"Nice to meet you, Mr. Kaguya. I am..."
"Yae Shenzi, Lord Palace Master. I just heard what you said."
"Sir, I..."
"As a follower of the Thunder God, Lord Palace Master, have you never considered these issues before?"
Hui Ye looked at Yae Shinko quietly, very peacefully, without any anger or questioning, just a very normal question.
Yae Shinto opened his mouth and his throat felt astringent.
She is a follower of the Thunder God, and her status is higher than that of the Three Ministers, but she is not in charge of governing the country.
She was responsible for suppressing all kinds of pollution in Inazuma and ensuring the cleanliness and safety of the country. Governing the country and keeping the people safe was the responsibility of the three magistrates. Yae Shinko didn't care and naturally didn't know much. If it weren't for these three documents from Kaguya, even if Yae Shinko saw the chaos in Inazuma, she would not have imagined that it would be such a huge danger.
When Kaguya didn't get a response from Yae Shinko, she seemed to understand something. Then, she said to Yae Shinko:
"You can't send the document to the castle tower. The Tenryo Bugyo will not let any information that is unfavorable to them pass in, and according to the Inazuma tradition of governing the country, I'm afraid you can't force the Tenryo Bugyo. Well, it seems that conventional methods are powerless."
"..."
"I have an idea. What do you think? I should apply for a duel before the Emperor and challenge General Thunder?"
"what!?"
Yae Shinko didn't react for a moment.
"Clang!"
Kamisato Ayaka, who had just walked in with hot porridge, froze in place, her pupils trembling, her face pale, and the porridge and bowl in her hands fell to the ground.
Everyone knows that challenging General Thunder is undoubtedly... suicide.
Chapter 38 Trapped
"Sir, Mr. Kaguya, what are you talking about? A duel in front of the emperor? You must be joking!"
"..."
"Speak up, no, you will definitely die! A duel in front of the emperor is a place where there is no regret for life and death, and there is absolutely no mercy. Once you go up, the general will not hold back!"
Kamisato Ayaka rushed to Kaguya in panic, trying to persuade her in a panic.
However, Kaguya just looked at Kamisato Ayaka with eyes as gentle as water.
"We've known each other for so long, why are you still calling me sir? Why don't you learn from me and call me by my name?"
"Mr....Kaguya...Kaguya..."
"Yeah, that's right. It sounds really good when you say it, Ayaka."
"Hui Ye, don't..."
Kamisato Ayaka wanted to say something in panic, but Kaguya hugged her.
Kamisato Ayaka felt like she was close to a warm ocean, feeling safe, comfortable, and indescribably satisfied. Because of the drugs he had been taking for days, Kaguya had a faint medicinal scent in addition to the pure fragrance of a daughter, just like his mother before she passed away. This made Ayaka even more intoxicated, and she suddenly became as docile as a kitten that hadn't grown claws or teeth.
"Ayaka, you are the best girl I have ever met in Inazuma."
"Kaguya..."
"Listen to me, life is limited and you must die. I can clearly feel the condition of my body. I have traveled to most of Inazuma and saw a wailing purgatory. If I can change something with this little life left... If I can let Ayaka live in a better world in the future, I think I will be satisfied."
"But I don't want you to leave!"
Kamisato Ayaka raised her head and cried loudly, looking like a wolf.
Hui Ye suddenly felt distressed. She really felt distressed. She knew she would not die, but there was nothing she could do. The character she was using now was a dying person. Making such a good girl cry was more painful than cutting An Qi's flesh.
Kaguya reached out to wipe Kamisato Ayaka's tears, but the more he wiped, the more tears came. The beautiful girl was made of water, at least when she cried, she really looked like she was made of water.
Kaguya had no choice but to turn his head and cast a pleading look at Yae Shinko.
Yae Shinko was silent for a moment, then stepped back, avoiding Kaguya's sight.
'How similar! Were the shadows and the real ones also separated in this way?'
Yae Shinko did not mean to do it, but he was truly powerless and did not know how to help.
Kaguya lowered his head helplessly, held Kamisato Ayaka's wet face with both hands, rubbed it gently, and smiled soothingly:
"Alright, alright, you've cried like a kitten. If you keep crying you won't be pretty anymore."
"Then...then Huiye, you have to promise me... not to... not to go..."
