Civilization Guardian Front

As Chios said, he returned a reassuring smile, walked out of the wine shop a few steps, and blew a whistle.

The war horse quickly came to Chios. He easily got on the horse's back, raised the rein, and was ready to go.

"As expected of Mr. Chios, the efficiency is [-]%..."

Seeing that Chios' answer was not at all reluctant, Changxiu praised, and the original worry about the plan also calmed down.

She summoned her war horse, and saw the purple-red figure flicker, jumped on the horse in the blink of an eye, and sat firmly on the saddle.Niwa Nagahide, who showed the dexterity of the youth beside him, winked at Chios triumphantly.

Chios felt that he was getting used to the occasional playful actions of the Oda family military adviser.

He pulled the rein and was about to speed up when he saw a petite figure.

"...Chios?"

Inuchiyo, holding the vermilion short spear, stood in the middle of the road in front of Chios, expressionless, but questioning.

"His Highness Nobuna is in trouble, I'll go back and see what I can do."

In front of the crowd, Chios could only say very simple, the news that the daimyo's relatives planned a rebellion could not be widely publicized.

"...Then, can Inuchiyo help?" Inuchiyo asked anxiously.

"Don't worry too much, Manchiyo and I will handle this matter properly." Calming the girl's thoughts, Chios suddenly remembered something, reached into the haori and took out a small sachet, and handed it to Inuchiyo before.

"This is wormwood ash. Wear it on your body to prevent mosquitoes. You should have a good night's sleep today."

"...(blushing)" The girl nodded, took the sachet, and wondered if she thought of the scene of sleeping peacefully in Chios' arms last night, her cheeks suddenly warmed up.

"...Be careful on the road." Inu Chiyo stepped aside from the road. Although the expression on her face was invisible, she must have a heart hanging on her face so close to Nobuna. She resisted the idea of ​​exploring the details and did not want to delay Chios. , Changxiu two people's time.

"Understood, keep an eye on Minami Wakaguri for me, and those Ashigaru...I'm leaving!"

Chios flicked the rein, and the horse galloped away.

-----------

Qingzhou City.

It took three and a half hours to walk along the official road from Nanruoli to Qingzhou Castle. Chios and Changxiu galloped on horseback, took a short break to drink water in the middle, and arrived at the outskirts of Qingzhou Castle Town in about two hours.

Because of his high speed, Chios was even stopped as a suspicious person when he arrived at the gate of Sannomaru. After Oda's ashigaru saw the appearance of the two of them, he immediately apologized and then let him pass.

Whether facing Nagsu or Chios, these conscientious ashigaru are quite unlucky...

After dismounting from the stable in Sannomaru, the two of them, who knew that Nobuna was usually used to, did not go to the Honmaru Palace to ask for a report, but went straight to the Honmaru Castle Tower.

It's not as easy to pass here as the city gate Ashgaru, the guards are no longer ordinary Ashgaru, they are all the surnames around Nobuna.

"Master Chios, Master Changxiu, please go back, Her Royal Highness is now refusing to receive any retainers and visitors."

A girl with an unfamiliar surname stood at the entrance of the castle tower, and respectfully asked Chios to leave.

"I begged to see Her Highness the Princess in order to repay the Lord's order. Could you please inform Her Highness Nobuna of my arrival?" Although asked to leave by the other party, Chios' expression remained unchanged and he kept a faint smile.

"I'm very sorry, Her Royal Highness said that she wants to be alone, and nothing should disturb her." The girl with a small surname replied politely, her first impression of Chios was good.

At this time, Niwa Chohide took a step from Chios' side.

"Her Royal Highness may not want to see me, but Lord Chios is different..."

Chang Xiuzhen shook her head lightly, she pressed the fan to her lips, and explained to Xiao Xing the reason for her words in the calm tone she had served as the military advisor of the Oda family for several years:

"On the surface, Mr. Chios received the three hundred stones from Nanwakauri, but in fact he shouldered the important mission of eradicating the Kuroki family who secretly surrendered to the enemy, and killing chickens and monkeys to warn the people of Owari country."

