I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

After a while, Jin Zezhongfu closed his eyes and looked up at the sky.

"Since he deliberately sought trouble, he can't blame anyone for what happens next. Hirasaka deserved to die—that's what I thought."

"But after seeing those red and purple pills that you submitted, and hearing about the deeds of Jinzaburo, Tada Kōemon, and Yokokura Keinosuke... I feel I need to re-examine Hirasaka's experience."

"Leaving aside Jinzaburo and Yokokura Keinosuke, Tachibana-kun, don't you think Hirasaka and Tada Koemon's behavior is similar—they're both crazy and spouting nonsensical nonsense."

"..." Qingdeng nodded in agreement.

"Based on my years of experience and intuition in handling cases... I strongly suspect that the painkillers Hirasaka took and the reddish-purple pills carried by Tada Kōemon, Jinzaburo, and others are the same thing!"

At this moment, Kanazawa Tadatsugu's expression was extremely serious.

"That pill... might have the effect of destroying people's minds."

"Hirasaka is my friend after all, and I don't want him to die without knowing why."

"If his death is indeed related to that 'painkiller' he usually takes... then I can't stand idly by!"

"Therefore, I have decided to thoroughly investigate that strange reddish-purple medicine."

"Mr. Ju, the reason I suddenly came to find you today and said so much to you is to ask for your help—would you be willing to help me investigate those drugs?"

"Help you?" Qing Deng was taken aback. "How can I help?"

“You don’t need to do anything for me,” Jinze Zhongfu replied. “Just keep an eye out for anything or any information related to that medicine in your daily life. Tell me immediately if you find anything.”

Qing Deng lowered his head slightly, as if deep in thought—this wasn't a particularly difficult task, and helping Jinze Zhongfu wouldn't hurt. Therefore, after only a moment's consideration, Qing Deng nodded:

"Okay, I understand. I will do my best to help."

"I'm very grateful." Kanazawa Tadatsugu smiled broadly. "Alright, we've finished talking about serious matters... let's chat about something light and fun."

After saying that, Kanazawa Tadatsugu looked around like a thief.

After confirming that there were no outsiders around, Jinze Zhongfu tiptoed to Qingdeng's side and put his mouth close to Qingdeng's ear:

"Mr. Orange, I'll be blunt—marry my sister."

*******

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Chapter 306 Triumphant Return! Edo is in an uproar! [5600]

"Marry my sister"—Kanazawa Tadashi's words were like an electric current, starting from his ear and instantly spreading throughout Aoto's entire body.

Affected by this "current", Qingdeng's body trembled slightly uncontrollably, and goosebumps rose on his skin.

Qingdeng, feeling a stiffness in his neck, subconsciously wondered if he had misheard.

He turned his head and gave Jinze Zhongfu a shocked look—Are you kidding me? Qing Deng asked with his eyes.

Kanazawa Tadatsugu felt Aoto's gaze.

He smiled and responded to Qingdeng with a firm look in his eyes—yes, you heard me right, I just told you: marry my sister.

"Uh, haha... Kanazawa-kun."

Qingdeng swallowed, moistening his inexplicably dry throat. He strained his cheeks, forcing a faint smile. Trying his best to speak in a half-joking tone:

"What's wrong? Why did you suddenly ask me to be your brother-in-law?"

"What else could be the reason? I think you're a great person! You're handsome, tall, talented, and have a bright future. More importantly, you're not married yet! You don't have a fiancée! You and Xiaoqin are a perfect match! And Xiaoqin happens to like you a lot too!"

Kanazawa Tadashi put his hands on his hips and adopted a serious tone.

"Ju-kun, I don't know if you've noticed, but Xiaoqin has a lot of feelings for you."

"To my shame, as Xiaoqin's older brother, I only recently realized that my younger sister has fallen for you."

Jin Zezhongfu extended his right index finger and wiped his upper lip horizontally, a slight smile on his face, revealing a look of shame.

"Lately, Xiaoqin keeps mentioning you at home."

"You mentioned me?"

Qing Deng asked in return.

"Oh, yes."

Jin Zezhongfu nodded.

What did Miss Kanazawa mention about me?

"Ha...it's just the same few sets of words over and over again."

Jinze Zhongfu shrugged, his smile turning into a wry one. At the same time, a layer of... subtle, complex emotion appeared in his gaze as he looked at Qingdeng.

"What? 'Mr. Tachibana is at the Chiba Kenkan again today'?"

"What do you mean, 'Mr. Tachibana's swordsmanship is really amazing'?"

“What do you mean, ‘Brother, you should learn from Mr. Tachibana’?”

When he said this last sentence, the complex emotions in Kanazawa Tadatsugu's eyes were no longer faint, but solidified into a tangible presence.

“I’ve been there too, so I know what it means to always have another person’s name on your lips.”

"However, at first, I was hesitant to be sure if my younger sister really liked you."

