Thanks for reading this blog, and thanks for understanding.

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Thank you for sticking with me for so long!

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縁あれば千里

Destined Partners Cannot Be Separated

While on the boat, Shuurei gets some work done. Ryuuki decides not to talk with her and does some serious thinking. Suou and Ensei chat. Ensei says Suou is really quite observant. Suou says that Ensei likes Shuurei. Yeah, he will never let her know it either because he knows her heart if it goes anywhere is spoken for elsewhere. Shuuei thinks about Shuusui. Jyuusan-hime gets rid of the remains of Shun’s eyepatch. Ryuuren cheers her up^^;

The next day the travelers return to Kouyuu. Sieran is a bit confrontational with Shuuei until Shuuei makes it clear he has no divided loyalties any more, and never will.

Shuurei goes home, but Suou goes to report to Kouki. It turns out Kouki has ordered him to monitor Shuurei. Of course he has to tell about Shuurei going to Kyuusai Cove, but he takes the blame for it and is fired . . . sort of. Seiga thinks Suou is a fool. Suou agrees, but on the other hand he wouldn’t stick his neck out for the likes of Seiga. Kouki sends him to the provinces. Shuurei is furious and promises when she gets promoted she’s dragging him back to Kiyou. In fact, Suou was promoted a level and is now an inspector.

Anju and Minister Ouki chat. It seems their plan was for neither Shuurei or Ryuuki to return from Ran Provence.

It is now confirmed to Yuunshin and Ryuuki – Minister Ouki wants the throne. In all fairness, all of this isn’t Ryuuki’s fault – his father destroyed minor houses for no reason. However, Ryuuki is now more determined than ever to be emperor. When he faces the court, even his detractors notice a difference.

Fortunately, Yuushun isn’t the only one supporting Ryuuki. Seiran is obvious. Shuuei is back now. Even Kouyuu told
Reishin he’s taking a vacation. Ensei and Ryuuren are happy to help while they are arround, and Shouka is always there with his awful tea in the archives^^;

Later, Ryuuki talks with Shuurei. He has decided he wants to be emperor for more than just her. As such he needs to marry. He has decided to put Jyuusan-hime in charge of the court women. Ryuuki will marry her if Shuurei won’t in the end. He says he will give Shuurei a bit of time. If at the end of that time she still won’t marry him he will never bring up the subject again. Shuurei agrees

And so ends the second season of Saiunkoku Monogatari. Ryuuki’s greatest threat has yet to be dealt with, but this is a good place to stop. However, I am so hoping for a third season, and for the second season (and third if there is one) and the light novels to be released in the US. It seems the next light novel is the last. After that, if there is ever going to be a third season it will be then I imagine.

With the number of people supporting Ryuuki, I could almost feel sorry for Minister Ouki. If Shuurei, Kouyuu, Yuushun, and Ryuuren can’t get past court intrigues and conspiracies no one can, and as for physical threats to Ryuuki, the only reason it would not be a three-way tie between Shuuei, Seiran, and Ensei is because Shouka would probably beat them to dealing with a direct threat on Ryuuki’s life. Of course I doubt the Hyou Clan is done with Ryuuki or Shuurei either . . . Yep lots of room for season three!

刎頚の交わり

Close Friendship

Shuusui knows the mirror with the trapped the demons is broken. She finds Ensei holding Shuurei. Shouka is nowhere to be found so she thinks Ensei broke the mirror. Shuusui finds the erhu that originally trapped the demons and plays it. The quake stops, but it is still raining, so Ryuuren plays his flute. I don’t know if that actually helped^^;

Suou is getting worried – the rope the boat is tied to is fraying. Ensei and Ryuuren make it to the boat with Shuurei. Shuuei follows with Shuusui. Shuuei is about to go back when Shun arrives with an unconscious Jyuusan-hime. He tells them to go. Shuusui jumps off as he cuts the rope holding the boat. She will face Ruka, not wanting to put the others in danger even though she will probably fail and Shouka stayed for her.

Later everyone is resting except Shuuei. He goes and has a bet with his three oldest brothers . . .

