I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 890: Tenshoin's Confession: Shengqing, Become the Best in Japan! [4100]

Tianzhangyuan was stunned when he heard this.

Especially when she heard the word "goodbye", her eyes, expression, and even behavior all became extremely stiff.

The brief silence was her hesitation.

After a moment, she let out a long sigh.

"...I understand. Shazhong, go and bring Shengqing here."

"Yes!"

Sha Zhong responded loudly, then stood up and left.

Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she stopped and stood still.

Tian Zhang Yuan saw this and couldn't help but ask:

"Saju, what's wrong?"

"…Your Highness, I have recently developed a habit of talking to myself."

While saying some incomprehensible words, Sazhong slowly turned half of her body back.

"Hmm? Sazhong, what are you talking about…"

Before Tianzhangyuan finished speaking, Shazhong continued on his own:

"Because I have this disease, everything I say next will be my own words."

At this point, Sha Zhong paused for a moment, and took a breath before speaking in a solemn, deep voice:

"Most people in this world are that fragile."

"Faced with hunger, disease, aging, death and other sufferings, they are either unable to face them or unwilling to face them."

"In order to escape these sufferings and to cope with those pains, they have to rely on those strong people."

"That's how all heroes are born."

"In this way, all kings were born."

"In this way, all gods were born."

“This can be said to be the fate of every gifted person and every person in a high position.”

"It seems that responding to the expectations of those around them and shouldering the responsibility of 'improving the world' has become their unshirkable responsibility. If they do not do it well, they will be subjected to endless abuse."

"'You are a man of extraordinary ability and skill, why do you stand by and do nothing?'"

"'You are a powerful person, but you only care about yourself. Isn't that too selfish?'"

"It's like being kidnapped. I can't choose the way forward."

“It is certainly admirable to respond to the expectations of those around you, abandon personal desires, and serve the public.

"But is it wrong to follow one's own heart and be a 'selfish' person?"

"I am not a saint, nor am I a fool, so I cannot answer this question accurately."

"However, there is one thing I am very sure of - no matter what choice Your Highness makes, I will fully support it."

"However, for me, the safety of the world is far less important than the happiness of 'Shimazu Yuichi'."

After saying this, Sha Zhong, who usually had a stern face and seldom showed any expression, very rarely curled up the corners of his mouth and showed a calm smile.

"I'm sorry, I was sick for a long time today and said too much. Please forgive me."

Sha Zhong bowed slightly as he spoke, performed a brief salute, and then quickly retreated.

"..."

Tian Zhangyuan blinked and stared at Shazhong's back with a dull look.

"'I have a habit of talking to myself'... Really, this excuse is so fake..."

After complaining like this, she raised her eyes slightly and looked at the sky, looking hesitant.
A strong look of hesitation tugged back and forth between his cheeks.

After a while, a firm murmur was heard at the scene:
"…Saju, thank you."

……

……

"Youngster! This Western Expedition depends entirely on you!"

"You must defeat Changzhou! Beat them so that they dare not show their heads up again!"

"If you can use me, just ask!"

"I will do my best to help you in whatever way I can!"

Yae led the way while shouting out bold statements.

Sa Chong followed beside him with an expressionless face.

Listening to Yae's heroic speech, Qing Deng couldn't help but smile:

"Understood. I will never let you down on this Western Expedition."

"If I really encounter a difficult situation that requires your help, I will ask for your help."

"Don't complain when the time comes."

As soon as Qing Deng finished speaking, Yae put his hands on his hips and said proudly:

"Humph! Who do you think I am? If I complain about being tired, then I won't be called 'Yae'!"

After not seeing each other for many days, this pair of "Twin female ninjas" are still the same.

Sha Zhong is still taciturn.

Yae is still carefree.

Because she doesn't like socializing, Shazhong seldom interacts with Qingdeng in private, so their relationship is very ordinary.

On the other hand, Yae has a very good relationship with Qing Deng.

As soon as she saw Qing Deng, she immediately started talking, pouring out words like a machine gun, and chatting with Qing Deng about this and that.

Faced with Yae's enthusiastic conversation, Qing Deng did not feel impatient, but listened attentively with great interest.

On the one hand, it was a rare occasion for him to meet Yae, and he was happy to accompany this old friend.

On the other hand...it is to divert attention.

