CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Princess Toyomike walked up to her mother's Palace and there she stood outside bring aided by Sina and Kabane.

Sara walked up to her.

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

"I'm here to see my mother." Princess Toyomike said.

"Your Highness, please refrain from doing so." Sara said. "I don't think that her Highness is ready to see you right now." She added.

"No." Princess Toyomike replied. "Just tell her that I am out here and I wish to see her." She added.

"Alright Your Highness." Sara said and turned around as she ascended the stairs that led to Consort Katashishime's room and then she entered.

Consort Katashishime was seated at a table inside and she was lost in thought as she embraced the shoal that she had used to carry her daughter on the day that she was born.

"Your Highness." Sara said.

"What is it?" Consort Katashishime asked barely looking at her.

"Her Highness the Princess." Sara replied.

"What's wrong with her?" Consort Katashishime asked in a very lowly manner.

"She's standing outside and asking to see you." Sara replied.

"That child." Consort Katashishime said. "She has gone mad, she has exceeded my expectations as her mother, she's shown me that she'd stretch this far just so that she can contend with Ishi Hime's might." She added.

"Your Highness, what should I tell her?" Sara asked.

"I do not wish to see her." Consort Katashishime said. "Send her away." She added.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince accepted that he was the one who started everything." Sara defended.

"I'd tolerate it if it were another man and not Ishi Hime's son, that girl has not only grown so old, she has outgrown me so much I can no longer tell her anything, whatever it is she'll never listen." Consort Katashishime said.

"Your Highness....." Sara said

"Send her away." Consort Katashishime said staunchly.

"Yes Your Highness." Sara replied as she bowed her head and then she walked out of the room.

She came up to the Princess Toyomike who stood and was still waiting there for her mother.

"What did she say?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Her Highness doesn't wish to see you, she has asked me to send you away." Sara replied.

"No." Princess Toyomike said.

"The words that are flying out of her mouth are bitter, please go and wait and when her anger has quelled I'll have you informed about it Princess." Sara said. "You are now in a very delicate condition, tiring yourself out would be very bad for the health of the baby." She added.

"Then if mother is not willing to come and see me, I'll wait here until she does." Princess Toyomike said as she held up her dress and then knelt down.

"Your Highness." Everyone around called her loudly.

"Please tell mother that I do not care if I miscarry here, I just wish to see her once please." Princess Toyomike said.

Sara debating with herself gathered the courage that she'd find and she ran back into the room.

"Your Highness, Your Highness." She went while crying.

"What is it?" Consort Katashishime asked.

"Her Highness is kneeling down in front of your Chambers right now and she is not leaving until she has an audience with you.

Please see her Your Highness, because I am afraid that her unborn child might be hurt if she remains straining herself." Sara pleaded.

"You really seem to care so much as though she is your daughter." Consort Katashishime said.

"I fear if something bird were to happen then Your Highness would be implicated." Sara said.

"Fine, she wishes to see me, then I'll see her." Consort Katashishime said as she furiously stood out of her chair and then she walked towards the door.

Princess Toyomike looking up at it was surprised when it was instantly flung open and her mother angrily looked down on her.

"Your Highness." The guards, eunuchs and the servants that were present there bowed their heads as the Emperor's Consort remained standing there on top of the stairs.

"Mother." Princess Toyomike said.

"I am not your mother." Consort Katashishime coldly said.

"Your Highness." Princess Toyomike called.

"I heard that you wished to have an audience with me then you better make yourself quick because I have a lot of things to tend to." Consort Katashishime said.

"I wanted to check on you." Princess Toyomike said.

"I am fine." Consort Katashishime replied.

"Please do not be so cold to me." Princess Toyomike pleaded.

"I treated you so well, I raised you but I don't understand what obsessions possessed you along the way." Consort Katashishime said.

"Mother, I admit that I am at fault, but I also love him." Princess Toyomike said.

