The Twelve Kingdoms: A Thousand Leagues of Wind

ministers want to make the royal color red. They say red because the Late Empress had chosen green."
    Rokuta nodded. "I agree."
    "You think so?"
    "Wood creates Fire. Red follows green. After all, the Late Empress abdicated so that a better reign might follow."
    "There are so many customs I don't understand at all."
    "Don't be impatient. It'll be second nature to you before long."
    Youko managed a smile and nodded. "But this all seems beside the point. From what I've heard, the Inaugural Rescript is supposed to clearly lay out what kind of place I intend to make of this kingdom."
    "And yet you can't even agree on which color is best."
    Yeah, Youko said, hanging her head. A self-deprecating smile came to her lips. "I still don't know what it means to rule a country. I say I want to make a great kingdom, but what kind of a kingdom is a great kingdom, anyway?"
    "Hard to say."
    "I want my kingdom to be wealthy. I don't want the people of Kei to go hungry. I suppose that if Kei were wealthy, then people wouldn't go hungry. I was born in a wealthy country. But as to whether that made it a great country, I don't know. All that wealth can distort a lot of things."
    The thought went through her mind, Why couldn't I have been a bit more interested in political science and stuff like that? I honestly never even understood how the Japanese government worked.
    She said, "I've been entrusted with the weight of a whole country and I can't begin to know how best to balance that burden. How useful can such a king be?"
    Shouryuu said, "Youko, governing a kingdom is not easy."
    "No, it's not."
    "But you must never let the people see the nature of your struggles."
    "I suppose."
    "You will have many worries, many troubles, many difficulties. But from the point of view of the people, if you can't be satisfied with your own life, then what value can their own lives have in comparison?"
    "You're probably right."
    "You have nothing whatsoever to gain by displaying a troubled countenance. No matter how confused you might be, show a confident face to the world. The people will prefer that as well."
    "But . . . . "
    "Do you think that your subjects can have faith in a hesitant, apprehensive ruler? Will they entrust their lives to a king who apparently finds governing them a constant annoyance?"
    "Not at all."
    "When you don't know what to do next, first take a good long look at yourself. Don't rush into anything. Life is not short for you."
    "But," said Rokuta, sticking his head into the conversation. "I say, to each her own. If you really got as laid back as Shouryuu, now, that would be a problem."
    "Rokuta," said Shouryuu with a scowl.
    Rokuta ignored him. "Better to have doubts about the Inaugural Rescript than to have none. Who's going to trust a king who tosses off rescripts without a second thought? The fewer the better. Usually, you get a lot of rescripts at the beginning of a dynasty, when pacifying a country in chaos, and at the end of a dynasty, when a peaceful kingdom is being brought to its knees."
    "That makes sense."
    "On the other hand, Shouryuu here is a positive rescript fiend. You have absolutely no obligation to follow his lead whatsoever in that regard."
    Youko had to try hard not to laugh. "I'll remember that."
    "How about you trying taking it easy for a while? The affairs of the kingdom have calmed down a bit, haven't they?"
    "For the time being," said Youko.
    "Then don't sweat it. When it comes to stuff like what direction you want to take the country, it's really not so complicated. Just ask yourself what kind of life you would want to live, and then what kind of kingdom would best bring that about. Don't rush it. Think it all the way through."
    "But there's still that Inaugural Rescript . . . . "
    Rokuta laughed. "Oh that. In the end, some kings didn't even bother. And others simply wish their subjects to take care of themselves and stay healthy."
    Youko burst out laughing. "You're kidding me, right?"
    "That was the substance of the Royal Ren's Inaugural Rescript just the other day."
    "Unbelievable."
    The Kei Taiho walked into the room. He was also wearing the ceremonial regalia. Youko turned and smiled at him. "Hey, Keiki. Look, the Royal En dropped by for a visit."

Part II
    inba Palace was kept in a constant buzz of activity welcoming guests of honor. Ministers and lowly bureaucrats scurried about both tending to the guests and making preparations for the upcoming Festival of the Winter Solstice a month hence. The