I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"At this critical moment for the nation, we need a general with exceptional talent to take charge of the overall situation."

"Hmph! They say they're doing this for the shogunate and for the country, but in reality, they're all scheming!"

"The reason why they wanted to support Yoshinobu Hitotsubashi to rise to power was simply to increase their influence in the shogunate, so as to maximize the benefits for their domain and their family."

"To put it another way—is the Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu they want to support truly worthy of the title 'wise and virtuous'?"

"I've met Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu several times, and in my opinion, he's nothing more than a bookworm whose brain has become stale from reading too much!"

"This kind of bookworm seems reliable in ordinary times, but when it comes to a crisis, he often becomes completely useless!"

"Besides being mentally challenged, he also completely lacked the courage to shoulder the great responsibility of 'General Who Subdues the Barbarians'."

"He lacks the decisiveness to make important decisions."

"He's the kind of coward who would abandon his troops and flee alone if his side fell into a disadvantageous position during a battle between two armies!"

“If Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu were to succeed him as shogun, unless he were to die young, I have no doubt that he would become the last shogun of my Edo shogunate.”

"If we allow these treacherous demons and monsters to run rampant, then the shogunate and this country will never have peace!"

"To ensure that the country would not be divided or destabilized by these petty people, I launched a severe crackdown on them. What wrong have I done?"

History will ultimately prove who is the truly loyal minister, me or them!

Ii Naosuke's tone became increasingly impassioned.

"Your Highness Tenshōin, although you are the adopted daughter of Shimazu Nariakira, the lord of the Satsuma Domain, you are also the Grand Master of the Shogunate!"

"I urge you to prioritize the interests of the shogunate above all else!"

Ii Naosuke deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word "shogunate".

After Ii Naosuke finished speaking, the chest of Prince Tenshōin began to heave more rapidly.

"...My lord," Tenshōin said in a deep voice, his face ashen, "you have your principles, and I have mine!"

"When I entered the Ooku, I swore an oath—to dedicate myself to the future of this country!"

Tenshōin deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word "nation".

[Note: Ooku: During the Edo period, the Ooku was the residence of the Shogun's mother, children, principal wife (Midai-sho), concubines, and female officials within Edo Castle. It can be understood as the Shogun's harem during the Edo period. No man other than the Shogun was allowed to approach the Ooku.]

"'For the future of this country'..." Ii Naosuke imitated Tenshōin's tone, emphasizing the word "country" as if he were doing it himself.

He seemed amused by his own excellent imitation, and a smug expression appeared on his face.

"Since Your Highness Tenshoin has such awareness, please grow up quickly."

Ii Naosuke's expression slowly turned indifferent and cold.

"Forgive my bluntness, Your Highness, but some of your ideas are so naive that they make me want to laugh."

“Enthusiasm and naive ideas alone cannot protect this country.”

Ii Naosuke and Tenshōin... neither of them was willing to back down as they glared at each other.

There was no sound here.

But it felt like a thunderclap in my ears.

……

……

Tenshōin clasped his hands in front of him and walked quickly down the corridor away from the magnificent room where he had just met with Ii Naosuke, his face expressionless.

Because Tenshōin walked so fast, the ladies-in-waiting serving her had to struggle to keep up with her.

Suddenly, a hoarse voice, unique to those going through puberty, brought Tianzhangyuan to a halt:

"Mother!"

A young boy strode out from the shadows of the corridor on the right side of Tianzhang Courtyard.

The boy was quite handsome, with a straight and high nose, long and curved eyebrows, and black, shiny hair that hadn't been shaved into a topknot.

His features still retain a touch of childishness, but his every move already exudes a mature demeanor.

The boy's clothes were embroidered with the Tokugawa clan's crest: the three-leaf hollyhock.

Wearing clothes embroidered with three-leaf hollyhocks and addressing Tenshōin as "Mother"... the boy's identity is now clear.

It was with the strong support of the "Nanki faction" led by Ii Naosuke that Tokugawa Yoshifuku, who had successfully defeated the "Hitotsubashi faction" and succeeded as the new shogun two years ago, was able to do so!

Two years ago, after the death of the former shogun Tokugawa Iesada, Tokugawa Yoshifuku officially became the 14th shogun of the Edo shogunate. Following custom, he changed his name to the current "Tokugawa Iemochi".

"General...?" Tenshōin looked at Tokugawa Iemochi, who had suddenly appeared, with surprise.

The ladies-in-waiting standing behind Tenshōin bowed deeply to Tokugawa Iemochi.

Tokugawa Iemochi smiled and waved to the ladies-in-waiting, indicating that they should dispense with the formalities, before quickening his pace slightly as he approached Tenshōin.

Tokugawa Iemochi is still only a 14-year-old boy this year, just 10 years younger than Tenshōin.

Tenshōin was the wife of the former shogun Tokugawa Iesada, and in order to succeed him as shogun, Tokugawa Iemochi became Tokugawa Iesada's adopted son after the "Nanki faction" won the election two years ago.

