CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

"Your Majesty." Sato said as he bowed his head.

"She did an excellent job." The Emperor said.

"The Princess?" Sato asked.

"Who else?" The Emperor replied. "Others could not see things as she did and I was surprised that what seemed to be a trap that she had set for herself was the perfect aid for her rise to prominence." He added.

"Her Highness is smart and intelligent in deed Your Majesty." Sato said.

"To say that she takes after me is an understatement." The Emperor said.

"Don't say that Your Majesty." Sato said.

"I always feared throughout my entire life and I was always forced to wonder if there would be anyone in Nippon so smart enough to protect her from her enemies." The Emperor said.

"Your Majesty, you are too confident in the Princess." Sato said.

"Perhaps I am, she succeeded in silencing all those officials and she is quite cunning she'd make a very good advisor to the Crown Prince." The Emperor said.

"Your Majesty, just as she is too smart, can't she at one point be a threat to the throne?" Sato asked.

"She is passionate towards Nippon and unlike all these other politicians who are only looking towards their own prosperity, success, comfort and power." The Emperor replied.

"Your Majesty, love and compassion could be very good things but on the other hand they can prove to be very brutal." Sato replied.

The Emperor was confused.

"What are you trying to say?" The Emperor asked.

"I know it very well Your Majesty and saying this may sound out of line but passion can push people to extremes that no one would have ever imagined.

The Princess herself is human after all so it's natural that she'd fall a victim to this." Sato said.

"You are saying that the Princess herself being so intelligent she could be a plausible threat." The Emperor said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Sato replied.

"You are thinking too much, yes I do put that into consideration but then come to think of it, she hardly wields any political power at all." The Emperor said.

"My fear is that with her intelligence she is more interested in knowing what people are thinking and playing to that to have her own way.

She is soon to turn sixteen years old and perhaps it's the one thing that still restrains her from indulging into politics but I fear that with the intelligence she has, if ever heaven gave her a chance, would she not be the most powerful politician in the country?" Sato asked.

The Emperor kept quiet.

"You know my thoughts so well Sato but I am saddened that you can not see what I'm trying to see." The Emperor replied.

"What is it Your Majesty, I must have fallen short in my sight of things lately so would you please enlighten me?" Sato requested.

"The Princess is like a flower that is very delicate and she is as well on the other hand a double edged sword that could harm both the enemy and the person that is wielding it.

It's not because I am ignoring the fact that her intelligence is in deed something that is very deadly but even an immense amount of power needs to be controlled.

The Princess's intelligence she might not notice could make her unpopular in the court, worse it could even earn for her a Challenger within it.

As long as I can force them to nurture someone that is very wise then I could balance the power of the throne and the court to ensure the stability of the country.

Another thing is if she falls short of the Courtiers favour, she can't possibly rise to power or prominence because if they oppose even if the Emperor wishes he simply can not do anything about it as it might force the Courtiers to rebel and if they rebel then it's the people who suffer.

It'll even be worse if they sided with a Royal because at that point in time, there's shall be a rebellion that's justified." The Emperor replied.

"Wonderful Your Majesty." Sato said. "At one point showing the Princess how you care, the other taming her with the hopes of containing any future aggression." Sato said.

"Yes." The Emperor replied.

"You have quite a discerning eye." Sato said.

"However, for the time being to Protect the image of the Princess and to make it seem as though she is acting out of filial piety, I think it's High time I sent her off on a visit to the Kii mountains." The Emperor said.

"What shall I do Your Majesty." Sato said.

"The gods have been gracious enough and heaven has been kind in our side, the crisis of the prophecy is past and we are looking to an age of continued prosperity, it's important that I sent the Princess to the Kii mountains, hoping that she finds a piece of mind there and she on behalf of the Imperial family pays tribute to the gods." The Emperor replied.

"I'll inform her right away." Sato said as he smiled while bowing his head. before walking out of the Emperor's quarters.

The Crown Prince was in his palace backyard when Miwa no Sakau walked up to him.

"Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau said as he watched the Crown Prince get an arrow and with his bow aiming at the wooden target that had been attached to a pole which stood in his backyard, he let it go.

The arrow flew and it hit the bullseye.

"Any news from Father?" The Crown Prince asked.

"I have heard that His Majesty is arranging for the Imperial Princess Toyomike to leave the Capital." Miwa no Sakau replied as the Crown Prince picked another arrow from the quiver and aimed at his target once again.

He let it go.

"Why?" The Crown Prince asked as he held up another arrow from the quiver. "I thought that the issue of the Prophecy was entirely resolved thanks to her Highness." He added.

"He's not banishing the Imperial Princess, just sending her to pay tribute to the gods." Miwa no Sakau replied and the Crown Prince halted for a while.

"Pay tribute to the gods?" He asked.

"Yes." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"Are there no temples and shrines here in Nara, has Heaven's blessing left the Capital?" The Crown Prince asked.

"I'm not sure Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"And where do they intend to send the Imperial Princess?" The Crown Prince asked.

"The Kii mountains." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"How sacred, the land of the gods, uncorrupted and pure, they'd perfectly atone for the sins they have committed and the land in Nara they have frequently drenched in blood." The Crown Prince said as he let go of his arrow it flew and struck the arrow that had been positioned in the bullseye.

The Crown Prince turned and looked at Miwa no Sakau who looked down at his feet.

"Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau said.

"Prepare everything that we need." The Crown Prince said.

"What for Your Highness?" Miwa no Sakau asked.

"I'm the Emperor's son and his successor, I am the Crown Prince of Yamato, I represent the people and good enough the Royal family, shouldn't I be present on such a sacred ritual?" The Crown Prince asked.

"Yes Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"It is after all the way of the gods and the will of heaven, for the good of the people and also the self righteousness of my image, we are going to the Kii mountains as well." The Crown Prince said confidently as he got a hold of the last arrow and put it in his bow.

Without even looking he aimed it right behind himself and at once letting it go, he struck the bullseye without even seeing it that Miwa no Sakau was quite surprised he'd never seen his Master do that before.

Princess Toyomike stood at the balcony of her room and there she watched the rising sun in a distance as it's rays colonized the sky and spread around it like a saffron sheet.

She smiled and at that moment Sina and Kabane along with her Palace maids walked up to her.

"Your Highness." They all said in unison.

"At ease." Princess Toyomike replied.

"There is news from the Emperor." Sina said.

"Tell the others to leave while you and Kabane stay behind." Princess Toyomike ordered.

"Yes Your Highness." The maids said in unison as they walked back a couple of steps while the other two walked up closer to the Princess.

"Your Highness." Sina said. "The Emperor has asked that you go to represent the Imperial family at the Kii mountain ranges in the prayers this time around." She added.

"Great." Princess Toyomike said. "At last even my father is afraid of me." she added.

"Your Highness, what do you mean?" Kabane asked.

Princess Toyomike smiled as she continued to look at the sun.

"Oh how beautiful it is when the sun is up in the sky, rising from behind the hills and the oceans she takes a very glorious form incomparable to any other in the land." Princess Toyomike said.

"Your Highness, why would His Majesty do this to you?" Sina asked.

"Even I have started to rise like the sun and like it I have no Master and can never be tamed, people especially politicians fear what they can not control, just like no man can cause the sun to rise in the morning and then also fall from the sky when it's dark, in our fear we worship because something like it is beyond our might." Princess Toyomike replied.

"You mean His Majesty wants the people to worship you?" Kabane asked.

"No." Princess Toyomike replied. "He fears that like the sun they might worship me." She added.

"So he sends you from the Capital." Sina said.

"Because the war that I have declared on all those in the court has certainly created for me a number of enemies." Princess Toyomike replied.

"If you say so, it seems like the Emperor is trying to protect you." Kabane said.

