Female Swordsman Training Dojo

Misuruhime pulled open the paper sliding door, made of expensive wood but still fragile, and stepped gracefully inside.

Behind the door was a very classic room, with tatami mats and ukiyo-e prints creating a simple Japanese style. So much so that the large globe in the corner and the Western sword placed next to the samurai sword seemed so out of place.

The man, who had been lying on his side in the middle of the room, slowly sat up and looked at Misurugi, who was walking gracefully towards him: "Mitsurugi, did you and Hirohito have another fight?"

“He needs to spend more time studying now, instead of hanging out with the brats from the Kujo family, the Takatsukasa family, or any other family all day long.”

Princess Misuru showed no respect to the man before her, coldly uttering a long sentence that left her father, Emperor Taisho, speechless.

With a helpless rub of his nose, Emperor Taisho changed the subject: "How are those bastards doing?"

"The damned ones have been mostly cleared out, only a few who can't die yet are left." Misuruhime didn't dwell on her brother's upbringing, because it was pointless to say anything.

Moreover, important matters are at stake.

Her expression grew even colder, and Misuruhime's calm tone was tinged with resentment: "Those damned Han Chinese, they've really infiltrated deep. Even though the constitutionalists have stirred up public opinion, it's difficult to eradicate their long-standing influence. Especially..."

Although Princess Misuru didn't finish her sentence, Emperor Taisho understood his daughter's meaning. Wasn't it because he had been misled by Katsura Taro when he was out of his mind that he had delegated too much power, making it difficult to reclaim it now?

Just like the imperial edict that Katsura Taro presented in the Diet before, if it weren't for the strong opposition from the constitutionalists and the public opinion, that guy could probably have used the Emperor's name to shut down the Diet and extend the life of the Katsura Taro cabinet.

Moreover, this cannot be dealt with by simple and crude assassination methods, after all, politics is indeed a troublesome thing... Taisho felt that his headache was about to flare up again.

But this can't be ignored, otherwise, do they really think these feudal lords are so loyal? These bastards were all Tokugawa's dogs decades ago!

Rubbing his throbbing head, Emperor Taisho forced himself to stay alert: "What have those guys from the Tongxin Society done?"

"There seems to be no reaction so far, at least not in Tokyo, but they certainly won't give up so easily." Misuru pursed her thin lips. "The fact that they went to such great lengths to set up a base for the Dragon Society in Tokyo is definitely not just for the purpose of resurrecting a Western dragon or capturing experimental subjects."

"them……"

"They want to kill me." Emperor Taisho interrupted Princess Misuru, picked up the white porcelain sake bottle that had been placed to the side and took a sip. "Maybe not before, since Katsura Taro controlled me, but now, they definitely want to kill me."

"After all, I am the offspring of Amaterasu Daimyo, whose bloodline is the purest and who was almost a living sacrifice. Since those evil spirits and demons can no longer control me, they must be eager to kill me."

"However, they would never guess that my daughter's blood is even purer than mine—it's a pity you were a boy."

Misuruhime's eyes darted around, and she tentatively said, "Father, in that case, why don't we support those constitutionalists..."

"No way!" Emperor Taisho's face fell. "If those brainwashed idiots from the British come to power, how will our Emperor conduct himself? Will he become a mascot like the British royal family?"

Princess Misuru remained silent, thinking to herself that it wasn't like she hadn't done it before; she had done it for hundreds, even almost a thousand years. And even putting aside the past, she was practically no different from a mascot now.

Why did the military become so powerful? It was because the Emperor needed them to check and balance the powerful clans that still lingered in the imperial bureaucracy. This was to prevent the imperial family from falling back into the clutches of the court nobles after escaping the shogunate's clutches, ultimately repeating the mistakes of the Heian period.

In that era, even the emperor's choice of empress was meticulously arranged by the Fujiwara clan. He might even be placed under house arrest or forced to abdicate in favor of a prince in his fifties.

