On October 15th, the tenth year of Astronomy (1541), the maple forest was in full bloom. Imagawa Yoshimoto did not forget his agreement with Shuangye, and went to the maple forest in Imagawakan Kitayama as promised. Although he asked himself that he would not do anything extraordinary, and in
In this era, even if a husband, especially a man from the martial arts family, does something outrageous, his wife should welcome it, after all, it is conducive to spreading the business - but Imagawa Yoshimoto still has a strong sense of guilt in his heart, feeling that he is
Secret meeting with outsiders without telling Ginkgo.
However, Shuangye in the maple forest had never thought about this. After she saw the figure of Imagawa Yoshimoto with eager anticipation, the joy on her face could no longer be suppressed. Imagawa Yoshimoto understood that the woman did not live up to his wishes.
Looking for a good husband like that, but continuing to stay in this maple forest day and night - worrying that if he doesn't come on any day, or even if he doesn't come at any hour, he will miss his "uninvited guest" at an uncertain time, and miss a year.
We only had one chance to meet.
And Imagawa Yoshimoto himself, in order to minimize the time of contact with the frost leaves, deliberately chose to come before sunset. In this way, he would have an excuse to escape quickly.
But isn't this too humble for her?
Imagawa Yoshimoto sighed, understanding that Shuangye's feelings were unhealthy, but there was nothing he could do about it. He didn't know why Shuangye fell in love with him.
"Sir, maybe I should call you His Highness?" While Imagawa Yoshimoto was still thinking wildly, Shuangye had already spoken.
"How does the lady know that I am 'Your Highness'?" Imagawa Yoshimoto never mentioned his identity to Shuangye.
"One year is enough for me to inquire about the entire Imagawa Pavilion." Shuangye smiled bitterly when he heard this, but there was still a bit of pride in the bitter smile, "I got married in the sixth year of Tianwen (1537). My wife is from another country and has great literary talent.
How many of the overflowing Imagawakan samurai are there in total? Your Highness, the Governor of the House?"
"In that case, I won't cover it up any more." Imagawa Yoshimoto admitted frankly.
"Do you want to hear the truth? Originally, the little girl had some unreasonable thoughts about the future of herself and the young master, but after learning the young master's identity, she realized that everything was impossible." There was a hint of sadness in Shuangye's eyes.
, it was not as heartbreaking as imagined. But Yoshimoto Imagawa understood that this was the result of a long period of accumulation - who would have known how the woman would collapse when she first learned the news?
"Identity should not be an obstacle that hinders love." Although Imagawa Yoshimoto has no intention of further development with Shuangye, he still instinctively corrects this view, "Under gods and Buddhas, all living beings are equal."
"That's not what I meant." Shuangye was slightly frustrated because Imagawa Yoshimoto had misunderstood. She wanted to speak, but felt a little embarrassed. After thinking for a long time, she said:
"I ask myself that I only appreciate the young master's talent and conversation. But if the young master's status is so noble, and I continue to pursue him reluctantly, wouldn't it make people mistakenly think that I, a young woman, am following the trend?"
"How could I think so?" Imagawa Yoshimoto decisively denied.
"It doesn't matter what the young master thinks, but the little girl also cherishes feathers and will never do such things that may cause criticism." Shuangye shook his head, as if he didn't want to talk about this issue anymore, but said
Another incident occurred: "What the young master did in Shinano this time was quite good."
"Huh? How come Miss Shimoye has even heard of it?" Imagawa Yoshimoto himself did not want this matter to spread so widely, "There is really no way."
"'The most benevolent person in Tokaido'..." Shuangye recalled Imagawa Yoshimoto's title among the people, and couldn't help but laugh, "Everyone knows, everyone doesn't know. Although the little girl devotes herself to poetry and painting, she also
You’re not someone who doesn’t listen to what’s going on outside the window.”
