My personal opinion on Gensokyo

"…Immediately order people to search for the best jade and the best jade craftsmen in the country."

In 706 AD, the second year of Shenlong in the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty and the third year of Keiun in the reign of Emperor Mommu of Japan.

Nearly a year later, at the hot spring resort in Yoshino Mountain.

It was a morning, early summer, with a pleasant temperature and bright sunshine.

After naming the mansion Hot Spring Villa, Shang Yang has lived a much more comfortable life in the past year. Ever since the five highest-ranking suitors each went out to look for four treasures that were both detrimental and one that was suicidal, the remaining nobles knew that they had no hope, so they gradually left Mount Yoshino, and the area around Mount Yoshino became much quieter.

In order to find "Danterian's Bookshelf", Prince Shizhu has organized a fleet and sailed to the westernmost continent despite the dissuasion of his royal relatives.

In Shang Yang's memory, the West at that time was in chaos. The Germanic barbarians were killing each other, various barbarians were killing each other and the Eastern Roman Empire, and the Eastern Roman Empire had to fight with the Arabs.

The situation in the West at this time is that there is no situation. If you kill me, I will kill you.

I hope Prince Shizhu is lucky enough.

The Right Minister stayed in the country because he was an important minister, but the fleet he sent to search for the mysterious girl "Shana" was circling around East Asia.

The Grand Minister is frantically searching for a woman named "Tosaka Rin" in Musashi Province...

The middle minister, with Fujiwara no Kyo as his center, frantically inquired about where there was a work called "God's Notebook".

This is really...

Whenever Shang Yang thought of the miserable plight of these guys, he couldn't help but hold his forehead.

You should just go back to your own homes.

The second-in-command, Fujiwara no Fuhito, is really capable. I heard that he had established connections between the upper and lower levels of the Tang Dynasty nine months ago, and now he has been traveling to the Central Plains by boat for several months. I wonder if this guy is really going to steal the imperial seal and the Heshi Bi... If he really steals it back, it will be a big deal.

But Shang Yang had no intention of stopping him. If he really stole it back, Shang Yang estimated that he would be able to watch 100,000 Tang troops invade Japan.

Thinking of this, Shang Yang picked up a novel and spread it out while lying on the recliner.

Think about more important things.

Looking at the girl with long straight black hair in a black sailor suit who was sitting on the cypress steps, her fair feet buried in the sand, also holding a book and reading seriously, the young man ruffled his hair and looked thoughtful.

...Love is truly beautiful.

[…I don’t know whether I should be satisfied or angry about the Master’s idea.]

Miss Lord God grumbled coldly.

"...I really think appreciating Ai is more important than thinking about Fujiwara no Bi and so on. This is normal, right?"

The young man was confused by what Miss Lord God said.

[…I really can’t refute you.]

Miss Lord God was helpless.

Shrugging his shoulders, Shang Yang continued reading.

However, it was impossible for him to read quietly today.

"Shang Yang!"

Along with the shouting, Shang Yang heard the front door being kicked open and the sound of footsteps trotting.

Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Moon City quickly rushed from the front door into the inner room where the hot spring was located, clutching a brocade package in her hand.

Her Royal Highness the Princess trotted up to the young man and stuffed the brocade package into his arms.

The young man suddenly felt a sinking feeling.

Her Royal Highness the Princess, who had hurried over, also sat on the wooden steps and spoke hurriedly to Shang Yang and Ai, who were both looking at her with confused eyes.

"Shang Yangjun, I seem to be in trouble."

...Did you really steal the Heshi Bi?

Shang Yang was surprised to hear Kaguya's hurried words, having probably guessed what was in the brocade package.

Ai also stood up, closed the book, put it aside and walked over.

Shang Yang placed the brocade package on his legs, untied it with his hands, and unfolded it.

Inside the package was a jade seal engraved with the words "Mandate from Heaven, May you live long and prosper forever."

...really stole it?!

The young man found it incredible.

This "Imperial Seal and Heshi Bi" is basically the same style as the one Shang Yang knew.

"Shang Yang, what should I do? We agreed that if you could get the Heshi Bi, we would marry..."

Covering her head, Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Moon City asked the young man unhappily.

