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Hisho(丕緒) left there after fading footstep of Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏) who got angry and went out the room. When Hisho(丕緒) went out, the confused lower official looked at him and sun went down in summer. Hisho(丕緒) didn't call on his working place and went west the main street which extended east and west through Jicho(治朝).
The south of Jicho(治朝) almost opened. At the very back of the center of Jicho(治朝), the huge gate rose high as if it scooped out the slope of the mountain. This is the only gate, Romon(路門), to reach Encho(燕朝) -- the celestial place, which spread on clouds. There weren't a lot of people who were able to set foot on Encho(燕朝) through this gate. Even the officials were not exception in that all of them had not the right to get into. Although the difference of Jicho(治朝) and Gyoten(堯天) is as same as the ground and the sky, there is no difference about the both of them to be shut from the celestial place.
Hisho(丕緒) glanced at the gate and went further west to Tokan-fu(冬官府) along the main street. Tokan-fu(冬官府) was made from the main office and numbers of large and small works which surrounded the main office. Hisho(丕緒) came through intricate roads between works. Although it was the familiar road for him, he had come less often recently. The noise and smell which leaked from surrounding high walls were familiar, too. Checking the sound of a hammer, the smell of red-hot iron, and everything, he came through the gate of the end.
Works are sections which belong to Tokan-fu(冬官府). A house is fundamentally made from four small buildings which surround a yard, and various size works is adjoining. In most cases, a works is much bigger than a house, So they called a section of Tokan-fu(冬官府) a works. But the house which Hisho(丕緒) visited had not the west building, moreover. The canyon inserted into two huge peaks beyond the cliff which was cut off was the west side of the yard.
The faded peaks blocked your way and obstructed both sides of your view. You could look through the evening glow between peaks, far mountains' bottom dimming, and the sun went down mountains' lines which look pale indigo. You had been able to see the city of Gyoten(堯天) at lower place. You weren't able to see it because blocked by the thick green woods. The slope which continued from the yard was covered with pear trees.
The pear trees which Shoran(蕭蘭) had planted. Saying not to want to see the lower place, Shoran(蕭蘭) had continued to threw the pear fruits from this yard. Trees, which were lucky to take root and grew bigger and bear fruits, and then covered the slope of the bottom of a valley. They had the pure white flowers in spring. The clouds of the snow-white pear flowers covered the valley, What a brilliant scene it was!
It reminded him of Shoran(蕭蘭) who had looked at it with her narrowing eyes. Her expression had a strong resemblance to the bird which Hisho(丕緒) saw at Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏)'s balcony strangely. There is nothing to relate each other, though.
When he lost in his thought, voice which was surprised from behind carried out.
"Mr.Hisho(丕緒) --"
The young man showed up from the north room, and ran up to him, with crumpling and laughing face.
"It's really great to see you, Mr.Hisho(丕緒)"
"Long time, how've you been?"
He who noded yes was the lord of this house. He was a chief of Rajin(羅人) who were special craftsmen making Toshaku(陶鵲). Rajin(羅人) held tens of craftsmen in works which belonged to him. The craftsmen's cheif was called master and the master of Rajin-fu(羅人府) was Rajin(羅人). The young man had a gentle manner which was suitable for truly delicate workmanship, his name was Seiko(青江).
"Please -- please come in, sir."
Seiko was on the point of taking Hisho by the hand. In fact, he looked like beginning to shed tears at any moment. As a matter of fact, Hisho(丕緒) had not been visiting Rajin-fu(羅人府) for about one year. Once, he had almost lived here. Not only he did not visit Rajin-fu(羅人府), but also he did not go out of his residence at all. No king, No the shooting-arrow ceremony. Because of such convenient circumstances for him, he did not drop in Ra-shi(羅氏)'s works, and he entirely shut himself in his own residence. In this spring, Seiko(青江) sent a bearer who had the message 'please come and see since the clouds of pear flowers started'. But he refused it. He knew Seiko was anxious about his body and sent the bearer to him on the pretext of flowers. He understood his refusal made Seiko(青江) hurt deeply, but he never felt up to it.
