In Heian Kyo, the capital city of 11th century Japan,
Akitada Sugawara serves as a minor official in the Ministry
of Justice. Though born into a noble family, his family's
estate is sadly diminished, forcing Akitada to toil
fruitlessly at an unsuccessful career. So when an old
friend, Professor Hirata, calls upon Akitada for help, he
welcomes the opportunity to escape from his dull
One of the professor's colleagues is being blackmailed, and
to save the Imperial University from scandal, Hirata asks
his former pupil to investigate the situation. After taking
a leave of absence from the Ministry, Akitada joins the
staff of the university as a visiting lecturer, and finds
himself drawn into a web of gossip and petty rivalries.
Nearly everyone he encounters is suspect, but Akitada's
attentions are soon sidetracked by the murder of a young
woman, and the mysterious disappearance of a student's
grandfather. The emperor himself has declared the case a
miracle, but Lord Minamoto refuses to believe the pious
tale of his grandfather's transfiguration. Though there is
no evidence of foul play, it is clear to Akitada that
Minamoto's life has also become endangered.
Plunging into a dangerous investigation of conspiracy among
high-ranking nobles, Akitada must step carefully while
gathering clues to solve the puzzle before him.