by Fuyumi Ono
"It's tough being Empress."
Youko nodded again. Suzu and Shoukei exchanged glances. Youko asked, "So what are you two going to do next?"
"Eh?" said Suzu, her eyes widening. Shoukei quizzically tilted her head to one side.
"You came here to see me, right? And so you did."
"Ah--" Suzu and Shoukei said together.
"Indeed. What to do next?" queried Suzu. Shoukei remained lost in her thoughts.
"You never thought about it?"
"Never crossed my mind," said Suzu. "Though I ought to go back to Sai at least once and express my gratitude to the Royal Sai."
Shoukei stared at the ceiling. "There are people I need to thank and apologize to back in my home country. But I fear I'm still persona non grata there." Then she laughed. "Oh, I do have a promise to keep. I need to take a trip to En."
"A promise?" asked Suzu.
Shoukei smiled. "I promised Rakushun that I'd see him again and give him a report about what happened."
Youko furrowed her brow a bit.
Shoukei said, "What's wrong?"
"I suppose news about the unrest in Wa Province has reached En."
"Undoubtedly it has. Rakushun pays close attention to the goings-on in other kingdoms."
"He's probably worried," Youko said. "Be sure to tell him all about it. But make sure to emphasize that things were resolved in a less-than-disastrous manner and he can sleep easy." Youko rolled her eyes toward the heavens. "If you can, you might want to play down my actual part in what went on here."
Shoukei giggled. "I understand."
The soft laughter filled the room. The conversation momentarily came to an end. Youko suddenly blurted out, "I've still got a problem that needs solving." When Suzu and Shoukei turned to her, Youko tilted her head to the side and asked, "What makes for a good kingdom?"
"A kingdom without any bastards like Shoukou in it," Suzu quickly replied.
Youko smiled thinly. "I get that part, but… what kind of lives do you wish to lead? And what sort of kingdom would you wish for in order to accomplish that?"
Shoukei and Suzu thought about it for a minute. The first one to open her mouth was Shoukei. "I hate cold and hunger. That's what made life at the rike so tough. And I'm hardly one to talk, but I hate being treated badly, and being treated with contempt."
Suzu nodded. "I agree completely. It's great to stop having to put up with stuff like that. Because when you are putting up with it, it makes you feel so small."
"Yeah. You just curl in on yourself."
"Sorry," Suzu said, "but I don't think we're answering your question."
As if thinking about something else, Youko shook her head. "No problem. I'm only looking for advice."
"Really?"
Youko nodded, and then said with less certainty, "At any rate, you've told me what you're going to do next, but what about after that?"
Suzu and Shoukei exchanged glances. Shoukei was sitting on the bed, her arms around her knees. She stared at her hands. "I want to learn more. I'm so stupid about everything it's embarrassing."
"Me, too," Suzu chimed in.
"I don't necessarily mean going to school and all. I mean learning about everything wherever I find it. It's too bad the Everygreen Seminary isn't around any more."
"You want to study--" Youko smiled. "How about this, then? I've asked Enho to be Lord Privy Seal and my tutor. What do you say you both come to work at Kinpa Palace and let Enho teach you there?"
Suzu and Shoukei gaped at her. "Hold on, you're saying--"
"Serious?"
Youko looked at them. "Right now, I could use all the help I can get. Even one more pair of hands will make all the difference." She glanced from Suzu (who seemed to be holding her breath) to Shoukei.
"What about Koshou and Kantai?"
"Of course. I want to find a place for them as well. I absolutely need people I can trust inside the palace, every last one of you."
Shoukei heaved a great sigh. "Well, you can't fight fate. I'm willing to give it a try."
"I'm in. You could ask for the moon, Youko, and you know we couldn't turn you down."
"For the moon?"
Suzu giggled and Shoukei unsuccessfully stifled a laugh. Youko couldn't help but join in. Their gentle laughter echoed off the walls of the small room.
Afterword
Gyouten, the capital of the Kingdom of Kei. The Empress had finally returned from her "study abroad," to a palace bathed in the warm rays of the sun.
