Saiunkoku book 15 (Kuraki Tasogare no Miya) Chapter 1 (part 1/3)

Chapter 1: The Time of the Beginning

“What’s this about Shuurei and Riou going missing?!?!”

Ki Kouki, who had been called by Ryuuki, quickly looked around the room. It seemed that Yuushun had also been called, and was sitting in his wheelchair. After that, there was Kou Shouka, who had just become the head of the Kou clan, and Shi Seiran, the guard officer. The now unemployed Ri Kouyuu and Ran Shuuei were definitely listening in from somewhere.

Finally, Kouki coolly took in the king’s distraught state with his pale gaze. When he glared at him silently, the king noticed that cold glance. Like a frog glared at by a snake, he gradually calmed down, and, the ends of his words trailing, finally sat down in the chair in his office. He coughed.

“Could you pleas–er, tell me what this means, Chief Ki.”

Ryuuki had accidentally used keigo, and then flusteredly corrected himself, so it sounded strange. Was that how someone gave an order? Even though he was the king, how was it that he was being glared at, faced down, and shivering, had to screw up his courage with all of his might to seem majestic. Ryuuki sincerely respected Shuurei for being able to continue working every day in the face of this ice authority.

After three beats of cool silence, Kouki expressionlessly opened his mouth.

“….Before that, your majesty, I would like to ask where you got that information. Matters related to the Censorate are top secret information. Right now, only myself and the prime minister should know about this.”

This made Ryuuki blink his eyes, and he turned towards Seiran. It had been Seiran who had brought him the information.

“Seiran?”
“But I was told by the messenger to tell this to his majesty…”

Kouki and Yuushun quickly exchanged glances.

“….The information has leaked out…”
“It looks like it….”

Seiran was irritated. It was as if they were saying that he had overstepped his bounds.

“Even so, this probably is not information which his majesty doesn’t need to know.”

Kouki glared at Seiran with eyes like midwinter.

“Don’t talk about things that aren’t your business. You should just answer the questions you’re asked. It’s not necessary at all to for the king to concern himself with information about one censorate official. You’re acting presumptuously. How talentless, useless.”

Ryuuki, and also Kouyuu and Shuuei, who were as Kouki had expected, hiding under the desk listening to what was being said, froze to hear such harsh words directed at Seiran. They had heard rumors about him, but what kind of boss was this. Seiran, who had been called talentless and useless, for awhile did not understand what had been said to him.

In his whole life, up till now he had never been looked down upon and bad-mouthed by a superior.

Making a face as if clicking his tongue, Kouki’s gaze became more and more cool.

“Although you told me to report, at this stage, I have nothing which must be reported to your majesty.”

Ryuuki flinched at this blunt way of speaking, but despite this, he pushed on.

“Do you mean that because the search has only started now, that there’s nothing you can say? Were Censor Kou and Riou the only ones to disappear? What about Ensei and Suou?”

“Search?”

Kouki’s smiled derisively, his glance seeming to say that Ryuuki must be joking.

“Unfortunately, the Censorate is not so free as to be able to do that. I did not give Kou Shuurei any information which would be troublesome if it were to get out. If it were Riku Seiga, it would be another story, but at this point, I do not intend to move the Censorate for the sake of one censor.”

Seiran glared at Kouki, as if gritting his teeth.

“One censor? Censor Kou is a daughter of the Kou clan, and it has been decided that she will enter the Inner Palace.”

Kouki’s deep anger made the area between his brows crease.

“What do you mean, because she’s the daughter of the Kou clan? Treat her special because she’s to enter the Inner Palace? Stop with this nonsense. That girl is an official. As long as they are under my command, I’ll treat a commoner the same as the daughter of a king. — You are probably the ones who see Kou Shuurei as an official the least.”

Although he didn’t raise his voice, the atmosphere shuddered as if he had yelled at them.

“If you are ordering me to lead the search for Kou Shuurei, I shall carry it out. However, if you call the prime minister and myself here directly, and give us an imperial order, are you fine with it being interpreted as saying that to your majesty, the case of Kou Shuurei is of the highest importance, and that all other affairs of state should be set aside in favor of it?”

