From Gifu back to Mie Castle, I took the waterway, first to Atsuta Jingu, where the palace is located, and then straight through Ise Bay to Mie Port, where the Shisakajuku is located. These are the two largest lodging grounds in Tokaido, and in addition to the prosperity of Mie Port, there are more than 2,000 households with a population of more than 7,000, including more than 180 ken for the residence of the Okagoya, and the main camp and the rib main camp for samurai of all levels to stay, which are directly under the jurisdiction of the Kiyoshu Town. Therefore, this waterway was protected by the Ise water army, and both the Honke and the Geji family water army participated.

But I don't know how I got back to Mie-cho. For several hours on the ship, I locked myself in the cabin until Shinchi Aoyama, who was escorting the ship, told me that I had arrived.

Fortunately, at this time, I finally made up my mind.

Actually, there's nothing to think about. Nobunaga has already given a death order, and there is no room for maneuver at all, and since I don't plan to come out of the Oda family, there is only one way to obey the order. All I have to do is try to convince my conscience.

All the while, I was used to dealing with problems in a tactful manner, and I earned a reputation for being benevolent for it. The only exception is for the Changzong family, but this is because in order to retrieve and keep their old domain, the national relatives and the Yuan relatives are the biggest obstacles. Moreover, the style of this father and son is too much, unscrupulous, ruthless, with my current identity, if I don't want to die, I can only fight when facing my relatives from the beginning.

Speaking of which, Changzong and my relatives are also a poor person. When he was six years old, the family was strangled by Benshan, Ohira, Kira, Yamada and other heroes, his parents committed suicide, most of the retainers asked to die, and he was the only one who was rescued by the retainer Kondo, sent to a home to protect, and then after a full ten years, he was sent to the fence. After that, he finally regained the territory and embarked on the road of revival, and it took more than 40 years to obtain the land of the four counties with a height of no more than 50,000 stones, but he did not know how many hardships he went through. As he said when he became a monk, "When I was six years old, I was alone, and the misfortunes of the world were incomprehensible." After that, after struggle, although he relied on incredible fortune to revive the family business, his state of mind was often sad."

It can be said that there is no one in this era who has never experienced tragedy, and no one can control his own destiny...... Why, then, would I expect to be the exception? The moment he and Xiao Xia left the mountain, they should have come to their senses, right?

Then you can only obey orders. Although it is against the original intention, it is a helpless thing.

I twisted my slightly stiff neck, stood up and moved my body, then pulled open the hatch and walked out.

Next to the door is the half-kneeling Shinchi Aoyama, one of the earliest minor leaders of the Kawanami clan, who currently owns a territory of several hundred stones, like Watanabe Shoji, and serves as the leader of Maeno's naval aid team. He was the one who escorted me this time, not surprising here.

However, there are two other people, one is Keijiro's assistant to Shigeharu Takenaka, and the other is the rare Ishitani Yorichen.

It dawned on me that something big must have happened.

Sure enough, seeing me come out, Ishiya Laichen lowered his head and said, "Caicai has decided to become a monk." ”

How so?! For a moment I almost didn't believe my ears.

"When's it?" I asked.

"On the second day after the lord left the castle," Shigeharu Takenaka said apologetically, "At that time, Lord Hoshin-in suddenly fell ill, and it seems that because of the burning of Bodhi Temple, when His Majesty went to visit on behalf of his retainers, he sighed all the time, saying that he dreamed of the former lord and Lord Xuanyi who passed away at Tosa Saiyoji Temple...... Mrs. Ishiya and Mrs. Xiaoxia took the initiative to take care of them, but soon Mrs. Ishiya sent a maid to inform her of the monkhood. ”

"Mother said that she dreamed of her father and grandfather?" I was taken aback. What does it mean to dream of my titular father and to dream of Kira Xuanyi? Because Xuanyi is the one who raised the real Kira Keijiro at Saiyoji Temple? …… I consider myself an atheist, but for a moment, I almost had doubts about it. Maybe the soul really exists, or maybe there really is karma in the dark? Otherwise, why did I just make a plan at the beginning of last year to reasonably kill the Kitabatake Gate, causing Kitabatake Yukihime to commit suicide by throwing herself into the water, and Mitsu committed suicide within a few months? Why did I have a relationship with the main room of the main room of the Miyoshi Yoshiken widow last October, and now I have encountered such a thing in my main room?

