Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai, episode 7
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I think Shiratama is in over her head. She thinks that she's blackmailing Hamayuu, but I feel like the North and South partnership is only in name. Hamayuu is waiting for something before she acts. I don't know what this something is, but it has to be related to why she was sent rather than the head of the South's blood daughter.
Also, if the story Masuho-no-Susuki told is true, the emperor was fucking r*ped as a power play by the Empress. What a horrendously vile person.
Something is fishy with the South. It's too bad we have not SEEN the actual daughter of the Lord of the Southern House. Is she really plain and unappealing?
In any event -- right now I am (verrrry tentatively) shipping Yukiya with Asebi and the Prince with Masuho. Odds of this being the case? Near zero. But still....
Plain and unappealing? Sure not! The empress suggested Natsuka to meet her in the previous episode. It seems like they were saving Nadeshiko for Natsuka.
Aha. I guess I overlooked/forgot that. But I don't believe WE have seen her, right? (Or have I forgotten something else).
You are right. I wonder why the prince wanted a meeting to ask such a question about Hamayu, though.
Yeah Shiratama is saying she blackmailed Hamayu with her “secret”, but Hamayu acts like she was never competing to begin with and very easily conceded to Shiratama, I think she just did that to find out more about the north’s plans
And what is Hamayu’s secret? That she’s adopted? The prince found that out already lol, it’s probably something else then but somehow I don’t think Hamayu is actually that bothered, Shiratama is acting confident but she’s much younger than the other candidates and I think is very naive and possibly also brainwashed to sacrifice herself for her family
I also low-key ship the prince with Masuho, Masuho seemed bitchy at first but rn she’s probably actually the only sincere consort lmaoo, I feel bad for her like she might be the first to be killed off because her love is too pure
Yukiya and Asebi combo would be perfect. Asebi's innocence contrasts with Yukiya's sharpness and directness, making them a great match.
Asebi nearly drowning in a shallow pool. facepalm
I share your ships, we can watch them sink together o7
;-)
So far we have two of four candidates who are in the "not sending our actual best" category - Hamayuu & Asebi. I suspect a plot that puts everyone at risk - maybe to be triggered by the Prince visiting?
That would fit the building tension of "will he, won't he [visit]".
The North seems out-of-the-loop enough politically that Shiratama may be working on outdated intel, or maybe she too is a sacrifice and just doesn't know it. And Masuho seems so in LOVE that even if she was told of a plot, she'd probably insist on coming anyway.
Shiratama is trying to bully her way to victory in what is supposed to be a purely political conflict, I also don’t think that is going to end well for her. This is not how you are supposed to play that kind of game. Now every other House has a reason to get rid of her, including her supposed ally.
I think Hamayuu is the assassin sent to kill the Prince, and she is waiting for him to come before doing her job and disappearing. Note that the Prince was asking specifically about her to the head of Southern House. He is already suspicious.
I have no idea what is going on with Asebi : is she really just as naive as she appears and a political pawn of her house, or is it all an act ? I am not sure what would be the point in each case.
Masuho-no-Susuki seems to be the smartest and most level-headed of the 4 ladies up to now. I would not be surprised if she ends up the one marrying the Prince in the end instead of Asebi.
Samomo’s behaviour was very suspicious when she gave the letter to Asebi, but from what we know, she could have been killed by basically anyone for basically any reason. That show’s politics are already twisted enough that anything could happen.
I feel its an act like with Samomo. I wouldn't be suprised if Samomo was killed by Asebi especially with the tense music of their meeting scene. Also I feel the letter might be a plot by Asebi to get others to reveal it. Why would she read a private letter in such a open space. We know that they each have their own places. Why not read it there instead.
I think Asebi, Hamayu know how to play the game unlike Shiratama and Susuki. Shiratama especially. Asebi and Hamayu in different ways don't reveal their intentions and decieve the others. Asebi acts as a friend to all and an innocent raven all the while scheming and Hamayu decieved Shiratama with the secret and allies talk especially since that's an open secret and even the crown prince knows it.
