Hosokawa Fujitaka lowered his head and said nothing. After a while, a hoarse laugh emerged from his throat, which sounded like crying.
"I'm shameless? Yes... I've lost all my face today...
He looks down on me, and I have no face to appear in front of him again. It's like you have stripped me clean in front of him.
Mother, am I really your daughter?"
Mibuchi Haru couldn't bear it when she saw Hosokawa Fujitaka raising his head in despair and looking at himself in despair.
"Futaka, you have to understand.
For some people, if you miss it, you miss it, so don’t be stubborn anymore.”
Hosokawa Fujitaka gritted his teeth and said.
"It was you who wanted to marry him to me in the first place! It was you!
Today you told me again to stop being so stubborn. In your heart, who am I?"
Mibuchi Haru moved his eyes away and whispered.
"Futaka, forget it."
Hosokawa Fujitaka said coldly.
"Forget it? Akechi Mitsuhide said in front of me that she...she..."
Hosokawa Fujitaka couldn't say it. She just blurted it out and humiliated Yoshigoshi. In fact, in her heart, she admired Yoshigan like a male god. How could she be willing to hurt others with her words?
Mibuchi Haru somewhat understood, and he did not despise Shiba Yiyin in his heart. Instead, he felt sorry for his sensible nephew.
"The child's family was exterminated when he was fifteen, and now he is only eighteen years old, and his wife has died.
Do you know how difficult it is for a man to struggle in the world of Samurai Ji? I don't even dare to think about how much hardship he has endured.
I know that you know a lot of things that I don't know, but I don't allow you to look down on him. The Yiyin boy is worthy of me, worthy of you, and worthy of the Hosokawa Miyuan family.
It’s us, it’s us who are sorry for him!”
Mibuchi Haru burst into tears, and Hosokawa Fujitaka was speechless. How could she not understand the goodness of Yoshiin?
Sibo Yiyin is a breath of fresh air in troubled times, and the white moonlight in the hearts of many Ji warriors.
In this world of deception and dishonesty, his appearance of upholding righteousness is so charming that people feel trapped in it and don't want to wake up.
But the better he gets, the more unwilling Hosokawa Fujitaka becomes.
Hosokawa Fujitaka couldn't bear the confession his mother made in front of Yoshigan Shiba just now, and the contemptuous look Yoshigan Shiba gave him after learning the truth.
He looks down on me!
Hosokawa Fujitaka silently screamed in her heart. All her pride as a proud daughter of heaven was shattered in front of Yoshigoshi Shiba and turned into a despicable villain.
She couldn't accept this result and lost the qualification to pursue him.
Mibuchi Haru shook his head and whispered advice.
"Futaka, everything is fate.
You and him are destined to have no connection, so stop thinking about it."
Hosokawa Fujitaka was tired of hearing her mother's nonsense, so she said coldly.
"Mother, if there is nothing else, I will leave first.
What Hosokawa's mother asked me to do is already flawed because of you, and I still need to go to Nijo Imperial Palace to explain."
When business came up, Haru Mibuchi suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
The Hosokawa and Mibuchi families had a good discussion at Shoryuji Castle. After going to Luo, Mibuchi Haru went to see Yoshigan Shiba and Hosokawa Fujitaka went to see Ashikaga Yoshiaki.
The two parties sent friendly people to contact each other, carefully stepped on the tightrope, and maintained a balanced and neutral attitude. They sat and watched the transfer of power after the shogunate and waited for the two parties to make an offer.
But Haru Mibuchi heard that Yoshie Shiba was ill, and because of his emotions, he dragged Hosokawa Fujitaka to Shiba's mansion, which ruined the strategy of the Hosokawa Mibuchi family.
She made it clear that the Hosokawa-Mibuchi family was sorry for Shiba Yoshigan, so why did those two families have the dignity to mention the losses caused by Minami-Omi's crusade?
Mibuchi Haru was so emotional, Hosokawa Motonsune knew that he would definitely scold this ignorant sister to death.
She thought so much that sweat broke out on her forehead, but Hosokawa Fujitaka was no longer willing to stay any longer and resigned.
Mibuchi Haru, who was silenced by Hosokawa Fujitaka about this matter, of course had nothing to say, so she could only watch her daughter walk away with a frown on her face.
———
In front of the Nijo Imperial Palace, Hosokawa Fujitaka accidentally saw Ise Sadakyu.
The two of them greeted each other with false affection, and after exchanging a few words, Ise Sadakyo led Hosokawa Fujitaka inside and said with a smile.
"Fuji Takahime, you are a little late. Your Highness Yoshiaki has been looking forward to you for a long time."
Hosokawa Fujitaka glanced at the smiling Ise Sadakyo, feeling confused.
When did Ise Sakyo squeeze into Ashikaga Yoshiaki's circle? It seems that he is still quite important.
You should know that the person who contacted Hosokawa Fujitaka before was Wada Yaimasa.
