Japan's Warring States Period: The Rise of the Wakasa Tiger

Chapter 88 Corridor Love Talk
The night sky was dark and dotted with stars. Nobushige tiptoed through the courtyard, fearing to disturb Nagisa's rest. Unexpectedly, she did not go to bed, but stood quietly in the corridor outside the bedroom.

Facing the starlight, Xinzhong saw her graceful figure wrapped in a green short-sleeved dress, with a cherry red jacket on the outside to protect against the cold wind. Her long black hair danced in the wind. She looked up at the deep starry sky, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes, as if she was looking for something, or quietly waiting for something.

"Azhu, why haven't you rested yet?" Nobushige came to Nagisa and asked softly.

Princess Nagisa, who had been staring at the sky in a trance just now, suddenly came to her senses after being called by Nobushige. She quickly bowed to Nobushige and said, "I didn't notice Your Highness. Please forgive me."

"Forgive me, we are all family, there is no need to be so formal." Nobushige knew that even though he recognized Nagisa, they were rarely together and their relationship was somewhat distant. At this moment, her response seemed more unfamiliar than before, which made Nobushige worry if something had happened.

"What happened?" Xinzhong asked with concern.

Nagisa handed a letter to Nobushige and replied sadly, "Father is seriously ill and may not live much longer."

"How could it be? How come I didn't know?" Nobushige was quite surprised. He knew that Kumagai Katsunao was seriously ill, but when he heard that he didn't have much time left, Nobushige still felt a little regretful. After all, his father-in-law had given him strong help during the "Miyagawa Rebellion" and the siege of Kuniyoshi Castle.

"It was a secret letter sent to me by my brother." Nagisa replied.

"Secret letter? Why do we need a secret letter for this? Are you trying to hide it from someone?" Xinzhong asked puzzled.

"Of course I want to hide it from Your Highness." Nagisa smiled bitterly.

"Hide it from me? Why?" Nobushige was confused. Kumagai Katsunao was his father-in-law, so why couldn't he tell him about such a serious illness?

"Father, I'm afraid that Your Highness will divorce me..." Nagisa replied with her head down.

"What do you mean? Why would my father-in-law say that?" Xinzhong was completely confused.

"Your Highness, did you go to Rokkaku's house today?" Nagisa did not answer him directly, but asked back.

Xin Dian nodded: "Yes, didn't I tell you before I left today?"

"Have you met the princess of the Rokkaku family?" Nagisa asked with concern.

"That's not the case." Xinzhong was stunned for a moment, then felt something was wrong: "No, what do you mean by that?"

"When we were in Wakasa, my father heard that the Kanrei-sama in Kyoto had been trying to bring about a marriage between the Takeda family and the Rokkaku family, but because of the 'Miyagawa Rebellion', the matter was temporarily shelved. Later, there were rumors that the two families discussed a plan to have the marriage be achieved by having His Highness marry Princess Rin of the Rokkaku family."

"Father did mention this matter," Nobushige responded.

"When Your Highness went to the Rokkaku family, did you discuss this matter?" Nagisahime asked.

"What does this have to do with my father-in-law's illness?" Nobushige already understood what Kumagai Katsunao and Nagahime meant, but he still wanted to tease his wife.

"Of course it matters," Nagisa said with a sad face:

"My father has always said that the marriage between Your Highness and me was actually intended to use the prestige of the Kumagai clan to stabilize the situation in Wakasa. Now that Your Highness has secured the throne, he will need a more powerful force to assist him. My Kumagai clan is obviously not 'qualified'. If Your Highness knew that my father was seriously ill at this time, I'm afraid he would look down on the Kumagai clan, which might be in decline. In addition, the Rokkaku clan intends to marry the Takeda family. By then..."

"By then, I will divorce you, or let you give up your position as the principal wife and then marry the princess of the Rokkaku family and take over the Takeda clan?" Nobushige couldn't help but interrupt.

Nagisa nodded aggrievedly: "So my father said that the serious illness should be kept secret from His Highness, and that His Highness should be informed after the matter in Kyoto is over. In that way, I might be able to keep my position as the principal wife." "What about you? Why did you show me the secret letter?" Nobushige asked, "Aren't you afraid that I will read the secret letter and turn around and marry the princess of the Rokkaku family?"

"I am not afraid," Nagisa said with tears in her eyes, "but I know that I can't hide forever. If Your Highness really wants to marry the princess of Rokkaku family, why would he worry so much? Now that you are the guardian of two countries, why do you still care about the thoughts of Kumagai clan? It's better to face it calmly than to deceive yourself."

"Yes, I am the guardian of two countries." Nobushige admired Nagisahime's frankness and innocence, but he still wanted to tease her, so he coughed and said seriously: "You are right. If I want to marry the princess of the Rokkaku family, not only your Kumagai clan, but even my father can't stop me."

"That's why I'm asking whether Your Highness discussed this matter when you went to Liujiao's house today. If the two families reach an agreement, I'm willing to retreat to the side room, but Your Highness, please don't divorce me."

"Oh? Why is that?" Xinzhong asked curiously.

"Because..." Nagisa rubbed her clothes with her tender hands, and hesitated for a long time before she replied with a red face: "Because I really love Your Highness. As long as I can be with Your Highness, I am willing to be your concubine or a maid."

"Silly girl." Hearing this, Xinzhong finally couldn't hide his inner joy and excitement. He quickly stepped forward, put his arms around Nagisa's waist, put his face close to her ear, and whispered softly: "You keep this position as the main wife. I can't bear to give it to anyone else."

When Nagisa heard this, her face turned even redder. She tried to pry open Nobushige's arms, but she couldn't. She turned her head away and said shyly, "What do you mean, Your Highness?"

"Rokkaku Danjo did mention the marriage to me," Nobushige said softly, "but I did not agree to make that princess my principal wife. I said that Nobushige already has a principal wife, and that is the considerate, gentle and caring Princess Nagisa of the Kumagai family. No one can change that."

"Your Highness, did you really say that?" Nagisa turned around and happened to meet Nobushige's eyes. Both of them blushed immediately.

"Of course," Nobushige replied seriously, "If you don't believe me, I'll take you to Rokkaku's house tomorrow to confront him in person."

"Your Highness! Hate it~"

Nagishime shyly turned her face to the side again, and Nobushige took the opportunity to kiss her delicate cheek. At this moment, the two of them truly opened their hearts and spoke honestly to each other.

"But Nagisa," Nobushige felt that there were some things he still needed to make clear to Nagisa, "I have agreed to take Princess Rin of the Rokkaku family as my concubine."

"Won't Your Highness offend the Rokkaku family because of this?" Nagisahime was not jealous or complaining, but was worried that the letter would come back again.

"Don't worry, it won't happen." Nobushige liked Nagisa even more and held her arm tighter. "The princess of the Rokkaku family is coming to Wakasa and my Takeda family. She is unfamiliar with the place. I'll need you to take good care of her when the time comes."

"Your Highness, what are you talking about?" Nagisa said with a smile, "It is my duty to take care of the household affairs. Your Highness, just leave her to me."

"I feel relieved when you say that." Xinzhong whispered in her ear, "It's getting late, Madam, please follow me and go to bed."

"Your Highness~"

After that, with Nagisa's half-hearted consent, the two moved to the bedroom and closed the shoji door.

At this moment, the stars in the sky became brighter and brighter, and a Milky Way poured down across the horizon.

Can you guys arrange a chapter for the heroine?

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(End of this chapter)