Shuurei is surprised to see Shouka when she wakes up. He says the emperor asked him to come along. When asked why he wasn’t then with the emperor or Jyuusan-hime, he says he ran into the Black Wolf . . .

Shuurei checks on Ryuuki, who still seems to be feaverish, but the one Ryuuki sees when he wakes is Shuuei. Shuuei and Ryuuki talk. It seems Ryuuki knew Shuuei would come back, but still was worried. He knew because Yuushun said when they played Go if Shuuei beat Ryuuki he would come back. That is why when Shuuei left Ryuuki gave Shuuei a handkerchief with purple irises on it. Shuuei won his bet with his brothers – he is disowned from the Ran family and free to go with Shuuei but he now no longer has the influence of the Ran family. Ryuuki wants him back anyway. Ryuuki and Shuuei have a fight. Shuuei really wins. Seems only the two head generals have ever seen him really fight and now Ryuuki has as well. Ryuuki returns the iris sword.

Shuurei is a bit smarter now. She, with Suou and Ensei helping, question Jyuusan-hime about Shun, aka Shiba Jin. Jyuusan-hime tells most of the story, but Shuurei stops when she gets to the heart of the matter. It is enough that the Ran family is not involved. However, Shuurei guesses the truth. She also guesses that Minister Son or Minister Ouki are behind the one who saved Shun. She also knows if it is something even Seiga wouldn’t touch, she can’t touch it either without overwhelming evidence.

Later Shuuei delivers all the information Shuurei came to Ran Provence to collect so she can go back with everyone. Shuurei says she didn’t know if he would come back and on her own she wouldn’t have interfered since everyone has their reasons, but if Ryuuki had ordered her she would have not left Ran Provence without him.

The next day all the travelers get ready to depart for Kiyou. As an act of good will, perhaps the last Shuuei will ever see from his older brothers, the Ran family has provided a ship. And yep, Ryuuren is going with them.

目は心の鏡

The Eyes are the Mirror of the Soul

On the one hand, I have to applaud Ryuuren’s navagation – thanks to his shortcut, Shuurei’s group reached Kyuusai Cove in half a day instead of three. On the other hand, Ryuuren’s short cut was over a waterfall, leaving everyone soaked. Shuurei and Suou get knocked out, but quickly come too. Ryuuren is off looking for a hot spring when Shun shows up. He has been ordered by the head lady of the Hyou clan to bring Shuurei to the Hyou Clan shrine alone. However, they are not his masters and they have said nothing about anyone following, so Shuurei orders Ensei and Suou to look for the ducks and mushrooms that Keiki wanted from Kyuusai Cove.

So Shuurei and Shun go to the shrine, on the way he tells a bit about Kyuusai Cove. Once at the shrine Shuurei is shown where Ryuuki is, sick with altitude sickness, though according th Shun not very serious. However, then Shuusui is behind Shuurei and the same circle of power that was in Sa Provence is released, and this time there is no one to free Shuurei . . .

Ryuuki eventually wakes up and he sees Shuusui, only it really isn’t Shuusui. She is possed by Ruka, head of the Hyou family and older sister of big Riou. She wants Ryuuki to abdicate the throne, saying he isn’t worthy to be emperor and it isn’t making him happy. However, Ryuuki is now determined to be emperor. This makes Ruka mad. However, before she can do anything, Shuuei shows up.

The spirit of Ruka departs from Shuusui after she orders Shuusui and Shun to kill Ryuuki and Shuuei. Shuusui is still hypmotized so she follows this order. Ryuuki is too weak so Shuuei has to carry him – not the best position to be in. Fortunately, Jyuusan-hime shows up, blocking Shun. After getting rid of Ryuuki for a moment, Shuuei fights Shuusui trying not to hurt her. Unfortunately, he is still loosing and she is not breaking out of her hypnosis. Finally Shuuei says Shouka is there and that breaks Shuusui out of her hypnosis. Poor Shuuei, he loves Shuusui but she loves Shouka who has never quite gotten over Bara-Hime’s death. Shun does say Shuurei further back in the Shrine. Shuuei leaves with Ryuuki, though Shuusui starts looking. Shuuei gets Ryuuki to the boat. Ensei has already gone off to look for Shuurei. Shuuei goes back with Ryuuren, leaving Suou to look after Ryuuki.