Wada Weimasa accompanied Ashikaga Yoshiaki from Sakamoto Castle to Echizen Province, and then traveled back and forth to Omi-Mino and other places, and his contribution was not small.
How could she let Ise Sadakyo come from behind? This is unreasonable.
The involvement of the Ise Sadato in the murder of Ashikaga Yoshiteru has become a secret known to all the concubines inside and outside the shogunate.
As the successor, Ashikaga Yoshiaki did not want to use her head to establish his authority, but instead reused Ise Sakyo, which was simply outrageous.
Although Ashikaga Shogun has been reduced to a decoration in the hearts of most samurai, he is also the master of the world. When going out and socializing, everyone must worship the supreme statue according to the rules.
Ashikaga Yoshiteru was stabbed by someone, but the Ise Sada sect, which he was deeply involved in, is still alive and kicking. What face will the shogunate have in the future when it faces the local samurai family?
The Ashikaga shogunate has become a puppet who was killed without incident, so who does the Ashikaga shogunate count as a p?
Although he was full of doubts in his heart, Hosokawa Fujitaka still answered with a smile on his face.
"His Royal Highness Yoshiaki is a courteous and virtuous corporal. He is truly a wise master."
Ise Sadaoka nodded.
"Indeed."
The two of them were walking and talking, saying a few words that no one believed. Ise Sadakyo suddenly changed his subject and said:
"Futaka, I'm much older than you, and you won't be surprised if I want to be so shameless as to show off to you, right?"
Hosokawa Fujitaka pretended to be frightened and answered.
"Ise-sama, please don't say that.
You are an elder and you are willing to teach me face to face. It is my blessing. I should listen attentively."
Ise Sadakyo had a kind face, stopped and looked at Hosokawa Fujitaka. Hosokawa leaned forward slightly, looking respectful.
"Futaka, you and I are both queens of a famous shogunate. In our hearts, what is important and what is light is naturally clear and there is no need to say more.
There are some things that you don’t need to be surprised about.
I admit that Xiandai and I had some conflicts at the beginning. Xiandai had a strong temperament and I could not serve her, but this did not prevent Her Highness Yoshiaki from needing me.
The shogunate can last for two hundred years because everyone knows that this archway cannot be lost.
Instead of fighting to the point of losing both sides and leaving everyone with no food to eat, it is better to settle for the next best thing and help each other to survive together."
Hosokawa Fujitaka was not sure what Ise Sadakyo meant when she said such nonsense to her seriously, but she still bowed on her face.
"Thank you, sir, I would like to be taught."
Ise Sadakyo saw Hosokawa Fujitaka's sincere face, as if he had really gained some truth from his words, and couldn't help laughing.
"The shogunate can be maintained to this day because of the joint efforts of everyone. The Ashikaga shogunate, the shogunate, and the powerful local vassals are all indispensable.
The previous generations were too strong and destroyed the balance within the shogunate. The fate of Kyoto was already destined.
I am telling you this not to excuse myself, nor to slander the honorable names of our ancestors.
I just want to tell you that in this shogunate, there are no eternal friends and no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.
As long as the interests are consistent, you don't need to be surprised who comes together with whom."
Ise Sadao's words about the relationship between friends and interests made Hosokawa Fujitaka's pupils shrink slightly and he bowed his head again.
"I would like to be taught."
Hosokawa Fujitaka thought in his mind.
What common interests do Ashikaga Yoshiaki and Ise Sadato have that would allow her to ignore Ise Sadato's sin of killing Ashikaga Yoshiteru and use her even more than Wada Weimasa and others?
Why did Ise Sadakyo talk to me so deeply? The scale was too large, and it was a bit arrogant.
Ise Sadakyo returned the salute with a smile, and continued walking forward, talking as he walked.
"His Royal Highness Yoshiaki summoned all the ministers to wait for you in the meeting hall. If you have nothing to do, we will chat about you.
Fujitaka, you are already a grown-up, why haven’t you gotten married yet? The bloodline of the Izumi-Hosokawa family needs you to work hard to continue it."
Hosokawa Fujitaka squinted her eyes, lowered her head and walked forward, thinking in her mind what Ise Sadakyo meant, she said.
"Ashamed that His Highness Yoshiaki and all of you have to worry about me."
Her answer was impeccable. Ise Sadakyu smiled slightly and said again.
"It's not all about you. Your Highness Yoshiaki is still lamenting that the previous generations suffered misfortunes and that Odaisuo was alone at such a young age.
The Ashikaga Shogun family has His Highness Yoshiaki continuing the tradition, but what about the Imperial Palace? Although the ancestors and the Imperial Palace had an engagement, the marriage has not yet been consummated.
The imperial office is very kind to the shogunate and His Highness Yoshiaki, so we can't let him dedicate himself to the shogunate while he ends up in the predicament of being unable to continue his career, right?
I did mention that since Fujitaka has no husband, it would be better for him to be matched by the imperial court.
