CHAPTER SIXTY THREE

"What, no weapons?" He said when another party of Imperial guards appeared from the trees and there with their full force they rounded up the Imperial Princes Naniwa and Kasuga along with their men.

The leader of the Imperial guards stepped up to the front holding up the military seal and removing his Helmet from his head it turned out to be Honourable Fujiwara no Shige.

"Hurry up and save His Highness." He said as the others carried the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe.

"Imperial Princes Naniwa and Kasuga, you are under arrest for false charges of treason and the attempted murder of Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe." He added as all the Imperial soldiers that were fighting on their side dropped their weapons and the Princes themselves were taken from their horses and tied up as they looked at each other so surprised.

Sato rushed through the Literary Hall's doorway and there he found the Emperor Bidatsu and Imperial Consort Toyomike.

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

"What is it Sato?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"His Highness the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe." Sato replied.

"What's wrong with him?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"He and his party were hunting were taken by surprise and the Imperial Prince was shot." Sato replied.

Imperial Consort Toyomike stood up immediately.

"Who dared?" She asked, "How's the Imperial Prince?" She added.

"His condition isn't certain." Sato replied.

Imperial Consort Toyomike standing and looking at the Emperor she started to shed tears and holding her head she started to appear dizzy in front of their eyes.

"What's happening?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Oshisako." Imperial Consort Toyomike said as she fainted and falling down her husband held her up.

"Her Highness must be so shocked." Sato remarked.

"Have someone tend to her and immediately the Imperial Prince returns then please allow me to see him." Emperor Bidatsu ordered.

"Yes Your Majesty." Sato replied while he withdrew from the Hall leaving the Emperor to carry the Imperial Consort away to the nearby bed.

"Your Highness, Your Highness." Teru said as she immediately rushed into the room and there she fell down onto her knees in front of her Mistress.

"Why are you acting like this Teru?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"Your Highnesses." Teru replied.

"Did they apprehend the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"No." Teru replied, "The Princes have been arrested on account of false charges of treason and the attempted assassination of the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe." She added.

"No." Consort Kasuga said.

"It appears to me as though someone could have known what we were planning all along." Teru said.

"How is that even possible?" Consort Kasuga asked, "We have been pushed into a corner and we can not survive this time around." She said.

"Your Highness, the Imperial Princes must be saved." Teru said.

"The fight for the Kingdom has been lost." Consort Kasuga said as she immediately fell down onto her knees and at that moment, the Imperial guards rushed into the room and they were being led by General Fujiyaro.

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

"What is it?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"If you don't mind you have been summoned to the Investigation Bureau for questioning." General Fujiyaro replied.

Consort Kasuga raised up her head and she looked at him.

"What has happened to my son's?" She asked.

"You'll know when you get there." General Fujiyaro replied as the Consort's ladies in waiting appeared at that very moment and ceasing her carefully, they helped her onto her feet and slowly, they led her out of the room.

Sakae walked into the room where the Dowager Empress Ishi Hime and Empress Hirohime were seated.

"Your Highness." She said.

"How was it?" Empress Hirohime asked.

"Everything proceeded according to plan and the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe is on his way to the Palace." Sakae replied with a smile on her face.

"Wonderful." Empress Hirohime remarked as she turned to her mother in law.

"What about Imperial Consort Toyomike?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"She happened to be there at the time that the news reached the Emperor and hearing of the accident of Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe, she was so distraught that she fainted." Sakae replied.

Empress Hirohime was surprised.

"Really?" She asked.

"Yes." Sakae replied.

"It's not that we are friends, why would she probably have to faint in hearing such news when she should be glad about my son's life being in danger?" Empress Hirohime asked.

"It's a charade, a ruse." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"How?" Empress Hirohime asked.

"Think about it, with Consort Kasuga being charged it's impossible for another to be suspected, whether she was behind the attack or not it is necessary that she clears all the other Courtiers of any doubts especially the Emperor himself." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"Finally we can see why my husband loves her so much." Empress Hirohime said.

"Her Highness us being praised by everyone in the Palace for being so affectionate towards her very own stepson and I believe that to the eyes of the people she is in deed very remarkable." Sakae added.

"Forget it." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said, "That's not our most pressing issue at the moment." she added.

"I believe that we should now contact the Courtiers." Empress Hirohime said.

"As it is that the two Imperial Princes have been charged with the attempted murder of their brother, to restore the stability to the Imperial family it's necessary that the Emperor names his Successor as soon as possible." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Right away Your Highness." Sakae said as she bowed her head and she withdrew from the room while the Dowager Empress and her daughter in law remained there and smiled at themselves ghastly.

