Saiunkoku Monogatari II Episode 6 – 青天の霹靂 (A Bolt From The Blue)

This episode explains everything with regards to the mysterious disease in the Sekie village, and the reason as to why Eigetsu knows about this disease was revealed as well. Doushu’s real identity is also made known to us, but we still don’t know if the books he wrote will indeed be the key to solving the unknown disease.

This episode’s title of “A Bolt From The Blue” speaks of the sudden turnout of events in the episode, particularly Shuurei’s surprise when she heard about Eigetsu, as well as other events unveiled.

Screenshots

Summary

Shuurei goes to meet Governor Kai, who expresses his joy of being able to meet a woman as beautiful as her at his age, much more have her as a colleague as well. Shuurei remembers what Shuuei told her before, that if Kai was only 30 years younger, she’ll certainly be enamored by him, and comes to realize this truth. The governor serves her with Koku Province’s specialty ‘Youkan’ (sweet jelly from bean jam), and insists that he treat her as a guest, since he was the one who asked her to meet with him. Shuurei wonders if Governor Kai knows about Eigetsu, since he actually came from Koku province, and Shuurei was surprised that Kai was the one who became Eigetsu’s guardian, who stayed with him until the examination ended. Doushu entrusted Eigetsu to him, saying that he’s already done what he can, and that now there will be no one else left in Seika village since Doushu himself will be on a ‘journey’ as well. It seems that only Eigetsu and Doushu were the only ones left in that village, since all the other ones died from a certain illness.

Governor Kai tells Shuurei that the reason why he summoned her was because he has to give her books entrusted to him by Doushu – medical books that Doushu himself wrote. Shuurei is surprised that she will be given the books instead of Eigetsu, to which Kai explains that it’s because Eigetsu only has a little time left to live, so it would be best to entrust the books to Shuurei who’s been with Eigetsu ever since the examinations. He tells Shuurei that Doushu wants to extend his deepest thanks for keeping Eigetsu company, making him not lonely after leaving their village. Shuurei was shocked by this revelation, and couldn’t believe that it’s for this reason that Eigetsu was always in a hurry and kept telling her before about how life is so short. She never thought that Eigetsu was in this kind of circumstance, so she kept on telling Eigetsu not to say such strange things before…

Governor Kai realizes this discrepancy in the world, that there are people (like him) who are able to live comfortably and reach the age of 80, while there are also other ones like Eigetsu who already has to die at such a young age. Shuurei couldn’t quite understand why Eigetsu has to die, and Kai says that Doushu never mentioned anything else to him either, but he remembers that when Doushu came to him, he looked filled with contentment and peace. He went to get a doctor to check up on Doushu’s health, but he was nowhere to be found, and says that he most likely passed away already, given his weak state.

Just then, two urgent letters arrive for Shuurei, one from Eigetsu and one from Ensei, making Shuurei concerned as to why they would send separate letters despite being in the same place. She was even more surprised to see that one of the letters (the one from Eigetsu perhaps) has a red seal on it, indicating that it’s a very urgent matter. Shuurei reads the letter and finds out that Eigetsu went to Koringun of Sa Province in the hopes of resolving the spread of a strange disease in Koringun village of Sa Province, and informs her that this disease is used by this Jasenkyou cult headed by ‘Senya’ to cast fear on the people there. The mention of the name ‘Senya’ can’t help but remind Shuurei of Sakujun.

Shuurei orders letters to be written to both the Emperor and Yuushun, requesting for the best doctors (doctors from the Taijouji medical school (?)) to be summoned immediately as she has something to tell them. Shuurei glances at the books Doushu gave, and thinks that an answer to this problem must lie in these books. Governor Kai asks Shuurei if there’s anything else he can do to help, to which Shuurei asks him without hesitation to become the governor of Sa Province in place of Eigetsu. Governor Kai understands that Shuurei needs his help, and agrees to it, telling Shuurei that he’ll succeed in continuing the work both Shuurei and Eigetsu will accomplish. With that, Shuurei thanks him, telling him that she’s looking forward to having a tea with him again, and leaves (and Governor Kai mentions that there’s no way he can decline a woman’s invitation to drink tea with him)

Meanwhile in Sa Province, Ensei just finds out that Eigetsu left alone without telling him anything, and mentions that Kourin never told him anything too. Sai Shou asks Ensei if he’ll permit Eigetsu to go if ever he told him about it, and Ensei says that he certainly would’ve stopped him from doing so. Ensei kept on complaining that all the work of being the governor will now be passed on to him and that there’s no way he’ll be able to leave Korenjou (Koren palace / castle). Sai Shou reprimands his complaining and tells him to focus on what he has to do, especially since there aren’t enough doctors and medicines to cure the people of Sekie village. Now half of the people in that village have perished, and incidents of the disease in the nearby villages are also increasing. In this state, they’ll have to ask the help of the All-Merchant’s Alliance for some funding. Ensei jokes that they could just borrow some money and his next generations would pay the debt, and Sai Shou scolds him, telling him to think seriously about this matter.

