Kiyomori's Death: Hyuga

In a suffocating silence, Tokuko stepped into the hall where her parents were.

The room was dimly lit, with only the two lamps in front of Kiyomori and Tokiko casting their shadows on the wall.

Tokuko spoke first, her voice calm and unreadable. "Father, Mother, what brings you here? Is it to meet with His Majesty the Emperor, who is gravely ill?"

Kiyomori looked at his daughter.

She was dressed in a heavy gown, her face appearing even paler in the dim light, yet her eyes were unusually Seimei, carrying a serene understanding of everything.

He suddenly realized that his daughter, who had always been protected by her family and married into the Imperial Palace as a political Chips, had quietly changed at some point.

Kiyomori cleared his throat, his voice carrying its usual authority, yet seemingly lacking some confidence, "It's precisely because of his current condition that he needs to find you."

Tokuko lowered her eyes slightly. "Then please speak quickly."

This calm demeanor surprised both Kiyomori and Tokiko.

They exchanged a glance, and finally, it was Tokiko, the mother, who spoke in a gentler tone, "It concerns the arrangements for you after His Majesty the Emperor's passing."

Tokiko paused, carefully observing her daughter's expression. Seeing that Tokuko remained calm, she continued, "How about you go and serve in the Imperial Palace of Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa?"

Tokuko raised her eyes, her gaze falling quietly on her mother's face, before turning to her father.

She didn't show any surprise, because she had already guessed it before she came.

The Taira needed to solidify its relationship with the Imperial Family, and also needed to place the most reliable spies around the Cloistered Emperor.

Who could be more suitable than her, the birth mother of the Emperor and a daughter of the Taira?

Seeing his daughter remain Kiyomori, Kiyomori assumed she was hesitating and added, his tone slightly coaxing, "Emperor Antoku is still young. Wouldn't it be more reassuring to have a strong backer in the court?"

A deeper silence fell over the hall. The only sound was the occasional soft crackling of the burning lamp wick.

After a moment, Kiyomori seemed to find the silence unbearable, so he softened his stance and said in an almost pleading tone, "This topic... can we continue, right?"

He was giving his daughter a way out, hoping that she would eventually comply with the family's arrangements, as she had done many times before.

However, Tokuko refused.

She was extremely calm, looking into her father's eyes, and said clearly:

"No."

Kiyomori was stunned.

Tokuko continued, her voice still steady, yet each word clear as an ice crystal falling to the ground. "Father, are you going to use your daughter as a tool to achieve your ambitions again?"

"Tokuko..."

"Furthermore, His Majesty the Emperor is still alive, yet Father has uttered such words."

She closed her eyes briefly. "Your daughter has always served His Majesty the Emperor with all her heart. No matter what happens in the future, your daughter will never leave His Majesty the Emperor to serve another."

Looking at his daughter's stubborn yet calm face, Kiyomori felt a sense of unease and frustration for the first time.

"If Father insists on doing so—" she said, and with swift and decisive movements, she drew a gleaming wakizashi from her sleeve.

"Tokuko! What are you doing?!" Tokiko exclaimed, jumping to her feet in shock.

Kiyomori's eyes widened suddenly.

Tokuko grasped her thick, black hair with her left hand, while firmly pressing the sharp blade of the wakizashi against the base of her hair with her right.

She raised her head, her gaze as clear as tempered glass, and looked directly at her shocked parents, declaring resolutely, "--I will shave my head and become a nun, from now on devoting myself to Buddhism and never again concerning myself with worldly affairs."

"Stop!"

"Put the knife down right now!"

Kiyomori and Tokiko gasped simultaneously, their faces turning deathly pale. They knew all too well what the resolute look in their daughter's eyes meant. She wasn't bluffing; she was truly capable of doing it!

"I understand! I understand!" Kiyomori practically shouted, waving his hands, his tone urgent and helpless. "Put the knife away! This matter... this matter is off! As you wish! As you wish!"

Afterwards, Shinrei was summoned to Tokuko's side.

The two changed into black mourning clothes. Narihito Retired Emperor Takakura, in the end, exhausted his last bit of life on his sickbed and passed away peacefully.

Shinrei quietly stayed by Tokuko.

Emperor Antoku was too young to understand, occasionally babbling in his wet nurse's arms, unaware of human suffering.

Looking at Tokuko's blank profile, Shinrei whispered, "Tokuko... you're so brave."

Tokuko turned her head and gave Shinrei a very faint smile, "This is the first time... I've disobeyed my father."

"What are your plans for the future?" Shinrei asked cautiously.