Emperor Bidatsu was watching his wife lying down on the bed and a short while later the Imperial Consort Toyomike opened up her eyes and she looked at him.

"Dear." Emperor Bidatsu said as he helped her up.

"Your Majesty." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Are you alright?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"How is His Highness?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"His Highness is very fine." Emperor Bidatsu replied.

"That's good to know." Imperial Consort Toyomike remarked as she removed her legs from the covers and she sat upright.

"You passed out suddenly." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"The news was too painful for myself to bear." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"Why?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"I have just lost my Wohari and I can understand much better than anyone else what it means to lose a son Your Majesty.

I'd consider how heartbroken the Empress will be and on top of that you because your children are also my own, regardless of the fact whether I carried them in this womb of mine or not." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"If all women were like you, I can never stop to wonder what did I ever do in this life to have a selfless woman like yourself?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"It's alright Your Majesty, hearing that the Imperial Prince is alright my heart is at peace." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"But how could all this have happened?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Your Majesty, perhaps we have only been too strict." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Why?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Who was responsible?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"Allegedly the Imperial Princes Naniwa and Kasuga went to Awaji with the hopes of finding the Imperial Prince and the Courtiers after they saw the Imperial guards dressed that way.

On the charge of treason without solid evidence even if it was a mishappening they should bear responsibility and should be apprehended for having attempted to murder their brother who was innocent." Emperor Bidatsu replied.

"But they are your sons after all Your Majesty, aren't they?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

Emperor Bidatsu thought.

"Your right." He agreed.

"The state is not stable at all because a Crown Prince should be named and perhaps when you continue dragging the matter I am very sure that your sons themselves shall be implicated." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Your right." Emperor Bidatsu agreed.

"Since the Imperial Princes Naniwa and Kasuga are no longer secure I believe that Your Majesty can protect them rather than executing them you can give them another punishment and since it was the position of the Crown Prince that brought all this turbulence and sibling rivalry why don't you curb it down by choosing one." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Who do you have in mind?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"The Imperial Princes Naniwa and Kasuga are all talented but there is none of them that can become the Crown Prince because considering their actions as Emperors they would be hasty and the Innocents themselves shall end up suffering because of that.

Also it is something that the Majority of the Courtiers won't allow given that they were able to do something like this to their brother what more shall happen if one of them was to inherit the Chrysanthemum throne?" Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"I understand." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"The Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe has a very great sense of reserve and he is politically and economically enlightened as well that I have a reason to believe he is more befitting of the role at the moment.

And besides, this could also be his chance to prove his political Prowess and additionally compensate him for the damage that his brothers have done to injure his reputation." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Alright then, if you say so then I have no choice, you have a very good eye for people and there is nothing that escapes it, I am sure that you can tell talent by looking at someone so if in Your eyes the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe is worthy of the position of Crown Prince then you can not be mistaken." Emperor Bidatsu said.

Thank you for hearing me out Your Majesty." Imperial Consort Toyomike said as she hugged the Emperor who embraced her tightly as well.

Consort Kasuga was led into the interrogation room and there Honourable Fujiwara no Shige walked up to her.

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

"Fujiwara." Consort Kasuga said.

"I know that you very well understand the position that I hold and in respect to that I believe that you too shall understand the position that you yourself hold." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige said.

"You don't have to worry about me." Consort Kasuga said.

"The Imperial State Investigation Bureau was started by his Late Majesty the Emperor and in it once Interrogation has started the Emperor doesn't have to rely on anything else all the truths will be revealed.

The members of the Imperial family can not be treated with any exceptions for if they are branded as criminals or suspects the procedure is very much the same as it is for the common people so I hope you understand that." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige said.

"Don't worry shout me." Consort Kasuga said confidently.

"I understand that you are a mother but being an Imperial wife it is important that you also understand that from your Actions here and today, not only your children but other members of your family and the clan shall suffer from the consequences." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige said.

"Has the Dowager Empress sent you?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"Who cares if she did or she did not." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige asked, "all that His Majesty asked me to do was to get to the bottom of this which is exactly what I am trying to do." Fujiwara no Shige added.

"A faithful and loyal servant of the state?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"You also vowed to love, protect and support the man that you got married to." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige replied.

"Me and you are different in very many ways and also our loyalties." Consort Kasuga said.

"Perhaps you are right because my duty is to serve and yours is to love regardless of the fact that we have to please the same person our responsibilities outweigh each other." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige said.

"You can ask me your questions." Consort Kasuga said.

"Very well then Your Highness." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige said as he sat down right in front of her.

