CHAPTER FORTY THREE

"What?" Princess Toyomike said as she turned and looked at Sina.

"Yes Your Highness." Sina replied as she bowed her head. "Everyone is in chaos and the Concubines and The Imperial wives are all at war with one another." She added.

"What happened?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Rumours and letters have been travelling around the palace since morning and each of them faulting one another along with their misconducts.

The Crown Prince's Consort Kasuga-no-Ominako along with his concubine Unako no Otoshi were the first to clash and they hurled insults at one another but they are not the only ones.

The wives of other lesser Princes have been victims of fights as well that as it is of now, the Inner Court has crumbled." Sina replied.

"You can not be serious?" Princess Toyomike said, "Why would the Empress do something that is bound to weaken her?" She asked.

"I don't know as well." Sina replied.

"If the Inner court is unstable then the Empress is faulted, I don't understand why she would cut off her own arms and legs while contending with me." Princess Toyomike said.

"Perhaps she had an ulterior motive." Sina said.

"But what would it be?" Princess Toyomike said, "The influence that she holds in the Imperial court is primarily because of the position that she holds as the overall head of the Inner Court which is like a foundation to her, when it crumbles it's like crumbling her power." She added.

"This has isolated most of the Imperial wives and concubines into becoming foes along with one another." Sina said.

"Perhaps that's it." Princess Toyomike said.

"Come to think of it Your Highness, if the Imperial wives and concubines were to become isolated to win them over is going to be very difficult.

I trust that Her Highness as well has die hards on her side that are willing to still offer their undoubted allegiance to her, this could be another one of the Empress' ploys to try and come up with an excuse to postpone your wedding." Sina said.

"It's likely." Princess Toyomike said, "She's up to something certainly, giving up her skin to break the enemy's back." She added.

"What shall we do Your Highness?" Sina asked.

"Nothing is going to change, we shall proceed according to the plan, however now that all Imperial wives and concubines are at war we should be very careful because that can only mean that from now onwards our enemies have increased in number." Princess Toyomike replied.

"Yes Your Highness." Sina said.

"Prepare a meeting between me and General Fujiyaro urgently." Princess Toyomike said.

"Yes Your Highness." Sina replied.

"Tell him that I need to see him urgently and it's concerning my marriage to the Crown Prince " She ordered.

"Yes Your Highness." Sina replied as she bowed her head and walked out of the room leaving the Imperial Princess alone.

She stood up and walked up to the crib of her daughter who was already fast asleep.

She looked at her and worry overwhelmed her face.

"I fear that the hell that I resented has been born on this Earth, to survive in the Imperial court my child from this day onwards it's going to be more and more difficult." Princess Toyomike said as she caressed the cheek of her sleeping child.

"That wench." Consort Kasuga-no-Ominako said as she smacked her hand onto her table.

"Calm down Your Highness." Her maid Teru said.

"You can not expect me to come down." Consort Kasuga-no-Ominako said. "Originally I had the Crown Princess at my back and just as the Imperial Princess joined the awful retinue that witch was also cooking up trouble for me." She added

"She has crossed the line." Teru said.

"And She must be taught a lesson as I have in deed been to lenient staying out of fights like this but now every Imperial wive and concubine has waged a war and I believe so has concubine Unako no Otoshi has also decided the vet same fate as well." Consort Kasuga-no-Ominako said.

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

"I must also fight for my own heritage and the heritage of my own children because now that there are no more barriers between us as enemies everyone is drawing their swords and heading onto the battlefield.

We in the Inner court that have been quiet can survive no longer if we can not stand up and fight on our own " Consort Kasuga no Ominako replied.

"But Your Highness, if we rebel right now we are inviting trouble on our own." Teru said.

"It's not like we have a choice any more, I still possess my charm and now that the Imperial Princess Toyomike has set foot on the stage I must oust her from favour and I also have the Crown Prince's heart to myself." Consort Kasuga no Ominako said.

"Very well then Your Highness but as it is we can underestimate Concubine Unako no Otoshi any longer. " Teru said.

"It is wit against wit, charm against charm and wisdom against wisdom." Consort Kasuga no Ominako said. "First we must safeguard against any aggression." She added.

