They have sure turned Kogyoku from the psychotic bitch we first met to super-adorable pretty fast.

But seriously, they really are setting up her and Alibaba up as a compatible couple. Both being the child of a prostitute and a ruler, both having confidence issues, both wanting to do the right thing but not having the power to do it, etc. Sorry Morg, you can become Kou Empress after Hakuryu regains his senses. Kogyoku can then be used to join the Kou Empire with Alibaba's "Chosen by the Magi" kingdom. Peace through marriage, not conquest!

I'm disappointed in Hakuei. I kinda expected Hakuryu to be all rabid about murdering his mother with some grand scheme (ultimately bound to fail) to share with his blood sister, but everything he said was far more persuasive accurate than anything Kouen said. Hakuei just doesn't get it. The only reason the Kouga submitted was because Aladdin encouraged them to end the bloodshed, reminding them of Baba's will. Hakuryu was right, Hakuei still subjugated them with force, they just didn't fight. There are bound to be members still upset about it, carrying that grudge, but the memory of Baba's words overpower that in the meantime. Hakuryu was remarkably sensible, but she is too smitten by her adoptive brother I guess.

What the hell did the empress do to the previous emperor? Even the royals were horrified.
Are we to assume that she's the Queen Bitch of Al Thamen, their actual leader (or at the very least as inner circle as you can get)? She seems more powerful than even Judal, because she didn't appear to do much of anything to stop Hakuryu. Even Judal would have had to actively shield himself. She didn't even do that, because whatever defense she had up would have stopped when she went to touch him.