I remember that when I came back, Nana's mood was pretty good. Although he blamed himself a little, he definitely didn't reach the level of becoming a monk...... "Brother Yi, please go and see it with me...... It's in Joruriin Temple, isn't it? ”

Ishiya Yoshichen nodded.

"Then, Chongzhi, you go back first. Don't let the news spread. ”

"Your Majesty understands." Shigeharu Takenaka nodded as well.

I strode up to the riverbank, rode the "snow cloud" led by my attendants, and headed straight for the city. Ishitani Yorichen also rode on the horse of a close attendant and followed behind me.

Arrived at the main hall of the Jingliuli Courtyard, Nana was kneeling and sitting there, wearing a blue half-length Jiaqing coat on her upper body, looking a little dazed, and she didn't say hello when she saw me coming in.

"Nana!" I shouted.

"Ah...... Your Highness! She seemed to have just come to her senses.

"Take off your blue clothes, I look dazzling!" I ordered her.

Nana shook her head.

"Then I'll do it myself!" I hurried over, grabbed her upper body with both hands, and pulled it to both sides.

"Your Highness!" Nana looked panicked, hugged her hands in front of her chest, and said with a red face: "Concubine...... I only wore a middle coat. ”

The middle coat is pajamas, and the pajamas cover the half-body Jiaqing clothes, which are trendy enough...... Although I was anxious, I almost laughed, and my mood suddenly improved.

"Okay, you go and change your clothes, I'll go see my mother first!" I let go of her chest and threatened, "...... If you haven't changed it when I come out, then I don't care if this is the hall of the Buddha! ”

With that, I went straight inside.

The inner room is lit with the incense of Tianzhu Anshen, filled with the tranquil atmosphere of Qingyuan, and Baoxinyuan is lying on the tatami mat, as if it is sleeping. The two maids, Ah Ming and Ah Ha, are serving on the side, and Xiao Xia is also there.

"What the hell is going on? Wasn't it okay the day I left? I asked in a low voice.

"It was the night after the city lord left...... The lord suddenly had a nightmare, and then he said that the first lord was blaming her for not raising the city lord well, and then the deceased lord Xuanyi also blamed her, saying that she almost ruined the spiritual position......" explained Ah Ming, who took care of Baoxinyuan closely.

"How are you eating and resting these days?"

"Caicai and the concubine boiled cod porridge, and they can still eat some every day. I just can't rest well, I often dream, it's better to light a soothing incense, and I just fell asleep a while ago. Nana said.

"Really?" I couldn't help but sigh. How difficult it must be for a fifty-year-old person to toss like this for a few days!

Although she is not my real mother, I have seen her as a mother since I first met her.

"Keijiro?" Baoxinyuan suddenly opened his eyes slightly, and shouted weakly. The right hand on his chest was barely spread out, groping around the edge of the tatami mat.

I hurriedly reached out and grabbed it: "I'm here!" ”

"Keijiro......," she sighed, "Mother knows that she has not fulfilled her responsibilities and made you suffer, and she can't help your father, uncle, grandfather, and the remnants of the family. However, when she remarried to the Xiangzong family, her mother couldn't help herself...... Moreover, my mother has been chanting sutras and praying for you for more than ten years! ”

"I know. I never blamed you either. I squeezed her hand tightly, feeling skinny.

Baoxinyuan shook his head slightly: "You must be blaming in your heart...... Otherwise, why would they burn down their own Bodhi Temple? Now I am the only old man left in the family, and it is my responsibility to take care of Bodhi Temple! But you burned the ......."

"This is also something that cannot be helped, in order to calm the doubts of the main family. Didn't my mother forgive me last time? I asked.

