Sai
For one hundred years at the Cavern of Suibi in Sai...
...there slaved a Kaikyaku named Suzu.
She learned from the Mistress of the Cavern, Riyou, about a young girl...
...around her age, who had ascended the throne of the Kingdom of Kei.
Hou
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Hou...
Shoukei, who was living miserably at a Rike in Kei Province, also heard this news.
Shoukei never forgot that she was once the daughter of a King...
...and she was jealous of the new young queen of Kei.
Kei
While Suzu's envious feelings and Shoukei's hatred toward Youko grew...
...Youko herself was unsure of her role as ruler, and was becoming frustrated.
Episode 25
A Great Distance in the Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Three
Queen Kei!
You drifted to this world from Hourai, too, didn't you?
You poor thing...
It's been so hard!
I understand...
No one in this world can understand what Kaikyaku have to go through here.
But I understand very well, because I am also a Kaikyaku, just like you.
Beautiful...
She is like my sister.
I should punish you for what you have done to her!
Or perhaps, you should become Suzu's servant.
No, it is not necessary.
Only if the Mistress could promise to be a little nicer...
Sai
You're late!
Why are you so slow?
I am so sorry!
How is it that the stable workers get here faster than a housemaid?
Unbelievable!
I'm feeding twelve servants, and only three of them are here.
Honma!
Yes, Ma'am!
Get everyone out of their beds, and tell them to clean this place.
At this hour?
How am I supposed to sleep in peace when I have useless servants...
...who don't even know how to clean?
Oh, I must be cursed...
P-Please wake up!
Shut up! What do you want?
Please, Mistress said...
I'm the one who's cursed.
I am the most unfortunate girl in the world.
Queen Kei...
Please help me...
Kei
Taisai, we cannot proceed with the morning conference...
...if you keep objecting to everything.
Shouldn't we think carefully about who is to be Lieutenant?
No one is saying we shouldn't.
However, objecting just to be contrary is not helping.
Taisai is taking it out on us because he objects to your punishment of Koukan.
Is that true?
I am disappointed that Koukan has been removed from Baku Province...
...however, now he will be able to prove himself innocent.
All I am suggesting is that we should...
...consider the question of the Lieutenant more extensively.
We would like to hear your opinion, Your Majesty.
Both the General and Major General recommended the same man...
...so I suppose he is qualified to be a general.
However...
As the Defense Minister, I agree with their selection.
As Your Majesty commands.
The Minister of the Court is called Taisai and he manages all the affairs in court.
The Ministry of the Interior manages land and the registration of residents.
The Minister of the Interior is called Daishito.
The Ministry of Ceremonies deals with ceremonies...
...and its minister is called the Daisouhaku.
The Ministry of Defense controls military affairs and three generals work for them.
The Minister of Defense is called the Daishiba.
The Daishikou is in charge of the Administration of Law...
...which creates laws and also performs diplomatic functions.
The Minister of Economic Development is called the Daishikuu.
They make special weapons and manage the various treasures.
They also furnish the palace.
The Chousai oversees these six ministries.
That is correct. You have learned quite a lot, Your Majesty.
But I still don't understand something...
The current Chousai is Seikyou, but it seems to me that...
...he's not getting along with the ministers of the Court or Ceremonies.
If the Chousai is in charge of all six administrations...
...he must excel in the affairs of all offices.
But why are those people opposed to the Chousai?
Is there some kind of power struggle among them?
They all just want you to listen to their opinion...
...that is probably why they are a little too outspoken sometimes.
But I think I listen to them equally.
Three officials, the Taishi, Taifu, and Tyho...
...are called the Sankou, and they personally serve the ruler.
They are subordinate to the Saiho, Keiki.
The Sankou help the ruler by giving advice and suggestions.
Right now they are also educating Youko about the systems of this world.
They do not participate in politics, but they are the closest officials to Youko.
Whether I'm in the other world or this world, I'm doing pretty much same thing.
I'm always studying.
You must be tired.
If I may...
...could I invite you to visit the dwelling of your servant?
Uikyou...
I mean, Taishi, you're inviting me?
I have someone who learned how to cook the dishes of Hourai...
