The Incense Game

14

Reiko climbed out of her palanquin in the courtyard at home. The estate looked even bleaker than usual, with the snow coating the debris piles and the damaged mansion. Sano rode up with his troops, and she was reluctant to tell him what she’d learned.

“I didn’t expect you back this soon,” she said.

“There’s been a development,” Sano said as he leaped off his horse.

Reiko could tell from his manner that the development wasn’t as good as he would have liked. “Is it about the incense master? Didn’t you find him?”

“I did.” As they went into the house and hung their outdoor garments in the entryway, Sano described his meeting with Mizutani. “He had plenty of reason to hate Usugumo, and possibly enough to kill her, although I’m not certain he’s guilty. There’s still Korin, the missing apprentice. Except for him, I haven’t any other leads.”

“I have, but I’m afraid you won’t like them.”

“Mama! Papa!” Akiko met them in the corridor. “Come see my new house!”

Delighted to have both parents home in the daytime for once, she seized their hands and towed them into their chamber. There she’d created a house under a table that rested atop two stacks of iron trunks. Four dolls sat on the floor in the space, miniature dishes arranged in front of them. Akiko scrambled inside and knelt by the dolls. “We’re having a party.”

Reiko and Sano smiled. “That’s very clever,” Sano said.

Children were better than adults at enduring the conditions caused by the earthquake, Reiko thought. They could make a game of it. Reiko described her visit to the Hosokawa estate and the animosity between Lord Hosokawa’s wife and concubine. She related the maid’s story about the rivalry between the two sisters.

“I’m afraid that if I had to guess how the murders happened, I would say that either Kumoi or Myobu put the poison in the incense, in an attempt to kill the other,” Reiko said. “And she ended up killing herself and Madam Usugumo.”

“It doesn’t matter whether I like that scenario. The problem is Lord Hosokawa. I met him on my way home. He was with the daimyo who want to start a rebellion.” Sano gave Reiko the gist of their conversation.

Reiko sensed that Sano hadn’t told her everything. “What else?”

“Ienobu saw me with Lord Hosokawa.”

Dismay chimed in Reiko because she knew Ienobu had wedged himself into the shogun’s inner circle and that Sano didn’t trust him. “Did he hear what you and Lord Hosokawa said?”

“I don’t think so. He wasn’t close enough. But I think he knows something is going on between Lord Hosokawa and me.”

Ienobu was the last complication she and Sano needed. “Was he following you?”

“No. With the streets so empty, I’d have noticed. He came upon me by accident. But if I run into him again, I’ll know it’s no accident.” Humor brightened Sano up. “If I can’t evade a spy who looks like him, I should just give up.”

“This isn’t a joke!” Reiko protested. “Ienobu could send someone else to spy on you, that you won’t see. If he learns that you’re conducting an investigation instead of rebuilding Edo, he might also find out why you’re doing it. Other people besides us know that Lord Hosokawa’s daughters were murdered. Other people must know that the daimyo are considering a revolt-their retainers, their servants. Somebody might talk.”

Sano nodded, acknowledging the possibility yet clearly determined not to let their troubles get the better of them. “That gives us all the more incentive to solve the crime quickly-to prevent Ienobu from catching on and telling the shogun.”

Hirata entered the room, his face flushed from the cold. He held up a small trunk filled with coins, and a book. “I’ve found something.”

When Yanagisawa arrived home, he was shivering from the cold and so exhausted he felt ready to faint. Dismounting from his horse, he almost fell. Two of his bodyguards ran to help him. Yanagisawa waved them off, shamed by his weakness. “Go back to my sons’ house. Wait for Yoshisato to come back. Then bring him to me.”

He glanced around the ruins of his mansion and the small building that contained the private quarters where he lived crowded together with his guards and servants. The snow didn’t render the scene more impressive.

“On second thought, don’t bring him.” Yanagisawa believed in putting on his best show of strength when facing an adversary-even if the adversary was only a seventeen-year-old boy. “Hold him at his house. Notify me that he’s there, and I’ll come over.”

Yanagisawa staggered into his chamber without bothering to remove his shoes or snow-frosted outdoor garments. He flung himself on the bed. Dreading another trip across the river and back, he whispered, “That boy had better be worth the trouble.”