"However, there is a ready-made person responsible, but you would rather use the Bodhi Temple as a practice...... How did this make the mother explain to the ancestors in the family! Tears welled up in the corners of Baoxinyuan's eyes.

Ready-made responsible person? Is it a dish? Treasure Heart Temple knows about this? …… No wonder Nana is so depressed, and she sincerely comes to take care of her mother, but she is not treated by this mother.

However, Baoxinyuan has never asked about family matters, how could it know about this matter?

I couldn't help but look at Natsu sternly.

Seeing my eyes, Xiao Xia's face changed suddenly. She bit her lip, threw the fan on the floor, and walked out of the room with a straight face.

"Mother, get some rest. About the Bodhi Temple, I will definitely give you an explanation! I gently put Bao Xinyuan's hand back to my chest, got up and chased after him.

In the hallway, I grabbed Natsu's back and pushed her to the edge of the pillar.

"Say! Did you tell your mother about the dish? I asked solemnly.

"I said that! So what! Xiao Xia straightened her chest and raised her head upward, "She did something wrong, and no one is allowed to say it?" ”

"You can't be sensible!" I raised my hand and slapped her in the face.

Xiao Xia touched his face, with a look of disbelief: "Your Highness...... You hit me? ”

"I'm going to hit you!" I exclaimed, "I used to spoil you too much!" ”

"Woo woo......" Xiao Xia fell on the pillar and cried.

I was still glaring at her. Really, how can you tell the dishes like this? Isn't it enough to spoil you usually? Do you want to step on the vegetables and grab the position of the main room?

"City Lord......" Ah Hagi suddenly walked over and timidly reported, "It's none of Mrs. Xiaoxia's business." It was the Lord of Baoxinyuan who asked the little maid to inquire. ”

With that, she closed her eyes, ready to meet my punishment.

“…… I don't blame you. Let's go back and take care of Hoshin-in-sama. ”

"Huh?" Ahsu looked at me in amazement. She probably thought that for the sake of this matter, I would beat Xiao Xia without asking, and she would definitely not let her go easily, right?

"It's okay. Go back! I smiled and comforted her.

"Yes." Ah Hagi bent his head and glanced at the crying Xiao Xia again, before hurriing back to the inner room.

I sighed again. It's because it's Natsu that I'm angry. Because the two things are different in quality, she is dutiful, and in Xiaoxia is competing for favor.

I have no doubt about Natsu's loyalty to me, she has already proven it with her actions. For me, she can give everything, including her surname, because she was raised as a retainer from a young age. It wasn't until she met me that she slowly took on the appearance of a woman. However, she doesn't know how to make a main room, and as far as her heart name is concerned, she is the little girl I have always spoiled.

Looking at her twitching shoulders, I said apologetically, "I'm sorry just now." ”

Xiao Xia ignored it, still crying.

I put my arms around her shoulders and pulled her over: "Don't cry...... How can there be such a wailing samurai! ”

Only then did she stop crying, but she was still sobbing: "Your Highness has never beaten us...... However, for the sake of the dish, it is just a matter of asking clearly...... Is the concubine so inferior to her? ”

"It's not like that," I wiped away her tears, "Nana's responsibility is too heavy, if she really becomes a monk, the whole family will be in chaos...... I'm in trouble now, how about you be considerate? ”

"Yes." Hearing what I said seriously, Xiao Xia hurriedly agreed, and wiped her tears with her sleeve.

"You......" Seeing her like this, I couldn't help but feel a little sad. After thinking about it, I untied Haiyue from my waist and handed it to her: "I'll leave this to you!" ”

Xiao Xia's eyes widened: "Isn't this His Highness's saber?" Or is it a family treasure in the family, how can it be handed over to a concubine? ”

"Because the great hall has given me another famous sword. For the sake of the main hall, I can only wear that. I'll leave the moon to you for safekeeping, anyway, you wore it a long time ago. I explained.

"Yes!" Xiao Xia hugged Haiyue excitedly and assured loudly, "The concubine must use her surname to protect His Royal Highness's family treasure!" ”

"What are you doing so seriously!" I smiled and patted her face on the spot where she had been beaten, "Then I'll go first." ”

- There's another one in the main hall.