...so I was wondering if you'd like to join us for supper.
I would love to.
I'm touched by your thoughtfulness.
I will definitely stop by with the Kei Taiho.
Your Majesty.
Chousai...
This about the laborers, isn't it?
Yes.
As the result of natural disasters, Youma, and battles...
...the land has fallen into ruin.
As the Minister of the Interior says, we must repair rivers on a large scale.
But the Minister of Ceremonies and others suggest that we send reinforcements...
...to guard the provincial capitals against the Youma in the winter.
However, we cannot possibly complete...
...both flood control and the defense of the capitals by spring.
You must decide which rivers and which capitals to concentrate on.
I'm sorry, but I cannot decide.
I'm sorry.
I have been studying about this world...
...but I'd like to discuss this matter with Keiki.
The Taiho is not here this afternoon.
Oh, right. He is serving as the Lord of Ei Province this afternoon...
It might not be a problem if it were only the matter of a single province.
However, if you depend on him for every matter...
...his compassionate nature for the people may lead the Kingdom to ruin.
I understand, but...
Just give me some time.
Every time her ministers bowed before her...
...there was something Youko always wondered.
Whether the expression on their faces was ridicule, or disappointment.
I do not mean to be meddlesome, but...
...would you let me take care of this matter?
Do you think you can do it?
We must hurry.
We have to issue a proclamation for the new year.
Please discuss it with the other ministers and decide on it.
I'm counting on you.
I don't know...
Am I really supposed to be a queen?
Your Majesty.
Keiki.
I was going to tell you that Uikyou has invited us to...
I heard the Chousai was visiting you just now.
That's right, I asked him to take care of the labor matter.
You left it to him?
I don't know which side should be given priority...
...because I don't know anything about the condition of the Kingdom!
That's why I left it to someone who does!
Please tell me if I'm doing something wrong.
It's good to listen to what the officials have to say.
What do you want me to do?
If I may be forthright...
...if everything is in accordance with the Chousai's wishes...
...some officials may not be too happy about the decision.
As for the Lieutenant, I just considered the opinions of the other two generals.
And about the labor matter, the Chousai wanted to take care of it, so...
...I think I'm listening to everyone equally.
Then I have nothing to complain about.
And what was it you were about to tell me just now?
Oh, Uikyou invited us to her house for dinner.
You must call the officials by their rank, not by their names.
Keiki!
Are you dissatisfied that the ruler is a queen?
Do you think I am useless?
Do you also wish for Kaitatsu?
Your Majesty, that is not what I mean.
You are the one who put me on this throne!
Why are you looking at me like that, too?
Y-Your Majesty, I was just...
Go away!
Shoukei, do you know...
...that the citizens call you the Jewel of the Royal Palace?
You're joking.
No jewel in this world is more precious than you are!
Come.
That hair ornament is mine! And that's my obi jewel!
Give them back!
Give them back to me, Queen Kei!
Oh, my precious doll...
Gyokuyou. Oh, my precious doll...
What?
I'm working, can't you see?
Gyokuyou, I like the song you sing.
You do?
Whatever.
Teach me the song.
Don't be stupid.
If you teach me the song, then I'll tell Gobo not to scold you so much.
It's no use.
How come?
The song...
It's not a song someone like you should be allowed to sing!
Sai
Queen Kei!
To make up for this vase you broke, you will go without dinner.
Do not worry, a Sen-nin may starve but you'll never die from it.
You are fortunate that I'm so compassionate, and made you into a Sen-nin.
If you don't like it, you could always leave.
Or you could sleep in the stable with my Sekko if you want.
P-Please forgive me, Mistress.
My goodness. What a selfish servant she is.
Well then, why don't you go get some Kankin for me?
Kankin?
That herb only grows on the cliffs of Mt. Ha.
If you can bring back some by the morning meal, I will forgive you.
Now go!
Queen Kei, please protect me.
I-I can't do this...
Did the Mistress send you here?
Fine!
Hou
Don't give me excuses!
While everyone was preparing for the morning meal...
...you were sitting idle and singing a song, weren't you?
I'm sorry, I was just...
You are supposed to work three times, no, five times harder than anyone!