But the problem is that the military cannot be trusted, the warlords cannot be trusted, and the constitutionalists are inherently excluded from any possibility of taking power—so what force will they use to maintain their position?

Relying on the hundreds of ninjas in Shiranui?

Princess Misuru couldn't help but sigh softly to herself, but her expression remained calm. She couldn't possibly say these things to Emperor Taisho, because he would absolutely not listen. It would only worsen the relationship between father and daughter and make the situation even more complicated.

However, while she remained silent, Emperor Taisho had something to say. The Emperor, when lucid and not experiencing a relapse, was quite astute and subtly sensed his daughter's dissatisfaction.

But it doesn't matter, he already has a brilliant idea!

The confident Emperor Taisho spoke up: "I plan to convene the Tenran Shiga. Mitsuki, since the military is already somewhat out of control, let's support a new force to restrain these ungrateful bastards."

"Samurai?" Misuruhime frowned her beautiful eyebrows. "Yes, these lower-ranking samurai are indeed a force, and in this era, they no longer have the ability to establish a shogunate, nor would the military allow it."

"But can they stand up to the military?"

Emperor Taisho raised his head:

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"It might not have worked before, but now we have an excellent opportunity. The army is at a disadvantage, besieged from all sides. We might as well take advantage of their predicament, dismantle a portion of their forces, and leave that to the samurai."

"Once they are formed, they will inevitably have to ally with the army to counter the navy, thus creating a three-way balance of power. Moreover, with samurai involved, the conflict between the sea and the land will not be as intense, and their effectiveness in dealing with the feudal lords will increase."

Emperor Taisho spoke excitedly, and although Princess Misuru didn't think things would go so smoothly, she didn't object. There was no point in objecting now.

Princess Misuru's silence only emboldened Emperor Taisho, who excitedly declared, "The Tongxin Society has just sent us a perfect tool—the dragon-slaying swordsman, Taira no Harunobu. We'll use his outstanding performance as an excuse to convene the Tenran Shiga, claiming it's to establish a close-knit guard to protect me, just like the Northern Warriors under Emperor Shirakawa!"

Princess Misuru hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

The term "Northern Samurai" is not a good thing for the Emperor.

After all, the Minamoto clan, who founded the Kamakura Shogunate, can be said to have made their fortune through this.

It's just a metaphor, there's no need to make a big deal out of it...

Misurugi thought with some unease, but finally spoke up: "But, Father, how do you plan to control these new samurai? Without a strong restraint, those samurai might collude with the military instead."

After all, there are many former samurai in the military, and they may even have had a subordinate relationship with the lower-ranking samurai who run dojos.

Emperor Taisho suppressed his overly excited smile and looked at Princess Misuru.

Misuru-hime met his gaze without moving and looked back at him.

Emperor Taisho nodded slightly, then suddenly said, "Since you are unwilling to marry Hirohito, would you be willing to marry a samurai?"

Princess Misuru's pupils contracted slightly as she instantly understood how Emperor Taisho intended to control the new samurai force.

Simple, direct, but very effective – marriage alliance.

In this way, the samurai became relatives of the emperor.

Just like the Fujiwara clan among the court nobles of the Heian period. Anyone who opposed the emperor would be met with fierce suppression from the Fujiwara clan, just like Taira no Masakado, the only person in Japanese history who dared to usurp the throne.

“But we can use marriage alliances, and so can others.” As she said this, Misuru-hime couldn’t help but think of Hirahara Harunobu, who had been married off to dozens of women, and her tone became more certain.

Emperor Taisho confidently said, "That's easy. Promulgate a law that all Japanese people will only be allowed to marry one wife. Isn't that exactly what those Western countries have been criticizing about our marriage customs? Kill two birds with one stone."

Princess Misuru was initially taken aback by Emperor Taisho's astonishing statement, but she quickly realized, "It's a three-birds-with-one-stone move, isn't it? Didn't Mother tell you not to do that?"

