| Narrative: |
It's long been said that women could transform. It's now been ten days now since Shuurei started working in the Outer Court disguised as a male doing odd jobs for the Senior Secretary of Finance. |
| Kei: |
*sighs* |
| Shuurei: |
I'm back! |
| Kei: |
Welcome back Shuu-kun. It must have been hot outside. |
| Shuurei: |
I'm all right with this sort of heat. |
| Kijin: |
Kou Shuu. |
| Shuurei: |
Yes! What is it? |
| Kijin: |
Put these letters in order by date and take them to the archives. You can clean up those shelves. Throw away all the papers over there. Go to the archives and borrow these books, at the same time return these five. On the way, deliver these letters to Kouroji*. At that time, tell the director "Submitting this sort of garbage estimate... Has your brain gone to rot, you ass?" without changing a single word. That's all.
*Ancient Chinese government office responsible for receiving foreign visitors and tribute. |
| Shuurei: |
Understood. |
| Title: |
Take Things One Step At A Time |
| Shuuei: |
I have to admit being surprised how she works harder than men despite this heat. Last time was as consort, this time, pretending to be a boy, acting as a page. She's living quite the full life isn't she.
But you came up with quite the idea there though. For all that they're short of staff, tossing Shuurei into the Department of Finance, let alone assigning her specifically to Senior Secretary Kou, and having her do odd jobs...
|
| Shouka: |
Hm? |
| Shuurei: |
Fa...
Shouka-sama. I came to return these. |
| Ensei: |
It's all right, Princess. Right now, I'm the only other one here.
|
| Kouyuu: |
It seems that Ensei-dono, who'd accompanied her, is being worked hard too. |
| Shuuei: |
He's about as competent as they come, but at the same time about as weird as they come too. Everything about Senior Secretary Kou is shrouded in mystery. This year might the worst year of Shuurei's life for misfortunes.
|
| Shuurei: |
But I have to admit, I'm always scared that someone's going to figure out I'm female. |
| Ensei: |
No worries, no worries! Kouyuu-dono said it too, didn't he? |
| Kouyuu: |
Don't worry. With your body, no body will ever realise that you're female. |
| Shuurei: |
But, Senior Secretary Kou's brilliant. |
| Ensei: |
No worries, no worries. No one will ever see you as anything other than male, so have a little more confidence. |
| Shuurei: |
What do you mean by "confidence"? |
| Ensei: |
? Ah, umm...
|
| Ensei: |
Wow! Princess is so feminine! You're so good at cooking! |
| Shuurei: |
You know... |
| Shouka: |
As always, thank you very much, Shogun Ran, Kouyuu-dono; always bringing so much food. |
| Shuuei: |
Not at all. |
| Ensei: |
Princess is really good at cooking too. |
| Seiran: |
Hey you... |
| Shuurei: |
Seiran, you should eat too. Afterall, you've been lent out to help with hunting bandits. |
| Seiran: |
Y-yes. |
| Kouyuu: |
By the way, Shuurei. How's work? |
| Shuurei: |
I'm enjoying it very much every day. |
| Kouyuu: |
It's fun, eh. |
| Shuurei: |
Ah, Kouyuu-sama. Will you help me study after dinner again? |
| Kouyuu: |
Yeah.
|
| Kouyuu: |
All right. We'll leave it at that for today. |
| Shuurei: |
Thank you very much. |
| Kouyuu: |
About today's homework... |
| Seiran: |
?
That idiot.
|
| Kijin: |
Kou Shuu. |
| Shuurei: |
Yes? |
| Kei: |
? |
| Shuurei: |
What is it? |
| Kijin: |
What would you do with the money if there were a surplus in the national budget? |
| Shuurei: |
Hmm, yes... well... I'd probably want to establish a financial aid institution for midwives and pregnant women or financial assistance for needy scholars. Oh, that and it should be used to pay for research in improving grains that are resistant to disasters.
There are lots of ways to spend the budget. Even if you have money left over, you can't eat it in emergencies, so I think it should be used when it can be useful. |
| Ensei: |
I'm back. |
| Kei: |
Ah, welcome back. |
| Shuurei: |
Welcome back. |
| Kijin: |
Kou Shuu. |
| Shuurei: |
Ah, yes! |
| Kijin: |
Return these papers to Kouroji with Ensei. |
| Shuurei: |
Understood. |
| Kei: |
That child really does work hard. And says some pretty surprising things too. It's such a waste that it's only a one month, temporary job. |
| Kijin: |
Hm.
|
| Ensei: |
That Kouroji is in this sort of shape... |
| Shuurei: |
No wonder they're giving such outrageous estimates. |
| Ensei: |
About the only one whose head is working properly in this insane heat is Senior Secretary Kou. |
| Shuurei: |
I wonder if it isn't hot under that mask?! |
| Ensei: |
Rumour has it that he never takes that mask off in front of other people. |
| Shuurei: |
He wears different ones from time to time doesn't he? |
| Ensei: |
Yeah, I wonder how many of those weird masks he's got!? |
| Shuurei: |
I wonder why he wears a mask? |
| Ensei: |
Supposedly he got rejected by a woman because of his looks. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh?! |
| Ensei: |
It's just a rumour though. |
| Shuurei: |
That mask is to hide a really hideous face then huh?