He set foot in the room after about one year, there was no change than before. The room was crammed with desks and shelves which were filled with various tools and mountains of notes and plans. One year earlier and always, here was like this. -- Since Shoran(蕭蘭) attended to Rajin(羅人), since Hisho(丕緒) had come here for the first time as Ra-shi(羅氏), here has been no change.
When Hisho(丕緒) looked around with deep emotion, Seiko(青江) blushed.
"We littered with things as usual......"
"This is the way it goes. I can't remember this room was settled exactly."
What Seiko(青江) was confusedly gathering up with his murmuring to excuse him were old notes and plans. Hisho(丕緒) wondered goods lay scattered about the desk were made by Seiko(青江). All of them looked like old Toshaku(陶鵲). Seiko(青江) looked at the ground as he was ashamed of himself, because he probably noticed Hisho(丕緒)'s look.
"I was wondering ... I remade old Toshaku(陶鵲), because I think it probably trains me."
"uh-huh" murmured Hisho(丕緒). As Hisho(丕緒) did not give directions, Seiko(青江) did not have what to do.
"You are eager and splendid though, I tell you give up it for a while."
Seiko(青江) raised his face up with a smile rapidly.
"So, we are going to make the new Toshaku(陶鵲) for the O(王), Sir?"
"We have to make it. We will soon have a Taisha(大射)."
Hisho(丕緒) told Seiko(青江) about the instructions of Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏) who called him. As Seiko(青江) was understanding Hisho(丕緒)'s talk, he was definitely depressed.
"We have very short time. Sorry, but I have to hurry you up. Use your discretion in making it."
"I can't make such ......"
"I don't care. We only need the Toshaku(陶鵲) which can fly less awkward and be divided less unsightly. It's pointless to try to use your brains. I am satisfied, if we can hold the ceremony with no problems."
"But......this is the first Taisha(大射) for the O(王)."
Hisho(丕緒) had a half-smile.
"I think the O(王) will soon replace."
"Mr. Hisho(丕緒)," Seiko(青江) said disapprovingly.
"I hear we have a Queen again."
It's easy for Hisho(丕緒) to imagine the reign of Queens. A Queen has dreams on the throne, soon lost interest in them and ruined herself. The reign of Yo-O(予王) was six years, the former queen was Hi-O(比王), her reign was only twenty-three years. And her former was Haku-O(薄王), hers was sixteen. Kei had three continuous queens, and interregnums were much longer than reigns.
"It is pointless to devise. Its appearance makes it suitable, and O.K. if it seems to be auspicious."
Seiko(青江) glanced down sadly and dropped tears at his feet.
"......Please do not say such a thing but show me a brilliant shooting-arrow ceremony again, sir."
"I have no idea. We have short time, we have no choice but to reuse one of old Toshaku(陶鵲). Please do use cheap tricks for variety."
Seiko(青江) drooped his head and looked hurt.
"...... I will go and get you plans anyhow. Please wait a moment."
The back of Seiko(青江) who was leaving the room was lonely. Seiko(青江) was Shoran(蕭蘭)'s pupil. After Shoran(蕭蘭) disappeared, he pulled up from the craftsman to Rajin(羅人), but Hisho(丕緒) stopped thought of Toshaku(陶鵲) about that time. Although Toshaku(陶鵲) is only used at a shooting-arrow ceremony(射儀), if he isn't endeavoring to plan about it on a day-to-day basis, he can't make it use for a sudden ceremony. Nevertheless, since Seiko(青江) became Rajin(羅人), only one Toshaku(陶鵲) Hisho(丕緒) has never made. Hisho(丕緒) knew Seiko(青江) thought it was his fault. He thought that Hisho(丕緒) didn't make Toshaku(陶鵲) was the reason lack of his skills.
Hisho(丕緒) sat on Seiko(青江)'s seat. On the desk, some trial workmanship and old plans were located in a line. The blue ornament were on the note arranged and accumulated. He thought it was probably used instead of the paperweight, old thing which handed down in Rajin-fu(羅人府). The picture of the bird with a long tail was dyed in the center of the china square board filled with the fine design. A picture of a magpie(鵲). He thought, first of all, it was such a simple thing.-- He noticed being cracked to Toshaku(陶鵲). Looking carefully, a lot of very thin cracks were running to the form which divides the tail of a magpie(鵲). Here and there which were patched.
