Volume 7, Chapter 18: Harbinger (2/2)

Moreover, there were the surviving children of the Shi Clan, Suirei–the previous emperor’s grandchild–and the western priestess.

“….” Jinshi belatedly reflected that they were overly reliant on her.

Ah Duo is a smart, trustworthy individual. However, they still shouldn’t have relied on her to such an extent.

“…after this, we’ll head to Ah Duo-dono’s place,” Jinshi said.

“What shall we provide as the subject matter?” Maamei prepared a wooden slip and a brush. As paper increased in quality, use of wooden slips had decreased significantly, but there were those who take it upon themselves to use it. In Maamei’s case, she used it often, appearing to like scented woods.

“…write that I want to play a game of Go.”

Ah Duo seemed like the type to snap up an invitation to falconry over board games, but it was also too late at night.

“Jinshi-sama.”

“You’re still here, Basen?” Jinshi said with a hint of distaste.

“Please bring me along too!”

“…no.”

“WHY!?”

Basen was indignant, but it didn’t mean that Jinshi hadn’t considered it. And Maamei and Baryou, who were present, understood what their younger brother wanted to do.

“Didn’t you force them to tell you about Ah Duo-sama? Did you do it somewhere outside of the public eye?”

As Maamei’s pressed him, Basen shuddered. Basen was weak to women in general, but was even weaker to his mother and sister in particular.

“I, I led them to the back.”

“You didn’t check your surroundings properly, right? And what’s with your outfit? I don’t know if you were in the middle of training or what, but you stink. You got that? You. Stink. If you walk into the office soaked in sweat and oil, what will people think? They’d be suspicious, right? Even children know, even monkeys know,  so is your brain the same as a monkey’s?”

“….” Basen’s face twisted miserably.

Baryou watched in pity through the gap in his partition.

The women of the Ma Clan are extremely strong.

“You’ve already been exposed. Being covert is impossible for you. That’s why Jinshi-sama also used Go as an excuse to visit Ah Duo-sama.”

“I, I know.”

“You don’t! Come on, go outside. You stink. Uwah, did you eat garlic today? My nose just clogged up.” She covered her nose with her sleeve.

Scary.

She was probably still holding back since Jinshi was there, but she was scary regardless.

Although Baryou felt sorry for Basen, he understood that he would lose even if he spoke up. He could only watch intently through the gap.

“If you don’t do something about that stench, you won’t be popular with women. You’ll be hated.”

“…hated!”

It was a crushing blow for Basen.

“Eh, what? That reaction. Could it be that you have someone you like? Oh my, really. Do tell big sister.” Maamei’s eyes glittered.

Though she has two children, she is still only twenty-two. Since she found a good match, she married at sixteen, but that didn’t mean she was opposed to this line of conversation.

“Wh-what are you saying? W-we’re in front of Jinshi-sama.” Basen panicked.

That has the opposite effect, Jinshi thought.

Maamei nudged Basen around with her elbow.

Indeed, the conversation won’t progress at this rate.

“Maamei, leave it at that. That’s right. While we’re at it, shall we bring some pastries along? Go check if Suiren can prepare those baked pastries,” Jinshi said.

“Yes.” Maamei had a messenger take the wooden slip and headed for the palace Suiren was in.

Basen sighed deeply.

“…so, who is it?”

“Jinshi-sama too,” Basen said quite dejectedly, so Jinshi laughed without meaning to.