With the epidermic problem now at full swing, both Eigetsu and Shuurei are working on the situation in order to make sure that the disturbance, as well as the evil cult that was spreading rumors, would be removed as soon as possible. The episode also starts off with the meeting with Taiyou, the governor for the Ko province. Shuurei was invited in the last episode by Taiyou, and she was not sure what will actually happen. What will Ensei do too, considering how Eigetsu had ridden off alone without informing anyone other than Kourin?

“晴天霹雳” is the Chinese translation for this episode and it means that something dramatic had suddenly appeared in a period of peace and quiet. I guess that means the feeling that Shuurei felt when she realized the truth about some things.

This episode finally answers the big question on how the disease actually spreads.To keep you wondering, it is in fact something really simple yet opens up more questions.

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Episode summary

Shuurei met with Taiyou, who cut off her introduction by calling her Kou Shuurei first and praised her that he was honored to have such a wonderful lady in the same role as him. Shuurei then remembered about the tale about how Taiyou might be able to charm her if he was thirty years younger as she blushed. Taiyou gave some local delicacy (Yam cake?) as Shuurei asked whether Taiyou knew about Eigetsu. He said he once housed Eigetsu when he was about to take his imperial exams and Taiyou was his guarantor. Eigetsu brought a letter from the Doushu and Taiyou said that the two were the only survivors of a serious epidermic in their town.

Taiyou informed Shuurei that he was asked by the benefactor to pass Shuurei something. Taiyou then re-accounted the tale of Eigetsu’s benefactor coming over weakened, carrying a heavy bag to him. He had written a set of medical books, and while Shuurei looked at the box of books, Taiyou said the reason why it was passed to Shuurei was because Eigetsu had little time left in the world. Hence, the benefactor wanted to pass his and Eigetsu’s dream of saving lives to Shuurei, the other governor. The benefactor also passed a message that he thanked Shuurei because he was worried that Eigetsu would become alone once again but Shuurei alleviated that. The benefactor also said that Eigetsu would disappear from this world very soon.

Shuurei finally realized why Eigetsu was saying strange words when she was in Sa province about life being short. Taiyou also noted that after the benefactor passed the books, the benefactor looked extremely pale and had this calm smile as he said that he had achieved everything he wanted. When Taiyou brought back a doctor for him, the benefactor was gone and Taiyou felt that the benefactor’s chances of survival at that state was very low. A messenger came in and passed Shuurei two letters, as the letters had a special seal. The letters were the ones sent by Ensei and Eigetsu, as Shuurei was informed about the epidermic that was spreading in Houling town and that Eigetsu was going there alone. There was also word of a cult spreading rumors, and the leader’s name was Senya.

Shuurei then passed the order to the messenger, telling him to pass the two letters to the emperor, as well as requesting all the great doctors of the imperial palace to gather, saying that it was an emergency situation. Shuurei then looked at the books, saying that it was almost like fate played by the gods and thanked Taiyou for bringing the books. She then asked Taiyou whether he would resume to be the next governor of Sa, if something was to happen, and he readily agreed to her offer as he wrote a letter to confirm the words.

At Sa Province, Ensei was complaining how Eigetsu left on its own, leaving him to do a hell lot of administrative work. Sai Shou scolded Ensei for being whiny, and said that with the surrounding towns around the infected town seemingly showing the same symptons, the medical supplies were not enough at all and they would require the help of the merchant guild to loan some cash. When Ensei joked that he would pay them in the next generation, Sai Shou told him to find a solution immediately and Sai Shou continued that the towns there tended to be exclusive from civilization, quietly hoping for this disease to disappear. He went on with an old tale about a monster appearing in the water front.

Eigetsu met up with Hai Taishi, as Hai immediately asked why Eigetsu was so rash to come alone. However, Eigetsu said that he had some clues about the disease, and it was better for him to be around. Eigetsu told the officials that the disease seemed to spread when winter came earlier, with the sight of a snow fox. One official said that the snow fox was wary of strangers and seldom appeared to men. Eigetsu re-accounted a tale he remembered when he was young about a monster in the water, as he questioned that there might be a possibility that something might be dropped into the water.

