Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve

In the first year of Yonglu (1558), the cherry blossoms had begun to wither, but Yingying was everywhere.That was not the immature voice of early spring, but a tactful and melodious singing that flowed into the ears of all the generals like a clear spring. This is the garden of Sunpu Castle.Imagawa Yoshimoto's son, Shizhen, and Nakayumon Xuangang, who came from the capital, were in full swing, and the generals watched with great interest.Yoshimoto himself made an exception and put up a curtain under the corridor, laid out a carpet, and admired it with great interest. The sun was blazing, and the summit of Mt. Fuji glistened under the snow.Afterwards, there should be a wine-giving ceremony, which was mixed with the singing of Lanying, which seemed a little strange.Yiyuan's obese body leaned lightly on the support table. He was dressed in a Kyoto-style attire and had his eyebrows drawn. He was not so much admiring Cuju as he was observing the expressions of the generals.He imagined that he would soon go to the capital to develop this kind of game with a long history, and the time had come.It has been too long to wait from Yoshiwon's grandfather to father.

Odawara's Hojo and Kai's Takeda, these allies who are related to him, still can't reassure him.When Yiyuan was worried about entering Beijing, they attacked him from behind.He was most worried about Takeda Harunobu.Although Yoshimoto married Harunobu's older sister and put his father-in-law under house arrest in Junfu, he knew very well that Harunobu also wanted to go to Beijing; as a result, sooner or later they would inevitably fight.It's just that Harunobu is still suppressing his ambition, because he and Echigo's Uesugi Kagetora are at loggerheads. Now is the opportunity!Yoshimoto has begun to carefully consider the time of departure.

He casually glanced at the important ministers who were kicking with Sekiguchi, Okabe, Ohara, etc., and finally rested his eyes on Matsudaira Jiro Saburo's face.Matsudaira Jiro Saburo Motonobu finished sweeping the grave when he was fifteen years old. After returning to Okazaki, he changed his name to Motoyasu.The reason is that he found that Yoshimoto seemed to have the same word for "Xin" in Yuan Xin and Oda Nobunaga's "Xin", and he always had a grudge. Yiyuan suddenly remembered something, and he quickly left his seat.In order not to disappoint everyone, he brought only a personal attendant and disappeared into the curtain without making a sound.Through the corridor next to the castle tower, he returned to the bedroom.The song of the warbler can also be heard here.Peach blossoms are in full bloom under the eaves.At the door, a woman was sitting there with a little girl in her arms.

"Oh, Ah He, I kept you waiting." Yiyuan bent down and touched the three-year-old girl's head with his hand. This woman is his niece, Sena Hime, the daughter of the Sekiguchi Criminal Department who is married to Matsudaira Motoyasu.Hearing her uncle calling her, Hime Sena saluted politely.She brought Yuankang's daughter Agui, who was pregnant with another child of Yuankang and was about to give birth. She no longer has the demeanor of a young girl in the past, she looks like an out-and-out woman.She is six years older than Yuan Kang, and is already twenty-four years old.

Yoshimoto swayed his fat body and leaned on the support table. "I didn't ask you here for anything else..." He looked at Sena Ji's white skin, "I want to ask you about Yuan Kang." "Yuan Kang?" "I heard that Nobunaga from Owari was going to Beijing in early February. He probably wanted to teach that General Yoshiki, who is known as the 'Miyoshi', a lesson. Although that kid won't succeed, it's time for me to go to Beijing." Seina Hime nodded slightly. "So I have to think about some things. How is the relationship between Yuan Kang and your mother and daughter?"

Sena Hime quietly covered her swollen belly with her sleeve. "This time Yuankang wants a son, and I'm praying too." "Haha... you mean, very harmonious?" "Thank you for your concern..." "Okay." Yiyuan nodded slightly, and then said seriously, "I'm hesitating whether I should let Yuan Kang be the striker when I go to Beijing." "Does Yuankang have any ideas?" "You must not be careless." Yoshimoto's eyes moved from Sena Hime's face to her abdomen, "You are older than Yuan Yasushi, I shouldn't have said these words, but I still heard that someone in Yuan Yasushi's family was secretly with the Oda family. Collusion. After Yuan Kang was appointed as a striker, if he was manipulated by his retainers to cruelly abandon your mother and daughter and fall to Owari, it would jeopardize my plan to enter Beijing."