But people aren't about looks. Senior Secretary Kou's not a bad person and, while he's pretty hard on people, he's very intelligent, rich, and has high social standing. If you became his wife, you'd be able to live in comfort. |
| Ensei: |
That last is what you really feel isn't it. |
| Shuurei: |
What are you talking about? Money's important! |
| Ensei: |
Sheesh. I'm glad Seiran made me your guard. Not to mention being with you is fun. |
| Shuurei: |
I wonder if Seiran will be able to come home safely today too. |
| Ensei: |
Knowing him, he should be fine. |
| Shuurei: |
True. But I'm glad Seiran has a friend like you. |
| Ensei: |
What do you mean? |
| Shuurei: |
Well, Seiran has a habit of keeping a certain distance with others, you know? So I was thinking it's great that he has a friend that was able to get past that. |
| Ensei: |
You're a good kid, Princess.
|
| Shuurei: |
!? |
| Ryuuki: |
Shuurei?! Is that you Shuurei!? ...Strange... I thought I sensed Shuurei's presence... as if she'd be here... maybe it's the heat... |
| Shuurei: |
Sheesh. He's got an animal's sense of smell. |
| Reishin: |
That looks heavy. I'll help you. |
| Shuurei: |
Eh? |
| Reishin: |
You're taking them to Senior Secretary Kou right?
I heard that a really hard working kid had recently joined the Department of Finance. That's you right? What's your name? |
| Shuurei: |
I'm Kou Shuu. |
| Reishin: |
Shuu-kun eh? Senior Secretary Kou is very strict so it must be very difficult. |
| Shuurei: |
That's true, but on the otherhand it's very worthwhile. |
| Reishin: |
You're a good kid. |
| Shuurei: |
Umm... |
| Reishin: |
By the way, Shuu-kun. What do you think of me? |
| Shuurei: |
By what...? |
| Reishin: |
I don't mind if you tell it to me straight. |
| Shuurei: |
I think you're a nice person. |
| Reishin: |
Really!? |
| Shuurei: |
Thank you for carrying the books for me. The Department of Finance is right over there... um, what's your name? |
| Reishin: |
Ah. Me? I'm... Please call me "oji-san" |
| Shuurei: |
"Oji-san"? |
| Reishin: |
That's right, Oji-san. Well then. Hang in there. |
| Shuurei: |
Yes. Thank you very much.
...Oji-san. |
| Reishin: |
That sounds lovely.
Well then. See you later! Shuu-kun! |
| Shuurei: |
I wonder if the number of weird people has increased because of the heat?
|
| Shuurei: |
I'm back! Eh? Ah. Senior Secretary Kou must be exhausted.
Such beautiful hair! Wow! It's so silky!
This... couldn't be... |
| Kijin: |
? What're you doing? |
| Shuurei: |
Ah... um...
Iyaaaaa!!! Aaaaaahhh!!! |
| Kijin: |
Kou Shuu. What's wrong?! |
| Shuurei: |
Seiran!!! |
| Kijin: |
Aah!
|
| Seiran: |
My Lady... |
| Haku Raien: |
What're you doing just standing there?! We'll go back to camp for now. |
| Seiran: |
Yes!
My Lady...
|
| Shuurei: |
Iyaaaaaa!! |
| Kijin: |
Hey. What's wrong?! Calm down! Kou Shuu! Oy. |
| Kei: |
?! |
| Kijin: |
? |
| Shuurei: |
?!? I-I'm so sorry!!
|
| Ensei: |
Ahahahahah. I got to see something really interesting today! |
| Shuurei: |
It's no laughing matter. |
| Seiran: |
I was worried because you hate thunder so much. But it's great that you weren't by yourself. |
| Shuurei: |
It's not good! No doubt Senior Secretary Kou's thoroughly disgusted with me. |
| Shouka: |
But it really is great. |
| Shuurei: |
Nothing is good about it. |
| Shouka: |
But, you always get down at this time of year, right? |
| Seiran: |
Working in the Outer Courts made a good change of scene for you, didn't it. |
| Shuurei: |
But it's only for a month though. |
| Shouka: |
Shuurei... |
| Shuurei: |
It's okay. I'm really satisfied even if it is only a month.
