Reiko said, hoping that her interest would pass for natural curiosity.
"Left Minister Konoe had ordered everyone to stay away from the garden. There are very few people who dared disobey him and risk punishment."
Reiko noted Jokyoden's repeated evasion of questions. She realized that Konoe's orders had informed all the suspects that he would be alone in the garden. Had one of them taken advantage of the circumstances? She voiced another possibility: "Perhaps the killer had arranged to meet the left minister for a private rendezvous."
"As far as I know, Left Minister Konoe never told anyone why he wanted the garden to himself," Jokyoden said, gazing at the circular green lotus leaves that covered the pond. She added, "I didn't see him at all that night. The weather was very hot; I couldn't sleep. So I took a walk around the summer pavilion, which is north of the Pond Garden. 1 was sitting outside, watching the moon, when I heard the scream."
"Did you see anyone else around?" Though aware that these questions might give away her ploy, Reiko needed the answers.
"No. The area around the pavilion was deserted. And I didn't take any attendants with me or tell them I was going out because I desired solitude."
This story explained why Jokyoden hadn't been in her chambers and had no witness to give her an alibi. Still, Reiko found herself pleased that Jokyoden had no apparent motive for the murder. Meeting Jokyoden, she realized with concern, had altered her hopes for the investigation.
She'd come to the palace bent upon pursuing a killer, wanting it to be one of the suspects she interviewed. Now she didn't want Jokyoden to be guilty of murder because she felt a sense of kinship with her. But she couldn't let her feelings toward a suspect compromise her judgment.
Lady Jokyoden's cool voice penetrated her thoughts: "Such a thorough discussion of murder is quite unusual during a social call. Perhaps I'm not the only wife who performs her husband's duties. And perhaps the sosakan-sama need not bother interviewing me, because you've obtained from me the answers that I presume he would ask of me himself."
Alarmed, Reiko was quick to protest. "Oh, but I would never even try to do a man's work." Her earnestness sounded unconvincing even to her own ears. "Whatever information my husband needs, he'll ask for himself. I don't know anything about detection. I just wanted the pleasure of meeting you."
Jokyoden watched Reiko's discomfiture with the amused air of an older sister observing the antics of a clumsy younger sister. "Dare I suggest that you are still hiding behind the false pretenses under which you came here, Honorable Lady Sano?" She laughed, a low, melodic sound. "But perhaps you're not the only one whose motives are ambiguous."
Too flustered to think of a reply, Reiko wondered who'd been manipulating whom. Maybe Jokyoden had sinister reasons for welcoming Reiko and speaking so freely. Had Jokyoden intended for their conversation to be communicated to Sano, so she could plant in his mind the idea that she was innocent? Maybe she meant to prejudice him in her favor by befriending his wife.
Certainly Jokyoden possessed a strong will, the foundation for the power of kiai. That she must have known all along that she would be investigated by Sano cast doubt upon everything she'd said.
The crunch of footsteps on the gravel path broke the silence between Reiko and Jokyoden. A maid came up to them, bowed, and said to Jokyoden, "Please excuse me, but His Highness the Abdicated Emperor wishes you to come to him."
Grateful for the chance to escape, Reiko said quickly, "I mustn't impose on your hospitality or interrupt your business any longer. I'll go and pay my respects to His Majesty's honorable consort now."
A ripple of mirth crossed Jokyoden's face, as if she knew what Reiko was thinking. After they exchanged bows, Jokyoden
"Left Minister Konoe had ordered everyone to stay away from the garden. There are very few people who dared disobey him and risk punishment."
Reiko noted Jokyoden's repeated evasion of questions. She realized that Konoe's orders had informed all the suspects that he would be alone in the garden. Had one of them taken advantage of the circumstances? She voiced another possibility: "Perhaps the killer had arranged to meet the left minister for a private rendezvous."
"As far as I know, Left Minister Konoe never told anyone why he wanted the garden to himself," Jokyoden said, gazing at the circular green lotus leaves that covered the pond. She added, "I didn't see him at all that night. The weather was very hot; I couldn't sleep. So I took a walk around the summer pavilion, which is north of the Pond Garden. 1 was sitting outside, watching the moon, when I heard the scream."
"Did you see anyone else around?" Though aware that these questions might give away her ploy, Reiko needed the answers.
"No. The area around the pavilion was deserted. And I didn't take any attendants with me or tell them I was going out because I desired solitude."
This story explained why Jokyoden hadn't been in her chambers and had no witness to give her an alibi. Still, Reiko found herself pleased that Jokyoden had no apparent motive for the murder. Meeting Jokyoden, she realized with concern, had altered her hopes for the investigation.
She'd come to the palace bent upon pursuing a killer, wanting it to be one of the suspects she interviewed. Now she didn't want Jokyoden to be guilty of murder because she felt a sense of kinship with her. But she couldn't let her feelings toward a suspect compromise her judgment.
Lady Jokyoden's cool voice penetrated her thoughts: "Such a thorough discussion of murder is quite unusual during a social call. Perhaps I'm not the only wife who performs her husband's duties. And perhaps the sosakan-sama need not bother interviewing me, because you've obtained from me the answers that I presume he would ask of me himself."
Alarmed, Reiko was quick to protest. "Oh, but I would never even try to do a man's work." Her earnestness sounded unconvincing even to her own ears. "Whatever information my husband needs, he'll ask for himself. I don't know anything about detection. I just wanted the pleasure of meeting you."
Jokyoden watched Reiko's discomfiture with the amused air of an older sister observing the antics of a clumsy younger sister. "Dare I suggest that you are still hiding behind the false pretenses under which you came here, Honorable Lady Sano?" She laughed, a low, melodic sound. "But perhaps you're not the only one whose motives are ambiguous."
Too flustered to think of a reply, Reiko wondered who'd been manipulating whom. Maybe Jokyoden had sinister reasons for welcoming Reiko and speaking so freely. Had Jokyoden intended for their conversation to be communicated to Sano, so she could plant in his mind the idea that she was innocent? Maybe she meant to prejudice him in her favor by befriending his wife.
Certainly Jokyoden possessed a strong will, the foundation for the power of kiai. That she must have known all along that she would be investigated by Sano cast doubt upon everything she'd said.
The crunch of footsteps on the gravel path broke the silence between Reiko and Jokyoden. A maid came up to them, bowed, and said to Jokyoden, "Please excuse me, but His Highness the Abdicated Emperor wishes you to come to him."
Grateful for the chance to escape, Reiko said quickly, "I mustn't impose on your hospitality or interrupt your business any longer. I'll go and pay my respects to His Majesty's honorable consort now."
A ripple of mirth crossed Jokyoden's face, as if she knew what Reiko was thinking. After they exchanged bows, Jokyoden
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