CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

"Sanctity, eternal peace and Providence of the Kami?" She asked as she stared at the magnificent mausoleum.

"Yes." The priest who was presiding over the ceremony replied.

"Wonderful." Consort Toyomike replied as she put her hands together right in front of her and bowed he first, second and third time's.

She had just been given the incense sticks when suddenly a personal turned up from behind the Mausoleum dressed as one of the priests.

"Consort Toyomike?" He said as he stretched out a bow and an arrow from behind a rock and he pointed it at the young woman.

Consort Toyomike stared at him while the Emperor Bidatsu called for the Imperial guards.

The rest of the people were just staring at Consort Toyomike who was rather unmoved by the incident that a certain degree of confidence appeared on her face while she stretched out her arms widely.

The guests gasped while she showed no desire of retreat and she only breathed so deeply as she raised her chin and closed her eyes while facing the sky.

The Archer who was scared while she smiled as though in prayer gathered all the strength that he could find and he let the arrow break free from his grip.

In a glimpse the most amazing result had been orchestrated and without even reaching far the Imposter and assassin was being consumed by fire while one of the lamps that was at the altar had fallen to the ground.

Consort Toyomike opened up her eyes as she looked at the man that was burning in front of her with the arrow that had struck the ground right beneath her feet.

She froze while all the other people around her moved backwards in fear.

She was unwavered by the experience moreso she didn't seem bothered as her attacker had been vanquished.

The Dowager Empress along with her son looked at her amazed by her bravery and perhaps everyone would have started to praise her for doing absolutely nothing.

"Is it the will of heaven, The Kami are powerful." Some of the priests that were nearby remarked.

The Commons that were standing outside but we're still granted a view of everything that was happening within the burial grounds.

They gulped as their eyes widened.

"She is a demigoddess." Many praised while Emperor Bidatsu was relieved a part of him though still frightened that his wife had nearly lost her life and the other part rather grateful that she had survived.

Consort Toyomike having watched her Enemy turn into ashes as his screams filled the air, she turned around puzzled as well as she looked at the Dowager Empress Ishi Hime who smiled ghastly at her.

Consort Toyomike started to walk towards her husband but as she drew closer the Priests who were rather afraid at some point and some of the Courtiers only distanced themselves from her.

"My dear." Emperor Bidatsu said as he rushed over to the Princess and there and then he hugged her and pulled her tightly into his embrace.

His eyes were entirely teary and he looked stressed out he nearly lost his mind.

The Imperial guards went and surrounded the corpse that had already quietened down.

"Toyomike." The Emperor called.

"I am fine." Consort Toyomike replied.

Emperor Bidatsu was in his Chambers when Mononobe no Suke and Mononobe no Moriya walked in.

"Your Majesty." They said in unison as they bowed their heads.

The Emperor stood up from where he was seated and he threw a memorial right in front of them.

"Can the both of you explain to me what this is?" Emperor Bidatsu asked angrily and Moriya bent over and picked it up as he opened it.

His eyes perused through everything that was inside.

"It's only been three hours after the occasion and this is what others are forwarding to me, the ceremony and all the rituals were supposed to be performed without any interferences but look right here one totally and explain to me.

You were in charge of the ceremony and you were supposed to organize it to the very best but everyone is rather criticizing me at this point in time and they are wondering how it all went down while honouring earth and heaven." Emperor Bidatsu scolded.

"Please forgive me Your Majesty, I overlooked my responsibility." Mononobe no Suke said.

"What you are saying doesn't really matter that much to me, I am more concerned that your carelessness put Imperial Consort Toyomike's life in danger." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Your Majesty, after every thing that happened at Kawachi no Shinaga no naka no o no misasagi I believe that not all our efforts to make the ceremony went in vain." Moriya said.

"What do you mean, I nearly lost my wife, what is so great about that?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Your Majesty, it has only been hours but if you listen for yourself then I believe Your Majesty that you shall be pleased by what the people are talking about." Moriya said.

"As always the Kami have been faithful and even in this disaster one can say that Her Highness gained much more than anyone else." Mononobe no Suke added.

"What is it?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"As we speak Your Majesty, Her Highness has indeed been popularised as a Saintess amongst the people as news has travelled about that her Murderer was scorched by heavenly father and the will of heaven is protecting her." Moriya replied.

"Your Majesty, at a distance most of the commons and the people who weren't in close proximity to her couldn't tell the cause of the fire and how it was possible for Her Highness to survive without being harmed at all and also without a bruise." Mononobe no Suke said.

