Pathway to Japanese Literature

Adopted Son-in-Law: 100,000 Ryo

I

“—Asajirou.”

“Yes.”

“I hear those young rascals among the clan retainers caused more trouble today as well?”

Yabashiri Genbei raised gentle eyes to look at his son-in-law while sipping tea.

“Oh, it’s nothing but a trivial matter.”

“I heard Goroobei recently lured you into the training hall, forced you to take up a bamboo sword against your will, and subjected you to utter humiliation—you showed remarkable restraint.”

“You honor me.”

Asajirou maintained a quiet smile on his fair-skinned face,

“They’re all skilled practitioners—it’s been an excellent learning opportunity.”

“If you can endure with that mindset, that would suffice.”
“Those foolish louts—without understanding the deeper circumstances, they torment you out of sheer spite for your merchant origins. Endure this a while longer—I ask for your patience in all things.”

“I’ve caused you undue concern—if anything, I’m the one who should apologize...”

Genbei, who had been slowly sipping his tea while observing his son-in-law’s modest demeanor with apparent satisfaction, soon continued in a casual tone:

“By the way—have you taken a liking to my daughter?”

“What?”

“My daughter Fuyu—have you taken a liking to her?”

Asajirou quickly averted his eyes as if dazzled.

“You honor me too much—such excessive praise. If anything, I’m the one unsuited to your family’s ways.”

“Don’t evade the question—Asajirou.”

Genbei smiled as he said, “Restraint has its merits, but circumstances dictate. Do you understand? Especially in matters between men and women—sometimes restraint becomes its own form of discourtesy.”

“Yes—I am fully aware.”

“I see. If you understand, that’s fine.”

Genbei nodded and said, “Well then, you should retire for the night. I’ve had your bedroom moved to the inner quarters this evening—you’ll keep it that way for the foreseeable future.”

“But... that’s...”

“Don’t say a word—this is my arrangement. Go.”

Seeing his father-in-law’s smile that seemed to say he understood everything, Asajirou left the room without a word.
He realized this had become a predicament.

The inner chamber, as the name implied, was a room without an adjoining chamber. No matter what, he had to lie down on futons spread side by side with Fuyu—but could he actually do it?

Over fifty days had passed since he became their son-in-law, yet the daughter had never once permitted him to share her room overnight. When servants laid out the couple's bedding, come bedtime she herself would swiftly carry it to the adjacent room, sliding the partition shut to block even the sound of breathing.—Raised as the only daughter of Spear Master Yabashiri Genbei, Fuyu possessed a tomboyish nature and was said to be unmatched in the Kyougoku household for her talents, intellect, and beauty. Her unyielding pride and formidable temperament truly left others powerless to intervene.

"This was bad—another dispute brewing—"

As he muttered to himself and entered the inner chamber, Fuyu sat formally by the lamp.
Indeed... A stern quality showed in her crystal-clear, striking features. Asajirou quietly sat down after placing his greatsword on the sword rack,

“Lord Asajirou.”

Fuyu turned to face him directly, her obsidian-like eyes glinting coldly.

“What is the meaning of this?”
“I don’t know…”
“Mind your tongue!”

Cutting him off with a whipcrack tone, she declared, “As I have repeatedly reminded you—what might pass for a merchant’s manner holds no validity among samurai. Should you persist in such tepid speech, it will compromise the Yabashiri house’s dignity.”

“I shall mind my words.”

“What did you say to Father?”

Asajirou showed no sign of resistance,

"I don’t recall saying anything specific..."

"You must have said something.
This situation could not have arisen without your prompting. Do you imagine Father—a man wholly devoted to martial arts—could possibly presume matters of the marital chamber?"

"In truth, I don’t know."

While casting a cold glance at Asajirou’s face as he spoke those words, Fuyu said:

"Though it should hardly bear repeating—even were we to hold this wedding ceremony at Father’s command, I cannot entrust myself to one in whom I place no trust. You do understand this."

“As you wish...”

"If you haven't informed Father, then let that be so—I shall sleep over there."

