I have ten trillion licking dog gold

By the time Fujiwara Reiki arrived home, it was already dark.

"Miss, Madam is waiting for you."

"Ah."

For some reason, even though the environment hasn't changed at all, I still feel a bit of oppression.

Even breathing seemed to become difficult.

Fujiwara Reiki, who had been called back by her brother, knocked on the door of her mother's room.

The maids on both sides kept their eyes straight ahead.

"Boom boom boom——"

A few seconds after the knock, Fujiwara Reiki opened the door and entered.

The tableware has been removed.

"Mother, did you ask my brother to call me back?"

Fujiwara Reiki smiled brightly, seemingly unaffected by the strange atmosphere in her home.

The door was closed by a maid.

"sit."

Lady Fujiwara, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them.

Daughters are not like sons; they are much closer to their mothers. Unlike Fujiwara Takuno, who was very proper, Fujiwara Reiki went straight to Fujiwara's wife and sat down next to her, affectionately hugging her mother's arm.

"I hope Mother won't miss me so soon. Even though I'm getting married soon, I can still come back to visit her anytime, just like I am now."

Lady Fujiwara remained noncommittal, instead asking, rather irrationally, "Do you really want to marry Watari Tetsuya?"

As a mother, it's understandable to want to know her daughter's feelings, but isn't it a bit late to ask?

The wedding date has been set.

Early next month.

Now, even if the outcome is not ideal, can you really back out?
Why did Mother ask that?

Fujiwara Reiki seemed to be caught off guard by her mother's sudden question.

Is there something about Tetsuya Watari that Mother is dissatisfied with?

"Want to hear the truth?"

"of course."

Fujiwara Reiki smiled sweetly, took her mother's arm, and leaned half of her body against her mother.

This is a kind of warmth that sons will never experience again.

"I'm dissatisfied with Watari Tetsuya in every way. He's simply not good enough for me."

So what if he's a prince?
As the matriarch of the Fujiwara family, Lady Fujiwara was fully qualified to look down upon others.

"Mother, do you think that Watari Tetsuya's appearance is a bit lacking? But for a man, appearance is not important."

Fujiwara Reiki gently advised, "If that prince were here, he would surely be deeply moved."

Unfortunately.

He will never hear these words again.

"Marrying into the royal family is indeed a convenient way, but it is not the only way."

Lady Fujiwara had a deep prejudice against this son-in-law.

Fujiwara Reiki sighed, "Mother, your daughter will eventually get married."

"Tetsuya Watari is dead."

"what?"

Fujiwara Reiki didn't react at first.

indeed.

Lady Fujiwara was far too direct, without any foreshadowing, just like Fujiwara Takuno.

They are mother and child after all.

What did Mother just say?

Fujiwara Reiki's naturally alluring eyes held a hint of doubt.

"Tetsuya Watari is dead."

Lady Fujiwara repeated herself, her expression and tone completely calm.

This time, Fujiwara Reiki must have heard clearly, which is why she was stunned.

Lady Fujiwara offered no words of comfort, and before her daughter could even perform—no, display—her grief, she asked in an almost accusatory tone, "Don't you know?"

Fujiwara Reiki shook her head blankly, and then, a belated tremor appeared in her pupils.

"Is the mother joking with her daughter?"

"Fujiwara Takuno was here just now. He saw Watari Tetsuya shot and killed with his own eyes."

Fujiwara Reiki covered her mouth.

Lady Fujiwara looked away, not out of reluctance, but more as if she wanted to avoid seeing it altogether.

"Does this have anything to do with you?"

Lady Fujiwara asked.

My son is indeed a wicked child.

But fortunately, my daughter isn't exactly a model daughter either.

It turns out that when grief reaches its extreme, one truly cannot cry. Although Fujiwara Reiki covered her mouth, seemingly the prelude to her breakdown, not a single tear fell, not even a sob.

perhaps.

It was the mother's question that prevented the emotional outburst from breaking down.

That's true.

If even the only audience member isn't willing to appreciate it, then who is the performance for?

"Does it have anything to do with me? Mother, that's my husband."

Fujiwara Takuno really shouldn't have complained. Lady Fujiwara treated everyone equally, not only suspecting her son but also not letting go of the biggest victim besides the deceased.

"Would I kill my husband?"

Fujiwara Reiki's tone was not harsh, but it struck a chord with people.

Lady Fujiwara remained calm and composed.

Others certainly wouldn't.

But this daughter of hers cannot be judged by ordinary standards.

