Chapter 6 Chapter Six Saigo Ai

The pine trees in Hamamatsu Castle make strange noises, probably because of the cool wind blowing from Lake Hamana.In the set up tent, there are piles of rice balls like a mountain, ready to reward the soldiers who are about to return. The women came in and out under the kitchen. For this reward banquet, almost all the women in the city were mobilized, and they could even be seen chopping wood with knives.Xixiang Yisheng's widow Aai also appeared in the crowd, directing the maids. Compared with the gorgeous battle uniforms of the men, the busy women here are all dressed very plainly.Swords, spears, uniforms, and horses all cost money, so there was no time for women's clothes.But they were not dissatisfied in the slightest.Once a man leaves the house, he might throw his body into the wilderness.In a sense, the gorgeous battle clothes are also their mourning clothes.For a woman born in troubled times, love is sad.Ai thinks so too.

The women in common clothes with sweat all over their faces looked radiant and beautiful.They felt sincere joy for the safe return of their husbands. "Where are they?" "Probably after seeing Izuo." "Then, it will be there in half a minute." That's the only topic women talk about. Several women also never saw their husbands again.This is a tragic fate that women in troubled times cannot escape.Ai has a deep understanding of this.The woman waited bitterly at home, but was told: "Your husband died in battle!" At that time, any woman will feel that the sky is falling.They can only desperately control their tears, not to show sadness, and not to let others see their weakness.Because unfortunately I am not alone.Undoubtedly more people would have died in the heat of battle... Women were lucky to have survived - men were far less fortunate than they were.

Today, those unfortunate men are talking about the heroes of the battlefield, returning from the battle of Omi refreshed.Ah Ai couldn't help being extremely envious of those women who were waiting for her.Husband Yisheng will never come back.But she was immediately ashamed of the thought.She is serving Ieyasu now, so she should be happy to welcome Ieyasu back to the city. At this time, shouts came from the gate.People saw the triumphant procession from the turret, and shouted loudly to inform the people in the city. "Ah, back!" "They must be exhausted!" The women put down their work one after another and ran towards the city gate.

It is the moment most awaited by women who are waiting for their husbands to return.There is no need to shout or raise your hands to cheer, just stand on the side of the road, raise your eyes in a proper manner, and meet the eyes of the person who returned from the expedition, and your heart will be filled with infinite emotion and happiness.What a joy to be alive!At that moment, all the emotions were contained in this sentence. Ah Ai felt that at least this kind of joy should be used to welcome the arrival of the lord, so she wiped her hands and walked towards the gate. The horn sounded announcing the arrival of the procession.This is the eighth day of July in the first year of Yuangui.The Sanhe people fought side by side with Nobunaga, and in the end Nobunaga, who rarely praised others, praised: "The Sanhe people are number one in the world!" Now, they have returned with honor.In man against man, they won.

Nobunaga compared Ieyasu to Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, and Honda Heihachiro to Zhang Fei.Ieyasu walked through the city gate while thinking about this statement. Both sides of the road were full of women who came to greet them, and they were still so stable-this was great joy and happiness for the returning soldiers.Ieyasu gestured to the crowd frequently, and he passed through the door of the second arrow warehouse without realizing it. At this moment, a face in the crowd made his heart skip a beat.That face was very much like Mrs. Kira.He suddenly thought that she was Aai, the granddaughter of Masakatsu Saigo Yazaemon.

Ah Ai is especially moving today.Her skin is fair, and the sweat on her face is like dew in the grass, no, like morning dew full of sadness.She seemed to be crying, as if she wanted to seek support, but she was a little indifferent, with a stubborn expression... She probably wanted to hide the sadness in her heart, and was happy for Ieyasu's triumphant return.The interlacing of nature and will makes her look extremely beautiful. Ieyasu couldn't help but want to stop the horse, but hurriedly clamped the horse's belly, but he still couldn't help asking: "Is it Ah Ai?"

"Yes. Welcome to your triumphant return." Ieyasu suddenly became embarrassed. "You...oh, yes, you've arrived in the city." He said in a daze, his cheeks were hot.On this occasion, he could say no more.He looked away, looked ahead, and galloped slowly, but then he couldn't remember who he had greeted. Ieyasu was baffled.Why can't he keep calm in front of a widow who refuses to give in to Nobunaga? Is it because he hasn't been in contact with a woman for a long time?Or is your desire stronger than that of ordinary people?But he immediately denied the above reasons, and the word "fate" appeared in his mind.In this world, there are forces beyond human control.Could it be that kind of incredible power that made him pay attention to Ah Ai?

