Reality was even stranger than Fang Zheng had imagined.
"Lord Husband!"
The black-haired, straight-haired girl in a kimono before him was about the same age as the Son of Heaven, yet she called him "Lord Husband" the moment she opened her mouth. Fang Zheng was utterly stunned. He stared blankly at the girl for a long while before finally coming back to his senses.
"Who are you...?"
Fang Zheng was certain he had never met this girl before.
"We haven't met before, have we?"
"That is correct. This is our first meeting, Lord Husband."
The girl smiled faintly, then respectfully lowered her head.
"I am Kagura-ya. From today onward, I shall serve at Lord Husband's side. I am lacking in many ways, so please guide me."
"Kagura-ya... Kagura-ya..."
Fang Zheng carefully examined the girl before him, murmuring her name. Then his eyes suddenly lit up.
"You're His Majesty the Son of Heaven's friend?"
"Yes. The Son of Heaven and I have known each other since long ago."
So it was her...
Hearing Kagura-ya's answer, Fang Zheng finally remembered. He had heard from the Son of Heaven before that she had only one friend around her own age: Kagura-ya, head of one of Japan's Six Great Houses in Kyoto. The Son of Heaven had even asked him whether he had met Kagura-ya before, but naturally, Fang Zheng had not.
He just had not expected them to meet here.
But...
"Why are you calling me Lord Husband? This is our first meeting, isn't it?"
"Has Lord Husband not heard it from Ze Qidun? As a symbol of goodwill, Ze Qidun arranged for me to marry you as your wife."
"Ze Qidun..."
Hearing that name, Fang Zheng frowned. Of course, he had not forgotten that version of Wang Jingwei from Japan. With the