A knot formed in Wu's stomach. Batu's plan had called for casualties, but she had not expected the toll to be so high.
"The messenger said they were falling back to Shou Kuan," the minister continued.
"And what of Tzu Hsuang?" Xeng inquired urgently, moving to Ju-Hai's side.
The mandarin frowned at being addressed so directly by another person's domestic. "Tzu Hsuang is organizing the retreat," the minister said. "He wasn't injured, as far as we know."
Both Wu and Xeng breathed sighs of relief.
The minister turned his back on the steward and looked Wu in the eye. "I'm afraid I must ask you to tell me where Batu went with the provincial armies," he said. "The news of the nobles' loss has upset the Divine One. He's beginning to voice doubts about your husband's loyalty. It's time to reassure him."
Ju-Hai's admission did not upset Wu, for her current confinement was evidence enough that the emperor had little faith in her husband. Before answering the minister, however, she looked at Xeng. "Perhaps you should inform your mother of the news."
Xeng acknowledged the order with a bow, then turned and left the room. He took care to close the wall behind him.
After the rice-paper panel slid into place, Wu turned back to Ju-Hai. "Tell the emperor not to be concerned," she said. "Batu did not expect the Twenty-Five Armies to win at Shihfang."
"That won't satisfy the Divine One," Ju-Hai responded, shaking his head. "Kwan is taking advantage of the loss to turn the emperor against us."
"I won't say where Batu is," Wu said stubbornly.
Ju-Hai stood and half turned away. "The time for mysteries is past," he snapped. "You must tell me something that will reassure the Divine One."
"If I do as you ask," Wu insisted, retaining her seat on the bench, "the Tuigan will learn my husband's plan."
"Don't be foolish," the minister answered, scowling. "Shou Lung's secrets are safe with the emperor."
"Are you sure?" Wu asked, meeting Ju-Hai's angry glare with a steady gaze.
Her question caused the mandarin to pause and suppress his anger. "What do you mean?" he asked warily.
"There's a spy in the Mandarinate," Wu answered quickly.
Ju-Hai showed no surprise at the accusation. Instead, he simply narrowed his eyes and demanded, "Who?"
Knowing how much her revelation would hurt the minister, Wu took a deep breath. "Minister Ting Mei Wan," she said at last.
For several moments, Ju-Hai stared at the nobleman's daughter with an incredulous look. Finally, he asked, "What makes you think Ting has betrayed the emperor?"
His voice was calm and curious. It was impossible to tell whether he was more interested in the issue of Ting's betrayal or the reason for Wu's accusation.
"Jasmine."
"Flowers?"
"Blossoms," Wu responded. "I smelled them on the spy in the Garden of the Virtuous Consort."
"And Ting Mei Wan perfumes herself with jasmine," Ju-Hai finished, shaking his head almost imperceptibly. "Is that the basis of your suspicion?"
Wu shook her head. "She has been asking about Batu's plans."
"So have I," Ju-Hai responded. "Does that make me a spy?" Before Wu could answer, the minister raised his hand. "Don't answer. You might lose the only friend you have left."
Wu stood and took Ju-Hai's arm. Despite the affection she felt for the minister, it was the first time she had touched him. "Ju-Hai," she said, "I could never doubt you, but Ting is different. She even asked Ji-—"
He freed his arm. "Do you have proof?"
Hurt by the rejection, Wu backed away and sat on the bench. "Not really," she responded. "When you arrived, I was just leaving to find some."
"Why?" Ju-Hai asked, studying her with the sharp eyes of an interrogator. "Do you know something more?"
"No," Wu admitted, looking away. "But if Ting has something to tell her masters, a dark night like tonight would be the time to go to a messenger."
"Then you are proceeding on no more than suspicion?"
Wu nodded.
The minister's face became less stern. "I suppose that is all you can do," he allowed. "Ting is a smart woman. She would not be exposed any other way."
"So you believe me?" Wu asked, brightening.
"No," the mandarin answered bluntly. "I've known Ting Mei Wan for many years, much longer than I've known you."
Wu turned away from the minister. If Ju-Hai would not help her, it would be impossible to expose Ting's treachery.
A moment later, however, Ju-Hai said, "Still, I cannot dismiss such an accusation lightly."
Wu turned to face the minister again. "Then you'll investigate?"
Ju-Hai shook his head. "Even if you're right, Ting is far too clever to give herself away to me."
Wu frowned, sensing that the minister was leaving something unsaid. "So you want me to go ahead and follow her?"
"I'm not saying that" the minister replied cautiously.
"You're not saying I should leave the matter to you or the emperor," Wu observed.
"What you suggest is very dangerous," Ju-Hai said, fixing his eyes firmly on hers. "If you are caught outside your house, I will be powerless to help you. The emperor may conclude that Kwan is correct, and that both you and your husband are traitors. I assume you have already thought about these consequences."
Wu nodded. "I would be beheaded."
"Your servants and children as well," Ju-Hai added. "Where treason is involved, even the Son of Heaven must be ruthless."
"I realize that." As Wu spoke the words, a wave of weakness rolled over her body.
The minister stared at her with a demanding, merciless expression. "On the other hand, if Batu does not defeat the barbarians soon, the emperor will still conclude that you are traitors. It is a difficult choice. I would not wish to make it."
"What are you saying?" Wu demanded, rising.
"I am saying nothing" Ju-Hai answered. He stared at her with cold, dispassionate eyes. Suddenly, he bowed. "I only called to relay the news of your father. If you'll excuse me, it's late and I should be going."
The minister turned and showed himself out of the main hall, leaving Wu alone to puzzle over his words.
When Ju-Hai stepped out of the Batu compound, two different sets of guards snapped to attention. One set was his personal bodyguard of six men, which he had left outside Wu's home. The other set belonged to Ting. Until tonight, he had assumed that they were protecting the Batu family from Kwan's assassins. Now, he wondered if they were more dangerous than the servants of the Minister of War.
He paused in the gate and looked down the street. The night was close, and the air felt heavy with moisture. Overhead, the sky was moonless and black. Beneath the walls of the Batu compound, the darkness was as absolute. The minister could not see even the silhouettes of the guards that he knew would be standing there. It seemed a fitting night for accusations of treachery and betrayal.
Ju-Hai was not anxious to believe Wu, and he could find plenty of reason to doubt her suspicions. Certainly, it was not unusual to smell jasmine in the Virtuous Consort's garden. Though he had never been inside, he did not doubt that the small park contained at least a few of the climbing shrubs. Even if that was not the case, Ting was far from alone in using jasmine blossoms as perfume.
As for asking about Batu's plan, the female mandarin could hardly be blamed for her inquisitiveness. For nearly two months now, the general's disappearance had been the primary source of court gossip. Even the emperor had occasionally voiced his curiosity about what had happened to the General of the Northern Marches and his hundred thousand pengs.