His half-sister, Fujiwara no Mei Hong, was the illegitimate daughter their father despised.
Fujiwara no Mei Hong's existence was not acknowledged by Fujiwara no Fuhito, because she had been born from an accident between him and a maidservant.
To Fujiwara no Fuhito, someone like Mei Hong was a disgrace. Not only did he despise her... publicly, it was as though he had no such daughter at all.
"Don't mention her to me!"
Fujiwara no Fuhito had been in a good mood, but the moment he heard his son's words, his expression changed. With a sweep of his sleeve, he said impatiently.
Although Fujiwara no Mei Hong's existence was a disgrace to him, getting rid of that disgrace would have been as easy as turning his hand. However... she was still his daughter, his own flesh and blood, so he could not bring himself to do it.
Yet he was unwilling to let Fujiwara no Mei Hong appear before outsiders, especially those political enemies of his. He had never shown Mei Hong a pleasant face.
Even in the household, Fujiwara no Mei Hong's status was only slightly better than that of the servants.
"Yes..."
Seeing Fujiwara no Fuhito's face darken, Fujiwara Maro sighed inwardly, feeling somewhat helpless.
He did rather pity that younger sister of his. Of course, pity was only part of the reason; there were others as well.
After making a trip to the Great Tang, he had grown increasingly disgusted with the women of Japan. Especially after meeting that beautiful Taoist nun before his departure, his standards had risen even higher!
He had previously felt that the plump women of the Great Tang were not to his liking, but after returning to Japan and facing those noblewomen, the white powder on their faces was thick enough to stop