Jyuusan-hime basically breaks up permanently with Shun after he admits he might kill the emperor. She knows they can never be together now. He gives back his eyepatch, though he refuses to stop calling her Hotaru since he still loves her.

Ryuuki wants to go after Shuurei, but he is in no condition to do so, and it would waste everyone elses efforts on his behalf.

Ruka is planning on posessing Shuurei and taking her body for herself. Aparently Riou loved Bara-Hime, and Ruka thinks Riou will love her if she becomes Bara-Hime’s blood. Shouka breaks the sakred mirror holding Ruka’s spirit away from her body. The mountain is now unhappy . . .

人生いたる所に青山あり

Fortune is Where One Finds It

Yeah, so this is another recap episode from Ryuuki’s perspective. A lot of them seem to be from Ryuuki’s perspective. As for what happens aside from flashbacks, Ryuuki may now have new sympathy for Kouyuu, being lost In Kyuusai Cove. Shuuei finds Ryuuki sleeping and builds a fire for him. Ryuuki thinks it is some friendly pandas who build the fire. Ryuuki’s conclusion – he really is a useless emperor, since he is still chasing Shuurei and running away from his responsibilities. He is tired of running away, though, and he wants to reach Houkyou Mountain if only for himself. He does indeed reach the Hyou Clan shrine there, and then promptly faints. He is found by Shun and his sword starts glowing . . . Back in Kiyou Seiran’s sword starts glowing too . . .

危ない橋を渡る

Crossing a Dangerous Bridge

It seems that Shuurei and her party made it through the whirlpools, though Suou may not survive his seasickness^^;

Back in the palace, Yuushun is busy working when Reishin visits. Reishin wants Yuushun to resign. Yuushun refuses.  It turns out Reishin wants Yuushun to resign because he is not well – something Yuushun kept from the emperor.  Yuushun, however, is just as stubborn as Reishin. As for the emperor’s trip to Ran Provence, Yuushun felt Ryuuki  needed some quiet time to think.

Elsewhere on the river, Shouka and Ryuuki are also traveling. Ryuuki is now having serious second thoughts about this trip – he fells like he ran away from Yuushun and his responsibilities. Jyuusan-hime is worried about him.

Suou and Ensei talk. Ensei is glad Suou is there since he is an ordinary person and isn’t blinded with affection or admiration for Shuurei. The next day they land in the capital of Ran Provence. They are met by the governor, Kyou Bunchuu. It turns out the last inspector in Ran Provence was Seiga – hence where some of those reports Shuurei found are from. He spent most of his time inspecting the Shiba family. Shuurei wants Kyou to find someone, namely Ryuuki. Yep, no one in Ran Provence knows that the emperor is there^^; While they wait for this, Shuurei has Ensei look up information about salt and Suou to look up information about government and military personnel. She looks up information about Shun, aka Shiba Jin. His motive for killing his father is unclear, and the documentation is inconclusive. In fact, such a case should have been brought to the attention of Kiyou. As for who did the reports, that would be Minister Son and Minister Ouki.

Ryuuki wakes Jyuusan-hime from a bad dream. She tells Ryuuki how she met Jin. She found her murdered mother when she was three where Jin first found her. They stared at each other for three days. He even took out one of his eyes to get her to trust him and would have taken out the other if she had not stopped him. He took her away to live with himself and his grandfather, having been sent by his father to murder her. Sometimes Shuuei would come and visit. He promised he would marry her when she turned sixteen, but then he killed his father when he tried to kill her. That evening, they find a place to stop. Jyuusan-hime tells Ryuuki that they are almost to Kyuusai Cove. Nearby is
the shrine of the Hyou Clan on Houkyou Mountain. Many past emperors have gone there, but not all have returned. Only a true emperor may reach that shrine. The next morning Jyuu-san hime has discovered that Ryuuki and Shouka have left for Kyuusai Cove and Houkyou Mountain without her.

