The Twelve Kingdoms: Dreaming of Paradise

it and the body together?"
    "Yes, why not? So the reason for hiding the Taiho's body must have arisen out of a desire to keep it hidden as well."
    "Because—?"
    Seiki dejectedly hung his head. "Because the Kasho Kada belongs to Taiho Sairin-sama. Junkou gave it to Shishou-sama. So Shishou-sama would be the one who has it now."
    "Oh."
    "That day I met Junkou-sama, he said he'd given the Kasho Kada to Shishou-sama. Consequently, he didn't know what had become of it. Up to that day, he hadn't seen the Kasho Kada again. Then when and how did it end up in Junkou-sama's possession?"
    "You mean, that night, Shishou took it with him to the East Palace?"
    "That's what I think, though there's no way to confirm it. Shishou-sama could have ordered a servant to deliver it. Though if Shishou-sama indeed brought the Kasho Kada with him to the North Palace, I believe he would not have wanted it to be discovered. Because he and he alone carried it there."
    "Then it really was Shishou?"
    "Very likely," Seiki answered sadly.
    "Why would he do such a thing?"
    "Who knows? The more puzzling conundrum is why he did not simply square his shoulders and take responsibility."
    "What?" said Shuka, raising her head.
    "I mean, Shishou-sama is the king. Supposing he killed the Taishi and Taiho, is there anybody anywhere who could actually put him in the dock for his crimes?"
    "Knowing Shishou's fastidiousness, he wouldn't want it known that he was capable to stooping to such brutality, especially at a time when the Imperial Court is in such dire straits."
    "Still, why the necessity of covering his tracks so? Consider the rumors that Junkou-sama was engaging in treasonous behavior. However untrue, Shishou-sama could state that he'd caught Junkou-sama in an act of treason and had executed him and that would be that."
    "If an insurrection was in the offing, both the people and the ministers might begin to doubt Shishou's qualifications to be king."
    "But His Highness says that Junkou was plotting treason and killed the Taishi. And that you and Eishuku were accomplices and were helping to plan the revolt. And that it was his intent to prosecute us for the crime."
    "That is true."
    "I don't think it's because he couldn't say that there was a revolt. If he was horrified at what he'd done and wished to pretend it hadn't happened, crying treason would be more effective than hiding the body. Hiding the body implies he was cognizant of the crime. Then claiming that it was Junkou-sama who was at fault—and not himself—diverted attention from himself."
    Shuka nodded. "Yes, that makes sense. But why?"
    "I don't know. Except that the Kasho Kada really concerns me. Shishou-sama left the Taishi's body where it fell, but hid the Kasho Kada. He seems to have worried more about it than the crime of murder. Why did Shishou-sama bring it to the East Palace in the first place? And not only the Kasho Kada."
    Shuka blinked. "And not only it ?"
    "Of course. Shishou-sama brought the Kasho Kada and a sword to the East Palace. It is custom in the Roshin and Enshin that other than the gate guards and security details, nobody carries a sword. His Highness as well wears a sword only in the Seishin. In Jinjuu Manor and the East Palace, neither the guards or His Highness may carry swords."
    Shuka looked at him flabbergasted.
    "Shishou-sama must have brought a sword with him to the East Palace. That means he intended to do harm to the Taishi and Taiho from the start."
    Shishou set out for the East Palace with the Kasho Kada and a sword in hands. That doesn't necessarily mean there was murder in his heart. But it certainly revealed some level of hostility. Carrying a sword when going somewhere indicated fear or anger. There should be nothing for him to fear.
    A skinny old man and a skinny young man were the only occupants of Choumei Manor that night. Neither them had ever carried a sword. They didn't pose a threat to Shishou or anybody.
    "Shishou must have been mad about something. Consumed by his fury, he grabbed his sword and the Kasho Kada and headed for the East Palace."
    "I think so too. The problem is, what about the Kasho Kada would make him so angry? What's the connection?"
    "Shishou must have been angry at Junkou. He'd taken what belonged to the Taiho and had humiliated him."
    "Wasn't that what he said when Junkou-sama offered him the Kasho Kada? Would he have remained upset with him ever since then?"
    After a moment of thought, Shuka suddenly had an idea. "What if