Chapter 31 Chapter Thirty-One

Ieyasu Matsudaira returned to his bedroom in Honjo and sat silently. Today, he feels more deeply the complexity of the relationship between husband and wife.Before that, he had always believed that men and women were just opposites.He originally thought that standing in this position would be enough to deal with the relationship between husband and wife, but Sena Hime completely overturned his thinking today.The relationship between a man and a woman seems to be completely different from the relationship between husband and wife. Problems that can be easily resolved between men and women are like serious illnesses when it comes to couples.If that resistance was rational and well-founded, Ieyasu could have persuaded her or accepted her accusations.But her resistance was just a momentary emotional impulse, neither rational reflection nor humility, she just barked her teeth and claws like a madman.Could it be that for the wife, all this resented her more than being conquered by the body, so that she couldn't help but rise up to resist?Ieyasu felt that it was necessary to re-examine the stumbling relationship between him and Sena Hime.Perhaps it was the long-term disagreement that led to today's outbreak.

The growth paths of Ieyasu and Senahime are completely different. What Senahime hopes for and what Ieyasu expects seem to be somewhat irrelevant.Ieyasu is getting more and more used to contacting the world to gain insight into the world, but Sena Hime is still obsessed with personal happiness.If she can get what she wants, that's fine; but what she pursues is a castle in the air, and according to her personality, it's impossible to laugh it off. As far as Ieyasu is concerned, if the world is peaceful, he will not be in a hurry to make a marriage contract for a child who is only four or five years old.But the reality is too cruel.Although there will be a brief period of peace before the next crisis arrives, crises are inevitable.He needed Sena Hime to understand all this, but she simply ignored it.Ieyasu gradually discovered that as a samurai, he no longer had the energy and time to persuade a woman who was unwilling to understand all this.

Thinking of how he had worked so hard to rescue her from Junfu, and built a new house for their mother and son, Ieyasu felt that the anger in his heart was burning more and more, and he could no longer calm down.If she is another woman, you might as well laugh it off and let her stay away, but she is his wife after all, and she is Takechiyo's mother. There were still some retainers who did not leave, and their hearty chatter and laughter came from the big academy.They understand Ieyasu, and they are all happy to publicly part ways with the Imagawa family.Ieyasu sighed and couldn't think about it anymore.At least tonight, he will forget all the unhappiness and have fun with them.

Ieyasu said to Xiao Pingtai who was following closely behind him: "I'll walk around casually, you don't have to follow." Thinking of Sandaocheng who respected him unreservedly, Ieyasu involuntarily lifted his foot out of the bedroom. But you have no title.She has always longed for Ieyasu's affection, but she always controls herself.If you become a concubine, or even the main wife, her pursuit may change naturally. It was dark all around.The Milky Way has not yet appeared, but the night sky is full of stars, twinkling.The cool breeze is blowing, which makes people very comfortable.Ieyasu walked into the middle door and suddenly thought of A Gui.The childlike Agui is always waiting for his father to appear.Discord between husband and wife is, in the eyes of a daughter, estrangement between parents.Although Ieyasu was very angry with Sena Hime, if it made Agui feel lonely, his daughter would be too pitiful.Thinking of this, Ieyasu quietly changed direction.

Or go back to the Tsukiyama Palace and show your face in the brightly lit festival.As long as I show up, my daughter will be very happy!Maybe Takechiyo was there too.Although he didn't want to talk to Hime Sena, he hoped that the two children could experience father's love, at least stroke their heads so that they could experience the warmth of their father.After some noise, Sena Hime probably didn't want to come out again.That's good too, the kids will be delighted to see their father's smile. Thinking in this way, Ieyasu came to the Imperial Palace unknowingly, but there was no light in the courtyard, and no noise was heard.Ieyasu opened the gate and walked in.He bowed and looked around.In the yard there were only broken tea bowls thrown out by Hime Sena in the afternoon and the offerings that had already cooled down. The surroundings were quiet and deserted.Ieyasu snorted helplessly, and the anger that had disappeared burned again in his chest.Sena presumably wants the children to think that their father, not their mother, is not taking the matter seriously.