Sena Hime smiled and shook her head, "I don't think there is anything to worry about." "Have you firmly grasped Yuan Kang's heart?" "I said I couldn't stand my husband having a concubine, so Yuan Kang..." "Oh? If you have that kind of self-confidence, you shouldn't have to worry about it." "If you have any doubts, you might as well test Yuan Kang's heart before going to Beijing." "Yeah." Yoshimoto was inspired by his confident niece.The troublesome Oda Nobunaga often comes to harass the frontiers of Kasaji, Nakane, and Odaka.It's better to let Yuan Kang fight with him nearby. In this way, we can not only see his mind, but also observe his tactics of using troops.

"Ahe is Yuan Yasushi's wife and your lord's niece." Sena Hime was also dissatisfied with her husband's suspicion.It is impossible for Yuan Kang to abandon his wife and daughter and go to the Oda clan.Besides, he would have another child soon, and he should have fully felt the honor and dignity of marrying Yoshimoto's niece. "That's up to you. Hugh has to tell Yuan Kang what happened today." "yes." "Go to the inner courtyard and get some Kyoto snacks for the child. I have to go outside." He stood up unsteadily, staggering a bit.

"My lord, be careful." Sena Hime hurried forward to support Yoshimoto.Yiyuan leaned on her hand, with a very serious expression, and said after a while: "You have to understand Yuankang's mind. You are older than him, so you should pay special attention to your words and deeds." "yes." "Don't always use the tone of teaching. It's better for women to be docile." Seina Hime smiled and nodded.In this sense, she is definitely a good wife and does not need to be reminded. After Yoshimoto left, Senahime didn't go to the inner courtyard, but took Agui's hand and went straight out of the gate.Thinking that Yuan Kang's first expedition was finally decided, she was very happy.No matter for Yuan Kang or Sena Hime, Yuan Kang was never allowed to command his retainers before the age of eighteen, which cannot but be said to be a kind of humiliation.This is not because he is incompetent, but because he is not trusted.Now that they decided to go to Beijing, apart from the Okazaki people, they probably couldn't find a more suitable person to contain Owari's army.

Seina Hime intends to tell her husband Yuan Yasu unreservedly about the conversation with her uncle.Of course, the first battle will probably take place on the border between Mikawa and Owari.She hoped that her husband would defeat the Owari army there, so that people would praise him as worthy of being the grandson of Matsudaira Kiyoyasu and the son-in-law of Sekiguchi Kiyonaga.She is Yoshimoto's niece and Yuan Kang's wife.The way to be a wife is to consider her husband wholeheartedly.She wanted Yuan Kang to make up his mind early. Yuan Kang respects his wife's opinion very much.Although Sena Ji's aggressiveness often made him unable to disobey. "It's just for your consideration..." Whenever Sena Hime said this, the eighteen-year-old Yuan Yasushi would always nod his head maturely.

