CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT

"What's the problem this time?" Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"Her Highness the Imperial Princess Toyomike." Sakae replied.

"What's with her now?" The Crown Princess asked.

"We have received news and it has been confirmed by the Crown Prince that Her Highness is with child again." Sakae replied.

Empress Ishi Hime looked at the Crown Princess who surprised stared back at her both clenching their fists.

"What?" The Crown Princess said.

"Yes." Sakae replied.

"That wench." The Crown Princess said as she smacked the table with her fist, "I never thought that she could be so calculative." She added.

"She is merely lucky that's why I wasn't that excited to begin with, it seems that when it comes to her the will of heaven persistently hovers above her head." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"We had one good chance to go up against her and even better end her for good but surprisingly she has a way of steering through peril so naturally she uses everything to her advantage." The Crown Princess said.

"I was excited but not as much given that she didn't see it coming in the first place." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"We didn't even see it coming in the first place." The Crown Princess said.

"What's the situation now?" Empress Ishi Hime asked Sakae.

"Her Highness is spending the night at Imperial Prince Anahobe's residence tonight with the Crown Prince and they'll return to the Palace tomorrow." Sakae replied.

"Hmmm." Empress Ishi Hime muttered as she nodded her head.

"This is absurd, right now she appeared to have fallen from grace but as it is she has returned into the Crown Prince's favours." The Crown Princess said.

"She's withstood our every attempt for all this long, I am saddened when I think about the more turbulent times that lie ahead of us tomorrow." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"What are we going to do?" The Crown Princess asked.

"It could be impossible for His Highness to let go of the Princess if she was apprehended for adultery but the one thing that he himself he can not protect her from is treason." Empress Ishi Hime replied as she smiled ghastly.

"What are we going to do Your Highness?" The Crown Princess asked.

"There's only one thing left." Empress Ishi Hime said.

It was early in the morning when Princess Toyomike climbed into the carriage while the Crown Prince followed her inside.

The carriage started to move while they had the attention of nearly everyone else looking at them.

Princess Toyomike kept on looking outside the window while her mind wandered away.

"What are you thinking about?" The Crown Prince asked.

"Nothing." Princess Toyomike replied.

"I can tell that there us something on your mind." The Crown Prince said.

"Perhaps I am only worried." Princess Toyomike said.

"Tell me what it is and I promise you that whatever the case is I'll listen." The Crown Prince replied.

"I am only curious Your Highness who it could be that framed me." Princess Toyomike said.

The Crown Prince looked away.

"Do you have anyone in mind?" He asked.

"I dare not Your Highness but I believe that many think because I am still very young they can do away with me in the Imperial family." Princess Toyomike replied.

"You are my wife." The Crown Prince said.

"And the youngest." Princess Toyomike added.

"There looking down on you because they seem to not see my best interests for you and perhaps because they think you are unworthy." The Crown Prince said.

"What shall you do Your Highness?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"From this day forward since your Palace is not safe anymore then I believe you shall reside in it no more." The Crown Prince said.

"Your Highness." Princess Toyomike said.

"It is final and I don't wish to hear you debating about it because when I think of it if you are uncomfortable and you are not safe then as your husband it is my duty to protect you." The Crown Prince said.

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

"Very good then." The Crown Prince replied.

"Where are we going to go now?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"OSADA NO MIYA." The Crown Prince replied.

"Yes." Princess Toyomike said as she nodded her head.

"You don't have to be afraid that there is anything bad that is going to happen to you and our baby because when I am around you even if with my whole life I shall devote it to protect you." The Crown Prince said.

"Thank you." Princess Toyomike said as she leaned on the Crown Prince who pulled her into a hug.

She was deeply content where she was but certain that for her her enemies were never going to rest from that point.

"Her Highness has played it safe." Consort Kasuga said.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Teru asked.

"To begin with at first I was rather glad that there was someone in the inner court who could much up to the Empress and the Crown Princess' night but now that it seems this girl is a rather very good repellant to trouble it makes her untouchable and app the more I am forced to fear that with the two of my greatest foes out of the picture she'd in due course pose an even bigger threat to my Dominion." Consort Kasuga replied.

