Julian Stockwin - THE SILK TREE

There was a tremulous hush.

‘Which was revealed in time by the selfless loyalty of one man – Chancellor Hao! Who brought to us proof of the plot, knowing it would cause us the utmost grief, but out of his duty to the Dragon Throne felt it necessary to acquaint us with its contents.’

Hao stood silent, head bowed, hands in his sleeves, the picture of rectitude.

‘I have it here!’ the Emperor roared, waving a grubby sheet. ‘Treachery, betrayal and filial impiety enough to make heaven itself weep!’

He lowered it, letting the tension build.

‘Kao Yeh! Crown Prince! Step forward and make your obeisance!’

At the front of the assembly there was a brief confusion and a chubby figure came forward and prostrated himself before the Emperor.

‘Rise up! Come before me.’

The Emperor thrust the sheet violently at his son. ‘Read! So all may hear!’

As he did so Nicander could tell what it was – a soulful attempt in verse at a bewailing of his situation, being the inheritor in due course of the greatest rank on earth but at the present time to be made to suffer under the tyranny of a despot.

‘This is yours?’

It would be useless to deny – Chinese writing was as individual to the writer as a portrait of them.

‘It is, Father – that is, Most Excellent and Wise Emperor of All Under Heaven.’

Without a doubt it was the result of a drinking bout which had young men competing in witty writings into the early hours. Nicander wondered if it contained clumsy attempts at levels of meaning which had been overlooked under the influence of the wine, but which now held a sinister significance.

It had to be Hao’s doing. To secure the trifle would have taken planning and guile. The prize was obvious: complete trust by the Emperor and therefore power over the entire court.

‘Then be it on your own head,’ the Emperor snarled. ‘To seek to usurp the prerogatives of the mandate of heaven – this is an act of treachery and filial ingratitude that may not be forgiven.’

He glowered at the hapless prince. ‘You have one course of redemption and one only.’

‘Sire?’

‘Master Feng!’

From somewhere close by the mute dwarf scuttled out.

‘Offer the chalice to Prince Kao Yeh!’

A dark-green jade cup was thrust under the prince’s nose.

‘No!’ he stammered. ‘I’ve done nothing wrong-’

Yi leant close to Nicander. ‘It’s poison!’ he hissed.

‘Take it!’ roared the Emperor, shaking in fury.

‘I-I can’t, it’s not fair, I didn’t-’

‘Seize him!’

There was a brief struggle as the prince was forced on his back on the front of the dais in full view.

His voice distorted into a shriek which turned to a bubbling squeal as the dwarf carefully emptied the cup into his mouth, deftly stepping back when his task was done.

The Emperor waited impassively until the last despairing spasms and contortions were over, then resumed his throne and declaimed, ‘Thus dies a vile and treacherous usurper! By this let it be seen and known that there are none – not a one – who may seek to defy their emperor’s majesty with impunity!’

Then he stood abruptly. ‘We see among you those with base treason in their hearts! But it is in vain, for let it be known – such perfidy will be found out. I have given special powers to Chancellor Hao to go among you and root you out! Know and tremble, for no mercy will be seen for any who cry against their emperor!’

Back in the privacy of their quarters Yi didn’t waste words. ‘That’s it! Not staying another fucking minute in this crazy place. I’m away!’

‘But – you’re Beastmaster. Where-’ Nicander said lamely.

‘I’ll admit it was a good screw, but better out and away, than here with that mad bastard on the loose.’

‘How about us?’ Nicander spluttered. ‘You can’t just…’

‘Watch me.’

‘Could you first free us as slaves?’ he ventured.

‘No. You belong to Hao. Ask him.’

‘Beastmaster, sir, please -’

‘Out of m’ way, I’ve got things to do,’ Yi said irritably and hurried to his room. Soon they could hear sounds of furious activity.

‘You have to take us with you,’ Nicander called out in despair.

‘No!’

‘You can have the silver sycees the Emperor gave us.’

‘Piss off, I’m busy.’

‘Sir, please, we’re-’

Yi stormed back to confront them. ‘Wasn’t I clear enough? I’m off, you lot are on your own. Do your act how you like, why should I care? Hao will find another beastmaster, it’ll then be his worry, not mine.’

‘We’re marked, you know that?’ Marius muttered darkly as Yi left. ‘Any trouble in a city, it’s always “get the foreign bastards” first.’

‘It’s the Emperor who’s going to do us, believe me. One night he’ll not like the act and have our heads sliced off just for the fun of it,’ Nicander retorted.

‘And without Yi we’ve got big bother. No one to stir the crowd, get ’em going, like.’

‘Look, forget the act. If we can’t find a way to get out of here…’ But they had been over it all before and seen no solution. Why would now be any different?

In the early afternoon a messenger came. ‘You are summoned before the Grand Chamberlain,’ he announced loftily. ‘He wants you to tell him what you’re going to say at the next act, that it won’t offend the Emperor.’

At the residence of the Grand Chamberlain they were ushered in to a little courtyard. Nicander sensed something was wrong – but couldn’t put his finger on it.

Kuo arrived with the faithful Wang. ‘I’ve asked you here to detail for me the substance of your next act before His Effulgence,’ he said, rather more loudly than necessary. ‘We should, I suppose, go somewhere quiet to discuss this – we don’t want to give away the plot to others now, do we?’

They proceeded to a small building. ‘This is my sanctuary, my place of meditation.’

Inside it was dark, lit by two lamps only on a high writing desk, but it was warm and enfolding.

Kuo went familiarly to the desk while Wang motioned them to a carved bench opposite, glancing outside before closing the door.

‘Now. My apologies for bringing you here under false pretences,’ Kuo said. ‘The matter, however, is critical and pressing. I’m bound to say, to my infinite sorrow, that the Emperor has now transgressed the rules of conduct for a ruler far beyond those laid down for him by the ancient sages. I believe him now to be past redemption, remote from enlightening by any moral precept.’

He held as still as a statue for long moments and Nicander thought him lost to the world. Then he continued, ‘Therefore my loyalty to his misrule is now withdrawn, for how can I lend my hand and heart to acts abhorrent to the meanest? It would make me complicit in them and that I cannot bear.’

‘Master, why are you telling me this?’

‘You are right. This is none of your concern. Only inasmuch as at this point I must place my life, and that of those I hold dear, in your hands.’

At first Nicander thought he had misheard. ‘Your l-life?’ he stuttered.

‘I am about to make you both a proposition. One that if it came to the ears of Chancellor Hao or the Emperor would undoubtedly result in my summary execution. If you do not wish to hear it, you must go now.’

Every instinct screamed at him to leave instantly – not to get involved in a life and death palace intrigue as a lowly player in whatever plot was unfolding.

Before he could say anything, Kuo quietly added, ‘I should perhaps tell you that the proposition will be to your undeniable advantage in your present situation.’