immorality

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

In the first chapter 　　of "The Tale of Chacha,"
in the eleventh year of Tensho (1552), Hideyoshi attacked Kitasō. Amidst the raging flames, Hideyoshi could not find Oichi,
the beauty he . He knew it was too late. He felt the same heartache as when he first stormed Odani Castle. At that time
, Nobunaga turned and said, "I'm returning to Gifu. The siege is in your hands." Nobunaga's expression then
held not only helplessness and anger, but also a hint of sorrow and pain.
Oichi was his beloved younger sister, and Nagamasa was his beloved brother-in-law. Even as the Demon King, Nobunaga did not want
to see this scene.
Time passed quickly, and Nobunaga perished in the fire at Honnoji Temple. Oichi, at her nephew's instruction, married her retainer Shibata.
Shibata and Hideyoshi were now on opposing sides. This brave but reckless general, Gonroku, was no
match for the cunning Hideyoshi; this battle was truly bitter. But
what did it matter? Hideyoshi had made up his mind the moment he drank the sake served with the skull; if he couldn't
make the beauty fall in love with him, he'd rather she hate him completely.
The aloof and indifferent Ichi didn't hate him either. It seemed that only Nagamasa, Nobunaga, and her three daughters
could stir any emotion in her heart. Even her second husband, Shibata, who was deeply infatuated with her and showered her with affection,
remained unmoved.
"My lord, we've found Princess Ichi's three daughters inside."
"Alive? Excellent!" Hideyoshi spurred his horse and turned to go forward. Not far away, he saw
three seemingly beautiful girls.
"Raise your heads." When they raised their heads, Hideyoshi was greatly shocked and speechless for a long time
. Ichi's eldest daughter looked so much like her mother. Sixteen-year-old Chacha, just like
Ichi he had seen in Gifu Castle, possessed an exquisitely beautiful face and a cold, aloof air—the dream he had always pursued.
Chacha was even more beautiful than the little girl he had seen years ago. Compared to her mother's serene demeanor, she was
like a flower about to bloom, possessing a subtle allure and sensuality, and less of her aloofness.
Hideyoshi longed to possess her before anyone else noticed, to imbue her with his own essence.
"Take them back to Fushimi Castle and take good care of them." Hideyoshi nodded, dragging his weary body away from Kitasō Castle.
さらぬだに打ぬる成も夏の夜の梦路をさそふ国公かな夏の夜の梦路
はかなきあとの名を云井にあげよ山ほととぎす
"I'm still attached to the world of mortals and don't want to go back. I just hate that summer night when the cuckoo cries, urging us to leave."
"Life is like a dream on a summer night. I lament that the years are fleeting. I am willing to send those cuckoos to send my fame
to the sky ."
The words of death sung by Shi and Quan Liu slowly flowed out from Beizhuang City.
Back in Fushimi, Kyoto, Hideyoshi held his usual banquet to celebrate the victory, but he
couldn't feel any joy. Gonroku was old; the domineering presence of Oda's former greatest warrior was gone, replaced by an ordinary,
weary old man.
And what about him? The closer he got to 50, the more fear gripped him. Unlike Nobunaga, he didn't have a distinguished lineage; he
had risen through his own efforts, only recently beginning to enjoy the fruits of victory. But, alas
, he had no time left—no time to savor it all, no time to maintain this hard-won
glory.
He sat down in the corridor, carrying sake, and saw the city.
Chacha, dressed simply in a kimono, sat on the railing, gazing at the moon, one foot tucked in her arms, her sandals and tabi socks lying
to the side. She softly sang the verses her mother had sung when she died, two clear tears streaming down her face.
She missed her mother…
"Chacha… marry me as my concubine," he said, without hesitation or thought. For
Hideyoshi, this was inevitable, whether it was her superior bloodline as a descendant of the Oda clan or her status as
the daughter of Ichi, whom he had previously secretly loved.
Chacha looked at Hideyoshi, her face displaying a maturity beyond her
years. "Lord Hashiba...you're even older than my father, how can Chacha marry you?"
"I'm currently taking care of you three sisters, so my word is law," Hideyoshi said sharply.
"Since you've made your decision, why bother asking me?" She didn't turn around, gazing steadily at the moon.
Hideyoshi was surprised by her courage, wit, and aloofness, yet also happy at the use of the word "your subject.
" "Come down." He offered Chacha his hand, and she climbed down, nestled obediently
beside . "I'll have the servants buy you and your sister some pretty clothes these next few days. Uncle Hideyoshi will take good care
of you."
"Thank you, my lord. I will serve you well." Chacha smiled, her arms around Hideyoshi's, a smile that made
Hideyoshi's heart bloom like a flower, incredibly beautiful.
After leaving Hideyoshi's embrace, Chacha hid under the covers and cried. She didn't want to marry this man who looked
like a monkey, but… She remembered her mother's dying words: to take good care of her sister and
to let them cherish their happiness.
Her mother had said that in this era, women were merely tools; the more beautiful a woman, the more valuable she was,
used to solidify the ties between the military and the state. If one fantasized about finding happiness in love, all that would be gained was heartbreak.
Then, how could one find happiness? Her mother hadn't said. Her mother had suffered her whole life, yet still couldn't understand
happiness .
"What's wrong, sister...?" Xiao Du, who slept with her sister, asked, "Chu-nee, Cha-cha is crying..."
"I'm getting married..." Cha-cha leaned on her younger sister Chu's shoulder. She rarely relied on them like this, but
now she had no one to lean on. "I'm going to marry that... villain who drove Mom to her death... Chu... I
'm so scared..."
"Is it Lord Hashiba...?" Chu asked. "It's because you look a lot like Mom, isn't it..."
Cha-cha shook her head repeatedly, "Lord Hashiba not only stabbed Manpukumaru to death... surrounded Father's Odani Castle... and also drove
Mother to her death in the fire... How can I marry someone like that?"
Chu patted her back and comforted her sister, who was sobbing. Chu was a gentle girl,
with a warm smile like her father. "Now we have no parents... and we can only follow his orders...
This is your fate, Cha-cha."
Cha-cha hugged her knees, thinking all night without sleeping. If Hashiba hadn't genuinely cared for the
sisters , he wouldn't have worried about their lives, nor would he have gone to such lengths to welcome her into the family.
Was this truly fate?

Originally, she desperately wanted to avenge her parents and kill her husband, the man she shared her bed with. However, his gentle and doting nature forced her
to accept her fate.
After Chacha was formally registered as Nishinomaru-dono, she was led to meet Hideyoshi's principal wife, Kita-no-Mandokoro. Kita-no-Mandokoro was
a woman with beautiful eyes and a kind face. Looking at her, Chacha felt a
sense of warmth, like seeing her mother. Unlike the haughty demeanor of Hideyoshi's other concubines, Kita-no-Mandokoro Nene possessed a refined and capable air.
Although Chacha didn't dislike her, she still felt a certain awe towards her, especially when she learned that Chacha was Ichi's daughter
; her expression suddenly changed.
Ryuko was another of Hideyoshi's concubines, known among the servants as Matsu-no-Maru-dono. She was stunningly beautiful and graceful, and
Hideyoshi favored her greatly, always taking her with him wherever he went. She seemed to dislike Chacha. On the night of Chacha's
first night , Hideyoshi didn't arrive at her room until very late, because Ryuko had kept him occupied.
That day, Hideyoshi entered the room with a guilty look on his face. Seeing Chacha kneeling by the bed, her face etched with weariness, he quickly
went to comfort her, saying, "I'm sorry... Chacha, I'm late."
"It's alright..." Chacha sat upright, looking at Hideyoshi's tired face and
the scars on his arms from the previous war. She felt only heartache. How this man had protected the
three , how he had quickly returned from China to subdue Akechi—his efforts and loyalty were all written in these wrinkles
and sweat. When she first met Hideyoshi, although her mother didn't like him, she
sensed that he, with his ever-smiling face, wasn't a bad person, even if she didn't love him.
"My lord, if you're tired... you can go to bed without worry..."
"Oh, what nonsense are you talking about... I'm not tired..." Hideyoshi insisted stubbornly.
"Then I'll leave it to you." After Chacha knelt before Hideyoshi, he approached the beauty, stroking her
soft face and loosening the gauze blouse, revealing Chacha's delicate skin.
"Chacha, you're so beautiful." Chacha's face was slightly turned to the side, a little flushed. Hideyoshi gently laid her
down on the bed, covered her with the blanket, extinguished the lamp, and then removed his own cumbersome clothes, his movements a little hasty.
To Hideyoshi, Chacha was not only a replica of Oichi, but she also possessed the unique bloodline of the Oda family
. Such value was precious to him.
Hideyoshi's body approached Chacha on the bed, feeling her trembling. "Are you a little nervous?"
Chacha nodded, answering shyly, "Yes..."
"Don't worry, my lord will take his time." Hideyoshi slowly kissed her shoulders and chest, his beard
tickling and pricking her, causing her to let out a soft moan.
"You're so cute..." Watching the inexperienced Chacha let out soft, childish moans
was a great pleasure for the lustful Hideyoshi.
Chacha seemed to understand Hideyoshi's thoughts, moaning shyly and trying to avoid him. "My lord...
don't...Chacha feels embarrassed..."
Hideyoshi cupped her tender breasts in his hands, filling them fully. Although only 16, her body was round and
smooth , her breasts snow-white and full, showing none of the weakness or thinness of a young child. Hideyoshi kneaded and licked them, teasing
Chacha until her eyes gradually blurred and her consciousness became unclear.
Hideyoshi gently explored her virgin territory, finding it already soaking wet. He stroked her soft, sensitive vulva with
his fingers , inserting his finger inside, causing her to gasp and cry out in pain. "It'll hurt even more next..." Hideyoshi's thin body lay on top of Chacha. After a few
gentle strokes, he aimed his weapon at the entrance.
"Bear with it..."
"Yes..." Chacha gritted her teeth, enduring the discomfort of his engorged penis entering her. "It hurts..."
"Bear with it..." The tight walls of her virgin flesh gripped Hideyoshi with immense pleasure. Even with layers of resistance,
the pleasure made Hideyoshi unable to resist twitching slightly before his penis was fully inside. After only a few
twitches , Hideyoshi couldn't contain his excitement and ended the lovemaking with a couple of trembling jerks.
Chacha felt the man on top of her suddenly go limp. Although surprised, she still hugged
Hideyoshi , her body softening along with his breathing.
Is this what intercourse is like? Chacha wasn't quite sure. It felt slightly different from
the scenes . But she knew Hideyoshi valued his reputation, and she knew that as a lord with millions under his command,
matters of the bedchamber were absolutely private. She could only try her best to please him and couldn't have even the slightest doubt.