The proud Kaguya of Penglai Mountain was unwilling to admit defeat, but she had also carefully checked the relevant records, and the styles all matched. She had never seen a real He Shi Bi, and insisting that this one was fake would definitely not convince others.

Shang Yang ruffled his hair and looked at the "Imperial Seal and He's Jade Jade" in front of him. He had never dealt with antiques before...

...Who among those collecting antiques can get the Heshi Bi?

Even if Miss Lord God can identify this Heshi Bi as a fake, she still needs an explanation...

"Shang Yang, why don't you help me cut down the Fujiwara family tonight? That way, at least there will be no problem in the short term."

With her beautiful eyes turning, Her Royal Highness the Princess came up with an outrageous idea without any scruples.

"Kill the Fujiwara clan..."

Shang Yang actually thought about this method, but in the end he shook his head.

"No, I'll definitely suspect you, Princess, of doing it later."

"what……"

Sighing in disappointment, Kaguya curled her lips and said nothing more.

Her Royal Highness the Princess was sure that the young man would find a way, so she was not in a hurry.

However, when Taketori saw that there was a suitor who actually fulfilled Kaguya's requirements, he was already impatient to prepare a dowry for his adopted daughter.

After returning to her own house, the Princess of the Moon City jumped over the wall and left her home in an unladylike manner and rushed to Shangyang. Anyway, the Bamboo Cutter couple would not take the initiative to go to her house.

Shang Yang picked up the Heshi Bi and recalled the part in the original novel "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" about Fujiwara no Fuhito (Prince Kurumi) forging the Penglai Jade Branch.

Considering Fujiwara no Fuhito's temperament, Shang Yang basically concluded that the He Shi Bi in his hand was a fake.

...but how should it be exposed?

Disguise yourself as an envoy sent by the Tang Dynasty to ask the Yamato court for punishment, and give them a taste of their own medicine... It seems that there is not enough time... Wait!

Shang Yang suddenly remembered the story about the Heshi Bi and subconsciously looked at the four corners of the jade seal.

All four corners are intact.

Shang Yang smiled. It was indeed a fake, and the flaw was too obvious.

"Princess, come closer."

The young man turned sideways and greeted Her Royal Highness the Princess.

"What……?"

Kaguya asked curiously as she moved closer, Ai also moving closer.

"Listen carefully, Princess."

Shang Yang spoke in a low voice.

"The seal that Fujiwara no Fuhito brought back must be a fake, because..."

While whispering this to Kaguya, Shang Yang showed a hint of amusement in his expression.

Fujiwara no Fuhito must be taught a lesson.

Volume 2: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter: Chapter 44: Lord Fujiwara's Talk about the Tang Dynasty

Noon the next day.

Fujiwara no Fuhito, dressed in a bright red hunting robe and accompanied by a large group of attendants, arrived at the gate of the residence of Bamboo Cutter Sanuki Zaomaro with a look of joy on his face.

The Minister of the Interior greeted Bamboo Cutter with a look of joy.

"Maru-kun, I am here today to formally marry Princess Kaguya."

Bamboo Cutter Old Man seemed very happy. The old man hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to the two Grand Ministers.

"Your Excellency, Lord Chamberlain, is most grateful for your kindness. It is also Kaguya-sama's destiny that my adopted daughter has won your favor. Please enter the room. The princess is waiting."

The old man had no intention of becoming rich. He was already old and just wanted to find a good home for his noble adopted daughter given by the gods and Buddhas.

The Grand Secretary bowed joyfully and was about to enter the room.

At this time, Shang Yang, who was lying sideways on the roof of the Bamboo Cutter's residence, was not in a hurry.

After today, the Fujiwara family will be in trouble.

Ai was also sitting next to Shang Yang. Regarding today's scene, Ai felt that she also needed to come and see it.

I don’t know what happened to the youngest daughter of the Fujiwara family who tried to stop me ten years ago.

The black-haired girl felt a little emotional. It felt like only a short time had passed, but in fact, ten years had already passed. Although she had lost her sense of the passage of time after becoming an immortal, ten years had passed in a flash, and the girl began to miss the youngest daughter of the Fujiwara family.

At this time, Lord Fujiwara had already walked into the inner room.

"Master Fujiwara, please stand there for a moment."

Just when Fujiwara no Fuhito was about to go straight into the inner room, the princess's sweet and ethereal voice suddenly came from behind the curtain.