Ieyasu immediately turned around and walked towards Sandao City - he shouldn't have come here at all, he regretted it too much.He has all kinds of ways to eliminate unhappiness, but Sena Hime doesn't.She will only hide her depression and anger deep in her heart, and then taste it alone. After seeing the lights of Mrs. Huaqingyuan's residence in Sandao City, Ieyasu stopped and took a deep breath, feeling heavy in his heart.He couldn't be as ecstatic as usual, like falling in love.Go back, or visit Huaqingyuan and chat about homework?Just as he was thinking of this, he suddenly saw a black shadow flash by Ke You's window.The black figure was outside the window instead of indoors, and must have been peeping in the courtyard.Ieyasu couldn't help frowning, and quietly leaned towards the shadow. "Who?" he asked in a low voice, reproachfully.

"Ah... ah." The other party was in a panic, but it was a young woman. "Who?" Ieyasu asked again. The other party became even more flustered, curled up under the window, and his voice was as thin as a mosquito's moan. "Please...please...excuse me." "What's your name? Who sent you?" "You...you are..." "I am the master of this city. What is your intention to peep here? Tell me!" "Ah, the lord of the city!" But it seems that you are not in the room, and the window has not been opened. "Please forgive me! I... I... I am Awan."

"Awan? The Awan next to Zhushan?" "Yes Yes." Ieyasu groaned and gritted his teeth bitterly. "Don't be noticed. Come with me!" "Yes Yes Yes." "Don't tremble, fool!" Ieyasu was like being poured with a basin of cold water in winter, feeling extremely unhappy.He just walked forward in silence.The Milky Way looms in the night sky, and insects hum around.After leaving Sandao City and walking from Jiugu to the racetrack, he realized that the moon had already come out.Although it was the last quarter moon that was about to fall soon, it still seemed dazzling to his eyes that were used to the dark night.

"It's right here." Ieyasu sat on a branch of fallen cherry blossoms and looked back at Awan. "Tell me the whole thing, if there is even half a lie, I will never forgive you lightly!" Ieyasu also felt incomprehensible why he asked these things, but he did suddenly become irritable. "Please forgive me!" Awan was no longer trembling like before.Under the moonlight, her face was as dignified as Ke You, but her expression was solemn. "It's not Madam's order, it's my own initiative." "You want to disobey my orders? Want to protect Zhushan?"

"No! No!" Awan shook his head earnestly, "I dare not disobey your lord's order... I really did it on my own initiative to do such a rebellious thing." "Oh." Ieyasu felt as if he had been tricked by this little girl, feeling hateful and ridiculous. This woman accompanied Sena Hime from Junfu and was Sena's personal maid.If she confides exactly what the master ordered, Ieyasu may be even more upset. "I heard that you were born in a family of priests." "Yes. My father is Nagami Shimamori of Miike Poke Myokami." "how old are you?"

