A frog in a well wont know the ocean.
Note: the emperor's name is Shi Ryuuki.
In the Imperial Palace , there was a building which sits in a quite corner of the palace of Saiunkoku . Far from the political center, the caretaker of the Archives looked after the books and documents that collected dust in a lowly, laid-back position most people were unaware of.
“Father.”
“Oh, Shuurei.”
“Wont you join us for some tea… This is Ran Shuuei-sama. You know one another, right?” – Shuurei took the young men who called himself Ran Shuuei into the Archives to meet Shouka.
“Oh! Yes, of course! Welcome, Your Maj… ooh Shuuei-dono” – Souka looked at the young man and immediately recognized who the man was.
“Good day to you, Shouka-dono.”
“Well, let's go and prepare the tea, Ran Shuuei-sama.”
“Y…yeah.”
“I'll be right there after I finish with this work.” – said Shouka.
Meanwhile there was a young man who quietly stood in the corner of the Archives looking after them. It was no other than Seiran.
“Hey, Seiran.”
“General Ran?”
“Come here for a second.” – Seiran quietly followed Shuuei.
“This is..?”
“Li Kouyuu. He serves in the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He's my old friend.”
“Who's your old friend? I don't want anything to do with you.”
“You're the Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, aren't you? At age 16 you were the youngest person in the history to pass the Imperial Examniations.”
“As expected Kouyuu, your reputation precedes you.”
“But isn't there official business to be dealt with at the Ministry of Civil Affairs in the morning? Why are you here in the Archives?"
Kouyuu was embarrassed by the question while Shuuei was laughing: "It's that official business which brings us here, the same as you".
"Could that be..."
"Yes. Kouyuu and I, like you, serve the Emperor personally but we havent had anything to do for this past month. You serve Shuurei-dono's family, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Since we have nothing better to do at the moment, we'd like to see how your princess handles things." - Smiled Shuuei.
"Here. Please go ahead." - Shuurei served tea for the young man.
"Delicious! So this is how it's supposed to taste?"
"You've been drinking that bitter tasting "Papa Tea" all this time."
"Papa tea? "
"The horrible bitter tea that Father always makes."
"Ah. I also like the "Papa Tea" Shouka makes."
Shuurei thought the young man was a really nice person when he said that - "Do you come to the Archives often?"
"Yes."
"Even though you're a military officer ?"
"Eh? Uh....Y...you are Royal Consort Kou, right? - the young man tried to change the topic.
"Oh, you knew?"
"Yes. When I went to the Imperial Harem yesterday, I heard it from Shusui."
"Is that so...So what were you doing in the Imperial Harem?"
"Eh...Well... that was..." - He blushed and tried to find a proper answer.
"Could it be that the Emperor has a message?"
"Well... no, that..."
"Sorry to keep you waiting." - Shouka arrived just in time.
"Ah... y..yes. Shouka-dono, please come and have some tea."
"Shuurei is the princess of Kou family, is she not? Why is she so skilled at preparing refreshments... and also...there's those.." - the young man looking at Shuurei's hands asked reluctantly.
"These hands?"
"Your skin is so worn, isnt it? Those hands do not look like the hands of a princess."
"Even so, since I came to the Imperial Palace, they've become much more beautiful. My family is poor. Day after day I've had to work hard. That's why my hands aren't smooth or elegant like those of a princess. But you know, it's alright with me. Father, Seiran and I, the three of us were able to continue living together, so it doesn't matter." - Shuurei calmly told the young man.
"Seiran?"
"You've probably seen him around already. He's been assigned to the Left Imperial Army as the Emperor's personal guard."
While they continued their conversation, Shuurei noticed the way the young man ate steamed buns: "Dropping crumbs all over the place... Just like a child, aren't you?"
"I'm already 19 years old. I am not a child."
"Oh, is that so. You're the same age as the Emperor, right?"
Surprised by the change of the topic, the young man tried to look away to avoid answering her.
"How many did you eat?"
"5 or 6" - he tried to take another bun and was stopped immediately by Shuurei.
"You've eaten too many! I'm packing these up. If you want more, you can have some later."
"Shuurei sounds like a nagging mother, doesn't she?" - the young man talked to Shouka.
"Indeed."
"Father!"
"Sorry sorry." - laughed Shouka.
