Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/108

RV 103 (THE PEAR GARDEN) Court doctors. That is why he always kept him near the room of Mei-fei. Wang Wei was deeply concerned about her condition. Her lassitude was extreme. Nevertheless, he did not divulge his forebodings to the Emperor. After all, there was nothing he could do. There was nothing anybody could do but wait.

Fortunately, during those days, few envoys came to the Court because of the rigors and difficulties of travel. Li Lin-fu was able to attend to most of the official routine.

Two days after the coming of the snow, Mei-fei gave birth to a son, a son upon which her eyes never gazed; neither did the child behold his mother. There was rare beauty in the snow, but not like unto the serenity of those strange lands to which Mei-fei departed, holding the precious son to her breast. What use had she now for earthly existence?

Ming Huang stood beside her bed, his head bowed in grief. The verdict of Doctor Wang Wei had been whispered gently, "They have mounted a white steed and galloped into distance."

Throughout the Empire, the tears of all people mixed with the tears of the Emperor.

During the balance of that winter it was as though the mighty Empire of China was without a titular head. No longer did the footsteps of Ming Huang lead to Phoenix Hall. The Court was without color. Everyone was dressed in white, the sad white of death and RV 103 (103)