Qingto greeted Kondo and others with a normal expression.

"We just went to catch rats..." Kondo told the whole process of killing the rats in the dojo in a concise and concise manner.

"So that's it..." Qingden nodded, and then smiled slightly, "Then you guys arrived in time. If it were a little later, Qianxun House would be closed."

"Ji Jun, why did you come to take a shower so late today?"

Nagakura stretched his feet into the pool and cast a doubtful look at Qingden.

"I have been sitting on the porch of the courtyard tonight thinking about swordsmanship. I accidentally overthought it, and I kept thinking until just now that I realized that I hadn't taken a shower yet."

The lie told by Qingdeng was impeccable.

If you want to leave the Trial Guard Hall, you must pass through a certain corridor adjacent to the courtyard.

So in order to be able to detect the sound of Souji walking to the bathhouse to take a bath at the first time, Qingtou stayed on the corridor of the courtyard and waited all night.

He insisted that the reason why he stayed on the porch of the courtyard tonight was to think about swordsmanship, but Kondo and the others had no way to prove it.

As expected - after hearing Aoshito's explanation, Kondo and his team no longer doubted his presence, and no longer wondered why Aoshinobu, who usually took a bath very early in the morning, visited the bathhouse so unusually late at night tonight.

Like diving penguins, they jumped one after another into the water that was still at a comfortable temperature, and then sat together in a circle.

"Tachibana-kun." Hijikata waved to Aoto, "Why are you sitting so far away? Sit closer and let's chat together."

Aoto, who was sitting alone in the corner of the bathing pool, seemed so abrupt and out of place compared to Kondo and others who were sitting in a circle.

"I'll just sit here."

Qingdeng said without hesitation.

"You know Hijikata, I like to sit in the corner the most when taking a bath. Sitting on the corner between two walls is indescribably comfortable."

Qingdeng's words...are half true and half false.

When he takes a bath, he really likes to sit in the corner of the bathtub.

When he and Kondo and others came to take a bath at Chihiro House before, whenever there was room in the corner of the bath, he would definitely go there.

In the eyes of Kondo and his friends, Qingto was just doing what he usually did.

And... Qingden is indeed sitting very comfortably now.

The general's current posture is facing the corner and his back to Qingto.

Because Souji needed to be hidden tightly, Aomori's back was pressed against Souji's back.

The feeling...is hard to describe.

Qingdeng's "Gathering God" activated unconsciously.

He concentrated his whole body and mind, concentrated all his attention, and tried hard to ignore the unsettling touch that was constantly being transmitted to his back.

All in all - Qingdeng's rhetoric successfully deceived everyone again.

Seeing that Aoto insisted on sitting in the corner of the bath, Kondo and his party stopped talking and did not force Aoto to sit next to them.

Qingdeng couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this.

——Fraudster...Thank you...!

He has never been more grateful than now that he has such a talent that makes him a master liar.

——Now... just wait slowly for Kondo and the others to leave.

——After Kondo and the others leave, I will leave with Okita-kun...Okita-san.

While Qingdeng was formulating this simple "battle plan" in his mind, he secretly turned his head back and took a peek at the commander-in-chief who was hiding behind him.

When Qingto looked over, Souji raised his eyes as he sensed Qingto's gaze.

The two people, so close together, stared at each other in this extremely small space.

Compared to just now, Souji's mood has stabilized a lot, his eyes are no longer dull and blurred, and he has regained his former agility.

Although there was still a bit of embarrassment and confusion on her face when Qingdeng found out that she was disguised as a man, the strange emotions and expressions on her face were all noticed at the moment when she looked at Qingdeng.

Qingdeng temporarily forgot about it.

Because at this moment, Qingden saw a smile slowly rising between the Souji's cheeks.

It was the cute smiling face that Qingdeng was familiar with.

Thank you - Souji said to Qingden with her eyes and smile.

…

…

In order to earn back the 2 cents of bathing fees, Kondo and his party exuded the aura of "We have to wait until the last minute to leave!"

Sitting together, they chatted about mountains and rivers all over the world.

In places where there are many men, the most common topics of conversation are girls and military affairs - this is no exception for everyone in the Imperial Guard Hall.

