(4)

Risai (李斎) and others jumped onto their feet to search for any evidence -- or lack of evidence that the Bun Province Riots (文州の乱) were a part of treason. However, no results was in sight after a long search. There was nobody with particularly strong ties with Bun Province, and there was nobody whose actions drew special attention. There had been news of suspicious faces within the palace, but it was nothing but rumors still up in the air. Then, there was that Shoku (蝕).

Risai ran through the Gate of Roumon (路門) to Jinjyuu Hall (仁重殿). It was a terrible sight. She was approached by a couple of people running gingerly within the building rubbles.

"Oh, Risai --"
"Gashin (臥信) -- How is Taiho?"
"I don't know either. I rushed in to check."

He rushed off with his words. One corner of Jinjyuu Hall had turned into a hill of rubbles. Every building that could barely hold its shape had its western corner crushed into bits. Jinjyuu Hall's structure, a part of Seiden (正殿), had no exception. Drinking such a view, Risai could not but feel chills running up her spine.

Risai entered the garden when she heard a voice. Within the half-collapsed structures Taiki's bodyguard Daiboku (大僕) was crawling out. On his back was Seirai (正頼).

"Tansui (潭翠) -- How is Taiho?"
Risai yelled as she ran to him.

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