"Your Highness, were you involved in any of the Actions of the Imperial Princes?" Honourable Fujiwara no Shige asked.

"I know that my children committed a grave sin and my only crime as a mother is to have not helped them realise a more righteous path." Consort Kasuga replied.

"That's not the answer that I want." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige said.

"Which one is it?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"Yes or no." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige replied.

"No." Consort Kasuga said.

"Bring in the evidence." Honourable Fujiwara said and at that moment a couple of Imperial guards walked into the room and there they carried with themselves a box that was filled with envelopes which they laid down in front of Consort Kasuga.

"What's this?" She asked.

"Pour them out." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige said and at once the men poured out the envelopes in front of Consort Kasuga.

She looked at them and studied them with her eyes.

"These are...?" She asked as Honourable Fujiwara no Shige waved all the others out and they remained the two of them.

"These are letters that were received from your Palace and I am wondering why they were addressed to the important Courtiers?" Honourable Fujiwara no Shige asked.

Consort Kasuga opened her eyes widely.

"I don't know what you are talking about." She said.

"Why would letters from the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe have to go through Her Highness' Courtyard first and there are two likely explanations to this the first being that either the real letters of the Imperial Prince were being intercepted and the second being that these letters weren't coming from the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe at all." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige said.

"This doesn't prove anything, isn't it likely that one of the people in my courtyard us my own enemy at work?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"There were illegal purchases of weapons from the Imperial stores in your father's name, would you care to explain to us why?" Honourable Fujiwara no Shige asked.

Consort Kasuga kept quiet.

"I have first-hand witnesses that posses the letters between both you and your father and could you deny the fact that you were the one that asked him to do so?" Honourable Fujiwara no Shige asked as he pulled out a cream piece of paper which he laid down onto the table and unfolding it he showed it to her.

"What's this?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"An Imperial Edict." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige said as he handed it over while Consort Kasuga took it into her own hands and read it.

"Should the Imperial Princes Naniwa and Kasuga be found guilty of the charges they shall be beheaded in public in three days." It said and as her eyes travelled to the left corner, she saw the Imperial seal on it that she put the edict down onto the table.

"I hope you can understand that I too am trying to help you." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige said.

"I did it." Consort Kasuga replied.

"You what?" Honourable Fujiwara no Shige asked.

"I was the mastermind behind all of this, I framed the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe and his life was endangered because of me." Consort Kasuga replied.

"And the Imperial Princes?" Honourable Fujiwara no Shige asked.

"They knew nothing, they were only reacting according to my will." Consort Kasuga replied.

Then you are going to have to write down a statement for me to which you are going to put your name and fingerprint so that this case is forever closed." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige said.

"Yes Your Excellency." Consort Kasuga replied.

Imperial Consort Toyomike stood at the balcony when Sina walked up to her with the piece of paper.

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

"What is it?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"Here is Consort Kasuga's statement." Sina replied as she took it and opened it while her eyes perused through it.

She eventually folded it and she gave it back to Sina.

"How is His Majesty?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"He's still a little bit worried about the case." Sina replied.

"Tell Honourable Fujiwara no Shige that the case shall be closed due to lack of evidence and I shall see His Majesty at once." Imperial Consort Toyomike ordered.

"Yes Your Highness." Sina replied and bowing her head she withdrew from her presence while Imperial Consort Toyomike turned around and she walked away into the direction of the Emperor's study.

Walking through the doors she found Emperor Bidatsu who was seated there and looking through some of the memorials.

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

"My dear." Emperor Bidatsu replied as he offered his hand and taking it gracefully the Imperial Consort sat down by his side.

"What's the matter?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Forgive me Your Majesty but it has been confessed by Consort Kasuga that she too was misled by an unclear source which accused the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe for being involved in the treason plot." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied as she handed over another piece of paper to the Emperor.

He looked through it and nodded his head.

"So that means that there is someone else who was a mastermind to this whole game?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Perhaps Your Majesty." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"Who could it be?" Emperor Bidatsu asked when at that very moment, Miwa no Sakau walked into the room.

"What is it Miwa, how is the Crown Prince?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"The injury was very minor and he is alright thanks to the hard armour that he was wearing underneath.

Apparently, he just passed out due to shock according to the Imperial physicians and surprisingly he saw the arrow according to one witness but no one knows why he didn't dodge it." Miwa no Sakau replied.

Emperor Bidatsu then turned around and looked at his wife who nodded her head.

