Chapter 22 Chapter 21 Shaoxiong Shocks the World

That night, Yu Da dreamed of Hirochu and Takechiyo again, they were shouting for help in the rough sea.Opening her eyes, the morning sun had already shone on the partition, and Yu Da was covered in cold sweat. She held her breath and listened intently, as if the tide was high, and she heard the sound of waves washing over the stone slabs. This is a corner of Shiomiden in Kariya Castle, and Yuta lived here for fourteen years before he got married. The sound of pines and waves is still the same as before, but the atmosphere in the castle is completely different.His father has passed away, and his former confidant was ruthlessly expelled by his half-brother Xinyuan.Xinyuan made various changes in an attempt to sweep away his father's influence.

He built a new residence and a large academy for himself, and occasionally recruited some singers from the capital.When Yu Da returned to Kariya this time, it was like entering another city.Xinjin, the same mother and brother who was very close to Yu Da, is no longer there, and the maid serving her is also very strange.This made her miss Okazaki even more.As soon as she closed her eyes, she thought of Takechiyo, and as soon as she entered the bedroom, she seemed to hear Hirochu's voice. Yu Da stood up, clapped his hands for someone to bring water, and began to wash up silently.She wiped off the sweat, rinsed her mouth, combed her hair, and opened the partition as usual.After returning to her natal family, she felt like being sent to an isolated island.In the days after the parting, she had only this habit that could not be shaken: looking at the morning sky, facing the direction of Okazaki, and clasping her hands together.

At first, she wanted to pray to the gods and Buddhas to bless Hirochu and Takechiyo, but unconsciously, the prayer turned into an illusion, and she felt as if her husband and child's hands were joined together.She began to feel that for a woman, God and Buddha are her husband and her own child. "I wonder if Takechiyo is awake?" Yu Da thought, with a smile on his face.She misses Takechiyo all the time.It is precisely because she has this son in her heart that she has the courage to continue living. "Please Buddha bless my child..." She always prayed for a long time.She didn't stop until the sea was slightly red and the chirping of birds sounded on the nearby branches.

"Miss." The maid waited for her to finish praying before speaking.This maid was the same age as Yu Da, named Nobuno, and was the daughter of a low-ranking samurai. "Sir Sugiyama Genroku asked to see Miss, and is waiting outside the door." "Oh." Yu Da couldn't help turning his head, "Let him in, I have something to look for him." Shinano left without expression, and soon brought a strong samurai in his thirties with him. "The villain has something to report to the lady..." Sugiyama Genroku can be said to be the only son of his father's favorite who has not been expelled, and is now the elder of the family.Yu Da looked at Yuan Liu anxiously: "Is there any news from Okazaki?"

"Yes, Sakai Masaku helped the adults to send a message that the young master is safe and well." "Thank goodness. Last night's dream kept worrying me. I'm afraid I'm too tired." "Miss……" "Oh?" "The villain went to the racetrack with the city lord today..." Yuan Liu saw Yu Da's gloomy eyes, but they became more beautiful, and hurriedly looked away, "The city lord ordered the villain to persuade the young lady to remarry." Yu Da smiled and said nothing . "If the action is slower than Okazaki, the lady is too pitiful."

"Slower than Okazaki..." "Yes, I heard that Okazaki Castle Lord has decided to marry Tahara's Toda Danmasa's daughter." Yu Da's smile froze. "Tian Yuan..." She thought she was mentally prepared, but when she heard this, she was still very sad.Now that Guangzhong and Guangzhong have parted ways, it is logical that there should be no more jealousy, but what was the pain in my heart just now?Is it jealousy towards the woman who is about to become Takechiyo's "mother", or is he still in love with Hirotada? Sugiyama Genroku could understand Yu Da's mood. He looked at the sky outside the window, "The city lord said that he is very aware of the relationship between men and women, so he asked the villain to persuade the young lady..."

