Boushuku (駹淑) is a centurion serving in the Zui Province Ministry of Summer as a guard for Nightingale Villa and formerly served in the Gai Provincial Guard before Asen usurped the throne. Rather young and naive when it comes to the current political state of the military, he’s often confused by the reactions of those around him. However, he’s extremely capable and reliable and, in turn, doesn’t hesitate to rely on Fukushou and Gogetsu.
Career[]
Originally from Gai Province, Boushuku comes from a family of government officials and was the first to choose to attend a military school rather than a provincial academy. He admits to choosing a particular school because it was the alma mater of Gyousou. He is promoted to centurion at a young age which is no small achievement, yet claims that his only talent was being in the right place at the right time. When he first entered the army, his platoon leader was an outstanding man. Boushuku took his place when the platoon leader was promoted to company commander, putting him in charge of a well-trained platoon. Because of this, Boushuku’s platoon was transferred to Kouki when General Shinryou of the Gai Provincial Guard was promoted to the Palace Guard. Not long before Taiki returns to Hakkei Palace, he was promoted to centurion and was posted as one of Asen’s guards a year before.
Asen's Dynasty[]
Boushuku was transferred to the Palace Guard during Asen’s dynasty and was assigned to his personal guards. However, since Asen rarely left the Rokushin and never summoned his guards whenever he did, he and his colleagues never ended up actually guarding anyone. When Taiki returns to Hakkei Palace and announces that Asen is the new emperor, he is pleased at the change in the situation and is confused when Gogetsu doesn’t share in his enthusiasm. He and his fellow guards are soon surprised when they’re assigned to guard Nightingale Villa under Fukushou’s command, but is disappointed once again when he finds out that they would be guarding Taiki from outside the building. Again, Gogetsu accepts this with resignation and, in an attempt to understand Gogetsu’s lack of excitement at the chance to serve Asen and Taiki, he strikes up conversation with Fukushou. Instead, Fukushou avoids answering his questions and steers the conversation toward Boushuku’s career instead.
Boushuku tries multiple times to understand why Gogetsu and Fukushou don’t rejoice whenever it seems like things are moving forward between Asen and Taiki or why Asen’s retainers were being pushed off to the side without jobs despite their portfolios. However, his colleagues find it hard to explain their thoughts and feelings because as an “outsider”, Boushuku wasn’t present at the time of Asen’s coup and isn’t able to feel the weight of guilt that many of Asen’s retainers feel for being complicit. He also doesn’t understand the respect that Fukushou, Gogetsu, and Keitou have for Ganchou but follows their lead despite his trepidation.
The Attack on Taiki[]
Boushuku doesn’t notice the intruders sneaking around the eaves of the outer courtyard until Gogetsu points them out to him, but when he does, he follows his fellow guard’s lead and doesn’t draw attention to the fact that he notices them. He and Gogetsu enter the gatehouse under the guise of Boushuku helping Gogetsu out, and once there, they sneak into the anteroom and observe the intruders in the gate room. He recognizes them to be the six minor officials recently dispatched by the Imperial government that had been banned from the premises by Keitou on Taiki’s orders. Boushuku and Gogetsu track them to the courtyard rooms, and Boushuku reflects that even if they had returned to retrieve anything they’d left behind—which they hadn’t—they wouldn’t need to sneak around the Villa. When it’s apparent that they can’t move deeper into the Villa, Boushuku leaves to summon reinforcements and informs Director Fukushou, who takes care of things with Keitou and Taiki’s Daibokus.
Boushuku returns to the observation post where Gogetsu is waiting, and they agree that the officials are waiting for nightfall to act and that their target was most likely Taiki. Boushuku, Gogetsu, and fifteen other guards keep an eye on the room through the night and, close to daybreak, Boushuku remembers that Taiki walks the pavilion every morning. After he mentions this to Gogetsu, the officials leave the courtyard room they are hiding in and approach the portico rooms. Boushuku and his fellow guards make their way to the courtyard through the hallway to the right of the portico reserved for servants, then through another utility corridor. Seeing guards posted in the corridors, Boushuku and Gogetsu agree that the intruders wouldn’t use them. They’re proven correct when they sneak into the pavilion via the adjourning property and, seeing this, they realize that failing to post guard there creates a security hole. Boushuku further reflects that Asen may have found his way through a similar hole when he confronted Taiki the day after Kouryou escaped from Hakkei Palace.
Boushuku is startled by Yari, who joins them unseen to basically inform them that she would be working with them to capture the interlocutors. She appears in the pavilion wearing one of Taiki’s hooded robes and, when the intruders attack her, she retaliates with heavy wooden cudgels while Boushuku and his fellow guards take them into custody. Yari tells him that her theory was that Shison was behind the attack because “he’s just the sort of idiot who would dream up something this stupid.”
Gyousou's Rescue[]
Unlike Fukushou and Gogetsu, Boushuku is present at the Hall of Supreme Harmony as a guard. He is positioned close enough to Taiki’s seat to see him get to his feet, steal a sword from his guard, and kill him. He’s initially in denial, but as Yari follows close behind him as he runs out toward Gyousou, he recognizes that something unplanned is happening. He is confused as to what to do and, forgetting that they aren’t present, looks for Fukushou and Gogetsu for guidance. After that, it isn’t clear if he fights for Gyousou or Asen and if he survives that battle.
Relationships[]
Fukushou[]
Used to stiff and crusty civil servants, Fukushou’s cheerful and friendly personality disturbs Boushuku. In spite of his personality and his refusal to explain Gogetsu’s reactions, Boushuku warms up to him quickly and even offers to help the former battalion commander with paperwork whenever he could.
Gogetsu[]
Serving alongside each other first as Asen’s guards and then as Taiki’s guards, Boushuku and Gogetsu become close allies. However, there is a slight barrier between them as Boushuku looks forward to serving in Asen’s dynasty while Gogetsu isn’t able to feel happiness for Asen and carries guilt for being complicit. In spite of this barrier, the two work well together, as is seen when they sense intruders trying to sneak into Nightingale Villa.
Yari[]
Yari and Boushuku aren’t that close in the beginning, but they get to know each other some time after Ganchou becomes Taiki’s Daiboku. They are casual and relaxed with each other when Yari meets up with him and Gogetsu during the attempt on Taiki’s life. When they’re working to capture the intruders, Boushuku informs them that “picking a fight with Yari-dono is not a smart move for a bunch of amateurs”, showing the respect he has for her capabilities and skills. In turn, Yari views him and his colleagues as friendlier and easier to talk to compared to the guards that end up replacing them.
Asen[]
Having previously served under General Shinryou, Boushuku doesn’t feel the guilt that Asen’s retainers experience and instead is excited to serve under him. When he sees Asen leaving the Nightingale Villa, he sees it as a positive sign and regrets not having left a lasting impression on “the new emperor.”
Boushuku also looks forward to serving as Taiki’s guard and is dedicated despite having served as Asen’s guard right before this position. When intruders make an attempt on Taiki’s life, he seizes the chance to do his job on behalf of the Taiho.