Chapter 40 Chapter 40: The Way of the Inner Court

Tokugawa Ieyasu stood in the courtyard that had not been cleaned, looking at the turret. "After we're done, let's go enjoy the plum blossoms." He turned to Honda and said, "In February or early March, we will go to Beijing with Mr. Oda. After I go to Beijing, you will stay here temporarily. "Sakuzaemon seemed more mature and steady.But he still jokes with Ieyasu from time to time, of course this does not prevent him from admiring Ieyasu. "My lord wants to admire the plum blossoms? Are there two people in this city enjoying the plum blossoms?" "Is it Saburo from Okazaki?"

"No, I mean you and Mrs. Iio—" "Stop talking nonsense!" Jiakang said angrily, "You always talk nonsense, and you must be careful in the future." "Hahaha, nonsense? My lord, you are better at it than I am. Zuo Zuo is just telling the truth." "Okay, shut up, your words really make people angry." In fact, Mrs. Kira set fire to herself near the arrow warehouse in this city, and not a single bone remained.A strong woman, everyone thinks so.If the two of them could be together when they were in Junfu, that woman would have another life.At the place where she set herself on fire, there is still a half-burned plum tree.The side that was not burned was covered with white flowers.

"As the left, cut it." "Keep it. When I see it, I think of the vicissitudes of life... Maybe there is the power of Buddha in it." After finishing speaking, Zuo Zuo said: "My lord, Hiraiwa Nananosuke sent a letter saying that Saburo Jiro and Tokuhime of Okazaki , the house has been consummated." "Sanlang? Is it true, is it true, Zuo Zuo?" "yes." "What do you think of Saburo? There are no outsiders here. You might as well speak up." "This..." Tsukuru looked around. "The lord is too busy to stay by the young lord's side. Even if he is talented, if he lets himself go—"

"That's true. I've always been worried about this matter. How about keeping you in Okazaki when I go to Beijing this time?" "Forgive me. It's not suitable to be stationed in Okazaki on the left. There is room for my subordinates." "As the left, being brave is not a real man. You also have to take care of the affairs of the inner court. I want to appoint you, Gao Liqing and Amano to stay in Okazaki." Zuo Zuo acted as if he hadn't heard, got up and said: "My lord, the plum blossoms are blooming well. You take a rest under this old plum tree, and I'll ask them to bring barley tea right away."

"This plum blossom is really beautiful. Himano Castle... No, this ancient tree in Hamamatsu Castle must be three hundred years old." Ieyasu was attracted by the old plum. "Bring barley tea!" Sakusa shouted towards the newly completed kitchen.A woman came out, holding a rustic tea tray with tea bowls on it. Seeing that woman, Ieyasu's expression changed drastically. The woman looked more and more like Mrs. Kira who died here.Slender eyes, tight lips, even skin color and stature... Ieyasu forgot to pick up the tea bowl, just stared blankly.The woman blushed instantly.Even this shy manner is very similar to Kira.Ieyasu suddenly felt a chill hit: Is there really a soul in the world?But the surrounding area was very bright, and one could clearly see the rising and falling of the woman's chest.Is she not dead yet?

Ieyasu finally took the teacup and asked in a low voice, "What's your name?" The voice was trembling, so small that even he wondered. The woman calmly replied, "My name is A'ai." "Aai? Whose family are you the daughter of?" Ieyasu asked again. Honda Sakuzaemon on the side laughed and interjected, "The granddaughter of Saigo Yazaemon Masakatsu." "What, Yazaemon's granddaughter... so similar!" "Who do you look like?" Sakuzaemon took up the conversation as a prank, and then said to the woman, "You can talk to the lord."

"Yes." The woman knelt on the ground obediently, "The slave is Yazaemon's granddaughter and Yoshikatsu's wife." "Oh, so it's not a girl anymore." "I already have two children, a boy and a girl." "Gishekatsu's wife?" Ieyasu sighed again, and found Sakuzaemon secretly laughing. "It tastes good, let's have another bowl." "Yes." The woman stepped back calmly. "Zuo Zuo, why are you laughing?" "Because I suddenly thought about the Lord's grandfather Qing Kanggong." "What's up?"

