sidered him a good-natured buffoon. He laughed heartily at his clowning about the Court, and at the practical jokes that were played upon him by the Palace ladies; some of them on the borderline of obscenity.
On An Lu-shan's birthday, both the Emperor and Yang Kuei-fei gave him expensive presents. For a joke, she also gave him a silk mantle exactly like the ones children of rich families wore, which she herself had embroidered. Her own hands, too, wrapped him in it. Then she put a child's cap upon his head. By prearrangement, other Ladies of the Court brought forth a carriage trimmed with variegated colored ribbons. Bundling him into it, they wheeled him around the Garden. Occasionally they fed him sweetmeats. Yang Kuei-fei seized a lute and played mournful lullabies.
The Emperor was greatly amused; nevertheless his eyes were for Yang Kuei-fei alone. Her talent had the brilliance of new silk. Even in this droll moment, there was melody in her fingertips. Like the blush of spring were her cheeks; on her lips, crushed cherries.
From that time forth, An Lu-shan was allowed free access to the private apartments of Yang Kuei-fei. When the Emperor entered unexpectedly and found him there, he made no complaint, for An Lu-shan was his son. But this did not prevent rumors from rippling throughout the Court, rumors only to be whispered.
6.
Flowers bloomed and faded. Frost glazed the countryside
with a thin veneer and jabbed swords' points
