Swallow Return

Speaking of which, Iori's family is said to be of lower-ranking noble rank. Taking this opportunity to bring her along can also be a chance to visit relatives and make some connections.

Since the Oda clan's top officials are gathered here, and Nobunaga himself is also present, the security must be extremely tight, so there's probably no need to worry about safety.

Now that I am a high-ranking official with a salary of 10,000 shi (a unit of grain), the annual tribute from my territory is roughly equivalent to 2,000 taels of silver, which is equivalent to an annual salary of over 2 million in the 21st century. That's enough to make a grand entrance and visit my parents-in-law with great fanfare.

However, it seems that the two elderly people have long passed away. The people in charge are Iori's grandparents, who don't seem to care much for her. Despite living only 70 kilometers apart, they have never taken the initiative to contact each other over the years, and may not even remember that their granddaughter's husband has changed...

Thinking about it this way, I'm even more determined to go. If I really do encounter some arrogant and condescending relatives, it would be a good thing to give them a good slap in the face.

They have to attend the grand event, secretly investigate the monsters, and also want to return home in glory with Iori, so the team can't be small.

The only two capable retainers, Eguchi Sukezaemon and Hayami Seibei, must be brought along. Twenty-odd reliable guards should be selected, and servants to drive the vehicles, carry the gifts, and attend to the guests are also essential. Saeko should also bring along five little mountain spirits. In total, at least forty people are needed.

The family instructed the female demon-slaying ninjas to continue their vigilant patrols to prevent any further disturbances by demons. Uncle-Master Xinghe and Junior Brother Suifeng temporarily took over the administration.

It's easy to imagine that merchants in Kyoto who were in the accommodation, catering, and retail industries would make a fortune... Could this have been one of Nobunaga's goals?

In short, Liu Yun quickly packed her luggage and bought some potentially useful gifts, filling five large carts, which were then pulled by pack animals. In addition, there was a carriage for the women and several riding horses, and the grand procession set off.

Chapter 134 The Sister-in-Law in a Shrine Maiden's Outfit

The residence of the Kakaiin family is located on the banks of the Kamo River in the southern suburbs of Kyoto, about five kilometers away from Nijo Castle.

Although they are not far apart, the two places are quite different.

Although the authority of the imperial court and the shogunate no longer existed, they were still a resounding symbol. Local daimyo were keen to send people to the imperial palace and the palace to bribe officials and cultivate relationships in exchange for official positions, duties, or other titles, which spurred the development of a whole commercial industry in the surrounding areas.

Moreover, Kyoto was a hub for land transportation in all directions, and even though it was frequently ravaged by war, trade never completely stopped.

Therefore, the area north of Nijo-dori, known as "Kamigyo Ward," is considered a commercial town with a level of prosperity comparable to Sakai-cho.

However, Sakai Town has an area of ​​240 cho (about 2.2 square kilometers), is home to more than 100 wealthy merchants, and has a total population of tens of thousands.

Kyoto's commercial area is only about 50 cho (approximately 0.8 square kilometers), which is far smaller in scale.

The most convenient and best-equipped inn in the vicinity was owned by monks and belonged to the famous Honnoji Temple. It had long been occupied by Oda Nobunaga and his family.

People like Ryuun could only find a slightly remote location, and eventually found a place to rest in the Terauchi area of ​​Ichijoji.

After the group settled down, Liu Yun took Yi Zhi to visit her family at her parents' home.

Accompanied by a driver and two or three servants, they set off in an oxcart, behaving like old Kyoto nobles, traveling slowly and leisurely.

When we set off, there were still merchants coming and going, shops lined up one after another, and the ground was paved with perfectly fitted bricks and stones.

But after traveling south for a while, the population gradually thinned out, and some ruins and wastelands began to appear. The road surface also became potholed and showed signs of disrepair.

As we approached our destination, we could even see dry fields planted with barley and hear the crowing of roosters and barking of dogs; it was clearly a "rural-urban fringe area."

Liu Yun couldn't help but think to himself: So this is where a noble family lives? No wonder they sold their daughter to a country samurai in Omi for only 100 kan...

Iori showed no surprise and recalled the direction of the road without hesitation.

It seems that the situation in her hometown hasn't changed much over the years.

However, Iori seemed to be in a very heavy and complicated mood. She kept her head down and didn't say much on the way, just staring blankly out the window, occasionally letting out a soft sigh for no apparent reason.

Finally, the oxcart came to the end of a muddy path.

Ahead was a large house, about forty meters wide and thirty meters deep, covering a considerable area.

However, the courtyard wall was already dilapidated, the paint had long since faded, it was covered in dust, and there were holes and cracks everywhere. One section had even collapsed and sunk into a pile of mud, and no one seemed to be repairing or rebuilding it.

The characters for "Huakaiyuan" and the family crest on the wooden sign hanging at the entrance are still clearly visible, so this is probably the only place where people clean.

Seeing this, when Liu Yun sent someone to knock on the door, he couldn't help but give a special instruction: be careful not to damage the gate of the courtyard.