Eigetsu said that it was probably the water source of the town, and as the towns were small in size, the water source in terms of the well and river would be at the same place. It was clear from the disease that it was not contagious, and it might be possible that if someone had drank the water which was contaminated. That was why Eigetsu told all of them to boil water first in order to get rid of the germs or bacteria in the water. He also said that there was a way to cure this disease, as his benefactor said in a flashback that he would find a cure. Hai Taishi then informed that doctors from the palace would come soon, and Shuurei would not be with them, with Eigetsu surprised that Shuurei would not be coming. Ensei seemed to say that there was no need for Shuurei to come.

Youshun was reading the letter and it seemed that the cult was blaming the coming of the epidermic to the appointment of the first female official in Sa Province. Shuurei said that it was so stupidly ridiculous, but Youshun said that it was the ridiculous things that would be easily accepted by a desperate group of people who wanted to save their own lives to believe everything that was said. Youshun said that even if the situation was that if she was not able to alleviate the fear and gain the trust of her people, and convinced that her appointment was not the cause of the winter epidermic, it would be her fault.

The head doctor from Tai Chang Hall arrived to the scene, as Shuurei wasted no time in passing the books written by Eigetsu’s benefactor. As Shuurei described the symptoms, To Roshi recognized it and heard of it before. She also acknowledged To Roshi, a doctor who took care of her when she was poisoned by Sa Enjun. After reading the book, Eigetsu’s benefactor was in fact Kashin, a very famous genius in medicine who refused to be the emperor’s personal doctor. Shuurei then told the head doctor that she required imperial doctors to be sent immediately to Sa province. He was unconvinced and said it was not done before, until Shuurei ordered him using her authority to convince him. Youshun also added the horses were prepared for them. Eigetsu, on the other hand was leaving and told Hai Taishi that Shuurei would definitely arrive, and that he promised Hai Taishi that he would try his best to survive.

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Thoughts

I fully applaud this episode wholeheartedly. I was fully expecting the disease to be somewhat of a mystical origin, but it seemed that it might be likely that it’s more of germs/bacteria that is spread as it entered the water source. Even though it was merely a possibility, I think that the fact that it brings back to a more realistic and intelligent setting makes the problem more of a medicinal problem rather than one that required some form of divine help.

In a way, it is very impressive of the story, and I do want to know what Eigetsu meant, when he said “I do have a solution to get rid of the disease” in a very grave tone. The very fact that Eigetsu is not going to live much longer makes me wonder what form of miracle will come to him in order for him to survive, or that Saiunkoku Monogatari will actually lose the first main protagonist of the show. I genuinely hope that it is not the case but somehow, my gut feeling tells me that he is not going to die.

I have no reason for the gut feeling but logic tells me if a character is given a countdown time for him to no longer exist in the world, there will always somehow have a miracle for it to prevent the situation from happening. Call it plot power, but I somehow just feel that Eigetsu’s death will be too premature.

On the rumors of the cult, I believe that I am going to make a turnabout and say that Senya is in fact not Sakujun. Sakujun is definitely not a malicious person toward Shuurei and the treatment used in the rumors by the cult toward the villagers in the affected region does not seem logical for a person like Sakujun. As much as he has a woeful and malignant heart, he is definitely in love with Shuurei and to use the logic that Shuurei had brought the epidermic to them is very un-Sakujun.

Hence, it might be possible that this “Senya” is perhaps the real Senya, in which Sakujun had stole his identity. I am surprised it took me so long before I realized my mistake but I guess the thing about the mysterious cult got me misled until the details about the cult are revealed in this episode. I also find out that Shuurei will have a lot to do in order to relief the worry from these exclusive villages and towns, as they are generally not outreached. I also wonder how they are going to catch this cult, considering that it is probably deep within the mountains, totally out of touch with civilization.

On random notes, I am extremely impressed with Shuurei’s exertion of power as her role of Sa governor toward the head doctor. I think even the head doctor must be surprised at how much Shuurei’s voice and intonation suddenly changed so sternly. Youshun’s added push is just overkill. Ensei is also equally amusing with Sai Shou who can be considered to be somewhat of a comical relief for this episode. The laughter for the past few episodes suddenly disappeared as we entered the main plot.

That’s it for this episode, and next episode seems to be the continuation into the main plot. Rock on!

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