Fuyu declared curtly and rose to her feet.

II

In the cold stillness of a November night, lying alone on his back, Asajirou murmured lowly,

"It’s like being besieged on all sides…"

he murmured.

When he went out, he was mocked by the young samurai of the household; when he came in, he endured Lady Fuyu’s belittlement—and had to bear it all in silence. Why did it have to be this way?

Only five individuals knew the circumstances behind Asajirou's marriage into the Yabashiri household: Lord Kyougoku Takanobu, chief retainer Kuriyagawa Yugao, Haraguchi Yamashiro, accounting magistrate Nunome Genba, and Yabashiri Genbei himself. These circumstances can be briefly explained as follows.

This was the era that led Hayashi Shihei to declare,

"Among present-day daimyos, those possessing three thousand ryo in cash reserves can be counted on one hand."

This was the Kansei era—the very period that had compelled Hayashi Shihei to make this declaration. The Tokugawa shogunate and domains great and small all faced financial crises, and the Kyougoku family of Sanuki Tadotsu proved no exception. Years of accumulated depletion had brought their domain administration to the brink of collapse.

There was no need to recount every detail here, but their most pressing concern stemmed from over fifty thousand ryo borrowed from Yamaya Hachizaemon, a wealthy Osaka merchant. With the Yoshino cypress mountain pledged as collateral for this loan, failure to repay would see the Kyougoku family's crucial revenue source seized. Faced with this impending disaster, the domain executives had convened to devise financial restructuring plans, yet no viable proposals emerged regarding what aspects required reform or how to implement them—compounded by Yamaya's irrevocable settlement deadline set for December 25th of that year.

“We cannot resolve this with our current strategies.”

Having thrown in the towel, Chief Retainer Kuriyagawa Yugao proposed a final plan to Takanobu.

“At this point, we have no alternative—I humbly suggest we seek assistance from Master Okada Kansen of Kyoto.”

“Would he consent?”

“Given that Your Lordship received instruction from him at Shoheiko Academy, I believe he will surely extend his utmost assistance.”

Okada Kansen was a man well-versed in medicine and classical literature who had been summoned by the shogunate to teach at Shōheikō Academy, yet he was also deeply skilled in economic statecraft. Once appointed to the position of magistrate, he achieved extraordinary political accomplishments and astonished the world as a statesman.

“Then let us attempt it regardless.”

Takanobu provided full details and dispatched a messenger to Kansen, who was retired in Kyoto—Kansen listened thoroughly to the particulars from Takanobu’s envoy,

“There’s nothing an old fool like me could accomplish by going there.”

With those words, he entrusted a written response to the envoy and sent him back.

Lord Takanobu, who had been waiting impatiently, received it and read: ――"There exists a man named Asajirou, son of Nanbuya Souemon—a Chinese goods merchant (present-day trader) of Osaka. As this old man's disciple skilled in financial governance, you would do well to entrust him with this matter.
“I shall make arrangements with the Nanbuya house from my end” was written.

When one spoke of Nanbuya Souemon of Osaka, he was a merchant reputed to handle goods from Chinese ships and amass immense wealth.
Presuming his merchant lineage would grant financial acumen and that Master Kansen’s endorsement guaranteed exceptional capability, they promptly dispatched envoys to summon Asajirou. Yet his commoner status barred direct involvement in domain governance—and since this crucial mission required proper standing, social elevation became necessary. Thus at Lord Takanobu’s behest, he entered the household as bridegroom to Yabashiri Genbei’s sole daughter, Fuyu.

Naturally, these circumstances were kept secret, so the young samurai retainers of the domain—who felt the Kyougoku clan’s foremost daughter, the accomplished beauty Fuyu, had been stolen from them—were enraged.

“So this is the merchant upstart’s abacus genius?”

“He must have used his money to force his way into becoming an unwanted son-in-law.”

“To let some pale-faced wretch inherit the Spear Magistrate’s succession—this is a disgrace to Shikoku’s samurai!”

“Don’t hold back—make sure he can’t endure staying here!”