With the Emperor Emeritus gone, Tokuko refusing her father's arrangement to remarry, she will be even more isolated and helpless in this deep palace.

Tokuko looked at the Little Prince, who was being held by his wet nurse and trying to grab the ornament at Shinrei's waist. Her gaze gradually focused, becoming gentle yet firm.

"I will stay with this child," she said softly, but with an undeniable strength, "And live on with him..."

She paused, then whispered as if talking to herself, "Before, His Majesty the Emperor told me... he had always been grateful to me and admired me. At that time, I thought... it wasn't love, and I couldn't accept it easily."

Her gaze drifted into the distance, as if piercing through time, and she saw her husband's pale yet relieved smile on his sickbed.

"But now, I understand."

"If... if we were born into ordinary families, even with an age gap, even with a poor life..."

"... and they will definitely be able to live a happy life."

Shinrei listened quietly, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her. She gripped Tokuko's hand tightly and said earnestly, "Retired Emperor Takakura... will surely bless you and the Little Prince."

Upon hearing this, Tokuko finally broke into a genuine smile.

She repeated, "Yes... it definitely will."

The audience was completely silent.

Many people only truly understood the complex and profound emotions between Tokuko and Narihito at this moment.

It wasn't a passionate, fiery love affair, but rather a tender feeling that carefully blossomed between two equally lonely and gentle hearts over the long years, under the pressure of power struggles and family interests.

They all saw the invisible pressure that the Taira Clan's arrogance put on the imperial family.

Narihito did not dislike Tokuko, but faced with the identity of "daughter of the Taira," and with a wife who was older, more intelligent, and backed by a powerful force, he ultimately felt pressured, inferior, and powerless.

His transference may simply be a form of escapism and self-exile under immense pressure.

Tokuko, on the other hand, was keenly aware of the political nature of this marriage from the very beginning and armed herself with "forgiveness".

Yet, through their daily interactions, they ultimately chose to understand and cherish that belated, imperfect "admiration."

There was love between them, but perhaps they were never meant to be together from the start.

As long as they remain a prince and a woman from the Taira, their fate will certainly not be good.

Below the stage, Hyuga Tetsuya, who played Retired Emperor Takakura, remained silent.

He was the Young Clan Head of the Hyuga Main Family whom Akari was to marry.

During rehearsals, he had a vague feeling that his fiancée Hyuga Akari, conveyed complex and restrained emotions in her scenes with Narihito, which was not merely acting.

At this moment, watching Tokuko calmly and sadly say on stage, "If I were born into an ordinary family...", Tetsuya felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer.

They are all Hyuga Main Family, bearing the responsibility of continuing the family's Kekkei Genkai and glory.

The family's arrangements and the Elders ' expectations are like the invisible shackles between the Taira and the imperial family in the drama.

There may have been warmth and understanding between him and Akari, but their relationship was always overshadowed by the "marriage alliance Main Family."

Their future path has already been planned out.

To produce outstanding offspring, safeguard family interests, and play one's respective roles well.

Just like Izuna, who understood their relationship, wrote the ending for Tokuko and Narihito in the script.

Tetsuya slowly closed his eyes, suppressing his surging emotions.

If only we were just Ordinary People...

The atmosphere Meeting Room was heavy and oppressive.

News of Minamoto no Yoshinaka's uprising eventually reached Kiyomori.

Kiyomori leaned back in his seat, looking somewhat tired compared to his outburst of anger a few days ago.

After listening to the detailed report about Minamoto no Yoshinaka, he remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking, his voice carrying a hint of self-mockery and an indescribable bitterness:

"Ha... that guy just wants to ride on Minamoto no Yoritomo's coattails and get a piece of the pie. One by one... they're all jumping out to defy me."

His gaze was somewhat vacant, as if it pierced through the wall in front of him and saw into the distance.

"Even... my own daughter is the same." He added in a low voice, so soft it was almost inaudible, yet it struck his sons present with a heavy blow.

Tomomori and Shigehira exchanged a glance, both seeing the complexity in each other's eyes.

Kiyomori seemed lost in thought, muttering to himself. The once invincible tyrant now exuded a sense of loneliness, a hero's final moments. "I personally forged the glory of the Taira, making it a force to be reckoned with throughout the land... I never imagined that in the end, I would be despised and hated by everyone..."

"Father!" Tomomori spoke, interrupting his father's rare moment of dejection. He straightened his back, his voice firm and powerful, "Even if we're going to say these discouraging things, we should wait until we've completely wiped out the Minamoto!"

