Li, Kouyuu

李絳攸

Kouyuu Li holds the rank of Vice-Secretary in the Civil Affairs department, serving under Reishin Kou. Before being adopted by Reishin thirteen years ago, Kouyuu was a street orphan who survived by selling tickets to a lottery of his own design, offering prizes such as plum blossom branches and bags of salt. At age 16 (six years before the series begins), he became the youngest person ever to pass the official examinations, securing the top-ranked "Jougen" position. As the series starts, the now 22-year-old Kouyuu is assigned directly to the Emperor, a role that infuriates him because the wandering Emperor rarely fulfills his duties and is hard to find. However, after Ryuuki agrees to be tutored by Kouyuu and begins taking an active role in government, Ryuuki gives Kouyuu an iris flower as a sign of trust. Kouyuu openly accepts the flower as a token of his loyalty and his belief that Ryuuki is a worthy Emperor. Kouyuu often works closely with the Emperor, revising Ryuuki's work, such as written proposals.
Despite his reputation as a genius, Kouyuu is notorious for having no sense of direction. He gets lost in the palace within 30 steps, and it sometimes takes him two hours to reach a destination that takes another person only 15 minutes. (Though he does seem to find his way when there is trouble.) He has a close relationship with Shuuei Ran, although he loudly denies being the latter's friend. He is easily annoyed and gets nervous speaking in public. He frequently states that women are nothing but trouble and refused all marriage proposals after passing the official exam, despite receiving many offers from families eager to tie themselves to an up-and-coming star. He frequently tutors Shuurei, however, and appears to regard her as a friend.