They seized every opportunity to humiliate him.—Fuyu too, greeting Asajirou with cold eyes and cold words at every turn, had yet to permit him into her bedchamber even now after over fifty days.

"If only I could fulfill my duty quickly—"

Asajirou muttered lonesomely.

But that Fuyu... Where in her beauty—rare even in Kyoto—could such a fierce temperament lie hidden? What was that spark-like light that sometimes flashed in the depths of those cold eyes—? Lately, somehow, I couldn't get those eyes out of my head—they'd become impossible to forget. What a mysterious girl...

“Asajirou—”

In the hallway, Genbei’s voice sounded abruptly.

“Yes?”

“Is Fuyu present?”

Genbei had come to check on them; Asajirou responded with a bitter smile and lowered his voice,

“Please be quiet—she has just fallen asleep.”

“I see... It’s cold.”

Genbei spoke as though reassured and left for his own bedroom, softening his footsteps.
In the darkness where the lamp had gone out, while gazing at his wife’s alluring bedding laid out emptily beside him, Asajirou lay wide awake, staring intently.

III

Chief Retainer Kuriyagawa Yugao summoned Asajirou,

“What will you do?”

he said impatiently.

“It’s already November 10th—barely any time remains until Yamaya’s settlement day.”
“You must have formulated some measure by now.”

“Ah, just a little longer—”

“What exactly are you doing while repeating ‘just a little longer’? I hear that even now after over sixty days, you haven’t properly examined any documents—just holed up in the archives reading through the clan’s genealogies. Are you trying to dig out records of buried treasure or something?”

It was clearly sarcastic.

“Anyway, I must ask you to wait a little longer.”

Asajirou had no choice but to give that answer and withdraw.

At their parting, his mentor Kansen faced the separation and said:
"This is work none but you can accomplish. Should you go and find no ingenious solution, investigate the Kyougoku family's genealogical records. You will assuredly come to understand."

had given him these cryptic words as a parting gift.

Upon arriving in Tadotsu, Asajirou merely skimmed through the domain's general administrative affairs and realized there was no conceivable way to devise a stopgap measure for this crisis—thus having no alternative but to rely on his mentor's words, he formally requested access to the "Kyougoku Family Genealogy."

Why was he examining these genealogical records?

It remained a mystery to Asajirou—should he truly trust those words as given?

Such doubts had arisen.

However, with the inevitable deadline looming before him, there truly was no other strategy.
Every day upon arriving at the castle, Asajirou would immediately enter the archives, begrudging even mealtime breaks as he continued poring through the clan's genealogical records.

Yugao’s demands grew more intense by the day,

“Have you devised some brilliant scheme yet?”

“I’ve waited all day—where’s your progress?”

“You’ve only got a few dozen days left!”

The pressure kept intensifying, and the days passed with terrifying speed.
Asajirou finally began to feel anxious—shouldn’t he confirm once more with his mentor? Could the instruction to examine the family register have concealed some other mystery?

Doubts bred further doubts, until he began considering sending a written inquiry to Kansen—on November 19th, while examining the family register and reaching the entry for July of Keicho 15, his eyes suddenly lit up as if he had discovered something—

“Ah, this is it!” he let out a low cry. For some time, he continued devouring the records with his eyes. “This is it, this is it—it must be this!” He struck his knee and said, “No one but Asajirou can accomplish this task—now I finally understand the master’s words. Yes.” Muttering as if brought back to life, he immediately prepared writing materials and began transcribing part of the records. What had been discovered in the family register would be revealed later. About half an hour after leaving the archives, Asajirou went to the Chief Retainer’s office and met with Yugao.

“What is it? Have you devised a means?”

The moment Yugao saw his face, he inquired,

“Ah, it would seem it can be done.”

“What do you mean you can do it?”

Yugao involuntarily leaned forward,

“And this method—?”

“There’s no need for me to explain further. When the time comes, you’ll naturally understand. Please entrust this matter to me.”

“But… will it hold?”

“You may rest assured of that.”

A bright smile graced Asajirou’s face.

