The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

is indeed the case. What with Kings and Taiho from other kingdoms, the air gets pretty rarified in there. It just didn't seem to me I should be hanging around, privy to what people were saying and doing and such. In the Inner Palace, Youko's always sallying off to see her friends. That's why I let down my guard."
    Koshou and his retainers escorted her up to the West Gardens, and then kept their distance after that. He couldn't deny that he would have preferred sticking by her the whole time to and from the West Gardens.
    "That was an error on Koshou's part. The notion that it is acceptable to maintain a relaxed security detail within the Inner Palace arose only because no dangerous threats had yet made it that far. The Naiden and Gaiden are considered 'in the public eye,' and all the buildings have their own guards assigned. That is not the case with the West Gardens. As in this case, no official royal guests were present, so neither was the customary security detail. Anybody with access to the Imperial residences can also access the West Gardens, and that seems to be what happened here."
    Koshou nodded. Kantai smiled wryly. "As the Daiboku, Koshou must apologize for his failings in this regard. In addition, an official report will be submitted by his retainers to Her Highness."
    "What sort of report?"
    "To the effect that the Empress has erred as well in ways that must be rectified. While her unwillingness to toe a hard line and her generosity with others are admirable characteristics, when the rules are flaunted, this is the sort of harm that can result. The ministers and officials have their duties to tend to, and unlike Her Highness, they are not at liberty to ignore them at their own discretion. A ruler who disregards rules, customs and precedents will likely attract ministers and retainers who do the same. Hence, the Daiboku should not be asked to shoulder all the blame for this incident."
    "So that's the version you want to end up with?"
    "Yes, but keeping in mind that not having Koshou apologize and letting him off the hook are not the same thing. Your Highness has been too lax in making such distinctions. Forgoing the apology will be taken as negating the mistake. By the same token, Your Highness should not be seen as letting herself off the hook. Those around you will take note. If perceived to be sliding by thanks to your patronage, Koshou will loose face as well."
    "Yes. I see," Youko muttered.
    Koukan came into the room. "Oh, there you are." He turned to Koshou. "The Daiboku will take responsibility and serve three months of house arrest."
    Wait a minute-- Youko was about to say.
    Koukan continued in a calm and collected tone of voice, "However, the Taiho has asked us to recognize that the manner in which Her Highness has made hay of the rules and regulations made it difficult for the Daiboku to carry out his duties properly. The Daiboku distinguished himself capturing the traitors and so the one should be sufficient to offset the other. I think that would be a good way to put it. That should preserve the integrity of the civil service, don't you think?"
    He said to Youko, "Is there any part of this you can't go along with?"
    "I'm making hay of the rules and regulations? Geez, and I just got the same tongue-lashing from Kantai."
    "And so?"
    "Fine," Youko said with a self-deprecating grin.
    Kantai smiled as well. After telling Koukan that the suspects had been handed over to the Ministry of Fall, he clapped Koshou on the back and the two of them left.
    Koukan watched them leave and handed Youko a document.
    "Apparently, the Naisai has been nursing deeply-felt disagreements with the current state of affairs for some time now. He was previously an undersecretary in the same department, serving below the Naisai as a personal assistant to the Empress and Saiho. He ran a tight ship and was promoted to Naisai. Lately, though, your ladies-in-waiting in the Roshin have pretty much squeezed him out. Since his time as an undersecretary, he took great pride serving in the Roshin. But apparently, his pride and patience reached its limits."
    "Oh," said Youko. She sighed.
    "To make matters worse, you took on retainers from outside the aristocracy, liberally flaunted the rules, and brought in complete strangers as your closest confidants. Well, you get the idea. He had one pretty big chip on his shoulder."
    The participants in the coup d'etat were all from the Ministry of Heaven. The Ministry of Heaven was not directly