Chapter 14 Chapter Fourteen

Calamus sat in his room, listening blankly to the sound of the gavel echoing among the green leaves. Tokugawa Ieyasu returned to Okazaki Castle at the end of April and worked day and night to repair the castle.In troubled times, no one knows what the meaning of the city is, only the sound of hammering and chiseling every day makes people feel heavy. "Ms. Calamus." A voice came from behind. "Oh." She turned her head, and saw the little attendant brought by De Ji standing in the corridor, holding a tray with twelve or three zongzi wrapped in bamboo leaves. "This is a gift from Madam."

"Ah, thank you very much." The lady rewarded the concubine with words after careful consideration by the little attendant. "I didn't see your maid. Eat quickly. I'll make you tea." Hearing what the little attendant said, Calamus did not refuse.She was only fifteen years old, and the maid was nearly twenty, and the difference in age made her feel oppressed. "It's probably very hard to repair the castle every day." The little attendant said while pouring tea slowly, "I heard that Lord Takeda Shingen of Kai really died in battle..." She looked at the calamus casually.

Calamus nodded blankly.She vaguely knew her position and role in this city.Although it has not been confirmed yet, the position of adoptive father is already in jeopardy, maybe... Calamus once thought of the worst outcome. "It is rumored," the little attendant continued while persuading Calamus to eat rice dumplings, "On the twelfth of April, Shingen died near Komaba in Shinano on the way back to Kofu...has he always been plagued by illness?" "Maybe." Calamus's face was obviously disturbed. "I think so too. So, my lord left Hamamatsu immediately and returned to Okazaki to repair the castle. Didn't you hear about the reduction of respect from the young master?"

"No." Calamus shook his head vigorously.It is true that she has never heard of Jiajing, but from Jiajing's flustered demeanor and behavior, she can guess what must have happened. "The young master seems to be very busy recently." "Yes, I discuss things with my father in the outer court every day." "You are all alone." The little attendant smiled cordially, "Madame is pregnant and has limited mobility, so let this servant greet you." "Yes... I will serve you with all my heart." "Do you like the young master?" "Yes... it is my duty to serve the young master."

"Serving people is the same, some people are willing, but some people are dissatisfied. The little servant has felt a lot about this recently, probably because it is too hard." After the little servant finished speaking, his eyes suddenly softened and he sighed. This little attendant is the maid selected by the Oda family to be next to De Ji.She always tried every means to seek harmony between Tokuji and Tokugawa's family, so that they would not be against each other as much as possible.But this harmony has recently been hit.She even started to hate Shinyasu and Mrs. Tsukiyama, and was very sad about it.Why is this so?Probably the love hidden deep in her heart was finally expressed in an incredible way.In other words, the little attendant quietly fell in love with Xinkang.Seeing the intoxicated look of Deji being held in Xinkang's arms, the little attendant's heart seemed to melt.

But it is completely different for calamus.Seeing Xinkang holding calamus, she felt hatred in her heart, she hated the two of them.But hate doesn't solve the problem.And Xinkang seemed to feel the hatred from the little attendant, and began to distance himself from Deji.Seeing that Deji was getting haggard day by day, the little attendant couldn't bear it anymore. "I have something to ask you, little servant." The little servant said to Changpu. "What...so solemn..." "Madam is pregnant, so she cannot share the bed with the young master." "Oh."

"However, she needs to see the young master often and see the father of the child... It is best for the fetus to feel at ease." "yes." "If you don't mind, please let me meet the young master." Calamus stared blankly at the little attendant and nodded.She probably wanted to ask the young master to go to Mrs. Deji.That being the case, introduce it to her. "Madam often stares blankly at the sky. At that time, as a maid serving her, I really... want to cry." Calamus nodded again.Seeing the tears flashing in the eyes of the stronger little attendant, she finally shed tears too.At this time, footsteps sounded behind him.The partition was pulled open abruptly: "Calamus!"

It's Xinkang!Seeing the little attendant in the room, Xinkang stopped in surprise.He looked at the faces of the two of them, and then turned his attention to the tea bowl and rice dumpling. "Excuse me. Since the young master is here, the slave will leave." The servant turned his head and stood up.She cried, and Acorus burst into tears.Xinkang felt a little weird. "Calamus, what's the matter with you? What did the little servant do?" Calamus raised his head abruptly.Her expression was subtle, coquettish and sad.Seeing her tenderness, Xinkang couldn't help but look in the direction where the little attendant left. "Why don't you talk? What is she doing here?"

