Onmyoji, a nobleman in Heian-kyo

Page 557

The willingness to offer a high-ranking official position with real power and to wipe away any public grudges between the two parties is quite commendable.

Want more? The chaebols are indeed greedy.

Since that's the case, Kyosuke Kousaka has no choice.

There's a saying that goes, "What I give you is what I think is the best!"

Although there's a line at the end, "Maybe what we're giving you isn't what you want"...

But why would Kyosuke Kousaka care?

He was more concerned with quickly resolving this trivial matter so he could continue his efforts to slack off.

"Here, take a look at how to solve this problem."

After asking several questions, Kyosuke Kousaka produced an official document, a test for Hayasaka Ai's father, Masato Hayasaka.

"Please forgive my intrusion, Lord Kyosuke..."

Hayasaka Masato quickly bowed again before daring to accept it.

Hayasaka Ai stood quietly in the corner, saying nothing.

Kyosuke Kosaka found it amusing to see a blush creeping onto her pretty face every now and then, as if by magic, and then disappearing just as quickly.

"This is bad. I originally planned to resolve the issue by leaving the Hayasaka family, which is the Shinomiya family, but Ai seems to have misunderstood."

"Speaking of Kaguya Shinomiya, I completely believe she's love-obsessed. Why is it that even you, Ai…?"

Kyosuke Kosaka was speechless.

He never expected that Hayasaka Ai would misunderstand his meaning with just a few words.

He just wanted Hayasaka Ai's father, Hayasaka Masato, to enter the family dormitory, and then follow the family head to visit Shinomiya Karen-an.

Then spread some more news, and his reputation will naturally improve.

However, this is still not enough.

Fortunately, this was also the responsibility of the Yin-Yang Bureau and the Outer Guard Office, which jointly managed public order with the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.

So, if we just ask them for help, it'll be simple.

Who was being asked? It was none other than Minamoto no Yorihira, a direct descendant of the Minamoto clan.

—The direct line has an overwhelming advantage over the collateral line.

If Minamoto no Yorihira wants to apologize, then he must accept the apology gift.

In this way, there will be no outstanding debts.

"Lord Kyosuke, we could try having them propose a practical plan regarding the allocation of grain from the granaries..."

Isn't this just a business plan?

Kyosuke Kosaka thought to himself.

Given Hayasaka Masato's meticulous expression, he was listening quite attentively.

I found that some of the suggestions were indeed quite good, and it was hard not to be satisfied.

“If there’s no problem, then move your family to the east room,” Kousaka Kyosuke said immediately.

Hayasaka Masato bowed his head: "Yes, Kyosuke-sama."

Kyosuke Kosaka gave a soft hum, secretly observing that a blush rose on Ai Hayasaka's cheeks, which quickly turned into a radiant smile.

If he finds it interesting, he'll just treat it as a magical event. A misunderstanding is a misunderstanding.

"While it's fine to let the Hayasaka family move to Tohoku-ya, we probably won't see Ai's shy expression again."

"Besides, Ai will find out about the Shinomiya family's affairs soon enough. If she thinks she's been presumptuous, she probably won't have a chance to speak up..."

Kyosuke Kosaka has always had a thorough understanding of girls' aversion to certain things.

For example, Kyoko dislikes anything that disrupts classical culture, Fujishikibu cares a lot about what others think of her, and Yukino dislikes having her schedule disrupted...

Each of them has certain little taboos.

Kyosuke Kosaka would often observe things very carefully.

Ultimately, studying magic, analyzing situations, and doing other work are still quite tedious.

So it's not a bad thing to observe these couples in your spare time, is it?

If there's nothing else to do at noon, Kousaka Kyosuke will return to his bedchamber to spend time with his companions after finishing his work.

Let's get back to the main topic.

Kyosuke Kosaka was well aware of the awkward feelings women experience when they realize they've been deluded.

Thinking that Hayasaka Ai might avoid him because of this awkwardness, he felt it was better to take the initiative.

Well, since Hayasaka Ai seems to favor him, there's no need to be coy.

Although there are many women.

But refusing is not in Kousaka Kyosuke's character.

He has a big heart.

He wants them all!

That's all for now.

Afterwards, Kyosuke Kosaka took Kagura on patrol around Kyoto and in the suburbs.

Hayasaka Ai parted ways with her father and began preparing for the move.

"Xiao Ai, you seem to be packing your luggage..."

"Could it be that they're leaving?"

In the servants' quarters, the maids and servants who were still free were chattering and asking questions.

Hayasaka Ai, seemingly oblivious to the gloating of some people, whispered, "Move to another part of the mansion..."

"Eh?!"

The young and beautiful maids immediately guessed what was going on and couldn't help but move closer to Hayasaka Ai.

"Is it the East Room?" someone finally asked.

Hayasaka Ai remained silent.

But this silence speaks volumes.

The air was suddenly quiet.

Everyone was stunned—was it true?

The east room was the most sacred and longed-for place for all the young maids.

Yukino, Shizuko, Komachi, Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, Itsuki, Kirisu, Mafuyu, and Miharu... each of them married the head of the family as a maid.

Marrying the head of the family is one thing, but even their fathers became servants in the family's household affairs department and even served as officials in the Bureau of Investigation and Punishment for Illegal Activities?!

How could anyone not be tempted by such an exaggerated leap in social class, which is even more dramatic than taking a rocket?

Especially since a maid had personally witnessed Shizuko's face, which could at most be described as pretty, she was even more confident!

She thought that if the head of the family saw her beauty, perhaps...

But why did someone else beat them to it?

Even a maid who thought she was no less beautiful than Hayasaka Ai was so angry that she cried.

More than anything, it was envy, so envy that they wished they could replace Hayasaka Ai.

Hayasaka's heart skipped a beat as she sensed some dangerous gazes, the kind that might be murderous.

This era is dangerous.

We'd better run!

Meanwhile, Youxiao, who was silently observing everything from the sidelines, lowered her eyes.

"Xiao Gui, she..."

147. Haruno, Yukino / Trivial Matters / Catching Fish for a Feast? /Resolved / Sister Misses Brother

Watching Hayasaka Ai politely bid farewell to the others and leave.

Youxiao's emotions became increasingly complicated.

Even though she is very rational, she can't help but feel disappointed.

Disappointment is for my daughter.

My daughter, Xiao Gui, is a good girl.

Her simple and kind nature is very attractive to men.

However, the head of the family did not favor Kei, but instead took a liking to Hayasaka Ai.