"Love?" Consort Katashishime said before she laughed so loudly that even the Princess was surprised while she turned to Sara who was standing slightly behind her.

"Hear this girl Sara, she said the word LOVE." Consort Katashishime said.

"Mother." Princess Toyomike said but she was halted when Consort Katashishime raised her right hand.

"Do you know what love is, do you know the weight of that word, do you even understand that expression?" Consort Katashishime asked.

Princess Toyomike kept quiet.

"Love is put of the picture my dear, yours was only curiosity and not love, if the Crown Prince really loved you that much then he would have controlled himself, he wouldn't have watched you make one small mistake that had turned out to be the most fatal design of your life." Consort Katashishime said.

"I'm sorry mother." Princess Toyomike said.

"You shouldn't be." Consort Katashishime said. "I should be the one that is sorry." She added.

"Your Highness." Princess Toyomike said.

"I am so sorry that all these years I strived to make you conform to the will that I wanted, I'm sorry that I couldn't have brought you up any better than you had desired.

I am sorry that I couldn't be there to give you the freedom to love all those that you wanted, sorry I kept you locked up in the fantasy of a flawless world within this Palace.

I am sorry that I can not be there to nurse you throughout your first pregnancy and I'm sorry I have you too little yet you desired too much, I'm sorry that I can not accept that relationship between you and the Crown Prince." Consort Katashishime said.

"Yes I am wrong, I am old, I should have seen through it and perhaps to you it could have been any other person and not him." Princess Toyomike said.

"I heard that you might get engaged to him." Consort Katashishime said.

Silence prevailed for a while before she'd reply

"Yes." Princess Toyomike said.

"It doesn't matter even if the world or the Emperor have you his consent, the trust between mother and daughter has been broken and it can never be repaired.

You can choose to spend your entire life and love him wholeheartedly as you chose him over your mother but your marital alliance is something I shall never accept until the very day that I am consumed by my own grave." Consort Katashishime said.

"I understand what I have done wrong and I can tolerate any punishment but I can not tolerate you deserting me mother." Princess Toyomike said.

"I am not your mother and you are not my daughter, you lost that right the moment that you chose to let the Crown Prince sleep on top of you." Consort Katashishime said.

"Mother, please." Princess Toyomike pleaded.

"You are dead to me and if you feel that you can not live without my love you can go and kill yourself." Consort Katashishime said as she turned around and walked back into her Chambers shutting the doors behind her.

"Mother." Princess Toyomike called after her as Sina, Kabane and Sara helped her up.

"Please take her back to her room." Sara said.

"Yes." Both Sina and Kabane replied as they along with her palace maids followed her out towards her Palace.

As they continued to walk towards the direction of her abode, they halted with the Princess when right ahead of the them the Empress stood.

"Your Highness." Thru said as they bowed their heads to her but Princess Toyomike refused.

"Your Highness." The Empress said as she walked over towards her.

"Halt there your Highness." Princess Toyomike ordered.

"Very well." The Empress replied. "It seems you have learnt to become quite commanding as well." She added.

"Are you satisfied?" Princess Toyomike asked as she looked up at her with a smile on her face.

"There is the brave girl that I must admit I quaked at a point in my life." The Empress said.

"What are you going to tell me, that you underestimated me or that I exceeded your expectations and wildest dreams?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Perhaps that, perhaps not." The Empress replied, "Rather you remind me about your mother, the only difference there is between you is that she willingly resigned to the fate of becoming the Emperor's Concubine while you on the other hand forged that fate for yourself." She added.

"Contrary to other people Your Highness, I can never resign to a fate I don't write." Princess Toyomike replied.

"I have come to see that for myself." The Empress said.

"I bet you have yet to see so much more of the things that I am most willing to do." Princess Toyomike said.

"Then perhaps I have a simple question that I wish to ask you." The Empress said as she walked closer to the Princess who also stepped a foot closer to her.

"Tell me Your Highness, are you willing to sacrifice everything even the little that you have just so that you can contend with me?" She asked.

