[Comprehensive] Comb girl

At the request of Dian Dian, Ah Ding changed into new clothes and went to meet his new master.

Honmaru's residence in Osaka Castle is full of luxury and luxury.The gilt-painted door leaf is painted with five orchid trees, which may be interspersed with the pattern of Alisma pattern all over the river bank.Because it is coming to summer, the thin bamboo curtains have already been propped up, swaying softly in the wind in late spring and early summer.

Toyotomi Hideyori sat behind the curtain, everything was blurred.He seemed to be a tall man, but the curtain hid most of his figure.Not only that, even in the city, he still wears a hat like a potted woman's hat, and the white gauze hanging down completely hides his face.

"Are you A-Xia?" the Osaka city lord spoke, not very majestic, but very friendly.Compared with the nobles that Ah Ding had met, Hideyori was not like a monarch who shouldered all the hopes of the Toyotomi family, but like an ordinary person.

"Yes." Ading replied.

The Lord of Osaka City doesn't seem to be interested in her beauty.

He raised his head, glanced at the blue sky outside the house, and tapped the ground with the handle of his fan, as if he was singing for someone's waka festival.After a while, Xiu Lai said, "You don't have to come and serve me."

His voice was slightly tired.

Thinking about it, in the past winter, the Tokugawa family who had surrendered to the Toyotomi family had already attacked once, but the outer city of Osaka City was demolished humiliatingly.The great cause of the world passed down from his father's generation seems to be in jeopardy, constantly being shaken by the Tokugawa family.No matter who it is, it won't be easy.

Ah Ding was slightly puzzled by his words.

Seeing this, Xiu Lai explained: "It's not because I'm harsh on you, but because... Qianji probably doesn't want me to spoil you."

A Ding raised his head and whispered: "Your Highness is so considerate, Madam will be very happy."

Xiu Lai shook her head and said, "She won't be happy. She doesn't want to see me." After that, she stopped talking.

The long silence seems to have vaguely expressed the estrangement and thousands of rivers and mountains between the couple.Ah Ding didn't really want to win Xiu Lai's favor, so he didn't brush his scales, but quietly agreed.

When he was about to step back, A Ding had sharp eyes, and caught a glimpse of something on the low red lacquer cabinet beside Xiu Lai—it was a knife, which was obscured by the curtain, making it difficult to see clearly.

Could this knife be the main body of Yiqi Yizheng?

She couldn't help thinking so naively.

No, it's not right, it's a little short, it looks like it's only about one foot and two inches, not too sharp.

Her gaze misunderstood something.The gentle city lord said: "I am ugly and cannot see outsiders.... You don't need to serve me, and don't be curious about it."

A Ding quickly said: "I'm not looking at His Highness's appearance, but the knife beside His Highness."

"Oh?" Xiu Lai seemed to have regained some energy, "Do you know anything about knives? It's really rare."

"A little bit... I know the names of some famous knives." A Ding replied, "Sanri Yuezong is close or something."

"Ah, you mean Goamiki?" Toyotomi Hideyori is a man who loves swords.Hearing this, he put away his fan and replied with a little interest, "It used to be General Ashikaga's sword, and I played with it for a while. It is said that General Ashikaga used five swords to fight to the death before his death. His heroism is incomparable. This sword is is one of them."

Ah Ding was slightly shocked.

Mikazuki Zongjin once had a true story in Toyotomi's family...

It's a wonderful feeling.

"Five Amiche?" Ading murmured, "Did you change your name?"

"Yes, it means to cut off all the troubles of the world of mortals." Xiu Lai said, "You are very knowledgeable. A Xia, are you the daughter of a down-and-out nobleman?"

No wonder he thinks this way, the woman in front of him named "A Xia" has a unique slender temperament, like the elegance and elegance that the people of Kyoto once admired.The tone of speech is also gentle and lingering.

Tokugawa Chihime, who was married from Nijo, also has such a soft charm when speaking.

Ading didn't answer.

Xiu Lai didn't think she was offended, but turned around and picked up the one-foot-two-inch knife that was placed on the low cabinet, and said: "This knife is called 'Cattail', because it looks like a catfish's tail. Although it is not as majestic as a Taidao, it is very sharp."

He talked enthusiastically about Nanao Toshiro for a while, and finally felt that talking to himself was very boring.After putting down the knife in a dispirited manner, A Ding was asked to back down.

Before leaving, he asked Ah Ding: "What do women like?"

Ah Ding didn't understand either.She racked her brains and replied: "Beautiful clothes, jewelry. A lively banquet, waka and music."

Hideyoshi nodded, waving her hand to signal her to back off.

***

After two days, Ah Ding finally understood why Xiu Lai asked her such a question.In order to please Mrs. Chihime, Hideyori held a grand banquet in Osaka Castle.Throughout the night, the lawn of the castle tower was bustling with activity. Beautiful dancers beat white drums and waved small ball fans with red sun and gold bottoms, and flickering lights hung over the eaves.

Naturally, Ah Ding couldn't attend such an occasion - if Mrs. Qian Ji saw it, His Highness Xiu Lai's situation would be even worse.

She watched the bustling banquet by herself, feeling very bored.

"……Lord?"

Someone is calling her.

In a trance, Ah Ding thought that he had an illusion, and that's why he heard the sound of Yiqi Yizheng.So, she covered her ears, shook her head, and said, "I'm so tired, that's why..."

——How could it be possible to see Yizheng so soon?

—It's absolutely impossible.

"Lord."

But the hallucinations still linger.

"Really..." She rubbed her temples, very troubled, and said to herself, "Is it because you read the first issue of the letter?"

Finally, a young man came up to her with a look of dumbfounding.He broke away Ah Ding's hand covering her ears, and smiled softly at her, "My lord, it's me. From the moment you entered Osaka Castle, I was here."

There are fireworks in the night sky, suddenly jumping into the sky, exploding bits and pieces of brilliance.The outline of his face flickered on and off in the brilliant lights.

Blooming fireworks have the ability to exorcise demons - that's what people thought at the time.

The fireworks introduced from the West along with the gunpowder seem to come from another world.If you light up the night sky with fireworks, all disasters and difficulties can be sent away.

"..." Ah Ding opened his mouth in surprise, "Is it a one-period one?"

"Yes." Phase [-] let go of his hand and replied, "I wrote to the lord, saying that I would go back to Osaka Castle to take a look. When the lord came, I was already there."

After a pause, he stared at Ah Ding, and the smile on his lips widened: "This time, the master is here to find me, right?"

Soon, he gave his own answer: "Well, it must be like this."

A Ding, who was still immersed in the joy of reunion, quickly curled his lips and said, "Talk to yourself."

"Did I guess wrong?" he asked with a smile.

"...No, not really." Ah Ding replied in a low voice.

So, Fu Sangshen quietly clasped her palm, and squeezed his fingers into hers.