"I'm sorry... Cha..." After a long while, Hideyoshi hesitated to look at her young and innocent face
. He pulled out his already limp penis and said,
"My lord... let me serve you..." Cha Cha lowered herself and, imitating
what her mother did to her uncle, took Hideyoshi's penis into her mouth, licking and sucking it gently, making Hideyoshi tremble all over. Hideyoshi was
overjoyed. None of his wives or concubines had ever treated him like this. This feeling was not only pleasurable
but also gave him a sense of control as a man.
Perhaps it was because Hideyoshi's wives and concubines were all daughters of noble families, and they would never lower themselves to do such
a service that only servants would do. Little did they know that this skill came from Oda's maid, Awa.
Watching Cha Cha hesitate, Hideyoshi felt the pleasure of being worshipped, cherished, surrounded, and loved.
"Cha Cha... you're being treated so unfairly..."
"Not at all. As long as my lord is happy, Cha Cha is willing to do anything." Cha Cha smiled.
Hideyoshi naturally
doted on the obedient Chacha. Mid-year, he ordered his servants to build a castle in Osaka, and a year and a half later, he returned to Osaka with them. Chacha became his most beloved concubine, her status in the household steadily rising; even the prince
and other concubines were no match for her.
************
Ishida Mitsunari—she remembered his name because he was the youngest retainer in the entire castle. He was somewhat
thin and tall, his furrowed brows and tightly closed lips giving his face a serious air. He
had been quite active in the battles of Shizugatake and Yamazaki, and his excellent economic acumen was evident in the negotiations at Yodogawa, leading Hideyoshi
to highly value him. It was said that he would be appointed one of the Five Commissioners next month, receiving a fief of 40,000 koku.
He was always aloof. She rarely saw him smile, and he seemed disliked by the other retainers. Chacha enjoyed watching his sharp words when debating with other retainers. But, she also felt that he would be more endearing
if he smiled more .

She first met him through Sakon. Sakon was a burly man of both wisdom and courage, a man of boundless charisma. He was said to
have been a daimyo in the past, and everyone in the castle admired his talent, ability, and bravery, yet they couldn't understand why
he would serve under Mitsunari.
When he entered the castle, Hideyoshi asked Mitsunari, "Who is this man?"
"Shima Sakon Katsutake, who once served the Tsutsui family."
Hideyoshi was greatly surprised. "You actually managed to persuade him? That's truly remarkable. How did you do it?"
"I gave him half of my knowledge and skills," Mitsunari said.
"Ah!?" Hideyoshi burst into laughter. "The lord and the retainer receive the same salary? Mitsunari, only you would do something like
that !"
"Only in this way could I persuade him," Mitsunari said, his tone still indifferent.
Later, when she had the opportunity to meet them, Chacha didn't miss the chance to offer her comfort and chat with Sakon. "
Sakon , I heard that after serving the Tsutsui family, you were a ronin for a while?"
"Yes, Ninomaru-dono." Sakon nodded and responded kindly, while Mitsunari looked into the distance and remained
silent.
"Is life as a ronin interesting?"
"Not as interesting as you imagine," Sakon said with a smile, looking at the young girl before him. "Sometimes we
don't have a meal, sometimes we don't have a place to stay."
"I see. But it's also a good way to toughen yourself up," Chacha said with an intrigued expression.
"Is it because of this kind of training that Lord Ishida speaks so highly of you? I'd love to experience
that kind of life someday."
Mitsunari snorted from the side, and Sakon quickly smoothed things over, "Oh dear, your delicate body
definitely wouldn't be able to handle it."
"Don't worry, Sakon. I'm used to Lord Ishida's attitude." Chacha said with a laugh, "Lady Nene
said Lord Ishida's awkwardness is the worst in the entire Osaka Castle."
"Hahahahahaha." This made Sakon extremely happy, while Mitsunari stood by expressionlessly,
helpless against her.
"Lord Ishida, the lord is feeding the koi in the backyard. Weren't you looking for him?"
Mitsunari didn't answer and walked forward on his own. Chacha smiled at Sakon and then followed Mitsunari to the backyard.
He walked quickly and hurriedly, showing no intention of letting her follow. Not only that, but he never paid any attention to her attempts to talk to him. He
's really hard to get along with, Chacha thought to herself.
When she arrived at the backyard, she saw Hideyoshi sitting by the pond, delighted with Chacha's arrival. He was holding her delicate
hand as they fed the koi, completely ignoring Mitsunari's words. He then said, "Mitsunari...
come again when I'm going to sleep tonight."
"My lord, Lord Ishida is already here. Are you going to keep him until tonight?" Chacha wisely said, "I'll take my leave now
, so you can have a proper talk, okay?"
"Hey... don't go..." Hideyoshi cried anxiously. Chacha whispered in his ear, soothing him,
"My lord... please be good... I'll make it up to you tonight..."
"How will you make it up to me...?" Hideyoshi grinned, his face a typical lecherous grin.
"Oh dear... don't embarrass me..." Chacha said coquettishly, laughing and joking as she left the koi pond.
Mitsunari also bowed slightly to her in gratitude.
This made Chacha smile happily; perhaps Mitsunari wasn't as difficult to get along with as she had imagined. Inside Osaka Castle,
Lord Hideyoshi resembled her father, and the retainers were all somewhat older. The other concubines, who were closer in age,
were not very friendly, but this one, Mitsunari, six years her senior, seemed like a good friend.
After all, she was tired of pretending to be a docile concubine. She spent her days quietly sitting, giggling and acting coquettishly,
obedient full of affection, her life having no purpose other than her lord.
Every afternoon, Chacha was ordered to practice calligraphy, painting, and waka poetry in Lady Nene's room
. Nene always praised her for her beautiful handwriting, attributing it to her mother's excellent teaching. Lady Nene and her mother were both from Owari and
spoke fluent Owari dialect. She always praised her mother's talent and grace, and Chacha always
smiled sweetly as she listened.
"Madam, what kind of person is Mitsunari?"
"Are you talking about Lord Ishida Harubu?" Nene asked with a smile. "Did Chacha-hime also suffer at his hands?"
"Not really... I just find him a bit difficult to get along with..."
"That boy isn't inherently bad, he just doesn't speak to people very well..." Nene quietly
looked at the book in her hands. "His face always looks so lonely, he can't make any friends.
Mitsunari is much happier after that ronin came. This person seems to be able to help him a lot, that's wonderful."
"Madam Nene... you are truly beautiful." Chacha flattered her a little. "No wonder the lord loves you so much."
"I can't compare to Chacha in terms of youth and beauty," Ningning said. "What I can win is
the hard work and merit I've accumulated alongside my lord over the years. To my lord, Ningning is not just a wife or concubine, but
a partner in conquering the world. Now, all the other wives and concubines come from prestigious families, while I am of humble origin. But precisely because I am
the wife who has shared hardships with my lord, I will never change because of my future official position or status."
Chacha nodded, her face still innocent. "Chacha envies my lord for having such a virtuous wife like you.
My lord's achievements today are all thanks to you."
Ningning rolled her eyes, a slightly amused expression on her face. "You, did you eat too much candy today? Your mouth is
as ."
"I had another argument with Prince Long today. That's why I came to find Lady Ningning to act cute..." Chacha pouted,
"I'm going down now."
"You two, always so jealous." Ningning shook her head, watching Chacha leave. Her gaze held a hint of
pity; although this girl always smiled, she didn't seem truly happy.
The other concubines would always go to Nene to complain about her, saying she was arrogant and that she kept
their lord from getting out of bed for days. So what if she was the daughter of Hideyoshi's household servants? She was married into the family,
yet she acted superior to everyone else, and so on. Nene simply comforted them; this was the demeanor of a principal wife.
This child had a turbulent childhood, losing her father at the age of six. She lived timidly in the Oda household,
constantly subjected to gossip and pointing fingers. In the two years since losing her mother and entering the Hashiba household, she seemed even more
repressed; her smiles always appeared forced and bright.
Compared to Ichi's gentle grace, Chacha possessed a more poignant sadness.
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
Middle Chapter
Mitsunari's face always wore a melancholy expression. Since his promotion to Junior Assistant Minister of Works, he had aroused considerable discontent.
For example, Fukushima and Kato, especially Fukushima Masanori, had been dissatisfied with their stipends and rewards since the Battle of Shizugatake.
Even though the title of "Seven Spears of Shizugatake" was prestigious, he disdained sharing it with Wakisaka and others.
Immature. Fukushima, with his stubborn, immature personality, thought that the louder he cried, the more treats he would get.
Why continue to fawn over Kita-no-Mandokoro, calling her "Auntie" a few times, perhaps even earning a stipend of tens of thousands of koku
?
Because of his youth, most people didn't think highly of his abilities. It didn't matter; he didn't need others
to think highly of him. As long as his lord understood his abilities and hardships, he didn't care about others.
Upon arriving at Ninomaru, he first went to pay his respects to Lord Ninomaru. "Lord Ninomaru."
"Lord Junior Assistant of the Ministry of Justice." Chacha possessed a captivating beauty and a quick wit, and Mitsunari
always wanted to keep a distance from her. Rather than fearing her, it was more that she always left him unsure how to
interact with her. "What brings you here? Are you looking for the Lord?"
"Yes, I wonder if the Lord is at Ninomaru?" "
The Lord went up the mountain early this morning with Lord Kobayakawa and Lord Hienaga." Chacha shook her head, looking troubled.
"It seems he hasn't informed the retainers yet. So many people have come to see him already, really."
"In that case, I'll take my leave..."
"Eh... don't rush off..." Chacha instructed the maid, then said, "Last time I chatted with Sakon, I heard he
really liked this kind of sake, so I specially sent someone to buy it from Gifu. Please give it to him for me."
"His Highness is gifting such precious sake to Sakon; he must be very happy." Mitsunari nodded in gratitude.
"Huh? Lord Ishida is also from Omi, isn't he?" Chacha's eyes lit up as she asked.
"Yes, I was born in Sakata, Omi Province, and worked as a handyman at a temple in my childhood."
"Is that near Odani Castle? Have you ever heard of my parents?" Chacha's eyes shone brightly.
"Could you tell me about them?"
"Yes." Ishida looked at Ninomaru-dono before him, sensing the
depth of her longing for her hometown and deceased parents. "Although I was young then, Lady Odani's beauty and grace, and Lord Asai's youthful
talent , were things everyone talked about..."
Mitsunari was never a talkative person, but seeing Chacha's smile, he couldn't help but talk more and more,
even though he spoke in a emotionless voice. In fact, he disliked even his own cold tone.
But seeing her reactions, whether frowning, smiling, or confused, was his greatest satisfaction at that moment.
In the days that followed, whenever Mitsunari had free time, he would always go to Ninomaru to tell Chacha some stories about Omi and
Owari , talking about the interesting anecdotes and legends of that time. Gradually, he grew fond of her innocent smile.
