The solid sleep he'd gotten after several days
was a great help in restoring
Jinshi's energy.
He quietly looked at the bed. Covered in dust and caked blood, filthy,
Maomao
was curled up asleep. She must have been utterly exhausted—she didn't stir even when Jinshi picked her up and carried her to the bed.
There were marks on her cheeks as if she'd been punched, scratches on her body, and a slash wound on her neck. Her blood-soaked clothes were from treating the gravely injured
Sparrow,
or so it seemed.
"What a terrible state."
Even if Jinshi asked what had happened over the past few days, Maomao would simply rattle off a dry, matter-of-fact report like a business briefing. There would be none of that awkward, tender concern—no plea for him to worry or look after her. Was she trying not to be a burden on Jinshi, or did she believe that appealing to his emotions was pointless?
If it was the former, then Jinshi wouldn't rest until he'd done something about this exasperating cat-like creature.
Having stopped taking the eunuch drug, Jinshi now had full function as a man. Did she realize that without the chains of reason, he would become nothing more than a beast?
"Young Master."
The maid
Suiren
called out to him. She held a change of clothes in her hands.
"It's almost time. Please have something to eat."
"I know."
"Will you be taking a bath?"
"...I'll skip it. There's no time."
"Well, normally it wouldn't be very hygienic to remain covered in blood, but..."
Suiren kept up her usual mild scolding, yet she seemed to be smiling more than usual.
"Shall I at least prepare some hot water for you?"
Suiren's eyes were on the bed. Even if Jinshi didn't need it, Maomao should probably be given a bath.
"Have some fresh clothes ready for her as well."
Any perceptive maidservant would understand whom Jinshi was referring to, even if he left the name unsaid.
"Understood."
Suiren bowed her head respectfully.
Jinshi stretched broadly, then stood before the bed once more.
He leaned his face close, careful not to wake the soundly sleeping Maomao.
"Surely this much replenishment should be permitted?"
Murmuring as if to convince himself, he gently pressed his lips to Maomao's forehead.
After changing and finishing their meals, they headed for the great hall in the main residence. It was a detached building often used for banquets, but today only the bare minimum of people — guards included — had been let inside. Care had been taken so that no one would overhear their conversation. Trailing at Jinshi's side was,
Toumi.
She was not here in her capacity as a maidservant today, but serving as his adjutant.
Guests had already gathered in the hall. Each sat in a chair along a long table.
One was a rough, burly man — the very image of the one who had once put Jinshi through the wringer:
Gyokuou.
Only without the mustache. His face was blank and expressionless, though furrows creased the space between his brows. He was Gyokuou's eldest son,
Shiyou.
Jinshi had hardly ever spoken with the man, but he had kept a close watch on him throughout the inheritance proceedings. He resembled his father Gyokuou in appearance, yet was nothing like him.
Seated across from Shiyou was a young man who appeared to have only recently come of age — the one who had been learning the ropes under Jinshi for some time now,
Korou.
His face bore no resemblance whatsoever to Shiyou's. He was short-waisted, with a build that still seemed to be in the process of growing.
And then there was one more.
Normally the eldest son and third son would be followed by the second, but that was not the case. Instead, there sat a woman wearing a triangular headscarf, grinning from ear to ear. Scrapes marked her face, and her kimono was worn rough and askew, as though her torso had been treated for injuries as well. A padded coat was draped over her shoulders against the cold. The owner was not present, but
Baryou
was the one who usually wore that padded coat.
"Lord Moon, it has been a while."
Her voice sounded no different from usual, which made Jinshi wonder if she was really injured at all. But judging from all the blood splattered on Maomao, she had to be seriously hurt and running dangerously low on blood.
"I apologize, but might I remain in this position?"
Suzume kept glancing over to check on Taomei. She wasn't watching Jinshi—she was gauging her mother-in-law's mood. Surely even Taomei wouldn't be harsh toward a daughter-in-law who had been seriously wounded.
"That's fine."
Jinshi answered on behalf of the mother-in-law.
Shishou and Korou were already on their feet, bowing respectfully to Jinshi.
"We are truly sorry for repeatedly summoning you here."
Shishou was the first to speak. His deferential attitude was a stark contrast to the previous meeting about the inheritance.
Perhaps Shishou had his own thoughts about the matter.
In contrast, the third son, Korou, wore a broad smile.