"It's not worthy of its name. It's better to call it less in the future. I just feel annoyed after hearing it." Imagawa Yoshimoto couldn't laugh, "At that time, the Takeda family massacred the city. If I was tough enough, I think I could have stopped the massacre. But I didn't want to harm the Imagawa family.
I didn’t want to create a rift in the Kao-jun alliance, and I didn’t want the relationship between His Highness Takeda and me to break up, so I finally chose to compromise. I am not what the people call a benevolent person at all. I really don’t know how such hypocritical hypocrisy can be praised by all people.
."
"Not as good as the superiors, but more than the inferiors. Compared with other Qiu Ba who only knows how to dance with guns and sticks and does not see the suffering of the people, the young master is already much better. Hypocrites are also gentlemen, and they are always better than real villains." Shuangye's point of view
It is quite similar to Ginkgo, and he spontaneously explained to Imagawa Yoshimoto, "I believe that if the young master was not born in the martial arts family and did not have so many interests entangled, he would be able to become a frank and true gentleman. But of course he cannot be a carnivore.
If you are as willful as a knight-errant, you must consider your family."
On December 11, the tenth year of Tianwen (1541), a group of people rushed to the city gate in the mountain city of Enjiang Kunishe in the snow. The people who came were none other than Imagawa Yoshimoto, Taiyuan Xuesai, Sena Ujitoshi and a group of Hatamoto guards. Outside
The wind and snow were very strong, and pedestrians' raincoats were covered with snow. It was very difficult for horses to step on the thick snow, let alone people. However, no one questioned this trip, and no one
I feel that Imagawa Yoshimoto should not condescend to come to the retainer’s castle——
Because the Sena clan was about to die, this veteran of the Imagawa family, who had served the Imagawa family all his life, wanted to see Imagawa Yoshimoto before he died.
"Father is only in his 40s...why did it happen all of a sudden..." Sena Shitoshi led Imagawa Yoshimoto and others towards the castle tower, but his own eyes turned red again.
Imagawa Yoshimoto knew that he, a retainer who loves to cry, had quietly hid in no one's house and cried many times after learning that his father was suddenly seriously ill in early December. But in front of Imagawa Yoshimoto, he had always tried his best to
Holding back his tears, he handled official duties in the castle tower responsibly. Even Imagawa Yoshimoto gave him leave and asked him to go back to see his father, but he refused. Until the Sena family was dying and asked Imagawa Yoshimoto to come and see him.
After one visit, Toshizai Sena finally got the chance to visit his father.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "If my father knew that I was leaving official duties because I was worried about his illness, he would definitely be very disappointed and scold me." Toshi Sena at the time.
This is how he rejected Imagawa Yoshimoto, "I have been a weak person since I was a child, and my father worried a lot about me, worrying that I would not be able to become a qualified samurai. I can't let my father disappoint me at the last moment, and I want to do my best.
Serve the Lord."
"Sena, how many times have I told you not to put these inexplicable family interests more seriously than family ties and relationships." Imagawa Yoshimoto patted Sena Ujitoshi on the back and strode inside with him.
Go, "If you leave a lifelong regret, you will regret it."
In the bedroom, Sena Shizada was lying on the mattress, her eyes tightly closed, and her breath was frighteningly weak. The Sena family's junior and maids retreated knowingly when they saw Imagawa Yoshimoto and Sena Shitoshi coming.
They went out. Sena Shitoshi quickly closed the door behind them, fearing that the cold wind would blow in.
Seemingly disturbed by the movement of the incoming person, Sena Ujisada coughed twice, slowly turned his head, opened his eyes and looked towards the door. Imagawa Yoshimoto was about to say hello, but found that Sena Ujisada's eyes were not at all.
It was not locked on his body, but was shaking aimlessly - he could no longer see clearly.
"Is it Gengoro..." Sena Ujisada raised his hand, gestured tremblingly toward the door, and called Sena Ujitoshi's childhood name. Sena Ujitoshi hurriedly stepped forward, knelt down, and held his father's hand.
