Seal of Love. Book 3

By Olga Kryuchkova

Chapter 10. The Bustle. By the Hour of the Horse, the winter sky cleared, the sun came out, illuminating the palace with its rays. Praise the deities, the childbirth ended successfully. Everyone’s joy knew no bounds, because everyone who could monitor Lady Akiko’s condition at least from afar must have experienced difficult moments, already mentally saying goodbye to the Empress Consort. But Michinaga rejoiced most of all: Akiko gave birth to a beautiful boy — the heir to the throne. This meant that the power of the Chancellor of the Realm was undoubtedly strengthened.
The ladies, having cried the other day, finally went to their chambers, deciding to rest. Murasaki and the older ladies remained near the Empress Consort.
Michinaga, accompanied by his wife, generously presented gifts to the abbots of temples, monks, and soothsayers. The doctor, although he did not have time to help the Empress Consort, but who showed determination, which some courtiers so lack, was also not forgotten:
“Do you want anything?”
The doctor was at a loss, afraid to ask too much for his unprovided service. In addition, he was already a wealthy man, since he treated many dignitaries from the Imperial entourage. The success of this man was also evidenced by a solid house on the Third Line — what more could a mere mortal wish for?
The doctor hesitated, not knowing what to ask, but finally dared to say:
“I have everything, my lord, and therefore if I ever dare to bother you, it will be only because of my son and my daughter, to arrange their future, but now my children are still small.”
Michinaga laughed heartily.
“It turns out that you allegorically wish me long years in my post, so that when the time comes, I will still be in power and be able to participate in the fate of your children? So it will be, doctor! So it will be!”
Meanwhile, preparations had already begun in the palace for the first bathing ceremony, which was to take place in the evening. The ladies woke up, having forgotten all the worries of the previous night, and now thought only about how they would look at the upcoming ceremony. They took out outfits from wicker chests, did their makeup, and chose fans for themselves. To the great regret of women, prohibitions were observed in the colors of clothes. Many had to continue to wear white, and only freedom was allowed in the design of the belt.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olga Kryuchkova
• Release date: Jan 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215921814

Olga Kryuchkova

Olga Kryuchkova began her creative career in 2006. During this time, the author had more than 100 publications and reprints (historical novels, historical adventures, esotericism, art therapy, fantasy). A number of novels were co-written with Elena Kryuchkova.

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Olga Kryuchkova

Seal of Love

Book 3

Cover Design: Cover Generated by AI (NightCafe)

Short description

The whirlpool of events and palace intrigues swallowed everyone up. What will be the consequences of palace intrigues? Will the seal of love withstand all tests?

This story is fiction and any similarity to real people or events are coincidental.

In story there are names of real people who lived in the past. But their characters, relationships and family ties, the description of their life in this story are fiction.

This story is completely fiction.

Chapter 10. The Bustle

By the Hour of the Horse, the winter sky cleared, the sun came out, illuminating the palace with its rays. Praise the deities, the childbirth ended successfully. Everyone’s joy knew no bounds, because everyone who could monitor Lady Akiko’s condition at least from afar must have experienced difficult moments, already mentally saying goodbye to the Empress Consort. But Michinaga rejoiced most of all: Akiko gave birth to a beautiful boy — the heir to the throne. This meant that the power of the Chancellor of the Realm was undoubtedly strengthened.

The ladies, having cried the other day, finally went to their chambers, deciding to rest. Murasaki and the older ladies remained near the Empress Consort.

Michinaga, accompanied by his wife, generously presented gifts to the abbots of temples, monks, and soothsayers. The doctor, although he did not have time to help the Empress Consort, but who showed determination, which some courtiers so lack, was also not forgotten:

Do you want anything?

The doctor was at a loss, afraid to ask too much for his unprovided service. In addition, he was already a wealthy man, since he treated many dignitaries from the Imperial entourage. The success of this man was also evidenced by a solid house on the Third Line — what more could a mere mortal wish for?

The doctor hesitated, not knowing what to ask, but finally dared to say:

I have everything, my lord, and therefore if I ever dare to bother you, it will be only because of my son and my daughter, to arrange their future, but now my children are still small.

Michinaga laughed heartily.

It turns out that you allegorically wish me long years in my post, so that when the time comes, I will still be in power and be able to participate in the fate of your children? So it will be, doctor! So it will be!

Meanwhile, preparations had already begun in the palace for the first bathing ceremony, which was to take place in the evening. The ladies woke up, having forgotten all the worries of the previous night, and now thought only about how they would look at the upcoming ceremony. They took out outfits from wicker chests, did their makeup, and chose fans for themselves. To the great regret of women, prohibitions were observed in the colors of clothes. Many had to continue to wear white, and only freedom was allowed in the design of the belt.

The Empress Consort graciously allowed Murasaki to leave so that her favorite lady-in-waiting could also prepare for the celebration and look no worse than other women. Leaving Lady Akiko's chambers, the lady-in-waiting noticed Michinaga, who was talking with two managers. It seems that the conversation concerned the very stream near which Murasaki met her lover on the first morning after arriving at the palace. Fallen leaves had again accumulated in the stream, and they should have been removed, because near the stream, in the place where it flowed into the lake, they planned to hold one of the ceremonies dedicated to the birth of the heir. The Emperor himself was supposed to be present, so attention had to be paid to every detail.

Murasaki froze in indecision, she should have walked past Michinaga, but just looking at the Chancellor of the Realm made the woman dizzy with a surge of feelings.

Having gathered her strength, the lady-in-waiting nevertheless approached and bowed politely. Michinaga and the managers also greeted her. Alas, the Chancellor of the Realm did not let his beloved know by word or look that he missed her. Murasaki felt annoyed, but still gave the men a charming smile and walked further along the corridor to her room.

Having parted the partitions, Murasaki felt that she had completely lost her strength and almost fell inside the room. Having come to her senses a little, she noticed a plump package on the table (probably gifts sent in honor of the birth of the child), from under which the corner of a letter could be seen.

The lady-in-waiting immediately took out the letter, unfolded it and read the poem about love.

Murasaki recognized Michinaga's handwriting...

***

The bathing ceremony took place at the Hour of the Rooster. Dusk had fallen on the palace, so the lamps were already shining in the main hall, where numerous guests had gathered for the ceremony.

Finally, the servants of the young Empress Consort, dressed in white capes over short green robes, brought in hot water. The kettles and kettle stands were also covered in white.

Then the boiling water was diluted with cold water, the water was poured into sixteen jugs, and the remainder was poured into a bathtub.

Soon Michinaga entered the hall, holding the Prince, his grandson, in his arms. Two ladies walked ahead of him. The first lady carried a sword sent from the Emperor's Palace and representing Imperial power. Another lady followed her, carrying the head of a tiger.

This second lady's outfit was so wonderful that Murasaki, who was present at the ceremony among other guests, involuntarily began to admire her. The short haori was decorated with a pattern of pine cones, and the seashore was embroidered with pale blue threads on the white train. The belt, made of thin fabric, was decorated with a pattern of Chinese herbs. However, the train of the first lady who carried the sword also deserved attention, because autumn grasses, butterflies and birds could be seen on the fabric, very beautifully embroidered with shiny silver thread.

Michinaga's sons and another official scattered rice so diligently that the abbot of the Jōdo-ji Temple, who was saying protective prayers, was forced to cover his head and eyes with a fan.

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