Sai Shou mentions about a legend in Sekie village, that a monster will arise from the waters at a time when winter arrives much earlier than usual, a phenomenon that occurs only once in a decade. He also adds that this disease has most likely existed even before, and the people just ceaselessly prayed for the disease to recede by itself. Ensei thinks about this “monster from the water”, and came to understand something.

Meanwhile, Eigetsu arrives in Koringun, and Hei Taishi couldn’t believe that he came all the way there all by himself. Eigetsu tells him that he’s the one most knowledgeable about the disease, and thinks that personally going to this place will be more helpful. Eigetsu meets the other officials regarding the sickness, and Hei Taishi confirms that this winter indeed came earlier than usual, with the snow fox seen around the area too. Eigetsu says that this snow fox must be carrying with it something that’s causing the people to have the disease (some bacteria perhaps). But then one of the officials found this strange, considering that it’s a really cautious animal and rarely comes in contact with people. Nevertheless, Eigetsu still thinks that there’s a possibility that the fox has been able to spread this ‘thing’ into villages even without coming in contact with any people.

Eigetsu tells them what their village head told them before, that “a monster will arise from the waters at a time when winter arrives much earlier than usual, a phenomenon that occurs only once in a decade” (same as what Sai Shou said), since this was the very disease that came into their village before too (causing almost all the people to die). This makes Eigetsu conclude that the disease spread through the ‘waters’, since a small village will certainly have only one source of water (one well, one river). Now if that ‘something’ lies in the waters, those who drink it will certainly be infected with the disease. With this, even if people didn’t come into contact with each other (or are ‘divided’ and scattered), spread of the disease will certainly occur. The officials realized that this is the reason why Eigetsu advised them to boil the water before they drink it, since the ‘bacteria’ will certainly die when boiled. Hei Taishi says that they’ll certainly inform the people about this to prevent the spread of the disease.

With regards to the cure for the disease, Eigetsu believes that there is a cure, knowing that Doushu told him before that he’ll certainly find this out, “with half of the life Eigetsu gave Doushu” (Doushu’s findings with regards to this disease is certainly what is written in the books he entrusted Shuurei with). Eigetsu adds that doctors will be summoned from the palace, and so he’ll do what he can to help out the people in Sekie, until these doctors arrive, and asks the officials to lend him a hand. Just then, Hei Taishi tells Eigetsu that Ensei wrote them a letter saying that there’s no need to summon Shuurei in the place, and Ensei wonders if something happened to Shuurei. Hei Taishi couldn’t answer this and simply tells Eigetsu that he most likely informed Shuurei about it already.

In the palace, Yuushun was reading the letter given to Shuurei, and it mentions that the cult is spreading rumors that the appointment of Shuurei as the first female government official is to blame for the disease. Shuurei thinks that it’s just ridiculous, but Yuushun says that people who have lost their sense of judgment would certainly be easily swayed by these kinds of rumors, especially in these villages where they rarely get to hear about accurate information and news. Shuurei says that this incident indeed happened after she was appointed as governor. Yuushun tells her that it’s not really a big problem (or something to be concerned about), but if Shuurei as the female governor won’t be forgiven by the people, or if she won’t be able to do something to dissipate their fear, then she will be the one to blame for all this.

At that moment, a messenger informs Shuurei that the doctors from Taijouji have gathered in the palace. Shuurei and Yuushun introduce themselves to the head doctor, and the doctor says that they are honored that they’ve come to ask for their help, and there’s no way they can refuse this. Shuurei takes notice that Doctor Tou (Touroshi) came with them too, and he quickly recognizes Shuurei as the emperor’s consort from before (when she was poisoned).

Shuurei informs them of the disease and its symptoms, and Doctor Tou says that he has heard about the disease before, and remembers that this disease occurs in mountainous areas. Shuurei shows them the books from Doushu, and the doctors were amazed by the vast medical information contained within these books. Doctor Tou himself admires how the book was written well, and finds out that these were written by ‘Kashin’ (the name written on the book), who’s actually a renowned genius scientist (a product of Doctor Kada’, as they mentioned). It seems that Doushu’s real identity is this ‘Kashin Shindou’, who declined the offer to become the emperor’s personal physician and disappeared somewhere. Shuurei knows that these doctors are far more knowledgeable than she is with regards to ‘Kashin’, as well as what’s written in the books, and entrusts them with the work of finding out a cure for the disease as soon as possible (given that there’s only little time left to save the other ones who caught the disease).

Doctor Tou asks her to give them half a day to research on this, and tells her that they’ll also ask help from the other medical practitioners who are free from their job. Shuurei requests the head for the permission to send these doctors and medical practitioners to Sa Province. He tells Shuurei that sending these doctors by themselves (not accompanied by the emperor) hasn’t been done before (and gives Shuurei this scornful look thinking that it won’t be possible). Shuurei then tells him that she’s now using her authority as the governor of Sa Province, commanding him to permit the doctors of the Taijouji to go to Sa Province. Yuushun also asks him to negotiate with other people in the medical field and seek their help. Considering that the head doctor is influential in the Department of Labor, Yuushun takes advantage of this and asks his help to prepare twenty fast horses (such that they could arrive there within four days) as well. The head doctor complains with all these ‘requests’ of Yuushun, to which Yuushun tells him that he’ll certainly to what he asks him in return.

