"Gong Qianxin is of unparalleled magnificence, and it is not strange for him to be admired by the martial arts family. You should not pursue these matters, as it is rare for you to be confused.
Don't reach into Shiba's house and make it difficult for Mr. Kenshin to do anything. Wait for the two families to merge before handling everything.
The Shiba family is the leader of the local powerful faction, and Gong Qianxin has both prestige and talent. Fortunately, he is a man, so the two parties can easily merge.
Now that you have identified him, you must treat the Spo family well and prepare for the future of the two families.
A sensible person like Akechi Mitsuhide shouldn't always humiliate and hit him, but should also give him some benefits to win him over."
Ashikaga Yoshiki laughed and said.
"Isn't it this time?
Fushimi Castle is so important, and I leave it to her to take care of it. Doesn’t that prove how much I value it?
I will summon her again in a few days and promise that after the two families are united, I will promote her as the head of the Xinsiba family who is loyal and trustworthy, and I will ensure that she works hard."
Da Yutai said with approval.
"The general did the right thing."
The bad feelings between father and daughter gradually disappeared, and they began to talk and laugh again. Even Ashikaga Teru-kun also let go of his courage and participated.
———
After a family banquet ended happily, Ashikaga Yoshiki walked out of the palace with a smile on his face and walked towards his sword room.
Outside the sword room, Yagyu Zongyan bowed in greeting.
"See General, how are you?"
Ashikaga Yoshiki looked at her without saying anything, and the smile on his face gradually shrank, leaving only a hint of ridicule at the corner of his mouth.
"I'm not good."
Yagyu Soen trembled all over and knelt down to kowtow. Ashikaga Yoshiki looked at the back of her head and sneered.
"What a loyal and loyal Omatsu. He is very good at taking care of your worries. Whenever there is any trouble on my side, the emperor will always know it."
Yagyu Zongyan was horrified and asked for help.
"General, calm down."
She was complaining in her heart that the information from Daimufu would not be concealed from Daigotaisuo.
Because the brotherhood controlled by Odai is another means for the shogun to rule Kyoto and control the samurai family of the shogunate.
But I don't know what happened to the general today. He seemed to be dissatisfied with Ootai knowing too much, and he vented his anger on himself.
What could Yagyu Sogan say? What could she dare to say? Whatever she said was just to sow the feelings between the general and his daughter. It was all wrong, so it was better not to say anything.
Yagyu Muneyan was a bachelor, and he confessed his crime without refuting a word. Ashikaga Yoshiteru knew that she was right, but the evil fire in his heart could not be vented, which made him feel uncomfortable.
Unknowingly, she became less and less able to listen to other people's advice, even if that person was her own father. Is this kind of advice that seems to be persuading an ignorant child an attitude toward Ashikaga General?
Ashikaga Yoshiki said coldly.
"The Yagyu clan's strict servant is dishonest, and the affairs will be handed over to the deputy. Go back and think about your mistakes behind closed doors."
Yagyu Mune sternly thanked the general for his forgiveness, but Ashikaga Yoshiteru never looked at her again and walked straight past her and entered the sword room.
Yagyu Soen was in a daze. She tried her best to serve her master, but she fell under Ashikaga Yoshiki's growing desire for power.
Fortunately, Ashikaga Yoshiki only said that she was dishonest and did not use the word disloyal. Otherwise, Yagyu Muneyan would have to commit seppuku when he returned.
Couldn't even tolerate his own father? Yagyu Soyan was so cold that he forgot to get up and leave for a moment.
Ashikaga Yoshiteru was indeed kind to her, and only removed her Omatsu authority. However, he did not take away the position of swordsmanship teacher that gave the Yagyu family dignity.
I can't say that the bird is gone, the bow is hidden, but it's just that I can't listen to the offensive words more and more. After taking over the post of Omatsu's deputy, he will no longer dare to send information to the imperial court.
When the news of Yagyu Mune's strict suspension reaches the imperial court, I believe that the imperial emperor will not interfere casually with the shogunate's government affairs in the future.
Soen Yagyu was a victim, just to show Odaisho, to tell the father of the general that your mission ends here and you can leave.
———
Ashikaga Yoshiki walked into the sword room and saw Takada Yukino in a corner, sitting cross-legged and meditating.
All the swordsmen around him bowed in greeting. Ashikaga Yoshiteru waved his hand for the ladies to step aside and walked up to Takada Yukino.
Takada Yukino opened her eyes and saw the general in front of her. She stood up and bowed and asked.
"How are you, Mr. Gongfang? Do you want to practice sword practice today?"
Ashikaga Yoshiki shook his head and said.
"No more practice, I'm not in the mood today."
"Oh, then I'm going to practice sword practice."
Seeing Takada Yukino minding his own business and about to leave, Ashikaga Yoshiteru was angry and funny.
"Stop!"
She walked up to Yukino Takada, saw her looking at her with a confused face, and laughed and cursed.
"Others are eager to please me, the shogun, the lord of the world. It's better for you, all you can think about is practicing swordsmanship.
Is practicing swordsmanship so interesting?”
Xueno frowned and thought for a while, then said with a solemn face.
"interesting."
Ashikaga Yoshiki couldn't help but feel angry. Seeing her sincere face, he couldn't help but complain.
"You just practice here! Stay with me!"
Takada Yukino glanced at the sword room. All the swordsmen had gone out, and when they closed the door, they cast envious and jealous looks at her.
She tilted her head and thought for a while, nodded, and stood in the field, preparing to practice the sword-drawing technique. Before drawing the sword, she did not forget to turn back and say something to Ashikaga Yoshiki.
"Don't get too close when you talk. I drew the sword too fast and I'm afraid I won't be able to hold it back."
She was so confident in what she said that Ashikaga Yoshiteru had the urge to roll his eyes.
The swordsman general is talented and intelligent, and he is very accomplished in swordsmanship. No one has dared to show off like this in front of her, not even Kamizumi Nobutsuna dared to speak like this.
But there was a convincing power in Takada Yukino's words. Thinking of her ability to kill ten swordsmen in the blink of an eye, Ashikaga Yoshiki sighed with lingering fear.
Chatting with this wooden person is really asking for trouble.
Takada Yukino didn't care about what the general was thinking, and had already begun to draw his sword and put it away.
The sound of the blade waving in the wind and the friction of the blade's spine and scabbard gradually calmed Ashikaga Yoshiki's wandering mind.
She looked at the focused Yukino Takada, lost in thought, as if she was talking to herself, or talking to herself.
"I really envy you. You only need to focus on practicing swordsmanship. It has only been a year and you have become much stronger. But I was distracted by government affairs and neglected to practice, so my swordsmanship is not as good as before."
After Takada Yukino sheathed her sword, she did not draw it again, but turned to look at the general.
"If you want to practice, I can accompany you."
Ashikaga Yoshiki looked at the cold and indifferent Takada Yukino, but he didn't expect her to say this. Is this considered concern?
The corners of her mouth raised slightly and she shook her head.
"No time, I'm very busy now.
I didn't have the power before and had enough time to practice swordsmanship. Now, I have countless things to deal with, so how can I practice so diligently."
Takada Yukino thought for a while and asked.
"Master Gongfang, do you like to practice swordsmanship?"
Ashikaga Yoshiki smiled a little sadly.
"I had to like it before, but now that I think about it, I might actually like it.
I understood something very early on.
Although I am Ashikaga Shogun and the lord of the world, no one inside or outside the shogunate can rely on me. Only one person and one sword are the most reliable."