Ryuuki indeed was awesome in this episode. He may have temendous insight, he still remains an idiot at times. ^^;

Thanks for the comments, they really helped. :D

- Why did Ensei have to deliver the package in the first place, why did he stay with Shiurei for so long, and why didn’t he just go straight to Ryuuki when he had the chance?
Ensei’s conversation explains who he is, and why he deliver the seal and badge of the Sa Province. He didn’t deliver it straight to Ryuuki because he wants to “check him out” first and see if he can trust him with the seal and badge.

- What happened to the eight sages after they disappeared? Apparently, some of them died and some of them stayed alive. But is there any reason for that? And why did Shou Taishi need the other sage-dude to come back?
This is the real mystery of the whole series. I think that’s why the 1st episode started off with Shuurei telling the story of the legend of the sages. The “spirit” that shows up at the end of the episode is actually the advisor who died (Sa Taiho), I’m not sure why he was brought back. I guess that part of the story will be revealed bit by bit.

- How exactly did Shiurei’s mother die?
This is not explained, just that it was very sudden, in the summer time, on a day with a lot of thunder (hence why Shuurei doesn’t like summer time or thunder), when Shuurei was sick in bed. Shuurei got healthy after her mom died, so she got emotional when she was telling the story to Ensei because she feels like she stole her Mom’s life force.

- Why were those outlaws near Shiurei’s house, why did Ryuuki know about it, and why didn’t they send a squad of soldiers to take care of them?
The bandits were after Ensei (there’s a price on his head). I don’t think Ryuuki knows about it until Ensei revealed who he is. The fight at Kijin’s house is actually kind of a set-up to get the bandits (Kijin had this in mind when he invited Ensei to stay at his house).

- How did Ensei meet up with Seiran?
So far we only know that they are old friends, and I think I read somewhere they knew each other before Seiran joined Shuurei’s family.

- Will Shiurei be able to immediately take the exams, or are there special dates for people to take it?
The bill to let women take the exam was passed at the end of the summer as told by the narrator. From what I know of Chinese history, National Exams are held only once a year, this is confirmed by an earlier episode where Ryuuki says he’s aiming to pass the bill before the exam that year. So depending on when the annual exam is held, that’s when Shuurei will be taking it.

I think my favorite parts of this episode all involve Ryuuki. He acts like a kid in so many parts of this episode and it’s adorable. ^_^ Examples: 1) how excited he got when he was explaining his “midnight tyrst” to Kouyuu and Ran (it really was just an official home visit but he didn’t seem to understand the meaning of “midnight tyrst” and used the term wrong) 2) how Ran treats him like a kid and pats him on the head for having an understanding that he can’t force Shuurei to take the exams to be government official and re-enter the palace 3) how he wanted to see Shuurei at Kijin’s place but got called back by Ran because he was there to help fight the bandits ^^; 4) how after countless stupid gifts and letters he sent to Shuurei, he gets her the best gift possible - a sapling of cherry tree to plant in her garden

I’m looking forward to more episodes of this anime! As a side note, the scanlation team Vampire Knight (http://vampireknight.invisionplus.net/) has started to scanlate the Saiunkoku Manga.