"Lord Moon, you appear to be in good health. I am grateful for the lenient treatment you have shown a criminal such as myself."
"Nobody said you were forgiven."
Jinshi said without raising his voice. Korou's smile didn't falter at those words. Instead, it was Shishou's expression that stiffened.
What they would discuss in the great hall now was the matter of Korou. They had gathered to condemn what he had thought and what he had done.
And the second son, Hiryuu, who should have been here, was absent. That was because there were things Hiryuu did not want known.
Jinshi gestured with his hand for them to sit. Shishou and Korou waited until Jinshi had taken his chair before sitting down themselves.
Suzume remained in her chair, a drink in hand. It was milky white and steaming—likely goat's milk or some broth made with it. She was low on blood, so it couldn't be helped.
Jinshi decided to pay it no mind and proceeded with the discussion.
"Korou, why did you attempt to kill your own elder brother, Shishou?"
There was no need for preamble. Jinshi went straight to the question.
Korou's expression didn't change. His smile didn't waver.
"I did what I believed was best for the Western Capital, for Seisei Province."
"That meant trying to kill your own brother?"
Jinshi's reply was flat and emotionless.
Chishou stared at Korou. As an older brother, his feelings must have been complicated.
"You and Chishou got along well enough, didn't you? It wasn't as though the inheritance was a problem simply because he was the eldest brother."
"No. Indeed,
eldest brother
said he didn't want the inheritance and told us to divide it up however we pleased."
"That's right. I don't need a thing. Father's inheritance — you lot can divide it however you like. I have no intention of ruling the Western Province. Hiryuu and Korou can hash it out between themselves. Besides, my name is Chishou now. I have no intention of using the family name ever again."
To any second or third son in this world, Chishou's proposal would no doubt sound like an opportunity found nowhere else. But for a family that governed the Western Province, things were not so simple.
"So you're telling us — me and Brother Hiryuu — to govern on our own? That's quite the unreasonable thing to say. Do you really think everything will work out just because eldest brother refuses to take the inheritance and the work?"
"It'll work out, won't it? Hiryuu is dependable. Smarter than me, even. He'll manage things well. You can step in as his assistant. He doesn't need to replace Father right away — after a few years, he should be able to handle things properly."
"A few years? The next few years are going to be the hardest of all!"
Korou's voice was tinged with exasperation.
"Certainly Brother Hiryuu is capable. If he were working as an ordinary official in the capital, he'd advance through the ranks far faster than you, Brother Chishou. But what happens when he has to be the face of the family?"
Korou appeared to be directing his question not at Chishou, but at Jinshi.
"There's the aftermath of the locust plague, deteriorating public order, food shortages — and on top of all that, we can't afford to ignore the possibility of invasion by foreign powers going forward. Do you really think Brother Hiryuu has the strength to hold it all together?"
"Couldn't you ask Grandfather and the uncles for help?"
"Grandfather is elderly. He can't keep coming back from the capital time and again. And how much can we really count on our uncles and aunt? After all, the reason Grandfather entrusted the Western Province to Father in the first place was that, whatever his views, Father had the ability to hold everyone together."
Jinshi could only nod at Korou's words. Whatever his own schemes may have been, Gyokuou had possessed real power.
"As long as Grandfather is still alive, we might manage. And if we were back in the situation before the locust plague, they'd probably stay quiet. But now that Father is gone, our uncles and aunt will no longer hesitate to voice their opposition to the main family. And neither Brother Hiryuu, who isn't even the eldest, nor I have the power to keep uncles and aunt — who each hold influence in their respective domains across Seishi Province — in check. That's why Brother Hiryuu has been waiting for you to come back all along, Brother Chishou. You have enough strength to silence even
Youtatsu
Uncle — to beat him into submission, even if it comes to blows."
Youtatsu — a name meaning
"the youngest child."
That was what those characters signified.
Among Gyokuen's
children, the youngest was...
Gyokuyou
She is the queen, but among the brothers, the youngest was apparently the seventh son who was into livestock raising. I'd heard he once fought with Chishō badly enough that they drew knives.
"Among our brothers, Chishō is probably the only one who could properly govern the Western Capital. Knowing that, both Hiryū and I could only ever think of supporting from the sidelines as deputies."
"That's contradictory. You've been praising Chishō quite a bit just now. What I'm asking is — why did you try to take his life?"
