The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

sentence. At the end of the day, this amounted to nothing more than judging people by one's own standards. A kind of commiseration that said that whatever one person found hurtful must be hurtful to all. That people judged others by the same standards as themselves was an unassailable fact of nature. Push come to shove, it wasn't a problem somebody else could fix.
    "Sorry. It's just that there's nothing odd about people like that. We all look at others the same way. I think Asen or Ganchou would agree. His Highness has shown Asen nothing but respect, and he treats Ganchou the same as family. Not exactly an older brother, but an older friend in whom he has great faith. Ganchou in turn seems to take pride in His Highness's accomplishments."
    "Yes, indeed."
    "I don't think His Highness leaving the palace unoccupied is some way of punishing us. In the first place, he left the Taiho behind as well. If he really intended to continue the winter hunt, there's no way he would leave the Taiho to his own devices."
    "But of course," said Kaei with relieved smile.
    "Except it's possible he has doubts about some among us and wishes to observe what moves we may make. That's the only possibility I can't come to any definite conclusions about. Leaving the Taiho here in any case worries me. Of course, the thought that he is doing so in order to lure someone out--"
    "Indeed--" said Kaei, a firm expression on her face. "Shouldn't His Highness should be arriving in Bun Province by now? I can only hope that everything goes smoothly after this."
    Risai nodded. "Ganchou and the others are saying so as well. Until His Highness returns, we should all be on our toes and pricking up our ears."

    The next day after listening to Risai's story, Ganchou laughed heartily. "People do seem to be coming up with all sorts of crazy ideas."
    "Yes. Those with bad intentions, and those who persist in seeing bad intentions in others," Asen added with a thin smile.
    Gashin sighed. "So why is my name the only one left out? It's disappointing to discover that you're considered such small fry that you don't qualify as being sufficiently envious of Gyousou-sama."
    Risai laughed. Her talk with Kaei the night before had left her in an uneasy state of mind. But seeing their relaxed manner, she concluded it was all needless anxiety. "Well, you being a bit player and all, I guess it can't be helped."
    "So it really is that bad?" Gashin said with a chuckle.
    Risai, though, counted Gashin as an exemplary tactician. During maneuvers with the Imperial Army, the opponent he was pitted against always proved the weakest. Against Ganchou and Sougen, who waged war soundly and on a proper footing, Gashin's generalship was cunning and clever. His feints were hard to read, and he was never caught unprepared.
    Eishou was much the same, but Gashin's stratagems had a strange openness about them in contrast to Eishou's shadowy movements.
    "If you're going to be suspicious of anybody, I'd think Eishou would be the best candidate. If anybody's going to go stabbing Gyousou-sama in the back, it'd have to be Eishou."
    "No doubt about that. Besides, don't you think Eishou and Seirai are two peas in a pod?"
    "Seeing that Seirai doesn't possess a single redeeming feature, there's no need to feel guilty about kicking the man when he's down. Eishou said so himself."
    Risai grinned. "I believe Seirai said much the same thing. Eishou is black to the core."
    "But of course. Like breeds like."
    Asen burst out laughing. "Well, now," he said, "some respect is called for. Expecting another repeat of Tetsui in Bun Province is asking for quite a lot."
    Ganchou stopped smiling at once and nodded. While Asen wasn't one of Gyousou's previous subordinates, his opinions were treated with all due respect. Risai had once faced off against him during recruit training. Her impression of him as a general was that he had a fine grasp of tactics. Risai had never fenced with Gyousou, but according to what she'd heard, on the battlefield, Asen and Gyousou had much in common. They had come to be known as the two jewels in the crown.
    Ganchou folded his hefty arms. "You seem to be suggesting that it'd be wise to have someone who's on good terms with Bun Province look into this matter further."
    "And subtly inform Gyousou-sama. We should send a messenger pigeon his way."

Chapter 18
    T hat evening. Risai was on her way to the Provincial government offices when Taiki ran over from the adjoining arboretum. Glancing about