Volume 1/The Skylark Princess

***The Skylark Princess*** is the third chapter of Volume 1 of the *Koukyuu no Karasu* series.

## Synopsis

At Yamei Palace, Jusetsu spots the ghost of a skylark. Jiujiu wonders if it's the skylark of Princess Skylark. Princess Skylark was the nickname given to Koushun's half-sister. Her mother died when she was young and she grew up alone even though she was a princess, because her mother was a mere palace lady and therefore had no supporters. She was called Princess Skylark by the concubines because sparrows (skylark contains the character for sparrow) were considered ugly birds that ate off the ground. The princess died at thirteen by drowning in a pond. Around the time that she fell in the pond, her skylark was flying around the inner palace and chirping, as if trying to tell people what happened, but no one heeded it, and it eventually fell to the ground and died. Jiujiu asks Jusetsu to help send the bird's ghost to paradise, and she agrees to take on the request.

Later in the day, Jusetsu heads for the princess's palace without Jiujiu. She senses no presence of a ghost there and infers that the princess's soul has already gone to paradise. She spots a bunch of flowers placed near the pond, indicating that someone had came here to pay their respects. Jusetsu then goes to the nearest palace, Hakkaku Palace, to ask if anyone there was close to the princess. The palace ladies mention that the previous Crane Consort, Lady Sha, would help the princess by sending her food, but she had to do it secretly so as to not attract the Empress Dowager's attention. They tell her that the servant who delivered the food, You, is currently the Crane Consort's attendant. However, they prevent her from entering the palace as the Crane Consort is in the process of selecting fabrics, which will take a whole day. Jusetsu also learns from the palace ladies that it is expected for a consort to give things to their attendants, and that it's considered bad form for a consort to not do so.

When Jusetsu returns to Yamei Palace, Jiujiu is angry at her for going out without taking her. To appease her, Jusetsu tries to give her the comb Koushun gave her, but Jiujiu refuses as it was given to her by the emperor. She gets offended when Jusetsu asks if she wants clothes or money instead because she takes pride in serving Jusetsu. She leaves the room, leaving Jusetsu lost.

The next day, Koushun visits Jusetsu as she is trying her hand at wood carving. Koushun carves a swiftlet for Jusetsu. He explains that it was his friend, Tei Ran, who taught him wood carving when he was young. Tei Ran was a eunuch who served as his playmate, even though he was around his father's age. Jusetsu asks Koushun's advice on Jiujiu, explaining what happened. Koushun tells her that just because he told her she could throw away his gift, it doesn't mean it's okay for her to give it to someone else. He advises her to give Jiujiu food instead of valuable items, since she would probably not get angry that way. He asks Jusetsu if she threw away the wooden fish he gave her and is relieved when he finds out she didn't, because it was made by Tei Ran. Before he leaves, he tells her that he will finish the swiftlet when he visited her again.

Koushun visits the Winter Minister, Setsu Gyoei, to learn more about the Raven Consort. He asks why did his grandfather, who hated magic and banished all the sorcerers from the capital, left the Raven Consort alone. Gyoei explains that the Flame Emperor kept the Raven Consort around because she was the one who got rid of the ghosts of the previous imperial family that haunted him. Koushun repeats Hyougetsu's words about the Raven Consort being able to obtain anything she wants, which Onkei had heard and reported to him. He then questions why the Raven Consort's Yamei Palace is directly opposite of Gyokou Hall, his own residence. Yamei Palace is situated at the center of the inner palace, as if it is the master of the inner palace. Gyoei refuses to say anything and tells him to ask the Raven Consort instead. He then asks if Koushun is sleeping well, since his face looks unwell. Koushun decides to go to the inner palace.

Jusetsu goes to the pond where Princess Skylark drowned and meets a palace lady, You Juujou, leaving flowers there. Jusetsu learns that she and the princess were both sickly, but the princess wasn't able to see a doctor because it required to empress's permission. Juujou met the princess when they were both twelve and they became friends. Since she lived alone, the princess did everything by herself, including herbs and flowers. The skylark was a bird that the princess fed everyday. Juujou recalls an argument she had with the princess on the day before her death. They were fighting about the princess's treatment despite her status. Juujou was too embarrassed to see the princess the next day, and so even when the skylark was singing for help, she hesitated to go to her. Before she leaves, Juujou asks Jusetsu to save the skylark's ghost.

Just then, Koushun finds her. He notices the flowers growing around the princess's palace. Jusetsu explains that all the flowers growing there are used as medicine. Princess Skylark grew them to make her own medicine. Jusetsu guesses that she fell into the pond because she was trying to pick the fritillaries growing around it. She surmises that the princess had been trying to pick them so that she could use them as medicine for Juujou, who had a bad cough. This was her way of trying to make up with her after their argument. Jusetsu didn't tell any of this to Juujou, thinking that it's better that she didn't know. Koushun presents the finished bird carving to Jusetsu. She calls the skylark and uses her magic to turn the bird carving into a real sparrow. She tells the skylark to follow the sparrow to where its princess is. Jusetsu thanks Koushun, who is surprised. He gives her another wood carving, this time a willow tit. He tells her about Tei Ran, the eunuch who served as his playmate when he was a child and taught him woodcarving. Tei Ran was beaten to death by the empress dowager's men after Koushun was deposed as crown prince and sent to Gyosou Palace. Koushun asks Jusetsu why she keeps pushing people away and tells her to make up with Jiujiu before it's too late.

Jusetsu returns to Yamei Palace and tells Jiujiu that she has sent the skylark's soul to paradise. She then apologizes to her about yesterday. Jiujiu states that she wants to stay as Jusetsu's attendant because she seems lonely. She also reveals that she knows Jusetsu dyes her hair, but neither she nor Kougyou will tell anyone about it.

Meanwhile, Koushun awakes from his sleep and steps out of his room. In front of his door, he sees the ghosts of his mother and Tei Ran standing guard silently.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Ryuu Jusetsu
* Xingxing
* Skylark
* Wulian Niangniang (mentioned)
* Jiujiu
* Princess Skylark (mentioned)
* Previous Emperor (mentioned)
* Kajou (mentioned)
* Sha (mentioned)
* Empress Dowager (mentioned)
* Saname Banka (indirectly mentioned)
* Reijou (mentioned)
* So Kougyou
* Ka Koushun
* Ei Sei
* Setsu Gyoei
* Flame Emperor (mentioned)
* Onkei (mentioned)
* Ran Hyougetsu (mentioned)
* You Juujou
* Sha (ghost)
* Tei Ran (ghost)