I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

In conclusion, Qing Deng successfully won over the head of the Okita family with just one sentence.

Normally, according to common sense, Souji, who has no background, low status, and is just an ordinary daughter of a samurai family, is not qualified to marry Aoto, who is a daimyo.

Even if she gets married, she won't have a high status; at most, she'll be a concubine.

Now, Souji is not only able to marry Aoto, but she is also his legal wife.

To outsiders, this was an incredibly auspicious occasion, akin to the ancestral graves spewing forth auspicious flames—something Okita Hikaru could not possibly criticize.

Okita Hikaru did not covet wealth and fame.

Her approval of Qing Deng was not because she wanted the Souji to become the matriarch of the Qin Jin Domain so that she could also benefit from it.

For Souji's husband, Okita Hikaru had only one requirement: he must have the ability to make Tsukasa happy.

Qingdeng met the requirements, so she nodded in agreement—it was that simple.

Mai and Tsukasa's parents have been taken care of... Now, only Chiba Sanako is left!

The day after bidding farewell to Okita Hikaru, Aoto headed alone to the Chiba Sword Hall with great momentum.

Because prior arrangements had been made, the Chiba Sword Hall was exceptionally "lively" that day.

Not only did Chiba Michizaburo and Chiba Tamonshiro from the Genbukan come, but even Chiba Eijiro, who was far away in Mito, rushed back.

At that time, Chiba Sadakichi sat in the head seat, and the young people, led by Chiba Eijiro, sat behind him.

Two generations looked down on Qingdeng from a superior position, exerting invisible pressure on Qingdeng.

Under these circumstances, Qing Deng remained calm and proceeded directly according to plan—

With a loud thud, he pressed his forehead firmly against the tatami mat! While performing the standard dogeza (a traditional Chinese way of bowing in reverence), he loudly proclaimed his feelings for Sanako and his determination to "marry three wives."

Aoto's display of force immediately caught the kind, gentle, and easily swayed Chiba Sadakichi off guard.

Finally, after a long internal struggle, Chiba Sadakichi nodded slightly, then murmured softly:

"Is 'Chiba Sanako' going to become 'Tachibana Sanako'...?"

"Sigh, my feelings are so complicated..."

"I always hoped that Sanako would marry into a good family, but now that she's actually getting married, I'm actually feeling reluctant to let her go..."

Chiba Eijiro and other younger generations all expressed their opposition to Chiba Sadakichi's decision!

They were not against Aoto having a harem, nor were they against Sanako's husband having other women—these were common practices in the Edo period.

To oppose it would be a manifestation of "going against common sense".

They just felt that having "three legal wives" was too hasty!

It exudes a childish feel from the inside out!

Throughout history, has a man ever had multiple wives?

Even Oda Nobunaga, who was so audacious that he dared to burn down Buddhist holy sites, never did anything so outrageous!

We, the Chiba, are a prestigious family of swordsmen! How could we do something so absurd?

Although their opposition was fierce, unfortunately, Chiba Sadakichi was the undisputed patriarch of the Chiba family.

His words had a decisive effect.

Now that he has made his judgment, it will be of no use even if Chiba Eijiro and others strongly oppose it.

At this point, all three women's parents had accepted Qing Deng and his proposal of having "three legal wives."

All obstacles that stood in the way of "marriage" have vanished!

However, even today, the younger generation of the Chiba family still casts meaningful glances at him...

Sanako is the apple of the Chiba family's eye.

Putting aside her own brother Chiba Jutaro, even her cousins ​​Sakae, Michi, and Tamon all doted on Sanako.

In other words, they are all sister-complex/older sister-complex!

The younger sister/older sister you cherished was lured away by this guy with his inexplicable and distorted theory of "three legal wives"...

It's not hard to imagine what they must be feeling when faced with Qingdeng now being "alone"...

At this moment, Qingdeng felt as if a low pressure was swirling around him...

To ease the tension, Qingdeng gave a few slightly affected, dry laughs:

"Hahahaha... Right, right! Dingji... Ah, no, where is Father? Where is Father?"

After Qing Deng finished speaking, he did not receive a friendly reply, but rather an annoyed question.