"...... It's very good job."
Probably, Seiko(青江) did. Only Shoran(蕭蘭)'s pupil whom she had brought up with such tender care could. Who would complain to him this splendid skill.
Hisho(丕緒) picked up the Toshaku(陶鵲). In its own way, it was thick and heavy. Light Toshaku(陶鵲) flies well, it may fail to be hit because it is so quick. A certain weight is required and the bottom is hollowed slightly. In this way, the floating time of it is longer. -- It is the earliest style of Toshaku(陶鵲).
Ra-shi(羅氏) have made the best use of inventiveness since then. At first, in order to keep shooting correctly, it flew as slowly as possible, and the device was made by form and weight so that it might float in the air for a long time. Before long, it came to adhere also to appearance. What was only china board of a circle or a rectangle came to take various forms. They are dyed not only by the elaborate pattern, but inlaid by gold or jewelry. Soon, even how to fly has been devised, and also how to break by examining a material and processing has done. Now all Toshaku(陶鵲) are not ceramic. It called Toshaku(陶鵲) is probably the vestiges of an ancient time.
However -- real birds were hit in very ancient times. Various birds including magpies(鵲) were released, and shot. But, Saiho(宰輔) which serves as a O(王)'s prime minister hates the taking of life. Then, in spite of having been an auspicious ceremony to affect the future, it was usually that Saiho(宰輔) does not attend the shooting-arrow ceremony. It is not an auspicious ceremony.-- someone thought so or not, the time of when or what country who knows, they became to use china board instead of real birds. And the same number of real birds as the number of Toshaku(陶鵲) which they were shot down became to be released into the palace garden.
Nobody knows why they are magpies(鵲). Probably it is related to the magpie(鵲)'s voice is supposed a sign of joy. Possibly the main aim is releasing birds than shooting down Toshaku(陶鵲). More shooting down them, more voice which is supposed a sign of joy sounds.
They had been made like being shot down and broken to pieces without fail.--and then the main aim of the shooting-arrow ceremony changed and changed to shooting down and breaking Toshaku(陶鵲) after thought and device of long line of Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏) and Ra-shi(羅氏). Toshaku(陶鵲) which plays music is his masterpiece which Hisho(丕緒) made.
In retrospect, that was the most prosperous shooting-arrow ceremony for Hisho(丕緒). Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏) of those days was Soken(祖賢), the reign of Ri-O(悧王) was entering the end of the period. -- Of course, he didn't understand it around that time.
When Hisho(丕緒) became a Ra-shi(羅氏) because of his hands having good skills, Soken(祖賢) was already very old and experienced man in his work as Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏). Hisho(丕緒) was given all knowledge he needed by Soken(祖賢). His warm personality -- and he had some innocent in his mind, Hisho(丕緒) was very happy about their work that they were thinking of the shooting-arrow ceremony(射儀). If one device was made, another idea was going to be born. He came to Rajin-fu(羅人府) with Soken(祖賢) everyday and having been at work and unconscious of the passage of time, including Shoran(蕭蘭) who was already Rajin(羅人), and they repeated trial and error again and again. People called Soken(祖賢) the Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏) in Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏), and they did Hisho(丕緒) Ra-shi(羅氏) in Ra-shi(羅氏) before long. As the Toshaku(陶鵲) which plays music made Ri-O(悧王) very happy, O(王) who got down from on clouds and visited Sekicho-fu(射鳥氏府), rewarded Hisho(丕緒) and others by himself. There was no honor beyond this for officials who lived in Jicho(治朝). It was good old days.
-- But, Ri-O(悧王) changed. It was considered whether he let the next Toshaku(陶鵲) sound what kind of music, this time perfume would be attached to magpies(鵲) and when they would be broken and rich smell flown. -- While considering those things, the reign of Ri-O(悧王) began to darken. Probably the next Taisha(大射) was held three years afterward. Although celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of Ri-O(悧王)'s ascension to the throne was held, he already tended to change the tyrant at the time.