"Look, Agui, Huang Ying and Hua, your father's spring is finally here." Sena Hime handed Agui into the arms of the nurse, walked out of the gate with her, and then strolled under the flowers in a happy mood.The game outside seemed to be over, and the sound of flute and snare drum came. "When will your lord come back?" Hime Sena didn't want Yuan Kang to leave her for a moment.Although fate is a wonderful thing, when you think about it carefully, it's really incredible. At first she just wanted to tease Takechiyo.Because of an accidental opportunity, I became attached to him and was completely attracted by him.For Yuankang, she even visited Shizhen the day before the wedding, and was insulted by Shizhen in every possible way.When she found out that she was pregnant with Agui, Sena Ji suddenly felt embarrassed and felt that the days had become dark.She always felt that they were not Yuan Kang's offspring, but more like Shizhen's children. Now, that anxiety has completely disappeared, and she has finally started a stable life with peace of mind.She has no qualms about her husband being younger than herself.She was not ashamed of all the rumors before she married Yuan Kang.As long as she thinks of the word "husband", she feels extremely tender.Probably because of the difficult situation, Yuan Kang needed her very much, and Sena Hime also felt that if she was not by her husband's side, she would not be able to sleep peacefully.They are harmonious as husband and wife and are expecting a second child soon.There is no doubt that this child belongs to Yuan Kang, and she no longer worries about it.Sena Hime and the wet nurse happily turned around the stables and exited the west gate.The sun was shining brightly on the embankment, the cherry blossoms were half-opened and half-closed, and the grass beside the moat was thick green. "Nurse, you also hope it's a boy this time?" "That's right, everyone will be so happy if you give birth to a son." "He will definitely inherit the Matsudaira family's great cause in the future, so I will call him Takechiyo by your adult's baby name. Come and pray!" "Of course." Hime Sena reached out and picked a cherry blossom, and put it in Agui's palm. "In today's world, I am afraid that only Junfu can see women traveling. Other places are suffering from thieves and wars. It is our happiness to live here." The nurse didn't answer.She is the wife of Katada Yoshiroku, a native of Okazaki, who spends her days trying to figure out when she will be able to return to Okazaki Castle.When they returned to Major General Gong Yuankang's residence, it was already the last hour.The sun was shining brightly, but the courtyard of this residence was not decorated with spring flowers and trees.Among the tea and pear trees that have sprouted green buds, Sakai Yalesuke is concentrating on sowing early rice seeds. Senahime returned to the bedroom and immediately called Garasuke. "Has your lord come back yet?" Gale Assistant rubbed his hands on his muddy knees and smiled ambiguously.In his eyes, Senahime is always so devoted, and the word "adult" never leaves his mouth.Although the harmony between husband and wife is understandable, Mrs. Suruga doesn't seem to have yearning and nostalgia for Okazaki.He even felt that Mrs. Suruga was preventing Yuanyasu from returning to Okazaki. "I heard you went to Imagawa-sama's place?" Galesuke deftly changed the topic, looking at Hime Sena. "There are some things that I have to tell my lord. Why don't I tell you too." Seina Hime smiled like a little girl, full of charm.She didn't care about Yalezhu's bitter expression at all. "Imagawa-sama asked me not to tell my lord. But how can I hide it from my lord? My lord is a part of my life." "You mean..." "It's a good thing for the adults. He can finally go out." "Expedition?" "Ya Lezhu, I can't go out with the adults, can I?" Ya Lezhu frowned tightly, but didn't answer. "Because it's the first expedition, the time won't be very long. However, at the border between Owari and Shunfu... How many days will it take? I can't bear to stay here for too long." Hime Sena seemed to be mocking Gaarasuke dull. "Really?" Galesuke ignored Sena Hime and replied casually, "If it's at the border of Owari, maybe it's a year, maybe two years, maybe never come back." "Alexa!" "exist!" "Why do you say such inauspicious words?" "Because Madam is not serious, I'm just joking." "It's not serious, but I'm telling the truth. I heard that the day of the first expedition is coming, and I won't hide it from you. You should understand my thoughts." "But, ma'am, you can't simply be happy about this kind of thing." "why?" "Because the opponent is Oda Nobunaga, he has quelled the family turmoil and unified Owari, and now he is gaining momentum." "Are you saying you can't win easily?" "The lord has never commanded a single soldier