On October 15, the tenth year of the Astronomical Year (1541), the maple forest was in full bloom. Imagawa Yoshimoto did not forget the agreement with Shuangye, and went to the maple forest in Imagawakan Kitayama as promised. Although he asked himself that he would not do anything out of the ordinary, and in this era, even if a husband, especially a man from the Wu family, did something out of the ordinary, his wife should welcome it. After all, it would help to spread the business - but Imagawa Yoshimoto still has a strong sense of guilt in his heart, feeling that he is having a private meeting with outsiders without telling Ginkgo.
However, Shuangye in the maple forest had never thought about this. After looking forward to it, she saw the figure of Imagawa Yoshimoto, and the joy on her face could no longer be suppressed. Imagawa Yoshimoto understood that the woman had not found a good husband as he had wished, but continued to stay in the maple forest day and night - worried that if she did not come one day or even if she was absent at any hour, she would miss him. This "uninvited guest" with an uncertain time missed the opportunity to meet him only once a year.
And Imagawa Yoshimoto himself, in order to minimize the time of contact with frost leaves, deliberately chose to come before sunset. This way, you will have an excuse to get away quickly.
But wouldn't she be too humble like this?
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 this case, I won't cover up anymore." 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. Yes, it was not as heartbreaking as imagined. But Imagawa Yoshimoto understood that this was the result of a long period of precipitation - who would have known how devastated the woman would be when she first learned the news?
"Identity should not be an obstacle to love." Although Imagawa Yoshimoto had no intention of developing further with Shuangye, he still instinctively corrected 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 admire 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 crowd?"
"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 came up: "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 Man of Tokaido'..." Shuangye recalled Imagawa Yoshimoto's title among the people, and couldn't help laughing, "No one knows, no one knows. 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 Kajun 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 naturally, carnivores cannot If you are as willful as a knight-errant rogue, 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 snow at Yuanjiang Guoshe Mountain City. The ones who came were none other than Imagawa Yoshimoto, Taiyuan Xuezai, Sena Ujitoshi and a group of Hatamoto guards. It was windy and snowy outside, and pedestrians' raincoats were already covered with snow. It’s very difficult for horses’ hooves to tread in the thick snow, let alone people. However, no one questioned this trip, and no one felt 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 eyes became red again.
Imagawa Yoshimoto knew that he, a retainer who loved to cry, had quietly cried many times in a deserted place after learning that his father was suddenly seriously ill in early December. But in front of Imagawa Yoshimoto, he always tried hard to hold back his tears and handled official duties dutifully in the castle tower. Even Imagawa Yoshimoto gave him leave to go back to see his father, but he refused. It wasn't until Sena's life was on the line and he asked Imagawa Yoshimoto to come to see him once that Sena Toshi finally had the opportunity to visit his father.
"If my father knew that I was abandoning my official duties because I was worried about his condition, he would definitely be very disappointed and scold me." This is how Sena Ujitoshi rejected Imagawa Yoshimoto at the time, "I have always been a weak person since I was a child. My father has worried a lot and is worried that I will not be able to become a qualified warrior. I cannot let my father disappoint me at the last moment, and I must serve my purpose wholeheartedly."
"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 behind a lifetime of regrets, you will regret it."
·
In the bedroom, Sena Shizada was lying on the mattress, her eyes tightly closed, and her breath was frighteningly weak. After seeing the arrival of Imagawa Yoshimoto and Sena Toshi, the Sena family's surname and maids withdrew knowingly. Sena Shitoshi quickly closed the door behind them, fearing that the cold wind would blow in.
Seemingly disturbed by the movement of the visitor, Sena Shizada coughed twice, slowly turned her head, opened her eyes and looked towards the door. Imagawa Yoshimoto was about to say hello, but found that Sena Ujisada's eyes were not locked on him, but were shaking aimlessly - he could no longer see clearly.
"Is it Gengoro..." Sena Ujisada raised his hand, tremblingly gestured towards the door, and called Sena Ujitoshi's childish name. Sena Shijun hurried forward and knelt down, holding his father's hand.
"Father, it's me! It's my child!" Sena Shitoshi responded with sobs that he had been holding back tears for many days.
But Sena Jisada seemed not to have heard, and repeated again: "Is it Gengoro..."
Imagawa Yoshimoto realized that Sena Shisada, who was seriously ill, could no longer see or hear clearly. But even if his vision and hearing were deprived, this samurai who had always been unkind, put family interests first, and was strict with his children - could still recognize his children just by feeling.
Seeing his father's appearance, Sena Shijun 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 Shizada coughed twice more, and then asked slowly. Sena Shitoshi nodded immediately, and Sena Shisada sighed with relief and slowly lowered his hand.
Imagawa Yoshimoto sat cross-legged in front of the mattress, and then bowed deeply - he knew that Sena Shisada could not see, but he still wanted to pay tribute to this veteran minister who had served the Imagawa family for three generations. Just as Sena Jijun said, Sena Jisada 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 my body is like this is because of fatigue - working day and night has finally worn down my body. 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 am afraid that 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 Jisada 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. 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 at peace and their homeland has been restored. Even if I leave, I will have no regrets."
"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 Yutaidian and Master Xue Zhai. But right now, no one can take your place. Only you can be the governor of the Imagawa family. . So there is no other way. You have to rein in your temper and not focus on elegance all day long and 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 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 master and disciple, and I also know that Master Xue Zhai is loyal to you. But it is necessary to 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 with you. Although Inuko will inherit the Sena family after the old minister’s death, please leave all territorial matters on the Yuanjiang River to the old minister’s clan brother Zadaqing. 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 people around Master Xuesai who have different intentions in the future, His Highness can rely on Inuko, and the Sena family will always be the wings of the Imagawa clan. "
"Gengoro, my father is dead, and you have to shoulder the burden. You must serve His Highness wholeheartedly and dedicate yourself to the service. You must not have a day or even a moment of leisure. If you neglect your duties, you will be disobeying my father."
