Chapter 217: Chapter 104: Outside Sakurada Gate, the Rampaging Era!

Yamanaka slowly closed his eyes halfway.

In his pupils, a hint of desolation flickered.

...

...

That day, late at night—

Edo, the Ii family residence, Ii Naosuke’s bedroom—

Ii Naosuke, dressed in sleepwear, was kneeling behind the desk, vigorously writing something.

"What are you writing?"

Out of nowhere, Ajiuu, with a smile, leaned over from behind Ii Naosuke.

"Ah, madam." Ii Naosuke glanced at Ajiuu, who had already sat behind him, then quickly returned his gaze to the desk in front of him.

"Just handling some official duties that I didn’t complete today."

"Handling official duties...?" Ajiuu’s brows showed a hint of disappointment, "I thought you were writing that snow-themed waka you mentioned before..."

A snow-themed waka?

Ii Naosuke recalled for a moment and remembered indeed there was such a thing.

It was more than a month ago, on the night he first heard of Tachibana Aoto’s "Snowy Night Chaos" exploits, that he mentioned to Ajiuu how he had new inspiration for a snow-themed waka.

After his recollection, Ii Naosuke felt quietly guilty in his heart.

Clearly, he had promised Ajiuu that he would show it to her as soon as he finished that waka.

But—he had been so busy lately that he completely let it slip from his mind...

"Madam..." Ii Naosuke took several deep breaths to suppress his guilt, "I can’t rest just yet; you should sleep first."

Ajiuu never asked about or interfered with Ii Naosuke’s work.

Previously, she would have unquestionably nodded in agreement and obediently gone to rest as instructed by Ii Naosuke.

But now... unexpectedly, Ajiuu did not immediately follow Ii Naosuke’s instructions.

She gazed at Ii Naosuke’s back with an expression that was... rather peculiar.

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

Ii Naosuke’s writing momentarily halted.

"Why... do you ask that?"

"It’s nothing." Ajiuu blinked hard and then forced a smile that was... not very natural.

"I just have a feeling you seem to have something on your mind."

Ii Naosuke: "..."

In an instant, the room fell silent, save for the sound of the candle burning.

Ii Naosuke slowly placed the brush onto the brush holder at the corner of the desk.

"Madam..." Ii Naosuke turned his body to face Ajiuu.

In his eyes was a gentle light, completely different from when he confronted Tenshōin earlier that day.

"You’re overthinking."

"I have nothing on my mind."

"Maybe because I’ve been too busy lately, my face seems a little haggard, which might have made you mistakenly think I have something on my mind."

"Don’t worry, I’m doing well."

Ajiuu stared directly into Ii Naosuke’s eyes.

"...It’s good that you have nothing on your mind." Ajiuu blinked quickly a few times.

Ii Naosuke nodded: "Alright, don’t overthink it. Go rest."

"Hmm." This time, Ajiuu responded very promptly, "You too, rest early."

"You’ve indeed been a bit too busy lately. Look, your cheeks have turned rather sallow."

Ajiuu lifted her hand to touch the aged, wrinkled cheek of Ii Naosuke.

"Alright..." Ii Naosuke gently grasped the hand Ajiuu was using to touch his cheek, "I’ll rest after finishing this last bit of official work."

Ii Naosuke supported Ajiuu, personally helping her into her bed before returning to his desk.

By candlelight, he carefully observed his wife’s face, whose breathing had gradually become even and gentle.

His gaze slowly turned from soft to complex.

Whew...!

At this moment, a piercing wind howled outside the window.

The wind tonight was fierce and cold, like knives.

Ii Naosuke withdrew his gaze from Ajiuu’s face and turned it towards the distant window.

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

Suddenly— the long-lost inspiration for waka flashed through his mind.

Ii Naosuke pulled out a blank sheet of paper from the desk, and while looking at the window where no sakura were flying, only the fierce wind was raging, he quickly penned a line of waka:

[The falling sakura crush into dust, yet its fragrance still fills the world.]

Ii Naosuke lifted the paper, carefully appreciating the new waka he composed.

"Ha..."

He let out a self-mocking chuckle, then casually threw the paper containing his new waka onto the desk and continued focusing on his official duties.

...

...

The next day—

Year 7 of Ansei (1860), March 3—

"So cold..."

After finishing his morning training, Aoto carried his toiletries to the courtyard of Shiwei Hall and involuntarily shivered.

Aoto looked up at the sky above: "It’s really cold today..."

The sky this morning was quite overcast.

The dense clouds were oppressively low, giving a suffocating feeling.

After vigorously rubbing his goosebumped arms a few times, Aoto efficiently scooped clean water from the well for washing.

"Good morning..." At this moment, Chokata, still not fully awake, with eyes tightly shut, carrying his toiletries, staggered towards the well.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew, waking Chokata completely.

"...Guh!" Chokata’s eyes snapped open, and he lifted his hands to rub his arms vigorously, "So cold!"

"Be sure to keep warm," Aoto reminded, "it’s a bit cold today."

Chokata looked up at the dark sky above and pouted: "Why is the weather so bad today... On a rare Shangsi Festival day, I planned to go out this afternoon to see the peach blossoms..."