The first month of the 11th year of Keicho (1606). Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info It's a new year again.

The famous Keicho riot at Edo Castle soon spread throughout the country.

Of course, Osaka Castle also received the news.

Compared to the schadenfreude of many retainers in Osaka Castle, Lady Yodo was very worried about whether her sister Ajiang was injured in the riot. As soon as she learned the news, she wrote a letter and sent someone to Edo Castle to inquire about the situation. Fortunately, Ajiang did not have an accident. Mrs. Yodo was finally relieved when she heard this.

"Chi, your father and mother are fine, don't worry."

After receiving a reply from her sister Ajiang, Mrs. Yodo immediately called Chihime to her and told her the good news that she had been worried about the safety of her parents for the past few days.

"Is it true? That's great! Auntie! ”

"Yes. Something happened to the castle town in Edo Castle, but Ajiang was completely fine. ”

After hearing her aunt's call, Chihime, who was trotting over excitedly, let go of her worries and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She is now ten years old. Chihime was only seven years old when she married the Toyotomi family in the eighth year of Keicho. Compared to that time, Chihime has grown up a lot and is becoming more and more beautiful.

Chihime has a very good relationship with her aunt, Mrs. Yodo. Mrs. Yodo doted on the beautiful eldest daughter born to this sister very much, and often gave her many beautiful kimonos, and often accompanied her to do various things. Both of them are very keen on waka and often chant together.

Chihime herself is also very close to this aunt who dotes on her, and usually comes to play with Mrs. Yodo when she has nothing to do. It's just that Mrs. Yodo is often busy and doesn't have much free time.

"By the way, I forgot to tell you, your mother Ajiang is pregnant again."

"Huh? Is it true? That's a good thing! My father and mother are safe, and my mother is pregnant again! I'm going to tell Hideyori-sama about this! ”

After saying that, Chihime happily said goodbye to her aunt and left. The maids on the side also hurriedly followed.

Mrs. Yodo looked at the back of Chihime leaving and smiled with some relief.

Then she looked at the letter in her hand with a worried expression.

It was originally a letter to report safety, but Ajiang's reply revealed some not very good news.

That's what happened when she and her husband Xiuzhong were temporarily confined to secrement.

This also means that the Tokugawa family will be ********* by the scheming Ieyasu...... It's hard work now, Jiang ......."

Mrs. Yodo, who was worried about her sister's safety and the current situation, sighed tiredly.

……

……

On the other hand, Xiuguang and the others were gathering in the old man's mansion at this time.

Not only Hidemitsu, Hidemune, Shang Chang and the old man, but also the three of the Hideki family, Tsuru Nosuke, Tsukichiyo, Yashiro, Sangoro and others all came over and happily ate food at this time of the New Year.

"It was a great success! That's amazing, Your Highness of my family! ”

In order to cater to the atmosphere of the New Year, Xiuzong, who was deliberately drinking with a small wine plate, looked excited.

"Hey, Xiuzong, you've drunk too much......"

Xiuguang looked at Xiuzong, who was eating and drinking, and snatched the wine bottle from his hand with a helpless expression.

"It's okay, Your Highness, I'm Date Hyogoro Hidemune, I'm sixteen years old anyway! It won't be good to drink some wine haha~"

Xiuzong laughed as he leaned over to Xiu Gao, who was pouring wine for his father, Xiu's family.

"Really...... Hyogoro, this little bastard, knows all day long. Does this kid have any other pursuits besides wine and women......"

The old man, who had been pestered by Yashiro and Sangoro, walked towards Hidemitsu while looking at Hidemune with disdain.

Xiuguang smiled when he heard this:

"Well, that's one of his habits. Maybe that's his strength. ”

"That's right, Your Highness Xiuguang."

"What's the matter, old man?"

"The old man has been thinking all along, what is your purpose in causing Edo Ichiku?"

The old man stared at Xiuguang with suspicious eyes,

The old man thought that although the granary of Edo Castle was burned down this time, civilians were killed and injured, and it can be said that it was a heavy loss. But you shouldn't have done it just to weaken the Tokugawa family, right? ”

"Old man, look at the problem more from a distance."

Xiuguang smiled and ate a dumpling.

"Isn't the Tokugawa family now struggling to repair Edo Castle, the badly damaged base camp?"

"Hmm...... Yes, indeed. When I heard about this loss, Ieyasu spent a lot of money and gold and silver in stock. And the most important thing is that Edo Castle without the Iga Kinkai is now very chaotic, and something may go wrong at any time. ”

"Right? This riot caused a great loss of vitality in the city. The Tokugawa family was not able to fully restore Edo Castle in a few years. Now, the Tokugawa family's attention is focused on dealing with their own problems. ”

Xiuguang narrowed his eyes and continued:

"With Ieyasu's cunning and suspicious character, when dealing with the problems of Edo Castle, he will definitely be more or less suspicious of our Toyotomi family. If he doesn't doubt it, I don't believe it. ”

"Wait, doesn't this mean that after Ieyasu's accident in Edo Castle, he will pay more attention to the movements of Osaka Castle?"

The old man opened his mouth wide,

"Your Highness Xiuguang, aren't you asking for hardship...... Edo managed to get into trouble, but his side was being watched even closer. ”

"Old man, so you have to look at the problem more from a distance."

Faced with the old man's questioning, Xiuguang seemed very calm about this.

"Old man, Osaka Castle is being watched. But what about the generals of the Western Army who were watched and exiled after their defeat in the Battle of Sekigahara? Do you think the Tokugawa family still has the spare energy to vigorously monitor and supervise? ”

"Hmm...... Oooh oh! ”

After thinking about it, the old man suddenly had an idea, slapped his palms, and seemed to understand Xiuguang's intentions.

"I see, the old man knows. Then sure enough, Your Highness Xiuguang, your next step is that. ”

"Hmm. It's also time to get ready. ”

Xiuguang was very satisfied that the old man understood his meaning and intentions.

"Well, now the Edo Incident has finally come to an end, and it's finally over. I'm so worried about this, old man, I'm going to die. ”

"Thank you for your help, thank you, old man. But ah, although the matter in Edo is over,"

Xiuguang nodded at the old man as a sign of gratitude.

"But that's just the beginning......"