Chapter 132: I'll Be the First One to Break the Precedent
Third day.
As the morning sun rose from the horizon, sparse sunlight scattered across Snow City.
The streets of Snow City were already being decorated with lanterns and colored banners, bustling with crowds.
Even though sporadic snowflakes still drifted from the sky, they couldn't stop the enthusiasm and excitement of the Land of Snow's residents.
The populace, faces filled with joy, discussed amongst themselves, their gazes shifting from time to time towards the highest building in Snow City.
-- That was the castle where generations of Daimyō had lived.
Meanwhile, inside the castle that everyone looked up to.
"Princess Koyuki, are you ready?"
Looking at the tightly closed doors of the bedchamber, Asama Sandayū's tone was helpless: "The ministers and guests have all arrived. We are only waiting for you to appear now."
"Don't rush."
A gentle voice responded unhurriedly: "Sandayū, give Koyuki a little more time."
"...Sigh."
Sandayū sighed inwardly, bowing slightly: "My sincerest apologies, I lost my composure."
With that, he turned to handle the ministers and guests.
At this moment, inside the bedchamber.
Kazahana Koyuki, dressed in a magnificent robe, stood by the window, looking down at the noisy crowd below through the curtain.
"Still nervous?"
Hearing the gentle voice from behind, a ripple passed through Koyuki's blue eyes.
"...Just didn't expect this day to come so quickly."
"It's quite normal."
Menma also slowly came to her side, his tone teasing as he smiled: "You are, after all, what all the people hope for, the brilliant pearl held in the palm of the Land of Snow."
The civil unrest in the Land of Snow was completely quelled in just one day.
Although Kazahana Koyuki was somewhat surprised, this was all within Menma's expectations.
As the sole heir of the former Daimyō, Kazahana Sōsetsu, Kazahana Koyuki was the rightful heir to the Daimyō position of the Land of Snow.
But Kazahana Dotō used military force to kill Kazahana Sōsetsu and bloodily suppressed opposing voices in the country to seize the Daimyō's seat.
After taking power, Kazahana Dotō even levied taxes on the populace to expand his army and upgrade the chakra armor.
Although they dared not openly oppose Kazahana Dotō, the people of the Land of Snow had long been filled with grievances.
Now that Kazahana Koyuki had led the former loyalists to drive the tyrannical Kazahana Dotō from the Daimyō's seat, it could be said she held absolute righteousness and the hearts of the people.
"Then, are you really going to appear on stage with me?"
Kazahana Koyuki asked with a nervous expression: "In past succession ceremonies, nothing like this has ever happened."
Although she had been saying it was no problem before, when this moment truly arrived, she found she wasn't as fearless as she had thought.
The thought of having to face the gazes of thousands of people made her unable to suppress the nervousness and timidity in her heart.
"No precedent?"
Menma's voice was very soft, but his tone was serious: "Then I'll be the first one to break the precedent."
Old rules... aren't they destined to be broken by new rules?
Click.
Under Kazahana Koyuki's surprised gaze, Menma slowly removed the mask from his face.
"Actually, in private, you can call me 'Big Brother'."
A faint smile hung on Menma's lips, adding a touch of elegant, scholarly air to him.
His deep, bright blue eyes were like a bottomless ocean, or like the endless night sky.
The face Kazahana Koyuki had imagined countless times just appeared before her so suddenly.
"What's wrong?"
Looking at the stunned Koyuki, Menma suddenly asked back: "Is it very different from the face you imagined?"
"...Doesn't look... like the face of a bad person."
Hearing her answer, Menma let out a chuckle: "Then I'm truly sorry for that."
Only then did Kazahana Koyuki react, her cheeks also turning slightly rosy.
However, after this bit of banter, the nervousness and anxiety in her heart also dissipated a lot.
"Then..."
A playful look appeared on Kazahana Koyuki's face. She extended her right hand towards Menma beside her: "Lord Big Brother, please take good care of me."
Menma steadily supported her palm, his tone teasing: "As you command, Princess Koyuki."
...
At this time, on both sides of the castle, long banners with red backgrounds and black borders hung down to the ground.
Against the snow-covered background, this color scheme appeared exceptionally striking, adding a sense of weight and ceremony to this not-so-magnificent castle.
For this succession ceremony, the castle had also been temporarily modified.
The outer wall of the front courtyard was demolished and replaced with a wooden fence that didn't obstruct the view.
A slanted support was built on the high part of the castle, creating a semi-cantilevered open-air platform.
The terrace happened to face the area in front of the castle; standing here, one could take in the entire ceremony venue and all the people at a glance.
-- Kazahana Koyuki would receive the blessings of the people and her subjects here.
The news of Kazahana Koyuki's succession as Daimyō spread, receiving the support and anticipation of nearly all the populace.
Even the castle area, usually strictly forbidden, was opened to a portion of the public for the first time on this day.
Under the guidance of several personal guards, nearly a thousand screened citizens gathered inside and outside the castle, excitedly awaiting the arrival of the new ruler's coronation moment.
Inside the grand hall on the castle's first floor, generals and officials were all gathered.
Compared to usual days, there were far fewer people present.
And, one could visibly see they were divided into two groups.
One group of people all wore timid expressions on their faces, whispering to those beside them with heads full of cold sweat.
And the other group,
Although all carried injuries of varying severity, their conversations were filled with gratified smiles.
They were, respectively, the generals and ministers who had been either recruited or placed under house arrest by Kazahana Dotō.
Now that Kazahana Dotō had been defeated by Kazahana Koyuki, it could be said that a new sovereign brings new courtiers.
This group of people who had chosen to submit due to fear of Kazahana Dotō's power were all anxiously awaiting the new ruler's reckoning.
Continuously praying in their hearts that the ruler wouldn't notice them.
Although most ministers had already accepted the facts, there were still some people gathered together, conversing in low voices.
"Are the preparations ready?"
"All ready."
"When do we make our move?"
"The moment she announces her succession, they will all strike at the same time!"
This group of people gathered together all wore expressions of having victory in their grasp, their gazes towards the bedchamber filled with killing intent.
In this life, who doesn't live for fame and fortune?
They absolutely could not allow a little girl to ride on their heads.
Even more so, they couldn't accept placing their lives in the hands of a little brat!
If a man dies, his spirit faces heaven; if he doesn't, he'll live for ten thousand years! (A saying implying one should go all out for what one wants).
They had found a bounty ninja who was once a Jōnin, plus nearly ten Chūnin-level Snow Ninja.
Under completely unguarded circumstances, there was a very high probability of a successful assassination!
However, they did not discover,
That a petite figure wearing a mask and sitting before a drawing board was quietly watching them from a distance.
"Heh, so it's a bunch of fools indulging in their own fantasies, unwilling to accept reality."
A laugh came out. This, plus her attire, yet did not attract any strange looks from anyone.
Just then.
Dong!!
A melodious and resounding bell suddenly rang.
The originally bustling hall immediately fell silent.
The crowd, without prior arrangement, formed two lines, facing the direction of the castle, their faces also becoming solemn.
Click!
The great doors of the castle palace slowly opened.
A line of samurai guards in armor and with swords emerged, shouting in unison: "We respectfully welcome Her Highness!"
(End of Chapter)
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