"But it's nice, isn't it?... in that way"
----------
In the night, on the way to her room, Shuurei saw the young man holding hands of an official walking into his room. Shuurei then thought that the Emperor really did like men.
"Ojou-sama, what are you doing out here?"- asked Seiran.
"Seiran, you scared me."
"The Emperor didn't go to your room and you're unhappy about it right?" - Seiran tried to tease Shuurei.
"Don't say such a ridiculous thing! I'm just ..."
"Just?"
She changed her voice - "That man, he might really just be a very lonely person. That's what I think. That man, when I first met him and asked his name, what do you think he said :"Ran Shuuei"...Not wearing a goverment uniform, wandering around the Imperial Palace in casual clothes, it'd be odd if you didn't recognise him as the Emperor."
"Ojou-sama, those books are... ?"
"Oh, these? I'm planning to study. I came to the Imperial Palace as the Emperor's tutor. I need to get to work, right? Before I thought he was just hopeless and stupid, but after speaking with him I've found that that's not the case at all. He may act a little childish, but he's neither short tempered nor arrogant, and he also listens carefully to whatever I say. If someone can listen carefully to what others say, that should indicate that they're easy to communicate with. He isn't as bad as I imagined him to be...Rather, I should say he has the potential to become a great emperor."
"Yes, I think so too." - Seiran smile gently and felt pleased with Shuurei's words.
"So I have to study hard!"
-------
"Grand Advisor Shou" - Shuurei approached Advisor Shou early in the morning.
"Oh, is it Shuurei-dono?"
"Grand Advisor, I have a favour to ask of you."
"What is it?"
"I want to study, but simply reading books on my own...so I was hoping you might find someone to teach me."
"Oh, I understand. Leave it to me."
----------
"First, let's start with the fundamentals of Imperial Court structure." - Ran Shuuei checked on Shuurei's basic knowledge - "Shuurei-dono, you were invited to come to the palace by Grand Advisor Shou, were you not?"
"Yes."
"In that case, you must already have some basic understanding. Well then, can you explain what the Four Departments and Six Ministries are?"
"The Four Departments are: State Affairs, Chancellary, Secretariat, and the Celestial Chambers. The Six Ministries under the Department of State Affairs are: Civil Affairs, Finance, Rites, Military Affairs, Justice, and Public Works."
"You have quite a thorough understanding, don't you."
"Actually, I always wanted to take the Imperial Exams, so I was always studying with my father. But when I found out that women can't take the Imperial Exams, I became a teacher at them temple school and passed that dream on to the children."
"So you became a teacher?"
"Yes."
"In that case, you shouldn't need to study any further."
"No, that's not the case. There's no limit to the pursuit of knowledge, is there?"
Shuuei was quite surprised by her response.
"Come to think of it, General Ran, you are a military officer, aren't you? Why are you here to teach me?"
"Ah, that's...He's finally arrived." - Shuuei refered to Kouyuu who was rushing into the library with sweats all over his face.
"Kouyuu-sama."
"Lost again, huh? I was starting to think I'd have to be your substitute."
"Shut up!"
"Although this guy is a genius in some respects, he can get lost within 30 paces. He has no sense of direction." - Shuuei explained to Shuurei the reason he'd had to teach her up until now.
"No sense of direction?"
"Stop your babbling and shut up!" - Kouyuu was embarassed, so he threw a book into Shuuei's face but was easily caught by Shuuei at once.
"Your student has been waiting for you."
"I am in your care now."
"You're serious about studying for the sake of this country, right? Compared to this, that stupid Emperor..."
"Stupid Emperor?"
"This palace seems big, but it's actually small."
"If it's so small, why did you get lost?" - Shuuei tried to tease Kouyuu.
"Shut up! What I'm trying to say is the Emperor still doesn't understand anything. Even this woman is worried about the country and is willing to learn."
"Stop ranting just because that stupid Emperor doesn't give you any work to do."
"Ah..." - Shuurei tried to cut their quarrel.
"What is it, Shuurei?"
"The stupid Emperor, oh, I shouldn't say that... Perhaps it's because the Emperor has never left the palce before."
"I'm not sure, but it's probably true" - said Shuuei.
"You're always wandering down certain streets and picking up women, aren't you."
"Next time, let's go together."
"Not a chance."
"A frog in a well won't know the ocean. After seeing the state of the people in the world, even a stupid emperor should start to become more involved in goverment affairs."