Shiratama should have kept her mouth shut and sweet talk Asebi and Susuki. Also she shouldn't have broadcast her alliance especially as it isn't a formal alliance. An alliance in words goes both ways. Yes hamayu doesn't have a gurantee for shiratama cooperation but neither does Shiratama have one for Hamayu cooperation. Especially since the secret isn't a secret at all.
Susuki I think is a normal person. Just competent enough to not be decieved but not competent enough to decieve others.
Sometimes I think the ladies vying to be the next Consort are more scheming and devious than the Imperial court. Shiratama’s making her move this week and she means business. With Samomo’s death and this whole revelation about Asebi’s mom, things are gonna be getting even more tense in the Cherry Blossom Palace.
Yep. Wakamiya is avoiding them partially to spare them from the drama and intrigue, but I think his approach has backfired. If he picked one of the ladies and made his decision clear from the beginning, the whole affair would at least be over quickly.
Pretty sure if he picked a favorite early on, that girl would end up dead.
No more dead than she would wind up later.
Given that assassination will always be a risk, it looks to me like the best way to mitigate that risk is to wrap things up quickly and give the schemers less time to scheme.
But you forget about Asebi mother. The kinu was about to choose her but then he chose the South. Alternatively there is always ruining their reputation.
No, the incident with Asebi’s mother is exactly the kind of thing I’m thinking about. The previous kin’u indicated a preference, then let things drag on for long enough to allow the current empress to enact her scheme.
I mean there is a set custom of when ascending the throne you choose a consort. If you aren't the kinu yet then it must drag on.
I get that he can’t formally marry her straight away, but a prince has enough power to hire special security, let it be known that plots against his lady of choice will be treated as plots against the future empress, things like that.
I know it doesn’t completely mitigate the risk, but it’s safer than leaving the four women and their entourages to their own devices to tear each other apart.
But in this case the woman in question wasn’t harmed. But the prince himself was implied to be raped and hence the talk of a baby before the selection prematurely ended due to pregnancy. Remember that there is plenty of security in the inner palace. Moreover only enuchs and women can enter (i think with my previous experience of chinese political dramas based systems). So additional guards have to be women (since almost all warriors won't be enuchs) and that’s rare. Moreover showing favouritism to one house will make a tense political situation so they have to hire guards for all women which means alot of guards. Also the guards themselves may be assasins and in a perfect position to do so without anyone noticing. So blame would be on the prince if assasination happens. It's much simpler and better to leave the guarding to the house's attendants no matter how good they are.
But isn't it tradition for when the crown prince ascends, he ascends with the consort. That years competution so as to say might have ended early due to extenuating circumstances which was the pregancy of the current empress.
If he picked one of the ladies and made his decision clear from the beginning, the whole affair would at least be over quickly.
I'm pretty sure part of the point he made is that if he did choose, that lady would just end up either being a victim of malicious schemes to disqualify her from the position anyway, or assassinated outright.
Shiratama making moves, Asebi finding out more about her mother and now Samomo's death... I feel like Wakamiya's approach has already failed as things are already bad in Cherry Blossom Palace. Yikes
Curious about Rokon and Sumio’s relationship
Edit - thinking about it more, no matter what decision Wakamiya makes, there will be no peace at Cherry Blossom Palace?
I feel like Natsuka is truly his mother's son.
{They both seem utterly vile}
I suspect there are no totally safe or correct moves for the Prince. Peril (and possible failure) are strewn about in every possible direction.
I don’t think Natsuka is necessarily good and I do think he is also competing for the throne, but I think he’s acting outside of the empress’s plans. Idk I just kinda get the vibe that he hates her. Maybe she’ll be happy if he becomes the new emperor even if he does hate her and she doesn’t care how it happens, but I think Natsuka really does not like “belonging” to the empress
This I don't know. We are not sure whether this backfired or if shit would have already happened by the time he had decided on something. One thing is for sure: the Cherry Blossom Palace is bound for some heavy shit.
Darn I really liked Samomo but it did seem like she knew too much...the sus is still very strong with Asebi. She chose to read something private like that letter in such an open place?
I'm not trusting her still.
Hoping Hamayuu ends up betraying Shiratama as that really doesn't seem like the good side...
