I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

In order to possess the women he desired, he even resorted to some extremely despicable means, semi-coercing or even forcing them to submit.

Even within the already notorious "Edo playboy circle," Hayakawa-ya Danshiro was among the most infamous.

Just as Suzune and Kichikuro were at a loss for what to do, Hayakawa-ya Danshiro suddenly put on a kind and gentle expression.

"Rin, don't worry, I really just want to be closer to you and hear your beautiful voice more clearly. I will never do anything inappropriate to you."

After saying that, he patted his chest with an air of importance.

"Hmph! You've probably said this nonsense to at least ten women!" Suzune thought to herself. She didn't believe a single word of Hayakawa-ya Danshichiro's sweet talk.

Once she sits down next to him, he will subtly rub against her leg, put his arm around her shoulder, then touch her feet, kiss her face... and so on, step by step, gradually taking liberties with her.

Even if he really did nothing and just wanted to get close to her and chat with her, it would still have a very bad impact on her reputation.

She was a respectable entertainer who sold her art but not her body, serving only the upper class.

It can be said that "innocence" is her biggest selling point.

If she gets a black mark on her record of "sitting feet next to a guest", how will she ever be able to make a living again?

Seeing that Rin was still hesitating and standing still, the smile on Hayakawa-ya Danshiro's face disappeared at a visible speed.

Instead, an increasingly intense sense of impatience emerged.

"Tsk! You're such a pain! Don't you have ears? Didn't you hear me call you over? Do you only understand human speech when I get angry?"

Hayakawa-ya Danshiro tore off his mask of hypocrisy and slammed the tatami mat beside him again.

The loud noise... or rather, the hidden threat in his words, made Suzune and Kichikuro both tremble.

Although Yoshikawa Ryotei was a ryotei that surpassed all the restaurants in Edo, in terms of prestige, it could only be ranked at the bottom among the many ryotei in Edo, and it was absolutely not someone that could afford to mess with the large and powerful Hayakawa-ya.

"That... Rinne...?"

At this moment, Ji Jiulang slowly turned his head to the side, his face drooping, and cast a meaningful glance at Lingyin.

That look, that expression... his meaning was quite clear...

Even Mr. Ji Jiulang, the only person she could rely on now, had surrendered... Suzune bit her lower lip, her pretty face filled with grievance and resentment.

Her delicate figure, instinctively clutching the shamisen in her arms due to deep unease, resembled a willow catkin swaying helplessly in a gale.

Suddenly, at that moment, she seemed to remember something and froze.

Then, she took a deep breath and, mustering her courage, called out loudly:

"Lord Hayakawa! I have some connections with Lord Tachibana! Could you please give Lord Tachibana some face?"

Hayakawa-ya Danshiro was stunned.

"Tachibana? Which tachibana?"

In Japanese, tachibana can be written as "立花" (Lihua), "立华" (Lihua), or even... the surname of the person who has been stirring up trouble for the past two years.

Now that things had come to this, Lingyin had no room for backtracking, so she could only grit her teeth and continue speaking:

"That Tachibana-sama, who is also the attendant to the Emperor!"

Hayakawa-ya Danshiro paused again, then, as if savoring each word, slowly murmured:

"Oh...it's that 'Nioh'..."

If we were to name the most famous and influential figure in Edo in recent years, it would undoubtedly be Tachibana Aoto, the "Niou"!

Since Aoto captured the Shimizu residence, the reputation of "Niou" has spread from being known only in the Kanto region and populated areas such as Kyoto and Osaka to all parts of the country!

From Matsumae in the north to Satsuma in the south, "Tachibana Aoto" has become a name known to everyone.

Especially after the Edo Shogunate bestowed upon him such a generous and rare honor, his legendary status became even more pronounced.

His stipend increased by 4000 koku, and he was promoted several ranks. He was transferred from a thief captain to a lieutenant and a servant of the Imperial Household... How many years has it been since the shogunate produced such a dazzling new political star?

The Shogun's close advisors are mainly of two types: one is called "side servants," and the other is the "side retainers" for whom Qing Deng currently serves.

The former were responsible for relaying the general's orders to the senior officials, and their treatment was comparable to that of the senior officials. They were usually selected from those whose family stipends were more than 1 shi (a unit of grain).

In 1684, after the assassination of Horita Masatoshi, who served as the Grand Elder, the power of the eunuchs increased.

Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu (a retainer of the fifth shogun Tsunayoshi), Mabe Akira (a retainer of the sixth shogun Ienobu and the seventh shogun Ietsugu), Tanuma Otsugu (a retainer of the tenth shogun Ieharu), and Mizuno Tadashige (a retainer of the eleventh shogun Ienari) were all very famous retainers.

The number of members in the side staff is 5-8. Their status is lower than that of the side staff. Although they can also participate in politics, the political figures they can contact and the political events they can intervene in are certainly not as good as those of the side staff.

Qingdeng's family salary did not reach 10,000 shi, so the position of side servant was naturally out of his reach.

However, precisely because the specific functions of the side retainers were not so clear, Tokugawa Iemochi was given considerable room for maneuver.

With the strong support of Tokugawa Iemochi, Aoto's true status... can be summed up in one sentence: nominally a confidant, but in reality a servant!

Tokugawa Iemochi had not yet established his own side servants, so he almost entirely used and trained Aoto as a side servant.

For less important political matters... especially those involving military affairs, Tokugawa Iemochi often delegated them to Aoto.

