Whereas The Emperor’s Caretaker is a shojo manga, it typically acts as an examination of courtroom life as nicely, and with the fifth and sixth volumes meaning seeing the heroine Liu Linhua put in direct hazard. The fascinating half is that this isn’t performed just for the sake of depicting some form of nice drama, however as a substitute feels extra historic and nuanced since we see all of the circumstances and results. It lets us perceive what she’s going by way of, but additionally why sure different folks round her at courtroom are behaving that approach.
Editor’s Be aware: There will likely be some spoilers for quantity 5 and a part of quantity 6 of The Emperor’s Caretaker manga beneath.
Fairly a bit occurred within the first 5 volumes of The Emperor’s Caretaker manga, from Linhua turning into younger Emperor Zhiyou’s caretaker to the fiance of his older brother and regent Souren. Whereas a few of these previous conditions concerned seeing guards round for the younger royal and him being fed small bits of poison to impart immunity and resistance, quantity 5 led to Linhua herself being focused. Her carriage was attacked, and another person suffered in consequence. Now that it’s over and he or she’s safely again within the interior palace attending to Zhiyou, the sixth quantity is extra considerate and appears on the “whys” of all of it.
It’s an fascinating scenario since, prior so far, we’ve actually solely seen the “good” sides of the Liu household. We noticed Linhua’s older and youthful brother, who’re each very a lot beloved. Her correct mom attended her and Souren when assembly with the 2. There was even a degree when her Zailan, her uncle and father’s youthful brother, confirmed up. When he did, he appeared fairly affectionate towards her, and Linhua clearly beloved him. However due to the character of energy, this sixth quantity exhibits how that was a facade and the risks that come from being part of a robust household.
Nevertheless, shortly after quantity 6 of The Emperor’s Caretaker manga begins, each Linhua and the reader are compelled to simply accept and are available to phrases with an uncomfortable reality. Zailan was the power behind the tried murder within the fifth quantity. He purposely despatched brokers after his niece, who’d we’d beforehand solely seen him present affection to. Whereas there have been some moments that, upon a second studying after the occasions, would present some indication of false positivity or maybe suspiciously affectionate conduct, now we’re compelled to cope with the information that he was not solely behind the assault, however felt snug placing Linhua on edge and confronting her on the palace itself.
That is when quantity 6 of The Emperor’s Caretaker will get fascinating. Souren can’t instantly step in, although he’s performing ruler, on account of how it might replicate on the Liu household as an entire. Linhua can’t react, as she’s presupposed to nonetheless be “at midnight” concerning the scenario. If left to his personal gadgets, Zailan may have interaction in even worse affairs. It will probably’t be dropped at any authorities, because it could possibly be set to look as an assault on Emperor Zhiyou or Souren’s fiance. We have to belief her older brother Xiuying and father to behave after which come to her to determine the best way to deal with it.
It finally ends up being actually fascinating to see how issues play out. Particularly since, as the amount goes on, we see much more sides. What led Zailan to behave? How did he get sure data? It exhibits how phrase can journey amongst the Aristocracy and the way completely different folks will react to additional their very own agendas.
Which signifies that The Emperor’s Caretaker manga continues its development of mixing its romantic, extra shojo model moments with the extra severe, diplomatic, and dramatic components. It isn’t nearly love. We aren’t solely witnessing Linhua’s life. It virtually seems like we’re watching historical past.
Volumes 6 of The Emperor’s Caretaker is obtainable now, and Square Enix didn’t share a launch date for quantity 7 of the manga but.