At the Ran residence, Shuuei discovers where Ryuuki is going. His older brother (one of them at least) thinks Ryuuki is weak and doesn’t want Shuuei to support the emperor. Shuuei doesn’t want to have any regrets so he is going anyway and says they will talk further when he gets back. Older brother says the new Hyou Clan shrine maiden is Shuusui.

Kouyuu and Seiran look rather forlorn and left behind . . .

Governor Kyou informs Shuurei that they have found Ryuuki, but it is too late. Kyuusai Cove is an area where almost everyone gets lost and never return. Shuurei decides to go after Ryuuki anyway. Governor Kyou thinks that Shuurei has potential to be a great official, and therefore there is hope for Ryuuki too. Just as Shuurei is about to leave with Ensei and a reluctant Suou, Ryuuruen shows up.

Ryuuki makes his slow way apparently alone up Houkyou Mountain . . .

藍より青し

Bluer than Indigo

Starting where we left off last time, Ensei finds Shuurei and offers to go to Ran Provence with her. Shuurei is worried about him taking the national examination, but he says he can take it later. Shuurei gives him the document Kouki signed. It is an appointment to the section of government inspection. Is it for Ensei? He was recruited by Kouki but chose another path. Anyway, Ensei takes it then knocks Shuurei out so she will finally get some sleep. Seiran is none to happy about this^^; Seiran really is unhappy about being left behind, but it can’t be helped. Ensei also tells Seiran not to take Shuurei so much for granted.

Early the next morning, Ryuuki with Shouka and Jyuusan-hime set off. They are sent on their way by Yuushun and Seiran.

Kouki finally orders Shuurei to Ran Provence. While there, he tells her several things to do. First, since Ryuuki went off there with no guards and for an unknown reason, Shuurei is to go bring him back. While there, she is to investigate Shiba Jin, who five years ago murdered his father. She is to find out if the Ran family is involved in keeping him alive. Kouki would love to lower the Ran and Kou houses down as right now both do as they please. He also wants Shuurei to bring back some blue duck eggs and mushrooms that look like monkey heads. Most of all, she is not to follow Ryuuki if he goes to the caves in Ran Provence, Kyuusai Cove. As Shuurei runs off she runs into Seiga who has a smirk on his face.

Shuurei with Suou and Ensei in tow also leave Kiyou soon after talking with Kouki. They get stopped by Suou’s father, who is very grateful for all the help Shuurei gave in getting released from prison. He provides them with tons of provisions. Suou is embarrassed. We also catch a glimpse of his mother lurking, who it seems has returned to her husband.

Shun and Shuusui are already not only in Ran Provence, they are going to Kyuusai Cove. Although Shun doesn’t work for the Hyou Clan, he has instructions to bring Shuusui there. Shuusui knows she will go in the end so she goes willingly. They talk about a legend that says an ancient emperor and his sister defeated tons of demons and sealed them in a mirror, but the mirror broke. The sister played her erhu and turned the mirror shards to lakes where the demons were still sealed. The sister is the ancestor of the Hyou Clan. They arrive but something happens to Shuuei . .  .

Shuuei has arrived home to the Ran residence by Kyusai Cove. He meets Ryuuren there, who actually greets his older brother. Ryuuren informs Shuuei that their older brother Setsuna is not there, but their sister-in-law Gyokuka is. Shuuei turns around to leave, but before he can Gyokuka is there to welcome him home as well.

Once inside, Shuuei indulges in memories. It turns out he and Gyokuka grew up together for good reason – she was one of his father’s wives before she married the oldest brother. It turns out that she enjoyed being with Shuuei the best and she always fought with Setsuna. Turns out Setsuna was actually jealous and Gyokuka really is happy. Finally Shuuei is resigned to her marriage. And Gyokuka is happy Shuuei likes someone else, even if he hasn’t done much about it yet. Setsuna isn’t there because the Hyou clan has finally sent a new priestess for their shrine and he has gone to greet her. Setsuna also has no intention of seeing Shuuei. However, Gyokuka has the documents Shuuei needs and is happy to do what she can to help.

