"Excuse me, please let me pass for a moment."
At this moment, an old man waved his hands and struggled to squeeze forward from the back of the crowd, all the way to the side of Ogata and others.
"Master Shirobei?" Ogata exclaimed in a low voice, "Why are you here?"
"That's..." Shirobei wiped the sweat off his face and smiled bitterly, "It's a long story."
Just now, when he learned at the club that the servants who went to Yangmei House for support had a conflict with a group of hatamoto samurai, Shirobei planned to set off for Yangmei House immediately to see the details with his own eyes and mediate personally.
After all, conflict with ronin and conflict with hatamoto samurai are two different things.
If there is a conflict with the hatamoto samurai, if it is not handled properly it may lead to a series of greater troubles later.
However, just as Shirobei was about to leave, Matsudaira Sadanobu, who had suddenly visited Yoshiwara tonight, suddenly said, "Master Shirobei, please take me with you. I'll also take a walk around Yoshiwara."
Naturally, Shirobei had neither the power nor the courage to refuse any of the requests made by Matsudaira Sadanobu.
A higher-ranking official can crush a person to death, let alone Matsudaira Sadanobu, who is many ranks higher than Shirobei?
The Bayberry House is built on the roadside of Nakano-machi, not far from the Shirobei Club.
Shirobei, along with several of his subordinates and Matsudaira Sadanobu, ran all the way and soon arrived at the door of the Yangmei House.
After arriving at the scene of tonight's dispute, at the request of Matsudaira Sadanobu, they did not immediately step forward to mediate the dispute. Instead, they stood at the back of the crowd and quietly watched the dispute between Takigawa and others and Ogata and others.
Since Matsudaira Sadanobu asked this, Shirobei had no choice but to do as he was told. He stood at the back of the crowd with Matsudaira Sadanobu and acted as a spectator.
There is no need to elaborate on what happened next.
Matsudaira Sadanobu, who had been watching quietly, suddenly asked Takigawa to put away his sword, and appeared in front of everyone, revealing his identity.
Matsudaira Sadanobu's sudden appearance and exposure of his identity not only shocked everyone present, but also Shirobei who brought Matsudaira Sadanobu here.
The person who suddenly came to Yoshiwara without saying hello was Matsudaira Sadanobu.
When the incident broke out, the person who arrived at the scene and inexplicably said that he was not in a hurry to go forward and asked to watch for a while was Matsudaira Sadanobu.
The person who suddenly spoke and showed up, revealing his identity was Matsudaira Sadanobu.
Shirobei felt that he could no longer keep up with the pace of his boss, who was directly above him...
After Matsudaira Sadanobu was the first to reveal his identity, Shirobei, who had been standing at the back of the crowd and watching with Matsudaira Sadanobu, also grunted and squeezed his way out of the crowd and came to Ogata and others.
Shirobei, the boss of the Shirobei Club, also came, but the club officials present did not pay too much attention to their boss who also came here.
As soon as Uesaka called out "Lord Rochu", the surroundings fell into silence.
After all, anyone with a little common sense knows what the term "Lao Zhong" means.
Takigawa and others who caused trouble.
Ogata and others came to mediate the incident.
Onlookers came to join in the fun.
That's right, regardless of gender, age, or townspeople and samurai, after Uesaka shouted "Old Master", they all looked at Matsudaira Sadanobu who suddenly appeared.
After Matsudaira Sadanobu said the name "Mashima Goro", the scene, which was originally so quiet that you could hear a pin drop on the ground, suddenly became agitated in a non-obtrusive manner, as if a paused magic began to flow.
Those who were unfamiliar with the name "Mashima Goro" looked confused.
Those who knew who the real "Mashima Goro" was would focus their attention on the person with this name.
Guasheng's reaction was the strongest.
Uesugi opened her mouth slightly, her pretty cheeks a little stiff, and her eyes looked at Ogata who was standing next to her in shock.
There was another person whose reaction was even more extreme than Gua Sheng's.
That's Takigawa.
Takigawa had never met Matsudaira Sadanobu.
