Jade Dragon Mountain by Elsa Hart Page A

other night? And as for the reasons they had for killing him, I would remind you that these people are barbarians, not yet graced by civilization. We speak of horsemen who cut their dead to pieces and throw them to the vultures. What other rituals must they practice, still more abhorrent than that? Perhaps this tainted gift was retribution for a perceived offense. Their ways are inaccessible to Chinese people. To try to understand them is as useless as trying to understand the thoughts of beasts.” Tulishen nodded, approving of his own reason.
    Li Du shook his head. “Brother Pieter spoke warmly of them. He told me that they were hospitable, generous people. He liked them.”
    â€œThen obviously he was misled. Cousin, I have been very patient. I can see that this sad event has upset you. But you must understand that it is essential for all of us to move beyond it, to attend to matters of greater significance. You are no longer accustomed to the way a city is run. Administrators, especially in a place such as Dayan, so far from the capital, are selected for our intuition, our experience, our ability to read a situation and do what is best.”
    â€œBut surely you plan to do something. Surely you will send soldiers to question the Khampa traders, to bring them here to be questioned, and punished if they are guilty.”
    Tulishen gave Li Du a look of pitying condescension. “There are considerations of strategy, of diplomatic relations with Tibet, of what is prudent when you look at the situation from a more sophisticated perspective. The situation with Kham is very delicate at present. If the Emperor wants to risk a war in order to investigate the death of a foreigner, then he will issue his commands accordingly. But it is not for me to destroy the Spring Festival simply because one foreigner has died.”
    â€œThen you are not going to investigate?”
    â€œAs I have said already, it is clear what happened.” Now Tulishen’s tone contained a warning.
    â€œExcuse me, Cousin, but it is not clear. There are inconsistencies that cannot be ignored. The poison in the tea—I recognize it. It is powdered jewelvine root, a poison kept here in your own library.”
    Tulishen’s face tensed. “If this jewelvine is in my library, there is no reason for it not to be on a caravan also.”
    Li Du persisted. “And there is a teacup missing from Brother Pieter’s room. If he brewed the tea himself, drank it, and died, then the cup from which he drank should still be in the room. If it is not, then someone must have taken it. Someone in the mansion—”
    â€œA teacup?” Tulishen struck the desk before him with an open palm and stood, glaring at Li Du. “Do not be so foolish. If someone removed a cup from the room, it was to clean it. Is it your goal to undermine the festival? Are you so envious of my success that you would use the death of this man against me? You bring more shame upon yourself.”
    The words hung between them. Li Du was aware of the impulse to return Tulishen’s insult, to say that he could never envy a man doomed by his own small-mindedness to a never-ending cycle of frustrated ambition. Instead, he said simply, with no change in his expression, “My concern is for the truth.”
    â€œAnd mine is for the will of the Emperor,” snapped Tulishen. “The Son of the Dragon has traveled a year for this moment. The festival must be all that he expects it to be. These are not frivolities. Displays of power unite the empire, and inspire loyalty across generations.”
    â€œConsider if you are wrong, and the Khampa are innocent. Then the murderer is here, in the city, or in your home. What threat does that pose to the festival?”
    Tulishen’s voice shook with anger. “I will hear nothing more from you. Your intention was to depart the city today. I command you to do so. Your papers are here.”
    â€œThen,”