"Father, it's me! It's my child!" Sena Shitoshi responded sobbingly after holding back the tears for many days.
But Sena Jisada seemed not to have heard, and repeated again: "Is it Gengoro..."
Imagawa Yoshimoto realized that the seriously ill Sena Sada could neither see nor hear clearly. But even though his vision and hearing were deprived, this man had always been unkind, putting family interests first and being harsh to his children.
A samurai who can still recognize his own child just by feeling.
Seeing his father's appearance, Sena Ujitoshi cried even harder. He put his father's weak and old hand on his cheek, then nodded slowly and answered his father's question.
"Then...has the family governor come down?"
Sena Shisada coughed twice more, and then asked slowly. Sena Shishun nodded immediately, and Sena Shisada sighed with relief and slowly lowered his hands.
Imagawa Yoshimoto sat cross-legged in front of the mattress, and then bowed deeply - he knew that Sena Jisada could not see him, but he still wanted to pay tribute to this veteran minister who had served the Imagawa family for three generations. Just like Sena Ujitoshi.
As mentioned, Sena is only 45 years old, has no bad habits such as drinking and sex, and does not have any cold or cold diseases. The reason why her body is like this is simply due to fatigue - working day and night, and finally she has recovered.
His body was exhausted. Imagawa Yoshimoto suddenly felt a little guilty - while he was leisurely and having fun all day long, his retainers were working hard.
"Your Highness, the Governor... I'm afraid I don't have much time left. I have a few useless words of advice left. I hope you will take the time to listen to them."
Sena Shizada took a deep breath and spent a lot of energy before speaking a long sentence:
"After the old master passed away, I worried about the future of the Imagawa family day and night. After the previous master also passed away, the family was in chaos for a while, and I couldn't sleep at night. I only regretted that I was lacking in talent and knowledge, and was unable to stabilize the country. But now, Your Highness, you are extremely talented.
With the help of Master Xue Zhai, the Imagawa family is now at peace, their homeland has been restored, and I will have no regrets even if I leave."
"The only thing I'm worried about is your temperament, Your Highness. I know that you don't want to be the governor of the family, and you were forced to do so by Master Yudai and Xue Zhai. But right now, no one can do it for you. Only you can be the governor of the Imagawa family.
.So there is no other way. You have to rein in your temper and stop focusing on elegance all day long. You have to deal with government affairs. First, Master Xue Zhai is not young anymore, so you can no longer entrust everything to him."
"Second, I guess you won't like to hear what I said, but I still want to say it. People who are about to die should speak kindly. Others are afraid of offending others when they say these things, but I am not afraid of a dying person. Veteran
I know that you have a deep relationship with Master Xue Zhai as a master and disciple, and I also know that Master Xue Zhai is loyal to you. But it is necessary to be on guard against others. Even if Master Xue Zhai does not have any evil thoughts, there is no guarantee that the people around him will not.
Use your brain. If Master Xue Zhai is really unfavorable to you, how should you deal with it? It is safest to have the power in your family in your own hands."
"I know that asking you to work diligently is probably more difficult than reaching the sky." Sena Shizada coughed heavily several times, then raised his hand again and grabbed Sena Shitoshi, "So, I have the courage to do it.
, Your Highness, please keep Inuko by your side. Although Inuko will inherit the Sena family after the death of the old minister, please leave all territorial matters on the Yuanjiang River to the old minister's clan brother Zhenqing. Let Inuko follow you.
, to handle government affairs for you, so as not to hand over all the power to Master Xuesai alone. If there are any misunderstandings around Master Xuesai in the future, His Highness can rely on Inuko, and the Sena family will be the wings of the Imagawa clan for all their lives."
"Gengoro, my father is dead, and you have to shoulder the burden. You must serve His Highness wholeheartedly and dedicate yourself to the public. You must not have a day or even a moment of leisure. If you neglect your duties, you will be disobeying my father."