H-Hey...
Look at that!
I-Is that...
Thanks to you two, the people seem to have calmed down...
...but, are you sure the Royal Army isn't going to attack?
I'm not totally confident.
But if they wanted, the air cavalry would've attacked us already.
They must have ten times the soldiers of the last air attack.
Okay.
If you two say you have faith in Queen Kei, so will I.
Hey Koshou!
Come here! Quick!
What is it?
Could it be...
Is that...
Why is he here?
Hankyo, you've done well.
The Twelve Kingdoms
Episode 39
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Final Chapter.
Calling me to such a place...
Not only that, you reek of blood.
I'm glad that you're here.
I will listen to your complaints later.
Please bear with me for a little while, Keiki.
Very well.
Thank you.
Youko!
That's the Kirin...
How graceful...
The boy has been saved.
That's great.
General!
Is that the Taiho?
Were you aware that her Majesty was here?
S-She cannot be her Majesty...
Then who else do you think could mount the noble Kirin?
General Jinrai...
Who issued the order to mobilize the Royal Army, and come to Takuhou?
I-I...
Which queen gave you the order?
Well, that is...
Or have the Royal Army and its generals resigned and...
...become Gahou's private army?
Your Majesty...
When did Seikyou become your master?
If you are attacking Takuhou on Seikyou's orders...
...I will consider this a rebellion, if that's what you want.
So you knew all along...
What do you think you're doing?
You are in the presence of her Majesty!
Why do you have your head raised without permission?
Jinrai, I'm giving you a royal order.
Lead the Royal Army to Meikaku, and capture the Lord of Wa Province, Gahou.
And also rescue Enho.
Yes, Your Majesty!
Instruct the Major General's army to return to Gyouten, and arrest Seikyou.
If you can take Seikyou and Gahou into custody and rescue Enho...
...I will overlook the mobilization of the armies this time...
...both the Royal Army and the provincial soldiers.
Also, Jinrai...
I will question you about Kaki and Uikyou later.
Yes, Your Majesty!
I've sent the Royal Army to Meikaku.
They'll surely capture Gahou, so there's nothing to worry about now.
Did you hear that? Kantai...
Brother! Get down on your knees!
Y-Yeah, but...
Everyone, please stand up.
There's no need for it.
Because of my incompetence, the people suffered...
Please forgive me.
H-Hey, what are you...
I especially have to thank Koshou and your comrades.
Under Shoukou's tyranny...
...you never threw your hope away. You kept trying to correct corruption.
It was something I was supposed to do.
I thank you.
I will also thank you too, Kantai.
I don't know you well, but if there's anything I can do, please tell me.
Is there any favor I can grant you?
May I ask you something then?
Yes.
Please clear the lord of Baku, Lord Koukan...
...of the charge of treason and allow him to return to his post.
Koukan?
Kantai...
Are you from Baku Province?
I am Seishin, the former general of the provincial army of Baku.
These men are also the officials and soldiers of Baku's provincial army.
Did you, by any chance...
...assemble forces in Wa Province under Koukan's order?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I would like to thank Koukan myself.
I hope he will still support a pathetic ruler like myself.
Thank you very much.
Is there anything that you want, Koshou?
Do I want anything?
Well, I just want Shoukou to be punished, that's all I want.
Brother!
Sekki.
Please stand up.
B-But...
Come on, now.
Oh! That's right...
What's my punishment?
Punishment?
Why?
Well, for plotting a rebellion, you know?
If I had to punish you...
...I'd have to receive the punishment too, wouldn't I?
Huh?
Oh, I guess you're right.
Right!
Well, I don't want anything, but considering what we've gone through...
...and we ate the same food and all...
Just say it.
So you're a noble, right?
You know people in high places, don't you?
Then maybe you could help him...
...get into the Shougaku University in Ei Province?
Brother!
What? What did I say?