Compared to the gentle and beautiful Chacha who usually stood beside Hideyoshi in the audience hall, her eyes, brimming with
vibrant charm, seemed even more dazzling as she listened to stories.
He suppressed his inner impulses and affections until that day.
As he was recounting the story of Takeda Shingen and Suwa Koi, Chacha's sudden silence made him
pause slightly. "Your Highness... what's wrong?"
"I've heard this story from my mother..." Chacha lowered her head, thinking of her mother's expression that day—so sorrowful,
her long hair, the fragrance emanating from her, and the soft fingertips that combed through Chacha's hair—everything felt like it had just happened
yesterday .
At that time, Chacha didn't understand why her mother loved this story so much. It wasn't until later,
when she discovered her uncle's affair with her mother, that she understood the sorrow and pain in her mother's eyes. Before the Honnoji Incident,
her uncle had always deeply loved her mother in his own way, never letting her leave his side.
Even though she always spoke ill of her uncle, calling him a devil, Chacha knew that her mother's love for him was
incredibly strong; otherwise, she wouldn't have been so heartbroken upon hearing of his death in the fire during the Honnoji Incident.
Her mother had once said that without Saburo, her life had no meaning.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm the one who's sorry, Lord Ishida... I've affected you with my mood..." She shook her head and
sighed . "These days I've been so willful, making you put aside so many political affairs at Mizuguchi... to come and chat with me at
Ninomaru, I'm truly sorry..."
"Don't say that..." Mitsunari was quite bad with words; besides a polite apology, he didn't know what else to do.
He looked at her expression, hoping it wouldn't be as cold and hard as it was when he faced other retainers during their meetings, but he hadn't learned
to smile , and his lips remained tightly pressed together. He had always been helpless with women, especially a
woman like her, who seemed to be able to see through all his thoughts.
"It's just...it seems I've met a kindred spirit. Talking with Lord Ishida is truly delightful...For
me , life is always about cherishing each encounter, knowing it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Only with those I value can I truly hold onto them.
If only..." She lowered her head, timidly saying, "If only I could
have met "
Ishida stared at Chacha, his entire body stiffening.
Chacha remained silent for a moment, surprised that Mitsunari hadn't reacted at all. A little discouraged, she still managed to
save face. "I'm so sorry...for troubling you. You have a family, and I am the lord's concubine.
I shouldn't have such thoughts. It's almost time; I must go to Lady Ningning's."
"Wait..." Mitsunari suddenly became anxious, reaching out to place his hand on Chacha's soft hand, a gesture
that startled her. "I'm sorry...Your Highness."
"Lord Ishida..." Chacha's cheeks flushed slightly as she slowly withdrew her hand. "We are both
puppets . There are many things I am powerless to change, but... Chacha also wants to be happy, which is why she dared
to plead her case to you, sir..."
Chacha stood up, and Mitsunari followed suit. "Chacha is just a weak woman. My happiness does not exist on
the battlefield , but only in this home. If you, sir, refuse Chacha out of consideration for propriety and morality, even if I
spend my whole life by the side of my enemy, never finding happiness, Chacha will never regret it."
"Your Highness..." Mitsunari, facing Chacha's resolute and masculine expression, couldn't help but
admire her from the bottom of his heart. His hand wandered along Chacha's hairline, but he hesitated to touch her. Chacha moved closer to him,
her breath almost touching his lips, causing him to sigh repeatedly.
"Don't call me Your Highness, call me Chacha..." Chacha entered Mitsunari's embrace, but Mitsunari was suddenly overcome with emotion.
He jumped away, his face pale and trembling.
"...I'm sorry...Your Highness," Mitsunari stammered, unable to speak for a long time, "I
can't ..."
"Mitsunari." Chacha smiled, placing her hand on his, feeling him tremble again and pull away.
"Don't worry, I told you, even if you reject me, I won't regret it. Thank you for keeping me company these past few days."
Chacha turned around, opened the paper door behind her, and ordered, "Oto, Lord Shibu is going back."
Looking at her elegant and carefree smile, Mitsunari fell silent.
**********************
Chacha hadn't changed. She still continued to act spoiled and coquettish towards Hideyoshi, who doted on her, and competed for his favor among the concubines.
What had changed was Mitsunari; without her radiant self, he seemed somewhat melancholy.
Chacha's younger sister, Kotobuki, divorced Saji last year, and this year it was said she was going to marry Hidekatsu. Chacha personally
selected clothes for her, and without leaving the house, many high-end kimono shops in Osaka Castle sent samples to Ninomaru for her to choose from.
Ryuko seemed a little jealous of this.
"Ninomaru-dono, Komaki Hisahisa is still waging war, do you really need to spend so much money to have so many
kimono shops send samples? I wonder what Lady Nene will think if she finds out?" Ryuko stood by the door, tilting her head
to look at the beautiful Kotobuki with a look of disdain.
"I'm really sorry, Matsunomaru-dono, I love my younger sister just like you love your older brother.
Since your brother can rise to prominence so quickly,
what ?" Chacha didn't turn her head and continued to select hair ornaments for Kotobuki.
"I heard you just got divorced last year. Who told your husband to be so ungrateful and follow the wrong master, thus angering the lord?"
Ryuko looked at Kotobuki, feeling that her gentle temperament made her seem easier to bully, and began to speak sourly. As expected, Kotobuki remained silent
, his face ashen.
"Lord Matsunomaru, you have quite the sharp tongue," Chacha chuckled. "I wonder what Lord Takeda would
think ?" Takeda was the former husband of Ryuko, a ally of Akechi Mitsuhide during the Honnoji Incident, who later
committed suicide when attacked by the Hashiba clan.
Ryuko remained silent, her anger evident in her brows, and prepared to leave with her maid.
"By the way, Lord Matsunomaru," Chacha added, "I paid for all these expenses myself,
and I already consulted Lady Nene, so you don't need to worry about it."
Ryuko's beautiful face was flushed with anger. Turning around, she saw Chacha's maid, Atsu, and stomped on her. Hearing
Atsu's scream, she left satisfied.
"Atsu, are you alright?" Kotobuki rushed to Atsu after Ryuko left.
"I'm fine..." Atsu said.
"Atsu," Chacha said coldly, devoid of emotion. "Go down.
You can leave when Ryuko comes ."
"Yes, Madam." "
Katsutoshi, I'm sorry to have troubled you. Ryuko is just jealous of my happiness and the Lord's favor;
he doesn't really hate you."
"Sister, you've become very strong, unlike when you first entered the Hashiba family..." Kazutoshi said, his expression somewhat heavy
. "You've changed a lot to protect yourself." "To protect yourself, you have to constantly hurt others. Kazutoshi
, remember that. Prioritize your own
happiness . In this world , only you can trust yourself. " Chacha picked up a piece of fine silk and gave it to her sister , saying this, her tone and expression frightening Kazutoshi. ********** ... "Lord Chobu...you're really drunk." "I am drunk." Mitsunari picked her up and carried her into the bushes of the courtyard. He put her down and looked intently into her eyes. "And you? Were you also drunk when you were flirting with Harunaga at the banquet?" He was referring to two hours earlier. Because he had been granted the surname Toyotomi, Hideyoshi held a grand banquet, which was attended by all his retainers. Hideyoshi was already drunk and began to grope the prince beside him. Nene and Matsu were laughing heartily, chatting and laughing. Chacha even performed a waka poem. After the performance, she even helped pour sake among the retainers. The sharp-eyed Mitsunari saw Chacha's attentiveness to ōno Harunaga and was filled with jealousy. He handed her a note and told her to come here. "I don't understand what you're saying." Chacha shook her head, her expression showing not only fear but also a hint of joy. She did it on purpose for him. When she received his signature, she was overjoyed, and seeing his jealous expression made her even more smug. Sancheng didn't speak, but his eyes seemed to be burning with desire. He hugged her tightly, tore open her collar, and showered her soft skin with passionate kisses. Although Sancheng looked thin, he was actually quite strong . Chacha clung to Sancheng's shoulders, waiting for his onslaught. He cupped her breasts, nibbling at her tender skin. Chacha panted, her legs spread wide, clamping around Sancheng 's waist, hoping he would go further. When Sancheng tore open her skirt, he found her already soaking wet, and entered her soft, moist, narrow passage. Upon entering, he became extremely excited yet calm. He felt her soft body tightly wrapped around him, her slightly furrowed brows, her shyness as she clutched her collar, and his excited stare at her, his hands gripping her delicate shoulders. He seemed to have left his body, watching everything unfold between the two like a bystander. Hideyoshi 's face, Lady Ningning's face, flashed through his mind in an instant. He suppressed his guilt and began to move rhythmically. Her honeyed orifice, like a suction cup to his penis, gnawed at his reason. With each thrust, he felt a shivering , tingling pleasure. Mitsunari couldn't help but delve deeper, faster, exploring the depths of their desires, burning their equal passions fiercely. When things calmed down, Chacha lay disheveled on his shoulder, her hair loose and her clothes in disarray. He, too, was covered in dirt and dust. He calmly looked at her expression and said, "This is the first time I've seen Your Highness without makeup ."

Chacha blushed. "Are you making fun of me...?"
"No, you're beautiful. More beautiful than ever." Sancheng said, his hand stroking the beauty's face trembling slightly.
After regaining his senses, he felt nothing but guilt.
"Sancheng, are you scared?" Chacha kissed his forehead. "Are you regretting it?"
"No..." Sancheng shook his head, his expression still so helpless. "It's just..."
In the distance, they heard the footsteps of the patrolling guards. "You should go first, it won't be good if someone sees you
." Sancheng stood up, and Chacha tugged at his sleeve. "Come find me here tomorrow afternoon."
Sancheng didn't react. Chacha gripped his sleeve a little tighter, and said in a pitiful voice, "Sancheng..." He
nodded, put on his clothes, and left the courtyard.
"Atong..." Chacha began to call for Duan Nu. "Someone come here!"
"Are you alright, Madam?" The guard found Cha Cha lying on the ground and quickly helped her up. Atong also
rushed to the courtyard. "It's nothing... I drank too much at the banquet ...