before the age of eighteen, and the opponent has experienced many battles since the first battle at the age of thirteen, even the veteran is inferior. Do you think we can easily triumph?" Hearing Garasuke's stern tone, Hime Sena was clearly unhappy. "Isn't it your responsibility to help the adults triumph in the first battle? If you are so discouraged from the beginning, how can you fight? Well, you can retire." Yalezhu left unceremoniously.He was extremely worried and very unhappy. There was a world of difference between Mrs. Suruga and Yuan Kang's biological mother, Yu Da.This is the difference between Junfu women and Sanhe women.Sanhe women follow the rules and have a stoic personality, while Junfu women are superficial and vain.Sena Hime always overexpresses her attachment to Yuan Yasushi. She always thinks that the stable and comfortable life in front of her can continue forever.But Yuan Kang didn't take it seriously.He obeyed Mrs. Suruga, and sometimes even sat with his legs crossed, his ears pricked up, listening to Mrs. Suruga's nagging, while thinking blankly. As soon as Yalesuke returned to the field, he picked up the straw that held the rice seeds, and saw Yuan Yasuke walking over with a relaxed expression on his face, accompanied by his bodyguard, Hiraiwa Nananosuke.He came behind Yale Assistant and stopped.Yalezhu kept quiet on purpose.Mrs. Suruga will tell Moto Yasushi immediately what she heard from Yoshimoto.How will the young protagonist react to this? "Ya Le Zhu." Yuan Kang had no choice but to greet him. "Oh, you're back." Ya Lezhu raised his head.The afternoon sun cast the shadows of the pine trees on the black earth that had just been dug.Yuan Kang's face looked very weak under the reflection of the black soil and pine shadows. "Cuju is such an interesting activity. Have you watched it?" "No. I don't want to see it either." "Why? That's a matter of elegance." "I am a person who has nothing to do with elegance, and I have no interest in those things." "Senior," Yuan Kang couldn't help but exchanged glances with Hiraiwa Nananosuke, "You are really stubborn. I was discussing this matter with Nananosuke just now. It was exactly as I expected." Ya Lezhu just looked at Yuan Kang and didn't answer. "It's not surprising. Yuan Kang is eighteen years old. It has been twelve years since he was a hostage at the age of six. Besides, I don't know when he will be able to return to Okazaki Castle." Yuan Kang stopped for a while, Fang said , "I am now thinking about how to welcome the summer after spring in a comfortable mood. The power of nature is infinite. The yellow warbler made a melodious cry in the forest in the city today. But nature will not let the warbler always be able to Sing softly. Do you think so, senior?" "yes." "You said you didn't have the opportunity to appreciate cuju full of Kyoto flavor?" "yes." "I don't think so. I've been thinking, I hope one day I can easily perform cuju for you in the sunny courtyard." After Yuan Yasu finished speaking, he urged Hirayan Nananosuke to enter the gate. Ya Lezhu's eyes were burning with anger, looking at Yuan Kang's back.Let everything go with the flow and wait for the right time - although he could understand Yuan Kang's thoughts, he was still very angry.Yuan Kang's grandfather, Qing Kang, was known as the number one warrior in the world.I think back then how powerful Qingkang was.But the hero's grandson has reached the age of eighteen, but he still has nothing to do.People are like swords, they will rust if they are not used for a long time.Apart from going to the city to watch performances every day, and snuggling up to Madam Suruga's lap when he came back, Yasuke worried that Moto Yasushi, whom the Okazaki people regarded as the light of hope, would turn into a rusty, blunt knife. Hiraiwa Nananosuke yelled "Master, return home" loudly at the gate.In fact, not many soldiers came to greet them. Yalezhu suddenly lowered his eyelids and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Moto Yasushi was greeted by Torii Mototada, Ishikawa and Shichiro, and walked up the steps of the lobby. The immature children who accompanied the six-year-old Yuan Yasushi to leave Okazaki Castle have now grown into brave young warriors.Not to mention these young samurai, even old people such as Garasuke, Okubo, Torii, Ishikawa, Amano, Hiraiwa, etc., are also full of enthusiasm and forbearance.But they have a lot of dissatisfaction with Yuan Kang's lack of haste.Yuan Kang had no choice but to pretend to be confused, and simply integrated himself into the trivial daily life.In spring, he appreciates the voice of the oriole; in summer, he listens to the chirping of cicadas. He wants to appreciate the vast realm in the natural flow. He stepped up the steps, nodded casually to everyone, and said, "Thank you." Then he walked directly