"She has the Crown Prince's favour and I never thought that she would be this calculative because at first if the Crown Prince had to worry about her being an aduletress then now he is rather grateful and worried with her being a mother." Teru said.

"We must always side with the most favourable tide but I only wanted someone that we could use as a puppet." Consort Kasuga said.

"But she is a rather independent character that don't you think that is going to be a little bit too difficult?" Teru asked.

As it is right now we can not side with any of them so our last resort is to eliminate them all." Consort Kasuga replied.

"How Your Highness?" Teru asked.

"If the Princess is against the Empress and the Crown Princess then she must also become like then, the best we can do is identify ourselves inside her clique and in due course expose it." Consort Kasuga replied.

"So when The Imperial Princess topples the Empress and the Crown Princess, then we topple her and it's like hitting two birds with one stone." Teru remarked.

"In this case it shall be three." Consort Kasuga replied as she smiled ghastly.

Everyone was waiting at the entrance of the Imperial Palace for the arrival of the Crown Prince and his favourite Consort.

At that point, they caught sight of the Carriage that was being escorted by a Group of Imperial guards.

The Empress and the Crown Princess stood there gracefully as they awaited to receive them both.

The Carriage halted and their eyes lingered around its entrance as they searched for even a Silhouette to soothe their souls.

It was opened and looking inside they saw for themselves that it was empty.

"Your Highness." The Imperial guards said as they bowed their heads to the Empress.

"Where is the Crown Prince?" Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"His Highness and the Imperial Princess are at Osada no Miya." One of the Imperial guards replied.

"Osada no Miya?" The Crown Princess asked.

"Yes Your Highness." The Imperial guard replied, "Letter in the day preparations shall be made to move everything that the Princess owns from her Palace and she will reside in her own residence which is the Crown Prince's own." he added.

"Thank you." Empress Ishi Hime said as she turned around with her daughter in law and along with her ladies in waiting they marched away.

"Nother?" The Crown Princess said.

"This is not just doting on her but it has become his obsession." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"If Her Highness is away from the main Palace then you can rest assured that she feels her life is threatened here.

We have lost sight of the mountain because the farther she is away from us the easier it is going to be for her to orchestrate her every move accordingly and the more difficult it is going to become for us to predict her dangers and be able to watch her closely." The Crown Princess said.

"But it is to our advantage at some point." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Because with her away we can Master our dominion over the Inner Court once again." The Crown Princess said.

"It's even much better because that being the case it is going to only be more and more difficult for her to see our every move as well." Empress Ishi Hime added.

"I see mother." The Crown Princess said.

"She's trying so hard to protect the child that is within her womb so let the both of us pay her a visit." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Yes Your Highness." The Crown Princess said.

"If the Crown Prince is being forced to think that there are people that are targeting his favourite wife then we must also turn up to show that in the long lists of suspects despite everything that we do we still care for his welfare and we hold no I'll intent at all." Empress Ishi Hime said.

Princess Toyomike walked into the Courtyard of Osasa no Miya with her husband as her eyes lingered around the place.

"You remember the cherry blossoms you told me that you loved?" The Crown Prince asked.

"Yes." Princess Toyomike replied.

"Because you wanted to watch them dearly I had them planted and the gardens in this place were all beautified for you." The Crown Prince said.

"Thank you." Princess Toyomike appreciated as they continued to walk until they entered inside the inner courtyard.

Studying the structure it was quite lavish and beautiful with bright colours of red, green, yellow and blue gracing it.

It was about two stories that constituted the main building and there was a small pond that was beautiful stationed in the centre of the the household.

"It's so beautiful." Princess Toyomike said.

"You needn't in a hellish Palace all alone when with me I could give you the most magnificent paradise that is befitting for an Emperor's wife." The Crown Prince said as he embraced the Princess from behind.

"You are not even an Emperor yet." Princess Toyomike said.

"I shall be don't you worry." The Crown Prince said.

"I won't." Princess Toyomike said.

"And when I do, you shall become my Empress." The Crown Prince said.

"Your Highness, that is a little bit too much." Princess Toyomike said.