"fifteen." "A 15-year-old girl would go to spy on others on her own initiative. Let me tell you why." Ieyasu asked deliberately and sternly. Awan swallowed hard. "I said." She replied decisively.This seemed to be a strong woman. After her mood gradually calmed down, she raised her head and looked at Ieyasu with a warm light in her eyes. "Because... because of love." "Admiration?" Ieyasu asked in surprise, "Who...do you...admire? You went to the maid's room." "I adore your excellency." "Nonsense! There is no admiration on your face. If you continue to talk nonsense, I will not forgive you!" Awan swallowed again.Deep inside she was engaged in a fierce battle, her eyes wide open without blinking. "I'm telling the truth." "You went to that room because you were in love with me? Where did you know that I would go there?" "If you really love someone, you don't need...you don't need to ask, you can know." "I understand your thoughts. I envy Madam for having a maid like you, but will I believe what you say?" "Whether adults believe it or not, what I say is the truth." "Haha, okay. Actually, you don't need to ask, I also know that Madam ordered you to spy on my whereabouts. This matter ends here. But why did Madam cancel the ceremony for A Gui?" "Madam said she was unwell, so she took a rest." "Did she order that no one should touch the offerings and sacrificial table? Otherwise, you will clean up again, and now you are offering sacrifices with Agui. Forget it, don't mention this. Since you are upright by nature, I will ask you again. Today I quarreled with my wife Now, who do you think is right and who is wrong? But it doesn’t matter.” Awan's expression suddenly flustered.She was obviously thinking about it, but what she said took Ieyasu by surprise. "Even if Awan answered, it would be unfair." "Why?" "Awan loves Your Excellency, so when judging, he will definitely favor His Excellency." "Haha, well, you don't have to say any more." "But... I'm telling the truth. Every time the adults enter that room quietly, Ah Wan feels extremely sad." Ieyasu's expression became serious again.Her ultimate goal is to maintain Zhushan, so she will make the above explanation. "You say you adore me?" "yes." "Why are you sad when I go there?" "Because of jealousy." "Jealous...you know what jealousy is? You've never touched a man." "No, I know." I don't know what Ah Wan thought of, she answered solemnly.Ieyasu felt incredible, and managed to control himself, not to laugh. "You mean you touched a man?" "yes." "How old were you?" Seeing Ah Wan's seriousness, Ieyasu gradually became restless.What else would this little girl do for her master? "Yes... when I was twelve years old." Awan replied cautiously, as if remembering. "Oh, you are very thoughtful! I heard that you have been serving Sena since you were thirteen years old. If you meet men later, you will be sorry for your master. But before that, there is nothing wrong with it. Are you really twelve years old?" Awan's body trembled suddenly, his eyes were still full of guard.Jiahui said, "Do you really respect Madam so much?" "Yes. I'm proud of her." "You are jealous of others, what about Madam, isn't she jealous?" Awan didn't answer. "Since you know what it feels like to be jealous, you probably also know the madam's psychology." "Madam has no... jealousy." "No?" Ieyasu couldn't help smiling wryly as he watched Awan blinking his eyes nervously, as if seeing Hime Sena's distorted affection. "Okay. If that's the case, I believe you are." "It is true." "Since you love me, I can treat you with confidence. Zhushan is not jealous, everything is very tacit." "..." "Why do you have such an expression? Since you met a man, you came to me." Ieyasu smiled and stood up. "Master... my lord!" Awan shouted.This is not the case.To cover Tsukiyama, she talks too much.Zhushan's jealousy is so strong that it arouses Awan's resentment and makes her show her flaws. "What's the matter?" Ieyasu turned his head casually, still mockingly said, "The moon is about to go down. Come here while there is still light." "My lord..." "Why do you have such a weird expression? When you go back, tell your wife that we... tell her clearly that I want to marry you as my concubine." "Huh?" Ah Wan burst into tears.This unbelievably immature voice is very different from Tsukiyama, Kira, and Kane.Once the emotions accumulated in her heart erupted, it was like a mountain torrent, and she rushed towards Ieyasu while crying.Her sudden and absurd behavior made Ieyasu wonder if she was holding a murder weapon.But she just cuddled tightly against Ieyasu's chest and wept. "My lord... please! You must keep a secret from... Madam. Madam..." Ieyasu looked at Awan again in astonishment.Probably because of the conflict between Ieyasu and Sena Hime, Awan's psychology has undergone subtle changes.What she meant was: You can obey Ieyasu, but you can't let your wife know, because your wife's jealousy is too strong. "Why keep a secret from Tsukiyama? Didn't you say she wasn't jealous?" "But... In that case, Ah Wan will be in trouble." She pressed against Jia Kang's chest, crying and trembling excitedly. The moon is setting.Tianhe is like a belt studded with diamonds, dazzling.The crisp sound of insects strikes people's hearts.At some point, Ieyasu hugged Awan, and he couldn't help thinking about the bed with Sena Hime.I don't know when or why, they became so discordant.But as long as they are out of tune, other women will appear beside Ieyasu.If Sena Hime agrees with him without any barriers, then these women will quietly walk away from him.But they always stand still, and the gap between them is getting deeper and deeper. Awan is the most typical example. Seina Hime