dear apprentice. This is only the beginning, and now let the fun begins!”

Norikiyo then took a piece of cloth and blind-folded Yuiko’s eyes.

“What are you doing?!”

“I want you to hit the bulls-eye again without looking at it.”

“What? How’s that possible?”

“Use the inner eye, heart of yours. You will eventually hit it when your mind reaches tranquil and peaceful state. ”

“How’s that related to archery?”

“That’s related to everything. From poetry, archery, horse-riding, music playing and even cooking, the inner state of mind is very important. Everything is beautiful if you pay full attention and a serene mind in doing it.

I always tend to get complains among the courtiers saying my poets not innovative and too much exaggeration. But still all of my life had been looking for things that are beautiful; when I found it I would write poems to commemorate this experience. These thoughts genuinely come from my mind, and so which makes them touching and beautiful.”

“You have a point… Nonetheless, the way you speak today makes me feel that I never knew you before. Satou no Norikiyo, truly you are a man of mystery…”  

“So my apprentice can you prove my theory correctly?”

“Yes master!”

“Close your eyes clear your mind. Focus mainly and directly onto the bulls-eye. Stay calm and now pull the bow strings backwards. Release it when you are full of confident!”

Yuiko releases the arrow and it hits directly to the bulls-eye.

“I did it!! I DID IT!!”

All of the excitements made Yuiko threw away her bow and hugged Norikiyo happily without thinking of the consequences.

  “Ugh! What a disgrace!!”

Yuiko and Norikiyo turned back and saw that Yorinaga was standing at the nearby corridor.  

Ever since he had been promoted to the post of Minister of Center, Yorinaga had entitled to gain excess to the royal secret achieve, hence to go there he would have to pass Yuiko’s quarter.

“Yorinaga?!”

“Shame of you Norikiyo, how can you hug the princess openly in the middle of the day? And you Princess Yuiko, you should learn elegant skills like music or poety instead of this rowdy lowly warrior’s hobby! This is absolutely intolerable!!”

“I….I….”

Yuiko was stunned and couldn’t think of any words to retort Yorinaga. The incident at the Oxen Street still vividly imprinted on her mind. Whenever she saw Yorinaga the scene that he kissed her would reprise again and again.

Yuiko get back to herself again after the leave of Yorinaga.

“Oh my, why couldn’t I think of any fowl words to return to that HIGHLY respectable Minister of Center? What happen to me? My mind seems not function properly.”

 “Perhaps you are in love, my dear apprentice. I find that your gazes were different when look at him…”

“In love with him?! Seriously NO!!”

Heian Romance: 8. Autumn Moon in the Palace

8. Autumn moon in the palace

After every catastrophe occurred the Emperor will demand for a change in era name, with the thought that by changing the name bad luck will be gone for good. Few months ago there was a serious plague happened in the capital, therefore the Emperor Toba demanded to change the era name.

It is the Regent’s job to suggest few suitable names for the emperor to choose. Hence the Regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi had confined himself in the royal secret achieve these few days pondering and researching appropriate names before the naming counsel starts. 

One night as Tadamichi was tired with his research, he decided to come out from the secret achieve to have a walk and clear his tangled mind. While he strolls aimlessly around the royal secret achieve, he heard that someone was playing koto* short distance away.

That person was playing a Chinese tune named Autumn Moon from the Tang Dynasty, it is generally believed to express the hidden bitterness and depression suffered by palace maids in the imperial palace.  Tadamichi was drawn by the music; unintentionally he too took out his flute which he usually carries and started a duet with the mysterious koto player. He grew more and more anxious to know the identity of the player; hence he follows sound of the music and found him landed at the platform of Yuiko’s quarter.

“Lady Yuiko? Sorry to disturb, but are you the mysterious koto player?”

“Yes. Let me guess, you are the flute player then?”

“Yes.”

Both of them gazed at each other and smile, as if that they have finally found their contentment mate. From there onwards, they would meet and play the duet just like Yuiko’s mother Tamako and the Regent did during the old days.

Words seldom uttered from their mouth, nonetheless mentally they felt attached to each other. The power of music had made them close without the aid of words…

*Koto is a Japanese Instrument similar to the Chinese Gu Zheng.

