Saiunkoku Monogatari II Episode 34 – "藍より青し"

Just before anyone worries whether there will be a new episode next week, Episode 35 will be showing. However, as next week is the Chinese New Year, I might be somewhat delayed with the entries since I will be busy celebrating the festival. Nevertheless, this episode is perhaps much more straightforward exercise after the pretty complicated episodes lately. This week, everyone in the capital is starting to travel to the Ran territory in pursuit of Shuuei. Yet, the name of Jiuzhaigou is a recurring word. What is in this beautiful lake?

Screenshots: http://www.sendspace.com/file/5t32ny

Episode summary

Ensei saw the rather depressed Shuurei, as Shuurei asks him to forsake his examination this time and join her party to Ran province. Ensei agrees readily, and Shuurei is surprised. Ensei says that he is studying for the examination not working in the central area, and says that it is Shuurei not Yuushun that needs him. When Shuurei continues to ramble on, Ensei says that Shuurei should just thank him nicely and gives her a chance to ask properly. Ensei realizes that she is hiding something about the mission, and eventually Shuurei asks him to join. Ensei also realizes that Shuurei is working too hard and is not getting enough sleep. Ensei warns her that the physical condition of the body is important and knocks her out.

Ensei tells Seiran that Shuurei needs to rest as Dark Seiran says that he will kill Ensei for this. Ensei and Seiran discusses about Kouki’s attempt to recruit Ensei and asks why Seiran is always having such a serious face. He says it’s his instinct around such a lax Ensei and tells Ensei to protect Shuurei. Ensei tells Seiran that he no longer supports Shuurei x Seiran, and he has to be protective over the woman he deems important. Ensei warns him that his rival in “love” is not only Ryuuki but even the likes of him possibly if Seiran is not careful.

The next day, Yuushun and Seiran sent off Jyuusan-Hime, Ryuuki and Jyuusan Hime. Seiran initially questions why Shouka is there but realizes that Ryuuki asks of it from the rather sad look on Ryuuki’s face. Kouki instructs Shuurei to go now to protect Ryuuki, and he says that the king never informs about his purpose. Kouki also asks Shuurei to check on Shiba Jin, as he tells about how Shiba Jin kills his father when he is 21 years old. Shuurei says that he should be dead five years ago, but Kouki tells that Shuurei is the one investigating the “spirits of the prison”. Kouki asks her to see if it is someone from the Ran clan who let him go in the recent assassination, and it is clear Kouki wants to reduce the power of the two major clans.

Kouki tells her that he hopes that she never returns, and Shuurei says that she will DEFINITELY be back and asks what local food he wants. Kouki tells her to buy the double egg yolk duck eggs, seasonings and monkey head mushroom in the mountains. Kouki also tells Shuurei not to follow Ryuuki into Jiuzhaigou. Shuurei, Suou Shin and Ensei sets off and Tantan suddenly tells Ensei to fasten the path. Tantan’s father came over to bring some food for the trip as Shuurei stops the carriage. Tantan’s mother also came hidden behind a wall as Tantan’s father wished Tantan well for his job, and promises to work hard in order to return the cash to Shuurei.

Ensei remarks how Tantan has a good father. Near Jiuzhaigou, Shin murmured how he is back here, as Shusui looks to be struggling. They talked about the seal, and Shusui says that the implement of a seal should allow Shin to control her. Shin says he is not part of the Hyou clan and he is coerced into bringing Shusui to Jiuzhaigou. Shusui tells of the tale by the first ancestor of Hyou clan, who uses a magical mirror to hold the 108demons. Eventually, the demons broke the barrier of the mirror but the ancestor is able to entrap the demons using her er hu. As such, the demons are hence transformed into the lake and are trapped within.