Yu Da said nothing. "Miss, do you mind..." "Yuanliu, wait a moment...wait a moment. Leave me alone...quiet." "Miss put it simply, you don't know what the city lord thinks. The city lord..." He looked around cautiously, and whispered, "Once he has made up his mind to do something, he can't help others." Yu Da is also very clear about this.At that time, Hiromada was afraid of the Imagawa clan and decided to send Yuda back to Kariya. Nobumoto became furious and even planned to kill all Okazaki retainers who had been sent to Kariya.Yu Da guessed Xinyuan's thoughts, so he sent everyone in Okazaki back shortly after crossing the Yahagawa River, and they were safe and sound.Yuan Liu seems to want to tell Yu Da not to be careless with Xin Yuan.

"Miss may not know yet," Yuan Liu said in a low voice, "Now there are two choices. One is Master Sakuma of Hirose, and the other is Master Hisamatsu of Akoju. Miss must choose one, otherwise... I may risk my life." Worry. No one can change what the city lord decides. He doesn't recognize his relatives." Yu Da stopped Yuan Liu: "What if this word reaches his ears?" Yuan Liu didn't answer, just took a step forward, and whispered: "Miss, have you heard the rumor about Mr. Tokuro?" Of course Yu Da heard about it.Born in a famous family, but had an affair with a woman outside the city.Everyone in Okazaki City said that this kind of fact is rare, and what is even more surprising is that he even lost his life because of it, what a fool!

"Recently there are rumors that the young master is still alive." "Is he still alive?" "Yes. Therefore, the conspiracy was also exposed back then... I heard that Mr. Tokuro was stigmatized because he offended the city lord, wandering around the world and being homeless." "This... is this true?" Yuan Liu nodded, "So Miss must not offend the city lord. Whether it is Master Sakuma or Hisamatsu-sama, Miss must make a decision early." Yu Da was silent, holding his breath, staring at Yuan Liu.Brother Tokuro Nobukami was framed for offending Nobumoto...

"Mr. Fujikuro..." Yuan Liu became expressionless again, and said, "He opposes the castellan's joining Oda. In order to get rid of this stumbling block, the castellan tricked Mr. Fujikuro into the Xiong Mansion where he often went, and asked him to carry it on his back. In the name of injustice, I killed him with the sword of Oda Assassin. Mr. Fujikuro is not a mediocre person, so he pretended to be dead and escaped. Once the city lord makes up his mind, he will do whatever it takes." At this moment, someone shouted: "Is Yuan Liu here? Yuan Liu!" There was a rush of horseshoes in the cherry trees near the courtyard.The impetuous Shimono Morimoto is probably worried about Sugiyama Genroku.Came here in person.

