This is a scene which was judged major enough in the novels to get an illustration, but was cut in the anime for some reason. 0_o

Disclaimer: As usual, note that I am not fluent, read translation at your own risk, there may be errors and misinterpretations.

In the palace, Yuushun was walking alone with his cane, on his way to meet Kijin and Reishin. For Yuushun, walking was also time to think. Because he could only walk slowly, he had begun to think about various things during the otherwise wasted transit time. And in doing so, mysteriously, he reached his destination more quickly. Along with the sound of his cane hitting the floor as he walked, he ran over the pieces of information in his head one by one.

Suddenly, he felt someone from the side lightly supporting his arm in place of the cane, and he took a large step. Raising his head, he saw Reishin was at his side holding his arm, and in front of him was Kijin, standing in front of a pillar so as to prevent Yuushun from crashing into it. The two of them—Kijin from behind his mask, as always—lowered their brows.

“Yuushun, don’t wander around alone like that.”

“….It’s dangerous for you to walk while deep in thought, so please stop doing it. You still haven’t broken yourself of that habit?”

Yuushun’s eyes widened at this sudden lecture from his two younger friends. Why had the two people he was going to meet suddenly appeared at his side?

“It’s not that we came here to meet you. This was just a coincidence.”

“Yes, just a coincidence.”

They both said such things, even though he hadn’t said anything. Probably, his majesty had contacted them, and they had come to meet him. As such–

“Heh heh, since you two have come to happen to be walking together, it seems that you’ve become good friends,” said Yuushun innocently, causing both of them to at once make a face.

Yuushun burst into laughter. The trick to teasing them was to stop before they began fighting with each other.

“Thank you for coming out of your way to meet me. I had something to say to both of you.”

If anyone were to look around and see the fearsome spectacle of both the Secretary of Civil Administration and Secretary of Finance standing together, they would have turned around and run off like a frightened rabbit in an instant.

The sight was nearly like a talisman against evil, or a particularly powerful insect repellent, thought Yuushun. Then his gentle face suddenly became a bit sterner. He glanced at both Reishin and Kijin, and then at the two men walking straight towards them.

They were in age slightly older than the three of them, in their late thirties, and one was wrapped in a harsh atmosphere giving off a wintry chill, and the other had an easy, gaudy air about him, and upon seeing the three of them his mouth relaxed into a chuckle.

Reishin and Kijin noticed as well. At the same time, their eyes narrowed. In a second, the area was filled with a feeling of tension, as if chilly sparks were flying.

As he passed near them, Kouki’s pale, glacially colored eyes turned towards the two Secretaries.

“—Don’t be so impudent. Have you forgotten how to greet someone of higher rank?”

Within his low, dispassionate voice, released without the movement of a single brow, was a severe force, as if in condemnation.

“Kouki, don’t go overboard, because if you open your mouth, you’ll say too much,” Anju interjected. In direct contrast to Kouki’s expression, his calm, shining smile was bright. With his slightly crumpled official clothing, there was no official who looked more as if he were about to go out to a banquet than he.

“But, you know, it’s true that both Kouki and I are higher-ranking than both of you, so could you bow to us? It’s not really much trouble. Didn’t Prime Minister Tei also say that officials should be clearly respected earlier? [Referring to his ten conditions.]“

Having Yuushun’s words quoted at them, Reishin and Kijin lightly bit their lips. Wordlessly, they ceded the path and gave a half-bow. [Some technical term...] This time, the truth was that the other parties were in age, rank, and experience above them.

“Thank you. Well then.”

As they went on their way without bowing to Yuushun, who was actual rank the highest of the great ministers, Reishin called to them.

“Wait. What about the greeting to Yuushun?”

At Reishin’s icy voice, Kouki expressionlessly eventually let his gaze rest on Yuushun, and for the first time, a cold smile appeared carved upon his lips.

“I didn’t notice. Generally, that’s something one should say for oneself. Treated just like a princess, eh.”

Unlike Kouki, who continued to walk off without bowing, Anju performed a half bow towards Yuushun.

“If nothing had been said, I would have also gone without doing anything. As Kouki said, from now one, do it yourself. One shouldn’t be protected like a princess.”

And with a light wave of his hand, Anju also departed the place, stepping lightly.

–Giving vent to his anger, Reishin struck his fan against the pillar. The clasp flew of, and it separated. Then, Kijin, who had up to then remained silent behind his mask, turned to Reishin.

“This time you made the mistake. It was because you spoke before Yuushun did that they said such things to him.”

