TV-Series
Description
Seiran Shi serves as the sole retainer of the impoverished Hong household, entrusted to Shoka Hong thirteen years before the series begins. Appearing in his early twenties but actually twenty-six, he conceals his true age. He possesses shoulder-length gray hair, black eyes, and notable handsomeness, once called "flower" by royal princes. His demeanor is generally amiable, yet he exhibits ruthless pragmatism toward threats to loved ones, prioritizing their well-being through discreet support.
His true identity is Shi Seien, the exiled second elder brother of Emperor Ryuki Shi. As a prince, his intellectual and physical superiority incited sibling jealousy. His maternal relatives' conspiracy to install him as emperor led to their downfall; his grandfather was killed, and he was exiled with his mother, Lady Suzuran, to Sa Province. Assassins sent by rival imperial concubines murdered his mother, leaving him alone. He then joined the murderous Satsujinzoku bandits, earning the nickname "The Little Whirlwind" for his combat skill. Within the bandits, he allied with Ensei Ro to dismantle the group.
Shoka Hong, his wife Shokun, and their daughter Shuurei later found him in the wilderness and brought him home. Shokun gave him the name "Seiran" (Silent Orchid) and the surname "Shi" – phonetically identical to the imperial name but with different kanji. He vowed to repay their kindness by protecting the family, performing household repairs, and taking low-ranking military or guard jobs for income. He developed a deeply protective bond with Shuurei, whom he views as a younger sister, often shadowing her discreetly.
A supremely skilled swordsman and archer trained by Sou-Taifuu, Seiran possesses acute perceptiveness regarding political schemes and extensive knowledge of poisons. His experience with poverty fostered mercantilist tendencies, leading him to opportunistically extract money from wealthier acquaintances like Ran Shuuei and Shin Suou to support the Hongs.
After Shuurei becomes a court official, Seiran enters the imperial palace as Ryuki's bodyguard and advisor. He guides Ryuki through noble faction intrigues using strategic insight. When Shuurei is appointed governor of Sa Province, he accompanies her to confront Sa Sakujun, his former Satsujinzoku tormentor who threatens Shuurei. Later, due to duties protecting Ryuki, he cannot join Shuurei's second Sa trip, entrusting Ensei with her safety. His role evolves into safeguarding the emperor and key figures like Prime Minister Tei Yuushun during crises, such as Ryuki's absence in Ran Province.
Throughout the series, Seiran reconciles his dual identities. He initially abandons his past as Seien, though characters like Ryuki, Ensei, and the Ran family eventually learn the truth. His bond with Ryuki remains central; he quietly protects him while encouraging him to become a worthy ruler. Despite distancing himself from his royal lineage, he stays entangled in conflicts involving factions like the Hyou and Ran families, implicated in his exile.
His true identity is Shi Seien, the exiled second elder brother of Emperor Ryuki Shi. As a prince, his intellectual and physical superiority incited sibling jealousy. His maternal relatives' conspiracy to install him as emperor led to their downfall; his grandfather was killed, and he was exiled with his mother, Lady Suzuran, to Sa Province. Assassins sent by rival imperial concubines murdered his mother, leaving him alone. He then joined the murderous Satsujinzoku bandits, earning the nickname "The Little Whirlwind" for his combat skill. Within the bandits, he allied with Ensei Ro to dismantle the group.
Shoka Hong, his wife Shokun, and their daughter Shuurei later found him in the wilderness and brought him home. Shokun gave him the name "Seiran" (Silent Orchid) and the surname "Shi" – phonetically identical to the imperial name but with different kanji. He vowed to repay their kindness by protecting the family, performing household repairs, and taking low-ranking military or guard jobs for income. He developed a deeply protective bond with Shuurei, whom he views as a younger sister, often shadowing her discreetly.
A supremely skilled swordsman and archer trained by Sou-Taifuu, Seiran possesses acute perceptiveness regarding political schemes and extensive knowledge of poisons. His experience with poverty fostered mercantilist tendencies, leading him to opportunistically extract money from wealthier acquaintances like Ran Shuuei and Shin Suou to support the Hongs.
After Shuurei becomes a court official, Seiran enters the imperial palace as Ryuki's bodyguard and advisor. He guides Ryuki through noble faction intrigues using strategic insight. When Shuurei is appointed governor of Sa Province, he accompanies her to confront Sa Sakujun, his former Satsujinzoku tormentor who threatens Shuurei. Later, due to duties protecting Ryuki, he cannot join Shuurei's second Sa trip, entrusting Ensei with her safety. His role evolves into safeguarding the emperor and key figures like Prime Minister Tei Yuushun during crises, such as Ryuki's absence in Ran Province.
Throughout the series, Seiran reconciles his dual identities. He initially abandons his past as Seien, though characters like Ryuki, Ensei, and the Ran family eventually learn the truth. His bond with Ryuki remains central; he quietly protects him while encouraging him to become a worthy ruler. Despite distancing himself from his royal lineage, he stays entangled in conflicts involving factions like the Hyou and Ran families, implicated in his exile.