"There's no contradiction."
It was Suzaku who spoke up. In her hand, she held something soft, like a piece of fried dough.
"If Chishō had gone on living as he was, people would have rallied behind him, wouldn't they? That was what was in the way."
"That's exactly right."
At Suzaku's words, Korou affirmed.
"But even with Chishō gone, what changes? Didn't you both just say that neither Hiryū nor Korou has enough strength?"
At Jinshi's question, Suzaku and Korou both smiled sweetly. It was a strangely similar smile.
"Yes. But Korou did find someone, didn't she? Someone better suited to staying in the Western Capital than the eldest brother, who has no ambition."
"That's right."
Korou stared at Jinshi. A bad feeling crept over him.
"Among Lord Gyokuō's three sons, Chishō is the most suited to ruling. But if Korou has other capable people, there's no need to fixate on the Yang family. Korou's goal is 'to develop the Western Capital,' isn't it? As long as the person has the ability, it wouldn't be strange for them to serve as the political leader of the West—"
Suzaku also looked at Jinshi.
"If Chishō were gone, things surely would have worked out. Both Hiryū and I would have been able to properly serve as deputies."
With that, Korou rose from her chair, knelt on the floor, and bowed her head.
"I know this is an unreasonable request, but I humbly implore you. Lord Moon, please stay here in the Western Capital and lead the people of Xixi Province. For that sake, I would gladly offer up my own life."
Korou pressed her forehead to the floor again and again. The look in her eyes was almost disturbingly bright.
Jinshi instinctively recoiled and looked back at Tōbi, who was standing behind him.
"...I've heard that the Serpent clan teaches that obeying one's lord's command is the greatest joy."
"That may be the greatest joy, but—"
"If Lord Moon would but say he'll remain here in the Western Capital, I will gladly cut off my own head."
"Even if you did, it would only cause me trouble."
Who on earth was supposed to settle this?
"Stop! There's no need for that!"
Chishou sat down beside Korou, who was kneeling on the floor. Then, just like Korou, he pressed his forehead to the ground.
"Please, my lord. My brother only acted out of concern for the western territories. Please don't even think about cutting off his head."
Jinshi had never said anything about cutting off Korou's head. Korou was simply saying it on his own.
"Brother Chishou, I really don't mind. As long as the Western Capital keeps running smoothly, isn't that good enough?"
There was no hesitation in Korou's eyes. If anything, he seemed puzzled that Chishou was trying to shield him.
Suzume watched the scene unfold from where she sat, narrowing her eyes.
"It's no use saying anything, you know. He was raised that way from the day he was born. Their fundamental way of thinking is just too different."
"How can you say that?! Why on earth would he throw away his life for something like this?!"
"Something like this? If that's what you think, then you're truly unfit to be the successor, you know. By all means, feel sorry for your brother and try to take his place if you want—that's your prerogative. But Chishou, you have absolutely no talent as a successor. No matter how you cast aside your prestigious name and take on a filthy one, no matter how you try to play the villain and build shady connections—it doesn't suit you at all. You're nothing but a nuisance just being there, so stay quietly on the public stage and play the puppet. That's the most reasonable way to protect your brother."
Suzume finished speaking in one breath, then began drinking another cup of goat's milk.
While Chishou sat in stunned silence, Korou continued to gaze at Jinshi with bright, eager eyes.
"Korou, you should give up too, you know. I understand the orders you were following, but if your orders end up overlapping with mine, Suzume will have no choice but to crush you by any means necessary."
"Lady Suzume. What could you possibly do with such serious injuries? You'll have lasting aftereffects, and your standing will drop considerably."
"Even so, I'd still be above you, Korou. Suzume is resourceful—she can handle most things with just her left hand. But since Suzume is kind, she'll offer even a young greenhorn like you a compromise."
Suzume turned toward Jinshi and smiled sweetly.
"Chishou has talent too, you know. He possesses exactly what your father, Lord Gyokuou, wanted so desperately."
Suzume kept grinning as she looked at Chishou.
"I'm sure he'll make a fine doll standing tall in the Western Capital."
Jinshi quietly looked over at Toubi. Whether she understood her duties as a bride or not, she said nothing and seemed only concerned with the food scraps scattered across the table. Perhaps she was deliberately avoiding getting too deeply involved in the Mi clan's affairs.
Jinshi regretted not having brought more backup with him.