Nobody knew what made Ri-O(悧王) do so. Someone said what his son was assassinated made deep cracks between the O(王) and his close aides. It did not become clear who killed his son. Then, Ri-O(悧王) was possibly caught by suspicion and fear. It was said that he was frequently hard on officials. Soon it came down from on clouds and had a bad influence around Hisho(丕緒). The O(王) was to measure officials at every turn. He thrust the difficult subject which seemed to be impossible, and, occasionally asked officials for the proof of too much loyalty. His behavior had not an exception to Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏). At the 60th anniversary he ordered them to show better shooting-arrow ceremony. His manner implied that he would not tolerate them not doing better than last one.
Remembering of those days, Hisho(丕緒) breathed with difficulty even these days. The devices of them became the duty, not the pleasure. Shishi(司士) who is Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏)'s superior was too eager for success, and put in much interference with a lot of instructions. The less excellent than last time, the ceremony would not have been needed. This sense of duty and Shishi(司士)'s interference without considering on the work ground, made to prepare it much difficult.
But, the ceremony had succeeded, he thought. Ri-O(悧王) was very pleased with saying more wonderful than last time. Both Soken(祖賢) and Hisho(丕緒), however, weren't satisfied by that. Although Toshaku(陶鵲) were broken splendidly, it was not seemed a good sign. Around the shooting-arrow ceremony(射儀), the many officials Hisho(丕緒) got used to seeing were missing. The O(王) who lose the people's trust looked at the scenes of Toshaku(陶鵲) broken was very chilly and empty, even if pottery birds looked like brilliant flowers, played beautiful music with sweet smelling.
Still -- no, because Soken(祖賢) was eager to make new devices.
"This time we will make the O(王) feel better."
In the courtyard, when Soken(祖賢) rode astride his chair and told what he thought, he was like a little child thinking a trick.
"Yes, but how, sir?"
Hisho(丕緒) asking, Soken(祖賢) turned his face skyward with Uh...
"It is not enough gaily and flowery, but more exhiaratingly. I don't talk about feeling high, I talk about feeling warm and smiling unconsciously. He has unconscious smile on his face and looks all round. He finds out the same kind of smile on top aides. They look see it each other, they feel connected with themselves and happy. -- How is that?"
Hisho(丕緒) smiled wryly.
"You say always such a thing that I do not see or so."
"Don't know about it? Well, when we happen to see a heartwarming scene, we feel something. We look see mutual faces which are laughing, and find to be able to relate each other, like that --"
"I know what feeling you talk about. But I don't know how to pull into shape."
"Shape," said Soken(祖賢) with tilting his head slightly to one side, and said again with doing it to another side.
"Well, I don't guess Gagaku(雅楽) fits my thought."
Gagaku(雅楽), that is also called Gasei(雅声), is an abbreviation of the music of elegant and orthodox. It is classical music which is used for great religious service or a ceremony of the nation and played by only traditional instruments, the songs sung with it is not music, but prayer. The composition suits a magic spell by the arrangement of sound than a melodious music. Although it is profound and solemn, in it the much pleasure of music doesn't still remain.
"So, do we take folk songs?"
Soken(祖賢) jumped while answering yes.
"That's good. Not a voluptuous song they sing at a banquet. More lighter song --."
"Like children's songs?"
"It isn't bad. Work songs are suitable, too. Well, house wives often sing together when they wash at the riverside. We play some music from here, and others from there. How do you think?"
As Hisho(丕緒) with a wry smile looked at Soken(祖賢) who brightened his eyes, he turned a look to Shoran(蕭蘭). Sitting on the stone of the end of a courtyard and throwing the fruit of the pear, Shoran(蕭蘭) heard their talking and had the smile which a nanny takes care of a difficult little child has this kind of.
"Yes, I don't mind to do what you say."
Shoran(蕭蘭) threw the last fruit. On the bottom of the valley small pear woods were going to grow because she continued doing patiently.
"But, using folk songs are more difficult than using Gagaku(雅楽). Gagaku(雅楽) has mechanical styles by its theory, though, folk songs have a various chaos."
"But, you can, Shoran(蕭蘭)?"