"What shall we do Your Highness?" Teru asked.

"We'll begin by paying the Crown Prince a visit, it has been a very long time since I last paid him a visit and I am certain that he shall be glad to see me.

As it is this is an opportunity for the Imperial Princess to rise to favour I now personally believe that it is High Time that we put in a word for her and forged a constructive alliance." Consort Kasuga no Ominako replied.

"You are really wise Your Highness." Teri praised with a smile on her face.

"However it's not like we shall trust her because considering her confidence and the mere fact that she managed to wage war on the Empress we must be wary of her." Consort Kasuga no Ominako said.

"Yes Your Highness." Teru replied.

Lady Koteko was seated in her room and she was sipping at a cup of tea when her maid servant walked in.

"Milady." She said as she bowed her head.

"What is it Haru?" Koteko asked.

"It is done Milady." Haru replied.

"At last they all scramble and with time they'll start to tear each other down, no one would suspect that it is someone else as the Princess and the Empress by now are more suspicious of one another.

I can not have the power to oust the Empress and sadly right now those that she thought to be her own minions have abandoned her.

In my humble perspective someone of that sort awes me." Koteko said.

"Why Milady?" Haru asked.

"Because she has lived long and ruled the Inner Court for a while, her peace has been tainted by the blood of our own foes and now having come on top of us all so peacefully for our case we must go to war." Koteko replied.

"But now that you have divided her people as long as they are not united you have deprived her of her power." Haru said.

"What I have done is nothing as long as the Empress still has her own clique of supporters in the court, it's like removing one claw from the legs of a lion and living him with nineteen." Koteko said.

"Nevertheless Milady, if you take out the claws one by one and the teeth as well as long as you are patient then at one point the lion shall become harmless." Haru said.

"No one is a permanent friend and all are permanent enemies." Koteko said, "We must now use this chance to stir the war between the Empress and the Imperial Princess Toyomike." She added.

"What shall I do for you Your Highness?" Haru asked as Koteko sipped at her cup of tea and placing it on the table, she stretched her hand into her cloth and then she pulled out an envelope.

"What is this Your Highness?" Haru asked.

"I want you to secretly convey the contents of this envelope to the Crown Prince Nunakakura but in case anyone is after you then don't risk your life trying to protect it, just abandon it." Koteko replied.

"Yes Your Highness." Haru said as she took the envelope into her hands and Bowing her head she made her exit leaving the Imperial Prince's wife inside.

The Crown Prince Nunakakura was seated in his office when Miwa no Sakau walked in.

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

"What is it?" The Crown Prince asked as he folded a few of his documents and he looked up at Miwa no Sakau.

"You have a guest Your Highness." He said.

"It seems that the Crown Prince is really beloved of the people enough of them are happy to have me in their thoughts " The Crown Prince said.

"Your Highness, you'd be surprised." Miwa no Sakau said.

"I'm in a very good mood today as it is that finally I shall get married to Princess Toyomike so soon, perhaps they are here to congratulate me." The Crown Prince boasted.

"Your Highness, it's Consort Kasuga no Ominako that is here to see you." Miwa no Sakau said and the Crown Prince looked at him surprised.

"Who?" He asked.

"Consort Kasuga no Ominako is here to see you." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"Why?" The Crown Prince asked.

"I don't know Your Highness but whatever it is, it seems to me that she is in a very good mood." Miwa no Sakau replied.

The Crown Prince appeared quite hesitant to see his Consort.

"I can send her away if you wish it." Miwa no Sakau said.

"It's alright, let her in." The Crown Prince finally replied.

"Yes Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau replied as he walked out of the office and then appeared at the door outside where Consort Kasuga no Ominako was waiting along with Teru who was holding a container.

"His Highness has accepted to have an audience with you." Miwa no Sakau said as he bowed his head.

Consort Kasuga no Ominako smiled as she walked into the office and eventually came face to face with the Crown Prince.

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

"Rise Consort Kasuga, you have been pardoned." The Crown Prince said gracefully.

"Thank you Your Highness." Consort Kasuga no Ominako replied as she smiled back at him while she walked over to where he was seated.