Although I feel a little sorry for the ancestors, I believe the ancestors can understand that the Wu family values the family business and the succession of the Shiba family's heirs."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Hosokawa Fujitaka from behind.
Hosokawa Fujitaka's heart, which had just cooled down at Mibuchi Haruhito's side, was stirred up by Ise Sadako's few words, and seemed to be on the verge of resurgence.
She stopped, took a deep breath, and looked at Ise Sadakyo.
Ise Sadakyo turned around and saw her being so rude. He felt proud in his heart, but his face looked like concern of an elder.
"I said it casually, but I didn't expect His Highness Yoshiaki to think it was good.
But, Fujitaka, am I a little too talkative? I haven’t even asked you what you think, so I’m just thinking about such important life events for you and Odai.
After proposing it to His Highness Yoshiaki, I still regretted it a little, as it seemed that I was too troublesome."
Hosokawa Fujitaka suppressed his excitement and trembled.
"The imperial office has a deep affection for the ancestor. I'm afraid it won't be easy to convince him, right?"
Ise Sadakyo gave Hosokawa Fujitaka a meaningful look and said.
"The Imperial Palace mourns the death of our ancestors, and His Highness Yoshiaki and I are also deeply saddened.
Therefore, we do not want to mention this matter to him for the time being, lest he misunderstand our good intentions.
After His Highness Yoshiaki succeeded to the throne, the Imperial Office also relieved the burden of the shogunate, and we would discuss it with him again.
Even if he misses his ancestors, he still has to live his life. He can't let the Spo family die, right?
I believe that with the sincere persuasion of you and me, His Highness Yoshiaki, and the sincere care of my colleagues in the shogunate, the Imperial Palace will definitely accept our good intentions.
Fujitaka, do you think this is true?"
Hosokawa Fujitaka tightly held his trembling hands and pressed the tip of his tongue against the roof of his mouth to restrain his uncontrollable excitement.
She finally understood why Ashikaga Yoshiaki reused the Ise Sadaect. It turned out that Ashikaga Yoshiaki, a shameless person, wanted to burn bridges.
After Yoshigan Shiba helped her become the Ashikaga Shogun, he used the method of remarriage to kick Yoshigan Shiba out of the Kawachi Genji lineage and deprive him of his status in the Ashikaga Shogun family.
It's just that Ise Sadakyo made a good excuse. For the sake of the successors of the Shiba family, he implored the emperor to put the family business first.
Good! A good family business is the most important thing!
Hosokawa Fujitaka looked at Ise Sadakyo. Wada Weimasa had no face to do such a sinister strategy of giving birth to a daughter without having sex. Those old ministers of Ashikaga Yoshiteru, they all had no face to do it.
With only Ise Sadaoka, she has no way out. Is there anything she can't do?
No wonder Ashikaga Yoshiaki re-employed Ise Sadakyo, these two bastards were really shameless.
It's a coincidence that Hosokawa Fujitaka's face was torn apart by Mibuchi Haru just before Shiba Yigen's hospital bed. He was also a shameless person.
Hosokawa Fujitaka laughed. His originally despairing heart suddenly felt like he had survived a desperate situation, and his smile was so excited that his smile became distorted.
"I think what you said is good and makes sense."
Ise Sadakyo started laughing, and the two looked at each other and laughed continuously.
As Ise Sakyo said, there are no eternal friends or eternal enemies in the shogunate, only eternal interests.
At this moment, the interests of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, Ise Sadakyo, and Hosokawa Fujitaka were closely linked because of a common goal.
———
"Oh!"
Yiyin sneezed hard, with such force that it even made him dizzy.
He blew his nose in confusion. His body should have almost recovered, but suddenly he felt a chill. What was going on?
On the side, Takada Yukino silently held the medicinal soup in front of him. Yoshigan, who had just said that his body was well, suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
Under the seemingly respectful but tough gazes of Yukino Takada and Naomasa Ii, Yoshigami smiled helplessly, picked up the medicinal soup and drank it in one gulp.
It's so bitter, I don't want to drink it at all.
Yoshigan tried to distract himself, recalling his previous meeting with Mibuchi Haru, and ignore the bitter numbness on the back of his tongue.
He really didn't expect that the little actions of the Hosokawa Mibuchi family were all because of him. He subconsciously touched his face and blamed himself for being too handsome.
His decisive attitude today, although it embarrassed Hosokawa Fujitaka and might make him feel resentful, also made the Hosokawa Mibuchi family completely give up.
Since there is no hope for Hosokawa Shiba to merge, I believe that Hosokawa Motonsune will no longer support Hosokawa Fujitaka's nonsense, and the cooperation between the two parties can be on the right track again.
The powerful local faction in the shogunate is the basis for Yoshigan's operation in the shogunate. Today he has revealed his intentions and expressed his concerns about Oda Nobunaga to Mibuchi Haru.
The grand strategy of uniting the shogunate and expelling Oda begins with the Hosokawa Mibuchi family.