"Gyokuei, who first arrived at the Inner Chambers as a young novitiate monk, has risen to become one of the shogun Tsunayoshi's advisors. He hopes to protect the shogunate the same way his mentor Arikoto once did. But the numerous intrigues of the Inner Chambers, and the shogun himself, are pushing Gyokuei's patience and cunning to the breaking point"--P. [4] of cover.… (more)