From the very day After the inquiry, people's views and opinions of Shurei had completely changed.
There was no longer a single person in the palace that doubted her ability.
With the Swearing-in Ceremony only a few days away, Shurei, was intent on preparing the evening meal as usual.

Send Your Dear Child on a Voyage

So, I don't suppose you’d mind me staying here again, huh? Princess.
You intend on staying here even if I say no, don't you?
You got that right.
To think, someone this small has become Jogen this year, huh?
Quite amazing, if I do say so myself.
I’m sorry, I forgot to introduce myself.
I'm Eigetsu To.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
Wow, what a polite introduction, Pleased to meet you too.
I’m Ensei Ro.
What? You’re Ensei Ro?
You was selected as governor of Sa Province even though you’d never taken the National Exams, right?
never mind the National Exams, it gets better, he hasn't even passed the qualifying exam to become a regional official.
Really? He didn’t even do that?
What is it, Ensei?
Just that I passed the qualifying exam for Sa Province.
Congratulations!
That's so great!
Yeah.
I’ll tell you though I don't think I’ve ever studied so hard in my entire life.
Hey, why don't you ask me where I ranked!
Oh, You must've done well, then.
So what rank?
Second from the bottom!
My Lady. Eigetsu.
Please allow me to dispose with this idiot somewhere.
H-H-Hey! Passing is what counts!
Passing!
Top or the bottom, you're still an official if you pass.
Just try telling an official who passed with top marks that the former Governor of Sa Province was only second from the bottom.
They'd probably despair for the world and join a monastery.
Wow. This is the first time I’ve ever seen Mr. Seiran like this.
I guess it is, He only seems to act that way around Ensei.
They get along really well.
Honestly!
Well, anyway, I’m afraid I've gotta go out for a bit.
Oh, by the way. Princess.
What is it?
This time, I’ve brought someone along with me from Sa province.
I don't suppose you’d mind seeing her once you’re free?
Who is it?
Your old handmaid Miss Korin.
Korin?! that brings back memories! I'd love to see her!
Well, it seems she has various errands to take care of in Kiyo city, so I'll bring her once things have calmed down.
Sure.
Oh don't forget to set aside some food for me.
All right, See you later.
This ring is really badly made.
So, this is what the old man commissioned in such a hurry and hid under his wig, huh?
Then it really was a fake all along.
Well, we had already figured as much.
So, it seems the original ring Senior Secretary Sai was said to have lost in the first place hasn’t yet to be found?
Yes, but We have people out searching for it, right now.
The question is whether that one is actually the real thing.
By the way, You've got quite a collection here.
They're the items we confiscated from Senior Secretary Sai, he was planning to use them as bribes.
What's this?
It's a portrait of Senior Secretary Sai's daughter, he was offering her to Koyu as a potential bride.
Wow. You passed on a great opportunity.
Oh, Shut up!
What is it?
Look, Found it!
I had it brought from Senior Secretary Sai's residence.
So what do you think?
My, extremely well made, but fake.
Geeze, to have it stolen so openly by his own daughter and then have a portrait painted without even noticing she had it on.
Wow, that's pretty laughable as far as families go.
But if that’s the case, it still leave us with the question where the real one might be?
I'll have my people continue searching.
This was a really close call.
If it had gotten back to the main house of the Sa Clan, anyone would have believed it was real.
What’s the currently situation in Sa Province?
Ever since Lord Enjun passed away, the Sa Clan has been in a disarray
Everyone has been fighting over leadership of the family.
As part of that struggle, they’ve all been frantically searching for the ring of the Sa Clan’s leader.
And now, It's been almost a year since Lord Enjun died.
If a full year passes without the official ring of a clan leader being found, the family is then permitted to install a provisional leader and have a new ring made for him.
That’s right, at this point, There'd be nothing more troublesome than to have some dubious character end up as clan leader.
it's the regular people who would end up caught in the fallout.
In Sa Province, the authority of the Sa family is absolute.
Only a proper governor with the full supporting backing of the king would have the power to counter them.
Yes, we already know.
But first, we wish to have your consent of those present.
Is anyone against our recommendation regarding the Governorship of Sa Province?
you've always been very skilled in so many things, Kuro.
I guess it was because you had an insolently smug Reishin and an awkward me as older brothers, as a result, you ended up being able to do almost anything on your own.
There’s a name they have for that sort of thing.
right! They call it The capable poor.
Just what is there about me that’s poor?
It is only a saying.
But Unlike Reishin, you're very serious so people turn to rely on you a lot and you often end up with the short end of the stick.
Of course, I'm the one responsible for that.
Since I abandoned the responsibilities of the eldest son, it was inevitable at all that Father's expectations would fall upon you in the end.
After all, it wasn’t like Reishin was the type of child who would ever pay the slightest attention to Father.
My actions must have caused you a lot of loneliness, didn't they?
Not particularly .
The way I see it, I was fortunate enough to be spared the companionship of an idiot older brother like you.
When you put it like that, You may be right.
Don't get me wrong, I do hate you.
But still, even now, I can’t help but regret, regret not being able to stop what happened here in this residence when Elder Sister Shokun died.
You shouldn't feel guilty, you were in Hong Province at the time.
It’s still my fault, The servants I assigned to you were supposed to take care of you.
But They were nothing more than vultures, they set their sights on valuables and Elder Sister's keepsakes, and even robbed you while you were still in shock over her death.
It was my own fault for having been in such a daze.
That's the point, that’s exactly why Brother Rei and I were supposed to watch over you!
since everything had already happened, the only thing I was able to do was hunt down every last one of them and show them all what a living hell worse than death would be like.
It's not like I lost everything Kuro.
The most important and precious things in my life are in places where no one can ever hope to steal them.
I'm sorry, brother.
You came to visit my house, so you could say that to me, didn't you? That’s a very kind gesture , I’m touched.
And just What is that supposed to mean?
Ah, well, that is to say...!
Don't you dare take me for a fool! It would be the death of me to have you feel sorry for me.
I-I'm sorry.
If you must know, I came here for Koyu and Shurei's sake.
Someday in the future, Koyu is to take Shurei as his wife and take over the Hong clan as its hire.
Well. I certainly won't oppose it, but I have the feeling that the issue won't be coming up for a while yet.
Then You intend to let her go?!
There’s no doubt, that child will say yes.
Being king is a difficult job.
Oh, Shurei.
I guess today is the last day I'll ever wear this , a uniform.
Now then, I wonder where we're all going to be assigned.
I'll definitely be sent to the administration.
If possible, I'd prefer a regional post. And how about you, Shurei?
It doesn't really matter where.
After all, what we have to do is still the same.
That's quite right.
Oh, Official Ro...
ah, I mean Senior Secretary Ro.
It's all right.
They're both the same thing in the end.
What Initiate Hong has just talked about is the truth.
When it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter what position or location you're assigned to, it doesn't change what you must do for the sake of this country.
There is an important question to answer, For what reason do officials exist?
If you do that, you'll soon realize for yourself what you have to do.
Now then, today, you take your first steps as new officials!
Yes!

