】
Speaking of this, Tianzhangyuan specifically turned his eyes and glanced at Qingdeng.
She wanted to see what kind of interesting reaction the other party would show after hearing her ambiguous remarks.
However...it didn't go as expected.
Qingden lowered his eyelids, and the light in his eyes under his long eyelashes became dim and unclear.
She was stunned for a moment, then showed a calm smile.
"...Sheng Qing, don't show such an expression."
"My previous life was indeed a mess."
"But now, the situation is very different."
"Although 'Shimazu Yuichi' will not come back, the story of 'Tenjoin Atsuhime' has just begun."
"To be honest, I am very satisfied with my current life."
At this point, Tianzhangyuan's pretty face showed some tenderness.
"Although there is a lot of work every day, it is very tiring, and one annoying thing comes one after another, but there are also many gratifying and happy things that happen."
"Although the old people are gone, more and more new people are getting to know."
"Now I have an adopted son, as well as Saege, Yae and other trustworthy subordinates, and... and..."
Her voice became choppy, as if she was planning her next words.
Not long after, she raised her eyes, looked straight at Qingdeng in front of her, and said word by word:
"I have a friend I can rely on."
"I'm very satisfied with my current life."
"So satisfied that I don't even want to change it."
"Let the dreams of your youth dissipate with the passage of time."
"I am only focusing on one thing now - to assist Iemo with all my heart, to fulfill the responsibilities of the Oitaisho, so that the people of this land can live a good life with enough food and clothing."
"This is my only dream at the moment~~"
Tianzhangyuan became more and more enthusiastic as he talked, and his every move was filled with surging enthusiasm and strong vitality.
She slowly realized that she seemed to be too excited, so she quickly sat up straight and put the catkins back on her lap.
"Ah hahaha, I'm sorry, I've been chattering non-stop since just now."
"You must be tired of hearing all my old stories from the past, right?"
"Under normal circumstances, I would never tell anyone about my past casually."
"It's not an interesting anecdote. Using it as a topic will only make the atmosphere dull."
"Maybe it's because the beautiful scenery just now made me feel so good, so I couldn't help but say all these things that should be said and things that shouldn't be said at once."
“Okay, let’s end this boring ‘Story Conference’ for now~~”
Looking at Tianzhang Yuan's cheerful appearance, Qingdeng unconsciously turned his lips and the gloomy color in his eyes gradually faded away.
"...Your Highness, to be honest, I have been thinking about what words to use to give you some comfort."
"It seems like I'm worrying too much."
After Tianzhangyuan heard this, he immediately put his hands on his hips and said with feigned dissatisfaction:
"Sheng Qing, don't underestimate me."
"I am Atsuhime Tenshoin who has successively dealt with troublesome people such as Shimazu Noribin, Honjuin, Ii Dairo, Hitotsubashi Yoshiki, etc."
"If I were that kind of weak person, I wouldn't be able to persist until now under heavy pressure."
As soon as Tianzhangyuan finished speaking, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the sedan from far to near.
Immediately afterwards, a respectful male voice came in:
"Your Majesty the Governor, we are about to arrive in Kyoto. Your Majesty the General has given an order: We will rest for a while and organize our troops. Please wait for a moment."
Qingdeng nodded slightly and said, "Yes, I understand."
…
…
Santiao Bridge - the end point of Donghai Street and Zhongshan Street.
Kyoto can be divided into "Luozhong" and "Luobei".
In a broad sense, Kyoto is Luozhong + Luoyang.
Kyoto in a narrow sense—and also the Kyoto most recognized by Kyoto’s “natives”—is “Luozhong”.
Although the former concept has been deeply rooted in people's hearts, the latter still occupies a place in people's traditional concepts.
Yachuan is an important dividing point between "Luozhong" and "Luobei".
To the east of the Kamogawa River is "Luowai", and to the west of the Kamogawa River is "Luozhong".
Generally speaking, you can only truly enter Kyoto by crossing the three bridges over the Kamogawa River.
