I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

The tragic fate of Pingshanchong is just a microcosm.

It is foreseeable that similar incidents, and even more extreme ones, are being staged continuously throughout the country.

Today's incognito visit has only just begun, and I have already witnessed such a bloody and cruel reality of people's lives...

Qing Deng had no idea what Tokugawa Iemochi was thinking at that moment.

But judging from his current expression... he guessed that Tokugawa Iemochi's heart was probably not at peace.

Tokugawa Iemochi stood there thoughtfully.

After a while, he quietly withdrew his attention and gaze from the old man and the young man who were still discussing Pingshanchong.

"...Let's go."

After leaving those words, the young king sighed softly, his expression a mixture of emotions, and walked straight towards the crossroads ahead without looking back...

Which direction should we go next?

He doesn't seem to have made a decision yet.

……

……

At this very moment—

Edo, the Thousand Things Shop—

Kinoshita Mai obediently knelt behind the counter, intently checking the ledgers for Kiryu.

meow~~

Duoduo, who had gained even more weight, further proved the truth of the old saying "the orange is the most important thing," and lay lazily beside Muko's legs, leisurely grooming her fur.

Suddenly, a series of footsteps sounded outside the door, approaching the Senjiya shop from afar.

At the very moment she heard the footsteps, Kinoshita Mai's delicate body stiffened abruptly.

Although Kinoshita Mai's personality became much more cheerful after falling in love with Aoto, her introverted, shy, and timid nature could not be changed so quickly.

"There are guests..." Kinoshita Mai hurriedly put away the account books, abacus, and writing materials.

Just as she was finishing preparing to welcome the guests—whoosh—the shop door was pushed open.

Kinoshita Mai quickly lifted her head from the counter, forcing out a very unnatural smile.

"W-Welcome, sir... Huh? Kiryu-san?"

The person who pushed open the door was none other than Kiryu.

"Young Master, I'm back from grocery shopping."

On his weathered old face, Kiryu, as always, wore a calm and gentle smile, and waved the heavy vegetable basket in his hand at Kinoshita Mai.

"Mr. Kiryu, welcome back!"

The stiff smile transformed into a bright and cheerful one.

"You're back so early today! Is the market deserted?"

"Well, today is New Year's Day after all, so the number of people in the market is naturally not as high as usual. Here, young master, is the white tofu you've been longing for."

"Yay! We can have tofu soup tonight!"

Kinoshita Mai happily took the vegetable basket from Kiryu's hands.

Just as she hummed a tune and turned around, preparing to take the groceries from the basket into the kitchen—

"...Young Master, don't go yet."

"Hmm? Kiryu-san, what's wrong?"

Kinoshita Mai stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked at Kiryu with a puzzled expression.

"I... have something important to tell you—about your grandmother."

Good news! My mom will be discharged from the hospital soon. If all goes well, she can be discharged next Monday.

My mom is recovering well and no longer needs anyone to take care of her, so I don't have to stay in the hospital for long periods of time anymore.

So starting with today's chapter, this book will resume its previous update schedule, which is 10:00 AM sharp!

Chapter 335 The Dragon of Kyoto Descends! [5400]

"grandmother?"

Kinoshita Mai paused for a moment, then adopted a solemn expression that said, "Go ahead and speak, I'm all ears."

"Mr. Kiryu, what's wrong with Grandma? Is... is her health deteriorating again?"

In Kinoshita Mai's memory, her grandmother's health deteriorated after she got old.

Today I accidentally strained my back, tomorrow I unfortunately caught a cold, and my body gets sick and has problems every now and then.

"Young Master, there's no need to be so nervous."

Kiryu pointed to the cushions opposite the counter, indicating to Kinoshita Mai, "Let's sit down and talk."

"My lord is not unwell. I have something else to discuss with you."

"I see...that's good..."

A look of relief appeared on Kinoshita Mai's pretty face. The previously tense facial lines gradually relaxed.

"In that case, Mr. Kiryu, what would you like to talk to me about?"

Kinoshita Mai asked a question in return while sitting down on the cushion that Kiryu had pointed to, still holding her shopping basket.

Kiryu knelt down and sat directly opposite Kinoshita Mai.

“Young Master, do you remember what I said to you this summer when I was helping you with your makeup as you prepared to go to the fireworks festival? I said that the Lord plans to visit you in Edo during the New Year this year.”

No sooner had Kiryu finished speaking than Kinoshita Mai immediately replied excitedly:

"Of course I remember!"