Chiba Tamon Shiro raised an eyebrow and said with a displeased expression.

"Oh? You call him 'father' so naturally."

Chiba Michizaburo continued the conversation:

"Zanako isn't even married into the family yet, and you're already calling her 'father.' Aren't you being a little too presumptuous?"

—Weren't you just calling him "brother-in-law"?!

While mentally ranting and raving, Qingdeng racked his brains, trying to figure out a way to leave.

His intuition told him: he had to get out of here immediately!

If we don't get out of the "Chiba" group's encirclement soon, who knows what might happen!

Fortunately, his closest friend, Chiba Jutaro, came to his rescue and answered his question:

"Father is with Sanako."

There was less than an hour left before the wedding started.

At this crucial moment, the three women were all huddled in their respective rooms changing clothes and putting on makeup, making their final preparations.

Compared to grooms who wear simple clothes and don't need makeup, brides' "wedding attire" is undoubtedly much more complicated.

It takes quite a bit of time to get dressed properly, just for that gorgeous white kimono.

Just then, a familiar, aged male voice suddenly came from behind Qingdeng:

"Huh? Oh! Isn't this Tachibana-kun?"

Two sprightly old men walked straight toward Qingdeng.

A large group of people followed behind the two elderly people.

"Mr. Asai! Mr. Shimada!"

Qingdeng took the initiative to greet him.

The two elderly men at the head of the group were none other than Kinoshita Mai's two elders—Azai Shichirobei and Shimada Katsuroro.

Their grandsons—Asai Moriyasu and Shimada Kanichi—followed closely behind them, followed by the high-ranking members of the Gourd House.

Kinoshita Rin and Kiryu Boss were nowhere to be seen... Aoto guessed that the two of them, like Chiba Sadakichi, were in their room accompanying the beautiful and lovely bride.

Kinoshita Rin kept her promise that she would definitely attend the wedding.

After Aoto announced the exact wedding date, she appeared before Aoto and Kinoshita Mai as scheduled, accompanied by Kiryu's boss, Asai Shichirobei, and other relatives and friends.

Asai Shichirobei walked up to Aoto, looked at the "Chiba" members, and then asked curiously:

"Mr. Tachibana, who are these people?"

Before Qingdeng could answer, he heard a familiar voice again:

"Huh? Tachibana-kun, what are you doing here?"

In an instant, Qingdeng's body seemed to turn to stone.

He stiffly turned his neck and gaze, following the sound—the figures of Kondo Shusuke, Abi, and Okita Kin came into clear view.

Okita Kin—Souji's second older sister.

Because he married someone from another place, Qingdeng had never had the chance to get to know her before.

Thanks to today's wedding, Qing Deng has finally recognized all three "Okita sisters"—the youngest sister is getting married, and even though she lives far away, there's no reason for her not to come.

It has to be said, the Okita family's genes are truly impressive!

The three sisters are all beauties who look like they were made from the same mold!

"..."

Aoto suddenly fell silent, glancing at Chiba, then at the people in the gourd house, and then at the Okita family's relatives and friends...

Suddenly, the corners of his mouth stretched out and drooped down, resembling an inverted "U" shape.

Okay, that's all...

The parents of the three girls are all here!

Suddenly, Qingdeng felt a chill on his back—cold sweat had slightly dampened his clothes, and a cold wind blew, chilling him to the bone…!

In that instant, he sincerely reflected: he shouldn't have gone out so rashly! He should have stayed in his room until the wedding started!

However, now that things have come to this, avoidance is futile.

After calming himself down a bit, Qingdeng forced a composed expression and slowly said:

"Well... please allow me to introduce myself."

“These are Sanako’s family members.”

“These are A-Wu’s family members.”

"These are Xiao Si's family members..."

As Qing Deng continued speaking, his voice grew softer and softer... simply because a series of complex and indescribable gazes fell upon him.

Chiba fans: "..."

The members of the Gourd House: "..."

The Okita family's relatives and friends: "..."

This is probably what is meant by "awkwardness".

Everyone present looked at each other, and no one spoke... It was extremely awkward!