Heian Romance 7. The Heedless Man

7. The heedless man

 

One day as Yuiko is attending her patients at the Oxen Street, one of her helper runs to her saying that Yorinaga is waiting for her outside the clinic along with five armed Genji warriors on horseback.

“Master Koremitsu, I think they come here for revenge! What are we going to do?”

Yuiko pause and think for a moment, and then she gathered all the helpers to follow her to meet Yorinaga outside.

“Master Yorinaga, what an honor for us to have you revisited our clinic! All of us here are definitely in debt to you. We are very grateful that the horse you DONATED the other day had brings the people here few months supply of food. And so they will have a good winter thank to YOU! People, let us all bow down to the Great Master Yorinaga!” said Yuiko sincerely while instructs all the helpers to kowtow to Yorinaga.

“What is this all about?!”

“Master Yorinaga, have you ever experienced poverty, illness and hunger? I guess not. These people here suffer every day, while you people enjoy and overly indulge in sensual pleasure. I know that it is wrong to steal your horse, but try to think about it differently; by selling your horse it gives us fund to run the clinic and so indirectly you are actually helping the poor. That is a good deed isn’t it? Not to mention you will also gain respect from you own servants and warriors, they too have suffered you know.” said Yuiko earnestly trying to convince Yorinaga.

 “I guess you are right… Guards, retreat!”

Yuiko made a wry grin, and thought that her charismatic education with Satou no Norikiyo had finally paid off.

***

Yorinaga would visits the clinic every now and then to help the sick financially and sometimes he would assist Yuiko in her work too. After work they would sit at the veranda, drink sake and talk about the future. Nevertheless, arguments arise every time when they reach the topic of how to govern the country. Yorinaga prefers the conservative way by any means the ruler must be strict and severe punishment must be given to those who had sinned; while Yuiko take it the other way round, she prefers a more lenient and pliable ruler.

Yorinaga bought an exotic wine from the Sung Dynasty one day and as usual they would share it after work, it’s a consolation to them after a hard day labor. 

Yorinaga pours Yuiko and himself a second cup of wine while appreciating the beautiful calming snowing scenery at the veranda. He started to get tipsy after second shot; he turns towards Yuiko and found that she’s still sober.  Only until now that he would realize how attractive Yuiko is; her fair smooth complexion, beautiful watery eyes, almond shaped face, delicate nose and thin mouth, makes him blush just by looking at them. With the aid of alcohol, Yorinaga moves closer to Yuiko and kiss her by her cheek.

“What are you doing?!”

“I….Sorry…I have to get going…Bye!”

After the incident, Yorinaga never set foot to the clinic again. Maybe it is due to the fact that he had been promoted to the Minister of the Center a significant post at the court, higher post equals more responsibilities, therefore makes him busier as before. Or perhaps he is ashamed of the fact that he had kissed a man named Abe no Koremitsu and even found that this man is attractive…  

Heian Romance: 6. Satou no Norikiyo

6. Satou no Norikiyo

Satou no Norikiyo is a handsome young fellow from the warrior class. Due to his talents in poetry and his looks, he had gained the heart of all the women in the palace. Although he works as a humble watch guard in the palace, he is the only person who unofficially permitted to gain excess to all ladies quarters. The ladies often fight among themselves in order to gain his attention, it would be an honor if Norikiyo visits their quarters and teach them poetry.

“Abe no Koremitsu the famous physician from Oxen Street!” announced Norikiyo as he approaches Yuiko’s doorstep one fine afternoon.

 “The honorable Norikiyo, what brings you here to the humble quarter of mine?” asked Yuiko intentionally.

Norikiyo then handed Yuiko few medicine books from the Great Sung Dynasty.

“So it was here!! Oh, thank you thank you my dear Norikiyo!!”

“I guess the next step you want me to do is to help you collect animal cadavers for medicine practical training isn’t it?”

“You are absolutely right!! My dear Satou no Norikiyo, you are sharp as a tack!!”

“My lady you must know that there’re been some rumors recently about cadavers and smells near your quarter. So I don’t think it would be a good idea to get you more of these things.”

