Chapter 107 Yukihime Toyama
Chapter 107 Yukihime Toyama
In May of the first year of Genki, after arranging for Hattori Haruyasu and Honda Masanobu to govern Sawayama Castle, Nagayoshi returned to Iwamura Castle with Azai Nagamasa, Isono Kazumasa, and others.
Hutuwan is already four years old and has now moved to Antu with her wet nurse.
Changqing and his eldest son, who was being held hostage, rarely saw each other, which was unavoidable.
The second son, "Yashamaru," born to Oichi, is two years old and now lives in Gifu with Oichi.
The eldest daughter of the concubine Kuniko, Tobihime, is three years old and has always lived in Iwamura Castle.
Although Changqing had two sons and a daughter, he was too busy with the war to take care of them at all.
Ogasawara Nagatoki and Hineno Hiroshi were transferred to western Mino, where they both became Niwa Nagahide's retainers.
Not only were Nagamasa and Yuanchang brave, but they were also quite capable of governing their territories.
Nagayoshi then gave each of Azai Nagamasa and Isono Kazumasa five hundred koku of rice to help them govern Akechi Castle and Toki Castle.
It's not because he's stingy; giving these two the opportunity to add Zhixing to the mix at this critical juncture would be practically suicidal.
As night deepened, the lights in Iwamura Castle Main Maru gradually went out, with only Nagayoshi's room still glowing.
Guozi lay on his side on the mattress, his breathing already even.
The afterglow of the lovemaking still lingered on her cheeks.
Changqing gently got up, but he was not sleepy at all.
The summer night was cool, but perhaps because I had drunk too much water earlier, my stomach felt very bloated.
He put on a light robe, stood up, and pushed open the fan.
The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the pebble path, and the coolness underfoot seeped through the thin socks, making one feel a bit more awake.
After walking around the artificial hill, Changqing suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Under the moonlight, a figure in pure white stood beside the well.
The person had their back to him, their long, black hair loosely tied up, with a few stray strands falling around their neck, as if they had stepped out of a painting.
She was fetching water, and perhaps because it was late at night, she didn't straighten her wide clothes.
Yukihime Toyama.
Changqing's throat tightened slightly.
When did this little girl develop so well?
Counting the days, it seems I've reached the legal age.
He had already discussed her status as a concubine with Toyama Naoren.
He's been so busy with his career these past two years that he almost forgot about this person.
Oh no! So that's what happened after Toyama Naoren's several veiled inquiries in his letters!
Yuki straightened up and lifted the bucket gently, water droplets sliding down the side of the bucket and splashing onto the bluestone slab. She turned her face to the side, the moonlight shining directly on her face.
Changqing's breath hitched.
Her eyebrows and eyes were exceptionally beautiful; she still retained a youthful innocence, yet a woman's charm was already subtly emerging.
Yukihime noticed something and turned her head.
Eyes facing each other.
She suddenly lowered her eyes, put down the bucket in her hand, knelt down properly, placed her hands in front of her knees, and bowed.
"My lord."
Her voice was still so cold.
"Why are you fetching water alone so late? Didn't I arrange a maid for you?"
"The maids have all retired for the night. I've sweated a little, so I'll fetch some water to wipe myself off; it's nothing."
A night breeze blew by, lifting a corner of Yukihime's single garment to reveal her pale toes.
Changqing looked at her and suddenly felt his throat go dry.
The woman before me was like a wildflower in the deep mountains, unnoticed yet blooming beautifully.
"Snow Princess".
She looked up.
Changqing didn't beat around the bush. He's never been one to drag things out.
"You will be a concubine starting tomorrow."
Yuki nodded; she had received several pointers from her father over the years.
Zhi Lian even considered having her offer herself to him.
But Zhilian had no idea of Changqing's predicament.
Yukihime slowly lowered her head, touching her forehead to the back of her clasped hands, and performed a proper bow.
"I am a woman from the Wu family. I have been prepared for this. Does Your Excellency intend to do this today—"
Since things have come to this point, there's no better time than now.
Changqing reached out and grasped her wrist. Xueji's skin, which had been gently caressed by the mountain breeze for a long time, was now slightly cool.
"Come with me."
Changqing pulled her up and led her across the courtyard back to the room diagonally opposite his own, a room that had long been prepared for Xueji.
Guozi was already fast asleep.
Changqing carried Xueji into the house.
Her body was softer than he had imagined, and carried the unique fragrance of a young girl.
She said she had sweated? But Changqing only smelled a fragrance.
His palm rested on her lower back, where the curves were concave and convex, simply perfect.
She remained silent throughout.
He slowed his movements, lowered his head, and kissed her lips.
Her lips were soft and had a faint sweetness to them.
At first she was stiff and dared not move, but gradually she relaxed under his caresses and even responded timidly.
Changqing looked up, gazing into her eyes in the darkness: "Aren't you afraid?"
She paused for a moment, then shook her head.
The next morning, when Changqing woke up, Xueji was still fast asleep.
Guozi next door is still asleep.
He propped himself up and instructed the maid to arrange Xueji's new residence.
After breakfast, he ordered someone to bring him pen and ink and personally wrote a marriage certificate.
He then ordered people to take out ten bolts of silk, a sword, and five taels of gold from the treasury as gifts.
He handed the marriage certificate and gift list to a senior member of the clan.
"Send this to Lord Toyama. Tell him that I wish to take Yukihime as my concubine. Please ask Lord Toyama to choose a date for the wedding."
At noon, Changqing, who had just resolved the dispute with the people, returned to the palace.
-
Princess Iris was holding a butterfly.
"Father!"
Changqing bent down, picked her up, and lifted her up, making the little girl giggle.
Guozi also ran out, but he looked a little strange.
"You know everything?"
Guozi raised his head and forced a smile: "What is it you're talking about, my husband?"
Looking at her like this, Changqing understood what was going on.
He carried his daughter in one arm and Guozi with the other, walking towards the shaded area under the corridor.
"The matter of Yukihime has already been arranged. It's just that—it was a spur-of-the-moment decision last night, and I didn't have time to tell you."
Kuniko lowered her head: "My lord need not tell me whom he wishes to take as a concubine. Yukihime is the daughter of the Toyama family, and Kitanokata (Oichi) already told me this, so I knew it was only a matter of time. But—"
"Just what?"
Guozi bit her lip, raised her eyes, and there was a hint of girlish coquettishness in them.
"But my lord was in such a hurry last night, I felt like a fool sleeping next door."
Changqing couldn't help but laugh.
Are you jealous?
"no."
"really?"
Guozi turned his face away, refusing to look at him.
Changqing looked at her slightly reddened earlobes, his smile deepening. He reached out and turned her face back, his fingertips gently brushing against the corner of her eye.
"Would you believe me if I said it was just a coincidence last night?"
Guozi remained silent.
"Would you believe me if I said that I've been so busy with the war these past years that I almost forgot about Yukihime?"
The prince finally stirred and glanced at him: "If that's what you say, my lord, then I naturally believe you."
"But you're still not happy?"
Guozi remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.
"Um."
This single "hmm" sound was soft and slightly nasal.
"What should we do then?"
Guozi blinked. "My lord should come and comfort me tonight—"