Backing the Dark Horse is the 188th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
Ri Shi hears some rumors flying around about Ryo Fui meeting with the Queen Mother and tells this to him. The officials don't believe that as they believe that the chancellor would never do that. Ri Shi asks Ryo Fui if he knows what may have led to this as Ryo Fui tells asks what he is trying to say. He asks for forgiveness and tells he will quell the rumors. He says that he already knows where the rumors came from.
The Ei Sei Faction are pleased that the rumors are spreading well, but Shou Bun Kun questions if they made the right choice as it will also harm the name of his mother. He asks the king if he isn't pushing himself. he says that he would be lying if he said he wasn't, after all, she is still his mother, but he says this is war. He reminds Shou Bun Kun the nature of war he once thought to the king. He says that they lost many people already and if they must fight, they must win at any cost. He orders Shi Shi to prepare the next step of their diversion. However, Shi Shi says that there is no need to hurry.
The Ryo Fui Faction is shocked to see the three great families. While the general public is asking on what is going on, Ei Sei is already speaking to the people of the events that has transpired. He tells the people that the Royal Harem has betrayed them and has sided with Ryo Fui. Their strength is now to a point they can't evenly contest them any longer. However, in order to achieve that he committed a hideous crime. Because of the magnitude of the crime, he declares Ryo Fui to be an enemy of the state. Ei Sei states they have only one move left and that is to go to the offensive and defeat the enemy camp in a single push.
Ri Shi tells Ryo Fui about the many people that now have allied with the king's faction, however Ryo Fui thinks of them as middle weights. He is more concerned with the Royal Harem at this moment. Suddenly Ryo Fui gets another message from the Queen Mother to meet again in secret. However, he refuses as they need to wait until the situation has settled. However, the Queen Mother cares little for men convenience. She came personally to Ryo Fui. He however is asking himself if he made to correct gamble to choose a dark horse. He however is prepared to take the gamble as the only thing he needs to do is keeping them down as they can only do reckless moves now.
Elsewhere a month has passed. Shin and his unit are happy as now the preparations of the Wei campaign have finished.
Characters
- Royal Palace
- Shiso (shown)
- Ei Sei Faction
- Ei Sei
- Shou Bun Kun
- Shi Shi
- Kou Kin (Mentioned)
- Ryuu Kai (Mentioned)
- Son Sen (Mentioned)
- Ton (Mentioned)
- Shou (Mentioned)
- Rit Su Bi (Mentioned)
- Den Chou (Mentioned)
- Kou Shin (Mentioned)
- Dai Ren (Mentioned)
- Kon (Mentioned)
- Shou (Mentioned)
- Sou (Mentioned)
- Unnamed officials
- Ryo Fui Faction
- Royal Harem
- Queen Mother
- Chou Kou
- Kou (Mentioned)
- Three Great Families of Qin
- Han
- Kai
- Ryou
High Points
- Sei tells his faction of Ryo Fui's alliance with the Queen Mother.
- Sei declares Ryo Fui an enemy of the state.
- Rumors start flying around of Ryo Fui meeting with the Queen Mother.
- Ri Shi quickly realizes who spreading these rumors.
- A lot of officials and nobles start supporting and siding with the king after hearing rumors of Ryo Fui's affair with the Queen Mother.
- Ryo Fui keeps getting letters for a secret meeting from the Queen Mother.
- A month passed.
- Preparations of the Wei campaign has finished.
Trivia
- Various members and new supporters of Ei Sei Faction are mentioned.