Sano Ishiro is no stranger to unraveling mysterious crimes. But this time he will have a really hard time. As he investigates the mysterious murder of a high-ranking adviser to Makino, he is watched not only by his enemy, Chancellor Yanagisawa, but also by the chancellor's longtime rival, the shogun's cousin, Mr. Matsudaira. The Chancellor has every reason to suspect Matsudaira of the crime - and vice versa. However, Sano is sure: the motives for the crime should be sought in the complicated life of the murdered man, where the interests of an aristocratic wife, a young concubine and a handsome young samurai clashed, who had reasons to get rid of the victim...