"No it's not." The Crown Prince said, "In my eyes amongst all my wife it is not only because you are the one I love most and yes you might be young but to me there is no one more deserving." He added.

"I did not want any of that." Princess Toyomike said.

"But you loved your people and there is not a single person that is as devoted to our Wa as you are." The Crown Prince said, "Besides had it not been you in the first place to show me the inner beauty of this country I wouldn't have chosen to be a very good Emperor." He added.

"I only showed you the hearts of the people." Princess Toyomike said.

"And to them I see that there isn't even a single person that could be a better Empress than yourself because when I am down and burdened only you can show me that the burden of the Crown is worth it." The Crown Prince said.

"But Your Highness, you are bound to face great opposition in doing so." Princess Toyomike said.

"At least I shall give it a try." The Crown Prince replied.

Umako stood at his balcony and there he gazed at the flowers that were in his garden.

"Your Excellency." Shizu said.

"What is it?" Umako asked.

"Her Highness Princess Toyomike is with child and she shall reside in the main Palace no more." Shizu replied.

"Where did she go?" Umako Asked.

"She'll be staying at Osada no Miya." Shizu replied.

"The Crown Prince's residence?" Umako asked.

"Yes." Shizu replied.

"She must be cautious." Umako remarked.

"Her first pregnancy wasn't easy." Shizu said.

"She had to guard it well." Umako said.

"The inner court only seems to be more bloody." Shizu said.

"When all women are vying for favour unlike us men they tend to be more desperate even when it comes to the most trivial matters." Umako said.

"Should we excommunicate the Princess?" Shizu asked.

"At this point it would even be better if we knew her more because given the image that she is creating for herself right now, rumours have started circulating that the Soga clan is three feet from heaven." Umako replied.

"So we keep open with her?" Shizu Asked.

"We pledged our support and our allegiance to her so that she could rule the Inner Court, for the Imperial Court it is only we that can rule it." Umako said.

"She could be a woman but if you wanted to rule the Imperial Court Your Excellency you'd still do it with or without her." Shizu said.

"I promised father while he was on his deathbed and I told him that I shall make Princess Toyomike an Empress who shall rule by the Crown Prince Nunakakura's side, that way I could also fulfill his dying wish of seeing to it that the child of a Soga mother sits on the Chrysanthemum throne." Umako asked replied.

"I understand Your Excellency." Shizu said.

"We must be careful from now in because as it seems to me there's a number of things that we still must handle." Umako said.

"Yes Your Excellency." Shizu replied as he bowed his head.

Prince Anahobe was seated in the interrogation room of the state Tribunal and there Fujiwara no Shige walked in.

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

"Even as a prisoner I must say that you are in deed quite upright for a man." Prince Anahobe said.

"But I am incorruptible." Fujiwara no Shige said.

"You think so?" Prince Anahobe asked.

"I know." Fujiwara no Shige replied.

"You'd know much better than anyone else that I'd be reduced to a commoner if the Crown Prince is merciful." Prince Anahobe said.

"Sadly the master that I serve still needs you." Fujiwara no Shige replied.

"Who is it that you serve?" Prince Anahobe asked.

Fujiwara looked at the others who were inside and nodding his head, they withdrew from the room leaving the two of them there alone.

"You are superb." Fujiwara no Shige replied.

"Who is it that you serve?" Prince Anahobe asked once again.

"Who do you think?" Fujiwara no Shige asked, "The Empress?" He added.

"She's so confident in you." Prince Anahobe said.

"She rewards with prudence." Fujiwara no Shige replied.

"I must say that I myself I am amazed by you, Prudence, at once I thought you to be the most devoted man in Wa but perhaps today I stand corrected." Prince Anahobe said.

"Why do you give in so easily, we are both ambitious people with goals and aspirations." Fujiwara no Shige said.

"Like me Her Highness uses you and when you can no longer be of great service and your date has expired, she'll find that as an excuse to dispose you." Prince Anahobe said.

"Did I tell you that I worked for the Empress?" Fujiwara no Shige asked.

