"Which parent would allow their precious daughter to marry a useless person?"
"My father tried his best to protect me and prevent me from being 'taken away'."
"But... the head of a mere branch family is really powerless to resist the will of the main family."
"My father and Shimazu Saibin are close friends."
"They were childhood confidants who spent 11 years together at the Takanawa clan's residence in Edo."
"It's a pity... the friendship between brothers is no match for the calculation of interests."
"In this way, I became Shimazu Qibin's adopted daughter."
"I received nearly three months of rigorous training in manners and etiquette at Tsurumaru Castle, corrected my Satsuma accent, and learned Ooku etiquette."
[Note: Tsurumaru Castle: Also known as Kagoshima Castle, it is the residence of the Shimazu clan in Satsuma]
"In the sixth year of Kayei (1853)...exactly 10 years ago, on August 21, I set out from Kagoshima on a journey of no return."
"Since then, I have never seen Shimazu Saibin, nor have I seen any relatives or friends, including my parents."
"Arrived in Kyoto on October 2."
"Departing from Fushimi on the 6th of the same month and arriving in Edo on the 23rd."
"The wedding was postponed again and again due to Perry's second visit, the mysterious fire at the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, and the events in Edo."
[Note Perry: Matthew Perry, a U.S. Navy admiral, is world-famous for leading the black ships with Zu Abbott to open the gates of Japan during the Seoul period]
"Finally, on November 19, the third year of Ansei (1856), I made an engagement (engagement) with the Tokugawa family, and the wedding was held on December 18."
"That year, I was 21 years old and Tokugawa Iesada was 33 years old."
As if thinking of something, Tianzhangyuan stopped for a moment.
When she spoke again, she laughed "ah ha ha ha" several times.
"From a certain point of view...I got what I wanted."
"I am indeed married to the number one man in Japan."
"Tokugawa Iesada was the 13th shogun of the Edo shogunate and the nominal leader of the samurai family."
"In terms of status alone, there are few people in Japan who are higher than him."
"Oh, my mouth... said that I wanted to marry the number one man in Japan, but I didn't expect that I actually got my wish."
"If I had known this, I would have added a few more embellishments when I told my father about my ideal husband."
"Not only do you need to be number one in Japan, but you also need to be handsome enough, strong enough, and if you have a gentle and considerate personality, that would be great."
"As for age, it's best to be close to me. You can't be too much older than me, and you can't be too younger than me. At most, you can only be 5 years older and 5 years younger than me."
"If the Tokugawa family is such a man, then there is no need for Shimazu Saibin to force me. I will marry him immediately."
After making a witty remark, Tianzhang Yuan regained his expression of amusement.
"I shouldn't need to elaborate on what happens next, right?"
"One year and seven months after my father entered Olympus, Tokugawa Iesada died of illness."
"During this period, I did not support the 'Hitobashi faction' as Shimazu Saibin wished, but completely fell to the 'Nanki faction' and spared no effort to support Iemo's rise to power."
"I don't know how Shimazu Saibin will react to my 'defection'."
"Ikushima was so angry that she almost wanted to fight me with her naginata."
"Ah, Ikushima is the daughter of Ikuhime, Shimazu Saibin's sister. She is also the teacher responsible for teaching me etiquette."
[Note: Old woman: similar to the head maid]
"She entered the Great Oku with me. On the surface, she is my Otonori, but in fact, she is an internal correspondent between the Shimadzu family and the Great Oku."
[Note: Yu Nian Ji: a professional title of Da'ao, in charge of all affairs of Da'ao,]
"While she regularly reports to Shimazu Saibin on the current situation of the shogunate, she is also responsible for monitoring my 'work progress'."
"She must have never thought that I would actually 'change sides' under her nose."
"At that time, as soon as Ikushima saw me, he tried his best to persuade me to change my mind, and even threatened me with death."
"Seeing her crying, I couldn't bear it, but I had made up my mind - I would definitely stand with Jia Mao."