I slipped and fell on my way back." Supported by
Atong, Cha Cha quietly went back to her room to wash up. Atong kept asking her anxiously if she had hurt herself anywhere,
where it hurt, but she gave
only perfunctory responses and remained silent for a long time, feeling a sense of bewilderment. She pressed her still pounding heart. ********** ... "Your Highness, didn't you bring Duan Nu?" "Bringing Duan Nu would be terrible." She looked at his flustered actions. "You didn't realize you did you?" "Of course not." San Cheng shook his head. "Let me tell you, I won't allow you to regret it." She grabbed San Cheng and ran to the woods in the back courtyard. "Let's go to a place a little further back." I won't allow you to regret it. These words kept echoing in his heart. San Cheng, known for his loyalty and courage, was now about to deceive the monarch and commit adultery. How heavy was his heart? But looking at her face , her hopeful expression and overflowing tenderness made him unable to resist. She pinned San Cheng against a tree, hugged him tightly from the front, and kissed his eyes and lips. He felt his face stiffen with tension, but his breathing gradually became rapid. "San Cheng..." Cha Cha's teasing made him unbearably itchy. He wanted to dodge, but his desire was so strong that he couldn't escape. Her body was beautiful, and her face was stunningly gorgeous; he couldn't resist. He held her tightly, propping her up against the tree, lifting her skirt to reveal her long, snow-white legs spread wide, their alluring curves stimulating him. Her vulva was a delicate pink, glistening with moisture. This stimulation made his entire body tense, and he lifted her buttocks and thrust inside her. Cha Cha's desire had also reached its peak; she clung to him weakly, feeling his trembling, his tension, his force . He looked at her expression, which became one of ecstasy and pain. This expression satisfied San Cheng considerably; he watched her suffer, perhaps only pain could ease his own. Perhaps only if she suffered too could his pain be relieved. Their bodies were like a chase; his thrusts and her contractions, the friction and contact of their bodies, caused the temperature and rhythm to rise to their peak. Cha Cha couldn't suppress her moans; even though San Cheng's hand tightly covered her mouth, she still let out soft whimpers. After ejaculating his gushing, hot semen into Chacha's body, he slowly laid her down, panting heavily on her body for a long time before finally leaving. Afterwards, Chacha and Mitsunari would always meet secretly late at night. Even though Chacha understood his pain, she dragged him into an even deeper abyss, causing him to oscillate between fear and excitement. At those times, his expression radiated an emptiness, yet it was also breathtakingly alluring. ************ Hideyoshi rushed to the bedroom, seeing Chacha lying weakly on the bed with the doctor beside her, and anxiously asked, "Are you alright?" Chacha smiled brightly, "My lord, I'm pregnant." "Ah?" Hideyoshi was stunned, as if struck by lightning. "What? What? You're pregnant? I… our Toyotomi family has an heir?" The doctor instructed from the side, "Prince Ninomaru is still quite weak, my lord." "Yes, yes, yes," Hideyoshi was still jumping around, completely unable to calm down. "I'm going to be a father! The Toyotomi family will have an heir!" This joyous news immediately reached Osaka Castle. Lady Nene was overjoyed, while Prince Tatsuko threw a tantrum in his room , repeatedly muttering, "Impossible...impossible..." Tatsuko's doubts were understandable. His wives and concubines had all witnessed Hideyoshi's performance in bed; otherwise, the Toyotomi family wouldn't have had so many wives and concubines yet produced no children. Why? Why Chacha? Was it true that Otsuki said Chacha took a secret fertility herbal medicine every day? Was that true? Tatsuko was furious, repeatedly pounding his chest and stamping his feet. Upon hearing the news of her pregnancy, many warlords returned to offer their congratulations. When she told Mitsunari that this was his child, Mitsunari was stunned. "This child, I will make him inherit the Toyotomi family's great cause and become the Grand Minister of State," Chacha said, her expression revealing an ambition and arrogance he had never seen before. "Your Highness..." "My lord said he would give me a city in Yamashiro Province, called Yodo." Chacha said, "Now my status is unmatched by any of my wives or concubines. As long as this child I give birth to inherits everything from the Toyotomi family, even the noble Lady Nene will be trampled under my feet." "Don't go too far." To Mitsunari, Nene was like his mother, and he couldn't tolerate her saying such things. The innocent and lovely Chacha of the past seemed to have disappeared, replaced by a woman filled with all-consuming desire. "You're just a woman, is power really that important to you?" "So what if I'm a woman? I've placed all my hopes on this child, is that wrong?" "Then what does my lord mean to you? What does the Toyotomi family mean to you?"

"Mitsunari. Have you forgotten? You were there that day too." Chacha said, tears streaming down her face. "When
Lord Hideyoshi captured Kitasō Castle, I made up my mind that one day I would take everything from him. To
avenge my parents."
Mitsunari stepped forward and embraced her. Even knowing her pain, he didn't want to see her filled with hatred. "Don't be
like this... I don't want to see you become like this..."
"Become what? Ugly?" Chacha cried, clinging to Mitsunari, her tears falling like raindrops. "I can't...
Mitsunari... It's too late... I can't change anything. This is the purpose of my life..."
Mitsunari stood frozen, unable to move, letting her tears soak his clothes. He couldn't do
this , he knew in his heart. Even though his love for her was extremely strong, it couldn't make him betray the Toyotomi family. This
was not what a retainer should do.
"Your Highness... I'll take my leave now." Many terrifying images surfaced in his mind. This
child, who bore their blood, inherited the Toyotomi family's legacy, replacing Hideyoshi, who had trusted him so much. Hideyoshi treated
him like his own child, how could he do such a thing...?
Chacha covered her face and wept, but did not stop him from leaving. She would not change, even if it meant sacrificing her love,
Chacha would not change because of this. She lowered her head, stroking the throbbing in her belly, even if Mitsunari tried to stop her,
she would not give in.
************
Later, in Tensho 17, Chacha gave birth to Asho, and her foolish father, Hideyoshi, was overjoyed and gifted her
a castle to celebrate the birth of Toyotomi Tsurumatsu. But the good times didn't last long, and Asho died at the age of three.
It seemed that the male members of the Ishida family were prone to premature death. The reason Mitsunari went to the temple as a child was because
his father had vowed to pray for his two brothers who had died young. This matter saddened Mitsunari, but he also felt a
helpless pain.
He no longer approached Chacha, constantly avoiding her because of politics and the successive wars.
But Chacha didn't give up. Even though she had been waking up from nightmares for years, even though her wives and concubines
mocked her shattered dreams and failures, even though Toyotomi Hidetsugu was eyeing the throne, she still
gave birth to Hideyori in 1649.
Nene visited Hideyori and gave him many toys as gifts. To appease her, Hideyoshi ordered Hideyori to call
Nene "Great Mother." But he couldn't help but have doubts. Perhaps Matsunomaru's words weren't without reason.
How come none of her wives and concubines had conceived after sleeping with their lord for so long?
Nene wanted to bring it up with Hideyoshi, but she couldn't bring herself to offend him, nor did she want to suppress his joy.
She knew Hideyoshi had wanted his own child for a long time. Therefore, no matter how many rumors slandering Chacha reached
her ears, she continued to play dumb.
Wasn't Hideyoshi the same? He wasn't stupid, but he acted like a fool in this matter. To ensure
the continuation of his bloodline, he turned a deaf ear to everything else, treating this child as his own flesh and blood.
Hideyoshi comforted her more than once. "Nene, Chacha is a woman second only to you." Nene always felt sorry for Hideyoshi's
good intentions, but she also had to face the changing times.
Even though she never thought Chacha was a bad child. Even though Chacha held the reins of power and had won over many
retainers, she still thought she was a good girl, a simple and kind child. Even though Chacha
wasn't entirely without ambition for power, Nene believed that having ideals and ambitions for power wasn't bad; being forced to separate oneself from the world
was wrong. Chacha was surrounded by retainers who wanted to use her, but she was unaware of it.
But Nene wouldn't try to advise her; she was already deeply involved and wouldn't turn back.
After Hideyoshi officially declared Hideyori as the heir to the Toyotomi clan and established the Five Elders and Five Commissioners,
preparing for Hideyori's succession after his death, some of Chacha's close retainers gradually
entered the center of power within the Toyotomi clan.
Two years after Hideyoshi's death, Ieyasu's faction had risen to power, preparing to overthrow the still-developing Toyotomi clan
. Among their generals were Kato Kiyomasa and Fukushima Masanori, who had pursued Mitsunari the previous year. Facing this future situation,
Mitsunari also prepared to leave Chacha at this time.
She cried out, holding him tightly, unwilling to let him go. "Why? Because of Hideyori? Are you angry that he
's not your flesh and blood?"
"No." Mitsunari shook his head. He became even less talkative than before. In fact,
he didn't want to waste any more breath explaining things he couldn't explain, so his retainers disliked him. Before, she was the only
person he paid more attention to. But everything was slowly changing.
When she became pregnant with Hideyori, he found that he didn't feel sad, nor did he feel betrayed. He knew
his love for Chacha was like a stagnant pool, incapable of stirring any further.
"What happened...? Did your beloved Lady Nene say something again?"
Nene's power, which had crumbled after she left Osaka to become a nun last year, was now gone. Chacha couldn't understand why, even though she had no status
left , she was still revered and respected.
Mitsunari shook his head, leaving her embrace. Her face was now filled with a thirst for power, no longer
the innocent girl she once was. Besides the excessive pampering and protection of a mother, he saw
no , no trace of the love he had once felt for her.
"Mitsunari... promise me you'll come back to me..." Chacha shook her head, tugging at Mitsunari's sleeve.
"I need you... Hideyori needs you too..."
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. You only need an heir... not me." Mitsunari
looked down at the floor, his back to Chacha, unable to bear seeing her weeping face. "Your Highness, I am about to lead troops to Sekigahara to
meet the Eastern Army led by Ieyasu. If all goes well, we will be able to consolidate the Toyotomi family's power."
Chacha stared blankly at Mitsunari's retreating figure. "...Even at the very end, you still won't call me Chacha
?"
"Please wish my army a triumphant return, Your Highness," Mitsunari said, still not turning back. He didn't want to turn back, to let his
tears change the existing situation. "It's too late... My beloved Chacha is no longer here." He
didn't say these words aloud. Yes. He had once loved her. Since it was all in the past, there was no need to bring it up again.
Chacha held her seven-year-old son, Hideyori, who was her only hope, her only hope of happiness.
Her tears flowed slowly. Even though he was gone, her thoughts would not change. But she held onto the deep pain
in her heart .
What, then, is happiness? The pain in her heart was far stronger than the desire for happiness itself
.