"It has been a while Your Highness since I last saw you and I am deeply moved that you have decided to personally come here and see me." The Crown Prince said.

"You work so hard Your Highness and I understand better than anyone else how heavy your burden must be and hearing about your current situation I had to prepare some of your best snacks to congratulate you." Consort Kasuga no Ominako softly said.

"Congratulate me?" The Crown Prince asked.

"Yes Your Highness, you might as well not be aware but the news of your Marriage with the Imperial Princess Toyomike has spread throughout the entire capital there is not a single person that has not heard about it." Consort Kasuga no Ominako replied.

"Thank you so much for caring about me." The Crown Prince said as Consort Kasuga no Ominako tool the box that was in Teru's grip and she placed it on the table in front of the Crown Prince which she opened to reveal a series of small colourful biscuits.

"They're beautiful." The Crown Prince said.

"I do understand." Consort Kasuga no Ominako, "I made them all myself especially for you." She added.

"I am worried that I might become fat as it is today." The Crown Prince said.

"But you'll still remain out husband and charming and handsome as usual, for as long as you are happy whether with the Imperial Princess Toyomike or with us our hearts are calm to know that Everytime you're not with a frown of sorrow but with a smile." Consort Kasuga no Ominako replied.

"Because you made them with such care and with so much love, I understand that I have been so busy in a while that I did not have your time.

As it is I am excited but because of this work my hands are weary, Can't you at least sit here and feed me one snack and then perhaps we'll eat the rest together." The Crown Prince requested.

"Thank you Your Highness." Consider Kasuga no Ominako said as she went down onto her knees but the Crown Prince held her and made her rise up.

She moved to the side of the table and taking a snack into her hands she fed it to the Crown Prince before She moved to the opposite end of the table where she sat down facing her husband.

"Miwa?" The Crown Prince called.

"Yes and Highness." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"Get us some liquor." The Crown Prince ordered.

"Yes Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau replied as he withdrew while Teru served the rest of the snacks to the Crown Prince and his Consort.

Miwa no Sakau returned with a small jug that contained some liquor and handing it over to Teru, she served the two.

"To Your Highness' wedding with the Imperial Princess Toyomike." Consort Kasuga no Ominako made a toast.

"Thank you Milady." The Crown Prince accepted the toast in good faith and he quickly drank it while Consort Kasuga no Ominako followed his lead gently until she had exhausted her cup as well before placing it on the table and eating the snacks along with him.

"You know what?" The Crown Prince said.

"What is it Your Highness?" Consort Kasuga no Ominako asked.

"If only the others were also just like you." The Crown Prince said.

"My delight is in your own Your Highness." Consort Kasuga no Ominako replied.

"Others might be dead worried whereas the rest are uncomfortable with the thought of me adding another sister to you yet still I wish to know why contrary to all the others you seem to most comfortable with my decision?" The Crown Prince asked.

"Your Highness, it would be much easier for you to understand if you were a woman." Consort Kasuga no Ominako said.

"Then don't give up on enlightening me." The Crown Prince said as he continued with the snacks.

"The nature of the women in the Inner Court Your Highness is to live and die for their husbands, we boast not only about loving you but also cherishing each and everyone of the things which make you happy.

We believe that in supporting that which makes you happy we have served our duties as wives and on top of that, all the more we take pride in your praises because they are sufficient to us.

I won't lie but rather I'll tell you that I am uncomfortable with the thought of having to compete with another woman for your grace and your love but as long as that is what makes you very happy then I am more than willing to endure it." Consort Kasuga no Ominako replied.

"I'm glad that you have openly spoken up to me, all the more I trust you that you dared not lie to me.

As it is that you understand my heart much better than any of the other two then allow me to at least grant you one thing that you certainly want." The Crown Prince said.

"Your Highness, to visit you today is already more than I could ever ask for." Consort Kasuga no Ominako replied.

"I am giving you the liberty, please don't turn it down as I have promised that if I can then I shall certainly fulfill it." The Crown Prince said.