"When he formed an alliance with Mizuno Tadamasa after the war, he saw Zhongmasa's wife Huayangin, so he asked for it and brought it back to Okazaki Castle." "This matter is related to my ancestors, no jokes are allowed!" "Haha, I'm just comparing who is more open-minded and bold, the lord and Duke Qingkang." "Shut up! If it's an enemy general, I won't be polite. But if it's a retainer's woman..." At this time, Ah Ai brought tea again, and the two immediately fell silent. "Ai, how old is this year?" Ieyasu asked.

"nineteen." "Okay, let's go." Ieyasu raised his neck and took a sip, and handed the tea bowl back to the woman. He felt his cheeks burning. "As the left, don't make fun of me, otherwise I will never forgive you lightly!" Hearing Ieyasu's words, Sakuzaemon couldn't help laughing out loud. "My lord, don't be angry. You forgot a big thing." He smiled and pointed to the brand-new house behind him, "After the new city is completed, a woman is needed to manage it. Why did Mrs. Yazaemon let her granddaughter come to the house?" Come to help, my lord, have you thought about it?"

"why?" "You forgot, Ah Ai is a widow." "She has a dead husband?" "Yazaemon's daughter married Dr. Totsuka Goro Tadaharu and gave birth to Ai. Later she returned to her grandfather's house. Not long ago her husband died in battle. Have you forgotten, my lord?" "Oh, so it's him..." "Mrs. Yazaemon thought that her granddaughter might be useful in the inner court of the new city, so she was sent here, but she was not lucky enough to meet the lord, so I specially arranged for her to serve barley tea. Regardless of background or character, Or tutoring, both are impeccable. How about letting her go to the inner court?"