From the time when Kinoshita Mai's grandmother sent her to Edo to train her, entrusting her to the capable and loyal Kiryu for instruction and care... roughly speaking, Kinoshita Mai has not seen her grandmother who raised and nurtured her for nearly a year and a half.

For Kinoshita Mai, her grandmother was both a relative and a benefactor.

Although her grandmother was very strict with her, and whenever she thought of her grandmother's face, she would recall many unbearable memories, she would never forget the great kindness of her grandmother in taking her in as an orphan and the great virtue of raising her as her own child.

Moreover, Grandma wasn't always so strict; she would occasionally show a very gentle and kind side.

Having been away from Osaka for so long, Kinoshita Mai did indeed miss her dearest and most respected relative.

Therefore, when Kinoshita Mai learned from Kiryu that her grandmother would be traveling to Edo to visit her during the New Year this year, she was incredibly excited and looking forward to it.

Even more than half a month ago, in order to better welcome her grandmother's arrival, Kinoshita Mai spontaneously did a thorough cleaning of the Senjiya, inside and out.

She even took the big orange cat, Duoduo, to give it a bath.

Everything is ready; all that's left is for Grandma to arrive.

"Mr. Kiryu, could it be that Grandma has arrived in Edo?"

Kinoshita Mai asked excitedly in return.

"..."

Kiryu stared silently at the pair of beautiful eyes in front of him, which were sparkling with anticipation and excitement.

Then he silently looked away, staring straight at the empty floor at his feet.

"Well... young master, it's a pity... my lord... won't be able to come to Edo to reunite with you for a while."

"Eh...?" Kinoshita Mai exclaimed in surprise, "W-What happened?"

"There's been a business problem," Kiryu continued, speaking to the floor beside his legs. "The specifics... I can't disclose them. Anyway, to deal with this sudden business situation, my lord personally went to Nagasaki a month ago. She can't even return to Osaka for the time being, let alone Edo."

“Nagasaki…” Kinoshita Mai gasped softly, “They went to such a far place…”

Nagasaki: Located at the southernmost tip of Japan and the westernmost part of Kyushu Island, it is Japan's most important trading port and has been Japan's gateway to the outside world since ancient times.

Before the Edo Shogunate's isolationist edict was completely abolished, Nagasaki was the only region in all of Japan that was open to the outside world, not blocked, and allowed foreigners to trade there.

If Osaka, situated in the central region of eastern and western Japan and possessing a unique geographical advantage, is Japan's premier commercial capital, then Nagasaki, with its history spanning over a thousand years and its engagement with overseas markets since the Asuka period (592-710), is Japan's second premier commercial capital.

In Nagasaki, throwing a brick could kill at least 10 businessmen of different nationalities.

As one of the country's most important ports for foreign trade, Nagasaki has always been the region that Kinoshita Mai's grandmother frequented most.

So when she learned that her grandmother had gone on a business trip to Nagasaki, Kinoshita Mai, who was already used to it, was not too surprised.

Whether it's Grandma or Kiryu and other elders, they always keep quiet about the business group they've built—the main business of the Calabash House—in front of Kinoshita Mai.

As a result, Kinoshita Mai never knew how her grandmother made money, and she thoughtfully never asked.

Although Kinoshita Mai is the young mistress of the Gourd House, her understanding of the Gourd House is actually not much more than that of an outsider like Aoto.

That's why this situation has come about—it wasn't until a few months ago that Kinoshita Mai and Aoto learned from Kiryu that the Gourd House had been secretly investigating a mysterious society called "The Law Extermination Party".

"..." Kinoshita Mai's eyebrows immediately lowered, and an overwhelming sense of loss and sadness welled up in her eyes. "I see... Grandma went to Nagasaki... When will Grandma be able to come back?"

Kiryu gently shook his head: "This... it wasn't explicitly stated in the letter the lord sent..."

"..." Kinoshita Mai remained silent.

At the same time, she lowered her head even further.

Meow……

Duoduo, standing to the side, seemed to sense that its owner was in a low mood.

It crept up to Kinoshita Mai's feet, and with its pink tongue, rhythmically licked her slender ankles that were exposed beneath the hem of her kimono and her clean white socks.

"I see... Well, there's really nothing we can do about it then."

Kinoshita Mai took a deep breath, slowly raised her head, and stared straight at Kiryu.

“Grandma didn’t mean to break her promise. Since she has important matters to attend to and cannot come to Edo for the time being... let’s meet with Grandma again when there is another opportunity.”

After saying that, Kinoshita Mai gave a bright smile.

A sweet and sunny smile, without a trace of negative emotion or any hint of forced cheerfulness.