"What about the Imperial guards, why were they dressed up as the Courtiers?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"It is alleged that they were dressed up as the Courtiers but no one identified those Imperial guards and along with the clothes that they were putting on, they vanished so that evidence isn't in the Investigation Bureau's hands." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"And what about the people that the Prince went with?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"They were all his men and very skilled elite warriors especially his friends." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"Were they unharmed?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"They had some bruises and wounds." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"What about the Imperial troops that arrived at the place much later and they stopped the fight?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"In a statement, Honourable Fujiwara no Shige handed over this letter which he received from an anonymous person informing him that the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe was in danger at Awaji." Miwa no Sakau replied as he handed over the letter to the Emperor who took it and opening it he read it with the Imperial Consort.

"Thank you, you may go." Emperor Bidatsu said and Miwa no Sakau bowing his head he withdrew from the room.

"Your Majesty, this wasn't just an attack with very many misunderstandings on both parties, it was a scheme that was surely orchestrated by someone." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"The Imperial Prince was wearing hard armour underneath so he also knew of the attack." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Then why did he still insist on going?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"Unless it was an organization by him?" Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Your Majesty." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Don't defend him." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"But the other two brothers reacted as well." Imperial Consort Toyomike said. "besides it's an assumption that we can not entirely be sure about." she added.

"You see too many sides of everything." Emperor Bidatsu remarked.

"So that I can not be hasty in my decisions because think about it your Majesty, what if the real mastermind isn't the Crown Prince and he'd known that the Crown Prince was going to wear the hard armour?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"What's your opinion on this?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Whether the Imperial Prince Oshisako is the victim or the perpetrator the calculated outcome of this scheme would have been either the Princes themselves turning against one another or the Imperial Prince himself eliminating his own competition." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"And?" Emperor Bidatsu said.

"In both cases all three Princes must be protected along with the Consort Kasuga." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"What are we going to do?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"All people that are involved have the chance to reveal their real intentions so first we should declare the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe as the Crown Prince and the aftermath is what we'll use to judge." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"The Imperial Princes Naniwa and Kasuga shall remain in the Palace but under house arrest and if by any chance while being watched closely we are able to establish whether they have any intentions to rebel then we shall deal with them accordingly, however if the vice versa happens and the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe makes the first move then they shall be Redeemed.

However if both parties are neutral then we can be able to understand that they were all victims of s much larger scheme." She added.

"Very well then." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"I hope that it's the latter." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"What if it's the both of them?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Then Your Majesty shall have to postpone the issue of the Crown Prince a little bit longer but I assure you Your Majesty that one way or another, the real perpetrator shall be found." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"Alright." Emperor Bidatsu replied.

Umako was walking through the garden and he was being accompanied by Shizu.

"How's everything in the Palace?" He asked.

"Interesting." Shizu replied.

"How interesting?" Umako asked.

"Ever since the rumour of the Soga child sitting on the Chrysanthemum throne erupted amongst the people, the Imperial wives of the Emperor have taken the most dramatic turns in scheming at the moment, Consort Kasuga and her two sons were apprehended for the attempted murder of the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe, Imperial Consort Toyomike pleaded on their behalf while she also proposed that the Imperial Prince Oshisako be named the Crown Prince." Shizu replied.

"Such a deadly scheme." Umako said.

"In my opinion I am certain that Her Highness is up to something big." Shizu replied.

"She fainted upon hearing that her stepson was shot she can in the bear future never be held responsible for bad things that could befall the Imperial Prince." Umako said.

"Her Highness seemed to be aroused by the murder of her son." Shizu said.

"The Empress picked the week wrong victim to challenge." Umako said.

"The matter of the false treason plot has been compressed within the walls of the Imperial Palace and at the moment with any bigger out come it shall entirely be forgotten." Shizu said.

"It's a signal." Umako said.

"Which signal Your Excellency?" Shizu asked.

"We must maintain a much lower profile at the moment and when the Emperor makes his announcement in the Imperial Court tomorrow then we shan't intervene." Umako said.

"The Sogas are going to acquisce with his selection?" Shizu asked.

"We can not make Imperial Prince Takeda a target and the Imperial Princes Naniwa and Kasuga can no longer be redeemed, eventually the competition has been lowered down to one candidate who is old enough and most eligible." Umako replied.

"I see Your Excellency." Shizu said.

"What an interesting game this is going to be!" Umako remarked.

"I can tell too that a very great storm is coming." Umako said as he looked up at the sky which was only darkening with each and every hour.

Ōtomo Kanamura Maro was seated inside his Chambers and looking at the game of Chess that was right in front of him.

At that moment, the door was flung open and Koteko walked in and bowed her head.

"Your Excellency." She said.

