(Look at that group of people... they are crazy about wanting to be officials.)

…

(Although I don’t know why that group of Confucian scholars hang out with a shameless person like Itakura Hirahiko...but I guess they want to curry favor with the rich and powerful Itakura Hirahiko in order to make profits.

.)

…

Qingto somewhat understood why Miss Teshiro made such a comment.

Confucian scholars who study and teach people all day long to abide by the sages, "If you are poor, you can be good for yourself, if you are prosperous, you can help the world", "Wealth cannot be immoral, poverty cannot be moved, power cannot be subdued", the Confucian scholars are well tamed.

Like a dog, it bows and wag its tail to the powerful...

Looking at the scene full of black humor in front of him, Qing Deng felt both funny... and pitiful.

He could hardly figure out whether it was the problem of these Confucian scholars themselves or some other external reason that forced this group of students from the Changping Ban Institute of Learning, who were not from bad backgrounds, to maintain their salary and maintain friendship in such a shameless manner.

.

At almost the same time that Ayoto finished his emotional expression in silence, Itakura Hirahiko learned from the mouths of the Confucian scholars what had happened here before he arrived here.

"I see...it was the guy wearing the hat who humiliated you, right..."

Itakura Hirahiko raised his head and gaze, looking straight at Ayoto, his eyes that were extremely small due to the fat on his face narrowed his eyes even more.

"Okay, I understand, leave it to me. I can't sit idly by when my friends are insulted. I'm here to seek justice for you!"

As soon as Itakura Hirahiko said this, the scholars all showed overjoyed expressions and hurriedly blew rainbow farts to Itakura Hirahiko.

"Lord Itakura, I'm very grateful!"

"Lord Itakura, you waited for me... No! You have done a great job of supporting our Confucian sect, and we will never forget it!"

"We will never forget your great kindness!"

Itakura Hirahiko, who was surrounded by the rainbow farts of the scholars, showed a dazed expression.

With a proud smile on his lips, he took a step forward in the direction of Qingdeng and others, and cleared his throat:

"I am the second son of Katsutora Itakura, shopkeeper of Jinxiuya, Hirahiko Itakura! I wonder where you are from? What are your names?"

At this moment, the atmosphere of the scene changed.

The onlookers, who had been interacting enthusiastically until just now, and who were casting mocking glances at the group of scholars, suddenly fell silent.

The scene was filled with a sense of tension that made people gasp.

A tingling tension that makes one's skin crawl.

For the common people, the town official at the administrative office is almost the highest-level official they can come into contact with in their daily life - even so, not everyone has the opportunity to meet the town official.

Is this the case for the town's obedience, let alone Ruonian Ji, whose status is second only to Lao Zhong and whose status is similar to that of "Deputy Prime Minister"?

In an instant, masses of exclamations and sighs erupted from all around.

"Hey, did I hear correctly just now? Did he say he was Ruonianji's son?"

"Hiss... this is the first time I have seen someone with such an incredible status..."

"It is indeed Itakura Hirahiko! No wonder I always feel that this person looks familiar!"

"Hey, let's go, let's get out of here."

"Hmm? Get out of here? Why?"

"Idiot, haven't you heard of Itakura Hirahiko's bad reputation? This man is a famous villain! He is extremely mean to others! All the people who work under him are tortured by him until they complain. And

I heard that he is a very lecherous person, and all the pretty people who work under him have suffered varying degrees of harassment from him. Let’s go, let’s stay away from this villain.”

"I actually got into trouble with Ruonianji's son... That samurai with the hat is in big trouble..."

Although there were a few discordant voices, overall, after he revealed his identity and name, the reactions of the people around him still made Itakura Hirahiko quite satisfied.

He liked this feeling very much.

This feeling of being respected by others, feared by others, and sought after by others.

Itakura Hirahiko's mouth opened wider, and the proud smile hanging on his lips deepened. He was smug and looked at Ayoto arrogantly.

He thought that after learning his identity, this group of strangers dressed in traveler's attire would definitely show the kind of frightened and frightened expressions he liked to see most.

However... the picture that unfolded before his eyes in reality was far from his imagination.

He looked left and right, but he couldn't find the slightest trace of fear or panic on the faces of Qingdeng and others.

All that came into view were extremely calm faces one after another.

It seems to be saying: Well, I know you are Ruonian's son, so what? So what?

