Sure enough, it came. Pen Fun Pavilion www.biquge.info Hideguang thought.

"I see. Since it was an invitation from Sister Xiuyasu's father, then I'll go. ”

Xiuguang smiled calmly, but Shang Chang on the side was startled.

Xiukang glanced at Xiuguang suspiciously, and didn't say anything more, turned around and led Xiuguang and the three of them to the meeting place in the depths of the mansion.

Along the way, Xiuguang and Xiuzong were keeping an eye on their surroundings, in case there were any suspicious characters ambushing or following them.

In the face of Ieyasu, an old fox, this precaution is necessary. What's more, it is still impossible to judge the true thoughts of the owner of the mansion, Xiuyasu.

However, Xiuguang is not particularly worried about his own safety. What he was thinking about now was how to stabilize his emotions in front of Ieyasu. To put it simply, I am thinking about how to keep pretending in front of Ieyasu, so as not to be seen as a clue.

He had told Xiuzong before that the main purpose of this time was to meet Ieyasu. Although Hidemitsu came this time, although he also had the idea of meeting Ieyasu, his real main purpose was actually Hideyasu, who was leading the way ahead.

Matsudaira Hideyasu, also known as Yuki Hideyasu, is a very delicate figure.

She was sent to Osaka Castle by Ieyasu as a political and diplomatic tool when she was a child, and became the son of Taiko Hideyoshi.

Although Ieyasu is Hideyasu's biological father, Hideyasu seems to prefer to stay with Hideyoshi, his stepfather.

After passing to the Yuuki family, Hideyasu also quietly expressed to his retainers that he was very nostalgic for his previous life in the Toyotomi family. This incident seems to have been secretly told to Ieyasu later. I guess this is one of the reasons why Ieyasu is wary of Hideyasu.

Hideyasu was on the side of the Eastern Army during the Battle of Sekigahara. Because she was ordered by her father Ieyasu to stay in the territory and guard the rear. It is said that the Ukita Hideya once invited her to join the Western Army, but the details of the matter are not clear.

In general, Hideyasu's various behaviors do not allow people to see her position, and her behavior towards the Toyotomi Tokugawa family is also very ambiguous and erratic.

What the hell did she think? Which side will she be on? Does she have any hope of being a big help to the Toyotomi family?

It is these questions that Xiuguang has been thinking about. The purpose of this visit is to answer these questions.

However, before answering these questions, he still needs to solve one very important matter, and that is the meeting with Ieyasu.

Xiuguang came back from his contemplation, looked up and took a deep breath, and glanced at Xiuzong, who nodded after noticing.

After arriving at the meeting room, Hideyasu asked Hidemitsu to wait for a while, and Ieyasu came over in a while.

Xiuzong and Shang Chang were Hidemitsu's guards, so they were allowed to accompany them into the room. Xiuzong temporarily hid his usual behavior, pretending to be an indifferent gentleman and sitting behind Xiuguang's side. Shang Chang was as panicked as ever, looking unsteadily from east to west.

After a while, there was a bang, and the door was opened.

"Is it His Highness Xiuguang here?"

The person who came was none other than Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun of Seiyi and the elder of the Genji clan.

Ieyasu was wearing a very easy-going blue-black kimono just like when he was watching the game, and his whole person looked very easy-going, with a smile on his face, looking like an ordinary kind old grandfather.

Xiuguang didn't answer him. From the moment Ieyasu first came in, he kept his head down and grabbed the corner of the guard Hidemune's clothes tightly with his hand, making people feel that he was so scared that he might hide behind Hidemune at any time.

"What's the matter, why didn't His Highness Xiuguang say a word? Did I scare you? ”

Seeing that Hidemitsu hadn't spoken, and his body was still shaking, Ieyasu couldn't help but quip. At the same time, he was also carefully observing Xiuguang.

Xiuyasu, who was sitting behind Ieyasu, immediately narrowed her eyes when she saw this appearance of Xiuguang, and kept looking Xiuguang up and down to express her suspicions.