After leaving the castle and stopping at a courier shop along the way, Asajirou reached Okatomachi while returning to the estate when a loud voice called from behind—

“Wait, Winter Melon Samurai—hey, wait!”

A voice called out.

Those young clan retainers again.

Having thought this, he pretended not to hear and walked on—whereupon they came striding after him and grabbed his shoulder from behind.

“What, are you deaf? I said wait!”

“Who might you be?”

When he turned around, there indeed stood Makishima Goroobei, Ichida Ginzou, and Matsui Sousuke—three notorious ruffians.
Asajirou quietly pushed away Goroobei’s hand that had grabbed his shoulder,

“Might I ask where you gentlemen are all headed together?”
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”

Goroobei shouted.

IV

“After shouting so loudly, don’t act all clueless, you ill-mannered commoner!” “You seem quite upset.”

“You... acting so composed—”

While exhaling alcohol-tinged breath, Goroobei suddenly tried to grab his collar.
Asajirou lightly dodged,

“How reckless of you.”
“You... You dare fight back?!”

Drunkenness bred recklessness—he swung a fist to attack. Asajirou twisted his torso to evade the blow, then seized the assailant’s elbow and wrenched it upward.

“Urgh! Y-you—!”
“Such insolence! Cut him down!”

When Matsui Sousuke shouted, he drew his greatsword in a drunken haze, half in bluff.
However, when Ichida Ginzou saw the gleam of the naked blade, he lost all sense of reason,

“You pumpkin-faced bastard!”

With that shout, he drew his sword from his right side and launched a sudden attack. Asajirou, pushed beyond endurance by such lawlessness,
“You fools! What do you think you’re doing?!” he screamed, leaping like a soaring bird. In that instant, Goroobei was flung backward to collapse on his back, while Ginzou’s greatsword flew several yards before clattering onto the road.
“What are you panicking and drawing your swords for?”

Asajirou raised his eyebrows and shouted, "It's precisely because I'm new here that I've shown restraint, you lawless brutes who don't know your place! If you’re so desperate for it, I’ll gladly take on your challenge anew! Come, bring it!"

His usual gentleness had completely vanished from his demeanor. A faint flush colored his pale complexion, while his wide-open eyes flashed with inviolable authority and lethal intent. Not only were Ginzou and his companions stunned by this unexpected transformation in their opponent, but even Goroobei—priding himself on martial skill—remained sprawled on the ground, staring wide-eyed in blank astonishment.

“Heh heh heh.”

Asajirou laughed quietly,

“It seems you three aren’t exactly skilled at brawling. Not that I’m eager to pick a fight either.”
“If you’re so resentful, feel free to try a night ambush. Though I must say—you won’t find me an opponent your scrawny arms can cut down.”

Having said that, he coldly surveyed the three, then flicked the hem of his hakama and turned on his heel to depart.

“—He’s skilled. I misjudged him.”

Goroobei, remaining half-risen, watched Asajirou's retreating figure and raised a voice of admiration.

There was another who had watched this scene with a dreamlike air—a woman concealed beneath the townhouse eaves—Fuyu. Having chanced upon Asajirou while attending to errands, she stood frozen in place, unable to move.

"Why... That Lord Asajirou—"

Her cheeks flushed crimson as she released a heated sigh, Fuyu's gaze pursuing Asajirou's retreating form.

That night—after dinner concluded—Asajirou withdrew to the study, spread out writing implements across the desk, and spent hours engaged in composition.

Around ten o'clock (approximately 10 PM), Fuyu quietly slid open the shōji door and entered.

“Have you not yet retired for the night?” Fuyu inquired. Asajirou glanced briefly at her,
“Ah, just a bit longer—”
With that, he resumed his writing.
Fuyu remained silent for some time,

“Shall I prepare some tea for you?”

she asked.
This was unprecedented. Asajirou looked up suspiciously. What could this mean? Fuyu's face bore lightly applied makeup, the full curve of her waist cinched by her obi sash, the firm swell of her chest... Tonight she appeared transformed into someone unrecognizably alluring.
As he considered this, her eyes gazing dazzlingly at him now flickered with a mysterious passionate light—one that had never appeared before—burning like phosphorus.

