| Narrative: |
The sky was clear. However something like the weather usually changes. Just as you think that it's suddenly become cloudy, it starts to rain. And sometimes, a typhoon comes. |
| Title: |
Genius can't defeat effort |
| Shuurei: |
Oh dear. |
| Shusui: |
Is something the matter, Kou-kihi-sama? |
| Shuurei: |
Shusui, do you know where the writing box that was here went? |
| Shusui: |
No |
| Kourin: |
Excuse me. I brought some tea. |
| Shusui: |
Kourin, have you seen Kou-kihi-sama's writing box? |
| Kourin: |
Eh? Um, no. |
| Shuurei: |
Lately, a lot of things seem to be going missing. I can't find my embroidery needles or perfumed sachets. |
| Kourin: |
Perhaps you're mistaken. |
| Shuurei: |
Hmm... in any case, I'll look a little more.
Strange...
|
| Ryuuki: |
How about the poison that was used on the items I gave you yesterday? |
| Shuuei: |
I got a report from Kouyuu and Dr. Tou. The level of poison has been getting stronger.
The embroidery needle, scented satchet and now the writing box. They don't care how they go about it. |
| Ryuuki: |
Rather, it's more like "there's poison here, will you realise it!?" |
| Shuuei: |
It's because it's you that you realise it. |
| Ryuuki: |
Because this sort of thing used to be an everyday occurance for me. |
| Shuuei: |
You were so sensitive to dangers around you, and that's why you're able to be here now.
And your countermeasures with Shuurei-dono? |
| Ryuuki: |
Every night, I've been secretly having her take a special anti-toxin so there's no need to worry.
And? Have you traced the route of the poison? |
| Shuuei: |
It's all from the same source. ...Even so, it's strange. That that person would choose things that are so easily traced. |
| Ryuuki: |
Don't jump to conclusions. Keep on investigating the others. |
| Shuuei: |
Understood. |
| Ryuuki: |
I'm counting on you. |
| Shuuei: |
Not at all. Afterall, I accepted the purple iris you'd sent. |
| Ryuuki: |
Shuurei. |
| Shuurei: |
Ah, no. Um... I made some deep fried sesame balls, but well, more than boys it's flowers isn't it; flowers! I'm so sorry for having interrupted! |
| Ryuuki: |
What was that about? |
| Shuuei: |
It seems that she still thanks that your Majesty prefers men... |
| Ryuuki: |
I get the feeling that if I told her, she'd run. |
| Shuuei: |
Even without telling her, she ran.
|
| Shuurei: |
*pants* What's with those two? They've been sending flowers to one another? I had no idea.
!?
Wow! Such a flamboyant outfit. |
| Ryuuren: |
? |
| Shuurei: |
Ah... hello. |
| Ryuuren: |
Those round things there... |
| Shuurei: |
? Ah. They're sesame balls. Did you want some?
What do you think? |
| Ryuuren: |
The grainy feel of the sesame and the soft rice cake. Combined with the sweet bean inside is wonderful. It's a shocking stocking gathering.*
*literally surprising peach tree pepper tree (odoroki momonoki sanshou(ki) - a fun play on words to say that they were surprised. |
| Shuurei: |
Huh? Um, it'd be nice if you said thank you.
I hope you don't mind my asking. Your flute-playing, is that thanks for the sesame ball? |
| Ryuuren: |
That which you feel or think, that in other words gives meaning. |
| Shuurei: |
*laughs* What's your name? |
| Ryuuren: |
I'm... |
| Shuuei: |
Ryuuren! |
| Shuurei: |
Shogun Ran! |
| Ryuuren: |
It's been a while, "gukei" #4 |
| Shuurei: |
By "gukei"? |
| Ryuuren: |
It means foolish elder brother |
| Shuuei: |
He's my younger brother, Ran Ryuuren, Shuurei-dono. |
| Shuurei: |
Younger brother!? |
| Shuuei: |
What are you doing here?*
*Kiyou = the capital of Guiyang |
| Ryuuren: |
There's no goal in wandering |
| Shuuei: |
Sheesh. Just how did you get in here? |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? Despite the heavy guard in the palace? |
| Shuuei: |
No, with him, he's likely to be able to slip in just about anywhere. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? He's gone! |
| Shuuei: |
Damn!