“THis is Madam Usugumo’s notebook,” Hirata said. “It was in her house, the part that was crushed underground.”

Sano took the small black book and riffled the pages, skimming the incense formulas, while Reiko peered over his shoulder. “How did you find it?”

Hirata didn’t answer at once. Sano looked up at him. Hirata averted his gaze before he said, “I managed to get in and dig it out.”

More evasion, more secrets. Disturbed, Sano again recognized the necessity of confronting Hirata, but again it would have to wait.

“Look at the last two pages,” Hirata said, too quick to change the subject.

Sano turned to them and found the list of names. “These are Usugumo’s pupils.”

“Besides Myobu and Kumoi, only two other names are on the list,” Reiko said.

As Sano read the names, a hollow formed in the pit of his stomach. “Look at who the others are. Priest Ryuko and Minister Ogyu.”

“Priest Ryuko is companion and spiritual advisor to the shogun’s mother,” Hirata said.

“He’s also her lover,” Reiko said.

“Since Lady Keisho-in has so much influence over her son, Priest Ryuko is the highest-ranking cleric in Japan, as well as indirect advisor to the shogun,” Sano thought aloud.

“I’ve never heard of Minister Ogyu,” Reiko said. “Who is he?”

“He’s the administrator of the shogun’s Confucian school,” Sano said.

The shogun was an enthusiast of Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher. Confucianism was a tradition of moral, cultural, and political teaching, a supreme guide to life and government, that had come to Japan some thirteen centuries ago. Confucian teachings emphasized filial piety, a strict social hierarchy, administrative responsibility, and loyalty, which accorded well with Bushido. A fad that had waxed and waned throughout history, it was currently enjoying a bout of popularity. It was considered necessary knowledge for cultured men in the Tokugawa regime. Sano had attended classes and lectures at the school, a prestigious center of education and culture. So had the shogun, who gave generous patronage to the Confucian scholars who taught there.

“Is Minister Ogyu alive?” Hirata asked. Since the earthquake, that question invariably came up when someone’s name was mentioned. “And Priest Ryuko?”

“Both are. I’ve seen them,” Sano said.

Reiko took the book from Sano. She ran her finger down the list of names, perusing the dates and notes written after them. “Priest Ryuko and Minister Ogyu had their last lessons the month before the earthquake. On some dates Usugumo taught Priest Ryuko and Minister Ogyu at their houses, but on other dates, at hers.”

“They had the opportunity to sneak the poisoned incense into her supplies,” Sano concluded.

“So now we have two new suspects.” Hirata glanced at Sano, seeking a sign that Sano approved and he’d made up for his absences.

On the one hand, Sano was glad that Hirata had done his assigned task. On the other, he felt as if Hirata had unearthed a bomb from the incense teacher’s house. “I wish the suspects were anyone except these particular men.”

Concern appeared on Reiko’s face. “They won’t take kindly to being under investigation for the murders. And they could get you in trouble with the shogun.”

“Nonetheless, we have to investigate them,” Sano said, “because Lord Hosokawa will cause even worse trouble if we don’t solve the crime.” His spirits lifted a little. “If I have to tell him the killer is Priest Ryuko or Minister Ogyu, he’ll probably react more favorably than if I tell him it was one of his daughters. I’ll talk to them today. Hirata- san, you investigate their backgrounds and see if there’s anything incriminating.”

“I’ll get it done right away,” Hirata said, too promptly.

“I know Lady Keisho-in,” Reiko said. “I can ask her about Priest Ryuko and the incense teacher. But I haven’t any connection to Minister Ogyu. Is he married?”

“I expect so,” Sano said. Most men of Ogyu’s status were.

“I’ll find a way into his household,” Reiko said.

“We have to be careful about how we handle Priest Ryuko and Minister Ogyu,” Sano reminded her.

“We mustn’t offend them,” Reiko agreed.

“We also mustn’t let them know we’re investigating them,” Sano said. “They’re intelligent men with plenty of connections. We don’t want them wondering why I’m interested in the murders, making their own inquiries, and finding out about Lord Hosokawa and the daimyo who are plotting against the Tokugawa regime.”