"So impatient..." Yuan Liu smiled wryly. "Yuan Liu is here!" He responded loudly to the outside, and then quickly whispered, "Within a day or two, please make a decision." After speaking, he hurriedly walked to the entrance to meet him. Xin Yuan had already thrown the reins to the servants, and with the whip in his hand, he said, "Yu Da, the weather is fine today. The morning glow dyed the sea red. Come out and see, the sun this morning is bigger than a horse-washing basin. "He finished speaking at the top of his voice before walking into the yard. "Brother, please come in." Yu Da fell on the ground to welcome Xin Yuan.Shimomori smiled heartily and sat down by the corridor.Accustomed to Guangzhong's soft laughter, Yu Da felt that his brother's voice beat her heart like a whip. "Have you decided?" "Yes, Miss said that a decision will be made within a day or two." Yuan Liu smoothed things over. "One or two days... You should make a decision now." Xinyuan ignored Yuanliu and continued, "Yu Da, Hiromada from Okazaki, is a peerless fool." His voice resounded throughout the courtyard . "I heard that he has decided to marry Toda Tanmasa's daughter as his successor. This marriage will do a lot of harm to the Matsudaira clan." Yu Da nodded slightly, looking at his fingers on his knees. "I will never be wrong. When Oda and Imagawa have another dispute, Imagawa will definitely let Matsudaira be the vanguard. Matsudaira thinks that Toda will support him, but Toda is not so straightforward. Right, Genroku?" "Ah... yes." "Once they see that the situation is not good, they will immediately turn against each other." "yes……" "However, Hirochu didn't know this. They refused my persuasion and insisted on marrying the Toda family. The Matsudaira family is declining day by day. It's really sad... Yu Da." "elder brother." "You are also very pitiful, but it was a blessing in disguise... Don't wait any longer, you make a decision today. Hirose and Hisamatsu, it's up to you to choose." Yu Da still lowered his head, holding back his tears.This is not a superficial sorrow, but it is not disgust, but a sorrow born of a woman's fate.Yu Da was always regarded as a pawn to strengthen Kariya Castle, and it was the same when he married Okazaki.What kind of alliance with what kind of family, this kind of calculation determines her fate.This is not only Yu's fate, but also the fate of all women in a world of constant wars, without order and morality. "Father hopes to keep the safety of the Matsudaira and Mizuno families through the combination with the Matsudaira family, but things are unpredictable. Now, you must marry with a family close to Oda. The Oda family is the rising sun, and the Imagawa family is the setting sun. You were The setting sun chased you away, but you were able to bathe in the morning sun instead. You are very lucky, and I am also very lucky. Well, you make a decision today. Yuanliu, let’s go for another ride, the weather is really nice this morning.” Yu Da bowed towards the corridor, silently bowing his head. Shinano brings breakfast.Yu Da picked up the chopsticks and asked her to back away.The stomach is empty, but there is no appetite.How can you forget Okazaki?Take Chiyo is half of her life, Hirodada's caress makes her unforgettable forever.Recently, for some reason, she has been feeling lazy and weak all over, coughing softly from time to time.Could it be that Guangzhong's disease infected her... Even Guangzhong's disease made her miss it endlessly.If possible, she would really like to become a nun. Yu Da sat in the middle of the room blankly, motionless.The sun shone on the partition, and the shadows of the falling maple leaves were reflected on it.From time to time, little birds came here and sang sadly.It is closer to the sea, probably because the west wind is less, and spring comes earlier than Okazaki. In the blink of an eye, Yu Da left Okazaki for almost half a year.She has no thought of living, and the emotion of waiting for death has been entangled in her heart.She didn't know what kind of people Hisamatsu and Sakuma were.With a weak heart, marrying someone who has never met before, can you still live? At four o'clock in the morning, Yu Da called for Xinnai.She wants to see her father.His father's tomb is in Qiankun-in in Ogawa.If you tell Xin Yuan, maybe he will prepare a sedan chair.She didn't want to be troublesome, so she just took Shinano and a servant out of the city quietly. The bright sunshine warmed the earth, and the ears of the wheat were already headed, which was a little dazzling. Sakuma of Hirose.Hisamatsu of Aguju.No matter who you marry, it has nothing to do with Yu Da's happiness.But Yu Da had to choose one of them.She had a misty dream, hoping that when she knelt in front of her father's grave, she could get some hints.The bright sunlight dazzled her eyes. When they passed