“Well that is what I want them to think, a haunted place which people will avoid even during the day.”

“The next think you know is that you quarters had been surrounded by bunch of Onmyoji (Shinto priest)!”

 “Ha-ha very funny Norikiyo! Those fools won’t dare to lay a hand on me! By the way, are you free this afternoon? Let’s go riding then. I have been longing for this day to show you my new skills!! ”

 “Sure, my lady.”

Norikiyo is the one and only person who would dare to go near Yuiko’s quarter and make friend with her. They met when Yuiko was 10. Ever since then, Norikiyo would visit her frequently and brings her unique medicine books from the local black market. Not to mention he’s also the person who teaches her archery and horse-riding skills. For Yuiko, Norikiyo is like a big brother, a person who she can depends on, and of course, secretly she is fond of him too.

Heian Romance: 5. The Regent's story

5. The Regent’s story

Whenever there’s rain, part of the palace will tend to struck by lighting and follow up by fire. This is the disadvantage of the Heian’s housing structure, as there are mainly made of papers and woods. However, people during this period believe that the courtiers’ hedonistic attitude had angered the God, and so He sent the lighting for destruction. Therefore when it rains, the court’s Onmyoji (Shinto priest) will gather together and beg for His mercy.

The Regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi was reading in the royal secret achieve at the deep end of the palace when it rains, one late night. The lightning strikes a bridge in the palace suddenly, not only cut off Tadamichi’s way back, but also made him accidentally lost his candle and twisted his ankle, leaving him painfully alone in dark.  

“My lady, there’s a fire at the bridge nearby the royal secret achieve!” alerted Ryoko to her mistress.

“We better go and figure out what had happen.”

They found Tadamichi in pain when they reached, and bring him back to Yuiko’s quarter for treatment.

***

“Sorry to have you here for treatment. Since this is the isolated side of the palace, I don’t think the guards will be here any moment.” Yuiko apologized to the Regent Tadamichi as she applies some herbs to his hurt ankle.

“No, it was me who should apologize, to cause such trouble to you. But still I am surprised to know that you have the knowledge of medicine. Both of you really look alike…”

“You mean me and my father? Well yeah, I heard that he’s a physician too.”

“No, I mean your mother. Both of you look so much alike that it gave me a shocked when the first time I saw you…”

“Really? Well I never get the chance to know her or even my father. They were dead few months after I was born. No one in the palace willing to tell me what had happen. They said my parents bring disgrace to the royal family…”

  After a long pause, Tadamichi sighed and starts his story…

“I knew your mother Princess Tamako since we were small. As my mother was her wet nurse, we get to play along and met up very often. Our favorite thing to do was to climb up the roof and begins our own music recital; I would play the flute while she plays the lute. She’s lively, caring, and intelligent, and beats me in almost everything. Not to mention she’s the apple of the former emperor’s eye, and everyone loves her.

We were supposed to get married two years after our adulthood ceremony. But she met your father Abe no Asatori a local peasant physician one day at the market, and fall in love with him at the first sight. She often sneaks out of the palace to see and helps him with his studies in medicine, so often that the emperor himself had grounded her to set foot outside the palace. The love between a princess and a lowly peasant is object and forbid by the court. However, this didn’t stop her thought and love towards your father. They keep on seeing each other and decide to elope after knowing Tamako is pregnant. Nevertheless, their attempt failed and your father was killed by one of the soldier during the elopement, leaving Tamako alone and in despair. Eventually, she decided to follow your father and gave up her life few months after you were born…”

Tadamichi ends his story here. There’s a long silence among them, so silent that the fall of a pin too could be heard clearly. Yuiko glances at Tadamichi and saw that he was in tears. Although already in his middle age, traces of youthfulness still can be found in his face. He has sharp features and an aquiline nose, with his sophisticated and placid attitude, he had becomes one of the handsome man in the court who holds high position. Power, fame and wealth are in his hand; still nothing can fill the emptiness in his heart after Tamako’s death…

Yuiko breaks the silence by saying: “I really envy my mother… Even in death she will always be loved and remembered…”

“……”

“It was you weren’t it, the person who made arrangement for my parents’ meeting despite the objection of the emperor?”