"It's Madam... let her deliver the zongzi." Xinkang sat down cross-legged, put his arm around the calamus, picked up the zongzi on the plate with his other hand, and held it up high. "There's nothing special about this zongzi. Why are you crying? Let's hear it." "Young master, please take some time to visit Deji's." "Did the little servant say that?" "Yes... yes. This is also Calamus' request." Xinkang threw the zongzi into the yard violently, and his eagle-like eyes radiated a frightening light. No one knows to what extent the two young and vigorous people can communicate with each other.But more often than not, they misunderstand each other. "Calamus! I, Xinkang, hate being judged by others."

"..." "I quarreled with my father today about the rice warehouse and the money warehouse. My father said that the coins should be placed vertically. When he saw me laying them horizontally, he scolded me instead of criticizing Yashiro Ohga. The same is true about the rice warehouse. I ordered Yashiro Ohgami to arrange the rice in such a way that the amount of rice can be seen at any time... I didn't expect my father to ask me how many grains there are in the rice warehouse. I was angry and said I didn't know, so I came back. I even dared to contradict my father , but you came to support me!" Xinkang said indignantly while putting one hand on Calamus' shoulder.

Calamus became even more sad: "The concubine... how could she instigate the young master, the concubine is just the young master's servant." "Then, did the little attendant tell you to say that? Who would listen to that woman's orders... I was going to see Deji today, but now I decided not to go." "If that's the case... Calamus is even more difficult." "Don't worry. With me by your side... That meddling bastard must have said something else. I've heard something from Ohgami Shiro and your father. Tell me everything you heard. I." "yes." At this moment, Calamus couldn't hear Xinkang's words clearly, and being held tightly in Xinkang's arms, a sweet feeling swept over her body, and her consciousness gradually became blurred, "This... the little attendant asked me if I knew Kai Lord Takeda Shingen has died in battle." Xinkang looked at the calamus in surprise, kissed her hot cheek lightly, and said excitedly to himself: "Hmph! Yashiro is right, you bastard, servant!" "What did Yashiro say?" Calamus closed her eyes gently, she didn't even know how she said those words.As long as she thinks of Xinkang's eyes staring at her, she will involuntarily reveal her charm. Xinkang was still kissing her face roughly. "It is said that the little attendant is a woman who makes things out of nothing and tells stories." "Little servant?" "Yes. She probably wants me and you... No, it's an attempt to create a gap between you and your wife." "No...no, Calamus will never leave the young master half a step away." "I know! How could I be deceived by a bastard like the little servant. She even said that my mother and your father colluded with the Takeda family, and Yashiro Ohgami was also involved, and specially sent you to separate me and my wife. If she is not Mrs. The maid I brought over from Owari, I killed her a long time ago." Calamus didn't answer, but snuggled into Xinkang's arms even more frightened.As soon as Xinkang finished speaking, a voice suddenly came: "Young master! Where is the young master?" It was Pingyan Qinji. Xinkang let go of the calamus helplessly, strode to the corridor, and asked loudly, "What happened?" Qin Ji, dressed in a battle uniform, hurried over from the courtyard.His brow was covered with sweat, and he was furious: "Young master, what's going on?" "What's going on?" Xinkang asked, "I'm not a child, and I won't get lost in my own city. Don't shout loudly." "My lord, why did you make my lord angry? You contradict your father, what face do I have?" Xinkang laughed: "It's my father's nature to get angry easily, but it's Xinkang's personality to hate being reprimanded by others. Don't worry about it!" "Your words are so unreasonable. What is the purpose of repairing the city today? Fearing that the city guarded by the young master will be unsustainable due to accidents, the lord put aside other things to repair Okazaki, and he has not rested until now. Does the young master not understand the lord? A painstaking effort?" "You bastard! My city is also my father's city. How can you say that it is only for me to repair? Why are you so confused?" Qinji ignored Xinkang's sarcasm, and urged: "You go over quickly. If the lord knows that you are messing around here, he will be even angrier. Hurry up—" "Hmph, queerness! Let him go to—" While talking, a voice suddenly came from under the pine tree next to the corridor: "There is no need to go there." It's Ieyasu.He strode over, his eyes dimly shining.It was an expression that the retainers had never seen before, rage, sorrow, introspection and