CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

It was very dark and the Sogas had gathered at the household of Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto's residence

His wife Princess Anahobe was in labour and Imperial Consort Toyomike along with Kabane and Sina walked out of the Imperial Palace.

Dowager Empress Ishi Hime was seated in her quarters along with Empress Hirohime when Sakae and Hotaru walked in.

"Your Highnesses." They said as they bowed their heads to the two women.

"Tell us." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime demanded.

"We have confirmed that Her Highness Imperial Consort Toyomike has in deed left the Palace." Sakae replied.

The Dowager Empress Ishi Hime looked at her daughter in law.

"Is there any other better chance than now?" She Asked.

"Not at all Your Highness." Empress Hirohime replied.

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

"What have you to say to us my dear?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"Her Highness Princess Anahobe is now giving birth at Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto's residence." Hotaru replied.

"Very good." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Does His Majesty know of this?" Empress Hirohime Asked.

"No Your Highness." Hotaru replied.

"Imperial Consort Toyomike has had the will of heaven defiled and she has possesed it for herself, she is influential and she has establish her clout in the Imperial Court.

She has sneaked out of the Imperial Palace at night without the knowledge of His Majesty and she has been exchanging letters with officials in an attempt to overthrow Your Highness' Government.

She is found present at the site of Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto's residence and there along with the Sogas given her permission they are to rebel and force his Majesty to abdicate and install a Soga Monarch as their Emperor." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said. "How does that sound?" She asked.

"Brilliant Your Highness." Empress Hirohime replied.

"Have you intercepted all the letters that we have been gathering all this time?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"Yes Your Highness, our spies on the inside have all gathered them." Sakae replied.

"According to the letters, where shall the Soga Courtiers be meeting?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"At the small plot of land in a small cottage that stands on the east end of Kagu Hill, hidden withing the surrounding trees and free from public disturbance it is a rather secret location." Sakae replied.

"Tell all the guards to gather." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said and ask His Majesty the Emperor to come with us." She added.

"Your Highness, why not inform her beforehand?" Empress Hirohime asked.

"It shall ruin the mood and I want to see the look on that wench's face when we uproot the Sogas along with herself and on this day she shall know who is the master of the Palace and who is the ruler of all creation." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"It shall be hitting two birds with one stone." Empress Hirohime said.

"Precisely." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said with a ghastly smile on her face.

"Right away Your Highness." Sakae replied as she withdrew from the room and left the two with Hotaru alone.

Imperial Consort Toyomike had finally arrived in her rather small Palanquin outside the gates of Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto's residence.

She stepped out of it as Sina and Kabane stood right by her side while she studied the wooden plaque that hang at the doorway.

"We are Here Your Highness." Kabane said as their eyes followed her own.

"I'd never thought that this night would come and now let us wait for the peaceful Deliverance and let us all witness the true power and might of the Sogas that I have bestowed upon them." Imperial Consort Toyomike said as she mounted the stairs that led to the gates and she knocked on them.

The doors were opened and the three of them walked into the Outer Courtyard where a number of Officials had gathered.

"Your Highness." They said while bowing their heads when they noticed the presence of Imperial Consort Toyomike amongst them.

Consort Toyomike walked gracefully until she further approached the doorway behind which her half-sister lay hearing her mild screams coming from inside.

She had been there before and no one understood that pain much better than herself of all the men that were gathered and looking at her.

Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto seeing her he bowed his head to her and greeted her.

"How is she?" Consort Toyomike asked.

"She has been in there for about thirty minutes." Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto replied.

"I haven't been too late I see." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Yes Your Highness." Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto replied.

"Very good then, is everything ready?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"As you had asked us to do so Your Highness, everything is ready." Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto replied.

"The streets outside are going to be filled with very many elements and my very presence here could endanger both you and your family however I must take this chance to consecrate the child that your wife shall deliver at least of not for the will of these men then for the will of the greatest of and that I have prepared for him." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Yes Your Highness." Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto replied.

She had just concluded like this when there following a mild Silence within the room the cries of a baby emerged stronger than ever before.

All the Sogas that were present in the vicinity turned and looked at the doors of the room and their waiting for a while the Midwife walked out as she held a child within her hands.

"How is Princess Anahobe?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"Her Highness is fine and she is resting for the time being." The midwife said. "Congratulations Your Highness, the child is a boy." She added as she handed over the baby to it's Father.

Prince Tachibana held it into it's arms as he looked at it so gracefully his heart had turned soft and he nearly exploded with tears of joy.

"Let me have him." Imperial Consort Toyomike said and without any hesitation, the Imperial Prince handed over his son to his sister.