"In the fifth year of Ansei (1858), Ii Naomi became the elder, and Iemo's succession was a foregone conclusion."
"The frustrated Ikushima asked me to resign and left Da'ao."
"I haven't seen her since."
"I only know that she is living in seclusion and is still alive."
"To be honest, I don't like Ikushima very much."
"When I followed her to learn etiquette, she left a very bad impression on me."
"He is impersonal and has a loud voice that always makes my ears hurt. He is also very harsh."
"When I was very tired from practicing etiquette and said I wanted to rest, she said, 'In that case, let's go stretch our muscles.'"
"Then she just dragged me to the yard to practice the naginata technique, which I was not interested in at all. In the end, it made me even more tired."
"After entering the Olympiad, she always said such heart-wrenching words as 'Shimazu Saibin', 'Satsuma' and so on, which really annoyed me."
"But...that afternoon, when I saw her back turning and leaving Da'ao, I didn't feel happy."
"She is the only person in the Big Ori who can talk to me about my hometown and Satsuma."
"She's gone, and there's no one around me who can speak Satsuma..."
"It has been 10 years since I left my hometown."
"Obviously it's not a very long period of time, but the changes are already happening around me."
"Ikushima, who has been with me for many years, has left."
"My husband, Tokugawa Iesada, is dead."
"My foster father, Shimazu Qibin, is dead."
"My biological father Shimazu Tadayoshi... also died. I didn't even receive the news of his death until several months after his death, but I couldn't even go back to worship him. I could only face the Buddhist altar and look at him from a distance.
To mourn him..."
Qingdeng has been acting as a quiet listener.
It wasn't until Tianzhang Yuan finished speaking that he spoke softly:
"...Your Highness, do you hate Shimazu Qibin?"
Looking back at Tenzōin's past, it is no exaggeration to say that her life was completely ruined by Shimazu Saibin.
A descendant of the Shimazu family - in the Satsuma Domain, such a status is already among the top dignitaries.
Although it is unlikely to marry the number one man in Japan, it is more than enough to live a carefree life.
As a result...because of Shimazu Saibin's manipulation, she became a victim of politics and had to marry a "brainless general", and was then involved in the bottomless whirlpool of power struggle.
No matter from which angle you look at it, Tianzhangyuan has every reason to resent Shimazu Saibin, be hostile to Shimazu Saibin, and take revenge on Shimazu Saibin.
"He is a famous king who is praised by everyone and a wise prince who is highly regarded by everyone."
"He had a unique vision and used the knowledge he learned from foreign countries to create civilian industries."
"Using Western-style military training methods, new weapons were produced, and French-style cavalry was established."
"In a very short period of time, a dock was built, a ship was launched, and a navy was created."
"In addition, he has great talent and has cultivated a large number of talented people."
"Saigo Kinosuke, Okubo Ichizo and Komatsu Taito, who currently hold the actual civil and military power of the Satsuma Domain, were all trained by him."
"He led the Satsuma Domain to implement the policy of enriching the country and strengthening its military. Under his leadership, the Satsuma Domain became unprecedentedly powerful."
"In terms of military strength alone, the Satsuma Domain can suppress the entire western Japan with its own power."
"Even the shogunate doesn't want to be an enemy of Satsuma."
"On the day Shimazu Saibin passed away suddenly due to illness, I don't know how many Satsuma people cried bitterly, and even felt so sad that they almost wanted to commit suicide."
"In both public and private matters, he was a great monarch."
"He is a dignified lord of a vassal."
"He just did what he was supposed to do."
"Compared with the future of Satsuma Domain, what does my life mean?"
"If we can promote the union between me and Tokugawa Kesada, we will be able to expand the Satsuma Domain's political influence in one fell swoop, thereby benefiting all people."
"You only need to sacrifice a woman from a collateral lineage to get so many benefits. There is no more cost-effective deal than this. The so-called 'one hundred profits' is nothing more than this."
"I understand him."