search, all intertwined in a complicated way. "Sanlang!" His voice was hoarse. "Father?" "I'm not angry. Come here." Xinkang stood in front of his father with a tense face.There was a creaking sound in Ieyasu's mouth, I don't know if it was the sound of gnashing of teeth, or a helpless click of the tongue.Suddenly, he stretched out his hand and grabbed the muscles on Xinkang's cheek: "Sanlang!" Xinkang stared at his father with protesting eyes. "You've grown up! Even taller than me..." Ieyasu said, his eyebrows raised, and the corners of his mouth twitched violently.Pingyan Qinji was suddenly uneasy.He understands that his love and disappointment for his son has made Ieyasu furious, and he is looking for a breakthrough to vent. "Saburo...you are the heir of the Tokugawa clan, do you understand?" "clear." Sweat dripped from Ieyasu's forehead, and his lips trembled violently: "As a father, I will not praise you with words. The love for you in my heart can only be expressed in case." "Besides, I told you about my treacherous life path before, because I was worried whether you could endure the wind and waves like me." Jiakang was filled with grief and anger, almost wanting to cry but not crying.Xinkang couldn't help lowering his eyelids.Ieyasu's gaze suddenly turned to the calamus next to him, and he let go of the trembling hands that grabbed Xinkang's cheeks. "You are my son's concubine?" Iris, who had been shivering by the side and didn't know what to do, put her hands on the floor and replied, "Yes." Her voice was as thin as a mosquito. "You seem to be a docile woman. Saburo is headstrong, take good care of him for me." "yes." "Also, I finally got here, and I want to meet other people. You go and ask Mrs. Saburo to come over." "yes." "Sanlang, serve boiled water." "Yes." Xin Kang replied, wiped the corners of his eyes with his fist in a panic, and ordered the servants. Ieyasu stared at the green leaves outside, and slowly sat down on the corridor: "Dear Kyrgyzstan." "exist." "You guys are jealous of me, so you let Saburo go. Don't be polite when it's time to reprimand you." After Ieyasu finished speaking, he let out a long sigh.At this time, De Ji hurried over.She has a big belly, and her cheeks under the green leaves are as pale as paper. "Oh, Tokuhime." Ieyasu finally showed a smile on his face, "That's great. I hope the child in your belly can become the next Takechiyo." De Ji leaned down in the corridor with difficulty: "Father's complexion is still so good, my daughter-in-law is very pleased." "The polite words will be avoided. I'm very busy and haven't been to the inner court for a long time. But Saburo has done his utmost filial piety now." Xinkang, who returned to his seat, quietly looked outside, biting his lips.Father is father after all...Xinkang's sensitive temperament was overwhelmed by something unspeakable, and he turned back to a pure boy unconsciously. Calamus came in with tea, and she placed it in front of Jiakang tremblingly, then retreated to sit under Xinkang. Ieyasu put the tea bowl in his palm, fiddled with it slowly, looked at the calamus calmly, and said: "Madam has come, she represents the inner court, you can step back. Deji, come here." The little attendant sitting behind De Ji looked at Ieyasu with relief, but no one noticed her.Calamus hurriedly retreated to the next room.With the support of her little attendant, Deji quietly sat down side by side with Xinkang.Ieyasu narrowed his eyes and continued drinking his tea: "Sanlang." "Father." "Whether it's the wife or the concubine, it's fine." "Yes Yes." "In this world of frequent wars, meeting is the beginning of parting. I'll say it again: in this world, the most important thing is the retainer." Xinkang took one hand from his knee and nodded. "You can't accomplish anything by yourself. This is my thirty-two years of life experience. Saburo." "yes." "The retainer is the family treasure, my teacher, and my shadow, do you understand?" Xinkang nodded slightly, but he still can't understand this kind of words. "You must never treat your retainers roughly." "yes." "Take them as your mentors and listen to their advice; if they have deficiencies, you should regard them as your own deficiencies, and then reflect on them." Ieyasu put down the tea bowl in his hand and continued, "Thanks to you, today I finally met Deji. Deji, you are in charge of the inner court, and you have full authority to handle matters here." "Daughter-in-law remembers." "Women can shine the light of tenderness on this world. Oh, I've been sitting for too long. Saburo, Shinkichi, let's go." Ieyasu stood up, Xinkang hurriedly put on his heels, and the women came out together, bowing their heads.Ieyasu went straight without looking back. Ieyasu's affection for Xinkang and his retainers deeply moved the little attendant.After Ieyasu left, the little attendant turned around and urged De Ji, "Please tell