“No—I don’t want any.”

Asajirou answered curtly and kept writing.

Fuyu let out a faint sigh—the intense passion overflowing her chest.
At noon in Otochimachi, from the moment she unexpectedly witnessed Asajirou's true form, the flame of love had burst forth like a broken dam.
Tormented by searing anguish, her body wrestled with this irresistible desire she felt for the first time in her life.

Yet Fuyu knew not how to convey it to him. Asajirou kept writing without sparing her a glance——until at last she rose silently and quit the room.
Then she entered their bedchamber and waited for Asajirou without loosening her obi—until full daylight had broken...

Asajirou finished writing and emerged from the study only after breakfast preparations were complete.
"What’s this? Your eyes are red."
When they sat down to the meal, Genbei looked at his son-in-law’s tired face and asked,

“Yes, it appears the reform plan has come together, so last night I worked on drafting a proposal.”

“Ah! So it’s finally ready?”

Genbei leaned forward with delight.

"I believe it will likely proceed smoothly. In light of this, I must remain at the castle for the time being. Kindly understand this."

“Of course! It’s a critical time—leave the household to Genbei and focus fully on your task.”

“I am deeply honored.”

With a sorrowful expression, Fuyu gazed at Asajirou's profile from the side.

V

Having entered the castle, Asajirou secluded himself in the accounting duty room from that day onward and, together with Fumeno Genba and other officials, gathered all documents related to domain administration to begin drafting reform proposals.
It was an astonishing effort—while Genba and most regular officials would arrive and depart at set hours, Asajirou alone never once stepped beyond the duty room, working ceaselessly from dawn until midnight without ever letting brush or paper leave his hands.

Over ten days of such work had passed; it was the morning of December 10th when the night watch guard came and—

“Lord Yabashiri, a messenger bearing such documents has arrived at the Kawamenzu Gate.”

Having conveyed this, Asajirou received the document, perused it, and immediately rose to his feet,

“Your efforts are appreciated. I shall go myself.”

With that, he left.

Asajirou, who had gone to the Kawamenzu Gate, returned after about an hour with an exceedingly bright expression and requested an audience with Kuriyagawa Yugao, who had just entered the castle.

“Do you have business?”

“Though Your Lordship has only just entered the castle, I humbly request an audience with His Lordship.”

“What reason compels this audience?”

“The matter previously entrusted to me has at last been resolved, and I now humbly wish to present my findings.”

“I see. It is accomplished?”

Yugao nodded with a smile. “This is most felicitous news! I shall inquire after His Lordship’s will—await here.”

With that, he stood up.

At Asajirou’s request, the audience was to be held in the Grand Audience Chamber. On the upper level sat Lord Kyougoku Takanobu; seated in rows were three individuals—Chief Retainer Kuriyagawa Yugao, Haraguchi Yamashiro, and Head of Accounting Fumeno Genba. Yabashiri Asajirou, holding the drafted reform proposal’s official document, prostrated himself some distance away.

“Approach,” Takanobu said impatiently. “Your efforts in reforming our domain’s finances have been most commendable.”

“Y-yes...”

“You may speak plainly. State your report.”

Asajirou slightly raised his face.

“With gratitude for your permission to speak plainly, I must confess that someone as incompetent and dull-witted as myself could never adequately fulfill such a monumental task. A crab digs its hole in its own way—though I am certain you will reprimand me for it—but as you have entrusted me with discretion, I now present this desperate measure born of shallow roots for your inspection.”

“Dispense with formalities. Proceed.”

“Ah, if I may be so bold, please look upon that.”

Asajirou said this and pointed toward the spacious courtyard.
When Takanobu and the three others looked—there by the garden pond, five stacks of wooden boxes towered high.

“An unfamiliar sight indeed. What are those?”

“The 100,000 ryo required for the reforms—I humbly present it before depositing in the treasury.”

“What? —100,000 ryo?”

