Spoilers for vol 10, of course.


The book opens with a scene in the palace of the Ran family. Shuuei’s three elder brothers, who are triplets, are lounging around. They discuss Ryuuren’s friendship with Shuurei and Eigetsu. It seems that they respect Shouka, but dislike Reishin, and feel thus more concern over Ryuuren’s relationship with Shuurei. However, the real point of concern is Shuuei. They think he’s beginning to realize he can’t wholeheartedly swear loyalty to Ryuuki, and so it’s time to call him back. Setsuna, the eldest, mentions that his wife, Gyokuka, also misses Shuuei, to which the other brothers smile in a strained way, because that’s the reason Shuuei left: he couldn’t stand watching Setsuna and Gyokuka being all lovey-dovey. They discuss sending Jyuusan-hime (Thirteenth Princess) to Kiyou. BTW, yes, she doesn’t have a name, or that IS her name.

Back to Kiyou, Ryuuki and Kouyuu are stunned by Ou Ki’s proposal to dismiss all of the supernumerary officials. However Yuushun isn’t, and just mildly suggests that the Civil Administration bureau undertake an investigation to see whether any of them are useful, to which Ou Ki agrees. (Shou Taishi, BTW, is of no help) Then Ou Ki also proposes something relating to the salt, iron, and tea industries, probably (considering what comes later) a government monopoly on them. Yuushun tables this motion. Ryuuki is unnerved by Uu-sama’s uncharacteristic silence on the marriage question. Anyway, after the meeting, Ryuuki and Yuushun worry about Shuurei, and say all they can do is trust her.

Kouyuu is… oh wait, once again he’s seeing a contradiction between his loyalty to Reishin and Ryuuki. (Eh, call us when something new happens: sorry, I am getting tired of Kouyuu’s repetitiveness as a character), anyway, Reishin as usual declares he has no interest in politics, hates the king and the royal family, etc. The Kou clan in general just are out for themselves, and will get involved in national politics for their own purposes. Meanwhile, Anju throws an apple at Kouki, and they discuss Suou and Shuurei. Kouki would have been fine with Suou being executed, to serve as an example, cause if he’s useless otherwise, at least he will be useful that way. He also declares that Shuurei is useless. Anju seems to feel more sympathy for Shuurei, though.

Shuurei and Tantan gather in the palace with the other supernumerary officials, to see the notice; Suou is not upset by this news, but Shuurei is up in arms. Also, they’re surrounded by the other supernumeraries, most of whom are lazy sons of rich families. Shuurei lectures the supernumerary officials on having a good work ethic and trying to find a job, and they beg her for help getting hired. Even though she doesn’t need to help them, she decides to do so. Suou thinks she’s just being too nice, because she owes these people nothing, and it’s their own fault they ended up like this. Out of the crowd, two characters emerge: Riku Seiga, an earnest, obviously intelligent and talented youth who was just temporarily demoted to supernumerary because his boss was mad at him; however, his boss agreed to hire him back, so he’s treating this month as a vacation. The other one is You Shuu, who is an unsophisticated guy from the provinces who wants to take the Civil Administration exam (usually, if after passing the national exam, if you’re not in the top tier (Shinshi), you need to take the Civil Admin exam and pass to get placed in a job) and get a job in the capital. He spends his time practicing calligraphy and trying to be more polished.

Through this, Tantan reflects, thinking about the situation of his father. The reason he hasn’t been executed yet is because there’s clearly someone behind the scenes, and his father also hasn’t been assassinated yet by these people. Also, as previously mentioned, Shuurei is the sort of person who looks straight ahead, and just does things. In a situation where she’s surrounded by talented people to support her, maybe she can succeed. But she doesn’t seem to have the judgment to know when to try, and when it’s a waste of effort. In other words, it’s like she doesn’t know her limits very well. (See, this is what I like about Saiunkoku. Vol 10 is kind of where… okay, Shuurei is a shoujo heroine, but this is the part of her that’s like a shounen hero. Basically her naive tendencies are criticized by Suou.) However, thanks to these busybody, do-gooder tendencies, Suou can still do something for his father, who is basically his “last line,” the important thing he’ll do anything to protect. However, Suou reflects that although Shuurei does have good intentions, her way of acting is a liability at court.