Now Shuurei and her party are traveling by boat. Suou would get sick. There is a spot with inconsistent whirlpools  where they used to sacrifice people to get safely through until an official from government inspection told them they only needed to use rice balls. The boat still isn’t happy, and Suou is probably the most unhappy person on it .

月日変われば気も変わる

As the Seasons Change, So Does the Mind

Shuuei is worried about being questioned by the section of government inspection about the connection between the assassin and the Ran family and the deceased vice-minister of arms. Fortunately, Shuurei gets some guards drunk and she helps him on his way before Seiga arrives. Seiga has already sent people head between Kiyou and Ran Provence, but Shuuei isn’t one to be caught by something like that. Seiga is starting to see what Kouki sees in Shuurei, not that I think he would ever admit it to Shuurei and not that Shuurei is ever going to be less than annoyed unless he has a major attitude adjustment.

Ryuuki announces to his most chief ministers his plan for a trip to Ran Provence, leaving Tei Yuushun in charge while he is gone. Ryou asks if this is for the empire or for Ryuuki’s personal benefit. Ryuuki is stymied, though Ryou does admit Ryuuki does seem to need some time to think. However, Uu doesn’t want Ryuuki to go until he agrees to marry Jyuusan-hime – who he thoroughly approves of. Ryuuki says he wants to take Jyuusan-hime to get to know her better, though in truth this is more of a dodge. Uu asks Ryuuki if he plans to visit certain caves in Ran provence, but Ryuuki has no such thought. This makes Uu glad since there are bad omens around the caves. Ouki, head of the lesser nobles at court, wants to know about security. Tei-Yushun says he will ask the Black Wolf to provide security^^;

The minister of arms, Minister Son, has been absent during recent events which Shuurei finds suspicious so she and Kuou go investigate. She ends up literally dropping in on a conversation between Minister Son and General Koku about replacing Shuuei in the army. They quickly get her out of there.

Kouki isn’t happy that Shuurei has been investigating on her own when he told her not to. She says she will give it up if he will let her go to Ran Provence. That is even worse, since Minister Son was the last governor of Ran Provence and the salt, personnel, and other problems trace their roots to Ran Provence as well. Kouki finally agrees as long as Shuurei stays until he says she can go. Shuurei also gets him to sign a document for her.

Shuurei asks Suou to go with her to Ran Provence, and he agrees. He asks if Seiran will be going with them, but Shuurei thinks he should stay near Ryuuki.

It seems Seiran agrees, or rather he thinks he needs to stay near Yuushun. Shuurei doesn’t know about Ryuuki leaving for Ran Provence yet. So Seiran asks Ensei to go with Shuurei.

Shouka is trying to think of how to explain his absence from Kiyou when Ryuuki comes to see him. It seems Ryuuki wants Shouka along with his party for some reason. Problem solved!

Anjuu shows up while Shuurei is studying the nobility. Anjuu is as cryptic as ever, but he does say one thing – Kouki is the last survivor of the noble Ki house. The previous emperor had them wiped out. He says the reason for this is less important than the fact that the emperor and the seven families have the power to do this. He also calls his superior Ouki the last noble noble.

Later Minister Son hands out with Ouki, even though Minister Son isn’t supposed to be in Kiyou. Yep, it’s official. Ouki wants the throne and Minister Son is happy to help.

Anjuu leaves, but as he does he tells Shuurei to be careful in Ran provence and to not get captured again. Suou thinks Shuurei should let herself love, but this clearly is an uncomfortable subject as she goes off to talk with Jyuusan-hime.

Jyuusan-hime barges in on Ryuuki and asks about the trip to Ran Provence, thinking it is a honeymoon. That is not exactly what Ryuuki had in mind! Jyuusan-hime thinks it is fine if he goes after her brother, but to be prepared if Shuuei won’t come back. When considering feelings, you need to not only consider your own but those of the other party as well. Ryuuki is lonely so Jyuusan-hime agrees to stay. Shuurei hears all of this.

Later, Shuurei sits in front of the tree Ryuuki gave her. She says she is glad Ryuuki has someone else to spend his nights with now, but I wonder if she really means it.