The Shogun's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page A

anger. “What’s wrong?”
    “The music is from the procession accompanying Yoshisato to the heir’s residence.” Sano crossed the bridge and joined her in the pavilion. “The shogun just named Yoshisato as his successor.”
    “Oh, no.” Reiko knew how hard Sano had worked to prove that Yoshisato wasn’t the shogun’s son. His failure distressed her as much as him. This was a far bigger problem than Hirata. Yanagisawa, her family’s worst enemy, had won his bid for power.
    Masahiro ran into the house. Reiko started to follow him, but Sano said, “He’s upset. Let him go.”
    “There’s more bad news, isn’t there?” Dread skewered through Reiko.
    Midori collected herself enough to realize that Reiko and Sano needed privacy. She picked up the baby and her sewing and went into the mansion. Reiko saw large red splotches on the white lapels of Sano’s under-kimono.
    “Is that blood?” She felt a stab of fear and a sudden contraction. “Are you hurt?”
    “It’s not mine.”
    The contraction subsided. “Then whose…?”
    “Elder Ohgami,” Sano said, his voice tight. “He committed seppuku outside the palace. After he stabbed himself, I had to cut off his head to put him out of his misery.” That was the usual procedure during ritual suicide.
    “Merciful gods!” Reiko was as much bewildered as horrified. “Why did he do it?”
    “He was demoted. So was General Isogai. He had a heart attack. The doctors don’t know whether he’ll live.” Sano knelt beside Reiko and described the purge. “Yanagisawa is in control of the government. He’s replaced his enemies with his cronies.”
    Reiko quickly grasped the dismaying implications. “That includes you and Masahiro?”
    Sano nodded curtly.
    Reiko burned with rage. She hated Yanagisawa as much as Sano did. Yanagisawa had once tried to kill Masahiro. And he now had unbridled authority. Reiko had a terrifying vision of her family cast out, disgraced, sentenced to death, executed.
    “Masahiro has been demoted to page,” Sano said. “I’m no longer chamberlain. Yanagisawa is. I’m the new Chief Rebuilding Magistrate.”
    Reiko was as astounded by the reprieve as she was glad of it. “Why didn’t Yanagisawa kill you or throw you out of the government?”
    “I wonder.” Sano seemed equally confused.
    “Do we have to move out of our home again?” That had happened the last time Yanagisawa had reclaimed the post of chamberlain from Sano.
    “Yanagisawa didn’t say he was taking back this estate. I suppose he doesn’t want to live here while it’s under construction. He has quarters in the palace guesthouse, near the shogun.”
    “Maybe your allies are protecting you,” Reiko said.
    “I don’t have any left in the government who are in a position to protect me.”
    “What about the daimyo ? You have friends among them.”
    “They have to go along with Yanagisawa. If they make things difficult for him, he could increase the tributes they have to pay the government or seize their fiefs.”
    “Then why is he keeping you around?”
    Sano shook his head, mystified. “Only he knows.”
    Now that her initial shock was subsiding, now that Sano had survived the purge, Reiko said hopefully, “Maybe he’s satisfied to demote you. Maybe he’ll leave us alone from now on.”
    “Well, I’m not satisfied with meekly accepting a demotion.” Angry resistance sharpened Sano’s tone. “It’s a blow to my honor and Masahiro’s. I’m not letting Yoshisato become the next shogun, either. I have to fight back.”
    As much as Reiko suffered the blow herself, she longed for peace. “If the shogun wants Yoshisato for his heir, maybe it’s your duty to accept it.”
    “Never! It’s an assault on the regime I’m sworn to protect. Besides, Yanagisawa will never stop attacking us.”
    One of the sentries rushed into the garden, waving a lacquer scroll container. “Honorable Master! There’s an army squadron at the gate. They brought you