Shuuei and Kouyuu, who had been squeezed under the desk, drew in their breaths. … Definitely, that would happen.

Summoning Yuushun, the head of all officials at the court, and the head of the Censorate, and telling them to report to him, definitely had that meaning. If something out of the ordinary happened with one of his subordinates, the one to decide what to be done should have been Kouki, and it was not Ryuuki’s place to speak about it. The moment that Ryuuki summoned the chief official of the Censorate, and told him to “search for her,” that became the order of the king. Even if they had to put the issues of the counterfeiting and salt, the assassination of the under-secretary of the military, and the disposal of the embargo aside for that.

Ryuuki slowly made a fist, and looked down.

“…..No… We were hasty. Please forget it.”

Kouki then turned to look at Shouka, and nodded respectfully towards him.

“—I apologize, but your daughter is still an official. Please understand that I cannot give her special treatment.”
“No, it’s as you have said. I don’t wish for her to have special treatment. I thank you for treating my daughter as an official. Rather, I must apologize to his majesty and to Chief Ki for how my daughter has caused you trouble.”

After looking Kouki straight in the eye, Shouka deeply bowed his head.

“My daughter is an imperial messenger, entrusted to act as the king’s representative, and given the greatly important task of undoing the embargo. However, having vanished while doing this, is the same as abandoning one’s duty. Had I not come to Kiyou, the disposal of this affair would have been delayed even more. The reputation of Chief Ki would have been muddied, and the honor of his majesty would have also been crushed, naturally. For whatever reason this cannot be forgiven in an official. I shouldn’t be able to say ‘I want you to look for her because I’m worried.’ Rather it should ‘please look for her so you can give her the accusation that she’s abandoned her work.’”

Though said quietly, these were harsh words. Seiran shut his mouth, as if struck.

Out of everyone here, the one who wanted to know the most about what had happened should have been Shouka. However, he saw Shuurei as an official more than anyone. About as much as Kouki.

At the same time, the words “dereliction of duty” dropped in that place. Though Kouki and Yuushun did not change expression, at that time Ryuuki knew that like Shouka, they saw the abandonment of her duty as more important than her disappearance. A censor entrusted with the duty of being an imperial messenger had disappeared without completing their duty. That was a great failure, for the king, for Kouki, and for Shuurei herself. Of course, it could have been some sort of accident. However, if it got out before the circumstances were known, definitely there would be a round of denunciations.
–And more than anyone else, towards Ryuuki and Shuurei.

Yuushun and Kouki had exchanged glances, saying ‘the information has leaked out.’ Kouki and Shouka looked straight at each other. And after awhile, Kouki cooly relaxed the set of his mouth. More than the safety of his daughter, her state as an official. He remembered that Shuurei had been violently enraged when the Kou officials had stopped coming to court. They resembled each other. Somehow, what was in the father was in the daughter, it seemed.

“…I see. It appears that you are a much better clan head than the previous Civil Administration Secretary, and his son.”

Hearing this, Kouyuu’s jaw dropped under the desk. Father and son had been treated as one object.

(Hey, wait a second? Same kind? I’m seen as the same kind as that person?!)

Kouyuu had become a white pile of ashes. Shuuei thought that if the wind blew, he’d fly away.

After some seconds, there was an odd silence. Finally, Kouki opened his mouth.

“At present, the Censorate has no intention of acting. We have a mountain more of other work we must prioritize.”

Then, without saying any words of parting, he left the room quite rudely. Ryuuki bit his lips. Since her superior, Kouki, did not feel like searching for her, Ryuuki could not move. If Ryuuki were to tell him to search for her, then it would turn out as Kouki had said earlier. Suddenly, there was some soft laughter. Seiran, raising his brows, glared at Yuushun.

“What is it, Yuushun-dono?”

Even with Seiran glaring at him, Yuushun continued to laugh, covering his mouth with his feather fan.

“No, this is just like Shouka-dono. He dragged that information out of Ki Kouki-dono skillfully.”

Shuuei, who was trying to drag Kouyuu, now in a state of distraction, out from under the desk, was confused.