"I don't want protection." Princess Toyomike asked. "He desires that for the country to be in peace then both arms governing its body the Crown and the court must coexist with power on both factions in perfect and unalterable equilibrium.

As I have posed a threat to that equilibrium and the Courtiers dislike me, he is sending me awake to at least quell their anger." Princess Toyomike replied.

"Out of sight, out of mind." Sina said.

"Yes." Princess Toyomike affirmed.

"But should you live the Capital Your Highness, what are you going to do in such a secluded area with only a few people most of which are peasants that are even literates?" Kabane asked.

"Father might take us from the Capital but he can not take the Spirit of the Capital from us." Princess Toyomike replied.

"What do you mean Your Highness?" Sina asked.

"I am going to become the sun of Nippon and I shall become the mistress of heaven." Princess Toyomike replied.

The two were surprised.

"Your Highness, if you do that the that'll be challenging the High Priestess's power." Sina said.

"For long the Empress has controlled the High Priestess and that has given her the power to control the will of heaven.

Upon the power of the High Priestess, the Empress was able to build for herself a base for power that could even control the Imperial court.

If I can challenge the High Priestess's power and I take it for myself, I shall have cut off one of the primary supplies for the Empress' power.

I'm going to have it for myself because they might take me from the Capital but I shall carry it's Spirit along with me." Princess Toyomike replied.

Kabane and Sina looked worried but the Princess was determined and with the looks of it, she didn't seem like she was going to change her mind sooner.

Empress Ishi Hime was in her backyard tending to her flowers, she had with her beautiful pansies and plum blossoms that she loved the most, yet as she raised them into big fat and healthy ones, she never forgot to hum songs to them.

She held with her a small pruner in her hands and as she cut off the weak branches she believed that she was creating a plant with flawless beauty.

Her maids loved watching her do this almost Everytime, it was one of those rare moments you'd see what appeared to be an innocent smile on her face.

She handled the flowers and their pots with care so much that she'd even bend over in her garments to caress them.

Sakae walked up to her all of a sudden her head looking down and The Empress noticing her presence stood up as Sakae moved closer to her right ear and whispered something.

All the servants looked at themselves.

"Good." The Empress said as a smile graced her face wider than before.

Sakae withdrew.

"At last His Majesty thought it wise to clean the Palace." the Empress said.

"Your Highness." Sakae called. "What should I do?" She asked.

"Nothing." The Empress replied as she lifted her left hand and signalled for the other maids to go away.

"After what the Princess did the Palace last time, why would the Emperor do this to her?" Sakae asked.

"She quelled the wrath of all the courtiers, someone that can be that intelligent and powerful enough to exercise Dominion over the Imperial court is a threat to the Crown." The Empress replied.

"His Majesty is afraid of the Princess." Sakae said.

"Currently everyone is." The Empress said. "I see that she is quite a bothersome young girl but she still knows nothing about power that she cannot wield any.

She might try to show how determined in front of me but in the end she is the same kind, innocent and stubborn young woman she is supposed to be, a Princess after all." She added.

"It is good news that she is going out of the Capital." Sakae said.

"The Crown Princess must be relieved hearing the news, after all, my son won't obsses over someone that he can not see in due course he is bound to forget about her." The Empress replied as she smiled at her flowers.

"Her Highness is leaving the Palace?" The Crown Princess asked.

"Yes Your Highness." Hotaru replied with a smile on her face.

"His did it happen?" The Crown Princess asked.

"The Emperor asked her to go and represent the Imperial family and offer prayers and Thanksgiving to the gods on our behalf in the Kii mountain ranges." Hotaru replied.

"That secluded place?" The Crown Princess asked.

"Yes." Hotaru replied.

"There is nothing so special about it, the Emperor is technically banishing his daughter to the end of the world." The Crown Princess said.

"Yes Your Highness." Hotaru agreed with her Mistress her face overwhelmed by a smile.

"It's quite disheartening and the story is so sad, the Imperial Princess who had risen to prominence only a couple of days ago has fallen from her father's grace so fast." the Crown Princess said.

