The Middle Kingdom Read Online Free PDF Page A

the overhead trackers, the
squat, hollowed tongues of their barrels jutting from the mouths of
stylized dragons. Bowing low he took the card from his robe and
inserted it into the security slot. Placing his face against the
molded pad in the wall, he held his left eye open against the camera
lens. Then he stepped back, looking about him.
    He had never
been into one of the Imperial Solariums before. Even as district
magistrate, responsible for the lives of the twenty thousand people
in his deck, he had lacked the status to enter such a place. Now,
however, as third secretary to Yang Lai, he had been permitted to
place his name on the list. But the list was a list, like all the
others in this world—interminable. It would be many years and
several more promotions before he would find himself inside for
reasons of leisure.
    The outer doors
slid back and he made to go through.
    An armed guard
barred his way, indicating with his gun that Pi Ch'ien should go into
the antechamber to his left. With a bow Pi Ch'ien did as he was
bidden. Inside, in front of a vast, brightly colored tapestry that
filled the whole of the back wall, an official sat at a desk. The man
scanned the screen in front of him, then looked up, smiling.
    "Good
evening, Third Secretary Pi. I am First Steward Huong. Might I ask
the purpose of your visit?"
    Pi Ch'ien bent
his head respectfully.
    "Greetings,
First Steward Huong. I have but a trivial message to deliver. For His
Serene Excellency, Junior Minister Yang Lai. Ten thousand pardons for
imposing on you like this, for it is a matter of the least urgency."
    He looked up,
holding out the almost translucent message card for the Steward's
inspection. Both men knew it was immensely important.
    "Forgive
me, Third" Secretary Pi, but might I have that?"
    Again Pi Ch'ien
lowered his head. "My deepest apologies, First Steward Huong.
Nothing would please me more than to oblige you, but I am afraid that
is not possible. I was instructed to place the message, unimportant
as it is, only in the hands of the most illustrious Junior Minister
himself."
    Steward Huong
stood, then came around his desk to stand beside Pi Ch'ien. "I
understand, Third Secretary Pi. We are but our masters' hands, eh?"
He smiled again, all courtesy now. "If you would be so kind as
to permit me, I shall inform the Junior Minister."
    Pi Ch'ien bowed,
feeling a pang of disappointment. He was not to go inside, then?
    "Please,
follow me, Third Secretary," the Steward said, making the
slightest bow, his head barely lowered as befitted their relative
positions. "Junior Minister Yang is with the Minister himself
and may not be disturbed at once. However, I will have a maid come
and serve tea for you while you wait."
    Pi Ch'ien bowed
again, delighted by the courtesy he was being shown. He followed the
official out and down a wide, high-ceilinged corridor, on the walls
of which hung a series of huge shanshui landscape paintings,
depicting rugged peaks and pleasantly wooded valleys.
    Where the
corridor turned he had a brief glimpse of another, more ornate
passageway lined with bronze statues of gods and dragons, and at its
end, a huge, brightly lit chamber—the solarium itself. They
walked on until they came to a small but plushly decorated room, hung
with colorful tapestries.
    First Steward
Huong turned to him and smiled, indicating that he should enter and
take a seat. "Please be assured, I will keep you no longer than
I must, Third Secretary. The maid, meanwhile, will see to all your
needs." Then, with a bow, he was gone.
    Almost at once a
maid entered from a door to one side. She was wearing powder-blue
er-silks with a pattern of tiny yellow sunflowers. Smiling, she set
down the tray she was carrying on a low table at Pi Ch'ien's side,
then knelt and bowed low to him. Straightening up, she poured the ch'a and offered it to him, her eyes averted. He took the cup,
studying her closely. She was a pretty little thing, her skin
almost'white, her dark, fine hair