The Twelve Kingdoms: Dreaming of Paradise

members had been given high positions in the government. Shishou made Daishou Taishi (Lord Privy Seal) and head of the Sankou. Shinshi was the Taifu (Minister of the Left), his second-in-command. And Junkou filled the final seat as the Taiho (Minister of the Right).
    According to long-established precedent, his family members were given manors in the East Palace complex, including Daishou. There was no reason for bad fortune to befall him. And as he was listed on the Registry of Wizards, no reason for any unexpected disease to strike him down.
    "That's unbelievable."
    "It seems that—that someone took his head—"
    Shuka cried out in alarm. Eishuku advanced on the man like a shot. "Such a thing is not possible! Are you saying that the Taishi was murdered?"
    "Y-yes," said the Shousai, bowing even lower.
    It had happened as dawn was breaking. In Choumei Palace at the heart of the Imperial Palace, Shinshi had come running to the nightwatchmen's station in a high state of distress. Something strange was going on in the Seiden.
    Shinshi lived in Choumei Palace with Daishou. Daishou had rooms in the Seiden, while Shinshi lived in a nearby manor. She said she'd been woken up by a strange feeling. An unexpected sound, a sense of foreboding. Unable to get back to sleep, her attention was drawn to the Seiden where Daishou was staying. She went to his room in Choumei Palace.
    The servants who trailed after her were equally shocked by what they found there. The furniture was upended and thrown about. Blood covered the walls and pooled on the floor. And in the middle of the pool was Daishou's practically headless body.
    "Shishou's mother? What about her?"
    "She appears shaken, but in one piece."
    The servants woke the rest of the staff and left Shinshi in their care. They were about to fetch somebody from the Ministry of Summer stationed at the East Palace guard tower. Yet upon opening the gate, they discovered the two nightwatchmen stationed there were in the same sad state as Daishou.
    "Nobody knows who penetrated the perimeter? What about the other residents of the East Palace?"
    "They are all in their residences. Except for the Taiho."
    "The Taiho—you mean, Junkou?"
    "Yes," the Shousai nodded, raising his white face. "We're searching for him, but he seems to have disappeared. We've questioned his servants in Kaei Palace. They say he left to visit the Taishi and never returned."
    A profound silence followed. The death of the King's father and the King's brother apparently absconding—what did it all mean?
    "I can't believe it—" Shuka gasped, looking at Eishuku.
    He shook his head. It wasn't possible. Junkou was the polar opposite from his brother, trusting and straightforward, yet discrete. He wouldn't hurt a fly. Not to mention that Daishou was his natural father. Patricide was out of the question.
    Eishuku must have thinking the same thoughts. He nodded. "In any case, keep looking for him. What about His Highness?"
    "He's been informed. Things being what they are, for the time being His Highness asked that only the Rikkan be informed, and privately. He will be waiting for the Chousai in the Left Palace Annex along with the Taifu and Taisai. He would like to confer with you as soon as possible."
    "I'll leave at once," Eishuku replied.
    He quickly got ready and left for the Naiden Annex. After seeing him off, Shuka sat down on the floor of the manse in stupefied amazement.
    What was going on?
    The dynasty was faltering, the ministers were in a constant state of consternation, and then this abomination. The murder of the king's father, of all things, and the disappearance of the king's brother. The East Palace where they lived was located deep within the heavily-protected Imperial Palace. Access to the king and those who lived with him was forbidden to all but a select number of servants from the Ministry of Heaven.
    Shinshi was Eishuku's natural mother, but even Eishuku hadn't once visited his mother in the East Palace. Guards from the Ministry of Summer watched the gate and did not venture into the palace grounds. Only in the deepest part of the Imperial Palace would the guards be content to guard the gates alone.
    Why—
    Shuka knelt on the cold floor. Accompanied by the scent of herbs, a cup of tea was placed in front of her.
    "You've certainly been in low spirits all night."
    "Seiki—"
    "You may feel that way, but there's no sense in making yourself physically low. You're going to catch cold." Seiki grinned as he