Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 15
SchemingandintriguingIlefttoHamelandYunsan,whowerethepoliticians.Iwasmeremanandlover,andmerrierthantheirswasthetimeIhad.Pictureittoyourself—ahard-bitten,joy-lovingsea-cuny,irresponsible,unawareeverofpastorfuture,wininganddiningwithkings,theacceptedloverofaprincess,andwithbrainslikeHamel’sandYunsan’stodoallplanningandexecutingforme.
MorethanonceYunsanalmostdivinedthemindbehindmymind;butwhenheprobedHamel,Hamelprovedastupidslave,athousandtimeslessinterestedinaffairsofstateandpolicythanwasheinterestedinmyhealthandcomfortandgarrulouslyanxiousaboutmydrinkingcontestswithTaiwun.IthinktheLadyOmguessedthetruthandkeptittoherself;witwasnotherdesire,but,asHamelhadsaid,abullthroatandaman’syellowhair.
MuchthatpawedbetweenusIshallnotrelate,thoughtheLadyOmisdeardustthesecenturies.Butshewasnottobedenied,norwasI;andwhenamanandwomanwilltheirheartstogetherheadsmayfallandkingdomscrashandyettheywillnotforgo.
Camethetimewhenourmarriagewasmooted—oh,quietly,atfirst,mostquietly,asmerepalacegossipindarkcornersbetweeneunuchsandwaiting-women.Butinapalacethegossipofthekitchenscullionswillcreeptothethrone.Soontherewasaprettyto-do.