Yeah her reading this in such a public place invites strife, especially in this tense situation with the letters disappearing.
Samomo's reaction when delivering this letter was also very suspicious, she was really afraid for some reason. Would she be if she was just asking for how Asebi's mother was doing? It is apparently against the rules, but so are other things she was okay with before (like the princess helping Asebi a bit). This instead makes it look as if she got involved into something very dangerous, knew about it and was killed because of it.
I wonder if this letter indicated (in some coded fashion) that Samomo would provide some secret information in person. But Samomo got taken out before she and Asebi could talk (in total privacy).
Or Asebi used Samomo as a pawn, then got rid of her as to keep the information transfered secret. Samomo looked terrified for a reason after all
Out of all 4 of them, I am 100% convinced that Asebi is the most evil. We don't have much to go on, but it's just the little clues and the fucking vibe I get from her. As Shiratama said, the "pure innocent, never done anything look" is disgusting, and it just makes me feel wrong
Well, I will remain naively trusting in her -- until it becomes impossible to continue doing so. ;-)
Yeah I’m definitely suspicious about Asebi. Something about how happy and innocent she sounded when Samomo gave her the letter, in that scene where you could hear Asebi talking but could only see the fear on Samomo’s face, it sounded so sinister
Also Asebi said she wrote to a trusted groundskeeper of hers, and then in the same episode we meet a groundskeeper who is a good friend of the prince… willing to bet they’re the same person and I don’t trust him either
the sus is still very strong with Asebi. She chose to read something private like that letter in such an open place?
She's been shown to be super naive about literally everything, so it's just par for the course.
Hoping Hamayuu ends up betraying Shiratama
She didn't agree to her terms, just stated that she "has no choice." She obviously intends on betraying Shiratama.
She is going to betray her for sure, but I feel she is the smartest out of the four ladies. Seems like the typical character playing chess while the rest plays checkers.
A pretty big turning point episode for the Cherry Blossom Palace side of the story. Moves have been taken and blood has been spilled.
The leading read that I have right now is that Hamayuu is the assassin. The Southern lord sent her to be the extensible playing piece instead of risking his own daughter. Shiratama is blackmailing Hamayuu with this secret (instead of the being adopted thing) because she can't be exposed and dishonour her house. (If she is then she is also the one who warned Wakamiya about the assassin). The person behind Samomo's death is the Shiratama faction as a provocation.
This of course, if everything isn't secretly Asebi behind it all. Samomo was scared out of her mind when reporting to Asebi. Something far more dangerous and grave than what Asebi said it was for afterwards. Suspect even that Asebi sent Samomo out to die, be it directly causing the push or knowing that delivering the letter would paint a target on her.
Shiratama is acting too bold in her moves. She thinks she is practically untouchable. Those who think they are invincible are prone to quickly find out that they are in fact, quite vincible. She is too confident that she has all the cards down locked.
Wakamiya keeps his distance from the ladies out of concern of bringing them harm, but the longer he draws this out, the more strife would come as they fight and scheme against each other.
This episode pretty much lays bare that Masuho is someone truly earnest and can be a friend.
Even if Asebi is secretly evil, she still has her pure heroine moments. I really like this face.
They got really casual with Rokon after previously seeing him brutally killing a man. Seems like he and Sumio share some sort of history/relation. Even though he is being quite casual now and isn't making direct threats, I feel like you shouldn't be giving him free intimidation material, Yukiya. They know how to hit you.
Something random, I like how for Samomo's crime scene, you can see that she tried to turn into a raven before falling to her death. I just think that's neat and a little way to incorporate the series' fantasy element.
I feel like you shouldn’t be giving him free intimidation material, Yukiya
I was thinking the same thing, like this is definitely gonna come up again right?
They could threaten his stepmom :( I didn't like that Rokon knew exactly who his mom was, especially given how close Yukiya was shown to be to her despite having a different birth-mother. His father & brother[s] I could see defending themselves, or at least being too-visible/prominent to be targets.
Losing *two* mothers seems like a perfect way for Rokon to unlock Yukiya's FAFO Mode.
