The Riddle

A riddle? At Princess Kaguya’s words, a commotion rippled through the crowd. Some were quite surprised, while others wore expressions that said, "As I thought." Since the Asakura family's Princess Kaguya had mirrored the Princess Kaguya from The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter in everything from her birth to her selection of suitors, it was predictable that she would eventually decide to filter her pursuers through riddles.

So, what kind of questions would this little princess pose? The crowd looked toward the beautiful young princess seated inside the room with expectant gazes.

Seeing the looks from her suitors, Princess Kaguya smiled slightly and beckoned. A maid beside her handed her an exquisite box. After opening it, Princess Kaguya took out a small section of gentle, translucent jade bamboo.

"This Clear Radiance Jade Bamboo is a treasure that Kaguya has always held dear. It originally had six sections, but unfortunately, Kaguya accidentally dropped five of them while traveling through Heian-kyo yesterday. Now, among you, whoever can find these five sections of jade bamboo may stay. As for the rest of you, who are destined to have no connection with Kaguya, you may take back the gifts you sent previously and return home..." Princess Kaguya spoke slowly in a soft tone, her words leaving the crowd below slightly stunned.

Five sections of jade bamboo? In other words, this round of Princess Kaguya's would directly eliminate the vast majority of suitors, leaving only five? And those five would then have another round of competition?

Realizing this, the crowd below grew nervous. Looking at the number of people present, the elimination rate for this first round was simply too high!

"Then, may I ask, Princess Kaguya, which places in Heian-kyo did you visit yesterday? Please tell us so that we may have a clue to help you find your lost treasure." At this moment, Minamoto no Yorimitsu, standing in the front row, raised his voice slightly and spoke to Princess Kaguya with a smile.

"There will naturally be clues, Lord Minamoto... When Kaguya traveled through Heian-kyo yesterday, she visited five places. I have hidden the locations of these five places within a riddle..."

As Princess Kaguya spoke, she held up a small finger. Seeing this, the crowd below immediately fell silent. Princess Kaguya then slowly continued.

"At the bow of the boat in Xuanyi Alkaid Pond; where feathers fly into Huangluo Grain Rain; worshiping Buddha at the end of the Month without Gods; at the shrine palace where flowers bloom in the early sky; dwelling before the gods where dual poles and dual arrivals meet."

After Princess Kaguya finished, a dead silence fell over the suitors. Everyone showed different expressions—some were confused, some were deep in thought, and some seemed to have reached a sudden realization.

After hearing Princess Kaguya’s words, Minamoto no Yorimitsu nodded with a smile and followed up.

"Is this a Han poem, Princess Kaguya?"

"No, it cannot be called a poem, nor can it be considered a song. Kaguya is untalented; this is merely a riddle pieced together. Within these five lines of the riddle, each line represents a location. Within each location, a section of jade bamboo is hidden. As long as any of you can find one section and return it to me, you may stay for the time being..." Princess Kaguya spoke slowly. After scanning the crowd and seeing many confused gazes, she added another sentence.

"The riddle Kaguya has set this time is not particularly difficult. Many of you are brilliant noble lords; I imagine you will solve it quickly. Therefore, Kaguya will not wait for you for very long." As she spoke, she glanced at the sundial placed in the courtyard, a standard fixture in an Onmyoji's residence.

"It is now approximately the second mark of the hour of the Horse. Kaguya will wait here until the sun sets behind the mountains. Kaguya will only receive the jade bamboo during this period; even if it is brought afterward, Kaguya will not accept it. So, I ask you lords to cherish your time..."

As soon as Princess Kaguya finished speaking, the crowd became restless again. Many who were still confused showed a hint of panic on their faces. After bowing and taking their leave, the crowd quickly departed to search for the jade bamboo Princess Kaguya had lost. Within a short time, the number of people in the courtyard rapidly dwindled.

Watching the departing crowd, Princess Kaguya caught sight of a familiar figure. The moment she saw that figure, she breathed a sigh of relief that was almost imperceptible.

Eventually, the crowd in the courtyard vanished, and everything returned to silence. At that moment, a voice rang out from the room behind Princess Kaguya.

"Heh, it seems things are progressing quite well. That fellow finally has some brains and didn't actually let those so-called younger members of her clan come..."

From behind a screen in the room, Miketsu, dressed in white, slowly stepped out and spoke to Princess Kaguya with a smile.

"That things could proceed so smoothly is also thanks to Mother's control behind the scenes. You have gone to so much trouble for Kaguya's minor affairs..." Princess Kaguya bowed slightly and spoke to Miketsu.

"It is nothing. Since I am your mother, all of this is as it should be. Because of my multiple identities, I cannot often accompany you. Doing this is also a form of compensation."

Miketsu spoke slowly, then her expression tightened as she looked toward the sky.

"Besides the few we anticipated, this selection of a husband seems to have attracted some other special existences... I wonder what variables they might bring..."

...In Heian-kyo, on a bustling street, an exceptionally handsome young lord was walking slowly. He was deep in thought as he moved, his handsome appearance attracting the gazes of countless passersby.

At this time, a white-haired woman wearing a bamboo hat and a cloak followed beside him. She was currently looking at the troubled Kaguya with a smile.

"Huangluo... before Buddha... Alkaid... Hmph, what on earth is all this? Just a bunch of meaningless nouns pieced together... I have no lead at all!" Kaguya complained in a low voice while recalling the riddle. Having previously been the one setting the questions, she was now tasting the frustration of the one solving them.

"The level of this new princess is just so-so... The questions she sets don't even make sense. What kind of 'difficult problem' is this!" Kaguya continued to grumble quietly.

In the past, she was always the one making things difficult for others with her questions. She never expected that one day she would be stumped by a riddle set by someone else.

"Hehe... What this princess has set is not a 'difficult problem,' but a riddle. She is not doing what you once did, Princess—deliberately making things difficult for suitors with tasks impossible for mortals. This riddle is indeed functioning to filter suitors for that princess." With a smile, Eirin looked at Kaguya beside her. The latter turned her head in confusion.

"You mean, unlike me, she is actually planning to choose a husband from among these suitors? That's far too good a deal for those fellows..."

"That is not yet clear. However, my feeling is that she seems to want to use this matter to achieve some other goals..." Eirin said with a hint of contemplation.

"Ugh... regardless, let's find a way to decrypt it first..."

"As for that, I have already solved it."

"Ha?"