(3)

That evening, Risai headed towards the Provincial Office (Syoufu, 州府) for some matters, and saw Taiki running out to the garden in the office building. Taiki was looking left and right as he walked down the corridor, and upon spotting Risai, he called her name as he ran towards her. Taiki normally ran up with an innocent smile on his face, but that day he looked as if someone was chasing after him.

"Risai -- I was searching for you."
Taiki approached, and grabbed Risai's hand as if he was going to cling on it.
"Is it true that Gyousou is in big trouble?"
"Big trouble -- what do you mean?"
"Gyousou leaves the palace because of a plot, and bad guys who would like to kill Gyousou is waiting for him at Bun Province..."

"Sure not!"
Risai squeezed a smile on her face.
"Who tells you of such nonsense? Gyousou is out to suppress a riot, that's all."
Risai said, and Taiki withdrew himself. His expression turned even more rigid.
" Seirai also said the same thing."
" Exactly. So there is nothing to wo--"

Risai reassured, but Taiki shook his head.
"Risai and Seirai are lying! You are telling me this because I am a child, and you do not want me to worry."
Bewildered, Risai knelt down on the spot and looked Taiki straight in his eyes.
"Risai does not tell lies. Why do you say it is a lie?"
"Rousan (琅燦) told me I would not be informed of the discussion among the Six Ministers."

Risai knitted her eyebrows. She knew that Kaei had once gathered the Six Ministers, and held the same discussion that Risai and others had held before. The issue of whether to notify Taiki must have been brought up. Sending the provincial army supposingly requires Taiki's approval, but now the vice provincial lord Seirai was assigned to carry out the actual duties. Moreover, the news was still just rumors and guesses that was still up in the air. The conclusion must haven been there was no need to inform Taiki and make him worry. -- How did Rousan the Production and Treasury Minister have the gut to leak the information?

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