Ieyasu got off his horse in front of the gate, and got into the tent that had been set up.When a man wants a woman, he can always find many reasons.He sat down and couldn't help laughing at his own wild thoughts. "Please drink barley tea." Aai suddenly appeared in front of him again. The third time Xixiang Ai appeared in front of Ieyasu was in the bathroom. Ieyasu dislikes steam baths and stone baths, preferring to soak in fragrant wooden barrels.The whole body is soaked in the wooden barrel, listening to the "sizzling" sound of hot water and smelling the fragrance of wood, I feel like I am in a trance.

The sun hasn't set yet.To make the bathroom brighter, Ieyasu asked someone to open the window on purpose.You can see the red glow of the sunset, and the leaves of the sycamore swaying in the breeze. After pouring a bucket of hot water, Ieyasu was sitting on the wooden plank savoring the taste of triumph when the back door of the bathroom was opened. "The servants are here to rub the adults' backs." "Oh, come in." Ieyasu raised his head casually, and his heart trembled violently: it's A'ai. She didn't seem to want to show that she was afraid of Ieyasu's nakedness, so she deliberately pretended to be calm and looked at him quietly.But the shyness that could not be completely controlled finally showed.

"No!" Ieyasu shouted angrily.The voice was so high-pitched in the small bathroom that it surprised even himself. "What did your lord say?" "I said no. You can't come." Ieyasu didn't know why he said this, but he couldn't help repeating it. "I didn't rub well?" "No, no! Back rubbing is what the maids do, why did you come here specially?" "Yes Yes." "Bring someone else." "Yes, replace it with someone else immediately." Aai obediently went out. "Hello." Jiakang wanted to call her hastily, but suddenly stopped, and smiled to himself.Ah Ai must have thought Ieyasu was reprimanding her.If you think that way, you misunderstand him.The moment I saw Ai in the bathtub, Ieyasu felt that it was too much for Ai to rub his back.He originally wanted to say that Ah Ai came from a famous family, but unconsciously, he turned into a reprimanding tone.