For the next five days, she secluded herself within her chambers. The former Minister-in-Chief, Seikyou; the former Province Lord of Wa, Gahou; and the former governor of Shisui Prefecture, Shoukou, were arrested. The Empress herself signed the warrants, to the great amazement of the ministers. Some objected, but could hardly voice their objections to the Empress, who would not even venture into the inner court.
During the Empress's absence, the Privy Council had fallen into disarray. Behind the scenes, some plotted and conspired, fearing that their sins might be revealed, dooming them to Seikyou's fate. But for the time being, such scheming played out in the shadows and behind closed doors.
The Imperial Court will be thrown into chaos, the ministers whispered amongst themselves. Losing Seikyou meant the balance of power would be thrown to the anti-Seikyou faction, and that was where they all considered shifting their allegiances as well.
Those five days saw a constant tumult of rumors and shifting expectations. At last the Empress emerged and assembled every minister and bureaucrat of note in the Gaiden, the outer palace.
The ministers gathered in the Gaiden were startled to see there the unfamiliar face of the previously-dismissed Province Lord of Baku, Koukan, along with his entourage. The Gaiden buzzed with excitement. When the Empress appeared, escorted by the Saiho (Keiki) to the throne, the state of confusion was only heightened. The Empress wore ministerial dress no more elaborate than what the ministers wore. Having shunned her imperial robes, this monarch, whose name had been recorded in the Census of Heaven while she was barely yet a woman, somewhat deflected the inherent scorn directed against empresses.
Their doubts and confusion notwithstanding, the ministers bowed, touching their foreheads to the floor. At the same time, a voice rang out, "Raise your heads!" They knelt and straightened their backs.
"To start with, I would like to apologize for my long absence."
With no introduction from the Chousai, the Empress simply began to speak. The ministers' confusion only grew. Long-established custom held that the Empress did not speak to her subjects and her subjects did not speak to her. Rather, written notes would be passed to the chamberlain, she would read them and then whisper her response in the chamberlain's ear. The chamberlain would then repeat her words to her subordinates. Of course, no kingdom followed this custom to the letter, but in any event, no ruler spoke so directly to her subjects.
"I did not intend to waste so much of your time. I am sorry for taxing your patience."
She paused.
"I will not say much about those individuals arrested several days ago. It is the duty of the Ministry of Fall to bring their sins to light and exact the proper penalties. However, I advise them to keep in mind that I personally signed the arrest warrants."
Not a few ministers caught their breath. No one doubted that this thinly-veiled threat was a direct challenge to the Ministry of Fall: if they tried to go easy on the defendants, grease a few palms, and look the other way, they'd have to answer for their actions.
"A while back, I asked the Saiho to mobilize his provincial guard. It didn't happen. The generals of his provincial guard seem to be suffering an unfortunate and chronic ailment. That being the case, because carrying out their duties must be an onerous burden, I am recommending their early retirements."
Even more started reactions this time.
"In order to fill the vacant posts, I have made requests of four individuals. First of all, the commanders of the Palace Guard will b
e transferred to the aforementioned provincial guard."
Voices were raised in protest: "Surely you jest!"
The Empress ignored them. "In their place, I hereby appoint Sei Shin, former commander of the Baku Provincial Army of the Left, regimental commander of the Palace Guard of the Left. Kantai."
"Yes!" The general deeply bowed his head.
"As for the generals of the Center and Right, I will act upon Kantai's recommendations. Kantai, please put the Imperial Guard in order."
"By your command, Your Majesty."
"Koukan."
"Yes."
The voice of the man who spoke was young. He was a bright and sagacious man of around thirty. Everyone there thought incredulously: This is the Province Lord of Baku?
"I hereby appoint you Chousai. Please put the Imperial Court in order."
"You can't be serious!" rose many voices in objection.
Again, she ignored them. "I hereby appoint Saibou, the former Baku Minister-in-Chief, Province Lord of Wa. Furthermore, I have summoned Count Shou to the Imperial Court, and hereby appoint him Lord Privy Seal. Together with these appointments, you may expect that a goodly number of ministerial positions will be shuffled accordingly."