"Rest assured Your Highness, I made you a promise and I intend to keep it that way, I have prepared everything that I need to, I am going to devote my all to see to it that I do more than vanquishing you." Princess Toyomike replied.

"Aren't you afraid you'll be one of those bodies that I'll bury?" The Empress asked.

"No." Princess Toyomike replied, "I am afraid that the last person you'll see is me and that's when you'll be leading the way to your grave." She added as she walked past the Empress who smiled from the corner of her mouth.

"We'll see about that Your Highness, we'll surely see about that in future." She replied as she also continued her way.

"This issue is far more complicated than I had expected Miwa." The Crown Prince said.

"I understand Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau replied. "Even his Majesty has his own thoughts." He added.

"To think that he might not agree to my engagement and to my marriage with Princess Toyomike is something that I find to be quite bothersome." The Crown Prince said.

"He might understand, all he needs is some more time think." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"What if he doesn't?" The Crown Prince asked.

"Trust me Your Highness, it's the only way that he can protect you both, at least if not you then the Imperial Princess Toyomike." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"He might not even desire to protect me." The Crown Prince said. "You have no idea how it felt like yesterday when he held out his sword and put it on my neck.

He had every ounce of resentment and determination that was strong enough to make me feel death knocking on my door." He added.

"But he did not." Miwa no Sakau said. "He had every right to kill you for defying his order but it still doesn't change the fact that you are his son.

All this time he prepared you to succeed him since you were nearly fifteen years old, why would he abandon you especially at a time like this." Miwa no Sakau said.

"Perhaps you are right." The Crown Prince said.

"I am right." Miwa no Sakau confirmed.

"I hope so." The Crown Prince said. "Aside from the love that I have towards Princess Toyomike, I can never rule this country without him by my side.

She told me herself that There's two things about love if it's real, on one hand you must steal if it's all it takes and on the other you must protect even if it means with your life.

I am determined to steal her if it's all it takes and also to protect her even if it means with my life, If I must possess Nippon for her then I'll certainly do so when she is right by my side." He added.

"Whatever you do Your Highness, I'll always be right here at your service." Miwa no Sakau said.

"In a couple of days the Imperial Court is going to sit and with the Courtiers entirely well informed about everything that has happened between both me and the Imperial Princess Toyomike, the issue at hand they'll have to discuss is my engagement to her." The Crown Prince said.

"Should the Courtiers forbid it?" Miwa no Sakau asked.

"With the support of the Imperial Chieftain and his son, it'll be inevitable for the Emperor to agree, they can not vote in it and additionally, they'll naturally feel threatened by the alliance and I know father very well, he'd very much give in to the situation as long as he can keep the Courtiers around his fingers " The Crown Prince replied.

"This day has come too soon." Soga no Iname said to his son.

"It seems so father." Umako replied as they strode through the gardens.

"I'd never imagined the Imperial Princess to be this determined to take on the Empress, no, I had never imagined her to be this smart." Iname replied.

"She'd perhaps seen it before we had." Umako said.

"It is well known that of all things in the world that the Courtiers fears, it's favorites." Iname said.

"Why?" Umako asked. "I thought it is probably the people who threaten their might." He added.

"Male and female favorites that curry the favour of the Emperor once they possess it they could wield some of the most immense political power." Iname replied.

"I understand Father." Umako said.

"The Current Emperor to keep opposition from amounting amongst his courtiers naturally reacted by stepping down the footing and ensuring that he has no favorites in the eyes of men." Iname said

"In other words the privileges there were to be enjoyed by all the Courtiers had to be uniform." Umako added.

"And that alone pushed most of the Courtiers hopes very low that the Empress being the daughter of the late Emperor Senka and having some influence in the Inner court had to become their aid." Iname said.

"They had to curry favor with the Empress to put in a word to the Emperor on their behalf and for that opportunity many of them staked their loyalty and swore allegiance to her." Umako said.

"You are now getting the bigger picture." Iname said.