When a summit meeting was held with only the Shogun, senior councilors, and young officials in attendance, Aoto was also entitled to sit next to Tokugawa Iemochi as an observer.

To give a vivid example that may not be entirely accurate, but is roughly correct—if the senior councilors led by Matsudaira Nobuyoshi were prime ministers, then Aoto is now the Grand Councilor! He holds immense power!

Moreover, he was also the person in charge of managing affairs in the inner palace.

Don't underestimate the power of Ooku.

Regardless of the era or country, the political power of imperial concubines in the harem cannot be ignored.

Leaving aside the complex power struggles, even the simplest and most easily understood example is the whispered advice from a concubine—a single word from a concubine could potentially influence state affairs and even shake the very foundation of the nation.

Since Aoto took office as the Minister of Personnel, Tenshōin has shown his utmost support for his appointment.

She personally took the lead in cooperating with all of Qingdeng's work, and the officials under her, such as the Imperial Attendant, the Imperial Censor, and the Imperial Guest Association, had no choice but to follow her.

Apart from the recent arrival of the Kyoto women, led by Princess Kazuya, who didn't give Aoto much face, the women of the Tenshōin faction in the inner palace were all completely obedient to Aoto—which naturally further strengthened Aoto's power.

Even a blind man could see that Tokugawa Iemochi and Tenshōin were intentionally grooming Aoto.

Tachibana Seiden is very favored—this political signal has subtly elevated his political status.

To put it bluntly but reasonably... right now, Aoto could practically walk all over Edo!

Even the most powerful and influential figures in the country had to greet Qingdeng with courtesy and go through the motions when they met him.

If even these bigwigs are like this, then let alone the Jacha, who has nothing to offer besides wealth.

Zazashi could only bully powerless commoners and lower-ranking samurai.

They absolutely cannot afford to provoke high-ranking samurai who hold high political positions... especially those of Qing Deng's caliber.

Looking at Suzune, who claimed to have a connection with Tachibana Aoto, Hayakawa-ya Danshiro blinked, then burst into laughter:

"You have a connection with Tachibana Aoto? Then hurry up and invite Tachibana Aoto over here!"

As he spoke, Hayakawa-ya Danshiro revealed a dismissive and contemptuous expression.

"Hmph, Suzune, I'll let you off this time. This is a rare opportunity, so let me give you some advice: in a place like Edo, don't casually mention the names of important people, or you'll only make a fool of yourself."

His mockery of Lingyin was palpable.

What is Tachibana Aoto's identity?

And what is your identity, Lingyin?

The former refers to high-ranking officials who wield great power.

You're just a courtesan, how could you possibly have any connection with him?

Don't kid me!

Hayakawa-ya Danshiro was convinced that Suzune was bragging to protect herself, and unconsciously chuckled repeatedly.

Just as his patience was wearing thin, he leisurely stood up, preparing to walk over and personally pull Lingyin into his arms—

Bang!

The door, which had been tightly closed, was suddenly pulled open.

A young samurai who looked to be around 20 years old strode into the room.

The young man wore a black lacquered hat with gold leaf lining, a symbol of high-ranking retainers of the shogunate. He wore a dark red silk kimono with a family crest, the gentian leaf of the Minamoto clan, and a haori hakama (a formal dress with a short jacket and trousers). He had three swords at his left waist: a regular wakizashi, a katana with a black and red hilt and sheath, and an antique sword with a black and purple hilt and sheath.

The young man did not rush to speak after entering the room.

Instead, he first placed his left hand on his hip, palm close to the three swords at his waist, tilted his head, and calmly scanned the room, his gaze sweeping over the astonished faces of Hayakawa-ya Danshiro, Suzune, and Kichikuro, before finally speaking softly in a tone that was neither too calm nor too impatient:

"I think I heard someone calling my name. Who is it? Who is calling my name, Tachibana Aoto?"

*******

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Volume 3, "The Rise of the Dragon in the Clouds," has officially begun serialization!

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

This volume will also exceed one million words, potentially becoming another super-long novel comparable to the previous volume. Please be prepared!

The powerful domains of Satsuma, Choshu, and Aizu have all emerged onto the historical stage; slayers like Kawakami Gensai and Okada Izo are also beginning to show their strength… This volume opens with an atmosphere of impending doom, and even I, the author, am eager to write the rest of the story!

I'm recommending a book today!

Tokyo: This narration is weird!

Traveling through Tokyo, a thirty-year-old soul in an eighteen-year-old body, I thought I'd struck gold, until I obtained what appeared to be the original owner's diary, and heard an unsettling narration...

[Tsk tsk, who will become the diary's target? Or is it the hunter lurking in the shadows, waiting to catch the lost lamb?]

This book is also known as "Me and My Neighbors".

[Tokyo] + [Romance] + [Suspense] + [Narration] + [Twist]

Chapter 488 War Clouds Gather! Armies from the Three Kingdoms Converge in the Capital!

Qingdeng just happened to be passing by in this area.

He received an invitation today from several bigwigs in the "Edo business district" to have dinner together.

Originally, the restaurant chosen by those business tycoons was Furuhashi Ryotei—the most prestigious ryotei in Edo, frequented by the wealthy and powerful, including rich merchants and high-ranking samurai from prominent families.

However, Qing Deng, who had eaten at Yoshikawa Ryotei a few times, quite liked the atmosphere and style of the restaurant, so he suggested changing the venue to Yoshikawa Ryotei.