"Heaven has abandoned her, it's grace rests above her head no more." Hotaru said.

"Even without any great effort, I have come and wrested victory from that wench." The Crown Princess said.

"But she was in deed a very smart woman." Hotaru said.

"There is no place in the Capital for women that are smart." The Crown Princess said. "Once they start to show off their prowess to the eyes of men, they threaten their Dominion they must either be expelled or if peace has failed executed." She added.

"Are you saying that His Majesty is afraid Your Highness?" Hotaru asked.

"Yes of course." The Crown Princess replied. "The decision she made that night she chose to speak up made her different from any other Royal woman that has ever lived before.

She could not protect her kindness any longer as she raged like a lion and gave them a roar, for the Emperor it must have come as a direct indicator that there is no submissive nature attached to her.

He felt his daughter was so dear so the only way to save her was to send her away from the Capital hoping to silence the lips of the critics and the Courtiers." She added.

"So what shall we do Your Highness, she was the last thing that was between His Highness and you?" Hotaru asked.

"It's quite simple." The Crown Princess replied.

"Won't you become kinder towards the Crown Prince?" Hotaru asked.

The Crown Princess laughed.

"Your Highness." Hotaru called.

"My mind is at ease and my days of bending are over, I am tired of playing the Innocent fool and I have already been to kind to his High Highness by keeping quiet." The Crown Princess said.

"What are you going to do Your Highness?" Hotaru asked.

"Peace has failed as a tool to win over the heart of my husband and now since I love him so much that he's the person I can not live without he leaves me with no option but to resort to force." The Crown Princess replied.

"Your Highness, you know His Highness' temper very well, aren't you afraid that if you use force on him then he might as well bring harm on you?" Hotaru replied.

"Let him." The Crown Princess replied. "I have obssesed over him so excessively that I care less no more, I am going to go to every possible measure that I can find to ensure that he is mine alone." She added.

"Your Highness, what are you going to do?" Hotaru asked.

"It's in peace that the Princess might go to Kii Mountain Ranges, we can't be sure that it's in one piece she'll certainly return." The Crown Princess said with a ghastly smile on her face.

Princess Toyomike's Palace was already in preparation for her departure as she walked through the Palace gates escorted by her maids and her one hundred Royal guards.

She came to the palanquin that was to carry her up to the mountains and halted there when she saw her mothers, Father and siblings waiting to bid her farewell including the High Priestess.

She walked up to her Father.

"Your Majesty." She said as she bowed her head.

"You may rise." The Emperor said as the Princess stood up and looked at her father.

"The honor is mine to enter the service of heaven in these days that you have given me, your benevolence is in deed too great that I can not possibly forget your kindness Father." Princess Toyomike said.

"Enemies are all around you my dear." The Emperor said. "Only the hand of heaven can guide you, protect you and commission you for greatness." He added.

"I am humbled." Princess Toyomike said as she bowed her head and then she walked up to her mother.

"Mother." She said.

"My dear." Katashishime said as she embraced her daughter for a while and the two pulled apart.

"Look after yourself." Consort Katashishime said.

"Don't worry mother, I shall." Princess Toyomike replied as she turned and walked over to the Empress.

"Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head.

"Oh, how you have grown my dear." The Empress said as she smiled at her.

"You have taught me and nurtured me like your own, you have given me the true definition of what a Royal woman shall be and I promise you that I'll return when I am more mature both in my wisdom and in my conduct." Princess Toyomike said.

"I can not wait to see that day." The Empress replied as the Crown Princess looked on happy as well.

After Princess Toyomike was done with the farewell, she turned to the palanquin and slowly walked right into it.

The carriers lifted it from the ground and her maids and servants joining in procession, the Imperial Princess Toyomike was led out of the Palace just like that.

"She is finally gone." The Crown Princess said.

"Do not be too certain that she has in deed parted from us all." The Empress whispered as they watched her vanish slowly with her entourage from their sight.