"You want to plot against me too?" "My lord is too serious." "Let her work in the inner court first. As for whether she can control everyone, we will talk about it later." "Yes. My lord is really lucky. Please observe slowly." Having said that, Sakuzaemon stood up, "We should go." At some point, the sky turned blue, and a few white clouds like jade belts floated in the sky.Lake Hamana in the sunshine ripples in the cold wind. "Listen to that pine wind." "I hope there will be no chaos in the inner court of this city." "What did you say?" "I'm just saying that if I don't have a wife—" "So what?" "I can marry Ah Ai." Ieyasu smiled wryly and kicked the pebbles at his feet.Ai's figure kept appearing in front of his eyes.Maybe it was Ah Ai who reminded him of his childhood dreams and emotions. "Women need a lot of contact to know their true feelings." "You're joking again." "There are so many women in the world, and we can't have all of them. Therefore, if someone can use an abacus to find out which woman has good qualities, and engrave the word 'female husband' on her forehead, that would be great." "Don't talk nonsense, how can men and women be calculated with an abacus?" Before they knew it, the two had arrived in the courtyard in front of Jiakang's bedroom.The spring water rockery has been arranged here, and the ground has been cleaned. "My lord, there is someone you want to see. Please sit down first." Zuo Zuo pointed to the stone next to him, and then shouted into it: "Half right guard! Half right guard is here?" Hearing "Come", Honda probably Emon ran out from inside.He sat down by the corridor, lowered his head and asked, "How have you been?" Ieyasu didn't answer, just looked at Sakuzaemon, and said softly, "What tricks are you going to play again?" "Yes. Hiroko Honda, Bungo Mori, heard that the Lord's new city was completed, and knew that there might be something missing around the Lord, so I will return the originals you kept." "What? I don't remember asking Bungo to save anything for me." "That's weird..." "Hanyouwei!" Sakuzaemon said, "If you behave like that again, I'll kill you! Whether you have preserved it or not, you can take that thing out and let the lord take a look, isn't it all right? It's really long-winded!" "Yes. I'll call her right away." Ieyasu stared at the two of them and remained silent. He had already guessed the general idea. After a while, Hanyou returned with a woman, "Miss Awan, come here." His expression was very solemn, which made Ieyasu feel unbelievable. "My lord, are you alright..." Awan's voice trembled a little, but it was as clear as winter water. "It's you?" Ieyasu murmured, staring at Zuo Zuo before asking, "Are you okay?" "Good... good. Your Excellency looks very healthy." "Okay, let's talk. You go to rest first." Awan, who hid in the house of Bongho Honda in order to avoid building mountains, has come out very beautifully, and he is completely different from before. "Emon, go down too." "Yes. Do you understand what Bungo has saved for you?" "Talk!" "Yes." Awan was reluctant to let go, she wanted to say something, but she still retreated with Hanemon. "Zuo Zuo, do you think I'll be happy about it?" "That doesn't sound like what you said, my lord." "Humph!" "Working on the lord's errand is not just trying to fulfill the lord's orders, but sometimes doing some outrageous things... At such times, I ask you to raise your hands high." "Even women's affairs, you have to ask..." "Don't you want to seize other castles, my lord? If you only want to own a small Okazaki Castle, one son is enough." Sakuzaemon also bent down and sat down in the corridor, watching Ieyasu closely. Ieyasu also stared at Sakuzaemon.Some of the retainers' words should be listened to, and some should not be listened to.What Zuo Zuo said now comes from the heart and is worth listening to. Imachiyo, who was promoted to a bodyguard at the end of last year, came in with tea.Seeing Ieyasu and Sakuzuo facing each other silently, Manchiyo also quietly sat down by the door.The cold wind whined the tops of the pine trees. "Manchiyo, go down." After a while, Ieyasu motioned to Manchiyo. "You want me to have more children, Zuo?" Ieyasu asked softly, his expression serious. "It is precisely because of you, my lord, that the people of Okazaki can enjoy the scenery on the shore of Lake Hamana. If the clan of Shunfu really had a few good brothers, Junfu would not be destroyed. But the lord was close to women before. in a way that is not commendable.” Ieyasu smiled bitterly, and immediately returned to seriousness.Zuo Zuo's statement about the relationship between a man and a woman must be good at calculating, which deeply hurt him.To welcome the main wife is of course mostly a strategic marriage planned by the authorities, but no matter where the big name is, when it comes to marrying a side wife, it doesn't even ask about background and virtuousness. "Women are originally..." Zuo Zuo said to himself, "They were not born in this world as men's dolls." "You mean I'm playing with women?" "Isn't it? Which of the women you have met has been happy?" "Ugh." "They were all wounded and left. My lord, you know all these things very well." Ieyasu quickly averted his eyes when he heard this.Before his eyes appeared the shadow of Mrs. Kira who committed suicide in this city, as well as Tsukiyama, Keni and Awan... He not only hurt them, but also left scars deep in his heart. "Zuo, I really don't know how to treat women." "Then please listen to me, my lord. Please be more ruthless!" "Want me to be ruthless?" "Exactly. Women are born to bear children and bring them up. This is the truth. The natural principles of heaven and earth will not be changed by man's will." Ieyasu looked at Zuo Zuo, his eyes still full of confusion and hesitation.Zuo Zuo stood up and said: "The lord is really a strange person. Look at the tall pine trees around you, look at this city. As long as there are roots and land, the branches and leaves can flourish, and the treetops can ring. The pine trees will Survive by human affection?" Hearing Zuo Zuo's words, Ieyasu turned his face away, thoughtful.He half-understood Sazaemon's words.Compared with the principles of heaven, earth and nature, human feelings are often insignificant.But isn't human affection also contained in the nature of heaven and earth?Thinking of this, Ieyasu became confused again. "So