The Twelve Kingdoms: Dreaming of Paradise

then. Let's give it a try."
    "Prepare some firm policy objectives, even if in rough form. The sooner the better."
    "I'll get right on it."
    "Goodness gracious," Senshin said, exhaling noticeably. "The Royal En is handling his end of things by himself? I take my hat off to him."
    "Because the ministers in En have got talent and drive," said Ritatsu. He scowled. "While ours spend half the days resting on their laurels."
    "As far as that goes, even if a bad thought crosses their minds, they're too lazy to act on it. Everything balances out at the end of the day."
    Meiki grinned slyly and the whole family laughed.
    "Well," Senshi smiled, "to each his own. And how is everybody else doing?"
    Rikou shrugged. "Tai is in a bad way. I went to the general vicinity to get a closer look, but there was nothing to see. The Kyokai is completely infested with youma."
    Bunki asked curiously, "But the Hakuchi hasn't died, has it? It seems that something must have happened to the Royal Tai."
    "And we haven't the slightest idea what. From putting the bits and pieces of gossip together, the only conclusion is that a pretender has taken the throne."
    "Even though the Royal Tai appears to be alive?"
    "Strange goings-on, to be sure. There's no talk of the Taiki being struck down with the shitsudou, no word of the king's death. This points to an internal rebellion. But such a rebellion should not be enough to bring out so many rampaging youma."
    "The two situations do seem similar," suggested Shoushou.
    "The two seem similar?"
    "Yes. Kou and Tai. The Royal Kou died soon after Kourin succumbed to the shitsudou. That by itself is not unusual. But that it occurred in such quick fashion is almost unprecedented."
    "Indeed," said Meiki, dividing up the peeled peaches onto several plates. "But hopefully nothing funny is going on with the youma themselves."
    "With the youma?"
    "Strange things are afoot, are they not? Either strange things going on in Tai and Kou, or strange things going on with the youma causing them to flock there. We can't really know without the matter being settled one way or the other."
    "Don't go there, Mom," Ritatsu stated crisply. He glared at Rikou. "Say something like that, and a certain somebody will be just chomping at the bit to go take a look. Rikou, you're getting antsy just sitting there."
    "Because I have shouldered a great responsibility. Nothing more than that."
    "And don't you forget it."
    "Can't promise that I will," Rikou answered with a sly grin.
    Senshin asked, "There's one other kingdom I'm concerned about. How is Hou?"
    "Nothing more than what would be expected. Slowly sinking beneath the waves. But doing so in as fine a form as could be expected. That provisional court shows real promise."
    "And the rest?"
    "The rest are getting by. Shun hit a few uneven spots recently, but it's a young dynasty with only forty years under her belt, so they may just be working out the kinks. While it's hard to say how the dice will roll, I have the feeling that they're heading in the right direction. Han is approaching a big turning point. But like they'd been there and done that, they're proceeding on as usual."
    "What about Kei? Has it settled down?"
    "Ah," said Rikou with a smile. "Yes, Kei."
    "How's that?" Bunki inquired. "Doesn't Kei have an empress?"
    "They do. Kei and empresses have gotten along like oil and water. But it looks like they didn't roll snake-eyes for once. The Imperial Rescript was just published. It abolished kowtowing."
    "What?" everybody said in a collective expression of surprise.
    "Abolished kowtowing? What exactly does that mean?"
    Bunki said, "Surely you jest. Everybody just bows standing up? Like the kirin?"
    Rikou nodded. "That about sums it up."
    "What's that supposed to accomplish?"
    "Well, nothing practical, to be sure. However, I think the intent is clear. She's the first monarch to tell her subjects: Don't prostrate yourselves before me. "
    "You've got a point there."
    "Before the Imperial Rescript was issued, there was a bit of trouble in one of Kei's central provinces. The Royal Kei reportedly got directly involved in the conflict and pacified the situation."
    "Good heavens!" Bunki brought her hand to her mouth.
    "She also put the screws to the gang that for decades had led the Imperial Court around by the nose. All the ministries were reorganized. It looks like this girl knows how to get things done. Pretty remarkable for an empress of Kei."
    "Indeed."
    "Since the Imperial Rescript, the