Xuandou waved a hand, signaling that there was no need for ceremony.
Then he looked at Mitianxia, his eyes filled with gratification.
"Dispense with the formalities. Carry on."
He walked to an empty seat in the hall and sat down, watching everyone continue their work.
Mitianxia returned to his seat, but instead of continuing to handle government affairs, he raised his head and gave his father a questioning look.
He knew his father would not come to the Land of Lightning without a reason.
Xuandou beckoned over a minister responsible for communications and asked quietly:
"You wrote asking to see me, saying you had an important matter concerning the Land of Lightning. What exactly is it?"
The minister glanced around, leaned close to Xuandou's ear, and explained everything in detail in a low voice.
As Xuandou listened, his expression shifted from calm to puzzled, and finally became thoroughly odd.
"You lot..."
He opened his mouth, but ultimately sighed.
"Ah! You've really put me in a bind."
"All right. Bring this up publicly at tomorrow's court assembly."
The minister bowed and nodded as he withdrew.
The next day, the court assembly formally began in the main hall of the Daimyo's Residence of the Land of Lightning.
Two seats had been placed at the head of the hall.
On the left sat Ashikaga Masanobu, the current Daimyo of the Land of Lightning.
He wore a grand purple-and-gold kimono and a tall ceremonial hat, and looked somewhat imposing.
But his gaze shifted evasively, and his fingers unconsciously clutched the hem of his robe. He was clearly uneasy.
On the right sat Xuandou in dark casual robes, calm and composed in stark contrast to the young Daimyō's nervousness.
The two sat as equals, but it was obvious who truly held the reins.
The court