Kamisato Ayaka begged with sobs.
Hui Ye was silent.
But given Inazuma's current situation, if she doesn't do this, will she still be able to meet the Thunder God? If she doesn't meet the Thunder God, how can she change this country? People are dying every moment, and we can't delay any longer.
Is it possible to send a demon god directly to Inazuma right now and drive the God of Thunder out of the castle tower?
Don't make a fuss. An Qi still has some natural power, but it can't be wasted like this. If you can solve it in the most energy-saving way, don't waste it. This is the rule of survival when you are wandering outside.
After a long silence, Kamisato Ayaka seemed to understand something. She gradually stopped crying, bit her lip, and looked at Kaguya stubbornly with tearful eyes.
"Then take me with you. I'll go with you."
"Nonsense, that's a duel before the emperor...Okay, I'll take you there, we'll go together."
He wanted to refuse decisively, but seeing Kamisato Ayaka's extremely fragile mood, Kaguya had to compromise.
However, Kaguya looked at Yae Shinko silently again, and something seemed to be conveyed in silence. Yae Shinko nodded silently.
Hui Ye then smiled.
"I'm with you, so don't cry. I've already told you that crying won't look good."
"Um……"
"But no matter how ugly she is, in my eyes, Ayaka is still the cutest girl in Inazuma. I promise."
"Kaguya..."
Kamisato Ayaka's heart burned, and she couldn't stop her body from going soft, so she threw herself into Kaguya's arms again.
……
After a while, the three of them sat down on both sides of the table.
Yae Kamiko sat alone on one side. Kamisato Ayaka and Kaguya sat on the other side, very close to each other, their hands tightly clasped together.
"Ugh!"
Yae Shinto covered his face and sighed.
She didn't know whether Kamisato Ayaka had thought it through clearly. But as a great monster who had lived for more than 500 years, Yae Kamisato herself saw clearly that the little girl from the Kamisato family had been completely trapped.
We can only be thankful that the Kamisato family has an unpopular eldest son, otherwise the bloodline might have been cut off.
However, what is even more lamentable is that when Yae Shinko looked at Huiye's weak and calm face, she saw the dying aura in it. It is the cruelest thing to be lost forever as soon as you fall into it.
'What is this?'
If it weren't for the fact that Ray was too stubborn and his actions were too smart, then with Kaguya's talent and passion, he should be able to shine gradually in his daily work, and then naturally get to know Kamisato Ayaka. If that were the case, it would definitely be a beautiful relationship worthy of being remembered by the gods, right?
But it's too late to say anything now.
Once again, Yae Shinko felt great resentment towards the wooden head of Ray Denying.
With mixed feelings, Yae Shinko sorted out his thoughts and said:
"You can indeed meet the general in a duel before the emperor. From what I know, this is also a very high priority for... that general."
"But the Lord of the Court has other opinions, right? Please be frank. I am not a samurai, and I really don't understand the specific rules of dueling in front of the emperor."
"Mr. Kaguya, you cannot confront the general directly in the name of challenging him. There is no such rule. The general is a noble person. How can anyone challenge him with just one word? Usually, you designate or the general arranges a general, and then under the witness of the general, you use your bravery and life to explain your own principles. The loser usually dies, while the winner can give advice in person or make a reasonable request. As for whether the general accepts it or not, that is another matter."
Yae Shinko did not tell the result directly.
But everyone understood that with Huiye's current weak physical condition, he would just die in vain if he stepped onto the duel arena.
It is not that no one has tried to duel in front of the emperor, but it is difficult for ordinary masters to defeat the generals. There are great swordsmen among the people, but the generals are one in a million. Not to mention that they can occasionally get guidance from the generals, and their martial arts skills will only be beyond imagination. Therefore, dueling in front of the emperor has always been the same as sending oneself to death in vain.
What Yae Miko didn't say is that even if it was a duel in front of the emperor, Raiden Ying might not pay attention. The greater probability is that General Raiden will go through the entire process according to the mechanical program, that's all.
"Well, you have to do it. This is the only chance."
After Kaguya understood, he said with a bright smile.
Yae Shinko opened her mouth, but finally lowered her head in guilt and helplessness.
Chapter 39 Why is it Kujo Sara?
After that, Yae Kamisato would secretly come to Kamisato's house every day.
