Xiuguang knocked for a long time before a faint sound came from inside the room. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

“…… Who's it......?"

"I'm a retainer of the Asano family, and I've come to see Oda-sama about your illness."

According to the plan that had been discussed a long time ago, Irizawa Shinnai pretended to be the identity of Asano's retainer, hoping to dispel Hidenobu's suspicions and let them enter the house smoothly.

“…… Please come in directly, the door is not locked, just push it. ”

Sure enough, the faint voice in the room agreed to their visit.

Irizawa took the lead in front of him, looked around, and after making sure that there was nothing out of the ordinary, he was the first to push open the door that was already a little rusty on the doorknob.

Xiuguang and Xiuzong also followed and stepped into the house.

It wasn't dark inside, and there were sparks flickering from several oil lamps.

Xiuguang looked around the entire hut and found that the environment here was not particularly shabby. There is a decent stove, there is enough firewood, and there are no holes in the walls, so that the house is not exposed to the outside world when it is windy and rainy. It's just that everything here except the stove feels like it's been a long time since it's been used, and it's covered in a thick layer of dust.

There was still a lot of food left in the small pot on the stove, and it didn't look like it had been sitting for a long time, and it should have been what I ate this morning.

Xiuguang wiped his finger on the doorknob on the inside of the door, and found that it looked like it hadn't been turned for a long time, and it was not only rusty but also dusty.

The places to eat and serve are separated from the places to sleep by a thin barrier. The owner of the faint voice was probably lying behind the barrier at this time.

“…… It's okay, you guys come in. ”

After obtaining the consent of the master who was lying in bed, Irizawa Shinnai crossed the barrier with Hidemitsu and Hidemune and came to the couch behind the barrier.

The space behind the barrier is not large, only a couch that can accommodate about two people. At this time, a white futon was arranged.

Xiuguang looked forward, and a young man with a pale face and no blood was lying in the futon.

The young man looked very weak, and he didn't even get up to talk to Xiuguang and the others. He closed his eyes tightly, and his mouth spoke.

“…… Thank you, Lord Asano, for sending someone to visit me...... It's been a long time since anyone has come here to visit me. Because of his body, he couldn't get up to greet him...... I'm ashamed......"

The young man's mouth muttered this sentence, and he looked very haggard.

The man's age was probably only about twenty-five or sixteen years old, but his aggravated condition made his hair gray and dull, and his face did not feel young at all, but like an old man in his last years.

Seeing his miserable appearance, Hidemitsu sympathized with his suffering, and at the same time affirmed that he was Oda Hidenobu.

After Xiuguang, Xiuzong, and Irizawa entered the room, they didn't say a word. They sat down beside Hidenobu's mattress and didn't say anything.

After all, Hidenobu was also a former Warring States daimyo and a lord of a country, and he quickly sensed that something was wrong with Hidemitsu. He immediately opened his eyes and looked at the bedside.

I saw a silent middle-aged man sitting on the edge of his mattress, looking at him with scrutinizing eyes.

Hidenobu calmed down his panic for the time being, dragged his sick body and quickly struggled to sit up from the futon, and looked around him.

“…… Child? ”

Hidenobu saw Hidemitsu and Hidejong on the side, his shriveled lips opened slightly, and he said in disbelief.

He immediately understood that this would definitely not be someone sent by the Asano family. Those arrogant Asano samurai were unlikely to come and visit him with their families. It is better to say that they do not come to visit their sinners at all, let alone when they are seriously ill, except for regular surveillance.

So Hidenobu was very nervous now, because he didn't know which side of the samurai were in front of him, and he didn't know what they wanted to do when they came to his house.

"You're Gifu Naka, Oda Hidenobu-sama, right?"

Irizawa Shinnai asked the first question instead of Hidemitsu.

"Yes...... I'm none other than Oda Hidenobu...... Who are you, and what are you coming to my house for? ”

The vigilant Hideshin asked aloud. He secretly groped around the bedside just in case he could escape in case of a sneak attack.