-----
Inspired by the thought, Shuurei took the emperor to go to her home.
"Shuurei's home is in this area, is it?"
"Yes, it is."
"It's a very busy place, isn't it" - Ryuuki seemed to be very unfamiliar with the outside world. He constantly looked at everything.
"There are a lot of shops around here. Not only food is sold, antiques, decoratives, clothing, books, and many other things are sold as well."
Shuurei then went and bought 2 cakes on the street and gave one to Ryuuki.
"It's really delicious. This is the first time I'm walking and eating at the same time. This kind of feeling is really good."
While they were walking on the street, some of the children at the temple school saw them.
"Shuurei-sensei!"
"Ryuushin!"
"Where've you been lately?"
"Well, I've been a bit..."
"Shuurei-sensei, where's Seiran?"
"Who's that onii-chan(2) with the fancy clothes?"
"Fan...fancy?" - Ryuuki looked at his clothes and then looked at the kids' clothes, then he realized how poor normal people were.
"Even if you're not Seiran, it doesn't matter. Come on, let's play fight together. Let's play! Let's play."
"Shuurei-sensei. Kinren's in big trouble" - Another kid came.
......
"For a comb like this, you're asking way too much. You've got to be kidding."
" But it's made from high quality box wood. The price is already very low." - A small girl answered with a quiver.
"You're just saying whatever you want."
"That's right. She's free to say whatever she wants... To be unable to appreciate such fine craftsmanship, you must be blind." - Shuurei stepped in and picked up one comb.
"What was that?"
"Continuing to argue like this. You're only showing more people what an unrefined man you are."
The man was embarrassed and ran away.
"Shuurei-sensei, thank you."
"It was nothing. That aside, how is your mother?"
"Well, she has a cold, and has been sick since this morning."
"So, you have to take care of the shop right?..... That's it! I just had a good idea."
That idea was Shuurei and Ryuuki had to take care of the shop for the little girl so that she could return and look after her mother.
"Welcome! How about buying a hairpin?... Hey! You call out too"
"You want me to...?
"Of course. There isn't anyone else here. Go on."
"Wel....W...W..Welcome" - Ryuuki blushed.
"In a louder voice."
"Welcome!"
"My, what a handsome man!"
"Welcome! This hairpin here, how do you like it?" - Shuurei quickly picked one hairpin up for the lady - "I can give you a special price, would you like to try it on... Here, put it in her hair."
Ryuuki followed her order "Like this?"
"It's lovely. It really suits you." - She stepped on Ryuuki's foot.
"I...It suits you very well"
"You think so?"
"Yes"
The lady blushed and bought it. Then came a lot of young ladies to buy hairpins so that they could get a chance to have a handsome man put them in their hair. Meanwhile there were two young man who were watching them.
"The emperor selling on the street... Is this his punishment for using my name?" - Shuuei talked to Rouyuu.
Shuuei also noticed that Seiran was standing in a corner looking after them from a far.
"You're looking forward to meeting the Emperor in person, right?" - asked Shuuei.
"When that time comes I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."
Shuurei and Ryuuki managed to sell off all the hairpin and could pay for Kinren's mother's medicine.
"Are you tired?"
"No, how should I put it? I enjoyed my self ."
"I'm so glad! Helping others is a wonderful thing."
When they reached Shuurei's home, Ryuuki noticed there were a lot of damage and holes in the wall of the estate.
"You really are poor, aren't you?"
"My, how impolite."
"Sorry."
"It's alright. It's true after all."
"So Shuurei, you're the children's teacher, aren't you?
"That's right."
"You're so strong and you also have good business sense." - Ryuuki looked out the garden and saw a lot of dead tree - "Are those cherry tree?"
"Yes, they are. Our cherry trees haven't blossomed since 8 years ago."
"8 years ago?" - there was sadness in his eyes.
"8 years ago, when the fighting for the throne began after the death of the previous emperor, the goverment no longer wielded any power during the conflict. Those of us from the lower classes suffered the most in the immediate aftermath. Most nobles closed their doors firmly. Many people collapsed in front of those doors. Father and Seiran did what they could to help the people get by, but there was next to nothing that could be done. Perhaps for those people, the most useful thing we could offer tham was our garden. There were many fruit trees and a large pond. We gave all of the fruit and fish to the town peope. In turn, there are no longer any fish left in the pond and many years have passed since these trees last yielded fruit. They no longer bloom because all of their fruits were eaten. Many people died before my eyes...
