Prince Tomohito Hachijo is the grandson of Emperor Masakin-cho and the sixth prince of Prince Seihito. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

He was born in the 7th year of Tensho (1579), and in the 14th year of Tensho (1586), he became the son of Sekihaku Hideyoshi under the mediation of the Imadegawa Hakuji, and since then he has formed an indissoluble bond with the Toyotomi family.

The prince first met Hideyoshi in the first month of the 14th year of Tensho. At that time, Hideyoshi came to the imperial palace to pay homage to the emperor in order to congratulate the emperor on the New Year. Hideyoshi built a golden tea room in the imperial palace in the hope that the then Emperor Shokincho would see it and dedicate it to the emperor.

Prince Hachijo, who was only eight years old at the time, was also invited to the event along with his brother, Prince Shuhito.

This meeting left a rather memorable memory for the young prince. Hideyoshi's hearty smile and his vitality and enthusiasm surprised the prince greatly. In his common sense, the man who won the world should be cold, like the samurai who had come to meet his grandfather, always with a domineering expression.

"That's Hideyoshi!"

The prince was very curious. In the eyes of the prince, Hideyoshi was a particularly interesting person.

"This person is the one who won the world!"

Thinking so, the prince felt a lot of reverence for Hideyoshi in his heart.

Hideyoshi's face was a veritable peasant's face, dark and wrinkled from years of exposure to the wind and the sun and war. But for some reason, when the prince saw Hideyoshi's undisguised smiling face, some part of his heart was already impressed by Hideyoshi's charm.

Smiling, welcoming, energetic. This was Prince Hachijo's first impression of Hideyoshi as a child.

Until now, the prince has not forgotten this meeting.

……

……

Prince Hachijo used a gentle tone to help Hidemitsu up.

"There's no need to be polite, I understand the form of the martial arts."

Prince Hachijo, who used to be the son of Taiko Hideyoshi, said.

After the thank-you gift, a formal conversation began.

"Since Toyotako's death, I probably haven't seen anyone from the Toyotomi family in a long time. I'm glad you're here today. ”

Prince Hachijo said with a smile. He was very happy to see the people of the Toyotomi family that he hadn't seen for a long time. Prince Hachijo, who is usually noble and difficult to be approached by others, is like an ordinary samurai young man at this time, speaking the language of the samurai, and welcoming Hidemitsu's sudden visit.

Since Prince Hachijo said that he was not polite, Hidemitsu also put away the cumbersome etiquette and greetings.

"His Royal Highness Xiuguang, who is this next to you?"

Prince Hachijo caught a glimpse of Hidemune behind Hidemitsu.

"This is my close attendant Xiuzong. He was the eldest son of Date Masamune. ”

"That's right. What a majestic samurai. ”

Hearing Prince Hachijo's praise, Hidemune hurriedly saluted him and reported himself to his home.

"By the way, you came to visit late at night, there must be something, right?"

Prince Hachijo didn't say much, and asked directly about Hidemitsu's intentions.

"Yes. Hidemitsu first apologized for trespassing on the residence of His Royal Highness Prince Tomohito. I came here tonight, and I really have something to ask for. ”

"Is that true, that means that the name 'Secret Envoy of Osaka Castle' is also fake?"

"Yes, worthy of His Royal Highness."

With a smile on his face, Prince Hachijo debunks the lies that Hidemitsu and Hidemune have made up to meet him. But he didn't seem to care much.

Xiuguang didn't scruple so much, but continued to tell his intentions.

"His Royal Highness Prince Zhiren, Hidemitsu came to disturb me tonight, and even my brother and mother don't know about it. This matter is very important, and I ask His Royal Highness the Prince to help keep it secret. ”

"Neither Lord Hideyori nor Mrs. Yodo know? I got it, I'll keep it a secret. ”

Prince Hachijo frowned suspiciously, but he agreed to Hidemitsu.

After confirming the safety of the study with Prince Hachijo, Hidemitsu began to recount an important event that they had planned to happen, and also explained to the prince what he wanted him to help do.

"That's a real thing...... Big deals. ”

Listening to it, even Prince Hachijo, who has always been steady, was shocked. He looked at Xiuguang with shocked and doubtful eyes mixed with a little appreciation, as if he was surprised why Xiuguang had the wisdom and talent of an adult at such a young age.

He is worthy of being the son of Feng Taige. Prince Hachijo thought so. This kid named Xiuguang seems to have a higher evaluation in his heart.

"This kind of big thing, Hideyori-sama and Mrs. Yodo don't know if it's really good?"

The prince was still skeptical about this.

"Your Royal Highness, Xiuguang's move is really helpless. Although it can't be said explicitly, there are many retainers in the family who are from the Tokugawa region. Therefore, if I tell my brother and mother about this, it will inevitably cause a lot of unrest. So for the sake of insurance, Xiuguang decided to hide the matter for the time being. ”

"Hmm. That's true. ”

Prince Hachijo nodded, agreeing with Hidemitsu's words.

"Therefore, in order for this matter to go smoothly, I hope to have your help from Your Royal Highness. In the imperial court, only His Royal Highness the Prince can do this. ”

"Well, it's not logically impossible to do this. But the matter of the official position of the prime minister is still a bit too much...... Moreover, if I am the only one in the court to do this, it will be very troublesome. ”

Prince Hachijo thought about it and was a little worried.

"I'd like to help the Toyotomi family, but it's a bit difficult."

Hidemitsu knew that the prince was telling the truth. After all, this matter is really a bit big, and it will be a very troublesome matter if Prince Hachijo is left alone in the court.

But fortunately, Xiuguang was prepared.

"Your Royal Highness don't worry. Of course, Xiuguang will not let His Royal Highness do this alone. Does His Royal Highness know about the Kujo family? ”

"The Kujo family? Ah, the head of the previous generation of the family, Kantaka, seems to have become a monk, right, and then passed the position of head of the family to his son Zhongrong. Could it be that you want the Kujo family to help in this matter as well? ”

"Exactly. The wife of Tadaei, the current head of the Kujo family, is my cousin, Sister Wanko. Presumably, the Kujo family will definitely help in this matter. Moreover, it is not a matter of a day or two that the ministers dislike the Tokugawa family. ”

"Haha, of course there aren't many ministers who like the Tokugawa family. I know, since the Kujo family can do it, I'll agree to it. Anyway, it's not to give him a de facto official position, whatever. This should also be for me to repay the kindness of Feng Taige to the imperial court for my brothers and ministers. ”

Prince Hachijo fanned his fan very elegantly and simply agreed to Hidemitsu's request.

"Thank you very much, Xiuguang will definitely repay His Royal Highness in the future."

Xiuguang and Xiuzong immediately knelt on the ground and thanked them.

"It's getting late now, Xiuguang still has something to do, and it's inconvenient to stay for a long time, so I'll leave here, and I'll visit His Royal Highness the Prince again in the future."

"Well, go ahead."

Xiuguang and Xiuzong quietly left the prince's mansion in the night.

"I'm really looking forward to what kind of person you will become, and what will the Toyotomi family become......"

The prince looked at the night in the sky, holding a scroll of "Ise Speechless" in his hand, and his eyes showed a look of interest and amusement.