Shi, Senka
Summary
Senka Shi served as the former Emperor of Saiunkoku and was the father of Ryuuki, Seiran, and four other princes. Although he held affection for only one woman in his life, political constraints prevented their marriage, forcing him to accept six simultaneous concubines. Each of these women bore him a son, yet Senka never visited them again after their children were born. The Sixth Consort harbored deep bitterness over this abandonment, directing her rage specifically toward her son, Ryūki. Illness struck Senka during his youth, creating turmoil within the royal court, and he passed away nearly a decade later. His reign was marked by the use of the Wolves of the Wind to execute members of lesser noble clans guilty of misdeeds, while the Eight Colored Clans were spared punishment despite committing far worse crimes. To curtail noble influence and allow other social classes to participate in governance, he established the Official Exam system. Consequently, he was deeply reviled by survivors of the minor noble families but remained a figure of intense respect and fear. From the moment of his coronation, three men stood by him: Yosei Sho-Taishi, Sou-Taifu, and Enjun Sa-Taiho. Known collectively as the Choutei Sanshi, or three royal advisors, these men later served Ryuuki as his designated successor.