Kondo and others had just sat down in the bathtub. Except for Saito, who had been expressionless for many years and did not like to talk, the others instantly transformed into "great politicians" and "great military strategists" who were vigorous and high-spirited.

.

"So does that 'combination of public and military affairs' have a chance to succeed?" Nagakura picked up the topic they had just discussed among the diners, "Is Mr. Dashu really going to marry the princess?"

"Who knows." Hijikata shrugged, "Anyway, I feel that whether the 'public and military integration' is successful or not, it will not have much impact on the current overall situation."

Although Hijikata has never read any books and his education level will only reach the level of "barely literate", he can often say some very penetrating words.

This is probably the effect of "Ghost Heart".

Although their cultural level is not high, they have extraordinary understanding of worldly affairs.

"If the shogunate wants to enhance its authority, the most important thing is to strengthen its financial and military strength."

"All other methods are just heresy."

Having said this, Hijikata paused for a moment, and then changed the subject.

"Compared to this, I am still more concerned about the factional struggle within the shogunate."

"I heard from the gossip that it is certain that Hitotsubashi Keiki will be promoted to the position of 'post general', which is also known as 'deputy general'."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... After Ichibashi Qingxi takes the position of 'post general', I'm afraid the situation of Mr. Dashu and His Highness Tianzhangin will be even more difficult."

"Oshugong is still too young and has no prestige. He inherited the position of shogun through an adoptive method, so he has no foundation at all in the shogunate."

"Before Jing Yisao's leader was assassinated, he could still rely on the power of Jing Yisao to lead his ministers."

"Now that Jing Yisao's leader is gone, there is a question as to whether people from the 'Nanji Sect', not to mention members of the 'Ichitsubashi Sect', will still obey Dashu Gong's orders in a well-behaved manner."

"Right now, Dashu Gong is really alone...it seems that the only person around him who is worth relying on is His Highness Tianzhangyuan."

"Then the current situation of Mr. Dashu is very difficult, isn't it?" Kondo asked anxiously.

Hijikata nodded, then grinned.

"Although Dashu Gong's current situation is very difficult, it is not completely helpless yet."

"The way to break the situation is easy to say the least, but quite difficult to say difficult."

“If you want to stop being a decoration whose orders no one wants to listen to, the most direct and effective way is to seize the time to cultivate ‘one of your own’.”

Hijikata specially emphasized the tone when he said the words "one of our own people".

"The biggest problem with the various difficulties Dashu Gong is currently facing is that he currently has no foundation in the shogunate."

"That being the case, it's time to establish the foundation."

"Choose talented people, take them under your command, train them vigorously, and train them into your most capable confidants."

"When there are solid and reliable subordinates under your hands, your waist will naturally be straight, and your voice will naturally become louder when you speak."

Kondo, Inoue, Nagakura and the rest... to put it harshly, they are all a bunch of bumpkins with little education and little knowledge.

Kondo and others were fascinated by Hijikata's words! They felt like "listening to your words is worth ten years of reading"!

"Then what exactly do we need to do to identify those who are worthy of training as confidants?" Nagakura stretched his neck in the direction where Hijikata was sitting, looking attentive and thirsty for knowledge.

Hijikata also enjoyed the feeling of talking freely and talking about important matters of family and country. When he heard Nagakura's question, he immediately answered it without thinking.

Hijikata talked very happily.

Kondo and others listened happily.

Only one person heard it in great pain...

——When exactly are you going to talk?!

Qingdeng roared like a Tyrannosaurus rex in his heart.

Before Kondo and the others arrived, Aoto and Souji had been soaking in the bath for a while. The skin of Aoto's hands and feet had become wrinkled from soaking.

After being soaked in the water for a long time, Qingdeng couldn't help but feel a little bored because he was tired of soaking, and he eagerly wanted to "go ashore" as soon as possible.

The boredom of taking a long bath and the anxiety of hoping that Kondo and the others would leave quickly...these two emotions were superimposed on each other in Qingdeng's heart, making Qingdeng feel that every minute and every second at this time was extremely painful.

Fortunately... in order not to arouse the doubts of Kondo and others by being too silent, Qingto consciously joined in their chat from time to time.
To be continued...