2, 23, Sekiraku Year 2, the provincial castle of Wa Province, Meikaku
The provincial castle of Wa fell right away, and Gahou was captured.
Asano...
He's smiling.
The sword has already shown me this...
I knew he wouldn't make it.
But...
In the reflection of the sword, Asano was smiling.
But this sword also shows me what I want to see...
...so I thought maybe he was smiling because I wanted him to, but...
But it was true...
You're right, he's smiling.
I want to bury him here.
Are you sure? But he's from the other world...
He lived in this world and died.
So I think he'd want to sleep in this land.
What are you two going to do now?
You've met me already, so you reached your goal, right?
That's true, what should I do?
Well, I should go back to Sai once...
...and thank Queen Sai for everything.
Please tell her I would like to see her someday.
I will.
There are people I want to thank and apologize to in my kingdom, but...
...I'd probably get kicked out if I went back.
Although, I did make a promise...
Promise?
I have to go to En.
I've promised Rakushun that I would tell him about Kei.
I bet he is worried...
Will you tell him hello for me?
And could you not tell him what I was doing?
I'll think about it.
I wonder what a good kingdom is...
What kind of life do you want to lead?
What do you want your kingdom to be like, so you can live your ideal life?
I don't want to be cold or starve...
And I know it's not my place to say this, but...
...I didn't like it when someone treated me badly or resented me.
As I put up with it...
...I found myself thinking that I was the only one suffering.
It was the same for me too...
I should've just stood up for myself...
...but since I'd been enduring it for so long, I became a coward.
That's true.
But that doesn't really answer your question, does it?
Yes, it does, I appreciate your advice.
Really?
Yes.
What are you going to do after this?
I still have a lot to learn from Enho.
If Enho is okay with it, I want him to move to Kinpa Palace...
...then would you two be interested in working in the palace?
Wait...
Right now, I need anyone I can find to support me.
I need someone I can really trust in the palace.
Well, I guess I have no choice, I suppose I could come back.
If you say you really need my help, I'll consider it.
Please!
You seem to be doing well.
Enho...
I'm glad that you're okay.
This is the provincial lord of Baku, or should I say the "former" provincial lord.
He is Koukan.
Your Majesty, I take full responsibility for the rebellion in Wa Province.
I would like to ask you to deal with Kantai and...
...the men who were involved in this ordeal leniently.
I understand.
I'm glad that you're here.
Please raise your head.
Last year, Seikyou allowed the army of the false queen into Kinpa Palace.
However he was afraid of being accused of taking her side...
...so he decided to frame me, because I was the only one...
...who did not support the false queen.
Also, a graduate of Shoujyuku once refused to ally with him, and since then...
...he's forbade any Shoujyuku pupils to preach the Way.
After he burned down Shoujyuku...
...he sent men after the Shoujyuku pupils and killed them.
In order to make me aware of what was going on...
...you had to remove Seikyou and his men from the court.
So you asked the Shoujyuku graduate, the Minister of the Court...
...and the Sankou to be your ally.
Before we could move Your Majesty to a safe place...
...Seikyou foiled our plan.
I, once again, misunderstood...
If you had left me alone, her Majesty might not have noticed.
But you just had to try and kill me, didn't you?
You were afraid of your sins.
Seikyou, be prepared to defend yourself before the Minister of Law.
Um, did Youko...
...I mean her Majesty, mention about her first ordinance?
Yes, she wrote it in the letter.
So did she tell you about it too?
Yes.
It's very like her, but I'm a little concerned...
Like I said, you worry too much!
I couldn't come up with such an ordinance.
I was just trying my best to make this kingdom flourish, but...
...I have a feeling that she may change the soul of the kingdom itself.
Maybe you're right.
Hey Rakushun!
Who is she?
What's all the fuss?
An unbelievably beautiful lady is looking for you!
M-Meiken, just calm down!
Mokurin
I thought I had mastered the path of righteousness...
However, the path must not lead to the sacrifice of lives.