The Emperor looked as his own daughter departed and even he himself he was unable to find any peace of mind.

Soga no Iname was walking on the streets disguised as a common man and when her heard the people talking amongst themselves on the Princess's departure he moved closer to look for himself at that time.

He saw that Procession from the Palace which was very Grand it looked like they were permanently saying goodbye.

His eyes searched about until eventually they landed on the palanquin that was carrying his granddaughter.

He gazed at it for a moment as it slowly passed by.

Looking through the small windows he could see that even in her departure she was bearing nothing on her face but an innocent smile.

"It is too sad though." A number of women who were standing next to him spoke.

"In deed." The other replied.

"The light of the Palace has left with it's Glory." The other one said.

"Could she have been endeared to the people that much already?" Iname wondered as he watched while the last of the entourage bypassed him and the street behind became as busy as it was.

Iname arrived at his manor and his son walked up to him.

"Father." He said as he hurriedly ceased his hands.

"What is it?" Iname asked.

"You can not just walk around father, what if the Empress' men saw you." Umako replied.

"At my age there is nothing more for me to be so afraid of." Iname said.

"But father, you must be cautious." Umako said.

"You wish to tell me that the Princess has been sent out of the Capital for a couple of days?" Iname asked.

"Yes Father." Umako replied. "Wait, how did you know?" He asked.

"I may be quite old but my sight is not faulty at all, I have my ears wide open to know what happens throughout the Capital and the country." Iname replied.

"Alright Father." Umako said. "Just as a reminder the Imperial court is going to sit again only two days from now on father." He added.

"What worries you so much my son?" Iname asked.

"Before the issue if Sagittarius, in the previous meeting they had brought the issue of replacing the Imperial Chieftain." Umako replied.

"And now that it has been solved you are worried that they might bring it up again." Iname said.

"Yes Father, the Emperor had promised to think about it since in his opinion the Imperial Chieftain is a pillar of this country." Umako said.

"They're surely propose my successor in that meeting." Iname said.

"Yes Father as it's been months and you have barely made an appearance, besides you had the news circulate throughout the Capital that you are beyond redemption and the only thing that could help you recover is a miracle.

The Empress these past couple of days has let her guard down as she is certain that you are already one foot in your grave." Umako said.

"She won't be curious about me plotting a d still there are two days for us to execute our ultimate plan." Iname said.

"I look forward to it Father." Umako said.

"The Princess shall return in two days time from Kii and before she can go to the Palace then she'll stop by my manor first." Iname said.

"What will she do here father?" Umako asked.

"Heaven's will." Iname replied.

Umako looked on.

"I once told you that if you mastered the will of heaven very well then you would certainly use it to your aid and of course one can say, with the Princess independent in her thoughts but still in close range to what I had planned, she indirectly complied so all the pieces of the game can move in our favor.

We are going to cease the opportunity of the Imperial Princess's return and on that very day, we are going to play our ultimate move that is going to secure our position in the future Emperor's court." Iname added.

The Crown Princess arrived at the Office of Finances and she was greeted by the guards at the entrance as she made her way up to the main building.

She was so happy and confident in herself that something good has happened in her life and with the Imperial Princess gone and miles away from Nara she had every reason to keep her man to herself.

She came to the doors of her husband's office where four guards had been stationed and looking at the lock that was on it she was very curious.

"Is His Highness the Crown Prince inside?" The Crown Princess asked with Hotaru and her other Palace maids waiting and watching behind her back.

"No Your Highness." One of the guards replied.

"Why, do you know where the Crown Prince is?" The Crown Princess asked.

"No Your Highness, he didn't mention a thing on where he was going yesterday, in fact, he did not even turn up at the Office since yesterday afternoon." The guard replied.

"What?" The Crown Princess asked.

"No one saw him even today in the morning?" She added.

"No one Your Highness." The guard replied as he bowed his head that she turned around.

"Your Highness, where could his Highness be?" Hotaru asked as the Crown Princess descended the stairs herself lost in thoughts.