Itakura Hirahiko was puzzled by the calm look of Ayoto and his group. He thought in his mind: Why are these people so calm and unhurried? Don't they know what Wakato means? No, this is impossible! Even if they live there

It’s impossible for people in Shangao who don’t know what Ruonianji is!

While Itakura Hirahiko was wondering, Tokugawa Iemo stood in front of him and said calmly:

"We are the feudal lords of the Jiyin clan, and I am Asano Shigemo."

Tokugawa Iemo raised his hand and pointed towards Aoden.

"This is Tachibana Aoharu."

After hearing the pseudonym Tokugawa Iemo gave himself, Aoto couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth in a fit of laughter and tears.

Tokugawa Iemo played a homophone joke.

In Japanese, "tangerine" and "tachibana" have the same pronunciation, both are "Tachibara"

"Qingqing" is the combination of Qingdeng's common name "Qingdeng" and his real name "Shengqing".

Tokugawa Iemo's voice brought Itakura Hirahiko's consciousness back to reality.

"Well...Jiyin...since you are from Jiyin, then you and us Edo people are one family!"

Kiyin Clan, Owari Clan, Mito Clan - these three vassals, commonly known as the Gosan Clan, are all collateral branches of the Tokugawa family. Not only are they allowed to use the Tokugawa surname, but also if the shogun has no heirs, he will

The privilege of choosing a successor from among them - this is how Tokugawa Iemoji rose to the rank of shogun.

Therefore, Itakura Hirahiko was right when he said that the Kiin people and the Edo people were one family.

"Since you and we are considered a family, I won't make any meanderings! I will tell you openly and openly!"

"I have heard the exact details of what you have just done from my friends."

Itakura Hirahiko looked at Aoto.

"Your name is Tachibana, right? You spoke rudely, wantonly insulted the saint's teachings first, and injured my friends last. Such arrogant behavior is too much, isn't it?"

Qingdeng heard this and said coldly:

"Although I don't know what your group of friends said to you, I will explain it for now."

"First of all, I am not insulting Confucianism. The people I am insulting are from beginning to end the group of people behind you who are ignorant of their studies and only know how to talk unrealistically."

"Secondly, the mess they are in now is entirely their own fault."

"They were the first to provoke me and threatened to teach me a lesson."

"In the end, it was because they were not good at their skills. 14 of them beat one of me, and I ended up killing them. It was a disastrous defeat."

As soon as these words came out, the Confucian scholars were furious again.

With the support of Itakura Hirahiko, the group of scholars no longer looked depressed, and rushed to attack Aoshito by beating drums:

"Don't spit on anyone!"

"Nonsense! It's obvious that you have shamelessly insulted the sage's learning! If not, how could we fight with you to defend the honor of the sage's learning?"

"Yeah yeah!"

The little calculations of these Confucian scholars are really crackling.

The focus of their debate was entirely on "literary struggle."

As for "fighting", they are completely silent.

Because there is no way to argue...

14 vs. 1. They, as the besiegers, were single-handedly beaten to a pulp by Qingdeng... This is an ironclad fact that cannot be washed away no matter how you explain it.

At this time, Itakura Hirahiko's bodyguards...the four samurai who were standing around Itakura Hirahiko, exuding a sophisticated and cold atmosphere in both their expressions and behavior, raised their heads in uniform movements.

, carefully looked at Qingdeng from head to toe.

One of them murmured:

"Can you actually defeat 14 samurai by yourself..."

Qingden ignored the roars of the crowd of scholars and looked at Itakura Hirahiko fearlessly.

"Hmph!" Hirahiko Itakura, with a hint of impatience on his face, snorted coldly, "You can argue whatever you want! You injured my friend, and I must seek justice for my friends.

return!"

"Listen to me, I will give you two choices now. Either..."

Or - when he said this group of words, Itakura Hirahiko's voice suddenly stopped.

It was as if he had seen something extraordinary or something extraordinary. His pair of narrow eyes widened, and the size of his eyes became three times the normal size.

His eyes glanced blankly at Qingdeng... No, the position must be further away...

What Itakura Hirahiko is looking at in his carving is Tenshouin standing directly behind Aishoto.

Because today's "trip to Edo" was a private visit incognito, out of the need to hide his identity, Tenshouin specially changed into a cyan kimono with an ordinary style and fabric before leaving the house.
To be continued...