The servants who were driving the carriage called out at the door for a while. A moment later, the old wooden door creaked open and a hunched old man with a white beard walked out with faltering steps. He was wearing a completely faded cloth robe that was unrecognizable from its original form.

Liu Yun got off the carriage and explained his purpose.

Although the white-bearded old man looked frail and old, his hearing and eyesight were still quite good. He understood after hearing it only once: "Are you Miss Iori's husband?" He glanced at Niu Che again and nodded to confirm: "It is indeed Miss Iori. It has been many years since I last saw you, but I can still recognize you. Please come in."

Upon seeing this, Iori exclaimed in surprise, "Mita? Is it Mita? Are you still serving at home? You were already over sixty when I was married..."

The old man, called "Mita," just smiled bitterly and remained silent.

The group said "Excuse me" and followed them inside.

Within the crumbling gate and walls lay a courtyard overgrown with weeds, where only a young servant listlessly swept the floor. The houses inside were in the typical Heian period style, with several complex entrances and exits, but their condition was no better than the exterior; they were all faded, worn, and dilapidated.

Old Man Mita instructed the young servant to inform his master, and then invited Ryuun and Iori to sit on the semi-open veranda. He bowed and said slowly, "I'm very sorry, but the master needs to change his clothes to receive guests. Please be patient."

Seeing that the other party was neither humble nor arrogant and was quite tactful, Liu Yun thought to himself that the "Huakaiyuan family" was indeed well-established. Although it was dilapidated, it still retained the demeanor of a wealthy family.

Iori, feeling slightly uneasy, quickly asked, "Mita, may I ask who is in charge now?"

Old man Mita bowed slowly and said, “Reporting to Miss, the old master passed away two years ago. At that time, there was chaos and war, and he was unable to inform you. There were no heirs in the family, and now Miss Sara is in charge.”

"Grandfather...is he gone?" Iori asked with a sense of loss, then hurriedly asked, "And my grandmother...?"

Old man Mita remained prostrate on the ground, calmly replying, "Several months after the passing of our master, our mistress also passed away. Please accept my condolences."

Iori lowered her head and remained silent for a while. Suddenly, her arms trembled, her body went limp, and she almost collapsed.

Liu Yun quickly pulled her into his arms, held her cold hands, and stroked her thin back to offer silent comfort.

Old man Mita suddenly looked up and glanced at him, seemingly displeased that his son-in-law, whom he was meeting for the first time, had behaved in a way that was "improper." But he didn't say anything and immediately bowed his head and bowed, following the proper etiquette of a servant.

A moment later, Iori came to her senses and quickly broke free from Ryuun's embrace. A blush flashed across her face as she whispered, "Sara is my uncle's only daughter. Now there are no men in the family, and she is the only one left to support them. It's...it's a situation I can hardly imagine."

Liu Yun nodded, sighed, and said with emotion, "That must have been very hard work. Fortunately, I finally have a chance to come back today and see if I can be of any help!"

While waiting for their master to change, old man Mita and another young servant brought snacks and drinks to entertain him.

The pastry was a type of biscuit, and there were only two small pieces on the plate, making it almost embarrassing to eat them. The tea tasted like plain water, with almost no flavor. Liu Yun used to think that expensive matcha wasn't very good, but today, after comparing them, she realized the real difference between expensive and cheap tea.

Iori whispered to Ryuun, "Although all the nobles are penniless, when I was still a young woman, my family's fortune was not like this. It must have been declining ever since my grandfather passed away..."

Liu Yun reiterated, "Don't worry, I'll definitely help if I can."

Iori finally breathed a sigh of relief.

……

After a while, the "Miss Sara" that Old Man Mita mentioned, who is Iori's cousin and Ryuun's sister-in-law, finally came out of the room.

It was actually a girl dressed as a red and white shrine maiden?

The girl's appearance, figure, and even her mannerisms were quite similar to Iori's, but her temperament was completely different. She showed no signs of gentleness or weakness at all; instead, she appeared somewhat harsh, cold, and unapproachable.

"Is this Lord Sasaki, bringing Iori-neechan for a visit? We are truly honored to have such a place to call home."

The tone was also dry and insincere. Although they said they were very welcoming, they didn't actually feel any welcome at all. Instead, it sounded like they were in a hurry to get rid of people.

But Liu Yun didn't feel the slightest bit annoyed.

This is not just because the sister-in-law is good-looking, but more because it is very difficult for a young woman to support her family on her own, which makes people more understanding and tolerant.

But what's with the shrine maiden outfit?

Iori was taken aback by what she saw and asked in surprise, "Sara, why are you dressed like this today?"

Sara replied in a cold tone, "The Kasakain family are priests, so wearing ritual clothing is not considered a breach of etiquette."

Upon hearing this, Iori was at a loss for words and did not know how to respond.

Liu Yun possessed a red jade pendant, which granted her the power of "bewitching." She was extremely perceptive of people's hearts and instantly sensed something amiss. She subconsciously asked, "Could it be that all the other dresses have already been sold?"