|
| Ensei: |
Here. Princess is working so hard, so I brought you a snack. |
| Shuurei: |
Thank you.
|
| Ensei: |
In the past, I'd thought about taking the regional exams. |
| Shuurei: |
Hmm... So you wanted to become a provincial official? |
| Ensei: |
Well yeah. |
| Shuurei: |
And? |
| Ensei: |
Ahh, a number of things came up. So in the end... y'know? |
| Shuurei: |
Huh. You could take it next time? |
| Ensei: |
True. In that case, maybe I should study with you. |
| Shuurei: |
Kouyuu-sama's incredibly strict. |
| Ensei: |
Ah, I'll pass on that. |
| Shuurei: |
*laughs*
Hey, Ensei. |
| Ensei: |
Hm? |
| Shuurei: |
Do you think it's foolish to keep wanting to achieve an unachievable dream? |
| Ensei: |
Your dream is to become a court official isn't it? |
| Shuurei: |
You knew. |
| Ensei: |
Yeah, well, you're always working hard like this every night. And you look like you're really enjoying working in the Outer Courts. |
| Shuurei: |
Yeah. But regardless of how hard I try, women can't take the National Exams. |
| Ensei: |
And yet, despite knowing that, you're still working hard like this, right? |
| Shuurei: |
Yes. But then, you're free to chase after dreams, right? But you know, lately it's "close". |
| Ensei: |
Close? |
| Shuurei: |
Probably my dream and reality have gotten too close. Working in the Department of Finance every day, the border of that dream is so close, it feels like I could realise it. I never knew. That becoming an adult makes it so much harder to keep chasing your dreams. |
| Ensei: |
And even so, you still haven't given up yet, have you Princess? |
| Shuurei: |
Well yeah. I want to do as much as I'm able. |
| Ensei: |
Yeah. That's the Princess for you! They say that you have to take things one step at a time afterall. Even though each step is small, you never know if you'll end up achieving a major goal. Especially you, Princess. |
| Shuurei: |
Thank you. Thanks to you, I'm feeling better. You're like air aren't you, Ensei. I can sort of understand why father and Seiran ended up sending you. |
| Ensei: |
You'd realised it. |
| Shuurei: |
From how the rice balls were made. Father's are poorly formed while Seiran's are they large, round ones that are light on salt, right? Afterall, I'd said something odd at dinner. |
| Ensei: |
You're really sharp, Princess.
I think you're really suited to being a court official. So I really hope you won't give up. |
| Shuurei: |
Now then, let's do a bit more work!
|
| Kouyuu: |
Were you still working? Talk about tenacious. |
| Ryuuki: |
Yeah. While I'm lonely not being able to see Shuurei, I want to get this bill passed as quickly as possible. |
| Kouyuu: |
It could also be considered a selfish motive. |
| Ryuuki: |
What're you talking about?! This world is made of men and women. The idea that politics is only for men is outdated. Opening the gate for women to become government officials will definitely be good for the country.
Waahh |
| Kouyuu: |
Your Majesty! |
| Ryuuki: |
Please wait, Shuurei.
|
| Reishin: |
Oji-san... *laughs* Oji-san, eh. It sounds wonderful. |
| Kijin: |
Are you the one responsible for sending that woman to me, Kou Reishin? |
| Reishin: |
No, you'd have to talk to Kouyuu about that one. No doubt he thought having you see how she worked first hand would be the quickest way to do things.
You knew she was a woman yet still hired her didn't you? |
| Kijin: |
We were just short on people. For starters, introducing a bill for women to take the National Exams is an utterly impossible and foolish idea. |
| Reishin: |
Because His Majesty said starting from the next exam. That's why you abandoned it without a word. |
| Kijin: |
There's not enough time. Not only will it take time to change the concept that politics is only for men, but we'd also need to open up a large number of institutions for women to take the exams. |
| Reishin: |
Huh. |
| Kijin: |
I have one question, why didn't you, the clever, cool-headed, cold-blooded, heartless, pitilessly, icy head of the Department of Civil Affairs not oppose it? |
| Reishin: |
What a foolish question. Just what have you been seeing in that child everyday? |
| Kijin: |
Hm? You mean that she'd be in the running to pass the National Exams? |
| Reishin: |
Hmph. Of course. And high ranked too. That comes with Kouyuu's guarantee. |
| Kijin: |
Huh. If you discount that he's your adopted child, Assistant Secretary Li is an wonderfully talented person to bear the burden of this era. And if you ignore that Kou Shuu's your niece, she's actually pretty good. Taking her as my wife might not be bad. |
| Reishin: |
What?! I absolutely won't allow that! |
| Kijin: |
I don't see what right you have to oppose it seeing as you can't even tell her that you're her real uncle. |
| Reishin: |
Hmph! It's a new work! Catch!
|
| Reishin: |
Huh, even for me, this is a truly a great work. It's the "a little done in by the summer heat" look. If you wear this, no doubt those around you will realise that even Senior Secretary Kou must be having a hard time with the summer heat. |
| Kijin: |
I don't want it! Take it back!
|
| Kijin: |
Hm? |
| Shuurei: |
Umm, how about taking a short break. |
| Kei: |
Uh... |
| Shuurei: |
Even if it's only tea once a day... |
| Kijin: |
Yeah. |
| Shuurei: |
?!