The main purpose was to take care of Kaguya's health. Of course, it was also for observation and scrutiny. A five-hundred-year-old fox would not be much less vigilant.
Just like Kujo Sara and Kamisato, she quickly came to the conclusion - how could anyone risk his or her life to deceive others like this?
Seeing that Kaguya was in a weak physical condition, Yae Shinko felt ashamed of her own doubts.
As expected, he is a worldly mediocre person who cannot bear to see the light of such a noble soul. Even a great monster with an affair cannot escape being worldly?
"Master Palace Master, why do you look so worried after casting the spell? I don't mind, but now that you're here, Ayaka will have to stick to me all day, afraid that she won't be able to see me if she leaves."
"Hey, sir, are you still not happy? You know, I have only seen a few girls as cute as Ayaka in the past five hundred years. With her by my side, even my breath is fragrant. How many people would beg for such a girl!"
Yae Shinko teased in a familiar manner. Apparently after a few days of getting along, with her skills, how difficult would it be to get closer to her?
Under the teasing gaze of the vixen, Kamisato Ayaka couldn't bear it anymore. She moved behind Huiye with her little face flushed, blocking the embarrassing gaze.
Kaguya reached back and stroked Kamisato Ayaka's head soothingly, while looking at Yae Miko:
"Prince, we have already got the information. The general Kujo Sara will return to Inazuma Castle tomorrow to report the battle situation to the Tenryo Bugyo. This means that if a duel is initiated during this period, the opponent will most likely be Kujo Sara."
"Sir, I know Kujo Sara's character. Even if you have had some contact with her, she will be ruthless for the sake of the general's majesty. So why did you choose her as your opponent?"
"Because she is the only general who can be trusted. Don't forget, Lord Palace Master, all the generals under the general are under the command of Tenryo Bugyo. And with what Tenryo Bugyo is doing now, do you think he will allow someone to speak through a duel in front of the emperor? If it were someone else, I'm afraid I wouldn't have a chance to speak at all. Kujo Sara is the opponent who is most likely to compete with me and the one who is most likely to make me speak."
Hui Ye spoke calmly and confidently.
Very cautious, but such caution is shown in order to commit suicide, which makes people respect it even more.
The Eightfold Son of God pondered.
Kaguya's words sounded contradictory. He was clearly worried that the general would be bribed and controlled by the Kujo family, so he did not hesitate to keep his mouth shut during the duel in front of the emperor. But he chose a general with the surname Kujo. Isn't this even more dangerous?
However, if the object is Kujo Sara, it would be understandable.
As long as what that Tengu said was right, she might really abandon the position of the Kujo family.
"Sir, do you mean to show her your blood letter first? But she is the adopted daughter of the Kujo family after all. It is hard to say which is more important, her gratitude to Kujo or her loyalty to the general."
"Palace Master, please give her the article and confirm her position. Then, if she abandons the interests of the country and ignores it... I don't want the document to be exposed to Tenryo Bugyo in advance, and I don't want to see her in the duel. Can you do it?"
Kaguya asked. His tone was gentle, but there was a hint of murder in his words.
To some extent, this is also driving away the followers of Thunder God, an act of treason.
Yae Shinko didn't care about Kaguya's order, but just thought for a moment and nodded.
The article has clearly described the depraved situation of Inazuma. At this point, if the little Tengu still can't figure out whether to kill or trap him, it's time to make a decision.
"In fact, with the help of the Palace Secretary, we can kill all three magistrates. But the root of the national affairs is still in the castle tower. If the general does not see the light and wake up, everything will be in vain. The duel in front of the emperor was originally a momentary angry remark, but the more I think about it, the more I feel that I must go. Anyway, I leave everything to the Palace Secretary."
"I will go and see Kujo Sara right now."
Yae Shinko left quickly.
Firstly, she really needed to hurry up. Secondly, she couldn't help with Kaguya's situation. The more she faced it, the more guilty and reluctant she felt. She might as well just do something.
Only Huiye and Ayaka were left in the room.
"Kaguya...Kaguya, don't look at me like that."
"Oh? Why are you looking at me?"
Kaguya stroked Kamisato Ayaka's face with a smile.
Kamisato Ayaka didn't expect things to change so quickly.
Kaguya hadn't expected that the conquest would be so quick.
