Sou
As Suzu's journey to the Kingdom of Kei continues...
...she meets a boy named Seishuu on a ship, and he is unkind to her.
Kyou
Shoukei felt that she could no longer stand working under Queen Kyou.
So she stole a Kijyuu and some royal treasures and escaped from the palace.
Kei
Youko visited an old man named Enho in Kokei of Ei Province.
There she came to realize that...
...the Kingdom of Kei was still suffering from fear of the Youma.
Episode 29
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Seven.
So, Youshi, what are you studying everyday?
I'm learning about this world since I don't know much about it.
Also, I talk to Enho about the world I came from.
I see...
But then I realized that I didn't know much about the world I came from, either.
Is Enho famous?
I don't know, but I can tell you that he's very wise.
How do you like the winter here?
It isn't much different from winter in Japan.
Kei is more temperate than the northern kingdoms.
Even in the middle of winter, you won't freeze to death sleeping outside.
Well, what do you think people need most in the winter?
Warm shelter, perhaps?
Isn't it food?
What?
Keikei is correct.
Your answer tells me that you are a child of Hourai where there is no famine.
I see.
I see, no wonder you are having a hard time.
This world and the world you come from are very different.
Ninety-two, ninety-three...
The distance between two steps is called "one pu."
It is the unit used to measure distance.
...one hundred.
Good job, Youko.
The distance you just walked is one hundred pu.
Hey!
One hundred square pu is 10,000 pu of land.
When reaching adulthood...
...everyone receives 10,000 pu of land from a kingdom.
Nine-hundred square pu of land is called "one sei,"...
...and it's divided by eight families to form a village.
Nine pieces of land for eight families?
One of them is communal.
Eighty percent of it is public land.
Twenty percent is used for places to stay in the summer, and farming.
Each family gets two hundred square pu for farming and fifty square pu for a house.
The house needs to be just big enough for two people...
...and the farm produces enough for the household.
People live in the house in the summer...
...and move back to the village in the winter.
Oh, that's why people are staying at the Rike right now.
This one sei of land is everything to the citizens.
Just remember this...
Everyone is given the minimum land and a house to start with.
People can grow wealthy with their land.
If there is no natural disaster, people will never starve.
And the rest is up to us.
But after giving the people land, what am I supposed to do?
Your duty is limited to just a few things.
You could store water for a drought, build levees in case of flood...
...store grain for famine, and have soldiers trained in case of Youma.
And most of those can be handled by minor officials.
What's there for you to be worried about?
You're right.
I'm hungry!
Oh, I'm sorry.
You can think about enriching the kingdom later.
Just try not to make things worse.
Discipline yourself, and live as long as you can.
That's all you need to think about.
Even if I did nothing, the citizens will live.
Sekki...
What?
He used to be a student of mine.
Sekki, come here.
He was a smart boy...
I wonder how he is doing now.
Enho!
Here, it's from Mr. Lou.
Youshi, I'm sorry but I'm having a guest tonight.
I understand.
Well, let's have lunch.
I wonder what's for lunch today.
Kou
Shun
Look out!
Ow!
Quit joking around already, or you are really going to fall someday!
Oh, the Sen-nin lady.
Are you still mad at me?
Of course I am.
We've been through a lot because of who we are.
How can you tell me that it's nothing special?
Would you move? I'm going to get some water for him.
Why can't he do it by himself?
I told you, he can't speak the language.
Why can't you...
That's so stupid.
You just want everyone to know how miserable you are.
You feel sorry for him, but you think you're even more miserable than he is.
You sound like the most unfortunate girl in the world.
You're horrible...
How can you say that to someone who's hurting so much?
Having a hard time and doing nothing about it makes you special?
Me, I'd try to make things better.
But I'm a Kaikyaku...
Do you think only Kaikyaku suffer?
If you are a Sen-nin, you don't get sick or age, do you?
Unlike you, we can get sick and die, or starve to death.
Can you still say that you suffer more than we do?
Don't tell me that, I bet you've been fortunate.
I wonder if I have.
You have a home to return to, right? And you're on this pleasure cruise...
I was born in Kei.
See? You're going back to Kei, to be with your family.
I have neither home nor family.
The previous queen of Kei...
Before she ascended the throne, Kei was in the worst shape.
My parents had left Kei and escaped to Kou.
But a couple of months ago...
It was something called a "Shoku."
Well, whatever it was, it caused a landslide.
Dear!
We were lucky to be alive.
But with both the king and Taiho dead...
...we knew things in Kou would get worse.
So we decided to head for Sou.
But when we got close to the border...
Many of us were killed, including my dad.
Those people can't go home anymore, even if they still have homes...
Then I got to Sou, I worked hard to buy the tickets for a ship to Kei.
But then my mom got sick before we could get on the ship...
The ticket I gave him...
That was my mom's.
M-My parents always have had a hard time, too.
They were so poor that they had to sell me.
You've never been sold, have you?
But it's so Ionely to be left alone.
I'm alone, too.
I never got to see my family again.
Me, neither!
But you were with them when they died, right?
I don't even know when they died.
I was with my mom when she died, but when my dad was killed...
I would've wanted to be with my parents, however they died.
You're more fortunate than I am!
Do you really think so?
What?
Dad!
You still think I was fortunate to see my dad's last moment when he died?
I didn't...
Look, it's not true that some suffer more than others.
We all go through the same pain.
But...
Lady Riyou and Queen Sai were...
If you were really hurting, you'd do anything to get out of it...
...but you didn't, that's because you liked feeling sorry for yourself, didn't you?