"Her Royal Highness is very concerned about this matter. Now, Lord Chios has worked so hard to complete the task. When you want to report to the lord, you use the excuse that Her Royal Highness is not in a good mood to stop you from outside the door..."

Chang Xiu's blue eyes suddenly turned sharp, staring at Xiao Xing, said in a deep voice:

"What is the intention of doing this to sow trust between the master and minister, can you be convicted?"

"No, it's not..." The girl with the surname Xiao looked shaken, and even the answer trembled.

She is just faithfully carrying out the lord's orders, and has no ill will toward Chios.

However, in the face of Niwa Changhide's sharp accusation, she didn't know how to refute it. The other party's words were very serious, and she really couldn't bear the responsibility.

(I really... don't want to provoke the relationship between the master and the minister...) The more panicked, the more blank his mind became. Finally, Xiao Xing couldn't help but cast his eyes on Chios for help.

"Don't be afraid, let's go see His Highness Shinna together." Chios bent down, put his hands on the shoulders of the little girl, stared into the other's eyes, and said warmly:

"If His Highness Xin Nai doesn't want to see me, he will naturally drive me out. Just say that I forced my way in, and I won't hurt you."

"No, no!" The girl with a small surname quickly waved her hand in refusal.

(Reject without hesitation? This girl is too difficult...)

Chios was thinking about how to persuade, but found that the girl with the surname Xiao was poking her finger uneasily, and said falteringly:

"I can't...let you bear it alone...if Her Royal Highness gets...angry...we...together..."

Well... maybe Chios was thinking too complicatedly.

"No, it's not fair to you." Chios declined.

"No! It must be like this, otherwise I'll be sorry for you." The girl with the surname Xiao put her arm on Chios's back and said firmly.

"That's… well, thank you."

Chios agreed "reluctantly", and quietly exchanged a "planning" look with Changxiu.

"Then let's go see His Highness Nobuna."

"Well, please come with me."

Led by Xiao Xing, Chios went unimpeded to the top floor, in front of Lord Owari's study.

"Your Highness, Lord Chios, please see me." Xiao Xing leaned against the sliding door and announced aloud.

"..." The other side of the door was silent for a long time before Xinnai's unsteady voice came:

"Chios, why is he here?"

"Return to Your Royal Highness, Master Chios has finished handling the affairs of the territory, and I am here to report to you." The girl with the surname Xiao replied respectfully.

"I see, let him in."

"Yes!"

Xiao Xing knelt sideways by the door and reached out to open the door.

"Please..." The door was slowly opened, and the interior of Nobuna's study was displayed in front of Chios and the others.

Tables that were kicked over, inkstones, brushes, seals and other items were scattered all over the place, and the ink flowing from the inkstones seeped into the tatami.

Nobuna was sitting cross-legged on the ground near the terrace, with his back to the door, motionless as if the old monk had fallen into a trance.

Princess Daimyo of Owari looked normal, her face was not pale, her lips were not dry, she just looked out of the window with empty eyes, from which she could have a panoramic view of Cheongju Castle Town.

The prosperity of the castle town has always been Nobuna's favorite scenery, but now, the girl's mind is obviously not on it.

"Your Highness Nobuna..."

With no response, Chios approached slowly and shook Nobuna's shoulder lightly.

Nobuna's unfocused eyes refocused, and when he turned around to see Niwa Chohide there, he was not surprised at all, and his tone was unexpectedly flat when he spoke:

"You guys are here..."

Changxiu just called out "His Royal Highness", and stepped aside, leaving room for Chios and Xinnai.

Chios sat down directly beside Nobuna, looked at the girl's side face and said:

"The matter of the territory has been resolved smoothly. I came back hoping to help Her Royal Highness."

"Do you understand what I want again?" Nobuna asked indifferently.

"certainly."

Nodding in the affirmative, Chios took the initiative to grab Nobuna's little hand, which felt very cold...

"A countermeasure to solve Mr. Nobukatsu's rebellion."

"We haven't talked about this before..."

Nobuna's stagnant eyes finally showed a wave of fluctuation, she lowered her head, letting the shadow of her bangs cover the emotion on her face.

"Once Kanjuro rebels, I will personally send troops to capture Sumori Castle and execute him. The Owari Kingdom will not allow more turmoil."

