At the end of October, the location is Osaka Castle as always. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

It's autumn, and the breeze picks up the yellowed leaves on the ground, sweeping away the few new leaves on the trees, adding a touch of gloom to the early autumn atmosphere.

November is coming again, and it's about to be time for Xiuguang to study in Beijing. But before that, he had to attend a meeting at home.

This meeting was asked by Mrs. Yodo to attend Hidemitsu. For Hidemitsu, it was the first time he had attended a meeting with his retainers.

Although it is called a "meeting", the only retainers present are the old Katagiri Kazumoto and the close minister Ohno to repair Ryo Jicho.

In other words, the only participants in this meeting were Hidemitsu, Hideyori, Lady Yodo, and the two retainers mentioned earlier.

However, although the number of people is small, Hidemitsu knows that a meeting with the participation of the old Katagiri and Yuan of the pen head family will never be an ordinary meeting that only talks about some small things.

Xiuguang has just entered the assessment room now. It was also the first time he had been in the assessment room. Xiulai and the others are already in place.

"Brother, Xiuguang is here!"

As soon as Hidemitsu entered, he rushed to the main seat where Hideyori was sitting. Since the last time he sneaked out to play, Xiuguang hasn't seen Xiulai again. So at this time, he was a little excited, and he stepped on the tatami mat and clicked on the ground.

Just as Xiu Lai responded to Xiuguang with a smile, there was a stern rebuke of Xiuguang on the side.

"Hidemitsu-sama! Hideyori-sama is the head of the Toyotomi family, how can the brother of the lord be so presumptuous and rude to Hideyori-sama?! ”

The man with a slender figure and a dignified face who rebuked Hidemitsu on the side was Lady Yodo and Hideyori's close minister, Osamu Ohno.

He was loyal to Hideyori. But for some reason, he seems to have always been hostile and wary of Xiuguang, at least not with good intentions. He treats the difference between Xiulai and Xiuguang like the difference between a doted parent and an estranged adopted son.

"Governor, Xiuguang is my own brother, did he do something wrong? This is not where you should interject. ”

When Xiulai heard his younger brother Xiuguang being reprimanded, he said that he was very unhappy.

"Hideyori-sama, but ......"

"It's nothing, didn't you hear Hideyori tell you to shut up. Hidemitsu is also the son of the late His Royal Highness Taiko, and it is not your turn to repair Ryo Ohno to give a lecture. ”

“…… Yes, Your Majesty knows. ”

Osamu Ohno seemed to want to say something, but was interrupted by Mrs. Yodo, so he had to keep his mouth shut.

"Let's put it down for now. And Yuan, the meeting can begin. ”

"Yes, ma'am."

The old man of the pen family Katagiri and Yuan nodded.

He was an old minister of the Taiko period and was one of the seven guns of Shidake who participated in the Battle of Shidake in the 11th year of Tensho (1583). Now he is also a teacher of Shuyori.

"Then, the meeting begins. It's the first time for Hidemitsu-sama to attend the conference, so don't be too nervous, nothing particularly important happens, and there is only one relatively important thing to tell you this time. But before that, I would like to report on a few small things that have happened recently. ”

And Yuan signaled Xiuguang not to be too nervous.

"Well, first things first. Last month, Tokugawa Ieyasu-sama received another son in Fushimi Castle, named Tsuru Chiyo. We've already sent a congratulatory gift to Fushimi Castle. ”

"Hmph, Tokugawa-sama, do you have another son? How many children are he had?! ”

Osamu Ohno was slightly unhappy with this.

"Xiu Liang, in order of the children who have the right to inherit, this is the eleventh child."

And Yuan reminded for a moment, and then sighed:

"Alas, Tokugawa-sama is really old and strong. In the third year of Keicho (1598), he had his son Gorouta, in the seventh year of Keicho (1602), he had Chofukumaru, and now Chiyo Tsuru was born. It's obviously past the age of the sixtieth year. ”

"The prosperity of the Tokugawa family is not good news for our Toyotomi family. But now ......"

Lady Yodo frowned, as if she was thinking about something important.

"There are also two funerals. Tokugawa-sama's fifth son, Nobuyoshi Takeda, and his half-brother, Matsudaira Iemoto, both died of illness in September. We also sent people to offer condolences. In conclusion, that's the first thing to say. Then, about last month's gathering of merchants. ”

And Yuan continued. When he heard about the merchant rally, both Hidemitsu and Hideyori's heartbeats quickened at the same time.

"When the merchants gathered, the catchers in the town captured an Edo Hosaku. After interrogation, it has been determined that it was sent by Tokugawa Ieyasu-sama's Mio Hidetada. ”

Unlike the calmness of the report, Osamu Ohno was very angry about this and slammed his fists on the ground.