Shusui says that since she is commanded to go there by Ouka, she rather go willingly with Shin rather than forced. When they reached the place, Shusui feels the seal once again as she tells Shin to kill her if she turns uncontrollable. Shusui also reaches Jiuzhaigou, where the mansion of the Ran clan is, a little known fact. Ryuuren met Shuuei at the gate, as Ryuuren said “welcome back”. It surprises Shuuei as Eigetsu and Shuurei must have trained him well. Shuuei tells Ryuuren not to intervene as it is his problem. Ryuuren informed Shuuei that Yuki is not here but Gyoku, his wife, is here. Shuuei tries to run away but Gyoku invites Shuuei in.

Shuuei professed to tell all the dark secrets of Ryuuren to Shuurei and Eigetsu for allowing him to face Gyoku. Shuuei says that nothing has changed in this mansion as he sees a flashback of Gyoku and him. Gyoku invites him to eat breakfast, and he enjoys the sweet egg roll. Gyoku remembers how Shuuei describes her as a sweet egg roll, and Shuuei says that Yuki says that too. Gyoku says that Yuki says it to make fun of her. It seems that Gyoku initially is the new concubine for Shuuei’s father, but eventually married Yuki. Gyoku added that they always quarrel, and Yuki always complain about Gyoku hanging out with Shuuei. Shuuei also realizes that Yuki is actually jealous of Shuuei and knows that Yuki works hard to get Gyoku. Gyoku also says that she is very fortunate, as Shuuei’s heart seems to be relieved somewhat.

Gyoku talks about Shuuei’s loved one as she sees the fan from Shusui. Shuuei asks about whether any shrine maidens from the Hyou clan have visited the shrine. Yuki’s absence is to meet someone from the Hyou clan. Shuuei tells Gyoku to inform him of anything that happens in the capital. Tantan is seasick as Ensei knocks Tantan out and ties him to the deck. The sailors start to put human-shaped buns into the water, as it is explained that the currents are wild. They initially feed human sacrifices, but an officer says it’s dumb to sacrifice humans and says that buns are good enough. As the currents continue to be wilder, Shuurei, Ensei and Tantan readies themselves.

Thoughts

Wow, one of the most interesting thoughts that arrived is actually near the very start of the show. Unless I translated it completely wrong, it seems that Ensei is not counting out the fact that he might be considering Shuurei to be an “important” person. I mean, the way that Ensei is implying with his message (adding to the fact that he talks about marriage between Seiran x Shuurei) means that Ensei might want to have a Ensei x Shuurei pairing. Oh my gosh! This is perhaps the most blatant confession by any of the guys other than Ryuuki about how they feel about Shuurei. I mean, it even gets Seiran worried sick when Ensei says that he does not support the Seiran x Shuurei marriage no more.

In a strange way, I am really happy for Tantan. Considering how much of a happy go lucky person he is, he does have a very caring father who is not a brilliant father by any means but at least one that truly cares and loves him a lot. The gesture is genuine, and of course it is always good to have the guilty mother that sends him off behind a wall. This is truly cute of a family, and I enjoy how they talk to each other.

In a way, I think that Shuuei definitely is a coward when it comes to relationships. Nevertheless, I am very sure the talk with Gyoku has given him some courage to move away from his past, considering how Gyoku humanizes Yuki. I believe I will be very surprised to hear from my sister-in-law about how Yuki actually gets antagonistic about Gyoku and Shuuei being together. Even though Yuki says it in a way that he implies that he fears Gyoku will be a bad influence to Shuuei, it is clear that Yuki just does not like the two to be together. It is good to see some emotions from one of the triplets, who seems extremely distant for the short cameos.

I now understand the mystery of Jiuzhaigou a little better, since both the Ran’s residence and the shrine of the Hyou clan are in this region. Shusui also mentions about the demons that are entrapped inside. Considering the residents around this beautiful and mystical place, it is little wonder that the officers are persuading Ryuuki not to go there. Hey, but since Shuuei will be there, it is inevitable that something dangerous might appear soon enough. One final thought must be about Kouki. I never knew he’s a food connoisseur.