Tokuko * Hyuga

The stage lighting shifted from the somber and oppressive atmosphere of the father-son confrontation to a warm yellow hue that evoked both tension and hope.

The scene shifts to outside an Imperial Palace Bedchamber. Night has fallen, yet shadowy figures are everywhere. Maids hurry in and out carrying hot water and towels, creating an atmosphere of tension.

Taira no Tokuko is about to give birth.

However, before that, the stage Shigemori explained in a flashback that Shigemori pleaded with Kiyomori to pardon some of the exiles from the Shishigatani Incident in order to alleviate his sister's nightmares and pray for a safe delivery.

As the sun sets and the sound of waves rises, the shallow water on the stage reflects the blood-red sunset on the horizon.

Monk Shunkan stood alone in the middle of the water, running desperately forward, wading through the water, stretching out his hands, crying and pleading towards the small boat that was gradually sailing away from the island.

However, the small boat was relentless, sailing further and further away, leaving only a fading white wave trail on the sea.

Izuna's Biwa rang out at the opportune moment, the lyrics melodious and sorrowful:

"And so it is said that Shunkan was finally abandoned, desperately begging to be taken away. No matter how much he cried and wailed, the small boat only drifted further and further away, leaving only a white wave as a trace. Even though the small boat had not gone far, tears blurred his vision, and the boat disappeared from sight..."

The scene then cuts to Shigemori and his son, Koremori, having a private conversation.

Koremori was puzzled as to why Shunkan was the only one not pardoned.

Shigemori's expression was complicated as he whispered the reason.

The place where Shikadani plotted was none other than Shunkan's villa. Perhaps for this reason, Kiyomori harbored an even deeper hatred for him.

Or perhaps it was because all the other pardoned individuals made thousands of stupas (wooden plaques shaped like pagodas) and placed them in the sea as a sign of repentance, while Shunkan remained unmoved...

The camera zooms in on Shunkan.

He didn't make the tsutta himself; he just stood silently to the side, watching the others work.

That standing figure, that empty gaze fixed on the sea, seemed heavier and more desperate than any form of repentance.

A few sighs came from the audience, but that was all they could do. The tragedy was already set in stone; they were, in the end, just spectators.

Perhaps because some of the exiles were pardoned, or perhaps it was just psychological, Tokuko's nightmares actually began to improve.

As they awaited the final delivery, Koremori couldn't help but confide his worries to Shintarō, who was by his side. "If Tokuko truly gives birth to a prince this time... Grandfather's power will likely become even more overwhelming. Who knows what kind of situation that will be then..."

Shintarō remained leaning against the window, gazing at the leaves rustling in the wind in the courtyard. After a long while, he softly hummed in agreement, whether it was a response or simply an indication that he had heard.

Finally, the moment of delivery arrived.

A semi-transparent white curtain descended in the center of the stage, and figures could be vaguely seen moving behind it.

Tokuko's suppressed yet clearly audible groans and cries of pain emanated from the scene, tearing apart the tranquility of the night and gripping the hearts of all the viewers.

The sound was so real, filled with the hardship and struggle of childbirth, that some noblewomen couldn't help but frown and cover their faces, feeling that it was improper and unseemly to present such an "unclean" and "private" matter on stage.

However, as all the sounds of pain gradually subsided and the curtain slowly rose, Tokuko Earth Flow carrying a small, swaddled baby, her steps slightly unsteady but firm. All the criticism seemed to be silenced instantly.

Izuna specially arranged for the actress who Tokuko to appear before everyone, wearing a white veil on her head and holding a child in a pose resembling the Madonna and Child.

Although it was a tactic used by Western Christianity to win people's hearts, the fact that this gesture has been popular in the West for so many years shows that it is extremely effective.

Sure enough, this appearance astonished everyone.

The woman was pale, her hair was damp with sweat and clung to her forehead, and her eyes showed lingering fatigue, but an indescribable, gentle yet powerful radiance emanated from her.

She looked down at the sleeping baby in her arms, a weak but incredibly content smile appearing on her lips.

That was the image of a mother, pure and full of strength.

"Mom..." Someone in the crowd murmured the word softly.

That whisper was like a switch, instantly striking the softest part of countless hearts.