!? |
| Kei: |
That that person would so readily drink tea, it's very much a shot out of the blue. |
| Shuurei: |
Really? |
| Kei: |
He must've really taken to you... |
| Shuurei: |
Me? |
| Kei: |
Yes. By the way, Shuu-kun, have you ever taken the National Exams? |
| Shuurei: |
No. |
| Kei: |
Eh? I thought you'd have tried it at least once for sure. In that case, please try taking the next exam. And then formally join the Department of Finance. |
| Shuurei: |
I'm really happy you say so, but in truth I can't take the National Exams. |
| Kei: |
You can't take them? |
| Kijin: |
Yuuri. Kou Tengai and Heki Sonshi have collapsed. |
| Kei: |
Now those two too. |
| Kijin: |
Summer will be over soon. We have to hang in there for just a little longer. |
| Shuurei: |
Um. We'll do our best. Right, Ensei? |
| Ensei: |
Eh? Yeah. Well, we'll do whatever we can, yeah. |
| Kijin: |
I see. In that case Ensei, you'll be a temporary administrative official of the Department of Finance and are to take care of the work of those two who've just collapsed. I'll write a letter of authority later.
You are able to do this, aren't you, Rou Ensei? |
| Kouyuu: |
Why? Why can't I reach His Majesty's rooms?! I'm supposed to have gone there a number of times! It's not possible that I should get lost... |
| Kei: |
Assistant Secretary Li. |
| Kouyuu: |
Eh? Ah, Assistant Secretary Kei. |
| Kei: |
Actually, I wanted to talk to you a bit about Shuu-kun. |
| Kouyuu: |
Couldn it be that they've figure out she's a girl?
Has he been causing you any problems? |
| Kei: |
Not at all. He really works hard and even Senior Secretary Kou has taken to him as well. |
| Kouyuu: |
Hmm, Senior Secretary Kou has? |
| Kei: |
I think that he'd make a good official. But when I asked, he said that he can't take the National Exams. So, if there's some reason that that's the case, I thought that I wouldn't mind taking care of Shuu-kun's sponsorship... |
| Kouyuu: |
Assistant Secretary Kei, Shuu will be very happy to hear that you should say so. However, he can't accept your offer. You'll understand the reason later. When that one becomes an official. |
| Kei: |
Then, Shuu-kun will take the National Exams...? |
| Kouyuu: |
At that time, I think either I or my superior will take care of his sponsorship. |
| Kei: |
That's wonderful. |
| Kouyuu: |
By the way, Assistant Secretary Kei. |
| Kei: |
Yes? |
| Kouyuu: |
Where are you headed now? |
| Kei: |
Ah, I'm to deliver a rush letter to His Majesty. |
| Kouyuu: |
Oh, what a lucky coincidence. Actually, so am I. Let's go together.
|
| Seiran: |
Hunting bandits again tonight, Ensei? |
| Ensei: |
!? You noticed? |
| Seiran: |
Yeah. Not to mention each and every bandit we've captured said that they were searching for a man with a cross shaped scar on his left cheek. |
| Ensei: |
Oh dear. |
| Seiran: |
I don't know why, but make sure you don't cause trouble for the Master or Her Lady.
What? |
| Ensei: |
Nothing. I was just thinking that you really were taken in to a good place.
The Princess really works hard every night doesn't she. |
| Seiran: |
Yeah. |
| Ensei: |
You two should become man and wife. |
| Seiran: |
What are you saying?! |
| Ensei: |
If she were with you, then everything would fall into place nicely. She's be able to continue studying, and people around her would stop saying she should get married soon. For starters, there aren't that many women who'd want to stay with you for life given how rotten your personality is. |
| Seiran: |
I'll inform Daishogun Haku that you've been hunting bandits from Sa Province every night. |
| Ensei: |
Sorry. I won't say another word. |
| Seiran: |
Sheesh. |
| Shuurei: |
"Take things one step at a time", eh. |
| Trailer: |
Just who is Ensei anyways? He's got an overgrown beard, and is quite uncouth, but he can work. And it seems like he's good at fighting. And he's being hunted by bandits... Eh?! |
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