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.