Three-foot White Silk

The grand ceremony had ended.

The smell of blood had yet to fade as the people began to leave in an orderly fashion, though the fervor on their faces had not yet subsided.

They had witnessed a bloody baptism with their own eyes, and they had also witnessed the birth of a new daimyo.

From this day onward, the Land of Fire would have only one voice.

That was the daimyo's voice.

Daimyo Manor, bedchamber.

Sandalwood incense curled through the air, dispelling the scent of blood drifting in from outside.

Chiba Ran had already changed into loose black casual robes and reclined against a soft couch covered in snow-white fox fur.

He held a cup of clear tea in his hand while a maid fanned him from behind, his expression leisurely and content.

After plotting for more than a decade, he had gone from an overlooked bastard son to the ruler of an entire nation.

From this moment on, whether by law or by name, he was the sole master of this land.

The feeling of holding the fates of countless lives in the palm of his hand truly was delightful.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

Chiba Ran did not even raise his eyelids.

The elderly steward Minamoto pushed open the door and entered, making almost no sound as he walked.

After taking several steps into the hall, he fell to his knees, pressing his forehead tightly against the floor, his voice trembling.

Everything that had happened during the grand ceremony had made Minamoto fear and revere his lord even more.

"My lord, Qing Yueye... is making a fuss in the water prison, demanding to see you."

"She asked this subordinate to pass along a message. She said she was wrong and begged you to give her another chance."

Qing Yueye.

At the mention of that name, a trace of coldness surfaced in Chiba Ran's eyes.

The most pathetic thing about traitors was that they always believed their betrayal was unique and understandable, forever fantasizing that they could be forgiven.

How naive.

Unfortunately, betrayal only came in zero times or countless times.

Like a shattered bowl—even if it was forcibly glued back together, the cracks would always remain.

What was more, he had destroyed her family and killed her father and brothers.

He had kept her by his side for so long only to lure out bigger and more numerous fish, while incidentally giving her an opportunity.

Now that the fish had taken the bait, the bait itself was naturally useless.

And he had no intention of mending a shattered bowl.

"A chance?"

Chiba Ran was silent for a long while. His voice was soft, but his tone was heavy.

"I already gave her one chance. Unfortunately, she did not cherish it. Those who have betrayed me have no right to receive my forgiveness."

"Come here!" Chiba Ran set down his teacup and gestured for Minamoto to approach.

Minamoto hurriedly rose and stepped forward.

Chiba Ran slapped him across the face. It was not hard, yet blood still trickled out, frightening Minamoto into immediately kneeling and kowtowing.

"This subordinate deserves death! This subordinate deserves death!"

"Get up!"

"Yes, yes!" Minamoto answered, rising shakily.

Chiba Ran asked, "Does it hurt?"

Minamoto hurriedly shook his head. "No, it doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt!"

"Then it seems you still haven't learned your lesson."

"No, no, it hurts! It hurts!"

"Good. Remember this: don't take what you shouldn't take in the future!"

"This subordinate will remember it. I will remember it!"

Seeing Minamoto's fearful appearance, Chiba Ran felt somewhat reluctant to be harsh. After all, Minamoto had cared for him since childhood and had served him loyally for more than a decade. He did not wish to reprimand him too severely.

Chiba Ran's tone softened. "Let it go this time. Since you took it, put it away properly. Don't lose it!"

"I wouldn't dare. This subordinate will return it shortly."

"If I told you to keep it, then keep it!"

"...Yes!"

"Minamoto."

"I am here, my lord."

Chiba Ran spoke earnestly. "You watched me grow up. You have to understand me—if everyone acted like this, the country would rot."

"If the country rots, my position becomes unstable, and you won't be able to enjoy prosperity either!"

Minamoto wept bitterly and dropped to his knees again. "This servant was foolish. Fortunately, my lord reminded me in time, or I nearly committed a grave mistake."

"Get up!"