The head doctor tells Yuushun that it’s quite impossible that he’ll be allowed to have such a number of horses, and to think that Doctor Tou won’t be able to go too. With this, Yuushun asks him to simply do what he can, and the head doctor finally agrees, telling them that he’ll do his best to make this plan succeed. After this, he asks Shuurei if she’s going back to Sa Province, and Shuurei says she’ll go back immediately, making him admire her for not being afraid of the sickness that’s currently spreading there. Shuurei tells him it’s because no matter what happens there, she won’t change a bit.

Back in Koringun, Eigetsu informs Hei Taishi that he’ll be on his way to Sekie village, and assures him that Shuurei will certainly come to Koringun, together with doctors and the medicine they need, since he knows that’s the kind of person Shuurei is (the kind of person who will not back down from anything). He then affirms Hei Taishi that Shuurei has nothing to do with this disease, and Hei Teishi is well aware of that fact. Eigetsu adds that many people have come to believe the rumors being spread by the Jasenkyou (that Shuurei is to blame for the disease), and knowing Shuurei, he knows that this will be all the more reason for her to go to Koringun, in order for her to gain back the trust of these people and convince them that she’s innocent, no matter what danger befalls her. Before he leaves, Hei Taishi advises him not to force himself, and makes him promise to return safely. Eigetsu replies that he’ll do his utmost to keep that promise, and asks Hei Taishi to help Shuurei no matter what.

Thoughts

This episode has clearly explained the connection between the disease, to Eigetsu and Doushu. When Governor Kai mentioned about the ‘annihilation’ of the people in Seika, that gave a hint that this same disease must have attacked Eigetsu’s village before, and hence his surprise when he heard about it. The unveiling of Doushu’s identity came a surprise, because who would’ve thought this person who chose to live such a simple life was actually a genius doctor?! That all the more makes me admire Doushu, considering just how much he abandoned, all for the sake of wanting to help out as many people as he can. He spent most of his life researching on the disease that attacked their village, and wrote the books which would now benefit the people in Sa Province.

We now know the reason why Eigetsu mentioned in the previous episode that he knows how to “stop the disease” from spreading, but doesn’t know how to cure the ones who are already infected with it. The explanation was clearly shown in the episode, that since the cause of the disease is some bacteria that contaminated the water, boiling the water before drinking or using it will kill the bacteria and prevent it from becoming more widespread. It’s still not certain if the doctors will be able to find a cure for the disease, especially with the preview shown of the next episode where the doctors mention that they’re going to have a difficult time looking for this treatment.

With regards to Governor Kai, looks like he’s quite a ladies’ man, even at his age :p Even Shuurei was actually captivated by him with all his sweet words (?) and charm. I was thinking he would be a more strict kind and intimidating kind of person, but it seems that he was much more approachable than I thought. He was even kind enough to accept Doushu’s request for him to take care of Eigetsu during the examination… I wonder if he knew about Doushu’s real identity all along…?

The truth that Eigetsu’s going to die soon is also revealed to Shuurei, who’s of course in shock, because all along she was thinking that “Eigetsu’s doing fine” (from the last episode, where she told Hakumei about this, when he asked how Eigetsu’s doing). Despite all this, Shuurei overcomes this sadness and this fuels her to all the more do her best to cure the people of the Sekie village, and resolve this matter with the rumors being spread by the cult as well. The ‘Senya’ leader of the Jasenkyou remains a mystery, and still nothing much has been mentioned about him. But nevertheless, with all that has happened, I believe it’s pretty clear that this person isn’t really Sakujun… (although I believe Sakujun is still alive, because his body wasn’t found o_O) I’ll be anticipating what Shuurei will do to dispel the beliefs of the people regarding her, because it’s going to be a difficult task to convince all these people that she’s got nothing to do with the disease.

I also admire Shuurei for her headstrong personality, and the guts to actually ‘fight’ the head doctor. Much has been omitted from this dialogue between Shuurei and the head doctor (compared to the novel), because much more of Shuurei’s arguments were shown with regards to how she was able to convince him. It’s also in this episode that we actually caught a glimpse of Yuushun’s ‘underhanded tactics’, with his way of convincing the head doctor to do all those tasks as well

We didn’t see Kourin in this episode, although Ensei mentioned that “Kourin’s not telling him anything”. I think this simply means that Kourin’s still spending some time in quiet solitude, thinking about Eigetsu… I can’t help but wonder if Eigetsu will certainly die… I actually think that his death is certain (most people have attested this fact, even that mysterious doctor with Shou Taishi in episode 3(?), who’ll be formally introduced to us in the next episode). I’m actually tempted to go see the further part of the novel and see if Eigetsu’s alive… but that’ll spoil me too much >_<

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