This is a corner of the circular corridor on the second floor, and the small door half-hidden behind the screen is almost impossible to spot if it is not specifically searched. Across the railing of the circular corridor is the hall with more than two dozen tables below, and it is very clear to see here, but at this time it is only about seven o'clock, but there are only four or five tables of guests.

I looked out the window again, and below here was a secluded alley, and the noise of the main street in front of me barely affected it, reflecting a quiet leisure.

The furnishings are also very simple, with small square tables that can only accommodate up to four guests, a faint scent of Nanban sandalwood wafting from the copper incense burner in the corner, and several paintings by unknown painters on the walls.

"Excuse me, what else do you command? Our restaurant's Tsuyo Sakurawaka, who is also ...... in Gion, said, "After having tea and sweets offered, the doorman offered me other services in the store.

"Alright, you go down first!" I tossed him a silver coin and said, "I have one more guest, and it will be a little while." You go and prepare some delicate side dishes and bring them in when the guests come! ”

"The small ones will prepare, they will definitely satisfy you!" He bowed humbly and walked backwards.

After making sure that the safety factor was up to standard, the company and the others all left the room, but the surrounding security system was quickly established. I don't have to look to know that at this moment the hallways, the alleys under the windows, the rooms on both sides, and even the rooftops are full of vigilant eyes. There are other people guarding the door, and the people I am waiting for will be brought in as soon as they come.

I took out my pocket watch and looked at it, and it was still quite a long time. I was a little lonely in the dark room at the moment, and the sound from outside could only be faintly heard. I got up and walked to the door, gently pulling a crack open and looking at the people below who had come to have fun.

Those who really come with a direct "purpose" go directly to the third floor, where there are private rooms where a man and a woman (it is said that the ratio is not fixed) for detailed communication, although some may be more open-minded, and those who dare to be blatantly exposed to the public are after all. Since ancient times, there is another name for the land of fireworks, that is, "weathering place", do you know what "weathering" is?

The hall downstairs is mostly used for friends gatherings, and it is the kind that is not so high, at this time, there are not many people but it is deserted, and there are only two tables left of the four tables just now. "It's not that I don't understand the market, the grade here has dropped, right?" I muttered to myself, but looking at my surroundings, it wasn't quite like that.

The only two tables were samurai, and I didn't tell which family was coming because they weren't public. With the gathering of various daimyo in Kyoto, the role of this kind of horse falling stirrup and guiding the flag has also increased, and after a long time, you always have to find something to do and have a good time!

"Prepare a larger room, the uncle is going to entertain some guests!" At this moment, three samurai entered the gate, and one of them shouted in a loud voice with an Ogaku accent.

"Yes, yes, yes, please come with me!" It was the doorman who hurried over, nodded and led them to the second floor.

The three samurai were all shy and arrogant, which actually showed a ridiculous arrogance. The real bigwigs (I'm an exception today) are always booked in advance and there are people who come to this kind of place.

"Why is he here?" I said to myself.

In fact, I don't even know the name of this person, but I can be sure that he is a retainer of Ikeda Hengxing, and he has met for more than ten years.

It's just that I don't know his name, but he definitely knows my name, even though my outfit is more subtle now, but that means passing by on the street. If you can see your face clearly in such a bright room, even the most sloppy person will not be able to come out. Taking a step back, I don't want to cause a commotion here.

The three samurai walked up to the second floor and entered a large room across the circular corridor opposite. Maybe it was because my side was too deserted and inconspicuous, and the other two didn't even turn their heads, except for the one who spoke first, who glanced at it. I don't know if it's to make it easier for the people who came later, but the door has not been closed on their side, and I can clearly hear what they are asking for here.

At this time, all the shops on the street were lit with lanterns printed with signboards, and the evening joy gradually entered the climax, and a person slowly walked from the end of the street to the east, and walked towards the "Juun Pavilion" with a clear goal.

It was a frugally dressed samurai in his fifties, with a swarthy face and gray costume with a lingering rustic atmosphere. Although he has been a little older, it is not difficult to see from the broad shoulders, thick arms, steady steps, and sharp eyes that he still maintains his bravery, and the calloused hands on the hilt of the knife and the faint scars under the sleeves show the experience of birth and death.

Neither by expression nor by the look in his eyes, it did not look like a man who had come to have fun, so that no one came forward to greet his business. But it was such a person, his footsteps stopped in front of the door of Juyun Pavilion, and he raised his head to look at the signboard hanging high.