Mrs. Calamus." De Ji seemed to stand up, and softly called "Calamus", with slightly twisted lips.Strong jealousy gradually sprouted in De Ji's heart, and even his voice trembled a little: "What my father-in-law said just now must not be ignored." Rather than saying this to Calamus, it would be better to say it to himself.Calamus knelt on the ground docilely, looked at De Ji: "I will definitely obey the instruction." "Serve the young master well every day." "yes." "Little attendant, come here, the baby in my belly has started to move again." The little attendant came over and grabbed De Ji's hands.Ieyasu's words remained in her heart for a long time.In her opinion, Mrs. Tsukiyama and Mrs. Nohime of the Oda family cannot be compared at all, and even Xinyasu is not worth relying on.But the Ieyasu she saw today was so tall, she wanted to confide all her heart to him. Back in the room, the little attendant asked Deji to lean on the armchair, with piercing eyes, and said: "Miss, women also have wars with women." "What did you say?" "The servant wants to see the lord." "Didn't I see it just now... Is there something you forgot to say?" The little attendant did not answer directly: "If this continues, the Tokugawa family is in danger. If the Tokugawa family is in danger, then the lady and the child in your womb will all face misfortune. For the safety of the Tokugawa family, even if the little attendant sacrifices his life , I will not hesitate." She looked stern. "What happened to you?" "After listening to what the lord said, the little attendant understands the destination of life." "why?" "Your Excellency will definitely be able to move the retainers, I think he can capture the hearts of the retainers..." As he was talking, the little attendant suddenly felt his face burning, so he quickly stopped talking. "Give your life to Deji." When the little attendant was sent by the Oda family, Mrs. Nong had told her this way, and now she has found another destination of life.Now she wanted to say too much to Ieyasu-sama, but she didn't know where to start.Mrs. Tsukiyama is so absurd, Ogami Yashiro is insidious and cunning, Kakyo colludes with his daughter Ayame, and childish Xinyasu, because he listened to the slander and drove De Ji into the abyss of pain... "Miss, I want to see my lord again. This is a reward for his consideration for his retainers." Deji didn't understand the meaning of the little servant's words.She just felt that the more the little attendant planned for her, the more she was hated and hated by Xinkang. "I am very grateful for your kindness. But don't hurt the young master's feelings because of trivial things." "Slaves will be careful." "I've thought about it. As long as I give birth to someone who can inherit the Tokugawa family business. Iris is just a maid, and I won't be jealous of her. Don't worry." The little attendant smiled and nodded.As long as an heir is born, what a sad statement.The little attendant is not so innocent and childish.Deji's child is not necessarily a boy, and Calamus may also be pregnant. In fact, the little attendant was even more afraid of the storm before that.Now that the clutches of the Takeda family have penetrated into Okazaki Castle, there is no guarantee that the tragedy of father and son killing each other will not happen.If one is not careful, the young couple Xinkang and Deji may become the best tools for people with various ambitions.There is a force constantly manipulating them behind the scenes.That is the ambition of Nobunaga and Ieyasu to calm down the world. Who can guarantee that others will not become sacrifices to their personal ambitions?This was enough to make the little attendant tremble with fear, but he didn't expect to have two more claws now.She felt indescribably angry. Deji leaned on the armchair, squinted her eyes, quietly looking at the green leaves outside. "Recently, Sister Agui came to my place, and she was crying." "When did this happen?" "When you went down town to buy needlework." "Oh, what's the matter with her?" "I heard that my father-in-law has arranged a marriage for her." "Ah, so that's the case. However, Miss A Gui has also reached the age of marriage. Who is the other party?" "It is said that it is the Ouping family of the lord of Zuoshu City, but I don't know if it is an enemy or a friend...Little attendant, compared with Agui, I am still happy." "That's right. In that case, she will be completely a hostage... Women are really miserable." The little attendant responded secretly while secretly making up his mind to meet Mr. Ieyasu.In order to consolidate his territory, Ieyasu, who even gave his daughter to others, has already burned a raging fire under his feet. "Miss, please rest for a while." "No, let me lean in. Every time the hammer chiseled, the fetus moved in his stomach. He must be happy to change his old look." A soft breeze blew in from the open porch.