The old man pulled her hands so that he might pester. Shoran(蕭蘭) smiled wryly and looked at Hisho(丕緒). He held his laughing and showed a sigh.
"We must tune their sound by breaking birds actually and prepare them one by one. Tuning by our own ear. And following it, we will shoot birds. We need a throwing machine again."
"Some from here, others from there."
Soken(祖賢) declared proudly. Hisho(丕緒) nodded.
"Yes, we need a lot of throwing machines. A throwing machine per a song, we must decide a position exactly by plural marks, where a archer will break a bird."
"Oops, it's a big job. All Tokan(冬官) must be mobilized again."
Shoran(蕭蘭) also sighed but still smiled. Devices of materials, throwing machines, production of birds themselves -- always, she need team play finally, as a result get into a big thing with whole Tokan-fu(冬官府). But strangely Tosho(冬匠) don't make a disagreeable face. That's a craftsman, like Shoran(蕭蘭) too, who rise to an unreasonable demand. The plan of Soken(祖賢) and Hisho(丕緒) is very difficult one which nobody has made, they are willing to help them, in spite of complaining apparently.
Hisho(丕緒) himself is none other than this kind of craftsman. Making Toshaku(陶鵲) superior to the last time which had the goal forced other persons was painful. But, to carry out the unreasonable demand positively shown is pleasant. He was glad at this time because he had hard time before.
Was Seiko(青江) came into Rajin-fu(羅人府) as a craftsman exactly these days? Though Seiko(青江) wasn't still good as a craftsman, but even he was being joyfully to manual works.
-- But one day, Soken(祖賢) was suddenly taken away by soldiers who intruded.
Hisho(丕緒) doesn't still know why it happened. He knows Soken(祖賢) led to suspicion of plotting a rebellion, but Soken(祖賢) never had treacheries to O(王)s. He was probably implicated in the crime of rebellion by misunderstanding -- or a lie, but the circumstances were too complicated and there was no ways by which Hisho(丕緒) knew what happened. His cry that rebellion by Soken(祖賢) never occurred did not reach anywhere. First of all, he did not know about crying whom for help. Shishi(司士) who is Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏)'s superior avoided Hisho(丕緒) for fear of implication, Taiei(太衛) and Daishiba(大司馬), they are bosses of Shishi(司士), on clouds, Hisho(丕緒) had no method of meeting them, even if appealing to help him. Although he wrote a complaint, he got no answer, and he didn't understand whether it was even in high officials' hands.
As you, of course, know, ordinary people have no powers -- he did not remember who said so and consoled him. Hisho(丕緒) and Shoran(蕭蘭)'s friends and acquaintances said it should be glad that they were not implicated in the case. Because Soken(祖賢) probably protected them at the risk of his own life, the conspiracy of Hisho(丕緒) and Shoran(蕭蘭) weren't doubted and they were never examined at all. That broke up him much more. When Shishi(司士) met him at last, he told Hisho(丕緒) the worst thing. As Soken(祖賢) had no relatives, Hisho(丕緒) should take his body.
He had no more rage and no more tear. Doing as he was told to take away Soken(祖賢)'s severed head, holding it with his hands, he got into A conviction.
-- Magpie(鵲)'s voices are signs of joy. To shoot down them can't be auspicious signs.
It is wrong to please audience because of seeing Toshaku(陶鵲) are shot, broken and fallen. Essentially, we should not shoot Toshaku(陶鵲). Never hit, never break. But, the shooting-arrow ceremony(射儀) is an event as shooting Toshaku(陶鵲). Though shooting down Toshaku(陶鵲) should be banned, O(王)'s power forces it for a courtesy event. It is not an auspicious sign but an ominous sign. He believed that the event is the shooting-arrow ceremony(射儀) in which they have confirmation.
"We will remove all smells from them."
One day, after finishing Soken(祖賢)'s funeral, Hisho(丕緒) showed up to works and told Shoran(蕭蘭) so. 'Oh dear', Shoran(蕭蘭) dilated her eyes and regarded her hands embarrassedly.
"I don't mind. But, we make it this far with considerable effort at last."