"So I don't resent him."
Having said this, Tianzhangyuan closed his mouth suddenly and paused.
This pause lasted for a long time.
After about 20 seconds, she changed into a half-joking tone:
"Think about it carefully... Is my emotion 'generous'? Or is it 'forget it'?"
"Ahahaha... I can't figure it out myself."
"However, there is one thing I am certain of."
"I never thought about taking revenge on Shimazu Saibin."
"When the world was commenting on my 'defection', they all suspected that I hated Shimazu Saibin, so I deliberately went against him, betrayed the 'Hitobashi Sect', and fell into the arms of the 'Nanki Sect'."
"Actually, that's not the case."
"I'm not a young girl. I won't be confused when it comes to big things."
"If my sacrifice can bring happiness to thousands of people, then I am willing to go through fire and water."
"When I first entered the Olympiad, I was a genuine member of the Hitotsubashi sect, and I had no intention of rebelling."
"Shimazu Saibin once warned me repeatedly: Hitotsubashi Keiki is a hero who can master both literary and military skills. If he can inherit the position of general, he will make the sea calm and restore peace to the world."
"I always believed in Shimazu Saibin's judgment - until I personally came into contact with Hitotsubashi Keiki."
Tianzhangyuan sighed silently.
"I don't deny his talent. He is indeed a very capable person."
"At first glance, he seems to be the perfect candidate to conquer the barbarians."
"However, after my careful observation, I gradually saw through his essence, and I found that he has a very fatal flaw."
"First of all, he has no independent opinion. He just comes up with whatever he wants."
"Lack of perseverance and a strong spirit that is indomitable once you decide what to do."
"Secondly, he is easily manipulated by emotions."
"Whether he is in high spirits or when he is frightened, he is prone to making irrational judgments."
"Besides, he is more shrewd than courageous."
"Let me put it this way - if one day in the future, the overthrow of the shogunate's army comes to the city and the shogunate is in danger, Iemo will definitely put on his armor and go to war personally."
"As for Hitotsubashi's celebration? Thank God he didn't escape to Goryokaku."
[Note: Goryokaku: The five-pointed star-shaped fortress built in the Hakodate area of Ezochi (now Hokkaido) has extremely high defensive power. It was officially started in the fourth year of Ansei (1857) and is expected to be completed in 1864]
"In the end, he was a supporter of Mito Studies and respected the idea of respecting the king."
"He valued the shogunate, but he also respected the imperial court from the bottom of his heart."
"He was willing to bargain with the imperial court for the sake of the shogunate, and even went against the imperial court."
"But he always believed that disputes with the imperial court must be limited to a controllable range."
"You must never be at odds with the imperial court, let alone break out into a large-scale armed conflict with the imperial court, otherwise you will be infamy for the ages as an 'enemy of the imperial court.'"
"He would rather die than be despised as an 'enemy of the DPRK' by future generations."
"Based on his ideological concepts, I never believe that he can maintain a strong stance in the struggle against the imperial court."
"Therefore, I conclude that the person most qualified to succeed the Shogun is not Hitotsubashi Keiki, but Iemo."
"Not to mention anything else, Iamao is far superior to his opponent just because of his heroic courage."
"So, just like that, I betrayed the 'Ichitsubashi Sect' and joined the 'Nanki Sect' camp."
"Ah ha ha ha... It feels weird. I sound like an upright and righteous man."
"But everything I just said is true, and I am not bragging."
"I firmly believe that I did not misunderstand the character of Keiki Hitotsubashi."
"At the same time, I sincerely believe that Jia Mao is the wise king who can rejuvenate the country and bring peace to the country."
While Tianzhangyuan was laughing at himself, Qingdeng thought secretly.
"...Your Highness, I have another question, I don't know whether to ask it or not."
Tianzhangyuan nodded gently without thinking:
"Well, you ask."
Qingdeng organized his words.
"You said you wanted to marry the number one man in Japan,"
"But there are many kinds of 'firsts' in this world."
