I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Tianzhangyuan: "Yuanyan, thank you for your hard work. Go and get the medicine now."

"Yes!"

Duo Jiyuan bowed, then picked up his medicine box and turned to leave.

With the departure of Duoji Yuanyan, only Qingdeng, Tokugawa Iemochi, and Tenshōin remained in the room.

Qingdeng sighed softly:

"Luckily, it was just a case of acclimatization issues and catching a cold... It's a stroke of good luck amidst misfortune."

Tianzhangyuan nodded and echoed:

"yes……"

It's a pity that there's no online live streaming nowadays.

If there were online live streaming, the current situation of Tokugawa Iemochi could be broadcast to the public.

At that time, all the rumors and conspiracy theories from the outside world will be disproven.

Tokugawa Iemochi was indeed ill, and quite seriously so.

As for the cause of the illness, it is not complicated—acclimatization problems plus catching a cold.

At first, Aoto thought that Tokugawa Iemochi had gotten sick because of the meal at the Shinsengumi headquarters...

Because it was the first time I had eaten meat, my stomach couldn't handle it, and I developed a gastrointestinal illness that I couldn't recover from...

If this is indeed the case, and it is indeed Aoto's fault, then Aoto really doesn't know how to face Tenshōin and Tokugawa Iemochi.

Fortunately... Tokugawa Iemochi's stomach was not in any trouble.

He simply caught a cold and was unaccustomed to the local environment.

Qing Deng couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

However, he found it very difficult to understand.

I've never seen you sick before, how come you happen to fall ill at this time?

Even Tokugawa Iemochi himself probably couldn't answer Aoto's question.

Many things in this world are inherently unreasonable.

Who can predict things like getting sick?

At first glance, Tokugawa Iemochi's sudden illness seems very strange.

In reality, however, there is a self-consistent logic hidden within it.

It is understandable that Tokugawa Iemochi, who had lived in Edo for a long time, would find it difficult to adapt to the climate and environment of Kyoto on his first visit.

As for catching a cold, that's even easier to understand.

It is currently the annual plum rain season, with rain almost every day and extreme temperature differences between day and night.

In the morning, the temperature is only around ten degrees Celsius, so you have to wear an extra haori (a type of traditional Japanese clothing) to go out. In the afternoon, the temperature approaches thirty degrees Celsius, making you want to take off your shirt.

With this kind of unpredictable weather, it's easy to catch a cold if you're not careful...

In conclusion, while Tokugawa Iemochi's illness was unexpected, it was also understandable.

Tokugawa Iemochi let out a long sigh, then returned a look full of apology:

"I'm so sorry... at this crucial moment when I need to step up, I've unfortunately fallen ill..."

Before Tokugawa Iemochi could finish speaking, Aoto immediately interrupted him:

"Alright, stop saying things like that."

"Your top priority right now is to focus on getting better."

"Everything else is outside your consideration."

No sooner had Qing Deng finished speaking than Tian Zhangyuan added:

"Sheng Qing is right, you should take care of yourself first."

"We will take care of the negotiations with the imperial court for you."

Tokugawa Iemochi swept his gaze across Aoto and Tenshōin, who were singing in unison.

A moment later, he slowly revealed a thought-provoking expression.

Upon seeing this, Qing Deng and Tian Zhangyuan couldn't help but look puzzled.

Tenshōin: "Iemochi, why are you making that face?"

Tokugawa Iemochi smiled slightly:

"It's nothing, it's just that... the way you two are urging me to get some rest is just like my parents."

Suddenly, the entire room fell silent.

This eerie silence lasted for about two seconds.

Two seconds later, Tenshōin suddenly opened his eyes wide, his face turning extremely red from the rapid rush of blood.

"Wh...what...?! Jiamo, what nonsense are you talking about?!"

Tokugawa Iemochi silently endured Tenshōin's reprimand with a smile.

Strangely enough, after hearing Tokugawa Iemochi's joke, Aoto did not feel annoyed or ashamed.

