Chapter 269: The Fall of the Hiiragi Family
During the period of national isolation, in principle, if you want to actually set foot on the territory of Narukami, you must first pass through the remote islands. The remote islands are under the jurisdiction of the Kanjo Bugyo, and anyone entering or leaving the remote islands must hold various certificates to enter and leave the area, and these certificates often require complicated procedures and some special relationships to obtain.

Of course, if you don't have any connections and don't want to go through the cumbersome and unsuccessful process, you can also choose to use a large sum of money or rare property to temporarily make friends with a connected person. The Kanjo Bugyo is happy to see this happen and is willing to become friends with generous travelers.

If you have neither connections nor money, you will not be able to obtain the certificate and can only stay on the outlying island for a short time, and take in the scenery of red maples, green tiles and the deserted fishing village with other outsiders stranded there.

In addition to processing entry and exit permits, the Kanjo Bugyo was also in charge of Inazuma's taxation. Although he was timid towards the local tycoons and big family businesses, he struck hard against foreign merchants and small vendors, never showing any mercy. Although the life of foreign vendors became increasingly difficult, the Kanjo Bugyo - at least the Hiiragi family - became more prosperous.

But not long ago, somehow, the government suddenly changed its strategy in tax formulation, from the ruthless killing of the goose that lays the golden eggs to the sustainable draining of the pond to catch all the fish, like boiling a frog in warm water.

Although neither of them is a good thing, the latter at least gave the businessmen a chance to breathe. If they work hard, maybe the frog will jump out of the pot.

For a time, many foreign businessmen were talking about it and speculating about what the Kanjo Bugyo was planning.

Some said that they saw how miserable and poor the merchants were, so they wanted to support them for a while before making some profits; some said that the other two magistrates could not bear to see the Kanjo magistrate eating alone, so they joined forces to put pressure on him, and now the three magistrates of Inazuma are negotiating on how to completely swallow up their property; others said that their own god finally noticed His people and put pressure on Ming Shen.

People made all kinds of guesses, but no one thought that it might be the Kanjo Bugyo or the Hiiragi family who had turned over a new leaf and had a change of heart... Under the management of the Hiiragi family, the Kanjo Bugyo had long been a group of people who only cared about money and had dirty thoughts in their hearts, so how could they have any kind hearts?
Rather than believing this, it is better to believe that the thunder that resounded across Narugami Island two days ago was because General Raiden discovered that the Tenryo Fukatsu Kujo family had rebellious hearts, so he struck the Kujo Mansion into ruins with a bolt of lightning.

"Is that what's being spread out there?"

"Yes, my lord."

The waiter bowed his head, not daring to look at Shinsuke Hiiragi who was sitting at the first seat, but he could easily hear the hidden anger in his voice.

And a hint of fear that cannot be ignored.

The head of the family had never felt any fear when the castle tower collapsed and the general disappeared. But now that the general has returned and a bolt of lightning has turned the Kujo family into ruins, the head of the family is so scared. Could it be...

The waiter was startled, and quickly collected his thoughts and didn't reveal a single word.

It's just that all kinds of speculations inevitably pop up in my mind, and I subconsciously look for my own way out.

"What about the Shefengxing? They are in charge of people's livelihood, don't they deal with rumors?"

Hiiragi Shinsuke was annoyed: "Have the people sent to Kamisato's house returned? Any news?"

"This..." The waiter hesitated to speak.

"Say!"

Hiiragi Shinsuke's eyes were slightly cold.

"Yes Yes!"

The waiter shuddered and said quickly, "Sama Kamisato said that half of the Kamisato clan has been banned by the chief priest and is strictly prohibited from leaving the house, so... so... let the Hiiragi family fend for themselves."

"Half of the people? There are only two of them in Kamisato's family! He's talking to me about half of the people?!"

"Bang! Bang!"

Shinsuke Hiiragi was so angry that he threw the teacup and his face looked extremely ugly.

Just because his sister was grounded, the bastard Kamisato Ayato actually ignored their agreement!
No, the agreement that this bastard had reached with him before was just a perfunctory one!
When Shinsuke Hiiragi came to his senses, he was so angry that he smashed another cup. Only then did he calm down a little and notice something incongruous.

Ban...Why is it a ban issued by the Lord Palace Administrator?

Even if the Eightfold Son of God is a follower of the gods, he does not have the right to directly interfere with the Three Priests, unless...

Hiiragi Shinsuke was stunned, with cold sweat breaking out on his back.

Unless God agrees!
So this is the Shogun’s punishment on the Kamisato family, but why is it so easy?
The Kujo family mansion was reduced to ruins, Kujo Takayuki died, his son Kujo Kamajima was seriously injured, the Kujo family's vassals fled, and even the surname "Kujo" gradually became a family of sinners who betrayed God in the eyes of the people.

Why did his Kamisato family face such an easy judgment? !
Shinsuke Hiiragi's heart was twisted with jealousy, and he only hated himself for not being able to cling to Yaeko like the Kamisato family. His expression changed, sometimes he was afraid that the Hiiragi family would meet the same fate as the Kujo family, and sometimes he imagined that the Hiiragi family would be let off lightly, or even severely punished - if they were severely punished, it would mean that the gods were willing to give the Hiiragi family a chance to correct their mistakes.