Imperial Consort Toyomike took the child into her hands while it opened it's eyes only to reveal it's most remarkable gaze which was glorious and within it there was a hint of greatness that she saw for herself.

"All glory is to Heaven for Buddha has blessed as all, his eyes are bright like the stars gracing the northern Dipper and his heart is pure but full of courage and wisdom.

For all I can see that greatness has been laid ahead of him and just as brave he'll perform many acts of Valor but most importantly to us, he shall be a pillar of strength." Consort Toyomike said.

"Give him a name please." Imperial Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto said.

"He shall be PRINCE UMAYADO." Imperial Consort Toyomike said as she lifted him up into her hands and showed him to the rest of the Sogas who bowed their heads to her.

"Mustn't we act now?" Imperial Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto asked.

"It is time." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

There were a series of guards that were patrolling and had stationed themselves outside the residence when the doors opened and they saw a series of men that were dressed nobly walking out of the courtyard.

Slowly the Palanquin that had belonged to Imperial Consort Toyomike moved right in front of them while Consort Toyomike hurriedly entered while Sina and Kabane surveyed the area.

Dowager Empress Ishi Hime and the Empress Hirohime descended from their quarters while they were being escorted by a series of Imperial guards.

Sakae hurried over to there side.

"Your Highness, everything is ready." She said.

"Good." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said, "Have you got word from Hinote?" She asked.

"Yes Your Highness." Sakae replied. "Her Highness has secretly led them all and they are on the move in four big carriages that are headed towards Kagu Hill." Sakae replied.

"Hirohime?" The Dowager Empress called.

"Yes mother?" Empress Hirohime replied.

"Let's go now." The Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said, "I hope that everything within the inner Court is ready." She added.

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

"What about his Majesty?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"His Majesty has agreed to come out with you for a walk." Sakae replied.

She had just mentioned it when Emperor Bidatsu appeared from around the corner.

"Your Majesty, they all said as they bowed their heads to him.

"What's all this mother?" He asked, "I seem to notice that there are a lot of Imperial guards surrounding us here." he added.

"Your Majesty, you are the Emperor of Wa and I am the Dowager Empress, here with me is the Empress and all of us here are the highest caste in the Kingdom." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied, "If we do not guard ourselves and be cautious, we have just as many enemies that want us dead the very best that we can do to try and stay alive is to be mindful that for an Emperor the Imperial guards are not to be short." She added.

"As always you are cautious mother " Emperor Bidatsu said.

"It seems that as Emperor you have become careless, is your life no longer that valuable any more?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked with a smile.

"It's alright mother, I am rather more confident in my dear friend Miwa after all I know that compared to all those who could dare try to hurt me he is the best when it comes to protecting me." Emperor Bidatsu replied.

"My dear, never put your life in the hands of another except your own, if you do to the wrong person which we are thankful Miwa isn't that would be the beginning of your demise." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"You are beginning to sound like Toyomike." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Speaking of which I was hoping that you would turn up with the Imperial Consort Toyomike but why is there no sign of her?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"She had a commitment." Emperor Bidatsu replied.

"What commitment does a married woman with children have other than the welfare of her husband and children?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"I don't know but I trust her." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Never mind forget it come with me." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Where are we going to?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"You'll know later." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said as she turned and looked at Empress Hirohime as she smiled heartily in front of her son.

"If you say so mother." Emperor Bidatsu said and the two were about to walk away when Concubine Unako and a few of her ladies in waiting walked into the Courtyard of the Dowager Empress' Palace.

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

"Umako?" Emperor Bidatsu called, "What brings you here?" He asked.

"Your Highness, I wanted you to come with me because there is something important at my Chambers that I forgot to carry and it's very important that you see it.

"Can't it wait?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"No Your Majesty." Concubine Unako pleaded and Dowager Empress Ishi Hime hearing the desperate tone in her voice knew that there was something she was up to.

Dowager Empress Ishi Hime called Sina over while her son was still talking to his concubine.

"Has she anything to do with Imperial Consort Toyomike?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked in a lowly tone.

"Apparently the two are rather friendly in my opinion I believe that she is covering up for Her Highness." Sakae replied.

"I see." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said as she walked to the side of her son.

"You can send someone over to your quarters to bring the message." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Yes Unako." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Your Majesty, it is confidential." Consort Unako replied.

"What is there between me and you that is confidential, if the matter is that urgent then I shall take care of it when I return." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Your Majesty." Concubine Unako said as the Dowager Empress along with the Emperor and his wife walked past her.

She watched them as they vanished around the corner and they got into a Palanquin and rode away without even looking behind.