Regardless, Emperor Taisho was truly devoted to his wife. Historically, he genuinely stayed with her until his death, remaining faithful to the woman he married from the Kujo family.

Compared to someone else, he is so devoted that he is beyond belief.

For some inexplicable reason, Misuruhime thought to herself.

Emperor Taisho, however, waved his hand dismissively and declared unilaterally: "In short! I've made my decision! Misuru, you can handle it!"

Misuru nodded slightly, and she didn't seem to have any objections to it.

After all, if she didn't want to be a figurehead like the King of Britain, then Emperor Taisho's method seemed to be the only solution. And for her personally, not having to marry Hirohito was naturally a good thing.

but……

Forget it.

That guy was powerful, but not unparalleled. Even among samurai, there were quite a few who could slay that heavily wounded dragon without suffering such severe injuries themselves.

Why am I thinking about that man again?

It must be because of Lan's constant nagging. I'll punish her by making her calculate the supplies needed for the Tianlan Trial later.

Princess Misuru pondered for a moment, then slowly rose to bid farewell to Emperor Taisho. With elegant but slow, delicate steps, she left the quiet Japanese-style room.

The shadowy ninjas surrounded Emperor Taisho again, and the golden fox returned to her side.

"My lord, there is..."

"Lan, calculate the resources needed for the Tianlan Trial and how long the preparation time will be. Oh, and don't forget the selection of judges and spectators, and the audience... Hmm, can we use the World Expo pavilions directly?"

"Oh, right, remember to allow time for warriors from all over the country to come and participate, but dragging it out too long isn't good either, so we need to think of some small activities to keep the buzz going beforehand..."

Listening to Misuruhime's rapid-fire arrangements, Shiranui Ran pointed to herself: "Huh? I'm arranging the Tenran Trial?"

The author says:

Author's Note: Volume 3 has begun, but it's not a special feature on Princess Misaku (???)?(._.`). Also, please be gentle with the political drama; it won't be very long. The final 3K chapter is here, so please vote! —A happy farewell to the bank president with two short songs; time to shatter the stars.

Chapter 212: The Blue Sky Pavilion's Reputation Damaged

Good morning, Teacher's College!

"Gui'an, Teachers' College."

"Hey, Teacher's College, isn't it my turn today?"

Harunobu, having just finished his morning exercise, was walking towards Inagawa-yu when he was greeted by a constant stream of greetings. Some were elegant, some were energetic, some were incredibly direct, and some were trying to confuse him about the time. But no matter what kind, Harunobu responded earnestly, even giving a friendly pinch to the cheek of one who was trying to sneak away.

Until we reached the entrance of Inagawa-yu.

The nun Fahui, dressed in an earth-yellow monk's robe and hat, holding prayer beads, made Qingxin look helpless.

"Fahui, is it you too?"

The nun Fahui clasped her hands together and softly chanted a Buddhist prayer: "Amitabha, Master, your reputation is really a bit..." The pretty nun, who was only twenty years old, shook her head, her cheeks slightly flushed as she thought of something.

Of course, this wasn't because the nun had fallen in love; it was just the natural shyness of human nature. Intertwined with this was also a sense of reluctance and helplessness at having to leave the Blue Sky Pavilion.

That's right, the nun Fahui is ending her studies abroad and returning to her temple.

And she was considered one of the later ones to leave.

Along with the fame of the dragon-slaying swordsman Harunobu, his romantic escapades also spread. Although he was already known for his womanizing ways before, Harunobu's reputation was previously limited to the Asakusa area, but now it has become quite well-known.

The samurai's marriage to dozens of men, coupled with his strange rule of only accepting female disciples, caused a stir among the vast population of Tokyo, damaging not only Harunobu's reputation but also that of Aozorakan itself.

Taira Qingxin's harem.

Taisho no Oo.

That's probably what it means.