Instead, he muttered to himself with feigned seriousness:

"A 17-year-old son, a 21-year-old father, a 27-year-old mother... what an extraordinary family..."

Tianzhangyuan turned its attention to Qingdeng:

"Hey! Why are you even responding!"

Qing Deng smiled.

Tokugawa Iemochi also laughed out loud.

However, because he laughed too hard, he started coughing after only a few laughs.

Qingdeng quickly wiped the smile off his face, and Tianzhangyuan couldn't bother to protest anymore.

"Alright, stop laughing and lie down."

As he spoke, Qing Deng reached out and pressed down on Tokugawa Iemochi's shoulders, forcefully pushing him back into the quilt.

After lying down, Tokugawa Iemochi's cough subsided considerably.

He took several deep breaths, then spoke softly in a dreamlike tone:

"Now... we can only pin our hopes on Yoshinobu Hitotsubashi..."

He hadn't said anything, but once he did, the atmosphere in the whole room became strange.

With Tokugawa Iemochi falling ill, he was naturally unable to discuss matters of expelling foreigners with the imperial court.

With Tokugawa Iemochi absent, the only person qualified to hold talks with the Imperial Court is Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu.

Just how far can Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu, who reveres the Mito school of thought and deeply respects the Emperor, go in this confrontation with the Imperial Court...? To be honest, it's truly terrifying.

Even Qing Deng couldn't help but feel a jolt in his heart.

The already enigmatic "Shogunate-Academia Talks" are now becoming increasingly mysterious.

After a moment of silence, Tenshōin said slowly and deliberately:

“I have no doubt about Yoshinobu Hitotsubashi’s abilities.”

"Although Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu was a supporter of Mito Manabu and greatly respected the Emperor, he was ultimately of Tokugawa blood."

"I believe he will still do his utmost to secure benefits for the shogunate without offending the emperor."

A bitter expression crossed Tokugawa Iemochi's face:

"I hope so... Sigh... Now we can only take it one step at a time and leave the rest to fate..."

……

……

The current state of this once-in-a-century "Shogunate-Imperial Conference" can be summarized in one sentence: "The Shogunate is in a slump, while the Imperial Court is in high spirits."

Just yesterday, April 30, was the day before Tokugawa Iemochi fell ill.

Emperor Tonin, along with court officials, Tokugawa Iemochi, Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu, and other high-ranking officials of the shogunate, went to the Kamo Shrines at Kamigamo and Shimogamo to pray for the successful expulsion of foreigners.

This was the Emperor's request, and Tokugawa Iemochi and the others naturally could not refuse. They had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow the Emperor and his ministers to the shrine.

On that day, Emperor Tonin and Tokugawa Iemochi traveled together in a grand procession.

The people of Kyoto have never welcomed the Shogun.

On the very day of their visit to Kamo Shrine, mocking and jeerful shouts could be heard from the onlookers.

"Oh dear! General Zheng Yi!"

The tone was as if to say, "Oh? Isn't this the Shogun of the Edo Shogunate? It's been years, how come you've become so arrogant?"

This illustrates the decline of the shogunate's authority.

The Choshu Domain manipulated things from the shadows, and as long as it was said to be the Emperor's will, no one dared to object.

If this were during the reign of Tokugawa Ieyasu two hundred years ago, facing these imperial edicts, Tokugawa Ieyasu might have dismissively retorted, "The Emperor? How many soldiers does he have?" or "Why is Your Majesty rebelling?"

But now, the balance of power has shifted.

How can you fight a battle where you can't fight back?

After Tokugawa Iemochi fell ill, Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu took over his post.

It is said that Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu gasped several times upon learning that he would be negotiating with the Imperial Court on behalf of Tokugawa Iemochi.

On May 3, the Emperor went to Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine on Mount Otoko, and Hitotsubashi Yoshiki, who became the "Acting Shogun," had to accompany him according to the "Emperor's decree."

Yoshiki Ichibashi had no choice but to obey.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, he suddenly claimed to have abdominal pain and could not take another step.

Whether it was a coincidence or he received advance warning, he escaped unscathed by using the "shit escape" technique.