The Kujo family doesn't even have the chance to be severely punished!

Hiiragi Shinsuke took a deep breath, trying his best to calm the panic and fear in his heart, looked at the waiter who was half-kneeling with his head lowered below, and waved his hand: "Go down."

"Yes, my lord."

The waiter, whose clothes were stained with tea, breathed a sigh of relief, quickly stood up, bowed, and was about to leave.

"and many more."

Hiiragi Shinsuke called out to him, frowning, "What are you doing, Chisato?"

……

The eldest daughter of the Hiiragi family, Chisato Hiiragi, is the only daughter of Shinsuke Hiiragi and the only heir to the next head of the Hiiragi family.

In the eyes of ordinary people, such a noble lady, even if she is not proficient in all kinds of strategies, her words and deeds should be of noble character and impeccable conduct.

But such a noble lady was carrying a package and was about to sneak away through the back door of the Hiiragi mansion.

"Thousand miles."

A voice came from behind.

Hiiragi Chisato's body stiffened slightly, and she turned around, trying and clumsily to hide the package behind her. She looked at Hiiragi Shinsuke who had a stern face behind her, and smiled: "Father, why are you here?"

"What are you going to do?"

Shinsuke Hiiragi obviously didn't buy it. He waved his hand and the samurai who obeyed the Hiiragi family stepped forward, saluted Hiiragi Chisato, and signaled Hiiragi Chisato to hand over the package behind him to him.

"..."

Hiiragi Chisato pursed her lips and didn't force a refusal. After handing the package to the samurai, she looked at Hiiragi Shinsuke and said, "Father, I just want to go out for a walk... You can't always lock me up at home."

"Going out for a walk? Are you planning to go to Tianling Fengxing?"

Hiiragi Shinsuke took the package, weighed it, and glared at Hiiragi Chisato: "Come with me!"

Chisato Hiiragi sighed, glanced at the gate that was so close, then glanced at the samurai beside him who had no expression on his face, gave up his plan to run away from home, and followed Shinsuke Hiiragi.

The two walked forward and stopped at the pavilion in the courtyard. Hiiragi Shinsuke put the package on the stone table and looked at his daughter who didn't know what was going on: "Do you know what you are doing?"

"know."

Qianli Hiiragi nodded.

"Know? You know... you know what!"

When Shinsuke Hiiragi saw Chisato Hiiragi's expression, he suddenly became furious. He tried hard not to curse and pointed at the package: "What is the current situation of Inazuma and what the Hiiragi family will face next? Do you know all this? Is it that kid from the Kujo family that is the only one in your mind?!"

Among the three Inazuma magistrates, only the Kanjo magistrate has not yet faced the judgment of the gods, and no one can predict how the shogun will punish them. But at this critical moment, his daughter, Chisato Hiiragi, the eldest daughter and only heir of the Hiiragi family, has to go to the Kujo family to visit the seriously injured criminal Kujo Kamajima!
Once this matter is known to someone with ulterior motives, the Hiiragi family will certainly be accused of being disrespectful to the judgment of the gods!

Then the Hiiragi family would really have no way out!
Shinsuke Hiiragi looked at his daughter, who was silent, lowering her head, biting her lip, and sighed with a feeling of both disappointment and exhaustion: "Chisato, what's so good about that kid from the Kujo family that is worth all your efforts?"

"He loves me, respects me and cares about me. Only with him can I feel that my future truly belongs to me, instead of the life I have now where I can see the end at a glance."

Hiiragi Chisato took a deep breath and looked up at her father's eyes, with sadness and confusion in them: "Father, why do you have to stop me and Kamajiro?"

"Respect? Care? Stop?"

Hiiragi Shinsuke seemed to want to laugh, but couldn't. He closed his eyes and quickly opened them: "You should have been exchanging letters with Kujo Kamajima. Did he tell you in the letter why Kujo Takayuki and I stopped you?" "Yes."

"……speak out."

"Kamaji said that I am the only daughter of the Hiiragi family and will definitely inherit the position of the head of the family in the future. He is only the second son of the Kujo family and has no right of inheritance, so you stopped us."

After Chisato Hiiragi finished retelling the story, tears welled up in her eyes: "Father, is identity really that important?"

Just because her and Kamajima’s status are not equal, does the love between them have no meaning?
Hiiragi Shinsuke looked at her, and seemed to have aged a lot in an instant, and closed his eyes again: "...I was wrong."

"Father?"

Hiiragi Chisato was stunned. It was the first time he saw his father like this. He looked extremely sad.

"It is my fault."

Hiiragi Shinsuke repeated, opening his eyes: "I was wrong to protect you too well all these years, and let you become this kind of waste with only childish love in your heart!"

"..."

Hiiragi Chisato stood there in a daze, at a loss.

"Somebody come!"

"exist!"

"Send the young lady back to her room. No one is allowed to let her out without my order!"