Xiong's mansion, they suddenly heard someone shout: "Miss." A warrior covering his face with a bamboo hat stopped them.Yu Da stopped. "It seems that you are members of the Kariya Mizuno family... Do you know Miss Yu?" Yu Da felt that the voice was somewhat familiar, and thought to himself: "Could it be..." She lifted her veil.The samurai screamed, turned and left.Yu Da gave the servant a wink, and the servant immediately ran after him. Although his physique is much stronger, this samurai is too similar to Nobuchi in terms of size and voice! Yu Dahe Shino followed with a puzzled look on his face.The road ahead became a T-shape.On the front is the moat outside Takenai Hataro's residence, known as Kumanakamiya, and a solid earthen wall is opposite the moat.The servants followed the Ronin and turned to the right.Miscanthus and deciduous hazel trees lined the roadside. At the T-junction, Yu Da suddenly remembered something and hurriedly stopped.The crows of a few crows on the hazel tree above his head reminded Yu Da.Xin had been killed in Xiong's mansion several years ago.If he is really alive, if he rushes over like this, once there is a disturbance, it will not make things worse, and Yu Da will stop. "Nobuna, call him back, we are getting farther and farther away from father's grave." "Yes." Shinano replied, and just after running twenty or thirty steps away, he saw the servants walking back along the ditch.There was also a young man who came with him, with forehead hair, a purple headband, and a gorgeous silk narrow-sleeved shirt.Shinano said to Dao: "Mr. Hataro is here." Yu Da nodded, and looked at Hataro who was dressed as a servant through his turban.Before his father was alive, Yu Da had met him twice.She often heard the legendary stories of his family that had been handed down from the Northern and Southern Dynasties. It was said that they were a family that served the gods and should not be underestimated.Nobuchi and Hataro's younger sister had an affair with the country and were killed by the assassins.But why is this Portaro so young?In terms of age, he should be three or four years older than Yu Da, but he still has forehead hair, and his eyes and lips are still as charming as before. "Miss, I heard that you are going to pay homage to your father?" Bo Taro said, with a slight smile in his clear eyes, "It is probably because your father has a spirit in the sky that let us meet. Please come with me." Yu Da didn't answer.Thinking that the dispute between her brother Shimono Mamoru and Nobukaki had something to do with Kuma's mansion, she hesitated for a moment. When Bo Tailang saw this, he smiled and said: "You servant, it is said that I saw an acquaintance and said that person entered the humble house. I don't know about it, but today I want to introduce someone to Miss. Please come with me." The servant looked puzzled, looked at Yu Da, and whispered: "The warrior just now clearly entered the Xiong Mansion..." Yu Da still didn't speak, just looked at the ditch of Xiong Mansion.The shadow of a crow is clearly reflected on the clear water.She decided to go to Xiong Mansion to take a look, "Mr. Lao will lead the way." Whether my brother is alive or dead, I just want to pay tribute to him, and Shimomori can't do anything about it.After she settled down, the man who ran away as soon as he saw her just now made her unable to calm down even more. Hataro said nothing about it.He led the way and brought Yuda to the altar, after worship.He took her to the front hall built in the style of an academy.Around the altar are temples, and on the left and right are living rooms.In other words, this is an ancient building centered on the shrine and surrounded by moats.From the window in the front hall, you can see the earth barrier and arrow tower on the opposite side. Bo Taro took Yu Da to the living room, opened the window, pointed to the yard and said, "It's near those dry beard twigs and flowers..." He sat down and said, "Mr. Fujikuro, I lost it there life." Yu Da nodded, looking at the dazzling sunlight outside. "That night, there were sage flowers blooming everywhere, and the moonlight was beautiful. The assassin hid behind the washing stone, and suddenly ran out and chopped at Mr. Fujikuro..." Portaro smiled, "I will mention it to the lady again. Miss, can you understand what I mean?" "clear." "It's all because of the endless dispute between the Oda clan and the Imagawa clan." "Sir, you mean that you know the reason why the brothers are fighting?" "Know." Hataro nodded and said, "I've seen the cruelest fight in this world...and I lost my sister because of it." "Mister's younger sister... is Yu Guo?" "Exactly." Hataro said with a smile still on his face, "Shimono Mori is really scary." Yu Da didn't answer, her heart began to ache like a needle.It seems that it was not Tokuro Nobukami who came in and out