“Eh? But he told him nothing?”
“Didn’t he say ‘the Censorate has no intention of moving’? In other words, he does not intend to search for her, and does not intend to arrest her. He is not a man who would let one of his subordinates who abandoned their duty alone. As the head of the Censorate, who is in charge of investigating officials, he treats any negligence on the part of his censors even more harshly than that of other officials. The officials of the Censorate are all top class, because if they were not, they would not be there. That is why all of them are highly talented, and though their rank is low, they are acknowledged by all. It’s because they would apply to themselves first their severe measures, that officials obey their overriding regulatory system.”

Their absolute zero severity was comparable to the frosts of autumn and the scorching days of summer. Even if it were one of their own, they would show no mercy. This was the reason that the court could be kept running on the straight-and-narrow, that through this impartial sternness, the authority of the Censorate was maintained.

“When he said that he now had no intention of doing anything, that meant that Shuurei had properly carried out her duty as an imperial messenger, I believe. There’s a high possibility that she at the very least confirmed the embargo was over, then contacted both the Kou Province governor and Chief Ki, and then after that went missing.”

Other than Shouka, everyone’s eyes went round. Shouka alone nodded, lightly pulling at his jaw.

“Yes… If she had left her duty undone as an imperial messenger, it would be natural to strictly punish her. If not so, then just as Ki Kouki-dono ordered her to, probably she confirmed that I had undone the embargo at the province border, and then sent word that she had completed her duty. Then, she would have disappeared after she had finished her work as an imperial messenger.”
“Eh? What? Are you saying that Shuurei had other work and went somewhere else?”
The talk had taken an unexpected turn, and Ryuuki was confused. It was totally to be expected that the Censorate would have some secret business. Really, he had only been concerned about what had happened to Shuurei.
“…How about this? My daughter had some other work given to her, or she found something else by herself, and went somewhere, it probably wouldn’t be called “gone missing.” However, maybe Chief Ki knows where she’s gone, but has decided that not to move. Now, won’t move, or can’t move? If she disappeared with the head of the Ministry of the Cave of the Immortals, and it is a place where the hand of the Censorate cannot reach, then it is…”
Shouka suddenly saw something in his field of vision and raised his head. When he did, he saw that Yuushun was watching him amusedly. It was if he was seeing if Shouka could pull a string from somewhere given only some faint clues.

“I have a feeling that there’s a high possibility that that place is the manor of the Hyou clan, which is outside imperial authority. What do you think, Yuushun-dono?”
“That could be so.”

Yuushun did not deny it. His calm, gentle voice, just as it always was, as if while Ryuuki and the others were stunned, he had already come to this conclusion.

If Shouka had not been there, it seemed as though he might have intended never to tell them.

“However, Shuurei-dono is still a censor. Her authority to move independently, conduct investigations, and her secret duties, are not something which we can easily violate. As much as possible, we should avoid making Chief Ki tell us about hidden matters. As long as we don’t know what happened, it is difficult for there to be a public search…. Until Chief Ki comes to report to the emperor, please understand that we cannot do anything about her.”

Although he seemed to be saying this to Shouka, it was if he was really saying this to Ryuuki.

In place of Ryuuki, who was unable to say anything, Seiran made a last struggle.

“But, I don’t think that this is something that the king didn’t need to know?”
“Of course, that is so. But, please ask yourself whether that order of priorities is really correct. Please treat all of the officials equally, and see them as equal. Please pay attention to what Chief Ki said, about how there is a mountain of other things.”

Shouka stopped Seiran from answering.

“–Please stop, Seiran.”
“Master…”

“I can see that what you really want to know is something else. Beating around the bush to seek an answer is a bad habit. If you have something you want to ask or something you want to say, please say it properly to Yuushun-dono.”

Seiran was silent, as if he had been jabbed in a tender place.

“I don’t think that Yuushun-dono’s words right now were wrong. Nor Chief Ki’s earlier.”

Those were his honest feelings, unadulterated. Even if he were to add ‘it’s not the time now.’

He had thought that Yuushun might show the slightest bit of surprise, but when he politely lowered his head as usual, he was the same as he had ever been.