Meanwhile, Yuushun is going to see Houju and Reishin, but they suddenly pop up, having been told by Ryuuki he was coming (preventing him from walking into a pillar) and begin to lecture him about walking around alone. Yuushun patiently thanks them for caring about him, but insists that he’ll continue to walk around without a bodyguard. Suddenly, two officials approach them, one with an air as cold as ice (that would be Kouki), and one with a gaudy sort of air (that would be Anju). Kouki reprimands Houju and Reishin for not greeting him as protocol demands. (Okay, short primer on ranks: Yuushun I think outranks everyone in the administration. Anju comes next, as deputy to Ou Ki, then Kouki, as head of the Gyoshidai/Censorate (Anju mentioned he outranked Kouki last volume), and Kouki outranks Houju and Reishin. I’m not sure if Houju and Reishin are equal, or if one is more important than the other.) Reishin and Houju are full of suppressed rage, but they do officially greet him (I’m not sure how to translate it). Then, as Kouki and Anju go off, Reishin notes that they didn’t greet Yuushun! Kouki is like “I didn’t notice, but if he wants us to, he should do it himself. You treat him like he’s a princess.” Anju properly greets Reishin, but then that he agrees with Kouki, they shouldn’t protect Yuushun as though he were a princess. After they leave, Houju lectures Reishin, who slams his fan against the pillar, destroying it (the fan, not the pillar). Yuushun reminds them of the political situation: power is split about fifty-fifty between the national exam faction and the nobility faction (who gain entrance through some other process), and although Kouki and Anju are from the other faction, they’ve got real power, talent, and accomplishments. Later, Reishin apologizes, saying he may have said too much. But he believed he really wasn’t out of line, in fact, he still does think… Yuushun stops him before he can screw up his apology, and thanks them for looking out for him. Then he asks them to help him in with what’s going on now.

Meanwhile, Ryuuki and Shuuei take a break, play go, eat snacks, etc. Ryuuki senses Shuuei’s increasing distance, and knows that he is coming to the palace less and less.

Shuurei forces the supernumeraries to clear out the filthy room reserved for them. It’s full of porn, also. Shuurei is shokku at the porn, and Suou laughs, and says that most men read porn, and hell, probably even Seiran has some. Shuurei totally denies this, as does Seiran, who later comes over and has words with Tantan over this. Basically, Tantan thinks that Shuurei is too naive about men, and about life in general. While Shuurei exhausts herself working for the best of all worlds, Suou attempts to do all to avoid the worst case scenario… Seiran is forced to admit, that even if he doesn’t have any porn hidden in his room, that Tantan has a point. He for the first time, sees Tantan as more than well, full of fail. He sees that although Tantan doesn’t have the overt abilities at policy and isn’t as clever as Shuurei, he has what Shuurei doesn’t, an ability to see right through people, and grasp their hidden motives. Then, Tantan asks Seiran for a favor.

Tantan also continues to think that Shuurei worries about others rather than herself too much, considering that she’s also has the same problem, and yet doesn’t seem to be directly taking action to secure herself a spot. However, Kouyuu (while apologizing to Shuurei for not having forseen this) offers her a position in the Civil Admin dept, and her other connections seem to have offered her spots. Yet, she hasn’t decided yet.

Tantan asks Shuurei for advice on making onigiri. It seems he’s not doing it the right way… Anyway, every day, he goes to visit his father in jail to bring him food. Suou then goes to see Kouki. Kouki tells him he won’t listen to any pleas, but it seems there is something Suou does have a trump card. He claims to have seen what Shuurei’s weaknesses are.

In the Civil Admin office, Reishin and Kouyuu receive a report from their undercover spy sent to observe the supernumerary officials. The “masked official” has been researching and observing Suou, and writes that he has some potential. Shuurei, on the other hand, does not; she is too nice/naive for the capital, and would be better off in the country. Reishin is somewhat irritated, but he’s not overly invested in Shuurei’s success; he just wants her to live happily. She chose herself to be an official, and so she must succeed at it herself, because it’s her wish, not his, and no matter what, Shuurei will remain Shuurei. Reishin is doing pretty good at looking cool, until he begins to fantasize about having her be his second in command. Anyway, this prompts Kouyuu to reflect that Reishin probably wishes the same for him as well.

Anyway, meanwhile, Shuurei has noticed there’s a problem with the salt in the city. It’s becoming contaminated with white sand, and because the sellers must purify it, prices are going up. Shuurei continues to help the supernumeraries with the aid of Seiga, while Tantan mysteriously disappears off everyday, claiming that he’s looking for work. One day, at night, Shuurei is visited by a strange man… okay, it’s Anju, who tells her he’ll give her a peach if she’ll peel some for him, which she does. Anju uh… eats the last slice of the peach out of her hand. She feels as though her fingertips are being nibbled. Uh… [So, once again, it seems Tantan has a point? XD One can only imagine what Reishin would think.] Then, Anju goes to bother Kouki again, and Kouki continues to diss Shuurei as too soft while Anju talks about how he admires her doggedness.

One night, later that month, Suou as usual goes to see his father. When he enters the cell, he is shocked….

Later, that night, he goes to see Shuurei, and asks her to play the song called “Suou,” which is apparently a syrupy love song. It seems that Tantan was named after that song, embarrassingly. Tantan appears to have something on his mind, but Shuurei is not really sure what it is. After he leaves, Shuurei is considering which position she should take, but worries that relying on her connections will give the supernumerary officials the wrong impression, when she hears someone playing “Suou” also, on a dragon-flute (not sure what kind of flute it is), and playing it with the exact opposite feeling, rather than sweetly, with an ice beauty. Kouki appears before Shuurei and tells her that she is foolish and naive, and after lecturing others, she will take the easy route? He then disappears, leaving her to wonder whether it was a dream or reality. Anju later appears, and he scolds Kouki for being mean to Shuurei, and says that Shuurei’s talent must have spurred him to challenge her as an artist. Kouki declares that he hates the song, but Anju likes it.