The Kyoto Imperial Palace was the Emperor's residence. Within it, the Shishinden served as a venue for major ceremonies and was seldom used otherwise. The Seiryoden, behind it to the left, was the Emperor's private residence for everyday life. Only the Small Imperial Palace and the Imperial Study, behind the Shishinden to the right, were used for audiences with daimyo and court officials.
At that moment, in the Small Imperial Palace, with its white walls, dark tiles, and juniper roof, the reigning Emperor, Hinomori Tomoko, was receiving Uesugi Kenshin, the military governor of Echigo Province. Kenshin was a god of war whose fame rivaled Takeda Shingen's. Takeda Shingen was the Tiger of Kai, while Uesugi Kenshin was the Dragon of Echigo. One dragon, one tiger: Shingen excelled at strategy, Kenshin at tactics, and they were sworn rivals. Thus, Takeda Shingen had chosen to support the shogun, Ashikaga, while Uesugi Kenshin had chosen the reigning Emperor, Hinomori Tomoko.
Kenshin had traveled all the way from Echigo to Kyoto not only to report on his duties, but also because the female Emperor would bestow upon him the Imperial Cup, the Imperial Sword, and a formal edict to "punish those who harbor ambitions against neighboring provinces." Her power had come into its own, and she no longer feared Ashikaga or the daimyo behind him. Kenshin was the champion Tomoko had chosen to carry out her campaign.
Kenshin was respectfully reporting the recent movements of Ashikaga and the other daimyo. He had just mentioned Takeda Shingen's strange decision to abandon his plans for further attacks on Shinano and withdraw to Kai instead when he saw the female Emperor glance casually out the window. A smile that could only be called radiant spread across her face.
"Kenshin." The female Emperor interrupted his report, her voice