Even for the Hatamoto samurai, there are as many "rice bugs" as there are those who can only stay at home and rely on the support of their families because they have no official position or career to do.
This is the current situation in this country.
The explosion in the number of samurai caused by the comfortable life made the officialdom of the shogunate and various vassal states already overpopulated.
In order to become an official and to obtain "hard-core crops" that they would not have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of their lives, the warriors used their own skills to make a fortune.
Fighting for family background, fighting for financial resources, fighting for connections... The social structure of "emphasis on origin, not ability" has destined that people with a poor starting point have almost no possibility of getting ahead.
Even Katsu Rintaro, who has become a hot topic in recent years and rose to his current high position as a subordinate, is only able to achieve his current status because of the continuous help he received from noble people.
Although Xin Zhikuan's family background is not bad, and in terms of family income alone, it can be regarded as a "middle-level banner", but such a status is nothing more than high and low.
You won't be like a lower-level Hatamoto who can't even guarantee daily food and clothing, but you won't be able to get the official position you want with just a few clicks like a big-body Hatamoto.
The new wife Kuan is not willing to live her whole life as a white body with nothing but swordsmanship.
For the ambitious Nitsuma Kuan, who desires to achieve great fame, if she wants to realize her ambition, she must find another way!
Therefore, his eyes were fixed on the swordsmanship competition hosted by Matsudaira Yoho, the lord of the Aizu domain last year.
He pinned his hopes on this competition.
Winning the first prize in this unprecedented scale competition, becoming famous in one battle, and gaining the appreciation of the Chiba family or the lord of a certain domain - this is what he plans and desires.
As a result... everything came to nothing due to the emergence of Tachibana Aoden.
Although he didn't want to admit it, Qingteng showed his strength at that time, which made Xin Zukuan still feel that he has lingering feelings for him to this day.
How could I possibly defeat such a monster... Just when he was feeling so sad, a mysterious man suddenly appeared.
This person handed him a strange pill.
The effect of this medicine, simply put, is that it can make you highly concentrated. It can put your mind into a state similar to "without distracting thoughts", thereby improving the reaction speed and thinking ability... That person is full of bewitching power.
The tone said so.
Although it has a very significant effect, it also has strong side effects. This state of high concentration can only last for one stick of incense. After this state passes, the user will have a severe high fever. If he can survive it,
If you get over this high fever, you'll be fine. If you can't survive it, then... After the man added this, he stretched out his hand and scratched his neck horizontally.
A drug of unknown origin donated by an unknown person... Logically speaking, it would be impossible for Nitsuma Kuan to take this kind of drug that God knows what it is made of.
However... at that time, Nitsuma Kuan had already lost his mind.
The longing for fame, the desire for victory, the jealousy of Qingden... the complex emotions mixed by the above made Xin Zuma Kuan lose his normal thinking ability, and the whole person fell into a state of hysteria.
He hesitated until the last moment, and finally chose to swallow this strange pill.
The mysterious man didn't lie to him. The effect of this pill was indeed shocking.
A few seconds after the pill sank into his stomach, his whole body and mind became unprecedentedly... peaceful.
Yes. It's tranquility.
All sounds from the outside world seemed to be far away from him, he could not bring up any distracting thoughts in his mind, and his concentration was terrible. When he walked, his feet seemed not to be stepping on solid ground, but on soft floating clouds.
He was not Qingdeng's opponent, but with the help of this medicine, he and Qingdeng were evenly matched.
I can win! I can defeat Qingdeng!
Just when he was rejoicing that he and Qingdeng were inseparable... the scenes that unfolded shattered all his confidence.
Relying on his swordsmanship talent that is dozens of times that of ordinary people, Qingdeng learned his sword skills on the spot. In just a moment, he changed the situation from "tie" to "slightly superior", and then turned it into "complete suppression" in one breath.
”.
He tried his best, even resorting to such despicable means as "taking medicine", but he was still defeated by Qingdeng's sword...
Before his new wife could suffer the painful defeat of Kuan Seipin, the sequelae that the mysterious man had explained in advance after swallowing this medicine invaded his body.
He developed a high fever on the spot. The high body temperature amazed all the experienced doctors who had seen him.
After lying in bed for more than a month, this wave seemed to evaporate the blood, and the high fever in the brain finally subsided.
But this does not mean that his body has recovered.
What followed the high fever was the fatigue that made me unable to stand firmly, and the dizziness that made me feel like the world was spinning.
After taking countless expensive supplements and receiving the most attentive care from his family and servants, he rested for several months. It was not until recently that he finally felt that his body had returned to the state before taking the medicine.
Not only did he fail to win the competition, but he also injured his body... It can be said that he lost both his wife and his army.
However, whatever happens is fine.
Compared with these, the confusion of not knowing where to go next is the most painful thing for New Wife Kuan now.
——Damn it...Damn it...!
The new wife let out a heavy sigh, turning her unwillingness into a voice with a "Oh", while stretching out her hands to support the wall in front of her, lowering her head and closing her eyes tightly.
——I have... tried everything I have...
——I practiced swordplay until the skin on my palms broke countless times. There were several times when I was so tired that I almost coughed up blood.
——I have searched for all the connections I can find, and tried all the methods I can try, but I still can’t get an official position...
——Just because my background is not good enough... Just because my family status is not high enough...
——In terms of talent and hard work, I am much better than those idle people who only care about eating, drinking and having fun!
——When...how long will it take for me to become famous...!
The fingers of Niizuma's wide hands gradually tightened, and her nails scraped against the wooden wall, making a sharp and sharp sound.
The dim candlelight stretched the new wife's desolate figure.
At this moment, the cold wind came and the lights swayed.
"New Wife-kun, your energy is much better than I thought."
Unexpectedly, Xinzuma Kuan suddenly heard a young male voice that sounded familiar to him from behind...
His eyes suddenly widened and he quickly turned back.
I saw a young man sitting proudly on the open window sill.
Because of the backlight, the young man's face was in relative darkness, making it difficult to see his facial features clearly.
However, even so, Shinzuma Kuan recognized the other party immediately.
"It's you...!"
"That's right, it's me."
The young man smiled slightly.
"I didn't expect you to still remember me."
How could Xizuma Kuan forget this man?
It was this man who called himself "Rakshasa" who gave him the magical pill that had amazing effects but extremely serious side effects!
Judging from the objective facts, Rakshasa was a benefactor who had extended a helping hand to him.
But this does not mean that Nitsuma Kuan regards Rakshasa as one of his "own people" who can treat each other sincerely.
The superb ability to sneak into his room silently, the ability to give out strange drugs that can suddenly increase a person's combat effectiveness... These behaviors all cast a shadowy "fog" around Rakshasa's body.
, making it difficult for people to see clearly his true appearance and what he wants.
Shinzuma Kuan was instinctively wary of this man.
The new wife Kuan, whose face was filled with solemnity for a moment, quietly opened the distance between him and Rakshasa, and said in a deep voice:
"...It's you again...Why do you want to come to our house suddenly without knowing what you're doing?"
Rakshasa shrugged. "Well, my new wife, you don't have to be so nervous, and you don't have to be so wary of me. You don't deserve it, I just want to come and visit you."
After saying that, Rakshasa swept his eyes and looked at his new wife from head to toe.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... New Wife-kun, your current appearance... is really embarrassing."
"Embarrassed" - this group of words was like a needle, piercing deeply into the heart of the new wife Kuan, and his brows instantly jumped several times due to displeasure.
Rakshasa didn't seem to see the change in Xizuma Kuan's expression, and continued on by himself:
"Every time I see a depressed young man like you, I feel doubly sad."
To be continued...