|
| Sou: |
It seems that Ran Shuuei and Li Kouyuu both accepted their flowers. |
| Sa: |
Everything's proceding exactly as you expected isn't it, Shou.
|
| Shou: |
Up until now yes. ?! What's that?
|
| Shuurei: |
?! The sound of a flute's coming from that way. |
| Shuuei: |
We can't leave that one to wander freely. Let's hurry. |
| Kouyuu: |
Just why do I have to be included in the search party?! |
| Ryuuren: |
I win again. |
| Shou: |
You cheeky little...
Another round! |
| Shuurei: |
There he is! |
| Shuuei: |
Excuse us. |
| Ryuuren: |
Ah, foolish elder brother #4. |
| Shuuei: |
Just what are you doing against the three chief advisors... |
| Ryuuren: |
I figured there were few enjoyments for the old hands, so I've been introducing them to cards. |
| Shuuei: |
How did this happen?! |
| Shou: |
When we took him to task about his lousy flute playing, he said if we beat him, he'd stop playing. |
| Shuuei: |
Come on. I apologise for my younger brother's rude conduct
Let's go. |
| Shou: |
Not yet! |
| Shuuei: |
Huh? |
| Shou: |
Another round! |
| Sou: |
Come on! |
| Sa: |
We're not leaving this with us losing! |
| Shuuei: |
W-we'll be leaving now. |
| Advisors: |
Wait!
Hey!
No fair winning and running!
|
| Ryuuren: |
Don't interfere in a challenge, foolish elder brother #4. |
| Shuuei: |
*sighs* |
| Kouyuu: |
Your younger brother's quite something making you sigh like that. |
| Shuuei: |
Even if I told him to go home, he's not likely to simply do so. |
| Shuurei: |
Well, since he's come, we should give him a tour of the palace. |
| Shuuei: |
Okay.
|
| Shuurei: |
That's a picture of the eight enlightened ones. |
| Ryuuren: |
You can tell by looking at it. |
| Shuurei: |
I can't seem to get a conversation going... |
| Kouyuu: |
He's quite the unusual younger brother isn't he. |
| Shuuei: |
Apparently, he's been wandering the lands by gambling with cards like he was just now. |
| Shuurei: |
He's got a lot of spirit. |
| Shuuei: |
But, he's Ran Ryuuren.
Only geniuses can take the name "Ran Ryuuren". I'm the fourth and there are three elder brothers above me but, the one to take the name "Ran Ryuuren" is him - the youngest one. |
| Shuurei: |
Going over four elder brothers!? |
| Shuuei: |
He's a strange younger brother, but it's very desirable for the Ran family.
Normally, he's wandering all over the place and even if you catch him, you can't really communicate with him. |
| Kouyuu: |
In other words, people won't be able to get him to do things for them, and therefore there's little risk of him being taken advantage of. |
| Shuuei: |
While he's like that, he's necessary for the Ran family. |
| Kouyuu: |
*sighs* |
| Shuuei: |
What're you doing!? |
| Ryuuren: |
I'll stay here for tonight.