The Story of Saiunkoku

Hakumei Heki. You are to be assigned to be the Department of Civil Affairs.
Yes sir!
That’s The same department as Lord Koyu, whom he respects so much.
How wonderful!
The department is challenging, but we believe Senior Secretary Ro's report, it says you will be readily able to meet that challenge.
We're counting on you.
I most humbly accept this.
Lastly, we ask that Initiate To and Initiate Hong Come forward.
What ? Both of us together?
Initiate Eigetsu To, who passed this year with top rank of Jogen, and Initiate Shurei Hong, who passed this year with rank of Tanka, you are hereby both assigned as co-governors of Sa Province.
But Your Majesty! You're entrusting these two complete novices with a position next in rank only to a leader of one of the ministries?!
Miss all you respect , What on earth are you thinking?!
Not to mention two people at the same time!
Each of them can do the job of half a person, so both of them together, should be just about right.
Just about right?
Well, then, will you go forth as Governor of Sa Province?
Are there any others who believe they're most fit for the position?!
There was also much dispute before the previous governor of Sa Provence was chosen.
You know what happened in the end, an unknown young man who hadn't even passed the National Exams was sent, Despite having neither rank nor experience, he carried out his duties as Governor of Sa Province admirably.
But that's because he has the extremely capable man as his assistant.
Official Tei was the one who helped him.
Certainly that was a major factor.
that is why we'll be assigning assistants this time as well.
As there are two new leaders, we'll assign two officials to properly assist them!
One is Lieutenant Governor Tei, who will remain at his current post in Sa province.
The other is... former governor Ensei Ro.
Step forward.
Yes!
As the successful former Governor of Sa Province, no doubt you will be able to provide excellent guidance for these two.
Accompany them both and go forth to Sa Province.
I humbly accept this appointment, your majesty.
And given an unusual situation in Sa Province, a military officer’s to be exclusively assigned to them.
Now Seiran Si!
Yes sir.
As of now, You're to be assigned as their officer.
The authority of this position shall be higher than that of a provincial general.
Together with ensei Ro, proceed to Sa Province, and assist the two new governors.
Kansho. Bakuya.
The twin swords once wielded by a highly esteemed elder brother.
Kansho and Bakuya were both formed from the same ore and even though he was given both, Elder Brother Seien was generous enough to give Bakuya to me as a gift.
At that time, I was too young and small to wield it, or even carry it properly, all the same, Bakuya has always been my most precious treasure, and now it is my honor to present you with Kansho, the twin sword that Elder Brother Seien wielded.
You are most worthy of this distinction, Seiran.
I most humbly accept this gift and your charge to me.
finally, Initiate To and Initiate Hong, we must ask for your official reply.
As you well know, Sa Province is a dangerous region.
While we intend to do everything we can to protect you, our influence could only grant so much, we cannot guarantee your safety.
With this in mind, will you still go forth as governors?
Of course we'll go!
We humbly accept this post, Your Majesty .
In that case, we entrust you with the charm and seal of the Governor.
You can understand we cannot make duplicates of these, thus from now on, you should each carry one of the two.
In other words, both of you together are the governor.
It’s Unprecedented.
the birth of co-governors in our country.
There is still one more gift, Initiate To and Initiate Hong, I wish to give you each a flower, from me to you.
A flower is proof of absolute trust.
Until now, Koyu and I have been the only ones to receive flowers from the king.
These are Buds.
That’s right, they represent infinite possibility and hope.
We look forward to seeing how the two of you are able to make them bloom in the future.
Once those buds have fully opened, we'll present you a flower in full blossom.
this indicates their potential, and then these two are expected to support the king and the nation in the future.
It means that those who seek to harm either of them are enemies of the king.
Sa Province... I wonder what it’s going to be like there.
Shurei!
Ryuki, What are you doing here?!
I told you before that I wanted to talk to you after your assignment was decided, don't you remember?
Shurei.
I had a very hard time making this decision.