Hinote was already with a squad of other Imperial guards and they hid themselves in the trees as they watched the Imperial Consort Toyomike's Palanquin being carried away with all the other carriages following her.

"Have you surrounded the mountain?" Hinote asked them.

"Yes Sir, none of the people here can leave." The guards replied.

"Whatever happens ask the Eastern party to stay hidden around the cottage." Hinote ordered.

"Yes Sir." The Imperial guards under his charge replied as they ran away to the direction of the small building.

Consort Toyomike was seated inside as her Palanquin kept on moving farther and farther while she neared the small building that looked even more beautiful against the moonlight.

She smiled at herself.

"Your Highness, we are almost there " Kabane said through the small window of the Palanquin.

"I can not wait so long, I have always dreamt of a day like this." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Your Highness, what if something goes wrong?" Kabane asked.

"I am most confident that there us nothing wrong that is going to happen in this place, it's serenity is one of the things that is going to give me the best peace of mind." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"What's the other thing Your Highness?" Kabane asked.

"You wait and see." Imperial Consort Toyomike said as she smiled happily.

There were a couple of guards that were moving along with Kabane as they closely monitored the carriages and the Palanquins to see that they were not diverting off the known course.

The Imperial guards all over Nara were moving through the streets along with some regiments of the Imperial Army.

They stopped at the gates of every Soga household and Manor and there they surrounded them all as a couple of guards knocked on them.

Once the doors were opened they hurriedly entered into the Courtyards as they rounded up all the servants that were inside by surprise while they went deeper into the inner Courtyards.

Imperial Princess Anahobe who was with her baby was startled at the sound of the doors breaking and some of the Imperial soldiers walked in with their Spears and pointed them at both her and her lady in waiting.

"Your Highness." She said in fright.

"What are you doing here?" Princess Anahobe asked.

"Forgive us Your Highness but where is your husband?" The Imperial soldiers asked.

"What do you want from him?" Princess Anahobe asked.

"Is your husband at home, yes or no?" The Imperial soldiers asked.

"I'm not saying anything before you tell me whatever it is that you want from my husband." Princess Anahobe replied, "Besides I have just given birth and you soldiers should know better than anyone else that there are limits to your actions." Princess Anahobe said

"My men are going to search this house within every nook the and cranny and if there isn't even a single sign of his presence then I am afraid he'll have to be taken in on the charge of treason and trying to rebel against our Emperor." The soldier who was in charge said.

"Treason?" Princess Anahobe said so surprised.

Eventually, Emperor Bidatsu noticed that they were already getting further and further away from the heart of Nara as they were approaching Kagu Hill.

"Mother, where are we going this far from the Palace?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Please be a little bit patient as there is no need for you to worry because this is my assurance that I can give you this is something that is better for you to see for yourself in person." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"Very well mother, but my patience is wearing thin." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"For this you shall thank me so dearly." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Very well the mother, of you say so." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Soga no Umako's manor was rounded up by a series of Imperial soldiers and being spotted by his own Private ones, they walked out with spears which they pointed at them.

"What are you doing here?" Shizu asked.

"A mere retainer doesn't have the audacity of asking me that question." The head of the regiment said.

"I am not a mere retainer but the one in charge of my Master's household." Shizu spoke up.

"What you are doing is an obstruction to justice and that is a capital offence because we are following an Imperial order." The man said.

"From who, his Majesty?" Shizu asked.

"How dare you talk back, are you going to move or you are suggesting that we move you by force?" The regiment leader asked.

"We are not moving unless you posses a warrant or a seal." Shizu replied.

"Is that what you want right now?" The leader asked.

"I am not asking for too much as we are very much civilized people here there is no need for is to play in a barbaric way." Shizu said.

"Let's see how high your pride can stand." The leader of the regiment said as he pulled out a white peace of paper and showed it to them.

It bore a clear Imperial seal in the left corner and it was a search warrant of the Soga Manor.

Shizu relaxed.

"Are you now satisfied?" The leader asked.

"Yes." Shizu replied as he bowed his heads and all the other guards following his lead they dropped their weapons and they moved aside while the Imperial soldiers marched their way past them and entered into the Manor.

They scattered themselves all over it as they went room to room while looking for Soga no Umako while the leader of the Regiment waited in the outer Courtyard for the others to conclude their search.

Imperial Consort Toyomike's Palanquin had reached outside the small cottage that had been put in place and it was surrounded by a number of cherry blossom trees though still being very young had over the past year flourished fairly into a beautiful garden.

Consort Toyomike stepped out of her Palanquin with the help of Sina and Kabane and there looking at the view of Nara in a distance, she took a deep breath of the fresh air and then she exhaled.

