"Okay, let's go."

After watching the middle-aged couple leave the noodle shop, Okita, who was forced to listen to their conversation in full, suddenly turned his face and asked Qingdeng:

"Kanji, isn't the Mito family the three closest vassal states to the shogunate: one of the 'Three Imperial families'? Why did those two just say that Mito family is a big trouble for Ii's elder?"

Qing Deng couldn't help but raise his eyebrows: "Don't you know?"

Okita shook his head: "I rarely pay attention to these national affairs..."

"Well..." Qingdeng touched his chin, "Where should I start explaining to you..."

Aoden knows the grudges between Ii Naochi and Mito Bon quite well - because the memory of "Harakiri Aoden" contains quite detailed related content.

Generally speaking, those who have a little bit of knowledge about Japan's current politics are aware of the grudges and hatreds between Ii Naosuke and Mito.

Just as Qingdeng was trying hard to explain this slightly complicated problem to Okita with as simple sentences as possible, a gentle male voice suddenly came from behind them:

"If I don't dislike it... I can come and explain."

"Shan Nanjun?" Qingdeng turned his head in surprise and looked at the dining table sitting behind him, turning his head and smiling to them.

...

...

Qingdeng and their dining table were six-person tables, and there were enough spaces before Shannan could come and take a seat.

After greeting Shan Nan to sit down with them, Qingdeng immediately asked his elegant old friend in surprise: "Shan Nan, why are you here?"

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content behind! "I have encountered some troubles in the past two days." Shannan said lightly, "To relieve my depression, I went to Tianman Palace in the Tangdao today to see the white plum blossoms that are still blooming."

"I accidentally fell into a fascination and when I came to my senses, it was already dark."

"Even if you rush home to cook dinner immediately, it's too late."

"This noodle restaurant is a restaurant that I will definitely pass when I return to my house."

"So I decided to come here and simply give up today's dinner."

"As a result, I never expected that after I entered this noodle restaurant and sat down next to the empty seat, I heard a familiar voice coming from behind."

"Things are upset?" Qingdeng swept his eyes and looked Shannan's face carefully several times. Sure enough, he found a faint sadness between Shannan's eyebrows. "Shannan, what troubles have you encountered?"

"Haha." Shannan smiled indifferently, "It's just a trivial matter that is not worth mentioning."

Qingdeng is the kind of person who has a strong sense of privacy.

He doesn't like others to force his privacy.

In contrast, he will not casually inquire about other people's privacy.

Since his old friend was unwilling to talk about his "troublesome things", Qingdeng no longer investigates this issue.

"Ah... Speaking of which, Shannanjun, I still owe you a drink."

Qingdeng suddenly remembered: More than a month ago, the day after he traveled to the Edo era, he asked Yamanan to verify the relationship between the Test Guardian, the Xuanwu Hall, and the Kochiba Sword Hall, and the promise that Yamanan would invite a drink as a thank you.

"Hahaha." Shannan pursed his lips, "Then make up for the wine you owe now. I just happened to be a little hungry."

After Qingdeng smiled generously, he kept saying that there was no problem. He called the Handan who happened to pass by their table and added 2 bottles of sake.

"Okita-kun." At this time, Yamanan turned his gaze to Okita, "Are you interested in the grudge between Ii Da Lao and Mito Band?"

"It's a little bit." Okita compared a small gap with his right thumb and index finger. "I'm mainly curious why Mito's family, who is the "Mizo Family", has such a bad relationship with Ii."

Shannan smiled and placed his overlapping hands on the dining table in front of him.

"The grudge between Ii Da Lao and Mito family... In short, Ii Da Lao did three things that angered the vassals of the Mito family."

"The first thing - Ii Da Lao advocates 'founding of the country', and his political views conflict with the Mito vassal that advocates 'close-off the country' and 'extinguishing the barbarians'."

"In Mito, there is a school that has a history of nearly two hundred years: Mito School."

"Mito School is a school formed by the unwillingness to be a member of the Qing Dynasty, so it is centered on the theory of Zhu Shunshui, a great scholar in the Ming Dynasty, and comprehensively integrates the Chinese studies."

"One of the core ideas of Mito School is to advocate the 'king of respecting the emperor and protecting the kingdom of God'."

"As the birthplace of Mito school, the vassals were deeply influenced by Mito school."

"Under the influence of Mito School, the vassals of Mito School generally had a strong sense of "eliminating barbarians and protecting the Pure Land of the Divine Kingdom."

"Seven years ago, after the black ships of the United States came, the current vassal lord of the Mito family, Tokugawa Shiaki, who highly praised Mito school, took the lead in making a call - never lift the "Kang of the Country" and devoted the whole country to defeat the barbarians and protect the Kingdom of God."

"After Tokugawa Qiaki issued this call, the vassals in the Mito family responded in a cluster."

"In the eyes of all the vassals of Mito's vassals, Ii Naoki, who advocated the founding of the country, was a cowardly traitor who harmed the country and the people."

"The second thing - Before His Majesty the Emperor agreed, Ii signed the Treaty of Friendship and Trade in Japan and the United States and other five countries."

"Two years ago, when the United States and other countries forced our country to sign a new treaty, the Kyoto court has been undecided about whether the new treaty was signed and did not give an accurate reply."