of this house because of the beauty of the country, but his elder brother Shimono Morimoto.However, just because of this, he tricked Xinjin here and killed him together with his loved one... "Miss, you must be as sad as I am about this matter." Bo Taro looked at Yu Da's worried side face, and said, "But Miss can't sink like this. For the children who are still in Okazaki, take care of yourself." "Sir..." Yu Da seemed to have settled down, and asked, "Who do you want to introduce to me today?" "The person I want to introduce to you..." Hataro smiled mysteriously, and said, "The soul of Mr. Noto Kuro." "soul?" "Don't ask. The soul will be sad because of this. There is no one else, because I am a person who serves the gods, and I can communicate with the soul at will. I can know the sorrow and joy of the soul." "Ah... yes." Yu Da tried hard to read something from Portaro's expression.Hataro slightly nodded and said, "I heard that Miss is going to remarry." "yes." "The soul tells me that you are hesitating and don't know how to choose..." Yu Da nodded.As expected, my brother is not dead...he is still alive and has contacts with Hataro.Thinking of this, she felt sad for a while, but she couldn't ask.Nobukaki is now a living ghost escaping Shimono's minions.It would be too cruel to bring him into the open.In this era of fratricide, I don't know how many such ghosts there are. "Miss, have you decided?" "Here, I..." "I know." Portaro laughed loudly, "You have to think carefully... this is what the soul told me to tell you." "yes." "Miss is definitely unwilling to alienate Okazaki, and she is afraid that if she becomes the child's enemy... this is why you are hesitant." Yu was taken aback and lowered his head.The worries in her heart were completely answered by the other party, and she was speechless for a while. The maid brings tea.The sun outside the window is brighter.A quail flew to the branches of the flowers of the sage that recorded the sadness of the past in the yard, leisurely looking for food.Portaro slowly picked up the cup, took a sip of tea, and waited for Yu Da to calm down. "Whether it's flesh and blood or a woman, your worries are inevitable. I can understand Miss. However, you can't keep hesitating and lose sight of the waves ahead." "Yes." "The so-called life and death have fate, maybe there is a way to make it happen. It is too difficult for the young lady to think carefully and make a decision. Therefore, I want to introduce someone to the young lady, but I don't know what to do?" Who would he take her to meet?Bo Taro's kindness made it difficult for Yu Da to refuse. "Before meeting that man, can I know who he is?" "When you see him, you don't have to reveal your identity." "Well." Hataro nodded in satisfaction. "If it can bring you any hints, this is also the guidance of the soul. Please wait a moment." After giving a salute, he went out. Not long after, he returned. "I'll introduce you as my family. Please follow me." He led Yu Da across the corridor to the opposite room.The decoration here is new, the hanging scrolls are also very elegant, and there are incense stands and flower stands, all inlaid with fine mother-of-pearl.The sun shines in from the window of the academy on the right, and shines on the screen painted with scrolls.Sitting in front of him was an eleven or twelve-year-old boy and two warriors who looked like followers.Sitting at the top is a middle-aged samurai in his forties, while the other looks to be in his mid-twenties.Yu Da followed Hataro and walked in. "Sure enough, it looks like Yu Guo." The young man looked at Yu Da unscrupulously. "Probably because of blood relationship. Come, come closer, Mr. Master Ji wants to give you a glass of wine." The elderly warrior waved at Da Da easily, and said, "Your name is Yu Da?" "Ah... yes." "I'm Master Odayoshi's vassal Hirasaka, and this is Hisamatsu Yakuro from Akoju." Yu looked at the boy in surprise, then at Yakuro Hisamatsu, and knelt down on the ground.This is the son of Oda Nobuhide, and Hisamatsu Toshikatsu who he may marry!But what surprised her the most was that she was suddenly introduced to Master Ji. "Master Ji, please give me wine." Masahide Hirate said. "Bring wine." The young man ordered the maid, and then said to Da Dao, "What do you like? Yu Guo is good at dancing Xingruo dance, and often sings little songs." Having said that, he suddenly stood up and took a step forward.Yu stepped back in shock.The young man flicked open the fan in his hand, and sang: No one in life will die, what is patience?Recalling the night of first acquaintance... He sang loudly with a boy's first-mature voice. "Okay, Miss Yu was frightened." Zhengxiu smiled and raised her hand to stop it. "Old man, don't you like it?" The young man stood still, and asked Dao, "What do you want?" "The little girl is not talented, she doesn't know