There were rolling a lot of small silver balls in a small plate. In these balls the perfumed oil which Soken(祖賢) aimed at was contained. Soken(祖賢) was particular about their scent. He wanted only good scent but the scent with which they felt happy. Happy -- and satisfied, he claimed such a smell is good enough. He consulted with woodworkers of Tokan(冬官), came to works everyday and made up the perfumed oil. The size of the balls perfumed hair oil is put in was also devised so that it may be fragrant with elegance, this moment, Soken(祖賢) was already killed, but it just completed at last.
"No smell is better. We will change the sounds of Toshaku(陶鵲) broken. More dismal sound is better. The music we use is not good with lively. On the contrary, I think Gagaku(雅楽) of the funeral for the late O(王) is more suitable."
Shoran(蕭蘭) sighed, giving a wry smile moderately.
"You say to me to redo all, don't you?"
Shoran(蕭蘭) looked at the small plate again. She looked sorry -- or sad.
"But, even if you desired, we cannot use the Gagaku of the funeral. We cannot call it a celebration."
"O.K. You can use folk songs. But I don't need happy songs. Less tones. I want lonelier music."
"I see." Shoran(蕭蘭) murmured without emotions, and said nothing. Although they made up Toshaku(陶鵲) they removed smells from and let play lonely sounds, they had no opportunity to show it to Ri-O(悧王). Ri-O(悧王)'s reign had ended on 68th year.
Hisho(丕緒) continued making Toshaku(陶鵲) during next interregnums. Unnoticed, he became to see people's image on Toshaku(陶鵲)'s because of Seiko(青江)'s word.
"Why is that a magpie(鵲)?"
Seiko(青江) held a best hand and very bright. After Soken(祖賢)'s death, Shoran(蕭蘭) kept Seiko(青江) with her and trained eagerly as if she tried to fill the big hole.
"They say that magpie(鵲)'s voice is a sign of joy."
Seiko(青江) listened to Hisho(丕緒)'s explanation and tilted his head.
"There are probably other birds as auspicious ones. Why, more beautiful or more precious? Strange."
'Exactly', Shoran(蕭蘭) stopped her hand manipulating and her eyes were brightened with interest.
"I think you're right. It is good even if Hoo(鳳凰) or Rancho(鸞鳥)."
People can't possibly shoot down Hoo(鳳凰) or Rancho(鸞鳥). -- Hisho(丕緒) smiled wryly, but thinking about it again, this is very strange.
Magpies(鵲) aren't precious. They are ordinary birds are seen in a village or agricultural land every day. It has a black head and black wings like a crow, only the root and the belly of wings are white. And a long tail. The tail of length as long as the body length is also crow's color. Though slender wings and a long tail are graceful, it has neither exceptionally beautiful color nor eye-catching markings. It has no particular beautiful voice. It is an ordinary bird like a sparrow or a crow, at the beginning of spring it picks the ground, and nuts when fall comes. Sights of the birds are overwhelmingly walking and hopping on the ground than flying in the air.
-- He considered suddenly they seemed like people.
Very ordinary people who are anywhere. They wrap themselves in simple clothes and finish most of their lifetime by cultivating the ground. They have neither particularly outstanding skill nor speaking of beauty. If they keep to hone their skills or be diligent in their studies, the highest position they can rise will probably be just that of a lower class official like Hisho(丕緒), they cannot rise up on a clouds. But, they didn't hate it and made continuous lives innocently -- and that's all.
Magpies(鵲) are people rightly. If they are satisfied and collapse from laughter, singing with joy, it will be a good sign for a O(王) exactly.
People's joy is a proof that is O(王)'s reign is right. If people sing and chatter, a reign of the O(王) will be to continue for a long time.
He thought his intuition is right that what they shoot Toshaku(陶鵲) and feel happy are mistake. The power which O(王) has shoots people. People who are shot break into pieces. To shot down and be happy are absolutely wrong. By daring to make a mistake we make them check the fear of the power. -- have to do.
He wanted to make Toshaku(陶鵲), by which archers who shot down and break had the guilty feeling.
But --.
"-- I make tentative dug up as it is."
He came to himself by unexpected voice. When Hisho(丕緒) looked back, he found Seiko(青江) who had just come back and held volumes of paper.