"Shuurei-chan, please play the Erhu for the sake of this child so that he may rest in peace"
...day after day I played the erhu countless times as if I was living only for death. Why did we have to live enduring such sorrow? Father and Seiran became thinner every day. I was so frightened. Night after night I'd dream of the two of them dying, leaving me all alone. Those were terrible days.."
"Shuurei..."
"That's why I decided to go to the Imperial Palace. I don't want to do nothing but cry about my own uselessness anymore. So if there's something I can do myself, I'm going to do it. What I wish for isnt't something unachievable "Please build a country in which everyone can be happy", I wouldn't ask something as foolish as that. Being happy or unhappy is up to the person himself , so that's not something the Emperor can be responsible for. Each person's life belongs to that person alone. There are so many options, people have to decide for themselves... Sometimes, there are no options avaible for us. For example, natural disasters: we have no control over them, but when it comes to man-made disasters, we should be able to prevent them ourselves."
"That's why you came to the palace?"
"There are still many things we can do ourselves, after all. However, for commoners, there are some things we can't change no matter how hard we try. Getting these things done is the Emperor's job, isn't it. If the Emperor gets lazy and doesn't do them, who else can? Why he doesn't want to govern, I can't understand, but if he's claimed the throne, it's something he has to deal with. We have to get him to work hard. And in turn, I'll work hard as well. It it's because being the youngest prince, he never studies government affairs, then I'll learn together with him. If he's unhappy, I'll stay by his side. I'll listen to him no matter how much he complains. If he wants to cry, he can go ahead and cry. I'm not an offical, there's no need to pretend in front of me. I did not come here simply to have your child nor did I come here to blame you. I am here to support you, to stay by your side and support you in becoming a great emperor ..... Well, if I meet the Emperor, that's what I'll say but I haven't even been able to meet him yet. Since you know the Emperor, could you pass on what I just said, and please tell him, if he'd like to come, I'll be waiting in the Archives tomorrow afternoon."
Ryuuki firmly held her hands "I understand. I'll definitely pass it on."
"The tea...it's gone cold, hasn't it. Let me make some more."
Seiran was hiding behind the room and heard everything, he went into the kitchen right after Shuurei pretended to make some more tea and went into the kitchen.
"Ojou-sama."
Just when she saw Seiran, she started to cry.
"You really did everything you could. Those days... though 8 years have passed, just thinking of them is still painful for you, isn't it..."
"I'm sorry. I'm alright now."
"I'm sure that the Emperor will go to the Archives tomorrow."
-----------
In the Archives, Shuurei was waiting. Came in a young man in government uniformn - "I am Shi Ryuuki, I received your message from a man I know."
"I see, so your answer is?"
"I will govern"
"Thank you" - Shuurei smiled happily.
Ryuuki suddenly stepped forward and hugged her. After a second, she blushed and pushed him away - "Can I ask you a question? You...you like men more than women, right?"
"Well, I guess so"
"So, you do.. Thank goodness. That's going to be a problem if you want to produce an heir though..... Well, that's something we'll have to think about later. For now, let's concentrate on learning the basics of government affairs..."
"Now let me introduce your teacher."
"It's an honour to finally meet you, Your Majesty. I am Li Kouyuu."
"Please, do your best, YOur Majesty"
"Ran Shuuei. Why are you here?"
"I am Your Majesty's personal guard after all. And besides, I heard that lately someone has been assumin gmy name in the Archives, so I came to see for myself."
"From now on I'll be training you thoroughly without holding back. Please be prepared." - Kouyuu straightened his face, put a pile of books on the table and stared at Ryuuki while he was still embarrassed by Shuuei's mocking.
"I..I'm in your hands."
------
"Oh, the Emperor finally seems to be motivated. It seems that it was a wise decision to allow Shuurei-dono, who understands the ways of the world, to come to the Palace." - said the Grand Guardian Sou.
"Shou, this was a good idea, coming from you." - added the Grand Mentor Sa.
"You didn't need to add "Coming from you". Now we'll just have to see whether the Emperor will present Li Kouyuu and Ran Shuuei with flowers." - said Grand Advisor Shou.
---------
Note:
(1) - is a term to call an uncle or a middle age man.
(2) - is a term to call a brother or a person who is older.
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