anything." Yu Da replied, and she suddenly had a strange feeling: this son of the Oda family, in the near future, is likely to become an opponent for every inch of land with Takechiyo... "My lord, do you like Xiaoqu?" She asked calmly. "Hmph! I'm a general!" "General?" "The general likes Xiaoquer, and will be scolded by the old man." "Oh." "As a military commander, one has to go to war, the other is to falcon, the third is to talk about samurai affairs, and the fourth is to be able to fish. Right, old man?" "yes." "Fortunately, I only play ditty songs when the old man is away. But what I really like is not these, but other things..." "Then what do you like?" "Number one, pee standing up." "what?" "Second, eat rice while standing up." "Stand?" "Yeah. Have you ever eaten like this? This way the intestines are straight and you can eat a lot. Seven bowls and eight bowls go into your stomach at once. You don't need to eat vegetables or drink soup." Master Ji was talking here, Zhengxiu Picked up the fan and patted the tatami. "It can't be said, that's all." Hataro sat next to Yu Da and laughed.Yu Da almost laughed too, but she couldn't. Oda Nobuhide had greater expectations for Master Ji than the eldest son Shinhiro who was born in Anxiang City.It is for this reason that he made his favored minister, Taisuke Masahide, who is known as the Oda think tank, the Oda teacher, and is responsible for disciplining Master Yoshi.In Master Ji's seemingly absurd behavior, one can see a kind of good temperament that does not take anyone seriously.Wu Pingzhong knew this well, but he still pulled the rein in his hand from time to time.Hisamatsu Yakuro was serious, sitting beside him, showing a trace of frustration. Master Ji took the jug handed over by the maid and filled it up for Yu Da. "Thank you, my lord." Yu Da picked up the cup and glanced at Master Ji.His brows were erect, and his eyes had a strange brilliance.Being scolded by Zhengxiu, his face flushed suddenly. "Then let's..." Seeing Yuda put down his glass, Portaro urged, "See you again when we are falcons." Yu Da bowed respectfully and stood up.Master Ji said again: "Next time I will dance for you. You have to learn." After sending Master Ji and others away, and returning to the corridor, Bo Taro looked back at Yu Dao: "Miss, what do you think of this child?" "Arrogant to everything." "Is that all?" "The light in his eyes is extraordinary..." Before Yu Da's big words were finished, Hataro interjected, "I'm afraid we will get along with your child in the future... Don't Miss think so?" He seemed to understand Yu Da's heart. Yu Da smiled noncommittally, and said, "He's only four years old." "That's why we have to think about his future." Portaro stared at Yu Dao. Yu Da understood a little bit.Portaro implied that she must remarry.Soon, it will be Oda Yoshikashi and Matsudaira Takechiyo and their world.Like their grandfather and father, they were destined to meet on the battlefield. "Miss, don't you think that since the Onin Rebellion, there have been too many wars in various countries?" Hataro returned to his seat, clapped his hands and ordered his servants to bring tea. "Uesugi from Echigo, Takeda from Kai, Hojo from Sagami, Imagawa from Suruga..." He looked at the sunshine on the partition and counted the famous names. "They all want to go to Luo. They may have realized that the people are tired of the war and are thinking about unifying the world. However, they are all too far away from the capital..." Yu Da's whole body was stiff, and he turned his gaze to the sunny yard.Wakato Kurō is still alive, what would he say?Would he still think that Matsudaira and Imagawa would always work together?The shadows of the infant Takechiyo and her parting husband appeared in front of her eyes.Hirochu will never turn his back on the Imagawa clan in this life, as long as the Imagawa clan is around, Okazaki will be fine.However, if the Oda clan's soldiers go to Mikawa, alas, poor Okazaki can only go to perish... Seeing that Yu Da seemed to have figured it out, Hataro nonchalantly talked about what he had seen and heard in the capital and Namba recently, the story about the disciples of Ishiyama Mido, and the bustling scene in the port... He also talked about why Oda Nobuhide often sent Master Ji here.Finally, he smiled and said: "Hisamatsu Yakuro is quite upright." After hearing what he said, Yu Da left. The sun is shining brightly.In the cloudless blue sky, the faces of Hirodada, Hisamatsu Yakuro, Takechiyo, and Master Yoshitaka overlapped.Why are you always reluctant to part with Guangzhong? "Miss, did you recognize the wrong person just now?" the servant asked. Yu Da nodded, bit his lips tightly and said, "I won't pay homage to my father today." Her voice trembled a little, and Shinano looked up at her in surprise.Tears filled Yu's big eyes, glistening in the sun.