Chatting with Yae can help calm the panic in my heart a little.

He made up his mind and rushed to Tianzhangyuan...but in reality, his feelings were still complicated.

How should we face Tianzhangyuan?
What should I say to her when I meet her?
Qing Deng still has no definite answers to these questions.

He had never felt that the road to the archery range was so long as it did today.

He felt that only a few breaths had passed, and the archery range that had witnessed his many past events with Tianzhang Academy came into his sight from afar...

……

……

Tsukimi Shrine, Archery Range, Rest Room——

Qingdeng: "..."

Tianzhangyuan: "..."

After leading Qing Deng here, the "Twin Female Ninja" retreated silently.

As the two of them left, the archery range became extremely quiet.

Qing Deng raised his eyes and looked at Tianzhangyuan with an extremely unnatural expression.

The young widow sitting on the main seat also looked at him straight.

They looked at each other in surprise.

Suffering from a blank mind, Qing Deng was speechless after saying "Your Highness, long time no see. I apologize for not greeting you for a long time." He watched helplessly as the atmosphere on the scene became weird due to the long silence.

I don't know if it's my illusion, but Qing Deng always feels that Tian Zhang Yuan is a little strange. At first glance, Tian Zhang Yuan is sitting upright, with her hands neatly placed on her legs, and her face is neither sad nor happy, making it hard to guess what she is thinking at this moment.

If you look closely, you can see that the look she gives Qing Deng is very deep.

As if preparing something...

Seems like he's planning something...

at this time--

"...Sheng Qing, can you walk with me?"

Tianzhangyuan was the first to break the silence.

Without waiting for Qing Deng's response, she stood up on her own, tucked her green robe in with both hands, and walked slowly towards the small courtyard next to the archery range.

Although Qing Deng didn't understand why, he still followed obediently.

The short ponytail that was specially cut short and tied up to prove his identity as a "monk" swayed in front of his eyes.

About three minutes later, they moved to a neat and straight corridor, next to which was a spacious and exquisite courtyard.

Tianzhangyuan was not wearing any shoes or socks. He just walked down the corridor barefoot and entered the courtyard.

As soon as Qing Deng caught up, he heard Tian Zhangyuan's bland voice:

"...Come to think of it, Sheng Qing, I seem to have mentioned this to you before."

Tian Zhangyuan walked forward without looking back and said slowly:
"On the day I came of age, my biological father, Shimazu Tadatsugu, asked me this question: Yuichi, what kind of man do you want in your future husband?"

"I answered directly at the time: I want my future husband to be the number one man in Japan."

After hearing this, Qing Deng nodded slightly:
"Yes, you did tell me about that."

This happened a long time ago.

A year and a half ago, Tokugawa Iemochi traveled to Kyoto specifically to discuss the issue of expelling foreigners with the imperial court.

When his carriage arrived at Otsu, Qingdeng and Tianzhangyuan had a secret meeting in the sedan chair.

That day, two things left a deep impression on Qingdeng.

One of them was that Tianzhangyuan teased Sanazi with her two small feet through the curtain of the sedan chair in front of him, causing him to accidentally make strange noises.

If Sanako had opened the curtain of the sedan chair at that time and happened to see Tianzhangyuan and her small feet resting on Qingdeng... Even today, Qingdeng dare not imagine what consequences this would cause...

As for the second one, Tianzhangyuan confided his past to him.

Her dream of "marrying the best man in Japan"...

Her cold-blooded adoptive father, who sacrificed her happiness for the future of Satsuma...

Her reluctance to marry a useless person...

Suddenly, Tianzhangyuan raised a new question:

"Sheng Qing, do you still remember the question you asked me at that time?"

——What questions did you ask about Tianzhangyuan at that time?

Qing Deng blinked and tried hard to recall.

Before he could recall the reason, Tianzhangyuan took over the conversation and answered his own question:

"You asked me at that time: 'You said you wanted to marry the best man in Japan, but there are many kinds of best in this world, such as the best in appearance, the best in wealth, the best in status, and the best in swordsmanship. No matter how good a person is, it is impossible to get the crown of 'pen tip' in every aspect and every field. So, in your eyes, what kind of man can be worthy of the 'best man in Japan' in your mind?'"

"I'm ashamed to say that you asked me this question very seriously, but I didn't give you an accurate answer. I just said 'I don't know' and dismissed it."