“I….”

“Regent Tadamichi, thank you very much! Our family is greatly in debt to you! Thank you…”said Yuiko grabbing his hand while tears begin to fall from her eyes.

At this moment the rain stops, and the guards arrived for the rescue…

 

* Regent 摂政: In the Heian Period, The Regent is the actual person who exercise power in ruling and governs the country, making the Emperor practically as puppet monach.

Heian Romance: 4. Oxen Street

4. Oxen Street

The Oxen Street is the lowliest part of the Heian capital located just before the Rashomon Gate. People who live here are either beggars or slaves of the local “God Father” Masatoshi. Masatoshi earns his living by trading oxen and slaves with the courtiers. However, he does not take care of his slaves properly, which end up causes high illness and mortality rate among them. If there happens to be an epidemic in the capital, Oxen Street surely will be the source of the sickness, and so it is a God forsaken place where ordinary people wouldn’t want to go.

Yuiko although being courtier, secretly she’s also a practicing physician. She bought a quarter at Oxen Street under the name of Koremitsu and uses as a clinic for the residents around the area. She would come to Oxen Street twice a month to examine and treat the patients without any charges. The locals are very grateful to her and volunteer to take care of the clinic when she’s gone. Therefore, the clinic had becomes the hang up place for them, they would sing song, dance and play games when there’s an occasion.

***

As usual, Yuiko reaches her clinic and was welcomed by the folks as if she was the Savior Himself. Part of her enjoys this moment, as though she was an important person. Despite that fact that she is a princess, she seldom earns respect and appreciation from the court.

 When Yuiko is about to enter the clinic, someone shouted “Scoundrel!!” loudly at the back. She looked back and saw a young man riding a horse approaching her. The man is wearing kariginu (Heian costume) made of high quality silk, and at far Yuiko already knows who that person is. That is Fujiwara no Yorinaga, the son of the Regent.

Yorinaga got down from the horse, past the crowd and walk directly towards Yuiko. Yorinaga is 2 years senior than Yuiko and is famous for his tenacious attitude towards the law. His lifelong aspiration is to bring back the previous glory of the Fujiwara Regent house; with this he will do ANYTHING to achieve his target.

 A closer look at Yorinaga, Yuiko realize that he has fair complexion, a pair of round eyes, straight nose and a delicate mouth. He also dyes his teeth and paints his eyebrow in the courtiers’ fashion, making himself a good looking aristocrat.  

“Scoundrel! Do you know what you did just now at the Gojo Bridge?” shouted Yorinaga angrily.

“I’m sorry sir; I don’t understand what you mean. However instead of hearing you explain the situation, I prefer to get back to my work. There’re many patients waiting to be treated and attended to.”

“This is intolerable!”

Yorinaga continues to mumble around even when Yuiko starts her work. He would follow her here and there complaining, but Yuiko decided to ignore him and let it be. As time goes by the annoying grumbling noise cease, this is due to the fact that involuntarily Yorinaga started to help by distributing medicines to the sick.

At the end of the day, both of them are too tired to move that they slept in the clinic over the night.

Yorinaga wake up the next morning and found that Yuiko is gone. Other than Yuiko, he realizes that his horse is gone too, leaving him alone in this unfavorable place of doom.

“Oh you scoundrel physician! I for sure will revenge on what you had done to me!!”

And so this marks the start of an interesting relationship between Yuiko and Yorinaga.

Heian Romance: 3. Gojo Bridge

3. Gojo Bridge

It is Yuiko’s habit to go to Oxen Street every 1^st and 15^th day of the month. She goes there by impersonating herself as a young male physician with the name of Koremitsu. In order to reach Oxen Street, she has to pass thru Gojo Bridge; a small one way wooden bridge located at the southeast of the fifth avenue.  

As this day is the 1^st day of the month, Yuiko would sneak out from the palace at dawn, ride a horse and gallop her way to the Oxen Street. The traffic usually is smooth during this hour, as people yet to wake up. However today, when she reaches Gojo Bridge, there is a litter with four menservants carrying it at the opposite direction intending to cross the bridge. By looking at the decoration of the litter, Yuiko knows that the person inside must be the Regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi or someone from their family. It is the Heian’s etiquette to give way to the superior especially the royal family and the regent, when passing bridges or streets. However, Yuiko does not intend to do so, she’s the person who shows no concern towards the social ranking.