The bridgeheads on both sides of the Sanjo Bridge were already crowded with Kyoto citizens who came to join in the fun.
After nearly 230 years, the Tokugawa shoguns returned to Luo... This was not only a historic political event, but also a major social event closely related to the future lives of the people of Kyoto.
The subsequent negotiations between General Tokugawa and the imperial court, as well as the results of their subsequent discussions, will determine Japan's future destiny to a large extent!
Is it to resist the foreigners?
Or should we continue the current policy of compromise?
Thinking of this, the citizens of Kyoto who came to join in the fun couldn't help but swallow their saliva, and their faces were uncontrollably filled with solemn emotions.
Finally, under people's eager gaze, Tokugawa Iemo's Kamiro queue slowly came into view.
The leading gunmen carried their spears, raised their heads and held their chests high, and walked by in high spirits under the gaze of everyone.
The troops that followed closely, such as the disciples, the small surname group, the vanguard bow group, and the vanguard iron cannon group, also tried their best to show their mighty and heroic side.
In order to maximize the majesty of the general and leave a good impression on the people of Kyoto, Tokugawa Iemo ordered the entire team to stop and rearrange their appearance when they were about to enter Kyoto.
The style carved by the queue cannot be described as irregular and majestic.
However... the reaction of the onlookers present was very calm.
They all stared at the shogun's formation in Shangluo with cold eyes and expressionless faces.
Such a scene...compared with the enthusiastic scene that appeared when Ayoto defeated the Ise bandit army a while ago and returned from the victory, it was really different.
However, this is also natural.
From ancient times to the present, people in Kyoto do not want to see people from Kanto.
Although from a historical perspective, Kyoto people are not good at fighting and are always conquered by the Kanto people.
The birth of the Edo shogunate was based on the powerful military power of the Bando samurai.
However, the people of Kyoto's view of the Kanto people has always remained the same - they look down upon the Kanto people.
The reason why this is so can be considered to be partly cultural factors. Kyoto culture has a certain degree of exclusiveness.
On the other hand, Kanto people do not regard Kyoto and Osaka people as their own people.
In terms of distance and distance, neither Kyoto nor Osaka was the core territory of the shogunate.
The basic base of the shogunate has always been the eight states of Kanto.
In this way, the people of Kyoto naturally had no feelings for the Tokugawa shoguns.
What's more, they even cast disgusted looks at Tokugawa Iemo's troops in Kamiro.
In order to prevent accidents from happening, Kyoto Shidai and Kyoto Town deployed the largest security force and set up long and tight cordons on both sides of the streets to prevent young people from approaching Tokugawa Iemo.
The mighty army of generals, in a dead silence, slowly passed by among the people of Kyoto who came in silence but kept silent...
…
…
Kyoto, Nijo Castle——
Nijo Castle is a castle that is easy to defend but difficult to attack.
It was also the palace of the Tokugawa shoguns in Kyoto.
Therefore, starting today, Tokugawa Iemo, Tenjoin and other high-level shogunate officials will all move into Nijo Castle.
The castle was expanded due to the emperor's fortune, and later repaired several times due to natural disasters, fires, lightning strikes, Ogata Ittousai's attacks and other events.
Although Nijo Castle has been in a "semi-abandoned" state for more than two hundred years, there are always dedicated people to maintain it.
When Tokugawa Iemo arrived, the Kyoto governor and the Kyoto town immediately organized a large number of manpower to carry out a large-scale cleaning of Nijo Castle.
From the pavement outside the main entrance to the living room in Honmaru, everything has been cleaned and spotless.
The streets and alleys adjacent to Nijo Castle were cleared, unrelated people were prohibited from approaching, and the onlookers were kept out of the cordon.
The Shangluo team was waiting outside Nijo Castle.
The sedan chairs of Aoto, Tokugawa Iemo, Matsudaira Yoshiho and others were carried across the outer moat one after another and entered the Tang Pofeng-style Higashi Otemon.
[Note: Higashi Otemon: the main gate of Nijo Castle. It is said that the main gate was placed on the east side to face Edo]
After walking for a short distance, we arrived at Chezhi.