Given that Hiraharunobu did indeed do the things rumored, the parents of the international students were clearly outraged. Whether it's Buddhism, Shintoism, or Christianity, the chastity of religious personnel is still highly valued in modern times; no temple, shrine, or church wants a nun, priestess, or nun to join someone else's harem.

Furthermore, they were genuinely worried that the philandering samurai Taira no Harunobu would try to harm their own precious daughter, so even though they were very envious of Harunobu's swordsmanship, they still chose to recall the exchange students.

What could Qingxin do but accept the consequences of his younger brother's actions?

"Alright, you don't need to return the sword. Consider it a farewell gift from me." Harunobu sighed. "If you can, remember to keep practicing. Swordsmanship will deteriorate if you don't practice for a day."

Nun Fahui bowed deeply to Qingxin: "Yes, Master, I will continue to hone my swordsmanship!"

This wasn't just polite talk; Nun Fahui spoke from the bottom of her heart. In the short few months at Aozorakan, she, along with all the other international students, had fully experienced the superiority of Aozorakan's swordsmanship. Many had even unconsciously begun to favor swordsmanship over magic.

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stand up.

After all, compared to spells that require time to chant and are limited by mana, the Aozorakan swordsmanship has a more endurance, faster activation time, and decent killing efficiency, making it an overwhelmingly superior art.

Although the nun Fahui thought this idea was biased, she also admitted that the swordsmanship she learned at the Qingkong Hall greatly improved her strength.

If it weren't for the host's forceful order, and the fact that her private life at the teachers' college was indeed too chaotic, making her feel somewhat insecure, she really wouldn't have wanted to end her studies abroad.

This is also the thought of most international students.

It's such a pity that teachers can't understand such a simple principle as "form is emptiness, emptiness is form."

With a sigh in her heart, the nun Fahui bowed to Qingxin again before walking out of Qingkong Pavilion with Qingxin waving her hand.

Harunobu watched one of the last few international students leave, then walked somewhat wistfully into Inagawa Bath and soaked in the warm tub, which was already occupied by several people. The faint electric current in the bath stimulated Harunobu's body, causing him to let out a comfortable groan.

The disciples swam over from the pool, their fair skin shining even brighter in the slightly murky water, their smooth texture like solidified cream, captivating all who saw it.

"Teacher, what are you thinking about? You look so serious."

"Yes, it's rare that we came so early."

Her delicate hands grasped Qingxin's arms, and then her full and elastic breasts pressed tightly against Qingxin's arms.

"No..." Qingxin opened his mouth to respond to his disciple and wife, but suddenly felt his head go blank. The hard stone wall behind him suddenly became soft, and two large lumps of brain cushions supported the back of his head perfectly.

"It must be another international student leaving." The voluptuous woman holding Harunobu's head chuckled and pinched Harunobu's cheek. "What else could it be?"

The Aozorakan is now the absolute ruler of Asakusa, or to exaggerate a bit, it's practically the de facto ruler of the Asakusa district, capable of collecting taxes even if it were to impose them. As the master of the Aozorakan, what could possibly make Harunobu so disheartened?

“Indeed, don’t men all like to fantasize about shrine maidens or nuns? Many ukiyo-e prints are about this kind of subject…” The last two disciples swam up to Harunobu and teased him as they pulled down his underwear.

Qingxin rolled his eyes lazily: "That's certainly one reason, but the more important thing is that we can't recruit any new disciples now!"

Even the international students, who had already tasted the sweetness of success, couldn't withstand Harunobu's plummeting reputation and chose to run away with their buckets, let alone others. Given Harunobu's feat of killing Voodoo, Aozora should have been overflowing with disciples coming to seek apprenticeship by now, but the reality was... well, actually, it was still overflowing.

"No way, only a few dozen people came yesterday, and I heard they were from the same family..."

Qingxin thrust his hips forward, silencing the red lips of the person in front of him, and then leaned back under her resentful gaze: "Hiss... those guys were more here to climb into bed than to learn swordsmanship. They all looked like they wanted to devour me alive, just like... ugh... you guys."