Yuushun must have realized that Shouka knew that he was “Hourin” when he returned to Kou Province. However, impressively, it did not show at all in his manner. Relating to “Hourin” the blame was all on the side of the Kou clan for ignoring them. Thinking of that that way, since Yuushun hadn’t said ‘that’s all in the past,’ rather it was Shouka who should have been embarrassed and apologized. However, that would have been if Shouka hadn’t known that “Hourin” was one of the greatest liars in history, and all of them were great villains, with sadly, not even one exception. Considering it that way, that he smiled perfectly, without showing it a bit in his behavior, could be interpreted differently.

(Hmm… Well, that’s okay.)

Seiran also seemed to be having some doubts, but Shouka easily set the matter aside. If the time came to figure out what Yuushun was thinking, or even confront him, that job wouldn’t be Shouka’s.

Shouka moved to a new train of thought, and looked at the door which Kouki had left through. It was the first time he had spoken directly to him.

“…So Ki Kouki-dono himself hired my daughter for the Censorate?”

A tiny spark of interest flashed in Yuushun’s eyes.

“What is your impression of him?”
“….He is a person has succeeded to the exact ideals and qualities of Ou Ki-dono, the previous head of the Censorate. Had my daughter been able to carry on being a censor under him, the criticisms of her for being a woman would have probably one day gone away, perhaps.”

Yuushun only smiled. However, Kouyuu, listening to thse words, suddenly realized something. Ki Kouki had directly pulled Shuurei into the Censorate, and had given her mercilessly difficult work. Yuushun had said that if someone had survived being a Censorate official, then everyone would recognize their ability.
(What if Shuurei had not entered the Inner Palace, but had been able to continue working as a censor—?)

Of course Kouki had probably not taken her in out of the goodness of his heart, and it was true that it was to make use of her position as Kou Shuurei. However, there had been one path left to survival. Thinking about it, although he had made use his subordinates mercilessly, the same was true in reverse of them. If they could survive the work under Ki Kouki, then none of the officials at court would doubt their talents, despite their low position. Just like Riku Seiga.

Even they hadn’t passed the national exam, no matter how young they were, probably…. even if they were a woman.

However, that path was no longer left to her. That thin path that Shuurei desperately clung to, had been pitilessly crushed, by none other by Ryuuki and the rest of them.

‘You are probably the ones who see Kou Shuurei as an official the least.’

Kouyuu’s chest shuddered.

Shouka and Yuushun as well, probably already knew the real meaning of Ryuuki’s decision. Shouka had not made any criticisms. He was not a person to complain about what could not be helped now, so he only mourned the possibility that Shuurei’s wishes could have come true, not Ryuuki’s.

Kouyuu opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it. What should he say?
(What can I say?)
Right now.
At this time, Kouyuu realized that he had put the king’s wishes first, and not Shuurei’s. Kouyuu knew of the king’s loneliness. And that it was not something which could eased with what was at hand. It should have been alright for his wish that he be able to, in the midst of crushing pressure, return for a time to the Inner Palace to rest at the side of someone he could open his heart to, be granted. And if it could only be granted by crushing Shuurei’s wishes—then it couldn’t be helped, he had thought. That was why Kouyuu hadn’t thought that Ryuuki’s decision was mistaken.

What Kouyuu realized, Ryuuki would in the near future realize as well.

Shouka put his hand to his chin. When he was deep in thought, his narrow eyes narrowed even more.

“However, it really isn’t a very good thing that information about my daughter has be leaked out halfway…. Right now, although we don’t know what has happened, people can only think that Shuurei has abandoned her duty as an imperial messenger and hidden herself. It would be better for you to prepare yourself.”

For further criticisms and complaints directed at Ryuuki, who had appointed Shuurei and sent her out as an imperial messenger, that was.

Ryuuki bit his lips, downcast, and nodded once.

Notes: keigo=respectful language. Since Ryuuki is the king, he’s not supposed to use keigo towards his own officials.

Commentary: Enough with the ice/coldness/winter language with Kouki, author. WE GET IT ALREADY. If Saiunkoku were Batman, Kouki would be a shoo-in for the role of Mr. Freeze.