"Thank you father." Umako said, "But what has the Imperial Princess Toyomike got to do with this?" He asked.

"For so long the Courtiers obsessed over the Emperor and the Empress none of them ever paid attention to the presence of the Crown Prince and except from us, the most likely companion that she has won herself for life is General Fujiyaro." Iname said.

"He is a loyal servant to the Princess given that she is now on the brink of becoming the Crown Prince's Consort." Umako said.

"She has succeeded and won over the Crown Prince's heart that right now, she even has the Military around her fingers with the support of General Fujiyaro.

Not to mention the Empress has been quite unpopular while the Courtiers themselves are impatient.

Winning the Heart of the Crown Prince was a key that has unlocked a number of doors for her Highness no ordinary Human being can possibly close and since she is still establishing her own people, the chance is still open to everyone who would be willing join her side.

With the Crown Prince being the more sustainable choice it makes her the perfect source of wealth and their attention.

Because of this the Empress is in fear and she is worried about the Princess because once her power has started to crumble as it is, her allies shall desert her Highness in the Princess' favor." Iname replied.

"When the mound falls in deed the ants scatter." Umako said.

"Ultimately, the Princess has been too smart in her scheming that I feel too old for this generation.

We have the advantage of knocking on the door first before all the other officials and that being the case even when I'm gone see to it that you never abandon Her Highness and you never grant her the opportunity to abandon you.

Once you make that simple mistake, it shall be the fatal blow that shall crumble your influence in the Imperial court and among men." Iname warned.

"I have understood father." Umako replied.

"Politicians know no devotion, it's only about survival through paying allegiance or fighting to defend that which is in your possession." Iname said.

"What shall we do Father?" Umako asked.

"In the meantime we can not be too certain so we must see to it that at all means we protect the child that the Imperial Princess is carrying within her womb first and when the Court sits tomorrow, we'll give the Crown Prince our support to make her his Consort." Iname replied.

"Yes Father." Umako said.

"Additionally, I understand that the Palace is not the safest place for the Imperial Princess at this moment, I'll personally see to it that all herbs brought for her are secretly checked before sending them to the Palace." Iname said.

"But Father, why would anyone in the manor wish to bring harm upon the Princess?" Umako asked.

"Even if no one knows we must remain very cautious, they'd poison me when I lowered my guard but I won't let the same go for both my granddaughter and her child." Iname replied.

The Courtiers had gathered and they walked up to the throne room.

Soga no Iname and his son Umako were present as well as they had all the other officials talking amongst themselves.

Iname looked at the Crown Prince who appeared to be listening to everything while trying to turn a blind eye.

Sato walked in a while later and there he announced.

"His Majesty deigns you with His presence." He said and at once the Courtiers quietening down, they bowed their heads as the Emperor walked by and mounted the stairs up to his Chrysanthemum throne where he sat down.

"Greetings Your Majesty." The Courtiers and the Crown Prince said in unison as they bowed their heads.

"Greetings." The Emperor replied.

"I am certain that you have all heard the news and without wasting time I wish that you would all listen and let's get straight to the point." He added.

"Yes Your Majesty." The Courtiers replied in unison.

"I am certain that you have all heard about the incident between the Crown Prince and the Imperial Princess Toyomike." The Emperor said.

"Yes Your Majesty." The Courtiers said.

"What do you think about it?" The Emperor asked.

The Courtiers looked at themselves for a while until Mononobe no Suke spoke up.

"Excuse me Your Majesty." He said.

"Yes please." The Emperor replied.

"I think that is it is if this news spread any further amongst the people then it'd tarnish the reputation of both the Imperial Princess Toyomike and the Crown Prince along with the reputation of the Imperial family." Mononobe no Suke said.

"I am much aware of that which is why I am asking for the solution before I can present my solution in mind." The Emperor said.

"The Imperial Princess Toyomike across the land is known to be a very graceful and virtuous woman but her conception out of wedlock has done nothing more than jeopardize that pride with which the Imperial family was associated with her.