Prince Anahobe kept quiet.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"I said we are all ambitious but I didn't tell you one thing though and that is the fact that compared to you I am much smarter.

Your confession has been heard by six witnesses." Fujiwara no Shige said as a couple of five other Courtiers walked from behind the wall and then they stopped right in front of the Prisoner Prince.

"You have admitted that the Empress Herself put you up to this." One apprehended.

"Even if she did what could the bunch of you do to her?" Prince Anahobe asked, "She is just the most powerful woman in Wa and a couple of you can't harm her, you need the support of many more." Prince Anahobe said.

"You are right and we shall keep your words in mind, the Crown Prince's Mercy is to have you put under house arrest for the time being and you shall come nowhere near the Imperial Princess Toyomike.

You have falsely accused her of being rendezvous with yourself and you are charged with defamation to a fellow high ranking member of the Imperial family,

I won't ask you if you plead guilty given that you have confessed, what's more is that the sentence has been passed here and now." Fujiwara no Shige replied.

He along with the others stepped aside while a group of Imperial guards walked into the room and then they ceased the Imperial Prince Anahobe and he stood up.

"Repent your sins and you shall be granted a chance to live." Fujiwara no Shige said as the Imperial guards led him out.

He watched him closely and the other Courtiers following Fujiwara no Shige was left all alone in the interrogation room.

After he had left Fujiyaro walked in and then he halted right beside him.

"Is it true?" Fujiyaro asked.

"We have the lead and in deed it points at the Empress having her own clout in the Court." Fujiwara no Shige said.

"I heard that she recently had one of your old schoolmates Jinnō elevated to a Secondary Courtier." Fujiyaro said.

"She's so desperate to have the talents all to herself." Fujiwara no Shige said, "Also she wishes to counter my power." He added.

"But you never told me before, whom do you serve if not the very Empress that trusts you?" Fujiyaro asked.

"Not the Imperial Princess, not you, not the Crown Prince but as long as it is Wa then the Chrysanthemum throne has always been my master." Fujiwara no Shige replied.

"Why?" General Fujiyaro asked.

"Without the Chrysanthemum throne then none of those people would posses the very Power that they are wielding." Fujiwara no Shige replied.

Princess Toyomike was seated in her new Chambers and sipping at a cup of tea when Sina walked up to her.

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

"What is it?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Her Highness the Empress and the Crown Princess are here to see you." Sina replied.

"So soon, are they already missing me?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Not really, they just brought a couple of gifts with themselves and they are requesting for an audience with you." Sina replied.

"Let them in." Princess Toyomike said and Sina bowing her head she walked out.

Empress Ishi Hime led the way inside as she was closely followed by the Crown Princess and Sakae and Hotaru who were carrying with them a series of gifts.

Princess Toyomike stood up.

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

"Princess." Empress Ishi Hime replied as she did the same.

"Isn't it a little bit too early for the both of us to have a parley with one another?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"We are only here to convey our good tidings." Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"Have a seat." Princess Toyomike said and the two sat down.

"Pour them some tea." Princess Toyomike ordered Sina who complied and gave both the Empress and the Crown Princess.

"You are too hospitable." Empress Ishi Hime remarked.

"Isn't that what women of the Inner Court are trained to be?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"I recall that unlike the others we both are quite different so I wasn't expecting that much." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"For a face that is dangerous enough for your Highness to look at my kindness makes me all the more fatal and you more frightened." Princess Toyomike replied.

"Frightened?" Empress Ishi Hime asked, "Hahahaha." She laughed.

"Pardon me if I was funny." Princess Toyomike said while Empress Ishi Hime raised her right hand and warded off the other three ladies in waiting only the three of them remained.

"Congratulations Your Highness." The Crown Princess eventually spoke.

"It seems that through you heaven has commissioned for me a giver of many grandchildren." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"I don't mean to disrespect but I don't think any of them shall be your favourites." Princess Toyomike said.

"But I should laud you because it is my blood that flows through their veins." Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"You must have been surprised hearing about the news of another conception." Princess Toyomike said.

"It came when we least expected it and that time suddenly had to be the very moment that you needed it the most." The Crown Princess said.

