A rumor spreads that Reishin Kou manipulated the imperial examination to allow Shuurei to pass. As Reishin is imprisoned, Shuurei, Seiran and Eigetsu face betrayal by a friend helping the conspiracy.
秀麗和影月依舊每天清掃茅房、替人擦鞋、整理大量的文件和計算。不僅如此，對兩人相當排斥的資深官吏，更是處心積慮地找藉口欺負他們兩人。即便遭到如此嚴苛的對待，兩人仍不以為意，一心想著完成任務。一開始冷眼旁觀的同期新人官吏們，也漸漸對兩人改觀。就在這個時候，城裡傳出了秀麗因為作弊才通過國試的謠言…