[Note·Car post: refers to the parking porch, a porch with an extended roof built in front of the entrance to facilitate getting on and off the car.]
Jin Xi’s call came from outside the sedan:
"Lord Governor, we are here."
"Well, okay, thank you for your hard work."
Qingdeng responded while moving his waist and shoulders, which had become stiff from sitting in the sedan for a long time.
"The time has come... What a pity. Sheng Qing, let's have a good chat when we have a chance later."
Qingden returned the look with a smile and nodded.
Just when he was about to raise his hand to open the sedan door, suddenly, as if he suddenly remembered something, he paused, then turned his head and stared straight at Tianzhang Courtyard.
"Ah, yes, I almost forgot."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Your Highness, I haven't answered the question you just asked."
"question?"
Tianzhangyuan was stunned for a moment, then fell into deep thought, trying to remember what question he had just asked.
Before she could think of a reason, Qingdeng said unhurriedly:
"Your Highness, didn't you ask me just now: Am I thinking about you all the time?"
Speaking of this, the expression on his face was gradually dominated by a charming look that was half-smiling but not smiling.
"Although I can't call it concern, but very occasionally, I can't help but think: What is His Highness Tianzhangyuan doing now?"
After that, he stopped staying, opened the sedan door with a swish, and got out of the sedan.
"..."
Tianzhangyuan sat there in a daze, his eyes straightened, his expression frozen, as if he had lost his soul.
…
…
The sedan with Tianzhangyuan hidden in it was not sent directly to the warehouse.
Under the secret instruction of Tokugawa Iemo, it was quietly carried into a secret corner where no one could approach.
After dispersing all the outsiders, Tokugawa Iemo walked to the sedan alone.
"Mother, you can come out now."
While he personally opened the sedan door for Tianzhang Yuan, he complained helplessly:
"Really... Mother, your idea of 'hiding in the sedan' is too bold."
"Even I was shocked by your courage."
"If people find out that you and Qingdeng are riding in the same sedan, it will be no joke."
"Hey, forget it, there's no need to talk about this anymore."
"Fortunately, no one noticed anything strange about this sedan in the end."
While saying this, he opened the sedan door.
However, he still did not see Tianzhangyuan's figure strolling down from the sedan chair, nor did he hear her voice.
"Hmm? Mother?"
Tokugawa Iemo turned his head and looked into the sedan with a puzzled look.
Tianzhangyuan was still sitting in his original position.
His back is straight, his hands are folded on his legs, his graceful neck is stretched, and his head is held high - at first glance, there is nothing unusual about him.
She is still the woman who combines elegance and seduction.
However, if you look carefully, you can see that her cheeks are covered in a rosy red color.
There were bursts of blush on Qishang Shengxue's face, and the tips of his ears were as red as if they had been burned by fire, making him look shy and timid.
People are sitting here, but their souls have flown to nowhere.
He looked forward with a dazed expression, as if he was thinking about something or looking at someone.
Tokugawa Iemo frowned slightly, staring straight at Tianzhangin's facial expression, observing carefully, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.
Thinking is only temporary.
In just a moment, he seemed to have realized something, his eyes flashed slightly, and his facial expression became complicated and unspeakable.
Then, he took a long breath, adjusted his expression, and spoke again:
"Mother, Mother! Mother!!"
He called three times in a row, each one louder than the last, before he finally called back the "soul" of Tianzhang Courtyard.
She trembled violently, and then looked at Tokugawa Iemo with surprise.
"Huh? Huh?! Jia, Jia Mao?! You, you, why are you here?"
"We have arrived at Nijo Castle, you can come out."
"Oh, oh...that's it...we have arrived at Nijo Castle..."
"...Mother, please forgive me for being curious, but what are you thinking about? You were so absorbed in your thoughts that not only did you not know that we had arrived at Nijo Castle, I even opened your sedan door and called you several times.
They are all as unresponsive as clay sculptures and wood sculptures."
Tokugawa Iemo was like a barrage of cannons, "pressuring" Tenzōin in one go.
