daishikou

Daishikou served as the Minister of Law in the kingdom of Kei when Youko Nakajima ascended to the throne. In the anime, this minister is depicted as a woman, though the novels do not specify the gender of the Minister of Law. The Minister of Law aligns with Seikyou's faction within the court and thus avoids enforcing laws that would strengthen Seikyou's influence. In the anime, she actively undermines Youko's trust in discerning loyal court members by implying ministers opposing Seikyou are against Youko and her reforms. Both the novel and anime show Youko suspecting she cannot fully trust any ministers, who either support Seikyou or oppose him. Following accusations against Koukan, the governor of Baku, and Sankou, along with the death of Taisai, the Palace Administrator and leading Seikyou opponent, Youko exiles Koukan and Sankou and demotes all members of Seikyou's faction. Seikyou is then forced into the role of Palace Administrator, while the Minister of Law, alongside the Ministers of Rites and Lands, are demoted to Sankou positions. In the anime, the Minister of Law remains Seikyou's most visible ally, conspiring with him and exploiting Youko's absence to maintain their power. By the end of both the novel and anime, Youko threatens the Ministry of Law to ensure proper law enforcement and punishment, reminding them she ordered Seikyou's arrest. The anime portrays this similarly, showing the Minister of Law quickly silenced by the reminder of the monarch's order for Seikyou's arrest.