Munemori hurriedly echoed his sentiments, attempting to project the magnanimity of a family head, though his words still carried a hint of arrogance and bluster. "Exactly! Father, why bother with those petty villains! Those who are not of the Taira Clan are not even human!"

Kiyomori was slightly pulled back from his self-pity by his sons' words. He looked at the fighting spirit burning in Tomomori's eyes, and then at Munemori's chest, which was trying to stand up straight. The extinguished Kakkō in his eyes seemed to flicker again.

"You... you're right." He nodded slowly, took a deep breath, and tried to pull himself together.

But then he frowned, raised his hand to wipe non-existent sweat from his forehead. "But speaking of which... it's really hot today..."

Tokiko, who had been standing silently to the side, sighed softly upon hearing this and reminded him, "Husband... it's still winter."

Kiyomori seemed not to hear, only muttering again, "Hot... so hot..."

The scene changes, and we arrive at the more relaxed backyard.

Atsumori handed a delicate hairpin to Shinrei, his face showing obvious flattery and nervousness.

Shinrei hesitated for a moment, but under Atsumori's expectant gaze, she finally accepted it, thanked him softly, and her ears turned slightly red.

Takuichi and Kiyotsune stood to the side, expressionless, but their sharp eyes scanned Atsumori.

A moment later, Kiyotsune and Atsumori sat on the veranda, discussing the current situation in hushed tones.

Atsumori frowned slightly. "I've heard that people in Kawachi, Kyushu, and even Kumano have begun to follow the Minamoto in rebellion."

"Grandpa has already ordered Uncle Munemori to lead the troops to quell these rebels." Kiyotsune Shigehira, "Uncle Chongheng has been claiming illness ever since that incident in Southern Capital... and has been unwilling to lead troops into battle again. Is it really... appropriate for Uncle Munemori to lead the troops this time?"

Atsumori silent, offering no reply. Yet, both men shared a similar worry in their eyes. Munemori's abilities and prestige were hardly reassuring.

But at this time of internal and external troubles and unrest, the greatest pillar collapsed.

Kiyomori fell ill.

A high fever, like the flames of hell, engulfed his body.

Despite it being the dead of winter, his skin was alarmingly hot, a deep red, as if he were being burned from the inside out.

Even renowned doctors were helpless, and medicine proved ineffective.

In the stillness of the night, Tokiko, exhausted, fell into a deep sleep by her husband's bedside and had a vivid nightmare.

In her dream, a twisted sedan chair, completely engulfed in raging flames, tore through the darkness and roared to a stop in front of her.

The flames seemed to echo with the cries and curses of countless monks.

"People fall into evil realms because of evil deeds. When their fate ends, all the fires of hell will come, and a chariot will surely come to meet them..."

Ancient Buddhist verses resonated in her mind.

Yes... it's retribution for burning down the temple; it's finally come.

Tokiko woke up with a start, her clothes soaked in cold sweat. Looking at her husband lying on the sickbed, tormented by a high fever and in a daze, she was overcome with grief and tears streamed down her face.

She understood; her husband's time had come.

Suppressing her grief, she leaned close to Kiyomori's ear and whispered, "My husband... do you... have any last words?"

In the midst of the chaotic, intense heat, Kiyomori seemed to hear his wife's voice.

He struggled, gathering his last shred of Seimei, his eyes wide open, burning with a flame of resentment. "My ashes... scattered on the Fukuhara coast! My... wishes in this world have all been fulfilled, perfected... only regret! Only regret that I could not see Minamoto no Yoritomo's head!!"

With all his might, he spoke each word slowly and deliberately, as if in cursing. "After I die, I need no shrines or pagodas! No need for sacrifices! Immediately... send troops to hunt me down! Cut off Minamoto no Yoritomo's head... and place it before my grave!"

After uttering these final words filled with murderous intent and obsession, Kiyomori seemed to have exhausted all his strength, Kiyomori the flame in his eyes gradually dimmed.

The ferocious expression slowly faded, replaced by a rare sense of desolation.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze seemingly searching for something, but ultimately just stared into the void, murmuring a question in an almost inaudible whisper:

"Tokuko... is she... still angry with me...?"

The once all-powerful Taira no Kiyomori, suffering from a retributive "fever," passed away Taira no Kiyomori, filled with endless regret for not being able to avenge his enemies and a lingering concern for his daughter.

The group escorted Kiyomori's body to Fukuhara.

In accordance with his last wishes, his ashes were scattered into the sea, which he had once so ambitiously sought to control, under the blood-red glow of the setting sun.