Then, I wonder, what was it that I have mastered?
At such an old age, I am still uncertain.
Yes...
Sometimes, I think that rather than preaching the path...
...cultivating fields and taking up arms have more meaning.
Perhaps you are sowing the seed of wisdom amongst the citizens.
I see...
There are still things I can't figure out after living for so long...
...and I'm being taught by someone so young.
I suppose that's how life is.
Taishi?
Are you saying that you wish to put this old man in such an important post?
I need a teacher like you.
Please, would you accept my offer?
It brings back memories to be in Kinpa Palace...
Have you ever been here, Master Enho?
In that case, you may use my surname.
My surname is Otsu and my given name is Etsu.
Master Otsu?
I go by the name of Roushou as well.
Roushou...
You must be the Shouhaku who served Tatsu-Ou.
Shouhaku? The legendary Hisen?
The one who's said to have confined the Sword of Water with the Scabbard of the Monkey?
It would be like old times to make the scabbard once more.
No, I don't need a scabbard.
Oh?
I cannot control what it shows me...
...and sometimes it shows me something I don't want to see.
But that is what's inside me.
I don't need a scabbard to sheathe my mind.
I would like to thank the Tentei for granting us such a great queen.
First of all, I apologize for being absent so long.
It was not my intention to tarry, but I do apologize for burdening the ministers.
I will not say much regarding those who were arrested the other day.
It is the duty of the Minister of Law to...
...expose their crimes, and deliver punishment.
However, I want the Minister of Law to remember that...
...I was the one who ordered their arrest.
Are you threatening me, Your Majesty?
The three generals of the Royal Army resigned the other day...
...and I accepted their resignation.
That can't be!
As a result, I have decided to appoint the former general of the...
...provincial army of Baku, Seishin, as the general of the Royal Army.
Kantai.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You shall select suitable men for the Major General and Lieutenant General...
...and lead the Royal Army.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Koukan.
Yes, Your Majesty.
You will serve as the Chousai from today on.
Please put forth a new policy for the court.
Yes, Your Majesty.
How absurd!
He was suspected of treason!
What are you trying to do to this kingdom?
Also, I will appoint the minister of Baku, Saibou, as the Lord of Wa Province.
Furthermore, the Shouhaku shall join the royal court as the Taishi.
I will cancel the order of exile on the Taifu and the Tyho...
...and give them back their old posts.
In addition to these changes, there will be other major alterations in the court.
If you have nothing to hide, there shouldn't be any reason for you to worry.
Everyone, stand up.
Your Majesty...
Keiki, I want you to listen as well.
I do not like to be worshiped, and I don't like ranks dividing people.
I don't like it when I cannot see people's faces, either.
It bothers me to see people prostrate themselves before me...
...and to watch people do so to others.
Please wait...
From today forth, I shall repeal the custom of prostration...
...with the exceptions of official ceremonies and diplomatic affairs.
People are only to bow from kneeling and standing positions.
Your Majesty!
I have decided.
Some might feel looked down upon.
I cannot care less for those...
...who have to reinforce their status by making others bow down.
I believe those who disagree with me may have a problem.
Listen Keiki.
When people show gratitude or respect, they can bow naturally.
It is only natural for one to treat someone with respect.
And whether one does that or not is...
...up to one's moral character, and nothing more.
That may be true, however...
I want each citizen of Kei to become their own ruler.
If you use your status to demand prostration and to look down upon others...
...you will become like Shoukou and Gahou.
And I know how those who are looked down upon feel.
People aren't born to be slaves.
The strong mind that withstands insult and disaster...
...and is not afraid to correct wrongs, will not subject itself to corruption.
I want the people of Kei to have such freedom.
I want each of them to become masters of themselves.
We must start by holding our heads high.
You asked me what I was doing to the kingdom...
And I hope this answers your question.
To demonstrate my intention, I hereby repeal the practice of prostration.
Let this declaration be my first ordinance!
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.