Looking at these dirty scenes hidden in every corner of the street, Shannan suddenly said quietly:

"The number of beggars and rogues on the street seems to be increasing..."

As soon as Shannan finished speaking, Qingdeng immediately spoke in a half-joking tone:

"In today's world, it would be strange if the number of beggars and ronins doesn't increase, right?"

Shannan was stunned for a moment, then chuckled silently: "That's right..."

"If you think about it calmly - it is already very difficult for the shogunate to ensure the general stability of this country."

Shannan raised his head and looked towards the center of Edo, where he could just see the blurry shadow of Edo Castle.

"Although I don't like Mr. Ii's overly tough governing style that even ignores His Majesty the Emperor's will, it is undeniable that he is an indispensable figure in this country."

"He suppressed countless careerists who had evil intentions after the prestige of the shogunate was severely damaged by the strong ships of Western countries."

At this time, they happened to pass by the torii gate of a shrine.

Shannan raised his gaze and glanced at the shuriken rope wrapped around the torii gate, which had a very sacred meaning.

"... Elder Jing Yi is like a demon arrow, suppressing countless demons and monsters."

Listening to Shannan's somewhat vivid metaphor, Qingdeng couldn't help but laugh: "Broken Demon Arrow... Your metaphor is weird..."

Demon-breaking arrow: a ritual blessing in Japanese Shintoism, specially used to ward off evil spirits and pray for blessings.

Almost all Aoto's current understanding of Ii Naoki comes from the memory of "Original Tachibana Aoto".

I don’t know if it’s because Hara Tachibana Aoto is a member of the government, but Hara Tachibana Aoto’s memory has a very positive impression of Ii Naomi.

In the memory of "Original Tachibana Aoden", the image of Naoki Ii... is quite close to what Shannan said just now - although he is not a powerful minister with great talents, his existence,

It is indeed like a demon-breaking arrow, sealing away countless demons.

Before they knew it, they had come to a crossroads.

Qingdeng should go to the left, and Shannan should go to the right.

"Shannan-kun, please say goodbye for now."

"Yes." Shannan waved to Qingdeng, "See you later."

After saying goodbye to Shannan, Qingto took Saito and left.

Shannan did not leave immediately.

He stood there, quietly watching Qingdeng's figure shrinking within his field of vision.

Until Qingdeng's figure completely disappeared from his eyes, he said to himself at a volume that only he could hear clearly:

"The country is in crisis... but I have so much talent and knowledge that I have nowhere to put it to use..."

Shannan slowly half-closed his eyes.

A somewhat lonely color flashed through his eyes.

…

…

That day, late at night——

Edo, the Ii family's residence, Ii Naomi's bedroom——

Naobi Ii, who was already dressed in pajamas, was sitting on his knees behind the desk, writing something furiously.

"What are you writing?"

Suddenly, Ajiu came over from behind Ii Naobi with a smile.

"Ah, madam." Ii Naobi glanced at Ajiu who was sitting behind him, and quickly returned his eyes to the desk in front of him.

"I'm just dealing with some unfinished government affairs today."

"So you were dealing with government affairs..." A trace of regret appeared in Ajiu's eyebrows at this moment, "I thought you were writing the Japanese song with the theme of snow that you told me before..."

A Japanese song with a snow theme?

After Ii Naobi thought about it for a moment, he recalled that this was indeed the case.

Probably more than a month ago, on the night when he first learned about Tachibana Aoto's "Snowy Night Fight", he mentioned to Aku that he had new inspiration for a snow-themed waka.

After recalling it, Ii Naobi secretly felt guilty in his heart.

He had obviously made an agreement with Ajiu: after completing this waka, he would show it to her as soon as possible.

As a result - he has been very busy recently and has completely forgotten about this matter...

"Madam..." Ii Naobi took several deep breaths to suppress the guilt in his heart, "I won't be able to rest for a while now, so you should go to sleep first."

Ajiu never asked or interfered with Ii Naobi's work.

In the past, she would have nodded in agreement without hesitation, and then obediently followed Ii Naomi's instructions to rest first.

But now...Aku, for the first time, did not immediately carry out Ii Naobi's orders.

She looked at Naoki Ii, who was facing away from her, with a... rather strange expression.

"...Lord Ii, are you hiding something from me?"

Ii Naobi's writing suddenly paused.

"Why did you ask so?"

"It's nothing." After Ajiu blinked hard, Naobi gave Ii a... not very natural smile.

"I just always feel like you have something on your mind."

Ii Naoki: "..."

In the bedroom, it was so quiet for a moment that only the sound of burning candles was left.

Naoki Ii slowly placed the brush in his hand on the pen mountain placed at the corner of the desk.

"Madam..." Ii Naobi turned around and faced Ajiu.

His pupils were shining with a soft light that was completely different from the way he looked when he was competing with Tianzhang Academy today.

"You are too worried."

"I have nothing on my mind."

"Maybe it's because I've been too busy recently and my face looks a little haggard, so you mistakenly think that I'm very worried right now."

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

Ajiu looked directly at Ii Naobi.

"...As long as you don't have anything to worry about." Ajiu blinked his eyes quickly several times.

Jingyi Naobi nodded: "Okay, don't think too much, go and have a rest."

"Yeah." Ajiu responded very cheerfully this time, "You too, go to bed early."

"You have indeed been a little too busy recently. Look, your cheeks have turned a lot sallow."

Ajiu raised his hand and touched Ii Naobi's wrinkled old cheek.

"Okay..." Ii Naobi raised his hand and gently grasped Ajiu's hand that was caressing his cheek, "I will rest after I finish handling the last bit of government affairs."

Ii Naobi supported Ajiu and personally put Ajiu into her bed before returning to the desk.

By the candlelight, he carefully looked at his wife's face, whose breathing had gradually become evener and softened.

His eyes gradually changed from soft to complex.

call……!

At this time, there was a harsh sound of wind outside the window.

The wind is very strong and cold tonight, like a knife.

Ii Naobi withdrew his gaze from Ajiu's face and turned to the window not far away.

Speaking of which... in half a month, it will be the time when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom...

Suddenly - the long-lost inspiration for Japanese songs flashed through my mind.

Naoki Ii pulled out a piece of white paper from the desk, and while looking out the window where no cherry blossoms were flying and only the cold wind could be seen, he quickly wrote a waka on the white paper with a pen:

[Falling cherry blossoms are crushed into dust, but their fragrance still fills the universe]

Ii Naobi picked up the paper and carefully appreciated the new Japanese song he had written.

"ha……"

After letting out a self-deprecating chuckle, he threw the piece of paper with his new waka on it on the desk, and then continued to concentrate on handling the government affairs at hand.

…

…

The next day——
To be continued...