"What have they to say about this issue?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Rather than destroying the rituals before they were even commenced, it is a common belief right now that perhaps the best climax of it came to early and it has popularised the Imperial family in deed proving amongst men that your descent is from the Sun goddess Amaterasu." Mononobe no Suke replied.

The Emperor seemed to calm down as he sat down on his seat.

"Is that so?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"One can imagine that with the Immaculate appearance that Imperial Consort Toyomike graced the people with and the unimagined tumult that ended into an unseen victory she's brought you glory and perhaps heaven has approved of her as your soulmate for life deeming you both to be inseparable.

She is a holder of the grace and the sanctity of the Imperial women within Nara." Mononobe no Suke replied.

"Heaven has been graceful and on our side but because of the good result this is a matter that I can't undermine either." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"What do you wish for us to do for you Your Majesty?" Mononobe no Moriya asked.

"I need to first and foremost know who the victim who attempted to murder my wife is." Emperor Bidatsu replied.

"Your Highness, the burns were quite serious and I am afraid that his face is disfigured, without it it is close to Impossible for the both of us to find out who the person was.

Additionally the Imperial Consort Toyomike is someone who is friendly to very many it is very difficult for her to have enemies that are Known.

This could have been one of those cases where you could have offended someone or perhaps the victim was someone who was wronged by your father while he was still alive." Mononobe no Moriya suggested.

"I am not asking for your incompetence I just want to know who it was that was behind this attack and I need to verify for myself that something like this shall never have to happen again." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Yes Your Majesty." The two said in unison.

"I don't care what you have to do to find the real criminals or the people that instigated this attempt on the Imperial Consort Toyomike's life but if it is beyond your talents then tell me and I promise you that I can not fail to find someone that is competent enough for this job." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Yes Your Majesty." The two replied.

"Keep track of the public opinion on this and you should inform me regularly." Emperor Bidatsu commanded.

"Yes Your Majesty." The two replied as they withdrew from his presence and they left the Emperor alone.

Consort Toyomike who was hiding behind the curtain looked at the Emperor who seemed to notice her present without even looking there.

"Don't you think you have stood for long enough?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

Consort Toyomike stepped out of her hiding place and then she walked up to him.

"Don't you think that you are a little bit hard on them." She said as he stretched out his right hand to her and taking her left she sat on his lap.

"I am afraid that of anything happens to you them it is enough for me to go crazy." Emperor Bidatsu replied.

"But you are more than my husband, you are their Emperor and they bow to you." Consort Toyomike said.

"It doesn't matter." Emperor Bidatsu replied, "If you are not stern with your people and tough with them sometimes they start to become ignorant and before you know it they don't seem to take you seriously." He added.

"I understand." Considering Toyomike said.

"I am always concerned especially when it comes to you however I must be frank that I was displeased with what you did back then." Emperor Bidatsu confessed.

"What Your Majesty?" Consort Toyomike asked.

"You were ready to embrace death even at that very moment, weren't you worried about how I was going to live afterwards if anything awful happened to you?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

Your Majesty, I was standing in front of you and much as I was the target had he missed me then certainly the arrow would have struck you." Consort Toyomike replied.

"And giving him the target was the best decision that you could conjure at that moment?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Yes." Consort Toyomike replied.

"I am a husband and I am supposed to protect you, it can not be the other way round." Emperor Bidatsu remarked.

"But you are the man that I love and also the good Emperor of these people that I had sworn to protect with all my life.

Should harm be upon you I'd live in the guilt of having not been able to save the bright future if this country." Consort Toyomike replied.

"I am most grateful that I have you for my wife." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"I had a feeling inside me that it wasn't my day to die and heaven heard my plea and besides for you I am willing to be much more than a wife, I want to be your bossom friend and also your soulmate, to be the rock that you lean on all the time." Consort Toyomike replied.

"Thank you so much." Emperor Bidatsu said as he embraced his wife into a hug.

"Mother." Empress Hirohime called, "It seems that our scheme backfired." She added.

"Why do you say so?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"Mother, hadn't we wanted the Imperial Consort Toyomike dead?" Empress Hirohime asked.

"No." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"How then is the Emperor supposed to be afraid of her when it only appears as though he has become endeared to her the more?" Empress Hirohime asked.

"You are still shortsighted." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"Enlighten me Your Highness." Empress Hirohime said.