How would you expect others to sympathize with you?
What's wrong?
My head hurts...
I'm sorry, it's probably from earlier...
No, I was struck by a Youma on the head once.
It hurts sometimes.
Don't worry, I'll be fine if I lie down for a while.
I see...
So he says there was a Shoku in the Kingdom of Kou?
That's right. And that's how he lost his house.
Maybe the Shoku that brought me here destroyed his village.
So he hates us for it...
I see that's how it is...
He is an enemy, damn it.
Enemy?
I know what kind of role he's playing now...
He's our enemy. He was sent to kill us.
Ryuu
After Shoukei escaped from Soufuu Palace...
...she sold the stolen earrings to buy clothes, and entered the Kingdom of Ryuu.
Large inns usually welcome payment by goods...
...so Shoukei was able to stay at very expensive inns throughout her travels.
Will this be enough?
Yes, it will!
What an amazing Kijyuu you have!
We've got some great guests today.
Is that so?
Well, there's a guest who has a Suugu.
Wow.
Well, it doesn't have to be a Suugu but if I had a Kitsuryou...
...I could've made more money.
How so?
It's the Gyoku. I could've used it to bring Gyoku from Tai.
Oh, you mean this?
That's right.
I used to work on a ship that went to Tai.
We would take grain from here and bring back Gyoku from Tai.
I made pretty good money doing it, but I had to quit.
You can't even get close to Tai because of Youma.
A new king has been chosen, but the kingdom's still in bad shape.
The last ship from Tai was loaded with people.
They begged us to take them to Ryuu.
I hear Kei's ships are still getting people out of Tai.
Kei?
They use armed ships to transport refugees.
You could even get citizenship in one of Kei's provinces.
But, what do they do about passes?
They have nothing but themselves.
So citizenship must be a lifesaver for them.
If I get Kei citizenship, I might be able to work in the royal palace, too.
I am well educated, and I know how things work in the palace.
And I will gain Queen Kei's trust, then I will...
Ma'am?
Oh, is this my room?
Well, actually...
We have so many guests today, we're asking people to share.
Can you do anything about it?
I'm so sorry, but there's no vacancy.
But this guest is the owner of the Suugu, so I'm sure he is okay.
I see.
Excuse me, sir.
This is the guest who will be sharing the room with you.
Sure. I have no problem with that.
You are...
Did I scare you? I see you're not used to seeing Hanjyuu.
I'm visiting here from En to see plays in the capital.
How about you?
I'm thinking about going to Tai.
Who is it?
Excuse me, it's the innkeeper.
What is it?
Well, it's about your Kitsuryou...
Just a moment, I'll open the door now.
May I see your pass?
What time do you think it is?
What's going on?
Where is your pass?
I lost it.
What's your name?
Gyokuyou.
No, don't!
This isn't all of it, where's the rest?
Excuse me...
Here is one.
Good.
What's going on?
Who are you?
It was him!
He gave them to me!
Huh?
I really don't recall giving anything to you.
What's your name?
Shoukei...
I mean, Gyokuyou.
Shoukei is the name of the last princess of Hou, isn't it?
Princess Sonshou, people called her Shoukei.
Who are you?
I'm Rakushun. I'm a student.
Are you on the run because you're the princess?
Before you get nosy about me, you should be worried about yourself.
We'll be crucified tomorrow.
Hou was the only kingdom that had the death penalty for stealing.
Is it true?
I heard that King Hou was very strict.
Even a child would get executed for stealing food.
Just who are you?
I told you, I'm just a Daigaku student.
But you're just a kid...
Not that I care, but I'm twenty two years old, you know.
Well, I guess I'll be expelled for this if I get prosecuted.
Kou
Shun
Here, I'll give you these.
Where did you get that?
They were given to me.
Then I'll have some.
Here you go.
What's up with this kid?
I know you don't like us.
What did he just say?
Never mind.
You aren't eating?
I don't want it.
Do you have a headache again?
I'll be fine if I take a nap.
What's wrong with your eyes?
They just itch.
When we get to Kei, you should see a doctor.
What if it's serious?
Can you tell those things because you're a Sen-nin?
Am I dying?
It was just a joke.
You're mean!
Says you!
People like you don't die easily!
I'll see if you're trying to get revenge.
I'll see if you're in on this...
Sis?
What are you doing?
Um...
I don't think he can see.
Seishuu.
I can't see anything.
I think I'm dying.
No, you are not. Don't be silly.
We're going to Gyouten together.
I'm going to see Queen Kei, so I'll ask her to cure your eyes.
I'm scared, I don't want to die.
Seishuu!
When my dad died, when mom died, I tried to smile.
I tried really hard to smile.
But I don't think I can smile when I'm dying.
Kei
How is the palace?
No problem so far.
But Koukan has not been located yet.
I see.
A lot of people must think that I ran away from Koukan to En.
Please be careful.
Koukan and his clan may make another assassination attempt.
Not to worry. I have Hankyo and Jyouyuu.
I shall deliver the message.
I wonder if Koukan will come after me again...
Who's that?
Gahou is a beast without a tail, it might already be too late...
It was unfortunate that we lost Kaki, but...
Kaki?
Kaki is the Minister of the Court who tried to kill me.
I was counting the sands of time without realizing.
In a false dream I became speechless.
I would stare into the fire...
...as I swore to be true forever.
Let my prayers be heard, I will overcome hardship...
...and keep my oath until the end of the world.
"Once she starts crying, she doesn't stop. The poor thing."
Those are his final thoughts.
The Twelve Kingdoms, episode 30.
Episode 30
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Eight.