For Mitsunari, however, being able to fight in place of the Toyotomi clan and die on the battlefield was happiness. In the first chapter
of the Senhime arc, she was only seven years old. She sat before her grandfather, whom she loved for his kind, plump figure and gentle smile. But now, his expression was serious. "Sen. Do you know you're leaving Edo for Osaka tomorrow?" "Yes." Senhime nodded obediently. "You must be good, you must listen." Her grandfather's expression wavered, as if tears were welling in his eyes. " I will be very good..." "Sen, have you remembered everything your grandfather said?" Hidetada patted his daughter's cheek, while his wife, Kotobuki, beside him was already sobbing uncontrollably. "You must serve Hideyori and Lady Yodo obediently." "Yes." She was only seven years old. Leaving home at such a young age, how would she take care of herself? How would she sleep alone? What would she do without her parents? How could they not worry and grieve? However, Ieyasu had no choice. Even after obtaining the position of Shogun, among the many daimyo and generals, there were still many loyal generals who remained steadfastly loyal to the Toyotomi clan. This was a necessary step in the truce agreement to gain their trust, and it was also Hideyoshi's wish before his death. After a grand wedding at Osaka Castle, Princess Senhime was alone in the castle. She removed and makeup and was brought before Lady Yodo. Lady Yodo was very beautiful, but possessed an icy demeanor. Her mother had once said that Lady Yodo was fierce, but definitely not a bad person; one could absolutely treat Lady Yodo as one's own mother. After explaining some reasons that Senhime didn't quite understand, she was told that she could not share a room with Hideyori; they had to sleep separately. Senhime didn't understand the meaning of married couples not sharing a room; she only knew that she would have to sleep alone. She nodded, trying to appear brave. Lady Yodo was her mother's older sister, who doted on her, but was also very strict with her. Any laziness in her studies would be punished. She was taught many of the knowledge, skills, and talents expected of a noblewoman 's daughter, including waka poetry, calligraphy, painting, and stringed instruments, just as Lady Yodo learned from Lady Kodai-in. After Hideyoshi's death, Lady Kita-no-Mandokoro shaved her head at Nishino-in in Osaka and went to live in seclusion at Kodai-ji Temple in the Kyoto area, which became known as Kodai-in. Kodai-in once came to Osaka Castle to try to maintain peace between the two sides. She advised Chacha not to oppose Ieyasu, as they were no match for him. "Lady Nene, you are not me. You are not Hideyori's mother, so you can speak so eloquently," Chacha cried . "But I cannot give in like this. If Lord Hideyoshi can gain the throne, why can't Hideyori?!" Nene didn't continue, her calm face remaining undisturbed. Indeed, she was right; she had no children and didn't understand that feeling. Chacha was indeed acting impulsively, but it was because of her love for Hideyori. The reason she didn't act this way was because her heart was dead since Hideyoshi's death. She was merely Fujikichiro's first wife, and that never changed. In truth, like Chacha, she harbored her own selfish motives. Even if the Toyotomi family, which she and Hideyoshi had painstakingly built together, might one day be destroyed by Ieyasu, she was unwilling to relinquish it. Therefore, even in this situation, rather than saying she was powerless, it would be more accurate to say she remained a detached observer. Chacha wasn't bad; she was a good child. The reason things had turned out this way was because her personality was too naive. Nene closed her eyes, focusing intently on the prayer beads in her hands. Hideyori had a very warm smile. From the moment Senhime entered the Toyotomi family, he treated her like a younger sister , showering her with affection. Besides studying together, he would spend his free time playing with her, chasing her around the castle, or playing pranks. Sometimes, when Lady Yodo questioned him, Hideyori would even cover for her. Lady Yodo doted on Hideyori, allowing him to choose any virtuous woman or daughter of a retainer as a concubine. She never scolded or beat him, showering him with affection. She personally oversaw all matters, big and small, within the castle, ensuring he had no worries. Hideyori even needed his mother's approval to make decisions. As he grew older, Hideyori became increasingly tall and imposing, with a fair complexion and a robust physique. By the age of 18, he was so tall he could touch the top of a paper door. Hideyori's first woman was named Kazuki, the daughter of the Watanabe family. She possessed a beautiful face and a graceful figure, and her vigorous libido often led her to harass Hideyori. It is said that traces of their trysts were found throughout Osaka Castle, but Lady Yodo, doting on her son, turned a blind eye. Sometimes, Kazuki would have sex with Hideyori in front of Princess Senhime, almost as a casual boast, since she had borne him a son, while Princess Senhime could never have any contact with Hideyori. Because her labia, like a mouth, tightly gripped Hideyori, allowing him to freely roam and penetrate her , Hideyori naturally grew to love this sense of submission. The gasps and screams of Senhime at the sight of the awkward scene also pleased him greatly. There were also Oishi and Ozane, both close female companions to him. Hideyori had grown up surrounded by women, and Lady Yodo, perhaps because she was a concubine, didn't particularly care about this situation. Once, Senhime came to Hideyori's room and showed him a couplet of waka poems she had collaborated on with Lady Yodo. "The parallelism is very neat," Hideyori praised. Undoubtedly, he was a studious ruler, well , but uninterested in politics and lacking any sense of crisis. "It's indeed very well written. You must have suffered a lot at your mother's hands." "It's alright," Senhime smiled. Kazuki entered the room, first bowing to Senhime in greeting, then nestling close to Hideyori. She began kissing his cheeks and ears, her actions gradually becoming bolder. Senhime, angered, couldn't help but say, "Aichi, didn't you see I was talking to the lord?" "I'm sorry, I called her here." Hideyori was always like this, unable to bear even the slightest discord between them, yet he always excessively favored his concubine, forcing Senhime to swallow her anger. He restrained Kazuki in his arms, "Wait a moment, okay?" But Kazuki didn't stop. A smug smile graced her pretty face, her hands roaming over Hideyori's strong body. Hideyori, left with no other choice, could only plead with Senhime, "Sen... could you...?"

"I'm not leaving." Senhime was stubborn, sitting opposite them without moving. "I came to you first
, why should I leave?"
"Aicha doesn't mind showing it to you, Madam, so please enjoy it." Kazuki said, exchanging
a glance with Hideyori.
Kazuki took off her clothes, revealing her full breasts. She pushed Hideyori down, kissing him and
tempting him with her mouth: "My lord...do you like this?" She then unbuckled his belt and put his erect penis
into her mouth.
Senhime had never seen anything like this before. Even though she had seen them making love before, she didn't
know it was so explicit. She looked at Hideyori
's swollen penis, which looked hard and red, with clear and obvious veins. Kazuki put this huge penis into her mouth, gently
swallowing and spitting it out, and constantly sweeping it with her tongue, making Hideyori tremble and pant.
Hideyori's expression was a complex mix of pain and pleasure.
She had initially watched with a defiant attitude, but now it was as if she were watching a performance, and she was
so ignorant, understanding nothing. She didn't understand that two bodies could interact so much; she didn't know that
such stimulation could elicit such an expression from Hideyori.
Kazuki squatted, legs spread, giving Hideyori a clear view of her flushed private parts, glistening with
moisture . Hideyori caressed her inside with his fingers, and with the rhythm of his touch, Kazuki let out moans.
Her head tilted back, her body arched, and soon her vulva was wet and swollen.
Hideyori released her, pounced on her from behind, and turned her buttocks towards Senhime, giving her a clear view of
their joined parts. Senhime watched as Hideyori slowly entered her body, both of them displaying
expressions of discomfort and pain. Hideyori then began to thrust his hips forward, pounding into Kazuki. Kazuki, supporting
herself moaned, "Ah... Master... Aichi... faster... deeper..."
With each powerful and rapid thrust, her voice grew faster and higher. Their
bodies, red and hot, stretched to their limit like a taut bowstring. Hideyori trembled twice, breathing heavily
, seemingly having finished his thrusting. When he withdrew his penis, thick, cloudy semen and bodily fluids flowed from Kazuki's plump vagina
, the lewd smell filling the entire room.
After resting for a while, Kazuki sat up, wiped herself, and lay down
beside to sleep.
Seeing that they were both quiet, Senhime slowly walked away from the room. Back in her bedroom,
she wept bitterly. What saddened her was that she was completely disregarded, and she would never have the chance to be
intimate with another man who loved her.
Sen had once asked Lady Yodo why she wouldn't allow her to share a room with Hideyori. She simply replied, "Sen, you
've heard the story of your maternal grandfather, Azai Nagamasa, and Oda Nobunaga, haven't you?" Then she
offered no further explanation. Chacha understood perfectly well that Ieyasu, that cunning old fox, would never let
things rest would eventually seize power. If they had a child, how would that child view Hideyori in the future
? Would the child belong to Ieyasu's side or their own?
Sen, like her mother Ichi, was now caught in the middle, suffering immensely. Her uncle would lead his men to besiege
their castle and kill her father; Ieyasu would then set fire to their happiness, eliminating any future threat he saw—
Hideyori. If she could, she would nip the seed of further tragedy in the bud, so she had to sacrifice
the happiness . As
Sen
grew up, she possessed outstanding beauty, with bright, dark eyes that sparkled with intelligence. Her expression was always tinged with
melancholy. She wasn't angry that she couldn't have sex with Hideyori, but rather
about her status in the city and Kazuki's disrespect. This had always been her problem, but Hideyori ignored it, always maintaining a carefree
expression , believing everything was simple, just two women vying for her attention.
As the relationship between Osaka and Edo intensified, Sen knew clearly that one day,
everything would explode, everything would change. Perhaps Hideyori and she would become strangers, so that was for the best. She endured
everything, like her grandfather's forbearance.
She entered his bedroom and saw Hideyori embracing two women, naked. She felt numb.
She said, "My lord, did you call for Sen?"
"I was originally looking for you..." Hideyori chuckled, the alluring Kazuki still straddling
him , her movements unabated, her hair trembling as she moaned. "The result..."
"It's alright..." Senhime quickly turned her face away. "Please call me over when you're finished."
"It's almost over, could you..." He only finished speaking before he picked up the plump
breasts and put them in his mouth.
"Then I'll wait outside."
Senhime knelt outside the door. At most, she was
just . She told herself not to care about any of this anymore. However, if Hideyori had been more ruthless to her, and Lady Yodo
had been more vicious to her, she would have felt better.
But as the day drew near, she gradually felt fear. The Tokugawa army was already not far outside the castle. What would
become of ? Although she was Ieyasu's granddaughter and Hidetada's daughter, she really didn't want to see
anyone in the Toyotomi family fall or die.
Even if Hideyori didn't love her, and she didn't love Hideyori either, she still regarded him as her brother.
Soon, Hideyori opened the door, and seeing Senhime's calm but slightly displeased expression, he began to coax her again. "
I'm sorry , Sen, are you angry?"
"I have no right to be angry." Senhime shook her head, her expression quite peaceful. "They
brought , which is a joyous occasion." Kunimatsu Maru and Chiyo were the good news they brought, ensuring
the continuation of the Toyotomi bloodline. And this was something she couldn't do.
"If only Mother would allow me to share a room with you." Hideyori's thoughts were always simple. "I
also want to hold Senhime..."
"It's not that!" Senhime blushed, looking helpless.
Hideyori pulled her into his arms, his eyes filled with ease and comfort, lacking Senhime's sadness
and precociousness. She exclaimed, "Don't do this! Have you forgotten what Mother said?"
"Then let's not tell her." Hideyori held the delicate and pretty Senhime, looking at her closely.