I want to sleep here. |
| Shuuei: |
And where did you stay yesterday? |
| Ryuuren: |
Last night, I slept while looking at the stars. |
| Shuuei: |
You camped outside... |
| Shuurei: |
Ryuuren, any way you look at things, this isn't a good place. You should stay at your brother's place. |
| Shuuei: |
! |
| Ryuuren: |
I don't want to spend a night with this sort of boor. |
| Shuurei: |
In that case, will you come to our place? |
| Kouyuu: |
You're going to make Shouka-sama have to deal with him? |
| Shuuei: |
In that case, Kouyuu... how about your place. |
| Kouyuu: |
What!? |
| Shuurei: |
That's right. If you wouldn't mind, Kouyuu-sama. |
| Kouyuu: |
!? ... All right.
|
| Ryuuren: |
Nothing but books... there's not even a hint of refinement in this place. |
| Kouyuu: |
Shut up. *sighs*
|
| Sa: |
My, Your Majesty! |
| Ryuuki: |
Advisor Sa |
| Sa: |
Are you going to Kou-kihi's rooms again tonight? |
| Ryuuki: |
That's right |
| Sa: |
It's seems like you're very close with one another. I'm relieved.
How about it? My grand-daughter is beautiful and well-natured. She wouldn't lose out to Kou-kihi. |
| Ryuuki: |
! Having Shuurei as my wife is enough. I don't want any others. |
| Sa: |
You're completely "mellow mellow" with Kou-kihi aren't you? |
| Ryuuki: |
"Mellow mellow"?
|
| Sa: |
It means to have no mettle against her.
Well, if you change your mind, please let me know.
|
| Ryuuki: |
Shuurei, it's me. |
| Shuurei: |
Come in.
Ryuuki. |
| Ryuuki: |
Wh-what is it? |
| Shuurei: |
I'm going to study a little longer, so you should go to bed first. |
| Ryuuki: |
? Even more than me, the Emperor, you're a lot more keen about your studies. |
| Shuurei: |
I'm not a genius. But they say that genius can't defeat effort right? |
| Ryuuki: |
If you were a man, no doubt you'd have made a great official. |
| Shuurei: |
As a child, it was my dream to take the National Exams and work in the Imperial Court as an official but, thanks to having entered the Imperial Residence, being able to study and considered political affairs, it's like I've been able to get a little closer to that dream. In any case, you should go to bed first Ryuuki.
|
| Shuurei: |
Kouyuu-sama. Are you all right? |
| Kouyuu: |
Gah! |
| Shuuei: |
!? |
| Kouyuu: |
I couldn't get any sleep last night! Thanks to him!! Just what's with him?! I can't understand what he's thinking whatsoever!! Not only does he lie around in the garden saying he wants to sleep looking at the moon, then he suddenly starts playing the flute, and to top it all off, this morning, wanting to soak some wild grass, he had me help weed the garden. |
| Shuurei: |
Kouyuu-sama, you're very kind to have helped him weed. |
| Ryuuren: |
But I think you really should do something about that frightening lack of sense of direction. You got lost in your own residence. |
| Kouyuu: |
That's none of your business!! |
| Shuuei: |
*sighs* |
| Kouyuu: |
Do something Foolish Elder Brother #4!! |
| Shuuei: |
I have guard duties in the Imperial Court from now so... |
| Kouyuu: |
No running away!! |
| Shuurei: |
You're completely without artifice, aren't you Ryuuren. |
| Shuuei: |
Let go of me |
| Kouyuu: |
Shut up!
Do something already |
| Shuurei: |
But since you caused problems for the person you were imposing on, you should apologise. |
| Ryuuren: |
? |
| Kouyuu: |
Take responsibility and do something about your foolish younger brother! |
| Shuurei: |
Right?
Go on.
When you apologise you say "I'm sorry" right? |
| Ryuuren: |
I'm... sorry. |
| Kouyuu: |
Eh? Yeah. |
| Shuurei: |
Likewise, I'm sorry for acting so superior.
Well, it wouldn't be right to exhaust Kouyuu-sama any further so did you want to come to my room and have some tea? And tonight, I think you should come stay at our home tonight. |
| Ryuuren: |
*agrees*
|
| Kourin: |
There you go. |
| Shuurei: |
Thank you. |
| Ryuuren: |
A silver dish. Things must be quite hard for you as well. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? What do you mean? |
| Ryuuren: |
You don't know? When a silver dish comes in contact with poison, it changes colour. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh?! |
| Kourin: |
Aa! |
| Shusui: |
Are you all right? |
| Kourin: |
I'm sorry. |
| Shuurei: |
I didn't realise that this silver dish had that purpose.