Hiiragi Shinsuke flicked his sleeves, without looking at Hiiragi Chisato, and was about to leave.

"……Father?"

Hiiragi Chisato came back to her senses, anxious, confused and angry: "Father! Why, father! What on earth did I do wrong!?"

"What's wrong? Okay! I'll tell you!"

Hiiragi Shinsuke stopped and was about to speak when he suddenly heard a commotion. He immediately looked in the direction of the commotion and shouted angrily, "What's going on?! What are you doing?!"

"Bang!!"

In response to him were the family warriors who flew backwards into the courtyard, as well as Kujo Sara, who was wearing armor, had dark golden eyes, and led many shogunate troops in with an indifferent expression.

"The adopted daughter of the Kujo family?"

Hiiragi Shinsuke narrowed his eyes, glanced at Kujo Sara and the shogunate troops behind him, and said in a cold voice: "What do you want to do? Are you going crazy and want to destroy everyone because the Kujo family is destroyed?"

He looked at the shogunate soldiers holding weapons and shouted, "Are you crazy too? How dare you break into the Hiiragi family, the family most loyal to the Shogun, with the criminals of the Kujo family! Aren't you afraid of the Shogun's divine punishment?"

However, the shogunate army did not react at all and still stood behind Kujo Sara, emitting an astonishing bloody murderous aura. It was obvious that they were all brave veterans who had seen blood on the battlefield and had experienced hundreds of battles.

Kujo Sara glanced at him, ignoring his questions and scolding, then looked behind him at Hiiragi Chisato who was frightened by this sudden change.

Kujo Sara nodded and raised his hand: "According to the oracle of the General, arrest the rebellious Hiiragi family. Those who dare to resist will be killed on the spot!"

"Yes!!"

The shogunate troops responded in unison, then stepped forward in silence, staring at the Hiiragi warriors with excitement and bloodthirstiness in their eyes, as if they were expecting them to have the courage to resist.

"Kujo-sama!" A samurai took a deep breath and shouted, "Is this really the general's will?"

Kujo Sara raised his hand, holding a purple divine eye, and said solemnly: "Murakami is watching his people."

The samurai looked at each other and noticed that the shogunate army was starting to speed up. They immediately put down their weapons without hesitation, raised their hands, and shouted: "We will obey the will of the general!"

Although they had sworn to be loyal to the Hiiragi family, all of this was based on one premise: the Hiiragi family would not betray the Shogun or Inazuma.

Now that the Hiiragi family has been defined as a rebellious clan by the Shogun, there is no need for them to work for the Hiiragi family anymore.

The shogunate soldiers were obviously very regretful. Some of them were a little slow in collecting the weapons from the samurai, deliberately giving them the opportunity to snatch the swords and kill them; some of them quickly captured the Hiiragi father and daughter and tied them up tightly with ropes that had been prepared long ago.

The samurai looked straight ahead and cooperated very well, wishing they could tie themselves up with the shogunate's ropes.

Hiiragi Chisato's face was as pale as a frightened animal. She just managed not to faint, but she didn't know what to do or what she could do.

Hiiragi Shinsuke tried to struggle but to no avail. He gritted his teeth and looked at Kujo Sara: "The Hiiragi family is being wronged! I want to see the general! The Hiiragi family has not rebelled! The Hiiragi family has not betrayed!"

"The general will not see you."

Kujo Sara glanced at him, his dark golden eyes calm, and turned away: "Take it away."

"Yes!"

The shogunate soldiers responded in unison.

"Wait! Wait a minute! Sara! Master Kujo!"

Hiiragi Shinsuke struggled hard, but was punched in the abdomen by an impatient soldier. He immediately hunched over, his eyes were bloodshot, and he coughed in pain.

"Father!"

Chisato Hiiragi looked panicked and wanted to run to Shinsuke Hiiragi's side, but was stopped by the expressionless soldiers of the shogunate army.

Kujo Sara stopped and glanced at the shogunate soldiers who were taking action, which made their faces change. They quickly knelt on one knee with cold sweat breaking out.

"When you go back, accept the punishment yourself."

"Yes, Lord Kujo!"

Kujo Sara retracted his gaze and looked at Hiiragi Shinsuke: "What do you want to say?"

"Ahem...Kujo...Kujo-sama..."

Hiiragi Shinsuke coughed, not caring about his own embarrassment, and pleaded with his eyes: "Chisato, Chisato knows nothing, at least she is innocent. Please, please, Lord Kujo, for the sake of our past friendship, save her... Lord Kujo, please..."

"Father……"

Chisato Hiiragi burst into tears and struggled hard: "Let me go! Let me go!"

"..."

Kujo Sara looked at the father and daughter, remained silent for a few seconds, and slowly shook his head: "Whether they are guilty or innocent, the general will decide for himself."

She paused and turned around: "However, if Chisato Hiiragi is really innocent, I will make a suggestion to the general."

"Thank you, Lord Kujo! Thank you, Lord Kujo!"

Shinsuke Hiiragi bowed his head to the ground in the direction of Kujo Sara and paid his respects.

(End of this chapter)