Without waiting for the man to go up and greet him, the attendant who had been guarding the gate rushed over and whispered something to the old samurai, and after the latter nodded in approval, he walked towards the second floor. The guys in the Juyun Pavilion saw that since they were acquaintances, they didn't come up to disturb them.

Since it was inevitable to go up to the second floor, he had to pass through the room opposite, and the old samurai was still in the middle of the stairs, and it was obvious that he was also afraid of the three people inside. But it was obviously not good to go back for this reason, so he had to lower his head and walk briskly past the doorway, with a slight tilt of his face in between.

"Maeda-senpai, it's been hard along the way!" The squire who led the way stopped outside the door, and I greeted the old samurai who was stunned at the door with a smile.

"Gentlemen...... Your Highnesses! "Maeda Toshiya definitely didn't expect that I was waiting in the room, which is completely inconsistent with the etiquette of dignity and humility. He had arrived an hour before the appointed time, and the look in his eyes seemed more and more strange when he looked at me. "It's rude to keep you waiting for a long time, the Li family is here to ask you to punish you!" Realizing the situation, he immediately knelt down in place.

"Maeda-senpai don't want to be like this, this is not a 'serious' place!" I pulled him up and sat down next to the low table. "If it's a sin to wait for anyone, then I don't know how to express my guilt. When I was in Owari, who didn't know my habit of being late? Fortunately, now that I can control my own time, I will ask Maeda-senpai to give me such a chance to make amends! ”

"Back then...... How wonderful! "Maeda Toshiya must have made all kinds of speculations before he came back, but I didn't expect that I would take the initiative to mention those days in Owari. All kinds of feelings came to his heart at once, and tears flashed in his eyes. "His Royal Highness Zhuxing was heroic and early in the past, and he was valued by the lord as soon as he came out. When it comes to the flourishing career of the Oda family after the barrel saga, the merits of His Highness the Stars are really ......"

"Maeda-senpai, let's talk while drinking!" I was very relieved to see this fluctuation in his mood, and it happened that the waiter brought him a drink and food, and I grabbed the pot and poured a glass for him. "After so many years, things are now wrong, and many things are irretrievable!" I said in a slightly sad tone.

"yes...... irretrievable ......" Maeda Toshiya fell silent for a moment, silently looking at the glass of wine in front of him. At this time, his heart should have mixed feelings, and he wondered if the past was also emerging in front of him.

"Maeda-senpai, do you blame me a little?" I asked suddenly, and at the same time the hand holding the pot stopped in mid-air.

"Yes...... Yes! He suddenly realized what kind of problem it was, and he understood what even such a simple word could bring. It is light to commit suicide by disembowelment, and it is not impossible to destroy the whole clan, but it is just a matter of my mood for a while. "Your Highness the Stars hopes for forgiveness of your sins, I ...... Under ......"

"Maeda-senpai, please don't explain!" I didn't express my thunderous fury, but just laughed and changed the subject. "Do you know why I'm not in Nijo-jo Castle, but here and in this way?"

"Oh...... Please advise Your Highness the Stars! He was stunned for a moment, a little uncomfortable with this transition.

"Even if you're a senior in Maeda, don't you still like to watch the crops grow in casual clothes?" Ignoring his surprise, I lowered my eyes and said to myself. "I have never doubted the martial prowess of Maeda's predecessors, and I knew this when you came to follow the lord single-handedly on that stormy night in the third year of Yongroku. You just don't want to see the war now, you don't want to see bloody battles between former partners! As one of them, I don't want to defend anything, and I can't talk about justice compared to the two highnesses of Yuchai and Shibata. It's just that I have to say that if this winner was one of them today, I wouldn't have ended up better than them! ”

Maeda Toshiie didn't answer this, just lowered his head and looked at his glass. At this moment, the house is very quiet, and the voices of people from outside are coming in slowly, and it seems that the real "golden hour" has arrived. Because of the zigzag past the floor and screen, it doesn't sound too noisy here.

"Okumura-sama, we're here!" At this moment, an excited shout rang out from the opposite room, and I heard it as the Ikeda family's Owari accent loud voice.

"Ha, ha, ha, you're so early!" A loud voice came from the bottom up as he followed Teng Teng's footsteps, and I noticed that Maeda Toshiie's face changed slightly.

"You don't know each other yet, let me introduce you!" Mukai said to the other two in a boastful tone, "This is the famous warrior of the Maeda family, the predecessor of our Owari samurai - Okumura-sama!" ”