Irizawa didn't say anything, but turned his gaze to Hidemitsu, then got up and left Hidenobu's mattress and stood at the window.

Hidemitsu nodded, knowing that Irizawa was motioning for him to go and talk, while he let out the wind at the window.

Xiuguang slowly walked up to Xiuxin and sat down.

Hidenobu's blurry eyes, which had not been opened for a long time, also became a little clearer at this time. So when he saw Xiuguang's appearance, he rubbed his eyes in surprise, and then stared at Xiuguang in front of him again.

“…… No, you're not Yashiro...... But that face...... Who are you? ”

After some speculation, Hidenobu stared at Hidemitsu's face suspiciously and in shock.

Xiuguang stared back at him, thinking about things.

Hidenobu is the grandson of Oda Nobunaga, and it is said that he looks like his grandfather Nobunaga.

I don't know if you still remember that Xiujia once mentioned Xiuguang in a letter to Xiukang? Hidemitsu's appearance is more similar to his father, His Royal Highness Taiko, and more similar to his mother's maternal uncle, Oda Nobunaga. In other words, the appearance of Xiuxin and Xiuguang is relatively similar.

That's why Hideshin made such a surprised voice after seeing Hidemitsu's appearance.

"Hidenobu-sama, I wonder if you remember me?"

Xiuguang asked with a smile.

“…… No, what the hell are you ...... Who is it? ”

Hidenobu was puzzled, wondering when he had dealt with children. And I haven't seen any children since the Battle of Sekigahara, and I've been living in Koyasan. Judging by the age of the child in front of him, it seemed impossible for him to have ever seen him.

"I seem to have seen you in Osaka Castle six years ago, don't you remember Hidenobu-sama?"

Xiuguang felt that the time had come, so he bowed his head to Xiuzong next to him. After receiving the order, Xiuzong slowly walked to the head of Hidenobu's bed.

"This lord is the fourth man of the Toyotomi family, His Royal Highness Hidemitsu. I am His Highness's close attendant, Date Hyogoro Hidemune. ”

Hearing this sentence from Xiuzong's mouth, Xiuxin was even more shocked and suspicious.

He asked in a trembling tone:

"You...... Say you're a child of His Royal Highness? That Yoshimatsu Maru? ”

"Exactly. I have been in the seventh year of Keicho (1602) Yuanfu, named Hidemitsu. ”

“…… As for the evidence, I don't believe that you are the Highness of Yoshimatsumaru...... Why did the Toyotomi family suddenly send someone to see me......"

Although he was a little shaken and hopeful, Hidenobu was still skeptical.

"Xiuzong, take that out."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Hidemune took out a handful of wakicha from the luggage he had been carrying.

Measuring about 1 foot 3 inches in length, it has an ornate pattern and a hilt wrapped in shark skin, and a black scabbard with golden moire tattoos, and the Toyotomi family crest "Gochikiri" is the most conspicuous, reflecting a bright light under the light of an oil lamp.

Hidenobu's eyes widened when he saw this wedge.

“…… It's actually ...... Cattail?! ”

Xiuguang nodded, and then explained:

"It's Cattail. This is the messenger left to me by my father after his death.,My brother inherited my father's love knife.。 ”

Hidenobu took the waki, and kept stroking the five-seven tong pattern on the scabbard.

"It's really cattail...... His Royal Highness Taiko has shown it in front of me many times......"

As Xiuxin spoke, he looked like he was about to cry.

The full name of this wakisha is Ayuo Fujishiro, and it is a wakicha made by the famous swordsmith Yoshimitsu Awataguchi. At first, the sword was held by Oda Nobuo, but then it was transferred to Taiko Hideyoshi, who passed on his love to his two sons after his death. And what Hidemitsu inherited was this cattail Fujishiro.

In other words, this wedge is the best representative of Xiuguang's identity.

Xiuxin looked up and immediately saluted Xiuguang.

This person is indeed Toyotomi Hidemitsu, yes!