Therefore, even though the two were not much different in age and did not look like mother and son, Tenshōin was still Tokugawa Iemochi's nominal mother. Whether in public or in private, Tokugawa Iemochi had to respectfully call Tenshōin "Mother".

"General," Tenshōin asked, "what brings you here?"

“Mother…” Tokugawa Iemochi gave a bitter smile, “Did you… just now have another argument with Ii?”

Tensho-in paused for a moment.

She turned her head and winked at the ladies-in-waiting behind her.

The ladies-in-waiting immediately understood and quickly stepped back.

In the blink of an eye, a space was cleared up where only Tenshōin and Tokugawa Iemochi were alone.

"Shogun." Tenshōin turned his gaze back to Tokugawa Iemochi.

On her face was a gentle smile that she had not shown during her meeting with Ii Naosuke.

Tenshōin's gentle smile contained a hint of helplessness.

“Every time I meet with the eldest brother, you come over nervously and ask me, ‘Did you have another fight with Ii?’”

Tokugawa Iemochi chuckled dryly a few times.

“Mother, you and Ii are indispensable to me… no, to the shogunate and to this country.”

When Tokugawa Iemochi uttered the words "shogunate" and "nation," he emphasized them.

"So I don't want to see you arguing so frequently there..."

Looking at Tokugawa Iemochi, whose head was bowed and whose face showed a hint of worry, Tenshōin smiled helplessly.

She subconsciously raised her hand, habitually wanting to stroke Tokugawa Iemochi's hair.

But after raising her pale hand, she suddenly realized that her godson had grown to be as tall as her without her even noticing.

Two years ago, when Tokugawa Iemochi had just arrived in Edo and succeeded as the new shogun, this young man was only up to her chest.

"General, don't worry too much." Tenshōin gently smoothed a strand of hair at Tokugawa Iemochi's temple. "My relationship with the Grand Master is just a slight difference in political views."

"Putting aside our differing political views, the eldest brother has always been a man I greatly admire."

"Although I hate to admit it... I have to acknowledge that this country cannot do without its leader at the moment."

"The magnanimity and governing skills of the leader deterred many ambitious individuals from emerging in the country, thus maintaining national stability."

“I have always admired his loyalty to the shogunate and his determination to give everything for its future.”

"So—General, don't worry."

Tenshōin slowly lowered his hand from stroking Tokugawa Iemochi's hair, a gentle smile curving his lips.

"The scene you are worried about, where I fall out with the big boss and fight him, will never happen."

Upon hearing Tenshōin's words, the worry on Tokugawa Iemochi's face slowly faded, replaced by a joyful smile of relief.

However, his smile froze the moment it appeared.

"...Mother, speaking of Ii...I have some bad news to report to you..."

Tokugawa Iemochi looked around and, after confirming that no one else was present, lowered his voice and quickly said to Tenshōin:

"Just now, our new spies who were sent to the Mito Domain reported back."

"We still haven't gathered any information... about the group of Mito Domain samurai who infiltrated Edo with the intention of assassinating Ii."

Tianzhangyuan's delicate eyebrows furrowed instantly...

One of them was the current Shogun of the Edo Shogunate, and the other was the current Ōmitai-sho. More than a month ago, they, like Ii Naosuke, had received the top-secret intelligence from the spies infiltrating the Mito Domain: a group of Mito Domain retainers would infiltrate Edo to carry out the execution of Ii Naosuke.

Because this intelligence was so influential, its leak would likely cause considerable panic. Therefore, until now, only a handful of people throughout the entire shogunate, including Tokugawa Iemochi, Tenshōin, and Ii Naosuke, knew about it.

"The secrecy was so well maintained..." Tenshōin half-closed his eyes. "These Mito Domain samurai who intended to assassinate the lord... are far more cunning than we imagined..."

Tenshōin slowly clenched his hands, which were crossed in front of him.

“…Mother.” After a moment of hesitation, Tokugawa Iemochi let out a long breath as if he had made up his mind. “Just as you said, this country cannot do without Ii right now.”

"Moreover... on a personal level, I absolutely do not want Ii to be killed."

"So, I have a plan now. Would you like to hear my plan, Mother?"

Tianzhangyuan paused for a moment, then said, "General, please speak."

……

……

Edo Castle, Ii Naosuke's office—

Ii Naosuke sat cross-legged behind a desk piled high with documents, intently scanning a document in his hand.

While Ii Naosuke was engrossed in handling state affairs, he didn't notice the footsteps beside him—

“Ii-yo.”

Ii Naosuke's expression suddenly froze, and he quickly looked up from the document in his hand.

"General...?!" Ii Naosuke hurriedly put down the documents in his hand, then turned around and bowed to Tokugawa Iemochi, who was walking towards him with a smile. "What brings you here?"

After waving his hand to signal Ii Naosuke to raise his head, Tokugawa Iemochi, who had already walked up to Ii Naosuke, slowly squatted down.