"I don't know." She replied.

"But his High Highness wasn't spotted anywhere in the Palace yesterday except in his courtyard and that was around noon." Hotaru replied.

"It is very much like him to disappear without saying a word." The Crown Princess said.

"If he did not spend the night in the Palace or at the Office of Finances, then where exactly would he have spent it?" Hotaru asked.

"They're are number of inns here in Nara,he rarely slept over in the same premises with me so I am used if he and Miwa no Sakau can make a disappearance.

Naturally as the Crown Prince he knows that a great responsibility is on his shoulders so even if he were to linger around he'd certainly not go farther than Nara." The Crown Princess replied as she walked through the gates of the office.

Princess's Toyomike's procession had travelled for a while and as they ascended the Kii Mountain Ranges, it became cooler and cooler that quite a number of people were shivering.

The Princess in her Palanquin opened one of the windows and she looked at the scenery outside and she appreciated it.

It was quite Rocky but they persisted and eventually, the entourage halted as the Imperial Princess looked out to see small buildings that were standing in front of them.

They were short but colourful nonetheless and a number of people had gathered there to offer their prayers.

A group of hermits walked about as another of commons were talking to some of the Priests in the vicinity and much as the place was isolated on a mountain, it looked lively and welcoming.

The Palanquin was opened and Kabane looked in.

"We're here Your Highness." He said as he offered his right hand to her.

She took it and with his help she got out of the Palanquin and setting her feet down onto the ground, she looked at the place which was in deed very beautiful with some trees adding life to the place.

It might have been remote but in her eyes it was so Natural.

As she stood there, a group of men that we're dressed in white garments led by one who was quite old and was wearing a black headdress.

The man standing in front of the Princess greeted her.

"Your Highness." He said as he bowed his head with his colleagues.

"Greetings." the Princess replied as she also bowed her head and saluted them.

"This is in deed an auspicious day, the Royal household has been in deed too kind and generous to send you over." The man said.

"The honor is mine." The Princess Toyomike said with a smile on her face that the man was excited.

"You are as gracious as we have heard and so kind in all your conduct, you are in deed too modest and compassionate as we have heard." the man said.

"You seem to have heard a great deal about me." The Princess said.

"Who has not heard of the Imperial Princess Toyomike, her beauty that is undoubtedly heavenly and her thoughtfulness, intelligence and moral uprightness?" The man said.

"You have overestimated me." Princess Toyomike said. "I am just any ordinary young woman." She added.

"No." The man said.

"I have been the High Priest in these mountains nearly all my life and yesterday we were graced with the presence of someone from the Capital and he seems well acquainted with the situation.

He praised your prowess so much it became a song that no one wanted to stop hearing, every one had to come up to the shrine today just so they could confirm the rumours that he had spread for themselves they were dying to have a glimpse of Her Highness." The High Priest said.

Princess Toyomike wondered who the man could be as she looked at Sina and Kabane but even they themselves looked puzzled as well.

"I wish to see for myself this man that you keep telling me about." Princess Toyomike said as she smiled at the High Priest.

"This way your Highness." The High Priest replied as he led the way and took the Princess through the courtyard of the shrine while they were closely followed by Sina, Kabane and the rest of the Palace maids.

After arriving at the main building of the shrine, the Imperial Princess halted when she saw someone who had been dressed in plain white clothes like the priests themselves praying to the sun goddess.

The Imperial Princess Toyomike moved closer to the man who stood up having concluded his prayers.

"Excuse me Sir." Princess Toyomike said as he held the man on his right shoulder that he turned around to look at her.

Her eyes meeting with his she saw the face right in front of her as one which was very familiar while Kabane, Sina and everyone else who knew the man very well were shocked.

"Yes Your Highness?" The man said and Princess Toyomike surprised called him by the name that she knew best.

"CROWN PRINCE NUNAKAKURA?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Yes Your Highness." The Crown Prince replied with a smile on his face it had in deed come as one of the biggest surprises to the Princess in all her life.