They say, you should send your dear child on a voyage, but the truth is I didn't want to have you go to Sa Province.
I don't think you could ever really understand the way I felt when I wrote down your name on that [scholar] parchment.
The truth is I wanted you to stay here, by my side.
That’s very flattering of you, but You're more than capable of doing things now without having me around to help you out.
Don’t you think that’s right? And it’s not only because Lord Koyu and General Ran are here with you.
You know it actually kind of hurts to admit it, but right now, you don't really need me anymore.
You're wrong!
I've told you so many times.
I’ve always said you're very dear to me.
By that, I mean I don't want you below me. I want you to stay by my side.
I can't do that.
Don’t worry, I know.
I know not to hope for that much right now.
But I do want you to remember this, I only intend to marry anyone but you.
I’m afraid That's impossible.
But why?
Because I can't become a consort.
The goal that I’m striving for is completely different.
Shurei.
Be honest, Do you care about me?
I do. But I imagine that’s probably quite different from what you must feel about me.
That's good enough.
I'll say it one more time. I will not take anyone but you to be my consort.
I was alone for an entire year.
It's simply a matter of doing that again.
But still, I am very lonely, shurei.
I only have one wish.
I know it can't be helped in official situations, but beyond that, I don't want you to distance yourself from me.
I don't want you to kneel before me.
I want you to see me not as a king but as who I am.
If you don't, I'll be so sad and lonely I won't be able to sleep.
You don’t want me to lose sleep do you?
I know you probably can’t return my feelings, I’m not asking you to, but please don't ever use my being king as an excuse to run away from me.
You're the one who found me and made me king in the first place, So running away at this point would be unfair.
Maybe, but You were always doing silly things back then.
For some things, I was always serious.
Please never forget, shurei,
The only thing I want is you.
I have No doubt that the woman whom you love will be very happy.
But I’m begging you, please find someone else to give that happiness to!
I didn't take the National Exams and work so hard just so I could become your wife.
I came to serve and support you as king from beneath your throne.
You are so stubborn. But you know that's all right. That’s Because I'm stubborn, too.
If you should happen to fall in love with someone other than me while you’re out there, you have to promise that you’ll contact me before you get married.
Why do you want me to do that?
Isn’t it obvious ? it’s so I can come running, challenge him to a fight, make you realize just who the better man really is, and break off your engagement!
All right, I promise, I'll contact you if I get engaged.
And I also promise that I won't kneel to you. I won't look at you through your position as king. I will look at you as a man.
I’m sure You're going to become a great king, Ryuki.
And knowing you, You're probably going to become a great man, too.
You won't be able to forget me now, will you?
Y-You...! I said, I
Please, don't forget.
Don’t forget That I love you Shurei.
Wonderful, aren't they?
Yeah.
And In an instant, just like that, she's merged the idea of woman officials into this court of men.
Yes, and so very naturally too.
It’s not unlikely that she could very well go through life changing many other things In this way.
[Changing will] quietly, little by little.
One day, those buds presented by His Majesty...
will bloom beautifully without fail.
We give Our heartfelt blessings to all of you.
Ensei Ro. Together With the help of Yushun Tei, may you guide these two well on their road ahead?
Yes, sir.
And you Seiran Si. May you keep them from even the slightest harm.
I swear upon this royal sword that I will not fail them!
And you, Eigetsu To.
As someone pure and not bound to any previous ties, we’ll be counting on you greatly.
I will do everything within my abilities.
And finally Shurei Hong!
Yes!
Now as a woman, freely and fully, do all that you wish.
As long as this body is able.
We look forward to the day when the buds you've both been given bloom for all to see.
Today, from this moment on, you shall become the pillars of this nation!

Next Episode
We’re getting ready to leave for Sa Province, and there’s just so much to do.
But with both Seiran and me gone from this house, will father be all right on his own?
Will he even be able to survive without us?