"Do you think I'll let you bear the pain of kinslaughter alone?"

"Don't interfere, this is a private matter of the Oda family."

Seeing that Nobuna's expression remained the same, and he was unwilling to talk more, Chios' concern faded away, and he put on a mocking smile and said:

"Is it fun to lie to yourself, Your Highness?"

"What?" Nobuna frowned, and unconsciously spoke louder.

Chios sneered, with a sarcastic tone:

"Your heart can't get cold at all, it's just wrapping the fire with a layer of ice..."

"Nonsense..." Nobuna responded disdainfully.

"How long do you think you can endure? When you cut off Nobukatsu-sama's head with your own hands?" Chios didn't care about Nobuna's answer, but continued to provoke him.

"Shut up..." Nobuna's doll-like face was filled with disgust.

"Or wait until the Singer regrets the seppuku and breaks his intestines?"

"Shut up!"

Nobuna screamed, but Chios felt the small hand that was held by him tighten suddenly, like iron clamps.

"I said it before..."

Chios placed his other hand on Nobuna's cheek, and gently lifted her face up. His purple eyes looked directly at the girl's honey-colored pupils.

"Even if you kill your loved ones, I will be by your side...unless I die."

"You're such a... nasty guy, you always make girls cry."

The delicate doll-like face of the girl seemed to be so fragile that it would shatter at any moment, and the teardrops that were rolling down from the corners of her eyes traced along the porcelain-like skin.

"What should I do?" Nobuna looked at her lover with a blank gaze, and her tone was very helpless.

The anger of betrayal by relatives, the responsibility of being a daimyo, the pressure of internal and external coercion... All the difficulties that followed one after another were too heavy for a 16-year-old girl to bear.

Nobuna tightened Chios's haori, and buried her face in the opponent's chest.

"Help me, Chios."

Chapter 47? Rebellion

That night, disturbing rumors frequently appeared in Qingzhou City...

"Owari King Oda Kami Sosuke Nobuna fell ill and needs to rest for a long time. Military and political affairs are temporarily entrusted to the old writer Nagahide Niwa."

Oda's vassals who lived in Qingzhou City didn't really believe such rumors.

However, when they came to the royal palace to see the lord, they were all persuaded by Xiao Xing with various reasons without exception, as if to confirm the veracity of the rumors.

Kiyosu Castle Honmaru...

The black sky is shrouded, which is different from the bustling and brightly lit castle town at night.In Qingzhou City, where daimyo lived, there was a solemn silence.

In addition to the armor and footsteps between the sentry and the patrol, there is only a slight crackling sound of the firewood burning in the brazier for lighting.

"Thank you for coming here on purpose. I'm really sorry, Lord Xiuzhen..." In front of the Imperial Palace, Xiao Xing, who was in charge of receiving the retainers, repeated his polite refusal for unknown number of times, before closing the gate of Honmaru, the last person asked See Nobuna's Oda retainer advised:

"Please go back. It is inconvenient for Her Royal Highness to receive retainers at the moment."

The retainer whose request was rejected looked like a simple middle-aged man with a Chinese character face without a beard and a black hat on his head. If he didn't take note of his appearance, no one would know that he was a Im Soo-jeong, who has been an important minister since the time of Oda Nobuhide.

"I understand." The middle-aged man nodded, he didn't ask Nobuna to meet again, he just took out a wooden box from his kimono, and carefully held it to Xiaoxing with both hands.

"In the evening, I heard that the lord was sick, so I specially brought amber that can be used as medicine. Please give it to the lord for me."

"Okay, I will pass it on for you." After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Xing finally took the box containing the amber and put it away, before bowing to Lin Xiuzhen.

"Lord Xiuzhen, please don't believe the rumors on the street. Her Royal Highness is in good health, so there is nothing to worry about."

"... Excuse me, I will take my leave." Lin Xiuzhen did not respond to Xiao's reminder, but bowed heavily to express her separation. When she bowed, no one could see that his eyes became extremely complicated.

When she raised her body again, Lin Xiuzhen was still her previous taciturn and simple image, she turned around and left.