"Its so beautiful Your Highness." Sina remarked.

"I agree but not most beautiful, there is still a scene that is missing from here." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"What more do you need Your Highness?" Kabane asked.

"You be patient and wait a little bit longer, we shall see with time." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"Alright Your Highness." Sina replied.

"The carriages are here." Kabane said when he noticed that they had eventually come to halt right behind Consort Toyomike's Palanquin.

Hinote stared with the rest of his team in a distance as they watched the doors of the carriages opening and a group of Courtiers waking out of them while they all approached Imperial Consort Toyomike.

She walked up to them and they bowed their heads to her.

"Your Highness." They said and all that she did was to return a simple smile as she gracefully bowed her head.

"We are at your service." The men said as they bowed their heads.

"Today is going to be a rather long night and if I am imposing on you it is my humble wish to apologise in advance." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"We are loyal to Your Highness and it is our duty to serve you." They said in unison.

"Then you know what it is that you must do." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Yes Your Highness." They all replied in unison.

"Follow me this way." Imperial Consort Toyomike said as she walked to the cottage while the Courtiers followed her and once they were inside, they closed the doors behind them while a Group of Imperial guards that had accompanied Imperial Consort Toyomike and her ladies in waiting remained outside.

Emperor Bidatsu's Palanquin halted at a distance and Dowager Empress Ishi Hime looked at Empress Hirohime who was with them in the same compartment.

"Are we here?" She asked.

Empress Hirohime looked out of the Palanquin's window where Hinote was.

"Is this it?" Empress Hirohime asked.

"Please tell her Highness that the path has been secured but we must travel from here on foot so that we do not alert anyone." Hinote replied.

"Alright." Empress Hirohime said as she withdrew from Hinote's view and she faced both her mother in law and her husband.

"What have they said?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"That we should be getting off from here Your Highness." Empress Hirohime asked.

"There is nothing special here." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Let's do it Your Majesty, I believe that you shall understand sooner or later." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied as she led the way out of the Palanquin while the Emperor and his Empress followed.

They were eventually standing along a narrow path and there had already been another group of Imperial guards that were headed into their direction.

"Your Majesty." They said as they bowed their heads to Emperor Bidatsu and the Dowager Empress Ishi Hime.

"What's the status?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"They are in the cottage all of them and the place has already been surrounded so they won't escape this hill even if they tried.

Their households in the Capital have also been Surrounded and no one shall be in the position of moving both in and out while their premises are being searched.

"Good." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said, "Very good." She added.

"Mother, what is this, who is being surrounded and why?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Your Highness, I think that we should tell him." Empress Hirohime said.

"Perhaps you are very right." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said as she turned around and looked at her son.

"Before your father passed on he appointed me to be your regent and he made me the holder of the Imperial Seal because he knew better than anyone else that you'd have very many enemies and traitors.

As your mother it is my duty to protect you from not only those people but also from yourself because other than that there isn't even a single time that I don't worry about this Kingdom that your fathers' and forefathers fought for." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said, "there isn't a single time that I don't worry about Your Majesty." She added.

"Mother, what is this?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Her Highness the Imperial Consort Toyomike has formed a clique in the inner Court and she against the orders of the Inner Court and the orders of all the late Emperors that have come on before violated the rule of interference in the affairs of state.

She has gathered up the prominent and the powerful ministers without your knowledge secretly at the very top of this hill and according to the very laws that govern our society any act of such a nature can best be considered treason." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Mother, are you listening to yourself?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"You might think that I am out of order and perhaps that I have exceeded my boundaries bit there are three ways that I can prove it." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Do what you want mother." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"You are coming with me and first if within the very cottage where we are headed there are Courtiers with her then I am right.

Secondly, I have had Imperial troops dispatched throughout the Capital and if they can conclude that the Soga Courtiers are nowhere within their residences then at such an hour where could they be?" Dowager Empress Ishi asked.

Emperor Bidatsu kept quiet.

"I also wish to know from Your Majesty the reason as to why Her Highness didn't inform you about where she was going to be tonight that is if you asked her?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime added.

"Your Highness, we'd better go." Hinote said to the Dowager Empress.

"Let's go." Emperor Bidatsu acquiesced as the way was led by Hinote while they further ascended the hill.

Dowager Empress Ishi Hime smiled as the small cottage came into her sight along with the Empress Consort Hirohime.

As they neared it, Emperor Bidatsu noticed that there were very many cherry blossom trees and there were some lights that were coming from the cottage and shadows that looked rather busy.