To be fair, Tianzhangyuan's eloquence is not that good.
However, due to her many years of experience in politics, she has developed a good courage.
No matter who the other party is, she is not afraid to argue with them.
Even when facing alone Naoki Ii, Harugaku Matsudaira and other political bigwigs who are known for their tough stance, she did not show any stage fright.
However, at this moment, she was not as brave as usual.
The eyes are evasive, the eyes are wandering, and the speech is stammering.
"No...nothing...just...just...I came to Kyoto after a long absence, and I couldn't help but recall some past events."
"Oh? Past events?"
Tianzhangyuan's demeanor and tone calmed down slightly, and he nodded vigorously:
"Yeah! Past events!"
"But...this is strange..."
As Tokugawa Iemo said, he frowned in thought.
His appearance naturally aroused the other party's confusion.
"'Strange'? What do you mean?"
Tokugawa Iemo continued quietly:
"What kind of past events can make your cheeks turn red?"
At the same moment he finished speaking, he tried his best not to laugh.
Although he tried very hard to endure it, he couldn't control the raised corners of his mouth.
As the corners of his mouth continued to rise, his expression was gradually dominated by humorous banter.
Although Tokugawa Iemo's expression changes are certainly interesting, Tenzouin's immediate reaction is more worthy of elaboration.
Her hands and feet were frozen, her expression was frozen, and she raised her hands to touch her face like a reflex - these expressions and actions were all completed at the same time.
The moment her fingertips touched her face, the hot heat directly hurt her fingertips.
Tokugawa Iemo no longer pretends.
He directly raised his profound and meaningful gaze, put on a deep and thoughtful tone, simply "packaged" the question just now, and then asked again:
"Mother, what past events did you recall that made you so blushing?"
"...?!"
In an instant, Tianzhangyuan's face turned even redder - but the "red" this time was not the same thing as the "red" just now.
She frowned and glared at Tokugawa Iemo fiercely.
His eyes are so sharp... To give a vivid example - it almost feels like a laser capable of cutting steel.
Her red lips moved, as if she wanted to say something, but no word came out.
It wasn't until a while later that she half gave up and half shouted in a low voice:
"I'm your mother! Don't worry about your elders' affairs!"
Having said that, she huffed...or she was eager to escape from this place. She rushed off the sedan with an arrow, and then quickly escaped into the corner of the corridor not far away, leaving behind a voice that gradually drifted away:
"I'm tired! I'm going to rest!"
Tokugawa Iemo watched her off silently.
At this time, he had put away his joking expression and his expression turned into one of unspeakable helplessness.
Not long after, he raised his eyes to the sky and sighed:
"Oh...this...this...what should I do..."
…
…
Tokugawa Iemo and Tenjoin arrived in Kyoto in the morning.
As for Hitotsubashi Keihe and Matsudaira Shunaku, it is a little later.
They didn't successfully enter Kyoto until the afternoon.
For these two people, Qingdeng does not need to go out to greet them.
He didn't want to meet these two people either.
Although each other is a political enemy, both parties must always show a certain degree of "friendliness" and "harmony" in public.
If possible, Qingdeng would like to avoid this boring "performance".
The specific time for Tokugawa Iemo to hold summit talks with the imperial court was determined to be the day after tomorrow...that is, the morning of April 29.
This day was appointed by the imperial court.
It is said that they were worried about Tokugawa Iemo and others coming from a long distance, so they specially set aside a day for them to have a good rest and relieve themselves from the fatigue of traveling.
Of course, given Tokugawa Iemo's character, he would not just sit in Nijo Castle and let time pass by in vain.
He immediately made a decision: use this precious day to visit Aoshito's brainchild - the Shinsengumi's settlement!
*******
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Please give me a monthly ticket! Please give me a recommendation vote! (Leopard Head Cries)
PS: Let me share with you a joke that represents people’s stereotypes of Kyoto people: the “post-war” people in Kyoto refer to does not refer to World War II, but to the Onin Rebellion (1467) that started the Warring States Period.
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This chapter has been completed!