Ishikawa Sanao had been wearing a dark expression the entire way. The people’s discussions reached his ears continuously, making him break out in a cold sweat on his forehead. It wasn’t just the words Hirasawa Nai had spoken publicly to him, but because the people obviously believed what they had said.
If this continued, his ruling position would not be secure.
Gao Delai approached with a smile, hands tucked in his sleeves, speaking in Japanese, “Lord Ishikawa, I hope you can be a gentleman who keeps his promises. Since you’ve already agreed to our master that you would bury Sakurai, how could you set up an ambush halfway and then turn around to frame someone else?”
Ishikawa Sanao gritted his teeth, unable to speak for a long while.
The Elite Tiger Guards and prince’s mansion guards spread out in a fan formation, quickly surrounding Ishikawa Sanao and his subordinates in the middle.
Seeing this formation, the people backed away one after another, each as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to utter a word.
Ishikawa Sanao swallowed with difficulty, yet not wanting to appear cowardly in front of others, he turned to look at Qin Yining.
“I’ve already summoned monks to chant sutras. To bury Sakurai Hideaki, there’s no need to arrange so many people, is there?”
Gao Delai conveyed these words to Qin Yining, who smiled slightly, “The daimyo is truly clever, always making preparations for every contingency.”
Ishikawa Sanao clenched his teeth to avoid becoming angry in public, but Qin Yining’s mockery had already made his face burn red and drew many sideways glances from the people.
“Fine, since you’ve summoned monks, then bring them here.” Qin Yining waved her hand.
The well-trained Elite Tiger Guards immediately withdrew, and when over a hundred people moved, only uniform footsteps could be heard.
Ishikawa Sanao once again began to doubt Qin Yining’s background.
Could an ordinary merchant family really raise such elite forces?
Before long, two elderly monks were brought over, trembling with fear.
Ishikawa Sanao busied himself directing his subordinates to act, while the two monks pressed their palms together, lowered their eyes, and began chanting sutras.
Qin Yining watched from the side with her people, and the common folk were also silent as sparrows. In just a moment, Sakurai’s ashes were properly buried, the tombstone was erected, and Qin Yining lifted her chin toward Ishikawa Sanao.
Gao Delai immediately stood behind Ishikawa Sanao and said in Japanese, “Lord Ishikawa, now that Sakurai has been laid to rest, please kowtow and confess your crimes before Sakurai’s tombstone.”
Ishikawa Sanao knew that at this point he had no other choice but to follow orders—there was no other way out.
“If I fulfill my promise, you’ll take your troops and leave?”
Gao Delai nodded, “Naturally. Our master hasn’t made any backup plans. Once you fulfill your promise, we will also fulfill ours and won’t bring troops to disturb any of the people.”
The mention of “backup plans” infuriated Ishikawa Sanao, whose face immediately flushed bright red.
As if that wasn’t enough, Gao Delai added, “However, your failure to keep your promise and setting up an ambush on the road to attack our master will be calculated separately.”
With Elite Tiger Guards watching like tigers behind him, Ishikawa Sanao understood that circumstances were stronger than people. Even though many people around would hear with their own ears, he had to prioritize his life first. Without his life, how could he make a comeback?
“Very well.” Ishikawa Sanao gritted his teeth and loudly recounted the events of years past to the surrounding people once more, then knelt before the tombstone and kowtowed three resounding times. “Back then I wronged you. Now that you’ve been laid to rest, I’ve also done everything your new master requested. I hope you can find peace.”
Ishikawa Sanao turned back to look at Qin Yining, “I’ve done everything according to your demands. Are you satisfied now?”
After hearing Gao Delai’s account, Qin Yining smiled, “Good. Lord Ishikawa understands that the wise submit to circumstances. Naturally I will honor my promise.”
Just as Gao Delai was conveying these words to Ishikawa Sanao in Japanese, Xu Weizhi and Xie Yue had already commanded the Elite Tiger Guards and prince’s mansion guards to form ranks, ready to retreat to the seaside at any moment.
Seeing that those behind her were ready, Qin Yining slowly walked to Sakurai Hideaki’s grave.
Jingzhe, Ji Dashun, and others guarded around Qin Yining, vigilantly watching their surroundings.
Looking at the name on the tombstone that she could only write but couldn’t read smoothly, Qin Yining remembered how Sakurai had spoken to her that day and how he had fought desperately to protect her. She couldn’t help but feel heartbroken as her eyes moistened.
“Sakurai, I may not be able to visit you again in the future.” She touched the tombstone as if touching Sakurai’s shoulder. “After I return, I have many important matters to attend to. May you find peace over there.”
The only response to Qin Yining was the rustling sound of wind blowing through the grass, which seemed like someone responding to her words.
Seeing Qin Yining like this, Hirasawa Nai couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.
If Sakurai had originally served such a person with loyalty, why would he have come to such an end?
Qin Yining led her troops to depart for the seaside.
Hirasawa Nai said mockingly, “A daimyo who breaks promises and loves to use his subordinates as scapegoats—do you really dare to trust him? Be careful not to become the second Sakurai Hideaki!”
“Bastard! What are you saying!” Ishikawa Sanao flew into a rage.
…
Qin Yining, who had already walked quite far, heard Ishikawa Sanao’s roar and the corners of her lips curved into a faint arc.
Ji Yun asked, “Princess, why didn’t you just kill that fellow directly? If they changed daimyo, the people might live better.”
Qin Yining smiled and shook her head, “Even if things continue this way, it’s hard to guarantee they won’t change to someone else as daimyo. But these matters have nothing to do with us anymore.”
Ji Yun nodded, “That’s true. After all, we’re about to set sail and return.”
“Indeed.” Qin Yining thought for a moment and sighed somewhat emotionally, “I imagine that even with few people, there won’t be a lack of those with both wisdom and ambition. Ishikawa Sanao’s position should have someone else fill it. We’ll be staying at the port these days to prepare necessities, so we can inquire about Ishikawa Sanao’s situation.”
“The princess speaks truly,” Xie Yue said. “I noticed that not everyone around that Lord Ishikawa is necessarily a fool. That Hirasawa Nai is a formidable person.”
“I just wonder if changing daimyo would be better for the people,” Xu Weizhi said with a smile, stroking his beard.
Qin Yining laughed with a “puchi,” “It doesn’t matter anyway. Anyone who can compete for the position of daimyo isn’t ordinary, and choosing any random person would be a hundred times better than Ishikawa Sanao.”
Hearing this, everyone nodded in unison and laughed.
Returning to the seaside, Qin Yining boarded the tower ship. The people below immediately busied themselves intensively with preparations for departure. The fresh water and food that needed to be prepared were the priority—after all, how much did Qin Yining’s thousand-plus subordinates need to eat and drink?
During this period, among the people everywhere there were those speculating about this group’s purpose, but more were discussing Ishikawa Sanao’s character.
“Seeing such a scene, I’m completely at ease now.” Qin Yining stood on deck looking toward the direction where that group of people lived. “The seeds of doubt have been planted. What happens next will depend on what the next person to take power does. It’s no longer something we can interfere with.”
Xie Yue and Xu Weizhi nodded, both sensing Qin Yining’s slight melancholy at parting.
Xu Weizhi smiled, “Princess, cheer up. We’re about to set sail and return to our country. We still don’t know about the prince’s situation in the capital, and what comes next may not be so easy.”