Takanobu, Yugao, Yamashiro, and Genba all gasped “Ah!” and remained unable to utter another word for some time. In this moment of utter desperation and necessity, 100,000 ryo of gold as if fallen from heaven—truly like a dream.

“Asajirou!”

Takanobu turned squarely toward him. “It’s inconceivable that such an enormous sum could be extracted from our depleted domain’s finances. There must be circumstances behind this—explain them to me.”

“Your gracious words humble me profoundly. As I could not presume to offer explanation myself, I most earnestly entreat Your Lordship to examine the entry for July 8th of Keichō 15 within the clan genealogy - there Your Lordship will assuredly find full elucidation.”

“Very well. I shall examine it immediately.”

“Though I cannot declare this 100,000 ryo fully sufficient, I humbly believe it may serve as a provisional measure to address the aftermath—concerning which matter—”

Asajirou presented the official reform proposal document and,

“To this—having investigated articles requiring revision within domain administration and presumptuously prepared this humble proposal—I most respectfully entrust the Honorable Elder Statesman with reviewing and selecting from them, and humbly request appropriate allocation of the 100,000 ryo. Though this investigation was conducted in less than half a month’s haste and remains naturally incomplete in its conclusions, should it prove even minimally useful, I would consider it the utmost honor.”

“We too wish to examine this—we shall retain custody of it!”

“I humbly beg forgiveness for soiling your august eyes with this unworthy offering.”

Asajirou presented the official document and withdrew to a respectful distance. “I most profoundly apologize for presuming upon your time at this early hour and for the numerous impertinent statements I have dared make.”
“I humbly beg leave to withdraw today.”

“You have performed a great service.”

Takanobu said with a refreshed countenance, as if relieved of a burden.

“As expected of Master Kansen’s recommendation—this splendid work is beyond what one would expect from a merchant upbringing. Takanobu is satisfied—you need not attend court until further orders. Return home and rest at your leisure.”

“Y-yes...”

Asajirou prostrated himself and withdrew from the lord's presence.

Six

While having the 100,000 ryo stored in the treasury, Lord Takanobu summoned the clan genealogy from the archives and had Yugao investigate the entry for July 8th of Keichō 15.

There was an unexpected record there.

“—My lord!”

As soon as he finished reading it, Yugao shouted, “The 100,000 ryo comes as an offering from Asajirou’s birth family—Nanbuya Souemon of Osaka!”

“What do you mean—?”

“The particulars are recorded here. That is to say—the ancestor of Nanbuya was one Shimaeda Juuzaemon—a beloved retainer of our honorable founder Lord Tango no Kami Takatsugu during the Keichō era—who, due to certain circumstances in July of Keichō 15, received 5,000 ryo from Lord Takatsugu, abandoned his samurai status, went to Osaka, and began trading goods from Chinese ships. That Nanbuya now possesses vast wealth ultimately traces back to Your Lordship’s house’s gracious patronage.—I presume Master Kansen somehow knew this fact when he selected Asajirou.”

“Hmm.”

The source of the 100,000 ryo was finally understood.—Truly Kansen’s discernment had been exceptional; it was precisely Asajirou who could discover this record within the clan genealogy and compel his birth family to agree to present the 100,000 ryo—

“I humbly report.”

The young samurai retainer came to the side of the sliding door and prostrated himself.

“There is a written document from Lord Asajirou Yabashiri requesting immediate delivery to the Honorable Elder Statesman.”

“Asajirou’s written document—?”

Yugao looked puzzled as he opened and examined it,

“Oh—”

He raised his head and announced, “My lord, that Asajirou has submitted a request for permanent leave.”

“—What is the meaning of this?”

“He has not stated his reasons and intends to leave the domain as matters stand.”

“Unacceptable! Dispatch a messenger immediately to stop him!” Takanobu exclaimed in surprise, “I will not grant leave! Convey my orders at once!” “As you command!”

Yugao rose in flustered haste.

At that moment―

After returning home, Asajirou gave Genbei a concise report of the entire matter, then composed himself and—
“With this, the duty for which I was summoned has been safely accomplished; however, I now have a renewed request to make of you, Father-in-law.”