So it was not until he saw Matsudaira Sadanobu's appearance and called him the respectful title "Rochu-sama" that Takigawa finally realized what kind of big shot this person who suddenly appeared in front of him was.
If Matsudaira Sadanobu's appearance just now was like hitting Takigawa on the head with a small hammer.
So when Matsudaira Sadanobu said, "Mashima Goro is my guest," Takigawa felt as if the entire Mount Fuji was falling down and hitting him on the head.
This strong impact immediately restored his consciousness, which had been a little confused due to drunkenness.
In some ways, Takigawa's reaction was even stronger than Uekusa's.
Both of Takigawa's lips trembled due to shock.
——Guest, guest? !
——Isn’t he just... a wanderer...?
No matter what, Takigawa could not equate "ronin" with "guest of the old Chinese".
Who is the Rochū? Apart from the Shogun and the occasional dai-ro, he is the person who holds the highest power in the shogunate.
How could a mere ronin who had just found a job at the Shirobei Club not long ago become a guest of the old Chinese?
The shock was so intense that Takigawa's mind went blank.
While Takigawa was still standing there in a daze with his mind blank, Uesaka, who was standing next to him, was the first to react.
Uesaka, who had just saluted Matsudaira Sadanobu in the posture of a kamikaze, stood up directly. Although there was still a look of fear in his eyes , he still tried his best to maintain a neither humble nor arrogant attitude. While bowing to Ogata, he said in an apologetic tone:
"We didn't know you were the guest of the old gentleman. We were confused. Please forgive us."
Because Takigawa never told anyone in detail about his feud with Ogata, Uesaka had no idea what exactly happened between Takigawa and Ogata.
It was not until just before Matsudaira Sadanobu appeared that Uesaka knew who "Mashima Goro" was through Takigawa's conversation.
Uesaka had no idea why a young samurai who looked like he was just working in a teahouse in Yoshiwara would be a guest of the old man.
He now had only one thought - he must do his best to resolve the current crisis at the lowest cost.
In fact, let alone Uekusa, Takigawa and the others.
Ogata himself is also in a confused state.
Guest? Who? Me?
The above is what Ogata was thinking when he heard the mysterious man known as "Laochu" say that Majima Goro was his guest.
Ogata was sure that this was the first time he had seen this old Chinese man.
His only impression of the current shogunate elder councilor was that his name was "Matsudaira Sadanobu", and that he was now vigorously carrying out a large-scale shogunate reform and had already introduced many reform projects.
"I have just learned from others what happened." Matsudaira Sadanobu, who still had his hands behind his back, spoke calmly, "I didn't expect that the cause of the incident was just because the handle of your sword was stained by the wine that flowed out of the bottle that the geisha accidentally knocked over."
Matsudaira Sadanobu turned his head and cast a cold look at Takigawa that seemed to contain no emotion.
His eyes were so calm that the word "stare" seemed too intense and inappropriate to describe them.
"It's really inappropriate to draw your sword just for something like this."
Matsudaira Sadanobu did not say anything long.
I just said two ordinary sentences, which were not very long.
But just these two short sentences made Takigawa's face, which was already as pale as if it had no blood at all after learning that Ogata was a guest of Matsudaira Sadanobu, even paler.
As if it was a conditioned reflex, as soon as Matsudaira Sadanobu finished speaking, Takigawa turned his body, faced the direction of Matsudaira Sadanobu, bent his knees, and lay down on the tatami, assuming a very standard Dogeza posture.
"I was confused! Please forgive me, Master Lao Zhong!"
Takigawa actually didn't think he had done anything wrong just now.
The low-class geisha polluted the "soul of the samurai", so what was wrong with him drawing his sword and killing her?
But he didn't dare to say what he really thought now.
He had just heard that Matsudaira Sadanobu was very dissatisfied with his behavior of drawing his sword against the geisha.
At this moment, he just wanted to ask for the old Chinese man's forgiveness as soon as possible.
Matsudaira Sadanobu held great power and was highly trusted and valued by the young shogun, who had just ascended the throne and was only 17 years old this year.
No matter how much courage Takigawa had , he would not dare to offend Matsudaira Sadanobu.