"Your Highness, there is nothing I hold valuable but a small but beautiful garden that resides on the Western side of my Palace, if you'd spare some time to visit me at least once a week allow me to take care of you and please be welcome to relax in it." Consort Kasuga no Ominako replied.

"Very well." The Crown Prince accepted.

"You must be busy and now that I have seen that you are doing very well I think that I should be going." Consort Kasuga no Ominako said.

"You are excused." The Crown Prince said as Consort Kasuga no Ominako stood up and bowed her head before she turned around to depart with a ghastly smile on her face.

The Crown Prince looked at her as she vanished through the doors and smiling at himself he returned to the books that he had been looking into.

Consort Kasuga no Ominako stepped outside the Office of Finances and turning around she admired it as Teru walked up to her with the lunchbox.

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

"At least I have succeeded." Consort Kasuga no Ominako said.

"Please enlighten me Your Highness, I don't understand how." Teru said.

"Who would ever suspect a kind, graceful and soft hearted person such as Consort Kasuga to be conniving like the other Ladies of the Palace?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"No one Your Highness." Teru replied.

"I also share the same dream that all those other Imperial Consorts share and like the Crown Princess herself even I desire to be the Empress and at a time like this when all the Imperial ladies are clashing openly, I'll uphold that grace in front while clashing in the shadows." Consort Kasuga said.

"None of those other wenches are qualified to rule, none of them match up to the conduct of a true Empress.

You shall certainly rule the Inner Court Your Highness." Teru said.

"You just wait, watch and see." Consort Kasuga replied as she slowly sashayed towards her Palanquin.

The Crown Prince was still seated in the office when Miwa no Sakau walked in with an envelope.

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

"Has Consort Kasuga left?" The Crown Prince asked.

"Yes Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"I must say that I was quite impressed by her honesty and her conduct." The Crown Prince said.

"But it doesn't matter your Highness because in your eyes no one shall ever surpass the standard of Princess Toyomike." Miwa no Sakau said.

"In deed." The Crown Prince replied.

"You have a letter Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau said as he handed over the envelope to the Crown Prince who looked at it.

"From whom is this letter coming from?" The Crown Prince asked.

"The sender is anonymous but I thought that I should give it to you." Miwa no Sakau replied.

The Crown Prince took it into his possession and looked at the envelope keenly and his heart hesitant to see what was inside, he gathered up all the courage that he could find and opened it.

He slipped out a white piece of paper which he unfolded and then he read.

"SUBMITTING TO HIS HIGHNESS, HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE EMPRESS IS GUILTY OF FACTIONALISM, CORRUPTION AND INTERFERENCE IN POLITICS OF THE COUNTRY." He read out fairly loud enough for Miwa no Sakau himself to hear.

"Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau said as the Crown Prince shot up from where he has seated and folding the piece of paper he threw it at him.

"Get rid of this letter." The Crown Prince said.

"Yes Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau replied as he ceased the piece of paper and then he lifted it above the candle flame.

He along with the Crown Prince watched as the flames totally engulfed the sheet of paper until it fell down to ashes.

Miwa no Sakau walked up to the Crown Prince.

"Who would come up with such a thing?" Miwa no Sakau asked.

"I don't know, my mom would come up with a lot of things, she could be quite ambitious but I know that she could never risk her head so foolishly.

She knows better than anyone else that factionalism would make her a traitor and that by law she would have to be punished by death.

Besides I have never seen her take an interest in the politics of the state so why does it have to be now?" The Crown Prince asked.

"Perhaps someone just wanted to tease you or they intended to make false allegations against your mother." Miwa no Sakau said.

"Nevertheless that one was too serious." The Crown Prince replied.

"Then why of all jokes to make would they choose the Empress as a target?" Miwa no Sakau asked.

"Even I don't know." The Crown Prince replied, "Perhaps it is now more clear than it has ever been before that someone is in deed trying to crumble me through my mother." He added.

"Originally when the Emperor dies the Dowager Empress rules in his stead until the Coronation of the New Emperor.

What I think is that if they are aiming for the Empress right now, when the time comes for them to overthrow me then they'll most certainly have to go after my mother first." The Crown Prince said.

"But Your Highness, even up to now other than you we can not tell who else has influence within the Imperial Court." Miwa no Sakau said.