I like how for Samomo's crime scene, you can see that she tried to turn into a raven before falling to her death. I just think that's neat and a little way to incorporate the series' fantasy element.
See, I take that as a hint as to her killer. She mentioned to Asebi that she used to sneak out and transform/fly as a young girl. We know from Yukiya's penchant for jumping off cliffs that they can do so fast enough to have no true fear of falling (assuming past exp).
So I took her halfway-transformation and the long slow pan of the platform height as an indication that she was incapacitated *in addition* to going over the side. Maybe she got bludgeoned and tried to escape by flying away, or maybe a variant of the 3rd-leg knot-rope trick that binds "horses". But "she just fell" is clearly BS.
With how late & isolated it was out there, maybe she was just reflecting on her [poor] life-choices, but likely she was meeting someone. That'd explain the terror when she delivered the (doctored??) letter to Asebi.
She was incapacitated by her robes. Yukiya has always been in his raven clothes before turning into a crow. I bet she wasn't given the chance to put off her robes.
Maybe, but the ladies-in-waiting wear much simpler, looser robes than their ladies (who wear full formal kimono, with multiple under-layers & obi). If your life depended on ripping off your PJs quick, a simple bathrobe belt wouldn't stop you LOL
But it's a good point, esp since she may not have practiced transforming/flying in years, or under duress.
We are used to watching characters rip off their clothes while shape-shifting in media.
We already know, though, that in this world, locking the crow's foot prevents yatagarasu from turning into humans. Other obstacles in the opposite direction are quite possible, too.
Since Samomo's left wing was still wrapped in her robes and the fabric didn't look damaged, she didn't have enough time to shape-shift, or in that world, you can't get momentum during the transition.
Perhaps if you are chained, you can't break the chains or fabric turning into a raven.
maybe a variant of the 3rd-leg knot-rope trick that binds "horses".
[Self-quote!] I think the binding was a mix of the knot itself and some kind of targeted "dispel polymorph" magic that interferes with their own. Memory's fuzzy, but in the expodump I don't think any random person can come and free you by simply taking the rope off, nor can you free yourself.
Any way you shake it, this doesn't seem like some minor argument & tussle that tragically was too close to the railing. Samomo's attacker probably was prepared to do her harm, if not necessarily kill her.
Yeah, I was gonna say that people/crows who can literally fly falling to their death is sus af.
If it were one of the nobles, I'd buy it actually. Their superiority complex & culture clearly elevates their human-form to the point that I doubt most of the nobles (esp the women) have ever even attempted to consciously transform.
I wonder if they do it naturally as babies (chicks?!), but the habit is trained out of them. Hmm..?
She mentioned to Asebi that she used to sneak out and transform/fly as a young girl.
Ooh, I forgot that detail!
I do definitely think some sort of violent struggle took place before she fell off too. When Sumio took a look at her face, I was trying to see if there were any wounds to indicate her being hit before falling. There is blood coming from behind her eye opposite to the ground (though, it could be from the mess of falling to the ground. I'm no forensic expert).
The fact Samono shared this fact about herself to Asebi (meaning she is knowledgeable of more info) does not help Asebi beat the suspicious allegations.
Only we [and Shiratama] are suspicious of Asebi, because we're too genre-savvy LOL
But nah, I think Samomo's attacker must not have known she could fly (or at least that she'd try). You wouldn't push Superman off a roof to kill him, no? [for so many reasons...]
Did you catch the part in the Ravine ep, where the brothel women were all wearing white yukata while ogling Yukiya? (Anisearch img ) I wondered at the time if that's the female version of "feather robes", since all the Ravine men were exclusively shown in that form.
I love politicking as much as the next guy, but the Northern candidate needs to get a life, lol.
Every single one of these women is up to something, but Asebi is the most suspicious. Ingenue characters do two things in stories like this: they either die early or turn out to be the scheming mastermind playing with the others.
Ah… So Hamayu was adopted. Is that the big secret? Doesn’t feel like it, since they said other adoptees have participated in this before…
Isn’t that just lovely…
Ahh, so that’s what the letter was about. She must have sent it through Samomo because of the letter thief.