“What? While lecturing me and making me bow to them, they ignore Yuushun?”

“To you the word endurance is—”

Between the two of them, who were angrily talking, the actual interested party, Yuushun, had no room to cut in. Finding an gap in the conversation, he struck the floor with his cane, as he had in the past. The light sound reverberated.

“Okay, that’s enough. Reishin, what are the relative proportions of National Exam and Shi-in officials in the government?”

At these words, which rather ignored the back and forth between them, Reishin and Kijin faltered.

Unlike the national exam, in the shi-in system, descendants of well-known houses or meritorious ancestors could gain entry into the court as officials based on the achievements of their forbears, should they wish, without additional conditions. Because of its nature, most of them were nobles. Ki Kouki and Ryou Anju were among those who had used the Shi-in system, not the National Exam system, to enter the road to officialdom.

Reishin muttered his reply displeasedly.

“Although for a while they were hard pressed by the National Exam group, recently it’s been continuing at half-half for years. “

Ou Ki and Ki Kouki had diligently guided the newly inducted Shi-in noble officials, and so there were many unexpectedly useful officials among them. Ryou Anju skillfully preserved his neutrality, while Ou Ki and Ki Koki acted as hard-liners, so he frequently acted as a go between between them and the National Exam group.

Within the back of Yuushun’s mind, the faces of Ou Ki and Ki Kouki arose. Although Anju was neutral, he was also Kouki’s friend. What supported their high pride was, rather than family name, their confidence in themselves. Especially, Kouki and Anju had official position above that of Reishin and Kijin, as well as experience, and possessed actual power, which meant they would not retreat if attacked head-on. As it was not easy to appear on the scene and upset the National Exam order, for them to have started with rank conferred by the Shi-in system and later pushing aside the other nobles, beginning with those from the Eight houses, as well as the National Exam faction, meant that their rise in the world was no mean accomplishment. From here on, no matter what had happened previously, to manage these these two factions and cross between them was now Yuushun’s duty.

“I see. So shall we move on, both of you? “

Yuushun turned back to glance with gentle eyes at his two friends, who seemed to have calmed down a bit.

“Thanks for before. Even if the both of you protect me like a princess, I don’t mind. No matter what they say to me about it, it doesn’t really bother me.”

Whenever he appeared at court, Yuushun’s expression became just very slightly tenser. Still, his smile remained one that, no matter what happened, could take in everything, just like water.

–Since those days, ten years had passed.

Even though they understood it was okay with him, Reishin and Kijin would without thinking say and do things in error. This had the opposite effect of getting Yuushun involved in various ways. The two of them were still trying to figure out how they could help and protect Yuushun.

In the corridor, walking along matching Yuushun’s slow pace, Kijin gently asked of his friend:

“Yuushun, I’ll come if you call me. Don’t go wandering around in the corridors so much.”

“No, if I don’t walk while I can, eventually I’ll become unable to walk. Plus, while walking I can organize my thoughs, and when I can see things with my own eyes, there are many things I can discover.

“…. …. Then please, get someone to be your bodyguard.”

“Probably even though I refused his offer of a special bodyguard, knowing the king’s personality, I think he’s probably attached one to me. The reason I refused was that I didn’t think it would make much of a difference, whether a military official is at my side or not. With this leg, there’s no way I can escape anywhere. “

Reishin remained silent.

Although Yuushun frequently became angry or lectured his two younger friends, despite this, when they contrived for his sake to aid him, he never became angry.

Following the soft sound of the cane, Reishin muttered.

“…Yuushun.”

“Yes?”

“..S..S…sorry. Maybe I….. said too much. … But really, I don’t think what I said was wrong, so I may say it again…. Actually I have the confidence to say it again, absolutely.”

Yuushun was not angered this time either. Smiling, he stopped him from digging himself in deeper, as he had in the past.

“If you understand, it’s all right. Thank you both for protecting me.”

Then, he raised his head with the expression of the Prime Minister.

“Reishin, Houju. I leave the Civil Administration and Finance Departments to you. During this case, no matter what happens, please do not be swayed, and hold the reins firmly.”

Kijin nodded, while Reishin groused.

“Since you’re here, is there any way something could happen?”

“Even when I work hard, I’m not all-powerful, Reishin. That’s why I’m asking you both.”

At this request, Reishin looked away, but he did not refuse.

“Please lend me your strength.”

The two of them were remarkably weak to a rare request for a favor from the self-reliant Yuushun.