"Naturally I'd trust the Sogas to be very faithful to me given the fact that I'm their only hope of surviving in the political arena while on the side of the Mononobes I can not be so confident to say the same.

They seem to be quite independent and hold a very large influence and Currently the most powerful, the Otomos and Otishis are rather insignificant but as always it is those that have little and share very large expectations who strike first in rebellion." The Crown Prince said.

"Your Highness, aren't you curious or suspicious of your mother?" Miwa no Sakau Asked.

"Why?" The Crown Prince Asked.

"I know that this may sound a little bit strange when you are hearing it from me but there were rumours in the Palace." Miwa no Sakau said.

"Since when are you the type of person to listen to gossip?" The Crown Prince asked.

"It's not that I was listening to gossip your Highness but while I walking about I caught a group of Palace maids that were talking in the gardens and they were saying that the Empress and the Imperial Princess Toyomike are vying for the throne of the inner Court." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"That's unbelievable." The Crown Prince said.

"Your Highness, I have never thought that the Empress was pleased with you in the first place when you decided to make the Imperial Princess Toyomike your concubine." Miwa no Sakau said.

"Why would my mother vy for a position that she already has and in my humble opinion the Imperial Princess may be ambitious but she is graceful enough to respect my mother because she loves me.

She's barely on the edge of sixteen so why would my mother be threatened?" The Crown Prince asked.

"Your Highness, we can never be women so we can never understand them either." Miwa no Sakau said.

"Just forget it." The Crown Prince said.

Princess Toyomike stared at her wedding gown which was already hanging on a wooden mannequin right next to her Mirror.

"It's beautiful Your Highness." Sina praised.

"It's features make me grasp in admiration and it is one fine gown, it leaves me wondering though, how pure is this love that is between the both of us?" Princess Toyomike said as she walked away to the other side of the bed.

"Your Highness, I can tell myself that the Crown Prince fervently adores and cherishes you compared to any other woman of his harem." Sina said.

"I am suddenly bothered when of all things I remember that it is his mother that I am up against and yes it could seem like a rather small issue but at times I feel like I am forcing him to choose between the both of us." Princess Toyomike said.

"So you're worried that you are rifting your future husband and his mother?" Sina asked.

"I am only hurtful." Princess Toyomike replied, "You might have heard that blood is thicker than water which worries me that one time the Crown Prince might abandon me." She added.

"If he did so Your Highness, you wouldn't have to worry about him anymore, and if he had to change his mind and kill you then I would strike him first before he dares." Sina said.

"Thank you so much Sina but you do not need to worry that much about having to kill." Princess Toyomike said.

"He should understand your position as a woman and a devouted citizen, your one wish is in trying to help him govern the country and rid it of all those other corrupted Officials and politicians.

You did not make the Empress your Enemy because you chose to, you made her your foe because she was the brain behind them." Sina said.

"From our point of view it is rather very easy to tell that right now but from his as a son, he is caught between filial piety and with the burden of the throne weighing so heavily on his shoulders, imagine how heartbroken he'll be to learn that his mother is the very obstacle to the great Nippon he wishes to build." Princess Toyomike said.

"Even after every thing that has happened Your Highness you care deeply for him." Sina said.

"My heart ached when he aches, ever since I made him realise how awful this country was he worked day and night to change everything.

For me he was even more willing to become the Emperor as I came to early like the very light that guided his path and yet as I desire to become His Empress, the path that lies ahead of me is drenched in so much blood eventually he'll fight with me against his own mother." Princess Toyomike said.

"Just forget about it for now." Sina said, "You have your wedding coming up very soon that you shouldn't stress yourself so much with anything else." Sina said.

"Hmmm." Princess Toyomike muttered when there was a sudden knock on her door.

"Who is it?" She asked in a lowly voice.

"I'll go and check." Sina replied as she walked up to the doors and she opened them only to see a very beautiful young woman standing outside.

Judging by the clothes that she was wearing, it was very easy to tell that she was an Imperial Consort

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

"Greetings." Consort Kasuga no Ominako said.

"How may I help you Consort Kasuga?" Sina asked.