Uesaka, who was standing next to Takigawa, and the rest of Takigawa's friends hesitated for a while and decided to kneel on the ground with Takigawa and beg for the elder's forgiveness.
After all, if the Chinese are to blame, they will definitely have to bear some joint responsibility...
Matsudaira Sadanobu glanced at Takigawa with his still cold eyes:
"Don't hit that careless maiko again."
"Don't think about revenge afterwards."
"I don't want to hear about this maiko dying tragically on the street for no apparent reason one day in the future, understand?"
"I understand!" Takigawa, with cold sweat on his face and still sitting in the dogeza position, lowered his head and pressed his forehead tightly against the tatami.
"Also, remember to compensate the store. I don't know how much money the store will lose after you guys made such a scene."
"Yes!" Takigawa said loudly again.
"And - your behavior should be considered as disturbing the order of Yoshiwara. Please report to the Shirobei Club and receive the punishment you deserve."
"Yes!" As soon as Matsudaira Sadanobu finished speaking, Takigawa hurriedly responded loudly again.
Takigawa has made up his mind.
No matter what Matsudaira Sadanobu said, he agreed to it one by one, trying his best to restore his image in Matsudaira Sadanobu's eyes.
After silently stating three conditions that he required Takigawa and others to fulfill, Matsudaira Sadanobu turned his head and looked at Shirobei who had followed him just now.
"The dispute tonight was caused by a trivial matter that could not be any smaller."
"So - let's leave it at that. What do you think, Lord Shirobei?"
"Of course!" Shirobei nodded hurriedly, "This is a perfect solution!"
At the end of his words, Shirobei did not forget to flatter Matsudaira Sadanobu a little.
"Then let's do it this way." Matsudaira Sadanobu nodded slightly, "This incident tonight ends here. You all should remember to go to the Shirobei Club to receive the punishment you deserve."
…
…
With just a few words from Matsudaira Sadanobu, the dispute that was about to break out into violent conflict ended in a peaceful and perfect manner.
After personally mediating the incident, Matsudaira Sadanobu led the young man who had been following him away from the scene, and no one knew where he went.
It is worth mentioning that before leaving, Matsudaira Sadanobu walked to Shirobei's side and whispered something to him.
After whispering to Shirobei for a while, Matsudaira Sadanobu slowly walked away from everyone's sight.
When Matsudaira Sadanobu was whispering something to Shirobei, Shirobei kept nodding his head vigorously. Shirobei's serious nodding look seemed to say: Okay, I understand.
Because Matsudaira Sadanobu was whispering in Shirobei's ear, no one except Shirobei knew what Matsudaira Sadanobu said to Shirobei.
After Matsudaira Sadanobu finished whispering, Shirobei immediately said something to a subordinate who had just followed him to the Yangmei House.
After Shirobei's subordinate whispered "I understand", he immediately followed Matsudaira Sadanobu and left the scene with him.
Naturally, Takigawa, Uesaka and the others no longer had the energy to hold a banquet here, and after obediently following Matsudaira Sadanobu's instructions and paying a large amount of compensation to Yangmei House, they left Yangmei House with pale faces and walked slowly towards Shirobei Club, ready to receive the punishment they deserved.
After Takigawa and others left, Shirobei also left.
Because Takigawa and his group were of high status, Shirobei had to personally decide how to punish these people who had disrupted the order in Yoshiwara.
Before Shirobei left, Ogata specifically asked Shirobei: What kind of punishment will Takigawa and the others receive?
According to Shirobei, the mistakes made by Takigawa and his friends tonight were only causing some property losses to Yangmei-ya, disrupting the business of Yangmei-ya, and speaking ill of the servants of Shirobei's club. They did not commit any bigger mistakes.
Therefore, the most punishment they received was to pay a fine and stay in the prison of their Shirobei Kaiso for 2 or 3 days.
The incident had been resolved peacefully, and Ogata and other club servants who were sent to support Yangmei House naturally returned to their respective positions. They returned to wherever they were on duty before Takigawa and others caused trouble.
However, Ogata did not continue to guard the Yangmei house.
When Shirobei left, he took Ogata back to the Shirobei Club.
