As Qin Yining’s words fell, Gao Delai also translated them into Japanese. The hall was silent as a tomb, with only the sound of Ishikawa Minao’s heavy breathing in his anger.
No one spoke, all looking toward Ishikawa Minao, waiting for his reaction.
In the Mizusawa Kingdom, one could naturally refuse a direct challenge to a duel, but if one refused, it would be seen as showing weakness. Moreover, the one making demands of the daimyo was a delicate woman. If the daimyo didn’t even dare accept a challenge from a woman, he would truly be looked down upon.
Hearing Qin Yining’s mockery, Adachi Manya drew his sword on the spot in anger. “You cunning woman, you deceived me and now come to insult the daimyo! I’ll kill you!”
“You told me that the people of Mizusawa Kingdom all listen to you and would help me sell silk and goods. I promised you forty percent of the profits, and you agreed to bring me to meet the daimyo. We both made a fair trade—how can you now say I’m cunning?”
Ishikawa Minao immediately cast suspicious and angry glances at Adachi Manya.
Adachi Manya’s heart skipped a beat. He knew all too well how suspicious the daimyo was.
Years ago, when he had mentioned several times in front of the daimyo how renowned and respected Sakurai Hideaki was in the outside world, and how his ninjutsu was so superior that no one could match him, saying he could assassinate anyone without being detected, the daimyo had taken notice. Later, he found ways to exile Sakurai!
Now that this woman was saying such things in front of the daimyo, wouldn’t the daimyo immediately believe her? Even if he didn’t punish him immediately, the seeds of suspicion would already be planted in the daimyo’s heart!
Indeed, Ishikawa Minao looked at Adachi Manya with eyes full of accusation and anger, deeply believing in his betrayal.
Qin Yining said, “Ishikawa Daimyo, if you don’t even dare accept a challenge from a small woman like me, you’ll become the laughingstock of the world. As the daimyo of a kingdom, do you truly lack even this much courage?”
Looking at the expressions of all the nobles and warriors present, Ishikawa Minao knew he could no longer avoid this. If he truly didn’t dare accept even a woman’s challenge, where would he put his face in the future?
Suppressing his anger, Ishikawa Minao snorted. “Fine! I accept your challenge! When I achieve victory, I’ll definitely behead you and hang your beautiful head on a flagpole for everyone to see what becomes of those who defy the daimyo!”
“Kill! Kill!” Everyone roared angrily, as if they had already killed someone.
Qin Yining showed no fear whatsoever. After hearing Gao Delai’s explanation, she immediately said, “Good! Then I’ll return immediately to gather my forces. We’ll fight at the dock this evening! I’ll bring my subordinates, you bring your soldiers, and we’ll settle this once and for all! If you don’t dare come, you’re a coward!”
Ishikawa Minao thought of his subordinates’ reports saying there were only a few dozen people on the tower ship—they definitely wouldn’t be a match for his over two hundred soldiers.
Feeling confident, he laughed triumphantly. “Good! Everyone will go to the dock to watch this battle. Whoever wins or loses, everyone will bear witness! I’ll definitely cut off this arrogant woman’s head and make her regret her current rudeness!”
Everyone roared together, creating an extremely intimidating momentum.
Qin Yining had no intention of staying long. She turned and walked out. Ji Yun and Gao Delai protected her from the front, while Jingzhe and Xiao Xue walked behind. They swaggered out of the hall and headed straight for the residence gates.
A perfectly good banquet had ended before it even began. The people in the hall remained enthusiastic, but Ishikawa Minao’s expression suddenly changed. He viciously kicked Adachi Manya in the shoulder.
“You traitor! Fool!”
Adachi Manya was kicked and rolled in a circle. His face flushed red with shame and anger. After kneeling properly again, he bowed his head and said, “Please let the daimyo hear my explanation. That woman was truly too cunning—she deceived me!”
“Is that so?”
Ishikawa Minao turned back and asked, “Did Adachi Manya help that woman sell goods?”
Hirasawa Sai, who had been hidden in the shadows, stepped forward and bowed his head. “Yes, daimyo. Yesterday I personally witnessed Adachi Manya accompanying that woman out together. The people on the street can all testify.”
“What else do you have to say!”
“Daimyo! I was deceived!” Adachi Manya was so anxious his forehead broke out in sweat, finding himself unable to explain. Who could have imagined that a perfectly good beautiful woman would turn into a venomous snake in the blink of an eye?
“Deceived? Do you think I’m as foolish as you?!”
Ishikawa Minao not only suspected Adachi Manya but was also provoked by Qin Yining’s earlier statement that “the people of Mizusawa Kingdom all listen to him.” Adachi Manya was very smooth and had already established his own connections among nobles, merchants, and common people. Now, uncertain whether he was colluding with Great Zhou nobility, he absolutely couldn’t let him go!
Ishikawa Minao turned and drew his slender sword.
Adachi Manya’s eyes filled with terror as he repeatedly said, “Daimyo, I haven’t colluded with outsiders! Daimyo!”
“Go die!” Ishikawa Minao refused to listen to his explanations at all. Seizing this opportunity, he swung his sword to strike.
Adachi Manya was so frightened he rolled and crawled to dodge.
But as a warrior under the daimyo, when the daimyo wanted to kill a subordinate warrior, the warrior was not allowed to dodge.
Adachi Manya’s action immediately proved he had betrayed the daimyo.
The warriors and nobles present all swarmed forward to help the daimyo kill this traitor.
Hirasawa Sai stood behind Ishikawa Minao, watching as one of those who had harmed Sakurai years ago died so simply. He even somewhat regretted why he hadn’t acted directly all these years, insisting instead on formal duels. Knowing this person was a cowardly wretch who would never agree to his challenges, yet he had kept challenging him—how much time had he wasted, and how foolish had he been!
He should have learned from Sakurai’s master to achieve his goals early and satisfy himself!
At this moment, Hirasawa Sai’s heart suddenly understood something.
Ishikawa Minao watched as people dragged away Adachi Manya’s corpse, then turned to give orders. “Someone come! Have all the warriors prepare and line up at the dock! I want to see what capabilities this little woman really has!”
Upon hearing about war, the women all timidly retreated to the back, not daring to speak. The men all responded loudly together, their roars shaking the heavens with impressive momentum.
Ishikawa Minao led his subordinates in rapid preparation.
By this time, Qin Yining had already returned to the dock.
Thanks to Adachi Manya’s earlier instructions to the dock guards, all her movements encountered no obstruction.
As soon as she boarded the ship, Qin Yining asked, “Was the signal sent?”
“It was sent as soon as the alliance leader left.”
“Good.” Qin Yining casually removed the troublesome hairpins from her head and smiled. “I imagine Master Xie and Master Xu are getting anxious waiting.”
Everyone laughed heartily.
Especially Ji Yun. “When the princess consort spoke like that beside the daimyo just now, I could see that lecher’s life was in danger.”
Qin Yining said indifferently, “He used this method to harm Sakurai years ago. Now having such retribution is his deserved fate.”
Knowing Qin Yining had returned safely, everyone on the tower ship breathed a sigh of relief and began preparations under her command.
At evening, Ishikawa Minao led his subordinate warriors and over two hundred soldiers toward the dock. The people in the markets and on the ridges all inevitably hid in their homes with worried hearts.