to the inner room.Seina Hime had already been waiting at the door of the inner room, her eyes were shining brightly. Sena Hime has been pregnant for a long time and will give birth at any time. If the world is safe, of course a delivery room should be built for Sena Hime to live in, but the delivery room has not been built. "It's so pitiful!" Today, Senahime in Yuan Kang's eyes is particularly pitiful.She seems to be able to do whatever she wants, but in fact she is just a bird of prey.After the death of Zen Master Xuezhai of Linji Temple, the spring of Junfu has passed away.Today's Sena Hime is nothing more than a victim without freedom.She is just a toy Yoshimoto gave Yuan Yasu in order to keep Okazaki's heart.As long as the time is right, the owner of this toy will lead his retainers to the battlefield.At that time, I probably won't have the leisure to pay attention to the sad and poor her. "If you don't have the determination and courage to abandon your wife and children..." The knot left by Zen Master Xuezhai is just to ask him whether he should choose his wife and children in an emergency, or choose the Okazaki people who have been waiting for him for more than ten years ?There are too many families in Okazaki. Generations of people have dedicated their lives to Matsudaira, sacrificing their grandfathers, fathers, husbands, brothers, and enduring unspeakable bitterness.Yuan Kang never thought of abandoning them to maintain the safety and comfort of his wife, children and himself.The question left by Zen Master Xuezhai is now very clear in Yuan Kang's mind.He felt even more pitiful for Sena Hime. "You're back." As usual, Sena Hime greeted her excitedly into the corridor.She stretched out her hands to take Yuan Kang's knife, and her bright red nails were exposed in her sleeves.Sena Hime, who was about to give birth, had an unusual brilliance in her eyes, making her look very charming.The beauty of women varies with age.Compared with young girls, young women are more charming; and after giving birth to children, women will add another kind of beauty.But when the whole of a woman's life is to please her husband, she will soon meddle in his life, and even try to dictate to him. "My lord, hurry up, I heard important news." Sena Hime said to Yuan Yasushi.When Yuan Kang came to the room, the maids retreated one after another.They knew that Sena Hime didn't like anyone approaching the two-person world of herself and her husband. There are purple rhododendrons brought from nowhere in the alcove, which add vitality and brilliance to the room, and agarwood is also placed in the incense burner.Sena Hime put her husband's sword on the stand and sat down. "My lord!" Sena Hime put her hands on Yuan Kang's lap, "After your lord left, Imagawa-sama sent an envoy." "What's the matter?" "Come to me. The messenger said that Lord Imagawa wanted to see Agui, so I took Agui there." "Oh, Imagawa-sama, do you really want to see Agui?..." "That's just an excuse. In fact, he wants to ask how you treat me." Yuan Kang looked at Sena Hime.There seems to be no age difference between the twenty-four-year-old Sena Hime and the eighteen-year-old Yuan Yasu. "My lord, hold me tighter. Sena is loved by her husband. Sena is a happy woman... I will answer Yoshimoto-sama like this. Am I right, my lord?" Yuan Kang nodded solemnly, and hugged Senahime obediently, "Why do you ask such a question?" "Because I'm going to Beijing soon. Master Yoshimoto said that you will lead the Okazaki people to Beijing with him... Sena felt very sad when he heard the news... How long will I have to wait after you leave?" "..." "Master Yoshimoto said that he was worried about you as the vanguard, worried that you would go to the Oda clan on the battlefield and abandon me, my daughter and the fetus in my womb..." Yuan Kang frowned slightly, staring at Senahime, "How did Madam answer?" "I said it would never happen." "A sure answer?" "Yes. I said, if you doubt it, you can test your loyalty before going to Beijing." A stone fell to the ground in Yuan Kang's heart, nodded, and thought to himself: "You must not be careless! I never thought that I would make Imakawa Yoshimoto so fearful and suspicious." "My lord, are you unhappy?" Sena shook Yuan Yasushi's body excitedly, "I know that my lord is eagerly looking forward to this day, so I beg Master Yi Yuan to give you a chance, even if I have to stay here In the face of unbearable loneliness and bitterness, you should still be given a chance. Lord Yoshimoto agreed." "Oh, nice." "My lord, am I coping well?" "Okay, okay." Yuan Kang hugged Sena Hime who was nestled in his arms, and couldn't help feeling a warmth in his chest. Finally, the day came when the living doll cried... He also felt a little helpless.Sena Ji was unaware of all this, she looked away blankly, her eyes looked pitiful.