That time, Ryuuki saved me but, I have to protect my own self too. |
| Ryuuren: |
That maid-in-waiting Shusui; where's she from? |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? She's the maid-in-waiting that was assigned to me. |
| Ryuuren: |
In any case, her carriage shows a great deal of training. |
| Shuurei: |
Yes. Shusui's carriage is so refined isn't it. |
| Ryuuren: |
You're exceptionally dense aren't you. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? Exceptionally dense? |
| Ryuuki: |
Eh? Shuurei and... who's that? |
| Ryuuren: |
Did you want to join me and travel, Shuurei? |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? |
| Ryuuren: |
The style of life here doesn't suit you. |
| Shuurei: |
*laughs* |
| Ryuuki: |
Who are you who attempts to lure away my wife? |
| Shuurei: |
Your Majesty. This is Ran Ryuuren. Shogun Ran's younger brother. |
| Ryuuki: |
The Ran family's...? |
| Ryuuren: |
Shuurei's not a bird to be caged, but a bird that should spread its wings in the sky. |
| Ryuuki: |
? |
| Ryuuren: |
Let's have a bird-worthy chicken hot pot for tonight's meal. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? |
| Ryuuren: |
Yesterday's sesame balls were delicious. Tonight, I'll treat you to my home-cooking. |
| Shuurei: |
Uh... Ah Ryuuki! I'll be staying at home tonight okay? |
| Ryuuki: |
Making her a caged bird wasn't... |
| Seiran: |
Your Majesty! |
| Ryuuki: |
? Seiran. |
| Seiran: |
What are you doing? In a place like this. |
| Ryuuki: |
? Ah. Shuuei's younger brother... |
| Seiran: |
You mean the young man from the Ran family that's said to be at the palace at the moment? |
| Ryuuki: |
Yeah. It seems like he'll be staying at Shuurei's home tonight. |
| Seiran: |
I've heard that he's supposed to be quite unusual. |
| Ryuuki: |
It seems like he gets along quite well with Shuurei.
Seiran, if you could also go home for tonight with Shuurei? |
| Seiran: |
If you're worried, I'll have some guards sent. There's something I'd like to look into. |
| Ryuuki: |
If it's about that one, I'm also having Shuuei looking into things.
Please be careful. |
| Seiran: |
Yes
|
| Shopkeeper: |
Here you go. |
| Shuurei: |
Wasn't it going to be chicken hot pot? |
| Ryuuren: |
That's right. |
| Shuurei: |
You need soy beans for chicken hot pot? |
| Ryuuren: |
For some reason I had a sudden longing for this round shape. |
| Shopkeeper: |
Ahh! |
| Ryuuren: |
? |
| Shuurei: |
Aah! They broke |
| Shopkeeper: |
That's a problem young man. |
| Ryuuren: |
Sorry. Take this in exchange for the broken eggs. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh?! |
| Shopkeeper: |
What's this? ...This much!? Hey wait, young man. Take these in exchange! |
| Shuurei: |
We got a little closer to chicken but...
? |
| Woman: |
Please |
| Shopkeeper: |
No |
| Woman: |
I see. |
| Shuurei: |
Is something the matter? |
| Woman: |
? I wanted to feed the head of the house who's sick in bed some eggs, but I'm a little short on money. |
| Ryuuren: |
In that case, how about these eggs for those long onions? |
| Woman: |
Eh? Really? Thank you very much! |
| Shuurei: |
While we got a bit closer to a hot pot, we're further away from chicken.
Hey Ryuuren, you...
Aah! |
| Ryuuren: |
Would you exchange that for this? |
| Man: |
Okay |
| Ryuuren: |
Thanks. |
| Shuurei: |
*sighs*
?