"Had it not been for this child then I wouldn't have lived to see this day perhaps and my beloved husband would have doubted me though I must be thankful that the very ploy you both had orchestrated to push us apart only drew the both of us much closer to one another." Princess Toyomike bragged.

"It was just out ill fortune and our poor timing, we couldn't be as calculative as yourself so forgive us both if we let you down." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"There is no need to ask for my forgiveness, I must say that I learnt at least a thing or two." Princess Toyomike said.

"The Palace without you is very boring and lonely, who would have thought that at this very moment we'd be far apart while you are enjoying the luxuries of the Osada no Miya Palace?" The Crown Princess said.

"Isn't it better without me because I won't stay here for so long eventually I'll have to return to you there at the Imperial Palace, you can as well say that this is your best time to prepare your arms against mine." Princess Toyomike said.

"It is a good thing as you have said Your Highness." Empress Ishi Hime said as she sipped at her cup of tea.

"You have exhausted every move to try and harm me with all the prophecies and the languages of the stars.

You've sent assassins after me and people to spy on me consequently while at the same time you buried those that were mine.

You've rallied the support of many primary Courtiers to topple me and now that I am a Consort the Imperial wives and Concubines are all divided it's hard enough for me to become influential to those that I call my own.

To me you have made the Palace blooded that I am curious what more have you got to throw at me this time around I needed you to rethink your strategies." Princess Toyomike said.

"Your Highness is considerate and we shall keep all that you have said in mind, for today let us not talk as enemies but allow me to convey my last piece of good grace to you." Empress Ishi Hime said as she clapped her hands and Sakae walked up to her side while holding a series of fabrics.

"This is fine Ivory silk tafetta." Empress Ishi Hime said as Sakae walked over to the Princess and showed her the brocade which was inlaid with a series of diamond and pearl studs.

"Such a fine choice Your Highness." Princess Toyomike said.

"Thank you." Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"It's my turn Your Highness." The Crown Princess said as she clapped her hands twice and Hotaru walked by her side with another piece of fabric and expensive jewelry.

"What's this Your Highness?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Fine scarlet lace with gold and silver thread inlaid with rubies and quartz along with a four carat golden headdress." The Crown Princess replied.

"All these are very expensive gifts that I am grateful." Princess Toyomike said.

"It's nothing much." The Crown Princess said, "After all what is the use of family if not this?" She asked.

"You are right, what is the use of family?" Princess Toyomike replied.

Sina walked over to Sakae and Hotaru and gathering all that they had brought she put it all away.

The ladies in waiting withdrew again while Princess Toyomike sipped some of her tea and placed it back onto the table.

"Tell me more Your Highness, isn't the Palace peaceful?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"It is." Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"That's good." Princess Toyomike said, "What about the Imperial Prince Anahobe?" She asked.

"I guess we have to wait until we have heard from the State Tribunal but as it is he failed at what he was supposed to do so be is of no use to me." Empress Ishi Hime said as she sipped at her cup of tea.

"Tell me Your Highness, what do you wish to do with the power that you have?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Must I tell you a story?" Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"Yes." Princess Toyomike replied.

"I once loved a man called Soga no Iname so deeply and I'd consequently blame myself for having not married him at all given the fact that he was too ordinary and I was a Princess." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Iname knew my inner most thoughts and my pains, he unlike all the men that pretended they cared loved me unconditionally that he was willing to keep on giving me more and more.

There was one difference between us though aside from the social caste, he couldn't rule as my Emperor and he could not advocate for the very faith that I embraced.

I thought that I could perhaps try to change him by trying to grab from him all the power that he possesed in the world but in the end it only made us enemies.

I was happy that he perished but unhappy that he actually was the only one that my heart could beat for." She added.

"My mother loved the Emperor dearly but why did you resent her for that?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"I can't tell you everything now but I realized that the depth of the love that your mother had with the Emperor became the very wall that hampered you.

That passion in it's abundance constituted your brothers along with yourself and all I had to protect was my son who was the Crown Prince Nunakakura.