"It only takes a matter of time before you can strike and take what you want without the slightest bit of resistance at all." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Given everything that went down at the Ancestral site had Consort Toyomike died the Emperor would have had a reason to believe that we were the root cause of the chaos because your excuse of being sick is something that would have gotten her into harms way you wouldn't have to win over his heart in the end." She added.

" I see." Empress Hirohime said.

"Once Her Highness is popularised then we can use it to our advantage and perhaps her fame could be the very reason that the Emperor has to start getting jealous of her and becoming suspicious.

When that suspicion has set in just fine, we shall retaliate by taking the best strike when the time is right." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"You are really smart Your Highness." Empress Hirohime remarked.

"It's not that I have conjured this move bit rather because I feel much more of it is a bargain that I am taking.

Our chance at victory is narrow but if we can not separate them using unfaithfulness as an excuse then the best way of separating them is making them feel like contenders." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"I see Your Highness." Empress Hirohime replied.

"I have one proposal to make mother." She said.

"What is it?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"Imperial Consort Toyomike I heard was on good terms with her brothers and that I believe is something that we could use to conjure up a ride against her." Empress Hirohime replied.

"Husband and brother?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Yes Your Highness, you are thinking what I am thinking." Empress Hirohime replied.

"To justify his fears of course something good enough to attract the Emperor's mistrust." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said as the two smiled ghastly.

Imperial Princess Toyomike was seated inside Her room watching Princess Oharita who peacefully lay in her crib sound asleep.

Her mind had drifted away to the incident that had happened earlier in the day and she recalled the rage that burnt within the eyes of the man who had aimed his arrow at her.

For a moment she couldn't believe that she was standing there alive and her reaction was perhaps the most shocking.

"Why would her Highness do this?" She asked herself when Kabane trotted inside.

"Your Highness." He said loudly.

"Ssh " She quietened him down, you'll awaken the baby." She added.

"Pardon me Your Highness." Kabane said as he bowed his head.

"What is it?" Consort Toyomike asked.

"Her Highness the Dowager Empress is here and she requests to have an audience with you." Kabane replied.

"Its nearly late and the Emperor is away." Consort Toyomike replied.

"Should I let her in?" Kabane asked.

"Yes." Consort Toyomike replied after thinking about it for a short while.

The Dowager Empress Ishi Hime mightily walked into the room as Consort Toyomike stood up from the side of her daughter's crib and she walked over to the nearby table that was surrounded with a couple of chairs.

"Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head to her evil Mother in law.

"Greetings." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied as she did the same to her.

"Can we have a sit, you must have travelled and walked for long standing up shall certainly wear you out." Consort Toyomike said heartily with care.

"There is no need to be too hospitable." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime remarked.

"I insist given the fact that you are my beloved mother in law and considering the fact that you also gave me your beloved son I am eternally grateful." Consort Toyomike replied.

"Congratulations." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Upon getting married to my son, there is none like him in the whole wide world." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"Thank you." Consort Toyomike appreciated.

"I am also happy for you, it mustn't have been easy but you cheated Shinigami's embrace." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime added.

"For that as well I trust that I should be thankful to none other than Your Highness." Consort Toyomike replied.

Dowager Empress Ishi Hime looked her in the eye and she ghastly smiled.

"I am pleased that you seem to understand me day by day." She said.

"Your Highness, there is none like you in the whole of Nara and that's what makes you my best contender, when I have to fight with you and compete for favours I feel that from each and every move that is orchestrated by you, I learn adequately." Consort Toyomike praised.

"You do know when to give credit that I should also accord you with some as well for having also given me the opportunity to become as powerful as I am." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Are you saying that without me you wouldn't have even dared to become a regent?" Consort Toyomike asked.

"No." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime refuted, "I am saying that without you I would have never realized that at one point creation would have to bow before me." She added.

"So we both opened eyes to one another." Consort Toyomike said.

"Precisely." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"Then Enlighten me Your Highness, you would have known that above everything else in the world my survival would have given me glory amongst the people." Consort Toyomike said.

"Heaven and earth would have praised you and knowing that you weren't going to die today you used the opportunity very well to show how fearless you are." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime remarked as she smiled.

"I still can't conjure why you'd wish to help me make such a standard in the eyes of many knowing that it would rival with your power." Consort Toyomike said.

"Perhaps I am calculative when it comes to the taking chances and perhaps I believe that giving you a standard you can not wield that immense power it shall eventually be the very thing to destroy you or weaken you for me to see to your demise." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"How can you tell the power that is beyond my capabilities to wield?" Consort Toyomike asked.