Her eyes and brows were beautiful, exuding a quiet and precocious charm, but he had no
improper thoughts ; he simply wanted to scare her.
She punched his waist and ribs hard, then bit him angrily, causing him to cry out in pain and
release her. "Ouch, that hurts so much! I'm going to tell my mother."
"How dare you!" Senhime thought of Yodo-dono, her heart filled with unease. "These days, Mother
has been fighting with all her might, wearing her battle armor to defend the castle. And you? Aren't you nervous at all? Aren't you afraid?"
"There's no problem! Wasn't peace secured by the Tokōin? Besides, our Osaka Castle is so fortified, and
with the Sanada Maru's artillery fire to defend it, even if a real war breaks out, we might not lose." Thinking of the war, Hideyori
began to avoid the issue again, making Senhime both anxious and angry.
Senhime shook her head. "Then why did you call me here...?"
"Ah, I forgot. It wasn't me. Mother and Harunaga have something to discuss with you." Hideyori
stood up and dusted himself off. "Let's go to the audience hall."
It was May, and the weather was already a bit chilly. Senhime looked at the cherry trees in the courtyard outside the corridor, their petals already scattered,
looking somewhat desolate under the night sky. A mix of emotions welled up in her heart. The intermittent rumble of cannons from the outer castle made her heart
pound with fear.
When they arrived at the audience hall, Lady Yodo saw Hideyori and beckoned him to sit beside her, asking repeatedly,
"What's wrong? Are you hot? Why are you all sweaty?"
"Lord Hideyori." ōno Harunaga was Lady Yodo's confidant and the son of her wet nurse. "Today
, reports of victories have arrived from Tennoji and Okayama. The Mori army has decisively defeated the armies of Suwa, Sakakibara, and Sengoku, while the Sanada army has also taken advantage of the situation to attack
the Matsudaira army. The Mori are almost about to break through the Tokugawa army's third line."
"See... I told you so!?" Hideyori said.
"My lord!" A maidservant stepped forward to greet him: "There's a messenger from the front lines outside. He says he has important news to deliver."
"Quickly, invite him in!"
"Lord ōno! Lord Sanada launched three general attacks...fighting to the last man..."
The messenger rushed into the room, his face covered in wounds and tears. "Lord Sanada...Lord Sanada was defeated...stabbed to death
..."
"Ah?" Everyone in the room was shocked, and ōno Harunaga shook his head.
He, who had always advocated for peace, had become enemies with Sanada Nobushige, but he also knew that Nobushige was the only hope for the entire Osaka Castle.
"How could this be... Yukishige...!"
"What do we do? Even Nobushige is dead! What are we going to do?" Hideyori panicked.
"It's over..." Lady Yodo covered her face. "It's all over..."
After disbanding the ronin, Sanada Nobushige was their only hope. Nobushige's death meant that the Sannomaru
Castle would definitely fall. Once the Sannomaru Castle fell, the Ninomaru Castle and the castle tower would be lost, and the Toyotomi clan would
collapse .
"Lady!" Harunaga stood up, his voice trembling noticeably. "There is one more way... We
can send the Tokugawa princess... to the Tokugawa main camp to beg Ieyasu, beg him to spare your lives... There should still be hope."
"Harunaga! Back then, when Kōdai-in came to persuade us to surrender, I already refused!..." Chacha also stood up,
her face contorted with grief and anger, her complexion turning pale and ashen, looking extremely terrifying.
"My lady...it's too late...we've lost..." Harunaga's hands trembled as he
said, "Harunaga must save my lady and lord's lives no matter what..."
"Alright..." Yodo looked at Senhime, tears streaming down her face, and cupped her cheeks, saying, "I'm
leaving it to you...Sen. If we can't save our lives, at least you must get out of the castle alive."
What did Lady Yodo mean by this? Senhime looked at the sorrow in her eyes and said urgently, "Senhime must save
my lady and Hideyori..."
"Sen..." Hideyori hugged Senhime, and she could feel him trembling all over. Senhime patted Hideyori and said,
"You should quickly hide with Kōki, Matsumaru, and Chiyo."
Harunaga then arranged for his trusted confidant, Horiuchi Ujihisa, to take Senhime out of the castle.
***************
Chapter 2
"Fire!" The Sannomaru castle was instantly breached and collapsed. Flames began to rise from the Ninomaru ōno Harunaga residence, and
riots broke out throughout the castle. Presumably, news of Sanada Nobushige's death had spread far and wide.
Tokugawa was also in a panic outside the castle. Ieyasu immediately issued an order to rescue Senhime from the fire.
Whoever rescued her would marry her. Tokugawa's retainers and generals rushed into the burning castle to search for
Senhime.
After the castle walls were engulfed in flames, visibility inside the castle became extremely poor. Senhime followed her retainers out, but
the flames made the entire castle defenses dark and blurry. She accidentally fell into a
pit slightly burning her left hand.
"Ouch..." Senhime looked at her palm, which was slightly red and swollen. Upon closer inspection, she realized it wasn't a real
pit, but a charred corpse. She screamed in terror, "Ah..."
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Horiuchi quickly pulled Senhime up and covered her eyes.
"What was that?!...That was..." Senhime's whole body trembled uncontrollably. "Was that a person...?"
"It used to be...Let's go this way..."
"Okay..." She held her injured hand and continued walking forward. The entire Ninomaru was engulfed in flames.
Horiuchi kept running around, searching for a passable path.
"The fire here is very big, let's go around..." Horiuchi had just finished speaking when he saw
a wall collapse towards Senhime. "Princess Senhime, danger!"
Senhime watched the wall collapse, and although she wanted to escape, her legs seemed to be
frozen . At this moment, a man ran out from the side, grabbed Senhime, and rolled forward. She tumbled
countless times, her head slammed repeatedly, until she finally came to a stop. Senhime looked closely and saw that her savior
was a tall, burly man.
His face and hands were burned, blood gushing from the wounds, startling Senhime who apologized profusely. "Ah…
you…you're bleeding!"
"Your Highness, I am Sakazaki Izuwa-no-kami Naomori, a Tokugawa general," he asked urgently, ignoring the flowing blood
. "Are you alright?" She shook her head.
"You're a Tokugawa general?" Horiuchi Ujihisa said. "I'm entrusting Princess Senhime to you to deliver to Lord Ieyasu
."
"Yes." Naomori set the princess down, brushed the dust off her clothes, and led her to his
mount . "Princess Senhime, you've been frightened. Come with me to the Tokugawa main camp."
"You're bleeding... does it hurt...?" Senhime was still concerned about his wound. "I'm sorry... I
hurt you..."
"It's alright." Naomori looked at the considerate and gentle Princess Senhime, imagining that she would soon become
his wife. Naomori felt a mix of joy and shyness. After carrying the princess onto his horse, he sat behind Senhime,
carrying her as she sat sideways, and headed straight for the Sakazaki camp.
Watching the raging fire engulf Osaka Castle, Senhime was utterly horrified.
Tears streamed down her face, making Naomori, who was behind her, feel a pang of guilt. He realized he had been
happy to marry her, which was truly inappropriate. He patted her comfortingly, "Your Highness..."
Senhime felt his tenderness and smiled softly, "Thank you... Lord Sakazaki." The hot
wind whipped her face, feeling as if it were about to crack open. Concerned that the bumpy journey would make her
uncomfortable held the reins tightly to control the pace.
The wind was strong that day, but it was still scorching hot, whether from May or from the fire, he couldn't tell. Back at Sakazaki's
camp, Naomori told her to dismount and rest for a moment. "Aren't we going back to the main camp, Lord Sakazaki?" "
It will be a little later. Right now, because of Sanada Nobushige's attack... there are too many people, too many hands, and it's chaotic."
Naomori said, opening the tent flap of the camp.
"Grandpa... is he injured?"
"A little... it seems like he hurt his arm, but it's nothing serious." Naomori patted the anxious Princess Senhime, gesturing for
her to sit down. "Princess Senhime, please rest for a moment. I will send you back to the main camp in an hour."
Senhime sat down, watching Naomori remove his armor and have a servant apply medicine and bandages to him and her. Senhime
felt quite sad seeing Naomori's gritted teeth and pained expression. The scar on his face was quite large, running from the corner of his left eye and the bridge of his nose
all the way to near his left ear. It would definitely leave a scar that would affect his appearance in the future. Although he wasn't particularly handsome,
with a wide nose and mouth, his gentle features were very pleasing to the eye.
She rolled up her sleeves. "Let me do it." Taking the damp cloth, she gently wiped the blood from his face,
carefully blowing on the wound as she did so. "Does it hurt?"
"No... it doesn't hurt." Looking at Senhime's face so close to his, Naomori blushed. "But you,
did you burn your hand?"
"I'm fine," Senhime said, a hint of teasing in her voice. "With such a big scar on your face... you won't be able to get married.
Senhime will feel really bad about that..."
The retainers laughed, and Senhime was puzzled. One of the retainers even explained to her, "Princess Senhime is the future
wife of Lord Sakazaki."
Naomori waved his hand and said, "Go away! All of you, get out of here." Because he had just seen her tears, he
knew that it was too early to talk about marriage with her now. His face flushed red, and he didn't know what to say.
Senhime understood the retainers' words and wasn't flustered. She looked at Naomori's puffed-up face, which was red with anger
, and wanted to laugh a little. "Saka..."
"Princess Senhime... Your beauty and gentleness have indeed moved me... But I know I'm just
a rough man, and I have scars on my face. I don't know if this will scare the princess away..."
"Don't worry. Since it was a vow made by my grandfather, he won't go back on his word. And you are Senhime's savior,
so why would you care about such things?" Senhime said, her expression calm and gentle, but tears accidentally fell
from . "It's just that I'm still worried about Lady Yodo and Lord Hideyori... I can't think about these things...
I'm sorry..."
"I'm sorry, Princess Senhime..." Naomori quickly wiped away her tears, flustered and busy. "I was
too hasty ... I shouldn't be talking to you about this at such a critical moment."
"I'm sorry... I frightened you!" Senhime looked at Naomori's clumsy yet gentle actions and couldn't help but
laugh . "I'm fine, Lord Sakazaki. Thank you." She had known this day would come, so she
wasn't afraid to accept this future.
Looking at his gentle and honest face, she smiled, albeit somewhat forcedly. His face flushed red with embarrassment, and his head hung low
. As a mere warrior, he was quite inexperienced in dealing with women. She wondered, if she could save Hideyori
's life, would she and Hideyori have such expressions? Even if they never had romantic feelings for each other, could they still have
a future like a normal married couple?
************
"Actually, I knew long ago... that the situation was hopeless." Chacha's hand, supporting Harunaga, trembled incessantly. "
Peace negotiations are impossible. The Toyotomi and Tokugawa families are destined to fight to the death."
