The Last Concubine by Lesley Downer Page A

from one seeks out the smoke from the other, no matter how far apart the ovens are. Then they grind them into powder. It’s said to be unbeatable.’
    ‘Poor things,’ said Sachi, putting her hands over her mouth and giggling helplessly. It was a relief to be able to be herself, even if just for a moment. The ladies-in-waiting and their maids who filled the room, chattering and sewing, nudged each other and chuckled.
    ‘In my village there was an old man who sold baked vipers forthat purpose,’ gasped Sachi, dabbing her eyes with her sleeve. ‘We called him Grandpa Viper. I can see him now. People said that if a woman nibbled even a small piece no man would be safe!’
    ‘These stories are all very well,’ said Haru, looking stern. ‘But don’t ever forget that that’s all these feelings are – just so much nonsense, exactly the same as if someone had given you lizard powder or dried viper. They’ll pass soon enough. You’re now His Majesty’s number-one concubine and his number-two wife. You’re bound to His Majesty by ties of fealty and obligation. That’s what’s important. You can enjoy these foolish feelings but don’t be taken in by them. Don’t let them take over your life.’
    Haru’s advice was always wise. But Sachi couldn’t help thinking that, as Haru had never even been with a man, how could she possibly know? It was best to change the subject. Besides, there was something else on Sachi’s mind.
    ‘Big Sister,’ she said, ‘supposing I am not with child. What will happen then?’
    ‘We will pray and make offerings,’ said Haru. ‘There is nothing more we can do. The gods will decide. Be careful,’ she added. ‘There are women here who may wish you ill.’
    ‘Big Sister, there’s so much I need to know,’ said Sachi. ‘Why . . . ?’
    She stopped. Even she knew better than to ask why anyone would want to harm her. She would have to be patient, to wait and watch.
    ‘Make sure you are never alone,’ said Haru, frowning and looking very serious. ‘Not for a moment. You must always be surrounded by your women. Never touch your food till it’s been tasted, and stay away from wells and high places. Too many concubines lose their lives. We all care for you and will help you, but there are others who may be eaten up by jealousy.’
    Sachi stared in disbelief. She’d never seen Haru so serious. Her words sent a shudder down her spine, but it was too soon for her to worry about herself. All she could think of was the gentle young shogun.
    ‘Many dreadful things have happened here, ever since the barbarians came and even before that,’ said Haru sternly. ‘People outside the palace know nothing about what goes on here. I’ll tellyou a story. It took place right at the beginning of poor Lord Iesada’s reign, it must be ten or eleven years ago now.’
    Sachi leaned forward with her chin in her hands, resting her elbows on the low table between them, and tried her hardest to banish all thoughts of the shogun from her mind.
    ‘It was the year after Lord Ieyoshi died,’ said Haru. ‘He had twenty-seven children but only one son survived. That was Lord Iesada, the son of Lady Honju-in, that sweet old lady you visited yesterday; she was not so sweet then, that’s for sure. As for him, he was . . . How can I say?’
    She glanced around at the princess’s ladies. They were all busy at their sewing, chattering in their high-pitched Kyoto accents. She moved a little closer to Sachi and lowered her voice.
    ‘He was . . . how can I put it? Anyway, he was not interested in women, probably not in men either. He was like a little boy. His first two wives passed away before he even became shogun. The first was Lady Nobuko. She was the daughter of a court noble from Kyoto. She was twenty-five when she came down with smallpox and died. I remember her well. I was a little girl when she died. I had just arrived in the palace. She was a sweet lady and she played the hand drum beautifully. He used