Shigehira stood on the beach, gazing at the fiery clouds dyed by the setting sun like flames burning the sky, and froze in place, unable to move.

The red was so glaring that it gave him a terrible premonition.

Several days later, as if to confirm that ominous premonition, Kiyomori's old residence in Kyoto suddenly caught fire for no apparent reason.

The Kakkō illuminated the Kyoto night sky.

The successive collapses of the pillars of the company only fueled Koremori's fighting spirit.

Determined to support his family, he began training in martial arts alongside Shintarō.

Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa was finally freed from confinement and returned to the palace.

Inside the palace, the atmosphere was completely different from the samurai style of Rokuhara, exuding a cold and serene calm that came with the passage of time.

Tokuko knelt before Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa, his posture respectful, head bowed in greeting, his voice clear and steady. "All that has happened before has deprived you of your freedom; I beg your forgiveness."

Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa leaned against a low table, toying with a folding fan in his hand. Upon hearing this, a subtle, enigmatic smile appeared on his lips.

The smile didn't reach his eyes; instead, he said sarcastically, "I still want to see Kiyomori bow his head and apologize like that."

But then he sighed, "However... even if he falls into the Avīci Hell, he'll probably struggle to climb out and continue stirring up trouble."

Tokuko listened to the Cloistered Emperor speak so calmly about his father's situation after his death, but his heart was not stirred. He simply remained silent as a matter of etiquette, and finally, he slightly curved the corners of his mouth as a response.

The Cloistered Emperor didn't seem to expect a reply from her, and changed the subject, speaking in a casual, conversational tone. "A Princess Miko has joined my Imperial Palace. Although we are not born of the same mother, she is, in a sense, your sister."

"She used to be Miko on Itsukushima."

"She is a beautiful young woman," the Cloistered Emperor said quietly, "But she is too quiet, making her somewhat uninteresting. I think... you would get along very well with her."

There was a hidden meaning in those words. Tokuko understood. This new "sister" had a delicate identity and an awkward situation, and was just as lonely and helpless in this deep palace.

The Cloistered Emperor may have genuinely felt a sense of shared suffering, or perhaps it was just a casual arrangement, or perhaps... there were deeper considerations at play.

Tokuko bowed slightly. "From now on, Tokuko will come to pay my respects whenever I have time. If Your Majesty permits, I would also be happy to befriend this Lady Ji."

"That's good. After all... she didn't marry willingly; she married this old man in your place."

Tokuko raised her head, her expression calm, but her tone was full of strength. "A fate not chosen by one's will... is not necessarily a misfortune."

"Tokuko has seen too many people who, because of their excessive attachments, ultimately meet with misfortune. They never consider what they might lose in gaining something, and are constantly manipulated by their desires..."

Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear, as if she were making a vow to herself. "Tokuko wishes to become... a flower that can still bloom even in the mud."

It is said that women have Five Hindrances that make it difficult for them to reach the Muku Pure Land. But if one can emerge from the mud like a lotus and remain unstained, even a woman can become Dragon Girl or a Buddha.

The Cloistered Emperor listened quietly, the slightly mocking smile on his face gradually fading, replaced by a complex expression.

He didn't say anything more, but simply waved his hand, indicating that Tokuko could leave.

Tokuko took his leave according to etiquette.

After leaving the palace, she went to see the new younger sister as instructed.

She was a truly young girl, dressed in simple palace attire, with a beautiful and refined appearance, yet her brows were etched with an inescapable melancholy and a sense of alienation from the world.

When she saw Tokuko, she seemed both surprised and somewhat understanding.

The two sat facing each other in a quiet side hall.

There was no excessive small talk, no insincere pleasantries.

They looked at each other for a moment, and then, without prior arrangement, they both slightly curved the corners of their mouths into faint smiles.

Without needing many words, they understood each other's situation and the faint yearning and resilience they held for a better future, carefully maintained within the cold palace walls.

Meanwhile, the Cloistered Emperor stood alone in front of the pavilion under the veranda, gazing at the remaining snow in the courtyard that had not yet completely melted.

The thin winter sunlight shone on the snow, reflecting a cold light.

The playful and scrutinizing expression he had when talking to Tokuko had completely vanished, replaced by a deep sigh.

The Cloistered Emperor —no, Hyuga Masayoshi, Hyuga Akari's father—gazed at the snowy scene presented by the Genjutsu before him and murmured to himself, "But alas..."

"You have already... been dragged into the quagmire of that Avīci Hell."

(Those who ask how many chapters are left until the end, do they even read the author's notes?)