"The Tokugawa family doesn't take us seriously either!! Madam, I think we should give Ieyasu an account of this incident! ”

"Fix the bright, don't get too excited. This should just be the work of Hidetada-sama, and it shouldn't have much to do with Tokugawa-sama. Lord Xiuzhong is still young, and he can be forgiven for making some small mistakes. Moreover, Hidetada-sama is Senhime-sama's father. I don't think it's better to make a big deal about it. ”

"And Yuan! Are you a retainer of the Toyotomi family or a retainer of the Tokugawa family?! At this time, we should give priority to the interests of the Toyotomi family! How could the dignified Toyotomi family allow the Tokugawa family, who were subordinates, to be so presumptuous?!! Even if it's Chihime-sama's father, I can't tolerate it!! ”

"Of course I'm a retainer of the Toyotomi family! Why did the Tokugawa family say?! ”

And Yuan and Osamu Ohno immediately argued. The relationship between the two is not very good.

Xiuguang, who was watching the struggle between the two on the side, also sighed, thinking that the Toyotomi family is really worried about internal and external troubles now.

In the end, it was Mrs. Yodo who clapped her hands and quieted them down.

"Ahem, ahem, then put down the previous things first. The last thing I want to inform Hidemitsu-sama is the important content of this meeting. ”

He Yuan coughed, and then looked around the assessment room for a week.

"Last month, Madame and a few of our elders made a big decision. We, the Toyotomi family, will marry the Kujo family of the public family. ”

As soon as Yuan's words came out, Xiuguang was instantly dumbfounded.

"Kata, Katagi-sama! Marriage?! Is that the Kujo family?! ”

"Yes. It was the Kujo family that Hidemitsu-sama went to study in Upper Beijing. ”

The Kujo family in Xiuguang and Jiyuan's mouths is the Kujo family, one of the five families.

The Kujo family is the descendant of the Fujiwara Kita family, and it is also one of the top two regents among the five regents, and its status is far higher than that of the Eagle Division, Nijo, and Ichijo. Whether in the imperial court or in the eyes of the samurai, it has an extremely important position. It is not difficult to understand that the Toyotomi family wants to marry the Kujo family.

"Brother, elder brother, do you already know?"

"Well, my mother told me a few days ago."

Hideyori looked at Mrs. Yodo with some embarrassment. Mrs. Yodo continued.

"This marriage, Wanko, will marry the eldest son of the head of the family, Kujo Tadaei, who is also filial piety."

"Sister Wanzi is getting married?! So early?! ”

Xiuguang was surprised and couldn't help but feel lost.

"It's not too early, Xiuguang. Wanzi is twelve years old. Mother wasn't too late to marry your father. Moreover, didn't Chi marry Xiulai when she was only seven years old? ”

In her explanation, Mrs. Yodo mentioned in passing that she had married the late Taiko Hideyoshi. For some reason, Hidemitsu saw Osamu Ohno's whole face darken when he heard what Mrs. Yodo said, and he twitched several times. Hidemitsu felt strange, but didn't pay much attention to it.

"Mother, then, when will Sister Wanzi get married?"

"June next year. Now it's just a matter of getting engaged to the marriage first, and then it's time to prepare the dowry. ”

Xiuguang couldn't help but feel a little lost when he thought that there was one less family member by his side.

"What kind of person is that, Lord Kujo Tadaei? I rarely saw him when I was studying in the capital. ”

"That's what Mother, I'm trying to do with you coming to the meeting. Mother wants you to meet Tadaei-sama when you go to Beijing next month to study and actually check out his situation. The actual meeting is certainly more reliable than the hearing. ”

All in all, Mrs. Yodo just wants Xiuguang and Tadaei to meet.

After the meeting, Hidemitsu and Hidemune walked on their way back to their room.

"Your Highness, why do you seem to be very unhappy about Miss Wanzi's marriage?"

Xiuzong sensed Xiuguang's loss.

"Generally speaking, if you have a family and have to leave for a long time, you will be a little lost."

"Hey, really. I've been separated from my father and mother in Oshu, but I don't feel anything. Your Royal Highness, you, really are the sister control~~? ”

Xiuzong, who was dead, threw out a word of looking for a fight with a hippie smile on his face.

“…… How can it be. It's just, I'm worried, I don't know what kind of person Sister Wanzi's husband is, what if Sister Wanzi doesn't have a good time over there, I've been worrying about these things. ”

"Hey, Your Highness, this doesn't seem like something we should be worried about, right?"

“…… Alas. ”

"I know, Your Highness values your family. That's why I have to raise my spirit.,Next month's study in Beijing.,Let's take a good look at that Kujou Tadashi! ”

Xiuzong's encouragement made Xiuguang recover a little.

"Yes, I'm going to have a good review of Lord Zhongrong for Sister Wanzi. …… But ah, I always feel that Sister Wanzi is so pitiful, and she is decided by others without authorization. ”

"Well, that can't be helped. After all, it's still the 'Warring States Troubled Times', Your Highness. Political marriages and so on, it's all for profit. My mother and father are also politically married, and it is also for profit. ”

It was rare for Xiuzong not to smile for a time, and he sighed deeply.

"When will there be an era when there will be no political marriage?"

Xiuguang and Xiuzong walked on the corridor in the setting sun, and at the same time planted this deep question in their hearts.

- I hope that day will come.