Fujiwara no Fuhito stopped and saluted Kaguya behind the curtain.

"Does Princess Kaguya have any further instructions? I'll have the waiter prepare them."

Behind the curtain, Her Royal Highness the Princess chuckled softly, took out the "He Shi Bi" and pushed it out from behind the curtain, her cherry lips slightly parted.

"This is the treasure that Fujiwara-sama took for me. It is the heirloom of the Tang dynasty's sages—the Imperial Seal and the Heshi Bi. May I ask, Fujiwara-sama, how did you obtain this?"

"I personally went to the Tang Kingdom and obtained this Heshi Bi from the Tang Kingdom's sage."

Fujiwara no Fuhito smiled with pride.

The nobles who followed him and wanted to see Kaguya-hime's beauty burst into exclamations of admiration when they heard him say this.

"Oh?"

Her Royal Highness the Princess snapped open her fan, covered her face, and asked softly.

"Could you please explain in detail, Mr. Fujiwara?"

"Why not?"

Fujiwara no Fuhito said with a smile.

"Please listen to my detailed explanation, Princess Kaguya."

"I sailed across the ocean on a large ship, experiencing several severe storms along the way and losing more than half of my fleet. However, I pondered carefully and realized that if I didn't obtain the Heshi Bi, I would die. So I took the remaining fleet and continued sailing towards the Tang Dynasty. After enduring untold hardships, I finally arrived at the Tang port of Quanzhou. After I revealed my identity to the Quanzhou prefect, the prefect immediately reported to the Sage, who issued an edict ordering us to the capital. Upon our arrival in Chang'an, the Sage of Tang personally met us in the Hanyuan Hall of the Daming Palace. The Daming Palace was truly magnificent, almost like the shrine of Amaterasu in Takamagahara. We were mesmerized by its grandeur and splendor."

"At this moment, the attendant from Hanyuan Hall announced the arrival of the Holy Saint. We hurriedly greeted him, and he gently told us to rise. He first asked me in detail about the situation in Japan. I replied that the great Tang Dynasty, under your rule, was prosperous and its people were courteous. All of Japan admired your virtue. The Saint was delighted and asked in detail about the well-being of our Majesty. I replied that your Majesty was well and that he was always concerned about you. He also instructed me to come to the Tang Dynasty to pay his respects to you."

"The sage smiled and said, 'It's rare that the ruler of that country is so kind.' He ordered his officials to prepare gifts for our Majesty. I prostrated myself and thanked the sage. The sage then asked why I had come. I recounted the agreement I had made with Princess Kaguya in detail and asked for the Heshi Bi."

"The sage laughed heartily upon hearing this and said, 'Your kindness is truly rare. The Heshi Bi is a deadly object, so I will give it to you, Lord Fujiwara.' With that, the sage took the Heshi Bi, his treasure, from the box in the Hanyuan Hall and placed it in my hand.

"I wept as I presented the jade, kneeling in gratitude for the Saint's kindness. The Saint descended the steps, helped me up, and carefully inquired about the kind of woman Kaguya-hime was that had caused Lord Fujiwara to make such a sacrifice. I replied that Princess Kaguya was a goddess unparalleled in the world. Even if it were ten or a hundred times more difficult, I would still be happy. The Saint patted me on the shoulder and laughed uncontrollably."

"We stayed in Tang's Daming Palace for less than three days before bidding our respects to the Saint. He repeatedly urged us to stay, but seeing my determination, he ordered us to be escorted to Quanzhou, sending Tang's navy along the way. With great fanfare, we sailed to Silla, where the King of Silla personally entertained us and congratulated us."

"We are able to return safely this time thanks to the blessings of the gods and Buddhas, the sage of the Tang Kingdom, and the grace of Your Majesty. Today, I have come to marry Her Highness Kaguya, and I use this treasure of the sage of the Tang Kingdom to express my feelings."

After writing a long and eloquent text, Fujiwara no Fuhito bowed deeply to Her Royal Highness the Princess behind the curtain.

Behind the Grand Secretary, a group of dukes and nobles, who were confused as to what was going on, kept congratulating him.

"Oh……"

Kaguya suppressed her laughter and continued to ask.

"Then the Tang Kingdom Saint must have told you the origin of this treasure?"

"The Saint did tell me."