…
…
Ogata: "Master Shirobei. Take me back to the Shirobei Club. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Shirobei and Ogata walked one after the other on the road back to Shirobei's club.
"Well..." Shirobei gave a helpless smile, "It's not convenient to explain in detail now, you will know later."
Because Yangmei House and Shirobei Club were not far apart, not long after leaving Yangmei House, Ogata and Matsudaira Sadanobu saw the imposing mansion with a lantern with the two Chinese characters "Club" written on it hanging at the door.
Shirobei led Ogata into the club, turned through corridors and stairs, and came to the top floor, which was a room on the third floor.
Ogata knew what room this was.
It is a reception room specially used to receive visiting guests.
Ogata had heard Ueo introduce this room before - because there were seldom distinguished guests, this room had not been used for a long time, but it was still cleaned carefully every day in case of emergency.
"Mashima-kun, please go in." Shirobei said seriously, "There is a... guest waiting for you inside."
"Guest?" Although Ogata was confused, he nodded vigorously, "I understand."
--guest……?
This was the second time Ogata had heard this word tonight.
After hearing the word "guest" from Shirobei 's mouth, Obe suddenly thought: Could it be that person... ?
Ogata slowly opened the door of the room while thinking, "Could it be that person?"
The room was very bright. There were 6 candles inserted in 6 different corners of the room, making the room very bright, just like daytime.
Two people were sitting on the tatami on the north side of the room.
2 people... whom Ogata had just met.
Looking at the two people who were sitting there, seemingly waiting for someone, the corners of Ogata's mouth twitched slightly involuntarily.
——It really is that person…
The identities of the two people sitting in the room accurately hit Ogata's previous guess - the elder councilor Matsudaira Sadanobu, and the young man who had been following Matsudaira Sadanobu.
"Lao Naka-sama." Shirobei said respectfully to Matsudaira Sadanobu, "Mashima Goro-kun is here."
"Thank you for your hard work." Matsudaira Sadanobu nodded slightly, "Shirobei, you can go down first."
"yes."
After responding respectfully, Shirobei turned and left.
But as he left, Shirobei whispered to Ogata beside him:
"Mashima-kun, please go in. It would be rude to stand at the door of the room."
After hearing what Shirobei said, Ogata hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked into the room, holding Daishakuten in his right hand.
After Ogata entered the room, Shirobei, who stayed outside the room, helped Ogata close the door.
The light in this corridor became dim as the door of this room closed again.
After closing the door, Shirobei let out a long sigh of relief.
If we simplify the content of the words that Matsudaira Sadanobu whispered in his ear just now, the main point is: prepare a quiet room in your Shirobei Club where no one will disturb you, and then bring Majima Goro over.
After receiving this order from Matsudaira Sadanobu, Shirobei asked his reliable subordinate who had accompanied him to the Bayberry House to take Matsudaira Sadanobu back to the club, and then vacated this highest-level reception room, which was rarely used but always kept clean, for Matsudaira Sadanobu.
After successfully bringing Ogata as instructed by Matsudaira Sadanobu, Shirobei no longer stayed here and quickly left the door.
…
…
Inside the room——
Ogata knelt in front of Matsudaira Sadanobu in a very standard posture.
Daishikōten was lying quietly on the tatami to the right side of his body.
Matsudaira Sadanobu did not speak to Ogata immediately.
Instead, he turned his head and said to the young warrior sitting next to him:
"Tachibana, you should go out first too."
"Guard the door and don't let anyone get close to here."
"Yes." The young warrior answered without any hesitation.
He nodded vigorously, picked up the sword placed on the tatami on the right, and quickly left the room.
With the departure of the young samurai, Ogata and Matsudaira Sadanobu were the only ones left in the room, sitting face to face.
It was not until the young samurai left that Matsudaira Sadanobu finally said to Ogata, "Tonight... no, it should be said that these were the first words the two had spoken since they met."
"Majima Goro-kun."
A faint smile appeared on Matsudaira Sadanobu's face.
"Finally I see you."
"No need to be so reserved."
"Relax a little."
"Just imagine that you are... chatting with a friend."
"Please come and have a good chat with me tonight, Majima Goro-kun."