Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/121

RV 116 (THE PEAR GARDEN) prosperity of the Empire. There would be a lavish entertainment, preceded by the music of the Pear Garden and the singing and dancing of the concubine of Prince Shou. Though other girls would dance they would be but a screen to hide the real purpose of the display of gaiety and grandeur. Perhaps he would not be captivated by the charms of this exquisite concubine about whose slender shoulders Li Lin-fu had woven so colorful a cloak of words. It was needless to disturb Prince Shou, if the girl was without the necessary degree of allurement. There were three thousand women at the Palace, the most favored Daughters of the People, all of whom fought for his favors. A vast number of them had already attained to the position of Nightly Privilege. Marvelous indeed must be the concubine who could rebank the fires that flickered to ashes at Mei-fei's passing, and dispel forever his despair.

The courtiers heard the proclamation with delight. The flowers on their embroidered costumes bloomed again. The butterflies emerged from obscurity. Mei flowers drifted about in the air like flakes of fragrant snow. It would be spring indeed in the embroidered costumed landscapes.

The arena of the Pear Garden was hung with rare tapestries; landscapes, forests, mountains; scenes from history and legend, of soft mellow colors, colors that harmonized with the costumes of the Ministers, the Censors, the Generalissimo of the Army, the Grand RV 116 (116)