"Then why did you listen to my idea and send Princess Senhime out of the castle...?" Harunaga held his beloved Chacha,
stroking her hair repeatedly. Chacha shook her head, remaining silent.
"Because she is the only one who must survive." Chacha looked up at Harunaga,
holding the short sword that Hideyori had used to commit seppuku. "I know you want to save my child and me. But, Harunaga, if you
're not by my side, I don't want to live..."
"I'm sorry, I never told Hideyori he was your child. I'm sorry, I've never been
good to you. But, I want to thank you, Harunaga, in the end... only you were by my side..." Chacha
handed the dagger to Harunaga, loosened her long hair, took out a hairpin from her bosom, and forcefully stabbed it into her throat.
"Chacha..." Harunaga said, "Even if it's hell, I'm willing to go with you. " At least
, she had a companion who would stay by her side until death.
At least, he called her Chacha. ********** ... "Grandfather ... what is the situation now... could you... please spare Lady Yodo and Hideyori's lives...?" Ieyasu stammered, unable to directly respond to his granddaughter's plea. He truly loved this obedient and adorable granddaughter, but the matter of Osaka Castle was already decided. Even though he had abdicated and handed over real power to Hidetada, Ieyasu still held real power. The destruction of Osaka Castle was inevitable; he had made up his mind when he met Hideyori at Nijo Castle . He wanted to try to coax his granddaughter in other ways, but seeing her tearful expression, Ieyasu only frowned.

She couldn't utter a single word.
"No!" came her father, Hidetada. "This is war. We've given them chances
to surrender , and it's come to an end. I won't agree to anything!"
"Father. Lady Yodo and Hideyori have taken such good care of me… I don't want them to die…"
"You are a daughter of the Tokugawa family! How can you speak for them?!" Even as Senhime pleaded with her father,
he remained unmoved, his expression unyielding.
It wasn't until the next morning. Senhime's legs were numb from kneeling, her tears flowing
repeatedly
. Around noon, news arrived from Osaka Castle that Lady Yodo and Hideyori had committed suicide within the castle. Upon hearing this, she nearly fainted.
Her father helped her up. "I'm sorry, Senhime. Father had to do this. It's what a shogun
should do."
She nodded, remaining silent. What did her thoughts matter? She was at most
a wife limited to personal affections. Could she compare to her grandfather's dream of establishing a peaceful and prosperous era and founding the Edo Shogunate? For
Edo and the entire country, these processes were merely pebbles in the road.
How could Hidetada not be in pain? As the soon-to-be Shogun, how could he gain the trust of his
retainers ? Seeing his beautiful, grown-up daughter, rarely seeing her family,
crying so bitterly because she was only concerned about the Toyotomi family, he actually wanted to fulfill and grant her every request, except for
sparing the lives of the Toyotomi descendants.
"Shogun, two children have been found inside, they should be Hideyori's children."
"Father..." She gripped her father's sleeve tightly. "...Chiyo is my
adopted daughter. I will make her a nun, and the Toyotomi lineage will be extinguished. Please, Father, at least spare her life..." "
Chiyo..." Hidetada's expression was complicated. Looking at her almost collapsing face, he couldn't bear
to say anything more. "Alright... Bring Hideyori's daughter in."
It was all over. Sen watched the seven-year-old girl being brought in, and it was as if she saw
herself entering Osaka Castle alone. She held Chiyo tightly, feeling the small, trembling girl trembling with fear. Clinging tightly to
the only familiar girl, Senhime, the poor girl finally couldn't hold back her sobs and burst into tears. She held the girl tightly,
unable to utter a single word.
Hadn't she imagined all of this? Why was it still so painful? She realized that
when all this came to pass, no amount of mental preparation was enough. She still couldn't bear it all.
Her memories of the past twelve years crumbled and collapsed along with the fire. Hideyori,
Kazuki, Lady Yodo, and the beautiful scenery of Osaka Castle—all vanished without a trace.
Who had she met and where had she lived during those twelve years? All of that was gone. Suddenly without a center
in her life , everything about the former Tokugawa family felt so unfamiliar. Her kind and rational grandfather and
brave and earnest father were the ones who ruined her life. She felt no hatred, only endless sorrow.
************
Final Chapter:
Princess Senhime arranged for Tokei-ji Temple in Kamakura to serve as a hiding place for Hideyori's only blood relative—Chiyo—who was given the name Tenshu-
ni. Hideyori's body was taken away by Matsunomaru-dono, Kyogoku Ryuko, Hideyoshi's former concubine. She herself was then escorted
back to Edo by retainers at the behest of her grandfather and father, three months after the war.
Her protector at that time was Tadakatsu, the son of Honda Tadamasa, lord of Kuwana Castle in Ise. Tadakatsu was the grandson of the famous general Yushin Tadakatsu
, possessing a handsome and imposing appearance and a tall stature. He took a liking to the beautiful and charming Princess Senhime at first sight, and knowing
she was in low spirits, he often kept her company and talked to her during the journey.
"Princess Senhime, are you alright? Are you tired?"
Senhime shook her head, looking at Tadakatsu's friendly eyes. "Are you Xiong Ji's eldest son?"
"Yes." He stared at her beautiful face, momentarily lost in thought, before saying, "You
must be tired . We'll be at the inn where we'll be staying tonight soon. Your Highness can rest well and wash away the dust of the journey."
After she politely thanked him, she lowered the curtain of the sedan chair. Upon arriving at the inn, Qian Ji, accompanied by new
maids, entered the bedroom.
"Qian Ji, do you like cherry blossoms?" When Zhong Ke came to find her, he brought a cherry blossom branch. It
was already September, so the branch hadn't bloomed yet. He broke off the branch simply to make the beauty happy.
Even without blooming flowers, she was still very happy. Taking the branch, tears streamed down her face.
After Zhong Ke dismissed the maids, he sat with her, considerately offering her a cloth to wipe her tears from time to time.
"Don't cry..." Tadakatsu comforted her. "Once you come into our family, I'll plant cherry trees all over the garden in
the castle ."
"What did you say?" Senhime was surprised. "But didn't Grandfather say... he was going to marry me off to
Lord ...?"
"No... how could that roughneck Sakazaki Naomori be worthy of you? Even if he rescued you, Grandfather
never intended to do so; it was just a joke. Besides, he already promised my mother that
we would marry you next summer."
"How could he go back on his word? Naomori is such a loyal man; he takes that promise very seriously."
Senhime shook her head repeatedly, not expecting her grandfather to have taken advantage of Naomori's honesty and loyalty. She wondered what the fiery-tempered Naomori
would think; it was a great humiliation for a samurai.
"Who cares what he thinks? Sakazaki is just a page; he wouldn't dare to dream that he could actually eat
a swan's meat, would he?" Tadakatsu thought this arrangement was perfectly reasonable.
Senhime couldn't speak, but her face grew increasingly pale. She still had a sliver of hope, a hope to see him again,
but now, things had turned out this way. What was she to do? Marry him off? And what about him? With his impulsive
personality , how would he react?
"What's wrong...? Do you like Sakazaki Naomori?" Tadakatsu looked at her troubled face, assuming she
didn't want to marry him. "Am I not as good as that roughneck?"
"No." Tadakatsu stood there without reacting. He thought to himself, Sakazaki was just an unknown warlord, a
retainer, his status less important than his own family? How could that ordinary face
have won her heart in just a few hours?
"I don't like him." Senhime grabbed Tadakatsu, refusing to admit his accusation. But Tadakatsu didn't believe her.
"Lord Tadakatsu." Senhime hugged him from behind, a gesture that startled him. "Senhime doesn't like him..."
"Chihime loves you. I know I've only recently become a widow, so I've been suppressing my
feelings for you all this way. If you were my future husband, it would truly be my greatest fortune."
"Chihime..." Hearing her say this, he had nothing to say. Looking at her delicate face, he couldn't
suppress his impulse. He stroked her face, then withdrew his hand. "I'm sorry... You haven't entered my household yet,
I shouldn't have done anything inappropriate to you."
She smiled and cupped his face, clearly understanding his kindness and thoughtfulness. "Even if I wanted you to do
this , you wouldn't agree?"
Chihime's heart pounded. She only had respect and love for Hideyori, but between the gentle Sakazaki and the kind Tadakatsu,
she had never considered choosing either. Unfortunately, she didn't even have a chance to hesitate; her grandfather had already
decided for her. She would always remember the fire that day, his gentle embrace and care, and
the scars he caused because of her. At that time, she didn't have the leisure to savor it, and now it was too late.
If she couldn't decide her own fate, at least she had to save Naomori.
She opened her robe, loosened the sash, and felt Tadakatsu gasp deeply, trembling as he pulled her into his arms.
"Please forgive my abruptness and boldness, I can't wait until next April; I want your promise now."
Tadakatsu cupped her breasts and kissed them. This was the first time she had ever experienced such stimulation, yet her expression
remained calm. She recalled the actions of Kazuki, skilled in lovemaking, and began to moan softly.
As her breaths and moans escaped her lips, she realized that pretending was actually very easy.
Not just now, but everything in Osaka Castle made her realize that she had always been alone.
She faced everything of the Toyotomi family alone, carried the expectations of the Tokugawa family alone,
and played two roles alone, without anyone by her side.
Those were truly lonely times.
Her soft body embraced Zhongke's strong muscles, feeling his tender care. Their
body temperatures rose together. She pressed Zhongke down beneath her, loosening her soft hair and letting it fall over him. She
looked at Zhongke; his eyes held anticipation and excitement, and in his dark pupils, there was a
self that didn't seem like himself.
She kissed his entire body, from behind his ears, his hairline, his eyebrows, his nose, his lips, then his neck, shoulders, collarbone
, chest, and then his navel. The further her kisses went, the more rapid and tense his breathing became. She opened his
pants, played with his large penis, and then without a word, opened her mouth and took his glans in, causing Zhongke to sigh
softly .
Just like Heqi had with Xiulai, she gently sucked and swallowed, feeling his thick penis fill his
entire mouth, then teasing it with the tip of her tongue, making him tremble and grab her arm, urgently begging her to stop.
"Sen... come up."
"Lord Tadakatsu... may I be on the bottom?" she asked, and Tadakatsu complied. After caressing
her already swollen and wet pink labia, he lifted one of her legs and was about to enter.
The moment he entered, the tearing pain made Senhime cry out. Tadakatsu was also
shocked by the fullness and layers of resistance. With Senhime's skilled movements and reactions, and after twelve years of marriage to the Toyotomi family,
she was still a virgin? He stepped back slightly, but Senhime grabbed him. "Lord Tadakatsu... please don't
stop ..."
"But..." Seeing her pained expression, he felt a little reluctant.