you're making me ruthless and pulling that pine tree by the root, aren't you?" "Exactly. My lord must deeply understand the nature of women, and don't have the benevolence of women." "rational." "Let them have children, let them devote themselves to raising children. That is the nature of heaven and earth. The benevolence of words is by no means true benevolence." "Oh." "The lord needs children, Saburo of Okazaki needs brothers, and a woman's wish is to have children..." Zuo Zuo seemed to be standing in front of a spear point, with sharp eyes, counting on his fingers, "If the lord encounters an accident, and the wife is really a hero among women, that would be the greatest good cause. I hope the lord can continue to strengthen his foundation , don’t continue to waste your energy on womanizing.” Ieyasu finally burst into laughter: "I see. Haha, it makes sense." "Hahaha, it happened before I knew it. Then, it's time for me to inspect the arrow warehouse." After finishing his thoughts, he resumed his usual silence. This is the style of a ghost. After Zuo Zuo left, Man Chiyo came over immediately. "My lord, when will you enter Beijing?" "Ok?" "Kanbara Koheita and Honda Heihachiro said that this trip to Beijing is not ordinary. They said that your lord will deal with Echizen's Asakura Yoshikage together with Oda-sama... Is it true?" Ieyasu seemed absent-minded and didn't answer. "My lord, let Wan Qiandai also hold the Yuanfu ceremony, and let the villain go out." "Go and tell them that tonight's meal will be brought to the inner court. Ah Wan is here, and I'm going to eat in her room." "Yes." Wan Chiyo didn't hear the answer he wanted, and was a little downcast. Ieyasu took off his clogs and stood up.If Awan is formally connected to the inner court, it is equivalent to challenging Mrs. Tsukiyama; but if Awan, who was specially sent by Ben Duo, is sent back, it may not be appropriate. "Zuo Zuo's opinion is not bad." Ieyasu entered the woody bedroom, and suddenly froze.He heard a woman crying. Ieyasu was familiar with that voice.That was Awan, strong and smart Awan.She obviously overheard what Ieyasu said to Manchiyo just now.Ieyasu walked over quickly and opened the latticed door of the next room.This room is far away from the corridor, and the light is dim, as if at dusk.Awan hurriedly raised her head, her face was like a flower at dusk.Jia Kang unconsciously compares Ah Wan and Ah Ai, who is more beautiful? Ah Ai looks very similar to Mrs. Kira, dignified and elegant; while A Wan has a melon-seeded face with outstanding temperament.One is a mother who already has two children, and the other is a woman who entrusts her life to herself. "Ah Wan, did you hear what I just said?" "Yes. I'm worried that adults will scold me." "Why should I... scold you?" "Because adults don't like women causing trouble, they may let me go back." Ieyasu pretended to be serious on purpose.Don't be kind to a woman - Zuo's words suddenly appeared in his mind. "Ah Wan, I might as well tell you clearly, I hate tell-tale women the most." "The servant knows." "Men consider things differently from women. If the position is reversed, it will not only affect me, but also your entire family. Therefore, you must not talk too much in front of men." Ieyasu suddenly felt a little guilty.Because in this way, it is equivalent to expressing his strong dissatisfaction with Mrs. Zhushan to Awan. "Yes... yes." Awan was very docile, "I already understand these things." Her eyelashes shone like morning dew. Ieyasu wanted to hug her gently, but he controlled himself and looked at Awan coldly.His calmness is probably due to his reaching a certain age.Yes, I am far from a young man, but why can I still appreciate the tenderness of women?Jiakang thought about it, and said coldly, "Back off. Remember, this is not a place for women." Awan saluted obediently and withdrew.The fragrance of her body was left in the air. Will she be a woman who bears children?Ieyasu muttered in his heart as he sat back at the table. Ieyasu's military case was placed on the table, and it was just a preliminary case, without Yubi's hand, he was only thinking about it.There are more than a dozen cities that cannot be taken lightly.Who should be sent to stay at Okazaki Castle, and who should be stationed in Hamamatsu?At present, Takeda Shingen is confronting Echigo Uesugi while competing with Sagami Hojo for the remaining territory of Suruga.During this period, Ieyasu can enter Beijing with Nobunaga and start a decisive battle with the Echizen Asakura clan.But the subsequent trend, he is not very clear. Ieyasu suddenly thought of the reason why his grandfather and father failed.He has already lived nearly three years longer than his grandfather who was stabbed to death in the battle of guarding the mountain.Thinking of the unpredictable and fragile life, and thinking of what Zuo Zuo said, Ieyasu really wanted to have more children. Nobunaga seems to have realized this a long time ago, and he married three concubines at once.That is by no means out of absurdity, but in order to cope with the impermanence of life, it is an act of killing two birds with one stone.Ieyasu began to think about women in a new light, until Manchiyo came to report that the meal was ready. When they came to the inner court, the meal had been prepared and the jug had been set.And the one holding the flagon and serving at the side was Ah Ai, who had served Ieyasu barley tea at noon.Next to Ah Ai, sat A Wan with a serious face. Ieyasu glanced at A'ai, and asked coldly, "Who ordered the wine?" "It's an order from the chef supervisor, Matahe Amano." "Tell Matabei that although the castle is completed, it is not enough. The wine is too extravagant." "Yes. I'll pass it on to him." "Also," Ieyasu opened the lid of the rice bowl and said, "There is too much white rice, just tell him to put only 80% of it." "yes." "Three dishes and one soup. Don't forget to be thrifty. Do you know what the poor people eat?" Jiakang turned to Ai and said, "Ai?" "exist." "Come by my side. You don't need to answer me now, you can't forget your husband who died in the battle for a while. You can answer me when I come back from the capital. Come on, what are you doing in a daze? Serve rice, hurry up..." The incident was too sudden, Ai brought the tray in a panic, while Awan stared blankly at Ieyasu.Under her gaze, Ieyasu chewed the rice slowly.