Hideyasu did not inform Ieyasu of her suspicions. Fortunately, Ieyasu hadn't communicated with Hidemitsu before, otherwise with his old scheming, he would have felt that something was wrong.

Xiuguang's trembling here is not fake, but it is not so exaggerated. It was Xiuguang himself who magnified the tremor in his body.

Ieyasu's deterrence is not strong, on the contrary, his whole person feels very comfortable and easy-going. But it was because of this feeling of being too comfortable and easy-going that Xiuguang had a very strong sense of discomfort and disobedience.

"I'm so sorry, Tokugawa-sama. His Royal Highness Xiuguang has been afraid of life since he was a child, and he has hardly seen anyone other than his relatives and a few close servants such as me. His Royal Highness Hidemitsu, this is Tokugawa-sama, the grandfather of Senhime-sama, and he is not a bad person. ”

As previously planned, Hidemune took a dignified posture and saluted Ieyasu.

"Oh, I see, no wonder His Highness Xiuguang lowered his head and didn't speak when he saw me. It seems that I was too rash and impulsive. ”

Ieyasu waved the fan in his hand, laughed twice, and immediately turned his attention to the guard Xiuzong,

"If I'm not mistaken, could it be His Highness Hidemune, the eldest son of Date Masamune?"

"Exactly. He served in the Toyotomi family for many years, and he didn't see his father for a long time. I wonder how my father is now? ”

"I just met Lord Date some time ago, he is in good health, His Highness Xiuzong doesn't have to worry."

"My father is in good health. Thank you, Lord Tokugawa, for your information. ”

The two exchanged a few casual pleasantries. Ieyasu seemed to be quite interested in the tall and dignified Xiumune, and kept looking at him.

Shang Chang, who has no sense of existence, is once again ignored. But that's exactly what he wanted.

"It's rare to see His Royal Highness Xiuguang, I don't know what His Highness likes on weekdays? I would like to give a gift to His Highness Hidemitsu. ”

As the brief meeting drew to a close, Ieyasu asked seemingly casually.

"Tokugawa-sama, Hidemitsu-sama likes to read The Tale of Genji and its picture scrolls the most."

When Xiuzong was talking nonsense, Xiuguang also nodded as if he should agree.

"Oh, yes. I will definitely order the gift to be delivered to Osaka Castle as soon as possible. ”

After a short conversation, Ieyasu got up to take his leave, citing the fact that it was getting late. Xiukang glanced at Xiuguang deeply, and then followed closely to see off the guest. The three of them stayed indoors for the time being, waiting for Xiukang to send the guests back.

"Scared the hell out of me......"

After repeatedly confirming that there was no one around, the three of them let out a long sigh of relief.

"Your Highness, you really know how to pretend."

"Each other, Xiuzong. If Ieyasu knew about your usual appearance, he would be shocked. ”

Xiuguang and Xiuzong, who were in a cold sweat, teased each other's acting skills. And Shang Chang muttered on the side:

"Your Highness is really, really unpredictable......"

At the same time, I was glad that my presence was low and I was not noticed by Ieyasu.

"By the way, that old man is really good at pretending."

Xiuzong held his head and couldn't help but say.

"He's hiding it so deeply."

As the saying goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul, and through the eyes of the person, you can see the heart of the person. Hidemune, who had looked at Ieyasu, didn't notice any strange thoughts in his eyes, but-

There was only a smile in his eyes. As he stared at us, there was nothing in his eyes but a smile. ”

These words made the three people present shiver in unison.

"Haha, Xiuzong. Actually, I'm not qualified to talk about him,"

Xiuguang smiled bitterly a few times, and looked out,

"Whether it was before or now, in front of everyone, haven't I been hiding all the time."

Xiuzong was silent when he heard this. Shang Chang lowered his head and pondered.

"Don't worry. Maybe that's the way of the world. ”

Xiuguang patted the two of them on the shoulder, and then fell silent.