I formed the strongest swordsman group

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.

Qingdeng lowered his eyelids and his eyes dimmed under his long eyelashes.

She was stunned for a moment, then showed a calm smile.

"...Sheng Qing, don't show such an expression."

"My life before that was really 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 we have a lot of work every day and are very tired, and there are worries one after another, there are also many gratifying and happy things that happen."

"Although old friends 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 gaze, looked straight at Qingdeng in front of her, and said word by word:

"And I have a friend I can rely on."

"I'm happy with my life right now."

"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 those 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 Tenshouin 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 so much pressure."

As soon as Tianzhangyuan finished speaking, footsteps from far to near suddenly sounded outside the sedan.

Then, a respectful male voice came in:

"Your Majesty the Governor, we are about to arrive in Kyoto. Your Majesty the General has given the order: We will take a short rest now and organize our troops. Please wait for a moment."

Qingden nodded slightly and responded, "Yes, I understand."

…

…

Santiao Bridge - the end point of Donghai Street and Zhongshan Street.

Kyoto is 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 the "natives" of Kyoto - is "Luozhong".

Although the former concept has been deeply rooted in people's hearts, the latter still has a place in people's traditional concepts.

Yachuan is an important dividing point between "Luozhong" and "Luobei".

To the east of Yachuan River is "Luowai", and to the west of Yachuan 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 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, with people's eagerness to see through it, 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, including the disciples, the Xiaoxing group, the Xianxian bow group, and the Xianxian 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, when he was about to enter Kyoto, Tokugawa Iemo specifically ordered the entire team to stop and rearrange their appearance.

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 Qingto defeated the Ise bandit army a while ago and returned from the victory, it was really different.

However, this is as it should be.

From ancient times to the present, people in Kyoto do not like Kanto people.

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, the people of Kanto do not regard the people of Kyoto and Osaka 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 General Tokugawa.

What's more, he even cast a disgusted look at Tokugawa Iemo's Kamiro queue.

In order to prevent accidents from happening, Kyoto Toshiro and Kyoto Town deployed the largest security force and set up long and tight cordons on the streets on both sides to prevent young people from approaching Tokugawa Iemo.

The vast army of generals, in a dead silence, slowly passed by the people of Kyoto who were walking in silence but were 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, high-level officials of the shogunate such as Tokugawa Iemo and Tenjoin 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, and Ogata Ittosai's attacks.

Although Nijo Castle has been in a "semi-abandoned" state for more than two hundred years, there are always dedicated people to maintain it.

Tokugawa Iemo arrived - Kyoto Shojidai and Kyoto Town Chief 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, and unrelated people were prohibited from approaching, and the onlookers were kept out of the cordon.

The Shangluo team stopped 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 that 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 figure out the 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 chair containing Tianzhangyuan 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 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'm 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 didn't see Tianzhangyuan's figure strolling down from the sedan chair, nor did he hear her voice.

"Huh? Mother?"

Tokugawa Iemo turned his head and looked into the sedan with a puzzled look.

Tianzhang Yuan 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, but also as if he was looking at someone.

Tokugawa Iemo frowned slightly and stared at Tianzhangin's facial expression carefully, with a thoughtful look 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 sound 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, Kaimao?! 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 my child 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, but I even opened your sedan door and called you several times. You 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 looked different from her usual brave self.

His eyes were evasive, his eyes were wandering, and his speech was 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?"

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 playful banter.

Although Tokugawa Iemo's expression changes are certainly interesting, Tenzouin's immediate reaction is more worthy of detail.

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, briefly "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.

The sharpness of his eyes... 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 was furious...or perhaps eager to escape from this place. An arrow rushed down from the sedan chair, 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 Tenzouin arrived in Kyoto in the morning.

As for Hitotsubashi Keiki and Matsudaira Chunaku, it was 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 greet these two people either.

Although they are political enemies, both sides must always show a certain degree of "friendliness" and "harmony" in public.

If possible, Qingden would like to avoid this boring "performance" as much as possible.

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 afar, 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 in vain.

He immediately made a decision: use this precious day to visit Aoshito's brainchild - the Shinsengumi's settlement!

Asking for a monthly ticket! Please vote for recommendation! (Leopard head crying.jpg)

PS: Let me share with you a joke that well 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.