Upon hearing this, Sara, dressed in her shrine maiden attire, looked even more displeased, her tone growing increasingly unfriendly. She coldly replied, "My esteemed sworn brother, you truly possess keen insight and keen observation. However, even if you see through me, there's no need to say it out loud." (Note: Both brother-in-law and elder brother-in-law are referred to as sworn brothers.)

As soon as Liu Yun said it, she felt a little regretful. As the saying goes, "Life is already so difficult, some things are better left unsaid." It was indeed impolite to accidentally expose someone's secrets.

He quickly lowered his head to drink his tea, changing the subject.

Chapter 135 The sister-in-law who was arrogant at first but obsequious later

Hearing that her family was so poor and desperate that they even had to sell their old dresses, Iori was quite concerned. The sadness she had felt from hearing the bad news about her grandparents had dissipated considerably, and she quickly asked, "Although the Hanakain family can hardly be called prosperous, how did it come to this?"

Sara, the younger sister-in-law dressed as a shrine maiden, sighed and replied irritably, "With no harvest, our savings will naturally be depleted."

Iori shook her head in confusion and asked, "When I left home, my family had twenty fields of noble land, ten fields of official land, and seven fields of sacred land... Why did we harvest nothing?"

(Note: Each unit of land area is approximately 1.5 mu.)

Sara lowered her head and said sullenly, "After my grandfather's sudden death, there was no male heir in the Flower Garden, so the imperial court took back the official land and sacred land."

“Ah…that makes sense.” Iori shook his head helplessly, then asked, “However, the Nada Twenty-Fan is an ancestral property passed down through generations, so it should be safe and secure.”

Upon hearing this, Sharo's face turned fierce, and he said with hatred, "When my grandfather was being held for funeral, the family was in dire straits. My grandmother was deceived by the Baihe family and used her land as collateral to borrow 20 guan of silver. She did not realize that there was a hidden trap in the written agreement... As a result, our family property was swindled away, and my grandmother fell ill from the stress and soon passed away."

Iori gasped in surprise, covering her mouth with her hand: "I remember that the Shirakawa family and my family have always been on good terms. I never expected them to be so vicious and treacherous?"

At this point, Ryuun asked, "In recent years, haven't the tributes made by the daimyo of various regions to the imperial court been shared with the Kakain family? Just now, the Oda family even gave two thousand taels of silver to change their era name from Genki to Tensho! There are 130 noble families; surely they should all receive some of the benefits?"

Sara rose slightly, subtly pulling her shrine maiden robes up a little, as if she wasn't used to wearing them. Then, in a low and dejected tone, she said, "In recent years, the rules have been based on each family's rank and the number of male members, so my family is not eligible."

Iori was now completely panicked and cried out anxiously, "What should we do? Is the Kakaiin family going to be wiped out?"

Sharo glanced at her with the kind of look one might give someone with intellectual disabilities, but still looked listless and said coldly, "Of course, it's about taking a son-in-law as an heir! It's just that we haven't found a good match yet. On the contrary, we almost encountered some unpleasant guests who coveted the remaining books, paintings, and antiques in my family."

Upon hearing this, Iori remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "I remember Sara was four or five years younger than me, and she should be nineteen now... It seems that the funeral of my grandparents delayed the marriage..."

Sara couldn't help but roll her eyes, and said with a cold laugh, "If outsiders heard what Sister Iori said, they would think she was implying that I am an old woman who can't get married!"

Iori instinctively shrank her shoulders, speechless, seemingly a little afraid of this younger sister.

Actually, she usually has the aura of a matriarch, at least on the surface. But today, when she went back to her parents' home, she was timid and uneasy, which was very unusual for her.

Liu Yun didn't bother to speculate about the sisters' past. Seeing the awkward atmosphere, she interjected to change the subject: "Relatives should help each other. Since the Hua Kaiyuan family is in temporary distress, I naturally won't sit idly by."

Sara, the younger sister-in-law, subtly adjusted the waistline of her shrine maiden outfit again, clearly not used to wearing it. Then, she said coldly and indifferently, "Thank you for your kindness, brother. Unfortunately, the Kasaiin family has gradually lost its connections, and I'm afraid we won't be able to reciprocate in the short term."

Liu Yun smiled nonchalantly, then waved his hand towards the door and shouted outside, "Move your things over here!"

The servant who had been standing there for a long time responded with a "Yes" and immediately began to work.

First came the bulging cloth bags, which two burly men carefully carried in slowly.

Another servant bowed and introduced the list: "Fifty catties of dried carp, a local product of Omi. Please accept this gift from the Hanakain family."

Shaluo's expression softened slightly, and he bowed slightly, saying, "Brother, you are very kind."

Dried carp is not a very common food; fifty catties can be exchanged for one tael of silver, and it can be just the right thing to do in an emergency.

Next came two simple wooden boxes, of medium size, secured with small locks on the outside.

The servant bowed and introduced the list: "Ten catties of Suruga tea and ten catties of Ming Dynasty black sugar. Please accept these gifts from the Hanakain family."