I was angry that after using me to acquire the throne the Emperor would depose me I had to master all the necessary support I could find and consolidate myself as a pillar of the Inner Court so that I could possess each and every amount of power that I needed to stay safe and alive." Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"Eventually when I rose up against you you only wished to extinguish me." Princess Toyomike said.

"No offense but that should be your only fate because you and me can never be allies, however to think that vanquishing you is my most grandiose dream then you are mistaken because that is only a glimpse of the future that I dream for myself." Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Staking yourself to be my enemy, aren't you afraid that the future generations could resent you?" Princess Toyomike asked.

"Let them say what they want, even if I went down into the pages of oblivion and my ambitions flew forgotten like one nightmare of this country, I'd be proud even in death that I lived my life without regretting anything that I did." Empress Ishi Hime replied.

Sakae walked over to her and offering her hand Empress Ishi Hime took it as she stood up with the Princess.

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

The Crown Princess only bowed hers as well as they all walked away leaving the Princess alone in the room.

Fujiwara no Shige walked into a dark chamber and there ahead of him other than the wan moonlight that shone over a Silhouette that was seated on a chair there wasn't a single person around.

"Did you find out who it was that put the Imperial Prince Anahobe up to that?" A strange deep voice asked.

"Yes." Fujiwara no Shige replied as he bowed his head.

The person that was seated ahead stood up from their seat and slowly started walking into the wan moonlight that shone through the ceiling to the centre of the room.

He revealed his prominent features and his dark eyes and it turned out to be the Emperor Kinmei himself.

"Your Majesty." Fujiwara no Shige said.

"I knew you were competent for this job so rise up." The Emperor said.

"Thank you Your Majesty." Fujiwara no Shige said as he stood upright.

"Tell me who it was that put him up to that." Emperor Kinmei said.

"Her Highness the Empress." Fujiwara no Shige said.

"The Empress?" He Asked.

"Yes Your Majesty." Fujiwara no Shige confirmed.

"All these years of mismanagement, I turned a blind eye but now that she has turned out to be powerful I am rather worried." The Emperor said.

"What is it Your Majesty?" Fujiwara no Shige asked.

"Can you justify her actions?" The Emperor asked.

"She seems to be rather concerned about her son's welfare and wishes to guard against the influence of other Imperial Princes in the Imperial Court." Fujiwara no Shige replied.

"I hope so." Emperor Kinmei said, "When women become as ambitious then turbulence is the result of their actions." He added.

"What is it Your Majesty?" Fujiwara no Shige asked.

"When Jingu reigned, Crown Princess Litoyo followed and now I fear that the calamity of Himiko the Queen of death could be before us all being preceded by all those women." Emperor Kinmei said.

"Your Majesty, there is more on your mind." Fujiwara no Shige said.

"I consulted the Priests from Kii mountain range Temple and they told me that yesterday there was an inauspicious sign in the heaven's and they are pointing at the coming of a female Ruler of Was." Emperor Kinmei replied.

"Your Majesty." Fujiwara no Shige said, "There are too many Princes and who in the world would acquiesce to the thought of having a woman on the Chrysanthemum throne?" he asked.

"Don't be too quick to refute it and if it is the Empress herself then I believe we must sever that power from her and perhaps if we can not we must contain it." Emperor Kinmei said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Fujiwara no Shige said.

Miwa no Sakau walked into the Crown Prince's study and found him there.

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

"Did you find out what I asked of you?" The Crown Prince Asked.

"Yes Your Highness." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"Who was the Imperial Prince seeing before the incident of the Scandal?" The Crown Prince asked.

"Her Highness the Empress and the Crown Princess." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"What?" The Crown Prince asked.

"Your mother was against your marriage in the first place and the Crown Princess must have been jealous of the Imperial Princess Toyomike for amassing your grace, I have in deed confirmed that it was her Highness and the Crown Princess behind the ploy." Miwa no Sakau replied.

The Crown Prince was disappointed and he leaves against his table.

"Are you going to desert the Imperial Princess because since young you obeyed your mother." Miwa no Sakau said.

"No." The Crown Prince replied, "I let mother have her way with my life but when it comes to the Imperial Princess Toyomike then I am unwilling to let go, even if she has to kill me for it." He added.