He knows about that?
I thought it was weird that he didn't. Typically warriors of his caliber would be able to sense people that are where they should not be. Nice to see that the story made note of the fact that he let him go, meaning that if Yukiya tries to sneak around again, he might not make it out next time.
More likely he figured it out based on Wakamiya's later moves/counter-moves. Even if he didn't know who, he could figure out that there must've been some kind of spy. Or it was a bluff... LOL
I mean you don't sense people existing in real life no matter how exceptional you are. A warrior senses are just honed enough to pick up footsteps, breathing, etc but they were in a brothel where there was a lot of activity. Most probably it was a bluff and he knew there was someone who spied from Wakamiya counter plans.
I don't trust Asebi in the slightest after this episode. Reading a private letter where anyone can walk up to her? And Samomo looked freaked when she delivered said letter; maybe she knew/saw to much?
The West lady seems to be the only genuine one.
This show is definitely my favourite this season and noone is fucking watching this? Are people really this unaware. This is some good ass drama. Anyhow... Asebi first being all innocent and then painted as some kind suspicious individual in this and the last episode is really too obvious I think. She probably genuinely only sent letters to her family and Samomo probably found out about something else by happenstance which killed her. Hopefully at least. Asebi being the disguised nice person is just too boring of a development IMO.
Rokon is an interesting character. Both parties know about each others scheming and Rokon doesn't shy away from mentioning it, instead of being all cryptic with their speech which is refreshing. He also seems like a guy that has some sort of base values which is nice for the secondary main antagonist. He's the physical antagonist and the Prince's brother would be the politicking antagonist so far at least.
edit:
It really does seem like Natsuka himself doesn't want to usurp Wakamiya, but will step up if he ends up endangering Yamauchi.
Yeah, that's the vibe I get from him too, like he is fine with Wakamiya being the next line as long as Yamauchi is not falling to ruin because of his "antics".
Him letting Rokon kill Kazumichi also seems to me like one way of Natsuka trying to tell his backers "Do not kill my brother as long as he does not endanger Yamauchi".
Really makes it feel like he is not an antagonist/enemy but would become one if he thinks Wakamiya is in the wrong.
I agree! I think the fact that he knew about how misfortune seems to follow real Kin'u as a young child is probably why he's not actively claiming his right to the throne. He doesn't want to unnecessarily cause a succession dispute that could end up endangering Yamauchi. Plus I kind of suspect that the assassination plot in the red light district was probably instigated by Atsufusa. Him going to Wakamiya to beg leniency for Natsuka when he becomes Kin'u was probably him trying to cover his ass. Rokon and Sumio are both suspicious of him and Wakamiya still doesn't seem to trust him.
Even if Natsuka's just hanging back and watching to see if he's needed, it's still a problem. 1- Seems impossible for Wakamiya to make *every* House & faction happy without some grumbling/discord, even if they'll all be better off in the long-term.
And 2- Plenty of historical & fictional examples of factions that worked towards their own ends with their leader as a figurehead along for the ride. Japan itself has been through it a few notable times, depending on how you account.
Yes, that's kind of the point. No one is saying that since Natsuka is just hanging back, Wakamiya is actually safe. There really could be a chance that Natsuka's backers could succeed in offing Wakamiya but from Natsuka's POV a true Kin'u should be capable of overcoming the obstacles you mentioned. Otherwise, he wouldn't be fit to rule as Kin'u. If Wakamiya overcomes it, then good. If Wakamiya doesn't, then he takes over and makes sure Yamauchi stays intact.
Asebi is 100% a villain
The girls are fighting!!!! This intrigue is keeping me on my toes.
I'm starting to think Natsuka (sp?) has more layers than we think and I'm excited to see what he gets up to. I really really think he has a connection to one of the girls - my current bet is Asebi.
And gonna be honest, I was holding out for Asebi is a Nice Girl Actually, but looking a little like she killed that girl 😬😬
I really really think [Natsuka] has a connection to one of the girls - my current bet is Asebi.