Back in the main hall, Nana has really changed back to her usual outfit. Ishiya Laichen on the side was persuading her, but obviously the effect was not obvious, and Nana was still very dazed.

I know that it is more effective for me to persuade her at this time, after all, her heart is tied to me.

She must be wondering, "Did I really do something wrong?" "Is it better for me to give up my position?" "Do you want to become a monk and confess to His Highness and Baoxinyuan?" and so on.

Sure enough, as soon as she saw me, she lowered her head guiltily.

"Nana," I sat down in front of her, "I'll tell you a story!" ”

"Storytelling?" Not only Caicai, but even Ishiya Laichen looked at me strangely.

I ignored them and went on on with myself:

"Once upon a time, there was a husband and wife living in a castle town. One worked in the workshop, the other was responsible for household chores, and the son lived in great poverty. However, the husband is actually a descendant of a certain samurai family and has a famous sword in his hand; When his wife got married, her mother gave her a small ancestral golden Buddha as a dowry. The famous knife and the golden Buddha are the two treasures in this family, and they are also the pride of the husband and wife.

"Then they had another treasure, their children. However, in this way, the family that could have supported it was stretched. In order for the child to grow up healthily, the husband pondered whether he should sell the famous knife, so that the family would be more comfortable. But his wife resolutely disagreed, saying that the famous knife was a family treasure in the family, so how could it be sold. When the husband heard his wife say this, he gave up his plan for the time being.

But two months later, their child fell ill, which pushed the couple to a desperate situation. So the husband brought up the matter of selling knives again. He said to his wife, although I am a descendant of a famous family, but now, my family has declined, and I have long lost my status as a samurai, so I can only work as a hired hand in the workshop.

As a result, his wife was still opposed. But the husband didn't plan to listen to it this time. When he went to work the next day, he secretly took away the famous knife, and then exchanged it for dozens of dollars. When he returned home, he put the money in front of his wife and said that he had money to treat the child.

When the wife saw the money, she immediately began to cry sadly. Her husband hurriedly comforted her, we still have a little golden Buddha, which can also be used as a family treasure! When he said this, his wife cried even more and pointed to the table by the wall. When the husband looked at it, there were also dozens of dollars there, and it turned out that the wife had sold her little golden Buddha in order to discourage her husband's plan to sell knives......

"Ahh Hearing this, Nana couldn't help but exclaim.

"It's really pitiful," Ishiya sighed, "both husband and wife want to keep each other's family treasures, and are willing to make sacrifices for themselves, but they both lose it. ”

"That's it for now!" I looked at Nana seriously, "I've already burned down the Bodhi Temple, so I don't want you to make any more sacrifices." For me, you are more important than Bodhi Temple. ”

"But the concubine has never been able to help His Highness." Nana lowered her head.

"Who said that? You and Yu Jia have been a great help! I don't usually see it, but because I take it for granted, it's extremely important and indispensable! …… Just like that time when Kasheng Keisaburo couldn't be a director for a while, but when he encountered a little unexpected thing, the maids were at a loss, and the whole city was in chaos for a while. ”

"Really?" Nana asked uncertainly.

"Exactly," I nodded solemnly, "and you have done nothing wrong. It's my luck to have your wife who cares so much about the people, and it's also the luck of the people...... Anyway, this matter is over, you don't have to worry about it anymore, otherwise I and my retainers will be very troubled as well. ”

"Your Highness and your retainers?" Nana said in surprise.

"Yes, for this family, you are already an unshakable main room. If your position is shaken, Keijiro's position will also be shaken, and then the family will not think about Antai...... Whether it was in the past or now, because of the dispute over the heirs, I don't know how many famous big families have perished, and how many families have gone into decline, the former has the Spo family with three masters, the latter has the Hatakeyama family with three leaders, and even the Gongfang family is the same, and the main family has not also had turmoil because of this......"

"Lord!" Ishitani reminded him, getting up and looking outside.

(To be continued)