arranged for Awan to come to Keni to inquire, but unexpectedly put Ieyasu into an embarrassing situation that he had never expected.And it was Sena Hime who threw the torch into the boiling oil pan.The relationship between Ieyasu and Senahime became more and more distant, and his youthful passion finally broke free from the shackles of reason and burned up.Just as a person's will cannot control life and death, once a man and a woman embrace, they cannot control the subtle passion. At the beginning, Ieyasu just looked at Tianhe.He bathed in the evening breeze, listened to the sound of insects, and tried to make his heart clear and peaceful.But in the face of Awan, who expressed his love to him, the flame of affection gradually ignited deep in Ieyasu's heart.In Awan, he seemed to feel some kind of mystery of good fortune, and finally forgot himself... The cedar tree swayed rustlingly. There was a faint singing sound in the distance, probably someone was singing the beauty of Tianhe in the city. "Awan," Ieyasu pushed Awan away suddenly, "you don't have to worry." He finished speaking softly, patted the front of his clothes, and walked away. Awan was in pain, in a trance, and looked at the sky in fear and bewilderment.Worshiping to Vega, meeting once a year, the lady's eyes, the woman who has skin-to-skin contact with a man... In her mind, all kinds of thoughts are intertwined, what should she do in the future, and she is in turmoil. "My lord..." Awan staggered and stood up.She suddenly realized that it had been so long since she came here tonight with a mission, so she had to leave in a hurry. Seina Ji lay on the bed, waiting quietly for Ah Wan to come back.The more she thought about it, the more angry she became, and she even began to curse herself.She regretted canceling the Qixi Festival ceremony, and also regretted being too rough to Yuan Kang.But she didn't reflect on it, she just felt crazier, lonely and anxious. But Awan has not returned.What is she doing?All sorts of delusional thoughts appeared in Sena Hime's mind. Sena Hime once found an excuse to go to Sandao City, and took a rough look at Nako from the shade of the trees.She felt that it would be overkill for a woman with a rustic look to compete with her.But she also admits that Kemi's tenderness and plumpness are reminiscent of grapes in the wild covered with crystal dewdrops, but she doesn't have this kind of brilliance.Hmph, it turned out to be such a woman!Sena Hime imagined Ieyasu embracing this woman ecstatically, jealous.When will Awan come back?Could it be that she was discovered by someone and brought to Jiakang?She had told Ah Wan not to mention her no matter what happened. This woman even forced her father to commit suicide for her husband, but she was not loved by her husband.She did not hold the Qixi Festival ritual that her daughter had been thinking about day and night.Her husband hugs other women to sleep, but she can only stay in the empty room, weeping like a flower in the rain. Sena Hime cried louder and louder.She knew that she would be laughed at, but she still burst into tears and couldn't control it. "Mother." A Gui's voice came from the door.She obviously still had expectations for the festival, and she might have secretly run over with the maid on her back.Hearing her daughter's voice, Sena Hime became even more sad, and her crying became louder and louder. "Mother." Agui called again.But Sena Hime was still crying.Soon, the daughter quietly left. "Gui, please forgive me. Forgive mother..." When Sena Hime was crying again, the partition door was gently opened, and the visitor was even more cautious. Awan walked in shivering like a ghost.She quietly sat down in front of the bed, staring blankly at the crying Sena Hime, and remained silent for a while. Sena Hime stopped crying.The room suddenly fell silent, only the dim light flickered slightly. "Ma'am." Awan seemed to be in shock.Sena Hime, who thought no one was around, suddenly jumped up when she heard the voice. "Ah! Ah Wan?" "yes." "When did you come in? Why didn't you speak?" Sena Hime asked. "This... this..." Awan panicked even more, curling up his body tighter and tighter. "Because... because Madam cried so sadly." "Are you crying too? I was shocked. Alas! You are probably the only one who can cry for me." Awan bowed his head deeply. "You seem very sad. Where is your lord gone?" "No... no, I didn't go." "Didn't go? Then why did you come back so late? What happened?" "No, no, nothing happened." "No! You must be hiding something. Your hair is disheveled, your lips are pale—you have been discovered?" Awan told herself: Never cry, but the strong emotion finally overwhelmed her will.She burst into tears. As expected, Hime Sena asked more urgently. "If you hide something from me, you will never let me go lightly! What happened? Who stopped you?" Her face was pale.If Ah Wan was found out, it would definitely be a big deal, and it would soon reach Jiakang's ears, and Jiakang would surely understand that it was her instigation, and would only alienate her even more. "Did you tell me?" "No." Awan held back his sobs. "Huh? Why are there dead leaves on your back..." Sena Ji gently stroked Awan, and a strange light suddenly radiated from her eyes. "You...you...have you been touched?" "Ma'am." Ah Wan pushed Sena Hime's hand away and stood up abruptly.She couldn't control herself anymore and trembled all over. "But...but, I didn't name Madam." "Didn't tell me? Don't hide it. Who is he? Tell me! Who is he?" "Yes... yes... I was discovered by the lord." "What? My lord..." Sena Hime collapsed to the ground suddenly.There is no doubt that she was completely abandoned.She no longer cried, nor was she angry.