Summary
Kouyuu Li serves as the Vice-Secretary of the Civil Affairs department, operating under the authority of Reishin Kou. An orphan who survived by selling tickets to a street lottery featuring prizes like plum blossom branches and salt, he was adopted by Reishin thirteen years ago. Kouyuu demonstrated exceptional intellect by becoming the youngest person ever to pass the official examinations at age sixteen, six years before the series begins, securing the top-ranked Jougen position. At the start of the narrative, he is twenty-two and assigned directly to the Emperor, a role that frustrates him due to the monarch’s absenteeism and failure to perform his duties. However, his perspective shifts when Ryuuki agrees to be tutored by him and begins actively participating in governance. Ryuuki presents Kouyuu with an iris flower to symbolize trust, which Kouyuu accepts openly as a token of his loyalty and belief in Ryuuki’s worthiness as Emperor. He works closely with the Emperor, often revising written proposals and other official documents. Despite his reputation as a genius, Kouyuu is notoriously directionless, frequently getting lost within the palace in fewer than thirty steps and taking up to two hours to reach destinations that others can cover in fifteen. He does, however, seem to navigate effectively during times of trouble. He shares a close bond with Shuuei Ran, although he loudly denies being friends with him. Kouyuu is easily annoyed and becomes nervous when speaking in public. He frequently claims that women are nothing but trouble and rejected all marriage proposals from families eager to align with an up-and-coming star, maintaining this stance after passing his exams. Despite his general disdain for romantic entanglements, he frequently tutors Shuurei and appears to regard her as a friend.