"Because of the military strength of the Western countries, Master Ii had to sign these new treaties with the Western countries without the consent of His Majesty the Emperor."

"Although Master Ii has his own difficulties in this move, in the eyes of the Mito vassals who were deeply influenced by Mito's "respecting the king" thought, Master Ii's behavior of ignoring the emperor is a traitor."

"As for... the third thing in the last thing - after taking over the post of 'Big Old Man', Da Er severely cracked down on all his political enemies headed by Tokugawa Shiaki."

"The Mito vassal lord Tokugawa Yoshiaki not only had a confrontation with Ii's old political views on the issue of 'founding the country or expelling the barbarians'"

"In the 'Ikabashi Nanki battle' where Tokugawa Kyofuku or Ikabashi Kyoki as the general's successor, he also had a sharp conflict with Ikabashi Dalao."

"Keiki Ichihashi, who is highly praised by the 'Ichihashi School, is the son of Tokugawa Taki Aki. He was adopted by the Ichihashi family in the fourth year of Honghua (1847)."

"Whether it is for the future of his son or for the interests of his family, Tokugawa Shiaki naturally hopes to make his own son a new general."

"So, in this general succession battle two years ago, Ii Da was the most determined Minami-Ki, while Tokugawa Shiaki was the most determined Ichihashi."

"After Master Ii successfully took the position of 'big elder' and the 'Nanji faction' won the entire line, 'big elder Ii began to vigorously suppress all political enemies led by 'Yiqiao faction'."

"The person Tokugawa Qiaki, who has been singing opposite him, has been taken seriously by Master Ii."

"Old Ii gave Tokugawa Qiaki a punishment of 'Yongzhe Residence'. If this punishment is not lifted for a day, Tokugawa Qiaki will not be able to leave his mansion for a day."

"So-Okita, can you understand why Mito Band is a big trouble for Big Master Ii?"

"In the eyes of the Mito vassals, Ii Da Lao is a traitor who disrespects the emperor, sells his country and seeks honor, and also makes their lord suffer unjust grievances."

This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! Okina has been listening very seriously.

After Shannan finished speaking, he immediately exclaimed in a low voice: "So that's it... Shannan Jun, you are talking well. Anyone like me who is not very smart can understand it!"

Qingdeng, who had been listening carefully just now, immediately after Okita, praised Shannan's eloquence.

Aoden asked himself - he couldn't summarize the grievances between Wani Inae and Mito Bon in such a concise manner as Yamanan.

"You've been awarded too much." Yamanan smiled humbly at Aoden and Okina with a very graceful look.

"No wonder the man just said that he wouldn't be surprised even if he saw Mr. Ii being killed on the street by the vassals of the Mito family one day."

Okita stretched out his right hand, grabbed the ponytail behind his head, and gently tweaked it with his index and middle fingers, playing with the ends of his braid.

"Just judging by what Mr. Ii has done to the Mito family so far... It is not surprising that the vassals of the Mito family did to Mr. Ii..."

...

...

The next day, early morning—

The seventh year of Anzheng (1860), March 2nd

In the Ii family's mansion, the courtyard adjacent to the gate was full of Ii Naoki's entourage and guards.

They surrounded the exquisite sedan chair with the posture of starry sky.

Next to the sedan door, the hair and clothes were well-maintained. The neat Naochi Ii stood opposite his wife, Aku.

"Let's walk slowly on the road." Ah Ku, who was filled with gentle smiles on his face, bowed slightly toward Ii Naochi.

When Ii Naohime goes to Edo Castle every morning to deal with national affairs, he always goes out to see him off and says to Ii Naohime, "Let's walk slowly on the road" - this has been a habit that Ah Ku has been persisting for a long time.

Naochi Ii, who was also filled with gentle smiles, raised his hand and smoothed the wrinkles on Ahku's collar. "The weather has been a little cold these days, remember to keep warm."

The two of them said goodbye simple, straightforward, without any fancy or pretentiousness.

Only decades of deep friendship and long-term intimacy can cultivate this kind of "returning to nature" farewell.

After saying "Remember to keep warm", Naochi Ii walked into his sedan chair with a cat.

Just as Naohito Ii's entourage was about to get up, an old warrior suddenly rushed along the open door of the Ii's house and rushed into the small courtyard adjacent to the gate.

After his eyes turned, he found Naochi Ii who was sitting in the sedan chair that had not yet gotten out of the sedan chair. He immediately ran straight towards Naochi Ii.

The entourage of Ii Naohime did not stop the middle-aged warrior from any way, and allowed him to approach Ii Naohime.

"Big Boss." The middle-aged warrior whispered, "I have something to tell you."

Naochi Ii raised his eyelids and glanced at the middle-aged samurai, and then leaned out toward the middle-aged samurai.

The middle-aged warrior bent down and put his lips on Ii Naohito's ears.

Ii Naoki listened expressionlessly, looking into the distance, calm and motionless.

Ah Ku, who was still standing next to the sedan door, consciously took three steps after the middle-aged samurai put his lips on Ii Naosuke's ear, making enough space for her husband who is no longer her only.
To be continued...