Year of the Boar, Tenth Month, Day 15.

Just when I believed that I could not feel any worse, Seira burst into my chamber this morning brandishing a scroll. Aside from my objections to having my privacy invaded whenever Seira feels the need for company, I am more in need of a pipe than ever since she read me the contents of the scroll. It was from Princess Rani's delegation; they have travelled through the Seventh far faster than they had anticipated and the border with Dying Crane is within five day's ride.
Naturally I did not recieve this news well and scolded Seira soundly for not having even begun the preparations for the visit but to my surprise, Seira simply looked at me and raised an eyebrow. The angered me even more than an outburst would have and I told her to get out in no uncertain terms. I am now completely convinced that I was right to think that this is some sort of plot to destroy my House. Princess Rani would have planned a visit to the Seventh with precision; her people would have known exactly how long it would take her to travel from the Ruler's palace to Dying Crane. This nonsense about having travelled faster than anticipated is exactly that; nonsense. I do not believe it at all.
This is an equisitely orchestrated ruse to push me into concentrating on this visit while Shigeru attacks from another direction; probably from within, if my interpretation of recent events is correct. If I could smoke, the anxiety would abate at least enough for me to think calmly about the situation. The summer house may still be an option as may the sea but even if I had time to flee to either, there is no guarantee that Shigeru would not anticipate it. For all I know, he has other spies around my House as well as Izumi and Atsuko...