The Dowager Empress leading each and everyone else who was present in the vicinity stopped with Imperial guards having entirely started to close in on the small cottage they had outnumbered all those that had been gathered inside.

Imperial Consort Toyomike's ladies in waiting were the first to notice their Presence and before they could scream the Dowager Empress' men had already positioned their swords around their necks.

Emperor Bidatsu was maintaining his distance as he too seemed so shocked.

"What are you doing Toyomike?" He thought to himself inwardly, "Do you wish to rebel against me?" He added.

"If it was to eventually surround her enemy then the Dowager Empress Ishi Hime had succeeded as the Imperial guards slowly approached the doors of the cottage and they kicked them open.

Imperial Consort Toyomike who was inside with all the others turned around to see what it was but the Imperial Guards and soldiers had already flocked in with their Spears they held them up and they pointed at them.

Hinote who led them all drew his sword and he pointed it at the Imperial Consort Toyomike.

"Don't move Your Highness for you are Surrounded and all you Officials here are charged with treason to convene and discuss matters of the state with members of the Inner Court against the consent of His Majesty the Emperor." Hinote said while a few of his men moved over and they caught the others positioning their hands behind them.

Princess Anahobe still stared at the Officer in charge when the doors to the nearby compartment slid open and Her husband the Imperial Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto walked out.

"Your Highness." Princess Anahobe said as she bowed her head.

"There is so much noise and who are you to dare and wreck havoc in my house, you have the audacity to come here and place false charges on me." Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto said.

"Your Highness?" The Officer in charge said rather surprised.

"What is all this fuss about, have you no respect for an official, why must you storm my residence as though I were a criminal, you come with all your swords and spears to cut down my people as though they are rebels." Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto said.

"My apologies Your Highness." The Officer in charge said.

"Your apology can not make up for the damages done and on top of that my wife who had just given birth despite her rather not entirely stable condition has become a victim I can no longer handle this as a personal matter for your negligence makes me have to push it to a matter of state." Prince Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto said.

The Imperial soldiers outside Soga no Umako's Chambers had already surrounded the whole place and his own private guards had been arrested while his doors were being approached by a group of others.

"Your Excellency, if you are in there please come out or else we shall drag you out by force." The commander in charge yelled and at that moment the doors to Umako's compartment were flung open and he stepped out from the darkness into their view with his face underneath the moonlight he looked down at them.

"Your Excellency." His personal guards that had been tied with ropes bowed their heads as they cried out to him loudly.

"What have you turned this city into?" Umako asked as he slowly descended the stairs and approached the Commander in the Inner Courtyard who seemed to be rather puzzled.

"Why do you seem so scared as though you have seen a ghost?" Umako asked.

"My apologies Your Excellency." The Commander in Charge said as he bowed his head.

"You are apologising for what, staging a revolt?" Umako Asked.

"Your Excellency, we have vandalized your property and we have done it forcefully." The commander in charge replied.

"And can it make up for my casualties, everything that you have destroyed here and the people that you have hurt or do you think that in your short episode of barbarianism I am going to grant you mercies in return?" Umako asked.

The Commander in charge kept quiet.

"I thought so but I am afraid that I am not that generous." Umako replied.

All the members that were inside the small cottage were dragged outside beginning with Imperial Consort Toyomike who was thrown in front of the Dowager Empress Ishi Hime.

"Here lies the traitor Your Majesty, here lies the rebel." Empress Hirohime said.

"Your Majesty, have I really fallen short in my duty as a wife and the one that you trust that you also round up the Imperial guards and soldiers and like them you suspect me?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"You and my Courtiers?" Emperor Bidatsu said Sadly.

"Which ones Your Majesty?" She asked and at that moment while on her knees the others that were brought out of the cottage and positioned right behind her were rather Lean men and they all were dressed in cheap attires.

The Dowager Empress Ishi Hime and her daughter in law along with Emperor Bidatsu looked at them in shock as Her Highness turned and looked at Consort Toyomike who stared up at her with a smile on her face.

"There are your rebels Your Majesty, there are your Courtiers, I wonder as your wife, where does that put this Toyomike that you trust?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

The Emperor turned and looked at his mother.

"Mother?" He said.

"My apologies Your Majesty." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Back to the Palace now." Emperor Bidatsu ordered sternly as he turned around and walked away leaving the three women there while the other two looked at the Imperial Consort Toyomike who was on her knees.

"It was a trap?" Empress Hirohime said.

"Yes." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"Yes, Toyomike, we have lost." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime thought to herself.

"Yes Your Highness, I am Victorious." Imperial Consort Toyomike thought inwardly as she smiled.