“Certainly. Ask anything you wish.”

Genbei beamed with satisfaction. “Having a son-in-law like you brings honor to our house—anything within my power to assist with, I shall!”

“Will you truly grant this assistance?”

“Out with it—what’s your request?”

“I humbly beg to be granted a divorce.”

Genbei’s eyes bulged.

“Wh-what’s this… Divorce… Divorce—?”

“Though I once sullied your noble house’s name, that was merely a pretense required to fulfill my duty—for one of my lowly townsman standing to become successor to esteemed ancestors is utterly inconceivable. This was never my intention from the beginning.”

“Th-that’s absurd! What will become of my daughter? My daughter—!”

“Your daughter remains pure and unsullied.”

“——Hmm...”

Genbei groaned. So it had all been in vain after all? His prideful daughter had shown nothing but disdain toward Asajirou—he’d even fretted over their unconsummated marriage as a parent—yet she’d lacked the discernment to recognize such a man’s worth. What a foolish daughter she was.

“Do I have your consent?”

“That may be so, but can you not reconsider? My daughter’s thoughtlessness shames even me as her parent—if it please you, perhaps take a new bride from elsewhere.”

“No, no—as I have just stated, I came solely to fulfill my duty. There being no further need for me to remain here, and having already tendered my request for leave to His Lordship, I must earnestly entreat you to grant this divorce.”

“You’ve already requested leave from His Lordship as well…?”

Genbei was disappointed by those words.

"I trust you will consent."

“――――”

“Then, though with haste, I must make preparations.”

As Asajirou began to rise—
“Please wait.”
As she spoke, Fuyu entered and quietly sat down before him.
“I overheard everything from the next room. Since you intend to return to Osaka, I must ask you to let me accompany you.”
“—For what reason?”
“I am your wife—it is my duty to follow my husband. Moreover, though you declared me pure and unsullied just now, I am already with child.”

This was an astonishing statement.

“What are you saying?”

Asajirou replied in disbelief, “Since entering your noble household, have we shared the marital bed even a single night? Your Ladyship herself should be well aware of this fact.”

“Even without sharing a bed—when husband and wife dwell under the same roof, the husband’s essence may still take root in his wife—or so the common folk say.”

“W-well—well played!”

Genbei suddenly shouted.

“Well played, daughter! If you dwell under the same roof, even without sharing a bed, a man’s essence might take root and bring conception—splendid! You’ve grasped it perfectly! And this Asajirou—now there’s logical consistency!”

“But that’s too—”

“What absurdity! When my daughter herself declares she’s with child, I won’t let you claim ignorance now. You’d better believe I won’t ever let you go now. Wahahahaha! The victory fan goes to my daughter in this close match! She’s seized the perfect opening—no, truly splendid! Never underestimate a woman’s wit! Look how Asajirou’s blinking away in shock! Wahahahaha!”

As Genbei laughed heartily all by himself,

“I humbly report—an urgent messenger has arrived from the castle.”

when the household official came to deliver the message.

“What’s this about an urgent messenger?”

Genbei hurried out, but soon returned almost at a run,

“Asajirou—”

As he tried to enter—what was this? That proud Fuyu lay prostrate across Asajirou’s lap, covering her face with her sleeve while stifling sobs.

“Please forgive my past clumsiness, won’t you…”

Her voice was soaked with tears, yet for the first time carried a womanly moisture that seemed to seep through as she pleaded,

“Fuyu has been guarding your chamber and waiting forlornly for your return for over half a month now.”
“From now on I shall be a good wife to you, I beg you do not cast me aside.”

“—Lady Fuyu.”

Asajirou himself must have been genuinely moved, for he instinctively reached out to his wife’s—yes, now undeniably his wife’s—shoulder.

Genbei suppressed his delighted voice, concealing his footsteps as he quietly left the room.
—There’s no need to rush in conveying His Lordship’s message now. Asajirou is undoubtedly ours…—he muttered to himself.