"I am here to see the Imperial Princess Toyomike." Consort Kasuga replied.

"I'll let her know." Sina said as she bowed her head.

"Very well." Consort Kasuga replied as she closed the doors and she walked back to Princess Toyomike.

"Who is it?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Consort Kasuga Your Highness, she is here to see you." Sina replied.

"My husband's second wife after the Crown Princess?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Yes." Sina confirmed.

"Let her in." Princess Toyomike said.

"Yes Your Highness." Sina replied as she bowed her head and then walked away returning a while later with Consort Kasuga and her maid Teru.

"Greetings Your Highness." They both said as they bowed their heads.

"Greetings." Princess Toyomike replied as she did the very same.

"Pardon me for coming unannounced Your Highness but I believe that there is something very crucial that we must both discuss." Consort Kasuga said.

"Let's sit down please." Princess Toyomike said as she pointed at the table nearby and the two walked up to it and they lowered themselves in the chairs.

Consort Kasuga looked at Sina.

Princess Toyomike then understanding what she wanted waved her hand and their two maids withdrew and stood at a distance leaving the two alone.

"It's not been so long since I saw You Your Highness, but now that I am seated face to face with you I must say that I am in deed moved by Your beauty." Consort Kasuga said.

"I am quite amazed that everyone finds it to be that intriguing but you are not any different from me, you are in deed strikingly beautiful as well." Princess Toyomike said.

"Aside the Crown Princess and me, perhaps you might not know that the Crown Prince boasts the most beautiful women in the land." Consort Kasuga said.

"I can now see why none of them like the others care enough to try currying favour with me by sending expensive jewels and clothes over." Princess Toyomike said.

"As You have said it Yourself Your Highness, I am strikingly beautiful as well and I believe we all take after our mother in law when it comes to possessing a very violent nature." Consort Kasuga said.

"So what is the purpose of Your visit?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"In all the Crown Prince's women You Your Highness are the youngest." Consort Kasuga said, "I'll be frank with you I do not like you at all." She added.

"Thank you for your honesty." Princess Toyomike said.

"You might be unaware but here in the Inner Court there is what they call seniority." Consort Kasuga said.

"You're threatening me?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"I'm warning you." Consort Kasuga replied.

"To be wary of who?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"All of us." Consort Kasuga replied.

"I heard that you put on quite a showdown with Concubine Unako and that on top of that you along with other Imperial wives have decided to rebel in this inner court.

Survival for the fittest or not, would you be kind to tell me that in respect of seniority, where was the sense of responsibility that you held?

After that you are quite courageous enough to come here and not only speak up to me but to also implore me to conform to such unruly standards?" Princess Toyomike said.

"Has Your Highness ever heard of this tale that the Lion can never humble itself in front of the sheep?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"Have you also ever heard the tale that there is no man that can take the rapids of a fast flowing river and force it to flow backwards?" Princess Toyomike replied.

"Whatever the case may be Your Highness in both cases there is a master that is unwilling to bend to the will of the other." Consort Kasuga said.

"So now I presume that we all think highly of ourselves only the future can decide who gets to bow to the other." Princess Toyomike replied.

"But who do you think is more capable?" Consort Kasuga asked with a smile on her face.

"So other than congratulating me for trying to issue an entrance into the family you paid me a visit at this hour of night to declare an open war, rather this is no congratulation but a parley?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"You are not so foolish to not understand my words and you are smart enough to know what I am after as well." Consort Kasuga replied.

"Then it must be the grandiose envisage of each and every Imperial Consort in our generation to become an Empress." Princess Toyomike said.

"And only those that are capable can make it that far." Consort Kasuga said.

"I hate to disappoint you Your Highness but I want something much more than any of you Imperial Consorts could ever want and my envisage is much grander than that of any other woman that resides within Nippon." Princess Toyomike said.

"It doesn't matter, as long as we are well acquainted with one another like it or not we are both obstacles to ourselves." Consort Kasuga said.

"And what are you going to do with this obstacle?" Princess Toyomike suddenly asked.

"I'm going to vanquish it." Consort Kasuga replied as she smiled ghastly.