"Take a river or a lake for instance, if it supplies you with more and more fish every time you visit then what do you think shall happen the one time that you go there and get nothing?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"You'd be disappointed." Consort Toyomike replied.

"And you would become angry." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"And when you become angry?" Consort Toyomike asked.

"You'll either abandon it or worse you shall drain it." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"You knew that I would fall for your scheme." Consort Toyomike said.

"You are finally understanding now." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime remarked.

"You have a very good eye when it comes to my weaknesses of recent." Consort Toyomike said.

"Perhaps it is because having lived long enough I understand people and you know it as well that once you please them today they'll want you to please them tomorrow." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"How much more of Heaven's will are you going to give me?" Consort Toyomike asked.

"I told you whatever amount it takes as long as it is going to crumble you and cause you to fall." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

Consort Toyomike kept quiet.

"I understand that you are very curious in your own nature and perhaps I should give you the bigger picture so that you understand my motive.

On one hand there is the husband that you are struggling to protect with the will of heaven but the consequence of that action is that eventually he'll grow afraid of you that he'll have to distance himself in return and on the other hand there are the people that look up to you as a demigoddess to ease their pain and suffering and intercede on their behalf to heaven contrary to your firm Buddhist beliefs they'll keep demanding for a miracle and if you can not give a more outstanding one each time then someone else will and in an instant those who would have feared you and believed in you shall have shifted like a ride they'd be against you.

In short if I am to summarize it all for you my personal initiative from this was to put you in a position where you can not possess them both but you must give up one at the expense of another." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"Huh." Consort Toyomike sighed. "How long were you thinking about this?" She asked.

"Long enough." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"You might think that I realized my dream just yesterday but I had the most grandiose dreams for both this country and myself since childhood and you were just a hamper that came along to try and alter the order of the way things were supposed to go for me." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime added.

"You have defined your ruse and J shall also define mine." Considering Toyomike said.

"I wish to see you try." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Thank you Your Highness." Consort Toyomike said.

"What for?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"Up to now I only realised that my deepest conflict was with myself and not with you." Consort Toyomike replied.

"And what would you know about inner conflict, considering how far I have come in this life Your Highness, I stake everything I have to either gain or lose it all and there is nothing more like in between for me." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"I won't let you down Your Highness either, because you and I share a similar mind, body and soul even I stake everything I have to either gain or lose it all and there is nothing more like in between." Consort Toyomike added.

"Thanks for your advice." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said as she stood up from where she was seated and Consort Toyomike stood up as well.

The two of them bowed their heads to one another and the Dowager Empress turned around and she sashayed away as she was led out through the doors of the Chambers.

Consort Toyomike turned around and she looked back at the crib of her daughter while she recalled the words that the Dowager Empress Ishi Hime had just told her a while back there.

"My personal initiative from this was to put you in a position where you can not possess them both but you must give up one at the expense of another." She had said to her. "And what would you know about inner conflict, considering how far I have come in this life Your Highness, I stake everything I have to either gain or lose it all and there is nothing more like in between for me." she had gone ahead to say.

At that moment she walked up to one of her drawers and she opened it.

"Sina." She called as she rushed in right by her side while she pulled out an envelope.

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

"Take this." Consort Toyomike said, "Make sure that you deliver it to General Fujiyaro." She added.

"Yes Your Highness." Sina replied as she took it into her possession.

"Your Highness." Sina called.

"What is it?" Consort Toyomike replied.

"Did her Highness perhaps say anything that was displeasing to you?" Sina asked.

"She was behind the attempt to assassinate me at Kawachi no Shinaga no naka no o no misasagi." Consort Toyomike replied.

"But you survived." Sina replied.

"It's all a part of her plan as I had suspected and perhaps for a contender I have underestimated her and it has wound up with my back being against the wall." Consort Toyomike said.

"I'll deliver this letter to General Fujiyaro right away." Sina said.

"Please be very careful you know." Consort Toyomike replied, "Should it land in the wrong hands then the both of us are doomed." Consort Toyomike said.

"Yes Your Highness." Sina replied as she bowed her head and she withdrew from her Mistress' presence.

Dowager Empress Ishi Hime who had already walked out met Sakae along with all her other ladies in waiting.

"Your Highness " They said as they bowed down their heads to her.

"It is time." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Yes Your Highness." Sakae replied along with all the others in unison while she smiled ghastly while the Dowager Empress Ishi Hime walked away.

Consort Toyomike inside her room she was still lost in her thoughts when Emperor Bidatsu walked in.