"And Qing Yueye—she was once a noble young lady renowned throughout the Land of Fire Capital, and she also played her part in today's grand performance."

Chiba Ran said unhurriedly, "It would be improper to let her die in that filthy water prison."

"Go. Prepare three-foot white silk and send her to reunite with her father and brothers."

"Leave her some dignity."

The old steward Minamoto lowered his head even further and answered in a hoarse voice:

"...Yes, my lord."

Minamoto could sense the cruelty beneath his daimyo's calm words.

This new master was a true emperor.

There was no mercy in his heart, only rules.

Those who obeyed him would prosper; those who defied him would perish.

"One more thing."

Chiba Ran seemed to recall something.

"Go to the Konoha Annex first and inform the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."

"Tell him to come see me in three days."

"During these three days, have him properly handle Konoha's internal affairs. I do not wish to hear any voices that should not exist."

Chiba Ran deliberately emphasized the words "internal affairs."

The old steward understood at once.

The Fourth Hokage was being ordered to thoroughly purge Danzo's remaining forces.

"Also, tell him to prepare a detailed proposal for the Genius Training Special Fund I mentioned before, and bring it with him."

"Yes. This old servant will see to it at once."

Minamoto did not dare slack off in the slightest. After bowing, he quietly backed away and disappeared through the door.

The study returned to silence.

After leaving Daimyo Manor, Minamoto first went to the Konoha Annex.

After delivering his lord's verbal order to Minato Namikaze, he did not linger and took his leave with a bow.

Then, he immediately headed for the water prison.

This was a place specifically used to imprison serious criminals.

Those thrown in here were either powerful figures who had dominated an area or utterly vicious criminals.

Mold grew everywhere along the dark, damp corridors. Ordinary nobles, even if they had committed crimes, were absolutely unqualified to be imprisoned here.

When the cell door opened and Qing Yueye saw that the visitor was Minamoto, her eyes instantly widened.

She struggled up from the floor and asked anxiously, "Uncle Minamoto! Did my lord send you to take me away? Has he forgiven me?"

Minamoto did not answer. He merely made a calm gesture of invitation.

Then he led Qing Yueye out of the water prison.

Along the way, Qing Yueye followed behind him uneasily. She asked several times, her voice shifting from hopeful to trembling. "Uncle Minamoto, where are we going? Does my lord... wish to see me?"

Yet Minamoto remained silent throughout.

The carriage did not head toward Daimyo Manor. Instead, it stopped before an estate that had long been sealed off, with weeds already growing across the grounds.

When she saw those familiar gates, the last trace of color drained from Qing Yueye's face.

She was not stupid.

She understood immediately.

"No... no! I won't go in!"

She shook her head wildly, tears pouring from her eyes. "Uncle Minamoto, I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong! Take me to see my lord—let me kneel before him and beg his forgiveness myself! Please!"

She fell to her knees, clutched at Minamoto's trouser leg, and pleaded incoherently.

A flicker of pity passed through Minamoto's eyes—the regret of watching a young life walk toward death.

He let out a soft sigh, his voice hoarse yet leaving no room for doubt.

"Miss Qing Yueye, you chose this path yourself."

He helped her up, then handed her a set of clean, beautiful clothes, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"My lord remembers the old ties between you and has left you this final shred of dignity."

"To finish your final journey cleanly in your own home is better than rotting away in that filthy water dungeon."

Minamoto led her into an inner room that had long since been cleaned. On a low table lay a neatly arranged strip of white silk.

Three-foot White Silk.

Qing Yueye's entire body went limp, all strength drained from her.

"This old servant was merely carrying out orders."

Minamoto left her with those final words. His aged figure slowly withdrew from the room, closing the door behind him.

Outside, he stood silently like a stone statue.

A long while passed.

A clatter came from within. Only after the last trace of sound had faded did he turn and enter the room.

After confirming that Qing Yueye was dead and ordering someone to prepare her body, he finally left.

His figure merged back into the night.

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