A maid came in.She is only seventeen or eighteen years old.Ieyasu smiled again while letting the girl rub his back.Ah Ai was shy, and she must have looked quite embarrassed when she drove Ah Ai out. "What's your name?" "Slave Junai." "Oh, good name. What did Ah Ai say to you?" "She said that she didn't seem to please adults, so she asked me to come and rub your back." "Oh. Sure enough, I guessed right." Ieyasu suddenly felt lonely for some reason, "It's reasonable to say what you say, but I really don't know how to treat them." "What... what?" "It's nothing, it's just talking to myself. It's hard work, let's back down." Ieyasu was alone in the hot water, his eyes half closed in a daze.Before returning to the city, the woman he often thought of was Awan.But now, he can't even remember whether Ah Wan went out of the city to greet him, because the face of Ah Ai who suddenly appeared blurred Ah Wan's figure.Ieyasu laughed again.He had childish fantasies... He and Aai seemed to be connected by an invisible thread.Could it be that the dead Mrs. Kira sent Aai, who was similar to her, to him on purpose?If that was the case, Mrs. Kira was probably somewhere, anxiously watching how he handled the matter. After Jiakang left the bathroom, Ah Ai was already waiting at the door with a change of clothes.Probably because of being reprimanded just now, A'ai's movements were a little stiff.Whenever she meets Ieyasu's eyes, she tries to correct her posture. This is indeed a serious, well-behaved woman who is soft on the outside and strong on the inside.Ieyasu kept silent on purpose, walked past Aai, and went straight to the hall. A feast of victory has been prepared in the hall.The sky is not yet dark, but the lamps have been turned on, and the wine glasses are filled with wine. Captain Sakai Zaemon and Matsudaira Ie Tadamasa took turns dancing.After the feast, a large bowl of barley rice mixed with white rice was served, and yam juice was poured on it, which was so delicious that it was amazing.After dark, the banquet broke up. After everyone retreated happily, Ieyasu also came to the courtyard facing the cool breeze.He said to Iwan Chiyo, who was following behind with a knife: "Wait on the porch." After speaking, he turned around the spring and rockery, and walked towards the Tsukiyama Palace. The Milky Way is now in the sky, and the cool wind blowing from the sea is mixed with the sound of the tide.Ieyasu suddenly thought of Nobunaga.He must be preparing for the next expedition.When leaving Omi, Ieyasu heard the battle report saying that the Miyoshi Trio had already left Shikoku, quickly expanded to the vicinity of Ishiyama Honganji Temple, and began to build fortresses in that area.The next two years will be the fateful moment for Nobunaga.He will be able to pass all kinds of severe tests without incident.What should I do in the meantime... "My lord." A voice suddenly came from behind. "Ah, Zuo. You always surprise me." "The power of the Takeda family is about to infiltrate Yuanjiang." "Oh. Kai is gnashing his teeth with hatred because Nobunaga went to Beijing first." Honda Saemon came to sit next to Ieyasu: "Okazaki seems too small to stop Kai's army." Ieyasu didn't answer, he opened his chest and let the cool wind blow. "You can't take Kai lightly. They are different from the Asakura family in Echizen." When Honda mentioned this to Ieyasu alone, it showed that something must have happened. "Sakuzuo, do you mean to say that you want to send envoys to Uesugi's house in Echigo?" "Hehe." Zuo Zuo smiled, "Now that the lord knows, I won't say any more. That mountain monkey has eaten away the remaining territory of the Imagawa Clan, and it seems that it no longer has any worries, and is looking for the next prey." "understood." "Since that's the case, I won't talk about it. It's time to pour some cold water on him and make him sober." "The pines here are really special. It's a good city." "Yes, the cool breeze always makes people clear-headed. Isn't that right, my lord?" Zuo Zuoyu said sarcastically, and got up and went down the steps.Looking at his back, Ieyasu said to himself, "Weird guy, always talk too much." Thinking that Zuo Zuo's advice coincided with his own thoughts, he couldn't help smiling. In this Battle of Anegawa, half of the well-known generals Asai and Asakura were killed or injured. They either joined hands with the miyoshi trio from Shikoku, or colluded with monks from Honganji Temple and Mount Hiei to make the final struggle.But not enough to deal with the Oda Army.Therefore, they will definitely lobby Takeda Shingen of Kai for humanity. If Shingen Rendo joins their camp, then those fools in Yamato Castle, as well as Tsutsui and Matsunaga, will be shaken.Even General Yoshiaki would probably respect Takeda Shingen as the leader of the alliance, thus forming a big alliance against Oda. Shingenkai followed the road that Imagawa Yoshimoto had walked, entered Mikawa from Enjiang, passed Owari, and then entered the capital.The first thing he had to deal with was the Tokugawa family.Echigo must be contacted immediately.Echigo's Uesugi Kenshin is behind Takeda Shingen, and he is the only person who can contain Takeda Shingen.But who should be sent to the Uesugi family? Echigo and Okazaki have never had any contact, this messenger must be talented.Ieyasu stared up at Yinhe, considering the candidate. "Please use cold barley tea." A woman's voice drifted with the wind, like the chirping of golden bells. Ieyasu turned his head sharply. "A'ai?" He couldn't help holding his breath, "Did Zuo Zuo ask you to bring it here?" "Yes. He said that my lord is enjoying the shade alone, and maybe there will be some orders for my servants to come and serve you." A'ai gently handed the tea bowl to Jiakang, then knelt on the ground, her face extremely pale in the night. Ieyasu's gaze never left Ai.Just now, my mind was full of military strategy, but now I have turned back into a man and woman in the world, and I am beginning to face the troubles of the world.Ai is a woman.Moreover, tonight, Ieyasu has been thinking about this woman. Facing a man like herself, isn't Ah Ai so calm without the slightest fear?No, absolutely impossible.A woman who has lost her husband should know a man very well.So, is she eager to be favored by Jiakang?Is she that kind of woman? "A'ai...you must think I reprimanded you in the bathroom!" "This... the servant is too abrupt, disturbing the adults." "Have you ever wondered why I said that?" Ai suddenly didn't know how to answer.In the night, she stared straight at Ieyasu like a sculpture, motionless. "Why don't you answer? Let