"Although it's not appropriate for me, as the older brother, to say such things... my younger sister's fierce temperament certainly doesn't seem like the kind of woman who would fall in love with a man like an ordinary woman."

"Only recently have I finally become certain that Xiaoqin does indeed have special feelings for you."

"Ju-kun, I think you must have noticed it to some extent, right? In the few days that Xiaoqin has been staying at the military camp, she has clearly shown you a lot of favor, and she comes to check on you every now and then."

"Look, I just came to bring you a cotton coat myself."

"I've never received this kind of treatment! That brat has never brought me a cotton coat! I'm so envious of you... Ah, no... Never mind, forget what I just said..."

"..." Qing Deng ignored Jin Zezhongfu, who suddenly started to feel sorry for himself, pursed his lips, and remained silent.

After delivering a long and rambling speech, Kanazawa Tadatsugu, as if feeling the heat, reached out and pulled open the collar of his shirt—in fact, he did feel very hot at that moment.

This was the first time Kanazawa Tadatsugu had ever done something like arranging a marriage for his younger sister, personally asking a certain man if he wanted to be his brother-in-law.

I was much more nervous than I had expected.

Even though it was early winter and countless snowflakes were falling from above, Kanazawa Tadatsugu had a bead of sweat on his forehead.

With his chest exposed, Kanazawa Tadatsugu continued his eloquent speech, fanning himself with his hand:

"Ju-kun, I'm not just bragging, Xiaoqin really is a good girl."

Jin Zezhongfu started counting on his first finger.

"First of all—her appearance is impeccable. She's twenty-nine, the same age as you. She's graceful and poised. She has bright eyes, white teeth, and delicate eyebrows."

“Apart from being too tall, there is no problem with your appearance—and this one flaw is not a problem for you, because you are taller than Xiaoqin, and when you stand next to Xiaoqin, you won’t be gossiped about by those long-tongued people.”

Jin Zezhongfu picked up his second finger.

Secondly, his family was well-off.

"My Kanazawa family is a bannerman with a stipend of 1000 koku. Our family background is so clean that even the snowflakes on our heads would feel ashamed in comparison! Although we are not a prestigious family, we have never produced any villains!"

As he said this, Jin Zezhongfu puffed out his chest, his face filled with pride.

"at last--"

Jin Zezhongfu raised his third finger.

"Xiaoqin is a refined and elegant woman, not a shrew who is all show and no substance."

"Not only is she highly skilled in swordsmanship, but she will also be able to protect the family well after she gets married. Moreover, she is proficient in all the skills that a daughter of a martial family should know: embroidery, flower arranging, tea ceremony, incense ceremony...

"Overall, apart from being a little too impatient and impulsive at times, Xiaoqin has no unbearable flaws."

Having said that, Kanazawa Tadatsugu slowly lowered the three fingers he had raised.

As if recalling something sad, he let out a long sigh, turning the remaining air in his lungs into a white mist frozen by the winter wind.

"Ah, I almost forgot... Xiaoqin has another flaw: she has too high standards."

“As early as three years ago, my father, mother and I introduced Xiaoqin to many outstanding men.”

"But Xiaoqin always dislikes two things about the talented men we introduce—she doesn't like this or that."

"Therefore, I was really happy when I found out that Xiaoqin was in love with you—this brat has finally come to her senses."

"Oh, Mr. Ju, if I miss you, I don't know when Xiaoqin will meet another outstanding elite who can make her feel strong affection. That's why I'm so eager to ask you if you are interested in marrying Xiaoqin."

"So... what do you think, Tachibana-kun?"

The smile on Kanazawa Tadatsugu's face disappeared gradually at a visible speed, and his expression became increasingly serious.

What do you think of Xiaoqin?

Do you like her?

"Do you intend to marry her?"

"If you also like Kotomi, then when we return to Edo, I can immediately arrange things between you two! At the latest, in two months, we can become in-laws!"

Jin Zezhongfu's rapid, continuous questioning, like a machine gun, left Qing Deng's head spinning.

"..."

Qingdeng lowered his head in silence, his eyes fixed on the snow in front of his toes.

The reason Qing Deng suddenly lowered his head was not because there was anything on the ground that could attract his attention, but simply because lowering his head and avoiding eye contact with Jin Zezhongfu made him feel inexplicably comfortable.

However, even with his head lowered, Qing Deng could still feel the intense gaze of Kanazawa Tadatsugu, and his scalp felt a burning sensation that appeared and disappeared intermittently.

Recalling what Kanazawa Tadatsugu had just said—he was absolutely right. From any perspective, Kanazawa Kotomi is an exceptionally outstanding woman.

She has the looks, the talent, and the family background. She completely deserves the nickname given to her by the gossipers at the Chiba Kendo Academy: "Little Sanako".

Being called "a degraded version of Chiba Sanako"... in a sense, that's quite an achievement.

Countless women don't even qualify to be compared to Sanako.