"For example, wealth is first, appearance is first, status is first, swordsmanship is first."
"No matter how powerful a person is, it is impossible for him to win the laurels of the pen in every aspect and every field."
"So, in your eyes, what kind of man does it take to be worthy of being the 'number one in Japan' in your mind?"
Tianzhangyuan blinked his beautiful eyes a few times.
"Huh? Sheng Qing, why do you ask this? Ah! I understand!"
She narrowed her eyes and curled up the corners of her mouth - there she was! That devilish evil smile!
Then, just like magic, she was smiling evilly one second, and turned into a pitiful and delicate look the next second.
She raised her hands to tuck her clothes tightly and trembled shyly:
"Then, um... Sheng Qing, don't do it... I am the Imperial Highness of the Imperial Palace, and you are a minister of the shogunate. There are differences between monarchs and ministers, so we cannot be combined..."
"What's more, there is a full 6-year age difference between you and me."
"You may be able to accept the elder sister, but I really can't accept the little brother who is so much younger than me..."
After saying that, Tianzhangyuan covered half of his face with his sleeves, then quietly raised his gaze, carefully "stealing" Qingdeng's expression.
While peeking, her voice continued:
"Oh, if you think about it carefully, I am really old now!"
"Unconsciously, I am already 27 years old, and you are also 21 years old."
"When you and I first met, you were only 18 years old and I was only 24."
"In the blink of an eye, three years passed quietly."
"Sheng Qing, except that your body has become stronger, your appearance has not changed much."
"And I... wu~ I obviously feel that the delicateness of my skin is far less than before, wu wu~~ I have become an old woman, wu wu~~"
Looking at Tianzhang Yuan who was "performing" on his own, Qingdeng couldn't help but show a helpless expression:
"Your Highness, I..."
Before he finished speaking, Tianzhangyuan put down the sleeves of this facial expression and smiled:
"Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore. I know you have no other intentions. I was just making a little joke."
"Sheng Qing, you asked a good question."
"Speaking of it, it seems that I have never thought about this problem before."
Tianzhangyuan half-closed his eyes, thinking deeply, while murmuring softly——
"In my eyes, what kind of man can be called 'Japan's number one'..."
Qingdeng remained silent and waited quietly.
Tianzhangyuan did not keep him waiting too long.
After only a moment, she opened her half-closed eyes and said with a smile:
"Well...I don't know either~~"
"When I was younger, I might still be in the mood to think carefully about the answer to this question."
"But now...what's the point of me thinking about this issue again?"
As she spoke, she stretched out her arms and showed Qingdeng the cyan blouse she was wearing.
"You see, I am already a widow of a dead husband."
Then, she turned her little head to the side - the short ponytail that only reached her shoulders jumped into Qingdeng's eyes.
"At the same time, she is also a retired nun."
"I am Tenjoin Atsuhime, the Grand Odaisho of the Edo Shogunate."
"If I find another new love, those old stubborns in the shogunate... especially His Highness Honjuin, will definitely tear me alive."
"In addition, I also shoulder the important task of clarifying the world with Iemo, and I really don't have the time to take care of my personal affairs."
"Although it was not my intention, now that I am sitting in this position, I can only do my best, do what I can do, and fulfill my responsibilities."
"All in all, for the rest of my life, there will no longer be love between men and women."
"In this case, thinking about this kind of problem is just adding trouble."
"Besides, it's not good for your health to think about this kind of problem all the time."
Tianzhangyuan's tone became playful again.
"Although I am no longer young, I am still far from the point where I have lost my human desires."
“You can’t touch a man anymore, but you keep thinking about him... your body will be so hot that it’s hard to sleep~~”
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Please give me a monthly ticket! Please give me a recommendation vote! (Leopard Head Cries)
She is a succubus on the outside and a little devil on the inside. She is a mature big sister who loves to talk coquettishly. She is indeed the number one heroine in this book! (Bao Hai)