At a time like this I believe that she has fallen short of her standards as a Princess and no man would be willing to marry her so I believe that the best way that we can handle this problem is if the issue at hand is deposing the Imperial Princess Toyomike and making her a commoner." Mononobe no Suke replied.

The Emperor was surprised along with all the other Courtiers.

"Why would I depose my own daughter?" the Emperor asked, "the only crime worthy of that punishment is treason." He added.

"Forgive me Your Majesty for my impertinance but considering the honorable reputation of the Princess before, another rumor has gone around saying that the Imperial Princess Toyomike and the Crown Prince have been conniving with one another to take the throne." Mononobe no Suke said.

The Emperor didn't let his fury have the best of him as he appeared to maintain his composure which puzzled everyone else.

"Deposing the Imperial Princess you'd make me believe is one way of protecting her from these rumours, after all every matter that concerns the Imperial family is a public one?" The Emperor asked.

"Yes Your Highness." Mononobe no Suke replied.

"But I had another idea in mind." The Emperor said.

"Please, enlighten us your Majesty." All the other Courtiers said in unison as they bowed their heads.

"Not so long ago, the Crown Prince admitted his fault as he was the one that initiated the Imperial Princess Toyomike to sleep with him.

She is young and only sixteen years old, what is she capable of when she is not a politician and on top of that women are forbidden from participating in politics of the country.

Additionally, the Crown Prince being the older of the two had the time to think things through before acting and better than anyone else, he would have known the consequences of his actions.

If I deposed the Imperial Princess Toyomike right now I am afraid that it would raise so many questions as a number of people would believe that because her popularity seemingly threatened the popularity of the Crown we chose to do away with her and accuse her of a charge she wasn't responsible for on the account of a baseless rumour.

The only way that we can quell this anger and the curiosity of the people is if the Crown Prince and the Imperial Princess Toyomike came together in Holy Matrimony." The Emperor replied.

"I believe so Your Majesty." Soga no Iname said. "After all the lives of both the Princess and the Crown Prince put the monarchy at stake.

We are supposed to be exemplary in all our conduct but the actions of the Crown Prince might force people to start pointing fingers at the Crown.

Before the worst comes to it's worst, we must at least show them the benevolence of the Crown Prince and the grace of the Imperial Princess, if the two were to marry one another I believe that all the suspicions of the people would be cleared up." He added.

"General Fujiyaro." The Emperor called.

"Yes Your Majesty?" He replied.

"What do you think I should do?" He asked.

"Your Majesty, I understand your position very well, one time the Crown Prince shall become the Emperor of our country and when that day comes it's legal for him to marry as many women as he wants.

Princess Toyomike is another of these women that the Crown Prince can freely marry at his disposal and while putting everything aside, in opposition to the rumors about her conniving with the Crown Prince for the throne it'd become inappropriate after the Crown Prince succeeded you.

Ultimately even if she were to marry the Crown Prince and he succeeded the Emperor, by Law of the Imperial family she'd never become the Empress as long as the Crown Princess who is the Crown Prince's most legal wife is there.

As an Imperial Consort then it's natural that these rumours that would have crumbled the Imperial dynasty would die out eventually without a very great impact." General Fujiyaro replied

"I suppose that is clear enough." The Emperor said.

"Yes Your Majesty." The Courtiers replied in unison.

"Very well then, three days from now, the Crown Prince and the Imperial Princess Toyomike shall be engaged." The Emperor said.

"Thank you Your Majesty, Long Live Your Majesty." The Courtiers shouted in unison and the Emperor stood from his throne and he walked out while the Courtiers followed him from behind.

Soga no Iname and Umako were walking out when the Crown Prince halted them.

"Your Excellencies." He greeted.

"Your Highness." They replied.

"Congratulations." Iname said.

"Thank you." The Crown Prince replied. "I am rather sorry that there was no proper way to do things with Her Highness." He added.

