In Suruga Province, at the castle tower of Suruga Castle.
Takeda Harunobu put one hand on his waist and the other on the railing, looking coldly in the direction of the castle town.
In spring and summer, the Tokaido trading route is crowded with people and the traffic is intensive. But now, the castle town is deserted.
She stood for a while, feeling vaguely sore in her waist. It has been eight or nine months since she did the shameless thing to Shiba Yiyin in the late autumn of last year. This man's seed has made her suffer enough.
Warrior Ji is in excellent physical condition. Even if she is ten months pregnant, her daily life will not be affected as long as she does not give birth for three to five days.
But this enemy's seed broke this common sense. From morning sickness in the past three months to back pain, insomnia and anxiety, Takeda Harunobu has been tortured to the point of doubting his life.
Isn’t this enemy a human being? What is it that I am pregnant with?
She had humiliated him so much in late autumn last year, and now she had been tormented by his seed for eight or nine months. It’s really a natural cycle, and retribution is unpleasant.
There were footsteps behind Takeda Harunobu, and Kosaka Masanobu appeared on the castle tower. She glanced at Takeda Harunobu's pregnant waist, showing a worried look.
"Your Highness, it's hot outside, you'd better go in and wait."
"No, it's fine outside. I'll just stay in the house and be bored. Where is she?"
Just when Kosaka Masanobu was about to report back, there was a noise coming from the direction of the castle town, which could be faintly heard as far away as the castle tower.
Kosaka Masanobu frowned and said to Takeda Harunobu.
"Your Highness, should I send someone to take a look?"
Takeda Harunobu shook his head indifferently.
"No need, someone's men probably got greedy and robbed the commercial building."
Kosaka Masanobu was speechless, knowing that His Highness was tacitly approving the Kaibi people's indulgence.
In the spring, they entered Suruga Kingdom and captured Suruga Castle without a single battle. The morale of the Kaibi people was high.
However, after the confrontation with the Hojo family and being cut off from returning to Kai Country, the army gradually became restless.
Although Takeda Harunobu took advantage of the success of this war, his prestige increased day by day. But she doesn't want to be too strict on military discipline, and always lets the people of Kaifei vent their anger.
The way back was cut off, and the army was left alone. If robbing a few merchants could stabilize the morale of the army, Takeda Harunobu would not care about the fate of the merchants.
Takeda Harunobu touched her round belly. As the delivery date approached, she became more and more uncomfortable, and her control over the Kai clan also dropped to its lowest point.
Hojo Ujiyasu thought that she was waiting for changes to occur in the Kanto Plain because she was holding on to Satao Pass. In fact, that was only part of the reason.
Takeda Harunobu is resourceful and dislikes the current passive situation the most. She stayed in Junfu City, she really couldn't move.
Because she is about to give birth.
Internally, she could only hide it from the Suruga people and appease the Kai people. Externally, she also wrote letters to various parties, making the enemies of the Hojo family ready to take action.
All this was to delay time, stabilize the inside and outside, and wait for her to give birth to the child safely.
These days, except for Kosaka Masanobu, she rarely sees anyone. He was just afraid that his weak appearance would be known to the outside world and cause even greater trouble.
As for this person today, it was difficult for her to refuse, so she could only meet him once.
Takeda Harunobu said.
"There won't be any big trouble in the castle town. If there is a problem, someone will naturally come to the city to report it, and you don't have to worry about it.
Tell me, where is she? "
Kosaka Masanobu smiled bitterly.
"The governor of my hometown is preparing to enter the city. She has already seen what he wants to do in the castle town."
Takeda Harunobu glanced at the city and said calmly.
"If you see it, just see it. Is the side room ready?"
"Hi! There will be a screen to block the interview so that the home inspector will not notice your changes in posture."
Takeda Harunobu glanced at her, feeling uncertain.
The governor of his hometown mentioned by Masanobu Kosaka is Nobutora Takeda, the mother of Harunobu Takeda.
Back then, Nobutora Takeda unified the fragmented Kai Kingdom, allowing the Takeda family to protect the weakened Kai Kingdom and once again become the masters of the Kai Kingdom.
Although the Takeda family governor had contributed to the family business, she was militaristic and almost crazy. In order to accumulate military supplies, the land was dug three feet deep, and the taxation was even more appalling.
The Takeda retainers group could not stand Takeda Nobutora, and began to move closer to Takeda Harunobu, the young master, with the intention of changing the family governor.
Takeda Nobutora noticed this and planned to replace Takeda Harunobu and support his other daughter Takeda Nobutora to become the new young master of the Takeda family.
As a result, Takeda Nobushige refused and instead joined Takeda Harunobu. Finally, Takeda Nobutora was expelled from the Takeda family and lived in the Imagawa family as a guest.
Imagawa Yoshimoto also treated the former governor of the Takeda family with dignity and kept him as a guest in the Imagawa family, leaving behind a back-up to deal with the Takeda family.
It's a pity that her daughter Imagawa was so incompetent that she failed to use Takeda Nobutora in the end. Instead, Takeda Harunobu instigated the Suruga clan.
I wonder if Imagawa Yoshimoto Izumi would lift up the coffin board, get up and slap this good-for-nothing daughter.
The Imagawa family was really trapped in the Toonjiang River, but the communication with the Hojo family was not interrupted. Suruga Bay was enough for the two families to communicate with each other.
This time Takeda Nobutora arrived, entrusted by the Hojo Imagawa family to negotiate with Takeda Harunobu.
Although Takeda Harunobu doesn't want to see anyone recently, he has to see his mother both in public and private life, so as not to arouse suspicion both internally and externally.
She looked towards the city gate and touched her belly.
Nobushige has died in the battle, and she is pregnant with the seeds of the man who killed her, while her mother has become a diplomatic agent of the enemy.
She was filled with emotions for a moment. The chaotic world and chaotic behavior were deplorable and ridiculous.
———
Takeda Nobutora followed Kosaka Masanobu into the small side hall of the castle tower.
Although her hair was gray, it was neatly combed back without any stray hair, and she looked energetic.
The years have left stories on her face, and the wrinkles tell the story of her ups and downs in life, without showing her original youthful splendor.
But between the facial features, nose, and mouth, one can see the resemblance to Takeda Harunobu. It's just that the old woman's eyebrows are more erect, her lips are thinner, and her face is meaner.
When she entered the side hall, she saw a huge tiger descending screen. The tiger in the painting has a fierce look on his face, his eyes are hanging and his pupils are filled with murderous intent. He is entrenched in the forest and looks down at the visitor with a menacing aura.
Takeda Nobutora was furious and cursed at Kosaka Masanobu.
"Takeda Harunobu, this rebellious girl! How dare you humiliate me like this!"
Kosaka Masanobu bowed deeply and said nothing, but Takeda Harunobu's slow whisper came from behind the screen.
"Mother, after all these years, your temper is still so bad.
Back then I deceived you into going to Suruga, blocking your way back home, and seizing your position as family governor. At that time, you wrote back and said that you would never see me again until I reach death.
Now that you have come to see me, it is very difficult for me.
If I don't see you, outsiders will think that I, Takeda Harunobu, am unfilial. If we meet, wouldn't it make you break your promise and make yourself fat? It's still my daughter who is unfilial.
As a last resort, I had to order someone to prepare this screen to ensure that my mother's oath would not be broken and my filial piety would not be compromised.
Best of both worlds. "
