I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"She has a kind and reliable adoptive mother, a respectful and virtuous wife, and another..."

He stopped abruptly at this point.

He swallowed the rest of his sentence—"There is another close friend who is like both my brother and my father"—and didn't say it aloud.

Having grown up in the deep palace, He Gong, who lacked immunity to matters between men and women, could hardly resist such sweet words.

In the blink of an eye, her entire face turned bright red, and she looked away, no longer daring to look at Tokugawa Iemochi.

Tokugawa Iemochi had exceptionally rich experience in how to comfort and persuade the prince.

He crossed his knees, sat down beside Kazuya, put his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her into his embrace.

No one knows what he said to her next... The content of their conversation remains a mystery.

About half an hour later, the ladies-in-waiting who had been waiting quietly outside the room saw Tokugawa Iemochi holding Princess Kazu's hand as they slowly walked out.

"Let's go, Kazumiya."

"Tokugawa Iemochi said softly."

"Our separation is only temporary. We will be reunited soon."

He Gong lowered her head and nodded like a chick pecking at rice, muttering:

"Hmm...you need to be careful and make sure you don't get hurt..."

Tokugawa Iemochi chuckled to himself.

"Don't worry, I'm just stationed in Edo Castle, not fighting on the front lines. I'm perfectly safe."

After saying that, he raised his hand to tidy up He Gong's hair and clothes, his movements as gentle as his tone.

"Alright, time is of the essence, let's go."

Kazumiya opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something.

But she didn't utter a single word until she was escorted away by the ladies-in-waiting.

Tokugawa Iemochi pursed his lips, staring intently at Kazumiya's back, not even daring to blink, as if he wanted to forever imprint the other's figure into his eyes and the depths of his mind.

Just then, just as Kazumiya was about to turn into the corner of the corridor and disappear from Tokugawa Iemochi's view, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and met his gaze.

"General!"

The worry and hesitation on her face were gone, replaced by an exceptionally firm expression as she spoke, each word deliberate and clear:

May you have great success in your military campaigns!

Upon hearing this, Tokugawa Iemochi was first taken aback, then his face showed a look of relief and emotion.

After barely calming his turbulent emotions, he nodded vigorously:

"Yes! Kazumi, we will definitely defeat the rebel army and bring you back as soon as possible!"

He Gong smiled gently.

After exchanging glances for a moment, the couple bowed slightly in a respectful greeting. Then, without lingering any longer, she turned and walked into the corner of the corridor, preparing to leave the Ooku and board the ship bound for Oshu.

Although Kazuya was no longer in sight, Tokugawa Iemochi remained intently focused on the spot where the other had been standing, gazing at it with rapt attention, unwilling to look away.

A moment later, a hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes, and he murmured:

"...Kamiya, we'll meet again someday."

Just then, a spirited female voice rang out from behind him:

"Jiamao, I've finally found you! So this is where you are!"

Tokugawa Iemochi was startled, and then subconsciously turned around to look.

Upon seeing the appearance of the newcomer, he couldn't help but gape in surprise.

"Mother, why are you dressed like Tomoe-sama?"

The visitor was none other than Tianzhangyuan.

At this moment, she was not wearing the light blue "widow's outfit" or the white-on-top, purple-on-bottom shrine maiden outfit, but rather white and blue armor. She held a naginata in her right hand and a bow in her left, looking just like a female warrior who had stepped out of an ancient war painting!

"Is that even a question?"

Tenshōin smiled and shook the sword and bow in his hand.

"Iemochi, I want to fight alongside you! We'll defend Edo Castle to the very last moment!"

Upon hearing this, Tokugawa Iemochi immediately frowned.

“Mother, please forgive my bluntness: I can stay in Edo and guard it! There is no need for you to get involved! Please come with Princess Kazuya out of the castle!”

Faced with Tokugawa Iemochi's earnest persuasion, Tenshōin shrugged dismissively:

"Jia Mao, do you think I'm like He Gong? You think I'll listen to you after a few coaxings?"

"I've already heard about it. Kazumiya refuses to leave Edo no matter what."

"It seems you've successfully persuaded her to leave."

After saying that, Tenshōin turned his head and glanced at the room where Kazumiya had just been.

"Although I don't get along well with Kazumiya, I have to admit that she is truly deeply in love with you."

Tenshōin's resolute attitude left Tokugawa Iemochi at a loss.

After a moment, he clenched his fists and lowered his voice:

"...Mother, didn't you already decide that after the 'Chōshū Campaign' ends and peace returns to the land, you would go to Ōtsu with Tachibana-kun?"

"In that case, I beg you, please don't take any risks at this critical juncture..."

"If anything were to happen to you... I would go crazy."

"If one day Tachibana-kun asks me, 'Where did Yu Yi go?' I don't know how to answer..."

His words were filled with sincere emotion... His concern for Tianzhangyuan was evident in his words.

Even Tenshōin couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy, and his facial features relaxed considerably.

However, even so, she remained steadfast in her resolve:

"Jia Mao, who do you take me for?"

“Long before I met Moriharu, I was already the head of the Edo Shogunate and a descendant of a samurai family!”

"As a descendant of a martial family, yet I deserted my post in the face of battle, I will have no face to meet my father in the afterlife!"

The mother and son stared at each other, neither willing to give in...

……

……

"Chōshū is under attack, evacuate immediately"—this message quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys of Edo thanks to the shogunate's propaganda.

Panic and unrest arrived as expected.

Fortunately, the shogunate had anticipated and prepared for this, so the panic and unrest were limited to a small area and did not spread.

Indeed, the shogunate has long been perceived as having "inefficient administration."

But today, facing this unprecedented calamity, and with Tokugawa Iemochi personally urging them on, the shogunate has shown remarkable efficiency.

Officials at all levels worked quickly and methodically to "empty" Edo.

The biggest goal and the biggest challenge of this operation was to evacuate the civilians.

Those who had somewhere to go fled to Jianghu with their families.

Those who had nowhere to go followed the shogunate's arrangements and went to Oshu for refuge in an orderly manner.

It is worth mentioning that prior to this, the permanent population of Edo had decreased sharply due to the abolition of the "sankin-kotai".

This incident had an extremely negative impact on the economy of Edo.

Unexpectedly, due to the sharp decrease in population, the pressure on the shogunate to evacuate civilians was greatly reduced, which can be considered a blessing in disguise.

……

……

Edo, Okemachi, Kochiba Sword Hall —

"Father! Father!"

Chiba Jutaro shouted as he rushed into his father Chiba Sadakichi's room.

"Hmm? Jutaro? What's wrong?"

Chiba Jutaro, ignoring his breathlessness, hurriedly said:

"Father, have you heard? The Changzhou army is coming!"

"Oh, this."

Chiba Sadakichi nodded slightly as he spoke.

“I have already heard about it. It is truly astonishing that I would personally experience ‘Edo being attacked and the enemy besieging the city’ in my lifetime.”

When Sanako was about to give birth, her entire family went to Otsu to take care of her.

They didn't set off to go home until recently, after Sanako gave birth smoothly and recovered well.

They never expected... that they would encounter such a huge incident so soon after returning to Edo!

Chiba Jutaro swallowed hard, and after catching his breath, he hurriedly asked:

"Father, what should we do now? Should we leave Edo, or..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Chiba Sadakichi:

"Jutaro, what do you think?"

"Ok?"

Chiba Sadakichi raised his gaze and stared straight at Chiba Jutaro, his eyes deep and intense.

"Do you want to leave Edo, or... stay?"

"..."