“Get down from the horse and let our master cross the bridge!” shouted one of the manservants.

“Why should I? Mind you, I reach the bridge before your master, aren’t I suppose to pass first?” questioned Yuiko.

“Fools!  Don’t you know this is the regent’s family palanquin? You must give way to our master!!”

“Make me then!!”

The four menservants drop their master’s litter run towards Yuiko attempting to pull her down from her horse. Yuiko knew their intention and immediately outsmart them by gripping the reins tightly, driving the horse towards their master’s palanquin, and jump over it swiftly. It is Yuiko’s first attempt to ride dangerously and yet she succeeded leaving the courtier and his servants stupefied.

“Kimiharu, who was that scatterbrain?! This is absolutely intolerable!!” finally the menservants’ master voice up angrily.

“I’m sorry master, we do not know him.” Replied Kimiharu.

“Shame of you! Quick, get me a horse and I’ll chase after him! Have to teach this rowdy rogue a lesson!!”

“But master…”

“No but!! Do it!!”

The servant Kimiharu went to the neighboring household pay them handsomely in exchange for their horse.

After crossing Gojo Bridge, Yuiko reaches Oxen Street, never would she knows that the master she just provoked is secretly following her at the back.

Heian Romance: 2. The Paulownia Hall

2.The Paulownia Hall

“My lady, you must get ready for the meeting. We can’t be late; it will give them bad impression!” said Ryoko to her mistress worriedly.

“How many times do I need to tell you that I don’t intend to go to this arrange married interview?” said her mistress.

“But my lady, this is the invitation directly from the Regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi himself. It is a once in a lifetime chance that you couldn’t bares to miss.”

“The Regent you said?  As if I would really give a damn! Why bother to go when eventually you already know the answer. The highly respected Regency family for sure will reject me. What is I Fujiwara no Yuiko to them? I can’t bring them glory, nor bring them prosperity. My marriage with them will only dishonor their honorable family’s name.”

“Please, my lady, don’t be so pessimistic! Come on, wear your junihitoe and let’s proceed to the Paulownia hall!” hastened Ryoko to her mistress Yuiko.

 

***

The hall was named Paulownia is due to the fact that it is surrounded by many Paulownia trees. Paulownia is known in Japanese as ‘kiri’. It is a customary to plant a Paulownia tree when a baby girl was born, and then to make it into a dresser as a wedding present when she married. And so with its relation to marriage, The Paulownia Hall has been used as a place for the princesses’ married interview ever since it was build a century ago.

Ryoko and her mistress Yuiko arrived just in time before the Regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi and his adopted son Yorinaga enter the Paulownia hall. Due to the knotty rules and regulations in the court, even on the married interview, women have to stay behind the bamboo veils all the time. They will only be judged by the way they speak and their demeanor through the shadows projected behind the veils.

“My lady, I present you the Regent and his son the acting middle counselor Yorinaga.”

Both of them bow down to Yuiko as Ryoko introduced the guests individually. Due to the lack of lighting in the hall, Yuiko scarcely sees the appearance of their guests behind the veils, and it irritates her. She goes near the veils and draws it up without giving any signal. Her sudden movement gave everyone a shock.

“My lady, what were you doing? Quick, hang back the veils!!”

  “Since I know there will be rejection, why not take this opportunity to see the look of the person I’m dealing with? It would be interesting isn’t it?”

The Regent Tadamichi at first was shocked by Yuiko’s action, but settled to his placid self immediately as Yuiko speaks. Though pleasant and calm, his face gave an enigmatic look when he saw Yuiko in person. As for his son Yorinaga, he keeps on shaking his head, frowning and says “This is absurd!!”all along the event.

A father and a son with a totally opposite personality, these were the guests Yuiko met an afternoon in the year 1132.

 

*junihitoe 十二単 : an extreme elegant and highly complex kimono that is only worn by court lady in Japan