The slight discomfort and criticism that arose earlier due to the unsightly production scene have now melted away like thin ice under the sun.

On stage, Tokuko is no longer the aloof future queen.

She is first and foremost a mother. A mother who has just endured unspeakable pain to bring a new life into the world.

Her pale face, damp hair, tired yet strangely gleaming eyes, and arms that seemed to be cradling a precious treasure.

All of this constitutes a most powerful picture of motherhood and new life that transcends social class and cultural barriers.

No one can resist such a sight.

They suddenly understood why it was important to depict the pain and struggle of women during childbirth.

That was to highlight a near-sacred sacrifice and resilience.

Knowing full well that they would have to endure such inhuman pain, yet still willing to bring new life into the world, what a noble and inviolable power that is!

Many female viewers, whether noble ladies or common women, had tears welling up in their eyes.

They may have experienced it themselves, or they may have seen it in their mothers or sisters, and they can empathize with it now.

Even male viewers, who could not truly comprehend that kind of pain, felt a genuine sense of awe and were deeply moved by this direct and unvarnished presentation.

On stage, Tokuko seemed to be bathed in a silent, sacred halo, just like the baby in her arms.

"It's a boy." The female official's voice, brimming with barely suppressed excitement, broke the brief silence and pulled everyone back to the story's trajectory.

Ecstasy swept through the Taira of Rokuhara like a tsunami.

Taira no Kiyomori sat on the ground, devoid of his usual imposing demeanor, carefully cradling the infant who symbolized supreme power and the future. He laughed loudly, "This child will be the next Son of Heaven! Haha! Heaven blesses my Taira! The Taira will surely prosper even more! Dominating the world is just around the corner!"

His ambition and ecstasy were undisguised; the entire mansion seemed to tremble with laughter, immersed in a near-manic anticipation of the future.

However, fate always seems to reveal its mocking side just when people think they've reached the summit.

The devastating news of Moriko's death was like an icicle suddenly falling from the heights of bliss.

That girl, who married at nine and became a widow at eleven, vanished in the sudden natural disaster.

He was only 24 years old.

Tokuko returned to the Taira, grieving the loss of her sister.

She dismissed everyone else, leaving only Shinrei behind.

She was holding her sister's old belongings, her voice was soft and light, and her hair obscured her face.

"That child... must be very lonely. For over ten years... her father has never agreed to let her find another husband."

A bitter smile tugged at Tokuko's lips. "It's not that he can't bear to part with his daughter; it's that he can't bear to part with the vast Moriko that Shirakawa inherited from the Fujiwara Family."

Her voice was even lower, yet every word was clear, filled with a tearful hatred. "Now, everyone outside is saying... that the death of Sister Moriko was entirely because she was born into the Taira but occupied the Fujiwara Family's property, which is why she incurred divine punishment."

Shinrei knelt to one side, her head bowed low, the bright red Butterfly trembling slightly in the shadows.

She still didn't know how to respond, so she could only remain silent.

She looked at Tokuko, or rather, at Hyuga Akari, who was playing Tokuko. The worry in her expression was genuine.

Hyuga Akari, who plays Tokuko, is almost one with the character at this moment.

Born into the Main Family, she was carefully groomed by the Elders and destined to marry the next head of the family as a pawn to maintain the "pure" bloodline.

She possessed all the honors of the eldest daughter of the Main Family, yet she also deeply felt the helplessness and constraints of being a pawn.

Like Tokuko, she may not have been without resistance to the marriage arranged by her family, and she may not have been without sympathy for the plight of her siblings who had separated from the Branch Family. However, the responsibilities and rules of the Main Family, like the patriarchal and imperial power that Tokuko faced, kept them firmly pinned to the ground, unable to rise up.

At this moment, Tokuko's resentment and indignation resonated strongly with a deep-seated sense of discontent and repression regarding her own fate.

She didn't need to deliberately portray Tokuko's gloom and trembling; her genuine, suppressed anger and sorrow flowed naturally from her eyes, making her lines incredibly persuasive and moving.

Izuna watched quietly from the shadows on one side of the stage, and in the system interface, the Ultimate Technique Illustration of Hyuga Ran's ultimate technique appeared before his eyes.