"Toyomike." He called but she couldn't hear him say a word.

He drew closer and touched her right shoulder and she was startled.

"Your Majesty." She said.

"Is there anything wrong?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Nothing." Consort Toyomike replied.

"Don't lie to me." Emperor Bidatsu insisted.

"Your Majesty." Consort Toyomike eventually gave in to his demands as she looked at him in the eye hesitant to finish her speech.

"What is it?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Your Majesty, if you don't mind there is something that I wish to show you." Consort Toyomike replied.

"What is it?" Emperor Bidatsu asked and Toyomike stood up from where she was seated and she walked up to her cupboard.

She opened it and from inside she pulled out a small chest and in it there was a golden scroll that had been placed inside.

She carried the chest towards him and she placed it on the table and decided to open it.

She pulled out the scroll and she handed it over to the Emperor who opened it and then he read out loud the words that were inside.

"THIS IS MY FINAL INJUNCTION AND I WOULD LIKE TO REVOKE EVERY OTHER IMPERIAL DECREE BEFORE THIS, UPON MY DEATH THE EMPRESS ALONG WITH MYSELF SHOULD BE BURIED FOR WE ARE FOREVER INSEPARABLE LIKE EARTH AND HEAVEN LEST THE DOMAIN SHALL SUCCUMB TO THE RULE OF AN EMPEROR'S DAUGHTER." Emperor Bidatsu read.

He folded the scroll and then he placed it into the chest that was right in front of him.

"Why didn't you tell me this?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Your Majesty, pardon me but I knew that you would hurt because of your mother." Consort Toyomike replied.

"It didn't really have to be this in the first place and why would the Domain succumb to the rule of an Emperor's daughter?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Your Majesty, I can not give you all the answers that you want because Sato went through a lot of trouble to ask me to give you this scroll.

Judging from his reaction I do not think that he had any idea about what was inside the scroll but if the Emperor gave it to him he must have told him something else." Consort Toyomike replied.

"An Emperor's Daughter?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"I to don't understand but as far as I recall your mother was the daughter of Emperor Senka whom your father married to consolidate his claim on the throne.

I only fear that perhaps there was something that caused him to suspect that Her Highness was up to something." Consort Toyomike replied.

"But why then would father name her the Dowager Empress Regent?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"I don't know." Consort Toyomike replied.

Bidatsu looked puzzled.

"There's no way that my mom would be as ambitious, perhaps for her to rule that means that she would have to kill me." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"You are her son and her flesh and blood, my fear is that if your mother isn't the person that father was worried about who could it be?" Consort Toyomike asked.

"Mother hasn't shown any opposition to the policies that I have passed and she has no support from the Courtiers." Emperor Bidatsu remarked.

"Perhaps Your Majesty is mistaken." Consort Toyomike remarked.

"Why is that?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"We are not certain if Her Highness is ambitious or not." Consort Toyomike replied.

"What must I do to prove that to you?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Everyone in the Inner Court could respect her because she is a senior member and someone wanted you dead in the very beginning and this time around they had aimed for me your Highness, aren't you surprised?" Consort Toyomike asked.

"Her Highness' influence in the Inner Court could attract the attention of a lot more Courtiers to side behind her because where you seem to harsh and very difficult to manipulate it's possible that Her Highness the Dowager Empress or the Empress Consort could be." She added.

"So you are saying that the Courtiers would wish to rebel through my mother?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"The Inner court is a solid foundation on which the Imperial Court stands, courtesans and Imperial wives and Concubines along with their Children especially their sons each tend to compete for a claim of being the mother of the future Emperor it gets bloody.

During your mother's reign as the Empress Consort peace has been maintained which I don't think was something very easy to begin with and on top of that it is the reason that the Imperial Court is stable today.

If we wish to protect your mother without having to bury her with your father or exposing her to temptation then we must start by reducing her powers as a recent." Consort Toyomike replied.

"You are asking me to make my mother nominal?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"This is one method that could show you first which ones are willing to follow either Highness or you so you would tell clearly your real allies and your enemies." Consort Toyomike replied.

"And secondly?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"If someone is a nominal regent their regency expires upon death of either one of you unless the Courtiers are in their power.

The de facto power must remain yours and you must be absolute because should you share your power then the Courtiers shall do whatever is in their power to turn your mother against you." Consort Toyomike replied.

"You have a point but I am reluctant about one thing." Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"What is it Your Majesty?" Consort Toyomike asked.

"If perhaps one day my mother is to turn against me what shall I do to protect her?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.