Free Concubine's Tattoo by Laura Joh Rowland Page B

There Lady Keisho-in sat alone, puffing on her pipe. There was no sign of the shogun, but the brocade curtains at Keisho-in's back moved, as if someone had slipped through them. Sano and Hirata knelt and bowed.

"Sosakan Sano and his chief retainer, Hirata," Madam Chizuru announced, kneeling near Lady Keisho-in.

The shogun's mother studied her visitors with frank interest. "So you are the men who have solved so many baffling mysteries? How exciting!"

Viewed up close, she didn't look as young as she had at first. Her round face, with its small, even features, might have once been attractive, but the white powder didn't completely mask deep creases in her skin. Bright cheek and lip rouge lent a semblance of vitality that the veined, yellowish whites of her eyes belied. A double chin bulged above a full bosom that had sagged with age. Her black hair had the uniform, unnatural darkness of dye. Her smile revealed cosmetically blackened teeth with two gaps in the top row, which gave her a rakish, common appearance. And commoner she was, Sano thought, recalling her history.

Keisho-in was the daughter of a Kyoto greengrocer. When her father had died, her mother became servant and mistress to a cook in the household of the imperial regent prince. There Keisho-in formed a friendship with the daughter of a prominent Kyoto family. When the friend became concubine to Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, she took Keisho-in to Edo Castle with her, and Keisho-in also became Iemitsu's concubine. At age twenty, she had borne his son Tsunayoshi and secured herself the highest position a woman could attain: official consort to one shogun, mother of the next. Ever since then, Keisho-in had lived in luxury, ruling the women's quarters.

"My honorable son has told me so much about your adventures," Lady Keisho-in said, "and I'm delighted to make your acquaintance." Batting her eyes at Sano and Hirata, she displayed the coy charm that must have enticed Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's father. Then a sigh rattled in her throat. "But what a sad occasion that brings you here: Lady Harume's death. A tragedy! We women are all afraid for our own lives."

However, it was apparently not Keisho-in's nature to remain sad for long. Smiling flirtatiously at Sano, she said, "But with you here to save us, I feel better. Your assistant told Madam Chizuru that you desire our help in preventing an epidemic. Just tell us what we can do. We're eager to be of use."

"Lady Harume didn't die of a disease, so there won't be an epidemic," Sano said, relieved to find the shogun's mother so compliant. With her rank and influence, she could oppose his investigation if she chose; all inhabitants of the Large Interior were suspects in this politically sensitive crime, including herself. About Madam Chizuru's feelings, Sano wasn't sure. The otoshiyori's expression remained neutral, but her rigid posture indicated resistance. "Lady Harume was murdered, with poison."

For a moment, both women stared; neither spoke. Sano detected a flicker of unreadable emotion in Madam Chizuru's eyes before she averted them. Then Lady Keisho-in gasped. "Poison? I'm shocked!" Eyes and mouth wide, she fell back against the cushions, panting. "I can't breathe. I need air!" Madam Chizuru hurried to her mistress, but Lady Keisho-in waved her away and beckoned to Hirata. "Young man. Help me!"

Casting an uneasy glance at Sano, the young retainer went over to Lady Keisho-in. He picked up her fan and began fanning her vigorously. Soon her breaths evened; her body relaxed. When Hirata helped her sit up, she leaned against him for a moment, smiling into his face. "So strong and handsome and kind. Arigato."

"Do itashimashite, " Hirata mumbled. He hastily returned to his place next to Sano with a sigh of relief.

Sano eyed him with concern. Usually Hirata could face with aplomb witnesses of either sex or any class; now, he knelt with his head down, shoulders hunched. What was the problem? For now, Sano considered the women's