On the battlefield, Akari, eyes blazing with fury, stood in a defensive stance in front of a child whose forehead was etched with the image of Caged Bird Seal.

[What's the difference between the Main Family and the branch Branch Family! I, Hyuga Ran, will never back down! Bring it on!]

Upon seeing this picture, Izuna almost immediately decided on Tokuko as his choice.

The fierce spirit hidden beneath her gentle demeanor, and the instinctive will to resist an unjust fate, are strikingly similar to the character of Taira no Tokuko.

He just hadn't expected that this connection would erupt so intensely during rehearsals.

After rehearsing the scene where "Tokuko, upon hearing the news of her younger sister Moriko's death, develops resentment towards her father."

Hyuga Akari was so immersed in the character's immense grief and helplessness that she couldn't shake off the role for a long time.

When Hyuga Masayoshi, who plays the role of Emperor Go-Shirakawa and is also Akari's biological father, points out in his usual calm tone that a certain action of hers is "not in accordance with the demeanor of a noblewoman," Akari's pent-up emotions suddenly burst forth.

"Etiquette?! Etiquette again!" She whirled around, tears still glistening in her eyes, yet a raging fire already burning within them. "My sister is dead! Trapped her whole life as Chips for personal gain, and even her death is to be called divine punishment! What else do you people have in your hearts besides power, profit, and those laughable rules?!"

Her words cut like a knife across the Rehearsal Ground, leaving the other actors stunned.

Hyuga Masayoshi frowned, instinctively trying to intimidate her with his authority. "Akari, mind your place and the occasion. This is a rehearsal."

"Identity? Occasion?" Akari laughed, a laugh more heartbreaking than tears. "What is my identity? The eldest daughter of the Hyuga Main Family? The designated wife of the next head of the family? Or a puppet who must always conform to propriety, even being disciplined for feeling sorrow and anger for her sister and for herself?!"

Her gaze was fixed on her father. "Do you know what I was thinking when I was playing Tokuko, every time I was forced to smile, every time I held back my words, every time I heard those nonsense about fate and responsibility?! I was thinking about myself! I was thinking about those girls in the Hyuga Clan whose lives were already planned out like mine! I was thinking Branch Family those members of the branch family who even had marks etched on their foreheads!"

"Akari! Shut up!" Hyuga Masayoshi's expression finally changed, and his voice carried genuine anger. Some things should never be said openly.

But Akari has already disregarded all concerns.

She poured out all of Tokuko's struggle against patriarchal authority and fate in the play, as well as her own pent-up frustrations, dissatisfaction with the Main Family's traditions, and resentment towards her own situation.

She even adopted an attack stance, her Chakra subtly fluctuating around her, her target being her father.

"Enough!" "Ms. Akari!" Several actors and staff members who were nearby rushed forward and hurriedly pulled Akari. The scene was quite chaotic.

Akari, who was stopped by the crowd, gradually calmed down after her initial fierce struggle.

She gasped for breath, her chest heaving, and tears finally streamed down her face.

She looked at her father, Hyuga Masayoshi simply stood there, silently enduring his daughter's anger and tears, his thoughts unreadable.

Uchiha Naoaki, who was playing the role of Taira no Tokuko's father, couldn't help but close his eyes and turn his head away.

After that conflict, Izuna let Akari rest for half a day.

Akari returned to her usual gentle demeanor, and Hyuga Masayoshi never raised any further objections regarding her manners.

At this moment, on the stage of the Capital Spring Festival.

Hyuga Akari finished reciting the line filled with resentment and sorrow. "... It's all because she was born into the Taira, yet occupied the Fujiwara Family's property, that she incurred divine punishment."

As the last word fell, the grief and gloom that belonged to Tokuko lingered on the stage.

But Akari turned her head slightly and her gaze fell on "Shinrei"—her cousin, Hyuga Branch Family—who was kneeling beside her, looking at her with a worried expression.

In that instant, the cold hatred that belonged to Tokuko in her eyes receded like the tide, replaced by a weary yet unusually gentle light.

She smiled at Lian, very slightly, almost imperceptibly, a reassuring smile curving her lips.

"Don't worry, I'm just a little sad."

Lian couldn't help but show a look that suggested she was about to cry, but she quickly lowered her head, hiding her emotions in the shadows.