"It took you long enough." Ōtomo Kanamura Maro said.

"I was still a little bit too busy." Koteko replied as she sat down right in front of him while he picked a Chess piece.

"Nice move you made last time and thanks to you the game was well played." Ōtomo Kanamura Maro said as he played his piece.

"I am intrigued as well." Koteko said as she took up her piece as well and she placed it on the board.

"I did not expect her Highness to be so enraged by the death of her son but we'll enough she reacted in a way that we wanted and much faster with the Noble Consort Kasuga out of the path it's now down to two more." Koteko said.

"What brilliance!" Ōtomo Kanamura Maro said.

"The Imperial Consort Toyomike and I are not so different, we all are to some point graceful and smart, being born on the same day there is so much more that we share in common." Koteko said.

"But which of you both is more ambitious?" Ōtomo Kanamura Maro asked.

"It doesn't matter." Koteko replied.

"One of the two children that were born on the same day was bound to bring a new light to Yamato and the other that was born was supposed to baptised the land in blood." Ōtomo Kanamura Maro said as he played his move.

"But who of the two shall the annals of History consign a very luminous legacy?" Koteko asked.

"The more courageous, the more graceful, the more dignified, the smarter and also the more beautiful." Ōtomo Kanamura Maro replied.

"Why?" Koteko asked.

"Because she that possesses all these qualities shall have what it takes to win the hearts of all people and when she has won over all of them, she shall be worshipped by them and all creation shall bow at her feet for Generations to come." Ōtomo Kanamura Maro replied.

"I want to rule this country, and for me to do it, I have to do whatever it takes to turn this carefree husband of mine into an Emperor." Koteko said.

"How much longer are you going to wait?" Ōtomo Kanamura Maro said.

"You wait and see my dear, when her Highness topples the Dowager Empress and the Empress not so far from now, our rise shall be inevitable as well." Koteko replied.

"I am looking forward to it, after all why would Her Highness push for the son of her rival to become the Crown Prince?" Ōtomo Kanamura Maro asked.

"You have lasted much longer in the political sphere and you do know it very well that not all that glitters is gold." Koteko replied as she smiled ghastly.

"I shall forever remember this day and I shall constantly remember these words that you have said, you must brace yourself as well because tomorrow is going to be the beginning of your most ordurous journey." Ōtomo Kanamura Maro said.

"Do not worry about me, I gave prepared for this for a very long time I assure you that I am not going to back down that easily." Koteko replied as she played her piece on the chessboard as well.

The Courtiers had long gathered in the throne room and at that moment, Emperor Bidatsu walked down the aisle as their eyes followed him while organising themselves they bowed their heads until he mounted the stairs that led to his throne and he faced them.

"Greetings Your Majesty." They said.

"At ease." Emperor Bidatsu replied as he sat down on the Chrysanthemum throne and the other Courtiers looking at each other there was a Silence that prevailed for a short while.

Mononobe no Moriya stared at Umako who showed all forms of his unwavering composure and eventually the Emperor spoke up and broke their attention from themselves they all turned to him.

"As you are all aware it's already been five years into my reign and the country itself is very stable, I have looked through all my Imperial sons and I have weighed them according to their respective natures and the standard of this our great Country.

I won't disappoint heaven and I hope that I won't disappoint you all, after I have evaluated you both I have come to the conclusion that my eldest son the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe is forthright and kind, he is diligent and filial as a son and on top of that he is wise and intelligent in nature while skilled at both the pen and the sword not forgetting that he is shrewd and considerate." Emperor Bidatsu said.

He stretched out his right hand to Sato who handed over a golden scroll to him and he opened it.

"Let His Highness come in." Emperor Bidatsu said and the doors were flung open while the Imperial Prince walked through the aisle of the throne room and halting right in front of his father, dressed in a golden Montsuki, he knelt down.

"Greetings Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty." He said as he bowed down his head before he knelt upright and looked at his father.

"FROM THIS DAY ONWARDS, I DO NAME HIS IMPERIAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OSHISAKO NO HIKOHITO NO ŌE THE CROWN PRINCE OF YAMATO AND MY FUTURE SUCCESSOR AS EMPEROR IN FRONT OF MY COFFIN." Emperor Bidatsu said as he folded the scroll and Sato taking it from him he brought it to the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe who taking it in his hands he bowed down his head.

"Thank you so much Your Majesty." He said.

"Long Live Your Majesty, Long Live our Emperor." The Courtiers said in unison as they also faced the Emperor and did the same.

The new Crown Prince happy at his great achievement he smiled comfortably with Gus head on the ground.