“It concerns the royal family and the Fujiwara clan. I find it hard to imagine who would be so crazy.”

"My mother couldn't imagine who would be so bold, so she suspected me?"

Fujiwara Reiki didn't cry; instead, she smiled. "Then why doesn't Mother suspect that Fujiwara Takuno did it?"

Actually, even the mother had her doubts.

However, Lady Fujiwara certainly wouldn't say that.

"If it's you, tell me."

"What's the reason?"

Fujiwara Reiki took a deep breath. "Why would I kill my husband? What good would it do me to become a widow viewed differently by the whole world?"

Lady Fujiwara remained silent.

She couldn't answer.

If the daughter is the murderer, then what is her motive?

If it's just that you don't want to get married, there are other ways; there's no need to resort to such an extreme method.

"Mother, have you asked Fujiwara Takuno the same question? Or have you begun to believe that Fujiwara Takuno has reformed?"

He said it wasn't him.

Lady Fujiwara quickly replied that this was not an answer to a question, but a statement of her position.

We'll leave the question of who the real culprit is for now.

What remains constant is that she has only one "ally".

"Does Mother believe him? Or does she think I'm more suspicious than him?"

Mrs. Fujiwara and her daughter looked at each other. "I called you over beforehand so that I could talk to you."

"Is my mother worried that it really is me, or that others will suspect me?"

"Is there any difference?"

Lady Fujiwara said calmly, "This matter is too strange; rumors are bound to spread."

“I think that apart from my mother and my closest relatives, no one would pin the blame on me, this poor widow.”

Lady Fujiwara changed the subject.

"So, what are you planning to do next?"

What does "mother" refer to?

"Your marriage."

Lady Fujiwara said, "Tetsuya Watari is dead. This marriage can end here."

"But how do we explain this to the royal family? Will they agree?"

"No need to explain. Are you suggesting we, the women of the Fujiwara family, marry a dead man?"

As a mother, I naturally feel sorry for my daughter.

"But if we break off the engagement, we'll offend the royal family, and those with ulterior motives might stir up trouble..."

At this point, Lady Fujiwara began to re-examine her intuition.

Could it be.

Is she just being paranoid?
If it was her daughter who killed Watari Tetsuya, her purpose would have been nothing more than to end the marriage, so she should have readily agreed. However, her reaction was completely different.

"what do you mean……"

"I will continue to fulfill this marriage vow and, as his widow, see Tetsuya off on his final journey."

Even with Lady Fujiwara's extensive experience, she couldn't help but be stunned at this moment.

“My mother will support me, right?”

People are dead.

She still wants to get married.

How loyal and devoted they are.

How moving and inspiring!

As a mother, Lady Fujiwara was completely baffled by her daughter's thoughts. After a long while, she said, "I disagree."

"Mother……"

"I will not stand by and watch my daughter ruin her life."

There was no touching moment of deep mother-daughter affection.

in contrast.

It's all about mutual probing and calculation.

Fujiwara Reiki covered her chest with her hand, "In my eyes, Watari Tetsuya is not dead. He will always be in my heart, accompanying me."

Ignoring everything that had been said before, at this moment, Lady Fujiwara was certain that she was acting.

What do you like about him?

Fujiwara Reiki's voice was ethereal, "Mother, loving someone doesn't need a reason."

She was just Lady Fujiwara.
If it were someone else, they would definitely burst out laughing.

"If you insist on your own opinion, then we'll have to call Fujiwara Takuno over."

"of course."

Fujiwara Reiki nodded, "As the clan head, I naturally need to inform my brother about such an important matter."

Lady Fujiwara remained silent.

Her greatest wish was simply to enjoy her old age in peace, and with her two children, her life would never be dull or boring.

The Fujiwara clan chief arrived quickly and, upon hearing his sister's decision, immediately expressed his strong and agitated opposition.

"No! I disagree! I will never sacrifice my own sister to protect the family's honor!"

“Brother, Li Ji isn’t doing this to protect anything. Li Ji is doing this only for herself.”

Like Mrs. Fujiwara, Takuno Fujiwara was also shocked by these words and stared at his sister in astonishment.

"This marriage was Li Ji's own choice. A good woman does not serve two husbands. This calamity is the fate of both Watari Tetsuya and Li Ji. Since it is fate, Li Ji accepts it."

Fujiwara Takuno wondered if he was hallucinating.

Is this still his beloved sister?

It's clearly Joan of Arc!