"Fortunately, all plans by you remained."
Oh, Hisho(丕緒) breathed out.
"Then, choose good one from them."
Seiko(青江) drooped his head.
"......Do you give up my skills so much?"
"I say you've got it wrong."
Seiko(青江) shook his head in silence. Hisho(丕緒) murmured again, "you guess wrong." He suddenly remembered his palm with large weight, and found it still holding the Toshaku(陶鵲) by his eyes.
They tried to choose and make a good one from them, but, this was too difficult for Hisho(丕緒) who already expected it's difficult. Even if the plans remained, Toshaku(陶鵲) was actually made by Shoran(蕭蘭) and owed a lot of processes to their delicate handiwork of her and Tosho(冬匠)'s. Both materials and facons, Tosho(冬匠) who had charge reached details through a trial and error process. If you have neither eyes nor hands of the Tosho(冬匠), you never know its moderation. Though it was craftsman that actually made, the master helped them by oral instructions or directly at the workplace. In other words, it was necessary to do again from the beginning, if Tosho(冬匠) actually related to the work didn't exist anymore. Besides -- to make things worse, Kei(慶) had always had a lot of troubles since the end of Ri-O(悧王)'s reign. Many of craftsmen disappeared so that Shoran(蕭蘭) didn't live here anymore, and the number of craftsmen who remember moderations were limited. It was impossible to make old past Toshaku(陶鵲) at once. Many of processes should try and err from beginning -- then, it's no difference between making old and new. That makes it easy not to be bound by past records.
He thinks so but can't make a move. During he was not able to be a bad loser and continued to choose one of old plans, the new O(王) formally took the throne. In accordance with ancient ritual, when the new O(王) entered the palace, all officials, the higher and the lower, welcomed her at on clouds, but he could not see her highness because he as the lowers was so far away from her. He could know neither her face nor her personality. Only thing leaves no doubt, which was flown from above the clouds, was she is a daughter who came from another world. They say the girl does not know much about common sense and is very nervous.
'Again', this thought let him lose his making energy of Toshaku(陶鵲).
Haku-O(薄王) ignored the power, and was drowned at the luxurious life. She rose to the highest position, obtaining the extreme luxury and going into raptures, she never came down to the ground. Hi-O(比王) was interested only in power oppositely. She was pleased that she had willing and able all officials and people at her command. And, Yo-O(予王) was interested in neither of them. She secluded herself at the depth of the palace and stayed there for a long time. She denied the power or even the both of her people and her country, when she showed herself in the imperial court at last, she already became a tyrant who went out of the ordinary groove.
New O(王) having just entered the palace, Hisho(丕緒) was called again by Sekicho-shi(射鳥氏). Same as before, Suiryo(遂良) was courteous and familiar like trying to curry favor with Hisho(丕緒).
"Well, did you get a good idea?"
Suiryo(遂良) knitted his brows embarrassedly, when he heard Hisho(丕緒) replied shortly "No". Next, he was with a smile as mediating Hisho(丕緒).
"Fortunately or unfortunately, next shooting-arrow ceremony seems to delay than our expectation. They will let Taisha(大射) be postponed until the next."
"Postponed -- ?"
Suiryo(遂良) screwed his face when Hisho(丕緒) asked back with dubious.
"Don't ask me the reason why they do that. I never know about it. It might be new O(王) intention -- or, it might be an intention of important people, who knows?"
It could happen, Hisho(丕緒) nodded.
"We will have the first Taisha(大射) for the new O(王) at Koshi(郊祀). I'm sorry that we can't show Her Majesty a good Taisha(大射) at her coronation, but we have more time now due to that."
Koshi(郊祀), that is a ceremony for praying the happiness of the country to the gods, is held on a winter solstice. Especially, the first Koshi(郊祀) is very important for the new O(王) and the country. The first Koshi(郊祀) has a Taisha(大射) naturally. -- It is absolutely sure. Even if Hisho(丕緒) makes it by an original idea from nothing, it will be working in time because he has two months and more until the winter solstice.
"The future of all Kakan(夏官) rests on your shoulders. I dump everything on you. And you, save our faces by making something good."
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