Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 15
Myheadwasawhirl.Sea-cunythatIwas,Iwasnodoltwithwomen,andIsensedmorethanidlecuriosityinhersendingforme.Ihadheardlove-talesofcommonmenandqueens,andwasa-wonderingifnowitwasmyfortunetoprovesuchtalestrue.
TheLadyOmwastedlittletime.Therewerewomenabouther,butsheregardedtheirpresencenomorethanacarterhishorses.Isatbesideherondeepmatsthatmadetheroomhalfacouch,andwinewasgivenmeandsweetstonibble,servedontiny,foot-hightablesinlaidwithpearl.
Lord,Lord,Ihadbuttolookintohereyes—Butwait.Makenomistake.TheLadyOmwasnofool.Ihavesaidshewasofmyownage.Allofthirtyshewas,withthepoiseofheryears.Sheknewwhatshewanted.Sheknewwhatshedidnotwant.Itwasbecauseofthisshehadnevermarried,althoughallpressurethatanAsiaticcourtcouldputuponawomanhadbeenvainlyputuponhertocompelhertomarryChongMong-ju.HewasalessercousinofthegreatMinfamily,himselfnofool,andgraspingsogreedilyforpowerastoperturbYunsan,whostrovetoretainallpowerhimselfandkeepthepalaceandCho-Seninorderedbalance.ThusYunsanitwaswhoinsecretalliedhimselfwiththeLadyOm,savedherfromhercousin,usedhertotrimhercousin’swings.Butenoughofintrigue.ItwaslongbeforeIguessedatitheofit,andthenlargelythroughtheLadyOm’sconfidencesandHendrikHamel’sconclusions.