Right there with you. Her "childhood first-love" reveal was that the boy she liked was of royal lineage. We never got a hard confirmation which brother it was. Even Fujinami may not be on the same page as to which "nii-san" she's shipping LOL
Also, I don't think Asebi's seen either Prince as an adult. Besides that chance outside glimpse, any royal appearances may well have been behind screens.
Wow amazing episode, one of the best yet. Seems like things are really getting going in both the K’inu race and the Cherry Blossom palace.
No shocker that the Prince’s brother is planning something, or at least, letting those that support him plan something without getting involved. Surely the Prince and Sumio have made countermeasures and it’ll be interesting to see what they are.
The stuff on the girls’ side was my fave aspect of the episode though. Shiratama is such a jealous bitch and I hope she gets the karma that’s coming to her. Trying to steal the letter and pushing Asebi in the water 🤢 it’s a good thing Masuho was there to save Asebi.
Deception seems to be the name of the game in the Cherry Palace though. Even the current empress got her position by sabotaging things with the emperor’s favourite lady.. all’s fair in love and war I guess.
With the North and South joining forces and Shiratama threatening Asebi, Masuho and by extension everyone in the cherry palace, Samomo getting killed, etc., things are getting wild.
This show is so underrated and deserves more hype.
I have to wonder if perhaps one of the prince's longer-term goals is to try to find a way to cut back on the deception in the Cherry Palace.
Would make sense in a way, because it could be seen as a means to get back at the current Empress for the duplicitous methods she used to gain her position while also avenging or at least vindicating both his own mother and (apparently) Asebi's.
Probably would also be better for the country's long-term health if the four houses were incentivized to behave more cordially towards each other.
All this being said. No idea how the prince would go about achieving this. Maybe let the North and South continue scheming 'till they self-destruct or something? I dunno.
This would never happen. Royals like the houses to scheme against each other because it leaves them less time to scheme against the royals. The more unfriendly the houses are to each other, the safer the royals are.
I think this consort-selection *is* the healthy option, in this context at least. At worst, you sacrifice the hopes/dreams (lives?!) of 4 women, and maybe some of their attendants. Otherwise you'd surely have civil wars between the Houses on the regular.
"Marriage diplomacy" has been the go-to means of avoiding open warfare for millennia. Ironically, it's also been the cause of a lot of wars too :sigh:
Haha, Asebi almost drowned in a waist-deep pool.
Sucks for the poor attendant girl though.
If you don't know how to swim, and are packing about 15+ lbs of silk robes, yeah, it's totally possible. Also, ponds are not pools - the ground is slimy & uneven, there are plants that can trap your feet/arms, and since this is a naturalistic fish pond, the water's cloudy. Between shock & fear, very easy to get disoriented, and your body paradoxically *tries* to breathe unless you consciously don't.
It's why water safety, swim classes, hazard-gates, etc are so important IRL. So even if Asebi is evil, cut her a little slack :)
Run Wakamiya... All those ladies are crazy!
I don't think Asebi exchanged letters about her family, she probably killed samamo because she knows too much, and now the princess is going to depend on her as her "sister"
Btw who is Wakamiya's mother again ?
Wakamiya's mother is the previous candidate of the Western house iirc
What an ending, wow. This is so under-watched but it’s one of the best shows of the season.
I'm pretty sure Natsuka loves his brother and is protecting him by pretending to be against him. Notice he had Rokon kill the last man who tried to take his brother out? By hiding among his brother's enemies he can protect Wakamiya from the real threats and learn about his mother's schemes.
Pperhaps the reason the South didn't send the real southern heiress is because they want her for Natsuka. They think the empress will successfully overthrow Wakamiya.
Well, Shiratama is cray-cray. :-o
Though now we have all our answers.
Here's my guess:
The really important question(s) is/are:
Shiratama is probably being asked to get wifey position in order to kill the Kinu. So, probably, its none-other than the Kinu's "pretends he's not involved and supports brother 100%" brother and the faction of the same who are responsible.
Not that this should be surprising. Next week, perhaps, we'll figure out just how far off my guesses are and just how whacked out the logic behind this plot really is. Well, at least some of those questions (and perhaps some of those routes) should be answered (highlighted).
Stay tuned!
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