Looking at his silent mother, Fujiwara Takuno had no idea what her intentions were. Since he couldn't figure it out, opposing her was always the right thing to do.

"Do you know what doing this means? Once you decide to go through with this marriage, there will be no turning back. At that time, the people will praise your loyalty, and you will bear the shackles of this halo for the rest of your life."

widow.

She can remarry.

But a widowed princess is probably someone no one would dare to marry.

"You can still stop now."

Fujiwara Reiki looked calm, with a light smile that seemed to have seen through the ways of the world.

“Brother, my mind is made up. I hope you will grant my request.”

She turned her head and said to Lady Fujiwara, "I hope Mother will grant my request."

Fujiwara Takuno was very annoyed.

That's right.

Unusually irritable.

Because he realized that he couldn't see through the other party at all, and had no idea what the other party was planning!
They cried and wailed.

Furious.

He could understand all of that, but he never imagined that his dear sister would insist on marrying a dead man with a hole in his head!

Damn!

What exactly is it for?
What kind of conspiracy is going on?!

“Mother, I absolutely will not agree. Otherwise, I, Fujiwara Takuno, will be condemned by everyone. The world will criticize me for abandoning my own sister for the sake of the family's interests…”

Takuno Fujiwara is quick-witted and intelligent.

When you can't grasp your opponent's thinking, the simplest way is to oppose everything they propose.

"I will go to the royal family tomorrow to request the annulment of the engagement."

Lady Fujiwara remained silent.

"Brother, you can't undo it."

Fujiwara Takuno suddenly turned his head, "The eldest brother is like a father, why can't I revoke it?"

Fujiwara Reiki's smile was complicated, and then she did something that baffled both mother and son.

She raised her hand and touched her lower abdomen.

Fujiwara Takuno was stunned.

For some reason, Lady Fujiwara, who was frighteningly calm, suddenly had her pupils contract violently.

"Shut up!"

She suddenly cried out.

Respect is respect.

But neither of these children were blindly obedient; in fact, they were both grown up.

"Because I already have the fruit of love in my belly."

The attributive clause was omitted.

To be precise, it should be the fruit of the love between "Watari Tetsuya".

But it doesn't matter.

In this situation, at this moment, who could possibly notice such a trivial detail?

Fujiwara Takuno was struck dumb, his soul seemingly leaving his body. Those who didn't know better might even have thought he was the father of his sister's unborn child.

"What did you say?"

"I am pregnant."

Lady Fujiwara finally lost her composure, her expression constantly changing as she stared at her daughter in disbelief.

"Impossible. Absolutely impossible!"

Fujiwara Takuno shook his head, staring intently at Fujiwara Reiki's lower abdomen, his mind blank, leaving only his most instinctive reaction.

His voice sounded like it was being squeezed out from between his teeth.

"How could you possibly be pregnant?!"

“Brother, although Watari Tetsuya and I didn’t have a ceremony, we were engaged a long time ago. We are husband and wife, so why can’t I get pregnant?”

Yes.

What era is it?

It's common for people to board the train first and buy a ticket later.

Nowadays, young people's views on marriage and relationships are that they get married because they are pregnant; they only really consider marriage after they have a child.

not to mention.

She and Tetsuya Watari had long been accepted by both families.

Even seeing Watari Tetsuya die in front of him, Fujiwara Takuno was not so distraught. This proves that no matter how the world changes, this younger sister always holds a special place in his heart.

"Impossible. I don't believe you're lying!"

Takuno Fujiwara raised his hand, pointing at Reiki Fujiwara, who had just unleashed a bombshell. His trembling arm betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

He kept saying it was impossible, but images were already playing in Fujiwara Takuno's mind.

An ugly dwarf lies on top of his sister, whom he never even had...

“If you don’t believe me, you can send someone to investigate.”

Here.

There really were "imperial physicians".

The 24-hour emergency medical services were activated.

soon.

Several medical professionals rushed over.

Pregnancy doesn't require high-tech equipment at all; for top-notch doctors, taking a pulse is enough.

"Miss, I apologize for the intrusion."

Fujiwara Reiki extended her wrist.

The physician, who had served the Fujiwara family for half his life, carefully raised his hand, not daring to press his fingers down completely. A few seconds later, he quickly withdrew his hand, took a few steps back, and his face lit up with joy.

"It's a pregnancy test! It really is a pregnancy test! Congratulations, Miss!"

The physician, focused solely on medical research both domestically and internationally, was completely unaware that, apart from the young lady's laughter, the other two masters present were unusually somber. (End of Chapter)