"To be honest, my preferences have never changed."

"Even though a lot of time has passed, even though I am already an old widow in my thirties and no longer a young girl, my criteria for choosing a spouse is still 'the best in Japan.'"

"Only the best man in Japan can catch my eye."

"Today, I finally have a precise image of what 'Japan's No. 1' is in my mind."

"Sheng Qing, although it's a little late, I can tell you now for sure: I like men who are strong and capable of defeating thousands of enemies."

"When I was young, my favorite book was The Romance of the Three Kingdoms."

"Every time Zhao Zilong appears on stage, my heart beats faster."

"My favorite plot is the one where Zhao Zilong defeats his generals in battle. It makes my heart surge every time I read it."

"It was probably from that time that a 'Zhao Zilong' lived in my heart."

"Therefore, the 'best man in Japan' in my mind is a man as powerful as Zhao Zilong."

"I was trapped in the midst of a huge army, and a hero whose face I couldn't see rushed into the battle alone, killing every enemy he met, beheading every general he met, and finally breaking through all the obstacles, pulling me into his arms, and saving me - I have imagined this scene countless times since I was a child."

"Hahaha, come to think of it, my preference is pretty rough."

"Just like female monkeys, as long as the male monkey is strong, she will be willing to follow him."

"so what……"

At the moment he said this, Tianzhangyuan, who had been walking forward, suddenly stopped.

"Sheng Qing, defeat Choshu and achieve complete victory in the 'Choshu Expedition'!"

The sudden change of topic made Qing Deng freeze in place.

"You now cannot match the 'Zhao Zilong' in my mind."

"That is, you're not strong enough for me to consider you 'No. 1 in Japan.'"

"However, if you can destroy Changzhou, subdue all enemies, and make your achievements recorded in history, I will recognize your strength."

"When that time comes...if you are interested and if you don't mind me, then take me to Otsu!"

The moment he finished speaking, Tianzhangyuan suddenly turned around and faced Qingdeng.

Instantly, a face covered with blush and trying hard to suppress shame appeared clearly in Qingdeng's eyes.

"Take me to Otsu"... Although it is a euphemism, how could Qing Deng not understand the meaning behind it?
Before he could even express his shock or surprise, Tianzhangyuan continued:

"I want to marry the best man in Japan - even though I love you very much, I won't change my mind."

“That’s my only insistence.”

"So, Sheng Qing, please defeat Choshu, demonstrate your unrivaled strength, and become the 'No. 1 in Japan' in my mind."

"In this way, I can go to Otsu with you willingly."

At this point, Tian Zhangyuan seemed to have thought of something, and his face turned even redder.

"Now that things have come to this, I will tell you my 'secret' that I have kept hidden for so long."

"When I married into the shogunate, Tokugawa Iesada's condition was already quite serious."

"I lie in bed all day, and even talking is difficult for me."

"I rarely met him, and he never even touched me."

"So...so...even though I am a widow, I am still..."

The further Tian Zhangyuan spoke, the weaker his tone became.

At the end, she couldn't say any more, and ran away with a red face, leaving a series of footprints on the ground.

As his figure completely disappeared, a cry of shame could be heard from afar:
"Sheng Qing, I wish you good luck in martial arts! You must win!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the graceful figure disappeared into the corner of the corridor and completely disappeared from Qingdeng's sight.

Tianzhangyuan is a rare "virgin widow" - Qingdeng is not surprised by this.

After all, related rumors have long been spread throughout the streets and alleys.

Not only did he make the bold statement "I will go to Otsu with you only if you defeat Choshu", he also wished Qingdeng good luck in military affairs and victory... There is no need to explain Tenshoin's intentions.

After a moment of silence, Qing Deng raised his head, looked at the sky, and let out a long breath - a strong desire to fight for the "Changzhou Expedition" was ignited in his heart!

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Asking for a monthly ticket! Please vote for recommendation! (Leopard head crying.jpg)

PS: This chapter was so hard to write! I was halfway through writing when I suddenly realized: Huh? Qing Deng seemed to have known that Tenshoin's dream lover was the best man in Japan.

I quickly checked and found that it was indeed the case, so I urgently revised the content of the chapter... For this reason, this chapter has fewer words (crying leopard head.jpg)