The Empress looked over her audience. "Those of you with clear consciences have no cause for dismay. Having been ministers of the Late Empress Yo does not mean you will be treated poorly, just as having graduated from the Evergreen Seminary does not mean you will be accorded unwarranted favor either."
Poised on the throne, the Empress said, "Everyone stand!" The room buzzed with confusion, the ministers glancing at each other as they timidly got to their feet. The Empress scanned the assembly. She nodded and turned to the Saiho at her side. "This is something I wish Keiki to make note of as well."
She said, "I do not care to be worshiped in the customary manner."
"Your Majesty!"
The Empress had to smile at the sound of the Saiho's scolding voice. "It is certainly pleasing to hear respect paid and gratitude expressed, but I do not like the ranking and ordering of human beings. I cannot abide greeting someone and not even being able to see his face. I understand the need for a society's rules of decorum and propriety, but being kowtowed to and watching people kowtow to others leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
"Your Majesty, please hold on a moment!"
She shushed him and addressed the ministers. "Henceforth, with the exception of established rituals and ceremonies, and receptions for guests of honor from other kingdoms, kowtowing is abolished. It will be sufficient to bow while either standing or kneeling."
"Your Majesty!"
To the Saiho's attempts to restrain her, the Empress curtly responded, "The matter is settled."
"There are people who may feel they are being disrespected and become enraged."
"And what of them?"
"Your Majesty!"
"I do not understand people who cannot feel secure in their positions without forcing others to grovel before them."
The Saiho was speechless. The ministers simply gaped with open mouths.
"I do not understand what pride means to people like that. What's worse, whenever a man's made to scrape and bow, it eats away at his self-esteem. That's a problem just waiting to happen."
"But--"
"You know, Keiki," the Empress said to the Taiho, "when you're really grateful to somebody, when you feel real respect for them, you bow your head naturally. You bow your head to show what's in your heart. But simply going through the motions provides no measure of a man's soul. Turning such a bow into obeisance seems like placing your foot on the back a man's head and grinding his face into the dirt."
"But people must be taught by example."
"I do not intend to encourage insolence. We should treat others with respect. That should be obvious. What I'm saying is, when it comes to those who lack the character to do so, there's nothing more that can be done by means of coercion."
"That is true, but--"
"I wish to be Empress to all the people of Kei." Her voice was loud and clear. "You need only look to Shoukou to see the fate of those who use their position to force their subjects to respect them and trample the rest under their feet. And the road taken by those who allow themselves to be so trampled should be clear as well. No man is anyone's slave. No man is born to be a slave. Those who are oppressed yet do not yield; who face disasters yet do not break; who suffer injustice yet do not fear to answer injustice with justice; who are ruled by beasts yet do not fawn at their feet--these are the kinds of free people I wish the citizens of Kei to become. We are all the captains of our own souls. And that command begins with holding our heads high in the presence of others."
She finished speaking and looked out over the audience of ministers, bureaucrats, and functionaries. "You have asked me down which path I wish to lead this kingdom. Have I given you a sufficient enough answer?"
Only their eyes looked back at her. No voices responded.
"By your assent, then, the act of kowtowing is hereby abolished. This I proclaim as my Inaugural Rescript!"
The Chronicles Of Kei
The Annals Of The Red Child
In the Second Month of the Second Year of Sekiraku, a Revolt arose in the City of Takuhou, Shisui Prefecture, Wa Province. The Prefectural Governor, Seki On, a cruel Tyrant, lusted after Wealth, burdened the People with heavy Taxes, waxed full of Pride, and ruled the Countryside by the Sword.
The Peasantry feared and resented the Tyrant even as they served Him, seeing and hearing no Evil, yet holding Malice in their Hearts.
At long last, in the Second Month, the publically-spirited Citizens of Takuhou raised the Banner of Shu On and rebelled. The Province Lord of Wa set forth to destroy Takuhou. Supporting Him in this Course of Action, the Taisai forged Orders and dispatched Troops to Takuhou.
Her Highness, by Means of those same Soldiers, struck back at the Marquis, stripped the Taisai of His Rank and Privileges, and brought Peace to Takuhou.
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