"You should have asked for my help when you needed it but nevertheless if Your Highness wishes then we are at your disposal." Iname said.

"Thank you so much." The Crown Prince said. "Your support means so much to me." He added.

"Perhaps if you need any help concerning your engagement you can feel free to ask as both otherwise putting it all aside I am sorry I can't talk and stand for so long as my health fails me so please grant me the chance to return to my Manor and rest." Iname said.

"You may Your Excellency." The Crown Prince replied as he bowed his head.

"Thank you Your Highness." Iname and his son as in unison as the two turned around and then walked out of the throne room.

Princess Toyomike was lying in her bed when the Crown Prince walked into her Chambers.

She had just finished taking some medicines when he arrived that she waved out her maids along with Sina and Kabane and the two of them were left inside.

"How are you my dear." The Crown Prince asked.

"I am fine." Princess Toyomike replied. "You needn't have bothered coming all this way." she added.

"Why wouldn't I?" The Crown Prince asked. "Naturally as the father of our baby that you're carrying I must be concerned." He added.

"Thank you." Princess Toyomike said with a smile on her face.

"Did you sleep well last night?" The Crown Prince asked.

"I did." Princess Toyomike replied.

"I heard what happened between you and your mother, I am sorry the two of you have to be on bad terms because of me." The Crown Prince said.

"You shouldn't be." Princess Toyomike said. "If there is one thing that I don't regret in this life then it's loving you.

I believe the love that we share has given us the blessing of this child that I am carrying and for that I couldn't be more grateful that like me I found a man who holds Nippon so dear." She added.

"I am flattered." The Crown Prince said.

"I should be the one to be." Princess Toyomike said as the Crown Prince got a hold of her right hand and then pulled it towards his mouth and kissed it.

"How was the Imperial court?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"I have very good news that I wished to tell you myself in person." The Crown Prince replied.

"What is it?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Father has arranged it that three days from now, the both of us shall be engaged." The Crown Prince replied.

Princess Toyomike smiled.

"That's wonderful." She said.

"I am so sorry that I had to be with you this way." The Crown Prince said.

"Any way doesn't matter, all that matters is that I am right here with you." Princess Toyomike said.

The Crown Prince then sat closer to her and pulled her in a hug.

"Don't worry, once the child is born we shall have a much bigger wedding and after that I shall look after you and rule Nippon with you for the rest of my life." The Crown Prince said.

The Imperial Princess Toyomike smiling in his embrace couldn't help but feel the warmth that was circulating in the air around.

She'd feel his heart beating with the utmost sincerity and at last she was thankful, it was one of the sweetest embraces she'd ever had in her entire life.

The Empress and the Crown Princess met in her Chambers along with the High Priestess and the three of them unhappy about the situation tried to think about something.

"The Princess must have been aware that the Emperor was going to accept this engagement, the moment that Mononobe no Suke spoke up against her and deposing her the more determined that the Emperor was to see to it that they both get engaged." The Empress said.

"We still have time, three days is enough for us to see to it that the Imperial Princess loses her child." The Crown Princess said.

"She has to lose it." The Empress said, "And when she does then that's when you'll intervene." She added as she turned to the High Priestess.

"What should I do Your Highness?" The High Priestess asked.

"There is nothing that is more awful and more unlucky like a miscarriage, if it so happens then we must cease the opportunity but prior to that you must consult heaven now that Sagittarius is above us again.

Logically being the month of the Imperial Princess' birth we can use it to our full advantage and you can conclude that there is someone who has cast a shadow on the Imperial family.

The only remedy from future tribulation is if someone like that left the Palace at once within the next three days or else trouble is coming to the Imperial household." The Empress replied.

"Your Highness, how are we going to conjure that up?" The High Priestess asked.

"The same way that she caused the star to fall from the sky and won grace." The Empress replied with a ghastly smile on her face. "She must become the black sheep of the Imperial family even if I have to stake everything I can to shed the blood of many." She added.