Everyone earns their own food with their own hands.
Can't you sincerely apologize for once?
You think everything will be just fine if you say that you're sorry.
Why do I have to take care of you?
Why do you think the children here have no parents?
Everything is Chuutatsu's fault.
It's your father's fault.
But it's not my fault...
Is that true?
G-Go back to your room now!
Gyokuyou's father is Chuutatsu?
So Gyokuyou is the daughter of the King?
That song was a song from the palace?
Listen everyone!
Wait!
She's the daughter of that murderer! The Princess is right here!
Wait, I am...
Stop it, everyone!
Why are you stopping us?
She does have non-resident citizenship.
That means someone helped her and took her from the Royal Palace.
Who in the world would want to save her?
Could it be the Lord of Kei Province?
Who else would think of saving the life of such a pathetic being?
The Lord of Kei saved us from that monster...
We don't have to live in fear of the officials anymore.
We don't have to worry about our families being killed.
Do you think we have the right to kill something the Lord of Kei saved?
But...
Of course I'm disgusted by her too...
...but if we killed her now, it would dishonor the kindness of the Lord of Kei.
So please, can't you just settle down for now?
How dare you!
Bastard!
How can you say such a thing?
You are the one who's been treating me so horribly!
You deserve it!
My parents were killed while you were acting all haughty up in the palace!
Gobo, you don't need to protect her!
They were killed because they broke the law.
Father didn't punish them because he wanted to.
He wanted to make the Kingdom a better place, so he passed those laws.
The people who ignore the law and do whatever they want should be executed!
They should be executed?
For one handful of grain?
Stop it!
Listen...
When I had a fever...
...Mother didn't go to work in the field, so she could care for me.
Was it something she deserved to be beheaded for?
I-I didn't know anything about it.
Is she the daughter of the King?
What? Gyokuyou is the daughter of Chuutatsu?
Gobo, is that true?
Yes, it is.
Get her!
Yeah!
It's not my fault!
I swear I didn't know what Father was doing!
He never let me leave the palace!
Please, stop it...
Kei
It's not as easy as we thought to cook something we had never seen.
No, it looks wonderful.
Taishi, please send my thanks to the cook.
Please, call me Uikyou.
Okay.
You must've worked a lot harder than anyone else to become a Taishi.
Well, you are young woman and already a Taishi, so I thought...
Males and females are treated equally when they are officials.
Is that so?
The previous ruler chased all the women out of the Kingdom...
...so there are not that many now...
...but generally half of the officials are females.
There are even female soldiers.
I see, the women don't give birth in this world...
Things are a lot different from Hourai.
The Kingdom of Kei happens to have had short-lived queens, however...
...if you look at the history of rulers, there were many queens with long reigns.
The Queen of Kyou has been on the throne for almost ninety years now.
Please, look after this kingdom and give us the right guidance.
By the way, I'm not as young as you think I am.
That's right, you are a Sen-nin. I get it.
It's a little too early to be merry for the new year...
You must stop!
You cannot come in! Her Majesty is present!
W-What is going on?
What's this?
Who granted you permission to mobilize the Royal Army?
Major General!
Taishi! You're one of the group that has been scheming to assassinate the Queen...
...are you not?
Assassinate me?
Look at these Touki weapons!
Those are the ones I ordered them to sell...
Touki weapons can kill Sen-nin.
It is clear that you, the Sankou, and the Taisai conspired...
...to kill the Queen with the help of Koukan.
Taisai?
These men were dissatisfied with the treatment Koukan received.
Under his influence they decided to bring the Queen down in this house.
Uikyou...
Your Majesty, please forgive me!
U-Uikyou!
Stop it!
Please listen to me, Your Majesty!
Let go of me!
Uikyou, so you really were planning to...
She has a Hinman...
She's a traitor!
Shoot!
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.
She has heard of a creature called a Kirin.
What an elegant creature it is, Suzu thinks.
The Twelve Kingdoms, episode 26...
Episode 26
A Great Distance in The Wind, The Sky at Dawn, Chapter Four.
A Great Distance in the Wind, the Sky at Dawn, Chapter Four.