At that time, when I received that information, the expression of the woman who was cultivating in the shade of the room did not change much. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info She just silently got up and walked out, looking up at the sun hanging high in the blue sky.

Ah, it's season again, it's painful.

The woman was a little dizzy. She narrowed her eyes, shielding her hands from the fiery sunlight that emanated from the sky.

At that time a long time ago, Ming Ming was looking forward to the arrival of this season every day, and he went out to have fun and hunt with Sun Shichiro Chennosuke.

The bow that had been displayed indoors for a long time had been removed, and after wiping away the thick dust that had accumulated on it for many years, the patterns that had been carved on it were revealed, but they were still covered with a layer of old age that could not be wiped away.

The bowstring had long since broken, leaving only two remnants of what had once looked strong and elastic hanging from the bow.

The woman was not in a hurry to fix the bowstring either. She didn't do anything, just looked silently at the old bow lying in her hand.

I remember that when I first got this bow, I immediately volunteered to participate in the hunt with those guys, but the coward who was not good at martial arts asked to be responsible for picking up prey in the back. In addition to these guys, the kind-looking little man also joined in with a happy face.

Well, I remember that I should have hunted a deer, and Koyoshi and Tatsuchiyo hit a hare, and only Hachiro didn't do anything all day. The man happily led them in search of prey, remembering as if he had complimented her many times along the way, while comforting and encouraging Hachiro who was following behind.

Standing in the small forest in the courtyard, the woman felt as if the scene of the year had been recreated.

It seems that since I changed the seal to this place, I will often think about the old days.

It was the happiest time of my life.

The woman can still recall the time when she played with everyone, and was punished for sitting quietly for three hours for mischief with Hachiro, and lost a horse riding race with Tatsuchiyo, and the eyes full of approval and anticipation that short men often showed to her.

In retrospect, she found herself smiling. It's just that the smile on her face that hasn't appeared for many years immediately turned into a wry smile.

Things are not people, and the scene where everyone used to laugh and laugh is now the only one left.

"Lord Xiukang, please hurry back to your room, your body can't withstand such a hot weather, please go back and have a good rest."

While she was pondering, the voice of the retainer who had accompanied her since she was a child came from the side.

"I see, Genshiro. Has the July event been notified? ”

"My lord, which one do you mean? It's sumo...... Or is it that? ”

"Sumo, of course. …… That's not something we can get involved in. ”

"My lord, actually... You'd love to ......."

"Shut up Genshiro. Let's go back. ”

“…… But! Maybe there are other ways to ......"

"Genshiro, you should know very well that if we plead with my father, we will never accept compromise on this with his character. If you use other methods...... That would only kill him sooner, and we would be involved. And...... We can't disobey Father. ”

"Yes......"

"Also, after today, don't talk about it again."

The retainer known as Genshiro looked at the lord's absent-minded expression and sighed.

How could she not see her true intentions at this time?

Adults are powerless. Since there is no way to return to heaven, then you can only obey the will of heaven.

Maybe it's all fate.

……

……

The time has reached the second year of Keicho 9th year (1604).

Inside Osaka Castle.

Ever since the date of their marriage to the Kujo family was confirmed, the Toyotomi family has been busy preparing the dowry for their son. The tailoring and making of kimonos and the selection of gifts kept the ceremonial officials, maids, and servants of Osaka Castle busy.

The castle town of Osaka Castle may have been affected by this incident, and the people of Osaka, who were already active in the folk culture, added that joyful atmosphere to the market as if they were about to celebrate a festival.

Tadaei and Wanko's wedding is scheduled for mid-June. And when the time comes, Hidemitsu will accompany Wanko to Kyoto to participate in the wedding as one of the envoys of the Toyotomi family.

This time's arrangement is not as good as Xiuguang's heart. Once he's done with his wedding in Kyoto, it's easier for him to take the next step.

Taking advantage of his youth, hurry up and go to more places that may not be able to go in the future, and meet more people who may not be able to meet in the future, which is Xiuguang's current code of action.

Although he learned that the operation might be risky after getting some information, Hidemitsu decided to go ahead with it. As the saying goes, if you don't enter the tiger's den, you will get the tiger. If there's a benefit, it's okay to take a risk.

Even if he can't change anything in the overall situation of political power for the time being, Hidemitsu still wants to do his best to do his best, no matter how big or small the results are.

Now that you are surrounded on all sides, use your own hands to find a breakthrough.

While thinking so, Hidemitsu unconsciously drew in circles on the tatami mats. looked up and counted the time, thinking that Xiuzong should be back soon.

"Your Highness, there are delicious dumplings! Would you like one? ”

Sure enough, Hidemune, who had been training at the old man's place all day, walked in sweaty, still holding the extra-large skewers of grilled dumplings sold at the famous dumpling shop in the castle town.

"Don't eat yet, I have something to discuss with you, go to the tunnel."

If there is one safest place in the entire Osaka Castle, it must be an underground secret passage that almost no one knows.

It is said that the late Taiko Hideyoshi did not tell anyone the location of the secret passage before he died, and all the workers responsible for building the secret passage were wiped out one by one. Although the Tokugawa family probably guessed that there was such a secret passage, they didn't know where the entrance was. Even Xiuzong only found out when he left his guard and sneaked out to play when he was a child. So far, the only people who know the existence of this secret passage are the two brothers Xiulai Xiuguang, as well as Xiuzong and Chongcheng.

"What's the matter, Your Highness, could it be that Lord Wanzi got married in June?"

"No, it's after that. We didn't go back with the group after the wedding, but came with me to Fushimi Castle. ”

"Fushimi Castle? It's not very far, but Your Highness, that's where Tokugawa Ieyasu-sama is. ”

"You know, in July, Hideyasu Matsudaira will be holding a sumo tournament in his own mansion in Fushimi Castle."

"Ah, of course I do! When I was young, I once met Master Xiuyasu, and she was a special general with the demeanor and courage of a general! Even though she is a woman, she doesn't lose to other men no matter what! Are we going to visit her??? ”

Xiuzong danced happily and kicked up a cloud of dust in the closed secret passage.

"Ahem, ahem...... Hyogoro, be quiet, don't yell and ......cough in a place like this."

Hidemitsu, choked by the dust kicked, reprimanded Xiuzong, who was excited on his head.

"We're not just here to meet Hideyasu-sama. Use your brain to think about it, who will come to this sumo tournament? ”

"Who? Well, I remember that I invited some daimyo and wealthy families, all my cronies and samurai, and, uh...... Wait,"

Thinking about it, Xiuzong's face became worse and worse. He raised his head and asked Xiuguang in a trembling tone of disbelief:

“…… Your Highness, you don't want to see Tokugawa Ieyasu-sama, do you? ”