"Lord Tadakatsu... please hold me tight..." she pleaded with tears in her eyes. Tadakatsu had no choice but to
continue entering. With a powerful thrust, he broke through the resistance and reached her core. Senhime in his arms bit
her lip , her nails digging into his shoulder muscles.
The electrifying pleasure made Tadakatsu unable to stop, thrusting continuously. To hide her
pain, Senhime moaned in rhythm with his movements until he thrust for the last time, ejaculating a thick
stream of semen .
He gasped, holding her tightly. "Why? Why didn't you tell me? It must have hurt so much…?"
Senhime smiled. "Don't say that, Lord Tadakatsu…
Senhime is so honored to receive your favor." She kissed his fingertips, embracing him, feeling the loneliness after the passion. Tadakatsu
, of course, doted on her immensely. Back in Edo, reluctant to part, he constantly urged his mother to marry Senhime as soon as possible, having long forgotten his suspicions about Sakazaki . ********** ... The two met in the dimly lit woodshed. Sakazaki didn't understand why she did this. When Senhime saw him, the straightforward and simple-minded man was so nervous that he couldn't speak. Seeing the marks on Naomori's face, she felt heartache. "Lord Naomori... Senhime is so sorry." "What happened?" After she told him about her grandfather's broken promise, Sakazaki was indeed furious . He grabbed her slender wrist and almost yelled, "I, Sakazaki Naomori, am such an honest and loyal retainer, why did you do this to me?!" Senhime apologized repeatedly, "So Senhime must see Lord Naomori before she gets married... I have to apologize in person... I hope you can forgive me..." "You know it's not your fault!!" Senhime was so angry that tears streamed down her face. "The Tokugawa family insulted ! What do they take me for!?" "They don't understand you..." She trembled as she stroked his scarred left cheek. "Only I know ... your gentleness towards Sen and your courage to risk your life to save her." Naomori was deeply moved by Sen's actions. "Sen-hime-sama... let's elope..." "Absolutely not..." Sen shook her head hastily. " Lord Naomori, I don't want you to sacrifice your life for me." "Sen-hime-sama," Naomori knelt before her, "for you, I would die a thousand times over." Sakazaki Naomori was an extremely stubborn and unyielding man, completely deaf to advice. He saw Sen's words as mere appeasement and comfort. He believed she was in love with Honda Tadakatsu and didn't want to marry him; she simply didn't want him to interfere. Of course, what girl would refuse a handsome man like Honda Tadakatsu, tall and imposing? In contrast, how could he, so ugly and scarred, compare?

He hastily pushed her to the ground, his hand gripping her slender neck. "Why? Why won't you
come with me? You've already fallen for Tadakatsu, haven't you?"
"Lord Naomori..." Tears streamed down her face. "You gave Sen my life... I wouldn't mind dying,
even if it meant dying at the hands of the one I love... But..."
Naomori quickly released her, his heart aching with worry as he watched her cough violently. "...I'm sorry...
I'm sorry , Princess Sen..."
"But Sen absolutely...didn't lie to you." She placed his hand on her chest, a gesture that
greatly startled him. "Please believe me, my feelings are absolutely sincere."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Naomori hugged her tightly, as if trying to meld her into his own body. "Then what will I do?
What will I do without you?"
He sucked on her intoxicating breath and tender red lips, kissing her comforting fragrance and soft skin,
his brows furrowed tightly. The heartache remained unbearable. He tore open her clothes, kneading her
soft breasts, and she let out a weak, painful groan.
"You want me to swallow my anger? Do you think I can swallow my anger?"
Senhime didn't respond to his words, but simply embraced him, kissing his brows and his scarred cheeks. He
was indeed very impulsive and always easily agitated. The reason Senhime liked him was because he had a heart that was easily moved
, unlike the noble Hideyori or Tadakatsu. His world almost revolved around her.
To put it bluntly, she had only fallen in love with how he saw herself. Naomori didn't need to understand her in any particular way. As long as she was
worshipped, needed, and possessed, even if it was because he was a princess of the Tokugawa family, even if it was because of her outward
beauty , she still felt happy.
Perhaps it sounds selfish, but her past 19 years of life had not been happy. She lived between two
families and two castles, unable to choose for herself, only able to follow the arrangements of fate. "We are all puppets of fate,"
Lady Yodo had said.
She could no longer see the gentle look in Naomori's eyes. Now, his eyes seemed to be burning with flames. Even in
this dangerous moment, she could feel the genuine emotion revealed in his anger. He grabbed her clothes and skirt,
spreading her thighs and pressing her body down. His rough movements terrified her, but when he reached inside
her, he was so gentle.
He gently parted her labia, kissing her vulva, even teasing her sensitive areas with his tongue,
making itchy. She clung to him, begging him to stop, but he wouldn't listen, continuing until she could barely
stand it anymore. Only then did he turn her over, cupping her buttocks as he entered her.
As he entered, he let out a gasp of pleasure. Her taut body was soft and enveloped him, giving him an
unprecedented thrill. She bit her lip to keep from making a sound. When he noticed, he put his
fingers in her small mouth, letting her nibble and lick them.
He wanted to savor every inch of her body, but he couldn't hold back.
After was almost about to ejaculate. He held her, panting, squeezing and twisting her swaying breasts, thrusting straight in, deeper
and deeper, until not a drop of his fluid remained inside her.
She too could support her weakened body, collapsing onto the dry logs in the woodshed. After a while
, Naomori withdrew his still-erect penis and sat silently beside him.
She lay on her side watching him, but her eyes were obscured by her disheveled hair, making her appear to be
unconscious . Tears streamed from his eyes, unnoticed by her.
She knew his heartache was something he didn't want anyone to touch. It was his pride as a samurai.
He wiped away his tears, helped her dress, and then whispered in her ear, "Are you awake?"
"Lord Naomori…" she murmured, nestled in his warm embrace, feeling the heat of their naked bodies. She kissed his
scarred fingers, "I'm sorry… I bit you like this."
"It's my honor." He whispered a soft promise in her ear, "Princess…
Naomori will come again, until you are pregnant with my child. Once we have a child, I'm not afraid he won't want to; you
will always be my wife."
Senhime smiled bitterly, wanting to tell him that this wouldn't work. However, a thousand words stuck in her throat,
unspoken. She loved his straightforwardness and impulsiveness, his recklessness, and especially his doting affection
. But his thoughts were too simple; this approach wouldn't work.
************
Afterwards, Naomori would visit her at the palace every now and then. To be on the safe side, she
ordered to spread rumors that she would lure men to her door in the countryside, then poison them after her pleasures,
to conceal and obscure Naomori's movements. Because these were unsubstantiated rural tales, the shogunate didn't pay much attention.
Naomori didn't mention eloping again, but when he came, his expression seemed pained.
He would ask if she was pregnant, but his luck was always bad; Senhime's belly remained flat.
She didn't tell him that she had asked someone to get a herbal decoction from the south, called "cooling medicine." After drinking it, her
menstrual flow would only occur once every two to three months. This method of contraception would affect her future fertility, potentially
making her more prone to miscarriage. However, to avoid trouble, she took it regularly.
She thought she was a woman who wasn't particularly interested in sex, and her past experiences in Osaka Castle
had always led her to believe so. But after actually trying it, she realized it wasn't like that at all. Her union with Naomori gave
her an unprecedented sense of vitality. His praise, his reactions, made her feel loved. The mutual stimulation between their
bodies further aroused her desire and excitement.
"The maid who brought me here told me you especially love cherry blossoms, so I picked one for you on the way here.
The pink stamens, delicately blooming, are like your soft, fragrant skin." She remembered it was April,
the peak season for cherry blossoms. He brought her a flowering branch,
whispering this to her as he kissed behind her ear.
She sat naked on him, embracing him, kissing and sucking his lips and tongue, letting him cup her soft
breasts and kiss them. Her eyes were hazy, her body arched backward, supporting herself so that her private parts
could be clearly seen by him. She liked this position because Naomori would keep praising her beauty.
"Princess Senhime... your body is so beautiful... trembling so softly..." Naomori held her swaying
waist, panting as he worshipped her beautiful body.
"This is the last time I'll come here to see you." He lowered his eyes, watching Senhime, still
drenched in sweat, trembling her hips as she sat on him. He held the beauty tightly in his arms, listening to her melodious voice,
feeling the wild rhythm of his body.
"Why..." Senhime hugged him, tugging at his hair, "Don't go...don't leave me...
please?"
"...Being betrayed by the Tokugawa Shogunate and losing face is indeed a serious matter, but deceiving the emperor and committing adultery is not something I, Sakazaki,
should do." His eyes were firm.
"Lord Naomori..." Indeed. Every time, he was in such pain. So she could only see him off with tears in
her eyes. After waving goodbye, she never saw him again, thinking that it was the end between them. But....
She should have known that he, with his impulsive personality, would do something terrible.
In June of the second year of Genna, Lord Ieyasu passed away from illness in Sunpu Castle, and her marriage was postponed to September.
The Honke family was transferred from Ise to Himeji. On the wedding day, as the procession headed towards Ise,
a man suddenly appeared – Naomori.
He had come to steal the bride.
He shouted, "The mighty Tokugawa Shogunate has broken its promise! Princess Senhime is my wife, the
wife I rescued during the Siege of Osaka! I'm taking her away!" He then spurred his horse towards the palanquin carrying the bride.
When she tried to open the curtain in fright, Tadakatsu stopped her.
Tadakatsu coldly said, "If Your Highness doesn't wish to see bloodshed, please lower the curtain." With that
look in her eyes , she dared not disobey. The palanquin moved quickly forward, and Tadakatsu ordered his attendants to draw their swords, hacking
Naomori to death.
Hearing the frantic hoofbeats and the clamor of voices, Princess Senhime dared not move, nor did she cry. As the bride,
her face was covered in thick white powder, like a deity's; she could not show any expression, much less ruin her makeup. Therefore, she
could not react, nor did she see him one last time.
They said that Sakazaki Naomori's actions were excessive and disregarded the authority of the shogunate, thus the Sakazaki family was abolished, and
the daimyo with a fief of 40,000 koku disappeared.
His words echoed endlessly in Sen's heart. In truth, during the Siege of Osaka, she hadn't fallen in love with anyone
; she only felt a sense of moral justice, believing him to be right, believing him to be
a victim . She felt only guilt and a desire to make amends, but… only after his death did she realize that this
heartache stemmed from such intense pity for him.
One must always experience heartbreak to understand the preciousness of love.
Her heart had always only known pain, not how to love.
She arrived at Himeji Castle. She saw that beside the magnificent white castle, Tadakatsu had planted tree after tree of cherry blossoms for her,
but the season of falling petals had passed; the trees were withered, petals and leaves mixed with mud and water, a mushy mess
.
The beautiful season of cherry blossoms had passed, and she didn't even have the chance to mourn.
(The End of the Immeasurable Text)

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