me ask you, do you know why I said that?" "This... slaves are dull by nature and can't figure it out." "Oh, you apologize to me without knowing why? Are you a casual woman who apologizes to people without asking why?" "No, if it wasn't for your lord, I wouldn't do it." A'ai replied simply. "Because I'm the lord, you're apologizing?" "Yes... no, not exactly." "Oh, interesting. Why not exactly? Let's hear it." "Your Excellency is a smart person who understands things. Since I was reprimanded, it must be that the servant's behavior was inappropriate or thoughtless... That's why I apologize to you." "I'm a smart person who understands things?" Ieyasu sensed the most unpleasant flattery from A'ai's words, and couldn't help but sarcastically said, "So, are you a woman who determines your attitude based on the character of the other party? If The other party is stupid, even if he is the boss, you will not serve him? If the husband is an old man, you will not take care of him wholeheartedly?" Ai fell silent again.Undoubtedly, Ieyasu's words were so unexpected that she kept silent. "Why don't you talk? You think I'm going to enjoy those naked flattery?" "No, it's not." "Why not? Tell me clearly." "I can't say it clearly, but I don't mean it flatteringly." "Oh. Then you're telling the truth. And I tell you the truth, I didn't mean to reprimand you." "Oh, my lord means—" "I said those words because of love and affection." After Ieyasu finished speaking, he swallowed heavily.How will Ai answer?Ieyasu's heart thumped, he was both surprised and delighted by this feeling. A'ai seemed a little surprised, and immediately straightened her posture.Because of pity... Ieyasu's inconceivable words caused waves in her heart.pity what?She was grateful for such affection for a woman who had lost her husband.But if there are other meanings—A'ai's mind is blank, full of fear.She did not forget Yisheng who died. If possible, she only hopes to bring up the two children and no longer consider marriage.But Ru Jiakang disagreed with her plan and said, "You'd better remarry." She might not be able to refuse.No matter who the object is, she can only agree to start a new family life with her new husband.The person Ieyasu chooses is probably more brave than the dead husband... If so, Ah Ai will try her best to love her new husband and serve him wholeheartedly.And then, her husband died in battle, and she once again tasted the pain of parting from life and death. Seeing that Ah Ai was trembling and at a loss, Jiakang said again: "Why don't you talk? Do you understand?" His voice became dignified, "How old are you?" "Nineteen." "Oh, nineteen... I thought you were over twenty. It's no wonder you're only nineteen." Ieyasu lowered his face and hurriedly emphasized, "My Matsudaira family will never forget the Xixiang family. I really I couldn't bear to let you rub my back yourself, so I said those words. Is it really only nineteen years old?" "Yes Yes." "How can a nineteen-year-old woman live alone. What a pity!" "My lord!" A'ai changed the topic nervously, "Please don't worry about me. A'ai is willing to serve you all his life. No matter what, A'ai is willing to do for you." "Whatever?" Ieyasu's voice became harsher. "Don't say that. There's only so much a woman can do. A woman should live like a woman." "If you put it this way, A'ai will never leave the city again." "Is this what you really mean?" "Yes. This is A'ai's lifelong wish." "If you're telling the truth, I have something to tell you." "Please tell... Aai must listen to the adults." "Just serve me by my side." "yes." "Listen, you come to me and bear me a baby. This is the most important thing to you." "Huh?" Ah Ai was suddenly at a loss.Could it be that Ieyasu understood him as being infatuated when he said he didn't want to remarry and would serve him all his life? "My lord! A'ai, I..." In the darkness, A'ai caressed her knee forgetfully. "Shut up!" Ieyasu reprimanded.He suddenly remembered those words of Honda Saemon, and couldn't help being surprised.There is nothing more irresponsible than saying that you love a woman verbally, and Ieyasu just said it. Ah Ai meets Jiakang's needs.But feelings are always one step ahead, inciting the lust in Ieyasu's heart.Come around to serve... Now that I have said this, even if it is a wrong decision, it is better than marrying A'ai to a strange man, and it can make me feel more at ease. "I still have something to say to you." "Yes Yes." "Didn't you just say that you want to serve me all your life? Are you insincere? You are just nineteen years old, and it is impossible to be a widow all your life. This is not in line with the will of the gods and Buddhas. I asked you to have a child for me. If you disobey, you will be the greatest Unfaithful. Raising the children left by Yoshikatsu and raising more children at the same time is the greatest mission entrusted to women by gods and Buddhas. Don’t you think I’m right? Your uncle Saemon Saki The clerk should still be there, call him over." Ieyasu said, suddenly wanted to laugh, but he knew it was not the time to laugh. The relationship between a man and a woman is not just an erotic friendship, it is also accompanied by the birth of a new life, which will leave a permanent mark on the world.Even after a hundred or a thousand years, this imprint still exists.In this sense, no matter how serious words are used, it is impossible to express the seriousness of this matter.Shocked by Ieyasu's words, A'ai remained silent.She could not imagine such a wonderful relationship between men and women. "Why don't you move? Go and call your uncle." "Yes..." Aai quietly stood up.She didn't fully understand Ieyasu's words as rough decisions and orders. Ah Ai is a woman who is soft on the outside and strong on the inside, but she is not angry with her strong heart.Ieyasu said that it is a woman's mission to raise Yisheng's children well and to have more and better children at the same time... She felt love and warmth from Ieyasu's words. Not long after, Ai came over with her uncle Saigo Saemon Zuo Qingyuan. "My lord, did you call me?" "Qingyuan, take A'ai as your adopted daughter." "What did my lord say?" "Take A'ai as your daughter, and send it to you temporarily. Take it home!" "Ah... did Aai do something wrong?" "Yes. It is a mistake to continue to let her serve people here. Keep her at home until I let her out. Treat her well." Saemon Sakiyo seemed still unable to understand, and lowered his head in thought.A'ai blushed and knelt beside her uncle.Honda was sitting on the rockery outside the courtyard on his left, snoring and dozing off.