*eh...*
*ohh*
*sighs*
What sort of reasoning are you using in your bartering? |
| Ryuuren: |
There's no reasoning. |
| Shuurei: |
And the bird-worthy chicken hot-pot? |
| Ryuuren: |
Has since become a dream. |
| Shuurei: |
I might've reached my limits too - in spending time with Ryuuren. |
| Girl: |
*crying* |
| Shuurei: |
What's wrong? |
| Girl: |
The straw I was going to use to make a straw rain cape got blown away in the wind. What should I do!?
?
Thank you! |
| Shuurei: |
*laughs*
That's all right. Tonight we'll have a veggie hot pot with some vegetables from our garden. |
| Ryuuren: |
You're not going to get angry? |
| Shuurei: |
There's that old fairy tale right? That story of a person going from having a single piece of straw to becoming wealthy through bartering. Although what you did was the opposite. But, it was lots of fun!
|
| Shouka: |
Shuurei. The guards in front of our gate; did his Majesty send them? |
| Shuurei: |
So it seems. Because I told him I was staying here tonight.
Ryuuren, did you want some more? |
| Shouka: |
No need to be shy. |
| Ryuuren: |
*nods* |
| Shuurei: |
Ah. You had some food stuck.
Ryuuren. You- |
| Ryuuren: |
What? |
| Shuurei: |
You smiled for the first time! |
| Ryuuren: |
It's not something to get so surprised over. |
| Shuurei: |
True. Now, the hot pot'll get cold. Let's hurry and eat. Ryuuren, you're spilling.
|
| Shuurei: |
Well, take care then Ryuuren. |
| Ryuuren: |
Yeah. ? |
| Shuurei: |
Shogun Ran! |
| Shuuei: |
I was worried that my younger brother might've caused you trouble. |
| Shouka: |
Not at all. Everything went fine. |
| Shuurei: |
Shogun Ran, there's no need to worry. |
| Ryuuren: |
Shuurei. I'll be off then. |
| Shuurei: |
Yeah. Take care. |
| Ryuuren: |
But I want you to remember, you're my spirit's friend. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? |
| Ryuuren: |
My spirit's friend. For life. |
| Shuurei: |
Thank you. |
| Ryuuren: |
Well, farewell then. |
| Shuuei: |
The next time we'll meet will be for the National Exams. |
| Shuurei: |
The National Exams? |
| Shuuei: |
Yeah. He's to take the National Exams with the stipulation that he's to be in the top three. |
| Shuurei: |
Why? |
| Shuuei: |
That's the condition for him to be able to wander as he does. |
| Shuurei: |
I see. The National Exams. |
| Shuuei: |
You have my gratitude Shuurei-dono. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? |
| Shuuei: |
You're the first person not to run away from my younger brother. |
| Shuurei: |
Not at all. |
| Shuuei: |
Because of his eccentric disposition, he's always been alone. |
| Shouka: |
He's the genius type, so he sees things differently from everyone else. If you look at that the other way around, it means that he can't see what everyone else sees. That must be very lonely and isolating. |
| Shuuei: |
But now, for the first time, he's made a friend. |
| Shuurei: |
His spirit's friend.
|
| Shuurei: |
Hey Ryuuki. |
| Ryuuki: |
? What is it? |
| Shuurei: |
You know, I have to put in a lot of effort before I can do anything. It took a lot of practise before I could place this erhu. It's hard work putting in effort but being a genius must also be very difficult. |
| Ryuuki: |
Yeah. I'll also give my best effort. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh?
|
| Ryuuki: |
Now, please accept these gifts from me.
I tried my best to get you to love me. How about it Shuurei. If it's for your sake, it doesn't matter how much effort I must put in...
Sh-Sh-Shuurei...? |
| Shuurei: |
I absolutely despise the word "waste!" |
| Ryuuki: |
Gyaaaah! |
| Next Episode: |
Ryuuki's really become very kingly. My work's just about finished then isn't it. *yawns* I'm relieved, but for some reason I'm suddenly feeling rather sleepy. ?! Where am I? Could it be that I've been kidnapped?! |
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